Zolena "Zoe" McIntosh
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Zolena ("Zoe") McIntosh
(4/11/1875-3/15/1892)
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Coweta Tribal Town
By Hannah Ridley (TU, BA Class of 2026)
Early History
Zolena ("Zoe") McIntosh was born on April 11th, 1875, to Colonel Daniel Newnan McIntosh (9/20/1822-4/10/1895) and Emma Belle Gawler (ca. 1854-12/6/1917).1 Her father was the son of Susannah Rowe McIntosh and Chief William McIntosh, Jr., who was Chief (Mekko) of Coweta tribal town.2 Daniel McIntosh was also a prominent figure within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The Oklahoma Historical Society notes that he served as the Colonel of the First Regiment of Creek Mounted Volunteers in the Civil War and was a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Supreme Court.3 Her father died on April 10, 1895, at his home in Eufaula. In an obituary in the Muskogee Phoenix, the newspaper describes him as “one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of the Creek Nation… He was an honest, upright, conscientious, sympathetic man, one who was always ready to extend a helping hand to his fellow man.”4 Her mother, Emma Gawler, was born in Virginia to Alfred H. and Henrietta Gawler. A census record indicates that Emma lived in Washington, D.C. until she met Daniel. The two married in Washington, D.C. on April 3, 1874.5
Zoe had many siblings and half-siblings. She was the sister to Jenetta (“Etta”) Clarice McIntosh Smith (1876-1952), Zenophen (“Zennie”) McIntosh (1878-1928), Mondese Duff McIntosh (1881-1955), Lula Noka McIntosh Highland (1886-1964), Emmerson McIntosh (1886-1892), William Yancy (“Billy”) McIntosh (1889-1974), and Zolena “Kaniah” McIntosh Boteler (1892-1989). Her half-siblings, born to Daniel McIntosh’s first wife, Jane Ward McIntosh, were Albert Gallantin (“Cheesie”) McIntosh (1848-1915), Freeland Buckner McIntosh (1852-1914), Roley Cub McIntosh (1858-1920), and her other half-siblings, born to her father and his second wife, Winnie Canard McIntosh, were Benjamin Wattie (“Ben”) McIntosh (1861-1910), Daniel Newnan (“Hun”) McIntosh, Jr. (1862-1936), Charles Edward (“Charlie”) McIntosh (1871-1902), and Lizzie L. McIntosh Vore (1876-1969).6
School
Zoe attended Nuyaka Mission Boarding School, which was a mission school fifteen miles west of Okmulgee established in 1882 by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.7 Although no records clarifying when she attended Nuyaka Mission have been found, she most likely attended the school before her time at PSIG. She attended Nuyaka alongside her sister, Etta McIntosh.8
The earliest documentation of Zoe’s time at the Presbyterian School for Indian Girls (PSIG) first is an article in the Muskogee Phoenix on November 22, 1888, which listed her among students with a perfect deportment record for that week. During her time at PSIG for that year, Zoe, alongside her cousin Pet West, traveled to Gibson Station to Pet’s home for a brief visit.9 An 1888 newspaper article shows that Etta also attended PSIG: however, no records confirm if Etta continued her education at PSIG after 1888. During December of the 1888 year, Zoe earned a 97 in scholarship. Moreover, the Muskogee Phoenix also reported that Zoe may also have attended a Thanksgiving service at a Methodist church and a Thanksgiving dinner that was held that year.10
Photo of Zolena McIntosh (standing left) with her older sister Jennetta (“Etta”) McIntosh at around the age of 15.
Image Credit: FamilySearch.org.
While at PSIG, Zoe excelled academically, earning scores of 98 for scholarship and 100 for deportment in November of 1889.11 One of Zoe’s regular school assignments included recitations. The Muskogee Phoenix describes these recitations, stating, “At the close of each recitation a ticket is given to each member of the class; these tickets are kept until the end of the week, when they are taken up and the average for the week is made out. In this way each student knows exactly what her standing is from day to day.”12 Thus, at PSIG, Zoe learned oratory skills. The next year, she continued her academic excellence with a score of 95 in scholarship and a score of 100 in deportment.13 While no records of when Zoe stopped attending PSIG have been found, based on information from newspapers and other attained records, she most likely stopped attending sometime between 1891 and her death in 1892.14
The Muskogee Phoenix listing Zolena McIntosh in the Presbyterian School for Indian Girls’ Roll of Honor for the week ending November 9, 1889.
Image Credit: The Muskogee Phoenix, November 14, 1889, Provided by Newspapers.com.
