Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-11
A NOTED INDIAN DEAD.
The Interesting Career OF Elias @.
Boudinot, the Cherokee.

The death of Elias C. Boudinot OF the Chero-
kee nation at Fort Smith, Ark, last Saturday
has been noted in The STAR. Boudinot who
was one Of the most conspicuous men of the
Cherokee nation, spent many years in this city
and was well known here.
The history of his ancestry dates back to the
first Cherokee settlement on the James river
in 1907. kill-kee-nah Cbnck), his father. who
was born in Georgia in 1895. was the descendant
| of long line of tribal chiefs. Early in life,
with his two brothers, KiIl-kee-nah was sent to
school in Cornwall, Conn, and while there he
met Elias Boudinot, New Jersey gentleman.
The friendship that sprang up between the
young Indian and Boudinot resulted in the
formers taking the name of his friend and
benefactor. After the young Indians had COM
pleted their education at Cornwall they re-
turned to Georgia and resumed their tribal
relations, which soon assumed a complicated
aspect. At that time the government was
treating with all the Indian tribes east Of the
Mississippi for their removal to the west John
Ross was then principal chief of the Cherokees
and he firmly resisted the proposed removal
Young Boudinot and his brothers. however, ad-
vocated the governments proposition and
urged the Indians to the final consummation of
the treaty in 1885,
This opposition between the chief and the
Boudinots led to a division of the tribe, and
when the Indians finally took up their new
lands in the Indian territory they settled in
separate sections and began a long series of
bloody Indian feuds. which terminated in the
assassination of Elias Boudinot his brother
Maj. Ridge, and his nephew, John Ridge, in
June, 1889.
nation now mourns, was born four years before
his fathers tragic death. He was sent to Man
chester, Vt, where he obtained q thorough
education, and entered the corps Of civil en-
gineers. Upon the death of his father young
Boudlnot's heritages were confiscated. a price
was set upon his head by his fathers murder
ers and 1T was many years before his exile ter
minated and he was permitted to return to his
native land. In the meantime the young
Cherokee had fed to Washington. where his
and logic and his keen wit won him friends and
fame.
In 1860, having taken up his residence in Ar
kansas, Boudinot was elected chairman of the
democratic state committee, although he was
but twenty-five years old. He then moved to
Little Rock and became editor of the True DEM
oerdf. the party organ. In 1861 he became an
active secessionist, and was made major of a
confederate regiment of Cherokee Indians
whose operations included the bloody battles of
Oak Hill and Elk Horn and the campaign in the
Red River country. Restored to his people and
country, young Bcudinot rapidly became
leader. and through his exertIons alone the
treaty OF 1868 between the Cherokees and the
government was contaminated.
For many years Boudinot has advocated the
organization of paternal government over the
Indian territory and a division of the lands
in sevsralty coupled with the rights of citizen
ship. On these questions he made many
arguments before Congress- and upon this
form of government, he always maintained,
depended the solution of the so-cailed Indian
problem.
Five years ago Boudinot married Miss Clara
Mineen of this city. He was an able LAWYER
and fine linguist. To these accomplishments
was added a wonderful talent for music He
sang and wrote verses with singular skill and
he was loniZed by society everywhere. He
was Mason of the thirty-second degree His
lifelong friend was Senator Voorhees, of Indi-
ana, who visited him in his Indian home many
times and who has frequently been associated
with BOudinot in law cases.