Indian Territory

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Greece

Thomas, son of George Greece, was born in the Cherokee Nation, educated in Male Seminary. Married at Welling in 1907 Nannie Walker. Mr. Grease is a farmer and belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

Biography of J. M. Tanner

One of the substantial citizens of Nowata is J. M. Tanner, who for many years was engaged in farming in this county. He was born near Alluwe in the Coowescoowee district on the 6th of March, 1875, a son of N. J. and Rachael A. (Journeycake) Tanner. His father was a native of Ohio and came to Indian Territory in 1863, locating in the Coowescoowee district, where he farmed and operated a sawmill until his demise in March, 1892. His wife was a daughter of the Rev. Charles Journeycake, a well known figure in the history of this country, and … Read more

Biography of Governor Ward Coachman

The pleasant and popular ex-Governor Coachman was born in Wetumka, Alabama, in 1827, and went to the neighboring schools in Macon County, the same State, at an early age. He is the youngest son of Muslushobie (otherwise Coachman) by his wife Pollie Durant, a half-breed, and full niece of Alexander McGibery, once a prominent Creek leader, mentioned in Piggot’s history. She was also sister to Sophia McComb and Rachel Bosheers, of Scotch and French descent. The subject of this sketch lived with his uncle Loughlin Durant until twenty-two years of age, when he moved West to the Creek Nation on … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Laura Alice Henry

(See Grant)-Laura daughter of Ellis and Martha (Copeland) Buffington was born September 22. Married December 26, 1871, Josiah, son of Jesse and Lucy (Love) Henry, born January 1, 1850. He was elected in November 1869, Solicitor of Cooweescoowee District appointed to the same office in by the Chief. Elected Councilor from Cooweescoowee District August 1, 1881 and August 2, 1897. He died Oct. 4, 1904 and she died Nov. 12, 1906. They were the parents of Rosa Jane Henry, born August 10, 1883, educated in the Cherokee Public Schools and Female Seminary and E. E. Rector, born Feb. 27, 1873 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. F. Seaver

W. F. Seaver was born in Rock Island, Illinois, February 22, 1849, and was the son of John Seaver and Eliza Criswell, who emigrated to Illinois in 1840, the former being a native of Virginia. At the age of sixteen, William left his home and traveled indiscriminately through the States, adopting various means of making a living throughout sixteen states which he visited in turn. Having sowed his first crop of wild oats, the young man, determining to study for a profession, entered the Alexandria College, Alexandria, Missouri, and then read law under Hon. E. Kimble, of Nevada, Missouri. He … Read more

The Discovery Of This Continent, it’s Results To The Natives

Columbus Landing on Hispaniola

In the year 1470, there lived in Lisbon, a town in Portugal, a man by the name of Christopher Columbus, who there married Dona Felipa, the daughter of Bartolome Monis De Palestrello, an Italian (then deceased), who had arisen to great celebrity as a navigator. Dona Felipa was the idol of her doting father, and often accompanied him in his many voyages, in which she soon equally shared with him his love of adventure, and thus became to him a treasure indeed not only as a companion but as a helper; for she drew his maps and geographical charts, and also … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frederick Hall

Frederick, son of William and Martha (Childers) Hall, born in the Cherokee Nation in 1873. Married in 1896 Katie Burgin. They are the parents of: Martha May, Arthur, Iva Jane and Alvina Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Baptist church and are farmers.

Choctaw War Against the Osage and other Legends

There were many traditions among all North American Indians, many of which bordered on the poetical and from which I will select one or two more, which shall suffice as examples of a few of the peculiarities of this peculiar yet interesting people. Thus says the tradition of “Ohoyo Osh Chisba,” (The Unknown Woman.) In the days of many moons ago, two Choctaw hunters were encamped for the night in the swamps of the bend of the Alabama River. But the scene was not without its romance. Dark, wild, and unlovely as a swamp is generally imagined to be, yet … Read more

Biography of John O. Cobb

Born June 4, 1842, the seventh son of Sylvester Cobb, of Tennessee, the subject of our sketch attended public school until seventeen years of age, when he commenced railroading, and continued the business for three years, when the war broke out and he joined the Federal army, holding the positions of private, second and first lieutenant, and finally, captain of his company. After the close of the war he came to the Cherokee Nation with Colonel John J. Humphrey, at that time agent for the Cherokees. In 1867 he established a trading post at Webber’s Falls, Canadian District, under the … Read more

Senators of the Cherokee Nation

Senators from the Canadian District 1841. Captain William Dutch- and the other one unknown. 1843. Captain William Dutch and Joseph Tally. Both resigned. 1844. John Shepherd and Nelson Riley, vice Dutch and Talley, resigned. 1845. James Mackey and William Shorey Coody. The latter was elected President of the Senate. 1847. Captain William Dutch and William Shorey Coody. The latter died April 16, 1849. 1849. Josiah Reese and Lightningbug Bowles. 1851. David Boggs and Nelson Riley. 1853. David Boggs and Teesee Guess. 1855. John Drew and Lightningbug Bowles. 1857. John Drew and William Doublehead. 1859. Joseph Abalom Scales and Daniel Coody. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Richard Mills

