University of Oklahoma Libraries Western History Collections. Dennis Wolfe Bushyhead Collection

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1 University of Oklahoma Libraries Western History Collections Dennis Wolfe Bushyhead Collection Bushyhead, Dennis Wolf ( ). Papers, foot. Indian chief. Correspondence ( ); annual messages ( ); speeches ( ); an autobiography (1880); proclamations ( ); and other papers ( ) relating to political matters in which Bushyhead was involved as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, , and as a representative to the Dawes Commission; and papers relating to the controversies growing out of the Cherokee Strip Livestock Association s operations. Biography: For the Cherokee people the period during which Dennis Wolfe Bushyhead served as their Principal Chief was indeed ominous. The population of non-indian intruders on Indian soil had burgeoned in the 1880's and their demands for land were unceasing. Poised on the borders of the Cherokee Outlet stood the "Boomers," who were eagerly awaiting the day when Cherokee lands would be opened. In the United States Congress a new movement to divide up the reservation among its people was gaining wide support. Not since the removal period did Cherokees face greater demands for them to relinquish title to their lands. Bushyhead was born in Tennessee March 18, His father, the Rev. Jesse Bushyhead, was one of the earliest Baptist missionaries among the Cherokee people. His mother, Eliza Wilkinson, was a Cherokee woman from Georgia. Bushyhead attended mission schools in Tennessee and North Carolina. In 1838 he and his family followed the "nunadat-sunyi" -- trail where they cried -- to the Indian Territory. Bushyhead's education, although broken, was thoroughly imbued with Protestant ideals. He finished his secondary schooling under missionaries at Park Hill, near Tahlequah. In 1840 he was sent to college in New Jersey. After completing his education in 1844, Bushyhead returned to the Cherokee Nation and established a mercantile business. A short time later he began to dabble in politics. In 1848 he was elected clerk of the Cherokee National Committee. His political ambitions were cut short the very next year, for the lust for California gold had overcome his ardent Cherokee nationalism. He spent the next 18 years in California, returning to the Cherokee Nation in Bushyhead renewed both his mercantile business and his political aspirations. In 1871 he was elected treasurer of the Cherokee Nation. He held that position for eight years. Bushyhead was elected Principal Chief in fall of 1879.

2 For the next eight years Bushyhead served as Chief. He was accredited with freeing the Nation from debt and bringing its currency to par with that of the United States. His eloquence before Congress and his writing abilities were said to have been a great factor in the exemption of the Five Civilized Tribes from the General Allotment Act of After his two terms were completed Bushyhead continued to serve the Nation. He served as one of the three commissioners who negotiated the sale of the Cherokee Strip. Later he served as the chairman of the commission that carried on negotiations with Dawes Commission. His committee was abolished in late On February 4 of the next year he died, at the time of his death, one of the Nation's most respected elder statesmen. Bushyhead's papers, in the Western History Collections at the University of Oklahoma, consist primarily of documents written while he served as Principal Chief. Although not definitive in a single area, the papers provide a view of the Chief's relations with the National Council. His ideas were in tune with the "Progressive" era in the United States. During his tenure in office he recommended gun control laws, medical practice standards, control of drugs and strict prohibition. In addition to his executive correspondence and speeches, there are a number of editorials clipped from contemporary newspapers. These contain information concerning the Chief's allies and opposition. Box 1 Correspondence 1. Bushyhead to Senate and Council. On damage to the Insane Asylum, November 10, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Transmittal of Petitions for Subsistence, November 14, Bushyhead to National Council. Transmittal of Medical Superintendent of Seminaries letter, November 14, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Steps taken to collect taxes due Nation for use of Cherokee land west of Arkansas River for cattle, November 19, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Petition and proposal to send a delegation to North Carolina Cherokees, November 24, Bushyhead to Senate. Reasons for "An Act to Amend Art. 6 Chap. 3 New Code.", November 25, Bushyhead to Senate. Transmittal of R. & T. A. Ennis account against Nation for "stationary etc.", November 28, Bushyhead to Council. Return of Senate Bill No. 28, without signature., December 2, 1879.

