Native American Rainwater Evidence

This page is a collection of evidence for Native Americans surnamed Rainwater or Rainwaters.

This page is not intended to support the Native American origin theory of the Rainwater family. The overwhelming preponderance of available evidence points to European origins for this family. For an explanation of why we dispute the Native American theory of the Rainwater family origin, please read My Rainwater ancestor was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian on the Myths page.

Index of Native American Evidence
1880 Census of Indian Territory (later Oklahoma)
1851-1959 Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Indian Censuses and Rolls
1900 Federal Census of South Dakota
1905 South Dakota State Census
1910 Federal Census of South Dakota
1915 South Dakota State Census
1920 Federal Census
1930 Federal US Indian Census
1930 Federal Census
1935 South Dakota State Census
1940 Federal Census
Drennen Roll, 1852
Dawes Roll Enrollment Cards, 1898-1914
An Overview of The Sizemore Cases
U.S. Court of Claims, 1906-1910
The Guion Miller Roll, 1906-1909
Other Indian Rolls, 1817-1924
Marriage Records
South Dakota Indian Land Patents
Photographs & Newspaper Articles
Sources

1880 Census of Indian Territory (later Oklahoma)

Series 7A, Roll 2, Cherokee Nation, Flint District, Schedule 1, pg 387, line 1
There are six schedules in the 1880 census of the Indian Territory, describing the condition of citizenship or non-citizenship in the Cherokee Nation. Individuals on Schedule 1 are citizens.

Catherine Rainwater, native, Cherokee, age 26, F, D1760, S
Lulie Rainwater,native, Cherokee, age 4, F, D1761
Ned Rainwater, native, Cherokee, age 2 weeks, M, D1762
See Dawes Roll for this family

1851-1959 Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Indian Censuses and Rolls

Ancestry.com, paywalled

Citizens of Cherokee Nation by Right of Cherokee Blood
Flint District, Cherokee Nation, 1883
Ah-MA-Cah-Ske Rainwater, age 30, not found
Rachel Rainwater, age 47, not found
Elizabeth Rainwater, age 13, not found

Pay Roll by Right of Cherokee Blood
Flint District, Cherokee Nation, 1883
Ahma-Cah-Ski Rainwater
Rachel Rainwater
Elizabeth Rainwater

1900 Federal Census of South Dakota

Census records made on indian reservations include questions not found on the general census. These questions are 1. Do you have another name, 2. What race or tribe are you, 3. What percentage of white are you? These will be the last three answers for each individual. The Rosebud Indian Reservation is primarily inhabited by individuals of Lakota Sioux descent.

p>ED45, Rosebud Indian Reservation, pg 191, line 15, D160, F160 (✓)
George Rainwater, head of HH, InM, Jan 1876, 24, S, SD, SD, SD, literate, Sioux, 0%

ED45, Rosebud Indian Reservation, pg 191, line 21, D163, F163 (✓)
_______ Rainwater, head of HH, InM, Jan 1853, 47, M19, unknown, unknown, NB, stock raising, illiterate, Sioux, 0%
Julia Rainwater, wife, InF, Mar 1860, 40, M19, B7, L5, SD, unknown, ND, illiterate, Sioux, 50%
Mary Rainwater, daughter, InF, May 1882, 18, S, SD, attends school, Sioux, 25%
Mabel Rainwater, daughter, InF, Feb 1889, 11, S, SD, attends school, Sioux, 25%
George Rainwater, son, InM, Sep 1893, 6, SD, Sioux, 25%
Moses Rainwater, son, InM, Jan 1898, 2, SD, Sioux, 25%
Alice Heck, mother-in-law, InF, Apr 1820, 80, W, B6, L1, SD, unknown, unknown, illiterate, Sioux, 0%
Ovinnie Heck, brother-in-law, InM, Jan 1846, 64, S, SD, unknown, SD, illiterate, Sioux, 0%

