Labadie Mansion

High on a huge hill sits the ruins of a 19th century Victorian mansion tainted by the blood of four people. The Labadie family traveled to the Indian Territory of Oklahoma in the mid 1800s pursuing agricultural ventures. Frank Labadie was educated at the Osage Mission, starting out in life independently. He took up the occupation of farming, devoting his attention to the further cultivation and improvement of the home place of fifteen hundred acres, situated in Osage County. He continued to operate until 1891 but shifted his attention to the lumber business, dealing in hardwood timber. Labadie retained ownership of the original homestead, receiving large royalties from oil wells located on the property, while also owning a twenty-acre truck farm near Big-heart, in Osage County. In 1884, Labadie married Miss Samantha Ellen Miller, a native of Illinois.

The story goes Frank and Samantha lived with a loyal black slave named Enos Parsons. After the Civil War, Parsons refused freedom and remained with the Labadie family. Frank and Samantha were desperate to have children; forced to deal with bouts of disappointment as each year passed childless. It is believed Samantha at some point began an affair with Parsons. This transgression resulted in the conception of a child. Frank became overjoyed by the notion of being a father. That is until the baby was born. It was obvious the child shared half of its genes with the African American persuasion. After some pressure, Parsons admitted to the affair sending Frank in to a fury. He grabbed his 44 Henry Rifle and shot Parsons only once, killing him instantly. He then took the body and dumped it in a nearby creek. Supposedly, the body sank to the bottom of the creek where it remains today. The baby was the next to be delivered to the creek.

In the spring of 1935, Frank slowly slipped in to madness. He believed the ghost of Enos Parsons was haunting him. On April 1, 1835, he snapped, taking out his Colt house pistol and shooting Samantha four times. Then, himself once. When the bodies were found, the pistol was missing all six bullets not just five. The 44 Henry Rifle used to kill Enos Parsons was never found.

It is believed the ghosts of both Frank and Samantha haunt the mansion. Frank has been known to be very aggressive towards anyone who enters his home. Enos Parsons haunts the woods and the creek to which he was thrown, still holding the gun that was used to kill him. Shots have also been heard in the woods which cause the birds to strangely hover in the air above where the shot was. And if you look into the creek, you may even get a glimpse of the ghostly remains of the Labadie baby.

A few interesting tidbits concerning this story. The story states the couple were having problems with conceiving a child. However, records show they had four: two girls and two boys. The couple's cause of death was listed officially as carbon monoxide poisoning in a separate house. There's a cemetery in Washington County where Enos Parsons is listed as "believed to be buried here". Whether he is or not, I don't know. Records also list his death to have been in 1893, 42 years prior to Frank and Samantha's deaths. It is believed he may have been Susan's, Frank's mother, slave not Samantha's. The house is believed to be located in Copan, according to the story that is. It's actually located on the west side of Bartlesville in the middle of nowhere. Despite being located on a huge hill, it's pretty hard to find. One of the Labadie's sons owned the house but never lived there. Also, the house itself burnt twice since their deaths supposedly unrelated to the "scandal". There was even a statement released by the family dismissing the "haunted" rumors. Parts of the foundation and stone walls is all that remains.

Other paranormal activity includes electronics suddenly stop working, people's names screamed by unknown persons, and strange smells coming from the top of the hill. Their have also been sightings of abnormal animals or creatures running in the dark that get very close and reports of there being fires where the fireplace used to stand in the house that supposedly start as visitors begin to leave the property.

Comments

Julie Ferguson said…
What a great story of love, betrayal and murder. I never heard of this place or the story behind it. Love finding out about other obscure places not as well known that are haunted.
Anonymous said…
I have been to the Labadie Mansion just very recently and I personaly felt a presence and an angry as well , I have had the sound of foot steps walk right up to me and stop in front of me, I also was standing in the Mansion in front of one of the fire places and witnesses a face appear .. I also experienced the strong oder of a powder gun and as I was Leaving a small vioce said "plz dont go".
Erika McCarroll said…
Samantha is part of my family. They were part Cherokee, from Wayne county and did not ever have slaves. I know this from family history, and also from Census records. This story makes me sad, but things happen I suppose. Also, her sister had trouble conceiving and I am fairly sure "adopted" 2 children, since they were married at least 11 years that I know of, and only having 2 is really unusual for those times. I do know that they loved each other very much, may they rest in peace!

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