Pryor Oklahoma

Governor Houston’s Life Among the Indians

Detail from Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto

Following his failure to secure a contract for Indian rations, Sam Houston engaged in a series of contentious correspondences, criticizing officials and accusing Colonel Hugh Love of collusion. His passion led to public outbursts, including an intemperate proclamation against opponents. Despite his controversies, he was seen as an advocate for Indian rights, notably the Cherokee and Creek tribes. Houston’s deeper ambitions in Texas and his relationships with these tribes were marked by significant developments, including allegations of attempts to manipulate land settlements in their favor.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. George L. Jones

Lorena, daughter of Daniel Boone and Vann Cole, was born on July 24, 1881, in Pryor, where she attended the Female Seminary. On December 16, 1901, she married George L. Jones, a Texan born on April 15, 1877, to Mack and Nellie Jones. They had six children: Mabel Lee, Otta May, Cornelius, Haskell, Willie, and Carl. The family lineage includes connections to Johnson Vann and his wife Margaret Winters, linking to the Fields and Sanders families.

Biographical Sketch of Jake Fair

Jake Fair, born on July 3, 1896, married Hazel Stamper in May 1913 in Pryor. Together, they had three children: Louis, Flora Ellen, and Junior David. Jake’s lineage can be traced back to Ellen Wilkerson, born in 1870, and Lewis Kelly Fair, born in 1864, who are his parents. This family history captures the roots and relationships that shaped Jake Fair’s life.

Biographical Sketch of Edward C. Kincaid

Edward C. Kincaid, born January 28, 1875, was a dedicated farmer and a member of the Baptist church, as well as the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Mutual Aid Society. He wed Mary L. Givins on March 31, 1906, and they had a daughter, Julia Pearl Kincaid, born April 29, 1908. His lineage traces back to Collins McDonald and Naroena Adair, connecting him to a rich family history in Georgia.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Grover C. Odle

Caroline Jane Gwatney, born on November 23, 1884, received her education at Pryor and Female Seminary. She married Grover Cleveland Odle on March 18, 1906. Together, they had four children: Burdette, John Edward, Ruth, and Mary. Grover was a farmer near Pryor, Missouri. Caroline’s lineage includes her father, Edward Gwaltney, who was born in Indiana in 1860 and married Susie Ward in 1881. Susie passed away in 1898, leaving a legacy that includes Caroline’s own family.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. T. H. Burgess

Mary Ann Gwartney, born on December 10, 1887, attended Pryor and Female Seminary. She married T. H. Burgess on December 17, 1905, in Pryor. They had five children: Bryant L., Lucille, Thomas Henry, Jack, and Leonard. T. H. Burgess, born September 26, 1880, in Washington County, Arkansas, worked as a farmer near Pryor. Mary Ann is the granddaughter of John S. Ward and Jennie Loveless, linking her to the Gwartney family through her mother, Susie.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Thomas Henry Tuton

Ethel M. Rogers, born on March 23, 1899, in Pryor, Oklahoma, completed her education at Pryor High School and Boulder University. She married Thomas Henry Tuton, a druggist, in Guthrie on March 30, 1921. A member of the Methodist Church and Eastern Star, Ethel’s lineage traces back to notable figures in Oklahoma’s history, including Confederate service members and Cherokee descent, illustrating her deep-rooted connections to the region’s cultural heritage.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Barney D. Haddan

Elizabeth Jane Fields was born on February 13, 1880, and educated at Hogan Institute. She married David Barney Haddan on August 9, 1894, and together they had two children, Thomas Elmer Franklin and Marie Susan Haddan. David was a prosperous farmer and served as County Commissioner of Mayes County. Elizabeth is linked to a prominent family, being a great-great-granddaughter of Richard Fields, Chief of the Texas Cherokees, and is active in the Eastern Star Chapter No. 50 in Pryor.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Leon C. Merritt

Hope Eva Bowman, born December 20, 1887, attended Pryor and Female Seminary before marrying Leon C. Merritt on July 8, 1900. Together, they welcomed four children: Fern Aileen, Naomi Leon, Timothy Clarence, and Alice Inez. Leon established himself as an automobile dealer in Chelsea. Mrs. Merritt is actively involved in the Christian church and several fraternal organizations, including the Woodmens Circle, Eastern Star, and Rebecca orders. She is the daughter of James Earl and Jane Ida (Wilson) Bowman.

