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: March 29, 1937
Name: W. M. Sullivan
Post Office: 1301 South Fifth St. Chickasha, Oklahoma
Date of Birth: 1847
Place of Birth: Newton County, Missouri
Father:
Place of Birth:
Information on father:
Mother:
Place of birth:
Information on mother:
Field Worker: E. A. Cabler
Western History Collection, University of Oklahoma
LDS Microfische  6016953
W. M Sullivan Interview
Page 351-353
 
W. M. Sullivan was born in 1847 in Newton County, Missouri. He was about twelve years old when the Civil War broke out.

When I was three years old father moved to Indian Territory and settled at Old Fred, on Moncrief Crossing.  He received an appointment from Bill HOPKINS at Minco to run a stage and mail route from Old Fred to Anadarko.  Bill VANSLER drove the route from Pauls Valley to Old Fred.  When we were moving from Missouri I remember crossing the Canadian River as if it had been just a few days back.  Cattle and horses were dry for water, for it was dry that year.  They had just got in the river and water was only in holes as the river was so low, when a big white stallion caused a stampede.  I was but three years old when this occurred as we were moving to the territory in 1886, Father went to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and bought the equipment when he started the mail route.

We landed at Old Fred July 25, 1886, and father took charge of the mail route August 1, 1886.  His schedule was six P. M. to six A. M for he drove at night as he had to make a round trip in twelve hours.  My Mother died when I was seven years old, so I don’t remember too much about her.

Father quit the route and went to work for George R. BEELER in 1887, and we lived on one of the William’s places and drove oxen to break land.  One trip I remember dad made on the route was when sleet and snow were just deep enough to cover chips on the ground.  They didn’t think dad would run the route but he tied his feed and mail on the back of a mule and rode a pony.  This pony was a mean little Spanish rascal.  He got to Anadarko and as he started back he turned the horse loose and rode the mule back.  When he got in home the sleet and snow were frozen on his chin whiskers as he wore them long in those days.

Dad would hear news several weeks before anyone else about drives, and cattle thieves, etc.

He would blow a bugle and Indians would gather to hear him, as he came by on his route as every one of them knew him well.

Transcribed by Donald L. Sullivan <donald.l.sullivan@lmco.com> 05-1999.