Sunday, August 15, 2021
Sunday, May 30, 2021
THE ORIGIN OF BIGHEART DAY
The following information was taken from Barnsdall Times newspapers from the years of 1958 to 1975. It details the origin of the present Bigheart Day.
The origin of Bigheart Day goes back to 1958 as the new lake Waxhoma was being dedicated. A city celebration would take place to commemorate the new water source for the city of Barnsdall. A parade would take place with games and contests in the city and then the celebration would move to lake Waxhoma where a fishing derby, boat racing, skiing and the naming of one lucky gal (Edwita Siggins) that would win the "Queen of the Lake" title. During the celebration Fred DeWeese won the "Name The Lake" contest in which his "Waxhoma" entry would win. His entry came from the years that the BARECO wax refinery would pump water to the homes in the city until a steady water source for the city could be found. A video of the celebration can be seen at the link https://www.facebook.com/587905144571398/videos/692530920775486
In 1959 the Barnsdall Chamber of Commerce wanted to have a follow up celebration of the lake dedication with the same type of activities. It would be called the first annual "Jubilee Day", taking place in July.
Keeping with some of the mainstays of the lake dedication a fishing derby would start the day at Lake Waxhoma followed by a parade in the city with games and contests. The celebration would then move to Lake Waxhoma for boat races and skiing exhibitions. At evening a barbeque and street dance would finish off the day. "Jubilee Day would last until 1968.
By 1968, John Dahl was President of the Chamber of Commerce. He wanted to give homage to the Osage Tribe and what they had accomplished and brought it before the committee members for approval. "Jubilee Day" would become "Osage Day". The first annual "Osage Day" would also take place in May, the Saturday before Memorial Day. Dahl wanted to bring more to the annual celebration by including a rodeo to the days festivities.
Osage Day would last until 1972, when the Chamber of Commerce would change the name of the celebration to "Bigheart Day" to honor the Osage Chief James Bigheart, the founder of the town Bigheart in 1905. The first annual "Bigheart Day" took place on May 27, 1972. It comprised of all activities from previous celebrations. Below is the May 25, 1972 edition of the Barnsdall Times showing the first annual Bigheart Day.
This is how Bigheart Day came to be. From the beginnings of Lake Waxhoma to giving homage to the Osage Tribe to finally honoring the man that found the town of Bigheart which later became Barnsdall.
Saturday, August 15, 2020
Monday, March 4, 2019
Sunday, September 9, 2018
BARNSDALL TIMES: May 7, 1953
The Roxy Theater catches fire, Barnsdall wins several events at the Foraker meet and city officers elected in this issue of the Barnsdall Time
s.
Saturday, September 8, 2018
BARNSDALL TIMES: July 5, 1945
One of the stories from 1945 was the P-38 crash on the old lake road. Many stories have been told of the events after the crash. On the first page of the Times is their story. It was plain and simple, not much more than basic reporting. Over the years I've found that information was hard to come by and eyewitness reports differed in many aspects. I had hoped to find something in this article that would make my conclusion of the crash seem more plausible. Army records, newspaper clips, eyewitness reports only gave a hint of what really happened. In 2012 I wrote a three part story on the P-38 and it's demise and efforts to find answers. Since the story was written seven years ago information has come up to put an end to any question of where the crash site is located. Problem is, the land owner refuses to let anyone on the land to search for any shred of evidence. Clint Daniel, a graduate of BHS in 1953 has also been looking for any evidence and information on the crash. Clint has offered to have a small memorial built and placed at the Bigheart Park along side the memorial for veterans. The story in the Times is the only article of the crash and there were no other follow up articles written at any later date. A rather odd thing for a newspaper to not have a following story on a topic that is very rare in occurrence and that many citizens were involved in. None of which had any interview printed on the subject. Makes me wonder about what took place during the days after the crash.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Sunday, August 12, 2018
BIGHEART TIMES - May 15, 1919 First Issue
If you have ever wondered what the first issue of the Times looked like, here it is in it's entirety. Eight pages of history from a town that was the center of oil production in the Osage. The paper, dried out and brittle, is in bad shape with pieces gone with the passing of time. Fortunately the editor at the time, Mr. Zenor thought it was good to save two copies of each issue for future use. Enjoy the first issue of the Bigheart Times.
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Sunday, July 29, 2018
BARNSDALL TIMES - September 12, 1946
First game of the 1946 football season at BHS. This full page ad for the team also gives a roster and list of boosters.
BARNSDALL TIMES - December 26, 1946
The Barnsdall History page will be posting full front pages of the Barnsdall Times to give readers the opportunity to see what was making news at the time. Images of the paper can be downloaded and viewed with any media program in full size making it easier to read. Other articles and ads within the paper will still be posted along with the front page.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Monday, March 12, 2018
BARNSDALL TIMES - FEBRUARY 7, 1946 SWIFT HOTEL FIRE
The following story on the Swift Hotel fire was reconstructed from it's original in 1946.
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Saturday, June 27, 2015
The Battle Flag, General Lee And Biscuits With Gravy
Everyone has an opinion on the latest news about the South Carolina church shooting. It would seem that the story is more about a flag than the incident that took place. I'm trying to understand how a young man, that was a self proclaimed racist against the black community could get to the point of self destruction. When reading about Dylan Roof, I found his life was filled with hate. Photos of him with the Confederate battle flag have been everywhere lately, most of it pushed by the media from the evidence the police have uncovered. He operated a web site that was filled with racial hate of blacks and a manifesto of his radical views on the Trayvon Martin case. He was also photographed burning and spitting on an American flag in his protest against the government and seen in other photos of him brandishing guns.
It's obvious that this guy had some issues about race and had means to inflict injury to others. So how come he wasn't on the radar of anyone that knew him? Now we live with the "after the facts" story of him killing nine people. With the media, civil rights groups, gun law proponents and the government all jumping on the band wagon they have deduced that the Confederate flag was a contributing factor to the shooters mind state. Thanks to the media, the NAACP can now have some fuel to burn against their ongoing fight to have the Confederate flag removed from South Carolina federal property. Two days after the shooting, the NAACP demanded the removal of the flag from the State Capitol cause of it's reverence to racial epitomes. Within a week, the Governor calls for the removal of the flag. Her reason for the removal...the photos of Dylan Roof displaying the Confederate flag.