Biographical Sketch of Eli Tadpole

Dorcas Foreman, born January 9, 1871, in Tahlequah District, married Eli Tadpole in 1885. Eli, born March 18, 1865, was educated in Cherokee National Schools and became a farmer near Pryor. Together, they had several children, including Lelia, Emma, William, Anna, and Herman, who contributed to the family’s legacy. Dorcas, a member of the Wolf Clan, is known by her Cherokee name, Dar-ki. The family reflects a rich heritage in their Cherokee community.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Lewis Teter

Alice Fields, born February 20, 1869, was educated at Bryans Chapel on Grand River. She married Lewis Teter on January 18, 1888, and together they had six children: Clara Jane, Myrtle, Walter, Edna, Goldie E., and Lewis Leon. Alice is a notable descendant of Richard Fields, Chief of the Texas Cherokees, and her family has maintained a prominent status within the Cherokee community for over a century.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Wm. A. Worsham

Mabel Maud Hogan, born on April 15, 1890, received her education from Pryor and William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri. On October 9, 1909, she married William A. Worsham. The couple welcomed two daughters: Mary Margaret, born on April 1, 1911, and Gay Nell, born on July 20, 1913.

Biographical Sketch of W. T. Whitaker

Elizabeth Taylor, born in Cherokee County, North Carolina in 1819, married Stephen Whitaker in 1834. They had William Thomas Whitaker, who moved to Indian Territory in 1871 and later settled in Pryor, Oklahoma. William and his wife, Stacy, had eight children. Notable descendants include James Edward and William Jerry, both educated and active in community service. William Thomas founded the Whitaker Orphans Home in 1897, which later became the East Oklahoma State School. The family has a lasting legacy in the region.

Biographical Sketch of S. H. Mayes Jr.

Samuel Houston Mayes, born on October 11, 1866, in the Choctaw Nation, was educated in the Saline District before graduating in 1886. He married Florence Nicodemus in 1892, and they had four children. A farmer near Pryor, Mayes served on the Council from the Cooweescoowee District starting in 1901. He was connected to notable figures in Cherokee leadership, related as a nephew to several Principal Chiefs. His Cherokee name, Sa-moo-sti, reflects his heritage.

Biographical Sketch of James L. Taylor

James Lincoln Taylor, born on September 7, 1860, in North Carolina’s Cherokee reservation, was educated locally. He married Dora B. Carty on April 21, 1895, and they had five children: Nellie, Alice, Marguerite, William, and Charles Henry. A member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, Taylor served as postmaster of Pryor from 1894 to 1898 and was elected Solicitor of Cooweescoowee District in 1897. His lineage includes his parents, James Madison and Addie Manchester Taylor.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. T. R. Padgett

Rena Anderson was born on November 5, 1887, near Pryor and received her education locally. She married T. F. Padgett on August 29, 1906, and they had four children: Jessie, Nolan, Nellie, and Alma. Rena is the daughter of Rufus Anderson and Melvina Wayburn, reflecting a lineage with roots in Illinois and Texas.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Pleas L. McLain

Martha A. Wayburn was born on August 14, 1835, in North Carolina. She wed Mary Ann Gage in Texas on November 23, 1854. The couple had a tragic end, with Martha passing away on October 4, 1878, and her husband on July 29, 1879. Their lineage continued with Pleas L. McLain, born January 27, 1873, who married in 1891. Together, they had several children, including Lloyd L., Cora N., and Watt Mayes, witnessing the growth of their family in the years to come.

Biographical Sketch of Hall Mayes

Hall Mayes, born on September 26, 1891, near Pryor, was the son of Walter Adair and Nannie Riley (McCoy) Mayes. He pursued his education at Male Seminary, Bacone University, and Agricultural College at Stillwater. On September 1, 1915, he wed Sallie Pearl Cochran, with whom he had three daughters: Virginia Lee, Mary Hall, and Lucile Cochran. Hall’s lineage traces back to Samuel Mayes and Nancy Adair, emphasizing a rich family history intertwined with prominent local figures.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Marvin Odle

Lulu Brown, born on December 10, 1881, near Pryor, married George Southerland on January 22, 1900, and had three children. She later married Marvin Odle on July 21, 1908. Together, they welcomed three more children: Alma Beatrice, Charles Eugenic, and Virginia Lee. Marvin, born in 1885, is engaged in farming near Pryor. The post also mentions Charles Ward and his family lineage, highlighting connections to other notable figures in the region’s history.