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A. A. Spring, Choctaw
A. A. Spring Et Al.,
Choctaws By Blood.
The Choctaw tribal roll of 1896 shows:
No. 11801, Angus A. Spring, by blood; No.
15083, Dora Spring, by marriage, No. 11802,
Cloteal Spring, by blood; No. 11803, Edith
Spring, by blood; No.11894, Earl Spring, by
blood; No. 11805, Bernice Spring, by blood;
No. 11806, Letrice Spring, by blood, as
citizens of the Choctaw Nation.
Above enrollment was by the Choctaw revisory
board in January, 1897.
1886-7. Spring applied to the Choctaw
council for admission to citizenship; said
application was referred to the committee,
which reported it favorably, but no action
was taken by the council on said report.
September 9, 1896. Original application made
to the Commission to the Five Civilized
Tribes for admission as citizens by blood of
the Choctaw Nation.
December 8, 1896. Application rejected by
the commission. No decision. Marked
"Denied." Appeal taken to the United States
court for the central district of the Indian
Territory.
June 22, 1897-July !5 1897. Judgment of
United States court admitting applicants to
citizenship in the Choctaw Nation.
December 17, 1902. Judgments of United
States court annulled by decree of
citizenship court in test case.
March 6, 1903. Record filed in citizenship
court for trail de novo.
November 28, 1904. Decree of citizenship
court denying applicants enrollment.
February 6, 1906. Petition filed for the
enrollment of applicants as citizens of the
Choctaw Nation on the ground that they had
been duly enrolled by the board of census
commissioners of the Choctaw Nation
appointed under the act of the Choctaw
council of 1896, and therefore neither the
commission in 1896. or United States court
on appeal, or citizenship court, had any
jurisdiction to deny them enrollment as
citizens. This petition was filed and
considered under the ruling of the
department in the Lula West case, which
established their right to enrollment.
February 15,1907. Decision of the
Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes
that the applicants should be enrolled as
citizens of the Choctaw Nation, and their
names placed upon schedule for approval by
Secretary. (See "Exhibit A.")
February 19, 1907. Opinion of Attorney
General, which was construed by the
department as holding that the decisions of
the citizenship court were final.
March 1, 1907. Department reversed
commissioner's decision of February 15,
1907, and disapproved schedule containing
names of applicants.
April 5, 1909. Report containing all the
facts in this case made by commissioner to
Secretary.
Attached hereto are the following exhibits:
1. Certificate of Solomon J. Homer, national
secretary Choctaw Nation, of enrollment of
claimants. (Exhibit B.)
2. Certificates of Green McCurtain.
principal chief, Choctaw Nation, certifying
claimants are enrolled members Choctaw
Nation. (Exhibit C.)
3. Appointment A. A. Spring Choctaw school
trustee. (Exhibit D.)
4. Designation of Edith Spring as pupil.
Choctaw School, Tuskahoma Institute. (Exhibit
E.)
Respectfully submitted.
Walter S. Tuld, Attorney for Claimants.
Exhibit A.
Muskogee, Ind. T., February 15. 1907
A. A. Spring. Ryan, Intl. T.
Dear Sir: Enclosed herewith you will find a
copy of the decision of the Commissioner to
the Five Civilized Tribes, rendered February
15 1907. granting the application for the
enrollment of Angus A. Spring. Cloteal
Spring, Edith Spring. Earl Spring, Bernice
Sprint;, and Letrice Spring as citizens by
blood of the Choctaw Nation and for the
enrollment of Dora Spring is a citizen by
intermarriage of said nation.
You are hereby advised that the names of
Angus A. Spring. Cloteal Spring. Edith
Spring, Earl Spring. Bernice Spring, and
Letrice Spring will be placed upon the next
schedule of citizens by blood of the Choctaw
Nation and the name of Dora Spring will be
placed upon the next schedule of citizens by
intermarriage of said nation.
Respectfully, Tams Bixby. Commissioner.
This is to certify that I am the officer
having custody of the records pertaining to
the enrollment of the members of the
Choctaw. Chickasaw. Cherokee, Creek, and
Seminole Tribes of Indians and the
disposition of the land of said tribes, and
that the above and foregoing is a true and
correct copy of letter from Commissioner
Tarns Bixby to A. A. Spring, dated February
15, 1907.
