Called “The Great Chief” by the Creek Indians, Samuel Checote was born in 1819 in Alabama. He was a full blooded Creek who settled with his parents near Okmulgee, Oklahoma after they were forced from the Old Indian Territories. His parents passed away within a few years of resettling.

          Checote attended the Asbury School of Manual Labor and later under the wing of Methodist pioneer “Uncle” John Harrell, he attended Harrell’s academy. After becoming a member of the Methodist Church early in life he later entered the ministry of that denomination. He later preached to the Creek Indians.

          The Lower Creek Council was hostile to missionaries and the Christian message and things became harder for the missionaries and preachers in 1835 as they closed places of worship except those supplied by Native American ministers. In 1844, however, the Creek Council prohibited Native Americans from preaching the Christian Religion. The penalty for preaching was fifty lashes on a bare back. Many missionaries and ministers were whipped under the provisions of this law.

          This caused Checote to flee. Eventually, he personally appealed to Chief McIntosh, the Creek chief at the time, and eventually the law was revoked. Checote resumed his ministerial duties on or about October 28, 1852 and continued with them intermittently until his death.

          Checote also served in the Confederate service in Company B of the First Regiment of the Creek Mounted Volunteers. He entered this service on August 13, 1861 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on August 19, 1861. It is stated that his service was of the “highest and most efficient character” and unlike many other enlisted members of his tribe. He did remain faithful to the cause of the Confederacy until the close of the war.

          At the close of the war, the Upper and Lower Creek tribes had conflicts as those who had served in the Union Army did not want to work with those who had served in the Confederacy. The arguments between the two tribes included issues on how federal funds would be disbursed, among other issues.

          Checote was elected tribal Chief after the war and served two terms. He is referred to as “The Great Chief” and under his leadership he was able to facilitate the reconciliation of the two factions. At the conclusion of his last term, he gave the following address, which best typified his pride in his heritage and his Christian perspective:

          Before closing, I must speak of the peaceful manner win which our late elections have been conducted – there were no disturbances anywhere in the Nation – the campaign was not characterized by ill feeling or illegitimate     practices, but was dignified and honorable to all parties. And the ready acquiescence of all to the decisions made at the polls, by the people in a lawful manner speaks in the very highest terms of the natural good qualities       of the Creek people and indicates their capacity for perfect self government and is an augury of most favorable import, of the high stand they will take as conservative and law abiding and law loving citizens. Thus, the onward advancement of our government towards a more perfect system will be the legitimate outgrowth of experience and not the fitful dreams of theorists who experiment upon the passions and feelings of imaginary wants of a simple people.”

          Other notable achievements of Checote’s life were his part in building the Old Rock Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Checote, along with Joshua Ross, John Cunningham, and Major John Foreman, raised the funds to build the small church. This church was the beginning of that is now Saint Paul United Methodist Church.

          Checote also recognized and understood the importance of translating the Scripture into the Native languages. He did petition on behalf of the Muskogee Creeks to translate the Scriptures at the Annual Conference of 1844, but it took many years for the church leadership to comply with this request. In the meantime, he translated as he was able. He also translated many hymns into Creek.

          Anita Phillips writes of Checote:

“The story of Sam Checote, Muscogee-Creek minister and tribal leader, represents the struggle so many experienced when hearing about Jesus Christ through on-Indian missionaries. When Native people heard the Jesus story, their greatest challenge became finding the kernel of truth about Jesus which had become so embedded within the Anglo-American desire to stamp out all culture different from our own. Over and over, native people heard the Grace of God through Jesus; however, it was coupled with human behavior exactly opposite of God’s message.”

          Checote knew that life would be hard for his people. He accepted his discipleship and wanted to show that he could introduce the love of Christ without needing to stamp out the history or cultural identity of his people. He accepted each person as they were.

          Checote was elected to serve as a Delegate to the Ecumenical Conference on Methodism held in London in 1881, but could not attend due to ill health. He was also the first Native American Superintendent, as well as a preacher, circuit rider, and presiding Elder in the Indian Mission which he served for 12 years.

          After his death in 1884, the “Great Chief” was laid to rest near Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

Sources:

Meserve, John Bartlett,  Chronicles of Oklahoma, Volume 16, No. 4 December 1938: Chief Samuel Checote, with Sketches of Chiefs Locher Harjo and Ward Coachman, pp. 401-409, http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v016/v016p401.html

www.rootsweb.com/~okmcinto/Checote.htm

Saint Paul United Methodist Church, 2130 West Okmulgee, Muskogee OK USA,  www. Stpulsumc.net/the_history

Phillips, Anita, “On and Beyond the Trail of Tears”, www.okumc.org