ED45, Cut Meat farm District, Rosebud Indian Reservation, pg 245B, line 30, D721, F719 ( )
Little Thunder, head of HH, InM, Mar 1845, 55, M31, SD, NB, NB, Stock raising, illiterate, Sioux, 0%
Rainwater Little Thunder, wife, InF, Nov 1846, 53, M31, B7, L4, SD, WY, MT, ration indian, illiterate, Wikayepucan, Sioux, 0%
Weedy Little Thunder, wife, InF, Oct 1857, 42, M31, B10, L7, NB, WY, MT, ration indian, illiterate, Sioux, 0%
Other family members omitted

1905 South Dakota State Census

Rosebud Indian Reservation, SD (✓)
Julia Rainwater, born 1862 SD, age 43, M, Native American
George Rainwater, born 1873, age 32, SD, S, Native American
George Rainwater, born 1894, age 11, SD, S, Native American
Lucy Rainwater, born 1888, age 17, SD, S, Native American

1910 Federal Census of South Dakota

Census records made on indian reservations include questions not found on the general census. These questions are 34. Tribe of this indian; 35. Tribe of father; 36. Tribe of mother; 36. % indian; 37. % white; 38. % negro; 40. Living in polygamy; 44. Received an allotment in what year; 45. Living on own lands; 46. Living in civilized or aboriginal dwelling.

ED28, Ellston, Gregory Co., SD, pg 144B, line 36, D19, F19
Joseph Bad Bear, head of HH, Indian M, 41, M-1st, 18, SD, SD, SD, speaks Sioux, Farmer, illiterate, Upper Branch, Upper Branch, Oglala, 100% indian, not polygamous, 1890, own lands, civilized
Mary Bad Bear, wife, IF, 40, M-1st, 18, B9, L2, SD, SD, SD, speaks Sioux, illiterate, Upper Branch, Santeas, Upper Branch, 100% indian, not polygamous, 1890, own lands, civilized
Noah Bad Bear, son, IM, 9, S, SD, SD, SD, literate, Upper Branch, Upper Branch, Upper Branch, 100% indian, not polygamous, 1907, civilized
Lucy Rainwater, daughter, IF, 21, SD, M-2nd, SD, SD, illiterate, speaks Sioux, Upper Branch, Upper Branch, Upper Branch, 100% indian, not polygamous, 1890, civilized
George Rainwater, son, IM, 15, S, SD, SD, SD, illiterate, speaks Sioux, Upper Branch, Upper Branch, Upper Branch, 100% indian, not polygamous, 1897, civilized

ED28, Ellston, Gregory Co., SD, pg 146, line 1, D28, F28
George Rainwater, head of HH, IM, 32, M-1st, 3, SD, SD, SD, speaks English, Farmer, Upper Branch, Upper Branch, Upper Branch, 100% indian, not polygamous, 1890, civilized
Kate Rainwater, wife, IF, 24, M-1st, 3, B1, L1, SD, SD, SD, speaks English, Oglala, White, Oglala, 1/2 indian 1/2 white, not polygamous, 1890, civilized
Matthew V. Rainwater*, son, IM, 18 months, S, SD, SD, SD, Oglala, Oglala, Oglala, 3/4 indian 1/4 white, not polygamous, 1909, civilized *called Purcell in later records

ED28, Ellston, Twp Gregory Co, SD, pg 147, line 19, D43, F43 (✓)
[Roosevelt] Rainwater, head of HH, IM, 58, M-1st 20, SD, SD, SD, speaks Sioux, own income
Julia Rainwater, wife, IF, 47, M-1st 20, B9, L3, SD, SD, SD, speaks Sioux

South Dakota 1915 State Census

_____ Rainwater, 52, IM, M, SD, SD, SD, Episcopalian (✓)
Julia Rainwater, 52, IF, M, SD, SD, SD, Episcopalian

George Rainwater, 41, IM, M, SD, SD, SD, Episcopalian (✓)
Matthew Rainwater, 6, IM, S, SD, SD, SD
Lorena V Rainwater, 3, IF, S, SD, SD, SD
Sylvia Rainwater, 1, IF, S, SD, SD, SD

1920 Federal Census

ED489, Pottenger (Tuberculosis) Sanitorium*, Monrovia City, Los Angeles Co., CA, pg 204B, line 72, D172, F178 ( )
William T. Rainwater, employee, IM, 32, S, MI, Italy, US, night watchman at sanitorium

