GARVIN COUNTY INDIAN PIONEER PAPERS

OKGenWeb Indian Pioneer Papers Collection

Garvin County Indian Pioneer Papers

Mary Jesse

Interview #7148
Field Worker: Henry Day
Date: August 12, 1937
Name:  Mary Jesse
Residence: 
Date of Birth:  1853
Place of Birth:  Texas
Father:  
Mother: Ho-cha-che, born in Alabama

 

I am Creek Indian.  Was born on the Mill Creek, eight miles west of Eufaula, Oklahoma, in the year 1853.  I am now eighty-four years old.  I am the mother of two children.  They both girls and I have eight grandchildren, six girls and two boys.  Also I have four great grandchildren.  I belong to Missionary Baptist.

I do not know my father, never did see him.  He died when I was four years old.  I know my mother.  Her name was Ho-cha-che, born some where in state of Alabama.  She died in the year of 1884.

My mother used to tell me about Civil War.  That is about the North and South, although she never saw a battle.  For my part I remember we crossed a big river.  We were going north under Opuithli Ya-hola.  This river we crossed was Arkansas River.  I learned after we came back to Indian Territory.  My mother said we left one night.  Ya-hola didn't want to fight against his white friends, North or South.  He wants to be peace with both sides, but lots of Indians joined the soldiers.  Some went North and some South.

Few of Indians, something like five hundred, went with Opuithli Ya-hola to Le Roy, Kansas. We stayed at Le Roy where peace was made.  I can remember this much, while we were started coming back to our country, Ya-hola took sick and died.  It was awfully cold.  The snow was on a ground.  This is all I could remember.

Note:  This interviewer is an Indian and his interviews are expressed exactly as his talk.  No effort is made to change his manuscripts to correct English.