J. Geo. Wright,
Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes
By W. H. Angell, Clerk.
Department Of The Interior,
Commissioner To The Five Civilized Tribes.
In the matter of the
application for the enrollment of Angus A.
Spring et al. as citizens of the Choctaw
Nation.
Decision
It appears from the census-card record in
this case that, on August 18, 1890
application was made to the Commission to
the Five Civilized Tribes, by Angus A.
Spring, for the enrollment of himself and
his five minor children, Cloteal, Edith,
Earl, Bernice and Letrice Spring, as
citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation, and
for the enrollment of his wife, Dora Spring,
as a citizen by intermarriage of said
nation.
It appears from the records of the
Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes
that, on September 9, 1896. in the case
entitled "A. A. Spring et al. v. Choctaw
Nation" (1896 Choctaw citizenship docket,
case No. 1383), original application was
made to said commission under the provisions
of the act of Congress approved June 10,
1896 (29 Stats.. 321), for the admission to
citizenship in the Choctaw Nation of A. A.
Spring, Cloteal Spring, Edith Spring, Earl
Spring, Bernice Spring, and Letrice Spring
ns citizens by blood of said nation, and
that, on December 8, 1896, said commission
rendered its decision therein denying said
application.
From this decision an appeal was taken to
the United States court for the central
district of Indian Territory, which court,
on June 22, 1897, and July 15, 1897.
rendered Judgments admitting A. A. Spring,
Cloteal Spring. Edith Spring, Earl Spring,
Bernice Spring, and Letrice Spring as
citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation, and
Dora Spring, wife of A. A. Spring, as a
citizen by intermarriage of said nation.
Dora Spring, however, was not an applicant
before the Commission to the Five Civilized
Tribes in 1890.
December 17, 1902, the Choctaw and Chickasaw
citizenship court, created under the
provisions of the act of Congress approved
July 1. 1902 (32 Stats., 641). "set aside,
annulled, vacated, and held for naught" the
aforesaid Judgments of the United States
court for the central district of the Indian
Territory.
Said cause was subsequently certified to
said Choctaw and Chickasaw citizenship court
for a trial de novo, and on November 28.
1904. in the case entitled "A. A. Spring et
al. v. Choctaw and Chickasaws Nations"
(Choctaw-Chickasaw citizenship court case.
No. 20, McAlester docket), rendered its
decision therein, wherein it was "ordered,
adjudged, and decreed that the petition of
the plaintiffs. A. A. Spring, Dora Spring,
Cloteal Spring, Edith Spring (or Edeith
Spring), Earl Spring, Bernice Spring,
Letrice Spring (or Letrie Spring) be
denied, and that they be declared not
citizens of the Choctaw Nation, and not
entitled to enrollment as such citizens, and
not entitled to any rights whatever flowing
there from."
Under the regulations adopted by the
Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes
January 2, 1906, there was filed on February
2, 1906, by Cruce. Truce & Bleakmore,
attorneys at law, Ardmore, Ind. T. a
petition praying for the enrollment of A. A.
Spring. Dora Spring, Cloteal Spring, Edith
Spring, Earl Spring, Burnice Spring, and
Letrice Spring as citizens of the Choctaw
Nation, it being alleged therein that said
applicants "were duly enrolled as members of
the Choctaw Nation by the board of census
commissioners for the Choctaw Nation,
appointed in accordance with an act of the
general council of said nation in the year
1896." Said petitioners are identical with
the persons for whom application had been
made for enrollment ns citizens of the
Choctaw Nation under the provisions of the
act of Congress approved June 28, 1896 (30
Stats. 495)
The applicants, Cloteal, Edith, Earl,
Bernice, and Letrice Spring, are the
children of the applicants. Angus A. Spring
and Dora Spring. Dora Spring claims her
right to enrollment as a citizen by
intermarriage of the Choctaw Nation by
virtue of her marriage on November 15, 1877,
to Angus A. Spring, both of said persons at
the time of said marriage being residents of
the State of Louisiana.
