Indian Pioneer Papers - Index

Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: February 28, 1938
Name: A. F. Drawguess
Post Office: Blanchard, Oklahoma
Date of Birth: October 20, 1884
Place of Birth: Chickasaw Nation
Father:
Place of Birth:
Information on father:
Mother:
Place of birth:
Information on mother:
Field Worker: Robert H. Boatman
Interview:
 
I was born in the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, October 20, 1884, near a small town which is now Ardmore. At that time the town was very small, having only five stores. For some years the town existed only as a trading post to the Chickasaw Indians in this particular part of the Indian Territory. This tribe has always been a very peaceful tribe of people and they were never known to have any disputes, battles or skirmishes with the other tribes of Indians. In fact this people had at all times far rather settle some dispute by arbitration than to enter into an enforcement of personal rights, though a few times the Chickasaw tribe had been forced to take up arms in protection of personal rights.

One instance was against the Commanche (sic) Indians who were noted for their raids on other tribes of Indians and stealing of horses and cattle. The Kiowas and Apaches were also a very hostile people. They lived principally by stealing horses and cattle from the other tribes of Indians who were more civilized. Once these three tribes, Commanche, Kiowa and Apache, had planned to band together and make a raid which would have virtually destroyed the Chickasaw tribe. Somehow, Governor McIntosh of the Chickasaws found out this raid was planned and he at once set up a barricade near the border line and then mobilized our people for the attack. Soon the attackers came but were taken by surprise by the barricades which had been thrown up and were soon beaten back and that saved our tribe from a murderous massacre. These three tribes, Commanche, Kiowa and Apache, were the worst enemies to the more civilized tribes. Very few difficulties ever existed between the tribes of Chickasaws and Choctaws.

The living condition of the tribe of Chickasaws was inadequate. Our homes consisted of mainly one room. It was a log cabin structure. Sometimes there were two or three separate buildings, some of which were covered with sod. Others were covered with clap board which was split from timbers, these boards being two and one-half feet in length. The ground served as the floor. Most of the Chickasaw people owned lots of horses and cattle. My father owned lots of cattle and horses which ran upon the range. The horses were branded the same as the cattle.

Our food consisted mainly of cornbread, beef and wild game that was killed from the range and which was very plentiful, such as turkey, deer and almost all kinds of smaller game. We did very little farming, only small patches of corn were raised. All clothing was hand made. The preparation of food was about the same as of to-day, except some meats were cured by smoking with various woods and the food was cooked on fire coals instead of stoves. No schools at all. The only school I ever attended was at old Lebanon, in the Southern part of the territory. This was an Indian school, which was established for the benefit of Orphans and as my father had died when I was four year old, it were here I secured what education I obtained. This school, however, has for several years been discontinued. It was sponsored solely by the Indian government.

My grandfather came to the Territory with the tribe in the removal of the tribe from Mississippi, in 1836. I have always lived among my own people with their quiet and peaceful ways and I expect to remain at my home in the town where I have lived for the past several years.

Submitted to OKGenWeb by Donald L. Sullivan <donald.l.sullivan@lmco.com> 07-2000.