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. Several spellings have been used for the same
tribe of Indians.
John and Anderson McCarty, Choctaw
John McCarty et al.
Anderson McCarty et al.
Commission, No. 1275. Commission, No. 1309.
United States Court,
No. 50, McAlester. Citizenship Court, No.
29, McAlester.
September 9, 1890. Original applications
filed with commission for enrollment of
Everett E. McCarty, his brother, Anderson
McCarty, and their families, numbering 36
claimants. All claim through Annie McCarty,
their mother, who was a one-quarter blood
Choctaw, and their grandmother. Mrs. Martha
Smith (nee Jones), a half- blood Choctaw.
Both of their ancestors lived in the old
Choctaw Nation, Miss., when claimants were
born. Claimants removed to and settled in
the Choctaw Nation, in 1888, near Healdton,
where they have since resided. Claimants
took up land, improved it, and their right
to issue permits to noncitizens, which they
did, was never questioned, as appears from
the evidence and the permits issued, which
are of record. Deeds are on file showing
that they bought and sold farms, as other
Choctaws did. In October 1895, Everett
McCarty applied to the Choctaw Citizenship
Committee for the enrollment of himself and
family. The claim was favorably acted upon
by the committee, but no action was taken on
it by the council, which adjourned only a
few days after the report was made. In 1896
they applied to the commission instead of to
the council. The evidence as to their
Choctaw blood is conclusive, as is also the
evidence of the residence of 25 of them in
the nation since 1886 and tribal
affiliation.
December 8,1896. Application denied by
commission. No decision. Stamped "Denied."
January 1897. Case appealed to United States
court, testimony taken and record before
commission considered.
August 25, 1897. Special Master T. N. Foster
recommended the enrollment of 25 of the
claimants.
August 26,1897. A judgment was entered
adjudging the following persons citizens of
the Choctaw Nation (certified copy hereto
attached): Everet McCarty, Evelyn E.
McCarty, Teressa, Wilson, John McCarty,
Theron B. McCarty, Louis McCarty, Jennie F.
McCarty, Carrol C. McCarty, Charlotte E.
McCarty, Loula Babers, Pinkey Lewis, Floyd
Lewis, Millie Lewis, Beacher Alison, Ada
Wilson, Addie Wilson, Anderson McCarty, C.
M. McCarty, James A. McCarty, W. S. McCarty,
Maggie McCarty, Mildred McCarty, Loucile
McCarty, Frank McCarty, and James A.
McCarty, jr.
August 8, 1899. Enrolled by commission.
December 17, 1902. Decree of United
States court set aside by decree of
citizenship court in test case.
March 6, 1903. Records United States court
transferred to citizenship court. Testimony
taken.
April 30, 1904. Decree was entered denying
all applicants.
James K. Kelley et al.
These claimants are the children of Annie
Kelley (nee McCarty), a sister of Anderson
and E. E. McCarty.
The facts in this case are identical with
those set out in the above case. The record
differs only as to the persons included in
the applications and judgments. The
commission denied their applications in
1896. Case appealed to United States court,
there heard, and a decree entered adjudging
the following persons citizens of the
Choctaw Nation: James K. Kelley, Annie
Kelley, James R. Kelley, jr., Teressa
Kelley, Buel Kelley, Ruth Kelley, Grace
Kelley, Eugene McCarty, Marcellus McCarty,
Rosa Belle McCarty, Nannie Lou McCarty,
Elbert McCarty, Laura J. Hancock, John
Hancock, Viola Hancock, Lettie Hancock,
Joseph Hancock, Beadie Hancock, Walter
Hancock, Joseph McCarty, Alfonso McCarty,
and Oscar McCarty.
Certified copy of decree hereto attached.
December 17. 1902. Decree of United
States court set aside by decree of
citizenship court in test case. Papers later
transferred to citizenship court and case
decided adversely to applicants April 30.
1904, court holding that the Indian blood of
their ancestors was not sufficiently
established.
Applications for the enrollment of newborns
were submitted and denied as follows:
September 10. 1900. Josie McCarty, infant
child of Eugene and Thursa McCarty; denied
May 27, 1904.
December 22, 1900. Stewart Milton McCarty
and Annie L. McCarty, infant children of T.
B. McCarty, born December 22, 1900; denied
May 27, 1904.
Counsel for claimants respectfully submit
that upon the facts shown in the record in
this case these claimants are entitled to
enrollment under the decision in the Long
case, if not in the Lulu West case.
February 14, 1906. Petition was filed with
the commission for the enrollment of each of
the above-named applicants under the
decision in the Lula West case, they
alleging that their recognition in 1895 by
the citizenship committee entitled them to
enrollment on January 31, 1907.
September 27. 1896. Commission rejected
their claim to enrollment (decision hereto
attached).
March 4, 1907. Secretary affirmed decision
of commission rejecting claimants, under
opinion of the Attorney General of February
19, 1907, which was construed by the
department as holding that the decision of
the citizenship court was final.
Counsel for claimants respectfully submit
that the following persons are clearly
entitled to enrollment: Everet E. McCarty,
Evelyn E. McCarty, Teressa Wilson, John
McCarty, Theron B. McCarty, Louis McCarty,
Jennie F. McCarty, Carrol C. McCarty,
Charlotte E. McCarty, Loula Babers, Pinkey
Lewis, Floyd Lewis, Millie Lewis, Beacher
Alison, Ada Wilson, Addle Wilson, Anderson
McCarty, C. M. McCarty, James A. McCarty, W.
S. McCarty, Maggie McCarty, Mildred McCarty,
Loucile McCarty, Frank McCarty, James A.
McCarty, jr., James R. Kelley, Annie Kelley,
James R. Kelley, jr., Teressa Kelley, Buel
Kelley, Eugene McCarty, Marcellus McCarty,
Rosa Belle McCarty, Nannie Lou McCarty,
Elbert McCarty, Laura J. Hancock, John
Hancock, Viola Hancock, Lettie Hancock,
Joseph Hancock, Beadie Hancock, Walter
Hancock, Joseph McCarty, Alfonso McCarty,
Oscar McCarty, Ruth Kelley, and Grace
Kelley.
Exhibits attached.
Respectfully,
Ballinger & Lee, Attorneys for Claimants
United States Of America
Indian Territory, central district ss:
In the United States court In the Indian
Territory, central district, at a term
thereof begun and held at South McAlester,
in the Indian Territory, on the 10th day of
January A. D. 1898.
Present: The honorable William H. H.
Clayton, judge of said court.
The following order was made and entered of
record, to wit:
James R. Kelley et al. v. Choctaw Nation. No. 78.
On this day the motion herein filed by
plaintiffs to re-form judgment rendered in
tills case on August 26, 1897, came on to be
heard: and the court finds that in said
judgment a clerical error appears, In which
the names Retta Hancock and Betta Hancock
are used instead of the names Lettie Hancock
and Beaddie Hancock, the correct names as
shown by proof; and that the names Ruth
Kelley and Grace Kelley were also omitted
from said judgment, in which their names
should have appeared, their claims having
been properly adjudicated, and not mentioned
in said judgment; and the names of Minerva
Kelly and Fanny Kelly were also entered by
clerical error: and the court being
sufficiently informed, doth sustain said
motion; and it is therefore ordered that
said judgment so rendered be re-formed so as
to be as follows: James R. Kelley et al. v.
Choctaw Nation. Judgment
On this day this cause came on to be heard,
and the same was admitted to the court upon
the pleadings and proof: and the court being
well and sufficiently advised in the
premises, finds the issues in favor of
appellants James R. Kelley, Annie Kelley,
James R. Kelley, jr., Teressa Kelley, Buel
Kelley, Eugene McCarty, Marcellus McCarty,
Rosa Belle McCarty, Nannie Lou McCarty,
Elbert McCarty, Laura J. Hancock, John
Hancock, Viola Hancock, Lettie Hancock,
Joseph Hancock, Beadie Hancock, Walter
Hancock, Joseph McCarty, Alfonso McCarty,
Oscar McCarty, Ruth Kelley, and Grace
Kelley, and against appellants Eliza A.
Greer, Erastus Kelley, Everett Kelley, E. C.
Kelley, all being nonresidents of the
Choctaw Nation.
It is therefore considered, adjudged, and
decreed by the court that the said James R.
Kelley, Annie Kelley, James R. Kelley, jr.,
Teressa Kelley, Buel Kelley, Ruth Kelley,
Grace Kelley, Eugene McCarty, Marcellus
McCarty, Rosa Belle McCarty, Nannie Lou
McCarty, Elbert McCarty, Laura J. Hancock,
John Hancock, Viola Hancock, Lettie Hancock,
Joseph Hancock, Beadie Hancock, Walter
Hancock, Joseph McCarty, Alfonso McCarty and
Oscar McCarty are Choctaw Indians by blood
and entitled to be enrolled ns members of
said tribe, and that they recover of the
said Choctaw Nation their costs laid out and
expended: and that the Choctaw Nation
recover its costs against appellants Eliza
A. Greer, Erastus Kelley, Everett Kelley,
and E. C. Kelley; and ordered further that
this order be entered now as of August 26,
1897; and that the clerk of this court
furnish certified copy of same to the
Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes.
States Of America,
Indian Territory, central district, ss:
I, E. J. Fannin, clerk of the district court
of the United States for the district of the
Indian Territory, do hereby certify the
foregoing to be a true copy of an order made
by said court on the 19th day of January
1888, as appears from the records of said
court now on file in my office.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand, at my office In South McAlester, in
said district, this 28th day of January A.
D. 1898.
E. J. Fannin, Clerk.
By _____ ______, Deputy.
United States Of America,
Indian Territory, central district, ss:
In the United States court in the Indian
Territory, central district, at a term
thereof begun and held at South McAlester,
in the Indian Territory, on the 20th day of
August, 1S97.
Present: The honorable William H. H.
Clayton, judge of said court.
The following order was made and entered of
record, to wit:
E. E. McCarty et al. v. Choctaw Nation. Judgment.
On this day this cause came on to be
heard, whereupon the plaintiff and defendant
announced ready for trial, and the court
having heard the evidence und argument of
counsel, finds the issue in favor of the
plaintiffs, Everet E. McCarty, Evelyn E.
McCarty, Terresa Wilson, John McCarty,
Theron B. McCarty, Louis McCarty. Jennie F.
McCarty, Carrol C. McCarty, Charlotte E.
McCarty, Loula Babers, Tinker Lewis, Floyd
Lewis, Millie Lewis, Beacher Alison, Ada
Wilson, Addie Wilson, Anderson McCarty, C.
M. McCarty, James A. McCarty, W. S. McCarty,
Maggie McCarty, Mildred McCarty, Loucile
McCarty, Frank McCarty, and James A.
McCarty, jr., and against the plaintiffs,
Julia F. Stewart, Pearl Stewart, Mary
Stewart, Frank Stewart, Ellen Stewart,
Dortha L. Weaver, J. E. Weaver, James
Weaver, Margaret Weaver, and Kate Weaver, on
account of their being nonresidents of the
Choctaw Nation.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged, and
decreed by the court that the aforesaid
plaintiffs, in whoso favor the court has
found, be and are hereby declared to be
members of the Choctaw Nation, the
plaintiff, Evelyn McCarty by inter-
marriage, and the other plaintiffs by blood;
and that they be and are hereby declared and
adjudged to be entitled to all the rights,
privileges, immunities, and benefits as such
members of the Choctaw Nation: and that the
defendant, Choctaw Nation, recognize said
plaintiffs rights to their full extent as
herein adjudged and decreed: and that the
clerk of this court furnish and transmit to
the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes
a certified copy of this judgment; and that
said commission place the names of the said
plaintiffs, as above found for, upon the
rolls as members of the Choctaw Nation, as
adjudged herein; and that said plaintiffs
have and recover of and from the defendant.
Choctaw Nation, all their costs herein laid
out and expended, for all of which let
execution issue.
It is further ordered and decreed that
the-plaintiffs as above found against take
nothing by their suits, and that the
defendant have and recover of the said
plaintiffs its costs herein laid out and
expended, for all of which let execution
issue.
United States Of America,
Indian Territory, central district, ss:
I, E. J. Fannin, clerk of the district court
of the United States for the central
district of the Indian Territory, do hereby
certify the foregoing to be a true copy of
an order made by said court on the 26th day
of August 1897, as appears from the records
of said court now on file in my office.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand, at my office in South McAlester, in
said district, this 7th day of March 1903.
E. J. Fannin, Cleric.
By I. M. Dodge, Deputy
Department of the Interior. Commissioner
to the Five Civilized Tribes
In the matter of the application for the
enrollment of Eugene McCarty et al. as
citizens of the Choctaw Nation.
Decision
It appears from the record herein and
from the records in the possession of the
Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes
that application was made to the Commission
to the Five Civilized Tribes at Calvin, Ind
T., on August 8, 1899, by Eugene McCarty for
enrollment of himself and his children,
Marcellus McCarty, Rosa B. McCarty, Elbert
McCarty and Nannie I. McCarty, as citizens
of the Choctaw Nation. It further appears
that written application was made to the
Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes on
December 15, 1900, for the enrollment of
Josle McCarty as a citizen of the Choctaw
Nation.
