Ned Christie
Encyclopedia
Ned Christie also known as NeDe WaDe (Cherokee), was a Cherokee
statesman. Ned was a member of the executive council (1885) in the Cherokee Nation senate, and served as one of three advisers to Chief Bushyhead. He was notable for holding off US forces after being accused, wrongfully according to testimony in 1918, of murdering a US marshal. This gave him notoriety as an outlaw, and he was eventually killed by US Marshals.
, in the present-day state of Oklahoma
. He was the son of the Removal Era, Trail of Tears
, survivors, Watt and Lydia (Thrower) Christie. They were of the Keetowah band, the most traditional of Cherokee peoples. As a child and young man, Christie was a marble champion, stick ball player and popular fiddle player.
By religion Ned was a member of the Keetoowah
Society. His father, Watt, and grandfather (Lacy Christie), were Chiefs of their ceremonial ground near the family home at Wauhillau (present-day Adair County, Oklahoma
).
In May 1887 a U. S. Marshal Daniel Maples was shot and killed in the Cherokee Nation. Christie was accused of the murder by a companion, John Parris, who was at first arrested for the crime. Parris told authorities that Christie had fired the shot that killed Maples. Friends convinced Christie to hide, but he also appealed to the United States Court of the Western District of Arkansas in Fort Smith
for bail to allow time to prove his innocence. (This court also had oversight over the Indian Territory
.) US Judge Isaac C. Parker did not believe he could comply with the request. Parker's sensational cases and record of executions dominate the period's history, although he also worked to rehabilitate offenders, reform the criminal justice system, and advocate the rights of the Indian nations in the territory.
Fearing a trial before white people in a U. S. court, Christie fortified his home to resist arrest. He began a stand-off with the U. S. that would last almost five years. He was advertised as an outlaw "wanted, dead or alive." In an attack in 1889, lawmen burned his house to the ground, but Christie escaped with friends, although he was wounded by a gunshot. Christie never went to trial.
In 1891 marshals served another warrant for Christie's arrest. He had moved to a more isolated area away from Tahlequah, and built a fortified house at Wauhillau. Today it is often referred to as Ned's Fort. The "fort" was a double log-thick home with sand poured between the logs. He made openings only large enough to see from and put a rifle through.
In 1892, Christie was killed by a posse of lawmen, who attacked his fort with cannon and dynamite. He was shot and killed while running toward the posse. They tied his body to a cellar door for transport by train to Fayetteville, Arkansas
. There lawmen had themselves photographed with Christie's body as a trophy of their capturing the "notorious outlaw" who had held off the government for years. Then they transported the body by train to Fort Smith, Arkansas
to gain their reward. Again people had their pictures taken next to Christie's body. The Cook photography studio took a photo to reproduce and sell as postcards. Christie's body was released by authorities to his family, who took it to Wauhillau for burial.
In 1918, a man named Dick Humphreys came forward to authorities and stated he had seen the killing of the marshal Maples. He said that Christie didn't shoot him; but that a man named Bud Trainer did. Christie was cleared at last. Christie's opposition to railroad development in Indian Territory made him many powerful enemies. Some researchers believe that this may have contributed to him being falsely accused of the murder of Maples.
, the oldest public building in the state. The memorial reads that he was "assassinated by U. S. Marshals in 1892." The Fort Smith Historical Site also has material recognizing Christie's assassination.
Many articles about Christie were published in newspapers and western magazines, as his story captured people's imaginations. Christie was also the subject of novels, such as Zeke and Ned by Larry McMurtry
and Diana Osana and Ned Christie's War by Robert Conley. Several non-fiction books have been written, including He Was a Brave Man by Lisa LaRue. Christie's great-great-nephew Roy J. Hamilton wrote a non-fiction account of his life, titled Ned Christie: Cherokee Warrior.
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
statesman. Ned was a member of the executive council (1885) in the Cherokee Nation senate, and served as one of three advisers to Chief Bushyhead. He was notable for holding off US forces after being accused, wrongfully according to testimony in 1918, of murdering a US marshal. This gave him notoriety as an outlaw, and he was eventually killed by US Marshals.
Early life
Christie was born at Wauhillau (located at 35.85550 °N 94.77426°W), Going Snake District, Cherokee NationCherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It was established in the 20th century, and includes people descended from members of the old Cherokee Nation who relocated voluntarily from the Southeast to Indian Territory and Cherokees who...
, in the present-day state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. He was the son of the Removal Era, Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830...
