To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Oklahoma Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Oklahoma, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 7/3/12 • Approved: 7/4/12 • Last Updated: 4/12/18 • R25994-G0-S3
December 14, 1852 - November 3, 1892
He was a blacksmith, gunsmith, and in 1885, was elected a representative of National Council from the Going Snake District of Cherokee Nation. Two years later, he became embroiled in what would become the fight of his life. It began on May 4, 1887 with the murder of Deputy Daniel Maples in the Cherokee Nation. His companion John Parris, was arrested for the murder, but Parris told the authorities that Ned had fired the gun that killed the Deputy. He was now a wanted man, with a reward for his capture, dead or alive, for a crime he swore he did not commit. For the next five years he was searched out as a Cherokee rouge, killer outlaw. Scores of posse-men were unable to apprehend him although he never left his home. He continued to stand up for the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation and vowed to never speak English again. In November 1892, a posse attempted to bring in a canon to blow him out of his house. Being unsuccessful as the home was high above a creek, the deputies resorted to dynamiting the house. The dynamite prompted him to run from the house in front of the officers, only to be shot to death. In the early 1900's, a witness came forward and Ned Christie was cleared of any alleged involvement in the shooting. Even though Cherokee People regard him as a martyr and patriot, history continues to refer him as a notorious criminal, gang leader and murderer.
Contributed on 7/3/12 by tomtodd
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 25994