Alvis Hertsell EAST A Benjamin Scott EAST Mary E INGRAM Francis COLBERT Tessa Mae SMITHERS Annie Bell SHERMAN Laura Etta WARRENBURG Mary Isabel EAST Emma F EAST Margaret Jane EAST Alvis Hertsell EAST Esther EAST George I EAST Lucy Lavanda EAST Jane RAWLINGS Mini tree diagram
Theophilus H EAST

Theophilus H EAST9,13,14,6,4,4,5,17,7,8,10,11,18,9,19

18526,7,8,9,10,11 - 19th Mar 191713,8

Life History

1852

Born in Davis County, Iowa.6,7,8,9,10,11

1860

Residence1 in Nodaway, Page, Iowa.9

Oct 1864

Residence2: enlisted in Union Cavalry; served only till Dec 1864 in Fort Kearney, Nebraska.12

between 1868 and 1869

Residence3: enlisted in US Cavalry in Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth, Kansas.16

1870

Residence4 in Union, Nodaway, Missouri.17

13th Mar 1870

Married Mary E INGRAM in Nodaway County, Missouri.19

before 1884

Death of Mary E INGRAM in Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory

13th May 1884

Residence5: First Marriage Ceremony to Frances/Francis Colbert; a second was held in 1888, due to irregularity in first in a point of Chickasaw Nation law in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory.1,2,3

12th Apr 1888

Married Francis COLBERT in Berwyn, Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory.2,1,3,7

1890

Residence6: Veterans Schedule, US Census in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Territory.15

1892

Residence7: Divorce was obtained here; not clear if this was actual residence in Canadian County, Oklahoma Territory.3

about 1892

Divorced from Francis COLBERT in Canadian County, Oklahoma Territory.7,7

between 1897 and 1907

Residence8: 1852 in Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory.3,3,4,5

5th Aug 1897

Married Tessa Mae SMITHERS in Chckasaw Nation, Indian Territory.4,7,10,11

between 1899 and 1900

Divorced from Tessa Mae SMITHERS in Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory.3,4,7

5th Nov 1900

Married Annie Bell SHERMAN in Chickasha, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory.4

20th Jan 1903

Death of Annie Bell SHERMAN.21

5th Feb 1904

Naturalized in Muskogee, Creek Nation, Indian Territory.7

1st Jan 1907

Married Laura Etta WARRENBURG in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory.14,8,10

11th Sep 1911

Residence9: Physician, licensed in Oklahoma, later in New Mexico, also practiced in Sonora, Mexico: 11 Sep 1911 is probably the date of his new Oklahoma licensing. He had previously been practicing when it was Indian Territory in Chickasha, Grady, Oklahoma.13,14

18th May 1914

Residence10: Licensed in Oklahoma, New Mexico; also practiced in Sonora, Mexico, later in Cloudcroft, Otero, New Mexico.13

20th Jun 1915

Death of Francis COLBERT in Love County, Oklahoma.20,3,8

13th Dec 1915

Residence11: Served as Medical Doctor; Chickasha, OK, Sep 11, 1911, Cloudcroft, NM, May 18, 1914, Sonora, Mexico, Dec 13, 1915 in Sonora, Mexico.13

19th Mar 1917

Died in La Junta, Otero, Colorado.13,8

after 19th Mar 1917

Buried in La Junta, Otero, Colorado.8

Notes

  • 1860 Federal Census, Page County, Iowa, 18 June, Nodaway Township, PO Clarinda, page 26 (scan 936), Hse/Fam #205
    A H East 40 M Farmer & Physician $4000 Real Estate $300 Personal b North Carolina [abt 1820]
    Jenny East 31 F b Illinois [abt 1829]
    Scott East 11 M b Iowa [abt 1849]
    Theopolus H East 10 M b Iowa [abt 1850]
    Mary I East 8 F b Iowa [abt 1852]
    Emma F East 6 F b Iowa [abt 1854]
    Margaret J East 4 F b Iowa [abt 1856]
    A H East Jr 3mos M b Iowa [abt Feb 1860]
    Hannah Cumming 27 F Domestick b Ohio
    May Wall 19 F School Teacher b New York

