University of Oklahoma Libraries
Western History Collections
Mrs. John B. Lilley Collection
Back to Seminole Nation Collections Directory
Diary: 1842-1857
The Lilley children: Cornelia,
Maggie, Eliza, Robin, Mary Matilda, John, Walter, Douglas, Elenor Stephens
P. 1 1842. Introduction to Mr. John Bemo and
acquaintance with his work.
P. 2-8 Called
on Walter Lourie, Mission Rooms, Philadelphia.
Mr. Robert Loughridge, whose wife had died in Indian Territory needed
assistance. Appointment accepted by Mr.
Lilley. Started for Indian Territory in
November and traveled by train, car, ship and stage with wife and three
children. Salary $500. Description of hotels, food, accommodations
and mode of travel.
P. 9 Cherokees
in state of civil war. Stopped off with
John Drew family. Mention of Roly
McIntosh.
P. 10-11 Travel
by six wagons with Indians. Snow. Diet--pork and corn. Met Mr. Willie of Old Dwight Mission. Introduction to sofkee. Arrival in Ft. Gibson, then on to Creek
Agency.
P. 12-13 Travel
difficulties; food, roads, and mules.
Arrival at Koweta in February.
Trip was of four months duration.
P. 14 Slave
problems, teacher problems--McMasters dismissed. Loughridge's child dies at Dwight Mission. Mention of Sanford Perriman.
P. 15 School
started. About 30 scholars. Loughridge marries Miss Avery, teacher at
Park Hill.
P. 16-17 Salary
$100 per adult, $50 per child. Chief
Louis Perriman's stepson, Thomas Winslett, interpreter. His death.
P. 18 A
marriage problem. Church members are
mostly African-Americans.
P. 19 Indian
settlement near Koweta. Another
daughter born, Mary. Mr. Murrow's
daughter named Muskogee. Arrangements
for a larger school. Joseph Perriman,
grandson of chief, one of the scholars, also Pleasant Porter. Names of students.
P. 20. After
three years Mission at Koweta turned over to Mr. Ballentine. Mr. Ballentine's teaching tactics. Lilley's appointment to Tallahassee among
the Seminoles.
P. 21 Residential
description.
P. 22-27 Left
Koweta to build home in Seminole Nation.
Description of building and setting up house keeping. Traveled by oxen.
P. 27-28 Jim
Jumper a member of the Seminole Council.
Mention of John Jumper.
Encounter with Wild Cat re: school and the Government's attempt to meld
Seminole and Creek laws and customs.
Wild Cat opposed, and takes a group to Mexico.
P. 29 Beginning
of school among the Seminoles, some of the students.
P. 30 Eliza
Chupco's contact with the school. Death
of Lilley's daughter Nancy.
P. 30-33 Seminole's
view of death and burial of Walter Lilley.
Mention of school personnel, Wauponocka (Rock Academy) and Koweta
Mission, and Mr. Bemo.
P. 34 Illness
of Walter Lilley. More Seminole
children taken into the school.
P. 35 Clan
of Baptist slaves living at Rocky Mountain.
P. 36 A
Negro story of the fighting in Florida.
P. 37 African-Americans
promised protection of government at Gibson but sold back into slavery. They join Wild Cat. School built up to about 20 students. Description of work assignments.
P. 38-40 Food
and work problems of running a school.
Candle making, soap making and drying of beef.
P. 41 Son
John born, 1852. Two daughters attend
school at Stubenville.
P. 42 Brief
description of Mr. Allen, Supt of Wauponocka.
Elenor born in 1854. Visit East
to have eyes treated in 1855. Two women
appointed as teachers. One to Spencer,
the other to Wauponocka.
P. 43-44 Resume
of trip East.
P. 45 Dr.
in NewYork examines eyes.
P. 46-47 Return
home, and description of filthy boat trip.
Meeting of Israel Fulsom, Chickasaw, and his daughter, Mrs. Robb.
P. 48 Home. Harriet Robertson born 1855. Illness and marriage of daughter Maggie to
Henry E.A. Washbourne in 1857.
Tallahassee mentioned. Marriage
of Eliza to Mr. Ross Ramsey.
P. 49 Supplies
at Van Buren become difficult to obtain due to impending Civil War.
Back to Seminole Nation
Collections Directory