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-*N«M;J?SSKv's*::-vriv:«.■• i•V*b£7:•\\%v*‘Mivv-• •:-. -l T.». --. *1 ^ f- » V 1 . :• *tc*•* •„tH» » i--v:*'■v *• lt;:•» »,.lt;■•• * ».V---OlttAWFOL GZZJZfDSmBy JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN.SS; rich “Poor Lo” keeps Ills wife—which is to say that the marital complications of Jackson Barnett, wealthy Cherokee Indian, have now been straightened out by the courts and he will continue indefinitely to live with his bride of last May in their vine-covered cottage at Henryetta, Okla. And why pick on them for a story? Well, because—Jackson Barnett is the John D. Rockefeller of his race.He is 72 years of age, illiterate and an incompetent in the eye of the law.His wife, white and about half his age, was accused of kidnaping him and forcing him into marriage.He has defeated Uncle Sam’s court action to have the marriage annulled and to restore him to the care of his guardian, after proceedings unique in the history of the courts.He has topped off a long list of benefactions by establishing and endowing the Jackson Barnett Hospital for Indians.Barnett’s original allotment of land was near Glen Pool. Six years ago oil was struck on his land and riches began to pour in on him. The federal government protected his rights, since he is an incompetent in the eye of the law. Later Uncle Sam further safeguarded his wealth by appointing as his personal guardian Carl J. O’Hornett of Henryetta, Okla.O’Hornett took his ward to Henryetta. There he established him in a comfortable home on 30 acres of farm land. He provided him with a housekeeper, body servant and cook. He stocked up the farm with livestock and poultry. He saw that the rich old Indian lacked nothing within reason.Then Anna Laura Lowe appeared upon the scene—white, about half his age and good looking. Just how she managed things nobody seems to know. But Inst May she and Barnett left Henryetta in an automobile, sped over the state line into Kansas and were married in Arkansas City.O’Hornett and Cato Sells, United States commissioner of Indian affairs, brought suit to have the marriage annulled and the old Indian restored to the care of his guardian. It wascharged that the white woman was an adventuress, had kidnaped the aged redskin and had forced him into marriage.The Oklahoma supreme court appointed Judge A. M. Jackson commissioner to hear evidence in the case. On the report of the commissioner the court dismissed the case. Commenting on the decision, the commissioner said:“The Indian and his bride appear to have stood the test of matrimony. It was agreed that Barnett and his wife be permitted to go on a honeymoon . of a month. The honeymoon over, they still maintain they are satisfied, so after conference with all parties , concerned, it was agreed to recommend to the supreme court that thecase be dropped.Presumably the Interior department and Commissioner Sells know how rich is Jackson Barnett. But outside of certain known amounts any esti-mate is guess-work. In the court proceedings to annul Barnett’s marriage O’Hornett alleged that bis wealth was in excess of $1,000,000.One estimate is that In the six years since oil was struck on Barnett’s land the wells have yielded 14,000,000 barrels, and that his royalty Is one-eighth. This would represent 1,750,000 barrels, in addition to bonuses. This estimate places Barnett’s income at about $50,-000 a month.Jackson Barnett Is believed to be the richest Indian alive. And that isZ*ZR.AmTZ?J. JACPOrjaAKMpfTdorma?sa.ving a good deal, for many of them in Oklahoma have “struck oil” and are very wealthy. In the 1920 report of the secretary of the interior are found these facts and figures:The Indians in Oklahoma constitute nearly one-third of their race in the United States and about five-sixths of them are members of the five civilized tribes.There are on the Osage reservation in Oklahoma nearly 6,000 oil wells, producing from 2 to 1,800 barrels per day each, with a daily total production of about 50,000 barrels. During the year three oil-lease sales were held, offering at each sale approximately 200 quarter-section tracts. Approximately 98,866 acres were leased at these sales for a. bonus consideration of $12,110,100. Oil leases embracing 540,866 acres are included in lands leased for gas. In addition to bonus, a royalty is paid on oil of 16% per cent and upward, and the same on gas based on a value of 18 cents per 1,000 cubic feet for gas at the