Although the idea of creating a large "Indian Reservation" West of the Mississippi
already existed earlier, it was only in 1830 that the Indian Territory - intended
to serve for the relocation of Eastern Native Nations - was actually established.
At first the territory covered most of present-day Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma,
but in 1854 its size was considerably reduced and limited to most of present-day
Oklahoma.
Some Indians already moved to the region in the 1820ties, but real relocation to
reservations in the Territory only started in the 1830ties.
It concerned three groups of nations :
- the Eastern Tribes (Choctaw, ...), relocated to the central and eastern parts of
the Territory
- the original Indian inhabitants of the Territory, divided into :
- those of the central and eastern parts (Osage,...) who were relocated since
the 1830ties in order to allow the Eastern Nations to settle on the evacuated
lands.
- those of the western parts (Arapaho,...) who were only conquered and relocated
after 1866.
- Nations relocated to the Territory after revolts (Chiricahua Apache, Modoc and
Nez Percé)
ADMINISTRATIVE AND TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS OF INDIAN TERRITORY 1871 - 1907
Unlike the other U.S. territories (Arizona, Dakota, ...), Indian Territory never
possessed one integrated territorial administration and during its whole existence
it remained divided into a collection of reservations headed by tribal governments
and regrouped into agencies, which were themselves under the supervision of one or
more superintendencies (see below).
This situation lasted until the end of the 19th century when Indian Territory was
gradually reorganized as Oklahoma :
1887 : Promulgation of the U.S. General Allotment Act : the tribal lands - till
then a common possession of the whole community - were to be divided into
equal parts between the individual members of the tribe concerned. Surplus
lands were to be opened to white colonization.
1889 : The "Unassigned Lands" were the first part of Indian Territory to be opened
to the white settlers.
1890 : The "Unassigned Lands" and most other parts of Indian Territory (except the
Muskogee Union Agency and the Quapaw Agency) were merged to form the new
Territory of Oklahoma.
This was soon followed by the first allotments and land openings.
1898 : Promulgation of the so called Curtis Act : all tribal governments (both in
Oklahoma and in Indian Territory) which had not yet accepted allotment were
placed under direct U.S. authority while awaiting their final abolition.
Allotments and land openings were now enforced upon them and by 1906 all
still existing reservations and tribal governments - except the Osage (see
below) - had been dissolved as forseen by the Curtis Act. (1)
1907 : The Osage Reservation, the Muskogee Union Agency and the Quapaw Agency were
fully integrated into the new State of Oklahoma.
(1) In many cases shadowy administrations - recognized or at east tolerated
by the U.S. government - continued to function (without real power) as
a kind of liaison offices between the U.S. administration and the native
community.
Notes
- despite the fact that it is sometimes listed as such, so called "No Man's Land"
was no part of Indian Territory.
- as a consequence of special local situations some parts of the Territory (Greer
County,...) remained outside the structure of agencies and reservations.
- except for the so-called "Five Civilized Tribes", the internal history of the
Native Nations is not covered by this page.
Arapaho-Cheyenne Agency
(later also known as Darlington and Concho Agency)
The Arapaho-Cheyenne Agency was created in 1869 out of parts of the Leased District
and of the Seminole Reservation. (2)
It encompased only one reservation of the same name for the (Southern) Arapaho and
(Southern) Cheyenne nations. (3)
The reservation was alloted in 1890 and in 1892 the surplus lands were opened to
white settlement.
(2) Leased District : District created in 1853 out of Choctaw territory to
be used for the relocation of other nations.
(3) In 1874 - 1875 there was a major native revolt headed by Quanah Parker
(1845 - 1911, leader of the Quahadi Comanche)
Cherokee Outlet
Cherokee Outlet (4) was the name of an additional western tract of land given to
the Cherokee (see below) in 1835.