Since when does a battle flag of the Confederate army get blame for an individuals radical views on racial equality? It gets the blame from those that think the flag is a symbol of hate racial inequality. Much has been said about the Confederate flag lately. Most of it you hear is unfavorable, cause of the media's portrayal of the flag used as a symbol of hate.
In the Civil War the flag was used as a symbol of the Confederate States and took into battle against the Union. It wasn't a symbol of hate but of unity for the southern states that wanted to secede from the Union since the Union was using the southern states as a way to fund the government in the north. Without the products produced in the south, the north would soon shrivel up and die. Abraham Lincoln knew this and even stated the fact. This was the reason for the Civil War. It wasn't slavery that started the war. Northerners also had slaves but not in the capacity of what the south had. It wasn't until decades later that the Confederate flag was used and misconstrued by racially biased groups as a flag that represented opposition and oppression as for the meaning of the word "confederate".
It's according to who interprets the Confederate flag as to what it stands for. From a historical standpoint it's harmless in it's use but in the hands of a racially biased individual that wants to start a race war it's fuel for their cause. And now since the controversy has risen, more companies and people have joined the bandwagon of the uninformed. Willing to bend as the wind blows so their profits or social standing isn't at jeopardy from any backlash from civil rights groups. When did some Americans and American companies become a bunch of sniveling and spineless puppets that go with a pull of the string.
I've always seen the flag as a historical piece of American history which came about in a turbulent time. I've never seen it as being racist or hateful.
To top off this rant,
When did the Dukes Of Hazzard become filled with such racial hate, the Confederate flag that adorned the roof of the General Lee will now be removed according to Warner Brothers.
So what's next on the media's and NAACP's agenda..... biscuits and gravy?
It's obvious that this guy had some issues about race and had means to inflict injury to others. So how come he wasn't on the radar of anyone that knew him? Now we live with the "after the facts" story of him killing nine people. With the media, civil rights groups, gun law proponents and the government all jumping on the band wagon they have deduced that the Confederate flag was a contributing factor to the shooters mind state. Thanks to the media, the NAACP can now have some fuel to burn against their ongoing fight to have the Confederate flag removed from South Carolina federal property. Two days after the shooting, the NAACP demanded the removal of the flag from the State Capitol cause of it's reverence to racial epitomes. Within a week, the Governor calls for the removal of the flag. Her reason for the removal...the photos of Dylan Roof displaying the Confederate flag.
Since when does a battle flag of the Confederate army get blame for an individuals radical views on racial equality? It gets the blame from those that think the flag is a symbol of hate racial inequality. Much has been said about the Confederate flag lately. Most of it you hear is unfavorable, cause of the media's portrayal of the flag used as a symbol of hate.
In the Civil War the flag was used as a symbol of the Confederate States and took into battle against the Union. It wasn't a symbol of hate but of unity for the southern states that wanted to secede from the Union since the Union was using the southern states as a way to fund the government in the north. Without the products produced in the south, the north would soon shrivel up and die. Abraham Lincoln knew this and even stated the fact. This was the reason for the Civil War. It wasn't slavery that started the war. Northerners also had slaves but not in the capacity of what the south had. It wasn't until decades later that the Confederate flag was used and misconstrued by racially biased groups as a flag that represented opposition and oppression as for the meaning of the word "confederate".
It's according to who interprets the Confederate flag as to what it stands for. From a historical standpoint it's harmless in it's use but in the hands of a racially biased individual that wants to start a race war it's fuel for their cause. And now since the controversy has risen, more companies and people have joined the bandwagon of the uninformed. Willing to bend as the wind blows so their profits or social standing isn't at jeopardy from any backlash from civil rights groups. When did some Americans and American companies become a bunch of sniveling and spineless puppets that go with a pull of the string.
I've always seen the flag as a historical piece of American history which came about in a turbulent time. I've never seen it as being racist or hateful.
To top off this rant,
When did the Dukes Of Hazzard become filled with such racial hate, the Confederate flag that adorned the roof of the General Lee will now be removed according to Warner Brothers.
So what's next on the media's and NAACP's agenda..... biscuits and gravy?
To add to this media spectacle, the POTUS gave a eulogy at the funeral of the slain preacher in South Carolina. As I seen it, the eulogy for gun laws and racial equality under the guise of "grace". It was five minutes of eulogy, 10 minutes of gun and race issues and 2 minutes of scripted song "Amazing Grace". To which I say......POTUS can't sing worth a flip and I like biscuits and gravy.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
James Bigheart Presentation - Bigheart Day 2015
Introduction:
When we think of Bigheart Day most people will think about families getting together, cook outs, high school reunions and the beginning of the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
But Bigheart Day is more than that, it's a day of honor bestowed to James Bigheart, the towns founder and former Chief of the Osage Nation.
What do we know about James Bigheart and why do we celebrate his life? What kind of man was he and how did he become such a prominent figure for the Osage tribe?
James Bigheart was born in 1835 in an Osage village near the Neosho River, near what is now St. Paul, Kansas. James was an active boy and quite observant, always eager to learn and help out in his tribe.
In 1847, Father John Schoenmakers opened the first Catholic church in one of two log houses built by the Indian Department for use as a school. With incoming white settlers, it was necessary to build a larger church and school.
Osage Mission Church / Osage Mission School
Father Schoenmaker had the idea that blending Cathoilic and Indian culture would civilize the Osages and help bring about the education of the Osage tribe members.
James met Father Schoenmakers around the age of ten. They became friends and James would soon be learning the ways of the white man, going to school and being taught Christianity. He would soon take up the Catholic faith but still hold on to his Osage culture. Upon his release from school James had become highly academic and became fluent in seven languages. In the following years James would watch as settlers were taking more of the Osage land which discouraged him. Before the Civil War began, James would have two wives and two children. All would die from disease.
As war broke out between the states, James was still with the tribe. He consulted with Father Schoenmakers about the tribe being with the Union or Confederacy. Father Schoenmakers strongly advised James and the tribe to stay with the Union.
James travelled to Iola, Kansas and enlists in the Union Army on January 19, 1862 for a period of three years. He joined 1st Lt. Cowley's Company 9 Regiment Kansas Volunteers as a Private. By March 6, 1862, Lt Cowley's Company would be organized into Company I, 9th Regiment of the Kansas Cavalry. James would hold the rank as Private and become one of the regiments teamsters.
