Charley Willey, Muskogee Water Provider
Charley Willey was the son of a New England couple. His father was Rev. Worchester Willey, a missionary among the Cherokee Indians from New Hampshire. His father moved to Indian Territory in 1844 after becoming a teacher and ordained Congregational minister.
His mother was Mary Frye of Andover, Massachusetts. She and his father married in 1844. She was a "beautiful and earnest girl" who grew to possess "uniform calmness."
Charley was born in Indian Territory in Jan 1850, his mother dying within the year. Maybe growing up without his mother caused Charley to cling to his origins. For whatever reason, he was described in 1922 as having an "English" heritage. Maybe the author meant a "New England" heritage.
Mrs. E. P. Howland of Portland, Maine, wrote about the family experiences during the Civil War in "A Tale of Home and War." Part of the tale covers the death of Charley's stepmother who died in January 1862.
Charley Willey married Mennie Barnes about 1868 in the Cherokee Nation. Miss Barnes was a quarter Cherokee. He later enrolled as a Cherokee Intermarried White under the Dawes Commission because of his marriage.
It is hard to judge Charley's height from his photograph. He was barrel-chested and stout. With a face concealed by a wooly black beard and tasseled hair, one's first impression is of a wild man. Research into his life leaves one with a more balanced view. He likely received a better than average education.
In addition, he was never afraid to work either. When Muskogee was a young community, not really yet a town, Charley became an enterprising businessman. After buying a number of wooden barrels, he agreed to deliver fresh water to businesses and residences. His price was only fifteen cents a barrel.
He may have hauled water from Katy Pond on the north side of town. This was, after all, the closest water source. However, it was not a reliable source. During dry spells, Charley surely hauled water from the Arkansas River.
One day, Muskogee residents were treated to a humorous sight. Charley's team spooked and he lost control. At as full a gallop as the team could pull the heavy wagon, Charley raced down Main Street with water sloshing out of his loaded barrels. His episode was the topic of gossip for a while thereafter.
Charley did not have a franchise on water delivery. Muskogee residents caught rain runoff in barrels and used cisterns dug in the ground to store a water supply. As the community grew in size, though, Muskogee began getting water by pipe.
Willey switched to hog raising at this point. Bennett wrote that Willy [sic] "was the first importer of thoroughbred hogs in the vicinity, his favorite being Berkshires of his native country." Well, Bennett was half-right in his pivotal 1922 history of Muskogee: Berkshire hogs were good for breeding.
Charley outlived his wife who died in 1909. However, he did not survive her by many years. Both are buried in Ft. Gibson's Citizens Cemetery. The couple raised three children to adulthood.
His mother was Mary Frye of Andover, Massachusetts. She and his father married in 1844. She was a "beautiful and earnest girl" who grew to possess "uniform calmness."
Charley was born in Indian Territory in Jan 1850, his mother dying within the year. Maybe growing up without his mother caused Charley to cling to his origins. For whatever reason, he was described in 1922 as having an "English" heritage. Maybe the author meant a "New England" heritage.
Mrs. E. P. Howland of Portland, Maine, wrote about the family experiences during the Civil War in "A Tale of Home and War." Part of the tale covers the death of Charley's stepmother who died in January 1862.
Charley Willey married Mennie Barnes about 1868 in the Cherokee Nation. Miss Barnes was a quarter Cherokee. He later enrolled as a Cherokee Intermarried White under the Dawes Commission because of his marriage.
It is hard to judge Charley's height from his photograph. He was barrel-chested and stout. With a face concealed by a wooly black beard and tasseled hair, one's first impression is of a wild man. Research into his life leaves one with a more balanced view. He likely received a better than average education.
In addition, he was never afraid to work either. When Muskogee was a young community, not really yet a town, Charley became an enterprising businessman. After buying a number of wooden barrels, he agreed to deliver fresh water to businesses and residences. His price was only fifteen cents a barrel.
He may have hauled water from Katy Pond on the north side of town. This was, after all, the closest water source. However, it was not a reliable source. During dry spells, Charley surely hauled water from the Arkansas River.
One day, Muskogee residents were treated to a humorous sight. Charley's team spooked and he lost control. At as full a gallop as the team could pull the heavy wagon, Charley raced down Main Street with water sloshing out of his loaded barrels. His episode was the topic of gossip for a while thereafter.
Charley did not have a franchise on water delivery. Muskogee residents caught rain runoff in barrels and used cisterns dug in the ground to store a water supply. As the community grew in size, though, Muskogee began getting water by pipe.
Willey switched to hog raising at this point. Bennett wrote that Willy [sic] "was the first importer of thoroughbred hogs in the vicinity, his favorite being Berkshires of his native country." Well, Bennett was half-right in his pivotal 1922 history of Muskogee: Berkshire hogs were good for breeding.
Charley outlived his wife who died in 1909. However, he did not survive her by many years. Both are buried in Ft. Gibson's Citizens Cemetery. The couple raised three children to adulthood.
Labels: Charley Willey, Fort Gibson Citizens Cemetery, Katy Pond, Mary A. Frye, Mennie Barnes, Worchester Willey
posted by Wally Waits at
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