There is
so much mis-information in print and on line
I decided to try to set the story straight.
The following has been gleaned and cross
checked thoroughly, then submitted to two
descendents I am in contact with. It is the
most correct history we can come up with.
William Oscar Cardin was born in Miami Township, Miami County Kansas in 1879 to Thomas Jefferson and Esther Archangel (LaFontaine) Cardin. Thomas was born in 1843 in Fayette County, Georgia to Besley and Antoinette Cardin. In 1856, the Cardin family moved to Southeast Kansas near Osawatomie. Esther was born Feb 11, 1852 in Huntington Indiana to Louis and Mary ( Bordeau) LaFontaine. Louis was Chief of the western Miami Tribe. His father, Francis was the principal chief of the Miami Indians in Indiana and Ohio until his death in 1847. Esther’s great grandfather, John B. Richardville was the principal chief before Francis. The LaFontaine family moved to Miami County, Kansas in 1856. It has been reported that the LaFontaines and the Richardvilles were among the wealthiest Indians of the time.
Thomas and Esther were married Dec 24, 1869 in Miami County Kansas. John Alexander was born in 1871, Atha Josephine (Josephine Alta?) in 1872, and Louis LaFontaine in 1876. W. O. in 1879, and Felicia Magdalene in 1884, still in Kansas. The family moved to Miami, Indian Territory in 1885, where Sarah C. was born July 9, 1886. Esther and the children were adopted into the Quapaw tribe since they were of Indian blood. Each of them (except Atha, (Josephine?) who died in 1892) received 240 acre allotments in 1895. John Alexander and Esther’s allotments were contiguous and neither was mineral laden. Alexander’s was east of Spring River while Esther’s was south of Commerce. Louis had 200 acres south of Picher; Felicia, 200 acres east of Stringtown Road (River Street), and Sarah had 200 acres south of Cardin. Wm. Oscar had scattered 40 acre tracts and one 80 acre tract south of Commerce containing the New State mine, which was a rich one. He also owned the 40 acre tract that became the town of Cardin. Stories vary on how this was achieved. One has him agreeing to pave the streets which seem unlikely since in those days “paving” consisted if graveling. The other, which seems more likely is that he construct sidewalks in the business district. According to Velma Neiberding’s book “History of Ottawa County”, he agreed to build one half mile of sidewalks. I have a picture that shows sidewalks in front of business in the teens. Esther died Aug 16, 1895, only a year after she received her allotment; Thomas, Jan. 18, 1921 and both are buried in a family plot in G. A. R. Cemetery at Miami, Oklahoma. Thomas bought an eight place plot, and there are still three open. It has a large upright stone in the center, with Cardin on one side along with Esther, Atha (Alta?), T. J., and W. O.’s stones. The other side says Kenoyer, and has Felicia’s stone along with the three empty spaces..
Atha (Alta?) Josephine died in 1892 and is believed to be one of the first buried in G. A. R. Cemetery, Miami, Oklahoma.
Since Isa also received an allotment of 240 acres, that gave Oscar control of a large area. Among other things, he constructed the Cardin Building in Miami, in 1917 (Later to be Security Bank) and served as Vice President of the Miami Trust and Savings Bank. Isa was active in many civic groups including the Red Cross. They divorced in 1919. William died Nov. 19, 1949.
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07/10/2022