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IndexThe Anadarko American Democrat
ROMANCE OF OKLAHOMA INDIAN NAMES
Misunderstanding of pronunciation Causes Naming of Anadarko
August 8, 1923—The Anadarko American Democrat—Indian legends and romances are basis of the names of many town in Oklahoma.
“Vinita was named in 1871 by Rev. E. C. Moundinot, noted Cherokee orator and statesman, in honor of Vinnie Ream Hoxie of Washington. Vinnie Ream was born in an Wyandotte, Kansas, and grew to young womanhood in that town. When she afterwards became famous as sculptress in Washington, Moundinot, then an exile from the Cherokee tribe, knew and admired her and named the town “Vinita” in her honor.
Broken Arrow, obtained the name from Indian legend. In a beautiful part of the prairies near the Arkansas River lived many tribes of Indians. So many differences rose among these tribes that soon they were broken into hostile tribes and war was declared. At the end of a fierce and singularly conflict the Chiefs of the various tribes that together on a conspicuous mound near the present town of Broken Arrow. Here are their quarrels were composed and in a celebration of the event arrows were broken. This action was their sign of peace. And so the name of “Broken Arrow.
The name of Anadarko is the basis of another Indian legend. William Shirley, who died in 1910, married the last member of the Nadarko tribe of Indians, Harry Shirley, is the only living survivor of the Nadarko tribe.
The name Anadarko came about in this way. A government official visiting the tribe, desired to Seoul a name for a post office. Surely was an Irishman and when the official ask him for a suitable name he said; “Call it ‘Nadarko’ in honor of my wife.” The official did not catch the answer clearly because it Shirley’s brogue and wrote it “Anadarko” and so the name has survived.
Shirley had been Caddo country many years and was an old man at his death. He had built a sort of Castle about a mile and a half northeast of Anadarko, the remains of which still are standing. There also are some brings named in his honor.
Ochelata, was named for an Indian chief. The chief’s name was “Oo-ches-lat-tah,” and his English name was Charles Thompson. The nineteen “Oo-chee-lah-tah” means eloquence, a musical voice and sometimes it is applied to music. Thompson was one of the orators of the day in the Cherokee, although he could speak no English. He was, stately and handsome, straight as a narrow, and weighed 200 pounds.
The name Muskogee is they arrived from the Muskogee or Creek tribe of Indians, which for many years as one of the civilized tribes occupied the Indian Territory now a part of the state of Oklahoma. The Muskogee or the Creek tribe occupied “was generally known as the Creek nation, comprising that section of Oklahoma lying between the Canadian River on the South and the Arkansas River on the North and the old Indian Territory and Oklahoma line on the west and the Arkansas river on the East.
In the treaties and agreements between the Indians and the Dawes commission this tribe is referred to as the “Muskogee” or “Creek” tried and from this drive the old trading post of Muskogee derived its name, this name being adopted by the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway Company, which built through two Texas in 1872. As the whole of the United States Interior Department officials, including the Dawes commission, which had the matter of the settlement of the business of the five civilized tribes in hand, Muskogee naturally appropriated the name.
Nowata came from the Indian word “No-wah-tah” the English of which is medicine.
Another Talala, which comes from the word ”Tah-lah-hah.” It is the name of a bird, called in English the wood packer, which has a redhead. In all probability many of these birds in the tall timber which grew near the site if the present town of Talala.
Pawhuska, in the Osage Indian language, means white hair. White Hair was the principal Indian chief when Pawhuska was located hence the town was named for him.
The old town of Newkirk came about in this way. The government first established named Kirk about a mile and a half north of the present site of Newkirk. The town of Kirk was named for a man of that name, who was in the employment of the government at that time. When the town of Kirk was moved to a new site it was given the name of Newkirk.
COWBOYS MILK WILD COWS
New Form of Amusement as Staged in Washington Calls Forth Protest
January 1, 1924—The Anadarko American Democrat—Our special representative in the state of Washington, who has done so much to create humane sentiment against the cruelties associated with the rodeo and Wild West shows of Washington, sends us the rules of a new form of cruelty as they appear up on the printed program, known as the “Wild cow milking contest.” Five while, but fresh milch cows are to be used. The cow has 30 ft. start. Two mounted me to each cow are waiting in line to give chase.
Here are three of the rules for this contest:
The capture will stop the cow but not “bust” her. If you do not bus tour you are out.
His partner will dismount, catching the cow by the horns, twisting her head back and taking the rope off from the cow or rope must release his rope from horn or saddle.
The right who roped her we’ll now dismount and proceed to know this wild cow until he has have failed one-half pint cream bottle furnished by the committee.
Some of the finest people in America live in the state of Washington. May the day soon win their influence will be strong enough to stop these barbarous exhibits of the rough and cruel handling of animals to furnish amusement to people capable of finding pleasure in such primitive forms of so-called sport. Our Dumb Animals.
S. B. JONES, 81 INDIAN FIGHTER DIED THURSDAY
Was Lone Survivor of Custer Massacre; Told Different Story Than History
March 17, 1926—The Anadarko American Democrat—Funeral services were held here Friday afternoon for S. B. Jones aged Indian Scout and sole survivor of the battle of the Little Big Horn in which Gen. George A. Custer and his comrades ere massacred by a horde of Sioux Indians.
Jones, who was 81 years of age, succumbed to an attack of paralysis last Thursday night.
Jones’s escape from the fate that befell his comrades was due to the fact that he was detailed by General Custer to go to Major Reno for reinforcements. He succeeded in delivering the message after funning the gauntlet of thousands of Indians who were closing in on General Custer.
After the Indian campaign closed, Jones hauled freight over the old trails in the southwest, later taking up a homestead near Anadarko when this section was opened for settlement in 1901. A widow and two daughters survive.
Jones was a cowboy before he enlisted in the army and because of his knowledge of Indian dialects General Custer made him a scout.
On the fatal day of June 25, 1876, General Custer and his forces had followed a fresh Indian trail up Rosebud creek and crossed over into the headwaters of the Little Big Horn in Montana.
It was here that they came upon the following of Chief Sitting Bull and Chief Rain in the Face.
Jones’ version of the tragedy that followed differs slightly from historical accounts. His story was that Custer, unaware of the large number of the Indians, divided his command into two forces, ordering the unit commanded by Major Reno to attack in the rear while he made a bold dash for the front. After he was surrounded by thousands of yelling savages Custer detailed Jones and a half-breed Indian to go to Reno for reinforcements.
Jones gave credit to the big “blazed face” horse he was riding for taking him through the Indian lines alive. His companion never was seen again.
The old scout always censured Major Reno for his failure to go to Custer’s assistance. He contended that Reno’s refusal to rush aid to the beleaguered command was based upon jealousy of Custer.
The American Legion furnished the pallbearers and interment was under direction of the Gish Funeral Home.
“CAPTAIN MOLLIE’ TO BE MOVED TO WEST POINT
March 24, 1926—The Anadarko American Democrat—J. P. Morgan has given permission for the removal of the remains of Margaret Corbin—“Captain Mollie” of Revolutionary war fame—from the grave of his estate at Highland Falls. They will be reburied in the West Point cemetery in April with ceremonies conducted by the New York state branch of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
“Captain Mollie” did her bit in the battle of Fort Washington on upper Manhattan Island November 16, 1776. When a ball struck down her husband, a gunner, she took his place and served with great credit until she was wounded by grapeshot, which nearly severed her arm and part of her breast.
As a reward for her heroism the supreme council of Philadelphia granted her an award of $30 and got her a pension. Her battle wounds were the ultimate cause of her death.