MEANS "RED PEOPLE"
The much mooted question as in the origin and meaning of the name "Oklahoma" has again been worrying the people of the two territories. For the benefit of those who do not know, The Eagle publishes the following from J.J. Murrow, who is posted on Indian lore, having been a preacher among the Five Civilised Tribes for a long time: Oklahoma is not a Comanche word and does not mean "Land of the Fair God", as many persist in claiming. It is a pure Choctaw word and means "Red People". "Okla" means people, and "homa" means red. The name was given to the country by Governor Allen Wright, chief of the Choctaws in 1866, when the United States government treated with all the Five Tribes - Duncan Eagle.
We acknowledge receipt of an invitation extended by the regents and faculty to participate in the exercises of the Fourteenth Annual commencment of the University of Oklahoma, at Norman, June 2 to June 8.
A gentleman from Asher informs us that the rate of taxation there is $5. on the $100., and that is has been $7.50 on the $100. Statehood will cost nearly as much as it is worth if it comes that high.
There was a baptising on Sandy last Sunday.
Eula Odom was on the sick list last week.
A little baby of Mr. Willis is on the sick list.
A.D. Patterson made a flying trip to Davis, last week.
Wesley Cunningham entertained quite a crowd at his house Wednesday night.
Claude Patterson had his shoulder thrown out of place caused by a ratchet breaking on a harrow that he was operating.
There is another new gang of railroad hands camped between Warn Bowers and Midland. And they are now at work on the new road.
Lee Yeager and family spent Saturday and Sunday with L.P. Yeager and family. They visited the concrete works and report a good time while in camp.
If you want to see a fine milch cow just call on John Loyd. He says he has a cow with six teats that gives a gallon of milk from each teat. She is not for sale.
CENTER
The young mens debating society meets every Saturday night.
Rev. J.N. Butler has gone to Decatur, Ill., to attend the Synod.
Miss Fletcher of Roff, has been visiting Miss Winnie Butler the past week.
The young people enjoyed a fruit supper at Joe Coggins' Wednesday night.
Bascom Southard and Ed Clubb of McGee, were visiting here Sunday.
Miss Winnie Rado who has been visiting her aunt, Mrs. J.J. Copeland, has returned to her home in Ada.
Mrs. Charleton and children who have been visiting the family of Dr. Craig, have returned to their home in Konawa.
We have on of the best Sunday schools in the Choctaw Nation. Our average attendance for each Sunday for the first quarter this year was 60.
Dr. Anstell and family, and Arthur Anstell, nephew, have returned from Memphis, Tenn, where the Dr. was attending a medical and his nephew a business college.
The young men of the town organized a kangaroo court at the school house Tuesday night. They had a lively time trying a young man for stealing a chicken. The defendant was acquitted.
Herman Southard, who is attending school here, visited home folks Saturday. - Patrick.
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES
Bud Martin and family visited at Tom Vanhorn's Sunday. Martin reported some of the farmers chopping cotton and the corn looking fine. He has erected a new buggy shed at his place and says if anyone wants carpenter work done, to give him a chance.
I and the children went fishing the other day and caught about 100 lbs. of fish. We had fish for breakfast, dinner and supper, and then threw fish away. I have 1,200 cabbage plants set out, and as many more to put out yet. We take the McGee paper and like it fine. We have a hen 11 years old that has laid the eggs and hatched out a brood of 21 chickens. She is black muff.
L. Loyd.
C.F. Mayo of Asher, was here Saturday.
C.D. Fleet says his father will work - sometimes.
W.M. Mitchell, of Pauls Valley, was in town Saturday.
W.W. and Leonard Hyden went to Pauls Valley Friday.
Richard Griffin of Hart, was the guest of Dr. Widener Sunday.
Ella, little daughter of West L. Cunningham was sick this week.
G.L. Wicoxson, of near Byars, was here Saturday on business.
Mrs. Jno. G. Keller is visiting her mother in Box, O.T., this week.
G.E. Smith tells us that they had a big rain south of town Saturday.
Lee Yeager and lady visited his father and mother of Midland, Sunday.
Butler Cottingham of Wanette, is visiting at Bert Eldredge's this week.
It seems to be admitted that McGee is the cheapest place to buy goods.
Division Engineer Finch, of the Oklahoma Central was in town Saturday.
Roy Wright and Sam Hyden attended the ball at Byars, Thursday enening.
Lee Yeager, our popular barber, went to Asher, O.T., on business Monday.
James Purcell of Pottawatomie County, O.T., was here on business Saturday.
Charlie Goodwin and sister, Miss Walsie, attended the ball at Byars, Thursday.
Elder T.S. Nowlin of Elmore, will preach at the Christian Church in McGee, Sunday.
The Primitive Baptists will hold a meeting the first Saturday and Sunday in June.
Quite a number of our young society people attended the ball at Byars Thursday night.
I.N. Townsley has the finest photographer's lens that can be had. His pictures show it.
Dr. S.S. Widener has moved his family from Hart, and now occupies the Dr. Pat Shi residence.
C.A. Cole and family ow Wanette, O.T., moved here Friday. He will work in Park's barber shop.
