Jane Davis
Aunt Jan WARD "as she is called by every
one," says she is 118 years of age. She is the mother of 21 children
-- ten girls and eleven boys. Only one living. Her master's name was
Gim DAVIS. DAVIS owned 21 slaves. He was a good kind master and the
slaves had everything they wanted.
She said the Indians were contented and happy at Ft. Towson. She is half
Choctaw. She "doctored" the Indians and negroes with the herbs
growing in the woods. some of these herbs are: Cherokee cough weed,
numba weed, corn root and butterfly root.
She had a yellow gold ring which she has worn 50 years. She also has the
cards that she used to card cotton for the quilts she made for her mistress.
She has the musket her husband used in the war. Her first husband was
killed in battle. His name was Willis HARKINS. He was Choctaw.
She has a gold cup that is 75 years old.
She is still active and colored people all over Oklahoma bring their babies to
her when they are sick for her to treat. She still uses herbs. One
of these herbs grows in her daughter's back yard. Her daughter with whom
she lives is Mrs. Fay CROONES.
Aunt Jane, the day I visited her, was piecing on a quilt block. She does
not wear glasses. She was very much pleased when I made known my business
and was ready to talk. She is very much bent but her eyes are bright and
her mind is alert and she smiles while she talks. She has forgotten many
things that happened to her, but she told me to come and see her again and she
would tell me something more.