Western heroine to be remembered in Sherman

Sherman, Texas -- A small group of Old West amateur historians are inviting area residents to join them in a gravesite ceremony in honor of Olive Oatman-Fairchild at 5:30 p.m., Friday, March 21 at West Hill Cemetery, 1304 W. Lamar Street in Sherman, Texas.  Mrs. Oatman-Fairchild passed away March 21,1903.

Olive Oatman was 13 years old, in 1851, when her family was massacred by nineteen Yavapais Indians on the Gila River 84 miles east of present day Yuma, Arizona.  Her pregnant mother, father and four siblings, ages 1 to 17, were all killed. Her 14-year-old brother Lorenzo was clubbed and left for dead but survived.  Olive and her 8-year-old sister Mary Ann were taken as slaves.

“And so, this began one of the greatest story arcs in Western United States history,” said Gary Thomas, a volunteer with a Downtown Denison history group.  “It was as if she and Mary Ann had vanished into thin air.  Populations were so scarce during this time, there were basically no resources available to go find the girls,” Thomas explains.

Mary Ann would eventually die of starvation.

Olive Oatman's story was a multi-layered legend of courage and reinvention.  She was eventually returned to white civilization, against her will. She reconnected with her brother and both attended college.  She took over control of her own lecture tour management and book sales, becoming independent and financially secure. 

“Olive was the first known white woman ever documented having a Native tattoo,” Thomas added.

“And she took over her own branding, public image and publicity, at a time when women had few rights,” Thomas added.

Persons may bring their own live flowers. If they cannot attend the service, people may donate flowers by contacting Judy's Flowers in downtown Denison, for delivery.