Looking for any information on Mose Burris. Burris was a citizen of the Choctaw Nation. Member of the Choctaw Lighthorse police and rode as posse for numerous deputy US marshals. Magazine article appeared on him in the 70s.

Mose Burris died in Coal County in the early 1980's. He was over 100 years old at the time. I taught his Great Grand Daughter at Tupelo High School at about that time and she showed me pictures of his six gun and some articles about him. I also read a True West article about him that had a picture of his stick ball team in it. I don't remember the month and year of the magazine, but the cover of the magazine had Choctaw girls struggling in a stick ball match. I hope this is useful.

Rigsy

I have a copy of the magazine. Do you know where Mose is buried? Do you have contact info on his Great Grand Daughter?

I will try to find out and get back to you. I am no longer in that area and have lost contact with most of my old students. Mose has a lot of relatives in Coal County though. I think that one of them wrote an article for the new Coal County History Book that is being put together now. I will see what I can find out. By the way, I am currently writing my dissertation (can you believe I am back in school in my 50's?) and the subject is Capital Punishment in Oklahoma. I am currently looking for information about Five Civilized Tribes executions as well as Executions under Oklahoma Territory Law. I have a list of executions, but very little else except for the Silon Lewis execution. Can you give me any leads?

Thanks:

Mike

According to the USGenWeb site for Coal County, Moses Burris is buried in the Boiling Springs Cemetery in Coal County; born (21 Dec 1876) died (13 Aug 1972) if this is the one you are talking about.

It could be, I was under the impression that he was alive in the early 80's but it is possible that the family was just then taking an active interest in him after he died. I contacted my mother who is editing the new Coal County History book, but apparantly there is not a new story in the book about him. She did say the following, however. "Tell the guy to contact the Coal County Genealogy Society. Phone 580-927-1185. They can help him. Lorraine Caruthers knows all those old stories."

Tulsa Daily World 10/3/1965 (pp. 8-9 of "Your World" magazine section), "Mose Burris, Old Lawman" by C.L. Packer...includes four (4) great photos of Burris wearing badge and armed with his favorite .45 Colt. Also, photo of him with some of his family...kids, grandkids, etc.

Tulsa Daily World 12/21/1967 (p. 1 - photo of Mose Burris pointing pistol straight at cameraman...caption says, "At 100 Years, Ex-Lawman's Gun Hand is Steady". Followed-up with story and additional photo on pages 33 & 36 (same issue), entitled "Century-Old Choctaw; Santa Without Beard" by Tom Omstead.

Ada Evening News 12/17/1967 (pp. 1-2) "Mose Nearing Century Mark: Choctaw Marshal Recalls Old Days" by Don Cook. {Article and Photo}

Ada Evening News 10/15/1972 (p1c1; p2c4) "104-Year-Old Mose Burris Dies; Rites Slated". (Obit): Mose Burris, one of this area's most colorful figures, died Friday in a Coalgate hosptial. He was 104 years old.
Mr. Burris had served as a deputy sheriff in Coal County and was a U.S. marshal in territorial and early statehood days.

Services are planned Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Boiling Springs Methodist Church. Burial will be in Boiling Springs Cemetery with all arrangements under the direction of the Smith Funeral Home. The Rev. Juston Graham will officiate at the service.

Mr. Burris was born Dec. 21, 1867, at Atwood and spent his life in this general area. He is survived by his wife, Willie, of the home, Route 1, Tupelo, and other relatives. Additional obituary information will be found on page 2.

I do have the magazine article on Mose Burris. Mose was listed on the Choctaw Freedmen rolls. He had several wives, his last wife was a full blood Choctaw. His first wife was a freedmen. He had many children by both wives. The magazine article didn't allude to the fact that Mose was an African-Choctaw. He was well-known as a lawman in the Choctaw Nation during the territorial era. Mose was also known for being a great athlete, superior stick ball player. Thanks for all the help and assistance.

There's an article about Mose Burris in "The West" magazine (V. 9 No. 1 pp.32-33;56-58, dated June 1968), written by Olevia E. Myers, and entitled "Eighty Years a Lawman". Is this the article that you're referring to? Or, is there a different article in True West?

The article in "The West" is the one I was referring to in the above post. It is the only magazine article on Burris that I am aware of.

Hey Oklahoma Kid,

The magazine article with the "artist's sketch" of some Indian girls playing stickball is in Frontier Times - March 1966 (Vol. 40 No. 2 #40 pp.12-14, 67), entitled "Choctaw Stickball Champion" and written by C.L. Packer.

Note: Some of the same photographs in this magazine also appear in the Tulsa World newspaper article by the same author.

If you need a copy of this article, let me know. Good Hunting - - with your research!

I don't believe I have the Meyers article. I do have the article from Frontier Times. If you could send me the Meyers article I would appreciate it. Also the newspaper story from Tulsa. You can send it to: Art T. Burton, History Department, South Suburban College, 15800 S. State Street, South Holland, IL 60473. Thank you for your response and consideration. Hopefully I will be able to put something together on Burris in the near future. I also would like to thank everyone who has contributed information to my query.

Old West thank you for the material on Burris. I hadn't seen most the items you sent me. I will see if I can find any more information and put an article together on Burris. Thanks again.

Oklahoma Kid,

You're quite welcome! Looking forward to reading a full, feature article on Mose Burris. Good luck on your research.

Danita Kay,

Contact "Oklahoma Kid" (Art T. Burton) at the address mentioned above - - for more information on Mose Burris!