Muskogee Co, OK

Turning Back The Clock

By: C. W. "Dub" West (c) 1985

Muskogee Publishing Company, Box 1331, Muskogee, OK 74402

Snippets # 16

(Pgs 122 & 123) William M Harrison. According to the Muskogee Phoenix of June 10, 1932, William M. Harrison "had the honor of trying the first jury trial ever held in Indian Territory."

The Oct. 14, 1921, issue of the Times Democrat relates that "Judge J.M. Shackleford, Major William Nelson, U.S. Attorney A.Z. Waidron, Tom Needles, Stewart Elliott, T.M. Foster, W.A. Ledbetter, J.G. Wells, Colonel E.G. Boudinot, Judge W.A. Fears, Colonel G.W. Pease and William M. Harrison alighted from the train in plug hats and frock coats the day before court opened with everyone present. Local citizens, including J.E. Turner, A.W. Robb, and M.B. Maxey, had a hurried conference with the dignitaries, suggesting that they remove the plug hats, fearing some cowpuncher might take a shot at them. Indians were grinning in amusement."

Harrison had remained in Muskogee most of the time since the opening of the Federal Court in 1889. This article announced that Harrison had been appointed United States Commissioner by Judge Robert L. Williams.

Harrison was born in Monticello, Ark., on Aug. 17, 1854. ... attended St Thomas College in Little Rock in 1878, after which he attended the University of Virginia, where he was a classmate of Woodrow Wilson ... in Pine bluff, Ark ... in Sherman TX in 1887 ... Muskogee ... associated with Judge John R Thomas, Grant Foreman, G W Pease, D C Waldron and Judge F L McKain. ... [photo of William M Harrison]

(Pg 123-125) Sim Slaughter Recalled City's Past. [Photo Kentucky Livery Feed and Sale Stable Operated by J J Slaughter]

A talk with S.D. "Sim" Slaughter truly "turns back the clock." He came to Muskogee in 1901 as a youth with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.D. Slaughter. Sim says that when they arrived in Muskogee, they were greeted by H.B. Spaulding who made a team and buggy, along with a driver, available to them, they could use it free of charge as long as needed to find a place that suited them.

Slaughter decided to open a feed and livery stable, which was located at 130 S. Main St. near the Martha Robb Hospital. Since they had come from Kentucky, they named the business the Kentucky Feed and Barn. An ad in the Muskogee Times announced the opening of the business.

Things progressed nicely until March 1904 when the business along with all of the horses, were destroyed by fire. Slaughter died a few months later.

In order to support herself and family, Mrs. Slaughter opened a boarding house on the site of Hope Lumber Co. Many prominent persons stayed at the "home away from home." Sim remembers one in particular - James Givens, a prominent attorney and one of the persons credited with bringing in Muskogee's first oil well.

Sim was able to accumulate $10,000 by the time he was 19, a sizable amount in those days. Since he was very fond-of hunting, he decided that by putting his money out on interest, he could live off the interest and would not have to work, making it possible to hunt to his heart's content.

Shortly after depositing his money in the bank, it went broke, and he lost his $10,000. He says he has had to work ever since, although he has found many opportunities to go hunting. He says he still would go hunting despite his 96 years if he were not crippled in one leg.

Sim enlisted in the Army and landed in France July 16, 1917, 65 years ago. He was given his discharge in September 1919.

In 1921 Sim established the Oklahoma Rig and Supply Co. His main item was the manufacturing of bullwheels, used in connection with oil drilling rigs. He tells an interesting story of why steel derricks were accepted by the industry. He says that when steel derricks were introduced, old timers insisted on using wood rigs. When a fire swept through a Shreveport, La., field all the wooden rigs were destroyed but the steel derricks remained intact, only slightly damaged. The result was the most drillers turned to steel rigs.

Sim continued to operate the Oklahoma Rig and Supply Co. until 1968 when he sold the business to Bob Thompson. ...

Sim recalled the old Convention Hall was truly a showplace. ...

