The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-16
NEWSPAPER MANS ROMANCE.
How He Became Part and Parcel of
the ChoctaW Nation.

the Choctaw Nation.
Guthrie. o. T, Feb. Sd. c. Gideon,
well known in the Choctaw nation. tells
a peculiar story Of how he came in
possession of his ranch. Mr.. Gideon is an
ex-newspaper man.
Thirteen years ago he was working for
the GIobe-Democrat. He became tired
of newspaper work and concluded to
settle down and practice medicine at
Wagner. he having studied medicine
before going upon the road. Wagner
was then only a station on the NJ X
& T., with but one store, kept by Mr.
Davis. Gideon got considerable practice
but could collect no cash After remain
ing four OF five months he concluded 70
give up doctoring and go back to St
Louis. It was then Christmas time and
he had transportation to ST. Louis. which
the Globe-Democrat had given him, and
which was good until the first OF the
year. He was saddling the horse he had
borrowed for his practice to take it back
to its owner. preparatory to his departure
for st. Louis. when he was called upon
TO visit sick girl in camp near by.
He made the call, and found the girl
not seriously sick. AS they sat in camp
talking with her he learned that her
father was dead and that she was in
the care of a relative. It struck him that
if he were married and keeping house
he could collect some Of his accounts in
vegetables, chickens, pigs, etc, so he
proposed to the girl that they marry
upon a three months contract. The gin
consented, and in two hours from the
time he first met her she was Gideon 5
bride. He gave up his trip and Davis.
the storekeeper. fitted them out with
something TO eat and gave them two
chairs from his Htore-chairs without
backs. They fitted up an old stove that
an NJ K. & T. grading outfit had thrown
away.
Thus did Mr.. and Mrs. Gideon start in
life But they soon prospered and were
surrounded with comforts. After living
a couple of years at Wagner Mr.. Cid
con moved to ST Louis and again went
on the road for the Globe-Democrat. He
had. some months after marrying. dis
covered that his wife was a Choctaw, he
ing one-eighth Indian and seven-eighths
white AS the Choctaw lands became val
liable Mr.. Gideon concluded that it would
be best TO re-msrry in conformity with
the Choctaw laws, so that he as well as
the wife, might share in the distribution
Of tribal funds. They returned TO the
territory anG set about to get the en-
dorseplent of ten Choctaw Indians. They
were obtained, and the couple set ont
fifty niles across the country on horse
back TO secure license from the clerk of
the nation. When they arrived at their
n ri
clerk successor had been appointed and
that he lived fifty miles further across
the mountains. They continued their
Journey to the new clerk. Upon their ar
rival at the residence of the new clerk
they made known the purpose Of their
VISIT. The clerk looked at his copy of
The statutes, studied awhile and shook
his head. He did not think he had any
authority to Issue a license to persons
already married. The case was argued
for an hour or more, but the clerk was
obdurate. He stuck TO it that ne had no
authority to issue the license. While dis
cussiEg the case Mr.. Gideon spied a i'd
die slowed away under the bed. A
thought struck him. DO you play the
fiddler" he asked the clerk. yes, do
you play?" was the quick response. The
fiddle was brought out and Mr. Gideon
played everything he knew. The Indian
seemed greatly pleased and insisted upon
his continuing TO play. When the nusi-
Gale was over the clerk promptly an
nounced that he was ready to make out
Lthe papers. Mr.. Gideon accepted the IL
scense and signed the oath OF allegiance to
the Choctaw nation. The couple then
set out TO the preachers, three miles
away. He was at work shoeing a horse
when they arrived, and they were obliged
10 wait until the job in hand was fin
ished. The ceremony was performed by
the preacher IN his blacksmith clothes.
with his sleeves rolled above his elbows
o'clock before they were ready TO start
on their return journey, and they had
great difficulty in finding n place 10
stay over night.
As soon as Mr.. and Mrs. Gideon got
back to Durant they selected 1900 acres Of
the finest land in the nation. and at
once made preparations to improve IT,
Mr.. Gideon remained with the Globe
Democrat until two years ago. when he
quit the road TO look after his big farm
It IS worth s5Oooo now. and although not
fully improved is bringing the owners a
princely income.
Although the three months contract
was made in all earnestness. II was never
thought Of afterward except TO be laugh
ed about Neither Mr.. nor Mrs Gideon
has had occasion 70 regret the marriage
relation so hastily assumed.