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Surname Wagoner to
Young
Wagoner, Tenny (born in 1865).
Choctaw or Chickasaw freedman. Files: Part
II, Exhibit F, report March 3, 1909. This
woman claims to have Indian and Negro blood,
but she asks only for enrollment as a
freedman. She says that her mother was a
slave, and it is probable she was also. Her
failure to secure enrollment seems to have
been due to the fact that application was
not made for her in due time.
Number of claimants in this memorandum, 1.
Walker, ________.
Cherokee by blood. Files: Report Acting
Commissioner to Five Civilized Tribes.
January 13, 1910, addressed to Hon. J.
George Wright.
Walker, child of James and Takey Walker,
Cherokees. No application of record.
Number of claimants in this memorandum, 1.
Wall, Samuel C., et al.
Thompson, Giles.
Wall, Noah.
Offspring and descendants of Choctaws by
birth, being descendants of white persons
who were adopted as citizens of the Choctaw
Nation prior to treaty of 1866. Files: See
records of Indian Office and report March 3,
1909. Giles Thompson and Noah Wall became
citizens of the Choctaw Nation prior to the
treaty of 1830, and their names are
mentioned in article 2 of the supplementary
articles thereof. They were unquestionably
citizens of the Choctaw Nation at the date
of said treaty, which guaranteed that the
lands conveyed thereby should inure to the
members of the Choctaw Nation and their
"descendants." After the Choctaws migrated
west they continued to form a part of the
tribe, and Giles Thompson, at least, was
officially recognized in various ways
thereafter, his name appearing In the
Choctaw laws. The slaves of Giles Thompson
were enrolled and are now sharing in the
lands of the Choctaw Nation by reason of the
fact that their muster was a citizen of said
nation. His children consider it very unjust
that they have not been accorded even the
privileges of his slaves. The right of the
offspring of these persons was denied on the
mistaken assumption that their rights were
subject to the same rules as tho offspring
of white parents who acquired Choctaw and
Chickasaw citizenship subsequent to the
tribal acts of 1875 and 1876, under which
the right of citizenship became personal
only. This case includes William J. Thompson
and his sister, Myrtle Randolph, and others.
Number of claimants in this memorandum
approximate 10.
Ward, John, et al.
York, nee Ward, Sarah, et al.
Choctaws by adoption or Cherokees by blood.
Files: Indian Office records; see files of
Commissioner to Five Civilized Tribes; also
Part I, Exhibit F. report March 3, 1900. Mr.
Ward and his sister. Mrs. York, claim to be
Choctaws by descent from an adopted citizen,
being the children of one Samuel Ward, who
acquired Choctaw citizenship by
Intermarriage in 1848. Their mother, who was
of Cherokee and white descent, was the
second wife of the said Samuel Ward. The
other claimants are related to them
lineally, and perhaps collaterally, and by
marriage. All claim that the Choctaw Nation
is their home, alleging that all their
interests are there, and that such interests
represent the efforts of a lifetime. It is
represented on behalf of Mr. Ward and his
sister that they are persons of excellent
standing in their community, and that they
have considered themselves citizens of the
Choctaw Nation for many years and have
always acted as such. It is alleged, and
probably is true, that John Ward has held
important offices under the Choctaw Nation,
and has been recognized in many ways as a
citizen thereof, having been one of the most
potent forces for law and order in said
nation. The applicants claim that inasmuch
as Samuel Ward was a citizen by
intermarriage prior to the treaty of 1866.
he acquired, by virtue of article 38
thereof, exactly the status of a native-born
Choctaw or Chickasaw. Their case was
disposed of by Commissioner to Five
Civilized Tribes in January, 1907, according
to the ruling of the department in another
case which was not analogous to this one.
Their cases were not acted upon by the
department until March 4, 1907, and were
then disposed of in a blanket decision
involving 48 cases, which included
practically all classes of applicants in the
Choctaw Nation. Under the Opinion of the
Assistant Attorney General for the Interior
Department in the case of the Bacon
children, John Ward and his sister were, the
facts conceded, probably entitled to
enrollment. Their case is to be
distinguished from that of the children of
parents who acquired citizenship under the
Choctaw-Chickasaw acts of 1875-76, because
said acts contain provisions not found in
said article 38, treaty of 1866. The claims
of the other parties to these cases are
different, but all are so closely related
that the whole matter should
be reviewed.
