Robert McGill Loughridge (December 24, 1809 – July 8, 1900) was an American Presbyterian missionary who served among the Creek in Indian Territory.

Like most missionaries, he left the territory during the American Civil War, and preached in Texas for eighteen years.

With help from Legus Perryman, he translated and transcribed portions of the Bible into Muskogee (Creek), along with hymns and catechisms, assisted by Ann Eliza Robertson.

[1] Robert Loughridge was born December 24, 1809, in Lawrenceville, South Carolina, to parents of Scots-Irish ancestry.

Feeling divinely called to preach the gospel, he immediately started the study of Latin and Greek under his pastor.

[2] In agreement with a call from three vacant churches of Oxford, Paynesville and Elizabeth, Alabama, Loughridge preached six months.

Loughridge agreed to these terms; and returned to Alabama by horse to prepare for the move to Indian Territory.

[4] After a few days of observation at his new home in Indian Territory, Loughridge bought a horse and saddle, and set out to find the most appropriate place for the mission; at the suggestion of the principal chief, it was located in the area of present-day Coweta.

[2] He was discouraged at the beginning, saying it was "a day of small things;" the people were very friendly, but shy, and seemed afraid to attend preaching.

This is considered the beginning of manual labor boarding schools, thought to be effective in "civilizing and Christianizing" the Indian youth.

; cattle, horses, wagons, and teams were all purchased; furniture for the building, and all kinds of supplies, books, papers, etc.

Dr. Wells from Fort Gibson donated a weather vane designed as an Indian standing with a bow and arrow.

[2] The students also did chores for two hours each day: the boys worked on the farm, in the garden or chopped firewood, while the girls did household duties, assisted with sewing, cooking and washing, and took care of the dining room.

[2] The school was well maintained and fully equipped all of the time, "self-denying, devoted teachers and assistants, worked faithfully and cheerfully, and were content with salaries of only $100 per year".

[2] The Tullahassee Mission continued to grow and do a job in educating the children of the Creek Nation until July 10, 1861, when it was suddenly closed due to the outbreak of the Civil War.

William S. Robertson (who was ordained an evangelist during the war), was sent out by the board, along with others, and revived the school to something like its former size and usefulness in March 1868 after relentless hours of work.

The school continued in operation, doing good work in educating many of the Creek children, for twelve more years until December 19, 1880 when, from a defective flue in the chimney, the building caught fire and was burned to the ground; almost all of its contents were consumed.

[2] During the time the Tullahassee Mission was broken up, in 1861 Loughridge moved his family East into the Cherokee Nation, and preached to the churches there for one year.

[2] After the Tallahassee Mission was burned, the council decided to rebuild and on a bigger scale, and to locate it further west, where more of the Creek people lived.

The trustees selected a beautiful site on the south side of the Arkansas River, surrounded in the distance by several grand old mountains.

Having been appointed superintendent of the school, Loughridge opened it on November 1, 1882, and continued in charge for two years before he resigned from his position.

[8] Loughridge preached the first sermon in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1883, standing on the front porch of a local store[9] and in 1907 Loughridge founded and built the First Presbyterian Church of Coweta,[verification needed] which is now a museum and listed on the National Register of Historic Places list.

In 1881 during an autobiographical sketch of his life Loughridge wrote, "…during my long pilgrimage of nearly eighty-two years, many have been the afflictions I have been called to bear.

But in all these bereavements, we are comforted with the assurance that all the dear ones thus taken away, are safely housed in their Heavenly home, where we shall meet again, and be forever with the Lord".

[2] On June 26, 1886, Loughridge was honored by his alma mater, Miami University, which conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity.