Jess S. Bearden was born May 5, 1858 at Lacoon, ALand came to Indian Territory in 1893, where he farmed near Tecumseh. In 1896he leased some land near Okemah and built a two-room log cabin. He established a store and post office in his home. Mail was carriedhorseback from Eufaula, I. T. To Wetumka mission, which was about two mileseast of Wetumka's present site. Then it was brought to Bearden andArbeka, another trading post, nine miles west of Okemah. In 1901,Tom and Wally McGee, former residents of the Chickasaw Nation, came toBearden and formed a partnership with John Burke, establishing a generalstore two miles east of Bearden on the south bank of the North CanadianRiver. Burke City sprang up, but lasted only about two years. T. E. Standley, who had migrated from Arkansas to the Indian Nation, establisheda general store at Alabama Switch on the Frisco railroad two miles southof Weleetka. Standley became acquainted with S. T. Palmer in Weleetka,who was also a native Arkansan. They formed a partnership to buythe general store from McGee brothers and John Burke, moved the enterpriseto Okemah, and founded the Creek Trading Company.
The first teacher in the Bearden area was Mrs. JessieAdams. She had thirteen students in 1896: Walker Miracle, Jim Miracle,Ben Strain, Heber Strain, Bertha Strain, Emaline Bearden, Frank Bearden,Roy Dunn, Jessie Adams (daughter of the teacher), Ida and Noel J. Maloy,and two Smith girls. Bertha Strain later became the wife of QuincyM. Taylor, and their daughter Lillie Taylor was the first student to graduatefrom Bearden High School. She was a granddaughter of Jess Bearden. Noel J. Maloy was born at Fayetteville, AR and came with his parents, theDave Maloys to IT in 1892. They settled on the south bank of theNorth Canadian river two miles north of Bearden.