Notice of Copyright. Citing Resources from the Western History Collections

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1 Notice of Copyright Published and unpublished materials may be protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code). Any copies of published and unpublished materials provided by the Western History Collections are for research, scholarship, and study purposes only. Use of certain published materials and manuscripts is restricted by law, by reason of their origin, or by donor agreement. For the protection of its holdings, the Western History Collections also reserves the right to restrict the use of unprocessed materials, or books and documents of exceptional value and fragility. Use of any material is subject to the approval of the Curator. Citing Resources from the Western History Collections For citations in published or unpublished papers, this repository should be listed as the Western History Collections, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. An example of a proper citation: Oklahoma Federation of Labor Collection, M452, Box 5, Folder 2. Western History Collections, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma.

2 BROBtJ, H. J. (Mra.) INTiHVIiSfl 4597 ^ ^

3 BBDWNi H. J. 13HS. JN2EBXI2H \ Form A-tS-149) niograpiff FORM WORKS PROGRESS iubunisiration Indian-Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma Workor*s name Virgil Couraay uis report made on (date) June ZZ t 193? 193. Name Mrs* N> J» Brown. Post Office Addruss 303 North Hudson. Altua, Residence address (or location) DAT2 OF BIRTH: Month August Day 10 Year I860 Place of birth Tennessee Name of Father J«B«Harrison Placo of birth Tennoas«e Other inf ormat ion about father \. Nams of Mother \ Placo of birth Other information about mother Dtes or complete narrativo by the field worker dealing with the life and tory of the tcrson interviewed. Rofer to Manual for sug^ost&d subjects Dd questi^rts, 'Continue on blank sheets if necessary ind attach firmly to iis formt Number of sheets attached «

4 BROWN, N. J. MRS. INTERVIEW 4597 lfil, Virgil Oouroey, Interviewer, Juno 2, "*" An Interview with Mrs* N, J. Brown 303 North Hudson Altus, Okla. Our neighbor, Tom Davis, oame to Oklahoma in about We reoeived numerous letters from him urging us to oome out here. So in 1897 we left our home in Soil in Oounty, Texas, and started for Oklahoma, ffe hatt four ohildren. Our household goods were loaded into a wagon, and we also brought four oowa and three horses. #e brought as rauci* canned fruit and other things to eat as we oould. The cows were milked once a day, and the milk was placed in jugs. The constant motion of the wagon churned it, so that we had an adequate supply of butter along the * A ay. IYQ settled six miles northwest of Altus. Mr. Davis had homeateadted a half section of land and we secured a hundred and sixty acres of that, uur first house was a dugout. After five years we hauled lumber from Vernon and built a one room house fourteen by sixteen feet. Four years later tms was enlarged. <1e also bought more land as we were able. ffater from a well supplied the stock, but we had to.%aul water to drink for several years.

5 BROWN, N. J. MRS. IHTB8VISW 459? A "^ I helped plant our first oorn orop which was planted on sod. The oorn was dropped by hand into hole3 punched by, a atiok. An oxoellent orop was harvested* The cotton seed in which our dishes were packed when we moved was uaecy for seed for our first cotton crop. The cotton was hauled to ^uanah to be ginned* The foods eaten in those days were-prset*toaii-y-~the same as today, except perhaps tnere were fewer desserts and mo^e corn bread...e usually had good gardens. The closest church in tne earlier days was at i^evajo over by the mountains. Dick Blaia and a Mr. Blalook carried the aail. We got our" mail at old Frazier. There was a route from Vernon to iiangum with a stop at Frazier to change horses. 7/e lived oc what *as> Kno n a^ tr.e old Mobeetie Trail. Jroves of c:ttle passed over this trail every day and sany cowboys and other travelers stopped at our house. One day 1 was home alone wfcth Willie, ay two year old baby, wneh a large number of Indians c~.e up this Mobeetie Trail end up to where i was sitting with tne baby in my arms. The Jhief came up to me, saying something which 1 did not understand, but from h,ls gestures 1 knew that he had asked fjr t..e Laby. 1 drew baok in fear and. shouted, "No? The

6 BROWN, M. J«iSte. INTERVIEW ' * Indian threw beck nis head and lauded heartily and left. They met my nine year old son Roy, about a quarter of a mile frora the house and I wafe afraid that tney mi*j;ht take Mm. along with.then,, for I had neard of suck thi.ngs. but they never offered to mole,st ninw place and told them ny story. I hurried over to iy neighbor's They haa lived here lon^r<-r than 1, and tney said the Indians meant no harm and were merely trying to be friendly..,