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Apukshunnubbee District
Apuckshunnubbe
“Miko (chief) Apuckshunnubbe, we are informed, was the senior Chief to the Choctaw
Nation, and upwards of eighty years of age, and was much respected for his virtues.”
(Col. Robert Cole was the son of a Captive white man. Robert Cole and a nephew of
Apuckshunnubbe, supposedly a son of the Chief’s sister, Shumake).
Notes on Apuckshunnubbe’s Personal Background: According to tribal records,
Apuckshunnubbe was born around the year 1740. He and his family occupied a log cabin. He
was known to have fathered four children, one of which was a daughter, Tioka. He was a
tribal Chieftain as early as 1801, and was one of the signers of the treaties of
1805-1816, and the Doak’s Stand Treaty of 1820. His judgment and wisdom was honored
by all that knew him. These descriptive testimonies were given by men of his time who knew
him best: “A celebrated chief, he was a famous warrior and orator. In his lifetime
his influence was supreme over the entire Nation, even beyond the boundaries of his
immediate domain.” Another described him in this manner. “Apuckshunnubbe was a
large man, tall and bony, with a down look, and was of the superstitious and religious
cast of mind. He was by his people called a good man, and it is said that he was a man of
deep thought and that he was quite an intellectual.” Other accounts gave testimony to
his interest in the education of this people.
Apuckshunnubbe’s death in Kentucky in 1824
Submitted by Earl White
How often have you wondered when reading an article of history, what really brought
about the described event? Have you wondered why the subject was at that particular place
at that particular time? So it was with me as I scanned old newspaper clippings at our
local archives and found the story of Apuckshunnubbe’s accident and death here in
Kentucky in 1824.
Fortunately, with the assistance of Jane Proctor Smith of Tulsa, I have been able to
reconstruct the events leading up to the fatal accident in our town. Mrs. Smith is a
direct descendant of Apuckshunnubbe. She also supplied me with enough material to describe
the remainder of the trip by the others in the company of the old Chieftain and to bring
closure to my curiosity.
Following is this account: In the early autumn months of 1824 three chiefs of the
Choctaw Nation came together in the Mississippi Territory to plan a journey to Washington
City to protest violations of the Treaty of Doak’s Stand. These Chiefs were
Apuckshunnubbe, Pushmataha and Moshulatubbee and they represented the entire Choctaw
population. The Doak’s Stand Treaty was formulated to swap a designated area in
Mississippi for a much larger tract of land farther west. The Treaty had already been
violated by white settlers in the western lands and this was to be the subject of talks
with President Monroe in Washington.
The proposed route to Washington was to travel the Natchez trace to Nashville, then to
Lexington, Kentucky, onward to Maysville, Kentucky, across the Ohio River (called the
Spaylaywitheepi by the Shawnee) northward to Chillicothe, Ohio, (former principal town of
the Shawnee), then finally east over the “National Highway” to Washington City.
Soon afterward, the small delegation took to the Natchez Trace, beginning the arduous
trip to the eastern seat of government. The group consisted of Apuckshunnubbe, Pushmataha,
Moshulatubbee, Talking Warrior, Red Fort, Nittahkachee, Col. Robert Cole and David Folsom,
both half breed Indians, Captain Daniel McCurtain, and Major John Pitchlynn, the U.S.
Interpreter.
Late in the day of October 18th, 1824, a large part of the deputation arrived in
Maysville, Kentucky, by stagecoach. They were directed to the establishment of Captain
Langhorne for food and lodging. (The present day location of where the establishment stood
is the corner of Front and Market Streets).
According to the report in the Maysville Eagle, “Apuckshunnubbe, the great Medal
Chief, after supping at Captain Langhorne’s on Wednesday last, in the evening
attempted to go to the river, missed his way, and was precipitated over the abutment of
the road and received so severe contusions to his head and other injuries, as to render
his recovery hopeless. He lingered until Friday night, in a perfectly senseless condition,
when his soul winged to the presence of the Great Spirit.
“Every attention that could possibly be paid to a fellow mortal was rendered the
deceased by Capt. Langhorne and his family, and the physicians and other inhabitants of
the town. on Saturday his remains were accompanied to the Methodist Meeting House by the
Maysville light infantry, under Capt. Lee, united by a part of Capt. Nicholson’s
troop of horsemen, dismounted, together with the largest coinsures of citizens and
strangers to ever assemble in this place for a funeral occasion.
“A appropriate sermon was preached by the Reverend Corwine after which Miko’s
(chief’s) remains were conveyed to the narrow house of the grave, and interred with
full military honors.” “After the close of the divine service in the church, an
interesting address was given, in his native tongue, by Col. Robert Cole, the successor of
Apuckshunnubbe, in which in a most feeling and dignified manner he returned thanks for the
honor and friendly feelings shown to the surviving members of the delegation. His
interpreter, Mr. Folsom, a half-breed Choctaw, is a man of information and intelligence.
During Removal
Greenwood LeFlore 1830-1834
New Territory
Thomas LeFlore 1834 - 1838
James Fletcher 1838 - 1842
Thomas LeFlore 1842 - 1850
George Harkins 1850 - 1857
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