Indian Territory

Circuit Judges of the Cherokee Nation

Circuit Judges, Middle Circuit Timothy Meigs Walker 1867; Jacob Bushyhead 1871, Kinick Sixkiller appointed in 1872 to try Ezekial Proctor; Timothy Meigs Walker 1875; Stephen Teehee 1879; Cicero Leonidas Lynch 1883 and 1887; William Nicholls Littlejohn l891, he resigned August 26, 1895 and Benjamin Goss was appointed August 2 7, 1895; Martin Van Benge 1895, he resigned and Charles Harris Sisson was appointed May 1, 1897. Circuit Judges, Northwestern Circuit Unknown 1831; Thomas Jefferson Pack 1843, he resigned and Riley Keys elected, vice Pack; Unknown 1845; Thomas B. Wolf 1847; Riley Keys 1849; Thomas Jefferson Pack 1851; Unknown 1853; Samuel … Read more

Biography of Elias P. Boudinot

The subject of this sketch was born January 2, 1854, the son of W. P. Boudinot, a poet and scholar, and brother of the late well-known E. C. Boudinot. Elias is a grandson of the celebrated Elias Boudinot, who was, perhaps, the most illustrious Cherokee of his day. He was almost a full blood, was educated at Cornwall, Connecticut, and there married Miss Harriet Gold, daughter of Rev. B. Gold, a Presbyterian minister, and president of the academy at Cornwall. An account of the tragical death of Elias Boudinot, Sr., will be found in the historical pages of this work. … Read more

Biography of Willie Longbone

After many years of active connection with agricultural interests of northeastern Oklahoma, Willie Longbone is now living retired at Dewey in the enjoyment of a substantial competence, acquired through close application and the capable management of his business interests. He is a native son of Oklahoma and a representative of one of the old and prominent families of the state. He was born in Washington County, December 18, 1868, of the marriage of dames and Susan (Washington) Longbone, the former a native of Kansas. The father came to Indian Territory in 1867, locating on a farm near Silver lake, in … 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

Treaty of May 6, 1828

Treaty of May 6, 1828, page 9

Articles of a Convention, concluded at the City of Washington this sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, between James Barbour, Secretary of War, being especially authorized therefore by the President of the United States, and the undersigned, Chiefs and Head Men of the Cherokee Nation of Indians, West of the Mississippi , they being duly authorized and empowered by their Nation. Whereas, it being the anxious desire of the Government of the United States to secure to the Cherokee nation of Indians, as well those now living within the limits … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Arthur F. Adair

Arthur F. Adair was born August 28, 1858, at Mayesville, Cherokee Nation, son of John L. Adair and Mary J. Jeffreys. In early boyhood he was sent to the primary schools, and completed his education at the national male seminary, Tahlequah, about 1883. Arthur commenced life as a schoolteacher; receiving charge of the Blue Springs school, ten miles from the capital, which he taught for five months. After this he went to Webber’s Falls and taught the Prairie Grove School for ten months, which was followed up by two sessions spent likewise in the Coowescowee district institutions. The subject of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of L. Cap Lane

Cap L. Lane was born November 26, 1867, at Clarksville, Texas, the only son of Dr. R. G. Lane, of Clarksville. His mother was a daughter of Cap Lane, a well-known farmer of North Texas. After attending school until the age of fifteen, the subject of this sketch entered the Kamper Family School, of Booneville, where at the end of three years he graduated, and returned to his home. Here he entered the drug business, and remained three years working for L. H. Galberg, when in May, 1888, he moved to Chelsea, Cherokee Nation, and opened a drug business of … Read more

Biography of Gideon Morgan

This well-known citizen of Tahlequah was born April 3, 1851, in Athens, Tennessee, the son of Major William Morgan and grandson of Colonel Gideon Morgan, of Stonewall Jackson’s army. His father was an officer in General John H. Morgan’s command, and was killed at the battle of Lexington, Kentucky, in 1862. The Morgans originally came from Wales. Colonel Gideon Morgan, already referred to, married Margaret Sevier, a granddaughter of General Sevier, who was half Cherokee, through his family connection with the Lowreys. Martha Mayo, daughter of G. W. Mayo, a white man, was mother to the subject of our sketch. … Read more

Biography of H. N. Gunn

Modern agriculture requires for its development an efficiency and a thorough knowledge which amount almost to a science and it has become recognized as an occupation in which practical methods result in a high degree of prosperity. This statement finds verification in the life record of H. N. Gunn, a pioneer farmer of Oklahoma, and by his success in a modern enterprise conducted along progressive lines he has proven the efficiency of system in promoting productiveness. A native of Missouri, he was born in the northern part of the state on the 20th of June, 1877, and came to Oklahoma … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joel T. Martin