![[Transcription] Millie Munday 95, 98 Katie Casey 95, 96 Louisa Turnbull 90, 98 Lizzie Browning 97, 98 Susie Foreman 99, 93 Tookah Sixkiller 99, 98 Laura Matthews 99, 100 Ida Perryman 98, 96 Fannie Willey 96, 99 Zolena McIntosh 98, 100 Sarah Foreman 99, 91 Elmira McCay 98, 93 May Crosby 97, 98 Zolena Harsha 98, 63 Ella Harvison 99, 100 Lucy Quesenberry 99, 100 Susie Canard 100, 100 Agnes Crain 99, 100 Annie Matthews 98, 98 Vera Clinton 98, 100 Katie Jones 100, 93 Nancy Foreman 98, 98 Mabel Matthews 99, 100 Susanna Barnett 93, 93 May Sanger 99, 95 Luella West 100, 95 Florence Miller 100, 100 Lena Sanger 100, 95 Addie Crain 100, 90](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/YECN5zXtdYqn8lYKeED5MurXfCls6hXKgQpY6hqJfKwuOjlnW-elBL4FgGna9vu6g6jyClYVqrEVuapHLIDc7pre0kNeIxnuWJAX7zysZBORIVtX1aD1d_W-QjsqqxjB6obhBYQC0AcdgFsZDsUYPwTA03dYB5ntd3KYIuxVEZDEpzyshDg_ng=w1280)
The standing in scholarship and deportment of students at the Presbyterian School for Girls for the week ending Nov. 9.
Names of pupils, scholarship, deportment
[Transcription]
Millie Munday 95, 98
Katie Casey 95, 96
Louisa Turnbull 90, 98
Lizzie Browning 97, 98
Susie Foreman 99, 93
Tookah Sixkiller 99, 98
Laura Matthews 99, 100
Ida Perryman 98, 96
Fannie Willey 96, 99
Zolena McIntosh 98, 100
Sarah Foreman 99, 91
Elmira McCay 98, 93
May Crosby 97, 98
Zolena Harsha 98, 63
Ella Harvison 99, 100
Lucy Quesenberry 99, 100
Susie Canard 100, 100
Agnes Crain 99, 100
Annie Matthews 98, 98
Vera Clinton 98, 100
Katie Jones 100, 93
Nancy Foreman 98, 98
Mabel Matthews 99, 100
Susanna Barnett 93, 93
May Sanger 99, 95
Luella West 100, 95
Florence Miller 100, 100
Lena Sanger 100, 95
Addie Crain 100, 90
Death and Legacy
Although no records have been found revealing the cause of Zoe’s death, her grave’s headstone indicates that she sadly passed away at the young age of 16 on March 15, 1892. She is buried at Fame Cemetery in Fame, Oklahoma, alongside her father and her brothers, Freeland and Emmerson.15
Photo of Zolena McIntosh’s gravestone in Fame Cemetery, Oklahoma.
Image Credit: “Zolena McIntosh,” Findagrave.com.
Endnotes
1 Alice P., “Zolena McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10803364/zolena-mcintosh, (accessed February 27, 2025); Larry Ward, “Col. Daniel Newnan ‘Noonin’ McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7616711/daniel_newnan-mcintosh, (accessed February 27, 2025);
Jon 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;
Robert Sandlin, “Emma Belle Gawler McIntosh, Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/270563389/emma_belle_mcintosh (accessed February 27, 2025).
2 Jon D May, n.d. “McIntosh, Daniel Newnan (1822–1895);”
“William McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8764/william-mcintosh, (accessed February 27, 2025).
3 Jon D May, n.d. “McIntosh, Daniel Newnan (1822–1895).”
4 “Local Paragraphs.” Muskogee Phoenix. April 13, 1895. Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/611405087/. (accessed March 7, 2025).
5 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;
“Record of Marriages,” D.N. McIntosh and Emma B. Gawler, United States, Washington, District of Columbia Marriage Records, 1870-1920, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62863/records/90151028.
“Record of Marriages,” D.N. McIntosh and Emma B. Gawler.
6 L. McKeown, “Etta Clarice McIntosh Smith,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199916044, (accessed February 27, 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); Silas E. Jones, “Lula Noka McIntosh Highland,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125101676/lula_noka-highland (accessed February 28, 2025); Alice P., “Emmerson McIntosh,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10803358/emmerson-mcintosh (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); 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).
