Choctaw Biological father for Lem A Alexander
Hello! I'm in search of the name of biological father to Lem Alexander born Apr 15, 1896, in Oklahoma (Quinton or Enterprise); died Feb 23, 1967 in Sacramento, CA. He has no birth certificate in OK Vital Records, but his birth is listed in his Mother's Bible. Lem's father reportedly was a Choctaw Indian. His mother was Minnie L. Patton born Feb 23, 1875, in Oklahoma. I don't know if there was a marriage; if so probably a tribal marriage. Minnie remarried Sidney Watts on Dec 12, 1897, and lists Patton (not Alexander) as her last name on the marriage record. She later married James Ross Smith Jun 11, 1899, and Lem started using the last name of Smith when he registered for WWI. Thanks so much for any help you may provide.
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@RuthSmith67 RuthSmith67
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Ruth
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As an aside ...
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Due to the nature of you 'Question' ...
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I am "Tagging" this 'Question' of yours, in the 'Group' being "United States Genealogy Research", in this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, to another specific 'Group' in the Forum, being "First Nations of North America", in the hope that, the members of those groups may be able to answer/assist you.
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That Group, is "Public", which you can join, if you wish.
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Brett
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@First Nations of North America
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Thank you so much for doing that, Brett. I appreciate the help.
-Ruth
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@RuthSmith67 RuthSmith67 I'm checking into a few rolls to see what turns up. Have you checked any of these already?
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Hello Amber.
No I haven't. I've been focusing on records around 1896 because that's the year of birth for Lem Alexander and I don't know the first name of his biological father. I only know Lem's mother's name (Minnie Lee Patton) and she was born in 1875. Thank you so much for your help.
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If Lem's biological father was native american but was not present in Lem's life there might not be any official records kept. I'm still following a couple of ideas through and will let you know what I find. I do not know for sure if the best way to go about finding his birth father will be through tribal census, but I'm digging deeper.
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@RuthSmith67 RuthSmith67 was Lem serving in the military as a codetalker using the Choctaw language in WW1? That would reverse my previous question regarding whether or not Lem was influenced by his biological father but maybe rather more heavily influenced by the years of pressure for assimilation of the Choctaw Nation.
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US Census 1900: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSRB-77T Lem is listed as a "ward" not a child of Ross and Minnie when he was 4 years old. Also states he was on Creek Territory, not Choctaw. Head of house: Ross Smith, Wife: Minnie Smith. States Father's birthplace was Indian Territory and so was Mother's birthplace. Could Lem have been from the Creek Nation but assimilated into a settler's home?
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Thank you so much.
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Hello Amber. Lem was not a code-talker. He was a machine gunner. I've sent for his military records but of course they've been destroyed (fire or flood). I'm waiting for a compiled file but Covid-19 has slowed things down. I'm not sure how much contact he had with Mr. Alexander. Lem had a Choctaw Nation floral arrangement at his funeral. Also, I've heard he and his son (Lem, Jr. born 1930'ish in OK) submitted paperwork for tribal membership but were denied for lack of evidence. Lem began using the last name of Smith when he registered for WWI and continued until his death.
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That is correct. Minnie is Lem's mother. She married James Ross Smith, June 11, 1899 (previously married Sidney Watts, Dec 12, 1897). James Ross Smith was a member of the Creek tribe and is on the Dawes Rolls, so that's why Lem was in Creek Territory.
Family story is that Minnie took Lem and left the home of Mr. Alexander because Mr. Alexander belonged to a gang (they wore bells on their spurs during a [gun] fight). Story continues that Mr. Alexander was killed by a "drive by" when he was inside a house at a party. There is another story that Mr. Alexander had another wife at the time of Minnie and they did not get along.
The search continues and again, that you for your help.
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