MILLER APPLICATION # 47

JAMES S. (Spoon) STAPLER

Cherokee Co., Tahlequah, Oklahoma

b. September 27, 1856

ADMITTED. Claimant was born in 1856 and claims his Indian blood through his mother. Mother and her parents enrolled in 1851 by Drennen, Saline District, Group # 530

Commissioner of Indian Affairs

Washington, D. C.

Sir:

I hereby make application for such share as me be due me of the fund appropriated by the Act of Congress approved June 30, 1906, in accordance with the decrees of the Court of Claims of May 18, 1905, and May 28, 1906, in favor of the Eastern Cherokees. The evidence of identity is herewith subjoined.

1. State Full Name:

English Name- James S. Stapler

Indian Name- Tee-tee-stoo-ti (Or Spoon)

2. Residence- Tahlequah

3.. Town and Post Office- Tahlequah

4.. County- Cherokee Nation

5.. State- Indian Territory

6.. Date and Place of Birth-September 27, 1856, Tahlequah, Indian Territory

7.. By what right do you claim to share? If you claim through more than one relative living in 1851, set forth each claim separately:

Mother- Louisa Jane Stapler nee Hicks *( Drennen Roll-Group # 530-Saline District as Louisa Jane Hicks)

Uncle- Charles Hicks *( Charles Renatus Hicks)

Grandmother- Margaret Hicks *(nee Ross)

Grandfather- Elijah Hicks *(Drennen Roll- Group # 530-Saline District as Elijah Hicks-HH)

8.. Are you married? No- Widower

9.. Name and age of wife or husband- BLANK

10.. Give names of your father and mother, and your mother's name before marriage-

Father- English name- John W. Stapler

Indian name- He was not an Indian

Mother- English name- Louisa Jane Stapler

Indian name- Don't know

Maiden name- Louisa Jane Hicks

11.. Where were they born? Father- Wilmington, Delaware; Mother- Cherokee Nation (East Mississippi state Tennessee)

12.. Where did they reside in 1851, if living at that time

Father- Wilmington, Delaware

Mother- Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory

13.. Date of death of your father and mother? Father- 1887 Mother- 1896

14.. Were they ever enrolled for annuities, land, or other benefits? If so, state when and where- Mother enrolled in the Cherokee Nation

15.. Name all your brothers and sisters, giving ages, and if not living, give date of death-

Mary S. Stapler b. d. January 18, 1881

John B. Stapler b. May 22, 1860 d.

Maggie D. Stapler b. d. July 18, 1883

16.. State English and Indian name of your grandparents on both father's and mother's side, if possible-

FATHER'S SIDE- Father was not an Indian

MOTHER'S SIDE- Margaret Hicks and Elijah Hicks

17.. Where were they born? BLANK

18.. Where did they reside in 1851, if living at that time? Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory

19.. Give names of all their children, and residence, if living; if not living, give dates of deaths

1.. English name- Louisa Jane Hicks (mother)*; Indian name-Don't know; Residence-Deceased 1896

2.. English name- Sonora Hicks (uncle, mother's brother)*; Indian name- Don't know; Residence- Deceased 1906

3.. English name-John Hicks (uncle, mother's brother)*; Indian name- Don't know; Residence- Deceased

4.. English name- Charles Hicks *(uncle, mother's brother); Indian name-Don't know; Residence- Deceased

5.. English name-Daniel Hicks *(uncle, mother's brother); Indian name- Don't know; Residence- Deceased

6.. English name- Victoria Hicks *(aunt, mother's sister); Indian name- ; Residence- Deceased

7.. English name- Mary A. Hicks *(aunt, mother's sister-MA # 5045); Indian names- ; Residence- Claremore, Indian Territory

3.. Have you ever been enrolled for annuities, land, or other benefits? If so, state when and where-

Yes, Various payments at Tahlequah, Indian Territory.

21. To expedite identification, claimant should give the full English and Indian names, if possible, of their

paternal and maternal ancestors back to 1835.

REMARKS

(Under this head the applicant may give additional information that he believes will assist in proving his claim).