3 9. C. V. Rogers to Senate. Return of Senate Bill No. 17 for committee report. Attached to previous document, December 2, Bushyhead to Council. Request that certain claims be drawn "preferred.", December 11, Bushyhead's notice in Cherokee Advocate. Concerning non-citizen physicians. 12. Carl Schurz to Commissioner of the General Land Office. Concerning the Cherokee delegation, January 15, Schurz to W.P. Adair. Reference to Cherokee Strip, January 17, Bushyhead to the President of the U.S., R. B. Hayes. Transmittal of intruder list, February 12, Bushyhead to Maj. J. G. Vose. Concerning the trail of "those who killed John Vann.", April 12, Bushyhead to John Lynch Adair. Instructions to delegation in Washington concerning live stock owners in Cherokee Strip, April 16, Bill published in Cherokee Advocate signed by Bushyhead. Census Act, June 23, C.W. Turner to D. W. Bushyhead. Transmittal of letter from Prosecuting Attorney R. R. Bruner to Turner, September Bushyhead to Council. Census & "Relief Money.", November 8, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Reference to delegates & North Carolina Cherokees, November 13, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Transmittal of reports, November 16, Bushyhead to Senate. Application of William Pugh for duplicates of lost warrants, November 20, Bushyhead's report of expenditures, November 23, Bushyhead to Senate. Salaries for National officers, November 26, Bushyhead to Council. Transmittal of report of expenditures, November 26, 1880.

4 26. D. W. Lipe to Bushyhead. Transmittal of letter to Lipe from J. G. McCoy a representative of the livestock growers living on Cherokee land west of Arkansas River, November 29, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Suggestion that commission be set up to meet with J. G. McCoy, November 29, John Lynch Adair to Bushyhead. Concerning sickness of Rufus Adair and the trial of Thomas Tail, December 6, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Recommendation for legislation concerning representation from the districts, December 7, Bushyhead to Senate. Appointment of Delegation, December 7, Bushyhead to Senate. Concerning "Commission on Citizenship" and a bill providing for the erection of a new court house, December 7, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Transmittal of Revenue Report for 1880, December 8, Bushyhead to Council. Names of those not enrolled, December 8, Bushyhead to Council. Uniform marriage law; establish manual labor school, December 9, Bushyhead to Council. Request to act on appropriation for public schools, December 9, Bushyhead to Senate. Request for action on accounts for individuals accrued during "Creek difficulty.", December 9, Bushyhead to Senate. Transmission of communication from the Board of Education concerning claim of Ellie Morgan, December 10, Bushyhead to Senate. Appointment of commission to visit the Cherokees of North Carolina, December 10, Bushyhead to Senate. Nomination of Commission to North Carolina Cherokees, December 11, Bushyhead to Senate. Nomination of O. P. Brewer and George O. Sanders as Commissioner to the North Carolina Cherokees.

5 41. Bushyhead, P. N. Blackstone. Pleasant Porter, Peter P. Pitchlynn, et. al. to Congress of the United States. Protest of allotment bill pending in Washington. (From Cherokee Advocate, January 19, 1881). 42. Bushyhead, Porter et. al. to Congress of the United States. Protesting the granting of right of way to railroad through Indian Territory. (From Cherokee Advocate, February 9, 1881). 43. Bushyhead to Congress of the United States. Concerning payment for lands west of the Arkansas River, February 1, H. C. Reed to John T. Drew, forwarded to Bushyhead. Concerning criminal trial at Council Ground Hill, May 23, John T. Drew to Bushyhead. Concerning criminal trial, May 25, Bushyhead to National Council. Itemized list of supplies, November 19, Bushyhead to National Council. Cherokee citizenship, November 29, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Appointment of John F. Lyons to protect timber in Nation, November 30, Bushyhead to Senate. Recommending action on account of G.H. Benge, November 30, Bushyhead to National Council. Transmittal of petition concerning defense of Henry Eiffert. Petition included, December 2, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Citizenship for emigrating North Carolina Cherokees, December 3, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Concerning a petition from citizens of the saline District for relief, December 3, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Concerning account of Arch Scraper for services as Company Commander a Park Hill in 1862 and for hauling North Carolina Cherokees. Accompanied by documents from Scraper, William P. Ross and C. H. Taylor, December 6, Bushyhead to National Council. Names of emigrating North Carolina Cherokees (13), December 9, Bushyhead to Senate. Concerning North Carolina Cherokees, December 10, 1881.

