The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-01-10


The sturdy settler from North Caro-
lima and Virginia with a nameless long
ling TO see and know what was west
of the huge mountain ranges. tnat shut
lon their western vision as the shades
lof night obliterate the day. moved
them as mighty winds break down all
barriers. and the waves OF the great
deep oyerwhelms every resistance.
they set out 10 meet and master that
unexplored region. They were men
well fitted for the task. They were
men Of powerful strength. wonderful
endurance. great determination, used
TO labor and privation. without fear
and undoabted confidence in them
selves.
1 They crossed the great Alleghanies
without roads; surveying routes with
their eyes: overcoming every obstacle
with pure nerve and obdurate will
ipower. Once they were over, they
found themselves among hills Of gi-
gantic forests. valleys of surprising
fertility; chrystal springs and spark
ling rivers. These virgin lands abound
ed with the choicest OF game. and the
streams of water we're alive with fish
and water fowl, They were beyond
the reach of civilization. No courts of
Justice held jurisdiction over them. No
church or creed was there to dictate
, their daily walk No marts of trade to
bring them the commonest necessities
of life No markets to receive the
fruits of their labor
Yet they subdued the forests. opened
farms, became law unto themselves,
built themselves homes. erected places
Of worship and courts of justice and
became a people so distinct that even
to this day they are class unique.
They were the freest of the free. Their
interests we're identical They work
ed as communities, log-rollings, corn
shucking, cuttings and muster days
were the events of their lives. There
were few preachers and no doctors,
politicians were unknown. Peace. har-
mony good viii and health was the ex-
Ipected. A stranger was a wonder and
welcomed as an angel of old
Their sons and daughters embibed
these sturdy qualities and the would-Be
dictator among those hills even to this
day has a thorny road to travel
For more than century they were
surrounded by these physical barriers
Rude implements manufactured by
their own hands was all they had with
which to fell the forests, to build their
farm improvements. to erect mills for
grinding grain, or saving lumber Wa
gons at first were unknown; rude sleds
and lizards we're their vehicles for
hauling.
They carried their grain to the mill
on their shoulders, and later as they
became wealthier on horseback A
homemade rifle was one of their
greatest earthly treasHrers and was
their daily companion, With it they
secured their meats, protected their
homes and held the beasts of prey in
Their customs were sim
pie Their dress was coarse The men
farmed after their manner and hunted
in winter The women spun wool and
cotton thread ard knit and woye
cloth The men were ehivilrous and
the women ehaste There were no idle
rich, nor fakirs, and the annals Of his
tory has failed to show any great Grim
inals among their descendants. How
ever they have given to the world the
names of men of every honest calling
that will brighten the pages of history
for centuries to come
For instance who is not familiar
With such names as the Lees. Shields.
Johnsons, SEWERS and
host cf others?
There are lessons in these sectional
and frontier times that might be
studied with benefit even by this gen.
eration CAPT. G. S. WHITE.