June, 1862, James goes on detached service to Fort Laramie. July, 1862, James was on detached service as an escort to Fort Lyon. Returning to his regiment by August 1862, Co. I, 9th Regiment participated in operations against Quantrill on his raid into Kansas including the Brooklyn and Paoli skirmishes and action at Baxter Springs, Kansas.
September, 1863, James was absent without leave from Fort Larned. On his return he was confined to the fort from November 1863 to october 1864. During his confinement a tranfer was requested to Fort Leavenworth since there were no facilities at Fort Larned to hold prisoners waiting for trial. November, 1864, James is released from confinement and goes on detached service to Fort Leavenworth until March 1865. Private James Bigheart musters-out of service on March 22, 1865 at Duvalls Bluff, Arkansas.
James returned to Osage Mission where he marries Pauline. Together they have two children, Sarah and James. For the next few years James watched as his tribe was slowly being pushed off their land. He would consult with Father Shoenmakers about the white squaters and the new threat of the railroad that wanted the Osage land. Being a diplomatic voice for the Osage tribe James and Father Shoenmakers sent a written protest to Sidney Clark, Representative of the Southeast Kansas District Congress. As a result, the 1868 Drum Creek Treaty came about which stated that any indian tribe was prohibited from selling it's land to no other but the U.S. government. This was the first treaty signed by James Bigheart. The Drum creek treaty also brought about an Act of Congress in 1870 with Executive Document 131 which stated that the Osages would agree to sell the remainder of their land in Kansas and use the proceeds to relocate the tribe to Indian Territory in the Cherokee Outlet.
In 1871 the Osage tribe moved to Silver Lake near what is now Bartlesville but it was learned later they had settled in Cherokee Territory so the tribe moved their agency to the center of their reserve and established their agency in Pawhuska in 1872. James would work for the agency as an interpreter and clerk at this time. The seventeen Osage bands settled in different parts of the reservation. James Bigheart was part of the Beaver Band and his band settled in the Bird Creek area. Fifteen miles southeast of Pawhuska, James would build a cabin on a hill on the east side of Bird Creek overlooking Rosalie Chouteau's village settlement. He also would built a two story trading post on the south bank of Birch Creek where it empties into Bird Creek. The site would also have a butcher shop, blacksmith shop with a livestock corral.
By 1874, James began serving his tribe in many capacities. Agency Clerk, Interpreter, Councilman and Delegate. His vision and foresight for his tribe became evident as he worked constantly on trying to improve his tribes way of life.
Old Chief Pawhuska, before his death, appointed Beaver to take his place as Principle Chief. On Beavers death, his sons were too young to to assume the responsibilities of Chief. The Pawhuska band appointed James Bigheart as Principle Chief in 1875. It was also in this year James signed the first blanket oil lease with Edwin Foster for the exploration of oil and gas. As Chief, James watched as white traders would swarm the agency on payment days and collect sums claimed the indians owed them. His tribe members would also cede land for a small amount of money that never reached the Osage land owners. James would lose his son in 1876 and soon after in 1877 his wife Pauline and daughter would die in an epidemic. James would take in his nephew Jacob and niece Margaret to raise and then marry again in 1878 to Anna. During this time James would have two daughters named Jane and Agnes. Unfortunaltely due to illness, Anna died and in 1879. James married Amelia and had two daughters, Josephine and Maggie.
Upset over the years of his tribe members being taken advantage of he persuaded William Conner, a former school mate, to help organize their tribe and draw up a Constitution. It was James idea that doing so would get the attention of Washington officals and the President. Therefore showing the truth about the agents and traders taking advantage of the Osage tribe. The two men set out to inform the tribe of their intentions and by 1881 had brought about the organization of two political parties, the full bloods and the mixed bloods. The political parties were organized and the Osage nation was divided into five districts. Each district sent three members to National Council. The National Council met at Pawhuska, drew up a constitution and organized a tribal government after the Federal government. The Constitution also stated a new chief would be voted into office every two years instead of chieftainships being passed down from father to son. James Bigheart signed the Constitution as President of the National Council. The first election was held in 1882 and James Bigheart was elected Chief of the Osage Nation.
As Chief, James was first to sanction appropriations for schools, alloting land for St. John School for boys near Grayhorse and St. Louis School for girls at Pawhuska. He fought the Quakers who wanted to remove Osage children from local Catholic schools and send them to government schools. James was the only indian at the time granted a license to bring whiskey into the reservation. This privilege was granted to him by the Secretary of the Interior, Ethan Allen Hitchcock. Prior to that James was arrested for serving alcohol to Washington officials at his home. During 1881, he lost his wife Amelia to sickness, he would later marry Humpsehanca in 1882 and have a daughter with her named Mary Magdalene. Both would die later of illness.
Also in this year, as part of the payment for ceded lands in Kansas, the government would begin to ration cattle to the Osage tribe. James recognized the possibility of grazing cattle on the reservations bluestem grass and knowing that some of his tribe members did not want to be troubled with the care of livestock he set out a few days before the allotment and offered cash for their allotted cattle. When the cattle arrived, James sent cowboys to Pawhuska and Guthrie to drive the cattle to his ranch. From this small beginning with alloted cattle he built up his ranch. Along with his mercantile business, James also had ownership in Pawhuska's leading drug store, became a director in the Bank of Bartlesville and First National Bank of Cleveland and a stock holder in the Citizens Trading Company of Pawhuska. James would become the wealthiest man of his tribe. His ranch home was the center of all his activities, being a two story structure built in an "L" shape, it had a covered breezeway on the lower porch and two dinning rooms for entertaining. It was built on top of the hill near the family cemetery. The ranch served as a place to entertain his guests and government dignitaries where feasts, barbecues and dances were held. James would often be seen dancing the polka or schottische. A small schoolhouse was constructed on the Bigheart property where all the furniture was homemade. He had hired a private teacher for his children and even the cowboys on his ranch to be educated. Among all the buildings built on the property only the large barn with a hay loft remains of the original ranch.
