The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-11


Davis, the last chief of the Seminole
nation. has almost completed her
duties as such executive. The APP
polntment OF Mrs. Davis as chief OF
the Seminolcs is the fEst instance
where a woman has stood at the
head Of one Of the really big Indian
tribes Of the United states.
The Tiger clan Of the Seminolcs,
or as the Indians say u. the Panther,
has since times immemorial, been
the clan from which the hereditary
chiefs have been drawn. one noted
instance where the Tigers clan did
not furnish the chief was in the ee-
lection Of chief John Jumper of the
Seminclcs.
In the days which preceded the
election of Jumper as chief, several
chiefs had been selected from the
Tiger clan, and in each instance
death or some unusual circumstance
had almost Immediately followed
their election. The Indians looked
upon this circumstance as an omen
that the Great Spirit was not in COM
plete accord with the selection ~ a
chief from that particular clan, A
great council of the Seminoles was
called and the matter was discussed
at great length, Tho theory was ad-
vanced in that meeting that the Tir-
er clan had fallen into disgrace with
the Great Spirit, and IL would be hest
to select n ChieftaIn from some other
clan. So il came about that John
Jumper, who was OF the wind clan.
was selected. lie served with dis
tinCtion for many years. He was the
principal chief at the commence
mcnt Of the civil war. General Price
OF Texas sent emessaries TO Jumper,
and Jumper and number OF his
officers were made officers in the
Confederate army and assigned fine
sabers and epaulets
At this time John +. Brown, the
brother of Mrs, A. h. Davis, the pres
ent chief was a young man and took
q decided stand against Jumpers at
titudr; advancing the theory that II
the ScmLuolos took up arms against
the United States government, they
would violate the treaties entered in
to between the Two nations, and the
lands which had been given to them
would without doubt, be taken away.
This stand OF John Browns took
wen with the young men Of the tribe
and quite party stood at the back
Of John Brown. Jumper acted with
firmncss. Brown was arrested and
! tIdtb, anu dlUlDot lbSl ms me- bVl
some of the older members OF the
! tribe intervened, and he was finally
sent under guard to General Price in
| Texas. Many OF the young men,
| however, who had enlisted under the
/ theory of John Brown made their cs-
cape to the northern forces. 1t de-
/ |veloped that the Seminole tribe was
almost equally divided. Those who
went with the north moved their
| families To near Leroy, KAN where
| they stayed during the duration Of
| the war. John Chupco. was elected
| the chief Of the northern adherants.
| and after the cessation OF hostilities
| he together with John Jumper.
served the Seminoles as chiefs or
/ that tribe.
John +. Brown was the son-in-law
Of Jumper, and it was probably this
fact which saved his life when ar
rested by Jumper for his rcsstence
to Jumpers decision to Join the
south.
Soon after the war; and after the
/ tribal matters had become once
again more or less settled, John +.
| Brown, was elected principal chief
of the SeminOles and served in that
| capacity for more than thirty years.
He was recognized among the gov
ernmeut officials as one of the great
est Indian chiefta.ns who ever repre-
sented any Of the Indian tribes.
| Governor Brown died in October,
/ 1919.
Mrs. Alice t. Davis, the mother OF
/ II children, and a woman of 20 years
/ Of age was nominated by the presi
dent to be the chief of this once
great Indian tribe. Was later duly