Ft. Gibson Post

Vol III No 3

October 7, 1897 (Part 2)

Abstracted / Transcribed by Linda Haas Davenport

When the print is so faded that it cannot be read <.....> will be used . All transcription will be as found in the paper, misspellings and all

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TWO COLOR FAVORITES. Prof. Joseph Jastrow, of the University of Wisconsin, who has made an investigation of masculine and feminine preferences in color, says that blue is overwhelming the masculine favorite, while the color which stands at the head of the woman's list is red.

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Six Million Lie Buried. The most extensive cemetery in the work is that of Rome, in which over 6,000,000 human beings have been interred.

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An Indian Territory man, who had plenty of money on his person was murdered in a St. Louis dive. If there is one thing that a rural gentleman with coin should steer clear of it is the average St. Louis "joint." - Fort Smith Record ... Just that way - even a Fort Smith joint or any other joint.

The Annual Reports of the Daws Commission for 1894, 1895 and 1896 together with correspondence with Five Civilized Tribe from March 3d, 1893 to January 1, 1897, has been received for distribution. It is a large closely printed book of 171 pages and interesting to Territorial people.

We notice that our old-time friend, Jay Allen of the Grayling, Michigan News is married to a Miss Valentine, of Vasser, Michigan, who is spoken of very highly by the local press as an intellectual young lady of high moral qualities. We are glad that he has got such an excellent wife, of whom he is deserving, being a man of integrity and high moral worth. Not long since he was appointed receiver of U.S. land office at Grayling. We sold Mr. Allen the Osemaw Herald, in 1881, and he did a good work through that paper in exposing and breaking up a corrupt political boodie ring.

The largest religious meeting ever held in Fort Smith is being conducted there by Rev Cullpepper, a man who appears to be gifted with great power of pursuasion over people who have lead evil lives, in winning them to a better way through merits of Christian doctrine. We trust that he may do much good in Fort Smith, which is greatly in need of moral reform, and that the influence may extend into this Territory by stopping the sale of whiskey to Indians, contrary to law, which is openly done in Fort Smith, much to the detriment of nearly every community for miles along the railroads where the evil effects of Fort Smith Whiskey Devil is felt.

A good deal has been said by the Territorial press about Tams Bixby, now acting Chairman of the Dawes commission, largely concerning his odd name, and speculation on his antecedents, nationality and other questions, some claiming that he is a German, others a Dane, Norwegian or other kind of Scandinavian or foreigner, almost too numerous to mention, who was appointed by the President principally because he is Republican, all of which is wide of the mark. Mr. Bixby is a native born citizen from the state of Minnesota, his grand-sire being a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He is a live, practical business man, and runs a daily and weekly newspaper in his own state, being, withall, a practical printer, sociable and an all-round companionable man, and very agreeable to do business with. This in brief, is Mr. Tams Bixby of the Dawes commission, and from acquaintance we think he is Tams Bixby every day of the week, Sunday not excepted.

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AFTER MANY DAYS.
     Jake McCoy Returns to Fort Gibson
           After An Absence of 43 Years -
           A Stranger In His Own Country.
     Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, and there are things enacted in every day life around us, if only known would be more interesting and astonishing than any novel. Jake McCoy, a Cherokee Indian, born and raised near Fort Gibson, went to California with others, 43 years ago. At first he prospered, made lots of money, and finally invested his all - about $20,000 - in cattle, which business he understood. But he lost everything by an overflow which drowned all his cattle. Then he hustled for more money but never succeeded in accumulating so much again. He worked hard after his loss, and had many ups and downs, but resolved never to return home till he made a good stake. He ceased to write home and finally his folks here heard that he was dead, and supposed that if ever they met again it would be in the "happy hunting grounds" knows as Heaven by Christian people.
     There are many strange and unlooked for things in life, and such was the experience of Mrs. McElderidge an aged widow lady who lives about three miles west of town, a few days since, when a strange man called and claimed to be her brother. At first she denounced him as an impostor, and it was some time before he could convince her of his identity, when there was a scene over her long lost brother.
     Then he told her of his life in California - his varied fortunes, ups and downs and final determination to return to his native country. But he finds things different from when he left. Most everything has changed and he finds himself a stranger in his own country. He was another Rip Van Winkle, he knew nobody and nobody knew him. Most people whom he saw were born and raised to man and womanhood since he went away. Most people whom he knew before he went away have joined the silent majority. All the old people are dead, and old landmarks are obliterated. A great change has taken place.
     Before his departure for the west where most of the town of Fort Gibson now stands was an unbroken prairie, covered with high grass, now it is in cultivation or dotted with trees. Scarcely anything looks natural. Even Grand river looked different, its banks being changed in so many places. Then there was no railroad in the Indian Territory, and but few in the west. The war of the Rebellion has been fought and closed since he went away on a wild trail across the Rocky mountains, beset by wild Indians, and returned 43 years later on a railroad train. A great change truly.
     Mr. McCoy is now about 70 years old, but strong and active for his age. He more the ways of a white man than an Indian, and says that the backward state of improvement here seems strange to him, being for so many years used to seeing rapid progress and advancement. Since he left here he has seen large cities grow up in less naturally favored places than Fort Gibson, and the wilderness blossom as the rose. He understands mining, and says there is lots of undeveloped wealth in this Territory. - J.S.H.

STOLEN - From me near Sequoyah court house on Sunday Sep 19, 1897 one sorrel mare 3 years old, 13 hands high, 3 white feet, star in forehead, knot on right side of nose, no brand. Also a black mare mule 6 years old, 15 hands high, black eyes, no brand. I will give $10 for return of said animals, or give either of same for thief. - M A Vanzandt, Muldrow, I T

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It only costs 30 cents to see all the great wonders at the great Forepaugh and Sells Brothers shows at Fort Smith, next Saturday, the 9th inst.

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A preacher in the bottoms about 4 miles from town is said to be attracting large crowds of people nightly, mostly cotton pickers, who congregate in God's temple not made by human hands. Those people are at least as near to God in their worship in the woods as those in fashionable edifices, and less puffed up with worldly pride and their own importance. It was the great Sir Thomas Moore, since canonized as a saint, who said: "...The Road to Heaven is the Same From All Places."

A good many people from town went to Vinita on Monday to attend court, among the number being Mayor Walker

W O Burton of Muldrow was here on business Monday

Miss Ivey Leach of Muldrow is here on a visit with Mrs. Shaffer