Daniel T. Sledge applied for Choctaw Nation citizenship in 1899 for himself and his children, Nona and Leda R. Sledge, as citizens by blood, and his wife, Lula Sledge, as an intermarried citizen. The Dawes Commission denied their application in 1905, with appeals rejected by the Department of the Interior. Additional applications for younger children in 1906 were also refused. Daniel T. Sledge, a full brother of William Sledge, had resided in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations for over a decade. Legal counsel argued for enrollment based on ancestry and long-term residence.
Daniel Sledge Et Al.
Commission, No. R-278.
September. 1899. Original application to Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes for enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw Nation of Daniel T. Sledge, and Mona Sledge, Leda R. Sledge, his children, as citizens by blood; Lula Sledge, his wife, as an intermarried citizen of the Choctaw Nation.
March 30, 1905. Decision rendered by the commission denying the application for the enrollment of the above named claimants.
May 18, 1905. Decision of the commission was affirmed by the department.
November 4, 1905. Motion for review filed with department.
January 30, 1906. Department held that its decision of May 18, 1905, was correct and denied applicant’s petition for rehearing and review. Applications were subsequently received by the Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes for the enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw Nation under the act of Congress approved April 26, 1906, of the following children of Daniel T. Sledge: May 2, 1906. Louolga Sledge and Harry G. Sledge; June 4. 1906, Daniel Oscar Sledge.
February 14, 1907. Applications refused by decision of commissioner of this date.
March 4, 1907. Department approved this action of the commission.
The record in this case shows that the principal claimant is a full brother of William Sledge, whose case has been fully set out; that he had been residing in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations for 10 years prior to June 28, 1898.
Wherefore counsel for claimants submit that they are entitled to enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw Nation.
Those entitled to enrollment are: Daniel T. Sledge, Nona Sledge. Leda R. Sledge.
Respectfully submitted.
Walter S. Field. Attorney for Claimants.
Wanting to know if myself or any of my paternal grandfather decedents are able to have Choctaw Nation enrollment?
I also would like to know if we can enroll as well through Daniel
Daniel T. Sledge was denied his attempted enrollment in the Choctaw Nation. His case centered around his grandmother, Jane Sledge (nee Frazier) being an alleged full-blood Choctaw. The courts found that the only prior mention of a Jane Frazier in the Choctaw records was not the same Jane Frazier who was the grandmother of Daniel. Since Daniel could not prove that his grandmother had ever claimed Choctaw rights under Article 14 of the treaty of 1830, a requirement in order to have at that time claimed descent, he, his wife, and children were denied enrollment. It should also be stated that the Choctaw Nation fought this attempt by Daniel, stating he was not a Choctaw Citizen.
Based on this decision, you would not have rights to enroll as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation.