Indian Territory

Biography of Judge Napoleon Bonaparte Moore

A life of great usefulness and far-reaching influence ended when on the 10th of October, 1911, Judge Napoleon Bonaparte Moore was called to his final rest, after a long illness, at the venerable age of eighty-four years. Long a leader of public thought and action, he left his impress in notable measure upon the history of Oklahoma along agricultural, legislative, political and moral lines. A native of Alabama, he was born on the 8th of January, 1827, of the marriage of William and Lucy (Chemathla) Moore, who were also natives of that state, in which the father spent his life, … 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

Biographical Sketch of Richard Watson Hicks

Richard W. Hicks was born in 1855, the son of the late ex-Judge Jay Hicks, of the Flint district, who died in 1869. Richard’s mother was a Miss Kate Levi, a full-blood Cherokee. Although a most successful schoolteacher, Richard Hicks’ education was confined to the neighborhood school at Pleasant Valley, which he attended for about four years. In 1886, at the age of thirty, he commenced teaching in Sequoyah district, after which he taught two terms at Rabbit Trap, Tahlequah district. He was next sent to open the Hickory Creek School, in Coowescowee district, and proved his adaptability for his … Read more

Biography of Alexander Tindle

Alexander Tindle, sheriff of Adair county and a veteran of the World war, was born near Stilwell on the 23d of April, 1893, a son of James L. and Annie (Johnson) Tindle. The father was a native of Missouri, who went to Indian Territory at an early age and there married Miss Annie Johnson, a member of a prominent Cherokee family, her parents having originally come from Georgia. For many years Mr. Tindle engaged in farming and stock raising and achieved substantial success in that connection. His demise occurred on the 20th of April, 1906. His widow is still living. … Read more

Treaty of June 2, 1825

Articles of a treaty made and concluded at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, between William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Commissioner on the part of the United States, and the undersigned, Chiefs, Head-Men, and Warriors, of the Great and Little Osage Tribes of Indians, duly authorized and empowered by their respective Tribes or Nations. In order more effectually to extend to said Tribes that protection of the Government so much desired by them, it is agreed as follows: Article I. The Great and Little Osage Tribes or Nations do, hereby, cede and relinquish to the United States, all … Read more

Biography of Thomas William Triplett

The subject of this sketch was born at Caney Creek, near Tahlequah, May 24, 1869, the son of William Triplett, a half-breed, and Nannie Saunders, who was almost a full blood. Thomas, when quite young, attended a neighborhood school close to his birthplace until, moving to Tahlequah in 1878, he went to the public school for one year, after which, in 1879, he entered the national seminary, graduating and securing his B. A. under Professor Davis in 1886. On leaving the seminary, he was appointed for a while as deputy district clerk of the district of Tahlequah, but soon after … Read more

Early Indian Wars in Florida

Narvaez in Florida

Previous to the permanent establishment of the English in North America, the French and Spaniards made many attempts to get possession of various parts of the country. The coasts were carefully explored, and colonies planted, but they were soon given up as expensive, and involving too much hardship and danger. The first expedition to the coast of Florida was made in 1512, by Juan Ponce de Leon, renowned for his courage and warlike abilities. Ponce de Leon, becoming governor of Porto Rico (Puerto Rico), and hearing from the Indians that there existed a beautiful and fertile country to the northward, … Read more

Biography of Colonel Dew Moore Wisdom

Dew Moore Wisdom was born February 3, 1836, at Medon, Madison County, Tennessee, being the eldest son of William S. Wisdom, the leading merchant and landowner of McNary County, Tennessee, and widely known throughout the State. His mother was a Miss Jane Anderson, of an old family, from the eastern part of Tennessee. Dew studied at the neighborhood schools until sixteen years of age, when he went to Cumberland University, Lebanon, graduating and securing his B. A. degree in 1857. Soon afterward he commenced the practice of law in Purdy, Tennessee, and there remained until the outbreak of the war, … Read more

General History of the Western Indian Tribes 1851-1870 – Indian Wars

At the Sand Creek Massacre

Up to 1851, the immense uninhabited plains east of the Rocky Mountains were admitted to be Indian Territory, and numerous tribes roamed from Texas and Mexico to the Northern boundary of the United States. Then came the discovery of gold in California, drawing a tide of emigration across this wide reservation, and it became necessary, by treaty with the Indians, to secure a broad highway to the Pacific shore. By these treaties the Indians were restricted to certain limits, but with the privilege of ranging, for hunting purposes, over the belt thus re-reserved as a route of travel.