Number of claimants in this memorandum, 28.
Washington (or Waters or Dansby), Kate.
Chickasaw by blood. Statement of David
Washington at Atoka. November 10, 1908. Part
I, Exhibit F. report of March 3. 1909. It is
alleged that this woman is the daughter of
Charley Dansby, and that his degree of
Chickasaw blood was one-half or more. Also,
that no application was made for her
enrollment because her first husband, who
had charge of the matter, was a person of
weak mind, or of little ability, and lacked
sufficient ability and intelligence to
attend to business matters.
Number of claimants in this memorandum. 1.
Washington, Melvina.
Choctaw by blood. Files: Part III, report of
March 3,1909. This woman claims that she was
born in the Indian Territory in 1869 or
1870, and that her parents were free
persons. She says that her father, whose
name was Phillip Battiest, was a full-blood
Choctaw: that her mother, whose name was
Nancy Chukmubbe, was part negro and part
Indian, find that the latter was a free
woman when she (Melvina) was born. The
claimant also alleges that she has never
been out of the Indian Territory to live.
Number of claimants in this memorandum, 1.
Wesley, Ada. et al.
Creeks by blood. Including Ada Wesley, Simon
West, and a stepdaughter of David Hill, of
Okemah, Okla., and a child of Prince
Taryolle, of Morse, Okla., the Christian
names of the last two being unknown to the
department at this time: all are minors.
Number of claimants, 4.
West (nee Shockley), Loula, et al.
Shockley, Mattie, et al.
Choctaws by blood. Files: Records of Indian
Office. These families were denied
enrollment under circumstances which entitle
them to remedial legislation, and I
therefore recommend that the facts be
brought to the attention of Congress. They
were adjudged entitled to enrollment by
various officers and tribunals, including
the Secretary of the Interior, hut their
names were not actually inscribed on rolls
approved by him. A few days before the close
of the enrollment work the Secretary
rescinded the favorable decision theretofore
rendered by him. This was done without
notice to the applicant, pursuant to an
opinion rendered by the Attorney General
February 19, 1907 (26 Ops. A. G., 127. 150),
based upon the fact that a decision was
rendered by the Choctaw-Chickasaw
Citizenship Court, at one stage of the
enrollment work, denying their right to
enrollment. The final adverse action of the
Secretary was taken during a period when
there was great hurry, confusion, and
uncertainty. There was not sufficient time
to deliberate over matters or to reconsider
cases. But if there had been a little time
for reflection it would have been
apparent—as it now is—that his action was
due to mistake or oversight in the
preparation of said opinion. I base this
statement on a report rendered by the
Attorney General March 4, 1907. to the
President. The latter directed the Secretary
of the Interior to treat this report as a
formal opinion. Unfortunately it did not
reach the Interior Department until March 4,
1907, too late to he of any use in the
enrollment work. It resulted from the fact
that a very meritorious case was brought to
the attention of the President by Senator
Curtis and others of a man who was stricken
from the approved rolls in supposed
compliance with the opinion of February 19,
1907, supra. In that case the man was
originally adjudged entitled to enrollment
by the Dawes Commission. An appeal was taken
by the Choctaw Nation to the United States
court, and he was again successful. As he
had judgments in his favor by both
tribunals, the Attorney General advised the
President that, concurring with Senator
Curtis and Mr. Harr, he considered that the
man was not required by law to transfer his
case to the citizenship court and that the
opinion of February 19, 1907, had no
application to such persons, The case of the
Shockley and West families was precisely the
same, except that, being ignorant or
uncertain as to their duty, they submitted
their cases to the citizenship court. This
was done, however, under protest. Moreover,
Indians should not be bound by such a
mistake. Favorable decisions and
recommendations have been made as to these
applicants as follows: (1) July 15, 1889,
decision by United States Indian agent: (2)
January 8, 1890, recommendation by
Commissioner of Indian Affairs; (3) January
9, 1890, decision by Secretary of the
Interior: (4) December 5, 1896, decision by
Dawes Commission: (5) August 30, 1897,
decision by United States court, on appeal:
(6) February 10, 1905. opinion by Assistant
Attorney General, Interior Department,
approved by Secretary; (7) December 8, 1905,
opinion by Assistant Attorney General,
Interior Department, approved by Secretary:
(S) March 19, 1906, decision by Commissioner
to the Five Civilized Tribes: (9) December
22, 1906, recommendation by Commissioner of
Indian Affairs; (10) January 7, 1907,
decision by Secretary of the Interior. Mr.
