The Beginning of Tulsa
By J. M. Hall
© Karolyn Kay Garland 1997
Page # 20
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now, on the spot where the city police station was located so many years.
Berry Hogan was one of Tulsa's peculiar characters. Years before Tulsa was located he married one of the citizens of the Creek Nation and lived on a farm about 18 miles south of Tulsa. A few years after Tulsa was located he moved to town and opened the livery. Later he engaged in the hardware business on the west side of Main street, between First and Second streets.
He was the wit of his day in Tulsa. That was before Lon Stansbery grew up. Jokes haven't changed a great deal in all these years. One day Berry came into the Hall store and demanded of the writer: "Do you retail shirts?" On being assured in the affirmative he exclaimed, "Well, the tail of my shirt is torn off and I wish you would put it on."
Another time he came in to announce that he wouldn't have to buy any new summer underwear, "I bought a cake of soap yesterday, went down to the river and began to bathe," he explained. "I rubbed soap all over my body and in a short time I felt something coming loose. I began to pull, and to rub on more soap and water, and I found three suits of underwear I had worn the summer and winter before."
Berry loved his dram - often would take too much, but he was well liked by everyone. One Thanksgiving day some of the town's early citizens gathered in the old Mission building for services. Berry never attended church but that day he came in, sat on a back seat and listened attentively to those who were telling for what they were thankful. Before the meeting closed Berry was on his feet, making a fine talk of the many things for which he was thankful. He died many years ago.
George B. Perryman was a remarkable fellow in many ways. At the beginning of Tulsa he lived on his farm about three and one-half miles south. In 1886 he built a large house on the site of the present court house. At that time it appeared to everyone as if George was building out in the country. East of his house the prairie grass waved in the wind. West of him was timber and underbrush.
He had a large family of his own but that didn't deter him from rearing a number of orphans besides, for he had a large heart, too. The Creek Nation made no governmental provision to care for orphan children; but the youngsters always found homes with relatives or friends of the family. Aunt Rachael, George's widow, is still living (in January, 1928) a few miles south of Tulsa.
The Perrymans always kept their home open to their friends and every day had from one to a dozen guests at dinner and to lodge for the night. His household bill would be a big one even in this day of higher prices.
George was engaged in the cattle business and was kept fairly busy looking after his large farm and other interests. After he moved to Tulsa in 1886 he claimed part of the townsite and non-citizens had to pay him for locations to build. He died many years ago.
J. C. PERRYMAN
J. C. Perryman was one of the most reliable citizens of the Creek Nation. He lived on his farm about 10 miles south of Tulsa. He was the postmaster of the old Star postal route from Fort Smith west. The local postoffice was located in the home of his brother, George, three and one-half miles south of Tulsa. A hired man on the farm looked after the office, which had already been given the name of Tulsa by the Indians Tulsa was named after Tulsa Town, the old Alabama
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