Indian Territory

Biographical Sketch of Mathew Daugherty

Mathew Daugherty was born September 24, 1839, in the State of Arkansas, third son of James Daugherty. He attended school till he was ten years of age in Texas County, Missouri, after which (in 1849) he moved with his father to Denton County, Texas, where he went to the neighborhood schools till 1854, after which he entered McKenny College, Clarksville, Texas, and in 1857 commenced the study of law, which he continued until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted in the Choctaw and Chickasaw mounted rifles. After the close of the war he admitted to the bar, and … 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

The Meeting in 1811 of Tecumseh and Apushamatahah

Peter Perkins Pitchlynn was the Choctaw Principal Chief from 1864-1866

The meeting in 1811, of Tecumseh, the mighty Shawnee, with Apushamatahah, the intrepid Choctaw. I will here give a true narrative of an incident in the life of the great and noble Choctaw chief, Apushamatahah, as related by Colonel John Pitchlynn, a white man of sterling integrity, and who acted for many years as interpreter to the Choctaws for the United States Government, and who was an eye-witness to the thrilling scene, a similar one, never before nor afterwards befell the lot of a white man to witness, except that of Sam Dale, the great scout of General Andrew Jackson, … Read more

Biography of General Marion Swanson

General Marion Swanson of Muskogee, well known in real estate circles through his purchase and sale of farm lands, is also engaged in farming, but follows this more as a recreation than as a source of livelihood. He was born in Lineville, Iowa, April 29, 1863, and is a son of William E. and Susan J. (Edgemand) Swanson. His father was always engaged in farming and stock raising and General Swanson, therefore, early became familiar with the various phases of agricultural life. He was educated in the public schools of Millersburg, Cherokee county, Kansas, and when not busy with his … Read more

Biography of Judge W. N. Evans

Judge W. N. Evans, of the Twentieth Judicial District of Missouri, makes his home in the northwestern part of West Plains, where he has a handsome residence on Garfield Avenue. He is a native of Owsley County, Kentucky, born September 1, 1849, and the son of W. N. and Elizabeth (Hurst) Evans. The grandfather, John Evans, was a native of Wales, who came to this country at an early day and settled in old Virginia. Later he moved to east Tennessee and there passed the remainder of his days. He had but three children, two sons and a daughter. The … Read more

Biography of William Wirt Hastings

William W. Hastings was born December 31, 1866, at Benton County, Arkansas, the second son of W. Yell Hastings a white man and Lue J. Stover, daughter of John Stover, who married a Ward (a family well known among the Cherokees.). William attended the neighborhood schools until 1882, and then entered the national male seminary, where he graduated in 1884. Soon afterwards he became a teacher of the Bulliard School, Delaware district, and after one year at that point, went to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1885, for twelve months. Returning in 1886, he took charge of Sager School, same district, for … Read more

Biography of Robert F. Wyly

Robert F. Wyly is the son of W. C. Wyly, a Georgian, and grandson of General James R. Wyly. His mother was Elizabeth Starr, of Green County, Georgia. Robert F. was born September 15, 1827, in Habersham County, Georgia, and attended school in Cedartown, same State, between the years 1844 and 1849, after which he began mercantile business at old Cassville, Georgia, and married Miss Amanda C. Williams, daughter of Major Lowry Williams, of Cherokee extraction, in 1850. By this marriage he had two children, Oliver L. and Florence S. (Mrs. Rogers). Robert F. came to this nation in 1857, … Read more

Biography of Ezra Brainerd, Jr.

Ezra Brainerd, Jr., has been an active representative of the legal fraternity of Muskogee for the past seventeen years, enjoying an extensive clientage that has connected him with much important litigation tried in the courts of the district. He was born in Middlebury, Vermont, on the 26th of August, 1878, a son of Ezra and Frances (Rockwell) Brainerd, the former at one time president of Middlebury College. Excellent educational advantages were accorded him, for his public school training was supplemented by a course of study in Worcester Academy of Worcester, Massachusetts, and in Colgate Academy of Hamilton, New York. His … Read more

Biography of Isaac H. Secondine

A prominent citizen of Delaware is Isaac H. Secondine, who is engaged in the decorating business. A native of Nowata County, he was born at Coodys Bluff on the 29th of May, 1874, a son of Fillmore and Rachael (Connor) Secondine. His paternal grand-father, James, was chief of the Delawares in the ’40s and crossed the plains with General Fremont on that memorable trip chronicled in history, and also fought under him in the Mexican war. Grandfather Secondine was a highly educated man, speaking seven different languages, among them perfect English. He acted as interpreter to General Fremont, who was … Read more

Biography of William Fisher

The subject of this sketch is the son of Samuel Fisher, two-thirds white, and a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation. His mother was three-fourths Indian. William received his first schooling in Alabama, and coming to this nation in 1847, was sent to the Shawnee Mission, Kansas, where he spent about two years. In 1850 he married Miss Sarah P. Lampkins, a white woman, from Tennessee, after which he commenced farming on a small scale. By this marriage he had nine children, five of whom are living, Henry C., Emma, Martha, Samuel and Annie. In 1855 he commenced trading in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. August R. Moore

