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Indian Pioneer Papers - Index

Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: June 18, 1937
Name: Julia Cummins
Post Office: Medford, Oklahoma
Residence Address: Medford, Oklahoma
Date of Birth: February 21, 1863
Place of Birth: Illinois
Father: Jediah Prunty
Place of Birth: West Virginia
Mother: Clarissa Brown Prunty
Place of Birth: Ohio
Field Worker: Naomi L. Garringer

An Interview with Julia Cummins, Medford, Oklahoma

Mrs. Cummins was born in Illinois on February 21, 1863.

Mr. Cummins made the race when the Cherokee Strip was opened and staked a claim in the eastern part but found out some one had been there first, so he went back home. The next day his brother-in-law sent him word that there was a place close to him that had not been filed on so he came down and filed on it. This place was four miles east of Medford. The next day five men camped on the northwest corner and started to plow. Mr. Cummins went to them and told them he had been there first. They refused to get off unless he paid them. Mr. Cummins told them he would take it to court. As soon as they found Mr. Cummins would not pay them, they moved on.

When Mr. Cummins went to file his claim he found that a widow lady had filed on it but she had never seen it. Mr. Cummins told her he had already staked it, but she went right ahead and built a one-room house on the southeast corner. By this time Mr. Cummins had built a sod house and Mrs. Cummins came in October and brought one hundred chickens, two cows, and a team of horses.

After some time Mr. Cummins offered to pay the lady for what it cost her to build her house. She accepted, and they got it all cleared up.

They had to haul water a long way, as the first well they dug was salty.

SUBMITTER'S COMMENTS:

Mrs. Cummins was the great grandmother of the submitter of this interview.
Mrs. Cummins' husband was Alexander CUMMINS; they had one son, Lester CUMMINS.
Mrs. Cummins was an older sister to Clara Drucilla PRUNTY FUSS (who also gave an interview for this project).
Mrs. Cummins had another sister, named Laura PRUNTY ANDERSON, who married William E. ANDERSON (who also gave an interview for this project).

Submitted to OKGenWeb by Patricia C. Haxton <phaxton21@yahoo.com> February 2001.