Beckham County, OK - Obits: Chief Lone Wolf (Quo-Pah-ko), 1923 29 August 2008 Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) ********************************************************************* USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ********************************************************************* LONE WOLF (QUO-PAH-KO) (16 Aug 1923, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): CHIEF LONE WOLF VICTIM OF CANCER. Chief Lone Wolf, whose Indian name was Quo-Pah-ko, one of the best know and most influential Kiowa indians in Southwest Oklahoma, died at his home a mile and one half southwest of Hobart, Saturday morning about 9 o'clock from the effects of cancer of the liver. He was about eighty years old. Lone Wolf was a native of Oklahoma. He was born on the Arkansas River in the northern part of the state. His father had two wives, Al-koo and Same-kee. By one of these wives he had four sons, of which Lone Wolf was one. The other three were Spotted Bird, Jack Wolf and Black Turtle. Black Turtle is dead, but the other two are living in this county. Spotted Bird on his farm 3 miles southwest of Hobart and Jack Wolf in the vicinity of Rainy Mountain Mission, on Sugar Creek. He has one half-sister living. The deceased had only two children, Walter Lone Wolf and Sarah Lone Wolf, both of whom live in this county. Lone Wolf was one of the survivors of the Battle of Washita, in which General Custer surprised and overcame Black Kettle, chief of the Cheyennes. At that time he had hardly reached man's estate, but was old enough to bear arms. He also participated in the skirmish with U. S. Soldiers on Tepee Creek in this county. Later the whole Kiowa tribe surrendered to the federal government and were taken to Fort Sill. Among these Lone Wolf, who later joined the army, it is claimed and became a corporal. Lone Wolf did not come into prominence until 1901, when the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache reservation was thrown open to white settlement. He opposed the opening and sought to enjoin the government. However, he did not succeed in his effort but his suit brought his name before the entire country. He cheerfully acquieced (sic) in the judgment of the court and took upon himself the task of reconciling his band to the ways of the white man. When President McKinley was assassinated in 1901, and when the new town of Hobart gathered together to pay their tribute of respects to the departed chief, Lone Wolf was among the number. While he was unable to speak the English language fluently he manifested his great love for McKinley and deep sorrow at his untimely death. Since the opening of the country, Lone Wolf has lived quietly on his farm near town, but was not an unfamiliar figure on the streets of Hobart. He wore conventional white mans dress, including a black derby hat, kept his hair cut short and always looked neat and clean. In fact, he possessed a gentlemanly bearing and is said to have been very eloquent in his native tongue. Since 1901 he and Kiowa Bill, another influential Kiowa indian, have made four trips together to Washington on business matters for the tribe. He was received by Ex-President Wilson and the late President Harding. He had great influence with his tribe, and all looked to him for council and guidance. He professed Christianity about thirty years ago and joined the Baptist church. At the funeral the Indians chanted: "Our great leader is gone." Of course this is but a translation of the Kiowa utterance. - Hobart Democrat Chief. (Kiowa County, Okla.) --------------------------------------------------- Return to Beckham County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.html