The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-01
FORT GIBSON, |. 7.
WILL Be CAPITAL
TOWN THAT HAS HISTORY DAT
ING FROM 1918.
Some Of the Most Famous Men and
Some Of the Most Notorious Have
Been Visitors or Residents Of Okla
homa Town and Army Post.

Fort Gibson, I. T.-This town, the
oldest in the territory and the richest
in historic and legendary lore, will be
me me- for separate e statehood wins. The
constitutional convention at Muscogee
decided on Fort Gibson as the capital.
1t Is on the Grand river and two miles
from the Arkansas river, in the Chero-
kee nation. Population and business
interests are small because the Chero-
KEGS for years did everything possible
to keep the white man out.
It has been the abiding place Of some
of the most noted men and the most des-
perate outlaws in the country. j. 8.
Holden, who edits a local paper, knows
"Thig is the oldest town in the terri
military post established in 1873;
here. was Zachary Taylor, afterward
president. and Jefferson Davis, who be-
came president of the confederate
states. When Davis was a lieutenant
he eloped with Bette Taylor, daughter
, OF Zachary, and they were married in
story log house until Davis was called
to service in the Mexican war, where
he achieved distinction. General Robert
| =. Lee. General Albert Sidney Johnston,
General Scott, General Mcclellan and
others who were distinguished in the
civil war came here on tours Of in
spection. II .s'aS
"Henry, M. Stanley, African explor-
er, taught school here, and the building
where he presided over the rising gon-
GRAFTON is still one of the landmarks.
General HaZen, while residing here,
married Miss Mclean of Cincinnati,
who a few years ago became the wife
of Admiral Dewey. ,....
flames G.. Blaine was visitor here
and spell Of illness prolonged his stay
ton Irving wrote his sTales Of TRAY
eler' in tent Just outside Of the pa
rade grounds: In lS4s Longfellow came
and much of the scenery hereabout is
described in tEvangeline.'
General Sam Gibson was long a
resident Of Fort Gibson. Here he, mar
RED Tahilhina ROBBERS, a beautiful Cher
okee. She died in 1882 ,
the local cemetery was the Seminole
Chief, Billy Bowlegs, who fought will
Osceola at the battle of Wahoo Swamp
where. General Dade was killed and the
American troops were routed.
From the notables, Mr.. Holder
!, branched off to the notorious Chero
kee Bill, whose blood was a mixture O:
) y. ~ HoSic dno OneioAes, neauS tn'
list. He shot men for tho fun Of kill
7 ing, and robbed stores at will.
"A lively person named Proctor one,
7 lived here. They arraigned him for tria
eighteen years ago in IN Indian court
, The proceedings were interrupted b,
some shooting. Eleven mel were killed
$ including the Judge, two :iurymen and
: deputy marshal. Eight OF the death
! were credited to the skill of Mr.. Proc
3 tor. r~ s
: Eight murders were committed in
l single week in the Cherokee Nation
The Indian courts were lenient with tn
Shooters. however, and only fourteen
, were executed, in all their existence.
: "Bill' Cook and his gang accom-
! influence of the Fort Smith Chamber o
I Commerce. They forced the Fort Smitl
4 and Cofeyville railroad to run da,
: train. Cook made the night trips s.
! dangerous that a change of schedul
d became necessary. Cook was captures
: in 1895, after 5O0-mile chase and sen
: fenced to forty-fve years in the peni
! The Dalton brothers hourished. her
g until 1892, when they attempted tn
: robbery of two banks at Coffeyville
n Kan, in daylight. Three brothers an
: two assistants were in the enterprise
8 All were killed by Coffeyville citizen
b ! except one Of the brothers. He wa
y captured and sent to the penitentiary
e ssJim'' French, who died with hi
boots on, and "Belleo Starr, a woma
E desperate, who could ride better an
e shoot quicker than any man in the tel
ritory, lived in Fort Gibson. scor
!. of lesser lights, who stole horses, pi
+ LACED stores and committed murder
y fourished for a brief time and wer
!, shot in regular order or sent to tn
: penitentiary.
They have no successors. Fort Gil
son is now the center of a peaceful re
gion.