Indian Territory

Biography of Peter R. Ewing

Peter Ewing was born in 1860, the eldest son of Chuffee (which, in English, means rabbit), who was born in Georgia about 1816, and emigrated to the Creek Nation in 1833. His mother came from the same place, but died in 1878, a devout member of the Baptist Church. Peter attended a neighborhood school from the time he was thirteen years of age until sixteen, after which he went to Asberry Mission, near Eufaula, where he remained until 1880. After leaving that institution he assisted his father in agriculture for three months, and then went to school at Louisville, Ky., … Read more

Biography of Zachariah Taylor Preston

Zachariah Taylor Preston, who is successfully engaged in farming a mile north of Ramona in Washington County, was born on Grand River, twenty-five miles east of Vinita, Craig County, Oklahoma, on the 23d of January, 1883. His father, Charles Henry Preston, was a native of Virginia and on coming to the Indian Territory settled near Grove. He was a surgeon and served in the Confederate army during the Civil war. He practiced medicine and surgery in the Indian Territory and in the state of Oklahoma until fifteen years prior to his death, passing away at the home of his son, … Read more

Biography of William T. Hutchings

William T. Hutchings was born in September 1858, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, the third son of Dr. John M. Hutchings, a man of considerable prominence in his State. His mother was a Miss Sallie White, daughter of Dr. Richard White, of Chatham, Virginia. After a preparatory education at a village school, William was sent to Bingham School, North Carolina, at the age of fourteen years. Here he remained two years, when he went to Richmond College, Virginia, and studied at that institution for two and a half years, but was obliged to leave during the middle of a session, owing … Read more

Biography of D. H. Flournoy

The subject of this sketch was born March 1, 1848, in Natchitoches, Texas, and is son of Samuel Flournoy, originally from near Lexington, Kentucky, and at one time owner of a large plantation and a number of slaves. Samuel Flournoy organized a company in 1846 and went with Samuel Houston to the Mexican war. The subject of our sketch, D. H. Flournoy, was educated at a private school until the age of sixteen, when he joined the Confederacy, serving under Colonel Crump until the close of the war. On his return home he worked in the cattle business until 1871, … Read more

Biography of Alexander Sondheimer

Alexander Sondheimer, banker and merchant, recognized as one of the representative and progressive business men of Muskogee, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, May 11, 1873, and is a son of Joseph and Johanna Sondheimer. His youthful days were spent in St. Louis and in Muskogee, for he was but six years of age when brought by his parents to this city. His father had first visited Muskogee in 1867 and, pleased with the city and its prospects, he brought his family here in 1879, so that Alexander Sondheimer pursued a part of his education in the schools of Muskogee. … Read more

Treaty with the Delaware, July 4, 1866

Articles of agreement between the United States and the chiefs and councilors of the Delaware Indians, on behalf of said tribe, made at the Delaware Agency, Kansas, on the fourth day of July, eighteen hundred and sixty-six. Whereas Congress has by law made it the duty of the President of the United States to provide by treaty for the removal of the Indian tribes from the State of Kansas; and whereas the Delaware Indians have expressed a wish to remove from their present reservation in said State to the Indian country, located between the States of Kansas and Texas; and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Charles M. Ross

The subject of this sketch was born at Tahlequah, Indian Territory, December 17, 1868, eldest son of R. B. Ross, ex-treasurer, and great-grandson of Chief John Ross. Chas. M. Ross received his education at the Male Seminary, Tahlequah, graduating in 1887 with high honors. Soon after he entered the Missouri Medical College, St. Louis, where he graduated March 31, 1891, and returning to Tahlequah commenced the practice of medicine. He moved to Claremore August 1st of the same year, and established himself with Dr. J. C. Bushyhead, son of the ex-chief and an old classmate of his in the medical … Read more

Cherokee Tribe

1830 Map of Cherokee Territory in Georgia

“Cherokee Tribe – Access Genealogy” provides a comprehensive overview of the Cherokee people, including their history, language, and clans. The text explores their origins, their forced removal westward on the “Trail of Tears,” and the establishment of the Eastern Band of Cherokee. It also highlights notable figures like Sequoya, who developed a Cherokee syllabary, and William H. Thomas, who advocated for the Eastern Band’s right to remain in North Carolina. The website offers numerous links to additional resources for those seeking more in-depth information about the Cherokee.

