WOMEN MARSHALS
of the
Oklahoma and Indian Territories
The US purchased the "Louisiana Purchase" from france in 1803.
Between 1830 - 1842 the Five Civilized Tribes were forcibly moved to the alien landscape that was to become known in 1834, as the Indian Territory. This forced removal became known as the "Trial of Tears."
The Indian Territory was established from a portion of the old Louisiana Purchase by the federal government for the purpose of using it to relocate American Indians from the southeast. The government decided to open the western parts of the territory to settlers by holding a total of six land runs between 1889 and 1895. 1890 Congress establishes the Oklahoma Territory thus creating the Twin Territories. 1893 the largest land run in history occurs in the Cherokee Outlet. Guthrie becomes the first Territorial capitol, as such a U.S. Marshal was assigned to the Federal Court at Guthrie.
Research shows that there was at least one female deputy U.S. Marshal in
the Indian Territory and two females in the Oklahoma Territory.
Quote from Muskogee Weekly Phoenix, November 19, 1891
The articale indicates that a female Deputy United States Marshal named F.M. Miller, who was commissioned out of the Federal Court at Paris, Texas, was known to be the only female deputy that worked the Indian Territory. Ms. Miller had the reputation of being a fearless and efficent officer and had locked up more than a few offenders. It was stated in the articale that she was a "young woman of prepossessing appearance, wears a cowboy hat and is always packinga pistol belt full of cartridges and a dangerous looking Colt pistol which she knows how to use." Ms. Miller had been in Muskogee for a few days. She had assisted Deputy U.S. Marshal Cantrel in transporting some prisoners from Talahina to the Muskogee Federal jail.
*
The following article was found in the file on U. S. Marshals in the Oklahoma Historical Society Library. It was written in a newspaper in 1898:
Other Female Officers of the Law
Two Oklahoma Girls Are United States Deputy Marshals
In the 1800's it was not common but not unheard of, Often US Marshals appointed female deputies, usually as "office deputies," working only in the office and not in the field. A woman chosing a vocation of professional crime fighter is strange enough in a city of the eastern seaboard. It is infinitely more so when they chose to work field duty in the worst territory in the United States. More officers are lost each year in the territories than any where else in the US. So it would seem that these two young ladies are of such a metal as to challenge the accepted status of women and their ability to do this type of work.
The two young women who were; Miss Mamie FOSSETT,
U S Deputy Marshal, sex: female, appointed by US Marshal C. H. Thompson, Oklahoma Territory and
Miss S. M. BURCHE, U S Deputy Marshal, sex: female, appointed by US Marshal C. H. Thompson,
Oklahoma Territory.
These young women are of such an adventerous type that they came to the newly opened territory to claim homesteads. Apparently being unsuccessful sought other employement.They were young, fairly good looking, well-educated, fearless and independent. When they took their oath of office was with the understanding that they would serve the government just as any other marshal. They were to work in the field, serve writs and warrants and make arrests just as any of the other Territorial Marshals and some of them were netorious thumpers and neer-do-wells and outlaws. And they have been doing their job with exceptional success.
WOMEN MARSHALS
of the
Oklahoma and Indian Territories
The US purchased the "Louisiana Purchase" from france in 1803.
Between 1830 - 1842 the Five Civilized Tribes were forcibly moved to the alien landscape that was to become known in 1834, as the Indian Territory. This forced removal became known as the "Trial of Tears."
The Indian Territory was established from a portion of the old Louisiana Purchase by the federal government for the purpose of using it to relocate American Indians from the southeast. The government decided to open the western parts of the territory to settlers by holding a total of six land runs between 1889 and 1895. 1890 Congress establishes the Oklahoma Territory thus creating the Twin Territories. 1893 the largest land run in history occurs in the Cherokee Outlet. Guthrie becomes the first Territorial capitol, as such a U.S. Marshal was assigned to the Federal Court at Guthrie.
Research shows that there was at least one female deputy U.S. Marshal in the Indian Territory and two females in the Oklahoma Territory.
Quote from Muskogee Weekly Phoenix, November 19, 1891
The articale indicates that a female Deputy United States Marshal named F.M. Miller, who was commissioned out of the Federal Court at Paris, Texas, was known to be the only female deputy that worked the Indian Territory. Ms. Miller had the reputation of being a fearless and efficent officer and had locked up more than a few offenders. It was stated in the articale that she was a "young woman of prepossessing appearance, wears a cowboy hat and is always packinga pistol belt full of cartridges and a dangerous looking Colt pistol which she knows how to use." Ms. Miller had been in Muskogee for a few days. She had assisted Deputy U.S. Marshal Cantrel in transporting some prisoners from Talahina to the Muskogee Federal jail.
*
The following article was found in the file on U. S. Marshals in the Oklahoma Historical Society Library. It was written in a newspaper in 1898:
Other Female Officers of the Law
In the 1800's it was not common but not unheard of, Often US Marshals appointed female deputies, usually as "office deputies," working only in the office and not in the field. A woman chosing a vocation of professional crime fighter is strange enough in a city of the eastern seaboard. It is infinitely more so when they chose to work field duty in the worst territory in the United States. More officers are lost each year in the territories than any where else in the US. So it would seem that these two young ladies are of such a metal as to challenge the accepted status of women and their ability to do this type of work.
The two young women who were; Miss Mamie FOSSETT,
U S Deputy Marshal, sex: female, appointed by US Marshal C. H. Thompson, Oklahoma Territory and
Miss S. M. BURCHE, U S Deputy Marshal, sex: female, appointed by US Marshal C. H. Thompson,
Oklahoma Territory.
These young women are of such an adventerous type that they came to the newly opened territory to claim homesteads. Apparently being unsuccessful sought other employement.They were young, fairly good looking, well-educated, fearless and independent. When they took their oath of office was with the understanding that they would serve the government just as any other marshal. They were to work in the field, serve writs and warrants and make arrests just as any of the other Territorial Marshals and some of them were netorious thumpers and neer-do-wells and outlaws. And they have been doing their job with exceptional success.