The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-02-19
Old Ft. Gibson Trail
Picturesque Highway
In Territorial DAYS

cidents. some of them possessing the
attributes OF romance, some Of trag-
edy and pathos.
After leaving the scenes Of the old
Park Hin locality the trail wound
through lowlands and groves OF trees
until the high prairie ridge was
reached on which was built some
Is years ago the Cherokee institu-
tion for the care of the helpless and
feeble minded. now q portion OF the
Cherokee Orphan Training school
conducted under the care of the
government of the United States.
Several miles of high prairie land
stretched westward from tho big
ridge and then after reaching the
big Calamus pond, the dence wood
lands were reached. After entering
the woodlands other homes were
passed. There was the place where
the famous Cherokee warrior and
chieftaln Mai. George Lowrey, lived
after he had removed to tho Indian
territory from the old nation within
the boundaries OF the state OF Gcor-
gia. Also. on Il high eminence, with
gigantic trees all about was the old
fashioned house, long occupied by
Joseph Coodcy. a real pioneer Of tho
Cherokee nation. Born in 1870, Coo
nation, was ever after identified with
its interests and became one OF it's
most notable men. Two of his
daughters married officers of tho
United States army, while his son
became one OF the most famous
statesmen Of the Cherokoes during
the early forties OF the last century.
and today is known as the author Of
the constitution OF the Cherokee
nation. Beneath a heavk monument,
carved with great care from mas
sive blocks OF grey limestone the
dust OF this old pioneer and his wife
lies near their former home on the
hill side.
Some miles beyond the former
home of the Coodeys there flows a
stream which has borne for perhaps
full century the name OF the Bayou
Menard. The old trail once passed
very near the brink of a high bank
beneath which the dark blue waters
could to seen as they flowed beneath
the overhanging willows. Close be-
side the road there were TO be seen
some loose stones of seVral pounds
wight and 1t used 10 be told that In
years long since flown IA man was
slain beneath the dropping boughs OF
the eims and hickories. Presumably
the stones were used by the slayer
in "beating his victim TO death" and
they possessed n grusome interest on
that account. There was also related
another story to the effect that a
man who had been imbibing TOO
much old-tlme whiskey made his
horse jump off the high banks into
the water. lost his hold and fell from
the saddle, whereupon the horse
paved him to death.
After passing the Bayou IL was
only short drive to where the Fort
Gibson prairie began. but before
reaching the prairie the road led
through stately woodland, in front
of well-kept home. Cattle, horses
and sheep browsed on the grass or
lay resting beneath the trees. but
according to the stories told by the
old citizens there was a far different
scene in the early days of the civil
war. Two hostile bands OF men met
unexpectedly one day and for some
time there was the crash of firearms
and men fell from their horses, some
wounded and others never to rise
again. A small stream was crossed
and then the prairie began, to stretch
to the limits of the town and mill
tary post. Homes Of various old citi-
zens were to be seen and few miles
out from Fort Gibson the homes and
small farms of many negroes. a little
stream wound its way among the
pecan and elm trees and bore the
name of the Four Mile branch. II
was told that at the close or the
civil war when cholera broke out In
fury at Fort Gibson and began
claiming many victims that the ex-
tensive population of negroes who
had gathered near the fortificatiions
Of the military post became af-
frighted and removed en- masse four
miles out to the banks OF the creek
and were not troubled by the plague.
Thereafter the negroes, former
slaves of Cherokee citizens, lived out
on the branch, where they or their
descendants live to this day.