The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-12-08

'hS WAL Many llNllllCu anu ShCu bll
an existence by aimessly drifting
around. But not so with Johnson
He was healthy and robust and h
knew somebody needed his service
and would pay for them. He didn'
look around for soft snap, bu
from absolute necessity TOOK tn,
first thing that presented itself,
This happened to be the job o
driving the mail route from Cadd'
to Anadarko where he stayed Ion;
enough to get on his feet so that h'
could cast about for something bet
ter. Since coming south to Texas
about forty years ago, he had beer
in the employ of cattlemen as a COW
puncher so naturally his inclination!
still leaned in that direction In tn,
year of 1885 he entered the employ
of Williams and Murray, large cat
tie raisers, at an Indian camp ther
known as Elm Springs. later a
Erian Springs and now goes by the
name of Lindsay. at salary Of 81:
a month.
1t didn't take his employers long
to recognize the value of his serv-
ices, however. and as a result his
salary was steadily increased until
it reached SIPS a month. He was like
the rest OF the knights of the prairie.
Had no thought OF saving for a>-y
definite purpose except for a wha!-
ing good time when they took few
days off. In those days. Gainesville,
Texas, was the nearest point for
but the boys chose Denison,
Texas, for the jambories ior it Of
cred more inducements for the roy
II good times that they always look
ID forward to when their bank roll
lad attained large enough propor-
ions to permit OF cutting loose.
There came a day Of awakening,
to this man who had that
treak of practicability that was
pound sooner or later TO predom-
nate. Seriously he took an invoice
VI his past happy-go-lucky mode OF
wing. His memory ran back to the
lays when he as a mere lad in New
Orleans he entered the employ of a
orse and mule concern. how he
made good in swapping these ami
nails and assembling them for shhip-
nent through the states of Louisi-
ma. Mississippi and Arkansas and
ow he drifted to Texas and later
o Oklahoma (then the old Indian
'erritory) always able to make
wing but never able to acquire the
aving habit.
Decided to Settle Down
He realized that soon he would
ct old and that it was question of
eing either dependent or independ
ut. He decided that he needed some
ne for whom he would be respon-
Bile, so he decided that the only
)lution of the whole matter would |
2 to get married.
In 1886 he was married to Emily |
rown, daughter of Hepsie Brown,
old Mill Creek, Tishomingo .
ounty, Indian Territory, who was
Chickasaw Indian. His wife has
zen a great help to him during his
'entful experiences and to her is
lie to a great measure, the success
at has resulted from their COM
ned efforts. When he found the
dy of his choice, Mr. Johnson did
1t have enough money for the Ii
nse, but nothing daunted, he bor-
wed the money to procure the Ii
nse and set out to build a home.
Their first house was built OF
gs that he cut and were packed on
e backs of Mr.. Johnson and
gro boy that he had helping him.
e did not have money enough to
" lumber for u door shutter so
anket was brought into use for
is purpose. He gave up his row.
2 habits and decided that the place
r a married man was at home, so
turaily he quit the cattle game
d the work OF rail splitting was ,
zen up. This method OF fencing
IS then first being introduced. ,
lis he worked at diligently with
rtner for some time. Some days
c output Of these two was as
lch as 800 and $50 rails per day. {
later he moved to claim in the
which he afterward trad !
for horses and cattle and finally /;
tied at Milo where the outlook {
5 more to his liking and the :
ought OF permanency thoroughly
tied in his mind. .
Pioneer Experiences. G
His experiences during these try II
: days would make good subject t
tier for a book of most thrilling a
ton. He set at once to clearing
d in order to be able TO raise
ps and feed for his livestock. Day {
and day out, rain or shine, Sun n
, and Monday and way into the p
hit, he kept everlastingiy at it. n
ne times he lost all track of the Il
IS. Always with the one thought Il
his mind, that OF establishing G
ne for himself and his family. r;
It that time the country was over t.
by Indians, illiterate negroes. e
whisky peddler and the out 5;
and If was a constant viUii IN