Since 1871 the Bluejacket family has figured prominently in connection with the development of Oklahoma along agricultural, industrial and legislative lines, aiding in laying the broad foundation upon which has been built the present prosperity of the commonwealth. W. T. Bluejacket has ably supplemented the efforts of his father, having for many years been numbered among the progressive agriculturists and successful business men of his part of the state, although he is now living practically retired, having accumulated a comfortable competence through the capable management of his interests.
A native of Kansas, Mr. Bluejacket was born October 16, 1866, his parents being Thomas and Josephine (Bailey) Bluejacket, the former also a native of the Sunflower state, while the latter was born in Illinois. The father is of Shawnee extraction, while the mother is of French and Irish descent, the former having reached the age of eighty years and the latter is now seventy-five. In 1871 they came to Indian Territory, casting in their lot with its early settlers, and the father followed the occupation of farming near Vinita, in Craig county. He became one of the most prominent men in. that part of the state and the town of Bluejacket was named in his honor. He was called to public office, serving as a member of the territorial legislature, and was one of the committee that framed the Mayes bill, which raised the rental price of the Cherokee strip from twenty-five thousand to two hundred thousand dollars. He experienced all of the hardships, dangers and privations of the early days and is one of the honored pioneer settlers of the state, with whose history his name is inseparably connected.
His son, W. T. Bluejacket, acquired his early education in the public schools of Vinita, after which he attended the seminary for males at Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and upon starting out in life for himself he there engaged in merchandising for eight years. He also devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits and until recently was the owner of three hundred and ten acres of land and a fine home in Nowata county, but has disposed of the greater part of this tract, retaining fifty acres, his residence being situated in a clearing on the banks of Curl creek, so named in honor of James B. Curl, one of the early pioneers of the state, who established his home in this locality and here passed away about thirty-six years ago. He was a native of Kentucky, while his wife, Susan (Bluejacket) Curl, was of Shawnee extraction and a distant relative of the subject of this review. Mr. Bluejacket engages in general farming and has won success in this field, owing to his wise management and his specialized knowledge of the details of agriculture. His initiative spirit has led him into other lines of activity wherein his efforts have been resultant factors and he became the organizer of the Farmers Elevator Company, which now owns all of the elevators in Nowata county. He still owns stock in the concern but is not actively identified with the business. He is also a stockholder in the Link Telephone Company. He is a shrewd, farsighted business man whose investments have been judiciously placed and he has eagerly availed himself of every legitimate opportunity for advancement, while at all times his business transactions have balanced up with the principles of truth and honor.
In 1891 Mr. Bluejacket was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Curl, a native of Oklahoma, and they have become the parents of three children : Russell P., twenty-eight years of age, who married Pearl Clemmons of Missouri; Eunice, who is the wife of E. D. Miller and the mother of two children, Emma Nell and Lois Louise; and Robert O., who is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Miller make their home with the subject of this review.
Mr. Bluejacket is a loyal, progressive and public-spirited citizen, deeply interested in all that pertains to the welfare and advancement of his community. His has been an upright, honorable life, fraught with good deeds, actuated by high ideals and characterized by the successful accomplishment of valuable results.