Choctaw Trail of Tears

[okie]

Halito Mr. Lambert! I didnt know you were Chatah!
Your son must be tough!!
Thanks for the post and picture!
Chukfi (okie)

 

[butchlambert]

Halito Mr. Lambert! I didnt know you were Chatah!
Your son must be tough!!
Thanks for the post and picture!
Chukfi (okie)

William Durant, Choctaw Chief from about 1938-1949 was an ancestor.
Louis Durant was my 5th Great Grandfather.
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The Mississippi Durants
There were few white people among the Choctaw and other tribes in the area
at the time Nathaniel Folsom made his home among them. Besides the
Choctaw, there were Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, Seminole and other tribes
living in this area of the country. There were, however, some Frenchmen
who settled in among them at some time. The names of the most well-known
of the Frenchment were Durant, LeFlore, Battiest, Colbert, Moncrief,
Duford and Duer. Two of those names became well-known among the Choctaw.
One French-Canadian "Cour du Bois" (trapper, woodsman, trader) named Louis
Durant came down the Mississippi River to the Choctaw with Michael and
Louis LeFlore. Durant brought several head of cattle with him, and they
settled in the Yazoo Valley area of Mississippi among the Choctaw in
1770-1775. This was about the same time that Nathaniel Folsom came to the
Choctaw.
Louis Durant's cattle created quite a stir. The Choctaw had never seen
cattle before, and they were fascinated! Many stories were told for years
about what some had done when they first saw cattle. Before many years
passed, however, a lot of Choctaw were raising cattle. Each of the three
Frenchmen married full-blood Choctaw women, settled into life in the midst
of these Indians and began to raise families.
Louis Durant had a full life among the Choctaw; he married She Ni Yak, a
Choctaw, and he raised three strong sons (Pierre, Charles and Lewis),
along with two daughters, Margaret and Cillen (or Syllan or Sillen) . He
built a large home high atop a bluff overlooking the Big Black River in
Yazoo County, and he helped the Choctaw with advice when they had growing
problems dealing with the U.S. Government. Louis Durant (along with the
LeFlore brothers) were adopted into the Choctaw Tribe. Durant was adopted
into the Hanaka Iska Clan. He was highly respected by the Choctaws for
his help and for his honesty. He was paid for his work on the treaty
negotiations of 1826.
When the War of 1812 broke out, Louis quickly joined in, leading a
detachment of Choctaw troops, where he served under the great Chief
Pushmataha, for General Andrew Jackson in The Battle of New Orleans.
After the war was over, he was forever called Captain Durant.
When a town began to grow below his home and across the Big Black River,
the surveyors met to decide what to call the town. Out of respect for old
Captain Durant, they decided to name the town Durant, Mississippi. This
was just the first of two towns to be named after his family. After
Mississippi was a state, Holmes County was created from this area of Yazoo
County, where Durant is still a town.
More in another post.

 

[butchlambert]

William Durant, Choctaw Chief from about 1938-1949 was an ancestor.
Louis Durant was my 5th Great Grandfather.
12/13/2020 externalfile:arc-content/content%253A%252F%252Fcom.ancestry.android.apps.ancestry.provider%252Fdownload%252FancestryTemp…
externalfile:arc-content/content%253A%252F%252Fcom.ancestry.android.apps.ancestry.provider%252Fdownload%252FancestryTempFile.txt 1/3
The Mississippi Durants
There were few white people among the Choctaw and other tribes in the area
at the time Nathaniel Folsom made his home among them. Besides the
Choctaw, there were Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, Seminole and other tribes
living in this area of the country. There were, however, some Frenchmen
who settled in among them at some time. The names of the most well-known
of the Frenchment were Durant, LeFlore, Battiest, Colbert, Moncrief,
Duford and Duer. Two of those names became well-known among the Choctaw.
One French-Canadian "Cour du Bois" (trapper, woodsman, trader) named Louis
Durant came down the Mississippi River to the Choctaw with Michael and
Louis LeFlore. Durant brought several head of cattle with him, and they
settled in the Yazoo Valley area of Mississippi among the Choctaw in
1770-1775. This was about the same time that Nathaniel Folsom came to the
Choctaw.
Louis Durant's cattle created quite a stir. The Choctaw had never seen
cattle before, and they were fascinated! Many stories were told for years
about what some had done when they first saw cattle. Before many years
passed, however, a lot of Choctaw were raising cattle. Each of the three
Frenchmen married full-blood Choctaw women, settled into life in the midst
of these Indians and began to raise families.
Louis Durant had a full life among the Choctaw; he married She Ni Yak, a
Choctaw, and he raised three strong sons (Pierre, Charles and Lewis),
along with two daughters, Margaret and Cillen (or Syllan or Sillen) . He
built a large home high atop a bluff overlooking the Big Black River in
Yazoo County, and he helped the Choctaw with advice when they had growing
problems dealing with the U.S. Government. Louis Durant (along with the
LeFlore brothers) were adopted into the Choctaw Tribe. Durant was adopted
into the Hanaka Iska Clan. He was highly respected by the Choctaws for
his help and for his honesty. He was paid for his work on the treaty
negotiations of 1826.
When the War of 1812 broke out, Louis quickly joined in, leading a
detachment of Choctaw troops, where he served under the great Chief
Pushmataha, for General Andrew Jackson in The Battle of New Orleans.
After the war was over, he was forever called Captain Durant.
When a town began to grow below his home and across the Big Black River,
the surveyors met to decide what to call the town. Out of respect for old
Captain Durant, they decided to name the town Durant, Mississippi. This
was just the first of two towns to be named after his family. After
Mississippi was a state, Holmes County was created from this area of Yazoo
County, where Durant is still a town.
More in another post.

