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Samuel H. Mayes
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Samuel H. Mayes
1895 – 1899
Born near present-day Stilwell in 1837, Mayes served in the Confederate Army during the U.S. Civil War. He was the brother of former Principal Chief Joel Mayes. During his term, there was a political scandal about the Freedmen compromise of 1896; one attorney was accused of receiving too much Cherokee money and it was said the treasury was being looted.
He was elected Sheriff of the Coo-wee-scoo-wee District from 1881 through 1885, and was elected to the Cherokee Senate in 1885 and 1891. He served one term as Principal Chief, being elected in 1895. He later served as a delegate to the Sequoyah State Convention.
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