Redbird Smith (1850 - 1918)

Born 19 Jul 1850 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas, United States

Descendants

Died 8 Nov 1918 at age 68 in Oklahoma, United States

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Biography

Redbird was Cherokee.

Redbird was born in 1850 to Pig Redbird Smith and Lizzie Hildebrand.

He married Lucy Fields. They were the parents of Elnora, John, Samuel, Susie, Richard, Thomas, George, Mose, Kiah and Stoke Smith.

He was a founder of the Nighthawk branch of the Keetoowah Society. The Keetoowahs were full-bloods in the Cherokee tribe that separated themselves from the general tribe in an attempt to resist assimilation and better preserve the old traditions. The Nighthawk branch formed as Christian Keetoowah members and those that more closely followed the ancient traditions started to divide. The Nighthawks stayed closer to the traditional ways of the tribe and vehemently opposed the land allotments leading up to Oklahoma's statehood. In 1908, Smith's position as chairman of the Nighthawks was changed to that of an elected Chief. He held this position until his death in 1918.

He is buried at the Redbird Cemetery at Blackgum in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma.

Sources

• Dawes Roll:

Redbird Smith 51 M Full 18097 Cherokee by Blood Card 7682

Lucy Smith 40 F Full 18098 Cherokee by Blood Card 7682

Tom Smith 19 M Full 18099 Cherokee by Blood Card 7682, Note: Married to Sallie Byers listed on Cherokee by Blood Card #8404; See Cherokee by Blood Minor Card #3777

George Smith 17 M Full 18100 Cherokee by Blood Card 7682

Kiah Smith 13 M Full 18101 Cherokee by Blood Card 7682

Stoke Smith 11 M Full 18102 Cherokee by Blood Card 7682

Mose Smith 15 M Full 32523 Cherokee by Blood Card 7682, Note: Transferred from Cherokee Card #D1278; Married to Lucy Smith listed on Cherokee by Blood Card #7750; See Cherokee by Blood Minor Card #3776

• Starr, Emmet, History of the Cherokee Indians and Their Legends and Folklore, reprint by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., originally published 1921, p. 477-483. Book, History of the Cherokee Indians
• Find a Grave, database and images, memorial page for Chief Red Bird Smith (19 Jul 1850–8 Nov 1918), Find A Grave: Memorial #6356242, citing Redbird Cemetery, Blackgum, Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, USA ; Maintained by R Burnett (contributor 47445819) .