Intended to be a permanent way out for futher Cherokee colonization and to be used
as a hunting ground by all tribes, it remained relatively unused until 1866 when,
as a punishment for the siding of some of them with the Confederates, the Cherokee
were forced to cede the eastern part of the Outlet to the U.S. government, who soon
afterwards used this part to create the Osage and Ponca Agencies. (see below)
In about the same period the western part of the Outlet started to be used as a
major grazing land by Texan cattlemen.
At first they freely used it, but in 1880 the Cherokee government imposed a cattle
tax. This resulted in a conflict that lasted until 1883 when the cattle holders -
now united into the Cherokee Strip Livestock Association(5) - signed an agreement
with the Cherokee whereby the whole territory was leased to them for an amount of
$100,000 (later $200,000) a year.
The authority of the Association was however contested by white migrants trying to
settle the area. Like in the Unassigned Territories (see below) these so-called
"Boomers" gained political support and in 1890 the U.S. Army expelled the ranchers.
The Outlet was now formally returned to the Cherokee, but as the departure of the
ranchers deprived them of a major source of income they showed very little interest
for the territory and after long negociations (1890-1893) finally ceded it to the
U.S. for an amount of about $8,505,000.
Soon afterwards the Outlet was opened to white settlement as part of the Territory
of Oklahoma.
(4) The name Cherokee Strip is also often - but incorrectly - used.
The Cherokee Strip only was that part of the Outlet located in present
day Kansas. It was ceded to the U.S. in 1866 and transferred to Kansas.
(5) The Cherokee Strip Livestock Association - renamed South Western Grazers
Association in 1888 - was an association of more than 100, mostly Texan
ranchers, who divided the leased territory among them.
President of the Association
1883 - 1890 Maj. Andrew Drumm
Comanche-Kiowa-Apache Agency
(later also known as the Kiowa-Wichita and the Anadarko Agency)
The Comanche-Kiowa-Apache Agency was created in 1867 out of the Leased District.
In 1878 it was merged with the Wichita Agency, established as early as 1859.
The Agency encompased two reservations :
- the Comanche-Kiowa-Apache Reservation :
The Comanche-Kiowa-Apache Reservation was established in 1867 for the Comanche,
the Kiowa and the Plains Apache (since 1869). (6)
Later, in 1894, these three tribes were joined by the survivors of the Chiricahua
Apache who had participated in the revolts of Goyathlay "Geronimo" (1829 - 1909)
In 1900 the reservation was alloted and the following year the surplus lands were
opened to white settlers. (7)
- the Wichita Reservation :
The Wichita Reservation was established in 1859 for the Caddo, the Delaware, the
Wichita and related nations (Ioni, Keechi, Waco, ...)
In 1900 - 1901 the reservation was alloted and opened to white settlement.
(6) The Comanche and Kiowa participated in the revolt of 1874 - 1875 under
the leadership of Guipago "Lone Wolf" (1820 - 1879, leader of the Kiowa)
(7) Three areas of the Comanche-Kiowa-Apache Reservation remained outside
the changes of 1900 - 1901 :
- the Big Pasture
The Big Pasture was a large tract of grazing land in the southern
part of the reservation.
In 1885 it was leased by the tribal authories to two of the major
Texan (and actually U.S.) cattle ranches :
- the "Three D" ranch owned by the Waggoner family (Daniel, 1828-
1902, since 1869 together with his son William Thomas, 1852-1934)
- the "Four Sixes" ranch owned by the Burnett family (Samuel Burk
1849-1922)
After the land opening of 1901 both were forced to give up their
leases and the territory involved became a new reservation for the
Arapaho, Cheyenne and Plains Apache.
In 1906 it was however also opened to white settlement.
- the Fort Sill Military Reservation
The Chiricahua Apache remained under military supervision until 1913
when most members of the tribe where allowed to return to New Mexico.
Those remaining were placed on vacant Kiowa and Comanche allotments
in 1914 and became known as the Fort Sill Apache.
- the Wichita Mountain Forest Reserve
The Wichita Mountain Forest Reserve was created in 1901 under the
care of the U.S. Forest Service.
