Jennetta (McIntosh) Boulton Smith
(12/25/1876-9/17/1952)
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Coweta Tribal Town
By Abby Ridley, (TU, BA Class of 2026)
Early History
Jennetta (Etta) Clarice McIntosh was born on December 25, 1876, to Daniel Newnan McIntosh (1822-1895) and Emma (Gawler) McIntosh (ca. 1854-1917).1 Her father, Daniel, worked as a representative and delegate for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. He was also a Colonel for the First Regiment of Creek Mounted Volunteers, who fought for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture noted that he “remained active in tribal affairs until his death on April 10, 1895.”2 Etta’s mother, Emma, was born in Virginia to Alfred H. Gawler and Elizabeth Gawler, and she grew up in Washington, D.C.3 Daniel and Emma met in Washington, D.C., and they married there on April 3rd, 1874.4 Etta’s paternal grandfather, Chief William McIntosh, Jr. (1775-1825), was Mekko of Coweta Tribal Town in the Southeastern homelands of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.5
Etta had fourteen siblings and half-siblings. She had three sisters and four brothers: Zolena ("Zoe") McIntosh (1875-1892), Zenophen ("Zennie") McIntosh (1878-1928), Mondese Duff McIntosh (1881-1955), Emmerson McIntosh (1886-1892), Lula Noka McIntosh (1886-1964), William ("Billy") Yancy McIntosh (1889-1974), and Zolena ("Kaniah") McIntosh (1892-1989).6 She also had one stepsister and five stepbrothers. Her father and stepmother, Jane Ward Mcintosh, had three children: Albert Gallantin ("Cheesie") McIntosh (1848-1915), Freeland Buckner McIntosh (1852-1914), and Roley Cub McIntosh (1858-1920). Her father and other stepmother, Winnie Canard McIntosh, had four children: Benjamin ("Ben") Wattie McIntosh (1861-1910), Daniel ("Hun") Newnan McIntosh, Jr. (1862-1936), Charles ("Charlie") Edward McIntosh (1871-1902), and Lizzie L. McIntosh Vore (1876-1969).7
School
A 1946 Tulsa World newspaper article reporting on the history of the Nuyaka Mission Boarding School, a mission school located near Okmulgee, Indian Territory, noted that Etta attended the school with her sister, Zolena McIntosh.8 Although it is likely that Etta attended the school, no records of her at the school have been found in the University of Tulsa McFarlin Library’s Special Collections.
Daniel N. McIntosh (standing, left) pictured with Emma Gawler McIntosh from Ah-Ko-Kee (sitting, right).
Image Credit: Ah-Ko-Kee, American Sovereign, A Biographical Narrative, 1818 to 1868 by Billie Jane McIntosh
Although she may have attended PSIG earlier, an 1888 Muskogee Phoenix newspaper article first reports Etta’s attendance at the school when she was around eleven years old. The article noted her personal and academic importance to the school, stating, “Miss Jennetta McIntosh returned on Friday, so that the school is again unbroken.”9 While at the school, she thrived as a student and performed well academically. During the week of December 8, 1888, she scored a 99 percent grade. Later that year, for the week of December 14, 1888, she recorded a 99 percent scholarship score and a “5-8” deportment score, which the newspaper noted was the “next best” score in the class.10
After studying at PSIG, Etta may have attended Henry Kendall College. PSIG transitioned into Henry Kendall College in 1894. That same year, the Muskogee Phoenix reported that “Miss Etta McIntosh, daughter of D.N. McIntosh, left here Friday evening for Muskogee where she will attend the Presbyterian school.”11 No other documents discuss Etta’s time at Henry Kendall College, and, although records show that she was educated, the Education section of U.S. Federal Census Records box for “Attended School” is not checked.12
