Tahlequah Oklahoma

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

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 William A. Meek

(See England, Grant and Daniels)-David England married Susan A. Conner. Their daughter Arnlittda England married William England, Isaac Scrimsher and Elias H. Jenkins. Her daughter, Alta Berilla Scrimsher, born November 24, 1855, died Sept. 8, 1885; married January 20, 1873 Abram Meek born September 27, 1851 in Vandalia, Illinois. Died April 15, 1907. Their son William Alvin Meek was born November 7, 1880. Educated in Male Seminary at Tahlequah and Draughon’s Business College, Oklahoma City, graduating from the latter July 21, 1904. Married August 8, 1909, Ada, daughter of Henry and Emma Jane Donelly, born June 24, 1890, educated in … Read more

Biography of R. V. McSpadden

(See Foreman, Riley, Grant and Ghigau)-Richard Vance McSpadden born July 30, 1879 at Tahlequah. Educated at Tahlequah Public School and graduated from Male Seminary June 29, 1898. He married April 27, 1904 Ermina Essie Foreman, born February 23, 1879 in Vinita. She was educated in Vinita, Jackson, Tenn. and Cincinnati, Ohio. They are both members of the Methodist Church but do not belong to any fraternal orders or clubs. Mr. McSpadden is an oil producer and his wife was very energetic in World War work, especially in Red Cross work and as the directing officer of the Surgical Dressing rooms. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Richard W. King

(Ward)—Richard Willey, son of Judge Benjamin Cooper and Abbie (Kadle) King was born August 1, 1871, educated at Tahlequah and Male Seminary. Married July 20, 1890 Melvin Holland, born May 26, 1871. They were the parents of Benjamin Cooper born December 23, 1892, married at Tahlequah August 30, 1912 to Peggy Balleau born in 1894. Has one son, Richard Chester King, born Nov. 15, 1913. Clifford Willey, born Dec. 27, 1902 and John King, born April 1, 1910. Benjamin Cooper King was elected Judge of Tahlequah District, August 5, 1889-Richard Willey King was elected County Commissioner of the Third District … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ethel Ray Green Grimes

Ethel Ray Green, born near Vinita, November 25, 1892 was a daughter of Joseph and Margarette A. (Scrimsher) Green. She was educated at the Female Seminary at Tahlequah; Married at McAlester, Oklahoma Decemberr 23, 1917, Grady L. Grimes. They now members of the Methodist Church. Grimes is a Mason, and is an automobile mechanic.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Henry J. Hill

(See Adair)-Emma, the daughter of William E. and Fannie L. (Wright) Dupree, was born in Tex., Dec. 13, 1888; educated at Willie Halsell College at Vinita, and the Northeastern State Normal at Tahlequah, Okla. She married at Vinita on Dec. 22, 1915, Henry J., son of Frederick W. and Catherine Hill. He was born May 5, 1885, in Asherville, Mitchell County, Kansas. They are the parents of Frederick William, born October 2, 1916, in Birmingham, Alabama; Anna Catherine, born December 25, 1917, in Memphis, Tennessee, and Henry Marion Hill, born January 28, 1920, in Vinita, Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. Hill … Read more

Biography of Roy C. Hinds

Roy C. Hinds, though yet a young man, holds a responsible position in the financial circles of Locust Grove as cashier of the Security State Bank, of which institution he was one of the organizers. He was born in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, on the 2d of July, 1890, a son of Corder W. and Mary E. (England) Hinds, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Illinois. Their marriage was celebrated in Siloam Springs. For many years the father was engaged in the mercantile business there and in 1898 he removed to Rose Prairie, Indian Territory, where … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Amanda Murphy

Amanda Terrell, born June 14, 1871. Married at Tahlequah. June 23, 1888 Thomas Murphy, born September 13, 1863, died October 17, 1920. They were the parents of Sallie, married Benjamin Riggs and has four children: Theodora, Ruby, Madeline and Jewell Riggs; Looney; Thomas and Herbert.

Biographical Sketch of John S. Woodward

John S. Woodward, son of Jackson and Lizzie (Smith) Woodward, was born in Oklahoma in 1861 ; married in Oklahoma in 1875, Mary Fondren. They have one son, David 22 years old, who spent two years in France in the World War, where he was wounded and also gassed. John S. Woodward is a member of the Wolf Clan, a member of the Methodist church and a farmer near Tahlequah.

