The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-07-08
INDIAN KILLED
At FORT GIBSON
YE Ar 6 A c D
WORE A WASHINGTON MEDAL,
WHICH is NOW IN POSSESSION
OF WOMAN AT RAVlA, EAST OF
THIS CITY

Mrs. Pauline Leeper of Ravia, Ok.
lahoma, mother OF l.. y. Leeper of
this city, whom she is visiting at
their home, 500 ID street, southeast.
has in her possession a media! clip
tical in shape, made of solid silver,
three and one-half inches long and
two and one-hglf incnes wide, that
! possesses historic value.
On one side of the medal to the
right is a picture of George Washing.
ton. On the lef, margin is the picture
Of an Indian in full war regalia. To
the right and the rear OF the Indian
Is fallen tomahaWk, in the back.
ground is farmer plowing with oxen,
and further in the distance can be
seen the cabin Of the farmer, and
underneath all is the date-1792
On the reverse side of the medal
is the national emblem, the American
spreadeagle with the stars repre-
senting the number of the states then
in the union
To whom this medal was given is a
mystery. How the Indian came in
possession of it will probably remain
another one. When asked how she
came into possession of the medal.
Mrs. Leeper recounted that her hus-
bands brother lin Leeper, and an
other brother, Hiram together with a
Mr.. Stoddard, end one or two Con
federate soldiers, We're near Fort
Gibson, Indiar Territory, in 1864.
when an Indian emerged from an old
hut and opened fire upon them. They
returned the fire, and the Indian fell
dead. He was dressed in the regu-
lation Indian fashion, decked in war
paint and feathers and around his
neck this medal The soldiers stripped
him OF his war iegalia and the medal.
and in the division it fell to John
Leeper who kept it until his death,
which occurred the latter part of the
same year. At his request the medal
was sent to Mrs. A. j. Leeper, who
died at Marietta, Oklahoma, in 1892. |
At her death the medal was present
ed TO Mrs. Pauline Leeper, VINO re.
sides at Rayia, Oklahoma
This medal is a valuable relic if |
someone could only find out to whom
it was originally given but there is
lapse of silence of Y years between
the time the medal was stamped and
1t was taken from the Indian, who
was a Union sympathizer, killed near
Fort Gibson.
Who was this Indian: was he a
Cherokee or Creek? There are per-
haps few old Indians living who
might tell a story of the medal should
they be given the opportunity Of see
ing it, though it has been out of the
hands OF the Indians for more than
half century. Perhaps there lies
hidden with the granting of this
medal story of promises, a treaty
with some swarthy chieftain and his
people, Re to drop the tomahawl, for
ever to work the oxen and TO live in
a cabin on the hillside, which prom
ise perhaps. he never broke, but.
alas, when the white men began to
war, this descendant remained true to
the great rather at Washington whose
picture was cut upon the medal, seiz-
ed his weapon and went forth to
battle for his principles, trusting. with
Implicit faith, in the potency of the
brilliant medal tnat covered his heart I
His zeal was better than his judg. {
ment. his aim was unsteady, he miss /
ed his mark ard in return received
he ball from Jim Leeper's gun I
through his Lead killing him in /
,tantly. |
Many who are familiar with the {
story aver that the Great Father" G
It Washington should commemorate /
his Indians loyalty, erect monu-
nent to his memory, whoever he was,
md secure the medal, if possible for r
he historical society. Put who was S
his Indian? you ask, and to those v
who are most familiar with the story :
If the medal you ask in vain. No one q
seems to know who he was or where
lie came from. Somewhere in Indian
legendary lore there is a good story
t ii could be obtained
One thing is sure The loyalty OF
he Indian can not be questioned. He
aw what he deemed enemies to his
country approaching. and counting
lot odds or numbers boldly attacked
nd paid the price for his bravery.