In 1935 it was transferred to the Bureau of Biological Survey, one
of the predecessor agencies of the present day Fish and Wildlife
Service and renamed Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
(Since 1907 the reserve was mainly concerned with the preservation
of the last surviving bisons)
Greer County
In 1860 a part of Indian Territory claimed by Texas was proclaimed a Texan county
(Greer County).
It was organized as such by Texan cowboys and settlers in 1886. The U.S. government
didn't however recognize this situation and in 1896 the contested area was finally
assigned to the Territory of Oklahoma by the Supreme Court.
Muskogee Union Agency
see hereOsage Agency
The Osage Agency was created in 1872 out of eastern parts of the Cherokee Outlet.
The Agency encompased two reservations :
- the Kaw (or Kansa) Reservation :
The Kaw Reservation was established in 1872 for the tribe of the same name.
It was alloted in 1902 and its surplus lands were opened to white settlement in
1904.
- the Osage Reservation :
The Osage Reservation was established in 1872 for the nation of the same name.
It was alloted in 1906. As there were no surplus lands, the reservation was not
opened to white settlers and de facto continued to exist.
In 1907 the Osage agreed to join the state of Oklahoma on condition that their
reservation continued as a separate county.
Ponca Agency
(later also known as the Pawnee Agency)
The Ponca Agency was created in 1876 out of eastern parts of the Cherokee Outlet.
The Agency encompased four reservations :
- the Nez Percé Reservation :
The Nez Percé tribe was relocated from Idaho to the Indian Territory in 1879,
after the quelling of their revolt under Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt "Chief Joseph",
the Younger (1840 - 1904)
In 1884 they were allowed to return to Idaho.
- the Otoe and Missouria Reservation :
The Otoe and Missouria Reservation was established in 1881 for the two nations
of that name.
It was alloted and opened to white colonization in 1904.
- the Pawnee Reservation :
The Pawnee Reservation was established in 1876 for the Pawnee nation. It was
alloted in 1892 and opened to white colonization in 1893.
- the Ponca Reservation :
The Ponca Reservation was established in 1876 for the tribe of that name. It was
alloted and opened to white colonization in 1904.
- the Tonkawa Reservation :
The Tonkawa Reservation was established in 1884 on the place of the former Nez
Percé Reservation. It was alloted and opened to white settlement in 1893.
Quapaw Agency
(later also known as Miami Agency)
A Seneca-Shawnee Agency was established in 1832. It was first renamed Neosho Agency
(1851) and later Quapaw Agency (1867?).
In 1890 the Agency remained outside the Territory of Oklahoma, but in 1907 it did
become part of the new State of Oklahoma (Ottawa County).
The Agency encompased the following reservations (8) :
- the Modoc Reservation :
A reservation was established in 1873 out of the Eastern Shawnee Reservation for
the Modoc which had been relocated to Oklahoma after the quelling of their revolt
under Kintpuash "Captain Jack" (1837 - 1873)
- The Ottawa Reservation :
The Ottawa Reservation was established in 1867 out of the Quapaw Reservation for
the Ottawa nation.
- the Peoria Reservation :
The Peoria Reservation was established in 1867 out of the Quapaw Reservation for
the "Peoria and Confederated Tribes" (also Peoria Confederation, encompased the
last remnants of the Illinois Confederation : Kaskaskia, Peoria, Piankasaw and
Wea)
In 1873 the Peoria were joined by the Miami who confederated with them to form
the United Peoria and Miami.
- the Quapaw Reservation :
The Quapaw Reservation was established in 1834 for the nation of the same name.
In 1867 the part of the reservation located in Kansas - the so called "Quapaw
Strip" - was ceded to the U.S. and transferred to Kansas.
- the Seneca-Cayuga and (Eastern) Shawnee Reservations :
A Seneca-Shawnee Reservation for the "United Nation of Seneca and Shawnee" was
established in 1832. In 1867 it was divided into :
- the Seneca Reservation for the Seneca
- the Eastern Shawnee Reservation for the Shawnee
The Seneca Reservation was renamed Seneca-Cayuga Reservation in 1881, after the
arrival of part of the related Cayuga nation from Canada.
