Holmes Colbert
Encyclopedia
Holmes Colbert was a Native American
leader of the Chickasaw Nation
in what would become Oklahoma
. Colbert wrote the Chickasaw Nation's constitution in the 1850s.
. His paternal great-grandparents were James Logan Colbert, a Scottish
trader from North Carolina
who settled in Chickasaw country in the mid-18th century, and his third wife, 1/2 Chickasaw. They had six sons. Other sources say they had five sons. The Colbert men became prominent landowners and leaders in the Chickasaw nation.
, Levi
, Samuel, Joseph, and Pittman (or James). For nearly a century, the Colbert men and their descendants provided critical leadership during the Chickasaw tribe's greatest challenges.
The Chickasaw allied with the United States. William Colbert served with General Andrew Jackson
during the Creek Wars of 1813-14. His brothers George and Levi also served. The brothers were prominent landowners and a political force within the Chickasaw Nation. George and Levi were negotiators and translators during the tribe's negotiations with the US government related to Indian Removal
.
Third-generation Colberts, such as Holmes and Winchester, created the governmental foundation for the Chickasaw Nation in Indian Country
(now known as Oklahoma
). In the 1850s, Holmes Colbert helped write the constitution for their government.
Holmes married Betsy Love, also of mixed race. They owned about 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of cleared land, with more in timber and held numerous enslaved
African Americans in what is now Oklahoma. They were both well educated, having been sent to schools out of state. They came from influential families in the Chickasaw Nation.
After the American Civil War
, the slaves were emancipated by treaty with the US government. They became known as the Chickasaw Freedmen and were considered members of the nation, with voting rights.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
leader of the Chickasaw Nation
Chickasaw Nation
The Chickasaw Nation is a federally recognized Native American nation, located in Oklahoma. They are one of the members of the Five Civilized Tribes. The Five Civilized Tribes were differentiated from other Indian reservations in that they had semi-autonomous constitutional governments and...
in what would become Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. Colbert wrote the Chickasaw Nation's constitution in the 1850s.
Early life and education
Holmes Colbert was of mixed race, with ancestors who were Chickasaw and European AmericanEuropean American
A European American is a citizen or resident of the United States who has origins in any of the original peoples of Europe...
. His paternal great-grandparents were James Logan Colbert, a Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
trader from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
who settled in Chickasaw country in the mid-18th century, and his third wife, 1/2 Chickasaw. They had six sons. Other sources say they had five sons. The Colbert men became prominent landowners and leaders in the Chickasaw nation.
The Colberts' leadership contributions
The Colbert sons were William, GeorgeGeorge Colbert
George Colbert was a Native American leader of the Chickasaw people in the early 19th century. He commanded 350 Chickasaw troops, whom he had recruited, as a militia captain under Andrew Jackson during the Creek War of 1813-1814. Later he joined the US Army under Jackson for the remainder of the...
, Levi
Levi Colbert
Levi Colbert , also known as Itawamba, was a Native American of the Chickasaw. Colbert was called Itte-wamba Mingo, meaning bench chief...
, Samuel, Joseph, and Pittman (or James). For nearly a century, the Colbert men and their descendants provided critical leadership during the Chickasaw tribe's greatest challenges.
The Chickasaw allied with the United States. William Colbert served with General Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
during the Creek Wars of 1813-14. His brothers George and Levi also served. The brothers were prominent landowners and a political force within the Chickasaw Nation. George and Levi were negotiators and translators during the tribe's negotiations with the US government related to Indian Removal
Indian Removal
Indian removal was a nineteenth century policy of the government of the United States to relocate Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands west of the river...
.
Third-generation Colberts, such as Holmes and Winchester, created the governmental foundation for the Chickasaw Nation in Indian Country
Indian Country
Indian country is a term used to describe the many self-governing Native American communities throughout the United States. This usage is reflected in many places, both legal and colloquial...
(now known as Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
). In the 1850s, Holmes Colbert helped write the constitution for their government.
Holmes married Betsy Love, also of mixed race. They owned about 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of cleared land, with more in timber and held numerous enslaved
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
African Americans in what is now Oklahoma. They were both well educated, having been sent to schools out of state. They came from influential families in the Chickasaw Nation.
After the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the slaves were emancipated by treaty with the US government. They became known as the Chickasaw Freedmen and were considered members of the nation, with voting rights.
Legacy
- The constitution of the Chickasaw Nation
- Colbert, OklahomaColbert, OklahomaColbert is a town in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,065 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated in 1939. It was named after Benjamin Franklin Colbert, a Native American Chickasaw descendant of Scots trader James Logan Colbert and his Chickasaw wife Minta Hoye, who had...
was named after the family.
See also
- George ColbertGeorge ColbertGeorge Colbert was a Native American leader of the Chickasaw people in the early 19th century. He commanded 350 Chickasaw troops, whom he had recruited, as a militia captain under Andrew Jackson during the Creek War of 1813-1814. Later he joined the US Army under Jackson for the remainder of the...
, his uncle - Levi ColbertLevi ColbertLevi Colbert , also known as Itawamba, was a Native American of the Chickasaw. Colbert was called Itte-wamba Mingo, meaning bench chief...
, his uncle - Chickasaw NationChickasaw NationThe Chickasaw Nation is a federally recognized Native American nation, located in Oklahoma. They are one of the members of the Five Civilized Tribes. The Five Civilized Tribes were differentiated from other Indian reservations in that they had semi-autonomous constitutional governments and...
- ChoctawChoctawThe Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
- Fred WaiteFred WaiteFred Waite, , was a Chickasaw cowboy who joined Billy the Kid's gang. He left the gang to return to his people....
- John HerringtonJohn HerringtonJohn Bennett Herrington is an American business executive, former US Navy officer and former NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of one Space Shuttle mission. He is the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly in space....
External links
- Testimony about Holmes Colbert
- Chickasaw Historical Research
- Burt, Jesse and Ferguson, Bob, Indians of the Southeast: Then and Now, 1973, Abingdon Press, Nashiville and New York, pp. 147–150, ISBN 0-687-18793-1