He says there was a beautiful rose garden adjoining Convention Hall. C.N. Haskell wanted to erect a building on the site of the rose garden, and when the owner refused to sell the property Haskell built the Indianola Building at Third Street and Broadway.

Yes, to talk to Sim Slaughter is to turn the clock back, for he has been in integral part of Muskogee for the past 81 years.

Sim's funeral was conducted July 11, 1984 by Rev. Dwight 0. Darrah. The following prayer which was found in Sims billfold was quoted by Rev. Darrah as a portion of the service: [poem]

(Pg 125 & 126) Blind School An Asset. [Photo of the First Buildings Constructed For The School for the Blind] A headline in the Times-Democrat March 11, 1911, was: Perry Miller saves blind school. Miller had authored a bill in the state House of Representatives to move the School for the Blind to Muskogee. Slid Garrett of Fort Gibson had introduced a similar bill in the state Senate. He knew that if the was not moved to Muskogee, it would be moved to Tulsa.

The school was truly a pioneer institution, having been established in June 1897, by Laura Rowland, "a frail wisp of a girl." She operated the school without any government assistance for 10 years, though there are reams of correspondence indicating she implored governors, congressmen, and other public officials to assist her struggling organization. She did present a case sufficient to be permitted the use to the old Barracks Building to house her school.

She traveled all over Indian Territory, appearing before the various tribal councils, presenting her needs. Since few of the Indians were blind until the white man brought diseases causing blindness to the Indian, there was not the acceptance that might have been the case had there been more blind children among the Indians. [Remainder of article is a history of the school]

(Pgs 127 & 128) Pat Hurley - Bacone's Outstanding Graduate Patrick J. Hurley, Bacone's most distinguished alumnus, was a familiar sight on the streets of Muskogee soon after the turn of the century. He was working his way through college driving the mail hack to town and picking up groceries. He worked in a clothing store on weekends and in a drug Store during the summers.

... Hurley achieved many honors during his lifetime, quite an achievement for an orphan who grew up in austere circumstances.

... Before coming to Bacone, he worked in the coal mines near McAlester and punched cattle on three ranches near Muscogee. On one of these ranches, a cowboy companion was Will Rogers.

During the winter before enrolling in Bacone, he almost died of pneumonia. Years later, he asked Dr. Pate Fite to meet him at the Country Club. He told Fite that he wanted to express his thanks to a son of Dr. F.B. Fite, who gave medical attention to a penniless youth who was near death.

After graduation from Bacone, Hurley was a clerk in the Intruder Division of the Indian Office. It was his duty to issue eviction notices to white intruders.

... After the World War I, he married Ruth Wilson, daughter of Adm. Henry Braid Wilson, commander of the Atlantic Fleet and superintendent of Annapolis. [remainder of the article is a list of achievements and offices held by Hurley] ... died September 1964. [photo of Ambassador and Mrs Pat Hurley at a garden party for the King and Queen of England in 1946]

(Pg 128-130) Muskogee Boy Scouts Have Been Outstanding. [Photo of Muskogee Boy Scouts in 1914] ... Sep 29, 1910 .. "A company of Boy Scouts being organized." ... under the direction of Oscar Mobley ... [members] Oscar Mobley, Arthur Collins, Percy Smith, Willie Stoner, Gerald Goodin and Fred Clement ... [remainder of article discusses the growth and achievements of the Boy Scouts]

(Pg 130 & 131) Area Catholics to Honor Priest. [Photo of Rev Herman J Foken] [Article discusses Rev Foken's career]

(Pg 131 & 132) One Vote Is Important. ... Let us turn back the clock and examine the facts [of one vote being important] ....

In 1645 one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England.
In 1649 one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed.
In 1839 one vote elected Marcus Morton Governor of Massachusetts.
In 1845 one vote brought Texas into the Union.
In 1868 on vote saved President Andrew Jackson from impeachment.
In 1876 one vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic.
In 1923 one vote gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party.
In 1960 one vote per precinct elected John Kennedy President.

.... [Drawing of Ballot Box]