The Wofford Ferry- Family History and Rogers County Oklahoma Highlights

Rogers County History

The Wofford Ferry

A picture of the Wofford Ferry in the early 1900’s crossing the Verdigris River near Catoosa, Oklahoma. Shortly after 1865, one of Catoosa’s early pioneers, John Wofford, constructed this forty-foot “boat” and established his ferry service with landings at the mouth of Bird Creek and the opposite shoreline. There was a fifty-cent toll “unless the passenger was low on funds”.

John and Eugenia Wofford purchased the ferry, which was called the Frisco, from John Crutchfield, January 19, 1882. Less than six months after buying the ferry, John Wofford died July 15, 1882. Family friend, Henry Gunter, operated the ferry for the family. Nearby, there was a big boathouse, which was big enough to sleep in. Jim Wofford, beginning in 1897, operated the ferry until 1914 when a wagon bridge was built across the Verdigris River.