It further appears from the records in the
possession of the Commissioner to the Five
Civilized Tribes that the applicants, Eugene
McCarty, Marcellus McCarty, Rosa B. McCarty
(as Rosa McCarty), Elbert McCarty, and
Nannie L. McCarty, were applicants to the
Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes for
admission to citizenship in the Choctaw
Nation under the provisions of tho act of
Congress approved June 10, 1896 (29 Stats.,
321), in 1896, Choctaw citizenship case No.
27: that they were denied such admission by
the decision of the Commission to the Five
Civilized Tribes of December 1, 1896: that
from the decision of said commission an
appeal was taken to the United States Court
for the Central District of Indian
Territory, which court, on August 26, 1897,
in the case entitled "James R. Kelley et al.
v. The Choctaw Nation." case No. 78,
rendered judgment therein, a copy of which
is not found in the possession of this
office: that on January 19, 1898, said court
rendered another judgment re-forming said
judgment of August 26, 1897, so as to admit
Eugene McCarty, Marcellus McCarty, Rosa Bell
McCarty, Nannie Lou McCarty, and Elbert
McCarty as citizens of the Choctaw Nation.
This judgment was subsequently vacated, set
aside, and held for naught by a decree of
the Choctaw and Chickasaw citizenship court
on December 17, 1902, in the test case of
"Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations or Tribes v.
J. T. Riddle et al." Said cause was
subsequently certified to the Choctaw and
Chickasaw citizenship court, created under
the act of Congress approved July 1. 1902
(32 Stat., 641), for a trial de novo and on
April 30, 1904, said citizenship court. In
the case entitled "James R. Kelley et al. v.
The Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations" (Choctaw
citizenship case No. 27. South McAlester
docket), rendered its decision therein,
wherein it was "ordered, adjudged, and
decreed that the petition of the plaintiffs,
Eugene McCarty, Marcellus McCarty, Rosa Bell
McCarty, Nannie McCarty (or Nannie Lou
McCarty), and Elbert McCarty 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."
The Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes
on May 27, 1904, issued an order dismissing
the application for the enrollment of Josie
McCarty as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw
Nation for the reason that, the application
of her father, Eugene McCarty, had been
adversely determined by a decree of the
Choctaw and Chickasaw citizenship court of
April 30, 1904.
It does not appear from the records in the
possession of the Commissioner to the Five
Civilized Tribes that any of the Applicants
have ever been recognized or enrolled as
citizens of the Choctaw Nation by any duly
constituted authority.
Under the regulations adopted by the
Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes
January 2, 1900, there was filed on February
20, 1906, by Messrs. Cruce, Cruce &
Bleakmore, attorneys for the petitioners, a
petition praying for the enrollment of
Eugene McCarty. Theresa A. C. McCarty,
Elbert McCarty, Nannie L. McCarty, and Josie
McCarty as citizens of the Choctaw Nation.
It is alleged in the petition that the
petitioners, Elbert McCarty, Nannie L.
McCarty and Josie McCarty, are the children
of the petitioners, Eugene McCarty and
Theresa A. C. McCarty; that on October 18,
1892, the petitioner, Eugene McCarty, filed
with the national secretary of the Choctaw
Nation a petition praying for enrollment as
a citizen by blood of said nation.
It does not appear from the records of the
Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes
that any application was ever made for the
enrollment of the petitioner, Theresa A. C.
McCarty, prior to the filing of the petition
herein.
Order
I am of the opinion that inasmuch as it
does not appear from the records of this
office and is not alleged in the petition
that the petitioners have at any time
occupied such a status as would entitle them
to enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw
Nation, the application for the enrollment
of Eugene McCarty, Marcellus McCarty, Rosa
B. McCarty, Elbert McCarty, and Nannie L.
McCarty, and the petition herein in so far
as it relates to the petition of Eugene
McCarty, Elbert McCarty, Nannie L. McCarty
and Josie McCarty should be denied under the
provisions of the act of Congress approved
July 1, 1902 (32 Stats., 641) and it is so
ordered.
I am further of the opinion that Inasmuch as
no application was made for the enrollment
of the petitioner, Theresa A. C. McCarty, as
a citizen of the Choctaw Nation within the
time prescribed by law, and inasmuch as her
husband, Eugene McCarty, has been denied
citizenship by the Choctaw and Chickasaw
citizenship court, the petition herein, in
so far as it relates to the petitioner.
Theresa A. C. McCarty should be denied under
the provisions of the acts of Congress
approved July 1. 3902 (32 Stats., 641) and
April 26, 1906 (Public No. 129), and it is
so ordered.
(Signed) Tams Bixby, Commissioner to the
Fire Civilized Tribes.
Muskogee, Ind. T., September 27, 1906