THE
INDIAN TERRITORY
ITS CHIEFS, LEGISLATORS AND LEADING MEN
H. F. & E. S. O'Beirne
St. Louis
C. B. Woodward Company
1892
PREFACE
To the Indiana Territory--Its Chiefs, Legislators and Leading Men:
In placing this work before the public, we do so, not only with a view
of satisfying the universal demand for a more thorough and accurate knowledge
of the five civilized tribes, but to perpetuate for years to come the memories
of many of the most illustrious of the Indian legislators.
It would reflect upon the philantrophy of the present generation ---- in this era of literary enterprise---to have permitted the aborigines of our great Republic to pass into oblivion; more especially now that the tribal governments are threatened with approaching dissolution.
Much that is mischievously false concerning the social condition of
the five tribes has appeared from time to time in the press of the United
States, and in many instances they have been grossly misrepresented. Let
us hope that this work, setting forth, as it does, the self-reliance and
legislative independence of each distinctive government, as well as the
rapid progress in education and agriculture, will serve as a strong protest
against any undue action on the part of the United States to deprive these
people of a country which they purchased and paid for and which is theirs
by treaty "as long as grass grows and water runs."
Preceeding the biographies of leading men will be found historic sketches
of the Muskogees, or Creeks, Cherokees, Choctaws, and Chickasaws, including
the ancient customs, rites, and superstitions of those tribes. The compilers
of the Indian Territory are under obligations to several of the oldest
citizens of each nation for valuable contributions to this work.
H. F. & E. S. O'Beirne.
INDEX
The Muskogees --17 | The Chickasaws -- 55 | Minerals, Game,
Fish, etc. -- 481 |
The Choctawa ---45 | The Cherokees -- 68 |
Vinita -- 97 | Fort Gibson -- 100 |
Tahlequah -- 98 | Muskogee -- 101 |
Claremore -- 99 | Okmulgee -- 102 |
Eufaula -- 100 | Wagoner -- 102 |
LEADING TOWNS
OF THE
CHEROKEE AND CREEK NATIONS.
(pp. 89 - 102)
VINITA:
This thriving Cherokee town is located at the junction of the Missouri
Pacific Railroad and the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad, 210 miles
from Denison, Tex., and 28 miles from Chetopa, Kas. It has a population
of 1,500 people and three church buildings, viz.: Prebyterian, Methodist,
and Congregational; besides two church organizations, the Baptist and Christian.
Vinita has two planing mills, and a flour mills with a capacity of one
hundred barrels per day, four hotels---The Hotel Cobb being the principal
of these, and one of the finest and best equipped in the Indian Territory.
Vinita can also boast of two institutions of learning, the Willie Halsell
Institute and the Worchester Academy, an engraving of which will be found
elsewhere in this work. There are fifteen general mercantile houses, three
hardware and two drug stores in Vinita, besides a commissioners' court,
an opera house, five or six blacksmith shops, two lumber yards, several
carpenter and barber shopts, and other of minor importance. There are some
very handsome residences in town, besides a bank, established in 1891,
with a capital of $50,000. Vinita is an incorporated town, being the second
corporation established in the Indian Territory. Its present mayor is J.
J. Thompson. The town is situated on a fertile prairie about 3,000 feet
above the level of sea. Being located in the forks of Big and Little Cabin
Creek, Vinita is plentifully supplied with excellent water, and is considered
a very healthy town.
TAHLEQUAH:
Tahlequah, the capitol of the Cherokee Nation, is located on the grounds
where the Cherokees first assembled in council after their removal West.
In 1846 an act was passed by the council to lay off the Tahlequah council
ground into town lots, and to dispose of the same. From that time the town
has been rapidly growing, till its population, according to the printed
city ordinances of 1890, has reached two thousand souls. Tahlequah was
incorporated in 1890, and the town ordinances compiled by W. P. and E.
C. Boudinot. The present mayor, Jeff Roberson, and the members of the town
council were elected December 7, 1891. Tahlequah is twenty-two miles from
Fort Gibson, the nearest railroad point, and has a large country trade.
It has seven general mercantile stores, two drug stores, three hotels,
four churches, and a bank building recently completed and opened about
December 15, 1891. Tahlequah is also furnished with a fine flour and grist
mill, two livery stables, court-house, rock jail, lumber yard, opera house
(one of the largest in the territory), blacksmith, carpenter and barber
shops, and lunch stands. There are four weeklies (and a daily issued during
council) pupblished in Tahlequah. The Advocate is the national organ of
the Cherokees, but the Tahlequah Telephone appears to hvae the largest
circulation in the nation. The Indian Arrow and the Indian Sentinel are
also well patronized. Tahlequah is the great center of national education.
The Cherokee male and female seminaries are located close to the capitol,
and few States in the Union can boast of more beautiful structures or better
conducted institutions. The insane asylum is also located close to Tahlequah,
and there are also Presbyterian and Baptist mission schools and a Moravian
church in the suburbs. Few towns of its population can boast of prettier
residences or a more enlightened class of people than Tahlequah. It is
located in a dry, healthy spot, and well supplied with excellent water.
