Weston Wednesday: An interview with Mary Ellis of Ochelata, Part 1

Editor's Note: In collaboration with the Bartlesville Area History Museum, the Examiner-Enterprise has revived the late Edgar Weston's 'Revisiting the Past' columns that ran in the newspaper from 1997-99. Weston's columns recount the history of Bartlesville as well as Washington, Nowata and Osage counties.

Mary M. Ellis was born April 12, 1884 in Mayes County, I.T., near where Pryor is now located. Her father, Robert Morrison, was born in 1857 in Lynn County, Iowa and is now living in Ochelata, at the age of 80 years. Her mother, Susan McCoy Morrison Weston was born in 1866 near Sallisaw, Indian Territory and is now living in Bartlesville, at the age of 71 years. She is one-fourth Cherokee Indian. 

Ellis' first home was on a farm in Mayes County. The Morrison's ranch house, like all others, in this section of the Indian Territory, was a two-room house built of logs, with a porch on two sides. The house was a double log house with a hallway through the center. The north side was boarded up with clapboard. This house was located near the old Dalton home, near Pryor. The nearest trading posts were Chelsea, I.T., and Coffeyville, Kan. They only went to town twice a year, and at that time they bought supplies to last six months. 

They always went to the creek to do the laundry. When Mary was about 12 years old they lived about 21/2 miles northwest of Ochelata. On this place there was what they called a second creek bank, where they did their laundry. They had large iron kettles lined on the inside with white enamel that they used to boil their clothes in. When they were finished, the kettles were tied to a tree and the tubs were wired to the fence nearby so they would not wash away if the creek should overflow. 

Everything was free cattle range with no fences. Their range extended from Glenoak, located east of Bartlesville in Washington County to Skiatook in Tulsa County. 

Cattle raising has existed in the United States since the early colonial days. It was first started along the eastern coast, but was replaced by agriculture and forced to move westward. 

After the buffalo were slaughtered, leaving the vast pasture lands without animals to consume the excellent grass, this was an ideal place for the cattlemen. 

The Plains Indians were placed on reservations in the Indian Territory. They had depended upon buffalo for their livelihood, for food, clothing and shelter, and after the disappearance of the herd, the Plains Indians were comparatively easy to keep upon the reservations, where they were fed by the government of the United States. This made it possible for the ranchman to occupy the region with some degree of safety. 

The Indian Territory was a splendid area for the ranching industry, considering the climate, soil and land system. The winters were mild, enabling the cattle to feed on open range throughout the year. The soil produced a good quality of grass and the free range for the cattle made this popular cattle country. 

This new country was thinly settled and was not used for agriculture, another advantage of grazing the herds. The water supply was fairly abundant. 

The Morrison's had their disadvantages to face also. The hungry Indians sometimes made a raid on the ranchmen and the cattle rustlers were to be dealt with. There was no protection of the law, and the cattlemen were forced to live by their own law - their faithful Winchester and six shooters. 

Mr. Morrison owned a small ranch with about 500 head of cattle. His brand was "RM". Lon Everetts and John Legal were two of his cowboys. Captain DeNoya, a Texas cowman, also stayed at their place. 

Mr. Morrison had worked on the Kansas, before his marriage. Their Robert L. Owens Ranch, south of Caney, brand was "OH". 

The cowboy's work took him out in all kinds of weather, and he was at home in the saddle, as he spent long hours on horseback, riding the range and looking after the cattle. 

The stock were much different from the peaceful quiet cattle of this age, they were small, wild creatures that were liable to become unruly at times. The cowboy's duty was to "ride fence" and keep it in repair. Often the ride would last for two to three days. The cowboy then would cook his grub over a camp fire and roll up in his blanket and sleep under the stars. 

The roundup was held in the spring and fall of each year. At this time, each ranch sent their outfit to the roundup. The cattle were driven together in one big herd, then divided into smaller herds, where the calves were branded. Each ranch had their individual brand and the calf was determined by the brand of its mother. 

The calf was then thrown, tied down and the red hot branding iron applied to its side. Unidentified calves were known as "mavericks" and were divided among the different cattlemen. 

A minimum of at least two horses for each cowboy was necessary. When one horse was tired out, the rider roped another and continued with his work. 

The chuck wagon was another important feature of the roundup. The cook served hot coffee and meals at all hours. 

When the outfit left for the roundup, we never knew when they would return, nor how many of them would return.  

The cowboy felt the responsibility of his herd and fought for them as if they belonged to him. Any differences to be settled between their employer and another outfit, was an individual battle for each loyal cowboy.