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Tom S. Grant |
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| Grant, Tom S.
Field Worker: John F. Daugherty Date: June 1, 1937 Tom Grant, Sr., was a first cousin of President Grant, and was an early settler at Fort Arbuckle. In fact, he operated the store there for seven years before the Fort was abandoned. In 1868 General Ulysses Grant was elected President of the United States. A short while afterward he wrote Tom Grant in regard to a political job. Tom Grant was a Democrat. President Grant was a Republican. Tom Grant wrote that he did not care to accept a political job from a 'turn coat' Republican. In earlier days President Grant had been a Democrat. After the Fort was abandoned in 1870, Tom Grant bought all of the buildings from the United States Government for $50.00. He also allotted most of the land around the Fort. Tom Grant's first wife was a Chickasaw and his second wife was a Choctaw. His second wife was a sister of Doctor Thomas P. Howell, who now resides west of Davis, Oklahoma, and was a niece of Peter P. Pitchlynn, the prominent Choctaw Chief. The saw mill and several brass cannon from the Fort were moved to Fort Sill in 1870. Also all of the graves that could be located were dug up and the bodies moved to Fort Sill. The cannons were never used at the fort, due to the fact that there was no one who knew how to operate them. There was a very good fortification built in the side of the hill between the fort and the spring. These cannon were always on display, in order that the Indians might see just what type of guns the white man had. On one of the few occasions when these guns were fired, the commanding officer's cow happened along and was killed.(1) Court martial punishments at the Fort were sometimes severe, especially when the wrong doer was forced to stand on the head on the top of a barrel for ten hours, or walk around for then hours with a large log balanced on one shoulder. (2) According to Mrs. Tom S. Grant, who now resides at the old fort, many of the prominent people of the territory were married at the fort, since here was the only chaplain for miles around. It is possible that the Fort saw mill was located several miles south at the Falls on Henry House Creek, since there was an old saw mill there away back as far as most of the old settlers can remember. The old "Whiskey Trail" went into the Arbuckle Mountains not far from this location and on toward Fort Arbuckle. This would have given the soldiers a road over which to haul the logs. A few of the old library books are still in the library of the Tom S. Grant . There are several volumes of "The Holy Bible" containing the old and new Testament printed from the most correct copies of "The present authorized Translation" by Adran Clarke, L.L.D., T.S.A., M.R.I.A.. Published in New York by J.Collord, Primer one: "Economy of Vegetation", Part Two: "The Love of the Plants" with philosophical notes. Dublin, Printed by J. Moore, No. 45 College Green MDCCLCLLL. Most of this library was destroyed several years ago when the Charles Grant was being repaired. Fort Arbuckle is located in the south half of Section 25, Township 1 North, Range 1 West, and one-fourth mile west of the Meridian line. All land in the south half of this section was occupied by the Fort buildings. So many people have been led to believe that Initial Point was located on the Fort site. It was probably on the Fort reservation since it is just one mile south of the Fort. The marker at Initial Point is in a very good state of repair at the present time. The date, 1870, can still be plainly seen, although the rock is badly marred with initials. One would think that every person, who had made the one-fourth mile climb across one hill and to the summit of the next, had placed their initials on the rock after looking at the many initials on it. The land at Fort Arbuckle is now owned by three brothers, Tom S., Charles W., and Perrin Grant, grandsons of Tom Grant. Calvin Grant, a son of Tom Grant, is still living in Pauls Valley. He established the first store and bank in new Pauls Valley. The old commissary is the only building of any size still standing, and is in a very poor state of repair. There remains several old chimneys at the site. In fact the chimneys are still in use in the s of T.S. and Charles W. Grant. T.S. Grant's is built on the foundation of the officers quarters, with two of the old original rooms, since weatherboarded, still in use. One of the principal reasons for establishing the Fort at this place was the abundant water supply furnished from a spring nearby. This spring is still is use and affords an ample supply of water for the stock on the Grant farm. (1.) Information obtained from Captain Wilbur S. Nye of Fort Sill Transcribed by Brenda Choate and Dennis Muncrief, May 2001.
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