The Muskoke or Creek belong to the Muskhogean linguistic family. The Creek are one of the Five Civilized Tribes in OklahomaCCherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and SeminoleCwho removed from their lands in the Southeastern states and settled in Indian Territory in the eighteen thirties.

A cleavage occurred between the Upper and Lower Creek, which intensified during the Civil War. The ALoyal Creek,@ led by Opothleyahola, left for Kansas in November, 1861. On the way north the more than 5,000 men, women, and childrenCsome on foot, some on horseback, and others in wagons loaded with household goodsCwere overtaken by Confederate troops. Three battles were fought, and the brave loyal Creeks were defeated. Scattered in the midst of a blizzard, the survivors finally reached Kansas, where some of them remained until 1865.

In 1867, all parties united in establishing the AMuskogee Nation.@ Okmulgee was established as the capital, and a permanent Council House of stone was built there in 1878.

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Arkansas City Traveler, May 10, 1876.

The Creeks constitute one of the largest tribes in the Territory, and are located south and contiguous to the Osages. Nearly twenty-five years ago a missionary, a Mr. Lockridge, succeeded in writing their language and ours, together and at the same time, in twenty-four districts and two high schools. About seven hundred are now in school, and about one hundred and sixty, males and females, attend the two academies. Many of the district schools are conducted by Indians themselves, though one language is not taught to the exclusion of the other, and when a Creek pupil can read one language, he is expected to be able to read the other also. About one half of the tribe talk English, and one-third read the same, with their own, though a child brought up and familiarized alike with both languages will, if left to itself, read Creek first.

About one half of the tribe are now members of some religious nomination, and they have about fifty itinerant preachers who superintend the various "camp meetings" for religious worship, in the autumn of each year. A goodly number of Presbyterians, Methodists, and Baptists may here be found, and from the manner in which the Lord's praises are shouted, white visitors would believe most of the tribe to be religiously inclined.

The three religious denominations above mentioned are so enthusiastic in the christianizing of these people that their missionary laborers are yet kept in the field, and kept, too, at the expense of the churches, instead of making it an expense to be paid out of Indian funds. Indian Herald.