147 YEARS AGO
The feeling of wrath, humiliation and grief which followed the news of the destruction of Custer and his regiment has not yet sufficiently subsided to allow the nation to take a calm view of the Indian question. Thus, again forced upon the attention by a stinging blow This is the first duty of the nation, whatever be the rights or wrongs of the Indians, as the madman must be subdued and confined, no matter what may have made him so.
The cry of extermination is, however, the sheerest, most absolute and needless cruelty that ever degraded the nation calling itself civilized, and we believe that Custer himself who had chivalry as well as courage, would acknowledge that the Indians fought him s fairly as he would have fought them, and that he and his solders fell by chance of war.
McAlester State
On the M.K.&T. serves thriving towns in the Indian Territory. Its location is favorable for future growth and importance (of McAlester), 25 miles south of Eufaula and 45 miles north of Atoka. It has a population of about 400, including the miners nd their families. One of the first settlers at this point was J.J. McAlester, who emigrated from Arkansas and commenced as a clerk on the Canadian river, at a place called Sealesville, for the modest sum of $30 a month.
Sitting Bull Has Been Heard From
An Indian who arrived at Red Cloud yesterday, direct from the hostile camp, says Sitting Bull is ready and anxious to meet Crook or Terry, or both of them, and confident of his ability to whip them. He further states that reinforcements are arriving daily from the North, from British America, and a few from Minnesota. – Inter Ocean
120 YEARS AGO
Friday, February 27, 1903
“Piggy” Post Killed
Last Saturday night, “Piggy” Post, imbibed to excess of “red eye” and became boisterous in front of the opera house and was arrested by City Marshal Ryan who proceeded to take Post to the calaboose, assisted by night watchman, Ed Hays. When near the cold storage building Post atpistol from him, and Ryan, , fired, the bullet taking eflich Post expired in a few tempted to wrest Ryan’s thinking Post was armed, feet in the neck from w: minutes.
Ryan at once surrendered himself to the proper authorities and was held in custody until Tuesday, when he was given a preliminary before Commissioner Marshall, who considered the evidence against Ryan sufficient to hold him for the grand jury.
Round About Town
– Doc Rhyne, city marshal accused of killing “Piggy” Post, was denied bail at Muskogee Wednesday and committed to jail. The case is already attracting considerable attention.
– Col. Roley McIntosh of Fame has not changed his mind as to running for chief. He reaffirms his past statements and adds, “I’ll not consent to run even for second chief.”
– Barney Riley of Lenna was in town Wednesday on his way to Muskogee with a sack full of certificates for allotments for himself and family. He took the evening train for the Creek metropolis and is no doubt demanding his deeds in the Creek executive office at this writing. We asked Barney what price he had set on his land, and he answered $50 per acre. This led us to believe that Barney is a highly civilized man and ought to live in town instead of in the hills.
– W.R. Samuel will close out his dry goods business in Eufaula tomorrow night and move the early part of next week to Chouteau, where he will assume the management of the Hayden Mercantile Co. as a full partner in the firm.
100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, December 6,1923
COUNTY POULTRY SHOW GOES OVER BIG AT CHECOTAH That he poultry business is getting to be one of the most important businesses in McIntosh County was proven conclusively last week when the Second Annual McIntosh County Poultry Show as held at Checotah. There were 408 birds placed on exhibition.
BUMPS INTO TROLLEY WITH FATHER’S CAR
A Cadillac limousine driven by Emil Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Brown, of Muskogee, was damaged badly when it was hit by a streetcar at Fredonia and Eastside boulevards Wednesday morning.
Brown, a student at Central high school, and other occupants of the car, also students, were slightly bruised. No one was seriously hurt. The accident occurred at 9 a.m.
CHARLES GIBSON DIES SUDDENLY HERE Charles Gibson, one of the pioneer Creek Indians of the Creek Nation, died suddenly at his home in Eufaula Wednesday night about 11 o’clock.
Mr. Gibson was on the streets Wednesday, apparently in good health, and retired as usual at an early hour Wednesday night.
Mrs. Gibson says she was awakened about 11 o’clock by moans from Mr. Gibson’s bed and thought he was having a nightmare. She turned him over on his side and in the next instant he was dead. The doctors said it was heart failure.
Deceased had lived here all his life and was a prominent figure in the Creek Council and was at one time a candidate for Chief of the Creeks and was perhaps as well-known as any man in the Creek Nation.
80 YEARS AGO
Thursday, December 2,1943
FRANK ECKELKAMP EUFAULA SOLDIER KILLED IN ACTION Local Youth Born and Reared Here Died in Italy Nov. 17
Frank Eckelkamp, 29, born and reared in Eufaula, son of Mrs. Frank Eckelkamp, pioneer resident of the city, died in Italy Wednesday, Nov. 17, according to a message received from the War Department by his mother here Saturday morning.
The youthful soldier joined the colors in June of 1942. He received his basic training on the west coast in California. Later he was transferred to one of the northeastern states where he was a coast guard for some time.
