Hi, I am new to the forum and just want to say how much I enjoy reading all the wonderful information on here!
I have a question for you guys: Is there any record of who the Indian Police were in Oklahoma during the late 1800's/early 1900's? [In the area of Osage/Pawnee Counties]
The reason I ask is because a few years ago I did some metal detecting around an old foundation. Some neat things were found including a uniform button from the Indian Police('God Helps Those Who Help Themselves' on the front and 'U.S. Indian Department' on the back), as well as a trigger guard from a Colt(?) pistol serial numbers '124414' and part of a set of handcuffs.
I have tried searching online to find a list of the Indian Police but found nothing. Were the Indian Police actually Indians(Native Americans)? or were they white men?
Thanks for any info. you might have!
PawuskaPrairieChicken

There's never been anything written to adequately explain the various tribal police forces and their composition, but like everything else in Indian Territory, the Osage police were a mixture of full bloods, mixed bloods, intermarried whites, and whites with no connection to the tribe. What is often referred to as "Indian police" is usually the U. S. Indian Police constables under the control of the agent of the Union Agency at Muskogee. I don't know if the Osage police was part of this or not; I suspect so, however, what people tend to forget is each Indian Nation had its own government including provision for sheriff's and constables which were not U. S. Indian Police but often called such. At page 221 of Glenn Shirley's "Heck Thomas" is a photo depicting a posse hunting the Dalton's purported taken when the posse was near Pawnee. Identified as number 2 is Morris Robacker, a deputy U.S. marshal and captain of the Osage police. He is obviously a mixed blood. (It was not unusal for officers of the Indian Police to also carry a commission as deputy marshal.) Do a find from the tool bar for Indian Police and you'll find a discussion.

quote:

Originally posted by Gus Rush:
Check out on this Oklahombres boards and forum the one on Connections, I've posted a picture from my and brother's Homer_J collection, Our great grand father A.W Comstock handed it down. The Osage Tribal officer on the bottom left was Bob Lessert or Lesert as quoted in the picture.Bob Lessert was of Kaw and Osage blood. Believe he was related to the Revards' a large mix clan of French and Osage Indians. This photo was taken before statehood, Oklahoma Territory,O.T.You can see the metal buttons on the jackets. There may be more information at the Osage Nation Culture Center in Pawhuska,they,re always helpful to me. Been 55 years since I went prairie chicken hunting over on Boots Adams ranch with my old friend J.C. Gave old J.C. a black powder 12 gauge stage coach cut double barrel shotgun that supposed to have belonged to Chief Baconrind.Figured that as close it would ever get on staying in the Osage , especially since J.C. and his wife lived in the former late Chiefs city residence in the Indian Camp.Later~

Thank you for that information Gus Rush! I have contacted the Osage Nations archives and a nice lady named Mary said they were still trying to inventory the boxes and boxes of papers and Osage history they have. So, I am still searching. I just thought it would be so neat to find out who lived at the place where we found the button and pistol. I will go look at the 'Connections' part of the forum to see the picture you mentioned.
On a side note---the Prairie Chickens are making a great comeback in Osage County--they were almost gone a few years ago! My grandpa used to hunt Prairie Chickens and my mom said he would come in with his limit everytime he went out(this was during the 1950's/60's).
You also mentioned the Boots Adams Ranch--my father-in-law owns the old Oliphant Ranch west of Foraker.....Do you remember it?
Thanks so much!

QUOTE]Originally posted by Tower:
There's never been anything written to adequately explain the various tribal police forces and their composition, but like everything else in Indian Territory, the Osage police were a mixture of full bloods, mixed bloods, intermarried whites, and whites with no connection to the tribe. What is often referred to as "Indian police" is usually the U. S. Indian Police constables under the control of the agent of the Union Agency at Muskogee. I don't know if the Osage police was part of this or not; I suspect so, however, what people tend to forget is each Indian Nation had its own government including provision for sheriff's and constables which were not U. S. Indian Police but often called such. At page 221 of Glenn Shirley's "Heck Thomas" is a photo depicting a posse hunting the Dalton's purported taken when the posse was near Pawnee. Identified as number 2 is Morris Robacker, a deputy U.S. marshal and captain of the Osage police. He is obviously a mixed blood. (It was not unusal for officers of the Indian Police to also carry a commission as deputy marshal.) Do a find from the tool bar for Indian Police and you'll find a discussion.[/QUOTE]Thank you Tower! I will do some more searching....I do think this man [who the button belonged to] could have been Native American because we also found the trade brooch at the site...But then again he could have been married to an Indian woman and the brooch was hers. I have many books mentioning the outlaws and robberies here in Osage county, but very few mention the Lawmen who were in here.
Where can I get a copy of the book you mention 'Heck Thomas'?
I have posted some pictures of the things we found at an online image hosting site--In case anyone is interested in seeing them. Here is the link: http://www.use.com/Indian_Poli...281b4d3c36cbf86ef3ba
Thanks so much guys!!

My favorite site to find old books is called Alibris.com It canvasses book stores nationwide and generally can find what I want. I check and they have a copy of Heck Thomas: Frontier Marshal at a reasonable price. Now be careful to get the right one as there is also a book called Heck Thomas: My Papa.