- The Wyandotte Reservation :
In 1867 a reservation was established ouof the Seneca-Shawnee Reservation for the
Wyandotte.
(8) All reservations were alloted in the 1890ties (Modoc 1891?, Ottawa
1892, ...) but there never seem to have been formal land openings.
Despite this some lands later passed to white settlers after 1907.
Sac and Fox Agency
(later also known as the Shawnee Agency)
The Sac and Fox Agency was created in 1867 out of eastern parts of the Cherokee
Outlet.
The Agency encompased four reservations :
- the Iowa Reservation :
The Iowa Reservation was established in 1883 for the Iowa tribe.
It was alloted and opened to white settlemnt in 1891
- the Kickapoo Reservation :
The Kickapoo Reservation was established in 1883 for the nation of the same name
It was alloted and opened to white settlemnt in 1895
- the Sac and Fox Reservation :
The Sac and Fox Reservation was established in 1867 for the Sac (Sauk) and Fox.
It was alloted and opened to white settlemnt in 1891
- the Shawnee-Pottawatomie Reservation :
A Pottawatomie (Potawatomi) Reservation was establihsed in 1867 for the nation
of that name.
In 1872 the (Absentee) Shawnee were relocated to the same reservation. It was
alloted and opened to white settlers in 1891.
Unassigned Lands
"Unassigned lands" was the informal name given since 1879 to an area in central
Indian Territory which had been detached from the Creek and Seminole Reservations
in 1866 as a punishment for the siding of part of the nations with the Confederates.
Part of it was later used to create the Sac and Fox Agency (s.a.) but most of it
remained unsettled.
In the course of the 1880ties bands of white migrants - the so-called "Boomers" -
tried to settle the area. At first they met with little success, as all intruders
were immediately removed by the U.S. Army, but gradually they gained political
support and in 1889 the Unassigned lands were formally opened to white settlement.
The following year they became the core of the new Territory of Oklahoma. (9)
(9) Chief Leaders of the Boomers
1879 - 1884 Capt. David Lewis Payne 1836 - 1884
1884 - 1889 Capt. William L. Couch
In the period between the Openiing and the formation of the Territory
of Oklahoma, the area was without organized administration, the only
form of central government being that created by common consent between
the provisional municipal governemnts of the towns of Alfred, El Reno,
Frisco, Guthrie, Kingfisher, Lisbon, Noble, Norman, Oklahoma City, Reno
City, South Oklahoma and Stillwater.
Provisional Mayors of Oklahoma City
1889 James Murray (President of
the Oklahoma Colony)
1889 Capt. William L. Couch s.a.
1889 Sidney Clark*
1889 A. J. Beale
1890 ...
__________________________________________________________________________________
CHIEF U.S. REPRESENTATIVES
Until 1870 supreme U.S. authority was represented by tow superintendents :
- the Superintendent of the Central Superintendency, in charge of all agencies and
reservations except those of the so-called Five Civilized Tribes.
- the Superintendent of the Southern Superintendency, in charge of the so-called
Five Civilized Tribes.
After the abolition of the Southern Superintendency in 1870, the Suoerintendent
of the Central Superintendency became responsible for the whole Indian Territory,
his authority over the Five Civilized Tribes being however restricted to matters
in relation to the treaties.
Superintendents of the Central Superintendency
(subordinated to the Commissioners of the Office of Indian Affairs)
The Superintendents supervised the local Indian Agencies. They also were in charge
of "diplomaric" affairs such as the relations between the different reservations,
those between the reservations and the whites and those between the reservations
and the independent Indian Nations.
1869 - 1876 Enoch Hoag 1812 - 1884
1876 - 1878 William Nicholson 1826 - 1899
The Central Superintendecy was abolished in 1878 and the Agencies became directly
subordinated to the Indian Office.
