The site known has Adkins Family Cemetery in Goldsby, McClain County is located East of I-35 on E Center Rd and Living Springs Trail in Goldsby, Oklahoma. The headstones are located on Private property in between 2 homes, some of these homes have been onsite since 1977. The landowners past and present have stepped in to do what they can to keep the area cleaned and mowed. The stones have become faded and worn by time and in need of repair. According to a 1930s Works progress Admin report by Robert Boatman and his interview with Columbus Delaney Adkins, states that a total of 12-15 burials are in the area but only 5 are still intact and readable. The land was originally owned by the Chickasaw and then to Mr. Mark Brittain. Mr. Adkins states in the interview that Mr. Brittains young son had passed and since there were no official cemeteries in the area, he buried his son on family property as well as his daughter shortly after." He also states "that officially it was never deeded as a cemetery and close family and friends were the only ones allowed to be buried there. It was later sold to Boss Sweeny. Land allotment records state that C.D Akins received land Sec 11 8N 3w in Chickasaw Territory - 1904-1905. Records state that in 1910 C.D Adkins lived in Ward 2 Norman Oklahoma with Father Pryor aged 70.

Born in Tennessee to a German Father and Scottish/Irish Mother, Pryor Adkins was in search of a better life for him and his family. Mr. Adkins was Union Soldier during the Civil War. After the war and 1 marriage he married Elizabeth Byrd-Adkins in Tennessee. The family lived a short while in Ark before finding their way to Indian Territory. Pryor and Elizabeth had 1 child together and she passed away days shy of her 50th in 1893. Elizabeth and Hughell (1888) their 1 son are buried together at this location. Along with CD Adkins young child and 2 children of Mark Brittain.

In an interview with CD Adkins in the 1930s he tells of how the burials came to be in the late 1800s was that Mr. Mark Brittain owned the land that was received from the Chickasaw and having a child pass away with no cemeteries around he buried his son and daughter shortly after one another on the land. The patch of land at some point was sold to Mr. Boss Sweeny as Mr. Adkins recalls. The only factual evidence or clue as to where Pryor Adkins is laid to rest is that his Obituary states "buried on sons family ranch". The interview states that there were no burials after 1895 due to no title ever granted as a cemetery, but he lists that there are 12-15 total burials here with only 4 readable. Pryor Adkins died in 1918. Elizabeth Adkins, his wife, is not listed on this documentation of readable headstones. She shares a headstone with their son and even today is readable. More research needs to be done to clear up any questionable facts along with land ownership maps. When any factual updates become available, they will be shared. Interesting observation was that each of the visible headstones were all facing North instead of traditional East West.

The current property owners are welcoming to other visiting the headstones, but guest should be mindful that it is private property, and proper courtesy should be extended to them and the homes around the Cemetery.

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Citations and Bibliography: Boatman, Robert H. 1938. "Burial Ground Form- Works Progress Admin Indian-Pioneer History Project Oklahoma." Interview, SW-NE-SW-S 19 TWP 8 N-2W; Goldsby, McClain County, Oklahoma, 3. The Daily Transcript (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 6, No. 212, Ed. 1 Saturday, November 30, 1918, newspaper, November 30, 1918; Norman, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc113912/m1/1/?q=pryor+adkins: accessed May 7, 2020), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.