Help in general

[ericatiff]

I came across this site while searching for ancestors. I was told by one of my elders that her grandfather and grandmother were part of the Chickasaw tribe in Ada Oklahoma. Grandfathers name is Tobe/ Tobias Bailey and grandmothers name is Connie(last name unsure of) (possibly) Fontain. I was told both were born in the 1880's and Connie died early in life after her third child was born. They had all girls, Vera Cordie, Verba Claudie and Velma Goldy(my great grandma). The daughters may have gone by the middle names. Tobias remarried a lady named Pearl and had 3-4 more children. I do not know much about them as I just recently was given possible names and was able to find a little information about them. Any information as to where I could start looking, what areas, websites, library's or basically any direction I could get would be helpful. I am very excited. This is the only information I have received about my grandma's side of the family. I am interested in what life was like, occupations, area they lived in and if any historical photos or maps of the area may be available to view. I have been slowly piecing my family history together for my children. I want them to know where our family came from and what life was like at the time.

I did find they lived(as listed in US Census)

1910 Chickasaw Pontotoc Oklahoma
1920 in Maxwell Pontotoc Oklahoma

Thank you in advance for any direction anyone may be able to provide,
Erica

[hermin1]

Erica: I found that Tobias J. was enrolled in the Choctaw tribe at the age of 10 yrs.his card No. was 5686
He was enrolled by blood quantum. his blood quantum was 1/32. His father was I.B. bailey, and it appears that his mother was Nancy J. Bailey. she remarried to John Stewart.
Tobias's siblings were Ida I. Bailey age 35 yrs 1/16 lood quantum, and viola Bailey age 4, 1/16 blood quantum.
I am guessing that his first wife Connie L. Bailey may have been enrolled with the Chickasaws, which would explain your finding him with her and their children in the Chickasaw tribe.
www.accessgenealogy.com has a lot of information on the various Indian tribes. they also have free indian censuses for the tribes from 1885 -1940.the info is under the link native American genealogy.
You can also do a search by typing into your search box, History of the Chickasaw Indians, and also try History of the Choctaw Indians.

[ericatiff]

Thank You So Much!!!! I have been looking all weekend!
I did find Connie L, her full name is Connie Lee Partain. She was born in Oklahoma but I have not found much else about her, yet, I am still looking. Connie and Tobias married October 30th 1904 according to US census. I did not find them in the Native America Census(I will be double checking). I also did not find Tobias or his parents(double check also). I will continue my journey and find as much information as I can. I do not know much about blood quantum as I just started investigation this part of my history. Can you explain what this is and it's importance in my family history. I gather it is a measurement of blood but other than that I am unaware. You stated above that Tobias was enrolled in the Choctaw Tribe, is this information available online or is their a way for me to access information? A phone number, e-mail or website? I would love to have documentation. I am putting together family history books of each Surname with all the information I acquire. So far I have 8 binders, now 9. It is amazing what you can learn about family history. I have family from all over the world and feel so privileged to learn about their lives. I have cried while reading parts of our history. Thank you so much again for writing me back. This means a lot to me.
Erica

[hermin1]

Erica: I will try to explain blood quantum as simply as I can.
We humans each have a given number of chromosomes,46.when a child is conceived,it receives 1/2 of the chromosomes, including genetic markers that determine race)from each of his parents.
Thus you have 46 chromosomes, 23 from your mother, 23 from your father.
Now if both parents are non-Indian, then they don't have the markers that are designated for native American,and thus are are considered a full blood non-Indian.
A full blooded Cherokee, for example, has all the markers for Cherokee Indian in his blood that he got from his parents who are each, also full blooded Cherokee.
Now ,if one of t6he parents is a Cherokee, while the other is non-Indian, then their offspring ,will inherit 1/2 of the genetic markers for Cherokee from the one parent, and 1/2 the genetic markers for non-Cherokee, or non-Indian from the non-Indian parent.
the offspring's blood quantum for Cherokee would be 1/2, and for non-Indian, 1/2. The offspring are thus considered to be Mixed Bloods or half bloods.
let's say the one of the offspring marries a full blooded Cherokee, or a full blood non-cherokee. The offspring would be 3/4 Cherokee, 1/4 Non-Cherokee, because he/she got 1/4 of the Cherokee markers, and one-fourth of the non-Cherokee markers of his parents, which equals 1/2, and the child would get 1/2 of the Full Blood Cherokee markers from the other parent(full blood Cherokee).The result is 1/4 plus 1/2 = 3/4 Cherokee, and 1/4 mom-Cherokee. with each succeeding generation,the Genetic markers will either be diluted out(if the offspring marry non-Cherokee) or will increase should the offspring marry persons with Cherokee blood markers.
the native American blood quantum that a person has will determine if they are eligible for enrollment in one of the various Indian tribes. Most of them require that the person have 1/4 of the blood quantum for that particular tribe. A few of the other tribes, for example, the Yankton Sioux will accept a person whose blood quantum includes Yankton blood quantum plus the quantum from another Sioux tribe, which adds up to 1/4.
Tobias was accepted by the Choctaws because he met the minimum quantum they required for enrollment.
I will send you the copy of the record showing his enrollment by Email.
In return you need to send me the copy of the records for his marriage(s),and where you found the information on his first wife Connie Partain.This will help me to help you with your search.

[hermin1]

rica: I was able to find the dates of both marriages, so you need not send them to me. I also found the birth and death dates for his first wife Connie.
I found a great deal of information that I need to organize,before I send them to you by email. so please check your Email, as I have sent you some records.