Cathy, I don't know about your folks, however let me say that what is Haskell County, Oklahoma now, was before Nov. 1907 San Bois County, Choctaw Nation. The Choctaw Nation was not considered to be a reservation but a distinct nation in Indian Territory. Cultural differences of the Choctaw people allowed more freedom in marriage and divorce than the Choctaw Nation allowed between whites and Choctaws. It was not uncommon for a Choctaw to be married and divorced several times in their lives. The marriage between a white and a Choctaw was different and a lisence could cost as much as $200 (a sizable sum in those days), and since the white was generally male, he must live in Choctaw Nation for a period of time and be recognized by his neighbors as a good man, (generally three witnesses, sometimes more). One good book on the subject is "The social History of the Choctaw Nation: 1865-1907 by James D. Morrison, published by and available thru the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Durant, Oklahoma. It appears to me that Meeks lived across the northern end of San Bois County and North west Skullyville County, Choctaw Nation. W.H. Meeks was around Shake Rag, (Bokoshe) early on. Doug Cathy in Oregon wrote: > I also would be interested in knowing some of the customs of the Indians in > this time period, in Ok and Ark.... > > In my family there is also a story of my great grandparents marriage. I have > been told by some on the lists it just is not true... but with two different > aunts telling me this, it sure makes me wonder if things went on back then, > that we just do not really know about, today. > > I have read info that is called history that has happened in my life time > and said to my self.. this just is not true.. it is not the way it > happened.. So wonder if that was also possible for then also? I really think > it is highly possible. > > The best I can figure my g-grandparents, James Franklin Coffman and Mary > Meeks were married in about 1892. Either in Ar. or Ok. Think probably in > Haskel Co. Oklahoma.. No record found of this marriage. The story I am told > by both Aunts, was identical... Grandpa Coffman, got Mary off the Indian > reservation. The custom was > when you marry one daughter and there is an older one unmarried, you get > both.. Well he apparently did not want both.. The older daughter followed > the wagon to the river (what river??) then she would not cross it so she > went back... > > Then another reference to the Indian reservation by my one now living > Aunt... After my grandma and her brother was born.. James and Mary was going > to move back to the reservation where her family was living. They were on > horse back. The kids were crying and carrying on so much that they turned > around and went back, home. They had been living all this time with James' > parents, in Brooken, Haskel, Oklahoma. > > Any one know any history that might match up with these stories? Also family > says we are Cherokee Indian. The only ancestor in my family that I can find > that might be Indian at all, would have been Mary. Since I am unable to find > out any info on her or her parents... I have no proof either way. > > Mary died when grandma was about 6 month old. So by that she would have died > in the summer of 1896. > > Any help on this would sure be appreciated... Thank you... Cathy > Joanne Potter wrote: > It would be very interesting if someone would explain the marriage > and divorce customs of the Indians of the various tribes. I am mainly > interested in the tribes in Arkansas and Oklahoma for the years of about > 1880 through 1920.