The Colorado statesman., 1917-06-23
One of Uncle Sans Wards Has
Nearly $9oO.OOO Cash on
Deposit in Banks.
OIL BRINGS GREAT WEALTH
Red Man Shows Little Interest in His
Fortune and Seldom Draws More
Than $500 Month for
Expenses.

With nearly $SO0O00 on deposit to
his credit in the United States treas
ury and in dozen or more banks, and
with n monthly income of nearly $780,
600 derived from oil lands in Okla
homa which he owns an income more
than seven times that of the president
of the United States, Jackson Barnett,
siXty-three years old, n full-bood "in-
competent" Creek Indian living near
Henryetta, Okla, is the Rockefeller of
the Indians in the United States
Barnett sprang into prominence
when Carl j. O'Hornett, leading
banker and capitalist of Henryetta,
Okla, guardian of the Indian, tele-
graphed to Senator Robert l.. Owen
of Oklahoma urging that steps be
taken by the United States authorities
TO invest the greater part, If not ALL
of Barnett's cash capital in interest
bearing Liberty bonds.
The story of Barnett and his rise
to wealth and national prominence is
a romantic one. The son of a Creek
chief Barnett lived the life of nomad
of the plains, fishing and hunting and
avoiding all contact with the white set
tiers who We're slowly but surely en-
croachlng upon and driving the In
dianS from their hunting grounds.
When Indian Territory became Okla
homa and the Creeks, Chickasaws,
Choctaws, Seminoles and Cherokees,
the give Civilized Tribes" were al
lotted lands for farming purposes in
the eastern section of Oklahoma, Bar
nett vigorously opposed any move
ment on the part of the government to
improve his condition in life but the
government nevertheless proceeded to
execute its plans.
Spurns Land Allotted to Him.
With other Indians of his tribe,
Barnett was arbitrarily allotted par
eel of land in the district of Tulsa,
which later was to become thefamous
Gushing oil fields. Barnett indig-
nantly refused to accept the land,
which nevertheless was allotted to
him, he explaining that 1t was fit only
for coyotes and jackrabbits to starve
In, and in nowise suited to the require
ments of an humble Indian whose sole
desire was to be left alone so that he
might hunt and fish and smoke at
will.
One day about 1905. oil was dlscov-
cred IN the vicinity of Barnett's land
and a few months later a company of
Eastern capitalists applied to the de-
partment of the interior for a 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
executef and by its terms Barnett
ever since has received part of the pro-
ceeds of the sale of oil from the wells
on his property, the money being de-
posted in national banks of Oklahoma
TO his credit.
Pays $4,000 Income Tax.
Reports to Secretary Lane recently
showed that Barnett had $755, ,S93.06
deposited to his credit in various f.
nancial institutions. OF that sum
S115000 was on deposit in state and
private banks in Oklahoma drawing
d per cent interest, $456 400.74 in nine
national banks, drawing 3 per cent,
and $1S4, ,492.32 in the United States
treasury on which no interest is paid.
These deposits are increasing at the
rate of SAT 7,0S274 a month. Last year
Barnett paid an income tax of $4,000
to the government.
The least interested person in the
disposition of these funds is Barnett
himself. He seldom accepts more than
500 month of his income which is
paid him by his guardian through Gabe
e. Parker. the superintendent of the
Five Civilized Tribes, but on several oc-
casions he has accepted $125.