Jackson McCurtain

Jackson McCurtain (Choctaw: Tʋshka Homma, lit. 'Red Warrior') (1830-1885) was a Choctaw politician who served as the principal chief of the Choctaw Nation from 1880 until 1884.

Jackson McCurtain
Tʋshka Homma
Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation
In office 1880–1884
Preceded by	Isaac Garvin
Succeeded by	Edmund McCurtain
President of the Choctaw Senate
In office 1870–1880
Member of the Choctaw Senate from the Moshulatubbee District
In office 1866–1880
Constituency	Nvnih Chufvk Kaunti
Member of the Choctaw National Council from the Moshulatubbee District
In office 1859–1861
Constituency	Nvnih Chufvk Kaunti
Personal details
Born	(1830-03-04)March 4, 1830 Mississippi, U.S.
Died	November 14, 1885(1885-11-14) (aged 55) Tuskahoma, Indian Territory
Citizenship	Choctaw Nation
Political party	Progressive Party
Spouse	Jane Austin McCurtain
Parent	Cornelius McCurtain (father)
Relatives	Edmund McCurtain (brother) Green McCurtain (brother)
Military service
Allegiance	Choctaw Nation Confederate States
Branch/service	Confederate army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	Confederate First Regiment of Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles First Choctaw Battalion
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Biography

Jackson McCurtain was born in Mississippi on March 4, 1830, to Cornelius McCurtain and Mahayia Nelson. He fought in the American Civil War serving as a captain in the Confederate First Regiment of Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles and later as a lieutenant colonel in the First Choctaw Battalion.^[1] After the war he was a successful Choctaw farmer and rancher who married Jane Austin McCurtain in 1865. He who served in the Senate of the Choctaw Nation for many years and who served as the president of the senate from 1870 to 1880 when Principal Chief Isaac Garvin died.^[2][3] After Garvin's death, he was appointed principal chief and served in that position until 1884.^[4] He died on November 14, 1885, shortly after leaving office.^[2] During his tenure he was known as a progressive chief and for building the first permanent capital for the Choctaw Nation.^[3] He was succeeded by his brother, Edmund McCurtain.^[4]