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A B C D E F G H I J K L M Mc N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: September 15, 1937 
Name: J.C. Grimmitt 
Post Office: Durant, Oklahoma 
Residence Address: South 1st Street
Date of Birth: January 7, 1861
Place of Birth: Arkansas
Field Worker: Lula Austin

I came with parents from Arkansas to the Indian Territory, in 1870, and settled in Skulleyville. My parents farmed, raising mostly corn. Tom Edwards, an Englishman, ran the post office, which was called Red Oak.

When i was sixteen years old I left home and went to work for Robert Nail, working there thirteen years. In roundup time all the cattle owners would go together and corral the cattle on the prairie, every party cutting their cattle out and letting those that did not belong to them go. We were usually out two weeks; had our chuck wagons and provisions with us.

John Vails used to ride horseback and sometimes in sulkies carrying the mail from Fort Smith to Sherman. It would take him six days to make the round trip, changing horses three times.

I have helped drive cattle across Red River during the big drives on the Chisholm trail. Many cattle were drowned; they would float down the river bloated up like big logs.

I was with Mr. Robert Nail one day when he sold a bunch of cattle to a German butcher from Denison, Texas, who paid him $2,700.00 in twenty dollar gold pieces. He placed some of the gold in a small keg and buried it in his orchard under a peach tree and some of it - he kept in Caddo with Mr. Ainsworth who operated a mercantile store there.

The Comanche and Cheyenne Indians came to Caddo once a month in ox wagons and on horseback for their rations. They would kill a beef and have a war dance. During the dance they would feast on the beef, eating it raw from the carcass, all carried long knives. I was in a store in Caddo one day when a bunch came in. I was scared to death, and tried to get out, but they were all around me so I had to pretend I wasn't afraid. They never bothered you if you let them alone.

I was in a little church where a Mr. Pucket, a school teacher, was teaching Sunday school. Dave Fulsom came in and told him he was going to kill him for talking about him. Mr. Pucket said, "Well, let's go outside away from the children." They left on their horses, going a distance from the house and Dave shot him. Dave was not prosecuted, as his money carried him through.

Submitter's Comments: I am the gg-grandaughter of JC Grimmitt.

Submitted to OKGenWeb by Melissa Massey <melissa@oldehomestead.net> May 2004.