ED210, 52 McAllister Street, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., CA, pg 42, line 3, D1, F2 ( )
Harold W. Rainwater, head-2 of HH, IM, 47, M, literate, IL, US, US, gripman on railroad
Loretta L. Rainwater, wife, WF, 25, M, literate, RI, RI, RI, waitress in cafe

ED23, Grandview Twp., Cherokee Co., OK, pg 271B, line 100, D58, F58 (✓)
Olen E. Rainwater, head of HH, WM, 22, M, literate, OK, US, AR, rural school teacher, O/M
Cherokee E. Rainwater, wife, IF, 20, M, literate, OK, OK, OK, rural school teacher

ED69, Elleston Twp., Gregory Co., SD, pg 150B, line 98, D134, F141 (✓)
Roosevelt Rainwater, head of HH, IM, 64, M, illiterate, SD, SD, SD, farmer
Julia Rainwater, wife, IF, 56, M, illiterate, SD, SD, SD

ED69, Elleston Twp., Gregory Co., SD, pg 151, line 25, D144, F148 (✓)
George Rainwater, head of HH, IM, 42, M, literate, SD, SD, SD, farmer
Catherine Rainwater, wife, IF, 36, M, literate, SD, SD, SD
Percell Rainwater, son, IM, 12, S, attended school, SD, SD, SD
Sorina Rainwater, daughter, IF, 6, S, attended school, SD, SD, SD
Gladys Rainwater, daughter, IF, 5, S, attended school, SD, SD, SD

1930 Federal US Indian Census

Rosebud Reservation, South Dakota (✓)
Matthew Rainwater, head of HH, married, age 54, full Sioux
Kate Ramis Rainwater, wife, married, age 44, 1/2 Sioux
Matthew P. Rainwater, son, single, age 21, 3/4 Sioux
Lorena V. Rainwater, daughter, single, age 18, 3/4 Sioux
Sylvia G. Rainwater, daughter, single, age 16, 3/4 Sioux
Alvin Ramis Rainwater, son, single, age 9, 3/4 Sioux

1930 Federal Census

ED96-416B, 3842 Westminster Pl, St Louis City, MO, pg 6064A, line 26 (✓)
Dewey Rainwater, R/H/$3, head of HH, 41, IM, M, 5th, MO, plasterer-building contractor, $520
Frances Rainwater, daughter, 18, IF, S, 9th, AR, waitress in restaurant, $520 Flora Scanlon, lodger, 44, WF, S, 5th, MO, housework
Dewey is listed as white in other records

ED 8, Stewartsville Twp, Scotland Co., NC, pg 126A, line 27, D295, F305 (✓)
Cain Rainwalters, head, farm, IM, 75, M-18, illiterate, NC, mixed blood, Cherokee, farmer
Ethel Rainwalters, wife, IF, 23, M-16, illiterate, mixed blood, Cherokee
Beatrice Rainwalters, daughter, IF, 3, S, mixed blood, Cherokee
*King William Rainwaters

ED 35, Pascoe Twp, Okmulgee Co., OK, pg 194A, line 20, D28, F28 (✓)
Olen Rainwater, head, R/H, $10, WM, 32, M-20, literate, OK, AR, TN, public school teacher
Cherokee Rainwater, wife, IF, 30, M-18, literate, OK, Mixed blood, Cherokee, public school teacher
Ruth Rainwater, daughter, IF, 9, S, attends school, OK, Mixed blood, Cherokee
Margery Rainwater, daughter, IF, 8, S, attends school, OK, Mixed blood, Cherokee

ED9, Ellston Twp., Gregory Co., SD, pg 165, line 59, D32, F32 (✓)
George Rainwatter, head of HH, O/F, $490, IM, 57, M, MA-23, illiterate, born SD, parents full blood Sioux
Kate F. Rainwatter, wife, IF, 44, M, MS-21, literate, born SD, parents mixed blood Sioux
Purcell M. Rainwatter, son, IM, 21, S, literate, born SD, parents mixed blood Sioux