"Five Civilized Tribes" was the collective formal name given in this period to the
Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek (now Muskogee) and Seminole Nations, who all
had adopted many features of Western civilization (christianism, schools, writing,
constitutional government, ...).
The term is now no longer used and has been replaced by Five Nations.
__________________________________________________________________________________
U.S. REPRESENTATIVES TO THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES
Chronology of the U.S. Representation to the Five Civilized Nations
1834 : Creation of a Choctaw Agency in Indian Territory, with Cherokee and Creek
Subagencies.
1837 : Creation of separate Agencies for the Cherokee and the Creek
1839 : Creation of a Chickasaw Agency.
1842 : Seminole Subagency established in the Choctaw Agency
1855 : Seminole Subagency made a separate Agency.
1856 : Chickasaw and Choctaw Agencies merged into one Choctaw-Chickasaw Agency.
1874 : Cherokee, Choctaw-Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole Agencies merged into the
Muskogee Union Agency.
1893 : Appointment of the Dawes Commission (see below)
1898 : After the introduction of the Curtis Act (s.a.) an Inspector for Indian
Affairs was appointed to supervise the Five Nations.
He gradually replaced the Union Agent as principal U.S. official.
1905 : The Dawes commission was abolished, but as allotment was not terminated the
Secretary of the Interior toke over all remaining powers of the commission
and appointed a Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes to act for him
1907 : the Inspectorate for Indian Affairs was merged with the Commissionership to
the Five Civilzed Tribes.
1914 : the Muskogee Union Agency and the Commissionership to the Five Civilized
Tribes were replaced by a Superintendency of the Five Civilized Tribes.
Cherokee Indian Agent
1870 - 1874 John Buttrick Jones 1824 - 1876
Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian Agents
1870 - 1873 Theophilus D. Griffith
1873 - 1874 Albert Parsons
Creek Indian Agents
1870 - 1871 none
1871 - 1873 Francis S. Lyon
1873 - 1874 Edward S. Roberts*
Seminole Indian Agent
1870 - 1874 Henry F. Breiner
Muskogee Union Agents
1874 John Buttrick Jones* s.a.
1874 - 1876 George W. Ingalls 1838 - 1920
1876 Maj. J. J. Upham
1876 - 1879 Sylvester W. Marston
1879 - 1885 Col. John Q. Tufts
1885 - 1889 Robert Latham Owen 1856 - 1947
1889 - 1893 Leo E. Bennet 1857 -
1893 - 1899 Col. Dew Moore Wisdom 1836 -
1899 - 1905 J. Blair Shoenfelt 1859 -
1905 - 1914 Dana H. Kelsey
Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes
1893 - 1905 -Henry Laurens Dawes chairman
(until feb 05 1903) 1816 - 1903
-Archibald S. McKennon
(until jun 15 1900)
-Meredith Helm Kidd
(until mar 01 1895)
-Frank C. Armstrong
(mar 02 1895 - jun 30 1899)
-Thomas Banks Cabaniss 1835 - 1915
mar 02 1895 - jun 30 1897)
-Alexander Brooks Montgomery 1837 - 1910
(mar 02 1895 - jun 30 1897)
-Tams Bixby (since jul 01 1897,
chairman since feb 05 1903)
-Thomas B. Needles
(since jul 01 1897)
-Clifton Rodes Breckinridge 1846 - 1932
(since jun 16 1900)
-William E. Standley
(feb 16 1903 --mar 31 1904)
Inspector for Indian Affairs
1898 - 1907 J. George Wright
Commissioners to the Five Civilized Tribes
1905 - 1907 Tams Bixby s.a.
1907 - 1914 J. George Wright s.a.
Superintendents of the Five Civilized Tribes
1914 - 1921 Gabe E. Parker 1878 -
1921 - 1923 Victor M. Locke Jr. 1876 - 1929
1923 - 1926 Shade E. Wallen
1926 H. H. Fiske
1926 - 1929 C. L. Ellis
1929 - 1931 A. G. McMillan
1931 - 1947 Adrian M. Landman
__________________________________________________________________________________
THE FIVE NATIONS (REPUBLICS)
Notes
- the term "Nation" seems to have been used to designate not only the peoples, but
also their territories as well as the polities.
