Creek County OK

Slave Narrative of Andrew Simms

Person Interviewed: Andrew Simms Location: Sapulpa, Oklahoma Age: 80 My parents come over on a slave ship from Africa about twenty year before I was born on the William Driver plantation down in Florida. My folks didn’t know each other in Africa but my old Mammy told me she was captured by Negro slave hunters over there and brought to some coast town where the white buyers took her and carried her to America. She was kinder a young gal then and was sold to some white folks when the boat landed here. Dunno who they was. The same thing … Read more

Slave Narrative of Anthony Dawson

Person Interviewed: Anthony DawsonLocation: 1008 E. Owen St., Tulsa, OklahomaAge: 105 “Run nigger, run,De Patteroll git you!Run nigger, run,De Patteroll come! “Watch nigger, Watch-De Patteroll trick you!Watch nigger, watch,He got a big gun!” Dat one of the songs de slaves all knowed, and de children down on de “twenty acres” used to sing it when dey playing in de moonlight ’round de cabins in de quarters. Sometime I wonder iffen de white folks didn’t make dat song up so us niggers would keep in line. None of my old Master’s boys tried to git away ‘cepting two. and dey met … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Joel Mayer

Well known at Oilton and in Creek county is Mrs. Joel Mayer, who was born in Ramona, Oklahoma, on the 6th of February, 1900. She is a daughter of Reuben Bartlett and Roxie Ann (Pierson) Tuner. The former was one of the well to do old settlers of Oklahoma, important in the tribal affairs of his people in the early days, and the family has long been represented in this section of the state. The daughter, Mrs. Mayer, pursued her education in St. Francis Convent at Nevada, Missouri, and then returned to her home in Oklahoma, having since been a … Read more

Biography of Thomas Milburn Hobson, Jr.

Thomas Milburn Hobson, Jr. has made his mark and impress on the world of affairs as an advertiser, and has built up an organization for poster advertising and general advertising, extending through a chain of towns from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Kansas City, Missouri. He has also been extensively interested in the theatrical business, though he has recently disposed of all his holdings in that field. He was born at Paola, Kansas, September 23, 1883, and has spent most of his life in the Sunflower State. His ancestors came from Ireland and were early settlers in Ohio and Indiana. His grandfather, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. J. G. Moore

(See Cordery and Daniel).—Stonewall Jackson Rogers, born March 21, 1867, married in July 1890 Mary Kelly, born June 30, 1870 in Tennessee. She died in February 1907, and he died Septem­ber 13, 1907. They were the parents of Frances Leeper, born in Cleveland, Tennessee, September 1, 1892, educated at Chelsea, Northeastern State Normal, and the University of Tennessee; married at Sapulpa, Oklahoma, November 4, 1916 Joseph Gar­land Moore; Robert Kelly, born January 26, 1895; Mary Louisa, graduate of Chelsea High School, 1919; Henry Curtis, born January 30, 1903, graduate of the Chelsea High School May 1921, and Rebecca Mc­Nally Rogers … Read more

Biography of Charles W. Holder

Charles W. Holder, a well known and successful automobile dealer of Coweta, has the local agency for the Ford cars and tractors, in which connection he has built up a gratifying business. His birth occurred in Parkersburg, West Virginia, on the 24th of November, 1892, his parents being Walter W. and Virginia F. Holder, the former a native of Indiana, while the latter was born in West Virginia. Walter W. Holder came to the Indian Territory in 1888 and secured land three and a half miles from Stroud, where he devoted his attention to farming until 1899. In that year … Read more

Yuchi Indians

Yuchi Tribe. Significance unknown, but perhaps, as suggested by Speck (1909), from a native word meaning “those far away,” or “at a distance,” though it is also possible that it is a variant of Ochesee or Oeese, which was applied by the Hitchiti and their allies to Indians speaking languages different from their own. Also called: Ani’-Yu’tsl, Cherokee name. Chiska, probably a Muskogee translation of the name of one of their bands. Hughchee, an early synonym. Round town people, a name given by the early English colonists. Rickohockans, signifying “cavelanders” (Hewitt, in Hodge, 1907), perhaps an early name for a … Read more

Bilyeu, Inez Withers – Obituary

The funeral will be held Oct. 21 for Inez B. Bilyeu of Eugene who died Oct. 17 [2004] of age-related causes. She was 87. Bilyeu was born Oct. 13, 1917 in Oilton, Okla., to Ora Claude and Edna Guinn Withers. She married Edward Bilyeu on Oct. 13, 1940 in Lebanon. He died Nov. 13, 1978. She moved to Lebanon in 1927, graduating from Lebanon High School in 1936. She and her husband opened an insurance agency in 1942 now known as Bilyeu-Mill Insurance. She enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening and trips to the Oregon Coast and Clear Lake. … Read more

Biography of Robert I. Allen, M. D.