6 56. Bushyhead to National Council. Calling extra session in order to act on certain appropriations, December 12, Bushyhead to National Council. Request to act upon disposition of confiscated Cherokee timber, December 13, Bushyhead to National Council. Regarding letter from H. Price, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, concerning timber, December 14, Bushyhead to National Council. Removal of four North Carolina Cherokees to Indian Territory, December 15, Bushyhead to National Council. Sanctioning of instructions to Washington delegates. 61. Bushyhead to Senate. Concerning accounts of Samuel Sixkiller and Mrs. J. D. Doser, December 16, Bushyhead to Senate and Council.. Recommending appropriation for stationery, December 16, Bushyhead to Henry M. Teller. Concerning intruders, August 9, Bushyhead to all District Sheriffs. Orders concerning liquor violations. (Cherokee Advocate, September 15, 1882), September Ignatius Caleb and Joseph McCoones, Munsee & Chippewa Indian delegates from Kansas to Bushyhead. Concerning emigration into the Cherokee Nation. 66. Bushyhead to National Council. Recommending action on Munsee/Chippewa request, November 23, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Action on printing compiled laws of Cherokee Nation, November 24, Bushyhead to National Council. Transmittal of reports of Executive Council, November 26, Investigation of H. C. Barnes. Bushyhead to National Council. Action on accounts of several Cherokees, November Bushyhead to National Council. Concerning timber, November 29, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Return for reconsideration the bill authorizing the leasing of the Cherokee Outlet, December 1882.

7 72. Bushyhead to National Council. Claims of Cynthia P. Mayes and C. H. Taylor, December 6, Bushyhead to National Council. Report of editor of Cherokee Advocate, December 7, Bushyhead to National Council. Requesting actions on the disposal of timber, December 13, Bushyhead to Council. Concerning attorney's fees. 76. Bushyhead to Council. Presentation of a bill to prevent the monopoly of the public domain, December 13, Box 2 Correspondence 77. Bushyhead to Senate. Explanation for not signing the bill entitled "An Act in Relation to the Cherokee Domain west of 96 o ", No date. 78. Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Extra session concerning the delegates in Washington, Lands, tribes, funds, etc, April 30, Bushyhead to National Council. Lands west of 96, May 2, Bushyhead to National Council. Requesting an appropriation to defend the Nation against a timber suit, May 3, Bushyhead to Senate. Return of bill authorizing Intruders and Claimants to sell improvements in common domain, May 16, Bushyhead to Senate. Return of bill entitled "An Act providing for the payment of the balance due on lands west of 96 per capita.", May 18, Mrs. B. W. Wade to L. W. Shirley. Complaint over divorce ruling. With endorsements, October 30, Stephen F. Wade to Bushyhead. Complaint against L. W. Shirley. With endorsements, October 30, Bushyhead to Senate. Appointment of Charles Starr as High Sheriff of Cherokee Nation, November 14, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Appointment of an interpreter for commission applying for pensions, November 15, 1883.

