The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-26
ASTHMA CARRIED
OFF INDIAN SCOUT
Ben Summit Passed Away
Yesterday Afternoon.
WASFULL BLOOD CHOCTAW
And Took Active Part in War
of Rebellion.
BLOOD CHOCTAW

Ben Summit, full blood Choctaw In
dian died yesterday afternoon at three
o'clock at his home, 1247 Mead avenue
after six weeks illness with asthma
There are very few people who Go not
know this weakened old Indian who has
been a prominent figure on the streets
here for nearly twenty vars. When he
first came to Wichita Ben Summit had
long, flowing hair, black as a ravens
plumage and perfectly straight He was
of medium stature and wher he came
here he was straight as an arrow
but within the past few years he has be-
come stopped with age
Ben Summit was close to seventy years
of age. He was born in Louisiana on
lands then occupied by his tribe. He was
rather prepossessing Indian and was
taken In charge by white people who
gave him a fair education at that time
and it was through this training that he
HAS never rejoined his tribe or lived
with them on the reservations.
Attracted by the gaudy uniforms Of the
United States soldiers he joined the army
as scout when a very young man AMI
served for number of years before the
war of the rebellion and at the breaking
out of this war remained in the service
and rendered valuable aid during the
entire four years. For this service the
government rendered him a pension large
enough to support him and his wife and
give their son a first class education.
About nineteen years aso Ben Summit
and his family moved TO Wichita and
the greater part of t time they have
lived at the corner md avenue and
given good educ nd he was pro-
ficient enough in ! tidies TO pass
civil service exanlira II with credit and
is now a clerk in the Wichita postoflce
and one of its most efficient employees.
He is in the routing department.
AS a full blood Choctaw Ben Summit
would receive half section OF land. his
wife and son equal amounts of the reser-
walton in the Indian territory. Ben Sum-
NIT has talked great deal about this
fortune which was coming TO him and he
has spent a great deal of time and money
working on his claim before the Dawes
commission. He had selected his land
tc. he allotted TO him whenever the COM
mission should finally complete the work
OF allotting the lands to theh different
tribes
The Indian was a very affable and
friendly one with everybody. He would
stop total strangers on the streets and
tell them about his fortune In the terri
tory. He formed many acquantances in
this way and secured considerable aid
in rerfccting his claims before the COM
mission. lie was the friend of everyone
and mono can be found who would not be-
friend and aid this honest old Indian.
Every few months he would visit the re-
scrvation to see how his allotment was
was actting along and when he return ID
the story of his fortune was tosl with
added features.
BY III service with the federal army
during the war he became member II
the G. A. r. and during his residence
in this city was a member of Carried
post No. %, who will have services at
the funeral He never took a very active
part ir theh affairs OF the order especially
within the past few years as his heath
did net permit it but he was always
Interested in Grand Army affairs through
out the country
sorc few people were able to get Ben
Summit to talk of his past life but to
strangers re had only his fortune TO talk
about. He was a man with a history hut
~ trld little OF 1t. His wife has been
81 stricken with grief during the weeks
OF his las. serious Illness that she viii
not Q. cannot talk about her husbands
l'fe AMI has little TO say 10 anyone
The funeral will be held at the ho1.e
this rfternoon at three O'Clock CART ID
pest No. IS Will have charge of the
services.
Miss Louise Fuller and Amy Matthias
returned from Kansas City. Mo, yes
terday morning. having spent three
weeks at a wholesale millinery store
there. trimming and getting all of the
latest styles. preparatory to taking po-