The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-07

! OIL or gas 1t was water that he want
ed, and water was found some few hun
dred feet from the former hole.
{ Since the oil discovery IN the Creek
nation al Red Fork, Governor Brown
{ has been much interested in the oil ques-
ton, and it would not be surprising if a
well was drilled near the site Of the hole
which was dug in a search for water.
Some Of the sand taken from the we'll
was sent 10 experts in Pennsylvania, and
it was sent back with the statement that
there was undoubtedly a good quality of
petroleum in the Seminole nation.
Governor John F. Brown is one OF the
interesting characters of the Seminoles.
He is ffty-eight years of age. and for
years has been the principal chief of his
tribe. He is a man with wonderful brain
power. He will tell you that his early
education was limited, but after a CONVEX
sation with him, you are inclined to doubt
his word. It would be appropriate to call
him the Father Of the Seminoles, so
much has he done for his people. He has
been tireless in his work for the Seminoles
and as a result of this labor the nation
is in a. better condition financially than
any other Indian nation in the Indian
=
sight, and there are very few Of them
outstanding at the present time.
The Brown home at Sasakwa is
model of comfort. The home is seventeen
miles from Wewoka, right in the heart of
the Seminole land. Tt has large lawn
TO the front of it and surrounding it. The
house is a large one, with comfortable
porches, having easy chairs scattered
here and there. Large trees are scatter
ed over the lawn, and a more delightful
place would be hard TO find. The interior
of the house is wei arranged. The fur
niture is heavy and splendid. A piano in
one room denotes that music plays a part
in this Seminole home. The upper rooms
are arranged for the comfort Of the in
mates, and as a matter Of fact this
home reminds one of a hotel, so com
plete is the furnishings. Governor
Brown has a store near his home. In
few weeks this store will be moved 10
the Frisco line, which runs through the
reservation. A large store building is
being erected at a cost of $4,000. 1t is
of brick and stone, with a large base
ment. The station is called Sasakwa, and
Governor Brown viii be the principal
merchant of the town In addition to
having a store at this station, Governor
Brown has a half interest in the Wewoka
Trading company's store at Wewoka. He
has other interests, and the lowest esti-
mate of his wealth has been placed at
$50 900. Whether this amount is correct
or not is hard TO say, but one thing is
sure-that Governor John T. Brown is
not a poor man by any means.
There are splendid opportunities in the
nation for progressive men. Not
only are there chances to make money
in the agricultural and stock-growing in
dustries, but the time viii come when the
natural resources Of the reservation will
lie developed and some men with money
TO push the thing along viii make money
Another thing is sure. however, that the
Seminole nation has acres Of the best land
in the Indian territory, and within the
next few years hundreds of people viii
be planning TO make that country their
home. The land win raise anything The !
Indians and negroes at the present time
are raising cotton and corn with fair
success. and if good crops are secured
now with the meager equipment FOR Gull /
tivation. what would be the result if the I
progressive American farmer with his
experience takes that land and begins a
systematic cultivation for the producing /
of crops?