Relatives and friends all fought in
the Civil War, mostly on the Confederate side.
Pierre Durant, Louis' son, took over the affairs of the family as his
father aged. Pierre married a Choctaw bride named Rachel, and his
brothers married also; the family holdings increased to more than 7,000
acres of land, in total by the 1840's.
After the signing of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830, the
Choctaw were "removed" for the most part, to the new Indian Territory made
for them west of the Mississippi. They were taken in groups over the
trail, many on foot, during winter months, and disease and death ran
rampant through the tribe as they were not given enough time in which to
care for their sick and dying family members. It was an atrocity that has
never been repeated in the history of this country. There is not even any
documentation as to how many Choctaw lost their lives during this trip,
called the Trail of Tears. I am going to include two paintings which
depict it well, both done by Choctaw artist Jerome Tiger. You can see
more of his art at: The Tiger Gallery For more information about the
treaties that led to the Choctaw removal, check here.
When removal to Indian Territory became a fact, Pierre, his father, and
much of their extended family opted out of leaving Mississippi. However,
they had not counted on the mood of the Americans who would move into
their country. These people were jealous of the success of this family,
and the harassment they were subjected to, along with the changes that
came after most of the Choctaw left, soon made living in the land they had
always loved, unbearable. Pierre and the rest of his family divested
themselves of most of their property and belongings, took the seal his
father had fashioned for the Durant family, emblazoned it on eight wagons,
and loaded them up with his father and his family, for the long trip to
Indian Territory. They left December 30, 1844, and arrived there in March
20,1845. One of Pierre Durant's descendants (Randle Durant), wrote a book
titled Footsteps of the Choctaw Durants, in which he used the notes and
journals of Pierre Durant to document their history. I am told it is "...a
personal family history; a struggle to try and remain in their homeland,
mistreatment by the government; a painful and sad journey."
The book contains a graphic account of the 1845 journey of Pierre with his
family, overland from Bogue Chitto, Neshoba County to Chickasaw Bluffs on
the Yazoo River just north of Vicksburg, where they boarded the steamboat
Erin for the five-day trip up the Mississippi River to Arkansas Post,
hence up the Arkansas River to Fort Coffee near present day Fort Smith,
then to Sculleyville (about five miles from Fort Coffee). Some of his sons
settled near Sculleyville in the present-day city of Poteau, Oklahoma.
Pierre and the rest of the family headed for Harse Prairie (two miles
northeast of the present-day town of Hugo, Oklahoma), via the Army Road
that went through Horse Prairie, 25 miles further east to Doaksville (near
present-day Fort Towson). At Horse Prairie there was a large settlement of
over two hundred log cabins and shacks built closely together. There was
also a trading post and a clearinghouse (a store that dealt in farm
commodities, similar to a farmer's co-op)

If any interest I will post the rest. This was my Grand Father's family. My Grand Mother's side was Montatubee McGee or my 5th Great Grandfather and was in Mississippi also. Both my Grandfather and Grandmother are on the Original Choctaw Rolls.

 

[okie]

Wow Butch! You are quite the historian! Thanks so much for posting!
I am part Chatah and Chalaki. Im not on role because my part choctaw great great grandfather was ashamed to sign up due to treatment of indians---MANY were dropped off role due to this.
My cherokee ancestor went to Mena Ar to work (left the territory) and was removed. I have many friends with native names who do not have cards. the tribe has been good to try to re-enroll them lately. I have not tried but will when time allows. so much history.
I guess the choctaw in me makes me love my waks so much!!
I think my ancestors must have been chikashas(REBELS)
thanks again, marc

 

[outasite`08]

