The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-31
HER NAME
IS AGAIN
IN DISPUTE
When ''OkIahoma" Was First
Used.
APPEARS AS EARLY AS 1866
Colonel Van Horns Testimony
on the Matter.


been much speculation in Oklahoma and
| other places over the origin of the word
! Oklahoma It is a peculiar name and
/ the general accepted meaning is the
country Of the Red Men" OF THE Red
Mans Land" It is supposed to be a
/ Creek name but, however, that cannot
be substantiated. The name oklahoma"
when first heard Of was in a treaty be-
tween the United States and the Choc-
taw and Chickasaw tribes concluded
April %, 1866 The ratification of the
treaty was advised with amendments on
June g, 1866. and the amendments were
! accepted July 2. 1866 The name Oklaho-
ma is formed in section 10 of the treaty
| which provided for a government for
the Indian territory. To quote the words
Of the treaty, and it is further agreed
that the superintendent of Indian affairs
shall be the executive of the said terri
tory with the title Of Governor of the
Territory Of oklahoma and that there
shall be a secretary of the territory to
be appointed by the said superintendent,
! etc. Where this name was found or
who suggested it is not known, but one
thing is certain that according to the
treaty the whole of the Indian territory
was to be known as THE Territory of
! Oklahoma"
Colonel A. T. VanHorn Of Kansas City,
in answer to a letter from Sidney Clarke
of Oklahoma City gives a statement in
which he claims that the name was first
used in public documents in a bin intro
duced by himself in the 41st congress,
March e, 1863 This bin provided for
the consolidation Of the Indian tribes and
! an organization of a government, for the
Indian territory Sidney Clarke's letter
and the reply to it follows:
Oklahoma City, 0. r.. Feb IS, 1881
Hon. R. r. Van Horn, Kansas City, No:
My Dear Col: ] enclose herewith a
letter from Hon. A. c. Scott, president
of the Agricultural and Mechanical coll
lege Of the territory to Hon. w. N. Jen-
kins, secretary of the territory, relative
TO the origin of the word. oklahoma
You viii remember that we had some
conversation, when I last met you in
washington, in regard to the first bill
introduced in congress, providing for a
civil government here, Of which you were
the author. My recollection is that you
first made use Of the word. oklahoma"
in the bill you introduced. If convenient
for you to do so, L would be glad to have
you inform me in regard to the origin Of
the word oklahoma, which was finally
given 10 this territory and which is des-
tined to remain as the name Of the future
state.
] remember very well the time you in
PRODUCED the bill and the deep interest
YOU took in securing the establishment of
territorial government over all the old
Indian territory, including the present
territory of Oklahoma We were both
members Of the committee on Indian af-
fairs of the house of representatives at
that time, and I now recollect the long
and interesting debates in the house on
that subject. and how your bill was com
plicated on the question of jurisdiction
of the same between the committee on
territories. of which the now Senator
Cullum of Illinois, was chairman. and
our committee on Indian affairs.
With the kindest regards and best
wishes for your continued health and
prosperity, I remain as ever your sincere
friend, SIDNEY CLARKE
Kansas City, No, March d, 1901
Hon. Sidney Clarke. Oklahoma City O. T.
Dear Sir: Some time since you wrote
me a letter inquiring as to the origin Of
the name Oklahoma" as applied to your
now coming state, I was called away
from home before answering it, and now
on my return cannot find it, so as to re-
ply in detail to your inquiries. But / can
tell what ] know or remember:
The name was FIRST used in public doc
uments, i'm a bin introduced by myself in
the Forty-hrst congress. March o. 1863
being "a bill -or the consolidation of the
Indian tribes and the organization of
government for the Indian territory As
near as I can recall it. that was The title.
1t was referred to the committee on In
dian affairs. of which you were chairman
and Ia member. 1t was reported. print
ed and recommitted February Is. 1887.
reported back and debated, but congress
expired before fnal action.
This IS its history. and as I had charge
OF the bin during all its stages you can
rely on these facts They are IN the
Congressional Record
As TO the name itself: The active
friends of the bin outside the house were
Perry Fuller and Alexander Mcdonald.
foFmerlg OF x asas. but later senator
from Arkansas. After the BIN had been
drawn and it had been assigned TO ne TO
introduce. a name FOR the proposed terri
tory became necessary. The selection or
suggestion of name was assigned tn
colonel 3 s Boudinot. 81 course well
known n Won and an others connected
with Indian affairs az that time and for
many wears. Colonel Boudlnot was
Cherokee, an educated an5 accomplished
gentleman He selected the name ok
dahoma" and il was adopted and appears
ia the b-l referred 10 as the name II the
proposed territory Aud from that bil
the name was preserved for the territory
since formed and for the future state
OF these facts there Is ne doubt The
name drst appeared In that bill and wss
suggested hy Colonel Elas Boudluot-anG
So Tar IS history
As - IS meaning it was hv him given
as ethe country az the Red 3fsn or
Red Mans land -be the translation
literal or substantive. is only g thing x
pedantrv.
NJ recollection IS very distinct shst
Colaael BouGinot sai5 II was Greek
word sure am not mistaken iu this.
shoueh aot 50 absolute IS q che csher
facts-th.s depending upon memory. ths
other being - recar5
hepa THIS wl sid SOW in the
rou have In view an very tralT
you-s g. T. VAN HORN
uane Cslanrma ws mentioned
aac documents as early
vears q tfe prio~ to ,hl ct-
ned van dn w1h vas
asue rs rd Ea Aavsa ~
n wh1 was prepared u--
der aes ~ ana
17srch Is M
n Use soe-m rurs