Prior to 1870 there were no settlers at Courtney Flats. Three main factors influenced settlement in the area: the Comanche, the Civil War, and the mixed blood Chickasaw Love family.
Long before the caucasian Americans of European descent settled along the southern edge of Red River and long before the Chickasaw and Choctaw were force moved to the area, it was the domain of the Comanche and Wichita and their Kiowa allies. During the 1860s fierce Comanche raids into northern Texas and the western half of the Chickasaw Nation keeping the settlers at bay. A small settlement of Illinois Bend had been established one and half miles south of the Mouth of Mud Creek. In 1863 a Comanche raiding party estimated at roughly 200 warriors initiated a deadly moonlight raid. They likely descended across what is today Courtney Flat and crossing the river where it could be forded near Board Tree Creek on the Texas side. From there they made their way to Illinois Bend where they massacred thirteen people. The establishment of Ft. Sill in 1869 in the western reaches of the Nation and ultimately the capture of the two most notorious Kiowa chiefs Satank and Satanta in the early 1870s finally changed the tide on the deadly raids. Settlers began to feel that the benefits of settlement in the area outweighed the risk. The second item that would have an impact on the settlement of Courtney Flat came as a result of the Civil War. Prior to the war access to the Nation by non-citizens was severely limited. Only U.S. military personnel or those associated in some manor in supporting or contributing the military were allowed in the Nation. Add to that number non-citizens with special permission approved by the Chickasaw Congress with skills deemed beneficial such as teachers, clergy, or other skilled persons. During the War the Chickasaw Nation sided with the Confederacy and suffered the same total defeat. The U.S. was anxious to open up the Indian Nations for white settlement. Many stipulations where imposed on the defeated Chickasaw which included ratification of a new constitution. It allowed the ability of Chickasaw and Choctaw citizens to issue work permits to settlers. for a fee usually renewed annually. Not only did the permit system provide opportunities for new settlement, it allowed a path to great wealth to those forward thinking citizens of the Nation use it to their advantage, Immediately after the close of the War Chickasaw and Choctaw citizens began to setup farms along the Red River and the Washita River in the eastern portion of the Nation. The Comanche limited the establishment of farms further west. The vast majority of the new citizen "landlords" were of mixed blood and were dominated by the Chickasaw Love family. Thomas Love was a Virginian born in 1745 who sided during the Revolutionary War with the British. When the British were defeated by the Americans in 1782 Love was able to slip through the lines heading west. He crossed over the Appalachians and traveled across Tennessee to the Mississippi and settled among the Chickasaw. He married a half Chickasaw named Sally Colbert (house of In-cun-no-mar) and raised a family. Some seventy-five years later, in the late 1860s, the great-grandchildren of Thomas and Sally Love, were now getting married. Many of the Love descendants were female and once married the couples began claiming the rich farmland along the rivers and creeks further west. Around 1866 the Clouds had secured contracts with the U.S. military |
that had recently reoccupied Ft. Arbuckle. Despite the risk of Comanche raids, the Clouds established a ranch on Red River just east of the mouth of Mud Creek and established the Cloud Ranch Road connecting it with Ft. Arbuckle.
