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Indian Pioneer Papers - Index
Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: April 8, 1937
Name:
Oscar Dryden
(white)
Post Office: Chickasha, Oklahoma
Residence address: 1301 North 6th Street
Date of Birth: July 5, 1873
Place of Birth: Texas
Father: D. A. Dryden
Place of Birth: Missouri
Information on father: buried in Oklahoma
Mother: Martha Allman
Place of birth: Missouri
Information on mother: buried in Oklahoma
Field Worker: Thad Smith, Jr.
Interview: #
In the spring of 1894, my mother, father and I left Texas, and came to Oklahoma. We forded the north fork of Red river northeast of Quannah, Texas.
We settled on Rush Creek near Purdy, that fall and winter. I picked cotton all fall, getting seventy five cents per hundred. Cotton at that time was selling for four cents per pound.
The next spring we moved three and one half miles south east of Marlow, where my father had rented a farm.
The next year or in 1896 I got married. I was married at the Percival School house, by a Presbyterian preacher, his name was Tom BIGHAM. My wife and I rented a farm two and one-half miles south of Bailey, where we lived, and farmed for four years. We then moved eight miles northwest of Rush Springs. The old Chisholm Trail was eight miles east of where I then lived. The blue stem grass was waist high, over nearly all of the prairie. There was not any thing fenced, but the farms. George HILL was one of the largest ranchers near Rush Springs. We used to chase wolves; after every rain, we would have a big run. Many times my friends and I have ridden twenty and twenty five miles, horseback, to go to a dance. There were always large crowds, who came in wagons, buggies and surreys.
The most of the time, supper would be served to those attending and after supper, the fiddles and guitars would be tuned up and the men and boys would all get their partners for an old time square dance. There were lots of wild turkey. Close to our place, near Rush Springs and there were lots of fish in the river and creeks. In 1901 when the Caddo and Kiowa country was opened, I went to El Reno, and registered for the drawing. I happened to be one of the lucky ones and drew a claim eighteen miles southwest of Chickasha. After building a house and fencing the claim, I sold it to John HOOVER for one thousand dollars.
Submitted to OKGenWeb by
Donald L. Sullivan <donald.l.sullivan@lmco.com>
07-2000.
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