1935 South Dakota State Census

Elliston, Gregory Co, SD (✓)
Kate Rainwater, 49, IF, W
Lorine Rainwater Wright, 23, IF, M-1933
Gladys Rainwater, 21, IF, S
Alvin Rainwater, 14, IM, S
Giles Rainwater, 3, IF, S

1940 Federal Census

ED17-8, Harleesville, Dillon Co, SC, pg 125A, line 15 (✓)
Connie Hunt, head of HH, 37, IM, M, 4th, SC, drainage project laborer, $350
Ilona Hunt, wife, 45, IF, M, 3rd, SC, housework
Inez Hunt, step-daughter, 23, IF, D, 5th, SC, housework
Addie Rainwater, mother-in-law, 73, IF, W, no formal education, SC, unable to work

ED 29-9, Ellston, Gregory Co, SD, pg 45, line 16 (✓)
Kate I Rainwater, O/H/$2000, IF, 54, W, 9th
Purcell M Rainwater, IM, 31, M, 8th, farm laborer
May M Rainwater, IF, 27, M, 10th, housekeeper in private home
Dorothy J Rainwater, IF, 5, S
Donald P Rainwater, IM, 3, S
Golda J Rainwater, IF, 1, S
Alvin R Rainwater, IM, 19, S, 10th, farm laborer

Drennen Roll, 1852

Rainwater, pg 201 [2571]

Dawes Roll Enrollment Cards, 1898-1914

This summary was drawn from the original Dawes Roll enrollment cards held at the Southwest National Archives, Fort Worth, Texas. For more information on the Dawes Act, read the WikiPedia article on this topic. Lewis Hyde’s book, Common As Air, also contains an excellent summary of this legislation.

These are individuals who applied to the Dawes Commission, between 1898 and 1914, as members of the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole indian tribes. It should be noted that none of these individuals are included in the final Dawes roll; in other words, these applications were denied.

Each card contains the following information:
Name, Tribe, Age, Gender, Enrollment Type (D doubtful, P parent, MCR minor), Card Number, Percentage Indian Blood

Catherine Rainwater, Cherokee, 48, F, D, D1760 claim dismissed [32], [1037]
Luelie Rainwater, Cherokee, 26, F, D, D1761 claim dismissed because claimant died prior to 1 Sep 1902 [32], [1037]
Ned Rainwater, Cherokee, 22, M, D, D1762, claim dismissed [32], [1037]

William H. Rainwater, Choctaw, M, P, MCR2802 [32]
Mary A. (Bailey) Rainwater, Choctaw, F, P, MCR2802 [32]
Thomas J. Rainwater, Choctaw, 23, M, MCR, MCR2802, blood 1/16% [32]
Thomas made the application and was rejected

William Rainwater, Choctaw, M, type: P, MCR2804 [32]
Mary (Bailey) Rainwater, Choctaw, F, P, MCR2804 [32]
James Brashears, Choctaw, P, MCR2804 [32]
Maggie Brashears, Choctaw, 37, F, MCR, MCR2804, blood 1/16% [32]
Sinclair Brashears, Choctaw, 16, M, MCR, MCR2804, blood 1/16% [32]
Simeon Brashears, Choctaw, 14, M, MCR, MCR2804, blood 1/16% [32]
Maggie made the application and was rejected. She also filed for both sons, on the grounds that she and her husband were 1/16%. Their application was also rejected.

William Rainwater, Choctaw, M, P, MCR2805 [32]
Mary (Bailey) Rainwater, Choctaw, F, P, MCR2805 [32]
Ellen White, Choctaw, 28, F, MCR2805, blood 1/16% [32]
Ellen made the application and was rejected

William Rainwaters, Choctaw, M, P, MCR2806 [32]
Mary (Bailey) Rainwaters, Choctaw, F, P, MCR2806 [32]
Minnie Rainwaters, Choctaw, 25, F, MCR, MCR2806, blood 1/16% [32]
Minnie made the application and was rejected