This gifted lady is the eldest child of W. S. Robertson, principal of the Tallahassee Mission School, and was born at the Mission in October 1851. She was educated and graduated at Dayton, Ohio, in June 1870, after which she returned to Tallahassee and taught under her father for ten years, until the school building burned down in 1880. The school, however, was continued for some time in a portion of the building with a small number of pupils. On her father’s death, which took place the following spring, Miss Robertson was appointed principal pro tem. after which she received … 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

Biographical Sketch of Robert Newton Bynum

Born February 17, 1858, in Jackson County, Alabama, is the second son of J. M. Bynum and Mary Proctor, a daughter of Samuel Proctor, of Alabama. Robert attended public school until sixteen years of age in the State of Arkansas, whither he had moved in 1867 with his parents. He remained at home until 1874. After which he began farming and stock raising on his own responsibility; in 1888, he sold out and removed to Tulsa, Creek Nation. Here he purchased the mercantile stock and premises of H. W. Reed, and started in that business, which he still continues. In … Read more

Biography of Frank Lee

From the year which brought statehood to Oklahoma, Frank Lee has been a member of the Muskogee bar and is regarded as one of the strong and eminent representatives of the profession in this part of the state. He has engaged in the practice of law altogether for thirty-five years and his professional career has been marked by continuous progress and constantly developing power. Born in Stockwell, Indiana, December 9, 1864, he is a son of Captain Smith Lee, who served with the Boys in Blue in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company I, Eleventh Indiana Cavalry. After … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel S. Cobb, 1865-1923

Samuel S. Cobb was born December 12, 1865, in Bradley county, Tennessee, the youngest son of J. B. Cobb, a citizen of the nation by marriage and one of the largest farmers in that country. Samuel’s mother was a Miss Eva Clingan, of the Fields and Blythe families. He attended school at home until he was sixteen, when he entered the Cherokee Male Seminary and there remained two years. In 1884 he became a pupil of the State Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kas. graduating after four years’ study in 1889. Coming to the Indian Territory, he went to work in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Henry Dick

John Henry Dick was born January 1, 1869, in the Flint district, Cherokee Nation, the second son of Charles Dick, a member of the Grand Council in 1875. His mother was Margaret Tickaneskie, a full blood, whose father was one of the party that killed Ridge, one of the signers of the treaty in 1835. John was educated at the Indian University, Tahlequah, and on its removal to Muskogee attended at that point, spending four years in the institution until 1888, when he was elected to the office of assistant interpreter of the lower house. In 1890 he taught school … Read more

Biography of G. W. Lucas

G. W. Lucas, a progressive farmer residing near Ochelata, in Washington county, is a member of a family that has contributed to the agricultural development of Oklahoma from pioneer times to the present and in addition to his farming interests he also engages in teaming, meeting with success in both branches of activity. He was born in Mercer County, Missouri, November 16, 1869, and when four years of age was taken to Missouri by his parents, John W. and Susan (Hatfield) Lucas, who came to Indian Territory in 1874, settling on Double creek, a mile south of Ochelata, where they … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John L. Adair, Jr.

The subject of this sketch was born June 8th, 1866, at Tahlequah, being third son of John L. Adair, of that town. John L., Jr., began attending the Indian University in 1879, and after three years, went to the Male Seminary at Tahlequah, where he remained four years. On leaving there he devoted his time for three years to assisting his mother in the post office, after which he entered his father’s business house as clerk, in March 1890. In 1891 he was appointed district clerk, to fill the vacancy left on the death of Allen Ross, which office he … Read more

Biography of Colonel Johnson Harris

Johnson Harris, was born April 19, 1856, the youngest son of William Harris, a white man, and Susan Collins, daughter of Parker Collins, a half Cherokee. Johnson attended neighborhood school until 1876, when he entered the male seminary, Tahlequah, and there remained for one year, when he commenced teaching in the public schools. In 1881 he was elected member of the senate to represent the Canadian district, and filled the same office three different terms. In 1887 and 1889 he was elected as national delegate to Washington. After the inauguration of Chief Mayes, Colonel Johnson Harris was appointed executive secretary, … Read more

Biography of John L. Springston

John L. Springston is the son of Anderson Springston, half-breed, and Sallie Elliot, daughter of Jack Elliot, a white man, who married a quarter Cherokee. Anderson Springston was born in Tennessee, and after coming to this nation practiced law in the Delaware and Tahlequah districts. John L., the subject of this sketch, was born October 1845, and educated at the public schools, Delaware district. About the time he was ready to enter the Upper Alton Academy, the war broke out, and he joined the Indian Home Guards, Third Regiment, Company I, under Col. M. A. Phillips, Federal army. He entered … Read more