Native American

The subject of this sketch was born March 17, 1859, the son of G. W. Stidham, deceased, who was the most prominent man of his day among the Creeks. His mother was a Virginia lady, a Miss Thornsbury, of an old and highly respected family. Young George was sent to the neighborhood school until the age of fifteen years, when he went to the Henderson Masonic Institute, Henderson, Tennessee. Here he remained for five years, one year in the interim being spent at home. After this he spent twelve months in the School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, and from thence … Read more

The subject of this sketch was born in July 1856, the son of William Gordon, a half-breed Scotchman and Creek Indian. His parents dying while he was quite young, William was carried North during the war, and stayed at Osage, near the Sauk and Fox agency. At the conclusion of the war he went to school at Drury College, Springfield, Missouri, for two years. In 1879 he entered the mercantile house of his half brother, Sam Brown, at Wealaka, with whom he worked for three years. After this he took charge of his step-brother’s cattle at Red Fork for one … Read more

The subject of this sketch is the son of Samuel Fisher, two-thirds white, and a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation. His mother was three-fourths Indian. William received his first schooling in Alabama, and coming to this nation in 1847, was sent to the Shawnee Mission, Kansas, where he spent about two years. In 1850 he married Miss Sarah P. Lampkins, a white woman, from Tennessee, after which he commenced farming on a small scale. By this marriage he had nine children, five of whom are living, Henry C., Emma, Martha, Samuel and Annie. In 1855 he commenced trading in the … Read more

The subject of this sketch was born February 18, 1851, at Louisville, Kentucky, the only son of the late Rev. Mason D. Williams and Caroline M. Fitch. Rev. Mr. Williams was organizer and pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church, Louisville, and died in 1852. His son, Mason Fitch, graduated from Princeton College, New Jersey, in 1871, and came to the Creek Nation, Indian Territory. In 1875 he took his degree as doctor of medicine from the University of Louisville, Ky., and commenced the practice of medicine in Muskogee, Indian Territory. In 1881 he took charge of a drug store at … Read more

The subject of this sketch was born June 7, 1851, in the State of Kentucky, fourth son of E. Halsell, Esq., who moved to Texas at an early date. William attended public school until eighteen years of age, when he started in the stock business and carried it on until 1882. During those years, in partnership with his brother Glenn, they accumulated a large herd of cattle, selling out for $300,000. Moving to Vinita, Cherokee Nation, the Halsell brothers bought another large herd, and in the spring of 1884 dissolved partnership. Glenn, going to California for his health, died in … Read more

The subject of this sketch was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1857, the fourth son of George Jackson, an Englishman, and Anne A. Gillis, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Clifford obtained his education in the country schools in Pettis County and in the private schools of Sedalia, Missouri, and under private tuition. In July 1878, he commenced reading law, and in 1889 was appointed deputy circuit clerk of Pettis County. In 1880 he was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of law in Sedalia, Missouri, in 1882. In 1884 he was nominated as prosecuting attorney for Pettis County, by the … Read more

William is the eldest son of Samuel McCombs and Susan Stinson, and grandson of Zacharias McCombs, and was born July 22, 1844, seven miles east of Fort Gibson. His father was one of the hundred State Dragoons selected by the Government of the State of Tennessee to go west and prepare for the emigration of the Indians. After serving in this department, he remained in the employment of the Government at Fort Gibson until 1850. Mr. McCombs was a Scotchman by birth, and emigrated at an early date. Mrs. McCombs was a half Creek and white woman, of the Stinson … Read more

The subject of this sketch was born in 1833, at Wills Valley, Alabama, the son of Andrew Ross, and nephew of the celebrated John Ross, principal chief of the Cherokees for forty years. His mother was Susan Lowry, daughter of Major George Lawry, a prominent Cherokee. Joshua came to the nation with his parents in 1836, and was educated partly at Fairfield and Park Hill Missions and Reilly’s Chapel, after which he proceeded to Ozark Institute, Arkansas, graduating in 1855 at the Male Academy, Tahlequah, and at Emory and Henry College, Virginia, in 1860. For his education at the last … Read more

Born at Opocheaholo, Alabama, in 1829, the son of Naboktche, a full blood, who died about 1835, Tamaya and his mother emigrated to this country with the last of the Creeks, settling down close to Fort Gibson. His mother being without help, Tamaya was obliged to devote his time to her support, and was therefore deprived of the chances of education. At the age of twenty-four he was made chief of the Little River Tulsie Town, which office he held four years, during the old constitution. At the outbreak of the war he moved to Osage Mission, and in twelve … Read more

Born June 18, 1857, in Cleveland, Ohio, the eldest son of J. E. Turner, of Muskogee, and Julia Ayers. Clarence moved to Fort Smith with his parents, September 1867, where he attended a neighborhood school until 1870. In 1874 he went to Jones’ College, St. Louis, where he remained three months. In 1870 he moved with his father to Okmulgee and assisted him in the mercantile business. In the fall of 1875 he and William Harveston bought out J. E. Turner, and they remained in partnership until 1880, when Clarence purchased Harveston’s interest in the business and conducted it until … Read more

