Interview # 1237
Field Worker: Maurice R. Anderson
Date: May 3, 1937
Name: Mr. C.E. Lael
Residence: Wynnewood, Oklahoma
Date of Birth: 1887
Place of Birth: Old Mill Creek, Chickasaw Nation, I.T.
Father: Noah Lael, born in Mississippi
Mother: Lucy Harris, born in Chickasaw Nation, I.T.
My father, Noah Lael, came to the Indian Territory in
1872. He first settled near Sulphur Springs, Indian Territory, in
the Chickasaw Nation. He carried the mail on horseback from old Fort
Arbuckle, Indian Territory, to Gainesville, Texas. Later he
worked on the old stage line from Fort Sill to Denison, Texas.
My father later owned the Three X Ranch. His brand
was three x's with the figure 5 on the right jaw.
I don't know much to tell about, only what my father has told me.
He had cattle ranging from Wynnewood to Atoka and I have heard him
say in round-up time the cattle men around Wynnewood would go in together and each one
would furnish so many men and a chuck wagon. They would round up a large bunch of
cattle and cut out each man's brand and start them back home. He said sometimes they
would have some trouble about the calves. They would watch what cows the calves went
to and whose brand was on the cow, then it was his calf.
As for cattle stealing, there wasn't much of that took place. My
father said he knew of several families who had killed some of his steers. The
Negroes were the worst he said, to kill beef steers.
I have heard my father say that under the old Chickasaw Indian law you
could only fence one square mile, as the rest was called public range.
Father never dealt in cattle much until after the railroad went through.
Then he shipped most of his cattle to Kansas. I have heard him say corn fed
steers would bring from four to five cents a pound.
My grandfather on my mother's side was Governor Harris.
He and Smith Paul (the Smith Paul that located
Pauls Valley) brought a wagon train from Mississippi to the Indian Territory. I have
heard my grandfather say he and Smith Paul walked all the way.
