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Indian Pioneer Papers - Index

Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
LDS Microfiche #6016976
Volume 111---Cemeteries

Cemetery - Cherokee
Date: August 9, 1937
Burial ground: PARRIS Cemetery
Founded: 1830 by Cherokees, Bob PARRIS
Abandoned: 1895 --family died out
Present owner: Charley GILBREADTH
Address: Westville, OK
Legal location: Adair County, Sec. 16, Twp. 18, Range 26
Field Workers Name: W. J. BIGBY

History of PARRIS Cemetery
The information concerning this cemetery was given by Mrs. Jennie HINDS, a granddaughter of Malica PARRIS.

This cemetery, according to family history was started by old settler Cherokees about 1830. The land was claimed by Bob PARRIS at that time. Bob was full-blood Cherokee.

Bob had a boy named Malica. He remained in the Cherokee country only one year. Malica went back to Georgia. He remained there until 1937. He came back with the immigrants. In the meantime he had married Mahaley LALLIS, a German woman.

Bob PARRIS died before the Civil War about 1841. Malica, his son, claimed his old home. Malica lived on the place until the Civil War. He was killed about a mile east of this place.

At allotment, Myrtle REDDEN (READEN) allotted the land, Myrtle sold to Charley GILBREADTH, who now owns the place.

Inscriptions at PARRIS Cemetery

Ella, daughter of T.C. & M.M. CHANCE June 11, 1883-January 7, 1888
Infant daughter of T.C. & M.M. CHANCE born & died--Sept. 23, 1888
Cherokee D., daughter of A. DOWNING, d. 1859
Anna D., dau. of A. DOWNING, d. 1858
Atsey D. DOWNING, wife of A. DOWNING Sept. 12, 1826----Sept. 15, 1879
Catharine, wife of W. KELL 1852-----Apr. 1880
Salina REDEN Jun. 22, 1838---Mar. 13, 1892
Mahala PARRIS
Leatha PIERCE
Leatha Mae READEN
(dates invisible on these three graves)


Cemetery - Cherokee
Date: May 24, 1937
Burial ground: HOGNER Cemetery
Founded: 1889
Abandoned: 1903
Present owner: Nancie HOGNER
Address: Stilwell, OK
Number of graves: 10 (1 marked, but not copied)
Information: HOGNER used this cemetery. It is in his backyard.
Condition: Fair
Legal location: Adair County, Sec. 26, Twp. 16, Range 25
Field Worker: W. J. BIGBY


Cemetery - Cherokee
Date: June 16, 1937
Burial ground: PEACHEATER Cemetery
Founded: 1872 by PEACHEATER family
Abandoned: 1890 why: family died out
Present owner: Alex SQUIRREL
Address: Stilwell, OK
Condition: Poor, in woods
Legal location: Adair County, Sec. 24, Twp. 16, Range 24
Field worker: W. J. B. BIGBY

This cemetery was founded about 1872 according to William WOLFE, an old Cherokee, who has lived here all of his life.

He says that there are about 10 persons buried here. Only two have tombstones and the inscriptions are written in Cherokee. The first person buried here was Sally PEACHEATER. The last was Mr. PEACHEATER, himself in 1890.

They did not know what the old man's English name was. They just called him PEACHEATER.  L. B. BRITTS of Muskogee knows what this man's English name was because he was reared in this neighborhood. His mother is buried about a mile from the place.


Cemetery - Cherokee
Date: September 28, 1937
Burial ground: SILK-DAUGHERTY Cemetery
Founded: by DAUGHERTY Family
Abandoned: 1898 -- family died out
Present owner: Lex FOX
Address: Miami, OK
Original owner: Ellen DAUGHERTY
Graves: 12--none marked
Condition: Poor
Legal location: Adair County, Sec. 13, Twp. 15, Range 26
Field worker: W. J. B. BIGBY


Cemetery - Cherokee
Date: July 13, 1937
Burial Ground: DAVIS Cemetery
Founded: before 1865
Present owner: T.M. CHASTINE
Original owner: Charles T. BIGBY
Graves: 12 ----none marked
Condition: In the field-poor
Legal location: Adair County, Sec. 13, Twp. 15, Range 26
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY

Nancie Jane BIGBY gave me the information on this DAVIS Cemetery.

