The Chief Sapulpa Family Cemetery
Historic preservation project

The Chief Sapulpa Family Cemetery is the burial site of “Sapulpa,” the man for whom the city of Sapulpa was named in 1898. The cemetery rests in a 30’ x 50’ section at 909 South Division Street.
Who owns the Chief Sapulpa Cemetery?
The Nancy Green Chapter, NSDAR, purchased the cemetery in January 1923. At that time the markers were scattered over about 40 acres. Effort was made through family contacts to establish exactly where each belonged.
Who is buried in the cemetery?
  • “Chief” Sapulpa - Died March 17, 1887, at the age of 75
  • Eliza - Na Kitty, first wife of Sapulpa, her grave is not marked
  • Niesie - Died August 6, 187?, daughter of Sapulpa
  • Rebecca - Died August 1, 1879, daughter of Sapulpa
  • Lucy - Died  February 16, 1900, daughter of Sapulpa
  • Bessie Bruner - Died September 11, 1888, granddaughter of Sapulpa
  • Infant born/died March 29, 1905, grandson of Sapulpa
  • Aggie Jones - Died March 1, 1900, orphan at Euchee Mission
  • Velma James  - student at Euchee Mission
  • Unknown third child who died during the measles epidemic of 1900
The man Sapulpa was born between 1812-1824, of full blood Lower Creek Indian of the Kasihta tribe in Osochee town, Alabama. Sapulpa was of the Coon Clan and his three wives of the Fox Clan. He was the area's first permanent settler. Around 1850, he established a trading post near the confluence of Rock Creek and Polecat Creek, about two miles southeast of present day downtown Sapulpa.
The area settlers gave him the nickname "Chief," and in 1883, the railroad employees named the first train depot "Sapulpa Station."
Sapulpa and his first wife NaKitty had three children: James, Sarah, and Hanna. After NaKitty died, he married Cho-pok-sa, one a NaKitty's sisters. They had seven children: Yarna, Moses, Samuel, William, Rhoda, Nicey, and Becca.
Sapulpa was in the Creek Regiment of the Confederate Army. He served for three years as a first lieutenant. He was wounded in the battle of Elk Creek, Checotah, Oklahoma.
Picture
"Chief" Sapulpa
Chief Sapulpa picture courtesy of Sapulpa Chamber of Commerce
In 1868, Sapulpa was elected to the House of Kings, a Creek Nation governmental body. He held that position until his death.
Chief Sapulpa died March 17, 1887, in Indian Territory, and is buried in the Chief Sapulpa Family Cemetery on South Division Street.
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