Biography of Hon. Joshua Ross

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

Biography of William Livingston Austin

William Livingstone Austin was born November 9, 1830, at Trincomalee, Ceylon Island, East Indies, the son of Dr. William Austin, of the Queen’s Own Regiment and a hero of Waterloo. His mother was daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel William Morris. When the subject of our sketch was an infant in arms, his mother, en route homeward with the regiment, touched at the island of St. Helena, and being fatigued while visiting the great Napoleon’s last quarters, was placed upon the bed of the departed hero. Thus W. L. Austin had the honor of sleeping on Napoleon’s bed. His uncle, Robert Austin, surgeon … Read more

Biography of Joseph M. Perryman

This prominent citizen was born near Muskogee, Creek Nation, in 1833, the third son of Mayes Perryman, who held many high offices during his lifetime. The young man was sent to school at Coweta Mission until 1853, when he began his studies for the Presbyterian ministry, continuing the same for three years. Before the breaking out of the war he was licensed to preach the gospel, but when the tocsin of war was sounded he joined the Confederate service under Colonel D. N. McIntosh, and held rank in various capacities until the close. When the war ended he went to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Martin R. Brown

Martin R. Brown was born February, 1868, at Fort Gibson, second son of John L. Brown and Anna E. Schrimsher, daughter of Martin Schrimsher, a white man, intermarried with the Cherokees, and very prominent in the nation. Martin attended neighborhood school until 1879, after which he went to the male seminary at Tahlequah, and attended it for four sessions. In 1881 he commenced teaching school at Garfield and Fort Gibson, where he was engaged two years. For some time he had been studying pharmacy, and in 1883 opened a drug store at Fort Gibson, which he soon sold out, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. F. Standiford

J. F. Standiford is a native of West Virginia, part of his life having been spent in Illinois and Kansas. He came to Muskogee, Indian Territory, in the spring of 1878, and there erected his art gallery and residence, engravings of which will be found in the grouped illustration. Mr. Standiford is the only licensed photographer in the Indian Territory, and has, without comparison, the neatest and best equipped gallery in the nation. He is ably assisted in his work by his wife and sister, the latter doing all the negative retouching, etc. A novel feature in the finishing department … Read more

Biography of Hon. George W. Parks

Hon. G. W. Parks, deceased, supreme judge of the Cherokee Nation, was born in Monroe County, Tennessee, March 20, 1820, and emigrated with his father and family to the present nation in 1838. George received a common school education, and at eighteen years of age was appointed wagon master by Gen. Winfield Scott, who conducted the Cherokees to their homes in the Indian Territory. George remained in the new country two years, after which he returned home, and at his father’s death embarked in the dry goods business in 1840, in Cleveland, Tennessee, on a capital of $4,000. Remaining there … Read more

Biography of Leo E. Bennett, M.D.

The subject of this sketch was born at Wyandotte, Kansas, November 27, 1857. His father, Dr. James E. Bennett (deceased), was a physician and surgeon, graduated of the University of Maryland. He served in the Fourteenth Kansas Cavalry throughout the war, after which he was postmaster in Fort Smith, Arkansas, during Grant’s administration. Leo received his education at Rugby Academy, Wilmington, Delaware, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, graduating in medicine at the University of Tennessee in 1883. Between the years 1869 and 1872 he served his apprenticeship in the newspaper business at Fort Smith, Arkansas. In the fall … Read more

Biography of Henry C. Fisher

The subject of this sketch was born in March 1862, the second son of William Fisher, of Fishertown, a sketch of whose life will be found in this volume. Henry first attended a neighborhood school until he was fourteen years old, at which age he was so well advanced in his studies that when he went to Franklin High School, at Clinton, Missouri, he immediately went into the classes that contained many of the country teachers of that county. Remaining at Clinton for two years, he went from thence to Drury College, Springfield, Missouri, which college sends a number of … Read more

Biography of Tamaya Connell

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

Biography of Governor William L. Byrd

The life of William L. Byrd has undergone many changes within the past three years. His early career of uneventful peace has given place to one of excessive turbulence. The quiet, plodding businessman of long ago is now metamorphosed into a ruler whose every action is looked forward to with something very much akin to dread. His recent conduct in the disfranchisement of the white citizens was alone sufficient to gain him notoriety. But let us commence at the beginning. William L. Byrd, from the most reliable information, was born in Poutotoe, Mississippi, being the son of John Byrd, a … Read more

Biography of Gov. William Malcolm Guy

So long as the noble or virtuous man breathes the breath of life, so long shall malice and envy strive to feast at the expense of his reputation. But only let death intervene, and behold the halo gather round his name. Who is there among the Chickasaw people at the present day ready or willing to cast a slur upon the memory of Cyrus Harris, the great and good; though, while he lived, see him surrounded by traducers and political enemies numberless? Verily does history repeat itself in his nephew, William Malcolm Guy, who, following the example of his uncle, … Read more