These were buried at this place:
Rebecca MARTIN
Kim DAVIS
Ham MARTIN
Tessie DAVIS


Cemetery - Cherokee
Date: August 13, 1937
Burial ground: PALONE Cemetery
Founded: 1893 by PALONE family
Abandoned: 1902 to a new location
Present owner: Fred PALONE
Address: Westville, OK, Route 1
Condition: Good
Legal location: Adair County, S21, T18, R26
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY

History of PALONE Cemetery

This cemetery was started by the Adam PALONE family in 1893, at the death of Adam.

There are only 9 graves, only 2 marked. This being on government acreage, they have abandoned it to a new location.

Fred PALONE allotted the land and still owns same.

Inscriptions at PALONE Cemetery
Adam PALONE ---d. Jul 15, 1893
Reese PALONE----d. 1911


Cemetery - Cherokee
Date: September 14, 1937
Burial ground: FEATHER Cemetery
Founded: by unknown Cherokees
Abandoned: 1896 to new location
Present owner: Anna SAWNEY
Address: Stilwell, OK
Condition: poor
Legal location: Adair County, Sec. 27, Twp. 15, Range 25
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY

History of FEATHER Cemetery

This cemetery according to the old timers was started before the Civil War by unknown Cherokees. At the time there were several old settler Cherokees lived in this community.

When this cemetery was discovered they had already moved out of this country. No one knows the names and who they were that used this as their cemetery.

But after the Civil War there was a family of Cherokees named FEATHERS used this cemetery as their family cemetery. The entire FEATHERS family is buried at this place. The last person buried here was Jesse FEATHERS. This was in 1896.


Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY
Date: September 15, 1937
Burial ground: Blackbird DOUBLEHEAD
Founded: 1880 by DOUBLEHEAD Family
Abandoned: 1901 why: new location
Present owner: Sam DOUBLEHEAD
Address: Stilwell, OK
# of graves: 16
marked graves: none
Condition: poor
Legal location: Adair County, Sec. 22, Twp. 15, Range 25


Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY
Date: July 16, 1937
Burial ground: Liver SCOTT
Founded: don't remember
Abandoned: 1897
Present owner: Kattie CORNSILK used to be SCOTT
Address: Stilwell
# of graves: 5
marked graves: tombs have been moved
condition: very poor
legal location: Adair County, Sec. 36, Twp. 16, Range 25

"Liver  SCOTT Cemetery"

According to John HITCHER there were five children buried at this cemetery something over forty years ago. The tombstones to these graves have been removed during the last five years.

Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY
Date: July 16, 1937
Burial ground: REDBIRD Cemetery
Founded: not known
Abandoned: abt 1915 why: died out
Present owner: R. J. DENTON
Address: Stilwell
Original owner: Jessie REDBIRD
# of graves: 15
marked graves: 4
condition: poor
legal location: Adair County, Sec: 35, Twp: 16, Range 25

REDBIRD Cemetery 

Nancy REDBIRD           b. March 5, 1862 -- d. June 15, 1908
Jessie REDBIRD           b.                 1824 -- d. November 28, 1904
Betsy REDBIRD            b.                 1844 -- d. October 29, 1911
John N. WHITSON                                       -- U.S. Navy

 
Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY
Date: August 13, 1937
Burial ground: no name
Founded: unknown
Abandoned: abt 1870  why: unknown -- ROGERS Family
Present owner: Charley WATERS
Address: Westville, Oklahoma
Original owner: Charley MORRIS
# of graves: 6
Marked graves: none
Condition: poor
Legal location: Adair County, Sec. 13, twp 18, range 26
"History of Cemetery at Morris School"

This cemetery was never given a name. The information in regard to this cemetery was given by Uncle Silas MORRIS.

Soon after the war, Clem ROGERS, a cattleman, died and wanted to be buried on his place. They buried him here, the first person to be buried in this cemetery. He was a cousin of W. C. ROGERS, the last Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Bill MUSGROVE bought the claim on the place at the death of ROGERS.

Charley MORRIS allotted the land and sold it to Grace MORRIS. Grace MORRIS sold to a Mr. LACKEY; LACKEY sold to KING; and KING to Charley WATERS, who now owns it.


Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W.J.B BIGBY
Date: September 10, 1937
Burial ground: DAUGHERTY Family Cemetery
Founded: unknown  by: DAUGHERTY Family
Abandoned: 1895 why: new location
Present owners: U.S. Government
# of graves: 12
Marked graves: none
Condition: poor
Legal location: Adair County, Sec. 7, Twp. 15, Range 26

"History of DAUGHERTY Cemetery"

The information was furnished by Tom WALKINGSTICK who has lived in the community for fifty years or more. This cemetery, as told to him, was started before the Civil War. Some old-time Cherokees were buried at this place.

