George W. Griffin, born on March 4, 1861, in Rutherford County, Tennessee, is the son of Isaiah and Katie Griffin. He married Jenetta Gourd on August 8, 1899, in Tahlequah; she was born January 24, 1868. The couple had three children: Alice, Ira, and Blanche. Griffin was a farmer residing near Hulbert, Oklahoma.
Dora Fannie French, born on July 17, 1874, to Thomas Fox and Helen Alice French, was educated in Fort Gibson and Female Seminary. She married Henry Camillius Pennel on December 6, 1893. The couple had five children: Thomas, Charles, James, Bernice, and Thelda. Residing near Hulbert, Oklahoma, they are active members of the Holiness Church and work as farmers.
Arthur Evans Robertson, born on September 18, 1888, in Hulbert, Cherokee Nation, was educated at various institutions including the University of Tulsa and University of Paris. A member of the Bird Clan, he served in the 143rd Infantry during World War I. His lineage includes Reverend Evans Price and Wade Hampton Robertson, a veteran who died in the Civil War. A Presbyterian and member of the Knights of Pythias, Robertson became County Judge of Cherokee County in 1920.
Victoria Taylor Thompson, an 80-year-old former slave, recounts her life born to Judy Taylor in the Flint District near Caney Creek, Oklahoma. Her father was bought by the Taylors, and she details a life of relative comfort compared to other slaves. She describes her family’s labor on the farm, her mother’s cooking, and her upbringing, including learning to weave from her mistress. After the Civil War, she faced further hardships, including abduction. Thompson reflects fondly on her past, expressing a desire to revisit her childhood home.
Nancy Rogers Bean, born in Boggy Depot, Oklahoma, reflects on her early life as a slave before the Civil War, recalling her large family and the one-room log cabin they lived in. She was often loaned to various families, with fond memories of her last mistress, Mrs. O’Neal, who treated her kindly. While she never witnessed battles, she heard the soldiers at Fort Gibson. After slavery ended, Nancy married Joe Bean, but their children did not survive, and they eventually separated. She expresses relief that slavery is over, allowing her to live in peace.
Phyllis Petite, born on a Texas plantation in the 1830s, recounts her early life in slavery under Master John Harnage. Her family, originally belonging to a Cherokee master, was sold multiple times. Petite describes life on the plantation, detailing daily chores, meals, and brief experiences of freedom. After the Civil War, she moved to the Cherokee Nation and later settled in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. Petite reflects on her family, her marriage, and her connection to her Cherokee heritage, emphasizing her fondness for church and community.
Robert F. King, born on May 4, 1863, in Arkansas, became a key figure in the development of Hulbert, Oklahoma, upon arriving in 1902. He recognized the town’s potential and established a general mercantile business, a cotton gin, and helped plot land for the community’s growth. A pioneer merchant, he also supported local banking and public projects. Married to Walsie Weaver, they had one son, Don, who continues the family business. King is known for his philanthropy and civic engagement throughout his life.