William Rainwater, Choctaw, M, P, MCR3203 [32]
Mary (Bailey) Rainwater, Choctaw, F, P, MCR3203 [32]
Levi Brashears Sr, Choctaw, M, P, MCR3203 [32]
Permelia Brashears, Choctaw, F, P, MCR3203
Levi Brashears Jr, Choctaw, 46, M, Choctaw, MCR, MCR3203, blood 1/16% [32]
Ida E. Brashears, Choctaw, 33, F, MCR, MCR3203, blood 1/16% [32]
Nina Brashears, Choctaw, 8, F, MCR, MCR3203, blood 1/16% [32]
Ralph Brashears, Choctaw, 5, F, MCR, MCR3203, blood 1/16% [32]
Dot Brashears, Choctaw, 3, F, MCR, MCR3203, blood 1/16% [32]
Gladys Brashears, Choctaw, 1, F, MCR, MCR3203, blood 1/16% [32]
Both Levi and Ida claimed for themselves and their 4 children. Their application was rejected.

Note
Thomas Jefferson Rainwater’s 18 Jul 1901 application lists the following co-applicants, who are his siblings, cousins, and other relations. All of these applications were denied:
Margaret Pitts, Bill Pitts, John O. Brashears, Mary Hanson, Levi Brashears, Ida Evaline Brashears, Nina Brashears, Ralph Brashears, Dot Brashears, Gladys Brashears, James Brashears, Sinclair Brashears, Simeon Brashears, Maggie Brashears, Lou Garnand, Virginia Garnand, Ethel Garnand, Mary Gibson, Leonard Gibson, Glen Gibson, Jewel Gibson, Thomas J. Rainwater, Leon Jones, Roy Jones, Ellen White, Minnie Rainwaters.
The complete application is available via U.S., Native American Applications for Enrollment in Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914, Ancestry.com

An Overview of The Sizemore Cases

The entries for Virginia Adeline Sizemore Rainwater and her son John H. Rainwater in the transcriptions of the Guion Miller Roll and Jerry Wright Jordan’s Cherokee by Blood series are frequently cited as proof that Rainwater is a Cherokee name.

Virginia Sizemore Rainwater, a widow, applied for Cherokee status on the grounds that she was a descendant of Old Ned Sizemore – one of 701 individuals to make that claim. It appears on the basis of the available testimony that Ned Sizemore was Cherokee in part or whole, though this is by no means certain. In his discussion paper, Sizemore Legend and Fact, researcher Ron Blevins notes that he been unable to conclusively determine how or if Cherokee blood entered the Sizemore family, but believes the claim that Ned was 100% Cherokee is clearly false. And, this has no bearing on the claim that Rainwater is a Cherokee name. Virginia Sizemore was a Rainwater by marriage.

All 701 of Old Ned Sizemore’s descendants in Case #417 were denied inclusion in the Cherokee tribe for technical reasons. This does not mean they weren’t Cherokee, rather it means they weren’t qualified under the rules of the settlement. In order to qualify, your Cherokee ancestors had to be kicked off their land by white people. If your Cherokee ancestors went west of their own volition, they were disqualified as “Old Settlers.” This is the case with Old Ned Sizemore, who went to Alabama1 before the Trail of Tears (1838).

For a detailed overview of the Old Ned Sizemore cases, read Case #417 in Jerry Wright Jordan’s Cherokee by Blood: Records of Eastern Cherokee Ancestry in the U.S. Court of Claims, 1906-1910

1 Sizemore may have been part of the band of Cherokee who moved west in 1817 to get away from conflict with white people. See Legacy of the Trail of Tears Complicating Bid for Cherokee Representation in House.

U.S. Court of Claims, 1906-1910

From Cherokee by Blood: Records of Eastern Cherokee Ancestry in the U.S. Court of Claims, 1906-1910, Volumes 4, 6, & by Jerry Wright Jordan. PDF

BROWN, David C., application #7625 (denied), born 1844 SC, resides Adairsville, GA
Indicates that his grandmother, Sallie Rainwater, was a full-blood Cherokee

RAINWATER, Virgin V. A. (Virginia A.), application #14464 (denied), resides Beaverton, AL
Applies based on Sizemore ancestry

RAINWATER, John H. and 3 children, application #17316 (denied), resides Beaverton, AL
Applies based on Sizemore ancestry

