GARVIN COUNTY INDIAN PIONEER PAPERS

OKGenWeb Indian Pioneer Papers Collection

Garvin County Indian Pioneer Papers

Lee McNivens

Interview #
Field Worker: Billie Byrd
Name: Mr. Lee McNivens
Residence: Wetumka, OK, Tuckabatchee Town, Tulwa
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth:
Father:
Mother:

 

An interview with Lee McNivens, age 71, Wetumka, Okla., Tuckabatchee Town, (Tulwa)

The Light Horsemen

The Light Horsemen were six selected Indian men from a district in the Muskogee-Creek nation.  There were six districts in this nation.  Each district held an election and voted for the men for their fearlessness, straight shooting, and hard fighting.

The duty of the Light Horsemen was to rid the country of undesirables and keep peace and harmony among the Indians.

Each organized Light Horsemen Company was  under the command of a captain.  Each district in the Muskogee-Creek nation had their judge, attorney (prosecuting) and other officers.  There was the higher officer classed in the supreme class, namely, Supreme Judge.  This supreme class worked as one unit for the whole nation unlike the district officers.

The members of the Light Horsemen received compensation from the government.  The term of active service was usually for four years.

Each criminal had to have a trial, and if a criminal was found guilty, it was his privilege to choose anyone to carry out the death sentence which choice was usually a close friend.