The Osages and Cherokees had a strong dislike for each other and in 1884 James would find love in the Cherokee nation. James was known to the Cherokees as Chief of the Osages and a rancher. It was his ranching that would help in his quest for a new bride. James set out for Cherokee Territory and arrived at the home of Jennie Grass, the mother of Alice Grass. James would make the usual arrangements for the marriage with the girls mother and in the marriage settlement James gave a wagon, a team, one cow and two pigs for his bride. Upon delivery of the goods and livestock, James gathered his bride and started his return to the ranch. As word spread of the Osage Chief taking a Cherokee bride, the Cherokee "light horse" police sprang into action and pursued James and his bride back to the Osage Reservation. Unable to overtake the two, the Cherokees gave up the chase and returned home.
At the time James took Alice for his wife, he was 41 years old, Alice was 13. With such an age difference between the two, Alice was not fond of James. Even as he showered her with gifts from his trips to Washington over the years, she would never fall in love with him. In the years to come, James and Alice would have four children, Mary, Rosa, Sarah and Isabella.
In the years to come James would accomplish a Federal investigation of the Osage Indian rolls to eliminate those not entitled to Osage property rights. In 1893 the Dawes Commission, set up under an Indian Office appropriation bill was created to try and persuade tribes to agree to allotment plans. James opposed the allotment of Osage land and fought the Allotment Bill for ten years making many trips to Washington to speak with Congress. While holding off the allotment bill, James would sign a ten year blanket lease to the Foster brothers for oil and gas exploration on the Osage reservation.
James Bigheart was voted in as Chief and in 1902 he was inaugurated on the steps of the Osage council house which is now Pawhuska's City Hall. A big barbeque was held at the expense of the Chief and a dance was held at the Indian Camp. As the year came to an end what would transform in the following year would begin the evolution of the town of Bigheart. Charles Ingersoll, an industrialist from Pennsylvania was looking for a railroad passage from Arkansas into Kansas. The route would bring the railway through the Osage reservation. As the construction began in Arkansas, representatives of the Midland Valley Railroad would come to Bigheart's ranch to get permission to cross through the reservation. The Chief would give permission and in the matter, it would cross over the Bigheart property. 1904 saw the introduction of the Osage Allotment Bill in the House of Representatives. James, along with other members of the osage government would travel to Washington to oppose the bill.
During his time in Washington, James would conduct the largest purchase of valentines known at the time. With some of his tribe members James walked into a book shop and purchased all the valentines in the store. He would have them sent to members of the Osage tribe and all the prominent statesmen whom he had met on his travels in Washington. A local paper called the Inter Ocean Post, gathered up the story which claimed James spent $520. In todays money that is equal to $13,800. As the allotment bill was stalled once again, James and his delegation returned home.
In the following election, James was defeated by Progressive candidate O-lo-ho-walla. Although he was no longer Chief, James was still consulted on the affairs of the tribe, he would spend his time on the ranch with his family and conduct the affairs of his mecrcantile business and banking activities. In 1905, H.H. Brenner a Pawhuska banker, travelled to Washington to negotiate with congress to have 5 townsites built in the Osage reservation. One of which would be the townsite of Bigheart. Congress approved the townsites and surveying for the town began near the Bigheart trading post. It was found the land was prone to flooding so the townsite was moved north to where Rosalie Chouteau had her indian settlement west of Bird Creek and James Bighearts home. Bigheart would become a town on March 5, 1905 with a post office and depot set up on the Midland valley railroad line.
In 1906, the Allotment bill came up in Congress and Bigheart learned that O-lo-ho-walla's delegates planned on passing the bill as it was introduced in 1904. Bigheart and Fred Lookout travelled to Washington to meet with the O-lo-ho-walla delegation. Bigheart succeeded in having the rider clause introduced that saved all the minerals below the surface for the tribe. While on his way to conduct the voting for the bill, James was attacked and beaten which cause a stroke. He would spend months in a Washington hospital before being well enough to travel back home. As a result of the attack, James would suffer from paralysis. Though his mobility was confined to his home he still consulted with the tribal government on the affairs of the Osage tribe. The bill was passed by an Act of Congress on June, 28, 1906. It would later be known as the "Osage Allotment Act" which would make the Osage tribe wealthy in years to come with the discovery of oil on the reservation.
James Bigheart died on October 5, 1908. Said to be the richest indian in the United States his estate was worth 3 million dollars upon his death. Known as the "Osage Moses", he took care of many people never turning his back on anyone that needed help. Known for his generosity, he was a mentor to many. He ushered in an educational system to the Osage tribe. Even though many honors were bestowed on James Bigheart he showed no tendency toward pompous display of wealth or power. Bigheart wore modest white men's clothing and spent his life in the interest of matters concerning the Osage Tribe. He was buried in the family cemetery along with other members of his family, cowboys from his ranch and locals that had no other place to be buried. The town of Barnsdall honors James Bigheart every year in May celebrating "Bigheart Day" for his founding of the town and his accomplishments.
This is the legacy that James Bigheart left. The beginning of a new era.
When we think of Bigheart Day most people will think about families getting together, cook outs, high school reunions and the beginning of the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
James Bigheart Signature
But Bigheart Day is more than that, it's a day of honor bestowed to James Bigheart, the towns founder and former Chief of the Osage Nation.
What do we know about James Bigheart and why do we celebrate his life? What kind of man was he and how did he become such a prominent figure for the Osage tribe?
James Bigheart was born in 1835 in an Osage village near the Neosho River, near what is now St. Paul, Kansas. James was an active boy and quite observant, always eager to learn and help out in his tribe.
Fr. John Schoenmakers
In 1847, Father John Schoenmakers opened the first Catholic church in one of two log houses built by the Indian Department for use as a school. With incoming white settlers, it was necessary to build a larger church and school.
Osage Mission Church / Osage Mission School
Father Schoenmaker had the idea that blending Cathoilic and Indian culture would civilize the Osages and help bring about the education of the Osage tribe members.
James met Father Schoenmakers around the age of ten. They became friends and James would soon be learning the ways of the white man, going to school and being taught Christianity. He would soon take up the Catholic faith but still hold on to his Osage culture. Upon his release from school James had become highly academic and became fluent in seven languages. In the following years James would watch as settlers were taking more of the Osage land which discouraged him. Before the Civil War began, James would have two wives and two children. All would die from disease.
As war broke out between the states, James was still with the tribe. He consulted with Father Schoenmakers about the tribe being with the Union or Confederacy. Father Schoenmakers strongly advised James and the tribe to stay with the Union.
