Andrew Hartley Payne was born in Foyil, Oklahoma on November 17, 1907. Andy was a member of the Cherokee Nation and graduated from Foyil High School in 1927. Andy had no interest in becoming a farmer like his father, his primary interest was school. Every

Telling the History of Claremore…one story at a time The formal education of the Cherokee people began with the invention of their alphabet by Sequoyah in 1821.  The Bible and newspapers were published in their own language, and illiteracy was practically unknown among the Cherokees.  

Wauhilau LaHay was born in Claremore, Oklahoma on July 14, 1896 to parents John Martin LaHay and Annie Russell. In 1907, the LaHays moved to Muskogee where Joseph set up his law practice closer to the federal court. Tragically he died of a heart attack