Gilbert Dukes Explained

Office:Chief of the Choctaw Nation
Term Start:1900
Term End:1902
Predecessor:Green McCurtain
Successor:Green McCurtain
Office2:Choctaw National Auditor
Term Start2:1895
Term End2:1897
Office3:Judge for the Choctaw Nation's 2nd district court
Term Start3:1889
Term End3:1895
Office4:Justice of the Choctaw Supreme Court
Term Start4:1885
Term End4:1889
Birth Date:21 November 1849
Birth Place:Bok Tuklo, Choctaw Nation
Death Place:Talihina, Oklahoma, U.S.
Citizenship:Choctaw Nation
American
Party:Tuskahoma Party (until 1906)
Republican (1906–1919)
Branch:Confederate States Army

Gilbert Wesley Dukes was an American and Choctaw politician who served as the Chief of the Choctaw Nation between 1900 and 1902. He was the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma in 1910.

Biography

Gilbert Wesley Dukes was born on November 21, 1849, in Bok Tuklo, Choctaw Nation, to Joseph Dukes and Nancy Collins. His father was an interpreter and translator for missionaries. Dukes attended the Spenser Academy, read the law, and practiced in tribal courts. He fought for the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War under Jackson McCurtain. After he moved to Talihina, Indian Territory he was elected sheriff for Wade County, Choctaw Nation. He was a Choctaw Nation Supreme Court Justice from 1885 to 1889 and a circuit court judge for the nation's 2nd district between 1889 and 1895. From 1895 to 1897 he served as the nation's auditor. He ran for Chief of the Choctaw Nation in 1900 with the Tuskahoma Party. He supported implementing the Atoka Agreement, settling tribal affairs, and using mineral leases to fund education. He defeated Jacob B. Jackson of the National Party and E. N. Wright of the Union Party. He chose not to seek reelection as Chief in 1902 and was succeeded by his predecessor, Green McCurtain.

Following Oklahoma statehood, he was the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma in 1910. He lost the election to J. J. McAlester.

He married Angeline Wade, the daughter of Choctaw Governor Alfred Wade, in 1870. He died on December 26, 1919, southeast of Talihina.

Works cited