- "Republic" was also used as the polities had most (if not all) caracteristics,
usually associated with a 19th century western republic (the division of state
power between three separate branches - the executive, the legislative and the
judicial - being the principal)
- compared to the other tribal governments, those of the Five Nations enjoyed a
much larger degree of self government until the end of the 19th century. This
was partly a consequence of the fact that the treaties they had signed with the
U.S. were fairly well respected for most of the time.
Chronology of the integration of the Five Civilized Tribes into Oklahoma
1893 : U.S. Congress appointed a Commission for the Five Civilized Tribes - also
known as the Dawes Commission - to negociate the allotment of the lands of
the Five Civilized Tribes.
1898 : As only the Seminole accepted allotment (1897), the Curtis Act (s.a.) was
extended to the Five Civilized Tribes. (1)
Allotment was now also accepted by the other nations.
1907 : The governments of the Five Civilized Tribes were abolished (2) and some
months later their territory was united with the Territory of Oklahoma to
form the State of Oklahoma.
1914 : Allotment was achieved. Although there seem not to have been a formal land
opening some lands later passed to white settlers.
(1) Only the Seminole retained some independence until 1903.
(2) Like for the other nations, the governments should have been dissolved
in 1906, but they were allowed to continue for some months in order to
allow their chiefs to sign some documents.
In a last attempt to save their independence the Five Nations had tried
to obtain the formation of a separate State of Sequoyah. But the U.S.
authorities didn't even consider the idea.
President of the Convention of the State of Sequoyah
1905 - 1906 Pleasant Porter, Principal Chief of the
Creek (Muskogee) 1840 - 1907
Like elsewhere in former Indian Territory shadowy administrations also
continued to exist after the formal abolition of the governments.
Except for the Seminole who continued to elect their leaders (no longer
recognized by the U.S. government after 1915), they were first headed
by the last elected chief executives (until their death) and thereafter
by presidential appointees.
After the reforms of 1934, these were however first elected by native
councila and only thereafter appointed by the U.S. government.
Notes for the lists of Chief Executives after 1907 :
(E) = last elected chief executive
(A) = first chief executive appointed by the U.S. government
(EA)= first chief executive elected by native councils and thereafter
appointed by the U.S. government.
The Chiefs appointed for one day, usually just were so to sign some papers.
CHEROKEE NATION
The Cherokee originally lived in what would become the State of Georgia.
They ceded their first territories to the U.S. in 1784, but afterwards there were
no major territorial changes for nearly 50 years.
In 1817 a first group - later known as the Western Cherokee - agreed to move to
the West, where they settled in Indian Territory in 1828.
The remaining part of the Nation - now known as Eastern Cherokee - also agreed to
move to the west in 1835 and in 1837 most of them were transferred to the Indian
Territory.
After their arrival they reunited with the Western Cherokee in 1839 to from one
single Cherokee Nation.
The Cherokee also had jurisdiction over :
- the Cherokee Outlet (s.a. - until 1866/1893)
- the Cherokee Neutral Lands (until 1866)
Principal Chiefs
1867 - 1872 Lewis Downing (2x) 1823 - 1882
1872 Charles Thompson
1872 - 1875 William Potter Ross (2x) 1820 - 1891
1875 - 1879 Charles Thompson (2x)
1879 - 1888 Dennis Wolf Bushyhead 1826 - 1898
1888 - 1891 Joel Bryan Mayes 1833 - 1891
1891 Thomas Mitchell Buffington* 1855 - 1938
1891 - 1895 Col. Johnson Harris 1856 -
1895 - 1899 Samuel Houston Mayes 1837 -
1899 - 1903 Thomas Mitchell Buffington (2x)
1903 - 1917 William Charles Rogers (E) 1... - 1917
1917 - 1919 none
1919 Andrew Bell Cunningham (nov 08 -
nov 25) (A)
1919 - 1923 none
1923 Edward M. Fry (1 day : jun 23)
1923 - 1925 none
1925 Richard Baxter Choate (Robert
B. Choate) (1 day : ...) 1863 -
1925 - 1928 none
1928 Charles J. Hunt (1 day : dec 27)
1928 - 1931 none
1931 Oliver P. Brewer (1 day : may 26)
1931 - 1936 none
1936 William Wirt Hastings (1 day : jan 22) 1866 - 1938
1936 - 1942 none
1942 Jesse Bartley Milam (1 day : apr 14) 1884 - 1949
1942 - 1943 none
1943 - 1949 Jesse Bartley Milam (2x)
CHICKASAW NATION
The Chickasaw originally lived in what would become the U.S. states of Alabama and
Mississippi.
