Indian Territory

Treaty of February 14, 1833 – Creek

Articles of agreement and convention, made and concluded at Fort Gibson, between Montfort Stokes, Henry L. Ellsworth and John F. Schermerhorn, Commissioners on the part of the United States, and the undersigned Chiefs and Head-men of the Muskogee or Creek nation of Indians, this 14th day of February, A. D. 1833. WHEREAS, certain articles of a treaty were concluded at the City of Washington, on the 24th day of January one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six, by and between James Barbour, Secretary of War, on behalf of the United States, and the Chiefs and head-men of the Creek nation of … Read more

Biography of Albert Pike McKellopp

The subject of this sketch was born September 25, 1858, at Choska, Creek Nation, fourth son of James M. McKellopp, whose father came from Scotland in 1810, and settling in Alabama, married a sister to Moses Perryman, brother of Lewis Perryman, father of the present chief. James M. McKellopp, father of the subject of this sketch, was robbed and then murdered by Quantrell and his bushwhackers, at Choska, in 1864. His mother, who was daughter to Henry Marshall, of a prominent Creek family, died in 1865, from exposure, at Fort Gibson. Albert attended school at Tallahassee for three years, and … Read more

Biography of James Franklin Ledbetter

James Franklin Ledbetter, of Muskogee, has been a resident of this city for about seventeen years and through the period has largely been an incumbent in public office. Much of his life has thus been given to public service and his record has been most commendable, being characterized by marked devotion to duty and efficiency in the discharge of the tasks which have devolved upon him. Arkansas numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Madison county, December 15, 1852. He obtained a public school education and in early life gave his attention to the occupation of … 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

Biography of John S. Scott

The subject of this sketch was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in April 1837, the second son of Merchant Scott, of Jefferson County, Ohio, of Irish and Scotch descent. His mother’s name was Mary Stringer, of Irish descent. John attended school in Jefferson County, Ohio, until fourteen years of age, and moved with his family to Humboldt, Kansas, in 1857. Three years later he commenced business on his own account, and continued it until the town was burned by Confederate bushwhackers, after which he immediately recruited a company of Indians and entered the Federal service in May, 1862, as first … Read more

Biography of Joseph G. Schofield

One of the prominent attorneys of Checotah is Joseph G. Schofield, who was born in Lowell, Ohio, on the 22d of September, 1847, a son of Joseph C. and Anna (Miller) Schofield. He is of English and colonial ancestry on his father’s side and Scotch-Irish ancestry on the maternal side. The Schofield family in America is descended from Holland Dutch ancestors, the head of the English line having come to England with William of Orange, he being one of the officers who came from the native land to assist in the support of the claims of William and Anne to … 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

Biography of Ellis Starr

Ellis Starr was born June 17, 1853, on Lee’s Creek, Cherokee Nation, the only son of Leroy Starr, of Flint district. Ellis’ mother was a Miss Vann, daughter of Andy Vann, who died in Cuba many years ago, and who was second chief at the time of his death. Ellis’ grandfather, Ezekiel Starr, was one of the most prominent men in the nation, and died while in Washington, D. C., serving as delegate for his people, about the year 1847. Ellis attended public school until he was nine years of age, and at the close of the war went to … Read more

Biography of A. W. Ketchum

In the demise of A. W. Ketchum, which occurred on the 8th of February, 1921, when he was seventy-one years of age, Oklahoma lost one of its honored pioneers who was a witness of the growth and development of the state and an active factor in its progress. He was a sagacious business man whose interests were capably managed and at his death he was able to leave his family in comfortable financial circumstances. He was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, December 15, 1850, and came to Indiana Territory with the Delaware Indians under Chief Johnnycake, who was one of the … Read more

Biography of Sam Grayson

The subject of this sketch was born in 1849, the second son of James Grayson and Jane Wynne, daughter of John Wynne, a Georgian. When eight years of age Sam was sent to the Asberry Mission School, where he remained four years. In 1860 his father died, and when the war broke out, Sam, with his mother, brothers and sisters, joined the Creek refugees and settled on Red River until the war cloud passed over, returning to Eufaula in 1865. In 1868 he went to Cane Hill College, Arkansas, and there remained three terms; but, his health failing, he was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John A. Bell

The subject of this sketch, father to the present Lucien B. (Hooley) Bell, was born January 1, 1805, in South Carolina. He was the son of John Bell, whose father was Scotch-Irish and emigrated to this country during the persecution. John A. Bell, the subject of this sketch, was one of the leaders of the treaty party, and one of the first signers of the document that afterwards doomed to death Elias Boudinot and the two Ridges. In 1837 he emigrated to the new country, and settled near Evansville, Arkansas, in the Flint district, but during the troubles immediately preceding … Read more

