Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: May 25, 1937
Name:
George Duck
Post Office: Stilwell, Oklahoma
Date of Birth: 1871
Place of Birth: Flint District Cherokee Nation
Father: Jim Fourkiller
Place of Birth:
Information on father:
Mother: Luck Duck
Place of birth:
Information on mother:
Field Worker: Gus Hummingbird
Interview #:
George Duck, a full blood Cherokee, was born in Flint District Cherokee Nation 1871. He is the son of Jim Fourkiller and Lucy Duck, full blood Cherokees.
Ollie Duck and her daughter, Lucy Duck, came from North Carolina with the emigrants about 1837. They settled near Paden Prairie as the country around Paden Springs was called at that time. George grew to manhood in and around Paden Prairie and Honey Hill. He was raised in poverty. He received no education. They lived on a small farm which consisted of about three acres. They made their small crop with a hoe; they were too poor to own a horse. On this small farm such crops as corn, beans and other small vegetables were raised. Many neighbors came and helped the family clean out their crop. This plan of neighbors helping each other was called "a town working". These works were an organization of Cherokees after they came to the Indian Territory and were first intended to help out all widow and sick people. Several years afterward Mrs. Duck, his grandmother, bought a horse from Buck STARR. She received some money due her on a payment that was made to the Cherokees about 1852 at Fort Gibson.
Financing Farmers
Only a few people had money at that time. Among the moneyed men of that time were the Starrs. They would usually lend money to their neighbors in case of a tight. Mr. Duck remembers that his grandmother borrowed five dollars from Buck Starr and paid it back by making baskets and selling them to him for ten cents apiece.
Trading Post and Towns
Their trading past was Evansville, Arkansas. This was also their milling point. Evansville was about eight miles from where they lived. They usually sold baskets to the people around Evansville. These two women did some bead work at that time. But some times beads were difficult to find at Evansville.
Old Timers
Some of the old timers whom George remembers who were his neighbors are Hickory Starr, Buck Starr, Watt AUGERHOLE, Silk DAUGHERTY, Ben PADEN, Coolidge STEP, Bill RUSSELL, Nick SOAP, Eli Daugherty and Long JOHN. Long John was a noted early day farmer. His farm consisted of about twenty acres. Long John was a money man at that time. He lived on the farm where Ed Paden now lives.
*George Duck's parents, Jim Fourkiller and Lucy Duck, separated before his birth and, therefore, his mother enrolled him as George Duck.
Submitted to OKGenWeb by
Donald L. Sullivan <donald.l.sullivan@lmco.com>
07-2000.