Green McCurtain
Encyclopedia
Greenwood "Green" McCurtain (1848–1910) was Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation
(1896-1890) and (1902-1910), serving four two-year terms. He was the third of his brothers to be elected as chief, and after 1906 and the dissolution of tribal governments under the Dawes Act
, he was appointed as chief by the United States government. (His brothers Jackson Frazier McCurtain and Edmund McCurtain had previously been elected as chief, serving a total of three terms.)
Green McCurtain represented his tribe as a delegate at the Sequoyah Constitutional Convention
, an effort by American Indian nations to create an Indian-controlled state in what is now Oklahoma
.
, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory
, the third son of Cornelius McCurtain, born in Alabama
, and Mayhiya "Amy" Blevins, both full-blood Choctaw. Blevins' grandmother was Sho-Ma-Ka, a captive from a neighboring tribe who was adopted into the Choctaw.
McCurtain's family moved to Indian Territory in 1833 as part of the Choctaw Trail of Tears
. Green's older brothers Jackson Frazier McCurtain (1880-1884) and Edmund McCurtain (1884-1886) were elected as principal chief before him. His family name is of Scots-Irish origin, but McCurtain was full-blood Choctaw.
. His second wife was Kate Spring, and the couple had one son and four daughters: Alice, Lena, Bertha and Cora. He was a Baptist
.
He served as a member of his district's board of education within the tribe, and subsequently served as district attorney. In 1896 and 1898, McCurtain was elected Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation. Term limits prevented him for running again immediately. In 1902, he was eligible to run again and won the election. He won a fourth term in 1904.
Under the Dawes Act
, in 1906 the US government broke up tribal governments and institutions. The Bureau of Indian Affairs
appointed McCurtain as chief, and he acted under BIA supervision until his death.
on June 21, 1971. The house was in ruins at the time and has since been reconstructed. It is a two-story, L-shaped residence.
. He was buried at his old home in San Bois Cemetery in Kinta, Haskell County, Oklahoma
.
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is a semi-autonomous Native American homeland comprising twelve tribal districts. The Choctaw Nation maintains a special relationship with both the United States and Oklahoma governments...
(1896-1890) and (1902-1910), serving four two-year terms. He was the third of his brothers to be elected as chief, and after 1906 and the dissolution of tribal governments under the Dawes Act
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act, adopted by Congress in 1887, authorized the President of the United States to survey Indian tribal land and divide the land into allotments for individual Indians. The Act was named for its sponsor, Senator Henry L. Dawes of Massachusetts. The Dawes Act was amended in 1891 and again...
, he was appointed as chief by the United States government. (His brothers Jackson Frazier McCurtain and Edmund McCurtain had previously been elected as chief, serving a total of three terms.)
Green McCurtain represented his tribe as a delegate at the Sequoyah Constitutional Convention
Sequoyah Constitutional Convention
The Sequoyah Constitutional Convention was an American Indian-led attempt to secure statehood for Indian Territory as an Indian-controlled jurisdiction, separate from the Oklahoma Territory...
, an effort by American Indian nations to create an Indian-controlled state in what is now Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
Personal life
Green McCurtain was born on November 28, 1848 in SkullyvilleSkullyville, Oklahoma
Skullyville is a small unincorporated rural community in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. Skullyville was the former capitol of the Choctaw Nation and a stop on the California Road. Walker's Station, a stage stand on the Butterfield Overland Mail route, was located in Skullyville...
, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
, the third son of Cornelius McCurtain, born in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, and Mayhiya "Amy" Blevins, both full-blood Choctaw. Blevins' grandmother was Sho-Ma-Ka, a captive from a neighboring tribe who was adopted into the Choctaw.
McCurtain's family moved to Indian Territory in 1833 as part of the Choctaw Trail of Tears
Choctaw Trail of Tears
The Choctaw Trail of Tears was the relocation of the Choctaw Nation from their country referred to now as the Deep South to lands west of the Mississippi River in Indian Territory in the 1830s...
. Green's older brothers Jackson Frazier McCurtain (1880-1884) and Edmund McCurtain (1884-1886) were elected as principal chief before him. His family name is of Scots-Irish origin, but McCurtain was full-blood Choctaw.
Marriage and family
His first wife was European American, and together they had a son, D.C. McCurtain. He later livd in Spiro, OklahomaSpiro, Oklahoma
Spiro is a town in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,227 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Spiro is located at ....
. His second wife was Kate Spring, and the couple had one son and four daughters: Alice, Lena, Bertha and Cora. He was a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
.
Political career
McCurtain represented the Tuskahoma, or progressive party of his tribe. He first served as Choctaw National Treasurer for two terms and oversaw the distribution of $2 million dollars in treaty settlements. Twice he served as a Choctaw Delegate to the US federal government in Washington, DC.He served as a member of his district's board of education within the tribe, and subsequently served as district attorney. In 1896 and 1898, McCurtain was elected Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation. Term limits prevented him for running again immediately. In 1902, he was eligible to run again and won the election. He won a fourth term in 1904.
Under the Dawes Act
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act, adopted by Congress in 1887, authorized the President of the United States to survey Indian tribal land and divide the land into allotments for individual Indians. The Act was named for its sponsor, Senator Henry L. Dawes of Massachusetts. The Dawes Act was amended in 1891 and again...
, in 1906 the US government broke up tribal governments and institutions. The Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
appointed McCurtain as chief, and he acted under BIA supervision until his death.
McCurtain County home
The Green McCurtain House was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on June 21, 1971. The house was in ruins at the time and has since been reconstructed. It is a two-story, L-shaped residence.
Death
McCurtain died December 27, 1910 at his home in Kinta, OklahomaKinta, Oklahoma
Kinta is a town in Haskell County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 243 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kinta is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
. He was buried at his old home in San Bois Cemetery in Kinta, Haskell County, Oklahoma
Haskell County, Oklahoma
Haskell County is a county located in the southeast quadrant of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 11,792. Its county seat is Stigler. The county is named in honor of Charles N. Haskell, who was the first governor of Oklahoma....
.