7 Guy William Logsdon, The University of Tulsa (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1977), 12-13; “Nuyaka Mission,” Oklahoma Historical Society, https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1618609/ (accessed December 9, 2023); Nuyaka Mission School 1885-1886, Special Collections, University of Tulsa libraries. 1931.001.3.4.2.
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, November 22, 1888, https://www.newspapers.com/image/611267031/, (accessed March 7, 2025).
10 “Presbyterian Mission Notes,” Muskogee Phoenix, December 6, 1888, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/611267091/ (accessed March 7, 2025).
11 “Names of Pupils,” Muskogee Phoenix, November 14, 1889, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/611404876/, (accessed March 7, 2025).
12 “Presbyterian Mission Notes,” Muskogee Phoenix, December 6, 1888.
13 “Presbyterian Mission,” Muskogee Phoenix, October 23, 1890, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/611428845/, (accessed March 7, 2025).
14 “To Be Educated,” Muskogee Phoenix, November 20, 1890, Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/611429094/, (accessed March 7, 2025);
Alice P., “Zolena McIntosh,” Findagrave.com.
15 Alice P., “Zolena McIntosh,” Findagrave.com; Larry Ward,, “Col. Daniel Newnan ‘Noonin’ McIntosh,” Findagrave.com; JMiller, “Freeland Buckner McIntosh,” Findagrave.com; Alice P., “Emmerson McIntosh,” Findagrave.com.
Bibliography
“Died.” The Washington Herald (Washington, District of Columbia). December 9th, 1917. Newspapers.com.
Find a Grave. “William McIntosh.” Findagrave.com.
Fry. “Benjamin Wattie ‘Ben’ McIntosh.” Findagrave.com.
Jones, Silas E. “Lula Noka McIntosh Highland.” Findagrave.com.
JMiller. “Freeland Buckner McIntosh.” Findagrave.com.
“Local Paragraphs.” Muskogee Phoenix. April 13, 1895. Newspapers.com.
Logsdon, Guy William. The University of Tulsa. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1977.
May, Jon D. n.d. “McIntosh, Daniel Newnan (1822–1895),” The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Okhistory.org.
McKeown, L. “Etta Clarice McIntosh Smith.” Findagrave.com.
MillieBelle. “Mondese Duff McIntosh.” Findagrave.com.
“Names of Pupils.” Muskogee Phoenix. November 14, 1889. Newspapers.com.
OkieBran. “Lizzie L. McIntosh Vore.” Findagrave.com.
Oklahoma Historical Society.“Nuyaka Mission.” The Gateway to Oklahoma History. Okhistory.org.
P., Alice. “Cheesie (Albert Gallatin) McIntosh.” Findagrave.com.
P., Alice. “Daniel Newnon ‘Hun’ McIntosh Jr.” Findagrave.com.
P., Alice. “Emmerson McIntosh.” Findagrave.com.
P., Alice. “Roley Cub McIntosh.” Findagrave.com.
P., Alice. “Zolena McIntosh.” Findagrave.com.
Payne, Larry. “Zenophen ‘Zennie’ McIntosh.” Findagrave.com.
“Presbyterian Mission.” Muskogee Phoenix. October 23, 1890. Newspapers.com.
“Presbyterian Mission Notes.” Muskogee Phoenix. November 22, 1888. Newspapers.com.
“Presbyterian Mission Notes.” Muskogee Phoenix. December 6th, 1888. Newspapers.com.
“Record of Marriages.” D.N. McIntosh and Emma B. Gawler. United States, Washington, District of Columbia Marriage Records, 1870-1920, Ancestry.com.
Roberts, Judy K. “William Yancy ‘Billy’ McIntosh.” Findagrave.com.
Sandlin, Robert. “Emma Belle Gawler McIntosh.” Findagrave.com.
“Success of a Mission.” Tulsa World. July 21, 1946. Newspapers.com.
Tafhvmken, Semvnacke. ‘Charles Edward “Charlie’ McIntosh.” Findagrave.com.
Tafhvmken, Semvnacke. “Zolena ‘Kaniah’ McIntosh Boteler.” Findagrave.com.
“To Be Educated.” Muskogee Phoenix. November 20, 1890. Newspapers.com.
U.S. Census Bureau. Emma Belle Gawler. 1870 United States Federal Census. Washington, District of Columbia, Roll M593_124; Page 350.
U.S., Indian Census, 1851-1959. Zolina McIntosh. 1890 Muscogee (Creek) Nation Census. Coweta Tribal Town. Roll: 1. Ancestry.com.
Ward, Larry. “Col. Daniel Newnan ‘Noonin’ McIntosh.” Findagrave.com.
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