Indian Territory

Biography of H. K. Stierwalt

H. K. Stierwalt, who for many years has been engaged in farming in Nowata county, is now living in Nowata where he is active in the conduct of a grocery business. A native of Indiana, he was born on the 22d of August, 1862, a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Stierwalt, both of whom are deceased. For many years the father was successfully engaged in farming in Neosho county, Kansas, and his demise, in 1907, came as a severe blow to his many friends in the community. Mrs. Stierwalt died when her son, H. K., was an infant. … Read more

Biography of W. E. Gentry

W. E. Gentry was born March 11, 1842. He is the second son of James Gentry, of Alabama, and grandson of Elijah Gentry, a white man who married a full-blood Catawba Indian, and Miss Caroline Bush, a United States citizen. William was sent to school for a short time in Mississippi, and then moved to the Creek Nation, in 1855, with his father and mother. Here he went to Asberry Mission, Eufaula, for one year, after which he commenced agriculture with his father, continuing until the outbreak of the war, when he joined the Confederates under Colonel Chily McIntosh, Second … 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

Senators of the Cherokee Nation

Senators from the Canadian District 1841. Captain William Dutch- and the other one unknown. 1843. Captain William Dutch and Joseph Tally. Both resigned. 1844. John Shepherd and Nelson Riley, vice Dutch and Talley, resigned. 1845. James Mackey and William Shorey Coody. The latter was elected President of the Senate. 1847. Captain William Dutch and William Shorey Coody. The latter died April 16, 1849. 1849. Josiah Reese and Lightningbug Bowles. 1851. David Boggs and Nelson Riley. 1853. David Boggs and Teesee Guess. 1855. John Drew and Lightningbug Bowles. 1857. John Drew and William Doublehead. 1859. Joseph Abalom Scales and Daniel Coody. … Read more

Biography of J. A. Patterson

This prominent and wealthy citizen of Muskogee, was born in September, 1819, at Lincoln County, Tennessee, the second son of William Patterson and Annie Newberry, of the same place. He attended neighborhood school until thirteen years of age, when his father moved to Cherokee County, Alabama. Here the young man assisted his parents until his father’s death in 1848, when he assumed the responsibility of taking charge of his mother, sisters and brothers. In 1854 he came to the Creek Agency in the employment of Colonel Garrett, the agent, and afterwards became teacher of a Creek school for two years. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Cicero W. Addington

(See Foreman, Ghigau and Adair)-Cicero White Addington, born in Goingsnake District June 7, 1875, educated at the Male Seminary; Married September 13, 1899 Mary Lowenia, daughter of Oscar F. and Mary Catherine (Rider) Adair, born December 19, 1875. They are the parents of: Clarence Grady, born April 24, 1901; Frederick Earl, born April 13 1902; and Jennings Mayes. Mr. Addington was elected Clerk of Adair County in 1918. Minerva Isabel, daughter of Abijah an Isabelle (Taylor) Akin was born June 7 1852; married September 3, 1874, Henry Newton Addington. They were the parent of Cicero White Addington.

Biographical Sketch of George B. Downing

(See Downing) George Brewer, son of David and Catherine (Faught) Downing, born May 8, 1858, educated in Going Snake District. Married February 30, 1877 Arabella Wagoner, born in 1860 in Washington County, Arkansas. They are the parents of: David Monroe, born December 2, 1877; Timmie Jane, born October 28, 1879; Catherine Mahala, James Lewis, Effie Ola, born September 20, 1893; William Alexander; and Jessie Downing, born August 22, 1902. George Brewer is a Mason. He was appointed Sheriff of Saline District, September 23, 1897.

Biography of Benjamin Martin

Benjamin Martin, who has been actively engaged in law practice at Muskogee for more than a quarter of a century, has also been a prominent factor in financial circles of the city as vice president and director of and attorney for The Commercial National Bank, which he has thus represented during almost the entire period of its existence, his efforts contributing largely to the continued growth and success of the institution. His birth occurred on a southern plantation near Allendale, in Barnwell county, South Carolina, on the 7th of July, 1873, his parents being Benjamin and Catherine M. (Maner) Martin. … Read more

Biography of Francis Alexander Neilson

Francis A. Neilson was born in Oxford, Mississippi, June 2, 1860, eighth child in a family of twelve of W. S. Neilson, a prominent merchant of Oxford, and before the war a very wealthy man. Francis A. received his education at the State University, leaving his sophomore year at the age of twenty-one, after which he began a mercantile life as book-keeper in a large general merchandise store in Oxford, and remained in this occupation for three years. In 1885 the subject of our sketch went West to Arkansas City, Kansas, and there formed a partnership in the hardware business, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Judge Isaac Jacobs

Isaac Jacobs was born January 26, 1854, in Sculliville County, Choctaw Nation, oldest son of S. L. Jacobs and C. Belvin, both of Choctaw origin. Isaac attended public school until the age of fourteen years. At seventeen he commenced farming, which, in connection with stock raising, he continues until the present day. In October 1889, he started in the mercantile business with his brother, W. F. Jacobs, at Muldrow, and they are now doing a very fair trade. Mr. Jacobs married Miss Amanda Pettit, of Sequoyah district, daughter of Thomas Pettit, a prominent Cherokee in his neighborhood. Mrs. Jacobs died … Read more

