|
 Metza
Bertha Big Eagle Jones: April 1906 - January 31, 1938
Dennis Homer Flynn Jones: April 29, 1900 - October 11, 1976
Ura (pronounced "your a May) Jones Holt Finn: 5-2-23 - 11-29-74
This is Metza Bertha Big
Eagle Jones of the Osage tribe. Bill Kennedy presently living in Pawhuska
researched and found an old newspaper article in a Shidler, Oklahoma
newspaper. The story told she was found slumped over a roll top desk in
her bedroom where she had shot herself. The clipping told of the presence
of her husband, the cook and Bertha's son, Warren Curtis at the time on
their ranch home. It did not tell that the cook's husband Buddy Buckius
was also on the premises. Buddy is pictured farther on over standing in a
cotton field with his parents. He was a cousin to Dennis, Bertha's
husband. The newspaper article told she was worried over financial
matters. 1938 was the year of the great extortions against the tribal
members and these were made public. There were thefts. Huge amounts of
money were taken from the Osages by some agents for the tribe.
Bertha's husband, Dennis
Homer Flynn Jones was born April 29, 1900. He died, October 11, 1976.
Dennis was a son of a
strong Welch family. They were fiercely dedicated to home and hearth.
"Marrying for money," was a wrong accusation for Dennis. The
evil of the thought did plague Bertha, who was unaware and innocent of the
cruelty of cultural clashes. She knew no culture but her own.
Dennis proved his loyalty
to her and his family. He grieved quietly over the death of their first
son. Dempsey was a strikingly handsome child and was over two years old
when he died. Dennis said he could hear the child crying out,
"Daddy," for many years after they lost him. If the medical
world had known Native Americans could not tolerate cows milk, at the
time, the child, no doubt, would not have been lost. Bertha's face here
shows sadness and it was from the loss of their first child. The whole
family suffered the loss.
Years later, when Dennis
lost his grown second son, Warren Curtis, who was shot and killed, he was
totally overcome with grief. He went to pick up and collect his sons
possessions from the ranch house and "The Strike Axe Ranch."
When he lifted his son's saddle from the floor, he promptly set it back
down, and wept unashamed for anyone to see him to do so.
In this photo, Dennis seems
to be saying, "These are mine, I love them, and for whoever does not
like it; too bad, " and this was his attitude. Bertha had full
control of her wealth and she had everything she wanted, materially. |