Biography of William Johnstone

William Johnstone, who was one of nature’s noblemen and whose life in every respect measured up to the highest standards of human conduct and of service to his fellows, passed away on the 14th of July, 1915. His earthly record was of comparatively short duration, for he had only reached the fifty-sixth milestone on life’s journey. But he had accomplished much more than may be set down to the credit of the vast majority. He had been one of the builders of Bartlesville through the establishment and successful management of various commercial and industrial interests and also by reason of … 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 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

Muskogean Indians

Muskhogean Family, Muskhogean Stock, Muskhogean People, Muskhogean Indians. An important linguistic stock, comprising the Creeks, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, and other tribes. The name is an adjectival form of Muskogee, properly Măskóki (pl. Maskokalgi or Muscogulgee). Its derivation has been attributed to an Algonquian term signifying `swamp’ or `open marshy land’, but this is almost certainly incorrect. The Muskhogean tribes were confined chiefly to the Gulf states east of almost all of Mississippi and Alabama, and parts of Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. According to a tradition held in common by most of their tribes, they had reached their historic seats from some starting point west of the Mississippi, usually placed, when localized at all, somewhere on the upper Red River. The greater part of the tribes of the stock are now on reservations in Oklahoma.

Biography of John H. Plunkett, M. D.

Thoroughly equipped by liberal collegiate training for the profession which he makes his life work and in which he has ever displayed the strictest fidelity to high principles, Dr. John H. Plunkett is numbered among the leading physicians and surgeons of Porum, where for the past eight years he has been engaged in practice. A native of Arkansas, he was born in Logan County, April 12, 1874, his parents being Jasper and Mary (Bennett) Plunkett, the former also a native of that state, while the latter was born in Tennessee. The father engaged in the cultivation of a farm in … Read more

Biography of James W. McSpadden

James W. McSpadden was born October 21, 1848, in Belcher County, Alabama, the eldest son of Rev. T. K. B. McSpadden, who came to the country and joined the Indian Mission Conference held at Fort Gibson in 1870. The reverend gentleman devoted himself to Christian labors for seven years and died in 1877 beloved and respected by all who knew him. The subject of this sketch attended neighborhood school until 1861, when he accompanied his father (a lieutenant in the Confederate army) all through the campaign. After the war James was sent to the Phoenix Academy, North Alabama, until he … Read more

Treaty of July 19, 1866

Articles of agreement and convention at the city of Washington on the nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, between the United States, represented by Dennis N. Cooley, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, [and] Elijah Sells, superintendent of Indian affairs for the southern superintendency, and the Cherokee Nation of Indians, represented by its delegates, James McDaniel, Smith Christie, White Catcher, S. H. Benge, J. B. Jones, and Daniel H. Ross—John Ross, principal chief of the Cherokees, being too unwell to join in these negotiations. Preamble. Whereas existing treaties between the United States … Read more

Biography of George Warren Barnes

George Warren Barnes, who is at the head of the Barnes Oil Company, oil producers of Muskogee, has been continuously engaged in that line of business since 1901, with the exception of the period of the World war, which he devoted to work as state director of National War Savings on a government salary of one dollar a year. His birth occurred at Honesdale, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of October, 1880, his parents being George W. and Alice (Young) Barnes. John D. Benedict of Muskogee has written the following most interesting history of the life of George W. Barnes, the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. T. Canup

This promising young literary man was born February 17, 1866, in Cherokee County, North Carolina, the son of F. M. Canup, a Frenchman, and Elizabeth Payne, one-sixteenth Cherokee. He was educated at Tehuacana University, Texas, and through the influence of R. M. Kimbrough, a congressman of Dallas County, became associated with the Dallas Herald, where he worked two years, after which he became an attaché of the Dallas News. After the death of Stone, proprietor of the Tahlequah Telephone, Mr. Canup, who was at Vinita, came to Tahlequah and took charge of that paper for two years, after which he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Martin R. Brown

Commonly called by his Cherokee name Tuxie, was a very prominent citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Elected clerk of the Illinois District in 1881; elected a member of the Board of Education of the Cherokee Nation in November 1886, and Superintendent of the Male Seminary in 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are now deceased.

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 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