Not sure why she was born on Choctaw nation but have always been told Cherokee and her brother Isaac was born on Cherokee nation per census document in 1897
Dollie Wallace discovered in 1900 U.S. Federal Census
http://sharing.ancestry.com/5076143?h=0e5d10
When Dollie Wallace was born in February 1893 in Choctaw Nation, her father, Sherman (1862), was 30 and her mother, Manda (1874), was 18. In 1900, she was 6 years old and lived in Pineville, Missouri with her father, mother, and sister (Cordelia born in Arkansas 1896).
It can be confusing when there are family stories of Cherokee blood somewhere in the family tree and ancestors are showing up in different locations within Indian Territory in the late 1800s. It would seem like a strong indication that they were “Indian” if they were found living in Indian Territory, right? It seems a logical conclusion, after all. Unfortunately, that is not necessarily enough to go on, and you have to really look at what the records are reflecting, and where the family was coming from originally.
So, it would probably be helpful to explain right up-front that these individuals were not tribal members. If there is a story of Cherokee ancestry, it would have to be traced further back. It was not apparent in their lifetimes and they had no actual tribal affiliation.
The settlement patterns and records show this was a non-tribal, White family. At that time period there were more Whites living in Indian Territory than Indians. Actually, Indians were a minority in the territory at that point. This was the Oklahoma land rush era and tribal lands were being allotted to tribal members and surplus was being given to White Americans who were flooding into the territory and getting a piece of the action. The most common staging points for White people awaiting the opening of Indian lands was in Arkansas and Kansas. And the settlers started moving in, en masse, during the late 1880s and early 1890s. Dollie’s parents were standard White pioneers to Oklahoma Territory. They were married in Pottawatomie County, OK in 1893. This county was formed just two years prior and represents an area of early American settlement, with most pioneers coming in from staging areas in Kansas, and pushing deep into central Oklahoma. From those locations Whites moved into Indian Territory proper. There were White settlement clusters in various tribal nations and a lot of men worked in the cattle industry, on the railroads , etc. So, showing up in Cherokee Nation or Choctaw Nation is not a clear-cut indication of some tribal affiliation. This was not the case for the majority of the population, in fact.
Fortunately, it was a pivotal time period and it is very easy to cross-reference the tribal and census records and see how individuals living in the Territory were enumerated. Tribal members would be from families that had been living in their lands for several generations and would be found on rolls and tribal records. Indians were also enumerated in the 1900 and 1910 census records on special forms (called Indian Schedules). Tribal members, regardless of blood quantum, were enumerated on the Indian schedules. White settlers were enumerated on standard forms and they were coming from locations outside of Indian Territory just decades earlier. That was the case for this particular Wallace family. They were consistently listed as White, and they had roots outside of Oklahoma.
Here is the overview of the family:
Dollie’s family:
1893 – Dollie born in Choctaw Nation to non-tribal parents
1896 – Cordelia born in Arkansas
1897 – Isaac born in Cherokee Nation (not tribal members)
1900 – Wallace family living in McDonald County, MO
1910 – living in Seminole County, OK
1911 – Amanda died of measles in Seminole, OK
John Sherman:
1867 – born in Arkansas
1870 – John Sherman, age 3, living with parents Isaac W. and Ruth Wallace in Barry, Missouri
1880 – living in Sumner, Kansas with his family
Isaac Wallace:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=20473447&ref=acom
1834 – born in TN
1850 – living with parents Thomas and Jane Wallace, and siblings, in Roane TN
1870 – living in Barry, MO
1880 – living in KS
1900 – living in Cleveland, OK with wife Ruth and son Rosco
CLEGG
MRS. DOLLIE, 3029 Granada Ave., El Monte. Passed away Mar 5, 1971. Beloved mother of Vernon, Marvin, Arthur and Lloyd HUMPHREY. Another son, Wayne Clegg, Daughters, Mrs. Ruth Wagner, Mrs. Betty Gottech, Mrs. Wanda Pratt, Mrs. Alice Cook, Sisters Mrs. Jimmie Pickard, Mrs. Georgia Gee, 28 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, 11 nieces and 8 nephews and a host of friends. Services will be Mon., Mar 8, 11 a.m. at Pierce Bros. Schanel Chapel, 330 N. Tyler, El Monte. Interment, Hillside Memorial Park, Redlands, Calif. PIERCE BROS. SCHANEL-EL MONTE directors.
Amanda born 1873 in KY. Parents, Simeon and Keziah Slusher were also born in KY. She died at age 38 of measles. She had been married previously to a man named Steele.
Here is an interesting story about Amanda’s father:
Fort Worth daily gazette., July 05, 1889, Page 3, Image 3About Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891
SURROUNDED BY OUTLAWS.
A Wounded Deputy Marshal Writes to His Chief for Assistance at Once.
FORT SMITH, ARK., July 4.—United States Marshal Yoes received a letter this morning for Blackfork, about forty-five miles south of here on the Choctaw line, written by Deputy Marshal Simon Slusher, in which the officer says:
“ I made an effort to arrest Marion O’Dunn yesterday. I am badly wounded. There is a gang of armed outlaws here, and we have to guard the house where I am staying to keep them from finishing me up and killing Mr. Byford, in whose house I am. Send a marshal at once to assist us, and a hack or some conveyance that I may get out of here.”
Marshal Yoes at once sent an officer to the assistance of his deputy. O’Dunn is an escaped convict from the Arkansas penitentiary, and has been committing depredations in the Territory since his escape. He was captured several months ago, but jumped from the train while it was passing through Backbone tunnel, fourteen miles from this city, and made his escape.
Hi. I was reading through some of the post that have last names that might be of intrest to me and my search. sorry for hijacking post, but I see that you have a lot of knowledge on NA tribes and history. I’m looking for Cherokee tribal link on both sides of my family. Childers, Childress. Patsey Childers Born 1842 Lumpkin Co. Ga. Forsyth Co. ,William Childers, Edward Childers. Are they the Descendants of William Childers said to be Cherokee. Next Johnson… Pominia Johnson wife. General William Johnson Son birth 1859. Nancy Johnson sister. Alabama. General married Catie. Kids Claudie Johnson ,Ora, Geneva Said to be Cherokee. Names could be off. Thanks if you could please help.
ok you told me nothing I did not know — why is it that there is always the you can not be cherokee speech. I am not after money. The Indian would be further back for Wallace and since you could find so much — how about Dollie’s husband W. H. Humphrey — In 1907 he was in Seminole county — The story is told only part of the family went on the Indian role as others did not want to be stuck in the hell of OK
This was not a speech, rather it was a comprehensive review of the extant records, their community affiliations and backgrounds, based on independent research and links to primary sources (links that you can further explore at your discretion).
This family was not Cherokee and they would have no extended family, descended from this particular lineage, that would be found on Indian rolls during that time period (Dawes). And I also gave you links to both Sherman and Amanda’s parents. They weren’t recognized as Indian. They were White Americans.
By the way, I research these queries as a personal hobby. I simply enjoy Cherokee genealogy. However, I have no vested interest if the stories are accurate or not. So, I go into the research in standard fashion, with some healthy detachment to “proving” anything in particular. And when I find there is a tribal connection I bend over backwards to provide that information as well. Over the years, I’ve even personally obtained full Dawes Packets for individuals and walked them through enrollment process. If there is Cherokee ancestry, I like to find it. But, in this case, the original post was asking about specific individuals and their supposed Cherokee status. There was also some confusion about them showing up in various Indian Nations at the turn of the century. I simply cleared this up. You can take it or leave it. What are you wanting to know about about Dollie’s husband, specifically?