Biographical Sketch of James Marion Morrow

Born July 1, 1860, in Knox County, Ohio, the fifth son of William J. Morrow, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser. James’ mother was a Miss Easter, of Scotch descent. James attended district school until fifteen years of age, when he went to Lincoln College, Jackson County, Missouri. After having remained three years at college, he began clerking in a drug store in Kansas. Following this business for eleven years at different places, he went to Iowa, and there remained some time, after which, in 1891, he moved to Muskogee, Indian Territory, and there began clerking for Sam Gavagan, the druggist. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Stephen G. Maxfield

Stephen G., the son of Jenkins Whiteside and Kate (Hastings) Maxfield, was born in 1873; was educated in the public schools of the Cherokee Nation. He married at Claremore in 1894, Ada, the daughter of Joseph Shockey. They are the parents of Grace, Cora, Pauline, Almeda, and Woodrow Maxfield. Mr. and Mrs. Maxfield are members of the Methodist Church. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias.

Biography of Dutch White Turkey

Dutch White Turkey, long identified with the farming interests of Washington county and in more recent years connected with the oil development of this part of the state, was born on the 18th of June, 1857, in Kansas, seven miles east of Lawrence on the Delaware reservation. He was the eldest in a family of eight children, the others being: Sam; Robert; Albert; George; Katie, who became the wife of James Day of Bartlesville; Lilly, the wife of Dolph Fugate of Dewey; and Lucinda, deceased. Both of the parents were full-blooded Delawares and their name was really Simon. White Turkey … Read more

Biography of Hon. Samuel Morton Rutherford

Samuel Morton Rutherford has always been keenly alive to his duties and responsibilities as a man and citizen and through the avenue of his profession has done much to uphold the legal and moral status of his community. Residing in Muskogee, he is recognized as one of the eminent members of the bar of this section of the state, attaining high position in a calling where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit and ability. Samuel M. Rutherford is indebted to the public school system of Fort Smith, Arkansas, for his early educational privileges and later he enjoyed the benefit of … 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 Benjamin F. Fortner, M.D

The subject of this sketch was born August 15, 1847, third son of M. F. Fortner, who resides eight miles north of Dallas, and is one of the few living who first settled in that country from Kentucky. Benjamin’s mother was Miss Hall, of Simpson County, Kentucky, daughter of a prominent farmer in that State. Mr. Fortner attended private and public schools in Texas until his seventeenth year. In 1864 he volunteered in the Confederate service, and served until the close of the war, after which he returned home, and again went to school until 1866. That year his parents … Read more

Treaty of February 27, 1867

Articles of agreement concluded at Washington, D. C., on the twenty-seventh day of February, 1867, between the United States, represented by Lewis G. Bogy, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, W. H. Watson, special commissioner, Thos. Murphy, supt. of Indian affairs for Kansas, and Luther R. Palmer, U. S. Indian agent, duly authorized, and the Pottawatomie tribe of Indians, represented by their chiefs, braves, and head-men, to wit: Mazhee, Mianco, Shawgwe, B. H. Bertrand, J. N. Bourassa, M. B. Beaubien, L. H. Ogee, and G. L. Young Whereas the Pottawatomies believe that it is for the interest of their tribe that a … Read more

Biography of John L. Bullette

John L. Bullette was born April 10, 1852, in Wyandotte County, Kansas, third son of George Bullette and Eliza Connor. His father was of French descent and his mother of Irish descent, both possessing Indian blood. His grandparents on both sides intermarried into the Delaware tribe. In 1859 John L. attended the Baptist Mission School in Wyandotte County, where he remained until 1861, when the war broke out, and he removed with his people to the Cherokee Nation. This move was agreeable to a contract made between both tribes, wherein the Delawares purchased a right and title to the lands … 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 O. Lonzo Conner

O. Lonzo Conner, a native of Oklahoma and a representative of one of its old and highly respected Cherokee families, is identified with business interests of Vinita as a partner in the firm of Ramey & Conner, dealing in insurance, and is recognized as one of the most successful operators in this field in the state, while he also is interested in oil development work. He was born on a farm near Fairland, in Indian Territory, on the 12th of February, 1877, his parents being Frank M. and Rebecca (Duncan) Conner, the former of whom was born at Joplin, Missouri, … Read more

Biography of Elijah Hermigine Lerblance

The subject of this sketch was born in March 1836, and is the son of Hermogene Lerblance, a Louisiana Frenchman, and Vicey Gentry, daughter of Elijah Gentry, a white man who married a full-blood Catawba Indian. The subject of this sketch moved from Alabama to the Creek Nation, with his parents, at the age of twelve, after which he attended the Asberry Mission Manual Labor School for a term of fifteen months. At the age of seventeen years he commenced learning the blacksmith trade, and while thus employed he married Miss Bosen, daughter of Amos Bosen, King of the Hitchetee … Read more