Indian Territory

1822 Congressional Report on Indian Affairs

1824 Map by Jebediah Morse

Jedediah Morse’s 1822 report to Congress of his travels through Indian Territory on behalf of the office of Secretary of War – Jedediah was tasked by a resolution of Congress to report of his travels amongst the tribes throughout the United States. Acknowledging that he did not visit all of the tribes, and that he relied on known facts and materials for the body of text he provided, Jedediah presented a large collection of tabular data and descriptive content. This data was then used by Congress to shape it’s policies as it dealt with expansion further west, and specifically tribal relations.

Biography of John L. McCoy

John L. McCoy is a half-breed Cherokee, and has for more than fifty years figured conspicuously in the affairs of that nation, having held many positions of trust and honor, reflecting credit on himself and his people. He is eminently a self-made man, having enjoyed but limited educational advantages in his youth. At the age of nineteen he was placed by his father in a store, where he remained one year, during which time, by dint of determined perseverance, he mastered, with but little assistance, the rudiments of an English education. His principal textbook was Webster’s blue-back speller. Of strong … Read more

Biography of James A. Wilson

James A. Wilson, a native son of Oklahoma and a member of one of the pioneer families of the state, has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits, gaining that specialized knowledge which makes him an authority in his line of work, and his farm, which is situated in the Young’s Lake district, is well improved and supplied with modern equipment. He was born in the eastern part of Indian Territory, October 13, 1868, of the marriage of Isaac and Navey Wilson, pioneer settlers of the state, both of whom have passed away. Mr. Wilson is of Delaware extraction, and … Read more

Biography of Gordon H. Scudder

Agricultural development in Washington county finds a prominent representative in Gordon H. Scudder, who has made his home in Oklahoma since he was fifteen years of age, and through industry, persistency of purpose and intelligently directed effort he has become the possessor of a substantial competence. A native of Georgia, he was born in Walker county on the 25th of July, 1877, his parents being W. H. H. and Maggie (Ghormanly) Scudder, who were also born in that-state and were of Cherokee extraction. About 1892 they settled at Chelsea, Oklahoma, and in that section the father followed agricultural pursuits until … Read more

Biography of Rev. Joseph Franklin Thompson

Rev. Joseph Franklin Thompson, librarian of the Carnegie Library at Tahlequah and superannuated minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, having been retired since 1906, was born May 21, 1841, near Maysville, Arkansas, in what was then the Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory. His parents, both of whom are deceased, were James Allen and Martha (Lynch) Thompson, the former a native of South Carolina and the latter a native of Virginia and a member of an old Cherokee family there. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were married in Georgia and came to Beattie’s Prairie in 1838, with a detachment of Cherokees under … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frederick Hall

Frederick, son of William and Martha (Childers) Hall, born in the Cherokee Nation in 1873. Married in 1896 Katie Burgin. They are the parents of: Martha May, Arthur, Iva Jane and Alvina Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Baptist church and are farmers.

Biography of T. E. Bertholf

T. E. Bertholf, farmer, stock raiser and chicken fancier, was born in the old town of Norfolk, in the Creek Nation of the Indian Territory, December 25, 1868. His father, Marcus Bertholf, was a native of Illinois and came to the Indian Territory in 1840, at which time he took up his abode near Tahlequah. At the outbreak of the Civil war he went to Texas as an enlisted man, working at the wagon-maker’s trade during the period and thus aiding in supplying the need of the Confederacy for wagons. When hostilities had ceased he returned to the old town … Read more

Biography of Quana Parker

Parker, Quana (from Comanche kwaina, ‘fragrant,’ joined to his mother’s family name). The principal chief of the Comanche, son of a Comanche chief and a white captive woman. His father, Nokoni, ‘wanderer,’ was the leader of the Kwahadi division, the wildest and most hostile portion of the tribe and the most inveterate raiders along the Texas border. In one of the incursions, in the summer of 1835, the Comanche attacked a small settlement on Navasota river, in east Texas, known from its founder as Parker’s Fort, and carried off 2 children of Parker himself, one of whom, Cynthia Ann Parker, … Read more

North America Indian Names of Places in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana

The Indians all over this continent had names, traditions, religions, ceremonies, feasts, prayers, songs, dances all, more or less, with symbolism and allegory, adapted to circumstances, just as all other races of mankind. But the world has become so familiar with the continued and ridiculous publications in regard to everything touching upon that race of people that a universal doubt has long since been created and established as to the possibility of refinement of thought and nobleness of action ever having existed among the North American Indian race, ancient or modern; and so little of truth has also been learned … Read more