8 87. Bushyhead to Council. Suspension of L. W. Shirley from office of Tahlequah District Judge, November 23, Bushyhead to National Council. Amendment of act to tax stock grazing on Cherokee land, November 23, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Revenue report, November 24, Bushyhead to Senate. Transmittal of Board of Education's invitation to celebrate Thanksgiving at Male Seminary. 91. Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Claim of D. H. Ross for services of his father in 1853 as delegate on Indian treaties, November 27, Bushyhead to Council. Report of Small Pox Committee, December 3, Bushyhead to National Council. Funds for artificial limbs, stationery and admittance of family to citizenship, December 5, Bushyhead to National Council. Request for contingent fund to defray expenses of Executive Department, December 6, Bushyhead to National Council. Concerning claim made by certain citizens for $348.00, December 6, Bushyhead to Senate. Nomination of Wallace Ross and W. B. Breedlove for the offices of Stewards of the Male and Female Seminaries, December 8, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Appropriation bills, December 10, Bushyhead to National Council. Salary raise for High Sheriff, December 11, Bushyhead to Senate. nomination of J. G. Schrimpsher and L. B. Bell as delegates to Washington, December 12, Bushyhead to National Council. Leasing of Outlet, December 12, Bushyhead to National Council. Increase of confirmation for the services of the Medical Superintendents of the Seminaries and Orphan Asylum, December 12, Bushyhead to Senate. Nomination of R. M. Wolfe and R. B. Ross as delegates to Washington, December 12, 1883.

9 103. W. T. Adair to Bushyhead. Request for medical supplies from Seminaries and Orphan Asylum, December 12, Bushyhead to National Council. Claim of Thomas R. Gourd Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Membership of delegation to be three men instead of two, December 14, Bushyhead to United States Congress. Memorial concerning Cherokee land title (from the Cherokee Advocate, March 20, 1884), No date, Bushyhead to Jesse Cochran, Sheriff of Cooweeskowee District. Laws regarding cattle seizure, July 8, Bushyhead to Senate. Return of a bill entitled "An Act Repealing the Act Authorizing the issue of permits to hire citizens of the United States.", November 19, Bushyhead to National Council. Unfinished business of last regular session, December 9, Bushyhead to National Council. Parties unavoidably omitted from Census Roll, December 11, Box 3 Correspondence 112. Bushyhead to Lucien B. Bell, Cherokee delegate of the International Convention. Bushyhead to represent Cherokees at conference. Concerning selling of land in the Indian Territory for white settlement, October 7, Williams A. Phillips to Bushyhead. Claims of the "Eastern band of Cherokees.", October 26, Bushyhead to Senate. Objections to the bill to regulate the employment of noncitizen labor in the Cherokee Nation, November 3, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Finances, education etc. (from the Cherokee Advocate, November 12, 1885), November Lucien B. Bell to Bushyhead. Presentation of account for services rendered while serving as Cherokee delegate to the Creek Nation, November 25, William A. Phillips to Bushyhead. Report of status of claims of Eastern Cherokees, November 25, 1885.

10 118. Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Concerning L. B. Bell and justifying the presence of a Cherokee delegate at the International Convention, November 30, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Updating the National Council on the status of the suit filed by the "Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.", December 1, John T. Drew, J.W. Alberty and H. T. Landrum to Bushyhead. Concerning status of case Johnson Thompson versus D. W. Bushyhead. Bench vacant, December 3, Bushyhead to Senate. Requesting that the vacant seat on the Supreme Court be filled, December 3, Bushyhead to Senate. Reasons for returning bill entitled "An Act providing for the payment of the money received as tax for stock grazing upon the Cherokee lands west of 96, per capita." December 3, Lucien B. Bell to Bushyhead. Submission of Senate bill entitled "An Act to create a joint Commission on Citizenship to try and settle claims on Cherokee citizenship." Reasons for the bill being submitted late, December 5, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Concerning a written report to be given for the purpose of explaining conditions of relations with the U.S. government, December 5, Bushyhead to Senate. Pending claims for Cherokee citizenship as one reason for calling special session, December 7, Bushyhead to National Council. Reasons and authority to call a special session, December 7, Bushyhead to Senate. Concerning a bill pending in the Senate to act as a substitute for the writs of ejectment in force at that time, December 8, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Concerning account of William S. Drew, who was ordered by Judge Parker to produce a prisoner on a writ of Habeas Corpus, December 9, Bushyhead to Senate. Concerning the appointment of a U. S. agent, December 12, Bushyhead to National Council. Submission of request for action on carrying deadly weapons in the Cherokee Nation, December 12, 1885.