    A few genealogies provide information on T H's parents.  One is the Maschewski genealogy.  This reports his birth as in 1849.  Probably on the basis of a census.  Theophilus himself testified to the Dawes Commission in 1904 that he was born in 1852.  Some records say about 1851,

    Theophilus H. EAST
    Birth 1849 in Iowa
    Death 1910 in Chickasaw [error copied from Ancestry for Chickasha], Grady, Oklahoma
    Parents:
    Alvis H EAST 1820-1870
    Jane RAWLINGS b 1825
    --  Maschewski, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/940080/person/-1380396186?ssrc=&ftm=1

    In 1864, Theophilus enlisted in the Union Army in Nebraska.  He was only 15, according to all documentation except his military records, which shows he reported his age as 18 (and thus born in 1848).  However, he was in the service only a few weeks.

    American Civil War Soldiers
    Theophilus East
    Residence Fort Kearney, Nebraska
    Enlistment 15 Oct 1864
    Union Army, Company F, 1st Cavalry Regiment Nebraska on 14 Oct 1864
    Enlisted as a Private on 15 October 1864 at the age of 18 [according to other records, he was only 14 or 15]
    Discharged from Company F, 1st Cavalry Regiment Nebraska on 20 Dec 1864

    His record for later enlistment and service in the Spanish-American War reports an age that would make him born in 1846.  (See below.)  This is the oldest birth date proposed for Theophilus.  All other sources indicate a birth some time from 1849 to 1851.  He himself testified to the Dawes Commission in 1903 that he was born in 1852.

    Theophilus married Mary Ingram in March 1870 in Nodaway County, Missouri.

    Missouri, Marriage Records, 1805-2002
    Miss Mary E Ingram
    Mr Theophilis H East
    Marriage 13 March 1870 Nodaway County, Missouri, USA
    Ceremony by James Hopkins, Minister,  at the home of Mr Ingram, Nodaway County, Missouri
    Recorded 22 March 1870 in Nodway Marriage Book, p 64

    They were reported in the census in July that year in Union Township of Nodaway County.

    1870 Federal Census, Nodaway County, Missouri, 14 July, Union Township, PO Maryville, p 33, Hse #255, Fam #251
    East, Theophales H 19 M W Farm Laborer $0 Real Estate $250 Personal Estate b Iowa (b abt 1851)
    East, Mary 17 F W Keeping House b Illinois (b abt 1853)

    This Mary is the same age as Theophilus' sister Mary I.  But his sister was born in Iowa, and this Mary is reported as born in Illinois, so this must be his wife.  We can estimate that they married about 1869.  An oddity about this, however, is that in his testimony before the Dawes Commission of Indian Affairs in 1904, he stated that he had not been married before he married Frances Colbert in 1884.

    Despite this, Mary must have been his first wife, because in the 1910 census, after he has divorced Fannie and had three subsequent wives, the census reports this is his 6th marriage.  Counting Mary here as his first wife, there are 5 wives (with two ceremonies of marriage to Fannie Colbert, as explained below, this makes 6 marriages).  But there were also two marriages to Tessa Smithers, then a divorce and a third marriage.  Tessa M Smithers and TH were divorced in 1899 or 1900.  In his Dawes testimony, he said 1900, but Tessa's Dawes testimonial timeline says 1899.

    He then married Annie Bell Sherman.  In 1903, Theo and Tessa remarried.  They were married in 1904 when they testified to the Dawes Commission.  It appears they divorced again after that, but this is unclear.  There was another wife named Laura E on whom I have few details.  (See details below.)

