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© Minco Minstrel Minco, Indian Territory March 22, 1901 1931 ~ March 2, 1901 The old man is dead. He died at Doc. Sturm's place on Cobb creek, in the Wichita reservation, on Friday, March 2, 1901, though a continual resident and quiet participant in all matters of this county for more than forty years past, his history is difficult to get at with any accuracy. Everyone in the county knew him, while but few, if any at all, knew where or when he was born and can tell but little of his early life. The probabilities are that he was born and reared in eastern Texas, the date of his birth being about 1831, and dying at the age of 70 years, but this is all based on uncertain data, though the best obtainable at preset. Away back in 1858 there was an Indian agency at Fort Cooper, on the Clear Fork of the Brazoe river in Texas, for the friendly band of Pen-nah-tekka Comanches and other Indians, at which agency Dr Shirley was then a licensed trader. There Rufus Oliphant appears for the first time we can guess at his history. He was then a young man in his full vigor of life. He was given employment by Dr Shirley in keeping a farm not far from the agency. About 1859 the scattered bands of the Wichita tribe were ordered to return to their old home on the Washita river, where a remnant of them forever abided, and the Pen-nah-tekka Comanches fell in with the movement and were given a place near by. Fort Cobb was established on Cobb creek near where it empties into the Washita river, and an agency was located a few miles further down the river on a beautiful plateau at what is now known as the mouth of Lepper creek. Dr Shirley came on with the Indians, leaving his affairs in the hands of Rufus Oliphant for the time. Later on Rufus showed up at the new agency, followed by Dr Shirley's family. Rufus obtained employment about the agency and remained. In October of 1862, while the Civil War was on, a band of rebellious Indians destroyed the agency, killed several people, and ran the Indian agent, Leeper, out of the country never to return. The occasion of this massacre and riot was a time of peril to all, and the whites and friendly Indians sought refuge as it could be found. The Shirley family escaped and took refuge at old Cherokee town, a few miles below Paul's Valley on the Washita River. No one knew where anyone was, nor whether dead or alive, but Rufus found his way safely to the same refuge, and was considered a member of the doctor's family from that time up to about 1870. After the war was over, Dr Shirley was again in business with his brother, William Shirley, at what is now known as the old Wichita agency just north of Anadarko, and also had business interests at old Cherokee town. Dr Shirley died in 1875, from the effects of a dose of mistaken medicine, while at the Anadarko agency. But several years previous to this Rufus had made the acquaintance of Doctor Strum, a white man married to a Caddo woman, and had gone to make his home on the banks of Cobb creek. Here Rufus, lived, and worked until the day of his death, March 1, 1901. Peace be to his memory. He was a kindly man, with malice toward none. |
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