Etta (sitting, right) pictured with her sister, Zolena (standing, left) in 1891. Image Credit: Familysearch.org
Adult Life
After attending school, Etta married, had children, and was active in her community. In 1894, the same year in which the Muskogee Phoenix described her as attending PSIG, she married George H. Boulton (1867-1937) in Tennessee. She was eighteen years old at this time, and George was twenty-seven. George’s older sister, Mollie, married Etta’s older brother, Cheese, in 1897. Thus, these marriages suggest that McIntosh and Boulton families were acquainted with each other. The couple had three children, Howard H. Boulton (1895-1972), Etta Marie Boulton (1897-1989), and Noco C. Boulton (1900-unknown). In 1900, the family moved from Tennessee and lived near Muskogee in Weir, Indian Territory.13
On June 28, 1901, George and his nephew, Robinson Boulton, violently fought with George’s two other nephews, David Boulton and Walter Boulton, due to a “dispute about their crops.” During this altercation, Robinson Boulton killed David Boulton and Walter Boulton.14 A month after fleeing the area with her husband, Etta was arrested and charged as an accessory to the crime. In August of 1901, Etta was discharged from the case.15 In January of 1905, George was arrested and sentenced to life in prison.16
On July 10, 1906, Etta married Edward I. (E. I.) Smith (1871-1936) in Indian Territory.17 Etta and Edward had two children, Edward I. Smith, Jr., (1907-1993) and Friedrich M. Smith (1910-1999). The family lived in Eufaula, Indian Territory.18 In 1907, The Checotah Enquirer noted that Etta and her family planned to move from Eufaula to Fame.19 Additionally, in 1912, Edward filed to become the guardian of Howard H. Boulton, Etta Marie Boulton, and Noco C. Boulton, Etta’s children by her first husband.20
While living in Eufaula and Fame, Etta participated in local organizations and events. For instance, she worked with the Baptist Aid Society and performed guitar solos for Daughters of the Confederacy musical programs.21 In addition to working in her home, raising her five children, and participating in community events, she worked as a seamstress, selling clothing to other members of her community.22 While studying at PSIG, Etta may have fostered this skill, since students at the school participated in stocking darning contests.23 Etta’s career as a seamstress flourished, and sometime in the late 1910s or the early 1920s, she and Edward opened a clothing store, called E. I. Smith & Co., in Eufaula. The store sold clothing items such as dresses, hats, and suits. In 1921, The Indian Journal described the store as “the ready-to-wear store of Mrs. E. I. Smith.”24 Unfortunately, in February of 1922, the owners of E. I. Smith & Co, Edward Smith and his business partner, E. C. Smith, filed for bankruptcy.25
After filing for bankruptcy, the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, when Edward was employed at the U. P. Machine shop in 1923.26 Soon after, in 1925, the family moved to Sparks, Nevada.27 While in Sparks, Etta was frequently involved in her church. For example, she worked as a hostess for the Ladies’ Union of the Baptist church for their “monthly missionary” meetings.28
In 1936, after her husband passed away, Etta lived with her daughter, Noco, in Oakland, California. While there she often visited her family members living in other states, such as her children and grandchildren.29
Etta (middle) pictured with her mother, Emma McIntosh (left), and her sister-in-law, Mollie McIntosh (right). Image Credit: Familysearch.org
Death and Legacy
On September 18, 1952, Etta died in Oakland, California at the age of seventy-six. Her funeral took place in Reno, Nevada, at the Ross-Burke Company home chapel. She was buried in the Mountain View cemetery in Reno.
