Biographies of Isaac and Samuel Garvin
Submitted by Nick Cimino

ISAAC GARVIN
Chronicles of Oklahoma Vol. 17, 1939 p. 202
A Story of Choctaw Chiefs by Peter James Hudson-
In 1878 Isaac Garvin was elected Principal Chief of Choctaw Nation but he died in February 1880. His father was Henry Garvin, white man. I do not know where Isaac Garvin was educated. He was born in Mississippi and emigrated to Indian Territory, locating in Red River County for several years; Supreme Judge for several years.
He was buried at his home place and a monument is standing to mark his grave. I do not know who his first wife was but his second wife was Melvina, daughter of Capt. Miashambi, and sister of Peter J. Hudson's mother.
Peter J. Hudson tells about Isaac Garvin coming to his father's house when he was just a little child. The father and mother were both out when he arrived and as the children didn't know who he was and he looked so much like a white man, on Mr. Hudson's sisters said in Choctaw "No count white man come to our country." They felt very much ashamed when they found he was a Choctaw and knew what had been said.
By his second wife, Isaac Garvin had one daughter, Francis, who married a man by name of Dr. Shi. They emigrated to Chickasaw Nation with Isaac Garvin's widow and have all died out with exception of one son, Isaac Garvin Shi now living in Chickasaw Nation.

Billie
Isaac Garvin
I saw your post to Indian Terr. Roots L. I am very interested in Isaac Garvin. We have just started researching my husband's family. Family lore has it that my husband's grandmother , Melvina Carnes who married John Goode , is related to Isaac Garvin. I don't know just how. Did you see any Carnes/Karnes surnames in the Chronicles ? On a Choctaw Census, her parents are listed as John and Lizzie Carnes of Boktukle.I THINK Lizzie and Isaac's mother were supposed to be sisters. Boktukle is in McCurtain Co., Okla. . My father-in-law was Willie F Goode and he was born at Matoy , Ok. in 1898. Melvina and John lived around Caddo, Ok.

D JONES djones113@juno.com
I would like to know who Chief Isaac Garvin's mother is? Also if you happen to know who are his brothers & sisters? I was told that we are indirectly related to him. The following is how: My great grandmother was Melvania Carnes her mother was Lizzie Carnes. Lizzie Carnes is suppose to be either the 1/2 sister or sister to Isaac Garvin.
Melvania always referred to him as Uncle. Chief Garvin had the dragoon run off Melvania's 1st husband Killingsworth (don't know his 1st name) clear out of the State of OK. Said if he ever came back that he would be killed. All I need is some proof that Lizzie was Isaac's sister. We have some information on Isaac's father. I will be glad to share what ever we have.
Isaac Garvin & Henry Garvin.
Isaac Garvin is buried in Waterhole Cemetery in McCurtain County. Part of the description is cut off so I will leave ______ where there was more words.
The waterhole Cemetery is located about _____ miles south of Garvin. this burial ground dates from the-----s just after the arrival of the Choctaws.   The Washington and _____e families of Choctaws were associated with this site __ally but it later became one of the first community-type cemeteries in the county area. It was used as a burial place for ____ers of all races. Among those buried here are Louis LeFlore, _____e L. Washington, James Wood Kirk and Leslie Teel.   Across the road from the cemetery is the Waterhole Indian Methodist Church which also dates from the earliest days of the Choctaw presence in the area.
There are 2 pictures below 1. Waterhole Cemetery south of Garvin. 2. Waterhole Indian methodist Church.
Name Born Died Sayings
Emma Garvin 7/2/1872 7/20/1876 Dau of E. L. & Melvina
Isaac L. Garvin 4/27/1832 2/20/1880 verse on headstone
Isaac Levi Chief Principal Chief of Choctaws, 1878-1880
James H. Garvin 10/31/1858 11/15/1878 Son of I. L. & Melina
Maggie Garvin 9/16/1870 10/31/1880 Dau of Isaac L. &
Melvina
Mary Jane Garvin 5/31/1861 10/24/1885 Dau of I. L. & Melvina
Sarah M. Garvin 11/2/1867 8/11/1885 Dau of Isaac & Melvina
In the same cemetery is
Martha K. Carnes 1/13/1879 10/14/1880 Dau of Melvina Carnes
Melvina Carnes is Donna's Great Grandmother. This helps establish a relationship between Carnes & Garvin. from Norma Jones her mother

SAMUEL J. GARVIN. [CHOCTAW]
Leaders and Leading Men of the Indian Territory, 1891--- Samuel was born in Kentucky in 1844; emigrated to Fort Arbuska [Arbuckle?], Chickasaw Nation, in 1866 and commenced the business of stock raising which he has pursued ever since. In 1873 Mr. Garvin moved to Little Washita near the Comanche line, and held his large herd in the neighborhood of these Indians, who, however, were peacefully disposed except on one occasion in 1874, when he was obliged to move his family and send them east, owing to an outbreak among the wild tribes.
In 1884 the subject of this sketch came to Whitebead, and in 1889 purchased James Renne's interest in the mercantile business in that town--shortly afterward opening branch houses at Beef Creek and Peola. Besides this he has two thousand acres of land under cultivation and forty-five renters. Recently he has been disposing of his large herd of cattle, but has still twenty-five hundred head bearing his well-known brand. In 1869 Mr. Garvin married Susan, daughter of Mr. Muncrief, and thus became a citizen of the country. His residence at Whitebead is one of the handsomest in that part of the Territory. More on Samuel Garvin & Mrs. Garvin.

GEORGE H. SHIRK
The Chronicles of Oklahoma Vol. 26 No. 2 and Vol. 27 No. 3---
Samuel J. Garvin for whom Garvin County was named was a native of Kentucky. He came to Fort Arbuckle soon after the Civil War period, and married a Choctaw girl, the daughter of Sam Muncrief who was a well known cattleman living in this vicinity in the Chickasaw Nation. In 1889, Mr. Garvin purchased the mercantile interests of James Rennie at White Bead Hill, and soon afterward established branch trading stores at Paoli and Beef Creek (present Maysville, Garvin County). Mr. James Rennie had been appointed postmaster at White Bead Hill when this post office was reopened on January 15, 1877, having been closed for a month. The first post office at White Bead Hill had been established on May 5, 1876, with Albert Smith as postmaster; the name of the post office was changed to White Bead on April 26, 1895.

Submitted by Nick Cimino