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Indian Pioneer Papers - Index

Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: November 24, 1937
Name: Mrs. Rimmer
Post Office: Wayne, Oklahoma
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: 
Father: William A. Hindman
Place of Birth: Missouri
Information on father: 
Mother: 
Place of Birth: 
Information on mother: 
Field Worker: Robert H. Boatman
Interview # 9345

EARLY DAYS AS A PROSPECTOR Development of Indian Territory

William A. Hindman, my father, was born in the state of Missouri, February 25, 1850. There he grew up to manhood and was married. In 1889 a group of wagons and teams was formed in the state and he, my mother and I moved along from Missouri, coming to the Indian Territory.

We traveled in covered wagons in what was known as the Missouri train. At that time I was five years of age. My father was intending to make the run of '89'; however, we got here too late and then we moved on some distance; finally we settled at a place in the Chickasaw Nation.

This place was called Beef Creek and was located near the Washita River. The same place is now known as Maysville. Here Father lived for one year, spending most of his time prospecting in the Arbuckle Mountains. He seemed to think that in or near these mountains there could be found great quantities of iron ore or gold, silver and copper. His family never knew what gave him this idea. Once Father reported that he had discovered a mine of iron ore and began developments for the operation of a mine, but later decided to give his attention to some other business; then in 1890 we were again moved some few miles north to the place where the town of Wayne is now located.

There was then nothing at Wayne other than the railroad, which had been built in 1887. There was not even a depot here then, only lots of fine range and fields of wheat. 

Here it was that Father became fully established and began the development of permanent business with the building of an elevator, one of the first to be built in the Chickasaw Nation. With the erection of the elevator, many hundreds of acres of land were broken out, planted to wheat and corn, and the elevator business continued to grow and prosper.

Soon, a depot was built and a town site was then laid out. People began to move from their rude huts and dugouts, for such were the first homes in the territory. Father then, knowing that the town of Wayne was to be permanently established, soon began to try to get the citizens interested in the erection of a school and church building. After long talking and much persuasion and explaining, it was finally agreed that a school building and also a church should be erected.

Father contributed largely to both and was appointed as a member of the first School Board at Wayne. He worked very hard at all times for better conditions of the school and church, also for the building up of the town, and became widely known as a great booster of towns, schools and churches that were then being built throughout the Chickasaw Nation. After many years of hard work father sold out his elevator, the first permanent structure ever to be erected at Wayne. He then retired from active service though remaining at his home in the town of Wayne, which he had helped to build. Here he remained until some few years ago when death claimed him.

Mr. William A. Hindman was one of the best-known and beloved pioneers of the country. His widow, an invalid in her declining years, still lives at the old home that was first erected in 1890.

Transcribed for OKGenWeb by Lola Crane coolbreze@cybertrails.com November 6, 2001.
EARLY DAYS AS A PROSPECTOR Development of Indian Territory

William A. Hindman, my father, was born in the state of Missouri, February 25, 1850. There he grew up to manhood and was married. In 1889 a group of wagons and teams was formed in the state and he, my mother and I moved along from Missouri, coming to the Indian Territory.

We traveled in covered wagons in what was known as the Missouri train. At that time I was five years of age. My father was intending to make the run of '89'; however, we got here too late and then we moved on some distance; finally we settled at a place in the Chickasaw Nation.

This place was called Beef Creek and was located near the Washita River. The same place is now known as Maysville. Here Father lived for one year, spending most of his time prospecting in the Arbuckle Mountains. He seemed to think that in or near these mountains there could be found great quantities of iron ore or gold, silver and copper. His family never knew what gave him this idea. Once Father reported that he had discovered a mine of iron ore and began developments for the operation of a mine, but later decided to give his attention to some other business; then in 1890 we were again moved some few miles north to the place where the town of Wayne is now located.

There was then nothing at Wayne other than the railroad, which had been built in 1887. There was not even a depot here then, only lots of fine range and fields of wheat. 

Here it was that Father became fully established and began the development of permanent business with the building of an elevator, one of the first to be built in the Chickasaw Nation. With the erection of the elevator, many hundreds of acres of land were broken out, planted to wheat and corn, and the elevator business continued to grow and prosper.

Soon, a depot was built and a town site was then laid out. People began to move from their rude huts and dugouts, for such were the first homes in the territory. Father then, knowing that the town of Wayne was to be permanently established, soon began to try to get the citizens interested in the erection of a school and church building. After long talking and much persuasion and explaining, it was finally agreed that a school building and also a church should be erected.

Father contributed largely to both and was appointed as a member of the first School Board at Wayne. He worked very hard at all times for better conditions of the school and church, also for the building up of the town, and became widely known as a great booster of towns, schools and churches that were then being built throughout the Chickasaw Nation. After many years of hard work father sold out his elevator, the first permanent structure ever to be erected at Wayne. He then retired from active service though remaining at his home in the town of Wayne, which he had helped to build. Here he remained until some few years ago when death claimed him.

Mr. William A. Hindman was one of the best-known and beloved pioneers of the country. His widow, an invalid in her declining years, still lives at the old home that was first erected in 1890.

Transcribed for OKGenWeb by Lola Crane coolbreze@cybertrails.com  November 6, 2001.