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

Biographical Sketch of Simon Ralph Walkingstick Jr.

Simon Ralph, son of Simon Ridge and Viola (Osborne) Walkingstick was born at Tahlequah Aug. 17, 1896. Educated at Bacone and Dartmouth Colleges, graduating from the latter with B. S. degree. Married at Syracuse, N. Y. December 15, 1917, Margaret E., daughter of C. H. McKaig. They are the parents of Syvertsen Ralph Walkingstick, born. July 3, 1920. Simon Ralph Walkingstick is a Presyterian. In Dartmouth, he was one of the eleven members of the students governing body, President of the College Y. M. C. A., President of the Collegiate Cosmopolitan Club. originator of one of the two principal College … Read more

Biography of Major J. Berry King

J. Berry King is now engaged in the general practice of law in Muskogee. Born in Harrison, Arkansas, May 29, 1888, he is a son of Alfred and Laura (McCormick) King, the father a banker and merchant of Harrison for a number of years, there successfully carrying on extensive business interests. In 1909, however, he removed to Oklahoma, where he resided until his death, which occurred in December, 1918. Major King received a public and high school education in Springfield, Missouri, and afterward attended the University of Arkansas, from 1903 until 1907. He then made preparation for his professional career … Read more

Biography of Rev. Joseph Franklin Thompson

Rev. Joseph Franklin Thompson, librarian of the Carnegie Library at Tahlequah and superannuated minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, having been retired since 1906, was born May 21, 1841, near Maysville, Arkansas, in what was then the Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory. His parents, both of whom are deceased, were James Allen and Martha (Lynch) Thompson, the former a native of South Carolina and the latter a native of Virginia and a member of an old Cherokee family there. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were married in Georgia and came to Beattie’s Prairie in 1838, with a detachment of Cherokees under … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Madison Sanders

(Raper, Sanders and Ghigau)-Madison, son of Jesse and Caroline (Catron) Sanders born in 1848. Married in 1875, Louisa, daughter of James and Nancy (Raper) Holland, born February 24, 1859. They are the parents of. Caroline, married Ellis R. Alberty; Cynthia, married William Isaac Johnson; Jesse; James S.; Thomas Blair; Elizabeth; John Henry; Geneva, married Thomas .Johnson and Parnett, Carl and Maggie Dee Sanders. Madison Sanders was elected Sheriff of Tahlequah District in 1879 and 1881. Carl D. Sanders was in the World War 7 months 7 days, Co. K. 12th Inf.

Biographical Sketch of Levi Tucker

Levi, son of William Tucka was married at Tahlequah in 1894 to Annie McKay, daughter of Alfred and Lucinda (Ketcher) McKay. They are the parents of: William, Ollie, Susie, Sallie, Eliza, Madison, Levi, and Mary Tucker. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker were educated in Tahlequah District and are representative citizens of Cherokee County.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. James L. Peebles

(See Grant and Foreman)-Nannie, daughter of Spencer and Margaret (Proctor) Shelton was educated in Tahlequah District and Female Seminary. Married at Tahlequah, James L., son of Mr. and Mrs. Peebles. They are the parents of: Joseph Lawrence, James Shelton, Charlotte May, Edgar Vann, Vera E., Robert, Virginia and Spencer Peebles. Mr. Peebles is farmer near Tahlequah, is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He was elected County Commissioner of Cherokee County September 17, 1907. Margaret, daughter of Johnson and Elizabeth (Foreman) Proctor was born May 1, 1346 and married Spencer Shelton. She died April 14, 1885.

Biographical Sketch of Nellie K. Ross

(See Grant, Sanders, Ross and Ghigau)—Nellie Katherine McLeod, born February 8, 1872 at Tahlequah. Educated in the Cherokee Public Schools, Female Seminary and Drury College, Springfield, Missouri. She married April 26, 1891 George Starr Ross, born June 27, 1865. He was educated in the Cherokee National Schools and Male Seminary. He died November 24, 1894. They were the parents of Wayne McLeod born February 27, 1892 and Roy Vivian Ross, born January 15, 1894 and died October 9, 1920. Mrs. Ross Cherokee name is Lyuka. She is a Presbyterian and a member of the Quest Club. Wayne McLeod Ross is … Read more

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.

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