Tahlequah Oklahoma

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. J. O. Epperson

Epperson, Mrs. J. O. (See Grant and Downing)—Mary, daughter of John and Susan (Gentry) Wood was born in Tahlequah District, June 16, 1883, educated in Female Seminary. Married at Tahlequah January 16, 1899, J. O., son of William H. and Margaret Epperson. They are the parents of: Oscar L., born December 31, 1900; Benjamin F., born August 13, 1902 Lola May, born November 29, 1905; Hendietta, born April 17, 1907; Eugene, born December 12, 1908; Bessie Marie, born June 10, 1911; Susie, born July 30, 1912; Walter Floyd, born May 21, 1914 and Mattie M born December 30, 1918. Mr. … Read more

Tahlequah, The Cherokee Capital

Tahlequah is situated a few miles from the Neosho river, and fifteen miles from Fort Gibson, in the center of a rich and densely populated portion of the nation. It was first chosen as council-ground, and sub­sequently made the permanent seat of Government of the tribe. Its location and surroundings rendered it by far the most important place in the nation. Park Hill was in the vicinity, Fairfield and Dwight missions were near. There was a Methodist church in sight of the village; a school-house also. There was an excellent brick court-house, well and conveniently arranged. At the time of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John E. Duncan

(See Grant, Downing, and Duncan)-John Ellis, son of Reverend Walter Adair and Martha (Wilson) Duncan, was born March 26, 1861; educated in the Cherokee Nation. Married January 1, 1890, Susan Elizabeth, daughter of and Catherine (Emory) Carselowry, born July 30, 1873. They are the parents Ellis Crowell, Robert Stewart, Kathleen Nana, Albert Carselowry, Walter Abercrombie, Johnnie May, and Charles D. Duncan. Mr. Duncan was elected Clerk of Tahlequah District in 1893 and was the last elected High Sheriff of the Cherokee Nation.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. William D. Renfro

(See Riley).-—Betty Sutherlin born September 19, 1897, educated at the Cherokee Orphan Asylum. Married December 28, 1897 to William David, Son of Dave K. and Alef (Tillman) Renfro, born August 29, 1870 in Brown County, Texas. They are the parents of: William David, born January 26, 1900 and is at present in the 1922 class in the University of Oklahoma, where he is a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity; Elza Tillman, born April 3, 1902, is a student in Tulsa University and a Phi Delta Theta; Alef Adelaide, born February 23, 1904, and Ima Jean Renfro, born October … Read more

Biography of William Pressley Thompson

William Pressley Thompson, a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Oklahoma, was for many years prominent in the affairs of the Cherokee Nation, and for over two decades he has been a member of the Vinita bar, being recognized as one of the most able attorneys in northeastern Oklahoma. He was born on a cotton plantation in Smith county, Texas, November 19, 1866, his parents being James Franklin and Caroline E. (McCord) Thompson, the former a native of Georgia and the latter of Mississippi, and both now deceased. The father accompanied the Cherokees on their removal to … Read more

Slave Narrative of Johnson Thompson

Person Interviewed: Johnson Thompson Place of Birth: Texas Date of Birth: December 1853 Just about two weeks before the coming of Christmas Day in 1853, I was born on a plantation somewheres eight miles east of Bellview, Rusk County, Texas. One year later my sister Phyllis was born on the same place and we been together pretty much of the time ever since, and I reckon there’s only one thing that could separate us slave born children. Mammy and pappy belong to W.P. Thompson, mixed-blood Cherokee Indian, but before that pappy had been owned by three different masters; one was … Read more

Biography of J. C. Bushyhead, M. D.

One of Claremore’s pioneer citizens, who has tirelessly devoted his energies to the development of the town along the various lines is Dr. J. C. Bushyhead, who first located here some thirty-one years ago. During the long period of his residence here he has been engaged in the active practice of his chosen profession and has won for himself an enviable position among the foremost physicians and surgeons of northeastern Oklahoma. A native of Indian Territory, he was born at Fort Gibson on the 29th of June, 1870, a son of Dennis Bushyhead, who was chief of the Cherokee Indians … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Minerva Wormington

(See Ross)- Minerva, daughter of Isaac Alexander and Susannah Coody (Ross) Wilson was born at Tahlequah on Tuesday June 1, 1886. Educated in the Cherokee Public Schools and Female Seminary. She married in 1914 at Tulsa, Frederick Wormington and they are the parents of Lorine Wormington, age six. Mrs. Wormington’s father was a gentleman of more than ordinary intelligence and her mother was a member of the distinguished Ross family.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. E. W. Gish

(See Colootsa, Cordery, Adair and Gosaduisga) Martin R. Brown, born February 27, 1858 at Fort Gibson. Married May 9, 1888 Nannie C. McNair, born in 1866. They were the parents of Catherine Brown born in 1891 at Tahlequah, married in Oklahoma City in 1915, Emmett W. Gish. They are the parents of Dorothy Louise Gish, age five years. Mr. Gish is a merchant in Oklahoma City. Mr and Mrs. Gish are members of the Presbyterian church.

Biographical Sketch of Margaret Humphreys

Humphreys, Margaret nee Woodall (See Hendricks)—Margaret Woodall, born July 18, 1866. Married at Tahlequah Nov. 24, 1909. James Humphreys, born in Monroe County, Tennessee in 1867. They are the parents of Roxis, born August 30, 1910; Harrison, born March 16, 1912; Eula, born June 10, 1914; and Virgil, born May 3, 1916. James Humphreys is a Mason and an Odd Fellow.

