Drummond family (Oklahoma)

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Drummond family
Frederick Drummond (1864-1913).png
Frederick Drummond, Scottish emigrant and founding patriarch of the Drummond family
Current region Osage Nation (1886–1890)
Oklahoma Territory (1890–1907)
Oklahoma (1907–present)
Place of origin Scotland
Members Gentner Drummond
Ree Drummond

The Drummond family is an American ranching family from Oklahoma. The family is one of the largest land-owning families in the state of Oklahoma and the United States. In 2017, the family owned 433,000 acres according to The Land Report magazine. In 2022, the family was the largest land-owning family in Osage County, owning about 9% of the county.

Contents

19th century: Settling among the Osage

The family's founding patriarch was Frederick Drummond (1864–1913) who moved to Osage County (then the Osage Nation in Indian Territory) in 1886. Frederick had emigrated to the United States from Scotland in 1882. He briefly lived in New York, Texas, and St. Louis before being hired as clerk for the Osage Mercantile Company in the Osage Nation. [1] Frederick would marry his wife, Addie Gentner of Coffeyville, Kansas, on July 6, 1890. [2] Fred and Addie had six children including three sons, Roy Cecil Drummond, Frederick Gentner Drummond, and Alfred Alexander "Jack" Drummond. [2] [3]

20th century: Osage controversies and increasing wealth

Fred and Adeline Drummond House in 2013 Drummond home hominy, ok 2013-10-04 13-24.jpg
Fred and Adeline Drummond House in 2013

In 1903, the Drummonds moved to Hominy, Oklahoma, where Frederick founded the Hominy Trading Company. [1] The Victorian-style Fred and Adeline Drummond House was built in 1905 in Hominy, Oklahoma, by Frederick and Addie. [4] In 1908, Frederick Drummond became the first mayor of Hominy. [2] Frederick and his son Frederick Gentner both spoke the Osage language. During the Reign of Terror in Osage County the Drummonds were creditors against and administrators for Osage estates. They also owned a funeral home that performed funerals for the deceased that would be paid for by the estate. Some families sold their allotments to the Drummonds to cover the costs of their debt to the Hominy Trading Company. [5] [6] In 1910, Fred G. Drummond was appointed Henry Roan's guardian and he purchased parts of Roan's land. [7]

Frederick Drummond died in 1913, [8] at which time he was claimed by his son Jack Drummond to own about 1,200 acres. [5] After their father's death in 1913, Jack and Cecil Drummond founded Drummond Cattle Co., which over the next 50 years grew into a 200,000-head operation. [8] Frederick Gentner Drummond took over running the Hominy Trading Company since he spoke Osage. [5] Michael Snyder, a professor at Oklahoma State University, argues that the Drummond's various business meant "they were kind of pulling money from the Osage in a lot of different ways" and that the three brothers “definitely made a lot of money” acting as guardians. [6]

Jack worked at the store starting in about 1920 and overcharged Osage customers, saying "those shirts would cost us maybe $6 or $8 a shirt and I'd get $50 or $60 a shirt." [5] Strained relationships with family members and neighbor resentment towards Jack Drummond as an Osage County "land hog" led him in 1924 to start buying land in the opposite part of the state in Marshall County, Oklahoma. [8] In 1925, during the Reign of Terror in Osage County, Jack Drummond acquired one-half of an Osage headright for $20,050. He later acquired a further another one-fourth of a headright in 1928 for $11,250. He purchased the headright from O.V. Pope, a white rancher who had inherited one and a half headrights after his Osage wife Nah-me-tsa-he (who was thirty years his senior) died. [9] In 1926, the Drummonds partnered with the Mullendores ranching family to buy William Hale's ranch. [10]

In the 1930s Jack Drummond helped form a statewide cooperative marketing association so ranchers in the state could take advantage of government-backed loans. He was considered a leader of the livestock industry and was an innovator in herd improvement. [8] Jack was a strong supporter of the Federal Land Bank. [11]

In 1941, Frederick Gentner, Cecil, and Jack were sued in the Northern District of Oklahoma for "conspir[ing] and devis[ing] a scheme to defraud." Judge Franklin Elmore Kennamer dismissed the case for lack of evidence. [10]

The Drummond house was deeded to the Oklahoma Historical Society in 1980 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. [4]

21st century: Reality television and public office

In the 21st century the Drummond family gained national attention due to the popularity of Ree Drummond's blog and television show The Pioneer Woman. [12] The show brought tourism to Pawhuska, Oklahoma, where sales tax revenue increased by 30–50% after the opening of Ree Drummond's Mercantile store. The Drummonds donated for the creation of a new high school football stadium for Pawhuska High School and for the building of an animal shelter in town. [13]

