Indian Territory

The Osage Massacre

Kiowa Calender

When the treaty council with the Osage at Fort Gibson broke up in disagreement on April 2, 1833, three hundred Osage warriors under the leadership of Clermont departed for the west to attack the Kiowa. It was Clermont’s boast that he never made war on the whites and never made peace with his Indian enemies. At the Salt Plains where the Indians obtained their salt, within what is now Woodward County, Oklahoma, they fell upon the trail of a large party of Kiowa warriors going northeast toward the Osage towns above Clermont’s. The Osage immediately adapted their course to that pursued by their enemies following it back to what they knew would be the defenseless village of women, children, and old men left behind by the warriors. The objects of their cruel vengeance were camped at the mouth of Rainy-Mountain Creek, a southern tributary of the Washita, within the present limits of the reservation at Fort Sill.

Biographical Sketch of John Thomas McSpadden

John T. McSpadden was born near Fort Payne, Alabama, March 15, 1852, the third son of I. K. B. McSpadden, a minister of the M. E. Church, South, who, in 1869, came to the Indian Territory as a missionary. Mr. McSpadden, Jr.’s mother was a Miss Elizabeth J. Green, daughter of a leading citizen of Athens, Tennessee. The subject of our sketch was educated in the Phoenix Academy, near Fort Payne, Alabama, until his nineteenth year, when he followed his parents to the Indian Territory, and there engaged in school-teaching two years. After that he followed the blacksmith’s trade three … 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 Jesse Townsend

Jesse Townsend, a well known agriculturist of Nowata County, was born in Adair County, Indian Territory, on the 1st of March, 1876, a son of Solomon and Mary (Horn) Townsend, both of whom are deceased. They were both natives of Indian Territory, where they were reared to young manhood and womanhood, married and died. Solomon Townsend was killed by an outlaw when his son Jesse was but a year and a half old. He had been clerking in a store, when one day a robbery took place and in tracing the robbers, he was waylaid and killed by one of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Robert D. Knight

Robert D. Knight was born March 25, 1846, at Chouteau, Cherokee Nation, the youngest son of J. S. Knight, a Marylander, and a Cherokee lady, daughter of William Rogers, one of the old settlers. Robert attended several schools in the State of Pennsylvania, after which he spent three years at the academy in Bridgeton, New Jersey, finishing his education at Newtonia, Missouri. Leaving school in 1861, Robert entered the Confederate service, and served until the close of the war. After devoting ten years to farming, Mr. Knight moved in 1876 to Vinita, and there began the business of architect, contractor … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hotulke E. Martha

The second chief of the Creek Nation was born two years after the close of the Red Stick War. His father was General Bullet (in the aboriginal language, Thecham Hargo), of the Okchaye Town. His mother was Semarharke, a follower of Hoppercheaholo. Hotulke E. Martha and his people belonged to the anti-McIntosh party, remaining in Alabama till from 1833 to 1836. The subject of this sketch entered into public life five years after coming to this country (in 1841), and has been ever since a lawmaker during the old, and since the establishment of the present constitution. From 1867 to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. David A. Ware

Nancy (Martin) Rogers was born in the Saline District in 1848; married in 1869, David A. Ware. She is the mother of Bertha born in 1875, Martha born in 1877 and Thomas Rogers. Thomas L. Rogers was the first judge of the Osages. Mrs. Ware is a member of the Christian church and a ceaseless welfare worker.

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

Biographical Sketch of W. F. Seaver

W. F. Seaver was born in Rock Island, Illinois, February 22, 1849, and was the son of John Seaver and Eliza Criswell, who emigrated to Illinois in 1840, the former being a native of Virginia. At the age of sixteen, William left his home and traveled indiscriminately through the States, adopting various means of making a living throughout sixteen states which he visited in turn. Having sowed his first crop of wild oats, the young man, determining to study for a profession, entered the Alexandria College, Alexandria, Missouri, and then read law under Hon. E. Kimble, of Nevada, Missouri. He … Read more

Curtis Act – June 28, 1898

An Act For the protection of the people of the Indian Territory, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in all criminal prosecutions in the Indian Territory against officials for embezzlement, bribery, and embracery the word “officer,” when the same appears in the criminal laws heretofore extended over and put in force in said Territory, shall include all officers of the several tribes or nations of Indians in said Territory. SEC. 2. That when in the progress of any civil suit, either in … Read more

