Ft. Gibson

Gateway to the West

By: C. W. "Dub" West (c) 1974

Muskogee Publishing Company, Muskogee, OK 74401

This book is out of print. If the item is complete I will note <complete> otherwise what I have is snippets of information. If you are interested in the whole article you may order copies.

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General Benjamin Henry Grierson was ordered to Ft. Gibson to re-activate this historic fort May 2, 1872. He was in command of two troops of the Tenth Cavalry to police the area during this lawless period. Cherokee Agent John B Jones requested General Grierson to remove the many intruders that had come into the Cherokee Nation. Pg 96 [article about Benjamin Henry Grierson follows]

William Percival was listed by Gideon as one of the merchants at Ft Gibson immediately after the Civil War. He seems to have been very active in civic affairs, being one of the organizers of the Masonic Lodge in 1872. He was one of the principal advertisers in an issue of the Indian Journal of 1888. He died in 1889. Pg 97 <complete>

Ft Gibson was first incorporated Nov 27, 1873. During this period most of the business was in what is generally called "Old Town" in the vicinity of the present stockade.

... Colonel John S Hammer .... 1873 and was appointed "post trader" ... He eventually settled in Ardmore pg 97

Henry Starr, one of Indian Territory's most noted outlaws, was born near Ft Gibson in Dec 1873. ... Pg 97

In October 1875, the abandoned Ft Gibson was again garrisoned by one company of infantry and one troop of cavalry. ... pg 98

David Albert Mounts came to Ft Gibson in 1875 from West Virginia. He married Caroline Thompson, a daughter of "Granny" Elizabeth Thompson. He worked for a period as bookkeeper for W S Nash in Old Town. There was born to this couple the following children: John, Claude, Teddy Ray, and David Howard. John Mounts married Eva Runyun. They had one daughter, Thelma Mounts Peoples. Teddy Ray Mounts married Ada Brown. To this couple was born Marybelle Mounts Jones, Cherokee Oklahoma Mounts cook, Billye Mounts Naff, Ramona Mounts Stokes, Ada Lee Mounts Self, Teddy Ray Mounts Jr, Joe Pascal Munts and June Bettye Mounts Gott. .... David Howard Mounts married Emma Benge. To this couple was born four daughters: Ruth Mounts Tyler, Georgia Mounts Echols, Carrie Mounts Singleton and Veda Mounts Crittenden. Pg 98

William M "Bill" Brown, the son of William Emerson and Isabell Hudson Brown was born Nov 25, 1863 in Carrolton county, Arkansas. He came to the Ft Gibson area in 1884 and married Isabell Cobb in 1886. ... he ... died May 1, 1935 ... His branding iron with a "Z" is on display in the Five Civilized Tribes Museum. ... The children of Mr and Mrs Bill Brown ... Merrill West Brown .. John S Brown ... Sequoyah Brown ... Jim Brown ... Charlie Brown ... Ada Brown married Ted R Mounts .... Mary Dean Brown married ... Grover Paschal Watkins Pg 99 [lots of family info in this article]

Grover Pascall Watkins was born in Carrolton, Arkansas Aug 23, 1886 where he received is education .... until 1919 when he came to Muskogee, moving to Ft Gibson in 1920. He married Mary Dean Brown, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Bill Brown Jun 1, 1920. .... Mary Dean Brown Watkins was born near Ft Gibson Jun 15, 1891 .... Mrs Watkins died Feb 18, 1974 pg 99 [long family article]

Daily Indian Journal Muskogee I T Oct 19, 1876 ... J S Scott [of Ft Gibson] advertising " new line of clothing, boots, shoes, hats, queensware, hardware, etc.

Daily Indian Journal Muskogee I T Oct 19, 1876 ... the Cherokees participated in the International Indian Fair, but they felt that they should have their own, and on Dec 9, 1876 the National Council of the Cherokee Nation passed an act establishing the Cherokee Fair and Agricultural Association, which was designated to operate a fair at Ft. Gibson. The board of directors of this organization included the following: S H Benge, D H Bushyead, Wm Jackson, Wm Percival, Daniel H Ross, P N Blackstone, T M Walker, J S Scott, J O Walker, W A Reese, S P Ross, O W Lipe, L Buchanan, A M Gott, Benjamin Adair, J A Scales, W H Turner, W P Boudinot, O P Brewer, John Sappington and D R Hicks. The fair was held southeast of Ft Gibson on the Riddle Benge Place. Pg 100 <complete>

Joseph James "Uncle Joe" Etheridge was born Dec 1, 1857. He moved to Ft Gibson in 1877 and said that when he came to Ft Gibson less than 8% of the bottom was in cultivation. ... Nov 16, 1967 just before his 100th birthday ... He passed away Mar 2, 1969 pg 101 [long article about him]

Denis Wolfe Bussyhead, a son fo Reverend Jesse Bushyhead, lived in Ft Gibson for a period of time, probably between the Civil War and his being elected Principal Chief in 1879. ... He married Elizabeth Alabama Schrimsher Adair after Josepy Lafayette Adair was killed in the Civil War. ... He is buried in the Tahlequah Cemetery. His wife is buried in the Ft Gibson Citizens' Cemetery. Pg 102 [long article plus photo]

According to the Vinita Indian Chieftain Ft Gibson was incorporated Dec 21, 1883 with John A Ross as mayor and H C Meigs, Connie Vann, F H Nash, William Percival and J S Scott as councilmen Pg 103 <complete>

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