The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 36, July 1932 - April, 1933 Page: 108
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
medical attention for them, and has appointed a full-time agent to
look after their interests.128 The Indians receive aid under the
Smith-Hughes act, and in 1927, by special act the state granted
them rural aid.129 Under a coperative agreement between the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs and the State Board of Control,
their classroom building is to be enlarged, a new shop building to
be constructed and manual training equipment purchased, and a
light, water, and sewer system to be installed.10 The census of
1930 gives the number of Indians in Polk county as two hundred
forty-five as against two hundred forty-eight in 1920, and two
hundred two in 1910.'"' Their chief is Charlie Thompson, who is
known as Chief Sun-Kee.132
Through all the years the Alabamas have maintained their racial
integrity, and since the days they moved westward across the
Mississippi they have been known as peaceful and friendly Indians.
During the century and more that they have lived in East Texas
but few crimes can be laid at their door. As of old, they raise
corn, peas, potatoes, peanuts, a little cotton, and they have peach
trees in their village; they also raise cattle and hogs and a few
ponies. But now an agricultural supervisor teaches them the
proper cultivation of the soil and the care of their livestock.
There is the busy hum of the schoolroom where once were the
ancient ball plays, the dances, the ceremonials. In 1911, the
Indian children were accounted the best writers and singers among
the school children of the county.'3" The boys have a champion
basket ball team. The girls of the domestic science class prepare
each day a well-balanced luncheon for all the children of the school.
A young woman of the tribe is now one of the teachers of the
Indian school. It is a far cry from Tamath-le-Mingo, "decorated
as a great chief with a medal bestowed by the King," leading his
people down the river to Mobile, to Charlie Thompson, Chief Sun-
Kee, ruling a small remnant of his tribe in the Indian village near
the Big Thicket in Polk county, Texas.
128bid.; also General Laws, 42 Legislature, Reg. Sess., 637.
2BGeneral and Special Laws, 39 Legislature, 1 Called Sess., 106.
s0Agreement between Commissioner of Indian Affairs and Board of
Control, September 18, 1931; in MS., Files, Board of Control.
"'Fifteenth Census of the United States, Population, III, Pt. 2, 1015.
"82Information obtained from Dr. C. W. Chambers.
a"Lesesne, S. M., Tribe of Indians Living in Eastern Part of State in
Dallas News, February 26, 1911.108
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 36, July 1932 - April, 1933, periodical, 1933; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101093/m1/122/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.