With the reduced threat of Comanche raids, the new permit system in place in the Chickasaw Nation, and the enterprising Chickasaw Love family, settlement of Courtney Flats had begun. In 1870 Montford Johnson established his claim on the west side of the mouth of Mud Creek and issued his first permit to Henry Courtney. Courtney permanently settled there in the early months of 1870. While Johnson and the Clouds were not descendants of the Love family, the remainder of the citizen "landlords" that claimed the area of Courtney Flats and the Mud Creek valley during the 1870s and early '80s were Love descendants. About 1872 two more claims were established, one by L. L. & Ellen Wood and the other by the recently widowed Matilda Criner.. Matilda and Ellen were first cousins. Wood established a claim 2 1/2 miles above the mouth of Mud Creek (believe on northeast side of Mud Creek) Matilda Criner setup a farm claim on the west end of the Flat directly across from Burlington (Spanish Fort) which stretched east to Mud Creek. She lived on her farm at Thackerville. About 1875 (possibly earlier) Wm H. and Melvina Bourland established a claim on the west end of the Flat south of Matilda Criner. and moved his family there from Tishomingo. In 1878 there were several claims established on the back side of Courtney along the Mud Creek valley. Jerome and Mary Whitesell claimed a farm on Mud Creek west of Wood's place. Next came James and Carolyne Christian 4 1/2 miles above the creek's mouth followed by John and Ellen Christian 5 miles above the mouth of Mud Creek. Taylor and Kate Percival setup a claim south of J. Christian's and southwest of Whitesell's. In Oct of 1878 L.L. Wood swapped his farm 2 1/2 miles above the mouth of Mud Creek for Wm and Betty Watkins' farm near the Washita River. At some point Watkins also secured a claim on the Flat between Montford Johnson's and Bourland's. place. Watkins relocated his family from the mouth of the Washita to Courtney. The citizen landlords issued permits and the settlers came. They cut timber, built log cabins, rail fences, and put in crops. In 1880 and 1881 Wm R. Watkins began to purchase claims from the other citizen "landlords" buying out Whitesell, Christian, and Percival. He became the largest claim holder in the area. Its important to note most of the citizen landlords claimed multiple farms across the Nation and very few actually lived on their claims. The actual land remained Chickasaw communal land the landlords owned the "claim" which included any improvements such as buildings of fences and shared in the produce from their permit farmers. We are fortunate to have "some" early Chickasaw records identifying the early landlords at Courtney Flats and the Mud Creek valley. However, it is unsure at this time claim transactions that may have occurred between the citizen landlords in the later part of the 1880s and the 189s. About 1888 Wm R. Watkins purchase the 700 Ranch and became owner of the southern half of the town of Ardmore. He left his two story home on the Flat for a place in Ardmore. Chickasaw Bill Bourland died at his home on the west end of the Flat in 1914. By Scott Black |
Snapshot Biography of the area Citizen "Landlords"
Click on photos to enlarge
Click on photos to enlarge
Montford Johnson, mixed blood Chickasaw (1843-1896). He was born in Mississippi and at a young age moved with the Chickasaw people to present day Oklahoma. His mother Rebekah Courtney was half Chickasaw and half Scottish. She married an English Shakespearian actor from New York name Charles "Boggy" Johnson. Montford's mother died a few months after he was born and his father returned to New York. Montford and his sister Adelaide were raised by their Chickasaw grandmother Sallie Tarntubby. Montford attended school at the Chickasaw Manual Labor Academy.. He became a wealthy cattle rancher and is the subject of the book Chickasaw Rancher. . In 1870 Montford issued his first permit to Henry Courtney on his Mud Creek farm claim which grew into the town of Courtney. He transferred his Courtney claim to his nephew C.B. Campbell in 1881.
Montford Johnson is the subject of the book The Chickasaw Rancher by author Neil Johnson. In 2017 the Chickasaw Nation Productions began work on the film of the book with Martin Sensmeier starring as Montford Johnson. |
Matilda Alma Love-Criner, mixed blood Chickasaw (1834-1879). Matilda was born in Mississippi to Benjamin Love and Charlotte Burney. She married George Criner in 1850 in Grayson Co., TX. The couple moved to Galveston, TX area. About 1870 the Criners relocated to Thackerville. In 1872 her husband George died in Ft. Smith, Ark of pneumonia while there for a court trial. Among other farms claims, Matilda claimed a farm area on the west end of Courtney Flat across from Spanish Fort. It was located north of Chickasaw Bill's place stretching from Red River to Mud Creek. Settlers living in this area were some of the Hancocks, Cooks, Doole's, Dorsett, and Hammons among other. When Matilda died in 1879 her claim was owned by her heirs including her son Frank Criner. in the 1880s. Due to sparse Chickasaw records it is unsure if the claims were held up through statehood. Matilda's home was in Thackerville.
