Christian L McClish “Kowi Chito Hopaii” – Native American Ancestry/Lineage:
This traces lineage from Christian’s father’s side, showing the Native American heritage:
- Shomachiche – The oldest known ancestor of Chris McClish’s Native heritage. He was of the House of Wildcats clan of Chickasaw. He had four children who marrried into the LeFlore, Fulsom, Pitchlynn, and McLIsh families, who were the inner circle of the Choctaw/Chickasaw political leadership. He was a clan elder of the House of Wildcats/Panthers whose primary purpose was protection, tracking, security and guardianship of the community.
- Shim-a-te-cha – Daughter of Shomachiche from House of Wildcats clan of Chickasaw. She married William McLish or McClish – their son was John E McLish.
- John E McLish (Chickasaw Hall of Fame inductee) married Susan “Sukey” Colbert, who was the granddaughter of Chief Doublehead (Cherokee), through her mother Saleechee and her father Chickasaw Chief Colonel George ‘Tootemastubbe’ Colbert. A son of John and Sukey was Ameziah McClish.
- Ameziah McClish married Ellen James. Reason Enzire McClish or “Ross” Enzire McClish was one of their children.
- Ross Enzire McClish or Reason married Minnie Mosteller. Ernest Edward McClish was one of their children.
- Ernest Edward McClish (US Army Lt. Colonel and Choctaw) was a WWII hero. Lt. Colonel McClish had five children (from first marriage: Patricia, Richard; from a relationship in the Phillipines during WWII: Vivian; from his second marriage: Ross, and Melba Susan/”Kelly”) before his marriage to Christian’s mother (Wanda). Colonel McClish married Wanda Ruthrauff and they had Christian. Christian was Ernest McClish’s sixth child.
- Christian L McClish also known as Kowi Chito Hopaii (“Great Puma Seer”). Christian McClish married Stacey Cummings and has three children and (thus far) four grandchildren.
The House of Wildcats – Kowimihlha’ Iksa’
The House of Wildcats clan of the Chickasaw were the apex protectors of their people. In the Chickasaw language, Kowi’ is the root word for the entire wild cat family – from bobcat to puma. – with the mountain lion specifically revered as Ko-Ishto, meaning “Cat of God.” The clan’s traditional role was nocturnal protection, tracking, security, and guardianship of the community.
Many of Chris McClish’s ancestors served as Lighthorsemen – the law enforcement of the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations- carrying the Wildcat Clan’s protective tradition forward into formal tribal governance. That tradition continued through Lt. Colonel Ernest Edward McClish’s guerrilla command in WWII, and continues today.
Sources:
This lineage has been reconstructed from Dawes Roll records, 1889 sworn testimonial proceedings, Chickasaw Hall of Fame Documentation, WikiTree genealogical records, and ongoing research. Some connections are fully documented in primary sources and some are under active verification. Find a Grave Memorial ID 30247107 documents Ross Enzire McClish at Okmulgee Cemetery, Oklahoma.