Gilbert Wesley Dukes was an American and Choctaw politician who served as the Chief of the Choctaw Nation between 1900 and 1902. He was the Republican candidate for

Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma The lieutenant governor of Oklahoma is the second-highest executive official of the state government of Oklahoma. As first in the gubernatorial line of succession, the lieutenant governor becomes the new governor of Oklahoma upon the death, ...

in 1910.

Biography

Gilbert Wesley Dukes was born on November 21, 1849, in

Bok Tuklo, Choctaw Nation Bok Tuklo County was a political subdivision of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Choctaw Nation of Indian Territory, prior to Oklahoma being admitted as a state. The county formed part of the Nation’s Apukshunnubbee District, or Second District, ...

, to Joseph Dukes and Nancy Collins. His father was an interpreter and translator for missionaries. Dukes attended the Spenser Academy,

read the law Reading law was the primary method used in common law countries, particularly the United States, for people to prepare for and enter the legal profession before the advent of law schools. It consisted of an extended internship or apprenticeship un ...

, and practiced in tribal courts. He fought for the

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army (CSA), also called the Confederate army or the Southern army, was the Military forces of the Confederate States, military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) duri ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

under Jackson McCurtain. After he moved to Talihina, Indian Territory he was elected sheriff for

Wade County, Choctaw Nation {{Short description, Former political subdivision Wade County was a political subdivision of the Choctaw Nation of Indian Territory, prior to Oklahoma being admitted as a state. The county formed part of the Nation's Apukshunnubbee District, or Fir ...

. He was a Choctaw Nation Supreme Court Justice from 1885 to 1889 and a circuit court judge for the nation's 2nd district between 1889 and 1895. From 1895 to 1897 he served as the nation's auditor. He ran for Chief of the Choctaw Nation in 1900 with the Tuskahoma Party. He supported implementing the

Atoka Agreement The Atoka Agreement is a document signed by representatives of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian Nations and members of the United States Dawes Commission on April 23, 1897, at Atoka, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). It provided for the allotment o ...

, settling tribal affairs, and using mineral leases to fund education. He defeated Jacob B. Jackson of the National Party and E. N. Wright of the Union Party. He chose not to seek reelection as Chief in 1902 and was succeeded by his predecessor, Green McCurtain. Following Oklahoma statehood, he was the Republican candidate for

in 1910. He lost the election to J. J. McAlester. He married Angeline Wade, the daughter of Choctaw Governor Alfred Wade, in 1870. He died on December 26, 1919, southeast of Talihina.

Electoral history

References

Works cited

* 1849 births 1919 deaths 19th-century Native American politicians 20th-century Native American politicians Chiefs of the Choctaw Choctaw Confederates Choctaw people on the Dawes Rolls Confederate States Army soldiers Child soldiers in the American Civil War Candidates in the 1910 United States elections Oklahoma lawyers Oklahoma Republicans Native American Christians Native American tribal government officials in Indian Territory People from McCurtain County, Oklahoma People of Indian Territory in the American Civil War Presbyterians from Oklahoma {{Improve categories, date=September 2024