Indian Pioneer
History Project for Oklahoma
Date: April 5, 1938
Name: L. A. Mobley
(Mrs.)
Post Office: Heavener,
Oklahoma
Date of Birth: February 14,
1877
Place of Birth: Hartford,
Arkansas
Father: Dr. Schiethel Copps
(Dr. Salathiel Capps)
Place of Birth: Iowa
Information on father:
Mother: Betty Copps (Elizabeth
Capps)
Place of birth: Arkansas
Information on mother:
Field Worker: Kenneth C. Black
Interview Number: 13540
Mrs. L. A. Mobley is an old
timer in Heavener, Oklahoma. She moved here with her father Dr.
Schiethel Copps (Dr. Salathiel Capps) in 1880. Heavener was not
in existence for years and Monroe was the nearest trading post.
Many herd of cattle ranged the place where the streets and
residences of Heavener now are. An Indian played a great part
in getting Dr. Copps (Dr. Capps) and his family settled. The
Indian, Hampton PERRY, now deceased, owned some land and it was
from him that Dr. Copps (Dr. Capps) leased land. This land was
located northwest of Heavener on Highway #72 on its eastern edge
and the Heavener memorial park is on a part of Dr Copps (Dr.
Capps) lease. On this land Dr. Copps (Dr. Capps) founded a home
and combined the practice of medicine with farming. Dr. Copps
(Dr. Capps) was the only physician for miles around. He had
many interesting experiences attending the Indians.
An account of one
experience follows; One evening while Dr. Copps (Dr. Capps) and
family were having their evening meal, a young Indian came
running to tell Dr. Copps (Dr. Capps) that his sweetheart was
ill and that he wanted Dr. Copps (Dr. Capps) to come with him to
see her. It was a very cold night and Dr. Copps (Dr. Capps) had
to ride miles to reach this Indian maiden. When he arrived the
whole tribe with the Medicine man were grouped around her
beating tom toms and carrying on their mythical cure. Dr. Copps
(Dr. Capps) saw that the girl was very ill; he cleared the room
except for one old squaw, who held the torch for him. He
examined the patient and found she had pneumonia. He told them
to keep the room cleared of people and gave her medicine. He
called the young Indian and told him that his sweetheart was
very ill and also told him he would be back to see her soon.
With Dr. Copps (Dr. Capps) care the maiden recovered. On these
long cold trips Dr. Copps (Dr. Capps) contracted a severe cold
and was a sick man. During this time the Doctor had heard
nothing more of the Indians and his wife told him that he should
not risk his life to save an Indian girl. Several days later
the same young Indian came for Dr. Copps (Dr. Capps) again,
telling him that his Indian sweetheart was gone. He explained
to him that the Indians thought the girl had caused the doctor's
illness and they thought because of this the girl possessed an
evil spirit and the only way to rid the tribe of this curse was
to dispose of the girl. The Indian also told Dr. Copps (Dr.
Capps) that the Chief had come to present him with a gift
because he had saved one of their tribe. The Chief called a
Council meeting and they decided to take her away and leave her
at a place where no one except the Chief knew where she had been
left. Dr. Copps (Dr. Capps) decided that the only way to find
out where she was, was to take the Chief by surprise. He went
with the Indian lad to the camp and began a conversation with
the Chief. He brought the missing girl into the conversation
very casually and the Chief told him where she was so Dr. Copps
(Dr. Capps) and the young man hurried to this place. It was a
cave infested with rattlesnakes and was located in the mountains
many miles away from anything, without chance for escape. They
reached the cave and went in after the girl. She was faint and
they carried her out into the air. When she revived enough to
ride, Dr. Copps (Dr. Capps) sent her and her sweetheart on their
way rejoicing.
Submitted to OKGenWeb by
Brenda Hickman Dias <bdias@inreach.com>
March 1999.
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