Indian Pioneer History Project William Scraper ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. <> Submitter: Catherine Widener (catz@kcisp.net ************************************************************************ INDIAN-PIONEER HISTORY PROJECT FOR OKLAHOMA INTERVIEW WILLIAM ‘BUSTER’ SCRAPER VOLUME 44 William Scraper 6612 Gus Hummingbird, Interviewer July 9, 1937 Interview with William Scraper Born: March 18, 1880 Tahlequah Father: Jesse Leaf Mother: Louisa Scraper William ‘Buster’ Scraper, a full-blooded Cherokee, was born at Tahlequah, Indian Territory, March 18, 1880. He was the son of Jesse Leaf and Louisa Scraper. William’s real name is Leaf, but his grandfather, Arch Scraper, took the boy when small and reared him. When he grew old enough to go to school, he was enrolled as William Scraper. Louisa married three times. William has five half-brothers, namely: Charley Sanders, Hugh, Monroe, Henry and Redcloud Scraper. EARLY TIMES Most of Buster’s early life was spent on a farm operated by his grandfather on what is now known as Scraper Hollow about three miles South of the present village of Christie, Oklahoma. The Scraper farm consisted of about forty acres, a large farm for that time. The principal crops were corn, oats, beans and other small grains. The Scrapers were considered wealthy people, so Buster had plenty of time to receive an education. Arch Scraper also owned plenty of stock. He was an old Civil War veteran, having served in both armies, the North and the South. EDUCATION At the age of seven, Buster enrolled at Whitmire School, which was located about three miles Southeast of what is now Christie, Oklahoma. He had to walk about three miles to get to the small log hut used for the schoolhouse. There were about twenty Cherokee children attended this school, among the old timers that attended this school was Steve Bailey, George Bailey, Josie Wofford, Getty Whitmire, John Watt and Jonas. Among the teachers of this school was, Mary Whitmire, the wife of Eli Whitmire and Ella Clyne who later married Frank Howard. Transcribed by Catherine Widener, 2002