| Land Copy 36113-1902 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS WASHINGTON, AUGUST 9th 1902 The Honorable, The Secretary of the Interior. Sir:- I have the honor to transmit herewith the record and proceedings had before the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes in the con- solidated Mississippi Choctaw case of Benjamin F. Davis at al. The following cases are consolidated therein: Benjamin F. Davis Alice Edwards Davis V. Edwards Isham Edwards Eliza Edwards Benjamin F. Davis Paul Sanderford Mattie Niblett Henry E. Davis James E. Davis George S. Davis John T. Sanderford Robert M. Davis Susan M. McLauchlin Melissa J. McLauchlin |
| ---2--- Rena L. Mosely Bettie Willingham Mary J. Looney Charley Davis John K. Davis Melinda Williams Matilda E. Ferguson Ada A Norris Delila Dixon The record shows that on June 12, 1902, Benjamin F. Davis, one of the principal applicants, testified to substance before the Com- mission that he was 64 years old; that he had resided in the State of Texas for about 20 years; that he was born and raised in the State of Mississippi; that his father was Paul Davis and his mother Eunice Davis; that he claims his Choctaw blood through his said father who, he avers, was a 1/4 blood Choctaw and that his ancestor who resided in the old Choctaw Nation in Mississippi and Alabama was his grandfather Daniel Davis; that he did not go west from 1833 to 1838; that he guesses he signified his intention to the United States Agent to remain in Mississippi and become a citizen of the United States, but don't know, and alleges that his ancestor never received any land in Mississippi underr the 14th Article of the treaty of 1830. A note by the Commission avers that the applicant has the appearance of a white man. The, affidavit of Susie Lord is filed by said applicant and she |
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| --3-- avers that she is 73 years old and has lived in the State of Mississ- ippi all her life, that she has know the claimed all his life, also his father, Paul Davis, and his grandfather Daniel Davis. Affiant T. M Parkman alleges the same facts in substance as the same Susie Lord. The next principal applicant, Alice Edwards testifies that her father, James Edwards is a white man, that her mother, Eliza Edwards is of Choctaw blood and a daughter of Paul Davis who was a son of Daniel Davis, and avers that she reckons he was her ancestor who re-sided in Mississippi at the time of the treaty of 1830. There seems to be no other material facts testified to by this claimant. The affidavit of Daniel Keen, T.M. Parkman, and the joint affidavits of J.M. Phillips, Daniel Keen, T.M. Parkman and Susan Lord are all filed in support of claimants application and only attempt to show that the claiment is a descendant of Paul and Daniel Davis whom affiants claim were part Choctaw by birth. The next principal applicants, David V. Edwards and Isham Edward are shown to be children of said Eliza Edwards and submit the same evidence as their sister the said Alice Edwards. Eliza Edwwards is the next principal applicant and she testifies she is __ years old; that she has always lived in Mississippi, that Paul Davis is her father, that he was __ years old when he died in 1876, that his father died before the Indians went west, that his said father was living in Mississippi; when the treaty was made, that he never got any land under said treaty to her knowledge; that he owned land but bought it from a Mr. McGee. Susie Lord, Daniel |
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| One by one I see your faces as you walk through my sleep. Men and women, boys and girls walk a trail, long and steep. As you pass you look at me with sad faces and eyes that cry. From your faces the color is gone. I don't see a face that's dry. For many moons you have come time and again during the night. It's always the same when you come, always dark, never in the light. Sometimes you are many, and sometimes only a few. You are telling me secrets. I don't know what to do. You started visiting my dreams the day I found this arrow head. I worked very hard that day and you came after I went to bed. Who am I that you should come to me during the night as I try to sleep? Why have you come to me and into my dreams quietly creep? Am I supposed to be someone who can heal your hurts and dry your tears? What can I do to soothe your pain after all these many long years? You seem to know more about me than I know about myself today. Am I supposed to work magic and make your pain go away? Now in my waking moments of time I write about your visits to me to tell others about you and the things you want me to see. Your sad faces I see and feel in my heart your pain. Many times you came before. I know you will come again. In that sweet by and by after the end of my years I will see you face to face. No more Trail of Tears. |