M.M. Ledford brought in a specimin of his oat crop that was very fine, the heads being long and well filled.
Mrs. A.P. Hayes returned from Fitzhugh Thursday. She reports that Berryman Eldredge's family has the smallpox.
J.F. Hayes and wife, of Purcell, were at the McGee Hotel, Sunday, on their return from a visit in the Choctaw Nation.
Walter Strickland says only one thing troubles him - someone has sowed his cotton patch down to millet, or it may be crab grass.
Misses Stella McConnell and Ruby Anderson, of Hart, returned home Sunday, after several days visit with the family of Dr. Widener.
H.A. Cummings has a plant near Midland for the manfacture of artificial stone. We will tell our readers more about it in the near future.
T.R. Gabbert, J.F. Dunaway and Earl Yates of Roff, and J.W. Yates, of Lehigh, were here Tuesday. Earl and J.W. Yates ordered the News sent to them. Earl Yates was investigating the matter of moving the houses tot he new townsite. He will purchase a complete steam power house moving outfit for the purpose.
Bert Quillian went to Center, Sunday.
L. Bingweager of Johnson, was in town Sunday.
Prof. W.C. Johnson closed his school at Hart, Friday.
Mrs. Prentice Smith, of Byars, is reported quite sick at the home of A.C. Cromer.
A large number of McGee people are attending court in Pauls Valley this week.
Judge Joe A. Edwards returned Sunday from Muskogee, where he had been on business.
The Canadian Midland surveyors are near Wagoner trying to locate a crossing on the Canadian.
W.A. Brumley went out to the railroad grade Sunday. He tells us crops are looking well and generally clear of weeds and grass.
Blue Loyd tells us that G.P. Yeager believes in storms. When the cloud comes up he hustles his wife and the other members of the family to the dug out in double quick time.
W.T. Price says he will show you on trade day, in McGee, one two year old, one one year old, and one sucking colt from the Hazelwood horse, against all comers as the best colts.
P.L. Clubb says the farmers have been working the roads in this neighborhood a few miles south of town. That they are going to have some more section lines opened up soon.
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL - Saturday a devastating hail fell on Peavine Creek, six miles southwest of McGee, extending nearly to Pauls Valley. Many crops were entirely destroyed.
D.G. Thomas is at Pauls Valley on the grand jury this week. He plowed his whole crop over last week and this week in preperation for the trip.
Walter Strickland was caught with two newly sharpened plows Monday, and at first tried to take the credit of using them himself, but finally had to admit he was teaching his boy to plow.
A number of people from near Hart were trading in town last week. Among the names we caught W.A. Lindsey, D. Hall, E. Carter, Paul Gerrard, Joe Peirson, George Hall, and Albert Roberts.
J.F. Griffin and wife visited at Geo. Calton's, near Chism, Sunday. They had a great time, gathered lots of wild strawberries and ate strawberry pie. The only regretable thing about the item is that this scribe does not know how the pie tasted.
Mr. C.L. Griffin informs us that his brother, S.P. Griffin, was to be married at Dennison, Wednesday, to Mrs. Koettel of Mississippi, and they are to be at home, ten miles north of McGee, today. A spice of romance attaches to the union, the acquaintance having began through correspondence. Mr. Griffin is one of our substantial farmers.
YOUNGEST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER - Maurice H. Merrill, the 8 year old son of G.W. Merrill, is probably the youngest publisher of a paper in the Territory. It is a weekly paper.
Mrs. Frances Binswanger visited Mrs. Alice Roberts, 6 miles south of town, last Saturday. She and her hostess gathered three gallons of the lucious wild strawberries, native to this country.
Kennedy Bros. Show exhibited to a good audience here Monday night. They had some good features. The slack wire and trapeze work was fine while the little girl was a wonderful contortionist. The blackface clown was also good. The managers are "alright".
BIG WASHOUT - R.D. Martin tells us an unusually heavy rain fell Saturday on Sandy, below Clabber Flat. A large acreage of crops was ruined and some fencing washed away. Mr. Martin says it washed out ground poles in his fence that had been there probably fifteen years.
The Davis Drug Store, McGee, I.T., managed by C.O. Wright, registered pharmacist, has opened up a first class drug store and solicits a liberal share of your patronage. C.O. Wright the prescriptionist, is too well, and favorably known here to require any formal introduction, and will, as heretofore, serve the people to the best of his ability, giving them the best goods for the least possible profit.
A.M. Jackson has the thanks of the News for the beautiful boquet of roses. The pure white and red, of all shades from scarlet to delicate pink, mingled artistically with green leaves, delights the eye. Its unrivalled fragrance, like a benidiction in our workshop, seems prophetic of a twentieth century time to come when higher and purer pleasures will displace much that now puts our civilization to blush. The rose is truely the queen of flowers.
TRADE DAY-Our friends are responding to our request to show their stock on trade day. Messrs. Gilliland and son will exhibit a Hereford bull and Poland-China hogs. W.D. Hayes will show a five month old game pullet as the blue ribbon layer. Ollie Boatright will have some Barred Plymouth Rock chickens.