Most of the following information was obtained from Choctaw Oklahoma and Eastern Oklahoma County - A History, Volume 1, 1893-1993 by the Choctaw Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Centennial Committee, compiled by Doris E. Ellis {Eagle Printing: Harrah, OK} 1993, page 54. The Kansas School was built in the 1890's. Many of the early settlers were from the state of Kansas and so named the school it its memory. District #68 school was located in Pottawatomie Township, Oklahoma County on the Northwest corner of SE 15th St. and Peebly Rd. The schoolyard adjoined the Kansas Cemetery where the first recorded burial was of I. Griffis, April 2, 1890, wife of S. Griffis.
The first homesteader of this land in Oklahoma Territory was Simpson Stilwell. He filed his homestead application of October 10, 1891 and cancelled his claim March 19, 1893. The next homesteader on the land was Franklin F. Gilcrest. He filed his application of May 24, 1893 and received his patent on October 22, 1902. Once he received and recorded his patent, Mr. Gilcrest and his wife, Cora M. Gilcrest, deed one and one-half acres to School District #68 on November 28, 1903. The same day he and his wife deeded 2 1/4 acres to the East Side Cemetery Directors and their successors for $1.00. Recorded in Book 45, page 104.
In 1960, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints made a canvass of all legible markers and gravestones. A list of 26 names were recorded with the Oklahoma Historical Society Library. {Information obtained from OK County Cemetery Index - compiled by OK County HCE Genealogy Group, page 57.}