Desoto Tiger? Is That You?

Ever since I began researching the many wormholes of the Ashley Gang saga, the lack of photographs linked to the history gave me enough inspiration to want to create my own with a paint brush. In that process, I learned that very few photos exist of one of the key players. The tragic and truncated life of Seminole, Desoto Tiger, deserves way more recognition than what he is given. Tiger's death gets buried in 1911 by the overshadowing of the outlaw of the run; friend, guide, and moonshiner, John Ashley.

"Desoto Tiger, the son of Tom Tiger, a well-known leader of the Seminole Nation. Killed by John Ashley of the famous Ashley Gang. Desoto Tiger's body was uncovered by a dredge cutting the North new river canal from Fort Lauderdale to Okeechobee." From Findagrave.com

My next question while on my Desoto Tiger photo quest was where was the grave marker? A short sentence on the findagrave website stated that Tiger's body was uncovered by a dredge cutting the north New River canal. Does he mean when they originally found Tiger two days after he was killed? Or later when widening they uncovered Tiger and maybe repatriated? I wonder where that source is. And now, what happened to Desoto Tiger? According to local historian, Steve Carr, there are about 2-4 pictures of Tiger. Right now, I can only find one, but I know I've seen one or two more.

I was skimming photos online of Seminoles (always looking for familiar faces) and not even 5 photos into a group of over 500 were 2 faces standing out at me.

The photo above left is the one in my collection showing Tiger and his son. The one on the right shock me instantly. There was Desoto and his family! His ears, patterns, facial features, all lead me to believe this was a missing photo of the Desoto Tiger family! Now I just need to find the original so I can get a cleaner image. We also know a lot about Tiger's family, especially considering his father, Captain Tom Tiger.

"Desoto Tiger was oldest son of Tom Tiger. He was about 23 years old and leaves a wife and 2 children. He lived near Jupiter and spoke good english. He also had considerable property. His brother, Naha Tiger, was a member of the hunting party and told Captain Forrey he heard 2 shots soon after DeSoto and Ashley left the camp." (1/11/1912 Miami Daily Metropolis)

The photo above right must be taken after the photo on the left as his son looks like he slightly aged.

L-R: Ada Tiger with her father, Mico Tustenuggee (aka Great Warrior, aka Yellow Wildcat, aka Tom Tiger, aka Captain Tom Tiger), her mother Mrs. Mary Tiger, and her brother Desoto Tiger. Note: Tom Tiger married Mary in 1882.

Desoto Tiger was a member of the Cow Creek Seminole band and the son of Chief Tommy Tiger (also known as Mico Tustenuggee), a prominent leader within a Creek-speaking Seminole community centered near present-day Indiantown, Florida. Belonging to the Snake Clan, Tiger’s lineage reflects the political, cultural, and linguistic continuity of Seminole life in south-central Florida during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Despite the profound loss caused by Tiger’s death, his descendants went on to achieve historic milestones that underscore the endurance and advancement of the Seminole people. His daughter, Flora Jones (née Tiger), was the mother of Louise Jones Gopher, the first Seminole in Florida to earn a college education. This legacy of educational achievement continued with Carla Gopher McCabe, the first Seminole graduate of Florida State University.

Collectively, Desoto Tiger’s life, death, and descendants situate his family within a broader narrative of Seminole resilience, marking a transition from early twentieth-century conflict to later generations’ leadership and institutional presence.

Tommy Tiger (Desoto's father), also known as Thlocklo Tustenuggee or Captain Tom Tiger, was a prominent leader of the Cow Creek Seminole band in late-19th and early-20th century Florida. A Seminole War veteran, he played a central role in maintaining the cohesion and survival of his people in the decades after the Third Seminole War, establishing sustained trade and relations with non-Native settlers while preserving tribal autonomy. Tiger was among the first Seminoles to engage with Florida’s legal and economic systems, notably appearing in a court case to seek redress when a settler refused to return his horse, an event that, despite its loss, raised awareness of Seminole injustices in the wider public sphere. In 1904 he helped pioneer Seminole participation in early tourism by opening a camp that showcased traditional crafts, canoe making, and culture, foreshadowing later economic developments. Respected by both his own people and many white Floridians, he navigated a period of profound change in Florida with diplomacy, resilience, and leadership.

Desoto Tiger and family, before his death in late 1911.

My hope is that locally, more awareness can be spread about the Seminole history of Palm Beach and Martin County. John Ashley's legacy can be found in many corners, however Desoto Tiger's impact is much harder to find much like the truth of his murder. Was he a belligerent drunk who forced John Ashley to pull the trigger? Or was John really as bad as Bob Baker (a not-so-good guy himself) claimed in the headlines. Propoganda or reality?

Here's the final painting I did today after seeing the original photo. Gouache on 6" x 6" paper. For Sale.

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3:00pm

I wanted to look for the original location of the photograph and I found it in the Claude Matlack collection via FIU. But we have a problem. The image is dated to 1920, 9 years after Desoto Tiger was shot. In my opinion, the image of the family looks like and reflects that of Tiger. Married with 2 children. From our base image of Tiger with his son, we have a close-up of his features. The oddest being his ears, eyes, and brow. The men in the images look nearly identical. But I cannot argue with the dates on references...

I did find a second image possibly from another angle. The patterns on the male Seminole's dress matches.

Original image from FIU. Matlack collection.

This image is in the same collection and is numbered 607. The male standing to the right is wearing the same pattern dress as the family image above. The woman and child are also wearing the same pattern clothing. I believe these images are the same people, with the second child in the far left.

If you look at the pattern of this outfit, its the exact one from the images above in the Matlack Collection. I'm stumped... Compare the features as well as this youngest child.

Could the images date to pre-Christmas 1911? Or are they 1920? Either way, the pictures show a scene from Florida's past that once again, we will never see in person.