Mexico weekly ledger., 1908-09-03
mRs.H. P. WARDEN IN OKLAHOMA

MRs.H. P. WARDEN IN OKLAHOMA
Interesting Communication From
Former Resident Of This City
Concerning Some Matters
Of Note In the New State
Seminole Indians
and customs
Seminole, Okla.
r. II. White, Editor. Mexico. Nc.
Dear SIR
Sitting on the sporch this afternoon
at the home Of my niece, Mrs. ]. r.
Simpson, two Indians rode by on their
ponies One was large and portly or
to be more accurate, big and fat and
wore on bis head two hats. Ny
nephew told me he bore the euphon-
ions ccgnomen of Billie Hogmeat.
At once the thought arose, to write
the Ledger some Of the interesting
things l have seer here in the old
Indian Territory.
Almost every day since my arrival
Sudie and l with little Alberta tucked
in between US have taken a drive over
the smooth roads leading ont from
Seminole.
A few days ago we visited the Me-
kesnkey Mission about three miles
west Of Seminole.
This is the school for the Seminole
Indian boys, supported by the govern
ment. The girls school is about ten
miles east OF us and is called Emma
hocka, meaning house OF learning. |
have been unable to find out the
meaning OF Mekesnkey.
Last year there we're ninety boys
ranging In age from three to eighteen
years. Uncle Sam provides free Of
charge board and books but not
} clothes.
This school was built twelve years
ago, the material for Its construction
having been hauled fifty miles, that
being the distance then to the nearest
railroad. IL has its W electric Light
plant and water works system.
The eight grades are taught, also mus
ic and the boys have a fine brass band
The building is an imposing, three
, story, red brick structure, the archi.
lecture is attractive and the location
ideal.
From the long galleries on the first
: and second floors the views are beauti'
full beyond description. On top OF the
building is an observatory where look
ing over the tree tops inc can see the
country for miles in every direction,
1t is a series Of fluctuations, the val
} legs green with cultivated crops Of
cotton and corn the crest of each wave
drowned with tall prairie grass Oh
strips Of timber. The view Is fasci-
mating and a more beautiful country
, for the homeseeker Is difficult tt
imagine.
This country Of Seminole is not al
fully settled by whites as many other
parts and many Indian customs still
prevail. A large part OF the Indian
territory Is timbered, and q fast as II
is cleared for cultivation the INDIAN
retire farther into the woods. The
homes Of the full bloods are located
remote from the public roads, and The
trails leading to them are sometimes
Z too difficult for vehicle to follow.
To-day my nephew, J.. r. Simpson
|, invited me to 20 with him to look
3 after some real estate about six mile
!. In the country.
Business over, he made q detouI
leaving the main travelled roads ant
driving over Others little better thar
trails, and crossing watercourses wherl
the banks we're almost perpendicular
His well broken and sure footed
horses would go straight down snt
then we would go straight up on th,
other side.
We were now In Wewoka Rivel
bottom. From the soil rank weedI
grew with almost tropical luxuriance
Deer, wolves and even wild caC are al
home in these woods and / took com
fort In the athletic build Of my SIX
foot nephew. This Telling was ,empha'
sized at the next ford, "The Dead Ped.
dlars'', where two peddlars had been
murdered and robbed.
Occasionally we would come to a
small clearing with a field Of corn.
The Indians break up the ground In
the spring with a pillow and plant their
seed and nature does the rest
Their houses are built OF logs. Some
Of the newer ones have the logs hewed
square and are built trim and exact
The only opening is a door, meyer a
window. They cook out OF doors. At
one place vas a very old Indian man
said TO be a hundred and fifteen years
old.
At another there were two neat
looking log houses 10 one yard in
which the owners two wives dwelt
seemingly in perfect harmony as they
we're sitting together out In the yard
when we arrived.
Farther on we stopped to speak to
an Indian half Breed. After a short
conversation he, In excellent English,
courteouslY invited US to visit bis lit
tie cabin q short way back from the
road. 1t was q small one room log
house with an out side chimney built
oistIcks and mud. No window only 3
door.
| We entered, and them bad the sur