The Winslow mail., 1925-11-20
CHEVROLET AUTO
TAKES PLACE OF
COVERED WAGON

The drama of American transpor-
tation has been enacted within the
9O-year life span of Captain Joel
Mulcy Hoback, one Of the few sur
viving links between the romantic
day of the covered wagon and the
modern automobile.
Captain Hoback who formerly
drove covered wagon, now is an
enthusiastic motorist.
In 1845 when only 10 years old
he drove four yoke of oxen as they
plodded slowly westward with a
creaking prairie schooner in which
he and his parents migrated $50
miles to Winnemac, Indiana. then
a frontier town.
In crossing the Wabash river the
eight oxen became frightened, got
beyond control of the child driver
and lunged away through shoulder
deep water. They nearly upset the
wagon but finally returned to the
east bank Of the river at the battle
ground near Lafayette, Indiana,
where Harrison few years before
had defeated a large band of hos
tile Indians.
Today, so years later, Captain
Hoback, erect, alert and with the
clear eye of the frontiersman, is
enjoying transportation of a far
different type. After hesitating for
10 years ito tackle the new-fangled
gasoline rigs" he has purchased
a Chevrolet touring car.
"Goes like a scairt rabbit" said
Captain Hoback. Easy to drive
too. l thought a body had to be
pretty good with machinery to
handle a car Mabbe that was true
way back when / first started to
banker after a car-when l was
only 80 years old-but it shorely
isn't true now. I missed a lot of
fun by waiting so long"
Captain Hoback drives frequently
in the vicinity of Britton, .Oklaho-
ma, where he now resides. He
has built garage for the car. The
Captain rents out the large farm
which he homesteaded after join
ing the, land rush from Oklahoma
City in 1889.
81 had been prosperous and sue
cessful in Indiana and later Ar
kansas" he explained. 81 owned
two saw mills and planning mill,
but lost them during the Cleveland
administration. / went to Fort
Smith, Arkansas. y Learning of the
proclamation opening land in Ok
lahoma, l walked from Fort Smith
to Oklahoma City. My dog, Old
Pal, went with me. l was broke,
but that didn't matter to Old Pal
1t took us nearly 10 days. We
lived off the country. Antelope and
deer were as thick as crows in a
cornfield.
During the excitement of the
land rush lost my Old Pal. A
man offered me a ride in wagon.
Old Pal was standing nearby when
the whistle blew as a signal that
the rush was on. Guns were fired,
everybody shouted and lashed their
horses. The long race over the
prairie was very thrilling. / stalk
ed one of the most valuable farms
in the state but I lost Old Pal.
"That was long ago and of
course he's dead now," the old man
added wistfully. But l would give
the whole farm to have him back
with me now"
After living 16 years on the farm,
Captain Hoback moved in 1905 to
Dixon, Oklahoma, where he was
postmaster, railroad agent, marshal
and mayor. He came to Britton
in 1909. He has been married
twice. His second wife died in
1923. During the Civil war he an
swered Lincoln's first call and
served five years as captain of
Company H, 57th Indiana Volun-
teers. He was reported dead at
the Battle of Shiloh The captain
still has the sword which he car
ried through the war.
On the occasion of his nintieth
birthday recently. Captain Hoback
entertained his friend M. E. Trapp.
governor of Oklahoma, and 100
opther guests including many pion-
GERS and members of Grant Post
No. l. G.. A. r.. of which he is the
only surviving charter member. In
the near future Captain Hoback
will test his newly-acquired skill
as mOtorist on tour to the home
of his daughter Mrs. Matte Louisa
Hale at Heber Springs, Arkansas