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1 Notice of Copyright Published and unpublished materials may be protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code). Any copies of published and unpublished materials provided by the Western History Collections are for research, scholarship, and study purposes only.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 Citing Resources from the Western History Collections For citations in published or unpublished papers, this repository should be listed as the Western History Collections, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma.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 AHMSTROMO, KKNT S. INTttVXIW

3 - 8 - Form A-(S-14 r j) BIOGRAPHY FORM WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION Indian-Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma ABM3TBWO, OMT 0«- OTlHVIIi Field Worker*s name This rejjort made on (date) mroh 91, '2. 3, Name Post Office Address Residence address (or loc DATE OF BIRTH: ' Month Place of birth Kta% 8. nt ion) lormbtr AiMtroac Lwrton, CkXabc a. 801 H. Day - Vf - Year Name of Father Place of birth Other informat ion about father 7. Name.of Mother Place of birth Other information about mother Notes or complete narrative by the field worker dealing with the life and story of the person interviewed* Refer to Manual for su^ested subjects and questions. Continue on blank sheets if necessary and attach firmly to this form* Number of sheets attached

4 103 ARM5TBQ8Q, DMT 8. - TMTOtnWI Ophalla D.~ Inraatlgator. India* Pionaar History - S~149. Maroh SI, Intarriaw with Kant 3. Araatrong. 801 H Avanua, Lawton, Oklahoma., I vat bora In Oklahoma City 1 B 1890, and about tht first thing I oan ramabar, aapaolally about tha Indiana, waa that a rumor got out that tha Indiana wara going to kill araryoaa thara. I guaaa I was flva or six yaars old. This frlfhtanad all tha paopla and tha nan wara wall on gaard. Sura anou^i, wa aaw tha Indiana eoslnf and whan tfiay o«aa to tha adga of tha town, thay partad, half going onf way and half tha othar way until thay aat on tha othar alda, than thay roda on togathar. oara. - i That waa tha laat of that Indian ttian I waa aaran yaara old ay family aotad to Slloaa Sprlnga, Arkanaaa, In a eorarad wagon. My fathar QITIT thought of.tha dangara and waa not auppllad aa ha ahould hara baan, going through auoh woodad oouatry. Aa wa wara dritlng through Indian Territory, aany, many \imam wa would aaa graraa baalla tha road, \T%m and plaosd at tha haad of tha graraa* A eroaa would ba aada of amall Saalng ao aany aa wa want along, Mothar wantad to go baok, for wa didn't

5 ABM3TR0RG, KBIT S. - INTBB7UW know what the many gravea meant. We stoppad and were debating whether to turn baek or not whan wa aaw a train of oovered wagons. AM they drove up, wa ware ao glad to aaa they ware white people and wa want on together. My brother and I drove the last wagon of this oovared wagon train. While driving along one day, a negro maa came from out of the eorn field near the roadside after all the other wagona had already paaaed. It waa almoat night and he got in our wagon, looking at the gun at wa drove along. Wa oamped soon, taking the horaea out to fead and water tham, while the woman prepared aupper. The negro nan want with us to water the horaaa. This negro walked off toward the timber, then turned around with hla gun. My father, who waa a one-armed man, had hit gun on him and, watching the aegro maa, made him bring hla gun to him. father emptied it, giving it back and told him*not to let him aaa him load the gun or have it out again. The man said "Wall", than walked off again about the same distanoe, turned around and oontlnuad "Wall, I'll aaa you all tonight". The man stood on guard all night but nothing happened. The next day wa travailed on for about four milaa and while driving up a high hill, wa aaw a negro man walking in

6 , tan s. - nmwrisw. H> front of a house, guarding it* Aa we oame nearer he said, "Don't stop; we doa't allow any white people here", and sure drove on. ' - '. -**- Soon the other families in IbijTwagon train had to top or go in another.direction and they triad to gat ua to not go, an^.-wther, telling ue they knew we had the worst go through yet. They oould not persuade my father to turn baak ao they aaked him to write them if we did get throttgfcja.il right whioh he promised to do. We arrived aafely at Siloa* Springe, but did not stay very long there, ao sty father never did write back, thought we ware all killed. I am sura theae people On oar way back, we'wera attacked by a band of six Indian man* While aooe of fthe older members of our femily wera on guard all night loag, it happened while rather waa guarding, the Indiana had flipped up, tied their boraaa near caap, and ease tip before father heard tii«a. Two of thea got a hold of one of ua children but they aoon turned ua loose and ware Injured In getting away..,. C;> ; We ca«e to Lawton a faw daya bafor* the opening, arriving here in tiae to a«a tine aad. ruaaiag days. I doa't thiak there waa a day paaaed during tha firat aiz»otitaa

7 ARMBTBOMQ, KBIT S.- INTBBVISf here that there nin't from one to fiva killed. One day when I was eleven years old Mother sent me to the.bakery. I had to past lots of saloons. One I pasted &ear where the Lawton theatre now stands, was a tent with a big board front. As I was in front of this saloon three *en came out with throats out and tifo followed behind shooting at each other. All died when tpey reached the board sidewalk. I believe the first city officials were appointed by the Government, by President Teddy Roosevelt. Walter C. t Stephens was county attorney, ana the first justice of the peaoe was Heok Thomas. He received his appointment of United States Marshal when about eighteen yeare old. He was on a train once and heard it was to be robbed, so he disguised the- money saoks by putting tricks in them and aiding the money saoks in another' place. This saved the Government several thousand dollars, and he was awarded this appoints ment. 3* the first city election in 190S, my father, S. Armstrong, was elected justice of the peaoe, holding this office until During the second city election, a newspaperman,

8 AHMSTROHO, ONT S. - OTEfflriSW. # toe -0- Russell, working for the Lawton Enterprise newspaper, opposed Colonel Hawkins, who was serving as a city offiolal. Through the paper Mr. Russell and Gol. Hawkins bad. On thia aieotlon aornlng Mr. Ruasall saw Colonel Hawkins cooing down the sidewalk; Mr. Russell walked on to aoae stair-steps and stopped, pulling his gun. There were lots of woaen and children around. He saw, when he was near Russell, that Russell had a gun, so he walked out in the street and knelt down in the rain with his hands up saying, "Don't shoot, there are too many around 1 *. But Russell shot hie. - t