, survivors, Watt and Lydia (Thrower) Christie. They were of the Keetowah band, the most traditional of Cherokee peoples. As a child and young man, Christie was a marble champion, stick ball player and popular fiddle player.
Marriage and family
He was married first to Nannie Dick (about 1871). Next he married Peggy Tucker (1875). Third he married Jennie Scraper (about 1877). Fourth he married Nancy Greece (about 1888).By religion Ned was a member of the Keetoowah
Keetoowah
The Cherokee believe the ancient settlement of Kituwa or giduwa , on the Tuckasegee River is their original settlement and is one of the "seven mother towns" in the Southeast...
Society. His father, Watt, and grandfather (Lacy Christie), were Chiefs of their ceremonial ground near the family home at Wauhillau (present-day Adair County, Oklahoma
Adair County, Oklahoma
Adair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 22,638. Its county seat is Stilwell. Adair County was named after the Adair family of the Cherokee tribe.-History:...
).
Work and alleged murder
Christie was a big man at 6'4", and became a blacksmith and gunsmith. In 1885 he was elected to the tribal Senate.In May 1887 a U. S. Marshal Daniel Maples was shot and killed in the Cherokee Nation. Christie was accused of the murder by a companion, John Parris, who was at first arrested for the crime. Parris told authorities that Christie had fired the shot that killed Maples. Friends convinced Christie to hide, but he also appealed to the United States Court of the Western District of Arkansas in Fort Smith
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
for bail to allow time to prove his innocence. (This court also had oversight over the Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
.) US Judge Isaac C. Parker did not believe he could comply with the request. Parker's sensational cases and record of executions dominate the period's history, although he also worked to rehabilitate offenders, reform the criminal justice system, and advocate the rights of the Indian nations in the territory.
Fearing a trial before white people in a U. S. court, Christie fortified his home to resist arrest. He began a stand-off with the U. S. that would last almost five years. He was advertised as an outlaw "wanted, dead or alive." In an attack in 1889, lawmen burned his house to the ground, but Christie escaped with friends, although he was wounded by a gunshot. Christie never went to trial.
In 1891 marshals served another warrant for Christie's arrest. He had moved to a more isolated area away from Tahlequah, and built a fortified house at Wauhillau. Today it is often referred to as Ned's Fort. The "fort" was a double log-thick home with sand poured between the logs. He made openings only large enough to see from and put a rifle through.
In 1892, Christie was killed by a posse of lawmen, who attacked his fort with cannon and dynamite. He was shot and killed while running toward the posse. They tied his body to a cellar door for transport by train to Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
. There lawmen had themselves photographed with Christie's body as a trophy of their capturing the "notorious outlaw" who had held off the government for years. Then they transported the body by train to Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
to gain their reward. Again people had their pictures taken next to Christie's body. The Cook photography studio took a photo to reproduce and sell as postcards. Christie's body was released by authorities to his family, who took it to Wauhillau for burial.
In 1918, a man named Dick Humphreys came forward to authorities and stated he had seen the killing of the marshal Maples. He said that Christie didn't shoot him; but that a man named Bud Trainer did. Christie was cleared at last. Christie's opposition to railroad development in Indian Territory made him many powerful enemies. Some researchers believe that this may have contributed to him being falsely accused of the murder of Maples.
Legacy and honors
Today Christie is honored by a plaque at the Cherokee Court House in Tahlequah, OklahomaTahlequah, Oklahoma
Tahlequah is a city in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States located at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It was founded as a capital of the original Cherokee Nation in 1838 to welcome those Cherokee forced west on the Trail of Tears. The city's population was 15,753 at the 2010 census. It...
, the oldest public building in the state. The memorial reads that he was "assassinated by U. S. Marshals in 1892." The Fort Smith Historical Site also has material recognizing Christie's assassination.
Many articles about Christie were published in newspapers and western magazines, as his story captured people's imaginations. Christie was also the subject of novels, such as Zeke and Ned by Larry McMurtry
Larry McMurtry
Larry Jeff McMurtry is an American novelist, essayist, bookseller and screenwriter whose work is predominantly set in either the old West or in contemporary Texas...
and Diana Osana and Ned Christie's War by Robert Conley. Several non-fiction books have been written, including He Was a Brave Man by Lisa LaRue. Christie's great-great-nephew Roy J. Hamilton wrote a non-fiction account of his life, titled Ned Christie: Cherokee Warrior.