    Next door to Theophilus in 1870 is a Benjamin East, age 21, and his wife Martha age 20, and two children.  There was no Benjamin in T H's family in 1860, but the difference in age between Theophilus and this Benjamin is just one year different from that of TH and his brother Scott in the 1860 census.  Later information confirms that Benjamin was Theo's younger brother.  His full name was Benjamin Scott East.  He later moved to Washington state and died there.

    1870 Federal Census, Nodaway County, Missouri, 14 July, Union Township, PO Maryville, p 33, Hse #256, Fam #252
    East, Benjamin 21 M W Farm Laborer $0 Real Estate $75 Personal Estate b Iowa (b abt 1859)
    East, Martha 20 F W Keeping House b Missouri (b abt 1850)
    East, Alvis  3 M W b Missouri (b abt 1867)
    East, Louisa 1 F W b Missouri (b abt 1869)

    Theophilus East became a medical doctor like his father.

    U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914
    Theophilus H East
    Enlistment 6 Sept 1868 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
    Enlistment Age 22, for 5 years
    7th Cavalry, Company A
    Discharged upon Application 11 January 1869
    Birth abt 1846 Davis County, Iowa, United States
    Occupation Farmer
    Eyes Blue, Hair Brown, Complexion Dark
    Height 6 feet 0 inches

    There are two records of marriage for Theophilus East and Frances Adams (formerly Colbert, Cochran and Green).  The record numbers are the same, but two ceremonies are recorded 4 years apart.  One source reports that there was some irregularity with the first marriage and Fannie and Theophilus were remarried.  I found these transcriptions online in about 2008, but did not see copies of the actual documents until September 2010, when I found them posted by researcher Cindy Pannell.

    Marriage License, Lebanon, Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory
    Marriage Record of 1884, pages 71 and 130, May 13th, 1884
    "T.H. East and Francis Adams was joined together in Holy Bonds of Matrimony by the Honorable County Judge of Pickens County C.N. Indian Territory, Abijah Colbert Fannie's uncle], Judge, P.C.C.N."

    Marriage Record
    National Archives, Lebanon, IT
    Marriage Record of 1884, pages 71 and 130
    May 13th, 1884, T.H. East and Francis Adams was joined together in Holy Bonds of Matrimony by the Honorable County Judge of Pickens County C.N. Indian Territory.
    Abijah Colbert [Abijah Colbert, Fannie's uncle]
    Judge, P.C.C.N.

    Marriage Record
    Lebanon, Pickens, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory 189
    Author Willis Dickerson, County Judge PCCN
    Place page 71 & 130, Marriage Record
    Date 4/12/1888
    T.H. East and Francis Adams issued to the above names parties, by the County Judge, Pickens, C.N.

    Certificate of Marriage
    J. Willis Dickerson, hereby certify on the 12th day of April A.D.1888 I united in marriage T.H. East and Mrs. Francis Adams, the parties above named.
    Witness my hand, this 12th day of April A.D. 1888
    Willis Dickerson, County Judge P.C.C.N.

    Another cousin and coresearcher Kati Jackson Cain located the 9-page transcript set of testimony before the Dawes Commission in 1904.  This testimony concerns his application to become a Chickasaw Indian, or be reinstated and confirmed in that status, by virtue of his marriage to Fannie Colbert Adams.  It is after their divorce, but he is confirming his application to the Chickasaw Tribe along with his current wife Tessa M Smithers East, whom he married in 1897.  (See below.)  Questions come up also about  other matters that affected his marriage relationship with Fannie.  Tessa also gives testimony about her two marriages to T H and the divorce in between.

    In this testimonial document Theophilus testifies about his second marriage ceremony, due to some legal complication related to the first ceremony, explaining the second ceremony for the same marriage.  Theophilus testifies that the first marriage was performed by Fannie's uncle Abijah Colbert, who was both a minister of the gospel and a county judge in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation.

    When this was discovered 4 years later, a new ceremony was held.  The second wedding ceremony was held in April 1888 (see transcriptions above).  Theophilus says that the Chickasaw authorities told him his first "marriage was good enough to hold the woman but not the land."  The question came up in regard to a piece of land he was buying and wanted to attach to his farm he already owned.