Pollock and Gen. Webster are familiar with
the West cases. The latter prepared the
opinions referred to above (see Nos. 6 and
7). and the former approved them. I have met
and conversed with Mrs. West and her
children. The family bus the appearance of
being of Indian blood.
Number of applicants, approximately, 12.
Westbrook, Thomas A.
Chickasaw by blood. Number of claimants, 1.
White, Tommy, et al. (M. C. R. 4363).
Mississippi Choctaw. Files: Part IV. Exhibit
F, report March 3, 1909. These people are
full-blood Choctaws. The parents were
identified as such by the Dawes Commission.
It was learned by the commission, in
connection with this case, that there were
children who were also entitled to
Identification as full bloods, and an effort
was made through an Interpreter to secure
their names, but without avail. In this
case, as in others, the parents were
suspicious of the Government officials and
would not appear before them.
Number of claimants In this memorandum, 5.
Wiggins, Celia. Post office: Depew,
Okla.
Creek by blood. Files: Claimant's letter of
May 25, 1905, on file in Indian Office. This
woman claims to be a three-fourths-blood
Indian. She alleges that her father was a
full-blood Creek and that her mother was a
half-blood Indian.
Number of claimants in this memorandum, 1.
Williams, Dina (minor).
Williams, Bettie (minor).
Williams, Chosley (minor).
Creeks by blood. Files: Letter of December
18, 1908. from Fred S. Cook, district agent,
Checotah, Okla. See Exhibit F. Part IV.
report March 3, 1909. Mr. Cook reports that
these persons are full-blood Indians who,
through ignorance or mistake, have been left
off the approved rolls, and that their
parents belong to the Snake faction of
Indians, and that their cases should be
given every consideration for the reason
that their said parents, owing to their
affiliation with the Snakes, prevented the
enrollment of these children and the
allotment of land to them. They are the
children of Cinda Williams and Big Williams,
and their ages are 12, 8, and 6 years,
respectively.
Number of claimants in this memorandum, 3.
Williams, Margaret.
Chickasaw by blood. Claims to be the
daughter of a full-blood Chickasaw named
Thomas Mikey, alias Che-mikey, by a free
woman of color. Seeks transfer from freedman
to blood rolls. Number of claimants, 1.
Williams, Sallie. (9-R-22.) (I. T.
D., 5840, 15434-1906) Post office: Katie,
Okla.
Williams, Marcus.
Williams, Cora.
Williams, Kimble.
Williams, Maise.
Williams, Joe.
Williams, Lyman.
Chickasaws by blood. File: Part I of
report of March 3, 1909. Sallie Williams,
principal applicant. Is daughter of Maulsey
Kimble (nee Mahardy), a Chickasaw by blood,
and sister of Wyatte Mahardy. Chickasaw by
blood: roll No. 2974. Maulsey Kimble died
prior to preparation of 1893 roll. Sallie
Williams is full sister of Angeline Porter
and half sister, by same mother, of Amanda
Abram, both of whom have been finally
enrolled as Chickasaws by blood. The name of
Richard Kimble, who is father of Angeline
Porter and Sallie Williams, and stepfather
of Amanda Abram, is found on Capt. Henderson
Greenwood's annuity roll of December 18,
1878, as the head of a family of five,
opposite No. 200, from which it appears that
he drew $9.50 for himself, his wife, and
three female children. Unquestionably, the
three female children were the three
daughters above named. Sallie Williams was
born and has always lived in the Chickasaw
Nation. There is no doubt about, her being
of Chickasaw blood, and that her ancestors
were recognized citizens is equally true.