Upon an examination of the tribal rolls of
the Choctaw Nation in the possession of this
office it appears that the applicants. Angus
A. Spring. Dora Spring. Cloteal Spring,
Edith Spring, Earl Spring, Bernice Spring,
and Letrice Spring, are identified upon the
1896 Choctaw census roll opposite
Nos.11801,15083, 1l802, 11803, 11804, 11805,
11800, respectively, as citizens of the
Chickasaws Nation, their names having been
placed thereon by the Choctaw revisory board
in January. 1891.
On the appearance of the principal
applicant, Angus A. Spring, before this
office on January 14, 1907, he testified
that he was 48 years of age and was born in
the State of Louisiana: that he removed to
the Indian Territory in 1882, and that in
1886 or 1887 he made application to the
Choctaw council for admission to citizenship
in the Choctaw Nation; that said petition
was referred to a committee which reported
the same favorably, but that no action was
ever taken by the Choctaw council thereon;
that he was the son of John S. Spring, a
Choctaw by blood, who died in 1905 at the
age of 71 or 72 years, and Drusilla Spring,
a white woman: that John S. Spring was the
son of William Spring and Mary Franklin,
quarter-blood Choctaws. who, he had been
informed, originally resided in the State of
Mississippi: that Mary Franklin was the
daughter of Henry Franklin, a one-half blood
Choctaw: and that said Henry Franklin was
the son of Thomas Jefferson Franklin, a
full-blood Choctaw Indian.
All of the applicants herein were residents
in, good faith of the Indian Territory on
June 28. 1898.
I am of the opinion that following the
ruling of the department in the caw of
William C. Thompson et al. (I. T. D.
4242-1906) the action of the Commission to
the Five Civilized Tribes in 1896, and the
subsequent action of the Choctaw and
Chickasaw citizenship court, was without
authority of law, and of no force or effect
upon the status of the applicants; that
Angus A. Spring. Cloteal Spring, Edith
Spring, Earl Spring, Bernice Spring, and
Letrice Spring should be enrolled as
citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation and
that Torn Spring should be enrolled as a
citizen by intermarriage of said nation
under the provisions of the acts of Congress
approved June 28. 1S!)S (30 Stats.. 405).
and July 1, 1902 (32 Stats., 041), and it is
so ordered.
Tams Bixby. Commissioner.
Muskogee, Ind. T., February 15, 1901.
This is to certify that I am the officer
having custody of the records pertaining to
the enrollment of the members of the
Choctaw. Chickasaw, Cherokee. Creek, and
Seminole Tribes of Indians, and the
disposition of the land of said tribes, and
that, the above and foregoing is a true and
correct copy of decision in the matter of
the application for the enrollment of Angus
A. Spring et al. as citizens of the Choctaw
Nation.
J. Geo. Wright.
Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes
By W. H. Angell, Clerk.
Exhibit B
A. A. Spring, age 38 years.
Dora Spring, age 34 years.
Cloteal Spring, age 15 years.
Edith Spring, age 13 years.
Earl Spring, age 11 years.
Bernice Spring, age 9 years.
Letrice Spring, age 2 years.
This Is to certify that the above names are
properly enrolled by the chief commissioners
at Tuskahoma on the legal citizenship roll
of the Choctaw Nation.
This the 10th day of January 1897.
A. H. Durant. Chairman.
This Is to certify that A. R. Durant is
the duly appointed chairman of the board of
census commissioners, appointed under an act
of the general council passed at the regular
session thereof in 1896, for the purpose of
enrolling citizens of the Choctaw Nation.
Given under my hand and the seal of the
Choctaw Nation this 23d day of January.
1807.
[SEAL.] SOLOMAN J. HOMER,
National Secretary, Choctaw Nation.
Exhibit C.
Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory:
I. Green McCurtain. principal chief of the
Choctaw Nation, do hereby certify that I am
custodian of the revised rolls of the
members of the Choctaw Nation, compiled in
pursuance of an act of the Choctaw council
approved October 1896 and that on the book
of said rolls containing the names of the
citizens of the Choctaw Nation by blood, on
page 305, the name of A. A. Spring, age 38
years; Cloteal Spring, age 15 years; Edith
Spring, age 13 years; Earl Spring, age 11
years; Bernice A. Spring, age 9 years;
Letrice Spring, age 2 years, residing In the
Chickasaw district, appear as members by
blood of the Choctaw Nation.
Witness my hand and seal this the 19th day
of June. 1897.
[SEAL.] Green McCurtain,
Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation.
Wallace Bond
Private Secretary
Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory:
I Green McCurtain principal chief of the
Choctaw Nation, do hereby certify that I am
custodian of the revised rolls of the
members of the Choctaw Nation compiled In
pursuance of an act of the Choctaw council
approved October, 1890. and that on the book
of said rolls containing the names of the
citizens of the Choctaw Nation by
intermarriage, on page 400, the name of Dora
Spring, age 36 years, residing in the
Chickasaws district, appears as member by
intermarriage of the Choctaw Nation.
Witness my hand and seal this the 19th day
of June. 1897.
[seal.] Green McCurtain.
Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation.
Wallace Bond,
Private Secretary
Exhibit D.
Office of Trustee of the Third District,
Choctaw Nation.
To whom it may concern:
Reposing special trust and confidence in the
ability and integrity of A. A. Spring. I
hereby designate and appoint him local
trustee of Durant College, neighborhood
school, situated in Blue County, in the
third district, Choctaw Nation. Therefore
he. the said A. A. Spring, is hereby
authorized to employ a teacher, licensed by
the proper authority, for said school, and
to make true report of the attendance at
said school monthly to this office, and is
required to visit his school once in each
month.
Given under my hand and seal of office this,
the 22d day of August, 1898.
[SEAL.] B. S. Smiser,
Trustee Third District, Choctaw Nation.
Exhibit E.
Goodland, Ind. T., September 6, 1899.
Miss Edith Spring, Durant, Ind. T.
Edith Spring: You have been selected to
attend Tuskahoma Institute. Please report at
said school at once, presenting this card to
the superintendent. School opened September
4, 1899.
S. B. Spring, Trustee No. 3 District.
Chickasaw Nation, Ind. T., County of
Pickens:
I, A. J. Lewis, clerk of the county court of
Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Ind. T.,
do hereby certify that the foregoing
original rent contract between A. A. Spring
and Jim Gardner is duly on file in my
office.
Given under my hand and seal of office, this
7th day of March 1892.
A. J. Lewis, County Clerk, Pickens County,
Chickasaw Nation.
Chickasaw Nation, Ind. T., County of
Pickens:
I, A. J. Lewis, clerk of the county court of
Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation. Ind. T.,
do hereby certify that the foregoing
original rent contract between A. A. Spring
and H. J. Pool is duly on file in my office.
Given under my hand and seal of office, this
7th day of March, 1892.
[seal.] A. J. Lewis,
County Clerk, Pickens County, Chickasaw
Nation.
Office of Collector of Permits,
Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation.
This is to certify that J. H. Neely has
complied with the late permit law, and is
registered accordingly as being under employ
of A. A. Spring for 12 months from January
1, 1894, as a farmer.
H. H. McLane,
Permit Collector.
$5.00.
A. A. Spring, age 38. male.
Cloteal Spring, age 15. female.
Edith Spring, age 13, female.
Earl Spring, age 11, male.
Letrice Spring, age 2, female.
Bernice Spring, age 9, female.
This is to certify that the above names were
enrolled on the legal citizenship of the
Choctaw Nation (p. 53) by the chief
commissioner's board at Tuskahoma, January
14, 1897.
Davis A. Homes, Secretary.
Notes About the Book:
Source: Five Civilized Tribes In Oklahoma, Reports of the Department of the
Interior and Evidentiary Papers in support of S. 7625, a Bill for the Relief of
Certain Members of the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma, Sixty-second Congress,
Third Session, Published 1913, by the Department of the Interior, United States.
Online Publication: The manuscript was scanned and then ocr'd. Minimal editing
has been done, and readers can and should expect some errors in the textual
output.
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