    He went with Fannie to testify before the Dawes Commission in Tishomingo.  In this testimony, he also explains about a legal problem he had, when Fannie left him to go away with a man named Tom Little in the time before their second marriage.  Tom took Fannie to Choctaw Nation, then, according to Theophilus, came back to kill him Theophilus testifies that this Tom Little had shot him, but he fought Tom and killed him. He was arrested Gainesville, Texas, and Federal marshals came from Fort Smith to get him.  In the trial he was acquitted.

    There his Chickasaw status was confirmed, and he was also acquitted of murder.  The Chickasaw governor, attorney general and Chickasaw Police appeared at the trial on Theophilus' behalf, testifying that he was a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, and Judge Parker read the marriage record from the original marriage, and confirmed that this was valid for documenting Theophilus' citizenship in the Chickasaw Nation.

    The land matter occurred and second ceremony were held in April of that year.  I found that the date on the court docket for the murder is 1887.  This murder occurred between July and October 1887, since a document is introduced in the case that indicates a conveyance of land to T P Little.  This T P Little is Tom Little, as Theophilus testified to the Dawes Commission in 1903.  This bill of sale is dated 15 July 1887.  The court filing date on this document is October 1887.

    Dr Theophilus East had several charges in the Ft Smith Criminal Records.
    1885  Larceny  1887 Murder  1889 Contempt

    The Larceny charges stem from an event with a yoke of oxen T H said he bought from William Cox, but Cox reported he had stolen them.  There were witnesses, including one of his step sons, William Cochran, that saw him rebrand them and turn them out into his herd.  So they were subpoenaed to appear to testify in the case in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the seat of U S justice for Indian Territory, attached to the Western district of Arkansas.

    The case file contains no disposition on this case!  But from other events and records, we know he was not jailed, so they resolved it in some way.  There were numerous cases like this of disputed transactions coming before the courts.  This really was the Wild West.

    T H was enumerated in the 1890 census in Oklahoma Territory, one of the few partial sets of records from the 1890 census that survived the great fire in an archive building.  He was in Oklahoma City, just a little outside the northern border of Chickasaw Nation, where most of his activities occurred.

    1890 Federal Census, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma Territory, June, Enumeration District 25
    Veterans Schedules, Oklahoma City, page 3, Hse/Fam #270
    Veteran's Name East, Theophilus H, No service details reported, Re-enlisted Veteran

    He was also reported in the Oklahoma City City Directory for 1890.

    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Directories, 1889-90
    T. H. East
    1890 Oklahoma City, OK
    Location r s s 3d e of Limit

    Theophilus East and Frances Colbert were divorced in 1892.

    "Theophilus was divorced from Francis Colbert in Canadian Co., OT, circa 1892. ... he married Tessa M. Smithers in Chickasaw Nation, IT, 5 AUG 1897. Married under Chickasaw law & Marriage License"
    --  Chickasaw History, "Francis Colbert" http://www.chickasawhistory.com/colbert/i0026899.htm#i29612b
    --  Chickasaw History, "Francis Colbert" http://www.chickasawhistory.com/colbert/i0026899.htm#i26899 [Chickasaw History is unfortunately no longer online]

    The Chickasaw History item above reports on a Cickasaw Nation license and marriage.  Theophilus and Tessie were married first in 1893 in Oklahoma Territory.