The Guion Miller Roll, 1906-1909

From Vital Information from The Guion Miller Roll (Eastern Cherokee Court of Claims), 1906-1909, by Billy Dubois Edgington and Carol Anne Buswell, MA. This book has a very informative introduction that we recommend reading. PDF [2555]

RAINWATER, John H., male, application #17316 (denied), born 1875 AL, resides Beaverton, Lamar Co., AL
RAINWATER, Virginia Adline Sizemore, female, application #14464 (denied), born 1859 AL, resides Beaverton, Lamar Co., AL

Other Indian Rolls, 1817-1924

Source: Cherokee Roots, Volumes 1 & 2, Bob Blankenship, published 1992, Cherokee, NC, [2571], and Access Genealogy’s searchable indian roll databases. Cherokee Roots contains a summary description of each of the rolls.

No Rainwaters are listed on the following rolls:

Marriage Records

Gregory Co.
Gladys Sylvia Rainwater m. Ben Charging Hawk, Jr., 9 Dec 1936 [32]
Lorene V. Rainwater m. Theodore Levi Wright, 6 Mar 1933 [32]
Purcell Rainwater m. May Red Hawk, 3 Jan 1931 [32]

South Dakota
George Rainwater, age 29, m. Kate Florence Ramis, age 21, 15 May 1907, Rosebud Reservation, SD [1109]

South Dakota Indian Land Patents

Bureau of Land Management indian land patents. The type number in all cases is #253400. Many of the names in these patents correspond to the individuals in the South Dakota census records.[1032], [1087]

George Rainwater, meridian 05, township 095N, range 071W, section 003, 40 acres [1032]
George Rainwater, meridian 05, township 095N, range 071W, section 006, 120 acres [1032]
George Rainwater, meridian 05, township 095N, range 071W, section 007, 244.79 acres cumulatively [1032]
George Rainwater, meridian 05, township 095N, range 071W, section 010, 120 acres [1032]
Julia Rainwater, meridian 05, township 095N, range 071W, section 006, 76.37 acres cumulatively, Gregory Co. [1032]
Julia Rainwater, meridian 05, township 095N, range 071W, section 007, 40 acres, Gregory Co. [1032]
Mary Rainwater, meridian 05, township 095N, range 071W, section 007, 40 acres, Gregory Co. [1032]
Moses Rainwater, meridian 05, township 095N, range 071W, section 006, 158.68 acres cumulatively [1032]

Gregory Co.
George Rainwater, Indian Reissue Trust #149451, 323 acres, member of Rosebud Sioux, reissue of patent, 29 Aug 1910, Gregory and Todd Counties [1087]
George Rainwater, Indian Fee Patent #557378, sells 160 acres to William J Mitchell, 6 Dec 1916 [1087]
George Rainwater, Indian Partition #1008803, Big Lane conveys to George Rainwater 160 acres, both members of Rosebud Sioux, 26 Oct 1927 [1087]

Todd Co.
George Rainwater, Indian Fee Patent #371881, 160 acres, member of Rosebud Sioux, 16 Dec 1913 [1087]
Lorena Victoria Rainwater, Indian Trust Patent #547874, member of the Rosebud Sioux, 160 acres, 2 Oct 1916 [1087]
Lorena Victoria Rainwater Zephier, Indian Fee Patent #1173146: 160 acres, member of Rosebud Sioux, 8 Jul 1957 [1087]
Mathew Purcell Rainwater, Indian Trust Patent #275721, member of the Rosebud Sioux, 160 acres, 15 Jun 1912 [1087]
Sylvia Gladys Rainwater, Indian Trust Patent #548293, member of the Rosebud Sioux, 160 acres, 2 Oct 1916 [1087]

Tripp Co.
Kate Ramis Rainwater, Indian Trust Patent #739675, 160 acres, member of the Rosebud Sioux, 60 acres, 12 Mar 1920 [1087]

Photographs & Newspaper Articles

Mary Rainwater

Older Indians objected: many councils were held by Sioux over Tripp County Treaty,” (George Rainwater), The Norfolk Weekly News, Norfolk NE, 15 Feb 1907. Note: article includes some racist language.

Sources