Slave Narrative of Annie Groves Scott

Person Interviewed: Annie Groves Scott Place of Birth: Lyonsville, South Carolina Date of Birth: March 18, 1845 Just before the war broke out I was fifteen year old and my mistress told me I was born March 18, 1845, at a little place she called Lyonsville, South Carolina. Maw (that’s all the name she ever called her mother) was born at Charlotte, N.C., and father was born at Lyonsville, same as me, and his name was Levi Grant, which changed to Groves when he was sold by Master Grant. That was when I was a baby and I wants to … Read more

Biography of John E. White

One of the prominent merchants of Lenapah, Nowata county, is John E. White, who was born at Boyds Creek, Tennessee, on the 21st of March, 1875. His paternal great-grandfather came to America from England and was a missionary to the Indians in North Carolina. His father, N. B. White, was a farmer and is now deceased. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Charlotte Huffaker, is still living and is residing on the home farm John E. White was named for his mother’s half-brother who died in the prison at Andersonville while serving in the Civil war. In the … Read more

Biography of Charles F. Armstrong

For many years Charles F. Armstrong has been farming in the vicinity of Coodys Bluff and is readily conceded to be one of the progressive farmers and stockmen in this section of the state. A native of Oklahoma, he was born at one of the first post office stations in Indian Territory, at that time known as Cooscoowie district, on the 27th of February, 1872. His father, Henry Armtrong, a pioneer citizen and registered Delaware, was a son-in-law of Chief Journeycake. For thirty years he was engaged in the mercantile business at Coodys Bluff and Nowata. He suffered a severe … 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

Biography of Samuel M. Gee

Samuel M. Gee, farmer and dairyman residing two and one-half miles northwest of Nowata, Nowata County, was born in Clinton County, Indiana, on the 23d of May, 1864, a son of Moses G. and Catherine (Maish) Gee. The father was a native of Ohio, where he lived until he removed to Indian Territory. He died at Council Hill in 1910. Mrs. Gee was born in Pennsylvania and died in Missouri in 1907. In January, 1902 Samuel M. Gee came to Indian Territory and located at Adair, where he rented four hundred acres of land, which he farmed for four years. … Read more

Act of March 1, 1899

30 Stat. L. 939 For salaries of four commissioners, appointed under acts of Congress approved March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, and March second, eighteen hundred and ninety-five, to negotiate with the Five Civilized Tribes in the Indian Territory, twenty thousand dollars: Provided, That the number of said com missioners is hereby fixed at four. For expenses of commissioners and necessary expenses of employees, sixty thousand dollars: And provided further, That three dollars per diem for expenses of a clerk detailed as special disbursing agent by Interior Department, while on duty with the Commission, shall be paid there from; for … Read more

Biography of Archie Earle Carder, M. D.

Dr. Archie Earle Carder, a successful physician and surgeon of Coweta, with offices in the First State Bank building, has been a representative of the medical profession here for the past two decades and is the oldest practitioner of Wagoner County. He was born at Marshall, Texas, on the 29th of May, 1864, a son of George W. and Ellen M. (McDaniel) Carder, who were natives of Beverly, Virginia, and of North Carolina respectively. The father made his way to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in 1849 and became a merchant there. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted for service … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James F. Mitchell

James F. Mitchell was born November, 1856, in Green County, Indiana, being the eldest son of James H. Mitchell, of Muskogee, Indian Territory, formerly a stock-raiser and agriculturist, who recently retired from business, owning to ill health. His mother was Miss M. G. Crabtree, whose family were from Ohio, and who moved to Indiana when quite young, and married Mr. Mitchell in 1836. James F. attended district school until the age of seventeen, moving West with his parents, he then followed school teaching until he was twenty-two years of age, after which he attended normal school at Fort Scott, where … Read more

Biography of Vernon B. Ellington

Since January, 1919, Vernon B. Ellington has served as postmaster of Wagoner and in that capacity has made an excellent record. He has a thorough understanding of the duties that devolve upon him and is prompt and efficient in their execution. Mr. Ellington was born in Russellville, Arkansas, in March, 1892, a son of Rev. L. G. and Mary A. (Dunlap) Ellington, natives of Tennessee. The father entered the Methodist ministry at the age of eighteen years and preached throughout Tennessee and Arkansas until 1893, when he removed to Indian Territory, where he worked among the Indians in districts where … Read more

Biography of Dennis B. Parker

Dennis B. Parker is one of the enterprising agriculturists of Washington County and a representative of a pioneer family whose activities in the cultivation of the soil have promoted the development of their section of the state. He was born on the old homestead, situated two and a half miles southwest of Copan, in Washington County, which is now the property of his stepmother, Mrs. Laura Parker. His mother died during his infancy. His father, Job B. Parker, was a member of the Delaware tribe of Indians. He became a pioneer agriculturist of Indian Territory and passed away in 1907. … Read more