Our Arklahoma Heritage: Oklahoma-born cowboy rode with infamous Regulators during Lincoln County War
- Dennis McCaslin
- Mar 11, 2025
- 2 min read
Fred Tecumseh "Dash" Waite,, was a significant figure whose life spanned the turbulent landscapes of the American West and the world of Native American politics.
Born in 1853 at Fort Arbuckle, Oklahoma, in the Chickasaw Nation, Waite's early life was marked by his mixed heritage--his mother, Catherine McClure Waite, was Chickasaw, and his father, Thomas Fletcher Waite, was a white farmer and trader who also operated a trading store and stage stop southeast of Pauls Valley.
This background rooted him deeply in the Chickasaw community, which would later shape his political career.
During the Civil War, the Waite family supported the Union, a stance that forced them to flee to the Sac and Fox reservation in Kansas to escape Confederate soldiers. This experience of displacement likely influenced Waite's later decisions.
After the war, the family returned to Oklahoma, and Waite pursued education, attending the Illinois Industrial University and graduating from the Mound City Commercial College in St. Louis in 1874. This education was unusual for the time, especially for someone of Native American descent, and it equipped him with skills that would later prove valuable in his political endeavors.
In 1875, at around 22 years old, Waite sought adventure and headed west, initially aiming for Colorado but ending up in New Mexico. There, he worked for the legendary rancher John Chisum before securing a job with John Tunstall by late 1877.
Tunstall's murder in February 1878, during the escalating Lincoln County War, thrust Waite into a violent chapter of his life.
He joined the Lincoln County Regulators, a group led by figures like Billy the Kid, and was involved in significant events such as the killing of Sheriff William J. Brady and the shootout at Blazer's Mill, where the Regulators killed Buckshot Roberts.
His participation in these events marked him as a gunfighter, earning him a reputation in the annals of the Wild West.
However, Waite's time with the Regulators was brief. By 1880, at age 27, he chose to leave the gang, a decision that reflected his desire for a more settled life. He returned to the Chickasaw Nation, settling in the Washita Valley, and on December 1, 1881, married Mary E. Thompson, starting a family.
This period saw him engage in ranching, managing a crew of 30 ranch hands and looking after about 1,000 head of cattle, a testament to his managerial skills honed during his earlier education.
He also served as a lawman for the U.S. Indian Police, indicating his transition toward roles of authority and responsibility.
Waite's political career began in earnest when he was elected as a representative and later as a senator in the Chickasaw legislature. He served as Speaker of the House for three sessions, showcasing his leadership, and was appointed Attorney General of the Chickasaw Nation, a role that underscored his legal acumen.
By September 3, 1894, he was appointed National Secretary, positioning him as a potential governor.
,His health declined, and he died on just a little more than a year later on September 24, 1895, at age 42, from rheumatism, just days before he might have ascended to the governorship.
He was buried in Pauls Valley Cemetery, Garvin County, leaving behind a legacy of transformation.
