Stone Gardens: Transplanted from Mississippi at age two, Garvin rose through the ranks to become Choctaw Principal Chief

Isaac Levi Garvin

Isaac Levi Garvin was born on April 27 1832 in Mississippi. At the age of two he traveled with his parents during the Choctaw removal and reached the new Okla Falaya District in Indian Territory.

The family settled six miles southeast of Wheelock Mission about one mile southeast of the spot that later became the town of Garvin. His father Henry Garvin was a white man. Isaac carried Choctaw blood through his mother whose name does not appear in surviving records.

Local family connections through marriage tie the household to the Carnes lineage in the same burial ground.Garvin married twice. His second wife Melvina was the daughter of Captain Miashambi.

Together they raised children including James H. born in 1858 and died in 1878 Mary Jane born in 1861 and died in 1885 Maggie born in 1870 and died in 1880 Sarah M. born in 1867 and died in 1885 Emma born in 1872 and died in 1876 and Francis who married Doctor Shi.

Several of the children lie near their father in the same cemetery. After his death Melvina and some of the surviving descendants moved toward the Chickasaw Nation.

Garvin received his schooling at Norwalk Academy and Spencer Academy. He entered the legal field as an attorney then held positions as county judge district judge and presiding officer of the Choctaw Nation Supreme Court.

He also sat on the General Council. In 1878 the voters of the Choctaw Nation elected him Principal Chief. He succeeded Coleman Cole and took office under the National Party banner.

His administration produced legislation passed between 1877 and 1879 that addressed tribal governance matters. He became the first Principal Chief to die during his term.

Garvin continued his duties until February 20 1880. He died at age 47 on his farm ranch home in the settlement that carried his name. His term still had seven months remaining.

The community that formed around his property adopted the name Garvin to honor him.

When the Choctaw and Arkansas Railroad arrived in 1902 the town shifted about one mile to the rail line but kept the original designation. The McCurtain County Historical Society placed markers to record his service.

One stands in the cemetery itself.

Garvin lies in Waterhole Cemetery three miles south of Garvin or three-quarters of a mile north of Iron Stob Store off Highway 37 in McCurtain County.

The cemetery itself originated in the 1830s soon after removal and holds graves of other Choctaw figures including George Washington and Louis LeFlore.

A four-foot granite monument erected in 1979 carries the inscription 'Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation 1878 1880. A noble physical specimen of the Indian race. An able and wise Choctaw statesman. '

The stone marks the final resting place of the man whose short tenure closed with his death in office and whose name still identifies the nearby town.