Etta was survived by her three children, eight grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and many great-great grandchildren.30 Twenty years later, in 1972, her son, Howard Helm Boulton, died. He was buried at Montier Cemetery in Montier, Missouri.31 In 1989, Etta’s daughter, Marie Etta Boulton Hopkins, died at the Feather River Hospital in Paradise, California. Her funeral took place at the Chapel of the Pines Mortuary, and she was buried in Paradise Cemetery.32 Etta’s son, Edward Irvine Smith, Jr., died in 1993 while at home in Paradise, California, and he was buried in Paradise Cemetery.33 In 1999, Etta’s son, Frederick Smith, died in Kailua, Hawaii. His obituary notes that his funeral services were private.34
Tribal Enrollment Information:
Muscogee (Creek) Nation (Dawes Roll) Enrollment Card
Enrollment Number: 3535
Card Number: 1091
Enrollment Date: 3/13/190235
Etta McIntosh’s Muscogee (Creek) Nation (Dawes Roll) Enrollment Card
Image Credit: National Archives
Endnotes
1L McKeown, “Etta Clarice McIntosh Smith,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199916044, (accessed February 27, 2025); Robert Sandlin, “Emma Belle Gawler McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/270563389/emma_belle_mcintosh (accessed February 27, 2025).
2Jon D. May, n.d. “McIntosh, Daniel Newnan (1822–1895),” Okhistory.org, The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=MC030.
3 Emma Belle Gawler, U.S. Census Bureau, 1870 United States Federal Census, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll M593_124; Page 350, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/records/2860565.
4 “Local Paragraphs,” Muskogee Phoenix, April 13, 1895, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/611405087/ (accessed February 27, 2025).
5 Find a grave, “William McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8764/william-mcintosh, (accessed February 27, 2025).
6 Alice P., “Zolena McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10803364/zolena-mcintosh, (accessed February 28, 2025); Larry Payne, “Zenophen ‘Zennie’ McIntosh, Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26819360/zenophen-mcintosh (accessed February 28, 2025); MillieBelle, “Mondese Duff McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152411717/mondese_duff-mcintosh (accessed February 28, 2025); Alice P., “Emmerson McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10803358/emmerson-mcintosh (accessed February 28, 2025); Silas E. Jones, “Lula Noka McIntosh Highland,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125101676/lula_noka-highland (accessed February 28, 2025); Judy K. Roberts, “William Yancy ‘Billy’ McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87458430/william_yancy-mcintosh (accessed February 28, 2025); Semvnacke Tafhvmken, “Zolena ‘Kaniah’ McIntosh Boteler,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/390721/zolena-boteler (accessed February 28, 2025).
7 Alice P., “Cheesie (Albert Gallatin) McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10824652/cheesie_(albert_gallatin)-mcintosh (accessed February 28, 2025); JMiller, “Freeland Buckner McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183845332/freeland_buckner-mcintosh (accessed February 28, 2025); Alice P., “Roley Cub McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37942060/roley_cub-mcintosh (accessed February 28, 2025); Fry, “Benjamin Wattie ‘Ben’ McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/104120229/benjamin_wattie-mcintosh (accessed February 28, 2025); Alice P., “Daniel Newnon ‘Hun’ McIntosh Jr,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37943089/daniel_newnon-mcintosh (accessed February 28, 2025); Semvnacke Tafhvmken, ‘Charles Edward “Charlie’ McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/204018002/charles_edward-mcintosh (accessed February 28, 2025); OkieBran, “Lizzie L. McIntosh Vore,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22205938/lizzie_l-vore (accessed February 28, 2025).
8 “Success of a Mission,” Tulsa World, July 21, 1946, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/888219953/ (accessed March 7, 2025).
9 “Presbyterian Mission Notes,” Muskogee Phoenix, December 6, 1888, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/611267091/ (accessed March 7, 2025).
10 “Presbyterian School,” Muskogee Phoenix, December 13, 1888, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/611267124/ (accessed March 7, 2025); “Presbyterian Mission Notes,” Muskogee Phoenix, December 20, 1888, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/611267173/ (accessed March 7, 2025).
11 “Checotah Happenings,” Muskogee Phoenix, March 1, 1894, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/586143623/ (accessed March 7, 2025).
12 Etta Smith, U.S. Census Bureau, 1910 United States Federal Census, Eufaula, Oklahoma; Roll T624_1260; Page 13A, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/4449295_01043?pId=164011477; Etta C. Boulton, U.S. Census Bureau, 1900 United States Federal Census, Indian Territory, Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Roll 1853; Enumeration District 0052, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/ITT623_1853-0647?pId=75124345.
