Oklahoma Native
Americans In 1853 the Chickasaw Nation granted Benjamin Franklin Colbert
(1826-1893), a Chickasaw citizen, permission to operate a ferry across the
Red River. Located at the border separating present Bryan County,
Oklahoma, and Grayson County, Texas, three miles southeast of Colbert, the
site was placed to accommodate travelers on the Texas Road. In the late
1840s Benjamin Colbert had moved to the area, where he raised cotton and
ran cattle, utilizing slave labor. In 1858 this location became Indian
Territory's last stop for the north-south run of the Butterfield Overland
Mail. Colbert maintained the road and transported the stage and passengers
across the river, free of charge. His house served as the station, and he
provided food for travelers. Near the ferry, Colbert later built a large
mansion named Riverside. During the Civil War Confederate forces often
used the ferries. After the war ended, the enterprise profited from cattle
drives that originated in Texas. The townsite of Colbert sprang up around
this operation. In 1872 the ferry business charged one dollar for a
two-horse wagon, one dollar and twenty-five cents for a four-horse wagon,
one dollar and fifty cents for six-horse wagon, twenty-five cents for a
man and a horse, and ten cents a head for cattle or horses. Travelers had
to pay to cross the river, whether or not they used the boats. Two hundred
yards from the landing, on the Texas side, stood a store named the "first
and last chance," selling among other things whiskey, which was banned in
Indian Territory.
The Choctaw Nation
The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830 was the start of
the Choctaws long journey to Indian Territory Oklahoma. Being the first of
the five great southern tribes (Choctaw, Cherokee, Creek, Seminole and
Chickasaw) to be moved from their home lands. The Choctaws moved on this
long Journey, with may of the Choctaw people not surviving this move
sand was soon called "The Trail of Tears" After their arrival into
the Indian Territory Oklahoma, the Choctaw adjusted quickly to their new
homeland. Missionaries were sent to help with the white man's customs and
language. The Missionaries established a good rapport with the
Choctaws, and early impressed upon the Choctaws the importance and need
for formal education if they were to co-exist with the white man. The
Choctaw public school system was started in 1821 before removal to what
became Oklahoma. Immediately upon arrival to the western lands, schools
began to spring up. There were three Districts where the
Choctaws resided in Indian Territory; Pushmataha, Apukshunubbee and
Mushulatubbee, named after three outstanding district chiefs. The Choctaws
accepted an alien religion and code of morals, established a completely
foreign educational system, adopted the constitution and legal system of
an unrelated racial experience, and modified their agricultural and
commercial practices to conform with a complex economic system. Each
of the districts had a District Chief, Each town had its own Village Chief
, an Assistant Chief (who organized the festivals, dances) and a War Chief
who acted as leader of the town's warriors. The War Chief customarily
appointed two assistants who became the town's military captains.
The three district chiefs conducted the official business of the Tribe in
Oklahoma under the 1825 Constitution. In 1834 a second Constitution was
adopted whereby all lawmaking authority was given to a general elected
council of 27 members (9 from each district). In 1906 The Act
of April 26th (34 Stat. 137 provided "the final disposition of the Affairs
of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory. As one of the Five
Civilized Tribes, the Choctaws are today still governed by the provisions
of this act.
COLBERT'S FERRY
In 1872 the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway
(MK&T) built a company bridge across the Red River, absorbing some of
ferry's business. In 1874 Colbert gained a federal charter to build his
own toll bridge. Almost a year later a flood destroyed both the MK&T
bridge and the wagon bridge, and the boats were put back in action.
Colbert later sold his charter to the Red River Bridge Company, which he
helped organize, and he served as its first president. In 1892 this
company rebuilt the structure. Again in 1908 a flood destroyed it, and the
organization quickly erected another bridge. This served as a toll bridge
until 1931, when the "Red River bridge war," a standoff between Gov.
William H. Murray and Texas Gov. William W. Sterling, led to the opening
of a free bridge. Colbert's Ferry Site is listed in the National Register
of Historic Places (NR 72001057). 
Picture of home of Benjamin Franklin Colbert.
(located at the Oklahoma Historical Society) the house was called
Riverside and was at Colbert's Ferry.
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