11 131. Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Requesting the return of documents, December 12, Bushyhead to National Council. No further business, December 14, Bushyhead to Rabbit Bunch. Bushyhead in Washington with delegation. Concerning bills pending in U.S. Congress. (From the Cherokee Advocate, April 2, 1886) 134. Bushyhead to editor of the Washington Herald. Concerning clarification of an article on Cherokee lands. (From the Oklahoma War Chief, April 15, 1886), March 31, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Concerning the Southern Kansas Railway Company and its attempt to construct a road through the Cherokee Nation, April 12, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Expenses for Washington trip, April 14, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Concerning stock grazing in the Outlet, April 14, Bushyhead to Senate. Nomination of John Chambers to accompany John Schrimpsher to Washington, April 15, Bushyhead to National Council. Concerning the arrest of two Cherokee citizens by U. S. authorities, April 19, Bushyhead to National Council. Concerning the patent on Cherokee lands, April 19, Bushyhead to Senate. Appointment of T. A. Scales and D. M. C. Duncan to "revise and codify all existing laws" of the Cherokee Nation, April 21, Bushyhead to Senate. Objections to bill entitled "An Act instructing and empowering the Delegation to Washington" of December 12, April 21, Bushyhead to National Council. Concerning claims for citizenship, April 26, Bushyhead to National Council. Transmittal of John Jordan's report concerning the "Cherokee Strip.", November 12, Bushyhead to National Council. Concerning the right of the Cherokees to govern themselves, November 26, 1886.

12 146. Bushyhead to National Council. Transmittal of claims of heir of Bluford West, November 27, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Unfinished business from regular session, December 6, Bushyhead to National Council. Action on bill entitled "An Act regulating the practice of medicine and the sale of drugs.", December 6, Bushyhead to National Council. Concerning repairs at the Seminaries, December 11, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Claims of Mrs. A. H. Balentine, William Loser, Alice Round and William Tiley, December 15, Bushyhead to National Council. Concerning the lack of copies of the laws of the Nation. Recommendation to make a compilation of all the Cherokee laws, December 18, Bushyhead to National Council. Concerning an act of the U.S. Congress, May 9, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Concerning the destruction by fire of the Cherokee Female Seminary, May 9, Bushyhead to Senate and Council. Concerning letter of J. M. Perryman, Principal Chief of the Creek Nation, May 19, Bushyhead to National Council. Timber cases, John T. Drew, J. R. Mayfield and Judge I. C. Parker, May 21, Bushyhead to D. W. C. Duncan. Endorsement of Liberal Party platform. (From the Cherokee Telephone, June 11, 1891) 157. Bushyhead to Dr. M. Frazee. Liberal party platform and allotment issue. (From the Cherokee Telephone, June 18, 1891), June 2, Bushyhead, R. B. Ross, C. V. Rogers, et. al. to the United States Commissioners to the Five Civilized Tribes. Concerning the allotment of lands, the Dawes Commission agreement. Called the "Cherokee Ultimatum by the Indian Chieftain, November 11, 1897", October 28, Box 4 Speeches and Proclamations

