USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. MRS. LAYPORT WRITES INTERESTINGLY OF OKLAHOMA TRIP While visiting my brother and family in Muskogee, the Editor asked to write a letter to the Vidette, so I have touched a few of the high points, briefly for the readers. One of the interesting and hustling cities of the Southwest in Muskogee, Oklahoma, situated on the Jefferson Highway which runs from Winnepeg Canada, through St. Paul, Des Moines, and Kansas City to New Orleans. The climate is delightful, the ground freezing not more than two inches deep, and snow is oc- casionally welcomed as a curio- sity. The moon shines with unusal brilliancy and in many trees the beautiful mistletoe nestles in bright green clusters. Framers have been plowing during the winter and the ground now is ready for sowing oats and planting potatoes. They are making gardens, setting out trees and doing all kinds of spring work. The land along the Ark- ansas river is very fertile and cannot be bought for less than $300 per acre. Cotton is best adapted to the soil and climate, however other crops are being tried out with much success. On Agency Hill, near the city is located one of the oldest trad- ing stations. The building has been preserved and is very quaint in appearance, built of the native stone, of a mottled yellow and brown color. On this hill is lo- cated the city's unexhaustible water supply, also a park where buffalo and goats roam over the shady hillside. The government has selected this beautiful spot for the state soldiers hospital which will cost one half million dollars. A more picturesque location could not be found, for the land- scape encircling this elevation is a charming panorama to look upon. Near Agency Hill is Sowakla the home of Miss Alice Robertson, congress woman, she conducted a cafetenia "Sowakla" in the city, and when running for congress she very cleverly advertised her business and politics with the same stroke of the pen which gave her much publicity and brought the desired victory. Miss Robertson's parents were Presbyterian missionaries, her mother translated the New Testament into the Greek language. Her grandmother was a missionary in Ga. and Andrew Jackson put him in prison for preaching to the Indians, and that is why Miss Alice is a Republican. Her grand father moved to Indian Territory with the Indians in 1832 an they brought slaves with them. The Indians and negroes inter-married, which introduced the Creek Indians, the lowest tribe, that is why the negro shared equally with the Indian in the division of land by the govern- ment. Jackson Barnett is the wealth- iest Indian in the world, his land has been a heavy producer of oil. He lives in a modest home just at the edge of the city. The funeral of a wealthy Ind- ian was taking place the day I left. The expenses aggregated $1700.00. He left $97,000 in bonds and an income of $600. a month. Two lawyers were given one forth of it for the colored widow. Ft. Gibson one of the oldest Army forts in the U. S. at the junction of the Grand and Ark- ansas rivers, and ten miles from Muskogee, is full of interesting and romantic history. There are seven buildings still standing, built of the native stone upon a high elevation, over-looking the two rivers and seeing Muskogee very distinctly in the distance. The material for these buildings was transported on the Arkansaw river. Jeff Davis lived here with his wife Betty Taylor. His house has been taken down and rebuilt in Muskogee for a dwell- ing. General Sam Houston lived here with his Indian wife Talahi- nar. She would not go with him to Texas so he married again. He became Governor of Texas, and his Indian wife is buried in the National Cemetery near Ft. Gibson. General Dewey was married here to Mrs. Commodore Hazen who was Miss McLean from Cincinnati. Henry M. Stanley was one of the early school teachers at this place. And Washington Irving wove much material into his book "Touring the Praires" from this section of the country. The spacious rooms and big fireplaces and the stables for the prancing steeds, suggest gay fes- tivities mingled with Southern hospitality in those early days. In connection with Ft. Gibson is a National Cemetery where 2500 are buried, and 2000 or more are unknown heroes. Billy Bowlegs and Black Top noted Indian Scouts lie in this cemetery. The state school for the blind in near Muskogee and although a small city itself, they need more buildings. Bacone University, a mission- ary school supported by the Bap- tist church is a very well equipp- ed institution of learning for the Indians. They say when it was first started the Rockefeller bor- rowed $10,000 and gave as a do- nation to the college. Rev. Weeks in the very popular pres- ident and has made several trips east to interview rich men and get large donations. The super- intendent of Indian affairs, Major Locke has been approved very large gifts by full blood Indians to this college and as conse- quence 2 million are to be spent in the next five years and it will be the largest school for the Ind- ians in the U. S.. Muskogee has the distinction of having more people studying the Bible today than any city of its size in the U. S. Last year the city spent one million dollars in new buildings and this year will double that amount. Della Trumbo Layport. ----