Indian Territory

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

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

Quapaw Reservation in 1890

The Quapaw Indian reservation, located in the northeast corner of the agency, spans 56,685 acres of primarily prairie land. The Quapaw tribe, numbering 154 members, relies on farming and stock raising for their livelihood. While some younger members have adopted modern farming practices, the influence of older members who discourage labor hinders progress. The tribe exhibits fewer signs of assimilation compared to other tribes in the agency. They maintain some traditional practices like the stomp dance and dog dance, and their chiefs are hereditary. The reservation has a boarding school where children receive both academic and practical education.

Biography of Hon. Jesse Cochran

Hon. Jesse Cochran was born on Beaty’s creek, Delaware district, Cherokee Nation of the Indian Territory, November 27, 1847, and died November 11, 1905, on his farm on which he had resided since 1878, six miles west of Chelsea, Rogers county, Oklahoma. He was a three-quarter blood Cherokee Indian and a son of Jesse Cochran, Sr., and Nancy (Proctor) Cochran, who were natives of the old Cherokee Nation in the state of Georgia and emigrated to the Indian Territory under the removal of the Cherokees to west of the Mississippi. Mrs. Nancy Cochran died December 8, 1847, and Jesse Cochran, … Read more

Biography of Andrew J. Snelson, M. D.

Dr. Andrew J. Snelson, who has been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in northeastern Oklahoma during the past two decades, has continuously maintained an office in Checotah since 1908 and is numbered among the leading representatives of the profession here. His birth occurred in Johnson County, Arkansas, on the 1st of January, 1862, his parents being John and Cynthia S. (Davis) Snelson, both of whom were natives of Overton county, Tennessee. The father enlisted for service in the Confederate army at the time of the Civil war and was killed in battle at Camden, … Read more

Slave Narrative of Henry F. Pyles

Person Interviewed: Henry F. Pyles Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Date of Birth: August 15, 1856 Age: 81 That’s how the niggers say old Bab Russ used to make the hoodoo “hands” he made for the young bucks and wenches, but I don’t know. ’cause I was too trusting to look inside de one he make for me, and anyways I lose it, and it no good nohow! Old Bab Russ live about two mile from me, and I went to him one night at midnight and ask him to make me de hand. I was a young strapper about sixteen years … Read more

Biographical Sketch of M. E. Milford

The subject of this sketch was born January 12, 1856, near Rockville, Connecticut, and came West about the outbreak of the Civil War, where he has ever since remained. The greater portion of Mr. Milford’s life has been spent in newspaper offices, and he bears the reputation of being a first-class newspaper man, whether in his connection with daily or weekly newspapers. In 1884 he was induced to abandon his work on a daily paper published in Topeka, Kansas, and instead, to assume the business management of the Indian Chieftain, published by a stock company, at Vinita; and since that … Read more

Biography of Elijah Hermigine Lerblance

The subject of this sketch was born in March 1836, and is the son of Hermogene Lerblance, a Louisiana Frenchman, and Vicey Gentry, daughter of Elijah Gentry, a white man who married a full-blood Catawba Indian. The subject of this sketch moved from Alabama to the Creek Nation, with his parents, at the age of twelve, after which he attended the Asberry Mission Manual Labor School for a term of fifteen months. At the age of seventeen years he commenced learning the blacksmith trade, and while thus employed he married Miss Bosen, daughter of Amos Bosen, King of the Hitchetee … Read more

Biography of Edgar N. Ratcliffe

Edgar N. Ratcliffe was born March 5, 1857, at Hillsborough, Texas, the fourth son of James T. Ratcliffe, a leading lawyer of Hillsborough, and Miss Whiteside, daughter of Mr. Whiteside, a well known merchant and silversmith of Ashville, North Carolina. Edgar attended public school until fifteen years of age, after which he entered Trinity University, Tehuacana, Texas, where he remained until eighteen years of age, when he became a clerk for Alfred Young, of that town, remaining until he was twenty, and then established a mercantile business for himself, which he conducted until 1884, and, selling out, removed to Vinita, … Read more

