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Indian Pioneer Papers - Index

Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: May 20, 1937
Name: Fred Brown
Post Office: Comanche, Oklahoma
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Father:
Place of Birth:
Information on father:
Mother:
Place of birth:
Information on mother:
Field Worker:
 
Interview #4123

I came to Oklahoma in 1886 over the old Chisholm Trail from Texas. I camped east of the Duncan store in a dugout for some time, then moved down below Comanche and have been here ever since.

I ran about seven thousand head of cattle. Of course, it was under an Indian for everyone who held cattle had to be under an Indian. In fact, everything was under Indian control at that time. Hick HARRISON was our Indian. He claimed all land or had charge of it. When they knocked him out it cost me $1000.00 to pay up.

We drove our cattle over the Chisholm Trail. Sometimes a bunch of cattlemen all threw together and had the same chuck wagon; in this way we cut our expenses down. You see we had to drive to Nocona, Texas, as it was our nearest shipping point then. Later we went to Belcher. Pres ADDINGTON went to Carlyle. He had as many as ten thousand head. There were Indians here but they were Comanches. They would string out one behind the other for miles.

Our settlement was called Tucker. It had a store, blacksmith shop, gin and an old mill. After the railroad came through most all the people moved to the railroad. The Rock Island built a switch and laid out a townsite. Then the main street fronted the railroad. The first depot was an old freight car.

Comanche received its name from the Comanche tribe of Indians. They came here and camped around the place when their grass money was due. They stayed around until they spent most of the money.

There was a saloon just about the 98th Meridian where many of the Indians got rid of their money. They would come up to you and say, "Give me a quatah - me want a drink - make me feel good."

They did not stop to cook meat often. As soon as a beef was killed they would dive in and drink the blood. I asked one why they drank so much blood and he told me that blood made him strong.

Back in the early days Comanche started having carnivals. These Indians came over and took part in the exercises. They put on their war paint and had their old war dances, giving all sorts of Indian yells. They never hurt anyone. We treated them well. In the early days before Tucker started we received mail from Henrietta (sic) by a man on a horse. He came by SUGGS ranch. We received mail once a week when the creek was not up, then it took longer. We were lucky to get a paper once a month.

Pres Addington ran the Keen O brand. My brand was the pitchfork. There were several brands, 3 I, the Bar, H & W, FLEETWOODS, then Colbert BOWEN.

Submitted to OKGenWeb by Art Brown <abrown@brainerd.net> 12-1999.