After the said War, Silk DAUGHERTY's mother was the first buried here. Later the old man DAUGHERTY was buried here. The DAUGHERTY family claimed the land after the Civil War; therefore they called the cemetery DAUGHERTY Cemetery.


Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W.J.B BIGBY
Date: September 11, 1937
Burial ground: no name cemetery
Founded: abt 1830  by Benjamin COOPER
Abandoned: about 1890  why: new location
Present owner: Sam STARR, Sr.
Address: Stilwell, Oklahoma
# of graves: 10
Marked graves: none
Condition: poor
Legal location: Adair County, Sec. 11, Twp. 15, Range 24

"History of an Old Cemetery at Sam STARRs"

This cemetery was started before the Civil War according to the story told to Sam STARR, who now owns the farm on which it is located. The STARRs, a prominent Cherokee family, have lived in this same community since the Cherokees came to this country.

The farm that Sam now lives on was claimed by a man named Benjamin COOPER who had come to the Cherokee Nation from Georgia about 1838. The old cemetery was already there when they settled on this farm. Some Old Settler Cherokees were buried at this place.

At the death of Benjamin COOPER, he was also buried there. Later his wife was buried there. Several more persons have been buried there since.

Washington ADAIR bought the claim after the death of COOPER.  Washington ADAIR was killed by a mob sometime later. After the death of ADAIR some of the STARRs became the owners of this farm. At Allotment Sam allotted this tract and still owns the land.


Cemetery - Cherokee
field worker's name: W. J. B. BIGBY
date: September 27, 1938
burial ground: COCHRAN Cemetery
founded: 1870   by:  COCHRAN Family
abandoned: 1898  why: new location
present owners: Clyde BARNETT
address: Stilwell, Oklahoma
original owner: Lewis COCHRAN
other owner of premises: Ray REESE
# of graves: 15
marked graves: none
condition: poor
legal location: Adair County, Sec. 18, Twp. 15, Range 26


Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY
Date: August 20, 1937
Burial ground: CRITTENDEN Cemetery
Founded: unknown
Abandoned: 1922  why: new location
Present owner: Still CRITTENDEN
Address: Watts, Oklahoma, Route 1
# of graves: 40
Marked graves: 7
Condition: good
Legal location: Adair County, Sec. 9, Twp. 19, Range 24

"History of CRITTENDEN Cemetery" This cemetery, according to Still CRITTENDEN, as told to him by his father, Nelson CRITTENDEN, was started sometime during the Civil War. The father of Nelson CRITTENDEN lived on the place before the War. There were no graves then. After he returned to his old home he found the graves there. There are five graves at this place that are really old. No one knows who they are.

After the War the Cherokees that lived along the Illinois River used this as their cemetery. Then at the death of Mary CRITTENDEN in 1875, the cemetery was called the CRITTENDEN Cemetery. The cemetery was abandoned about statehood.

The community Cherokees agreed to get a new location if they could get government land. They all agreed to move their cemetery to the Tom SWAKE place which is several miles up the river. This cemetery is not a government acre, but at the death of Nelson CRITTENDEN he requested to be buried at home so they did. A year afterwards Mrs. CRITTENDEN died and she wanted to be buried beside her husband. These are the last two that have been buried here since statehood. The cemetery is now in the field.

"Inscriptions at CRITTENDEN Cemetery"

Jencie, Daughter of C.C. and J. CRITTENDEN Feb 7, 1895 - Sep 22, 1895
Mary CRITTENDEN d. Sept. 1875
Nelson CRITTENDEN Feb. 23, 1921
Infant daughter of Jim and Ella SWAKE died 1909
Mary Wife of Nelson CRITTENDEN died 1922,  age 74 yrs.

Note: Two graves: inscriptions in Cherokee, no dates. 


Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W.J.B BIGBY 
Date: April 9, 1937
Oak Grove Cemetery (reported by E.F. DODSON) is located in the NW 1/4 of the NW1/4 of the SE1/4 of Section 34 Twp. 16 North and range 26 East. There are about two hundred graves. It is kept only in fair condition.

The Starr Farm Cemetery is located in the NE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of sec. 30 Twp. 15 North and range 26 East. There are about twelve graves and no care being taken of it.