In 2017 the family owned 433,000-acre (175,000 ha) according to The Land Report magazine. [14] In 2022, the family was the largest landowner in Osage County, owning about 9% of the county. [15]

In 2022, two Drummond family members clashed with the Osage Nation over a Drummond-led plan to privatize a road near the Drummond Family Ranch: the Drummond group claimed that the road was used by people causing mischief and that Ree Drummond's celebrity was attracting too much traffic, whereas the Osage Nation argued the road was important for tribal citizens to access land owned by Osage Nation which is also on the road. The Osage County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously that the Drummonds' petition did not merit a hearing. [16]

In 2023, Gentner Drummond became the Attorney General of Oklahoma. [17]

Family tree

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osage County, Oklahoma</span> County in Oklahoma, United States

Osage County is the largest county by area in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Created in 1907 when Oklahoma was admitted as a state, the county is named for and is home to the federally recognized Osage Nation. The county is coextensive with the Osage Nation Reservation, established by treaty in the 19th century when the Osage relocated there from Kansas. The county seat is in Pawhuska, one of the first three towns established in the county. The total population of the county as of 2020 was 45,818.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hominy, Oklahoma</span> Town in Oklahoma, United States

Hominy is a city in Osage County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,565 at the 2010 census, a 38 percent increase over the figure of 2,584 recorded in 2000.

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Pawhuska is a city in and the county seat of Osage County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 2,984. It was named after the 19th-century Osage chief, Paw-Hiu-Skah, which means "White Hair" in English. The Osage tribal government, which opened offices in Pawhuska in 1872 when its reservation was established in Indian Territory, continues to be based in Pawhuska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osage Indian murders</span> 1910s–1930s murders in Oklahoma, US

The Osage Indian murders were in Osage County, Oklahoma, during the 1910s–1930s. Newspapers described the increasing number of unsolved murders and deaths among young adults of the Osage Nation as the "Reign of Terror". Most took place from 1921 to 1926. At least 60 wealthy, full-blood Osage persons were reported killed from 1918 to 1931. Newer investigations indicate that other suspicious deaths during this time could have been misreported or covered-up murders, including those of individuals who were heirs to future fortunes. Further research has shown that the death toll may have been in the hundreds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osage Nation</span> Native American Siouan-speaking tribe

The Osage Nation is a Midwestern American tribe of the Great Plains. The tribe developed in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys around 700 B.C. along with other groups of its language family. They migrated west after the 17th century, settling near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, as a result of Iroquois expansion into the Ohio Country in the aftermath of the Beaver Wars.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">William King Hale</span> American cattleman and murderer (1874–1962)

William King Hale was an American political and crime boss in Osage County, Oklahoma, who was responsible for the most infamous of the Osage Indian murders. He made a fortune through cattle ranching, contract killings, and insurance fraud before his arrest and conviction for murder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Joseph Mathews</span> American novelist

John Joseph Mathews became one of the Osage Nation's most important spokespeople and writers of the mid-20th century, and served on the Osage Tribal Council from 1934 to 1942. Mathews was born into an influential Osage family, the son of William Shirley Mathews an Osage Nation tribal councilor. He studied at the University of Oklahoma, Oxford University, and the University of Geneva and served as a pilot during World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ree Drummond</span> American author known as "The Pioneer Woman"

Anne Marie "Ree" Drummond is an American blogger, author, food writer, and television personality. Drummond became known for her blog, The Pioneer Woman, which documented her life in rural Oklahoma.

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<i>The Pioneer Woman</i> (TV series) American cooking television series

The Pioneer Woman is an American cooking show that has aired on Food Network since 2011. It is presented by Ree Drummond, whose blog was the namesake for the show. The series features Drummond cooking for her family and friends, primarily at her ranch in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gentner Drummond</span> American attorney and politician

Gentner Frederick Drummond is an American attorney, rancher, banker, and politician from Oklahoma. Drummond is a member of the Republican Party and the current Attorney General of Oklahoma. He flew in the Gulf War air campaign during the Persian Gulf War, gaining national coverage for being one of the first American pilots interviewed during the war. He resides in the McBirney Mansion and is a member of the Oklahoma Drummond ranching family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick Drummond</span> Oklahoma man (1846–1913)

Frederick Drummond was a Scottish-born American businessman and politician and the founding patriarch of the Oklahoma Drummond family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred and Adeline Drummond House</span> United States historic place

The Fred and Adeline Drummond House is a home built in Hominy, Oklahoma in 1905 for Frederick Drummond and his wife Adeline Gentner. The home was given to the Oklahoma Historical Society in 1980 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. The listing included three contributing buildings, including the main house and a tiny home termed the "Moses House". The property is operated as a historic house museum by the Oklahoma Historical Society.

