Pushmataha District
Encyclopedia
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 Pushmataha District was named in honor of Pushmataha
, a revered Choctaw warrior and statesman who was chief of Okla Hannali, the Six Towns District, one of the three historic, major clan divisions of the Choctaw in the Southeast. The other two districts were the Apukshunnubbee District
and Moshulatubbee 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. But, the clan affiliations and allegiances rapidly became less important after the Choctaws’ arrival in the Indian Territory. The districts’ importance in the political life of the nation waned, over time, and the three 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.
Pushmataha District’s final and most important administrative seat of government was Mayhew, Indian Territory
, a former Presbyterian missionary station two miles north of the present-day Boswell, Oklahoma
.
Mayhew was its last seat of district government—the first had been established at Tiak Heli, a site one half-mile east of present-day Sunkist, Oklahoma (in southeastern Atoka County
), “between the forks of the Boggy” (“or Boggies”), as it was called. The site was difficult to reach, being situated between the Clear Boggy Creek
and Muddy Boggy Creek
--actually small rivers--and few ferries operated on the rivers to provide convenient crossings. When the court house at Tiak Heli burned in the last part of the 19th Century the administrative center moved to Mayhew.
“I never understood why court was held in the forks of the Boggy, forcing everyone who attended to cross a river,” mused one early-day settler
decades later. He assumed the district seat of government had been selected due to being located in the center of general population, which was likely true. “There were no ferries, nor bridges above the forks of the Boggy,” he recalled, referring to the Clear Boggy Creek and Muddy Boggy Creek as a single waterway.
Another settler recalled the post oak tree used as the “whipping tree”. The Choctaw district courts meted out whippings as punishment. As of 1937 the tree was still in existence.
Included in the Pushmataha District were the Choctaw Nation counties of Atoka, Jack's Fork, Blue
, Jackson
, and Kiamitia (Kiamichi)
.
As Oklahoma’s statehood loomed the Pushmataha 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 Pushmataha District is incorporated into the present-day Oklahoma counties of Atoka
, Bryan
, Choctaw
, and Pushmataha
.
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 Third District, it encompassed the southwestern one-third of the nation.
The Pushmataha District was named in honor of Pushmataha
Pushmataha
Pushmataha , the "Indian General", was one of the three regional chiefs of the major divisions of the Choctaw in the nineteenth century. Many historians considered him the "greatest of all Choctaw chiefs"...
, a revered Choctaw warrior and statesman who was chief of Okla Hannali, the Six Towns District, one of the three historic, major clan divisions of the Choctaw in the Southeast. 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 Moshulatubbee District
Moshulatubbee District
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 districts were established when the Choctaw Nation relocated via the Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830...
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. But, the clan affiliations and allegiances rapidly became less important after the Choctaws’ arrival in the Indian Territory. The districts’ importance in the political life of the nation waned, over time, and the three 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.
Pushmataha District’s final and most important administrative seat of government was Mayhew, Indian Territory
Mayhew, Indian Territory
Mayhew, Indian Territory, located two miles north of present-day Boswell, Oklahoma, was the seat of government of the Pushmataha District of the Choctaw Nation, in the Indian Territory...
, a former Presbyterian missionary station two miles north of the present-day Boswell, Oklahoma
Boswell, Oklahoma
Boswell is a town in Choctaw County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 703 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Boswell has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 1.43% is water.-Climate:...
.
Mayhew was its last seat of district government—the first had been established at Tiak Heli, a site one half-mile east of present-day Sunkist, Oklahoma (in southeastern Atoka County
Atoka County, Oklahoma
Atoka County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and was formed in 1907 from Choctaw Lands. As of 2000, the population is 13,879. Its county seat is Atoka.-Geography:...
), “between the forks of the Boggy” (“or Boggies”), as it was called. The site was difficult to reach, being situated between the Clear Boggy Creek
Clear Boggy Creek
Clear Boggy Creek, also known as the Clear Boggy River, is a creek in southeastern Oklahoma that is a tributary of Muddy Boggy Creek.-Geography:According to some sources, Clear Boggy Creek joins with Muddy Boggy Creek to form the Boggy River...
and Muddy Boggy Creek
Muddy Boggy Creek
Muddy Boggy Creek, also known as the Muddy Boggy River, is a river in southeastern Oklahoma. It is a major tributary of the Red River.-Geography:Muddy Boggy Creek is located in the counties of Pontotoc, Hughes, Coal, Atoka, and Choctaw....
--actually small rivers--and few ferries operated on the rivers to provide convenient crossings. When the court house at Tiak Heli burned in the last part of the 19th Century the administrative center moved to Mayhew.
“I never understood why court was held in the forks of the Boggy, forcing everyone who attended to cross a river,” mused one early-day settler
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
decades later. He assumed the district seat of government had been selected due to being located in the center of general population, which was likely true. “There were no ferries, nor bridges above the forks of the Boggy,” he recalled, referring to the Clear Boggy Creek and Muddy Boggy Creek as a single waterway.
Another settler recalled the post oak tree used as the “whipping tree”. The Choctaw district courts meted out whippings as punishment. As of 1937 the tree was still in existence.
Included in the Pushmataha District were the Choctaw Nation counties of Atoka, Jack's Fork, Blue
Blue County, Choctaw Nation
Blue County was a political subdivision of the Pushmataha District of the Choctaw Nation, in the Indian Territory. The county was dissolved upon Oklahoma’s statehood in 1907. The territory comprising the former county is incorporated primarily into the present-day Bryan County, Oklahoma.Blue County...
, Jackson
Jackson County, Choctaw Nation
Jackson County was a political subdivision of the Pushmataha District of the Choctaw Nation, in the Indian Territory. The county was dissolved upon Oklahoma’s statehood in 1907....
, and Kiamitia (Kiamichi)
Kiamitia County
Kiamitia County, also known as Kiamichi County, was a political subdivision of the Choctaw Nation of Indian Territory. The county formed part of the nation’s Pushmataha District, or Third District, one of three administrative super-regions....
.
As Oklahoma’s statehood loomed the Pushmataha 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 Pushmataha District is incorporated into the present-day Oklahoma counties of Atoka
Atoka County, Oklahoma
Atoka County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and was formed in 1907 from Choctaw Lands. As of 2000, the population is 13,879. Its county seat is Atoka.-Geography:...
, Bryan
Bryan County, Oklahoma
Bryan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 36,534 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Durant. The county shares the same boundaries as the Durant Micropolitan Area. It is also home to the headquarters of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma located in Durant...
, Choctaw
Choctaw County, Oklahoma
Choctaw County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 15,342. Its county seat is Hugo.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
, and Pushmataha
Pushmataha County, Oklahoma
-Administrative History:* Ca. 1000-1500: Caddoan Mississippian civilization at Spiro Mounds* 1492-1718: Spain* 1718-1763: France* 1763-1800: Spain* 1800-1803: France* 1803–present: United States...
.