Howdy, I am trying to figure out if my great grandfather was Native American. Growing up, my great grandfather told my father stories about growing up on the reservation. I am just trying to find out if there was any truth to his stories.
His name was John Washington Shumate (Born Feb. 9, 1894, Died Mar. 20, 1980) he married Minne Lee Dial (Born Jan. 28, 1900, Died Sept. 27, 1975). There is some speculation that Minnie was also Native American.
Well, he certainly didn’t grow up on a reservation, and he wasn’t Native American. He lived in Texas his whole life, but was two or three counties south of Indian Territory or Oklahoma. So, maybe he visited? Or, he could have just been spinning tales. Who knows?
Anyway, he can be found on following records:
1900 (census) – Hopkins, TX
1910 – listed as “step-son,” living in Rains, TX
1917 (WWI Draft Card) – born in Hopkins; light complexion and gray eyes, married to “Minnie,” living in Rains, TX
1920 – Rains, TX
1930 – Rains, TX
1940 – Rains, TX
1980 – died in Rains, TX
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=SHU&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=46&GScntry=4&GSsr=2561&GRid=14617848&
Here is his death certificate info:
Name John Washington Shumate
Birth Date 9 Feb 1894
Birth Place Texas
Gender Male
Race White
Residence Emory, Rains, Texas
Father Sam Shumate
Mother Lilly Roberts
Age at Death 86
Death Date 20 Mar 1980
Death Place Grand Saline, Van Zandt, Texas
John’s parents were born in TX and KY in the 1860s. They were not Cherokee or Native American. Minnie’s lineage is not as easily traced, but she was born in TN in 1880 and her parents’ places of birth are listed as TN as well. She married John in Rains County, TX in 1898.