The ceded their first lands to the U.S. in 1805. Afterwards new cessions would take
place and in 1837, after long negociations (1832-1937), the Chickasaw agreed to
move to Indian Territory.
Here they were at first settled on the terrritory of the Choctaw, becoming the 4th
District of that nation. In the 1840ties a movement aiming at the restoration of
a separate Chickasaw Nation developed and in 1854 the union with the Choctaw was
formally terminated.
Governors
1870 - 1871 William P. Brown
1871 - 1872 Thomas J. Parker 1775 - 1890
1872 - 1874 Cyrus H. Harris (4x) 1817 - 1888
1874 - 1878 Benjamin Franklin Overton 1836 - 1884
1878 - 1880 Benjamin Crooks Burney 1844 - 1892
1880 - 1884 Benjamin Franklin Overton (2x)
1881 Hickeyubbee*
1884 - 1886 Jonas Wolfe 1... - 1900
1886 - 1888 William Malcolm Guy 1845 - 1918
1888 - 1892 William Leander Byrd 1844 - 1915
1892 Jonas Wolfe (2x)
1894 Tecumseh A. McClure* 1830 -
1894 - 1896 Palmer S. Mosely 1851 - 1908
1896 - 1898 Robert Maxwell Harris 1850 - 1927
1898 - 1902 Douglas Henry Johnston 1858 - 1939
1902 - 1904 Palmer S. Mosely (2x)
1904 - 1906 Douglas Henry Johnston (2x)
1906 Peter Maytubby
1906 - 1939 Douglas Henry Johnston (3x) (E)
1939 - 1963 Floyd Ernest Maytubby (EA) 1893 - 1963
CHOCTAW NATION
Like the Chickasaw, the Choctaw originally were settled in the present day States
of Alabama and Mississippi. And like them they started ceding their lands to the
U.S. in 1805.
In 1820 a first group moved to the West and in 1833 most remaining Choctaw also
agreed to be relocated to the Indian territory.
The Nation at first continued as a confederation of three Districts, but in 1857
a central government was created. (3)
In 1853 the Choctaw Nation ceded the so called Leased District to the U.S. and in
1854 the Chickasaw Nation, till then a District (s.a.), became independent.
The Choctaw also claimed Greer County (s.a.)
(3) The three Districts were :
- Apukshunnubbee
- Moshulatubbee
- Pushmatahac
They continued to exist as subordinated authorities after 1857.
Prioncipal Chiefs
1870 - 1874 William J. Bryant 18.. -
1874 - 1878 Coleman Cole 1800 - 1886
1878 - 1880 Isaac Levi Garvin 1832 - 1880
1880 - 1884 Jackson Frazier McCurtain 1830 - 1885
1884 - 1886 Edmund McCurtain - 1890
1886 - 1888 Thompson McKinney - 1889
1888 - 1890 Benjamin Franklin Smallwood 1829 - 1891
1890 - 1894 Wilson Nathaniel Jones 1831 - 1901
1894 - 1896 Jefferson Gardner 1847 - 1906
1896 - 1900 Green McCurtain - 1910
1900 - 1902 Gilbert Wesley Dukes 1849 - 1919
1902 - 1910 Green McCurtain (2x) (E)
1910 - 1918 Victor M. Locke Jr. (A) s.a.
