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Indian Pioneer Papers - Index

Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: April 19, 1937
Name:  Jane Davis Ward
Post Office:  Atoka, Okla.
Residence Address:
Date of Birth:  January 1, 1815
Place of Birth:  Ft. Towson, Indian Territory.
Father:  Isom Flint
Information on Father:  born in Mississippi. 
Mother:  Meliza Flint
Information on Mother:  born in Mississippi
Field Worker:  Etta D. Mason, Investigator

Aunt Jan WARD "as she is called by every one," says she is 118 years of age.  She is the mother of 21 children -- ten girls and eleven boys.  Only one living.  Her master's name was Gim DAVIS.  DAVIS owned 21 slaves.  He was a good kind master and the slaves had everything they wanted.

She said the Indians were contented and happy at Ft. Towson.  She is half Choctaw.  She "doctored" the Indians and negroes with the herbs growing in the woods.  some of these herbs are:  Cherokee cough weed, numba weed, corn root and butterfly root.

She had a yellow gold ring which she has worn 50 years.  She also has the cards that she used to card cotton for the quilts she made for her mistress.  She has the musket her husband used in the war.  Her first husband was killed in battle.  His name was Willis HARKINS.  He was Choctaw.  She has a gold cup that is 75 years old.

She is still active and colored people all over Oklahoma bring their babies to her when they are sick for her to treat.  She still uses herbs.  One of these herbs grows in her daughter's back yard.  Her daughter with whom she lives is Mrs. Fay CROONES.

Aunt Jane, the day I visited her, was piecing on a quilt block.  She does not wear glasses.  She was very much pleased when I made known my business and was ready to talk.  She is very much bent but her eyes are bright and her mind is alert and she smiles while she talks.  She has forgotten many things that happened to her, but she told me to come and see her again and she would tell me something more.

Date:  July 16, 1937
Name:  Jane WARD, Mrs. J. T. INGE, and others
address:  Atoka, Atoka County, Oklahoma
Indian tribe:  Choctaw
field worker:  Joe SOUTHERN

A checkup of the history and locations of the Southern Army camp, composed of G. B. HESTER, captain, and one thousand soldiers.  These soldiers were Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians, whites, and Negroes of the Indian Territory.   They were located at Old Boggy Depot from 1863 to 1865, during the Civil War.

This camp was sponsored by the Choctaw Government and the citizens of the surrounding community.

There were plenty of hogs, cattle and wild game for meats.  Farms were farmed with corn for bread.  Some cotton was raised for clothing for the soldiers and slaves.

Ammunition and guns were brought in from Fort Smith, Arkansas.

There was a water power grist mill one-half mile east of this location on South Boggy River to grind wheat and corn for bread.  A salt works was established west of this place for salt.

This camp was located on a narrow ridge running east and west with the prairie glades south and north.

This location is in Section 1, township 3S, Range 9E and Section 6, Township 3S, Range 10E, Atoka County, Oklahoma.

In later years Old Boggy depot was moved and located in Section 12, Township 3S, Range 9E, by Captain HESTER and others and named New Boggy. These two towns were very thriving and prosperous in the early Indian Territory days.

Stock raising and farming were the principal occupations of the surrounding community.

Date: December 24, 1937
Name: Jane Ward, Choctaw freedwoman
Post Office: Atoka, Oklahoma
Residence Address:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Father:
Information on Father:
Mother:
Information on Mother:
Field Worker: Etta D. MASON, Investigator

Jackson JUZAN belonged to the Choctaw tribe and was born in Tennessee, but came to the Indian Territory in the early 40's, and for many years followed farming in the vicinity of Atoka.

He was one of the Choctaw volunteers in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, and afterwards was active in the affairs of the the nation until his death in 1866.

His wife's name was Mississippi ALLEN and she was of Chickasaw blood. She was born in Mississippi and came to Indian Territory in 1835. She died in 1865.

Transcribed and submitted by Gay Wall <t31892@wind.imbris.com>, November 2000.