Ned Christie: The Creation of an Outlaw and Cherokee Hero

272 Pages·2018·16.594 MB·English

by  Devon A. Mihesuah

NED CHRISTIE

NED CHR ISTIE
THE CREATION OF AN
OUTLAW AND
CHEROKEE HERO
DEVON A. MIHESUAH
University of Oklahoma Press : Norman
This book is published with the generous assistance of the Wallace C. Thompson
Endowment Fund, University of Oklahoma Foundation.
Epigraph 1: “About the Bad Man: Some Strange Facts Concerning Indian
Territory Outlaws,” Chicago Daily Tribune, November 7, 1894.
Epigraph 2: Peter Clines, The Fold (New York: Crown, 2015), 93.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Name: Mihesuah, Devon A., 1957– author.
Title: Ned Christie : the creation of an outlaw and Cherokee hero / by Devon A. Mihesuah.
Other titles: Creation of an outlaw and Cherokee hero
Description: Norman, OK : University of Oklahoma Press, [2018] | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017028436 | ISBN 978-0-8061-5910-2 (hardcover : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Christie, Ned, 1852–1892. | Cherokee Indians—Biography. |
Cherokee Indians—History—19th century. | Cherokee Indians—Government
relations. | Outlaws—Indian Territory—History. | Indian Territory—Biography.
Classification: LCC E99.C5 C65575 2018 | DDC 973.04/975570092 [B] —dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017028436
The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the
Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library
Resources, Inc. ∞
Copyright © 2018 by the University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Publishing Division of
the University. Manufactured in the U.S.A.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise—except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of
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of Oklahoma Press. To request permission to reproduce selections from this book, write
to Permissions, University of Oklahoma Press, 2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069,
or email [email protected].
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
To Nede Wade Christie’s family,
especially Roy Hamilton, who passed away
as this book went to press

This is the story of the bad man the killer,
as he blossoms in the Indian Territory. He is truly an entertaining
creature. His ways are interesting and variously vile.
CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, November 7, 1894
“I think,” Bob said, “that a person can always find what they’re looking for,
whether it’s there or not. They’ll just see what they want to see.”
PETER CLINES, The Fold, 2015

CONTENTS
List of Illustrations · xi
Acknowledgments · xiii
Introduction: HOW WE KNOW ABOUT NED CHRISTIE · 3
1. FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND HOME · 23
2. NED THE POLITICIAN · 41
3. BAD COMPANY · 55
4. ON THE RUN · 76
5. THE FINAL FIGHT · 97
6. YOUNG MEN LOST: Arch Wolfe and Charles Hair · 117
7. THE HUMPHREY THEORY · 139
8. C REATING OUTLAWS AND THE HEROIC
HEROES WHO KILL THEM · 147
Notes · 181
Bibliography · 221
Index · 239
ix