Her name can not be found upon the 1893 or
1896 rolls, but this Is a case where equity
should step in and give justice to this
woman and her children. It is contended,
however, that the department had
jurisdiction heretofore to enroll these
applicants upon this 1878 enrollment by the
tribe. All the above facts will appear from
the record In the case.
Number of claimants in this memorandum, 7.
Williams, Sophie (age 70).
Choctaw by blood or Mississippi Choctaw.
Files: Statement of claimant given at office
of district agent, Hugo, Okla., November 11,
1908. See Part I, Exhibit F, report March 3,
1909. Although this woman claims to be a
full-blood Choctaw, her name does not appear
upon the approved rolls. Her statement was
taken through an interpreter, Mr. Sam Jones,
who is himself a Choctaw by blood. No one
could doubt her Choctaw blood after seeing
her and hearing her statement interpreted.
She claims that she is the daughter of John
Lewis and wife, both full-blood Choctaws:
that she removed to the Indian Territory
from Louisiana about Christmas time of 1901,
and that she has resided in said nation ever
since. This woman would not be entitled to
enrollment under the Curtis Act, because she
did not remove to the Choctaw Nation prior
to June 28, 1898. She would be entitled to
enrollment, however, as a Mississippi
Choctaw under section 41 of the Cboctaw-Chickasaw
supplemental agreements inasmuch as she is a
full-blood Choctaw. Her residence in the
Choctaw Nation would also entitle her to the
benefits of a Mississippi Choctaw. Failure
to make application seems to be the only bar
to her claim.
Number of claimants in this memorandum, 1.
Winbock (given name unknown).
Choctaw by blood. Files: Memorandum made at
office of district Indian agent. Antlers,
Okla., November 13, 1908. Part I. Exhibit F.
report March 3, 1909. Mr. Robert E. Lee. of
Leflore, Okla., who Is a merchant and
educated Choctaw, reported the case of a
child 2 or 3 years of age who had failed to
secure enrollment. He stated that the father
of the child is Wattle Winbock, a full-blood
Indian, who resides near Leflore, and that
the mother is a white woman, Mr. Lee does
not know why the child was not enrolled.
Number of claimants In this memorandum, 1.
Wilson, Agnes (.Minor.)
Hodges, Mary (Minor)
Choctaws by blood. Memorandum of statement
by Chas. Knapp district Indian Agent. Hugo,
Okla., made November 12 1908 (See Pt I Ex. K
report Mar. 3, 1900) There children, whose
ages are 12 and 14 years respectively, were
reported by Mr. Knapp as living 5 miles
north of Garvin. He states that he found
them in a destitute condition, almost
without clothing. They are the children of
Mrs. Sarah Wilson and Hannibal Hodges, both
full-blood Choctaws. After these children
were born the father left the locality and
was never seen there any more. It is
supposed that he served a term In Fort
Leavenworth Penitentiary.
Mr. Sam Jones, who acted as policeman and
Indian interpreter and who is a Choctaw by
blood, also saw these children. When they
visited the children they found them engaged
in grinding corn by pounding it on rocks.
Their clothing consisted of nothing but
rags, through which their naked bodies could
be seen. It is said that their mother has an
allotment. This may be true, as the name
Sallie Wilson appears upon the final
approved rolls opposite No. 5832 as that of
a full-blood Choctaw woman, age 43. The
right of the mother, however, should be
ascertained by careful investigation
inasmuch as she may not be identical with
the person whose name appears opposite No.
5832. Number of claimants in this
memorandum, 2.
Wilson, Harriett. (Including all
other children of Harriett Wilson by the
same father.)
Flack (nee Wilson). Anna.
Jones (nee Wilson). Martha.
