I'm sorry, but I think the "Indian" connection is just a family story.
Here is the 1880 U.S. Census for Ocie and his parents:
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4V8-4CD : 26 August 2017), O O East in entry for Z R East, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 107, sheet 253A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 0029; FHL microfilm 1,254,029.
Here is his father Zealous with his family in the 1850 census: Zealous R East
Age:16
Birth Year:abt 1834
Birthplace:Georgia
Home in 1850:Talladega, Talladega, Alabama, USA
Gender:Male
Family Number:769
Household Members:
Name Age
Benjamin East 45
Margaret East 43
Mahalda East 18
Zealous R East 16
William R East 14
Sarah J East 12
Maneroa East 10
Missouri East 8
Susan East 6
Benj J East 4
Angeline C East 2
They are living in Talladega, Alabama which was not in the part of Alabama where the Cherokee lived. The East family is not on the 1835 Cherokee census in Alabama.
Ocie's mother is listed as Abrilla Waites, also born in Alabama in the 1830's. There is no one named Waites on the 1835 Cherokee Census in Alabama.
There is no one named "East" or "Waites" on the 1851/52 census of Cherokee East of the Mississippi. I didn't find an Eastern Cherokee application for Ocie, either.