The subject of this sketch was born July 4, 1855, the son of James Lloyd Mills, a white man, and Elizabeth Fields, daughter to Richard Fields and grand-daughter to the well known Dick Fields, who was murdered by Bowles in the State of Texas. Mr. W. R. Mills was born in the neutral strip, and refugeed with his mother and brothers during the war at Boonsborough, Ark., while his father was serving as lieutenant in Stand Watie’s command. After the war his father settled on the west side of Grand River, having had all his property in the strip confiscated … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. A. Lawrence

J. A. Lawrence was born October 18, 1856, in Smith County, Texas, and attended public school until eighteen years of age, after which he went to the Methodist Institute, Sulphur Springs, Texas, where he remained one year. Later he studied twelve months at the high school in Smith County, and commenced teaching the public school in Wood County, in 1878. In 1879 he began the study of law in Tyler, Texas, and in 1880 was admitted to the bar. In 1881 he located at Quitman, Wood County, and practiced law for a couple of years, when he was elected prosecuting … Read more

Act of April 28, 1904

33 Stat. L. 573 AN ACT To provide for additional United States judges in the Indian Territory, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Sates of America in Congress assembled, That there shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, four additional judges of the United States court in the Indian Territory, one for the northern district, one for the western district, one for the central district, and one for the southern district. And said judges shall have all the authority and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Harrison O. Shepard

Harrison O. Shepard was born in December 1865, at Mount Vernon, Indiana, the sixth son of Joseph W. Shepard and Mary E. Barter, an English lady by nativity. Harrison went to the public schools until sixteen years of age, and commenced the study of law at nineteen with Grove & Sheperd, of Anthony, Kansas. He remained with that firm for two years, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1887, when he became a partner with the above named firm, and practiced until the establishment of a United States court in the Indian Territory in 1889, since which time … Read more

Biography of Clyde C. Cantrell

Clyde C. Cant. a native son of Oklahoma and a representative of one of the pioneer families of the state, is an alert, energetic and enterprising young man who is making wise use of his time, his talents and his opportunities. He is now serving as postmaster of Haskell and is proving a popular and efficient public official. He was born near Pryor, in Mayes County, Oklahoma, January 12, 1894, and is a son of Walter A. and Cora D. (Gortney) Cantrell, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Indiana. When fourteen years of age the father … Read more

Biography of O. H. P. Brewer

O. H. P. Brewer, member of the Muskogee county bar, who on the 8th of August, 1921, retired from the office of postmaster, having filled the position for eight years, has devoted no inconsiderable part of his life to public service and his labors have constituted an important force for public good. Mr. Brewer was born at Webbers Falls, in the Indian Territory, a little village situated twenty-five miles southeast of Muskogee. His parents were Cherokee citizens, who voluntarily removed from Georgia to the Indian Territory in 1838, in accordance with the terms of a congressional act. His father, O. … Read more

Biography of Andrew Henderson

Andrew Henderson, sheriff of Washington county, Oklahoma, was born at Bates City, Missouri, May 2, 1878, a son of A. J. and Katherine (Ferguson) Henderson. The father, who was a native of Illinois and a highly educated man, was a farmer and stock raiser. He left his native state when eighteen years of age and on removing to Texas he located in Limestone county, where he engaged in the cattle business for many years, driving his cattle to the market at Kansas City, Missouri. He then obtained a lease on the entire site where the town of Dewey now stands, … Read more

Biography of John Lynch Adair

John Lynch Adair was born in Georgia, and left there with the general removal of the Cherokees in 1839, while a small boy. His father was Thomas Benjamin Adair, a descendant of a brother of General James Adair, the Indian historian. His mother was Rachel Lynch, from whom he derives his Cherokee blood. His parents died while he was a mere child, and he was consigned to the keeping of his aunt, Mrs. Maria Thompson, afterward Cunningham by marriage, and to the guardianship of two of his uncles, Joseph M. Lynch and James Allen Thompson, the latter by marriage. He … Read more

Slave Narrative of Milton Starr

Person Interviewed: Milton Starr Date of Birth: February 24, 1858 I was born a slave, but was not treated like other slaves and my folks never told me anything about slavery. So there is very little I can tell of those days. My birthplace was in the old Flint District of the Cherokee Nation; the nearest town was Russellville, Arkansas, and the farm was owned by Jerry Starr, half-breed Cherokee, who was my master and father. They told me I was born February 24, 1858, right in my master’s house, and when I was a baby had the care of … Read more