Indian Pioneer Papers - Index
Indian Pioneer
History Project for Oklahoma
Date: March 22, 1937
Name:
C.C. (Uncle Bud) Choate
Post Office: McAlester,
Oklahoma
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Father:
Place of Birth:
Information on father:
Mother:
Place of birth:
Information on mother:
Field Worker: John M.
Pearce
William R. CHUNN was a
Light Horseman, an office similar to that of our sheriff now. He ran and
was elected to office by a large majority on the promise he had made that
he would capture an Indian known as Oklahoma who was a bad outlaw. He said,
if he was elected, he would bring Oklahoma in dead or alive.
When elected he deputized
a negro by the name of Alex FLIEPY and an Indian by the name of Dave MISHOMAHTUBBEE
as his two deputies. They started out to find and capture the outlaw. They
captured him and brought him to William R. Chunn’s house which was located
at Perryville, Indian Territory, where the Indians held court at that time.
The Indians had no jail and the prisoner was kept in one room of the officer's
house until everything was ready for trial. While court was getting ready
to start, Oklahoma, the prisoner, pried off a plank in the room where he
was kept and slipped out of the house. Just at this moment Mrs. Chunn,
wife of the officer, noticed the prisoner going west from the house. The
two deputies started after him as he was jumping over the corral fence.
When he started to jump the last fence on the west side, Alex Fliepy shot
and killed Oklahoma. Alex knew if Oklahoma got over this fence and into
the timber he was gone as the timber was very thick and it would be impossible
to trace this man who so at home in the woods.
Comments: Old Uncle Bud
CHOATE was born near Indianola, Oklahoma, about 1861, and is a member of
the Choctaw tribe of Indians. Up until the time he moved to North McAlester
he was very active as a farmer and stockman but he is now too old to be
active. Rheumatism has crippled him so that he is hardly able to walk.
He now draws and Old Age Pension. Despite Uncle Bud's advanced years he
is very kind and still has a very sunny disposition that makes him liked
by everyone who knows him.
Transcribed by PJ
Achramowicz <PJ_Achramowicz@spe.sony.com>
06-1999.