Oklahoma Genealogy

“Taxation Without Representation,” Final Abolishment in 1906 For many years prior to the passage of the Curtis Act, each Indian Tribe or Nation had enacted laws levying a tax (commonly called an occupation tax) upon every person not a member of the Tribe (non-citizen) who desired to transact business of any kind, within the Indian Territory. The first white settlers seem to have paid this tax willingly, at least without much protest. They could well afford to pay it, for in many instances, they practically had a monopoly of the business in which they engaged, and this was the only … Read more

After eight years of negotiation and persuasion, the commission to the Five Civilized Tribes finally succeeded in effecting an agreement with the Creek Nation, providing for the allotment in severalty of Creek lands, which agreement was approved by Act of Congress March 1, 1901, and ratified by the Creek Council at Okmulgee June 25, 1901. On the same date (March 1, 1901) Congress approved an agreement of a similar character which the commission had concluded with the authorities of the Cherokee Nation, but at a popular election called by the Cherokee Council this agreement was rejected by a vote of … Read more

Stand Watie’s soldiers were busily engaged in scouting, dodging here and there, annoying and threatening the loyal Indians, while the Federal forces who had retaken Fort Gibson seemed inclined to remain near the fort where a large number of Creek and Cherokee refugees had assembled for protection. On June 30, 1862, a detachment of Stand Watie’s army attacked a provision train of 300 wagons which was on its way from Fort Scott to Fort Gibson with supplies for the soldiers and refugees in that beleaguered fort. The provision train was guarded by an escort of 2,000 soldiers. Major Foreman, commanding … Read more

After most of the Cherokee had emigrated to Indian Territory the bitter contest between the Ross faction and the Ridge faction continued and at one time the Committee on Indian Affairs of the lower house of Congress made the following report and recommendation: “The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom were referred the message of the President of the United States, relative to Cherokee difficulties, with the accompanying papers, and also the memorial of John Ross and others, as the representatives of the Cherokee Nation, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to submit the following report:  “The … Read more

The Cherokee Nation has made more progress in education, has educated a greater proportion of its members, male and female, than any other Indian tribe, not excepting the tribes whose educational institutions, have, from their beginning, been controlled and managed by the Federal Government. As early as 1819, while they were still in possession of their Georgian homes, the Cherokees, influenced and encouraged, doubtless, by the devoted missionaries who had located among them, began to make provision for the education of their children, by creating a permanent school fund out of a portion of the proceeds of their lands, which … Read more

Confederate States Commissioner’s Address To IndiansAn Indian Agent’s ReportAnother Agent’s StatementGeneral Stand WatieThe Fort Gibson National Cemetery Indian Refugees Of The Civil War The Suffering And Privations Of Loyal IndiansCollamore’s ReportSuperintendent Coffin’s ReportLetter Of Chief John RossCoffin Scores The MilitaryStand Watie ‘S Activities The history of the Civil war furnishes no darker page than that which records the suffering and privations of those Indians who, opposing any treaty with the Southern Confederacy, and proclaiming their loyalty to the United States Government, were compelled to leave their homes and seek protection in the North during the cold winter of 1861-62, inasmuch … Read more