Choctaws by blood. Files: Record in case on
file in Indian Office. (See also statement
of Harriett Wilson, made Nov. 10, 1908, at
office of district Indian agent, Atoka,
Okla., recorded in Pt. I. Exhibit F, report
Mar. 3, 1909.) Harriett Wilson and her two
daughters named above are enrolled as
Choctaw freedmen, but they claim to be
entitled to enrollment an citizens by blood
of the Choctaw Nation. Harriett Wilson
claims to be entitled to enrollment us a
quarter-blood Choctaw, it being alleged that
her father was Edmond Colbert and that he
was half-blood Indian. It appears, however,
that her mother was a slave. In view of the
fact last slated it would seem that Harriett
Wilson must also have been a slave, as she
was born prior to the emancipation of the
Choctaw-Chickasaw slaves. The cases of the
other two applicants named are much stronger
than that of their mother. It is claimed
that they are the daughters of John Wilson,
a full-blood Choctaw and as they were born
subsequent to the emancipation of their
mother they would be entitled to enrollment
as citizens by blood if the statements of
Harriett Wilson are accurate. The
application of Harriett Wilson for transfer
to the blood rolls was denied because not
made within the time prescribed by law. In
connection herewith, see memorandum relating
to Katie Wilson et al.
Number of claimants named in this
memorandum, 3.
Wilson, Katie. (Including also the
other children of Katie Wilson.)
Wilson, Blanche. (Minor.)
Brown, Pernelia.
Choctaws by blood. Files: Record on file in
Indian Office. (See also statement of Katie
Wilson, made Nov. 27, 1908, at office of
district Indian agent, McAlester, Okla..
recorded In Pt. III. Ex. F, report Mar. 3,
1909).) The persons are enrolled as Choctaw
freedmen, but their cases are not dependent
upon the same facts. The mother claims to be
entitled to enrollment as a one-fourth blood
Choctaw, alleging that her father was Edmond
Colbert, a half-blood Indian. She states
however, that her mother was a slave. It is
a very close question whether Katie was born
before or after the emancipation of the
Choctaw slaves. If before, she was a slave,
and her enrollment as a freedman was proper.
Her application for transfer to the blood
rolls was dismissed because made too late.
The case of Blanche Wilson is much stronger
than that of her mother, the child being the
daughter of an alleged full-blood Indian.
Blanche looks more like an Indian than a
colored person. The Indian blood is strongly
predominant. Contrast this case with that of
her niece, Allie Brown, who is the child of
Blanche's sister and a grandchild of Katie
Wilson. Said child is the daughter of an
Indian by blood, and her name also appears
upon the blood rolls. In this connection it
should he noted that the little girl is of
mixed Negro and Indian blood. The case of
her aunt, Blanche, appears to be fully as
meritorious as her own. It also appears that
the ease of Pernelia Brown, mother of Allie,
is precisely analogous to that of Blanche
Wilson.
Number of claimants named in this
memorandum, 3.
White (Christian name not known).
Choctaw by blood. Files: Memorandum of data
obtained at Hugo, November 12, 1908, Part I,
Exhibit F, report March 3, 1909. Mr. Peter
Hudson and Mr. Charles Knapp. special
Choctaw delegate and United States district
Indian agent, respectively, state that there
is a man named White residing near Stanley,
Okla., who is enrolled as a Choctaw
freedman, but claims to be an Indian by
blood. He refuses to accept a freedman
allotment.
Number of claimants in this memorandum, 1.
Woffard, Jack.
Cherokee by blood. Files: See records of
Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes,
this information having been obtained from
Mr. John Rosson, who is employed therein.
This claimant is one-fourth blood Cherokee.
Post office, Tahlequah, Okla. He is a son of
Than Woffard, a half-blood Cherokee, whose
name appears on the final approved Cherokee
roll opposite No. 18502. Jack Woffard shows
his Indian blood and speaks the Cherokee
language fluently. He has acted as Cherokee
interpreter for the Dawes Commission.
Number of claimants, 1.
Wolfe, Che-ko-na-la. (Minor.)
Cherokee by blood. Files: Cherokee N. B.