He was sent overseas June or July of this year and spent several months on the battlefields in Africa. He arrived in Italy Nov. 13 and died four days later according to the message received by his mother.
He received his education in the public schools of Eufaula and was a graduate of the Eufaula high school He was a salesman in Tuley’s Department store here for several years, giving up his position June of last year to become a member of the U.S. fighting forces.
He was an active member of the Catholic church of Eufaula at the time of his death. Survivors besides his widowed mother include several half brothers and sisters and a number of nieces and nephews.
SGT. FLOOD GRADUATES FROM ARMY AIR FORCES
Sgt. Holy Flood, son of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil T. Flood, Eufaula, route 3, was graduated Monday from the army air force’s Flexible gunnery school at Fort Myers, Fla.
Now qualified as an aerial gunner, he will become a member of one of the thousands of bomber crews which will be sent overseas in a few weeks to battle the enemy somewhere “over there.”
Mouser Heads Eufaula Schools
In a recent meeting of the board of education E. G. Mouser was named superintendent of city schools to succeed Max A. Holcomb, who resigned to accept the pastorate of the First Methodist church at Spiro.
Mouser began teaching in McIntosh County at an early age. He spent 14 years in the rural schools of the county, four years as county superintendent and for the past 8 V2 years has been elementary and junior high school principal.
Four-Pronged Buck Deer Seen Near Town Boyd Hansbro, farmer and rancher of Raiford, reports a large four-pronged buck deer was seen crossing Highway No. 9 at the outskirts of the city near the Foley Mountain early one morning last week
75 YEARS AGO
Thursday, December 16,1948
Public Hearing on Dams to be Held Tuesday Public hearing on the proposed two-dam project for the North and South Canadian rivers will be held in Eufaula starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec.l. Both opposing and favorable groups are expected to be substantially represented, in response to the invitation of Col. C.H. Chorpening, district engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa.
Some heated opposition, based largely on misinformation, has developed in McIntosh county, and Checotah has promised a strong protesting organization at the hearing.
People in the Checotah area are describing the proposed flood control reservoir on the North Canadian as a “slime” basin, which would leave that town without a water supply.
The town of Porum has organized to protest the alternate proposal, and will urge the engineers to proceed with the single dam project approved east of Eufaula.
Obviously, Porum stands to lose any benefit from the multi-million dollar project if the alternate proposal is adopted.
A Henryetta group is also organized to protest the project.
Most Eufaula businessmen see the two-dam project as of greater benefit to the area than the single large dam, and many are preparing to or already have sent letters and information stating their views to the district engineer.
Board Explains Procedure for Deferments J.R. Doss, Chairman of the local draft board, said today that employers wishing to file deferment requests on behalf of an employee should have the written request with its necessary information in the hands of the local board before he files his questionnaire, or, at least, simultaneously.
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50 YEARS AGO
Thursday, December 27,1973
Apex Smelting Plant Planned for Checotah An Illinois firm will build a $2.6 million metal production plant at Checotah, its president announced Tuesday following a meeting with Gov. David Hall.
1900-1974 Eufaula Celebrates New Year Quietly
As the New Year rolls around and everyone wonders where the old one went it might be interesting just to look back over the past 70 years here at Eufaula.
The local notes of the Jan. 3, 1900, edition of the Journal listed: John McFarland is building two new residences on High Street near Eufaula high School.
Mr. and Mrs. Alex Posey (Posey, a poet and writer, became editor of the Indian Journal) have moved to town and are occupying one of the Crabtree residences in North Eufaula.
Medical Facility groundbreaking
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Sunday, Dec. 23, 1973, at the site of the proposed Eufaula Medical Facility.
Mayor Tully O’Reilly stated the hospital board would meet in the near future to make decisions pertaining to this project toward getting it off to a good start.
25 YEARS AGO
Thursday, December 17,1998
Eight candidates file for school board posts in McIntosh County Openings for Board of Education vacancies in six McIntosh County school districts drew a total of eight candidates but only two districts had more than one candidate for the same office.
Eufaula and Midway each drew two candidates for an office No. 4 vacancy, while Hanna had no candidates file for two openings, according to County Election Board Records.
Eufaula candidates for Office No. 4 included Mike Dew and Jeanette Smith.
2 Receive Fireman of the Year awards
Marshall Pruitt and Gary Gregg received Fireman of the Year awards from Fire Chief Tom Foresee and Mayor Bill Day at the Annual Fireman’s Dinner Dec. 8.
Eufaula Board of Education ratifies agreement with support personnel By a unanimous vote, Eufaula school board members took action Dec. 7 to ratify a negotiated contract between the Board of Education and EESPO (Eufaula Educational Support Personnel Organization) for the 1998-99 school year.
City of Eufaula Update
A special meeting of Eufaula City Council was held Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. to pay bills left unpaid at the council’s regular meeting on Dec. 7.