Treaty of March 21, 1866

Articles of a treaty made and concluded at Washington, D.C., March 21, A.D., 1866, between the United States Government, by its commissioners, D.N. Cooley, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Elijah Sells, superintendent of Indian affairs, and Ely S. Parker, and the Seminole Indians, by their chiefs, John Chup-co, or Long John, Cho-cote-harjo, Fos-ha[r]-jo, John F. Brown. Whereas existing, treaties between the United States and the Seminole Nation are insufficient to meet their mutual necessities; and Whereas the Seminole Nation made a treaty with the so-called Confederate States, August 1st, 1861, whereby they threw off their allegiance to the United States, and … Read more

Biography of Rufus M. Allen

Rufus M. Allen, deceased, was for many years one of the representative agriculturists of Nowata county. He was born in the Coowescoowee district on the 12th of March, 1874, his father having been one of the pioneer physicians of Indian Territory, and his mother a daughter of Chief Journeycake. Rufus M. Allen received his education in the common schools of his birthplace and after putting his textbooks aside engaged in farming. He followed agricultural pursuits until oil was found on his farm in 1905. Nineteen wells have been developed on this farm, from which his widow is receiving large royalties. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Judge Isaac Jacobs

Isaac Jacobs was born January 26, 1854, in Sculliville County, Choctaw Nation, oldest son of S. L. Jacobs and C. Belvin, both of Choctaw origin. Isaac attended public school until the age of fourteen years. At seventeen he commenced farming, which, in connection with stock raising, he continues until the present day. In October 1889, he started in the mercantile business with his brother, W. F. Jacobs, at Muldrow, and they are now doing a very fair trade. Mr. Jacobs married Miss Amanda Pettit, of Sequoyah district, daughter of Thomas Pettit, a prominent Cherokee in his neighborhood. Mrs. Jacobs died … 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

Biography of J. Edgar Buffington

J. Edgar Buffington, a representative of an honored pioneer family of Oklahoma, figures prominently in financial circles of northeastern Oklahoma as President of the Vinita National Bank, in which connection he is controlling one of the most substantial moneyed institutions in this part of the state. He was born in that portion of Indian Territory known as the Cherokee Nation, on the 13th of March, 1881, of the union of Ezekiel and Anna (Scarcewater) Buffington and when but an infant lost both of his parents. His boyhood was spent as an inmate of the Cherokee Orphans’ Home at Salina, in … Read more

John R. White Application Packet

John R. White is a white man, living in Indian Territory and married to a Choctaw woman.  He made application to the commission in the same manner as any Indian person.  Listed below are the pages from his application packet. These pages are provided to give you an idea of the type of information that may be contained in a packet.  Sometimes there is less and there can be more, there should be something for each person in the family if they made an application or an application was made for them. John R. White Folder, folder containing the contents … Read more

Treaty of June 22, 1855

Articles of agreement and convention between the United States and the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes of Indians, made and concluded at the city of Washington, the twenty-second day of June, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, by George W. Manypenny, commissioner on the part of the United States, Peter P. Pitchlynn, Israel Folsom, Samuel Garland, and Dixon W. Lewis, commissioners on the part of the Choctaws; and Edmund Pickens and Sampson Folsom, commissioners on the part of the Chickasaws: Whereas, the political connection heretofore existing between the Choctaw and the Chickasaw tribes of Indians, has given rise to … Read more

Biography of John Scullawl

Among those whose activities in the cultivation of the soil have contributed materially to the agricultural development of Washington county is numbered John Scullawl, a native son of Oklahoma, who is the owner of a valuable farm near Ochelata. He was born in the northeastern part of this state on the 17th of October, 1866, of Cherokee parents, who removed from Tennessee to Indian Territory, casting in their lot with its early pioneers. John Scullawl is a man of fine physique, weighing two hundred and ten pounds. His life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits. He is the owner of … Read more

Biography of Patrick Cleburn Woodruff, M. D.

In the passing of Dr. Patrick Cleburn Woodruff the medical profession lost a representative member. For twelve years he resided in Stilwell and during that time endeared himself to every one in the community. A man of great charity, he served rich and poor alike and his sudden demise, on the 29th of December, 1914, came as a severe shock to his many friends. A native of Mississippi, Dr. Woodruff was born on the 31st of January, 1865, a son of T. P. and Elizabeth (Leatherwood) Woodruff, both natives of that state. In 1871 they removed to Paris, Texas, and … Read more