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Indian Pioneer Papers - Index

Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: July 20, 1937
Name: James Oscar Smith
Post Office: Ardmore
Residence address: Four miles east and one mile north.
Date of birth: November 21, 1849
Place of birth: Lawrence County, South Carolina
Father: Spencer Smith
Place of birth: South Carolina
Information on father:
Mother: Ellen Glenn
Place of birth: South Carolina
Information on Mother:
Field worker: Jennie Selfridge

Interview with James Oscar Smith
Ardmore, Oklahoma

James Oscar Smith was born in Lawrence County South Carolina, November 21, 1849. Later the family left South Carolina, and moved to Breckenridge, Texas. While at this location Mr. Smith worked as a railroad contractor.

In 1885 he came to Oklahoma and settled at Willis on the Red River. At this time the Indians and the intermarried citizens ran the Government. Smith began operating a gin at Willis's Ferry. This gin was operated by steam. They had two gin stands and very often ran at night. They ginned on an average of twenty bales of cotton a day, and usually operated until the winter. 

The recieved their mail at Cedar Mills, Texas and bought most of their supplies there. Trading towns on the Territory side were Oakland and Tishomingo.

The Indians were holding court at this time at Bear Creek Courthouse on one occassion when Mr. Smith visited the court there, Governor Overton was Judge and Britt Willis was on the jury. Governor Overton did not approve of the verdict returned by the jury and asked how could he hold court when he had nine drunk men and three "d--m fools" on the jury.

There were no schools around Willis. Once in awhile there would be a teacher hired to teach for a month or two.

Forty-five years ago Mr. Smith moved to Oakland. At that time Oakland had three good general merchandise stores, and was the county seat of Pickens County. The court ground was changed to Oakland, and Charles D. Carter attended court here.

In order that his children might have better educational advantages, Smith moved to Ardmore forty- three years ago, and was appointed second Street Commissioner. He served for two years. There were no paved streets, and the Street Department did not have implements to keep up the streets. At that time Ardmore was the shipping point for about 50,000 bales of cotton a year; therefore the Street Department put in most of their time keeping bridges in repair in order that the cotton wagons could keep going.

Smith's wife was Ida Chevis, who was of French descent. They lived together sixty-two years. She died in 1932. They reared thirteen children, six of whom are still living. One son has served in the Navy twenty-six years.

Submitters comments: Narrative by the field worker.

Transcribed for OKGenWeb and submitted by: Terisa Burrow Rogers, October 18, 2002.