    Oklahoma, County Marriage Records, 1890-1995
    Tessie May Smithers, Age 19 born (abt 1874) St Joe, Missouri
    Father A Smithers, Mother E Hickerson
    Spouse Theo H East, Age 40 born (abt 1853) Davis, Iowa
    Father A H East, Mother Jane Rawling
    Residence of both Washita County, Oklahoma Territory
    License issued 31 July 1893
    Marriage (no date) August 1893 Cloud Chief, Washita, Oklahoma Territory, USA
    Ceremony performed by J D Bullard (title or office not reported)
    Recorded August 1893 Oklahoma Territory Marriage Book, p 8

    U.S. Native American Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914, www.ancestry.com
    Chickasaw Nation, Marietta, Census Field #1615, 25 Sep 1898, All Enrolled 1896 Pickens Co, p 26 (updates through 1902)
    1 Dawes' Roll #4315, Frances East, Age 67, Birth Abt 1831, 1/2 Chickasaw, Father David Colbert Dead Chickasaw, Mother Mamie Colbert Dead Chickasaw
    No 1 on Chickasaw Roll as Francis East
    Nos 1, 2 & 3 originally enrolled on Choctaw card # 336 and transferred ot this card Oct 13, 1902
    2 Dawes' Roll #4316, Daniel Green, Age 24, Birth Abt 1874, 1/4 Chickasaw, 26 Father Daniel Green Dead Non-Citizen, Mother No 1
    3 Dawes' Roll #4317, Charles Adams, Age 18, Birth Abt 1880, 1/4 Chickasaw, Father Charles Adams ---- Non-Citizen, Mother No 1
    4 Dawes' Roll #648, Theophilus East, Age 50, Birth Abt 1848, Intermarried White, Father Alvis H East Dead Non-Citizen, Mother Jane East Dead Non-Citizen
    No 4 Enrolled by Department 1907, Transferred from Chickasaw Card No C-209
    Nos 1, 2 & 3 hereon approved by the Secretary of the Interior Mar 6, 1903
    No 4 hereon approved by the Secretary of the Interior Mar 4, 1907

    The Chickasaw History reports that Theophilus served with the army (as a physician) in Cuba during the Spanish-American War in 1898.  Theophilus and Tessa were divorced in 1900, according to a family genealogy source.

    Tessa M Smithers
    Marriage 5 Aug 1897 Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory
    to Theophilus H. EAST
    Married under Chickasaw law & Marriage License
    1900 Divorce from Theophilus H. EAST Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory [no source cited for this information]
    --  Maschewski, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/940080/person/-1379659070

    No source records are cited for this information, but the information is credible, and the genealogy is otherwise extensively documented.  The same section of the Chickasaw History also reports the divorce from Tessa and further that TH was reported in the Chickasaw census of 1907.

    But in the 1900 census both Fannie and Tessa are reported not as Divorced, but as widows, both living in Chickasha.  Perhaps Fannie reverted back to her widow status that she had before she married Theophilus.  Some genealogies also tell us that Tessa and T H were previously married, then divorced not long after he returned form his service in the Spanish-American War in Cuba.  They both testified about this in their 1904 Dawes testimony.

    "Theophilus served in the military in CUBA - Spanish-American War, 1898. Theophilus was divorced from Tessa M. Smithers 1900.  Theophilus enrolled in Chickasha, Pickens Co, Chickasaw Nation, IT for the Dawes Chickasaw Roll on 4 MAR 1907 and appears on Dawes card number 1615."
    --  Chickasaw History, Francis Colbert, http://www.chickasawhistory.com/colbert/i0026899.htm

    The divorce is reported as occurring in 1900, and Tessa is boarding with another family in Chickasha in 1900.  She is reported as a widow.

    1900 Federal Census, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, 23 June, Chickasha, District 153, page 32B, Texas Ave, Hse #674, Fam #686
    Maddox, John Head  W M Oct 1856 43 Married 14 years MO MO MO Teamster Owns
    Maddox, Estella Wife W F  Sept 1869 30 Married 14 years 2 children/2 living KS MO MO
    Maddox, Georgia Dau W F Apr 1888 12 TX MO KS
    Maddox, Harry  Son W M Dec 1890 9 TX MO KS
    East, Tessa Boarder W F Feby 1874 26 Widow [divorced] MO IL IL

    A couple of genealogies report a wife named Annie Bell Sherman, reported to have died in 1903.  Theophilus's divorce from Tessa is reported as occurring in 1900.  In the June 1900 census, Tessa is reported as widowed, but it should be divorced.  I have found no census for Theophilus in 1900.  Theophilus married Annie Bell in November 1900, according to Cindy Pannell.