Biographical Sketch of D. C. Jackson

D. C. Jackson, a prominent citizen of Summitville, Tennessee, was born November 16, 1821, in Monticello, Kentucky, and is the son of J. B. and Dorcas (Cox) Jackson. The father was born in Lewisburg, N. C., in 1798, and when quite young came to Tennessee. For eight years, before he went into the mercantile business, he was clerk of McMinn County. The mother was born about 1797 in Tennessee. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was a democrat. In 1839 our subject began an extensive tour through Virginia, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Indian Territory and Mexico. He … 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

Biographical Sketch of J. S. Fuller, M.D.

J. S. Fuller was born November 19, 1850, in the State of Arkansas. He is the third son of W. A. Fuller, of Tennessee, and Miss M. Morgan of the same State. James attended county schools until he was twenty years of age, when he went to Cane Hill College, and Cincinnati, Arkansas. He began the study of medicine in 1883, and attended the medical college in St. Louis, since which time he has been practicing in Fort Gibson, while he is also in the mercantile and drug business. In October 1888, he married Miss Rosa Percival, daughter of William … Read more

Biography of Alfred Mason Gott

Alfred Mason Gott is quietly passing his days in the home of his niece, Mrs. D. D. Howell of Nowata, and around him are many relics, showing that all of his days have not been as quiet and peaceful as at the present, for he is numbered among the old Indian fighters of this section of the country and has passed through all of the experiences and hardships of pioneer life and the later era of progress and development. That his business affairs have been carefully managed is indicated in the fact that he is now one of the largest … Read more

Biography of Gideon Morgan

This well-known citizen of Tahlequah was born April 3, 1851, in Athens, Tennessee, the son of Major William Morgan and grandson of Colonel Gideon Morgan, of Stonewall Jackson’s army. His father was an officer in General John H. Morgan’s command, and was killed at the battle of Lexington, Kentucky, in 1862. The Morgans originally came from Wales. Colonel Gideon Morgan, already referred to, married Margaret Sevier, a granddaughter of General Sevier, who was half Cherokee, through his family connection with the Lowreys. Martha Mayo, daughter of G. W. Mayo, a white man, was mother to the subject of our sketch. … Read more

Early Indian Wars in Florida

Narvaez in Florida

Previous to the permanent establishment of the English in North America, the French and Spaniards made many attempts to get possession of various parts of the country. The coasts were carefully explored, and colonies planted, but they were soon given up as expensive, and involving too much hardship and danger. The first expedition to the coast of Florida was made in 1512, by Juan Ponce de Leon, renowned for his courage and warlike abilities. Ponce de Leon, becoming governor of Porto Rico (Puerto Rico), and hearing from the Indians that there existed a beautiful and fertile country to the northward, … Read more

Biography of John Young

Coming to Indian Territory fifty-four years ago, there is no phase of the development of this section of the country with which John Young is not familiar and those events which are to others historical chronicles are to him matters of personal knowledge or experience. In the work of up building and improvement he has borne his full share, aiding in laying the broad foundation upon which has been constructed the present prosperity and greatness of the state, and now, at the age of seventy-six years, be is living retired in his beautiful home near Copan, after many years’ connection … Read more

Biography of John S. Porter

John S. Porter was born August 1853, the son of Porter, a white man who was raised among the Indians, and came to the Creek Nation with the first settlers. John was sent to the Asberry Mission School and there remained for four months, after which he studied at Cane Hill College, Arkansas, for some time, marrying while yet a young man. He was united to Miss John, a Creek citizen, and soon afterward accepted the position of clerk to Mr. Severs, of Okmulgee, which office he retained for two years. In 1877 he commenced farming and stock rising, and … Read more

Slave Narrative of Eliza Whitmire

Person Interviewed: Eliza Whitmire Location: Vinita, Oklahoma Date of Birth: 1833 Age: 102 My name is Eliza Whitmire. I live on a farm, near Estella, where I settled shortly after the Civil War and where I have lived ever since. I was born in slavery in the state of Georgia, my parents having belonged to a Cherokee Indian of the name of George Sanders, who owned a large plantation in the old Cherokee Nation, in Georgia. He also owned a large number of slaves but I was too young to remember how many he owned. I do not know the … Read more

Biography of Joseph M. Hildebrand

The subject of this sketch was born November 22, 1822, in the old nation, East Tennessee, the third son of Michael Hildebrand, of Knoxville, Tennessee, of German descent, and who married a daughter of U. S. Indian Agent, Joseph Martin. She was one-fourth Cherokee, and granddaughter of the celebrated Granny Ward of national fame. Joseph received his education by private tuition, and emigrated west in 1842. In 1845, he began farming and raising stock in the Cherokee Nation, and continues that business at the present time. In 1867, he was elected judge of Coowescoowee district, and held the office four … Read more