(See Grant, Ghigau, Foreman, Adair and Riley)—James McIntosh Keys, born near the mouth of Fourteen Mile Creek in Tahlequah District, March 25, 1843. Educated in that District. He enlisted at the beginning of the war under his cousin Captain O. H. P. Brewer and served four years in the Confederacy. Naturally kind, considerate and of much more than ordinary native ability.
He married in March 16, 1869 Nancy Jane Mayes, born April 29, 1850 near Baptist, Going Snake District. She was educated at Baptist Mission.
He was elected Solicitor of Cooweescoowee District August 4, 1879 and August 6, 1883. Elected senator from the same District August 3, 1891. Elected a member of the town site commission in 1881 and Chief Justice of the Cherokee Nation in November 1885. On the inception of statehood he was elected Senator from the twenty-ninth District.
James McDaniel and Nancy Jane (Mayes) Keys were the parents of; Dennis Bushyhead, born July 15, 1878; Bluford Alberty, born February 12, 1882 and Elizabeth Covel Keys, born September 12, 1885 and she graduated from Female Seminary June 3, 1904.
Mrs. Nancy Jane Keys is the daughter of George Washington and Charlotte (Bushyhead) Mayes.