(See Ghigau and Rogers) Joel Thomas, son of William and Sarah Martin, born August 21, 1876, educated in Cherokee Public Schools. Married October 26, 1896, Myrtle Stephens, nee Stephenson, born April 19, 1878, in Nodaway County, Missouri. One son, William A. Martin, married in 1899, Stella, daughter Mr. and Mrs. Argentine Causdell. They the parents of: Pauline, May and George Martin. Mr. Martin is a member of the Owls fraternity. He is a farmer near Ruby. George Washington Walker married Rachel Rogers and they were the parents of Mrs. Sarah Marlins.

Biographical Sketch of William M. Merrill

The subject of this sketch was born May, 1865, in Saline County, Missouri, second son of Asa C. Merrill, a prominent farmer of that State. William’s mother was a Miss Akres, also of that State, whose father is now residing in Kansas City. William attended public school until fifteen years of age, when he began assisting his father, and remained on the farm until that parent’s death in 1885, which he and his brother assumed charge of the property for their mother. In 1886 William took the responsibility upon himself, and with his family, in 1888, moved to Vinita, Cherokee … Read more

Biography of R. T. Ellis

R. T. Ellis, a member of one of the old and prominent families of Oklahoma, is well known in agricultural circles of Washington county as the owner of a highly productive and well improved farm near Ochelata. A native of Kentucky, he was born in Rockcastle County and is a son of Thomas J. and Vera Ellen (Smith) Ellis, who were also born in the Blue Grass state, the father’s birth having occurred at Vernon on the 25th of January, 1842. The paternal grandparents were Thomas and Susan (Wadzle) Ellis, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter … Read more

Biography of Joshua Burdett

The subject of this sketch was born at Fulton, Mo., October 1862, being the son of George F. Burdett, late of Lancaster, Ky., but at present practicing law in Clarksville, Texas. Joshua, after his mother’s death, was, at an early age, thrown much upon his own resources, as his father married a second time, and the young man, being of an independent disposition, undertook his own education and advancement. After a course of study at Fulton and St. Louis, Joshua entered the mercantile house of C. W. Samuels & Co. (his cousin), at Fulton, where he remained for five years. … Read more

Biography of Judge James M. Keys

Judge James M. Keys was born March 25, 1845, son of Louis Keys, who came from the old State in 1828 and settled on the Illinois River near Tahlequah. His mother was Catherine McDaniels, daughter to James McDaniels, of Irish descent. William Keys, the grandfather to James M., was a United States citizen of Scotch-Irish blood. James was educated at the Tahlequah schools, and at sixteen years of age enlisted in Captain Tennent’s company, Fourth Arkansas, serving three months and twenty days, when he joined Stand Watie’s First Cherokee Regiment, and remained with them until the termination of the war. … Read more

Biography of Francis Alexander Neilson

Francis A. Neilson was born in Oxford, Mississippi, June 2, 1860, eighth child in a family of twelve of W. S. Neilson, a prominent merchant of Oxford, and before the war a very wealthy man. Francis A. received his education at the State University, leaving his sophomore year at the age of twenty-one, after which he began a mercantile life as book-keeper in a large general merchandise store in Oxford, and remained in this occupation for three years. In 1885 the subject of our sketch went West to Arkansas City, Kansas, and there formed a partnership in the hardware business, … Read more

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 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

Establishment of Fort Gibson in 1824

Fort Gibson in 1875

By Act of Congress of March 2, 1819, Arkansas Territory was established July 4, embracing substantially all of what are now the states of Arkansas and Oklahoma; though the civil government of Arkansas Territory was limited to that section lying east of the Osage line, divided into counties, and embracing approximately the present state of Arkansas. That west of the Osage line was the Indian country, and in later years became known as Indian Territory. James Miller of New Hampshire was appointed the first Governor of Arkansas Territory, and among the duties of his office was that of supervision of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Valentine Gray

The subject of this sketch was born November 14, 1833, in Jackson County, Mississippi, the fourth son of William Gray, of that place. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew Frash. Valentine was sent to the public school until he was seventeen years of age. In 1852 he emigrated to California, where he became a farmer and stock-raiser. Here he remained seventeen years, coming east to Chouteau, I.T., in 1869, where he again embarked in stock raising and agriculture, and still continues the business. In 1875 he entered the mercantile and milling business, and after three years’ experience disposed of … Read more