well. Nearly $18,000,000 were received by Osage Indians from oil and gas during the fiscal year.As to the five civilized tribes, the superintendent’s receipts and disbursements for the year were nearly $48,-000,000, the largest of any year In the history of that office. There were 3,-590 oil and gas leases disposed of during the year. Nearly $4,800,000 in bonuses and royalties were received by the restricted Indians. Federal Income tax in excess of $350,000 waspaid by 242 restricted Indians.When America entered the World war, the Indian was a willing volunteer. The American Indian is—or used to be—the finest natural fighter the world ever saw. The bucks of service age enlisted in large numbers, made splendid soldiers and covered themselves with glory. Many were decorated for extraordinary gallantry under fire.During the war Barnett showed his martial spirit In the only way It was possible for him. While others of his race shouldered arms and marched away to France, there to do battle side by side with their white brethren, Barnett was too old to heed the war dance. He soon showed, however, that while age prevented him from taking an active part in lowering the colors of the Hun, he. could flo the next best thing and support Uncle Sam through the medium of his vast riches.When the government, after entering the World war, issued the call for financial assistance Jackson Barnett answered as readily as the younger members of bis tribe answered the call for men. He was one of the first of Okmulgee county citizens to show his patriotism in the purchase of Liberty bonds, and by most liberal contributions to all of their war aids. As each successive bond Issue was placed on the market, Barnett became a heavy purchaser, with the resultthat today he is a millionaire In Liberty find Victory bonds alone, owning more than $1,500,000 worth of them.Hie American Indian never had a proper appreciation of the value of property. Jt is even now one of the, most difficult things for him to learn. Barnett little realizes what his wealth really means. But he knows that he has more thau lie can use and that the money is coming in faster than he can spend it. He also understands that his money can do a lot of good. So he is giving away large sums to aid worthy enterprises. He has authorized the following gifts, among others:Southern Baptist convention missionary, educational andbenevolent fund ...........$200,000Middle Creek Baptist No. 2,Holdenville, Okla......... 1,000Church of the Naznrene, Hen-ryetta. Okla.............. 25,000First Presbyterian church,Henryetta, Okla ...... 25,000First Methodist church, Hen-ryetta, Okla........... 25,000First Christian church, Henryetta, Okla............... 25,000St. Michael’s Catholic church,Henryetta, Okla........... 25,000Church of the Advent, Episcopal, Henryetta, Okla 25,000Oklahoma Orphanage of Oklahoma Children’s Home Finding and Welfare league, Oklahoma City............ 50,000Total .....................$401,000Jackson Barnett has also made up his mind that the injured and ailing of his race in Oklahoma shall have good medical care and nursing. Hence his latest and biggest benefaction—the Jackson Barnett hospital. To this heis giving $1,000,000—$50,000 for the purchase of the Henryetta site, $150.-000 for the building and $800,000 for endowment, invested in United States bonds.Of course, the question of permitting these munificent gifts had to be taken up by the Interior department. Com-misioner Sells went to Henryetta to interview Barnett personally, and to satisfy himself that no undue pressure was being brought to bear upon his ward to part him from his wealth. After making a thorough investigation of conditions and satisfying himself in a private conversation with Barnett that the latter was. not being Imposed upon, but that he really of his own free will desired to make the above donations, Sells said he looked favorably upon • the- proposed gifts, but would give out no. statement until further investigation by the Indian department. Later the commissioner called a conference with O'Hornettand other prominent men of Henry-.etta and told them that all of the gifts would be allowed.How long Jackson Barnett will con tlnue to live the simple life on his Henryetta farm can only be guessed.
Newspaper Details
Brownsburg Record
Brownsburg, Indiana, US
Fri, Feb 25, 1921
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Michael S.
USA 03 Jan 2019
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