CLAREMORE:
Claremore is situated at the junction of the Kansas and Arkansas Valley,
and St. Louis and San Francisco railroads, thirty-eight miles from Vinita
and forty-three from Muskogee. It contains a population of 300 inhabitants,
has five general mercantile stores, one drug store, with a second in course
of erection, one saddle and harness shop, three blacksmith shops, one shoe
shop, two saloons, two lumber yards, three hotels, two livery stables,
two depots and a district court-house. For many miles around Claremore
the land is in a good state of cultivation, and fruitful in the growth
of corn and small grain. There is a good grist and corn mill situated on
the borders of town. Claremore has two subscription schools and one church
belonging to the Presbyterians, but used by three other denominations on
successive Sundays. The town is incorporated, and its mayor is John M.
Taylor, a prominent politician in his district.
FORT GIBSON:
Fort Gibson, the first incorporated town in the Indian Territory, is
situated on the Kansas and Arkansas Valley Railroad, eight miles from Muskogee
and twenty-two from Tahlequah. It has a population of about 300, and was
at one time the United States garrison point for the Indian Territory.
The post buildings are still in good condition and in possession of the
government, together with a land tract comprising eight miles, which, according
to treaty was to revert to the Cherokees after its abandonment by the troops,
but the government has not yet made the transfer. Fort Gibson is beautifully
situated on the east banks of Grand River, near its junction with Arkansas
and Verdigris, and is one of the most picturesque little towns in the United
States. It was at one time the home of Jefferson Davis, General Zach Taylor,
and other prominent leaders. Fort Gibson contains four general mercantile
stores, three drug stores, mills, gins, lunch stands, two hotels, churches,
schools, etc. It was incorporated November 27, 1873.
EUFAULA:
This progressive and lively little business town is located on the
Canadian River, within a few miles of the northern line of the Choctaw
Nation. Its population is variously estimated at from 450 to 550. Eufaula
has four churches, two white and two colored, representing the Methodist
and Baptist communities. It has four general mercantile houses --- an engraving
of one of them, that of Messrs. Patterson & Foley, will be seen elsewhere.
There is also one drug store, one hardware store, two cotton gins, one
grist mill, two blacksmiths' shops, two butchers' shops, three hotels and
one livery stable. Eufaula, being located within easy access to the Choctaw
Nation, and her business houses offering superior accommodation, a large
proportion of the trade from the southern side of the Canadian is transacted
there. The Canadian bottoms are remarkably fertile, while the high prairie
stretching west from Eufaula to Okmulgee, the capital, is perhaps the richest
high prairie tract in the Indian Territory. As an agricultural center Eufaula
stands at the top of the list, and perhaps no town in the Southwest of
equal population can boast of such a large annual shipment of cotton.
MUSKOGEE:
Muskogee, one of the most progressive and best located towns in the
Indian Territory, is situated on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad,
in the Creek Nation. It has a population of over 2,000, which is constantly
augmented and increased. It is surrounded by a beautiful and fertile country,
and is a great trading center. Its buildings greatly surpass those of any
in the territory, while its business houses carry larger and more varied
stocks of goods. Muskogee has six general mercantile houses, three large
drug stores, one wholesale and retail queensware, hardware and carpet establishment,
two jewelry stores, two newspapers, a planing mill and wood factory, one
roller flour mill, two gins, two livery stables, five hotels, one of which
is the largest in the Indian Territory. It has also a bank, an Indian agency,
United States court house, three institutions of learning, comprising the
Indian University, the Harrell Institute and the Minerva Home. Muskogee
is looked upon as the central point of religious and educational institutions,
so that almost every church is represented. The private buildings are far
above the average in towns of the same population, and the society is refined
and cultured. A more desirable place to live in can hardly be found in
the Southwest than Muskogee, and it will, no doubt, before many years become
a thriving city.
OKMULGEE:
Okmulgee, the capital of the Creek Nation, is situated thirty-five
miles west of Eufaula, the nearest railroad town except Muskogee, which
is about the same distance. It contains a population of about 250, except
during council, which draws a great crowd annually. The council house is
erected in the center of the town square, and is a fine rock structure.
There are two general mercantile houses, one drug store, two hotels, blacksmith
and barber shops, mill and gin, and a church and school-house. Okmulgee
is situated on one of the finest tracts of high prairie in the Indian Territory,
capable of producing the largest crops of cotton, corn and small grain.
WAGONER:
Wagoner is situated at the junction of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas
Railroad and the Kansas and Arkansas Valley Railroad, the town being established
in 1878. Its population has been estimated at 400 --- 250 of that number
being United States citizens. Wagoner is sixteen miles north of Muskogee
and forty-nine miles south of Vinita, being located in a prairie country
remarkable for its richness. It has five general mercantile stores, two
drug stores, a cotton gin, grist mill, two blacksmiths' shops, one livery
stable, one newspaper, one church-house with Presbyterian and Methodist
organizations; four hotels, the principal of which are the Valley Hotel
and Bernard Hotel. The town is rapidly growing, several fine brick buildings
being in contemplation which will be erected in the near future. The town
is well located; the water is good, and the soil of the surrounding country
is fertile, being adapted to small grain as well as corn and cotton. One
farmer last year raised 1100 bushels of wheat, averaging thirty bushels
to the acre. The society of Wagoner for a town of its years is remarkably
good, and the merchants and business men are deeply interested in its progress
and welfare.
To Request Additional Material from this book:
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Public Library, Grand Rapids, Michigan. You may contact them regarding
research in this book.
Grand Rapids
Library- Local History Research Requests Information
(The library shelf number for this book is M 976.65 Ob2i)
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Territory Project.
For more history and genealogy in Indian Territory, please visit the
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Copyright © 2001, 2002
by Veronica (a.k.a Ronnie) Aungst
Grand Rapids, Michigan
All rights reserved.
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