Yancey Cravat

Sabra Cravat

Husband and wife with a passionate but turbulent marriage, marked by Yancey's restless adventuring and Sabra's steadying influence.

Isaiah

Isaiah serves Yancey with loyalty and admiration, often assisting in his various frontier endeavors.

Felice Venable

Mother-in-law and son-in-law, with Felice viewing Yancey as an irresponsible adventurer who ruined her daughter's prospects.

Mrs. Big Elk

A Native American woman who respects Yancey's fair treatment of her people, though cultural barriers remain.

Grandma Standing Woman

An elder who shares a mutual respect with Yancey, often acting as a bridge between white settlers and Native Americans.

Cimarron Cravat

Father and son, with Cimarron idolizing Yancey's adventurous nature while struggling to live up to his legacy.

Donna Cravat

Father and daughter, with Donna adoring Yancey's charm but feeling abandoned by his frequent absences.

Ruby Big Elk

A young Native American woman who interacts with Yancey as a figure of authority and occasional kindness.

Sol Levy

A Jewish merchant who shares a bond of mutual respect and business dealings with Yancey, often defending him against prejudice.

Sabra Cravat

Husband and wife with a passionate but turbulent marriage, marked by Yancey's restless adventuring and Sabra's steadying influence.

Sabra Cravat

Husband and wife with a passionate but turbulent marriage, marked by Yancey's restless adventuring and Sabra's steadying influence.

Mrs. Big Elk

A Native American woman who respects Yancey's fair treatment of her people, though cultural barriers remain.

Cimarron

Leads his family to Osage, establishes the Oklahoma Wigwam, and embodies the pioneer spirit and Manifest Destiny.

I

The central figure of the chapter, described as a charismatic orator with a mysterious past, who captivates the Venable family with his tale of the Oklahoma land rush.

Chapter II

Tells the story of the Run, defends pioneer women, and declares his intention to return to Oklahoma with his family.

III

Mentioned as the driving force behind the move; Sabra briefly sees him as a stranger.

IV

Drives the other wagon, makes camp matter-of-factly, discovers Black Isaiah stowed away in the carpet roll.

V

Thrives on the journey, telling Cim stories of treasure and Indian history; teaches Sabra to relax during travel; kills a rattlesnake.

VI

Cheerfully oblivious to Sabra's distress; quotes Plutarch; leaves her to settle housing details while he arranges the newspaper press.

VII

Revealed as a deadly marksman with a romantic vision for Oklahoma; he is determined to bring Pegler's murderers to justice and defends the outlaw Kid as a product of the changing frontier.

Chapter VIII

Arranges to use the gambling tent for a church service; prepares to preach.

IX

Conducts the service, confesses his earlier deceit, names the murderer, and shoots Lon Yountis in self-defense.

The Founding of the Philomathean Society

Publishes a satirical newspaper edition; idealistic but muddled; reveals he knew Mrs. Waltz's past and is amused by Sabra's innocence.

Chapter XI

Supports Sabra during childbirth and later rescues Sol Levy from a violent hazing.

XII

Influences Cim through stories of the frontier and Indian editorials; his romanticism shapes the boy's worldview.

XIII

Kills the Kid in a shootout; is exhausted and refuses reward money; conducts the funeral for the outlaws.

Chapter XIV

Restless, moody, and irritable; engages in practical jokes, fights for Indian rights and statehood, refuses political office, and insists on making the Cherokee Strip Run despite Sabra's objections.

Chapter XV

Absent for five years, he is the subject of wild rumors—that he lives with a Cherokee squaw, was hanged, or leads the Doolin gang; his legend grows in the territory.

Chapter XVI

Returns after five years in Alaska and the Spanish-American War, nonchalant and exuberant, immediately decides to defend Dixie Lee in court.

XVII

Defends Dixie Lee in court with a dramatic, sentimental speech.

Chapter XVIII

Returns from the Spanish-American War as a celebrated Rough Rider; resumes his flamboyant style and editorial role; publishes a radical editorial on Indian rights, ruining his governorship prospects.

XIX

Opposes Donna's Eastern schooling; charming with female visitors; drinks heavily; laughs at the salad; leaves the house in a depressed mood.

Chapter XX

Returns dramatically during the oil boom, shabby and worn, asserting his ownership of the Wigwam.

Chapter XXI

Returns sporadically, writes barbed editorials, champions the Indians, and learns of Dixie Lee's death; his drinking and age show.

Chapter XXII

Yancey appears pleased with the marriage, seeing it as a symbol of Oklahoma's future, and handles the situation with charm and diplomacy.

XXIII

Young Yancey Cravat, son of Cim and Ruby, is present at a country club luncheon where he corrects a matron's assumption about Indians.

Chapter XXIV

Memorialized as the subject of Krbecek's statue, described as a man who 'so far preceded his time.'

Chapter XXV

Appears as an old, broken bum known as 'old Yance' or 'Sim'; dies after catching a can of nitroglycerin, and Sabra forgives him.