Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-06-21
indian CROESUS
BUYS u. S. BONDS
Efforts TO Invest Entire For
tune In Liberty Loan.
STORY OF GREAT SUCCESS

Oil Discovered on Lands Allotted Him
by Government, and Money Pours
Eyes of Law and Gives Large Sums
to His Less Fortunate Tribesmen.
With nearly $S0o,O00 on deposit to his
credit In the United States treasury
and in dozen or more banks and with
a monthly income of nearly $4,000 de-
rived from oil lands in Oklahoma which
he owns, an income more than seven
times that of the president of the Unit
ed States, Jackson Barnett, siXty-three
years old, full blood incompetent"
Creek Indian, living near Henryetta,
Okla, through his guardian and by
the aid of the department Of the in
terror, sought some legal method by
which the greater part of his capital
could be invested in liberty bonds, says
a recent statement issued by the In
terror department
Rockefeller of the Indians. (
While Mr. Barnett in point of wealth
is the Rockefeller of the Indians III
the United States, it is a noteworthy
fact that fifty-six Indians of the Five
Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma, to which
he belongs, have more than $1,000 each
to their credit in the United States
treasury, many of these deposits far
exceeding that amount, and 347 have
more than $1,000 to their credit.
Barnett sprang into prominence q
few days ago when Carl ]. O'Hornett,
leading banker and capitalist of
Henryetta, Okla, guardian of the In
dian, telegraphed to Senator Robert L.
Owen of Oklahoma urging that steps
be taken by the United States authori-
ties to invest the greater part, if not
all, of Barnett's cash capital In inter-
est bearing liberty bonds. Senator
Owen at once communicated with Sec
retary Lane regarding the suggestion,
and the legal problems of the case are
now under consideration with view
of determining if the funds of incom-
petent wards Of the nation may be in
vested as suggested.
Barnett's Story.
The story Of Barnett and his rise to
wealth and national prominence is a
romantic one. The son Of Greek chief,
Barnett lived the life of a nomad of
the plains, fishing and hunting and
avoiding all contact with the white set
tiers who were slowly but surely en-
crOaching upon and driving the In
dians from their hunting grounds.
When Indian territory became Oklaho-
ma and the Creeks, Chicasaws, Choc-
taws, SeminOles and Cherokees, the five
civilized tribes, were allotted lands for
farming purposes in the eastern sec.
t1on Of Oklahoma, Barnett vigorously
opposed any movement on the part of
the government to improve his condi-
tion in life, but the government never.
theleSS proceeded to execute it's plans.
With other Indians of his tribe, Bar
nett was arbitrarily allotted parcel of
land in the district north of Tulsa,
which later was to become the famous
Gushing oil fields. Barnett indignant
ly refused to accept the land, which
nevertheless was allotted to him, he ex-
planning that it was fit only for coyotes
and jack rabbits to starve in and in
nOwfse suited to the requirements Of
an humble Indian whose sole desire was
to be left alone so that he might hunt
and fish and smoke at will
Oil Found on Land.
One day about 1905 oil was discover
ed in the vicinity of Barnett's land,
and few months later company of
eastern capitalists applied to the de-
partment Of the interior for long term
lease Of Barnett's allotment, which, it
was discovered, fairly exuded rich oil
throughout its length and breadth. In
due time the lease was executed, and
by its terms Barnett ever since has re-
ceived part Of the proceeds of the sale
OF oil from the wells on his property,
the money being deposited in national
banks of Oklahoma to his credit
With the stolidity of the men of his
race, Barnett displayed no enthusiasm
or interest at the official announcement
that the land he had spurned as use
less and upon which he steadily re-
fused to abide had become enormously
valuable and promised to make him a
multimillionaire. He declined from
time to time to accept a greater por-
ton OF his income than was required
to supply his humble needs. In sign
Ing receipts therefore he made his
mark, and, being unable to read or
write, he made no attempt to investi-
gate the state of his finances. He sell
dom spent more than $50 a month for
provisions, tobacco and other supplies,
and what was left he distributed cheer
fully among the less fortunate Indians
Of his tribe.
Pays Income Tax.
Reports to Secretary Lane on May
showed that Barnett had $755, 5,S93. .O6