The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1893-11-10
MRS. DOLLY ALsoBRooK.
A Reminisoence That will be Read with
Great Interest.
Huntingdon Democrat

cradle and intelligent old lady now resid-
ing at Camden, and widow OF the late
Lewis Dickson AlsobroOk, successful
and distinguished Indian trader, away
back in the 40's, on being interviewed by |
a friend at her home in Camden, gave the
following "reminiscences:
81 was born in Dickson County Novem !
Der IA. 1915, and was married in Frank
lin County, Ala, to L. D. Alsobrook on
November 8, 1887. Mr.. Alsobrook was
then in the mercantile business. Some
years before we married he had been en-
gagged in business with one Pittman Col
bert Ia three-lourth Indian) as an Indian
trader among the Choctaw and Chckasaw
Indians, a considerable number of whom
then lived in North Alabama. In 1871,
] think it was, these Indians ratified a
treaty with the United States, under which
they were Immediately removed to the
Indian Nation, west Of Arkansas. In
February, 1871, we removed to Doaks-
vile, in the Choctaw Nation, which is
located mile from Fort Towson. Fort
Towson was then galrisoned by United
States troops, and was beautifully located
on hill From our town we could every
day hear the brass band which rendered
government airs to perfection. Our asso-
Citations were mostly with the military
officers and their wives and with mission
aries. We had our religious and moral
societies there and acted as president of
one, and visited the missionaries for 30
miles around. These missionaries repre-
scented the Presbyterian Methodist. and
Baptist churches.
Mr.. Alsobrook's business was at Fort
Towson, where he was partner in trade
with Major Colbert. / think he had a
one third interest in the mercantile estab-
lishment We continued to live there
about ten years. The trading was prin-
cipally with the Indians. Mr.. Alsobrook
was also editor and proprietor of the Choc-
taw Intelligeucer, a newspaper which he
published at Doaksville, one half in En-
J glish and the other in Indian language.
| have yet considerable number OF these
papers. He seemed to think it duty tc
educate the Indian mind and to advance
as much as possible the red mans char
acter and social conditions. He was very
popular with the Indians, was a stric
business man, and his business was high
ly profitable. We never had any trouble
with the Indians, They were honorable
I and would stand up to theiS contracts
} Mr.. Alsobrook used to say they would
, ride 100 miles to pay dollar, They wert
a good-hearted people, and when the!
were friends they were true, but if enrag
ed they were savage. We always treatet
them kindly, and they were kind in re
turn. l did not myself associate witt
r them much, but learned to understand
them and could talk some in the IndiaI
: dialect. They called my husband Parish
Homa,' Seemed to get things backward
The Indian language is backward Ian
4 guage. Parsha means hair, and Hon
r red. They called me 'Awaa, and mean
his wife. In Choctaw language Red Riy
er means is Bogue Homa. Indian me
!, will not work. They make the wome
q work, but really do but little. The me
hunt, and they used to go on hunting e1
cursions as far as the Wichita Mountains
"When we went to Fort Towson it wa
|, beyond the white settlements, some fit
g miles from tue Arkansas line. But theI
v were churches among the Indians, an
they worshiped with the missionarie
, about after the same manner that we wo
Q ship. Crime was very uncommon anon
y these people at that time. They had L
It whisky--were not allowed to have tan
v l heard but little of crime, and felt I
. more danger there than do here. IhaN
stayed there for weeks at a time by m.
self when my husband was gone on tra'
/ ing expeditions and did not think OF b
= ing afraid, though / had some close neig
y bors. When Mr.. Alsobrook would 90 c
10 he always gave me plenty Of money fr
ID quently quart of gold and silver, and
l. would just put it in my trunk and som
m times go off and stay ali night and lea
it there. / didn't think of such thin
~ as it being stolen, and it never was. II
Ill Indians would sometimes come to o
as door when | was alone and say Hung
al fena, Parsha Homa, bob a shelie, viii
tv interpreted signifies that they were hu
: CRY and were bob shelies, or FRIEND
" Of Red Hair (Mr. Alsobrook). won
always hand them out something to ei
p for which they would manifest gre