Union Enlistment
James travelled to Iola, Kansas and enlists in the Union Army on January 19, 1862 for a period of three years. He joined 1st Lt. Cowley's Company 9 Regiment Kansas Volunteers as a Private. By March 6, 1862, Lt Cowley's Company would be organized into Company I, 9th Regiment of the Kansas Cavalry. James would hold the rank as Private and become one of the regiments teamsters.
June, 1862, James goes on detached service to Fort Laramie. July, 1862, James was on detached service as an escort to Fort Lyon. Returning to his regiment by August 1862, Co. I, 9th Regiment participated in operations against Quantrill on his raid into Kansas including the Brooklyn and Paoli skirmishes and action at Baxter Springs, Kansas.
Kansas Cavalry Uniform
September, 1863, James was absent without leave from Fort Larned. On his return he was confined to the fort from November 1863 to october 1864. During his confinement a tranfer was requested to Fort Leavenworth since there were no facilities at Fort Larned to hold prisoners waiting for trial. November, 1864, James is released from confinement and goes on detached service to Fort Leavenworth until March 1865. Private James Bigheart musters-out of service on March 22, 1865 at Duvalls Bluff, Arkansas.
Muster-Out / Pension
James returned to Osage Mission where he marries Pauline. Together they have two children, Sarah and James. For the next few years James watched as his tribe was slowly being pushed off their land. He would consult with Father Shoenmakers about the white squaters and the new threat of the railroad that wanted the Osage land. Being a diplomatic voice for the Osage tribe James and Father Shoenmakers sent a written protest to Sidney Clark, Representative of the Southeast Kansas District Congress. As a result, the 1868 Drum Creek Treaty came about which stated that any indian tribe was prohibited from selling it's land to no other but the U.S. government. This was the first treaty signed by James Bigheart. The Drum creek treaty also brought about an Act of Congress in 1870 with Executive Document 131 which stated that the Osages would agree to sell the remainder of their land in Kansas and use the proceeds to relocate the tribe to Indian Territory in the Cherokee Outlet.
Osage tribe members at Pawhuska
In 1871 the Osage tribe moved to Silver Lake near what is now Bartlesville but it was learned later they had settled in Cherokee Territory so the tribe moved their agency to the center of their reserve and established their agency in Pawhuska in 1872. James would work for the agency as an interpreter and clerk at this time. The seventeen Osage bands settled in different parts of the reservation. James Bigheart was part of the Beaver Band and his band settled in the Bird Creek area. Fifteen miles southeast of Pawhuska, James would build a cabin on a hill on the east side of Bird Creek overlooking Rosalie Chouteau's village settlement. He also would built a two story trading post on the south bank of Birch Creek where it empties into Bird Creek. The site would also have a butcher shop, blacksmith shop with a livestock corral.
Second Delegation of Osage Indians,
Lawrence, Kansas 1874
By 1874, James began serving his tribe in many capacities. Agency Clerk, Interpreter, Councilman and Delegate. His vision and foresight for his tribe became evident as he worked constantly on trying to improve his tribes way of life.
Old Chief Pawhuska, before his death, appointed Beaver to take his place as Principle Chief. On Beavers death, his sons were too young to to assume the responsibilities of Chief. The Pawhuska band appointed James Bigheart as Principle Chief in 1875. It was also in this year James signed the first blanket oil lease with Edwin Foster for the exploration of oil and gas. As Chief, James watched as white traders would swarm the agency on payment days and collect sums claimed the indians owed them. His tribe members would also cede land for a small amount of money that never reached the Osage land owners. James would lose his son in 1876 and soon after in 1877 his wife Pauline and daughter would die in an epidemic. James would take in his nephew Jacob and niece Margaret to raise and then marry again in 1878 to Anna. During this time James would have two daughters named Jane and Agnes. Unfortunaltely due to illness, Anna died and in 1879. James married Amelia and had two daughters, Josephine and Maggie.
Upset over the years of his tribe members being taken advantage of he persuaded William Conner, a former school mate, to help organize their tribe and draw up a Constitution. It was James idea that doing so would get the attention of Washington officals and the President. Therefore showing the truth about the agents and traders taking advantage of the Osage tribe. The two men set out to inform the tribe of their intentions and by 1881 had brought about the organization of two political parties, the full bloods and the mixed bloods. The political parties were organized and the Osage nation was divided into five districts. Each district sent three members to National Council. The National Council met at Pawhuska, drew up a constitution and organized a tribal government after the Federal government. The Constitution also stated a new chief would be voted into office every two years instead of chieftainships being passed down from father to son. James Bigheart signed the Constitution as President of the National Council. The first election was held in 1882 and James Bigheart was elected Chief of the Osage Nation.
Chief James Bigheart
As Chief, James was first to sanction appropriations for schools, alloting land for St. John School for boys near Grayhorse and St. Louis School for girls at Pawhuska. He fought the Quakers who wanted to remove Osage children from local Catholic schools and send them to government schools. James was the only indian at the time granted a license to bring whiskey into the reservation. This privilege was granted to him by the Secretary of the Interior, Ethan Allen Hitchcock. Prior to that James was arrested for serving alcohol to Washington officials at his home. During 1881, he lost his wife Amelia to sickness, he would later marry Humpsehanca in 1882 and have a daughter with her named Mary Magdalene. Both would die later of illness.
James Bigheart (colorized)
Also in this year, as part of the payment for ceded lands in Kansas, the government would begin to ration cattle to the Osage tribe. James recognized the possibility of grazing cattle on the reservations bluestem grass and knowing that some of his tribe members did not want to be troubled with the care of livestock he set out a few days before the allotment and offered cash for their allotted cattle. When the cattle arrived, James sent cowboys to Pawhuska and Guthrie to drive the cattle to his ranch. From this small beginning with alloted cattle he built up his ranch. Along with his mercantile business, James also had ownership in Pawhuska's leading drug store, became a director in the Bank of Bartlesville and First National Bank of Cleveland and a stock holder in the Citizens Trading Company of Pawhuska. James would become the wealthiest man of his tribe. His ranch home was the center of all his activities, being a two story structure built in an "L" shape, it had a covered breezeway on the lower porch and two dinning rooms for entertaining. It was built on top of the hill near the family cemetery. The ranch served as a place to entertain his guests and government dignitaries where feasts, barbecues and dances were held. James would often be seen dancing the polka or schottische. A small schoolhouse was constructed on the Bigheart property where all the furniture was homemade. He had hired a private teacher for his children and even the cowboys on his ranch to be educated. Among all the buildings built on the property only the large barn with a hay loft remains of the original ranch.
