Anyone have any info on an Oberton Keel who, supposedly, was a black Chickasaw Indian Sheriff? I have found a photo identified as such.


Thanks,
Judy

Can you tell me what year, or approximate years? There was an "Overton" Keel who was once a sheriff....
Moreover, I doubt there was a black sheriff as Chickasaw freedmen were not recognized by the tribe as citizens and only citizens by blood or adoption were able to run for public office

No, I'm sorry, that's all the info I have. The photo is of a black man in a vest with a badge...and states that it is " Oberton Keel, Black Chickasaw Sheriff".

What information do you have on the "Overton" Keel? With such an unusual name, it has to be him wouldn't you think? The heritage may be in error, but the name is so close.

Thanks,
Judy.

Overton Keel could have had African ancestry. Many of the Five Civilized Tribes members had African ancestry and they were not notated as being Freedmen but members of the fullblood. Most of the time this was notated by the female ancestry. Many members of the Five Tribes had mixed with Africans before Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal policy in the !840s. This would include not only the Creek and Seminole, but also the Choctaw and Chickasaw. So it would not be unusual for Overton Keel to have African ancestry. After the removal to the Indian Territory, many of the Indians would not admit to their African ancestry, even though you could see it in images, but claimed their fullblood status. I would love to see this image of Overton Keel.

Just for a point of reference before the removal to the west, many of the mixed-blood indians in the Creek Nation who had African slaves also were of African heritage. Only in America.