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ROSS, ELIZABETH, DUTCHTOWN AND DOGTOM

6821.

E l i z a b e t h Ross] F i e l d Woeker

Indian-Pioneer History

20, 1937

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Butchtown and Dogtown

A number of years ago, when some s e c t i o n s o f Tah-

lequah, Oklahoma, were s p a r s e l y populated, two names

frequently heard were "Dutchtown* and "Dogtown". These

were the names by which were known to many persons a place north of the Tahlequah spring branch, and another place south of the same stream but some d i s t a n c e north of the Cherokee C a p i t o l .

Dogs of v a r i o u s s i z e s , ages, colors and c o n d i t i o n

were quite numerous i n the somewhat out-of-the-way section north of the branch* Their howling, barking and whining were t o be heard both .day and night and their disagreements and f i g h t s were frequent. Someone,

whose name: i s not. now known, considered t h a t "Dogtown"

was a f i t t i n g d e s i g n a t i o n and . t h e r e a f t e r the name, was generally u^ed when reference was roade to the s e c t i o n ^

" mentioned. Even in these days (1937), some old-time

resident occasionally recalls some incident concerning

"Dogtown". The population in that section i s now con-

siderable a-nd the number of dogs greatly less" than back "

in Indian Territory days* ' ?

During the eighteen-seventies several natives' of foreign countries took up their "residence tn^$anlequah .

Aittpng -them was a German,' iho lived in a thinly populated

RQSS, ELIZABETH, DUTCHTOflN AND DOGTOWN

.170'

spot north of the brick h o t e l , long known as the National Hotel, and at no great distance from the home# of the German 'there lived a Dane* Each of these men had acquired Cherokee citizenship^ having married women who were Cherokees of white and Indian blood. In those days, as well as at the present, many persons designate Germans aa Dutchmen, as well as others of whose nationality they are uncertain. In this, instance both men were called Dutchmen, and the section in which they lived became known as "Dutchtown". The section i s now well populated.

Samuel Schable, the German, lived i n Tatfleouah during a long period, engaging for some years, in boot and shoe making. Once* a soldier i n Germany,' Schable

Uni was once stationed at old F o r t ' S h e l l i n g , Wisconsin."

Michael'Dana, the native of Denmark, engaged principally in buying and selling hides and furs, or , pelts of various small animals. He was-long a-f-amilisr- ' object in couritry d i s t r i c t s in the f a l l and 'winter '" seasons as "he rode along the roads in a spring wagon drawn by two horses*, Upon purchasing hides and p e l t s , Dane placed them in h i s wagon and drove away in quest

ROSS, ELIZABETH. IXJOTTOWN AM). DOGTOHM

171

of others. In these times (1937) no one r e e a l l s the names of Others who were,natives of foreign countries besides

those which have been mentioned. A $ew surviving oldtime residents occasionally speak of the place which was called "Dutchtp^ai."

Authority: George Woffotfd, once a Cherokee Advocate p r i n t e r . Personal recollection.

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