Willie Mills and Sister Cora Everidge

In 1906 Willie Mills approached the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes to have his name and that of his sister Cora, transferred from the Choctaw Freedman Roll, to the Choctaw Roll by Blood. He had a strong knowledge of his lineage, and presented several generations to explain his history to the commission. Willie was the son of Daniel Mills and an enslaved woman Rosanna, held in bondage by George Hawkins. His father Daniel, was the son of Delia, who was a daughter of Zattic LeFlore who was a recognized Choctaw. His recitation of his family lineage is a four-generation pedigree.

National Archives, Ft. Worth Texas
File Number 68 Image #5

At the time of enrollment, his mother Rosanna was still living, and presented information to the Dawes Commission. She was Previously enslaved by George Hawkins and thus, her name and that of her children, were placed on Choctaw Freedman Card Number 558,

National Archives Publication M1186
Choctaw Freedmen Card #558

Rosanna's father (Willie's grandfather) was Jim Mills who was once enslaved by Basil LeFlore, a very well known Choctaw. Her mother was Anna Hawkins, of Kiamitia, an enslaved woman, helf in bondage also by George Hawkins.

Reverse side of card

In the official interview that accompanies File #558, Rosanna, the mother to Willie and Cora was the person interviewed. In that interview, the surname of the slave holding family was noted as Harkins. That surname is actually quite prominent in the Choctaw Nation, and was most likely the true surname. The focus however, was strictly, on their enslavement, and not on their family ties.

National Archives Publication M1301
Interview in Choctaw Freedman File 558


The Commissioners were not taking the claim of Willie Mills seriously and tried to dismiss it claiming that he had never submitted an application by blood to the Choctaw Nation. In addition the explanation that the man alleged to be his great grandfather, Zadoc Le Flore was on the 1885 roll and was born in 1874 and could not have been his great grandfather.

However---the commissioners chose not to acknowledge Willie's family ties to the Le Flores---the Choctaw Le Flore family. Willie's grandfather Jim Mills was enslaved by Basil LeFlore. And Basil LeFlore was one of the most prominent men in the Choctaw Nation. Basil LeFlore had a son, Zadoc LeFlore who was born in 1848 in the Pushmataha district of the Choctaw Nation. He would have been of age to have fathered a child in the 1870s. In fact--that would have been the very same Zadoc-Zattick whom he mentioned. Even if the commission had found the same Zadoc on the 1885 roll, it was considered immaterial, as were ohter cases of those of African ancestry seeking to be transferred.

Perry Files Image #6

The rationale was always the same---they Willie, his father, or grandfather, were never on a roll previously. Of course such enrollment was not allowed, as those formerly enslaved people were prevented from citizenship in earlier years.

However---the descendants of Willie Mills and Cora Everidge can still speak to their history and their legacy. They are the children of Daniel Mills, the son of Delia, who was the daughter of Zadoc, who was the son of Basil LeFlore. They are the descendants of their Choctaw fathers.