They were denied Cherokee Citizenship after their initial application. I was told this was because they were not living on Indian lands at the time. This is what I suspect lead Steve G. Nees to move to the Indian Territory, and then re-apply. My Great-Grandmother Minnie Bell Nees Ingram was born in the Indian Territory in 1888.

The following are affidavits submitted on behalf of my 3rd Great-Grandfather James Nees, Jr. and his brother Frank which describe personal knowledge of him and their father James Nees, Sr. (my 4th Great Grandfather) who they describe as the “Old Cherokee” being half Indian.

There are many researchers online who are related to James Nees, Jr. with whom I’ve lost contact with. I’m hoping to get back in touch with them to assist where I can in solving this mystery. Meanwhile, I find these affidavits fascinating to read, and am grateful to have them.

From LDS Film 1666,345 p. 145
Application Rejected for Cherokee Citizenship
James Neese Praire Grove Ark, 13 Feb 1889
Oscar L. Neese
Walton Neese
Alvia Neese
Elmer Neese
Genda Jane Neese
Stephen Y. Neese
Maggie Neese
Albert Neese

File of Application of James Nees at Tallehequah, Oklahoma:

To the Honorable The National Council:

The undersigned petitioner Represents That he is a cherokee by blood that he made application to the Honorable Court of Commission on Citizenships for admission to citizenship and that in his abscnce and also of his ally the Honorable Commission disposed of his case without hearing all of his testimony, that he has other and to him important Testimony in his behalf, therefore, your petitioner asks that the papers in his case which are on file in the office of the court of commission on citizenship together with the papers herewith accompanying this petition be admitted to your Honorable Bodies for further investigation And that .. petitioner be admitted to all the Rights and privoliges of cherokee Citizenship.

Respectfully Submitted.
James Nees

State of Illinois County of Coles
John M. Easton being first duly sworn on oath make that he is well acquainted with Frank & Janes Nees sons of James Nees deceased. That he knew their father for many years That he their father was to all appearances half Indian. That he had high cheek bones and his beard was .. thin and scattering – stiff and black resembling an Indian. That said father had complexion the common to the Indian – i.e. his shin was copper colored and that his decendants show the same copper tint to a greater or less degree. That said father Janmes Nees was commonly called half Indian, and that he told applicant he was half Indian. That he was commonly known as “Old Cherokee” – That affidavit was well acquanted with many Indians in an early day and verily believes from his knowledge of said father and sons as well as other decendants, that the said father James Nees was a half Indian or half breed as he was called. Applicant is eighty one years old past.

J. M. Eastin

State of Illinois County of Coles
I Frank K. Dunn, Notary Public in and for County and State above named hereby cerifies that John M. Easton personnaly known to me to be the same person he represents himself tobe subscribed and swore to the foregoing affidavit before me this 4th day of May A.D. 1889 and that contents were read to him and that he fully understood the contents of said affidavit before swearing to the same.

Frank K. Dunn
Notary Public

State of Illinois County of Pike
William Chandler Being first … sworn an oath states that he is well acquainted with James Ness now of the cherrykee nation Indian Terrytory and has bin acquainted with him from the time he was a small boy and knows him to be by general repute to be as on of Jame Nees Desceased which I was intimately acquainted with by being at his house and Play mate of James Nees now of the Indian … and knew James Nees Deceased Looked like and Indian had prominent chee Bones Smooth face and no beard, black Hair & black eyes and Dark c9omplection and have herd his half sister and other of the family say that James Nees Deceased was half indian his Father being acknyled Indian man and by his actions I am satisfyed that he was at Least Half Indian I being acquainted with indians and ther habbits & ways.

William Chandler

State of Illinois County of Pike Hull May 17 — 1899
I E. T. Bridge Notary Publick in and for the county and state affore named hereby certafy that William Chandler persnelly known to me to be the same person he represent himself to be and to be a person of good caracter and reliable and subscribed and sworn to the foreing and I red and Explained the fore going to him.

E. T. Bridge
Notary Publick

State of Illinois County of Coles April 2 A. D. 1889
William M. Gordon, being first dulyt sworn in oath states that he is well acquainted with Frank and James Nees sons of James Nees deceased, That he knew their father for many years That he their father was to all appearances half Indian that he had high cheek bones and his beard was very thin and scattering, stiff and black resembling an Indian That said father had the complexion common to the Indian i. e. his shin was copper colored and that his decendants show the same coffee tint to a grater or less degree. That said father James Nees was commonly called half Indian and that he told me he was half Indian That he was commonly known as “Old Cherokee” That I was well acquainted with many Indians in an early day and ….. that from my knowledge of the said father and sons as well as other decendants that the said father James Nees was a half Indian or half-breed as he was called. I am sixty seven years old.

W. M. Gordon

State of Illinois County Coles April 2 A D 1889
I Jno. M. Bishop Notary Public in and for county and state afore named hereby certify that William M. Gordon personally known to me to be the same person he represented him self to be subscribed and sworn to the forgoing affadavit before me this 2nd day of April A. D. 1889 and that the contends were read to him and that he fully understood the contents of said afidavit before swearing to the same-

- Jno M. Bishop

State of Illinois County of Coles April 2nd A. D. 1889
I Patric H. Gordon being first duly sworn on oath states that he is well acquainted with Frank Nees son of James Nees, also James Nees Jr. That he first became zcquainted with James Nees the father of the above named Frank and James Nees in the year A. D. 1831 or 1832 That the above named father, James Nees, was to all appearances half Indian, he had high cheek bones and his beard was very cattering there being only a hair here and there and what beard he had was very stiff resembling the har or beard of an Indian. That said Nees had the usual copper color of the Indian, That all his descendants show the same copper tint to a greater or less extent. That said father James Nees frequently told me he was half Indian and as I remember he told me he was of the cherokee tribe of Indians, and all his acquaintances called him the “Old Cherokee” That I am seventy nin years old and in my early days was well acquainted with numerous Indian tribes. That I served in the Blackhawks war and verily believe that the father afore refered to was half Indian

Patrick H. Gordon.

State of Illinois County of Coles Apr 2nd A.D.1889
I Jno. M. Bishop Notary Public in & for County and State above named hereby certify that Patrick H. Gordon persenally known to me to be the same person he represents hemself to be personally appeared before me and after hearing the contents of the foregoing afidavit made fully known to him by reading the same to him signed and swears to the same this 2nd day of April AD 1889

Jno M. Bush, NP
State of Illinois Coles County

We the undersigned neighbors and acquaintances of Frank and James Nees on oath state that we are well acquainted with the afore named parties, that they have always been called part Indian and have many features characteristic of the Indian That we verily believe thy are of Indian …
J. T. Edman
John Spark
George Gordon
John W. Rodgers
E. D. Gordon
James W. Lutch
James M. Faris
Joseph Armstrong
J F. Erwin
A. Drewery
Wm Drewery
H. H. Kinser
Samuel Gordon
Clinton Phipps
Al Shirtz
W. H. Phipps
M. Brasheares
A. D. Gray
Saml Chowning
H. Rodgers
George Furry
Isaac Taylor
James E. Phipps
N. S. Freeman
G….Bidle
James K. P. Cassady
John C. White

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.