Indian Territory

Biography of F. F. Finney

F. F. Finney, a native son of Oklahoma and a member of one of the pioneer families of the state, is a progressive, energetic and successful young business man and is now serving as superintendent of the gas department of the Indian Territory Illuminating Gas Company, his services being of great value to the corporation. He was born at the Kaw agency in June, 1884, and is a son of T. M. and Abbie (Florer) Finney, the former a native of Martinsburg, Ohio, while the latter was born in Ripley, that state. The father was born on the 13th of … Read more

Biography of Charles H. Tully

Charles H. Tully, attorney at law in Eufaula, has not only gained an enviable position in the legal circles of the state but is prominently known in business and political circles as well. He has won the success he now enjoys as the result of his own intelligently directed efforts and is rightly entitled to the proud American title of self-made man. He was born in Russellville, Logan county, Kentucky, on the 19th of November, 1865, a son of Henry B. and America (Angell) Tully, also natives of that state. His father was one of the successful men of his … Read more

Circuit Judges of the Cherokee Nation

Circuit Judges, Middle Circuit Timothy Meigs Walker 1867; Jacob Bushyhead 1871, Kinick Sixkiller appointed in 1872 to try Ezekial Proctor; Timothy Meigs Walker 1875; Stephen Teehee 1879; Cicero Leonidas Lynch 1883 and 1887; William Nicholls Littlejohn l891, he resigned August 26, 1895 and Benjamin Goss was appointed August 2 7, 1895; Martin Van Benge 1895, he resigned and Charles Harris Sisson was appointed May 1, 1897. Circuit Judges, Northwestern Circuit Unknown 1831; Thomas Jefferson Pack 1843, he resigned and Riley Keys elected, vice Pack; Unknown 1845; Thomas B. Wolf 1847; Riley Keys 1849; Thomas Jefferson Pack 1851; Unknown 1853; Samuel … Read more

Modoc Tribe

Modoc Indians (from Móatokni, ‘southerners’). A Lutuamian tribe, forming the southern division of that stock, in south west Oregon. The Modoc language is practically the same as the Klamath, the dialectic differences being extremely slight. This linguistic identity would indicate that the local separation of the two tribes must have been comparatively recent and has never been complete. The former habitat of the Modoc included Little Klamath Lake, Modoc Lake, Tule Lake, Lost River Valley, and Clear Lake, and extended at times as far east as Goose Lake. The most important bands of the tribe were at Little Klamath Lake, … 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 Andrew Jackson Edmondson

Andrew Jackson Edmondson, who since 1919 has had the agency for the Studebaker cars at Muskogee, was born in Memphis, Tennessee, September 16, 1872, and is a son of Edmond A. and Ann (Murell) Edmondson. The father was a planter, devoting his life to the management and development of his agricultural interests. His grandfather served as a soldier in the War of 1812 and kept a complete history of the struggle, being with Andrew Jackson in his operations in the south and at the battle of New Orleans. The manuscript which he prepared, however, was burned when the family residence … Read more

Biography of Howard Davis

Howard Davis, the owner of a well improved and productive farm near Bartlesville, also has valuable oil wells on his property, and in the conduct of his interests he displays keen discernment, marked executive ability and enterprise. He is a native of Indiana but was reared in Illinois and in 1901 he came to Indian Territory, settling in Lincoln county, where he engaged in buying broom corn for an eastern firm. Subsequently he removed to Osage county and there devoted his attention to the cattle business until he took up his residence in Washington county, where he has remained. Mr. … 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 Frank Hamilton Little

Washington county is making rapid progress as a stock raising district and among those whose well directed efforts are contributing to its development along this line is numbered Frank Hamilton Little, who resides at Ramona and is recognized as one of the largest operators in this field in the state. He is a member of one of the pioneer families of Oklahoma and was born at La Fayette, Georgia, March 28, 1875, his parents being William and Theresa (Davis) Little, who were also natives of that state. They came to Indian Territory over forty years ago, settling on a farm … Read more

Kaskaskia Tribe

Kaskaskia Indians (perhaps akin to kāskāskahamwa, ‘ he scrapes it off by means of a tool.’ The Foxes have always held the Peoria in low esteem, and in their traditions claim to have destroyed most of them on a rocky island in a river. – Wm. Jones). Once the leading tribe of the Illinois confederacy, and perhaps rightly to be considered as the elder brother of the group. Although the first knowledge of this confederacy obtained by the whites related, in all probability, to the Peoria while they yet resided on the Mississippi, it is probable that the references to … Read more

