OKGenWeb Notice: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Presentation here does not extend any permissions to the public. This material may not be included in any compilation, publication, collection, or other reproduction for profit without permission.
The creator copyrights ALL files on this site. The files may be linked to but may not be reproduced on another site without specific permission from the OKGenWeb Coordinator, [okgenweb@cox.net], and their creator. Although public information is not in and of itself copyrightable, the format in which they are presented, the notes and comments, etc. are. It is, however, permissible to print or save the files to a personal computer for personal use ONLY.


Indian Pioneer Papers - Index

Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: September 13, 1937
Name: Elmer Smith
Post Office: Oklahoma City
Residence address: 800 South Pennsylvania
Date of Birth: October 8, 1861
Place of Birth: Missouri
Father: Olin Smith
Place of Birth: Vermont
Information on father:
Mother: May Oliver
Place of birth: New York
Information on mother:
Field Worker:
Interview: #8511
 
I started sometime about 1890 with a buckboard and team trading in the east part of the state. I usually loaded up in Fort Smith and hauled my stuff back into Fort Smith. I carried piece goods for dresses and shirts, cheap jewelry and a few ready made dresses and men's pants.

I sold for cash when folks had the money and when they did not, I would take eggs and chickens. I have traded for watches too; I usually had several cheap watches and when I loaded up at Fort Smith I would make a wide circle south and west and come back into McAlester. Then I would go north and east back into Fort Smith. I hauled a big load of stuff, eggs and chickens, which I did not haul very far as I could always find some farmer who would trade for chickens and the eggs would be sold in the little towns. I used to make two trips each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. I used to come into Fort Smith in the late fall with as much as $500.00 clear which I thought was pretty good. Watches and dresses were always the best sellers that I had; sometimes in the fall I would get quite a bunch of furs and hides.

Submitted to OKGenWeb by Lynda Bell Canezaro <LBCane@aol.com> 05-2000.