Relatives and friends all fought in
the Civil War, mostly on the Confederate side.
Pierre Durant, Louis' son, took over the affairs of the family as his
father aged. Pierre married a Choctaw bride named Rachel, and his
brothers married also; the family holdings increased to more than 7,000
acres of land, in total by the 1840's.
After the signing of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830, the
Choctaw were "removed" for the most part, to the new Indian Territory made
for them west of the Mississippi. They were taken in groups over the
trail, many on foot, during winter months, and disease and death ran
rampant through the tribe as they were not given enough time in which to
care for their sick and dying family members. It was an atrocity that has
never been repeated in the history of this country. There is not even any
documentation as to how many Choctaw lost their lives during this trip,
called the Trail of Tears. I am going to include two paintings which
depict it well, both done by Choctaw artist Jerome Tiger. You can see
more of his art at: The Tiger Gallery For more information about the
treaties that led to the Choctaw removal, check here.
When removal to Indian Territory became a fact, Pierre, his father, and
much of their extended family opted out of leaving Mississippi. However,
they had not counted on the mood of the Americans who would move into
their country. These people were jealous of the success of this family,
and the harassment they were subjected to, along with the changes that
came after most of the Choctaw left, soon made living in the land they had
always loved, unbearable. Pierre and the rest of his family divested
themselves of most of their property and belongings, took the seal his
father had fashioned for the Durant family, emblazoned it on eight wagons,
and loaded them up with his father and his family, for the long trip to
Indian Territory. They left December 30, 1844, and arrived there in March
20,1845. One of Pierre Durant's descendants (Randle Durant), wrote a book
titled Footsteps of the Choctaw Durants, in which he used the notes and
journals of Pierre Durant to document their history. I am told it is "...a
personal family history; a struggle to try and remain in their homeland,
mistreatment by the government; a painful and sad journey."
The book contains a graphic account of the 1845 journey of Pierre with his
family, overland from Bogue Chitto, Neshoba County to Chickasaw Bluffs on
the Yazoo River just north of Vicksburg, where they boarded the steamboat
Erin for the five-day trip up the Mississippi River to Arkansas Post,
hence up the Arkansas River to Fort Coffee near present day Fort Smith,
then to Sculleyville (about five miles from Fort Coffee). Some of his sons
settled near Sculleyville in the present-day city of Poteau, Oklahoma.
Pierre and the rest of the family headed for Harse Prairie (two miles
northeast of the present-day town of Hugo, Oklahoma), via the Army Road
that went through Horse Prairie, 25 miles further east to Doaksville (near
present-day Fort Towson). At Horse Prairie there was a large settlement of
over two hundred log cabins and shacks built closely together. There was
also a trading post and a clearinghouse (a store that dealt in farm
commodities, similar to a farmer's co-op)

If any interest I will post the rest. This was my Grand Father's family. My Grand Mother's side was Montatubee McGee or my 5th Great Grandfather and was in Mississippi also. Both my Grandfather and Grandmother are on the Original Choctaw Rolls.

Thanks Butch. I`m in if you want to post more . Thanks again for sharing. Jeff

 

[Webster]

We have always been proud of our Choctaw Indian heritage. This photo is my oldest Son getting ready for the 500 mile Choctaw Trail of Tears ride from Mississippi to Durant, Oklahoma.
View attachment 1457972

I read that the entire community of Minnanapolis-St. Paul was built on land given to the native tribes by treaty to possess forever. Then the government stole it and never re-immbursed the tribes to this day.

 

[rayporter]

i am in
Butch

 

[butchlambert]

Some more.

Pierre settled with his second wife Sophia and his two daughters, about
1.5 miles northeast of present-day Bennington, Oklahoma. George and
Sylvester built their homes and farmed about a mile north of Pierre.
Fisher took his family and settled about 25 miles further west, in
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externalfile:arc-content/content%253A%252F%252Fcom.ancestry.android.apps.ancestry.provider%252Fdownload%252FancestryTempFile.txt 3/3
Carriage Point (two miles south of present-day Durant, Oklahoma. This was
the beginning of the town of Durant, Oklahoma. It was the second town (of
the same name) that was named for Durant family members.
With the marriage of Pierre's daughter Monette to John Folsom about 1830,
the Folsom and Durant lines of our family history merge into one. And,
the marriage of Monette and John Folsom's child, John Jr., to Benettie
Durant, further solidifies that merging.
John Folsom's brother was David Folsom, a chief of the Choctaw. David
Folsom was a very important person to his tribe, and worked for them for
many years. You can read more about his important contributions here.
In the next two generations, their granddaughter Lucinda married Ben
Hampton, to tie in another important Choctaw family line. Ben Hampton was
just one of many Hampton family members who were well respected and well
liked by those in his tribe. Our Ben (there were several), was the son of
Nicholas Hampton and was chosen to sit on the council for the Atoka
Treaty, with the DAWES Commission, to help his tribe keep as much as he
could in the negotiations. He signed that treaty with the others. To
read the treaty, go to: Atoka Treaty
Photo, right: Lucinda Hampton9 (Burke), daughter of Ben Hampton2 and
Charlotte Folsom, and my great-great grandmother

 

[okie]

Some more.

