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

Biography of B. F. Rowland, M. D.

Important and varied interests claim the time and attention of Dr. B. F. Rowland, a leading druggist of Ochelata, who also figures prominently in financial circles as Vice President of the Ochelata State Bank, and he is likewise the owner of a good farm in this vicinity, his business affairs being most judiciously managed. He was born in Moniteau County, Missouri, June 7, 1866, his parents being Powhatan and Mary W. (Longdon) Rowland, the latter a daughter of a circuit rider in Missouri, who was one of the well known ministers of the early days. B. F. Rowland’s father engaged … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Walter S. Crittenden

(See Ghigau, Sanders, Adair and Gosaduisga)-Walter Starr, son of George Washington and Martha Jane (Starr) Crittenden, was born in May, 1868; educated in the Male Seminary. He married Rachel P. Vann, nee Henry, daughter of Archibald and Polly (Sanders) Henry. Her first husband was Edward Bruce Starr, born April 2, 1850, and died April 18, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Crittenden are members of the Methodist church and are farmers near Claremore, Oklahoma.

Biographical Sketch of Jesse Henry

(See Grant)-Ghigovi married Love and Muskrat. All were full blood Cherokees. Her children by the first marriage were: Celia, married Messenger Tiger; Lucy, married Jesse, son of William Henry; Tahnee, married Thomas Henry Alexander: Nannie, married Rock Crutchfield and Annie Love married Whirlwind. Her three daughters, Olkiney, Ailsey and Alee Muskrat, died without descent. Jesse and Lucy (Love) Henry were the parents of Josiah Henry born January 1, 1850 married December 26, 1871, Laura daughter of Ellis and Martha (Cope) Buffington, born September 22, 1852. They were the parents of Jesse Henry, born September 16, 1875, educated in the Cherokee … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph L. Gibbs

(See Conrad)-Joseph Lewis Gibbs born April 29, 1864 in Mattoon, Illinois. Married August 20, 1891 Eliza Gourd born December 28, 1873 near Claremore. They are the parents of: Charles A. born January 9, 1894 and Joseph Scott Gibbs born May 6, 1896. Joseph L. Gibbs is the proprietor of one of the best curio stores of the southwest, with his ability he specializes in American made articles, coins and Navajo blankets. Mrs. Joseph L. Gibbs is the daughter of John R. and Artemissa (Beavert) Gourd. The former now deceased was born August 5, 1850 married in 1872 Artemassa Beavert born … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. J. G. Moore

(See Cordery and Daniel).—Stonewall Jackson Rogers, born March 21, 1867, married in July 1890 Mary Kelly, born June 30, 1870 in Tennessee. She died in February 1907, and he died Septem­ber 13, 1907. They were the parents of Frances Leeper, born in Cleveland, Tennessee, September 1, 1892, educated at Chelsea, Northeastern State Normal, and the University of Tennessee; married at Sapulpa, Oklahoma, November 4, 1916 Joseph Gar­land Moore; Robert Kelly, born January 26, 1895; Mary Louisa, graduate of Chelsea High School, 1919; Henry Curtis, born January 30, 1903, graduate of the Chelsea High School May 1921, and Rebecca Mc­Nally Rogers … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. John Sortore

Jennie, daughter of Pink and Susie Allen was born near Claremore March 1, 1888 educated at Justice public school. Married Oct. 28, 1902 John, son of John and Mary P. (Herd) Sortore. They are the parents of: Mabel Clair, born March 14, 1904 and Minnie Carmel Sortore, born September 4, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Sortore are members of the Christian Church and are farmers, near Claremore. Mr. Sortore who is by profession an engineer is a member of the Woodmen of the World fraternity.

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 Anthony Kerns Douglas

One of the pioneer farmers of Rogers county is Anthony Kerns Douglas, who was born Caldwell county, Missouri, on the 29th of August, 1858, a son of Arnett Patrick and Emily (McGee) Douglas, and of Scotch-Irish decent. Mr. Douglas was named in honor of the family physician in Missouri. His father was born in Ohio and went to Missouri with his parents, when eight years of age. They located in Caldwell county and A. P. Douglas engaged in farming there until his demise about ten years ago. He achieved gratifying success in that connection and was one of the representative … Read more

Slave Narrative of Nellie Johnson

Person Interviewed: Nellie Johnson Location: Oklahoma I don’t know how old I is, but I is a great big half grown gal when the time of the war come, and I can remember how everything look at that time, and what all the people do, too. I’m pretty nigh to blind right now, and all I can do is set on this little old front porch and maybe try to keep the things picked up behind my grandchild and his wife, because she has to work and he is out selling wood most of the time. But I didn’t have … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. W. F. McSpadden

