Indian Pioner Papers -      N.C. Hardage

                                

Submitted by  Brenda Choate  bcchoate@yahoo.com 


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                    Garvin County Indian Pioneer Papers
                                      
N.C. Hardage



Interview #9750

Field Worker: Robert H. Boatman

Date: January 13, 1938

Name: Mr. N.C. Hardage

Residence: Lindsay, OK

Date of Birth:  June 22, 1876

Place of Birth: Arkansas

Father: 

Mother: 





Early day experiences in Indian Territory



I came to the Indian Territory at the age of twelve years, in the year 

1888, coming from the state of Arkansas.  I was born in Arkansas, June 22, 

1876.  We traveled from Arkansas to the Territory by wagon and ox teams.



Many hardships were endured by the early white settlers of the Indian Territory, 

especially was it so with the people who wished to be law-abiding citizens.   

There were very few white people in this country and they were generally known 

as "floaters" and horse thieves who wouldn't even tell their names.



When we first settled in the Territory, it was at or near the place where 

the town of Durant is now.  At that time, in 1888, all that the town of Durant 

contained was one small store, a cotton gin and a box car depot.  The country 

was all open range of the finest grassland known to man.



In 1888 a herd of ten thousand head of cattle was driven across that country 

from the northern part of the Chickasaw Nation and was owned by Boy Pibas, 

an intermarried man of the Choctaw Tribe.   These cattle were driven over an 

old trail that was sometimes called the old Chisholm Trail.  There were no 

roads nor bridges and all travel was done just by direction or over some old 

trail that had been made either by some earlier herds being driven across the 

country or by some Indian hunters.



The Indians hunted at certain seasons of the year over a very large territory 

and often would blaze a trail that would be more easily followed on their 

return trip.  After they had finished their hunting expedition, this trail 

was more likely to be picked up by travelers.



I have had many business dealings and experiences with the Indians of early 

days, mainly the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes and these two tribes were always 

very friendly and honest in all business dealings and when once a white man had 

gained the friendship of an Indian he was the best friend a white man had ever known.



Horse thieves became so numerous that an organization was formed known as the 

Anti-Horse-Thief Association, and a spy at one time was placed near Red River 

to watch for them.  The horse thieves ran up on this spy, killed him and his 

horse, then threw them both in the river.  They also killed another watchman 

who was posted on the Washita River near old Fort Washita, and here they hanged 

him to a limb.



Later began the advancement of civilization in the Indian Territory.   More 

people came and began the development of  agriculture, erecting homes, at 

first log cabins.  Towns began to spring up and people gradually outlawed 

the rustlers to a very great extent.

  

I now live at the same place where I have lived for the last eighteen years, 

at a place sixteen miles west of Purcell.