Slave Narrative of Nancy Rogers Bean

Person Interviewed: Nancy Rogers Bean Location: Hulbert, Oklahoma Place of Birth: Boggy Depot, Oklahoma Age: 82 I’m getting old and it’s easy to forget most of the happenings of slave days; anyway I was too little to know much about them, for my mammy told me I was born about six years before the war. My folks was on their way to Fort Gibson, and on the trip I was born at Boggy Depot, down in southern Oklahoma. There was a lot of us children; I got their names somewheres here. Yes, there was George, Sarah, Emma, Stella, Sylvia, Lucinda, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Reuben Harris

(See Foreman)-Andrew Taylor, a native of Orange County, Virginia married Jennie Bigby and they were the parents of Minerva Jane Taylor who married Robert Wesley Walker, a native of North Carolina. Their daughter Senora Adelaide Walker born December 23, 1859 in Tennessee married June 16 1878 Morgan Lemuel Pyeatt born in Washington County, Arkansas December 29, 1851. He died April 29, 1889. Their daughter, Bessie Lee Pyeatt was born at Tahlequah in 1883. Educated in the Female Seminary. Married at Collinsville in 1901 Reuben, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson Harris. They are the parents of: George, born Dec. 1911; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Oce Benge

Benge, Oce (See Grant, Ghigau, Foreman and Conrad)—Richard Fields Benge, commonly called “Oce’ Benge, was born in Tah­lequah District, September 9, 1851. Married at Locust Grove, February 18, 1883, Martha Adair, daughter of George Washington and Cherokee (Ratliff) Brewer, born July 7, 1861, and educated in Female Seminary. They are the parents of Georgia Alma, born April 30, 1885, married William C. Johnston April 4, 1919; Eleanor Osceola, born Jan­uary 18, 1887, married C. A. Dunham Oct­ober 3, 1913, parents of Roy Mills, born September 1, 1915, and Beatrice Eleanore Durham, born July 28, 1919; Lelia Leone, born December 16, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of D. G. Heflin

Heflin, D. G. (See Grant and Ghigau)— Elizabeth Christine, daughter of Dr. Jeter Lynch and Mary Jane (Taylor) Thomp­son, born Jan. 28, 1854, in Delaware Dist. Married Oct. 17, 1871, William, son of William and (Timberlake) Eubanks, born in Go­ing Snake District, Dec. 3, 1841. He enlisted in 1861 in Captain George Harlan Starr’s Co. of the First Cherokee Mounted Rifles. Was First Lieutenant of Captain William Taylor’s Company and upon the decease of Taylor he became Captain. He was elected Executive Councilor in November 1887. Mrs. Eubanks died March 29, 1912. They were the par­ents of Ada Archer Eubanks, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Robert J. Thompson

(See Grant and Ghigau)-Robert Jefferson, son of Johnson and Eliza Christine (Taylor) Thompson was born October 29, 1860, educated at Tahlequah, Male Seminary and Bacone College, graduated from the latter. Married in 1892, Rosa Gritts, born July 16, 1863 and died Feb. 25, 1910. They were the parents of: Eloise, born June 9, 1897; lda Frances, born Nov 29, 1899; Susie Taylor, born Feb. 19, 1902; Thomas Fox, born Oct. 4, 1905 and Sammie Cunningham Thompson, born May 6, 1908. James J. Thompson born 1893, died in 1897. Rose Jessie Thompson, born Aug 16, 1895, died in 1897. Mr. Thompson … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Albert Lewis

(See Hendricks), Hettie, daughter of Henry and Mary (Hendricks) Walkabout was born at Tahlequah. Oct. 19, 1879. Educated at Park Hill Mission. Married at Inola May 29, 1902, Albert son of Ira H. and Sarah E. Lewis, born Aug. 14, 1879 in Washington County, Ark. They are the parents of Grace E. Lewis born Aug. 21, 1903; Ira A. born June 2, 1905; Beatrice, born Oct. 17, 1906; Velma born April 28, 1909; Mildred born Feb. 18 1913; Edgarita, born Jan. 3, 1916; Hilda; born Sept. 13, 1916; and Vernon, born April 10, 1919. Mrs. Lewis’ Cherokee name is Ahniwake, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Andrew Clark

Clark, William A.—William Andrew Clark, born near Tahlequah June 2nd, 1861, educated at the Cherokee Orphan Asylum. Married at Pryor, June 17, 1891, Lillie Berry, born October 29, 1872, in Athens, McMinn county, Tennessee. They are the parents of: Joseph James, born November 12th 1893, graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, June 28th, 1917; served through the World war as Lieutenant on U. S. S. North Carolina and is at present (1921) on the U. S. S. Brooks in Asiatic waters; Lucy Jane, born February 21, 1895, graduated with A. B. from the University of Oklahoma June 4, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. Frank Adair

(See Grant)-Arthur Frank, son of John Lynch and Mary Jane (Jeffreys) Adair was born August 28, 1858, educated in Male Seminary. Married at Tahlequah September 1, 1886 Mollie Elizabeth Miller, born February 22, 1868. They were the parents of: Arthur Lynch, born May 11, 1891 and Owen Lewis Adair, born March 18, 1893. Rachel, daughter of Jeter and Nancy (Martin) Lynch married Thomas Benjamin Adair and they were the parents of John Lynch Adair who married Mary Jane Jeffreys a native of Virginia.

Biography of Stephen A. Miller

Since the death of Chief Journeycake, Stephen A. Miller, a well known farmer and oil man of Nowata county, has been acting chief of the Delawares. He is now residing on his farm, three-quarters of a mile south of Delaware. A native of Kansas, he was born in Wyandotte county, on the 27th of September, 1863, a son of Andrew and Sallie (Hill) Miller. His father was born in White River, Ohio, and was one of the first settlers in Kansas. He came to Indian Territory with the first Delawares, to which tribe he belonged, and locating at Coodys Bluff, … 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