An Osage headright is a type of headright in the United States. There are 2,229 Osage headrights, one for each member of the Osage Nation enrolled in 1906. Osage headrights entitle the owner to a quarterly share of the Osage Mineral Estate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Roan</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernest Burkhart</span> American murderer (1892–1986)

Ernest George Burkhart was an American murderer who participated in the Osage Indian murders as a hitman for his uncle William King Hale's crime ring. He was convicted for the killing of William E. Smith in 1926, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Burkhart was paroled in 1937, but was sent back to prison for burglarizing his former sister-in-law's house in 1940. After being paroled for the final time in 1959, Burkhart was pardoned by Oklahoma governor Henry Bellmon in 1966 for his role in the Osage murders.

Wynona Public Schools is a school district headquartered in Wynona, Oklahoma. It includes an elementary school and a high school.

References

  1. 1 2 "Oklahoma Family Tree Stories: Drummond Family". okhistory.org. Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Lewis, Dale (April 28, 2021). "Drummond family has place in Pawhuska history". Examiner-Enterprise. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Warehime, Les. "DRUMMOND RANCH". okhistory.org. The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture: Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Fred and Addie Drummond Home". okhistory.org. Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Adams-Heard, Rachel (September 12, 2022). "Transcript 'In Trust' Episode Three: The Osage Price". Bloomberg News . Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "The Strange but True Story of the Pioneer Woman's Link to 'Killers of the Flower Moon'". Vanity Fair . October 19, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  7. ↑ Clary, Felix (August 17, 2024). "How does Henry Roan's story compare to his 'Killers of the Flower Moon' portrayal?". Tulsa World . Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 McNutt, Michael (April 18, 1999). "Drummond Spreads Reach of His Ranch". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  9. 1 2 Adams-Heard, Rachel (September 5, 2022). "Transcript 'In Trust' Episode 2: The Headright". Bloomberg News . Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Adams-Heard, Rachel (September 19, 2022). "Transcript 'In Trust' Episode Four: The Guardianship". Bloomberg News . Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  11. ↑ Adams-Heard, Rachel (October 3, 2022). "Transcript 'In Trust' Episode Six: The Middlewoman". Bloomberg News . Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fortini, Amanda (May 2, 2011). "O Pioneer Woman!". The New Yorker. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  13. ↑ Adams-Heard, Rachel (October 17, 2022). "Transcript 'In Trust' Episode 8: The Pivot". Bloomberg News . Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Drummond family from Oklahoma named 23rd largest land owner in United States". Tulsa World. November 6, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  15. ↑ Adams-Heard, Rachel (September 5, 2022). "Transcript 'In Trust' Episode One: The List". Bloomberg News . Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  16. ↑ Red Corn, Louise (February 14, 2022). "County Commissioners dismiss proposal from Drummonds to close road". Osage News. Retrieved July 29, 2022. An attempt by brothers Ladd and Tim Drummond along with 11 other Pawhuska businesses and ranching people to privatize almost 15 miles of county road failed on Feb. 14, when the Osage County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously that the petition didn't merit a hearing.,,The Osage Nation sent an envoy to speak against the idea because it owns land on the road and because some tribal members have restricted tracts that are accessed from it.
  17. ↑ World, Carmen Forman Tulsa. "100 days in: AG Gentner Drummond touts fighting government corruption, scandal". Tulsa World.
  18. ↑ "DRUMMOND -- Ruth Thatcher". Tulsa World . December 21, 2005. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  19. 1 2 Lewis, Dale (July 21, 2021). "Chuck Drummond's story part of Pawhuska history". Examiner-Enterprise. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Death of Chuck Drummond, 79, leaves family, 'Pioneer Woman' fans mourning". Tulsa World . November 6, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  21. ↑ Campana, Melissa (June 30, 2022). "How Ree Drummond's Son Todd Got His Name". Mashed. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  22. 1 2 3 Klein, John; Greene, Wayne (January 18, 1991). "Sooner Pilots Land on TV Screens". Tulsa World. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  23. ↑ Sasser, Michael W. (December 6, 2013). "The Cowboy Way". Oklahoma Magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  24. ↑ Clay, Nolan (March 23, 2022). "F-16 pilot from Oklahoma Air National Guard ejects safely before crash in Louisiana". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
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