Ft. Gibson
Gateway to the West
By: C. W. "Dub" West (c) 1974
Muskogee Publishing Company, Muskogee, OK 74401
This book is out of print. If the item is complete I will note <complete> otherwise what I have is snippets of information. If you are interested in the whole article you may
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introduction
[article on
Henry Skates (son of Elsie Skates) pg 194]Quite a number of colored persons were mustered out of the Union Army at Ft Gibson at the end of the Civil War and steeled here, becoming some of our most substantial citizens. Pg 194 <complete>
Mrs
W Lynch, the mother of Cherokee Bill, as a result of the notoriety gained through her infamous son, received much publicity and used it to promote a lucrative fortune telling business. From time to time other such persons appeared on the scene. Pg 194 <complete>Many of the colored residents of the Ft Gibson area were freedmen, which meant they received allotments, and this gave them an economic advantage that they would have had otherwise. This meant that many of them were farmers on a substantial scale. Others worked on the railroad or on the gravel boat, at one of the gins, or were in business for themselves.
Some of the colored farmers were operators on a large scale. The ones who had the largest farms, even approaching plantations were
Dud Buffington, W E Wright and George Elliott. Others were farmers including the following: Andrew Breshears, Uncle Jim Vann, Rachel Allred. Charlie Stedman, Pete Reynolds, Polly Ross, Frank Walker, Jeff Gilford, Mose Gilford, Bill Gilford, Ed Maes, Mrs. Lid Thompson, Randolph White, Curry Mayfield, Will Toston, Sonny Wright, Peter Briggs, Solomon Nash, Charlotte Hicks, Milcok Rowland, Cornelius Have, Gifter Vann, Richard Nivens, Clem Sheppard, Sank Vann, Will Nave, Tom Nave, Segar Sheppard, Coon Vann, Henry Toston, Robert Reynolds, joe Berry, Henry Taylor, Jacob Young, Bethel Young, Jess Alrid, C H Arbuckle, J E Austin, Muggie Austin, Charlotte Bailey, Mansom Blue, William Buffington, William Allen Carter, Lewis Daniels, Thomas Dilwood, Houston Green, Alec Harris, Jiles Harris, Tony Harris, Moses Jumper, Jack Kimmons, Wade Langley, Wallace Lankster, Geroge McClendon, L E Nelson, Jeff O'Field, Sargent Pettis, Joseph Sisco, Harry Starr, Pete Starr, Ocey Taraver, B T Thompson, Clarence Thompson, John Thompson [pg 194] Edmon Vann, James Vann, Jim Vann, John Vann, Aleck Ward, Alfred Workman, A Williams, Allie Williams, and Geroge Willians. Robert Reynolds says that a Mr Foy, who was blind could plow almost as well as anyone, that his rows were crooked, but that merely made them longer. William Tillman was famed for his sorghum molasses. Pg 195 <complete>The Tyner Hotel, operated by
Prince Tyner, was in the same block as the Grissom or American Hotel and is still standing. It was a busy place in the early days, catering not only to transients but to season railroad workers and potato pickers. Reverend Tyner also operated a cafe. Pg 195 <complete>Reverend
Prince Tyner was one of the early ministers. Reverend E M Willamham is mentioned in early papers, and there was also a Reverend Williams. Reverend Davis, Reverend C L Andy, Reverend Embry Richardson and Reverend Tate have served as pastors of the various churches. Pg 195 <complete>The gravel boat operated by
Joshua J and Leo D Harman, as well as the gins needed the strongest, huskiest men available. It is said that Henry Hawkins could pick up a bale of cotton by himself and toss it on a wagon. He is suppose to have been able to hit a hog in the head with his fist and kill it much in the same manner as persons often hit a hog in the had with an axe. Other persons were hired on the gravel boat or at the gins were: Tommie Wilson, Ed James, John Thomas, W P Thomas, R C Crawford, Sam Stidmon, Nat Rankin, H O Johnson and Charlie Greer. Pg 195 & 196 <complete>The following persons were section foreman on the railroad
: Pete Reynolds, John Cross, and Henry Newton. Other railroad workers were: J P McKinney, Moses Briggs, Charlie White and Charlie Greer. Pg 196 <complete>[Photos of Mr & Mrs
Jesse Daniels and William Nave pg 196]Mrs.
Beatrice Berd Kerr has informed me that Caroline Starr Green "lived in Indian Territory when there were only pig trails and can brakes with no streets". Pg 196 <complete>Dr
J E Evans was a medical doctor who had a large following, not only among the colored people, but many white people used him also. Pg 196 <complete>One of the first business men among the colored people were
Sam Williams and J M Vaughan, who have been credited with building and operating the first grocery store among their people. Other grocermen were Bill Hill, Pleas Berry, Randolph White, D L Arnett, A Rowland and a Gordan. Andrew Talley operated a cafe, and an Armstrong had a "hamburger stand". Lindsay Taylor was the tailor. Barbers included W Lynch, Pearce and Pink Daniels, all catering to white people. Sue Chase drove the livery wagon for Coleman Furniture and Bud Powell worked at the city park. Ed Berry had an ice cream parlor, and Hemp Hill was a cobbler. Bill Perry repaired watches, and the town pool hall was run by Andy Starr. Henry Hawkins and Charlie Stidman were school custodians. A Fleak was a well driller and Homer Ray ran the fire wagon. Cal Robison and George Kye were butchers.
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