Big Tree
Big Tree was a prominent Kiowa war chief known for his role in Native American resistance against U.S. expansion during the late 19th century. He gained notoriety after leading a raid on a wagon train commanded by future General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1871, an event that resulted in the deaths of several settlers and ultimately led to his arrest. Alongside fellow chiefs Satanta and Satank, Big Tree faced a death sentence for their actions, which sparked significant protests from various Kiowa leaders. Following negotiations, he was released on parole but later violated the terms during a hunting trip, resulting in further imprisonment.
After his release in 1875, Big Tree transitioned to a more peaceful life, marrying a Kiowa woman named Omboke and settling on the Kiowa reservation, where he engaged in farming and operated a supply train service. He also underwent a spiritual transformation, converting to Christianity and serving as a Baptist deacon and Sunday school teacher. Additionally, Big Tree is recognized for his cultural legacy, as he served as one of the models for the Indian Head nickel designed by James Earle Fraser, minted from 1913 to 1938. His life reflects the complex interplay of resistance, adaptation, and cultural identity among Native Americans during a tumultuous period in U.S. history.
Big Tree
- Born: c. 1847
- Birthplace: Texas
- Died: November 13, 1929
- Place of death: Anadarko, Oklahoma
Category: War chief
Tribal affiliation: Kiowa
Significance: Big Tree ambushed General William Tecumseh Sherman’s wagon train as it was en route to Fort Sill, Texas, during the Kiowa raids
As a young Kiowa war chief, Big Tree raided soldiers and settlers in present-day Texas. After ambushing the wagon train of William Tecumseh Sherman on May 18, 1871, chiefs Big Tree, Satanta, and Satank were arrested for murdering seven white men. Satank was killed while attempting escape; Big Tree and Satanta were tried and sentenced to die. Leaders of the Kiowa militants, as well as of the peace faction, protested their sentence. During negotiations in Washington, D.C., Lone Wolf negotiated the men’s prison release subject to their agreeing to remain in Texas. After violating their parole during a hunting trip to Kansas, Big Tree was imprisoned at Fort Sill, Texas; Satanta committed suicide. Following his release in 1875, Big Tree married Omboke, a woman in the Kiowa tribe, and settled peacefully on the Kiowa reservation, where he farmed and ran a supply train between Kansas and Texas. After converting to Christianity, he became a Baptist deacon and Sunday school teacher.
