Peter Conser Home

Peter Conser was born in 1852 and died in 1934. His home remained in the Conser family until 1967 when his granddaughter (Mrs. Lewis Barnes) and her husband donated the home to the Oklahoma Historical Society. The Society has renovated the home and returned it to a semblance of its native condition when Peter lived there. In spite of its age the foundation is sound and all the floors remain firm except for a small portion in the upper floor -- just behind the far left window you see behind the tree limbs. This portion of the home is now a very modern office with a computer and an abundance of historical research material. The home is found 4 miles south of Heavener on Highway U.S. 59 as if you were heading for Broken Bow.

Inside the house everything is arranged very much as if Peter and family had just left. The beds are made and the fireplace is clean and ready for the next load of wood. The living room is corded off to keep well-behaved visitors from disturbing anything, but picture taking is still easily possible.

The Lighthorse were the mounted police force of the Five Civilized Tribes. At previous times Lighthorse officials had acted as sheriff, judge, jury and executioner. By the 1870s much of that power had been removed, but the job was still dangerous occasionally. Peter Conser joined the force in 1877.

Papers available at the Peter Conser Home related how Choctaw lawbreakers would be told to come at the time of trial, and if convicted, would be sent home to make preparations for their punishment. They would do everything possible to be back early enough for their punishment to be carried out. Capital punishment was carried out by shooting until the lawbreaker was dead.

Peter's first wife was a Choctaw. They had a daughter named Susan, and a short time later, Amy (Bacon) Conser died, leaving Peter to raise Susan alone. Peter married again, to Martha Jane Smith, and they had four boys and four girls. It was at this point that Peter built the two story house with its eight rooms. She helped to run a general store with a post office. In 1894, shortly after the house was completed, Martha Jane died. When Peter married Mary Ann Holson, she became the postmistress there, too. Prosperous and recognized for his abilities, Peter served as a representative, and then as a senator to the Choctaw Council. He was noted there for his wisdom and organizational skills.