1918 - 1922 William Finley Semple 1883 - 1969
1922 - 1929 William Henry Harrison 1876 - 1929
1930 - 1936 Ben H. Dwight 1890 - 1953
1937 - 1948 William H. Durrant (EA) 1866 - 1948
CREEK NATION
At the eve of its removal to Indian Territory, the Creek Nation - now Muskogee -
was divided into :
- the Lower Creek (mainly in present day Georgia)
- the Upper Creek (mainly in present day Alabama)
After their defeat in the Creek war (1812 - 1814) both groups were forced to cede
parts of their lands to the U.S.
More land cessions followed and in 1827 the Lower Creek were forced to relocate
to Indian Territory
They were followed by most of the Upper Creek in 1836.
Here the division into two factions continued to exist until 1867, when a central
government was created.
The Creek ceded part of their territories to the U.S. for the establishment of
the first (1856) and second Seminole Nation (1866). In 1866 they also ceded part
of what would become the Unassigned Lands.
Principal Chiefs
1867 - 1875 Samuel Checote 1819 - 1884
1875 - 1876 Lochar Harjo 1... - 1879
1876 - 1879 Ward Coachman
1879 - 1883 Samuel Checote (2x)
1883 - 1887 Joseph Moses Perryman 1833 - 1896
1887 - 1895 Legus C. Perryman 1838 - 1922
1895 Hotulke Emarthla "Edward Bullet"
1895 - 1899 Isparhecher 1858 - 1902
1899 - 1907 Pleasant Porter s.a.
1907 - 1917 Moty Tiger (A) 1840 -
1917 - 1920 George Washington Grayson 1843 - 1920
1921 - 1923 Washington Grayson
1923 - 1928 George W(ashington?) Hill
1928 - 1930 none
1930 Henry Harjo (1 day : ...)
1930 - 1931 none
1931 Peter Ewings (1 day : ...)
1931 - 1935 none
1935 - 1939 Roley Canard (EA)
1939 - 1943 Alex Noon
1943 - 1951 Roley Canard (2x)
SEMINOLE NATION
The Seminole were a branch of the Muskogee people that migrated to Florida in the
18th and early 19th centuries. In 1836 - 1842 as a result of their defeats in the
Second Seminole War, most of the nation was relocated to the Indian Territory.
Here they at first lived dispersed among the Creek Nation and subject to Creek law,
only retaining some autonomy on town level. After some agitation they were allowed
in 1849 to regroup in the western part of the Creek territory and some yrars later,
in 1856, they were allowed to form a separate Nation out of these western parts.
Following the siding of some of them with the Confederates in 1861-1865, they were
forced to cede their whole territory the U.S. (who carved the Arapaho-Cheyenne
Reservation and the Unassigned Lands out of it) and to move to the East where a
new, but much smaller, Seminole Nation was created out of Creek Territory.
Principal Chiefs
1861 - 1881 Serg. Big John Chupco "Long John" (4) - 1881
1881 - 1882 Hulputta Che
1882 - 1885 John Jumper (2x) 1820 - 1896
1885 - 1901 John F(rippo?) Brown, informally
styled Governor
1901 - 1905 Hulputta Micco 18.. - 1905
1905 - 1919 John F(rippo?) Brown, informally
styled Governor (2x)
1919 - 1922 none
1922 - 1935 Alice Brown Davis° 1852 - 1935
1935 - 1936 Chilli Fish (E)
1936 - 1942 George Jones (EA)
1942 - 1944 Willie Haney
1944 - 1946 Jeffie Brown
(4) Big John Chupco "Long John" became leader of the pro-Union faction of
the Seminole nation and was in exile in Kansas 1861 - 1865.
He was opposed until 1877 by Col. John Jumper who was Principal Chief
since 185. and had sided the pro-Confederate faction of the nation
since 1861.
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