WRITINGS oF· SAM HousTON, 1830
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:?General John Nicks was the sutler and postmaster at Fort Gibson in 1830. At the age of fifty he married a young and pretty woman named "Sally." When the old Gei:ieral died, January 1, 1832, he left Sally a fortune of some $20,000. Immediately she became "the belle of the fort." Among her suitors were numbered General William Clark and Colonel Matthew Arbuckle. Colonel Arbuckle, commander of the fort, . appointed the lively young widow sutler of the fort until she could dispose of $.10,000 worth of goods left in store by her husband. Thus, "Sally" became the first business woman-so far as records show-within the bounds of the present State of Oklahoma. On December 3, 1835, she married Robert S. Gibson, a merchant who had become postmaster at Fort Gibson upon the death of General Nicks. See Grant Foreman, Pioneer Days in the Early Southwest, 99. Mr. Foreman gives as his authority for this story, the Adjutant General's Office, Old Records Division, 5n. 32, Order No. 2. · 3On February 18, 1830, Thomas McKenney of the War Department, adver- tised for proposals to furnish rations for emigrating Indians. These bids were to be in by March 20. On February 22-24, bills were introduced into the House to effect an exchange of their lands and the removal of the Indians west of the Mississippi. During the period of emigration, the government proposed to feed the Indians. Houston spent the latter months of 1829 and well into the spring of 1830 in Washington where a scramble for government contracts to ration the Indians was occupying much attention. Charges and recriminations were made, and so great was the feeling that the Secre- tary of War resting his action on the fact that no Indian measures had been passed by the Senate, announced that no contracts would be awarded to any of the thirteen bidders. U.S. House Report, No. 502, 22d Cong., 1st Sess. Houston then left Washington and returned to his "exile" among the Indians in Arkansas Territory. When he arrived at the mouth of the White River, and was awaiting the departure of his steamboat, he heard that General John Nicks, sutler at Fort Gibson, had been removed. Houston wrote to Eaton, Secretary of War, and applied for the position. He enclosed his letter within one he wrote to his friend, Major W. B. Lewis, asking Lewis to deliver it to Eaton. Feeling pretty confident that he would be appointed to this position, Houston made preparation for handling it with success. He loaded a keel boat with supplies from New York and Nashville, and sent them to the Neosho River. Among these supplies were nine barrels of whiskey, brandy, gin, rum, and wine, which Houston said were for his personal use. But, upon arriving at his home (Wigwam) near Fort Gibson, he found that the report of Nick's removal was untrue, so he wrote this letter of June 13, 1830, to Eaton. His letter applying for the sutler's position has not been found. Eaton replied, July 28, 1830, explaining the circumstances which caused rejection of all bids, and denying any statements or implications reflecting upon Houston. See Grant Foreman, Chronicles of Oklahoma, IX, 142. 'Luther Blake, the lowest bidder for the Indian rations contract, and Houston's accuser in the investigation for corruption in bidding. oA}though this man's name is frequently misspelle_d McKinney, the proper
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