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

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Susie D. Coats

Coats, Mrs. Susie D. (See Grant and Hildebrand) —Susie Dora, daughter of James and Emily (Harlin) Sunday was born in Cooweescoowee District, September 12, 1876, educated in Female Seminary. Married September 11, 1893 James, son of James McKenzie and Annie C. (Spears) Coats, born April 1, 1866. They are the parents of: Jennie Bessie, born January 25, 1894; James McKenzie, born September 20, 1896; Elmer Earl, born September 4, 1901; Capitola Wyly, born February 15, 1903; Lulu May, born January 20, 1906; Eugene born October 15, 1908: Belva Lockwood, born June 8, 1910 and David Coats, born March 3, 1912. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ward Howard Bailey, M.D.

Ward Howard Bailey was born May, 1848, at Waldon, Scott County, Arkansas, the second son of Dr. W. H. Bailey, who was appointed physician of the missionary schools of the Creek Nation, and moved to the country with his family in 1852, remaining till the outbreak of the war, when he returned to Fort Smith in 1862. Young Bailey, who was educated in the Kentucky School of Medicine, first commenced practice at old North Fork Town, in the Creek Nation. When the railroad was built he removed to Eufaula, and in 1878 married Miss Ella Stidham, eldest daughter of Col. … Read more

Biography of Joseph M. Perryman

This prominent citizen was born near Muskogee, Creek Nation, in 1833, the third son of Mayes Perryman, who held many high offices during his lifetime. The young man was sent to school at Coweta Mission until 1853, when he began his studies for the Presbyterian ministry, continuing the same for three years. Before the breaking out of the war he was licensed to preach the gospel, but when the tocsin of war was sounded he joined the Confederate service under Colonel D. N. McIntosh, and held rank in various capacities until the close. When the war ended he went to … Read more

Muster Roll of a Detachment of Georgia Cavalry Mounted Riflemen

Muster Roll of a Detachment of Georgia Cavalry Mounted Riflemen under my command stationed at Fort Mitchell, Hartford and on an Indian Scout from the 9th of November to the 22d of December 1814. Both dates included. Allen Tooke, Co. Lt., commencement of service Nov. 9, 1814; expiration of service Nov. 22, 1817; stationed Ft. Mitchell. Captain, R. H. Thomas 1st Lt. Jas. L. Perry 2nd Lt. Furney F. Gatlin Private Thos. Sutton 1st Sergts. Thos. J. Johnson Jos. B. Colson Hardy Gatlin Jacob Watson Corporals James W. Shines John Jones B. J. Thomas Chas. Carden Privates Isham Adams Dennis … 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

Treaty of May 6, 1828

Treaty of May 6, 1828, page 9

Articles of a Convention, concluded at the City of Washington this sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, between James Barbour, Secretary of War, being especially authorized therefore by the President of the United States, and the undersigned, Chiefs and Head Men of the Cherokee Nation of Indians, West of the Mississippi , they being duly authorized and empowered by their Nation. Whereas, it being the anxious desire of the Government of the United States to secure to the Cherokee nation of Indians, as well those now living within the limits … Read more

Biography of J. H. Rash

From territorial days until the present the Rash family has been identified with the agricultural development of Oklahoma, and J. H. Rash is worthily sustaining the traditions of the name in this respect, being the owner of a well developed and modernly equipped farm property three miles west and two and one-half miles south of Wann, which in all of its appointments gives evidence of the progressive methods and enterprising spirit of the owner. Mr. Rash was born in Buncombe county, North Carolina, May 4, 1875, his parents being R. T.. and Mary Malinda (Frisbie) Rash, who made their way … 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

Biography of Webb Littlefield

Webb Littlefield, treasurer of the Guaranty Trust. Company of Muskogee, was born March 12; 1884, in Knobnoster, Missouri, a son of Charles B. and Theodosia (Webb) Littlefield, who were at one time residents of Kentucky and afterward established their home in Johnson county, Missouri. The father engaged in banking in Missouri for thirty years and in 1906 came to the Indian Territory, settling at Claremore. Webb Littlefield pursued a public school education in Missouri and afterward attended the Teachers’ College at Warrensburg, that state. He started out in the business world as a clerk in the employ of the National … Read more