Interview #7148
Field Worker: Henry Day
Date: August 12, 1937
Name: Mary Jesse
Residence:
Date of Birth: 1853
Place of Birth: Texas
Father:
Mother: Ho-cha-che, born in Alabama
I am Creek Indian. Was born on the Mill Creek, eight miles west of
Eufaula, Oklahoma, in the year 1853. I am now eighty-four years old. I am the
mother of two children. They both girls and I have eight grandchildren, six girls
and two boys. Also I have four great grandchildren. I belong to Missionary
Baptist.
I do not know my father, never did see him. He died when I was four
years old. I know my mother. Her name was Ho-cha-che, born some where in state
of Alabama. She died in the year of 1884.
My mother used to tell me about Civil War. That is about the North
and South, although she never saw a battle. For my part I remember we crossed a big
river. We were going north under Opuithli Ya-hola. This river we crossed was
Arkansas River. I learned after we came back to Indian Territory. My mother
said we left one night. Ya-hola didn't want to fight against his white friends,
North or South. He wants to be peace with both sides, but lots of Indians joined the
soldiers. Some went North and some South.
Few of Indians, something like five hundred, went with Opuithli Ya-hola to
Le Roy, Kansas. We stayed at Le Roy where peace was made. I can remember this much,
while we were started coming back to our country, Ya-hola took sick and died. It was
awfully cold. The snow was on a ground. This is all I could remember.
Note: This interviewer is an Indian and his interviews are expressed
exactly as his talk. No effort is made to change his manuscripts to correct English.
