Indian Pioner Papers - C.E. Lael

Submitted by Brenda Choate  bcchoate@yahoo.com
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C.E. Lael



Interview # 1237

Field Worker: Maurice R. Anderson

Date: May 3, 1937 

Name: Mr. C.E. Lael

Residence: Wynnewood, Oklahoma

Date of Birth: 1887

Place of Birth: Old Mill Creek, Chickasaw Nation, I.T.

Father:  Noah Lael, born in Mississippi

Mother: Lucy Harris, born in Chickasaw Nation, I.T. 





My father, Noah Lael, came to the Indian Territory in 1872.  

He first settled near Sulphur Springs, Indian Territory, in the 

Chickasaw Nation.  He carried the mail on horseback from old Fort 

Arbuckle, Indian Territory, to Gainesville, Texas. Later he worked 

on the old stage line from Fort Sill to Denison, Texas.

   

My father later owned the Three X Ranch.  His brand was three x's 

with the figure 5 on the right jaw. 



I don't know much to tell about, only what my father has told me.   

He had cattle ranging from Wynnewood to Atoka and I have heard him 

say in round-up time the cattle men around Wynnewood would go in 

together and each one would furnish so many men and a chuck wagon.  

They would round up a large bunch of cattle and cut out each man's 

brand and start them back home.  He said sometimes they would have 

some trouble about the calves.  They would watch what cows the 

calves went to and whose brand was on the cow, then it was his calf. 

 

As for cattle stealing, there wasn't much of that took place.  

My father said he knew of several families who had killed some of 

his steers.  The Negroes were the worst he said, to kill beef steers.



I have heard my father say that under the old Chickasaw Indian law 

you could only fence one square mile, as the rest was called public range. 

 

Father never dealt in cattle much until after the railroad went through.   

Then he shipped most of his cattle to Kansas.  I have heard him say 

corn fed steers would bring from four to five cents a pound.

  

My grandfather on my mother's side was Governor Harris.   He and 

Smith Paul (the Smith Paul that located Pauls Valley) brought a 

wagon train from Mississippi to the Indian Territory.  I have heard 

my grandfather say he and Smith Paul walked all the way.