Indian Pioneer Papers - Index
Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: April 1, 1937
Name: Charles Robbins
Post Office:
Date of Birth: July 12, 1868
Place of Birth: Summerset, Kentucky, Pulaska County
Father:
Place of Birth:
Information on father:
Mother:
Place of Birth:
Information on mother:
Field Worker: Thomas Meagher
Interview # 72??
Charles Robbins, pioneer cowboy, was born in Summerset, Kentucky, Pulaska County, July 12, 1868. He attended the World Fair at Chicago, then came to Oklahoma (1893).
Mr. Robbins made the Cherokee Strip Run, September 16, 1893, from Arkansas City. He failed to get a homestead. He made a stake south of Perry, Oklahoma, near a creek but the land was already taken. He was forced to remove his stake by Sooners. He then came to Sapulpa, Indian Territory, and settled. He worked for Carl Wagoner, owner of the Cloverleaf ranch, four miles northwest of Sapulpa, also for Charles Brumett, a cattleman, living near Cloverleaf ranch. After working at the ranches a short time he went to El Reno, Oklahoma Territory, and registered for drawing of lots and homesteads at Lawton. He failed to draw a lot or homestead. The drawing cost twenty-five cents a number.
He came back to Sapulpa and worked for an Uchee-Creek Indian, S. W. Brown, and also worked for Henry Red Eagle, an Osage Indian, near Pawhuska. He paid fifty cents a month to the Indian Agent because he was white and living in the Indian Territory. He paid this fee until Statehood.
He made his home in Sapulpa. When he came to Sapulpa the only buildings were the old J. B. Hall store and the Ripley hotel.
Indians living here then only farmed fifteen to twenty acres, raising corn, black-eye peas and Indian sweet potatoes. Their main food was corn bread, softa, abuska, deer meat and beef.
Mr. Robbins hunted and shot deer and turkey when he first came here.
Transcribed for OKGenWeb by Lola Crane coolbreze@cybertrails.com November 2001.