13 159. Platform speech made while running for office of Principal Chief in From the Indian Journal, July 31, First annual message of D. W. Bushyhead. Delivered at Tahlequah, November 10, From the Cherokee Advocate, November 26, Thanksgiving proclamation, November 25, From the Cherokee Advocate, November 26, Annual message of D. W. Bushyhead. Delivered at Tahlequah in November, From the Indian Journal, November 11, Thanksgiving proclamation, November From the Cherokee Advocate, November 17, Third annual message of D. W. Bushyhead. Delivered at Tahlequah; November 9, From the Cherokee Advocate, November 9, Fourth annual message of D. W. Bushyhead. No date given. From the Cherokee Advocate, November 10, Speech of D. W. Bushyhead delivered upon reelection, November 7, From Indian Chieftain, November 16, Second annual message of D. W. Bushyhead. Delivered in Tahlequah in November From the Indian Chieftain, November 13, Thanksgiving proclamation, From V. A. Travis "Life in the Cherokee Nation." Chronicles of Oklahoma (March 1926) 4: Proclamation in honor of President U.S. Grant, upon his death in Delivered July 30, From the Indian Chieftain, August 6, Special address concerning the destruction of the Female Seminary. May 9, News-Clippings 171. Editorial on the annual message of November The Cherokee Advocate, November 26, Editorial on the message concerning finances and Bushyhead himself. The Cherokee Advocate, November 17, Order approved by Bushyhead concerning railroads, May 25, The Cherokee Advocate, May 26, 1882.

14 174. Bushyhead one of the directors and stockholders of the Indian International Fair. The Cherokee Advocate, June 23, Editorial on "An Act to Prevent Monopoly of Public Land." The Indian Chieftain, January 19, "Now Is Your Time Messers. Bushyhead, Phillips and Wolfe." Editorial, the Indian Chieftain, May 21, Editorial concerning Bushyhead and the Cherokee Outlet. The Oklahoma War Chief, April 15, News item stating Bushyhead arrested. Cherokee Telephone, March 5, Editorial on Bushyhead. Cherokee Telephone, May 21, Editorial on Bushyhead's handling of tribal finances. Cherokee Telephone. May 21, Editorial on Bushyhead, George W. Benge and J. B. Mayes. Cherokee Telephone, June 18, Editorial on Bushyhead's feelings towards toward allotment in severalty. Cherokee Telephone, July 9, Editorial on Bushyhead. Cherokee Telephone, July 16, Editorial on Bushyhead's allotment stance. The Vinita World, July 18, Editorial on speeches made by Bushyhead, Mayes and Benge. Cherokee Telephone, July 23, Editorial on Bushyhead. Cherokee Telephone. July 23, Editorial on Bushyhead. The Vinita World, July 25, Editorial on Bushyhead. The Purcell Register, May 19, Article on Bushyhead. The Indian Citizen, November 23, Editorial on Bushyhead. Muskogee Phoenix (supplement), December 29, Editorial on Bushyhead. The Cherokee Champion, June 5, Editorial on Bushyhead's allotment stance. The Claremore Progress, May 8, 1897.

15 193. Editorial on Bushyhead and S. H. Mayes. Muskogee Morning Times, April 7, News item on Tahlequah Board of Trade. The Daily Capital (McAlester, Indian Territory), August 28, Article concerning Bushyhead's illness. The Daily Capital (McAlester, Indian Territory), August 28, Biographies and Obituaries 196. Autobiography written in the 1880's Biography. H. F. and E. S. O'Beirne. The Indian Territory. St. Louis, Vol. 2, pp Obituary. The Claremore Progress, February 5, Article on death of Bushyhead. The Indian Chieftain, February 10, Article on death of Bushyhead. The South McAlester Capital, February 10, Obituary, Cherokee Advocate, February 12, Article on death of Bushyhead. The Fort Gibson Post, February 17, Article on Bushyhead by W. P. Boudinot. The Tahlequah Arrow, February 19, Concerning Bushyhead after death. The Claremore Progress, March 5, News clipping; obituary and biographical sketch. David L. Payne MSS. Oklahoma Historical Society. No date given Biography. John D. Benedict. Muskogee and Northeastern Oklahoma. Chicago pp