(See Carter and Riley)-Serena Carter Parrott, born at Silverlake in Cooweescoowee District March 25, 1870, educated at the Cherokee Orphan asylum from which she graduated June 17, 1886. Married February 17, 1889 William Fair (son of Rev. T. K. B. and Elizabeth (Green) McSpadden) born December 25,1856 in Dalton, Georgia. They are the parents of: Zoe, born November 15, 1889,educated at Chelsea and Female Seminary, from which she graduated May 29, 1907, married December 26, 1911 Earl Preston Whitehill; Floyd Carter, born August 19, 1891, Roscoe Conklin, born September 19, 1893; Zella Christine; born September 21, 1897; Alma, born March … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. L. Harnage

(See Ghigau and Sanders) -Custis Lee, son of John Griffith and Emily Walker (Mayfield) Harnage was born June 30, 1867. Educated in Texas. Married at Vinita Jan. 29, 1899 Frances Catherine, daughter of Joseph Henry and Ruth Jane (Harlan) Hunt, born August 3, 1874. She was educated in Vinita. They were the parents of: Emma Ruth, born March 25, 1900; James Hall, born Jan. 10, 1902; Nannie Pauline, born Dec. 4, 1904, died Dec. 26, 1918; Lucile Dixie, born July 18, 1909; and Curtis Le Harnage, born Jan. 18, 1913. Mr. Harnage is a farmer and stockraiser at Talala. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Joseph S. Hogue

(See Oolootsa and Ghigau)—Mary Erskine Clark, born December 12, 1880, educated at Jackson Tennessee. Married at Chelsea June 5, 1898 to Joseph Sterling Hogue, born January 28, 1867 in Granger County, Tennessee. They are the parents of Joseph Clarke, born January 7, 1900; Condroy Lea, born June 20, 1903 and Sarah Erskine Hogue, born April 7, 1906.

Biography of Clarence Graves

Since 1914 Clarence Graves has been engaged in the conduct of a mercantile business in Talala and is readily conceded to be one of the leading merchants of the community. A native of Kansas, he was born in Wyandotte County, on the 30th of September, 1864, a son of Charles and Albora (Gutherie) Graves. His parents came to Indian Territory in 1875 and located on a farm on Russell creek. The father was born in Maryland but upon the outbreak of the Civil war, his sympathies being with the south, he enlisted in the Confederate army, serving throughout that conflict … Read more

Biographical Sketch of M. L. Patterson

(See Berry and Ghigau) —M. L., son of Thomas and Adeline (Berry) Patterson, was born December 21,1856, in South Carolina. Married July 14, 1890 Zonia, daughter of Albert and Sarah Dawson, born February 5, 1870 in Tarrant County, Texas. They are the parents of Sarah, born April 21, 1891; Martha, born January 1, 1893; Claude A., born March 6, 1895, served in the A. E. F. for two years in France as sniper; Edgar Dawson, born July 3, 1897, served for two years and six months on the battleship South Carolina in the navy; Thomas, born June 9, 1899; Roscoe, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Joseph M. Allton

Allton, Mrs. Joseph M. (See Cordery and Carter)—Thomas Cordery, an Irishman mar­ried Susannah, a full blood Cherokee of the Blind Savannah Clan. Their daughter Susie married John Mosley and they were the par­ents of Sarah Ruth Mosley, born in 1841 married October 16, 1864 Lewis Clark Ram­sey, who served in the civil war in Captain Benjamin Wisner Carter’s company. After his death Mrs. Ramsey married January 5, 1877 Ezekial Taylor. Lewis Clark and. Sarah Ruth Ramsey were the parents of Susan Elizabeth Ramsey, born December 7, 1866, educated in the Chero­kee Orphan Asylum and Female Seminary. Married at Oowala July … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James McLain

(See Ghigau) James, son of Calvin and Charlotte (Martin) McLain married Elizabeth J. Kennedy, born June 22, 1875, and Lulu Breeden. By the first marriage there was born: Henriette J. and Sarah Vivian McLain, and by the second marriage, Haskell, Etta, Cora, Woodrow, Calvin, Charlotte and Lucy McLain. Mr. McLain was educated at the Orphan Asylum. He is a member of the A. F. T. A., which is one of the best indications of a man’s respectability and responsibility. He a farmer near Claremore.

Houses of the Osage Tribe

Frame of an Osage habitation, near Hominy, Okla., 1911

From the earliest historical times the habitat of the Osage was among the hills and valleys of the Ozarks, south of the Missouri, in the present State of Missouri, and here they continued to dwell until their removal during the early part-of the 19th century. When Père Marquette passed down the Mississippi, late in the month of June 1673, he learned of the Osage, and on his map, prepared soon afterwards, indicated the villages of that tribe near a stream which was evidently the river bearing their tribal name. They continued to occupy rather permanent villages until the beginning of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Harry J. Witz

(See Daniel)-Julia Inez Scudder, born January 21, 1892, educated at Chelsea. Married October 25, 1916, Harry J., son of Albert and May Witz. She belongs to the Methodist church and is an Eastern Star. Mr. Witz is connected with Chelsea Oil Refinery. Mrs.Witz is the daughter of W. H. H. and Margaret Joseph-Scudder.