Note: Answers should be brief but explicit: the words 'yes' , 'no', and 'unknown' may be used in cases where applicable. Read the questions carefully.

I solemnly swear that the foregoing statements made by me are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signed:

Subscribed and sworn to before me this

Signed:

Notary Public

AFFIDAVIT

(The following affidavit must be sworn to by two or more witnesses who are well acquainted with the applicant.)

Personally appeared before me , who being duly sworn, on oath depose and say that they are well acquainted with , who makes the foregoing application and statements, and have known for years and years, respectively, and know to be the identical person represents to be, and that the statements made by are true, to the best of their knowledge and belief, and they have no interest whatever in claim.

Witnesses Signatures:

Subscribed and sworn to before me on this

(Apparently I don't have the last sheet for the application, above.)

Supplemental Application for Minor Children

Special Commissioner of the Court of Claims,

601 Ouray Building, Washington, D. C.

Sirs,

I hereby make application for such share as may be due my minor children of the fund appropriated by the Act of Congress June 30, 1906, in accordance with the decree of the Court of Claims of May 18, 1905, and May 28, 1906, if favor of the Eastern Cherokee, and I ask that this be made part of my original application

No. 47

1.. State your full name: James S. Stapler

2.. Residence and post office: Tahlequah

3.. County:

4.. State: Indian Territory

5.. Date and place of birth: September 27, 1856

6.. Are you married? Widower

7.. Name and age of wife or husband: Lelia W. Stapler (nee Breedlove)

8.. To what tribe of Indians, if any, does he or she belong? Cherokee

9.. Names of all your children who were living on May 28, 1906:

1. Otway H. Stapler 6 years old September 15, 1890

2. John W. Stapler 10 years old July 25, 1897

3. ALSO SEE # 25172 *(Lorena Oklahoma Fleming nee Stapler b. March 26, 1885)

4. ALSO SEE # 25, 172 *(Anna Bryan Stapler b. November 13, 1887)

10.. Where they ever enrolled for money, annuities, land, or other benefits? If so state when and were and with what tribe of Indians. 1904 Commission Five Civilized Tribes

REMARKS

(Under this head the applicant may give any additional facts which will assist in proving his claim.)

I solemnly swear that the foregoing statements made by me are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

James S. Staper (signature)

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 25th day of May 1907.

John M. Bueley(?), Notary Public

AFFIDAVIT

(The following affidavit must be sworn to by two or more witnesses who are well acquainted with the applicant)

Personally appeared before me who, being duly sworn, on oath depose and say that they are well acquainted with , who makes the foregoing application and statement, and have known for years and years, respectively, and know to be the identical person represents to be and that on May 28, 1906, had the children living as above set forth, and that the statements made by are true, and they have no interest whatever in claim.

Witness to Mark: Signatures of Witnesses

Subscribed and sworn to before me this

Notary Public

Drennen Roll Family Group # 530-Saline District

Elijah Hicks

Margarette Hicks

Senora Hicks

Lousia Jane Hicks

Daniel R. Hicks

Charles Hicks

John R. Hicks

Victoria

GROUPED WITH

MA # 25172-Annie B. Stapler (daughter)*

MA # 25173-Lorena O. Stapler (daughter)*

MA # 750-Nannie Parsley nee Hicks (1st cousin)*

MA # 65-John B. Stapler (brother)*

MA # 103-Edward D. Hicks (1st cousin)*

MA # 241-Cora A. Rogers nee Hicks (cousin, m. John Otto Rogers)

MA # 2706-Eugene R. Hicks (cousin)*

MA # 5045-Mary A. McCoy nee Hicks (aunt)*

MA # 23529-Jane S. Harnage nee Hicks (cousin, m. John Griffith Harnage )*

James Spoon Stapler

1880 Cherokee Census # 2021-Tahlequah District as James S. Stapler-23 yrs.

Dawes Roll # 14580, Census Card # 6115

1/16 Cherokee

d. July 9, 1906 b. Tahlequah City Cemetery, Cherokee County, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, along with wife.

*Transcriber notes

Transcribed by Catherine Widener, 2003