    Annie Bell Sherman
    Marriage to Theophilus H East
    5 Nov 1900 Chickasha, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory
    --  Pannell, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/22836742/person/1310328813?ssrc=&ml_rpos=2&ftm=1

    Annie Bell died 20 January 1903, according to some genealogies.  This seems to derive from Theophilus' testimony in 1904 to the Dawes Commission on the factors in his application for Chickasaw Citizenship by marriage, in which he gives this date for the death of his wife Annie Sherman.

    Despite the earlier divorce, Tessa is named as a joint petitioner with Theophilus in the testimony transcription of the application for Chickasaw Nation Citizenship in 1904.  (In T H's case, it is actually confirmation of Citizenship, since in his testimony, he provides the evidence for his previous enrollment as a Chickasaw citizen.)

    This is because Theo and Tessie remarried in 1903 in Chickasaw Nation, in Chickasha, where we know she had been lving after their divorce.

    Chickasaw Nation Marriage Record
    T H East, Age 51 born (abt 1852)
    Tessie M East, Age 28 born (abt 1875)
    Residence of both Chickasha, Indian Territory
    License issued 22 May 1903
    Marriage 22 May 1903 Chickasha, Indian Territory, USA
    Ceremony performed by J W Sparks, Deputy Clerk, US Court
    Recorded 25 May 1903 Southern District, Indian Territory Marriage Book, Record #726, p 278

    We find a later record for Theophilus and another wife named Laura E.  They are reported in the 1910 census, with Laura's daughter Ellen E reported as T H's stepdaughter, but with the last name of East.  The 1910 census reports that this is the 6th marriage for Theophilus.

    Oklahoma, County Marriage Records, 1890-1995
    Mr T H East, Age 54, Chickasha [Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation]
    Mrs Laura Thomas, Age 33, Chickasha [Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation]
    Age 33 (born abt 1874)
    License issued 1 January 1907 (Record now in Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma)
    Marriage 1 January 1907 (Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation) Southern District, Indian Territory, USA
    Ceremony 1 January 1907 by J W Speake, Deputy Clerk. U S Court
    Recorded 3 January 1907 in Oklahoma Territory Marriage Book, p 96, Certificate #67
    Document Scan by FamilySearch

    I have found records for these 5 wives (6 marriages) of Theophilus:
    Mary (1870 census)
    Fannie (1884 first Chickasaw marriage record) and 1888 (2nd Chickasaw marriage record)
    Tessa (1897 Chickasaw marriage record) and
    Annie Bell Sherman (married 1900, Various genealogies)
    Laura (1907, per marriage record above and 1910 census below)

    U.S. Native American Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914
    Theophilus H East
    Roll #688, Census Card #1615
    25 Sep 1902
    Age at Census Enrollment 49
    Birth abt 1853
    Tribal Affiliation: Chickasaw By Marriage

    In February 1904, Theophilus and his wife Tessa Smithers testified in regard to their status as Chickasaw Citizens.  Theophilus testified that he had been granted Chickasaw citizenship on the basis of an application while he was married to Francis East, on the basis of her citizenship by blood.  This was appealed by the Nation, but his approval by the Dawes Commission was upheld by the District Court.  In the meantime, he and Francis divorced, and he married Tessa M Smithers.

    Tessa and Theophilus were married first in 1893 under an Oklahoma Territory license, then again on 5 August 1897 under a Chickasaw license.  Tessa testified that she and Theophilus divorced in 1899 after he returned from his medical service in Cuba, consistent with her divorced status in the 1900 census.  But then they remarried in 1903.

