Tulsa Cheese with a story...

​Every great business has a story. This particular business' original product begins with Eugene Fingerlin. Eugene was was an immigrant from Germany and well respected beautician in Tulsa, OK with many prominent clients. Eugene passed down his recipe for the Original Cheese Log to his daughter Ann who then passed the recipe down to her son Robert. Robert Little, owner of Split Log Farms also has another well respected grandfather of where the company name originates.

Robert's great-great-great grandfather was Mathias Splitlog.  Mathias is often known as the 'Millionaire Indian'. Mathias was born in the early 1800's in upper North America and was relocated with his tribe and wife to Kansas around 1843. Splitlog was quite the entrepreneur in the sawmill, gristmill and steamboat/train industries where he made his fortune. In the late 1800's Splitlog relocated to Indian Territory (present day Grove, OK area) where he built a church for his wife Eliza, solely of his own funds. Both Mathis and Eliza are buried in the cemetery on the church grounds. The Cayuga Splitlog Mission Church is still a functioning church to this day. Although the church was first dedicated as a Catholic Church, in the 1930's the church was sold to a Methodist Church and later purchased by a private family and serves today as a non-denominational church. 

Fast forward to present day... Robert who was an airplane mechanic for many years was injured on the job and found himself ready to take his family's legacy public. Robert participated in Kitchen 66's Launch 1.0 program to learn the ins and outs of food business. Robert began developing additional artisan blended cheese recipes in addition to his grandfather's signature Original Cheese Log and soon found himself selling his products at Tulsa area markets. More often than not, Robert sells out of his cheeses at farmers' markets in Green Country on the weekends and has gained many repeat customers who seek him out at those markets. 

In late March, Robert opened his retail store front at 3140 E. 15th, Tulsa, OK. Robert has sought out additional products to carry in his store to serve as a one stop shop for entertaining and appetizers. He offers items like imported olive oils, coffees and spices from Italy, Tulsa made pottery, Oklahoma honey, Broken Arrow hydroponic heirloom tomatoes, seasonings and more (yes, you can snag our artisan confections in his store as well). 

Long story short... go visit Robert at Split Log Farms! You'll find memorabilia from Mathias, Eugene and Robert right inside of this store and we promise once you sample his cheeses you'll be hooked and want to share them with everyone you know just like we do!  

XOXO, Melissa

P.S. If you can't get to Robert's store in Tulsa and want to hear the story right from Robert himself, here is his presentation with 1 Million Cups Tulsa at 36 Degrees North:  www.facebook.com/1mctulsa/videos/1794978507229873/

​Split Log Farms on Facebook: www.facebook.com/splitlogfarms/

NewsOK article on Mathias Splitlog: newsok.com/article/2711128

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Split Log Farms- 3140 E. 15th, Tulsa, OK 

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Split Log Farms Cheese Tulsa, OK