Tahkahper

The well-known Comanche elder Post Oak Jim (Tahkahper) was born in1865 and passed away in 1950.

In his long life, Post Oak was known as an excellent singer of Comanche songs, a storied dancer, a peyote leader, and a very fine horseman.

As a youngster, he had arrived at the KCA reservation with other Comanches. From the 1880's onward, tribal members recalled Post Oak Jim as a man of strength. As a cattleman and farmer, Jim lived in his home located around a half-mile west of Cache Creek. He was a cousin to Topay. Topay was the last surviving wife of Chief Quanah Parker.

The Texas born Knox Beal, who served as an Indian Agency interpreter, shared the following about Post Oak Jim:

"In the young days, he was quite a horseman. Many times he has held wild horses for me while I got on. He would ride them with ease." Knox added "He was liked by all and everyone who knew him."

Even though Post Oak Jim lived the final three years of his long life in blindness at his home, he still faced life with much courage.

Wonderful picture of the full-blooded Comanche elder Post Oak Jim. In his younger years, he held great skill with his rope and horse. As Jim had worked as a tribal policeman at the sub-Indian Agency in Cache, Oklahoma, he nearly lived all year in his teepee. Photograph courtesy of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas. Additional information from the Lawton Morning Press, Times Record News, Wichita Falls, Texas, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.