Local Legends: The Woman Behind the Man

The Woman Behind the Man A Look at the Life of Nannie Journeycake Pratt Bartles by Kay Little, Little History Adventures

During this Women’s History Month, we want to remember the woman who did so much for the advancement of morality in Washington County — Nannie Bartles.

Nannie was born in Wyandotte, Kansas in 1843 to the Delaware Chief and Baptist minister, Charles Journeycake. After graduating from a ladies’ college in Ohio, she returned home and married family friend, Lucius Pratt, another preacher’s kid. They had three daughters before Lucius died in 1865, at the age of 24.

In 1868, Nannie married a young Civil War Union veteran, Colonel Jacob Bartles, in Kansas. Following her parents, they moved to Indian Territory in 1872. After observing a Delaware wedding ceremony, Jake and Nannie opened their first Indian Territory business, a trading post for the Osage at Silver Lake. After the Osage moved west, the Bartles’ moved to Turkey Creek and established the first post office in the area, along with a trading post. Their son, Joseph, was born at this location.

In 1875, the Bartles purchased Nelson Carr’s gristmill on the horseshoe bend of the Caney River. Nannie raised her family while promoting schools, churches, and the general welfare of the community. As a devout Christian, she started religious services in her home and helped family members start the first churches in Washington County.

Jake and Nannie decided to move their store/home north, to a community they started, Dewey. It took six months to move the building and they kept the store open six days a week. Nannie insisted on the store being closed on Sundays so they could have church services.

While the store was being moved, Jake had the Dewey Hotel built, which is where he and Nannie lived after moving to Dewey. It was located across the street from the bank Jake had built.

Nannie was an accomplished pianist, and used her baby grand piano for Sunday School, which was held in the front parlor of the Dewey Hotel. Several years later, Nannie helped finance a Baptist Church in Dewey, Journeycake Memorial Baptist Church, in honor and memory of her father. It is now the First Baptist Church in Dewey.

Nannie was the first president of the Indian Territory Pioneers Association, which was originally founded for people who lived in the area before statehood and were still living here.

Jake died in 1908 and their son, Joe, carried on his legacy with the Dewey Roundup. Nannie continued her church work. She became friends with the first lady of the Belvidere Mansion in Claremore, Mrs. Mary Bayless, during the 1915 Delaware District Baptist Convention in Dewey. In 1917, Nannie and one of her daughters visited Bayless during the Baptist Association meetings in Claremore.

Nannie was a great first lady of the north settlement of the Caney River and Dewey, and a driving force behind Jake’s many accomplishments. She lived a long and fruitful life, esteemed by all who knew her. She died in 1924 at the age of 81. She and Jake are buried in the Dewey Cemetery.

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