Indian Territory

Biography of Hon. George W. Parks

Hon. G. W. Parks, deceased, supreme judge of the Cherokee Nation, was born in Monroe County, Tennessee, March 20, 1820, and emigrated with his father and family to the present nation in 1838. George received a common school education, and at eighteen years of age was appointed wagon master by Gen. Winfield Scott, who conducted the Cherokees to their homes in the Indian Territory. George remained in the new country two years, after which he returned home, and at his father’s death embarked in the dry goods business in 1840, in Cleveland, Tennessee, on a capital of $4,000. Remaining there … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Penelope Adair

The subject of this sketch is the wife of John Thompson Adair, recently deceased, whose portrait and biography will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Penelope Adair is the daughter of Jesse Mayfield, of South Carolina, who married Sarah, daughter of Caleb Starr, of Tennessee. Her parents emigrated to this nation in 1839 with the Bushyhead detachment. In January 1840, Penelope Mayfield married John Thompson Adair, and they settled near Tulu, Washington County, Arkansas, near the Indian Territory line, beside the present family home. Mrs. Adair had a family of nine children, two having died in infancy. Her oldest … Read more

Biography of Napoleon Bonaparte Moore

Napoleon Bonaparte Moore was born January 8, 1828, in Russell County, Alabama, son of William Moore and Lucy Chemulee, who was daughter of Chemulee, a man of much prominence among the Cussetahs. At six years of age Napoleon commenced attending public school, continuing the same until he was sixteen years old; after which he returned to his father’s home, whom he assisted on the farm, remaining with him until his death, in 1847, when he assumed charge of his sister and brothers until 1853. He was afterwards appointed light-horse man of his country, which office he held until the breaking … Read more

Biography of Natt T. Wagner

Natt T. Wagner manager of the bond department of the First National Bank of St. Louis was born in Asheville, North Carolina, June 12, 1883. His father, J. A. Wagner, is a native of Tennessee, while the latter’s father was a native of Virginia. J. A. Wagner became an architect, devoting his active life to the profession, but is now living retired in Asheville, North Carolina. He has been very prominent in community affairs and during the Civil war served as a captain in the Federal army. He married Emma Brown, who was born in Greene county, Tennessee, and has … 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 Wilson N. Jones

W. N. Jones, the present chief of the Choctaws, was born in Mississippi in 1831, and is the youngest son of Nathaniel Jones, who emigrated to the Choctaw Nation in 1833. Nathaniel Jones was annuity captain, and served later as a member of the legislature at the early councils. The subject of our sketch belongs to the Ok-la-fa-lay-a clan. In 1849 he commenced farming without any capital whatever. The results were very limited for the first few years, but he soon accumulated enough to secure a fair start. He succeeded so far as to be in a position to open … Read more

Biography of Micajah H. Phillips

For over half a century Micajah H. Phillips has made his home in Oklahoma and for many years he was an active factor in the agricultural development of the state, but is now living retired on his farm near Delaware, in Nowata county, having reached the age of seventy-eight years. He was born in Surry county, North Carolina, April 30, 1843, and in May, 1870, when a young man of twenty-seven years, he came to Indian Territory casting in U-10 lot with its pioneer settlers. He acquired land seven miles south of Tahlequah and for eight years there engaged in … Read more

Biography of Walter Thompson Adair, M.D.

Walter Thompson Adair was born in December 1834, near the old Georgia gold mines, Georgia, son of George Washington Adair and grandson of the well-known Black Watt Adair. In 1867 Walter moved with his parents on the Arkansas line, twelve miles south of Cane Hill, his father being principal chief of the treaty party at the time of their removal from the old nation. His mother was Martha, daughter of Judge Martin, first treasurer of the nation. Walter was placed in the national male seminary until seventeen years of age, and began the study of medicine in 1855, taking his … Read more

Biography of Louis F. Wilkie

Louis F. Wilkie, making his home in Bartlesville, is actively identified with farming interests in Osage county and is also the owner of oil lands, from which he derives good royalties. Mr. Wilkie is a native of Osage county, Oklahoma, his birth having there occurred January 12, 1886. He is a son of Andrew Wilkie, who was a native of Germany and came to the United States when a youth of eighteen years. He arrived in Indian Territory when a young man of twenty years and for an extended period engaged in farming and stock raising. He was a close … Read more