13 Etta C. Boulton, U.S. Census Bureau, 1900 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com; United States of America, Tennessee, Smith County Marriage Records, 1780-2002, “Marriage
Bond,” Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1169/; P., Alice. “Cheesie (Albert Gallatin) McIntosh.”
14 “A Double Tragedy,” Checotah Enquirer, July 5, 1901, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/5670035/ (accessed March 14, 2025).
15 “Local Paragraphs,” Muskogee Phoenix, July 25, 1901, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/611443468/ (accessed March 14, 2025); “Mrs. Boulton Discharged,” The Indian Journal, August 2, 1901, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/590255389/ (accessed March 14, 2025).
16 “George Boulton Arrested,” The Osage Journal, July 1, 1905, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/586335269/ (accessed March 14, 2025).
17 United States of America, Indian Territory, Western District, County Marriage Records, 1890-1995, “Marriage License July 1906,” Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61379/images/TH-1-159393-946697-82?pId=64240798.
18 Etta C. Boulton, U.S. Census Bureau, 1910 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com.
19 “County Clippings,” Checotah Enquirer, November 15, 1907, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/587094634/ (accessed March 14, 2025).
20 “Notice of Hearing Petition for Appointment of Guardian,” The Indian Journal, August 16, 1912, Newspaper.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/5725480/ (accessed March 14, 2025).
21 “Of Local Interest,” The Eufaula Democrat, October 29, 1915, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/590253482/ (accessed March 14, 2025); “Society News,” The Indian Journal, September 14, 1906, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/5690560/ (accessed March 14, 2025).
22 “Additional Local,” The Eufaula Democrat, February 20, 1914, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/612397435/ (accessed March 14, 2025).
23 “Presbyterian School,” Muskogee Phoenix, December 13, 1888.
24 “Local and Personal News Items,” The Indian Journal, April 21, 1921, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/588905247/ (accessed March 14, 2025); “Local and Personal News Items,” The Indian Journal, March 31, 1921, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/5744259/ (accessed March 14, 2024); “Personal Items,” The Indian Journal, March 3, 1921, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/5743373/ (accessed March 14, 2025).
25 “In the Matter of E.I. Smith & Co,” The Indian Journal, February 23, 1922, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/5659598/ (accessed March 14, 2025).
26 “The Quinton Times,” The Quinton Times and the McCurtain Leader, February 1, 1923,
Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/579024119/ (accessed March 24, 2025).
27 “E. I. Smith Dies in Reno,” Reno Gazette-Journal, January 14, 2025, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/147879395/ (accessed March 28, 2025).
28 “Sparks Society,” Reno Gazette-Journal, June 28, 1934, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/148585137/ (accessed March 28, 2025).
29 “Mrs. Etta Smith Dies in Oakland,” Nevada State Journal, September 19, 1952, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1010448108/ (accessed March 28, 2025); “Reno Residents Home from Trip,” Reno Gazette-Journal, January 3, 1941, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/147116255/ (accessed March 28, 2025).
30 “Mrs. Etta Smith Dies in Oakland,” Nevada State Journal.
31 Robert J. Stauffer Jr., “Howard Helm Boulton,” Findagrave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9421268/ (accessed March 28, 2025).
32 “Marie Hopkins,” Paradise Post, November 4, 1989, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/841245794/ (accessed March 28, 2025).
33 “Edward Smith,” Paradise Post, May 22, 1993, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/841289375/ (accessed March 28, 2025).
34 Harold Morse, n.d. “Obituaries,” Starbulletin.com, https://archives.starbulletin.com/1999/04/10/news/obits.html.
35 Etta C. Boulton, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Dawes #3535, Field #1093, March 13, 1903, Oklahoma and Indian Territory, U.S. Dawes Census Cards. National Archives and Records Administration, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/263906.
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