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Origin of Cabaniss, Oklahoma
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Descendants of Matthew
I lived in Fort Smith, Arkansas, for twelve years (1971 to
1983) and some of my business travels took me through Oklahoma.
In preparing for one of these business trips a town on the road
map caught my attention; Cabaniss, Oklahoma, just fifteen miles
northwest of McAlester, Oklahoma. One day I drove to Cabaniss,
Oklahoma, but, while it was on the map, the town had long since
disappeared. It wasn't until 1996 that I decided to find out
something of the town's origin.
It looks as if the town was named after Thomas Banks Cabaniss
(in Allen Cabaniss' work Thomas Banks Cabaniss is #129 on page
29). Here are the more significant items I turned up.
First, a little biography on Thomas Banks Cabaniss from The
Political Graveyard (http:www.potifos.com/tpg/):
"Cabaniss, Thomas Banks (1835-1915) Cousin of Thomas
Chipman McRae. Born in Forsyth, Ga., August 31, 1835. Served
in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; member of Georgia
state house of representatives, 1865; member of Georgia state
senate, 1878; U.S. Representative from Georgia, 1893-95; state
court judge, 1913. Died August 14, 1915. Interment at Oakland
Cemetery, Forsyth, Ga."
As an aside, The Political Graveyard's entry on cousin Thomas
McRae is: "McRae, Thomas Chipman (1851-1929) Cousin of Thomas
Banks Cabaniss. Born in Arkansas, December 21, 1851. Member of
Arkansas state legislature; U.S. Representative from Arkansas,
1885-1903; Governor of Arkansas, 1921-25. Died June 2, 1929.
Interment at De Ann Cemetery, Prescott, Ark."
Then from a book on Oklahoma place names, a passage that explains
the town's origin:
Oklahoma Place Names, by George H. Shirk
University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 1965
page 34:
"CABANISS. In Pittsburg County, 15 miles northwest of
McAlester. A post office from April 18, 1903, to August 15, 1922.
Named for Thomas B. Cabaniss, a member of the Dawes Commission."
Finally, something that provides the time period that Thomas
B. Cabaniss served on the Dawes Commission:
A History of the State of Oklahoma, Volume I, by Luther
B. Hill, A.B.
The Lewis Publishing Company
Chicago and New York, 1909
Footnote 2 on page 321:
"A commission appointed by President Cleveland, under
an act of Congress of March 3, 1893, and consisting of Henry
L. Dawes of Massachusetts, chairman (1893-1903); Archibald S.
McKenon of Arkansas (1893-98), and Meredith H. Kidd of Indiana
(1893-95). It was increased to five members in 1895 and reduced
to four in 1898. In addition to those named, it has included
Frank C. Armstrong of the District of Columbia (1895-98), Thomas
B. Cabaniss of Georgia (1895-97), Alexander B. Montgomery
of Kentucky (1895-97), Tams Bixby of Minnesota (1897-1905), Thomas
B. Needles of Illinois (1897-1905), Clifton B. Breckenridge of
Arkansas (1898-1905), and William E. Standley of Kansas (1903-04).
On the death of Mr. Dawes, in February, 1903, Mr. Bixby was appointed
chairman. The work of the commission being finished, it expired
by law July 1, 1905. As the Indian government did not dissolve
until March 4, 1906, all the remaining powers of the commission
were vested in the secretary of the interior during the interim
and administered by a 'commissioner to the five civilized tribes.'"
I knew nothing of the Dawes Commission, but very briefly put,
its role was to prepare the Oklahoma Indians for the condition
of statehood. Of course the commission did many other things,
but I'll stop with that short explanation.
Admittedly there is nothing that absolutely ties these Thomas
B. Cabanisses together, but I bet I got the right guy.
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