Biography of W. W. Fields

A native son of Oklahoma and a member of a family that has contributed in substantial measure to the agricultural development of the state from pioneer times to the present, W. W. Fields was to the time of his death the owner of a well improved and valuable farm near Dewey and he was also interested in oil development here, displaying marked enterprise and ability in the management of his business affairs. He was born on a farm twenty-five miles south of Muskogee on the 7th of March, 1890, his parents being Richard and Texanna Fields, and was of Cherokee … Read more

Houses of the Sauk and Fox Tribes

Mat covered lodges

It is not the purpose of the present sketch to trace the early migrations of the Sauk and Fox tribes, or to refer to their connection, linguistically or socially. However, it is evident their villages were similar in appearance, and both had two distinct forms of habitations which were occupied during different seasons of the year. The summer villages of both tribes consisted of bark houses, and near by were gardens in which they raised corn, squashes, beans, and some tobacco, but with the coming of autumn the families scattered and sought the more protected localities where game was to be … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William A. Sepulpa

The subject of this sketch was born October, 1861, near Polecat Creek, Sepulpa Station, on the Frisco and St. Louis Railroad, being the son of Sepulpa, who died in 1889. His grandmother lived until May 1890, dying at the age of ninety years. William was first sent to school at Tallahassee Mission, Indian Territory, in 1872, and remained five years, going from thence to Wooster University, Ohio, where he studied for three and a half years in the freshman class. On his return he was appointed United States Indian officer in 1885, and afterwards entered S. B. Severs’ establishment at … 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

Biographical Sketch of Martin R. Brown

Martin R. Brown was born February, 1868, at Fort Gibson, second son of John L. Brown and Anna E. Schrimsher, daughter of Martin Schrimsher, a white man, intermarried with the Cherokees, and very prominent in the nation. Martin attended neighborhood school until 1879, after which he went to the male seminary at Tahlequah, and attended it for four sessions. In 1881 he commenced teaching school at Garfield and Fort Gibson, where he was engaged two years. For some time he had been studying pharmacy, and in 1883 opened a drug store at Fort Gibson, which he soon sold out, and … Read more

Biography of S. T. Wyckoff

One of the alert and enterprising business men of Lenepah is S. T. Wyckoff, who was born in Canton, Illinois, on the 8th of October, 1858, a son of H. C. and Eliza (Powelson) Wyckoff. At the age of twelve years he removed to Kansas with his parents and his brother H. C., and the father engaged in mercantile business at Howard and Langton for many years. He achieved more than substantial success in that enterprise and lived in retirement for a few years before his demise, which occurred in 1885. Mrs. Wyckoff died in Langton, Kansas, in 1883. S. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Caleb W. Starr

The subject of this sketch was born in Going Snake district in 1858, son of Joseph Starr and Lilah Adair. Caleb was but five years of age when his parents died, and therefore was denied the educational advantages he would have otherwise enjoyed. During the war he refugeed at Boggy Depot, in the Choctaw Nation, and afterward went to school at Cane Hill, Arkansas. Caleb went farming and rising stock for several years after the war, and then entered the Western Independent printing office at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Having learned the trade, he devoted his services to the typographical department … 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

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

Biography of Neil Baxter Gardner

Since 1915 Neil Baxter Gardner has been Superintendent of the Oklahoma State Home for Orphans at Pryor. He was first appointed to that position of public service by Governor R. L. Williams, and he discharged his duties with such efficiency during that administration, that he was reappointed by Governor Robertson, with a substantial increase in salary. Mr. Gardner is one of Oklahoma’s sons by adoption, for he was born in Independence, Henderson County, Tennessee, on the 12th of October, 1875. His parents were Nathan A. and Frances Leona (Autry) Gardner, both of whom were born in Tennessee. They are now … Read more

Biography of Rev. William McCombs

William is the eldest son of Samuel McCombs and Susan Stinson, and grandson of Zacharias McCombs, and was born July 22, 1844, seven miles east of Fort Gibson. His father was one of the hundred State Dragoons selected by the Government of the State of Tennessee to go west and prepare for the emigration of the Indians. After serving in this department, he remained in the employment of the Government at Fort Gibson until 1850. Mr. McCombs was a Scotchman by birth, and emigrated at an early date. Mrs. McCombs was a half Creek and white woman, of the Stinson … Read more