One of the best known surgeons in northeastern Oklahoma is Dr. Robert I. Allen, who was born at Coodys Bluff on the 9th of September, 1877, a son of Dr. R. M. and Mary (Journeycake) Allen. His father was a native of Illinois, in which state he resided until after the close of the Civil war. Upon the outbreak of that war he enlisted in the Federal army and became a member of the medical staff. He was a stretcher bearer at the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Dr. R. M. Allen received his medical training at Rush … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. George W. Durall

(See Ghigau) Franklin Wallace, son of Samuel and Eliza (Harlan) Craig born in Missouri, March 15, 1854. Married November 8, 1878 Catherine Fetrick, born January 13, 1854 in Shelby County, Missouri. He died February 23, 1894. They were the parents of Edna Earl Craig, born June 8, 1880, educated in Female Seminary. Married at Claremore August 5, 1897 George Wesbroford, son of Benoni S. and Anna Durall, born October 23, 1878. They are the parents of: Benoni Franklin, born June 3, 1898, married October 6, 1918 Georgia Ann Brown, has one daughter, Mary Joe Durall, born June 20, 1920; George … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William E. Stich

William E. Stich. The largest general insurance office in Independence is owned and managed by William E. Stich. Mr. Stich is a brother of the late A. C. Stich, whose career as a business man and eitizen of Montgomery County had been described on other pages, where many of the detalls of the family history will be found. William E. Stich was born in Hanover, Germany, February 16, 1850. His parents came to this country in 1857 and located at Kalamazoo, Michigan. His early education was received in the schools there, and in the meantime he learned to be a … Read more

Biography of Aaron Jacob Lesh

A. J. Lesh at different stages in his career had been a successful teacher, merchant, pharmacist, physician and oil refiner. He is now head of the Lesh Oil Refining Company of Arkansas City, and through his business energy and activities had contributed one of the most important local industries to this section of Southern Kansas. Mr. Lesh had been a resident of Kansas for over thirty years. For a man who had done so much on his own account it is natural that Mr. Lesh should take justifiable pride and interest in his line of worthy American ancestors. His lineage … Read more

Slave Narrative of Andrew Simms

Person Interviewed: Andrew Simms Location: Sapulpa, Oklahoma Age: 80 My parents come over on a slave ship from Africa about twenty year before I was born on the William Driver plantation down in Florida. My folks didn’t know each other in Africa but my old Mammy told me she was captured by Negro slave hunters over there and brought to some coast town where the white buyers took her and carried her to America. She was kinder a young gal then and was sold to some white folks when the boat landed here. Dunno who they was. The same thing … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. William J. Schuth

(See Ghigau) Eva Stella, daughter of Franklin Wallace and Catherine (Fetrick) Craig was born January 7, 1883 and educated at Welch. Married at Welch March 28, 1900 William J. son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schuth. They are the parents of: Walter J., born July 1, 1903; William Craig, born September 6, 1910. Elzy Ivan, born June 16, 1917 and Gyneth Wayne Schuth, born July 24, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Schuth are members of the Christian Church. He is a state highway supervisor. She is a Rebecca and during the war, was President of the Pleasant Valley Red Cross Association … Read more

Biography of Roy L. Fruit

Roy L. Fruit, one of the progressive newspaper men of the state, is publisher and proprietor of the Sedan Times-Star, one of the oldest republican journals in the southeastern quarter of the state. The Times-Star inherits the history of half a dozen or more papers which have had their share in the newspaper history of Chautauqua County. The Chautauqua Journal was founded at Sedan in 1875 by H. B. Kelley and R. S. Turner. It was consolidated with the Sedan Times in 1885. The Cedarvale Times, founded in 1878, was removed to Sedan the same year and the name changed … Read more

Brizendine, Marian – Obituary

La Grande 1919-2004 Marian L. Brizendine, 85, of La Grande died May 26 at a local care center. A memorial service in Boise will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Summers Funeral Home. Mrs. Brizendine was born Jan. 26, 1919, to Archibald and Viola Jenkins in Bristow, Okla. On Sept. 3, 1938, she married David Brizendine in Ontario. The couple were divorced in 1972. She lived in La Grande from 1960 to 1969 and for the past four years and had worked for J.C. Penney in La Grande, Pendleton and Boise. She enjoyed traveling, softball and bridge and was considered … Read more

Biography of John Rose

John Rose, who for several years had been numbered among the leading oil producers in Montgomery County fields, and resided at Independence, is a thoroughly practical as well as successful man, as his career indicates. When only thirteen he started out for himself, and had since hewed his way through difficulties, through poverty, to a successful position in the world. He was born February 26, 1861, near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and is of Scotch parentage. His father, James Rose, was born in Scotland in 1822, was reared and learned the trade of stone mason in his native country, and about … Read more

Biography of John Owen Bradshaw, M. D.

Dr. John Owen Bradshaw, a man of high professional attainments, has been identified with the medical fraternity of Welch since 1913, and although he engages in general practice he devotes the greater part of his attention to the treatment of diseases pertaining to the eye, ear, nose and throat, in which he has become recognized as an authority. A native of Missouri, he was born in Lebanon county on the 9th of January, 1875 and his parents were Silas R. and Mary (Bradshaw) Bradshaw, the former a native of Kentucky. The mother’s birth occurred in Lebanon County, Missouri, and although … Read more