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Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date:
Name: Mrs. Callie King
Residence: Paoli, Oklahoma
Date of Birth: February 16, 1871
Place of Birth: Texas
Father:
Mother:
Field Worker: Maurice R. Anderson

Mrs. King relates, I came to Oklahoma Indian Territory in a covered wagon in 1884. We saw very few Indians on the trip. There were no fences. All was wide open range. We settled four miles west of Whitebead.

Mr. Cunningham built a ferry to cross the river at Whitebead. It was the only town for several miles. There were no railroads. We did all our freighting from Gainesville, Texas. It took several days to make the trip as we traveled by wagon. There was one mill on the river where we had our meal ground.

All land that could be used for cultivation was planted in corn and vegetables. We raised everything that we could. We did not can anything. We didn't have any fruit of any kind.

In 1890 we had to pay $5.00 permit to live in the community. Men worked for 50 cents a day. Groceries were cheap.

We lived in a one room log house near Florence Chapel. The first church I attended was a little one room building at the Florence Cemetery. I don't remember the preacher's name.

The school we had was a subscription school. It cost each family so much a month and the term was only three months a year.

I have seen wild turkey come into our yard. There was plenty of wild game to hunt.

I have lived in Garvin County since 1884.

Submitted to OKGenWeb by Brenda Choate September 2003