The subject of our sketch was the son of a Scotchman named Foreman, by a Cherokee wife. His father dying while Stephen was eight or nine years old the boy was thrown, to a great extent, on his own resources. Being very industrious, however, and exhibiting a good deal of ambition, his friends aided him in procuring an education. During his youth he worked pretty hard, and spent such money as he could accumulate on his schooling. Dr. Worcester, the celebrated Presbyterian missionary, took him in charge in his eighteen year and gave him a classical education. Stephen then went … Read more

Jackson W. Ellis was born in Sweet Town, Cherokee Nation, in 1859. In youth he attended the public schools, and as early as sixteen years of age went to work on a farm. Jackson was the only son of the late Edward Ellis, who, with his brother Samuel, was killed at Fort Gibson during the war while corralling the horses of their company. At the age of twenty-one he was appointed deputy sheriff of Tahlequah district, also sheriff of commissioner’s court; and later, in 1872, deputy warden of the national penitentiary, and in the same year commissioner of the quarantine … Read more

The subject of this sketch was born March 17, 1861, the seventh son of Dr. James Archer of South Carolina, a leading physician. His mother was a Miss Key. Thomas attended district school until he was fourteen years of age, when he went to Osage Mission Kansas, where he remained one session. After this he went to Muskogee and there clerked in a hotel until April 1882, when he opened a small store on Verdigris River, twenty-one miles east of Tulsa. When the Fisco was completed to Mingo he removed to that point, and on its completion to Tulsa he … Read more

Eli E. Hardridge was born in February 1858, the son of Jonathan Hardridge (or Hardage), who was a son of Josiah Hardage, a half-breed. His mother was a full blood, named Lucy New. Jonathan Hardridge came to this country and settled at the mouth of Cane Creek, where Eli was born. The young man was at first sent to the Checotah neighborhood school, and afterward went to Tallahassee Mission, where he remained nearly five years, defraying the expenses of his own clothing and other incidentals by laboring during vacation. For this Eli is entitled to great credit. After leaving Tallahassee … Read more

The second chief of the Creek Nation was born two years after the close of the Red Stick War. His father was General Bullet (in the aboriginal language, Thecham Hargo), of the Okchaye Town. His mother was Semarharke, a follower of Hoppercheaholo. Hotulke E. Martha and his people belonged to the anti-McIntosh party, remaining in Alabama till from 1833 to 1836. The subject of this sketch entered into public life five years after coming to this country (in 1841), and has been ever since a lawmaker during the old, and since the establishment of the present constitution. From 1867 to … Read more

The subject of this sketch was born July 3, 1851, at Clarksville, Arkansas, second son of Ben Davis, of Clarksville, Arkansas, a prominent merchant before the war. Charles’ mother was the daughter of Charles Poston, of Springfield, Missouri, a trader at that point. Charles went to Kane Hill College, Arkansas, for three years. Leaving there in 1871 he opened a livery business in Clarksville, Arkansas, and carried it on until 1875. In that year he sold patent pumps in Texas, and in 1876 began farming and raising stock in the eastern portion of the Cherokee Nation. In 1889 he opened … Read more

James Dandridge Willison was born in December, 1852, the second son of J. W. Willison and Catherine McIntosh, sister to the present Colonel D. N. McIntosh, one of the leading men of the Muskogee Nation. James’ father was a white man from Virginia, who settled in Jefferson, Texas, at an early day, having emigrated with his father from England in 1704, being a member of Sir William Calander’s family. The subject of our sketch has the old family Bible, printed in 1585, which contains this record. At the age of twenty-two Mr. Willison settled fifteen miles south of Muskogee, and … Read more

Born June 4, 1842, the seventh son of Sylvester Cobb, of Tennessee, the subject of our sketch attended public school until seventeen years of age, when he commenced railroading, and continued the business for three years, when the war broke out and he joined the Federal army, holding the positions of private, second and first lieutenant, and finally, captain of his company. After the close of the war he came to the Cherokee Nation with Colonel John J. Humphrey, at that time agent for the Cherokees. In 1867 he established a trading post at Webber’s Falls, Canadian District, under the … Read more

This promising and popular young lawyer was born in Smith County, Texas, November 19, 1866, the son of James Franklin Thompson, of Scotch-Irish parentage, and one-sixteenth Cherokee. His mother was Miss Callie E. McCord, of South Carolina, and whose family are to-day influential and wealthy landed proprietors in the northern part of Scotland. When but three years old, William moved with his parents to Beattie’s Prairie, Delaware District, Cherokee Nation, from Smith County, Texas, and there attended the public schools until he was fifteen years of age. In February 1882, he entered the Male Seminary, and in 1884 took the … Read more