Biography of John Caleb Storr

John Caleb Storr, a native son of Oklahoma and a member of one of the oldest families of the state, has resided in Vinita for the past twenty-three years and has become well known as an attorney, farmer, stock raiser and oil operator, being a man of versatile talents whose efforts are resultant factors in whatever he undertakes. He was born in the Flint district of the Cherokee Nation, near Stilwell, Indian Territory, October 15, 1870, and his parents were James and Emma Jane (Rider) Storr, the former born in Tennessee in 1832, while the latter was a native of … Read more

Biography of Albert N. Earnest, M. D.

Dr. Albert N. Earnest, a surgeon of Muskogee, is numbered among the native sons of Oklahoma and his record as a successful member of the medical profession stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country. Dr. Earnest was born near Webbers Falls, in Muskogee county, September 13, 1890, and is a son of J. T. and Ellen (Carlisle) Earnest. The mother is one-fourth Cherokee and was born in Texas, of which state the father is also a native. He came to the Indian Territory when a boy with his … Read more

Biography of Ridge Paschal

Ridge Paschal was born July, 1845, at Van Buren, Arkansas, the second son of George W. Paschal, supreme judge at Arkansas, and author of Texas Digest of Decisions and Texas Digest of Laws, besides other legal works. Ridge’s mother was Sallie, only daughter of Major Ridge, and sister of John Ridge, prominent Cherokees. His father came to the old nation in 1833, being at that time an officer attached to the staff of Scott and Wolfe. When the Cherokees moved west, he went to Van Buren, Arkansas, and resumed the practice of law, becoming attorney for the treaty party of … 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

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Heinrichs

Joseph Heinrichs was born February 15, 1851, at Nord Keichen, Westphalia, Germany, the youngest son of Everhart Heinrichs. Joseph came to the United States in 1867, landing at New York, from whence he traveled south until he arrived at Little Rock, Arkansas, where he remained for a short time. Leaving there he went to Fort Smith, the home of his brother and sister, and in that town started in the shoemaking business as an apprentice. Serving three years he returned to Little Rock in 1871 and worked his trade for nine months, when he went to Tahlequah, Indian Territory, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Leroy Wolfe

Thomas Leroy Wolfe was born in Tahlequah, April 12, 1871, the son of John W. Wolfe and Belle Gibson, daughter of Leroy Gibson, a white man. His grandfather, Thomas Wolfe, was one of the old settlers, and in conjunction with Blue Jacket, built the first house in Tahlequah. His father, John W. Wolfe, was district judge for some time, and at present resides within one-half mile of the capital. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of three sons. He was sent to the Tahlequah public school in 1879, and there continued till 1883, when he began work in … Read more

Treaty of April 28, 1866

Articles of agreement and convention between the United States and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations of Indians, made and concluded at the City of Washington the twenty-eighth day of April, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-six, by Dennis N. Cooley, Elijah Sells, and E. S. Parker, special commissioners on the part of the United States, and Alfred Wade, Allen Wright, James Riley, and John Page, commissioners on the part of the Choctaws, and Winchester Colbert, Edmund Pickens, Holmes Colbert, Colbert Carter, and Robert H. Love, commissioners on the part of the Chickasaws. Article 1. Permanent peace and friendship are … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hiero T. Wilson

Hiero T. Wilson, one of the first white settlers in Southern Kansas, was born at Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky, September 2, 1806, of Virginian ancestry. His father was a native of the Old Dominion, a Kentucky farmer and for many years surveyor of Logan County. Hiero Wilson was reared on his father’s farm and had some schooling and considerable training in mereantile pursults before he joined his brother in Indian Territory during the year 1834. The latter was then post sutler and trader at Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation. In 1843, when Fort Scott was established as a military post, Hiero … Read more

Biography of Sam Grayson

The subject of this sketch was born in 1849, the second son of James Grayson and Jane Wynne, daughter of John Wynne, a Georgian. When eight years of age Sam was sent to the Asberry Mission School, where he remained four years. In 1860 his father died, and when the war broke out, Sam, with his mother, brothers and sisters, joined the Creek refugees and settled on Red River until the war cloud passed over, returning to Eufaula in 1865. In 1868 he went to Cane Hill College, Arkansas, and there remained three terms; but, his health failing, he was … Read more

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