Biography of H. W. Adams

The subject of this sketch was born in April 1837, being the son of John Adams, mayor of St. Charles, Missouri, who died in 1868. John Adams was the youngest brother of Robert H. Adams, United States Senator, who died during senatorial service. H. W. Adams was first instructed by his father, a man of superior education, and after some years’ study joined his parent in agricultural pursuits. In 1855 he left home, and worked at the carpenter trade in Arkansas. In 1859 he moved to Skulliville, Choctaw Nation, and was soon appointed architect contractor for Fort Coffee and New … Read more

Biography of Clarence W. Turner

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

Biography of Judge James M. Keys

Judge James M. Keys was born March 25, 1845, son of Louis Keys, who came from the old State in 1828 and settled on the Illinois River near Tahlequah. His mother was Catherine McDaniels, daughter to James McDaniels, of Irish descent. William Keys, the grandfather to James M., was a United States citizen of Scotch-Irish blood. James was educated at the Tahlequah schools, and at sixteen years of age enlisted in Captain Tennent’s company, Fourth Arkansas, serving three months and twenty days, when he joined Stand Watie’s First Cherokee Regiment, and remained with them until the termination of the war. … Read more

Biography of Jas. O. Callaghan, M.D.

The subject of this sketch was born November 1860, at Sulphur Springs, Texas. He is the eldest son of Judge S. B. Callaghan, present Chief Justice of the Creek Nation, who is the son of Oliver Callaghan of Scott county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. S. B. Callaghan (Dr. Callaghan’s mother) is the daughter of Rev. Wm. Thornburg, a minister of the Methodist Church, who came from Mississippi to Texas and died in that State about the year 1845. Up to the age of fourteen James received his schooling at Sulphur Springs public school, after which he went to the Alley High School, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ellis M. Alberty

Ellis M. Alberty was born May 4, 1854, in Going Snake district, the son of Moses Alberty (a Georgian, who settled in this nation in 1832) and Elizabeth Buffington, daughter of Ellis Buffington. Ellis, while but six years of age, commenced attending school at Prairie Grove, but after the outbreak of the war refugeed with his parents near Goodwater, Choctaw Nation. Here Ellis visited the mission school off and on until 1866, when his family returned to the home place in Going Snake district. At the Baptist Mission in this district Ellis completed his education. On June 14, 1874, he … Read more

Biography of William C. Patton

The subject of this sketch was born August 1, 1829, being seventh son and fourteenth child of Joseph E. Patton, of Buncombe County, North Carolina, a farmer and stock-raiser. His mother was a Miss Orr, of South Carolina. William went to a neighborhood school until fifteen years of age, and at eighteen went to Lafayette Academy, Walker County, Georgia, where he remained two years. In 1853 he went into the mercantile business in Georgia, and continued in it until 1860. In that year he opened out in Chattanooga, and in 1862 joined the Confederate army, continuing in service until the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Leroy L. Crutchfield

Leroy L. Crutchfield was born in Collin County, Texas, October 25, 1844, second son of John Crutchfield, from Alabama, who married Miss Mary E. Ladd, of Tennessee. Leroy attended private schools till 1861, when he entered the Confederate service joining the Fifteenth Texas Calvary, under Col. G. H. Sweet, and was in continual service till the close of the war. IN 1870 he went into the cattle business with his father, and was then elected sheriff of “Jack” County, in which capacity he served five years. Afterward he engaged in merchandise in Jacksborough, and continued it till November 1887, when … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Albert Mounts

The subject of this sketch was born June 1854, the eldest son of W. J. Mounts, of Wheeling, W. Va. He was educated in Kentucky, Missouri, Texas and Indiana, having been with his father in these states. After coming to Fort Gibson he went to work for O. W. Lipe, in 1877, for half interest in the profits of his business. He remained two years, and in 1879 married Miss Carrie Thompson, one of the belles of the Cherokee Nation and highly accomplished. In 1881 he went to work for Mr. Scott as head clerk in his mercantile establishment, and … Read more

Biography of Colonel D. N. McIntosh

D. N. McIntosh was born near Newnham, Georgia, September 20, 1822, the son of William McIntosh, a half-breed Scot and Creek Indian. The subject of our sketch moved to this country when eight years old with the third emigration, in 1830, and settled on the Verdigris River. He was educated at Smith’s Institute, Kentucky, and left there at the age of eighteen, in the year 1841. At this period the Creek Nation was composed of two districts, each district governed by a chief, who jointly presided at the general council. Young McIntosh, notwithstanding his youth, was appointed clerk of the … Read more