Biography of R. T. Ellis

R. T. Ellis, a member of one of the old and prominent families of Oklahoma, is well known in agricultural circles of Washington county as the owner of a highly productive and well improved farm near Ochelata. A native of Kentucky, he was born in Rockcastle County and is a son of Thomas J. and Vera Ellen (Smith) Ellis, who were also born in the Blue Grass state, the father’s birth having occurred at Vernon on the 25th of January, 1842. The paternal grandparents were Thomas and Susan (Wadzle) Ellis, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter … Read more

Biography of Joseph E. Roberts

Joseph E. Roberts, conducting a furniture and undertaking business at Nowata, is one of the wide-awake and alert young men of the city, whose success is the result of thoroughness and enterprise. He was born October 23, 1892, about twelve miles east of the city in which he still makes his home. His father, Edward Taylor Roberts, was a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred on a farm near Lebanon in Montgomery County, his parents being James Thomas and Lydia A. (James) Roberts. His parents were Kentuckians but were married in Indiana, to which state they had removed 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 Benjamin C. Chouteau

Benjamin C. Chouteau was born in 1835, in Johnson County, Kansas, the only son of Cyprian Chouteau (of French descent), who was an Indian trader. Benjamin’s mother was Miss Rogers, a full blood Shawnee and sister to Graham Rogers, at one time second chief of the Shawnees. Benjamin attended public school until his sixteenth year, after which he went to California and followed mining, at which he was not very successful. He spent twenty-five years of his life traveling in British Columbia, Oregon, Idaho, etc., and in November 1877, arrived back in Vinita, Cherokee Nation. Here he purchased a small … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nicholas B. McNair

(See Sanders, Cordery and McNair) -Nicholas B. McNair, born May 1, 1859, educated in the schools of the Cherokee Nation. Married in December 1877, Rachel, daughter of Thomas and Nannie (Sonicooie) Sanders, born in 1849. They were the parents of: Oscar, born October 22, 1878; Clement, born January 28, 1830 and Etta McNair, born August 12, 1882. Mrs. Rachel McNair died December 22, 1884. He married December 25, 1894, Martha, daughter of William McDonald and Nancy Jones, born March 12, 1866 in Union County, Georgia. They are the parents of: Nannie, born August 28, 1895; William Gunter, born July 15, … Read more

Biography of R. L. Gordon

R. L. Gordon, the popular and efficient Mayor of Ochelata and a member of one of the prominent pioneer families of Oklahoma, was born just across the boundary line, in Kansas, April 4, 1891, his parents being W. H. and Sarah (Bolen) Gordon, the former a native of Kentucky, while the latter was born in Texas. The father journeyed, overland from Kentucky to Missouri and from that state made three round trips to Texas, also going by the over land route. He became a pioneer of Indian Territory and is now residing in Ochelata, where lie follows the carpenter’s trade, … Read more

Biography of D. C. Hampton

Coming to Oklahoma during the territorial period in its development, D. C. Hampton is thoroughly familiar with the early history of the state and his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past with its hardships and privations and the present with all of the advantages and comforts of present-day civilization. He is numbered among the progressive merchants of Bartlesville and his business interests are capably and successfully conducted. He was born in Moultrie County, Illinois, April 30, 1858, of the marriage of Roland Thomas and Ruhama (Howe) Hampton, and in 1866 was taken by his parents to Neodesha, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William P. Moore

Born July 8, 1833, at Waterloo, Ill., third son of James B. Moore, who was a son of Eric Moore, the first American born in the State of Illinois. William’s mother was a Pinckhard, of Illinois. The young man attended public school, and at the age of twenty went into the mercantile business, there remaining until the outbreak of the war, when he joined the Federal army, and was mustered out as colonel of the Forty-ninth Illinois Infantry. After the war he went to Texas and engaged in the cattle trade. In 1871 he moved to the Creek Nation, where … 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

Biography of George Washington Tarvin

George W. Tarvin was born December 14, 1828, a son of Elijah Tarvin, of Baldwin County, Alabama, and Elizabeth Tate. His grandfather, William Tarvin, came from England at an early day, settling in Buck County, Georgia, and afterward marrying Mary Miller in Pensacola, Florida, in 1783, where he opened a trading house. Mr. G. W. Tarvin’s mother, Elizabeth Tate, was second daughter to David Tate, and granddaughter to Colonel John Tate and Sehoy McGilleroy, and great-granddaughter to General Alexander McGilleroy, who came from Scotland in 1735 and amassed a large fortune in this country. He was colonel in the British … Read more

Biography of Charles W. Childers

One of the representative citizens of Nowata county is Charles W. Childers, who is residing on the old family homestead eight miles southeast of Lenapah. He was born in Henry county, Missouri, on the 18th of May, 1867, a son of Benjamin F. and Mary Susan (Webster) Childers, the former a native of Henry county and the latter of North Carolina. In the acquirement of his education Charles W. Childers attended the schools of El Dorado, Kansas, and came to Indian Territory with his parents in 1884. They located at Coodys Bluff in Nowata county, where they lived for one … Read more