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Judge L.L. Wood & Ellen Burney. Laban Lipscomb Wood and Francis Ellen Burney were married 28 Jan 1872. Ellen was born about 1856 in the Chickasaw Nation, the daughter of Emily Love (granddaughter of Thomas and Sally Love) and Judge David Burney. Ellen's brother-in-law was Ben Franklin Overton was governor of the Chickasaw Nation in 1870, L.L. Wood had lived in Preston Bend, TX when he moved across the river into the Chickasaw Nation and secured a work permit in Oct of 1871 from Wm R. and Betty Watkins. A few years later with the marriage to Ellen Burney they setup a claim at Courtney Flats. They had one daughter Mary Margaret. Ellen died only four years later. It is not known if they located on their claim at Courtney Flats or if they remained near the Washita. In August of 1876 Gov. Overton swore in Judge L. L. Wood as probate judge for Pickens County at the county seat in Oakland (2 miles NW of Madill). Wood also served as auditor for the Nation. In 1877, while riding together on horseback near Colbert's Ferry, Gov. Overton and L.L. Wood, made a narrow escape as they were fired upon, and the Gov.s coat riddled with buckshot. neither of them suffered any injury. Later in the year Judge Wood was part of an envoy from the Indian Nations traveling to represent in Washington DC.
In Oct of 1878 Judge Wood traded his Courtney claim for Wm. R. Watkin's farm a few miles west of the mouth of the Washita River (where he had originally worked for Watkins by permit). In later years the town of Woodward was established. Today the area lies beneath Lake Texhoma. He owned several wood mills and at one time owned the Denison Democrat newspaper.. The newspaper reported that Wood employed many people and while at the supper table on Oct 2, 1882, "(one of them (employees) used improper language, which the Judge, reproved. This led to an unfortunate difficulty in which Judge Wood was shot through the shoulder and breast, felling him to the ground. Steadying himself upon the stump of a lost arm, he drew his pistol and and gave Slaughter, his slayer who was still advancing, a deadly shot which killed him instantly. The Judge lived but a short time", |
"Chickasaw Bill" Bourland Rennie Harkins Bourland
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William Howard Bourland, mixed blood Chickasaw, (1847-1947). "Chickasaw Bill" as he was called was born in Mississippi to Reuben Bourland and Eliza Moore.. Eliza's mother was half Chickasaw Delila Love. The Bourlands came to present Okla during the Chickasaw removal. W.H. Bourland married Melvina Harkins 1873 in Doaksville, Chickasaw Nation. He was involved with the Chickasaw Nation government serving as a Senato, Capt of Chickasaw Militia, and later a judge. He claimed a farm area on the west end of Courtney Flats about 1875/76 and settled there. He maintained multiple farm claims in the Chickasaw Nation.
Lorinda Melvina "Rennie" Harkins Bourland mixed blood Choctaw (1852-1899). Daughter of Col David Folsom Harkins and Isabelle. Col. David Harkins was a member of the Choctaw Senate and a Representative of the Choctaw Nation to Washington, DC. His father George Harkins was a Choctaw Chief. Melvina and her family at Courtney Flat about 1876. She died 1899. Bot are buried at Bourland Cemetery. |
William Rankin Watkins & Betty Tyson. Elizabeth "Betty" Tyson was born in 1848 at Ft. Washita, Chickasaw Nation to James Tyson and Charlotte Love.. Charlotte was the granddaughter of Thomas and Sally Love. Wm R. Watkins was born in 1843 in MO. Watkins lived at Preston Bend, TX and the couple met during the Civil War. They were married 8 Nov 1865 at Preston Bend. W.R., as he was called, and Betty setup a farm about 2 miles west of the mouth of Mud Creek and begin issuing permits to no citizens for work. They employed several and by 1870 had over 300 acres in cultivation and operated a ferry across the Washita. Like many citizen landlords they owned multiple farms throughout the Nation. In Dec 1878 Watkins swapped their Washita farm for that of L.L. Wood at Courtney and relocated there. Betty also had a farm on Wild Horse Creek which she sold in 1881. Betty died sometime shortly afterwards, burial unknown.
W.R. purchased several citizen farms along the Mud Creek valley and operated a general merchandise and post office at Courtney. He built a two story frame house roughly in the center of the Flat near the edge of the woods. In 1888 he left Courtney, purchasing the 700 Ranch and becoming owner of the southern half of the town of Ardmore. He died in Ardmore in 1894. |
James Christian & Carolyn Willis. Carolyn Willis was born in 1838 in Marshall, Mississippi. to Amanda Love and Hampton Willis. Amanda was a granddaughter of Thomas and Sally Love. In 1855 Carolyn married Wm H. Bourland (1811-1860) and had two children; Kate and Sam. After Bourland's death Carolyn married in 1861 to John Stubblefield and had a daughter Mary. Carolyn married James Christian .
