Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-06-20
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 POUR
Into His Pockets-ls incompetent In
Eyes Of Law and Gives Large Sumo
TO HE Less Fortunate Tribssmsn.
With nearly $500, 600 on deposit to his
credit In the United States treasury
and In dozen or more banks and with
q 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
q recent statement issued by the In
terror department.
Rockefeller OF the indiana.
While Mr.. Barnett In point Of wealth
is the Rockefeller of the Indians IN
the United States, 1t Is a noteworthy
fact that fifty-six Indians Of the Five
Civilized Tribes OF Oklahoma, to which
he belongs, have more than 5000 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 a
few days ago when Carl J. O'Honett,
a leading banker and capitalist OF
Hen-yetta, 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, IL not
all, of Barnett's cash capital In inter
est bearing liberty bonds. Senator
Owen at once communicated with Sec
rotary 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
5arnest's Story.
The story of Barnett and his rise t.
wealth and national prominence is
romantic one. The son Of Creek chief
Barnett lived the life Of a nomad o.
the plains, fishing and hunting ant
avoiding all contact. with the white set
tiers who were slowly but surely en-
croaching upon and driving the In
dams from their hunting grounds
When Indian territory became oklaho
ma and the Creeks, Chicasaws. Choc
taws. Seminoles and Cherokees. the fiv,
civilized tribes, were allotted lands fol
farming purposes in the eastern sec
tion of Oklahoma, Barnett vigorousl,
opposed any movement on the part o
the government to improve his condi
ton in life, but the government never
theiess PROCEEDED to execute its plans.
With other Indians Of his tribe, Bar
nett was arbitrarily allotted parcel o
land in the district north of Tulsa
which later was to become the famou
Gushing oil fields. Barnett indignant
ly refused to accept the land, whicl
nevertheless was allotted to him, he ex
planning that it was fit only for coyote
and jack rabbits to starve in and II
nowise suited to the requirements
an humble Indian whose sole desire wa
to be left alone so that he might hun
and fish and smoke at will
Oil Found on Land.
40 <.u
ed in the vicinity of Barnett's lane
and few months later company o
eastern capitalists applied to the dc
partment OF the interior for long tern
lease of Barnett's allotment, which.
was discovered, fairly exuded rich OF
throughout its length and breadth. i
due time the lease was executed. an
by its terms Barnett ever since has re
ceived part OF the proceeds of the sal
of oil from the wells on his property
the money being deposited in nationa
banks of Oklahoma to his credit.
With the stolidity of the men OF hi
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 enormousl
valuable and promised to make him Z
multimillionaire. He declined from
time to time to accept greater por
ton of his income than was requires
to supply his humble needs. In sign
ing receipts therefore he made hi
mark. and. being unable to read o
write. he made no attempt to invest