The Osages and Cherokees had a strong dislike for each other and in 1884 James would find love in the Cherokee nation. James was known to the Cherokees as Chief of the Osages and a rancher. It was his ranching that would help in his quest for a new bride. James set out for Cherokee Territory and arrived at the home of Jennie Grass, the mother of Alice Grass. James would make the usual arrangements for the marriage with the girls mother and in the marriage settlement James gave a wagon, a team, one cow and two pigs for his bride. Upon delivery of the goods and livestock, James gathered his bride and started his return to the ranch. As word spread of the Osage Chief taking a Cherokee bride, the Cherokee "light horse" police sprang into action and pursued James and his bride back to the Osage Reservation. Unable to overtake the two, the Cherokees gave up the chase and returned home.
Alice Bigheart
At the time James took Alice for his wife, he was 41 years old, Alice was 13. With such an age difference between the two, Alice was not fond of James. Even as he showered her with gifts from his trips to Washington over the years, she would never fall in love with him. In the years to come, James and Alice would have four children, Mary, Rosa, Sarah and Isabella.
In the years to come James would accomplish a Federal investigation of the Osage Indian rolls to eliminate those not entitled to Osage property rights. In 1893 the Dawes Commission, set up under an Indian Office appropriation bill was created to try and persuade tribes to agree to allotment plans. James opposed the allotment of Osage land and fought the Allotment Bill for ten years making many trips to Washington to speak with Congress. While holding off the allotment bill, James would sign a ten year blanket lease to the Foster brothers for oil and gas exploration on the Osage reservation.
Chief Bigheart Inauguration 1902
James Bigheart was voted in as Chief and in 1902 he was inaugurated on the steps of the Osage council house which is now Pawhuska's City Hall. A big barbeque was held at the expense of the Chief and a dance was held at the Indian Camp. As the year came to an end what would transform in the following year would begin the evolution of the town of Bigheart. Charles Ingersoll, an industrialist from Pennsylvania was looking for a railroad passage from Arkansas into Kansas. The route would bring the railway through the Osage reservation. As the construction began in Arkansas, representatives of the Midland Valley Railroad would come to Bigheart's ranch to get permission to cross through the reservation. The Chief would give permission and in the matter, it would cross over the Bigheart property. 1904 saw the introduction of the Osage Allotment Bill in the House of Representatives. James, along with other members of the osage government would travel to Washington to oppose the bill.
Valentine Purchase
During his time in Washington, James would conduct the largest purchase of valentines known at the time. With some of his tribe members James walked into a book shop and purchased all the valentines in the store. He would have them sent to members of the Osage tribe and all the prominent statesmen whom he had met on his travels in Washington. A local paper called the Inter Ocean Post, gathered up the story which claimed James spent $520. In todays money that is equal to $13,800. As the allotment bill was stalled once again, James and his delegation returned home.
In the following election, James was defeated by Progressive candidate O-lo-ho-walla. Although he was no longer Chief, James was still consulted on the affairs of the tribe, he would spend his time on the ranch with his family and conduct the affairs of his mecrcantile business and banking activities. In 1905, H.H. Brenner a Pawhuska banker, travelled to Washington to negotiate with congress to have 5 townsites built in the Osage reservation. One of which would be the townsite of Bigheart. Congress approved the townsites and surveying for the town began near the Bigheart trading post. It was found the land was prone to flooding so the townsite was moved north to where Rosalie Chouteau had her indian settlement west of Bird Creek and James Bighearts home. Bigheart would become a town on March 5, 1905 with a post office and depot set up on the Midland valley railroad line.
1906 Washington Delegation
In 1906, the Allotment bill came up in Congress and Bigheart learned that O-lo-ho-walla's delegates planned on passing the bill as it was introduced in 1904. Bigheart and Fred Lookout travelled to Washington to meet with the O-lo-ho-walla delegation. Bigheart succeeded in having the rider clause introduced that saved all the minerals below the surface for the tribe. While on his way to conduct the voting for the bill, James was attacked and beaten which cause a stroke. He would spend months in a Washington hospital before being well enough to travel back home. As a result of the attack, James would suffer from paralysis. Though his mobility was confined to his home he still consulted with the tribal government on the affairs of the Osage tribe. The bill was passed by an Act of Congress on June, 28, 1906. It would later be known as the "Osage Allotment Act" which would make the Osage tribe wealthy in years to come with the discovery of oil on the reservation.
James Bigheart
James Bigheart died on October 5, 1908. Said to be the richest indian in the United States his estate was worth 3 million dollars upon his death. Known as the "Osage Moses", he took care of many people never turning his back on anyone that needed help. Known for his generosity, he was a mentor to many. He ushered in an educational system to the Osage tribe. Even though many honors were bestowed on James Bigheart he showed no tendency toward pompous display of wealth or power. Bigheart wore modest white men's clothing and spent his life in the interest of matters concerning the Osage Tribe. He was buried in the family cemetery along with other members of his family, cowboys from his ranch and locals that had no other place to be buried. The town of Barnsdall honors James Bigheart every year in May celebrating "Bigheart Day" for his founding of the town and his accomplishments.
This is the legacy that James Bigheart left. The beginning of a new era.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Absolution: A movie review
I like action movies as long as they have a good plot and decent acting. Tonight I reviewed a movie that I knew was going to be a copy of all the movies this actor has made. Steven Seagal in his latest movie called Absolution. A story about a covert government agency that has their own private contract killer to rid the world of unsavory characters. As like all Seagal movies this one is no different. Breaking out the kill counter, I sat through the 90 minutes or so run of typical Seagalisms.
As in the past, I've written about Steven and his redundant movie plots. To amuse myself before the movie began, I made a pre-movie check list to see if all my predictions would come true. First I wrote down all the main characters names and placed a a "K" and "F" by their name for kill or fight.
