Fred Waite – Chickasaw Outlaw Turned Politician
Fredrick Tecumseh "Fred" Waite’s life embodies a fascinating and complex narrative of the American West, a story woven with threads of outlawry, violence, and ultimately, political redemption. Born a Chickasaw Indian, Fred Waite navigated the turbulent landscape of the late 19th century, finding himself embroiled in the Lincoln County War before transitioning into a respected lawman and politician within his own nation. His journey, marked by stark contrasts and profound transformation, offers a compelling glimpse into the shifting dynamics of the era.
The early life of Fred Waite began on September 28, 1853, within the Chickasaw Nation at Fort Arbuckle, Oklahoma. He was the son of Thomas and Catherine McClure Waite, who established themselves as farmers and entrepreneurs, operating a trading store and stage stand southeast of present-day Pauls Valley. This seemingly peaceful existence was disrupted by the onset of the Civil War.
The war forced the Waite family to seek refuge in the Sac and Fox Reserve in eastern Kansas, a measure taken to evade Confederate soldiers who aimed to impede their departure. This displacement undoubtedly left a lasting impact on young Fred, exposing him to the harsh realities of conflict and the vulnerability of his family’s position. Following the war’s conclusion, the family returned to Oklahoma, where Fred embraced the life of a cowboy, a common path for many young men in the region.
In 1875, a pivotal decision led him westward. Originally intending to travel to Colorado, Fred Waite instead found himself in New Mexico, a territory rife with opportunity and conflict. He secured employment with John Chisum, a prominent cattle baron who owned a vast ranch south of present-day Roswell. Chisum’s empire was built on the burgeoning cattle industry, and working for him provided Waite with valuable experience and exposure to the complexities of the Western economy.
By the fall of 1877, Waite’s path intersected with that of John Tunstall, another ambitious cattleman and a friend of Chisum. Tunstall, an Englishman with grand aspirations, sought to build his own empire by leveraging the Desert Land Act. His strategy involved claiming homestead rights to vital water sources, effectively controlling the surrounding grazing land and establishing dominance in the cattle business.
Tunstall’s ambitions brought him into direct conflict with the established power of the Murphy & Dolan Mercantile and Banking Company. This powerful entity had long held a monopoly over the county’s trade, dictating prices, amassing significant profits, and exerting influence over nearly every aspect of the local economy. The merchants and their allies, including elements within local law enforcement, were widely resented for their exploitative practices.
The rivalry between Tunstall and Murphy & Dolan escalated when Tunstall, along with Alexander McSween, dared to establish a competing business. This act of defiance directly challenged the established order and ignited a powder keg of simmering tensions, setting the stage for the Lincoln County War.
In January 1878, Billy the Kid, a notorious figure in Western lore, joined Tunstall’s employ, forging a friendship with Fred Waite. The conflict reached a boiling point in February when Murphy & Dolan obtained a court order to seize some of Tunstall’s horses as payment for an alleged debt. When Tunstall refused to surrender the animals, Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady formed a posse, led by Deputy William Morton, to enforce the order.
The confrontation turned deadly when Tunstall was shot and killed, an act that ignited the Lincoln County War. The death of Tunstall sent shockwaves through the community and galvanized his supporters, including Billy the Kid and Fred Waite, who sought retribution for the injustice.
The day following Tunstall’s murder, Billy the Kid and Dick Brewer, Tunstall’s foreman, sought justice through legal channels. They approached John Wilson, the Justice of the Peace of Lincoln, who issued affidavits and warrants for the posse members responsible for Tunstall’s death. Wilson then tasked the town constable, Atanacio Martinez, with serving the warrants.
Recognizing the danger involved, Constable Martinez deputized Billy the Kid and Fred Waite to assist him. When they arrived at the Murphy & Dolan Mercantile, they found it heavily guarded by troops from Fort Stanton and Sheriff William Brady’s own armed posse. Brady refused to allow Martinez to make any arrests, disarmed the three men, and imprisoned Billy the Kid and Waite until February 23, preventing them from attending Tunstall’s funeral.
Upon their release, Justice of the Peace John Wilson appointed Dick Brewer as the new town constable and deputized several individuals, including Billy the Kid, forming a group known as the Regulators. This group, including Fred Waite, was tasked with bringing Tunstall’s murderers to justice, further escalating the conflict.
On April 1, 1878, Billy the Kid and several other Regulators, including Frank MacNab, Jim French, Fred Waite, Henry Newton Brown, and John Middleton, engaged in a fierce shootout with law enforcement in front of the Lincoln County Courthouse. The gunfight resulted in the deaths of Sheriff William Brady and his deputy, George W. Hindman, further solidifying the Regulators’ reputation as outlaws.
Fred Waite participated in several subsequent skirmishes and gun battles, earning $4.00 a day as a gunfighter, a substantial sum compared to the average cowboy’s daily wage of one dollar. This financial support came from Alexander McSween, Tunstall’s business partner, who sought to avenge his friend’s death and continue their business ventures. By this point, Waite was wanted on county and federal murder warrants, solidifying his status as an outlaw.
The climax of the Lincoln County War occurred on July 19, 1878, when McSween and his supporters, including Billy the Kid and Fred Waite, were besieged by the new Sheriff, George Peppin, and his men. McSween’s house was set ablaze, and several people were killed as they attempted to escape, including Alexander McSween himself. This event marked the end of the Regulators as a cohesive force, as they could no longer sustain their operations without McSween’s support.
The "war" continued on a smaller scale until September 1878, when President Rutherford B. Hayes removed New Mexico’s corrupt Governor Axtell from office and appointed Lew Wallace as the state’s new governor. Governor Wallace initially considered imposing martial law in Lincoln County, but ultimately urged lawbreakers to return to peace. On November 13, 1878, he issued an amnesty for all involved in the Lincoln County War, excluding those already under indictment, effectively ending the conflict, which had claimed the lives of nineteen people.
During his time with the Regulators, Waite formed lasting bonds with fellow outlaws, including Jose Chavez y Chavez, Henry Newton Brown, Jim French, Charlie Bowdre, and Tom O’Folliard. These men would later become members of Billy the Kid’s Gang. Following the amnesty, they initially headed north to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, before dispersing.
By the fall of 1878, Billy the Kid, along with Tom O’Folliard, Henry Newton Brown, Fred Waite, and John Middleton, began tracking John Chisum’s horses, which were being grazed in the Canadian Valley of the Texas Panhandle. The gang proceeded to steal approximately 125 horses, selling them in and around Tascosa, Texas. They spent the profits freely, indulging in food, drink, and horse racing, until their funds were depleted by the winter of 1878-79.
Fred Waite attempted to persuade Billy the Kid to join him in Oklahoma, but Billy refused. Waite then returned to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, where he married and started a family. He transitioned from outlaw to rancher, and even ventured into newspaper editing. He became actively involved in tribal politics, ultimately serving as an Indian Policeman, a remarkable transformation from his earlier life as a gunfighter and outlaw.
The life of Fred Waite is a testament to the complexities and contradictions of the American West. His journey from Chickasaw cowboy to outlaw, and ultimately to lawman and politician, reflects the turbulent times and the shifting fortunes of individuals navigating a rapidly changing world. He remains a figure of historical interest, embodying the spirit of both rebellion and redemption.