The history of the Creek Nation must not be written without the name of Cow Tom. His name is often omitted in many circles because of his African ancestry. Cow Tom raised cattle for Chief Yargee of the Upper Creeks, in Alabama. A cattle man in his youth, Cow Tom’s job became primarily as a negotiator and interpreter for the chief. As the chief knew no English and had no interest in the language, the role of Cow Tom was critical and made him more valuable to the Chief. He began to receive payments directly for his services as an interpreter, earning more money than the highest paid blacksmith. Cow Tom was now able to acquire land and livestock of his own. There were two sets of Creeks – the Upper and Lower. Chief Yargee was the head of the Upper Creeks, who were the more traditional people who had little interest in mixing with whites. They were often in conflict with the Lower Creeks — mixed blood Creeks who had intermarried with whites and held the same sentiments to those of white Southerners.The Lower Creeks sought to expel the Africans from the Nation, and also signed a treaty with the Confederacy to preserve their interest in African slavery. After the Civil War, among the Upper Creeks, the Africans and the Creeks became one Nation. Chief Sands appointed Cow Tom as an official chief. Not long after, Cow Tom along with Ketch Barnett, and Harry Island, made a trip to Washington, unknown to their Creek brethren, to insure that Blacks would be treated fairly and included in benefits extended to the citizens of the Creek Nation. The citizenry in the Indian Territory of the Oklahoma Black Indians thrived due to the successes of Cow Tom, and much self-esteem was instilled into the African Indian culture. Sadly though,in 1979 by a vote of a select group of people the Lower Creeks finally removed Blacks from the Creek Nation. They rewrote the Creek Nation’s constitution and removed the names of the Blacks who had been a part of the Nation for more than 180 years.