    In 1902, while Theophilus was married to Annie Bell Sherman, the Chickasaw-Choctaw Citizenship court canceled Dr East's status as a Chickasaw citizen.  This interview deposition indicates he is still claiming such status on the basis of the original grant of citizenship in his original application, while he was still married to Francis.

    Theophilus states in his 1904 interview with the Dawes Commission that he and Annie were married until she died on 20 January 1903.  After her death he remarried his 2nd wife, Tessa M Smithers East.  In her Feb 1904 testimony before the Dawes Commission, Tessa stated that they remarried in 1903, Theophilus married Annie Bell Sherman in Nov 1900 and Annie died in Feb 1903.  Dr East testifies this 3rd marriage to Tessa was on 25 May 1903.  They were still married at the time of their deposition before the Dawes Commission in February 1904.

    In their testimony before the Dawes Commission, Tessa was asked and affirmed that she is also seeking status as a Chickasaw Citizen by marriage, by virtue of her marriage to Dr East.

    I am puzzled by the record of Theophilus' Dawes Commission interview in 1904, because the overall heading of these records is Chickasaw by Blood. But other records indicate he was Chickasaw by marriage.  His hearing was about his application (reapplication) for Chickasaw Citizenship by intermarriage to Francis Colbert, to whom he was married when first granted citizenship.

    Native American Applications for Enrollment in Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914
    Theophilus H East
    Application 5 Feb 1904 Muskogee, Indian Territory
    Chickasaw, Chickasaw by Blood
    Applying for and reconfirming earlier status of Chickasaw Citizen by intermarriage.
    Census Card Number 1615

    Somewhere along in here, there was another legal case in Oklahoma City concerning another shooting.  The newspaper clipping does not identify the paper or the year, but have the date January 20.

    T H was charged with the murder of a negro man in Oklahoma City.  The story appeared on 20 January, unknown year, from an unidentified newspaper clipping.

    ------------------
    Sensational Arrest

    El Reno, OK -- Jan 20 -- Dr T H East, of this city, was arrested by the sheriff of Oklahoma county, charged with the murder of a negro at Oklahoma City.  The murdered negro was the only witness against the notorious Clyde Mattos, under sentence to be hanged at Kansas City, Kan.  Clyde Mattos was at one time the associate of East as a deputy United States Marshal of the territory.  It is not known what evidence has been secured against East, but the general opinion here is that he is innocent.
    --  Newspaper story, El Reno Okla Territory, paper unknown, 20 January, no year mentioned; clipping courtesy of Cindy Pannell, a Green cousin and researcher
    ------------------

    In their interview with the Dawes Commission on this case, both Theophilus and his current wife Tessa Smithers testified that were currently living in Chickasha, in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation.  (These administrative divisions of Chickasaw Nation are also referred to as Districts.  They appear with the name of District, rather than County, on at least one map.)  This was Dr East's residence when he was enumerated in the 1910 US census.  It appears that Tessa died before this census, or they divorced again.  No death record has been found for her, and no reference to a later divorce.

    In 1909 there was a story about Theophilus' reconciliation with his wife after a divorce and considerable publicity over their domestic problems.  The story was published in an unidentified newspaper in Chickasha, Indian Territory (currently Grady County, Oklahoma).  They were moving to their residence in Sulphur Springs (currently on I 35 in Murray County, Oklahoma).  This story amazingly fails to give the name of the wife!  The last one we have record of was Tessa M Smithers, also recently remarried to T H in 1903, according to their Dawes Commission interviews in 1903.  But the next year, in the 1910 census, his wife is named Laura E.

    ------------------
    Eight TImes Married and Has Concluded to Patch Up Peace With Divorced Wife --

    Chickasha I T -- Jan '9 -- Dr T H East returned to Sulphur Springs last night in company with his recently divorced wife.  Dr and Mrs East has [sic]
    become reconciled and will live together at Sulphur Springs.  This is East's eighth wife, and a great deal has been in the papers of late about the domestic difficulties of this pair.  Mrs East stated that the interviews, which have been publish [sic], while containing some truth, were gross exaggerations.
    --  Newspaper story, paper unknown, no date, January 1909, clipping courtesy of Cindy Pannell, a Green cousin and researcher
    ------------------

    In the 1910 census, Theo's wife is named Laura E.  This is Laura Etta Warrenburg.

