Biography of Rev. Mason Fitch Williams

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

Biography of William Presley Thompson

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

Biographical Sketch of M. E. Milford

The subject of this sketch was born January 12, 1856, near Rockville, Connecticut, and came West about the outbreak of the Civil War, where he has ever since remained. The greater portion of Mr. Milford’s life has been spent in newspaper offices, and he bears the reputation of being a first-class newspaper man, whether in his connection with daily or weekly newspapers. In 1884 he was induced to abandon his work on a daily paper published in Topeka, Kansas, and instead, to assume the business management of the Indian Chieftain, published by a stock company, at Vinita; and since that … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Navin, M.D.

The subject of this biography was born December, 1850, in Jersey County, Illinois, the fifth son of James Navin, of Jersey County. His mother was a Miss Barker, of Alabama. William attended public school until he was eighteen years of age, after which he began teaching school in Calhoun County, Illinois, where he remained one year, and then engaged in the study of medicine at the St. Louis Medical College. Graduating and securing his diploma in 1872, he began practicing at his home and there remained until 1876, when he moved to Rush County, Kansas. Resuming his profession, he continued … Read more

Biography of Gilbert W. Pasco

The subject of this sketch was born in Fon du Lac, Wisconsin, April 20, 1848, and is the son of Cyrus W. Pasco and Marilla, daughter of William Dilts, of Ohio. Gilbert was educated at Fon du Lac, graduating at the High School, and commenced reading law with Charles Eldridge, of the same place. He finished his legal education under J. L. Lowe, of Washington, Kansas, after which he was elected County Clerk of Washington, Kansas, which office he held for four years. After practicing two years in that town, he moved to Sherman, Texas, in 1878 and there remained … Read more

Biography of William Electra Halsell

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

Biography of Albert Pike McKellopp

The subject of this sketch was born September 25, 1858, at Choska, Creek Nation, fourth son of James M. McKellopp, whose father came from Scotland in 1810, and settling in Alabama, married a sister to Moses Perryman, brother of Lewis Perryman, father of the present chief. James M. McKellopp, father of the subject of this sketch, was robbed and then murdered by Quantrell and his bushwhackers, at Choska, in 1864. His mother, who was daughter to Henry Marshall, of a prominent Creek family, died in 1865, from exposure, at Fort Gibson. Albert attended school at Tallahassee for three years, and … Read more

Biography of C. C. Lipe

The subject of this sketch was born March 10, 1847, near Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, third son of O. W. Lipe, of Fort Gibson. His mother was a Miss Gunter, daughter of John Gunter, a citizen by marriage, and once owner of the town of Guntersville, on the Tennessee River, in Alabama. Clark Lipe attended the public schools until he was fifteen years of age. After the outbreak of the war, he joined the Confederate army (in 1864), and continued in the service until its close. After much difficulty he at last succeeded in bringing together his father’s family, the members … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Wade Hampton Kornegay

Wade H. Kornegay was born April 17, 1865, in North Carolina, son of H. R. Kornegay and Miss Jeanette Williams. Mr. Kornegay was a leading lawyer, and served as High Sheriff and clerk of the superior court, during and after the war. Until the age of fourteen, Wade was sent to the academies and high schools of his native county, and at fifteen, entered the Wake Forest College, Wake County, North Carolina, where he remained until he graduated in A.M., at the age of nineteen. After that he taught school four years, being principal of the Richland high school. In … Read more

Biography of Samuel W. Brown

The subject of this sketch was born in June 1843, at Van Buren, Arkansas, the eldest son of S. W. Williams, a lieutenant in the United States army. His mother was a grand-daughter of Cussine Barnett, of Euchee fame, one of the most prominent men of his day among that tribe, and part Scotch by blood. The subject of this sketch obtained his name from the trustee of the school which he attended, S. C. Brown, a prominent Indian, who took a great interest in Sam. After attending the neighborhood school for a short time, Sam went to the Tallahassee … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Clifford L. Jackson

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

Biography of William. H. Davis

William H. Davis, familiarly known as “Kinney” Davis, was born in the Flint District, April 8, 1838, the son of William A. Davis, M. D., a Virginian of Welsh and Irish descent, and Mary Burns, daughter of Arthur Burns, who married a Lowry. Dr. Wm. A. Davis was one of the delegates that made the Ridge treaty, and happened to be present at the killing of John Ridge, being called upon in his professional capacity to attend Mrs. Ridge, who was then in bad health. Kinney’s father settled in Flint district in 1838, where the subject of this sketch attended … Read more

