Robot Mission to Sacred Heart
by Mollie Kehl Penrod
Have you ever wondered where the term ‘robot’ originated? It is derived from the Czech word ‘robata’ which means forced work.1 Robot also happens to be the last name of the Benedictine monk responsible for leading his brothers in the founding of the Potawatomi Indians mission in Oklahoma Territory.
Dom Isidore Robot (pronounced Ro-bo) was born on July 18, 1837 in the village of Tharoiseau in Burgundy, France. His family was very religious and despite a sickly childhood, he wanted to be a priest. Isidore Robot entered the monastery at Pierre qui Vire at the age of 22 and joined the priesthood three years later.2
Work was second nature to Father Robot and something he did willingly and with great love. He would probably have been amused if he knew years later the term ‘robot’ would describe machines that also work for the good of people.
Despite poor health, Father Robot served as a military chaplain in the Franco-Prussian War. After the war, he returned to the peace and quiet of the monastery in France. His rest was short as the Benedictines called upon him to help in their work in Louisiana in the United States.3 Throught hard work they build up the Baou Pierre parish mission only to have it ravaged by yellow fever. Despite this set back in Louisiance, Father Robot still wanted to serve his fellow man. He discovered that unchurched Catholic Indians were in Oklahoma Indian Territory and asked the Bishop of Arkansas to appoint him there.4, 5
Father Robot and Brother Dominic’s trek to Atoka in Indian Territory (later Oklahoma) was by railroad through swamps close to New Orleans. Some times there were so many alligators lying on the tracks, the train had to stop. The train staff got out, shot the alligators and removed them from the tracks before they could continue.6, 7
The Potawatomi Indians offered Father Robot a section of their land for a mission if he would build a church and school for them. He chose a place called Bald Hill, four miles north of the treacherous Canadian River. They built the mission on an old military road infrequently used to haul freight west from Ft. Smith, Arkansas.8, 9
Father Robot got seven men – two Americans and five Europeans to travel the seventy miles over the prairie to the mission site. Initially they lived in shanties, tents and some times the sky was their only roof. The Indians helped them build a log cabin and the later additions.
Nature constantly challenged them. The land held the dangers of quicksand, rattlesnakes, and poison ivy while the skies threatened the missionaries with thunderstorms, March blizzards, tornadoes and rampaging streams. There was also the threat of diseases such as malaria.10 Yet they managed to build over several years the first institute of higher learning in present-day Oklahoma. Sacred Hearts statistics for 1887-1888, listed 15 churches and chapels, a college, two industrial schools, eight day schools, a female academy, and four convents.11, 12 The mission at Sacred Hearts also had a French bakery, and by 1897 the mission boasted acres of grape vines, oats, sweet-potatoes, other food products,13, 14 gardens, herds of animals, and orchards.15
Black people from the south side of the Canadian River in the Chicksaw Nation also sought an education for their children. They were a small settlement of people called Freemen who prior to the Civil War were Indian slaves. The Benedictine monks told the Freedmen if they helped build the school, the mission would also provide a teacher, Brother John Laracy.16
The mission became an oasis of rest and civilization in the untamed prairie. Pioneers moving west, scientists, explorers, and even outlaws were offered a place to stay with no questions asked. It is said the Daltons, Youngers and perhaps even the James brothers stayed at Sacred Hearts.17, 18 Other famous people who left a positive mark on the world also visited the mission. One such person was Jim Thorpe, the famous Indian athlete, who was christened at Sacred Hearts.19
Despite all these accomplishment with his fellow Benedictine monks and sisters and later the Sisters of Mercy, a frail Father Robot had to request to be relieved as Prefect Apostolic. His petition was granted in 1887.20 This energetic and loving monk passed away in February 1887 at Dallas, Texas,21 and was buried at Sacred Heart.22
Then one horrible night in January 1901, a fire destroyed all but a few out buildings. Out of 300 people at the mission, there were no casualties. Although some of the buildings and schools were rebuilt, Sacred Heart never regained its former glory. The school moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1910 where it became the present day St. Gregory’s College.23
References:
1 Merriam-Webster Online, Last accessed 04/19/08, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/robot
2 Stinnett, Linda. 1987. Efforts Made to Restore Sacred Heart. The Ada Sunday News, July 26, 1987: 8-10; p.8.
3 Father Isadore Robot: Sacred Heart Founder and Potawatomi Patron. How-ni-Kan (Potawatomi Newspaper) page numbers and date unknown. Copy provided to author by the Sacred Heart Mission Historical Society.
4 Fightmaster, Maxine. 1972. Sacred Heart Mission Among the Potawatomi Indians. The Chronicles of Oklahoma L(2)Summer:156-176; p. 169
5 “The Annals of Sacred Heart Abbey, 1875 to 1921.” Copied from the original manuscript, and annotated by Urban de Hasque, Archives, Chancery Office, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – as referenced by Fightmaster, 1972, pg. 169.
6 Fightmaster, Sacred Heart Mission, p. 170.
7 (E.B. Johnson), “Memoirs of M(ontford) T. Johnson” (title page missing, ca. 1931), p.40. (Mimeographed.) This little book was given originally to members of the Johnson family. It later had all the humanity edited out of it and was published as The Chickasaw Rancher. The original version was loaned the writer (Fightmaster) by a member of the family – as referenced by Fightmaster, 1972, p.170.
8 Sacred Heart Mission Historical Society. 1987. A Brief History of Sacred Heart Mission. Sacred Heart Quarterly. Fall, 1987:1(1):1-4; p.3.
9 Fightmaster, Sacred Heart Mission, p.170-171.
10 Ibid., p.171-172.
11 Ibid., p. 173
12 Annals, p. 20 as referenced by Fightmaster, Sacred Heart Mission, p. 173.
13 Fightmaster, Sacred Heart Mission, p. 174.
14 Number 2309, Barde Collection, Oklahoma Historical Society Library. Datelines November 4 and 6 on reverse of clipping – as referenced by Fightmaster, Sacred Heart Mission, p. 174.
15 Stinnett, Efforts Made to Restore, pg.8.
16 Laracy, Brother John. The History of Sacred Heart Mission Established 1976 (title typed as written). Pottawatomie County History Book, page numbers and date unknown. Copy provided to author by the Sacred Heart Mission Historical Society.
17 Sacred Heart Mission Historical Society, Brief History of Sacred Heart Mission, p.3.
18 Sellers, Margaret. 1967. Restoration Progresses at Benedictine Settlement. The Oklahoma Courier October 13, 1967. p. 13.
19 Stinnett, Efforts Made to Restore, pg.8.
20 Fightmaster, Sacred Heart Mission, p. 173.
21 Stinnett, Efforts Made to Restore, pg.9.
22 Sellers, Restoration Progresses, pg.13.
23 Ibid., pg. 13.