    1910 Federal Census, Grady County, Oklahoma, 21 April, Chickasha City Ward 1, District 95, page 9B, 1517 10th St, Hse #189, Fam #192
    East, Theophilus Head M W 57 6th Marriage Married 3yrs Iowa NC KY Physician Owns
    East, Laura E  Wife  F W 37  2nd Marriage Married 3yrs  4 children/1 living IL OH KY
    East, Ellen E  Stepdau F W 8  Single OK MO IL

    His listing in the Directory of Physicians reports he died in 1917 in Colorado.  In the meantime after the 1910 census in Oklahoma, he is reported serving as a medical doctor in Chickasha, Oklahoma.  The meaning of the dates of service in each location is unclear in this directory.  He is listed in Chickasha on 11 September 1911.  The next entry is in 1914, so perhaps that means he was in Chickasha until the next date, 18 May 1914 in Cloudcroft, New Mexico.  The next entry reports him in Sonora, Mexico, on 13 December 1915.  It is not clear when he went to La Junta, Colorado, where he died of complications in surgery for an unstated problem 19 March 1917.

    Directory of Deceased American Physicians, 1804-1929
    American Medical Association
    Theophilus H. East
    Birth 1851 IA, Death 19 Mar 1917 La Junta, CO
    Medical School, University Medical College of Kansas City, Kansas City, 1900
    Type Practice: Allopath
    Practice Dates Places:
    Chickasha, OK, Sep 11, 1911
    Cloudcroft, NM, May 18, 1914
    Sonora, Mexico, Dec 13, 1915
    Licenses OK, NM, 1912
    Cause Of Death surgery, complications, laparotomy, shock

    He was reported in El Paso TExas inthat city's city directory for 1913.

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
    El Paso, Texas, City Directory, 1913, p 245
    East Theophilus H, mtrmn El Paso Elec Ry, rms 313 S El Paso

    I was able to provide some detail missing from T H's memorial on Find a Grave when I found it on 1 July 2015.

    ----------------------
    Dr Theophilus H East
    Birth 1852 Clarinda, Page County, Iowa, USA
    Death Mar 19, 1917 La Junta, Otero County, Colorado, USA

    Parents:
    Alvis Hertsell East (1820 - 1872)
    Jane Rawlings East(1829 - 1898)

    Spouses:
    Francis Colbert Green East (1831 - 1915) (m. 1884)
    Tessie Mae Morris unknown-1953 (m. 1893)
    Laura Etta Warrenburg Sanford 1874-1953

    Siblings:
    Benjamin Scott East 1846-1918
    Alvis Hertsell East 1859-1900
    George I East 1866-1896
    Half-sibling Sibling Samuel T East (1842 - 1880)

    From Civil War Military Records:
    Theophilus East age 15 of Clarinda, Iowa nativity Iowa enlisted Oct 15 1864 into Co F 1st Nebraska Infantry. Retained by Civil authorities for being under age.
    Death information comes from a listing in the Directory of Deceased American Physicians, 1804-1929, American Medical Association:
    Theophilus H East
    Birth 1851 IA, Death 19 Mar 1917 La Junta, CO

    Courtesy of Orville Jenkins 47363648

    Non-Cemetery Burial, Burial site and death date, location unknown
    Created by K L Bonnett Sep 10, 2010
    --  Find A Grave Memorial #58459891, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58459891
    ----------------------

    The military information reported here says he was 15 in 1864, so born about 1849, which seems to be the source of his birth date as 1849 stated in the memorial.  This memorial reports that in his enlistment record, his place of birth and age are reported, but no place or date of birth was included in the transcription we found of this record.

Sources

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