I have been researching my Martin and Melton line of Izard CO AR and Cherokee, CO, OK. I have received a Dawes Application Denial for my Great-grandmother. The information in this packet is very helpful and has opened new questions, Malinda Martin gave the following information in her notorized statement to the commission. Malinda E. Howard Petitioner states that she is part Cherokee Indian by blood and was born and raised in the present Cherokee nation as a citizen and ask to be enrolled and recognized as a member thereof, and that the grounds for such claim for such claim states as follows: I was born on Lees creek in the Cherokee Nation, Indian territory in or about 1851 or 1856. Our family bible was destroyed and I am not exactly sure of the birth date. My father James Martin who was a recognized Cherokee Indian and member of the nation at the time of my birth and a resident of the said nation, My mother was a white women married to James Martin my father and we lived there on Lee's creek in the Cherokee Nation. My father died when I was very small, just a child. My mother's name was Melton before she was married to my father. We lived on Lee's Creek until the war and owing to the troubles of that time went north. My Mother also died before the war and I was very small, when she died. Both my parents died around the same time. or not far apart. My brother Noah Martin took me north with his family at the beginning of the war in 1961. We lived in Rollo, MO, during the war and at its close returned to the Indian territory in March 1866. In June of 1869, I was married according to the laws of the Cherokee Nation to William Hurt a white man. in the Saline District in the Cherokee Nation. I have always been recognized as a member of the Cherokee Nation and my first husband Hurt and myself were married according to that law and in compliance with its provisions in order to confer citizenship upon him. After Hurt and petitioner were married they lived in the Cherokee Nation as recognized citizens until Hurt's death in 1872. We owned farms. One on Gilstraps ferry and one on cabin creek, My husband ran a blacksmith shop at Gilstraps ferry and also owned the ferry boat for about 2 years. No one ever questioned our right or could they do so as citizens of the nation. A full blooded Cherokee preacher by the name of Shinning Frog note (I am unable to read this name clearly.) It looks like this name? performed the marriage ceremony for my first husband and myself at his home in the Saline District. I was married to my present husband H.C. Howard in 1874 and he was also a white man. We were married at Seneca, MO in 1874. My present husband was engaged in the patent right business and traveled a great deal and took me with him from place to place. After petitioners last marriage she was out of the territory a considerable portion of the time until 1890 when she with her husband has since constantantly resided in the Cherokee nation. A part of the time the petitioner was out absent from the territory was on account of the sickness and old age of the mother of said H.C. Howard who desired petitioner to stay with her in MO and part of the time on account of business and part of the time for health but petitioner at no time ever comptemplated making her permanent home out of the territory, but always considered the Cherokee nation as her home. My family consists of the following named persons. My husband H.C. Howard age 40 William Scott Hurt age 20 Lora Susan Howard age 21 Sam Howard age 19 Nola Howard age 16 John Howard age 15 Howard age 14 Eddie Howard age 11 Mabel Howard age 9 I have also three grandchildren. The mother of one of them is dead. Her mother was my daughter and the child's name is Arita Jackson age 13. The other two grandchildren are the children of my daughter Lora Susan married to Fate Todd. And living in Muskogee. I.T. Myrtle Todd age 3 Vira Todd abt 15 months. My present post office is Wagoner IND. TER. Petitioner therefore asks that she and the above named children be enrolled and recognized as citizens of the Cherokee Nation and petitioner will pray for ever. Malinda Howard 1890 Two more signed affidavits are with this application. I feel that these are of interest. I will not post the affidavits unless someone wants them. 2nd affidavit attached to Malinda's. C.L Martin son of Ezekial Martin son of Hunting Jim Martin member of the old Cherokee Nation in TN. I do not know what the connection is other then he is filing with her and somehow James Martin and this Hunting Jim Martin tie together. James Martin was born in VA though. I have C.L Martin's wife and children and some data on Ezekial. Sandra Howard