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Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: May 11, 1937
Name: Sam R. Sullivan
Post Office: Okemah, Oklahoma
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Father:
Place of Birth:
Information on father:
Mother:
Place of birth:
Information on mother:
Field Worker: Billie Byrd
Western History Collection, University of Oklahoma
LDS Microfische  6016953
Sullivan, Sam R. Interview
Page 347-348
Indian-Pioneer History, S-149

SQUATTERS

An interview with Sam R. Sullivan, age 67, white, Okemah, Oklahoma.

It was during the territorial days that many white people came into the Indian Country and tried to settle.  Since these whites had no right to take any claims or settle on Indian lands they were known as Squatters. Often times as many as fifteen families would settle on Indian lands and the government people had to use force to keep the squatters off of the lands.  Many times, these squatters would obtain permission from a tribal chief to settle on a certain portion of the land.  These certain portions were never very large, and the cost for a year's living on the land was only five dollars.  If the necessary arrangements were satisfactory to the tribal chiefs, the government had no objections then.

These squatters who made the settlements by permission consisted of sometimes fifteen or twenty families.  They were never allowed to start a fire anywhere but only at proper fixed and designated places.  The grass and weeds often grew to such height as to be over the heads of horses, and in dry weather, a fire accidentally started, would cause great loss of life and property to the Indians or squatters.  I came to the Indian Territory from Mississippi and worked on a section near what is now Ada, Oklahoma in 1890.  I have heard and seen the custom of the Choctaws in burying their dead.  I witnessed the last ceremony about 1901.  The Choctaws did not have any certain family burial grounds in their yards or near their homes.  Many times the funeral procession went as far as twenty miles to make a burial.

The remains of a Choctaw Indian in a casket was placed on a wagon which was in the lead of the procession.  The members of the departed Indian's family immediately followed the wagon on foot.  Other Indians followed as mourners, also on foot.

When the procession began, a wail or cry arose which was kept up until the burial grounds were reached.  These cries were so loud and continuous that they could be heard a mile away.

Transcribed for OKGenWeby by Donald L. Sullivan <donald.l.sullivan@lmco.com> 05-1999.