Biography of Robert Willis Julian

Robert Willlis Julian was born May 31, 1871, in Forsythe County, Georgia, son of R. M. Julian, owner of the Chattahoochee mines and one of the gold mines near Marietta (same State), in which John Winters is part proprietor. Robert’s mother was a Miss Susan Willis, daughter of Captain Priestly Willis, of Dawson County, Georgia, a descendant of the Doherty family, the issue of the first white man that ever married a Cherokee. Robert first attended school at Ringgold, Murray County, Georgia, for one year, after which he was a pupil in the public institutions at Marietta, Shylo and Bethlehem, … Read more

Biography of Oliver W. Lipe

The subject of this sketch was born January, 1814, in Montgomery county, New York, the son of John C. Lipe, and grandson of Caspar Lipe, who emigrated to the country in 1710. Oliver, with his parents, settled on the Mohawk River, but he left home in 1835 en route to Santa Fe, New Mexico. He stopped off at Boonville, Mo., however, and after some time found his way to Georgia, where he enlisted in the public works, Georgia Union Railroad Company, and became a contractor. In 1837 he went to Athens, Tennessee, and the following year rode on horseback from … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel S. Cobb, 1840-1923

The subject of this sketch was born March 10, 1840, at Morgantown, Tennessee, the sixth son of Sylvester Cobb. Samuel attended public school until seventeen or eighteen years of age, when the war broke out and he joined the Union army (Fifth Tennessee Infantry) as a private, gaining the captaincy of his company before the conclusion. After the war Samuel went to Webber’s Falls, Cherokee Nation, and for seventeen years sold goods in connection with his brother John and a Mr. Thomas Hutton. Selling out in 1885, Samuel and the latter gentleman embarked in cattle, and in 1890 built a … Read more

Biography of Rev. William McCombs

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

Biographical Sketch of E. P. Parris

The subject of this sketch was born in Tahlequah District, September 1857, the son of Johnson Parris and Delilah Chicken, both half-breeds. After having received his education in the Illinois district schools, he was appointed deputy sheriff under R. M. French at the national prison, which office he retained three years. In 1880 he entered the business establishment of W. T. Rasmus, at Tahlequah, and there remained until 1884, when he was employed by Messrs. Smith & French for two years, and later by John A. French (after the dissolution of the firm) for three years. Mr. Parris then went … Read more

Biography of Lucien B. Bell

The well-known Lucien B. (otherwise Hooley) Bell was born February 13, 1838, in Habersham County, Georgia, the son of John A. Bell and Jane Martin, daughter of John Martin, first chief justice of the Cherokee Nation. Lucien was first sent to school at Ozark Institute, where, after some time, his health and eyesight failing, he was obliged to leave and sojourn for a while in Rusk County, Texas. Recovering his health in 1856, he entered college at Cane Hill, Arkansas, and there remained until 1858, and at the age of twenty he married. In 1861 he joined the Confederate service, … Read more

Biography of Dennis W. Bushyhead

The subject of this sketch was born March 18, 1826, in the State of Tennessee, the oldest son of Rev. Jesse Bushyhead, a well-known Baptist divine and who was associated for many years with Rev. Evan Jones in the translation of the Bible and other religious works. Rev. Jesse was several times delegate to Washington, and a commissioner on other important occasions. Dennis’ mother was a Miss Eliza Wilkinson, a Georgian and half-breed Cherokee. The young man first attended school in 1833 at the Candy Creek Mission School, Tennessee, under charge of Rev. Holland. In 1835 he went to the … Read more

Biography of Robert Sherman Brown

Robert Sherman Brown was born in Pennsylvania in 1864, the son of Robert Kennedy Brown and Nancy Jane Cook, of Pennsylvania, both of whom died when their son was a boy. Moving, while Robert was an infant, to a point thirty miles north-east of Okmulgee, they sent their boy to school at Parker’s Landing, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, where he remained five years. On his return Robert went to work on a ranch in Texas, for twelve months, after which he returned to the Creek Nation, and, his parents being dead, he went to Thomas Perryman’s place, Broken Arrow (Perryman had … Read more