The Washington times., 1905-03-05
WHERE STANLEY
TAUGHT SCHOOL
Oldest Building in Indian
Territory.
CHURCH At FORT GIBSON
Historisc Society VIII Get Hold OF
Building and Make it
Museum.

GUTHRIE. Okla, March 3.-An effort is
f,esup made 10 preserve the "old church
on the hIlTsa at Fort Gibson, the oldest
nssllding indian Territory It was
the Old h11BEz4son church at Fort Gibson
during The early days. and was after
ward used as a schooihouse, with Henry
M. Stanley as the teacher The Terri
torial Historical Society will get pos
sessien OF the building. If possible, and
,,se it for a historical museum.
This building has been occupied con-
.inuously since 1882. General Hazen
v.Tiie residing there was married and
brought to the fort his bride, Miss Nc
Lean OF Cincinnati, now the wife of
ADMIRAL George Dewey she occupied
rfsoa hfL She was great horsewo-
man ana used TO hunt with her ht1s-
band over the prairies and Mills along
the Arkansas and Grand rivers.
Rich in Historic Lore.
Fort Gibson is rich in historic lore.
Settled soon after the louisiana pur-
chase. q military post was established
there in 1919 Many notable men have
lived ti1erse-sorne now resting IN tne ma ma
tionaI cefnetery, about q mile from the
old fort. where 2.456 soldiers are buried,
and where may be seen the names Oh
soldiers, scouts. and warriors VINO fig7
rred In border and indian warfare.
among the number is The Seminole
chief, Billy Bcwlegs. who fought with
OsceoIa at the battle Of WaEioo swamp,
where General Dade was killed and the
American troops were routed. Aftes
the 1reac herous capture Of Osceola:
BawIegs ieaned the American army and
received the rank of captain
Among the United States officers who
<.sssnrranded at the fort were Zachary
Taylor and Jefferson Davis Mrs M j:
Ross. wife of ex-Chief W. F Ross, OF
sha Cherok pc Nation. was well acquaint-
ed with Miss Betty Taylor before she
married Davis. who at that time was
only q lieutenant
Houston Lived There.
Another rsoted character who lived at
the fort was Gen. Sam Houston. His
tory records that he resigned the gov
erraorsflip of Tennessee. left his newly
married wife. went West and Joined the
cherokees- He lived several years at
Fort Gibson. assuming sle Indian garb
of that time. He resided for a time with
Chief Johnny cake, near the Arkansas
river, below the old fort. He was both
feared and fsonored by the Cherokees.
who admired him for his learning and
Nof long after his arrival at Fort Glib
son he married Tallfhina Rogers, a beau
ttfti Cherokee maiden, with whom he
lived until hrs departure for the war in
Texas in 1892
10 Fort Gibson, and Gems. Robert E.
Lee and Geosyse B. Mcclellan were also
there on tours OF inspection. Colonel
Coppinger commanded at the fort where
he was visited by James G. Blaine, his
father-in- law. who was i'll for about six
weeks In the big stone house.
stanIey's Subscription School.
stanley at oae time taught a subscrip-
sien school at kF1e fort, occupying the old
building.
Ia 1876 the poet Longfeliow on a tour
Of the West. visited Fort Gibson by way
Of the Arkansas aad Grand rivers. Next
year appeared the most loved or his
poems. "EyangeEine." where scenery in
the vicinity OF FsortsGibson is graphically
described