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Monday, August 28, 2017
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Texas History Minute trade, however, would become his territories within the Indian Territory, effectively putting an end most famous legacy. As he died, the great age of the cattle drives was Though he spent most of his adult to their way of life. just beginning. As more ranchers life as a merchant, Chisolm’s most began shipping their cattle to sought-after product was peace. In April 1868, Chisolm died Kansas from the late 1860s through Respected among both white suddenly, apparently of food the 1880s, his trail became a popular politicians and Native American poisoning, while in the Indian tribes, he was routinely sought out Territory. He was respected for his route and soon became known as the Chisolm Trail. to mediate disputes between the efforts to broker peace on the tribes and the settlers. Chisolm plains. His efforts at expanding reportedly spoke a dozen languages, mostly the languages of Keep Howe Beautiful's Yard of the Month the different tribes of the Great Plains. As a trader, such skills of language and diplomacy were vital to his business success. the area.
Dr. Ken Bridges Dr. Bridges is a Texas native, writer, and history professor. He can be reached at drkenbridges@gmail.com.
Sam Houston, while serving as President of the Republic of Texas, sought out Chisolm often to negotiate between Texas and the tribes. Houston himself had lived among the Cherokees for a time and believed that peace was The Old West became notorious possible between the settlers and for the violence that befell the tribes. Chisolm managed to communities and individuals. convince several tribes in the Some individuals, however, acted North Texas area to meet with as peacemakers. Jesse Chisolm, a Houston and Texas officials in a merchant who developed a network series of meetings called the of trading posts from Texas up to Tehuacana Creek Councils in 1843 Kansas, became known for his and 1844 near Waco. Through mediation efforts and his efforts to these efforts, several treaties were expand commerce in the area. He established between Texas and the was never wealthy, but his different tribes. reputation as a guide, translator, diplomat, trader, and explorer gave During the Civil War, tribes in the him an important role in shaping Indian Territory were deeply the West. His most lasting legacy divided and often sided with the was creating the legendary Confederacy. Chisolm tried to Chisolm Trail, which became a stay out of the conflict, often vital pipeline for the famous cattle trading with both the Union and drives of the late nineteenth Confederate sides. By 1864, he century. was operating out of Wichita, Kansas, and serving as an Jesse Chisolm was born in the interpreter for the Union Army. Great Hiwassee area in the In 1865, Chisolm hoped to resume mountains of southeastern his trade business. He loaded a Tennessee around 1805, inside team of wagons with goods and what had been Cherokee territory. left Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, His exact date of birth is uncertain. marking a trail south to his trading He was the oldest of six children post near modern Oklahoma City. born to Ignatius Chisolm, a He extended the trail south to the Scottish immigrant and trader, and Red River. Word of this safe and Martha Rogers, a Cherokee. well-marked trail spread. As Texas ranchers saw the potential Chisolm’s lifetime would be profit in driving cattle to Kansas marked by the dramatic collapse of for sale, Chisolm’s trail became tribal control of their territories. the obvious route to use as the Even as a child, he was already cattle drives began by 1867. living with its effects. By this time, relations between the After the end of the Civil War, it Cherokees and the settlers were became increasingly obvious that breaking down. Many settlers the federal government intended to were encroaching on Cherokee clamp down control over the tribes lands, seizing it for themselves in and force them onto reservations violation of treaty while the federal in spite of existing treaties. government did little to stop it. By Chisolm attempted to bring tribal the early 1810s, many Cherokees leaders together with federal were started moving west, the officials in the Indian Territory to Chisolms included, settling in what discuss the issues at hand. Tribal is now western Arkansas. leaders were reluctant to meet, realizing that any treaty at that In the 1820s, the family moved point probably meant a surrender. further west near Fort Gibson in Within two years, leaders slowly what was soon to become the gathered to talk with federal Indian Territory, or modern-day representatives. The result was the Oklahoma. His father brought him Medicine Lodge Treaty, a series of into the merchant business, and he three treaties signed between the made a respectable living as a tribes and the federal government guide and a trader. Chisolm starting in October 1867. The steadily built and maintained a treaty stipulated that the tribes series of trading posts throughout would be assigned reservation
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Yard of the Month - Bainbrook Apartments #6. Congrats to Zenaida Wade and Bobby Deaver.