The Twist Cemetery is located in the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 sec. 15-twp. 16 North and range 26 East. There are about 30 graves being very well cared for.


Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY
Date: July 12, 1937
Burial ground: no name
Founded: abt 1850  by: unknown
Abandoned: 1887  why: family died out
Present owners: Albert TWIST
Address: Stilwell, Oklahoma
Original owner: Tony TWIST
# of graves: 7
Marked graves: none
Condition: poor
Legal location: Adair County, sec.14, twp 16, range 26

Jesse ADAIR, an old resident of this community, states that his father, Virgil ADAIR, said that this cemetery was started immediately after the Civil War by a full-blood Cherokee of the name of TWIST.  Jess ADAIR helped bury the last person put away in this cemetery - TWIST's wife, in 1887.


Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY
Date: July 27, 1937
Burial ground: George SCOTT
Founded: not known
Abandoned: no known
Present owner: Earl BENARD
Address: Stilwell, Oklahoma
Original owner: George SCOTT
# of graves: 5
Marked graves: 1
Condition: very poor
Legal location: Adair County, sec. 8, twp. 15, range 26

"Inscription"

Lucinda SCOTT
b. Sept. 8, 1830
d. June 21, 1908

Maze BUCKNER gave me information about this cemetery and said the George SCOTT family was buried at this place. There is, however, only one headstone. There are three log pens around the graves.



Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY
Date: August 20, 1937
Burial ground: no name
Founded: unknown
Abandoned: 1900  why: unknown
Present owner: Wyly BEAVERS
Address: Watts, Oklahoma Route 1
# of graves: 10
Marked graves: none
Condition: poor
Legal location: Adair County, sec. 16, twp. 19, range 24


Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY
Date: May 12, 1937
Burial ground: COCHRAN Cemetery
Founded: abt 1880  by: COCHRAN Family
Present owner: George COCHRAN
Address: Stilwell, Oklahoma
# of graves: 16
Marked graves: 6
Condition: poor
Legal location: Adair County, sec. 23, twp. 15, range 25

Betch TERREPIN --1880---1905
Annie COCHRAN --died December 22, 1885
Jim COCHRAN --died August 10.  60 years old
Annie FOGG --March 14, 1905--May 6, 1906
John LUCAS --April 6, 1895--April 20, 1895
Jane SOAP --died June 15, 1895. Age 52 years



Cemetery - Cherokee
Field worker: W. J. B. BIGBY
Date: June 23, 1937
Burial ground: no name
Founded: not known  by:  LEACH Family
Abandoned: 1889  why: new location
Present owners: John MANTOOTH
Address: Stilwell, Oklahoma
# of graves: 6
Marked graves: none
Condition: poor in field
Legal location: Adair County, sec. 17, twp. 16, range 25

This information is furnished by Ellis KETCHER,  an old Cherokee, who has lived joining this place on the east for forty years.

This cemetery was not named but a family of Cherokees by the name of LEACH are buried at this place. The first person buried here was a little girl who was bitten by a mad dog. She went insane.

Zeke KETCHER was the original allottee to this place, but John MANTOOTH now
owns it.


Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY
Date: May 24, 1937
Burial ground: SWIMMER Cemetery
Founded: unknown
Abandoned: unknown
Present owner: Leaner HARPER
Address: Stilwell, Oklahoma
Others who owned premises: Tom SWIMMER, Nannie BEARPAW
# of graves: 5
Marked graves: 3
Condition: poor
Legal location: Adair County, sec.23, twp.16, range 25

SWIMMER Cemetery

Ellis HOGNER -- died Dec. 21, 1893---age 60 years
Betsey SWIMMER -- Age 12 years
Sallie SWIMMER -- Age 54 years



Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY
Date: April 13, 1937
Burial ground: Twist Cemetery
Founded: abt 1875  by: TWIST Family
Abandoned: still used
Present owner: Lucinda MESSER
Address: Stilwell, Oklahoma R#2
# of graves: 35
Marked graves: 4
Condition: fair
Legal location: Adair County, Oklahoma, sec. 15, twp. 16N, range 26E

"Twist Cemetery"

Toney TWIST, b. 1833--d. 1917
Sarah C. TWIST, b. 1836---d. 1903
Henry TWIST, b. 1872--d. 1985
J.M. MESSER, b. 1839--d. 1922

 

Submitted to OKGenWeb