I added all minor characters, such as good guys or bad guys and their worth to the movie. Explosions, firearms and vehicles were also in the mix. I was now ready to start watching the movie. Here is what I observed:
John, Main Character (Seagal)- Kills: 17 Fights: 6 Weapons: 3 pistols, 1 shotgun, 1 knife
Chi, Main Character ( Johns Cohort) - Kills: 9 Fights: 9 Weapons: 1 pistol, 1 knife
Van Horn, Minor Character (Bad Guy) - Kills: 1 Fights: 1 Weapons: 1 pistol, 1 knife, 1 pipe
Sergei, Minor Character (Johns Friend) - Died of unknown causes
Nadia, Minor Character ( Girl on the run) - Kills: 1 Weapons: 1 pistol
Woman in hospital bed (Johns wife?) -Presumed died in hospital of some disease (only seen in Johns daydreams.
Non Essential Goons: Killed: 25
Vehicles: Trucks, SUV's, cars. All black
Explosions: 1 Building, 1 SUV
As the typical Seagal movie goes. he's a quiet guy that has his friends or loved ones die. He retaliates and kills everyone in sight to achieve his goal of not being the bad guy even though he is a bad guy (contract killer) in the movie. The only noticable thing different in this movie is that there were no military aircraft. And in all movies Seagal has made there is at least one walk away from all the chaos that he's left behind. If you like Seagal movies, by all means please watch this one. It shows an out of shape Seagal wearing an overcoat most of the time to hide his girth, plus he doesn't move like a graceful ballerina in his fight scenes. He rarely removes his fancy shades and in all his military style invasive moves to gain the upper hand on the bad guys you can see the training he has received as a real life Sheriff in Louisiana. It's like watching an episode of Cops. By the way, never emerge from an elevator or jump out from behind a wall or doorway. Seagal will shoot you in the head. The guy never misses. Oh....I shouldn't forget that he gets the girl in the end. Imagine that! Unbeleivable. If you do watch the movie wait for the part where he goes out to buy clothes for this run away woman. Without knowing her size or what she would like to wear, he brings back two bags of clothes and the next time the woman appears she's wear a nice ensemble of tight leather pants and form fitting shirt, all black.....of course! Steven knows about womans leather clothes. LOL
Overall, I'll give this movie a 2 out of 5 stars. And a 2 is pushing it!
As in the past, I've written about Steven and his redundant movie plots. To amuse myself before the movie began, I made a pre-movie check list to see if all my predictions would come true. First I wrote down all the main characters names and placed a a "K" and "F" by their name for kill or fight.
I added all minor characters, such as good guys or bad guys and their worth to the movie. Explosions, firearms and vehicles were also in the mix. I was now ready to start watching the movie. Here is what I observed:
John, Main Character (Seagal)- Kills: 17 Fights: 6 Weapons: 3 pistols, 1 shotgun, 1 knife
Chi, Main Character ( Johns Cohort) - Kills: 9 Fights: 9 Weapons: 1 pistol, 1 knife
Van Horn, Minor Character (Bad Guy) - Kills: 1 Fights: 1 Weapons: 1 pistol, 1 knife, 1 pipe
Sergei, Minor Character (Johns Friend) - Died of unknown causes
Nadia, Minor Character ( Girl on the run) - Kills: 1 Weapons: 1 pistol
Woman in hospital bed (Johns wife?) -Presumed died in hospital of some disease (only seen in Johns daydreams.
Non Essential Goons: Killed: 25
Vehicles: Trucks, SUV's, cars. All black
Explosions: 1 Building, 1 SUV
As the typical Seagal movie goes. he's a quiet guy that has his friends or loved ones die. He retaliates and kills everyone in sight to achieve his goal of not being the bad guy even though he is a bad guy (contract killer) in the movie. The only noticable thing different in this movie is that there were no military aircraft. And in all movies Seagal has made there is at least one walk away from all the chaos that he's left behind. If you like Seagal movies, by all means please watch this one. It shows an out of shape Seagal wearing an overcoat most of the time to hide his girth, plus he doesn't move like a graceful ballerina in his fight scenes. He rarely removes his fancy shades and in all his military style invasive moves to gain the upper hand on the bad guys you can see the training he has received as a real life Sheriff in Louisiana. It's like watching an episode of Cops. By the way, never emerge from an elevator or jump out from behind a wall or doorway. Seagal will shoot you in the head. The guy never misses. Oh....I shouldn't forget that he gets the girl in the end. Imagine that! Unbeleivable. If you do watch the movie wait for the part where he goes out to buy clothes for this run away woman. Without knowing her size or what she would like to wear, he brings back two bags of clothes and the next time the woman appears she's wear a nice ensemble of tight leather pants and form fitting shirt, all black.....of course! Steven knows about womans leather clothes. LOL
Overall, I'll give this movie a 2 out of 5 stars. And a 2 is pushing it!
Sunday, March 29, 2015
The Barnsdall Mayoral Vote
On April 7th of 2015, voters will go to the polls to cast their vote on the next Mayor. Two candidates are on the ballot for this position, J.D. Cole and Brock Moore. You have to ask yourself, who would best serve Barnsdall in it's present condition. I say condition because the city is far from being a shiny spot on your local "want to visit" places. Don't get me wrong, Barnsdall is a great place to live, it's just managed wrong and when management takes a dive so does the infrastructure that the city must have in order to operate.
Now, back to the candidates. First of all I have seen J. D. work well for the city in the past but over the last term of office I feel his dedication to Barnsdall's problems have become lackluster. Streets are in bad shape, sewer and water lines need replaced and the overall look of the town has become that of a hobo village. The way I see it, it's not the fault of the city workers. They do as they are instructed and if there is no instruction with leadership then there is a failure to improve. I also hear about the city finances being low or non existent so there aren't funds for capital improvements. When I hear this, it also comes back to management. There are grants that can be obtained for small city governments to improve their infrastructure. My question is this, has the present Mayor looked into any of these programs? And what about city finances? There was a time when the local newspaper would print what was going on the city government such as meeting minutes and monthly business tax intake. Now there is nothing, so there isn't any local knowledge as to how the city is operating.
Do I think the present administration is doing well with it's efforts to improve the city? No, easy answer. I haven't even heard of any future improvements that are on the agenda for repair or replacement if J.D. is elected back into office and if it's the same as what is on the list of projects that he presently has, then his list is as long as a blank sheet of paper. A Mayor cannot become complacent with his job and expect anything good to come out of it.
