Moshulatubbee District
Encyclopedia
Moshulatubbee District was one of three administrative super-regions comprising the former Choctaw Nation
in the Indian Territory
. Also called the First District, it encompassed the northern one-third of the nation.
The Moshulatubbee District was named in honor of Chief Moshulatubbee, a Choctaw Indian warrior and statesman. Moshulatubbee was chief of the Okla Tannap ("Lower Towns") District in the original Choctaw Nation, and many Choctaws who remembered those times referred to the Moshulatubbee District as the Okla Tannap District. The other two districts were the Apukshunnubbee District
and Pushmataha District
.
The districts were established when the Choctaw Nation relocated via the Trail of Tears
to the Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma
, and were originally intended to provide homes for settlers from the three major clans or groupings of Choctaw Indians comprising the nation. However, in practice, the clan affiliations and allegiances were soon lost after the Choctaws’ arrival in the Indian Territory. The districts’ importance in the political life of the nation waned, over time, and the district chiefs lost power and authority to the principal chief of the nation. Eventually the principal chief became, in simply, the chief
. No longer a "first among equals", he became the sole political leader.
In judicial affairs, however, the three districts and their seats of government retained their historic influence. Crimes and criminals not tried at the county level were bucked to the district level automatically, and court days were the busiest days of the year in the district seats of government.
Moshulatubbee District’s administrative seat of government was Gaines Court House, which also doubled as the county seat of Gaines County. The court house was northeast of modern-day McAlester, Oklahoma
.
Included in the Moshulatubbee District were the Choctaw counties of Gaines, Sans Bois, Skullyville, Sugar Loaf, and Tobucksy.
As Oklahoma's statehood loomed the Moshulatubbee District, and its constituent counties, slowly wound down their governmental functions as the United States Courts in the Indian Territory usurped their powers. On November 16, 1907, Oklahoma’s Statehood Day, the district and its counties disappeared forever.
The territory of the former Apukshunnubbee District is incorporated principally into the present-day Oklahoma counties of Haskell
, Hughes
, Latimer
, Le Flore
, and Pittsburg
.
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...
in the 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...
. Also called the First District, it encompassed the northern one-third of the nation.
The Moshulatubbee District was named in honor of Chief Moshulatubbee, a Choctaw Indian warrior and statesman. Moshulatubbee was chief of the Okla Tannap ("Lower Towns") District in the original Choctaw Nation, and many Choctaws who remembered those times referred to the Moshulatubbee District as the Okla Tannap District. The other two districts were the Apukshunnubbee District
Apukshunnubbee District
Apukshunnubbee District was one of three administrative super-regions comprising the former Choctaw Nation in the Indian Territory. Also called the Second District, it encompassed the southeastern one-third of the nation....
and Pushmataha District
Pushmataha District
Pushmataha District was one of three administrative super-regions comprising the former Choctaw Nation in the Indian Territory. Also called the Third District, it encompassed the southwestern one-third of the nation....
.
The districts were established when the Choctaw Nation relocated via the 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...
to the Indian Territory, present-day 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...
, and were originally intended to provide homes for settlers from the three major clans or groupings of Choctaw Indians comprising the nation. However, in practice, the clan affiliations and allegiances were soon lost after the Choctaws’ arrival in the Indian Territory. The districts’ importance in the political life of the nation waned, over time, and the district chiefs lost power and authority to the principal chief of the nation. Eventually the principal chief became, in simply, the chief
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
. No longer a "first among equals", he became the sole political leader.
In judicial affairs, however, the three districts and their seats of government retained their historic influence. Crimes and criminals not tried at the county level were bucked to the district level automatically, and court days were the busiest days of the year in the district seats of government.
Moshulatubbee District’s administrative seat of government was Gaines Court House, which also doubled as the county seat of Gaines County. The court house was northeast of modern-day McAlester, Oklahoma
McAlester, Oklahoma
McAlester is a city in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 17,783 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pittsburg County. It is currently the largest city in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, followed by Durant....
.
Included in the Moshulatubbee District were the Choctaw counties of Gaines, Sans Bois, Skullyville, Sugar Loaf, and Tobucksy.
As Oklahoma's statehood loomed the Moshulatubbee District, and its constituent counties, slowly wound down their governmental functions as the United States Courts in the Indian Territory usurped their powers. On November 16, 1907, Oklahoma’s Statehood Day, the district and its counties disappeared forever.
The territory of the former Apukshunnubbee District is incorporated principally into the present-day Oklahoma counties of Haskell
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....
, Hughes
Hughes County, Oklahoma
Hughes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 14,154. Its county seat is Holdenville.-Geography:...
, Latimer
Latimer County, Oklahoma
Latimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 10,692. Its county seat is Wilburton.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
, Le Flore
Le Flore County, Oklahoma
Le Flore County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 48,109. Its county seat is Poteau. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma is the federal...
, and Pittsburg
Pittsburg County, Oklahoma
Pittsburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 43,953. Its county seat is McAlester.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,569 km²...
.