Frederick, OK

Home of the Abernathy Boys

"The Remarkable Ride"

By Larry Greer

In 1910, two little boys from Frederick became national celebrities. Ten-year-old Louis “Bud” Abernathy and his six-year-old brother Temple captured the imagination of folks across the country when they made a horseback ride, alone, from the family ranch west of Frederick to Washington, D.C. to meet President Taft, and then on to New York City where they met former President (and family friend) Theodore Roosevelt on his return from an African safari. There they participated in a New York City parade honoring Roosevelt, and purchased a new-fangled Brush Automobile which the boys drove home to Oklahoma.

The two boys went on to more amazing adventures in future years, before settling into long, distinguished careers in the fields of law and oil production.

The boys and their adventures are commemorated in Frederick by a cast bronze, life-size statue of the two, which is located on the Tillman County Courthouse Square. The statue, which is the county’s first piece of public art, was designed by sculptor Gary Gardner of Lawton.

In addition, a brand new interactive Abernathy Boys exhibit has been installed, which features a map of the boy’s journey, as well as a restored Brush automobile. This exhibit is housed in the Red Barn of the Pioneer Heritage Townsite Center.

Life-Size Statue of the Abernathy Boys, which stands near the entrance of the Pioneer Townsite Museum on the Tillman County Courthouse Square.

 

 

Photo courtesy of Treasured Memories by Valerie, copyright 2006, Valerie Clayton.

Spencer Parson and Kenton Tredwell, both of Frederick, posing as the Abernathy Boys in an authentic Brush Automobile. This Brush is owned by Leon and Sharyln Wilson of Norman, OK.

For more information about the boys, come visit Frederick’s Pioneer Townsite Museum. Books about the boys adventures can be purchased there, as well as books bout the boy's father, Jack "Cach em Alive" Abernathy, who was a friend and hunting partner of PresidentTheodore Roosevelt, as well as a US Marshall. Books can be ordered by mail by calling the musem at 580-335-5844 or the Frederick Chamber of Commerce at 580-335-2126.

Please click here to view historical photographs of the Abernathy Boys.

Please click here to read recent newspaper articles about the Boys.