Candidate Brock Moore took the reign of city council and has seen the present situation the city is in. He has felt the need for improvement in many areas the city is lacking in. He has also stated what he would like to change in city government. Is he the candidate that has what is needed? That is yet to be seen until he is elected but the way I see it, there is more opportunity in what he has planned than someone that has had years of opportunity and hasn't done anything. To move the city forward a change is needed. It may not come over night but improvement takes time after things have been let go for so long. Brock wants change and improvement in the city. I agree with that. Moving forward with new ideas and management can be good for the city. The present way of doing business is clearly not working. If you want to know more about what Brock wants to improve on, contact him on Facebook. I would personally give Brock a chance in the drivers seat for four years, our present administration is driving from the back seat and we all know what happens back there, a lot of lip work and no action.
Barnsdall needs change, Barnsdall needs improvement. I guess this is my formal endorsement to vote for Brock. If he can manage and direct the city then maybe Barnsdall has a chance to become better than what it is. I'm not going to vote for someone that has no vision for the future, the past four years has shown me that. It's time for accountability, change and improvement. It's time for a new Mayor.
Vote Brock Moore on April 7th.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Superfluous Seagal Cinema
Everyone has a type of movie that they like to watch. For me it's action movies. If the plot is good and the acting of a caliber that keeps me tuned in, I'll see a movie through to the end, but if the plot and acting is below par it doesn't take long before I will cut the film off before it's prime. There are even some actors and action movies I'll refuse to watch just because of the redundant content they continue to spurt out. Of those action movies, one actor and his movies stand out among the others. Steven Seagal.
If there any Seagal fans out there that like this genre of garbage, I'll apologize for the upcoming observations that make one of his movies just as boring and redundant as the last one he produced.
Observation:
1: Steven Seagal has starred in or co-starred in 43 movies. Of those movies he has produced or help produce 39 of those movies.
2: Steven Seagals movie characters are for the most part associated with being in law enforcement or the military. Such as:
Former Navy Seal (two times)
Former CIA Agent
CIA Covert
CIA Agent
Former Covert Agent
Interpol Agent
Former Special Forces Operative
Thief (two times)
Cop (four times)
Former Cop
Detective (two times)
Air Force Pilot
Environmental Agent (two times)
Vietnam Vet
DEA Agent
Military Dr.
Explosives Expert
FBI Agent
Freelance Agent
Mercenary (two times)
Task Force Leader
Former Russian Diplomat
Vigilante
Professor of Archeology (I can't beleive this one)
Vampire Slayer (HA! HA!)
3: Steven Seagal movie posters have common things. Such as:
Seagals Face
Pistols
Shotguns
Automaic Rifles
Samuri Swords
Explosions
Military Aircraft
And.......The Three Words Or Less Movie Title
4: Steven Seagal always has at least one or two and sometimes three hand to hand fight scenes in every movie he's in.
5: Many of the people that are associated with Steven Seagals characters die.
6: Movie titles have a dark or sinister occuring theme words. Such as:
Dead
Deadly (two times)
Die
Death
Dark (four times)
Shadow
Black
Kill (four times)
Seige (two times)
Man (three times)
Fire
Wounds
Beast
Mercenary
Attack
Fury
Whipped
Warfare
Lethal
Wars
Here's some irony on the title words. Taking the most used words in each title I've come up with a movie title that covers all Steven Seagals movies. ( Dark Man's Deadly Kill Seige). I think that covers all his movies in a nutshell.
Anyone can make a Seagal movie all you need to do is make a movie poster to start with. Make sure the poster has his face on it with him holding a pistol. Have an explosion in the background and place a number of military aircraft in it. Have the plot kill off anyone that knows him. Have him track down the opposing force, killing everyone in his path and destroying anything that doesn't have any redeeming value. Have at least one fight scene where he beats the crap out of some low life. And at the end of the movie have him walk away like it was just a normal day at the office.
If there any Seagal fans out there that like this genre of garbage, I'll apologize for the upcoming observations that make one of his movies just as boring and redundant as the last one he produced.
Observation:
1: Steven Seagal has starred in or co-starred in 43 movies. Of those movies he has produced or help produce 39 of those movies.
2: Steven Seagals movie characters are for the most part associated with being in law enforcement or the military. Such as:
Former Navy Seal (two times)
Former CIA Agent
CIA Covert
CIA Agent
Former Covert Agent
Interpol Agent
Former Special Forces Operative
Thief (two times)
Cop (four times)
Former Cop
Detective (two times)
Air Force Pilot
Environmental Agent (two times)
Vietnam Vet
DEA Agent
Military Dr.
Explosives Expert
FBI Agent
Freelance Agent
Mercenary (two times)
Task Force Leader
Former Russian Diplomat
Vigilante
Professor of Archeology (I can't beleive this one)
Vampire Slayer (HA! HA!)
3: Steven Seagal movie posters have common things. Such as:
Seagals Face
Pistols
Shotguns
Automaic Rifles
Samuri Swords
Explosions
Military Aircraft
And.......The Three Words Or Less Movie Title
4: Steven Seagal always has at least one or two and sometimes three hand to hand fight scenes in every movie he's in.
5: Many of the people that are associated with Steven Seagals characters die.
6: Movie titles have a dark or sinister occuring theme words. Such as:
Dead
Deadly (two times)
Die
Death
Dark (four times)
Shadow
Black
Kill (four times)
Seige (two times)
Man (three times)
Fire
Wounds
Beast
Mercenary
Attack
Fury
Whipped
Warfare
Lethal
Wars
Here's some irony on the title words. Taking the most used words in each title I've come up with a movie title that covers all Steven Seagals movies. ( Dark Man's Deadly Kill Seige). I think that covers all his movies in a nutshell.
Anyone can make a Seagal movie all you need to do is make a movie poster to start with. Make sure the poster has his face on it with him holding a pistol. Have an explosion in the background and place a number of military aircraft in it. Have the plot kill off anyone that knows him. Have him track down the opposing force, killing everyone in his path and destroying anything that doesn't have any redeeming value. Have at least one fight scene where he beats the crap out of some low life. And at the end of the movie have him walk away like it was just a normal day at the office.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)