3872. records of Commissioner to the Five
Civilized Tribes. Application was made for
the enrollment of this child under the act
of April 20, 1906. It is a full-blood
Cherokee of parents who belong to the Knight
Hawk Band, who opposed enrollment and
refused to give any information in regard to
the children or to apply for their
enrollment. As the time for closing the
rolls drew near the application of this
child had to be rejected for lack of
information.
Number of claimants in this memorandum, 1.
Wolfe, Jim. Talala, Okla.
Cherokee by blood. Files: Report of November
15, 1907, from Commissioner to the Five
Civilized Tribes. Case No. 10991. This
applicant, who is a full-blood Indian, made
application for enrollment November 20,
1900, as a citizen by blood of the Cherokee
Nation, his age being given at that time as
41 years, June 20, 1901, the Commissioner to
the Five Civilized Tribes refused his
application for enrollment In accordance
with the provisions of the act of May 31,
1900 (31 Stat, 221), and on September 24,
1901, said decision was approved by the
department. On November 27, 1903 (I. T. D.,
S3O4-1903), on request of the commission,
the department rescinded its decision and
returned the case for readjudication.
Further proceedings were had in the case
September 21, 1904, and October 30, 1905. On
February 21, 1907, the commissioner rendered
his decision ordering Jim Wolfe enrolled as
a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Shawnee
blood. The attorney for the Cherokee Nation
entered no protest against the enrollment of
Jim Wolfe, but through inadvertence his mime
was not placed upon a schedule of Cherokee
citizens and forwarded to the department for
approval.
Number of claimants in this memorandum, 1.
Wood, Jim.
Choctaw by blood. Files: Memorandum made at
office of district Indian agent. Antlers,
Okla., November 13, 1908. Part I, Exhibit F,
report March 3, 1909. Mr. Peter Hudson
states that, according to his best
recollection. Wood is one-fourth blood
Choctaw and three-fourths blood Negro; that
he never was a slave; and that he resided
with the Choctaw people in Mississippi. Mr.
Hudson also states that there appears to be
some question as to whether he was a slave,
but that he has resided with the Choctaw
people a great many years both in
Mississippi and in the Choctaw Nation. He
has not received an allotment there as a
freedman or Choctaw by blood. He claims to
be an Indian and either has refused or is
very reluctant to accept any benefits as a
freedman. It is also stated that there is a
record in this case with the Dawes
Commission; that this man has been
recognized by the tribal government as a
citizen of the Choctaw Nation; that he has
exercised the duties of a citizen; and that
he speaks only the Choctaw language. His
post office is Noah, Okla.
Number of claimants In this memorandum, 1.
Note.—Possibly a duplication of
Anohwatubbe, James N.
Worcester, Mamie. (Minor.)
Chickasaw by blood. Files: Memorandum of
information obtained at Atoka, Okla.,
November 10, 1908. (See Part I, Exhibit F.
report March 3, 1909.) The memorandum is as
follows: "Mr. Mills, district agent at
Atoka, in conversation with Mr. T. W.
Kennedy, superintendent of the national
school at Frisco, Okla. (old Stonewall),
states today that there is a girl, aged
about 10 years, named Mamie Worcester, who
failed to secure enrollment. Her father. L.
D. Worcester, and mother, Mattie L.
Worcester, are both on the roll as
full-blood Chickasaw Indians. See census
card. No. 100. Their roll numbers are 294
and 296. It appears that the father lives at
or near Waupanuckee and the mother near
Bromide, Okla. They have separated and the
father claims the guardianship. The child is
with the mother and has a brother named
Simeon Worcester, whose name appears on the
same roll and census card. All are enrolled
as full-blood Chickasaws. Clearly no African
blood in this case."
Number of claimants in this memorandum, 1.
Young, Fannie.
Cherokee by blood. Files: Report Acting
Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes.
January 13, 1910, addressed to Hon. J.
George Wright. Fannie Young, child of Clara
E. Chambers, a Cherokee freedman. No
application of record.
Number of claimants in this memorandum, 1.
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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