Indian Pioneer Papers - Index
Elizabeth
Ross
No. 4251-4590
S-149
May 27, 1937
"CREEK TOWN"
The term "Creek Town" is seldom heard at the present time, but in bygone
years it was of frequent mention. Reference was not to a town in the generally
accepted meaning of the term, but to a small settlement, the people of
which really belonged to the Creek Tribe.
When the several Indian tribes were being removed from the east of the
Mississippi river to Indian Territory, during the thirties of the nineteenth
century, small numbers of Creek citizens, living at the borders of the
original Cherokee country, were removed along with the Cherokees. They
were in groups which settled here and there in the regions set apart
for the Cherokees.
Through an Act of Cherokee National Council, these small bodies of Creeks
were given the rights of Cherokees and allowed to continue in occupancy
of the lands upon which they had established themselves.
One of the oldest Creek Settlements was that which was made a short distance
south of the confluence of the Barren Fork river with the Illinois, some
five to six miles southeast of Tahlequah, and immediately east of the Park
Hill locality. These Creeks built themselves log houses, with wooden chimneys,
lined inside with thin pieces of stone, or with adhesive clay or mortar
made from lime and sand. They cultivated small tracts of the fertile
land, raising corn and beans and a variety of the sweet potato known as
the "Spanish potato". They used mortars in which to pound their corn
into hominy grits, and hunted in the woodlands and caught or speared fish
in the streams. Small wooden houses were built above the graves of deceased
members of the small community, which was known as Creek Town. The women
of the town rode forth on peddling expeditions at times, offering fish,
fresh or barbecued, hominy grits, sweet potatoes, or huckleberries and
wild onions in season, and occasionally carried eggs and chickens for sale
or barter.
The Creeks were peculiar people. Upon arriving at a home out in the in
more extensive settlements, they rode up as near to the fence or gate as
possible and there remained silent, waiting for someone to appear from
the house. Never was a call or hello made. Statue-like the women peddlers
remained patiently waiting. If no one appeared, they turned their ponies
and rode away.
It was said that most of the members of Creek Town were not full-blood
members of the Creek Nation but were Euchees, members of a once powerful
tribe which has been reduced by wars and pestilences, finally being incorporated
into the Creek Tribe.
In course of time the number living in the so-called town became few and
eventually all disappeared but until the beginning of 1890 several were
yet alive. New owners now live in the section once occupied by Creek Town,
and they are now remembered by a comparatively few persons of today.
On Christmas day it was a custom of the members of the settlement to make
a great deal of noise with their firearms, firing their guns throughout
the day, beginning in the early morning.
In settlement of an old claim against the Government the Creek Town people
once received a good-sized monetary payment and led a merry life while
the money lasted. Among those whose names are yet recalled by some few
persons, are those of John, Thompson and Jim, whose surname was Cane, for
they lived in the midst of tall wild cane and woodlands. There was also
Creek John, sometimes called John Walker; also Creek Lem, Creek Ned; two
men who were known as old Creek Arch and young Creek Arch; Figgylumby,
an aged woman; and Big Betsy, Walking Betsy, Kayaugi, and Hepsy.
Note: This article
was written from personal recollections. Elizabeth Ross.
Submitted to OKGenWeb