Pierre settled with his second wife Sophia and his two daughters, about
1.5 miles northeast of present-day Bennington, Oklahoma. George and
Sylvester built their homes and farmed about a mile north of Pierre.
Fisher took his family and settled about 25 miles further west, in
12/13/2020 externalfile:arc-content/content%253A%252F%252Fcom.ancestry.android.apps.ancestry.provider%252Fdownload%252FancestryTemp…
externalfile:arc-content/content%253A%252F%252Fcom.ancestry.android.apps.ancestry.provider%252Fdownload%252FancestryTempFile.txt 3/3
Carriage Point (two miles south of present-day Durant, Oklahoma. This was
the beginning of the town of Durant, Oklahoma. It was the second town (of
the same name) that was named for Durant family members.
With the marriage of Pierre's daughter Monette to John Folsom about 1830,
the Folsom and Durant lines of our family history merge into one. And,
the marriage of Monette and John Folsom's child, John Jr., to Benettie
Durant, further solidifies that merging.
John Folsom's brother was David Folsom, a chief of the Choctaw. David
Folsom was a very important person to his tribe, and worked for them for
many years. You can read more about his important contributions here.
In the next two generations, their granddaughter Lucinda married Ben
Hampton, to tie in another important Choctaw family line. Ben Hampton was
just one of many Hampton family members who were well respected and well
liked by those in his tribe. Our Ben (there were several), was the son of
Nicholas Hampton and was chosen to sit on the council for the Atoka
Treaty, with the DAWES Commission, to help his tribe keep as much as he
could in the negotiations. He signed that treaty with the others. To
read the treaty, go to: Atoka Treaty
Photo, right: Lucinda Hampton9 (Burke), daughter of Ben Hampton2 and
Charlotte Folsom, and my great-great grandmother

I Was just barely exposed to a little of this in high school OK history class...Thanks !!

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

Butch,

I saw you mention your Choctaw heritage in another thread, I think that's pretty cool. I don't have any Native American in me, but I have always felt more like a Native American than a Cowboy.

I had never heard of the Choctaw before to be honest, but today I was watching a documentary on Roy Rogers and it mentioned that he also had Choctaw heritage on his Mother's side, and even adopted a Coctaw child at one point.

I thought this might be a good thread to bring up the question I was asking in the other thread, and that was about Ned Christie, if you know of him. He was one of the few Native Americans that did blacksmithing and gunsmithing. There was very few blacksmiths or gunsmiths, I feel blacksmithing must have to do with the spiritual powers of fire to the Native Americans. Most all of their tools and weapons were build with stone and other indigenous materials. As an example, the Pomo tribe made boats and baskets out of tules at Clear Lake, where I will retire. I do plan to do more gunsmith work after I get my shop together, but have quite a bit of parts I need for build a few bolt actions.

I have a few years on your son, gonna be 65 next year, but not in as good of shape as your son. I do swim a mile a day, 4-5 days a week and walk some also with my wife/son. I'm hoping to build up to be able to hike 4 miles with 100 lbs. in my pack.

Hunting seems like a healthy hobby to have when one ages.

 

[butchlambert]

Butch,

I saw you mention your Choctaw heritage in another thread, I think that's pretty cool. I don't have any Native American in me, but I have always felt more like a Native American than a Cowboy.

I had never heard of the Choctaw before to be honest, but today I was watching a documentary on Roy Rogers and it mentioned that he also had Choctaw heritage on his Mother's side, and even adopted a Coctaw child at one point.

I thought this might be a good thread to bring up the question I was asking in the other thread, and that was about Ned Christie, if you know of him. He was one of the few Native Americans that did blacksmithing and gunsmithing. There was very few blacksmiths or gunsmiths, I feel blacksmithing must have to do with the spiritual powers of fire to the Native Americans. Most all of their tools and weapons were build with stone and other indigenous materials. As an example, the Pomo tribe made boats and baskets out of tules at Clear Lake, where I will retire. I do plan to do more gunsmith work after I get my shop together, but have quite a bit of parts I need for build a few bolt actions.

I have a few years on your son, gonna be 65 next year, but not in as good of shape as your son. I do swim a mile a day, 4-5 days a week and walk some also with my wife/son. I'm hoping to build up to be able to hike 4 miles with 100 lbs. in my pack.

Hunting seems like a healthy hobby to have when one ages.

Nothing better than after the day's hunt around the campfire with an adult beverage and BS with friends and family!

 

[butchlambert]

My Son and DIL were to leave Fayetteville in the morning for a bike deal in Mississippi, But! During a ride after work yesterday one of the other riders got into Scott's bike causing a crash and breaking his ankle. He will miss the Hotter'N Hell 100 miler in Wichita Falls now. That is being held on the 26th of August.