The couple setup a farm claim on Red River on the west side of the Washita River near claims of John and Ellen Christian and Wm. R. and Betty Watkins. They made a home on this claim. In the late 1870s the couple claimed a farm on Mud Creek valley about 4 1/2 miles from the mouth. In 1880/81 they sold the claim to neighboring Wm R. and Betty Watkins. In May of 1887 James Christian was travelling with Bud Latrell while transporting a prisoner named Hamilton outside Tishomingo. Hidden in the bushes was Steve Bussell and Alex Juzan who shot and killed both Latrell and Christian. The next day a posse pursued and killed Alex Juzan. Carolyn died in 1898. Carolyn Willis and her sister Ellen Willis married brothers James and John Christian. |
John E. Christian & Ellen Willis, Ellen Willis was born in 1844 in the Chickasaw Nation to Amanda Love and Hampton Willis. Amanda was a granddaughter of Thomas and Sally Love.. In July of 1867 she married John Christian. John Christian was born in 1834 in TN. Ellen was the younger sister of Carolyn Wills., who married John Christian's brother James. The couple setup a farm claim on Red River on the west side of the Washita River near claims of James and Carolyn Christian and Wm. R. and Betty Watkins. There home was on this claim.
In the late 1870s the couple claimed a farm in the Mud Creek valley about 5 miles from its mouth. In Jan of 1881 John and Ellen Willis sold their claim and improvements on Mud Creek to neighboring Jerome and Mary Whitesell for $600. John Christian was killed from a gunshot wound in Feb 1891 near Woodville, OK. Ellen Christian-Moore died in 1914 at Kingston, OK. |
.Taylor Percival & Kate Bourland. Kate Bourland was born in 1856 in the Chickasaw Nation to Carolyn Willis and Wm H. Bourland (1811-1860). Carolyn Will being a granddaughter of Thomas and Sally Love. Zachary Taylor Percival was born in 1849 in MO. Kate and Taylor married in 1878 and right away claimed a farm area in the Mud Creek Valley area on the back side of Courtney. In May of 188 they sold the farm known as Taylor Percival Place on Red River, west of W.R. Watkins farm, south of J. Christian place and south of G. Whitsel farm.
Sometime before 1900 the couple and their family moved to Marlow where Kate died in 1917 and Taylor in 1926. |
Jerome Whitesell & Mary Elizabeth Stubblefield, Jerome was born in 1848 in Indiana, locating in the Chickasaw Nation in 1875. Married 1878 to Mary Elizabeth Stubblefield, dau of mixed blood Chickasaw Love family Carolyne Willis, and half sister to Kate Bourland-Percival. Couple had thirteen children. both died in 1925 at their home at Lebanon, OK
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Sallie Gaines Criner & Robert J. Love, photo on wedding day 1877, Thackerville, C.N..
When Matilda Criner died at Thackerville in 1879 her claims passed to her children: Sallie Criner-Love, Frank Criner, Joe W. Criner, John B. Criner and Nona Criner-Sparks. |
Charles B.ryant Campbell, mixed blood Chickasaw(1861-1925) was born at Ft. Arbuckle, the son Michael Campbell and mixed blood Chickasaw Adelaide Johnson. His uncle was rancher Montford Johnson. In 1881 Montford transferred his farm claim on the west end of Courtney Flats to Campbell. Campbell also owned the permitting rights on land that later became the town of Minco. His wife was Miss Maggie (Margaret) Williams, a daughter of W. G. (Caddo Bill) Williams, owner of the Half Moon Ranch. Caddo Bill founded the town of Silver City in 1872 with a trading post on the Chisholm Trail. In later years Campbell organized the Bank of Minco and later the National Bank of Chickasaw. C.B. Campbell was authorized by the Chickasaw Nation to establish a ferry across Red River near the mouth of Mud Creek in 1889, extending for a period of twenty years.. Due to sparce Chickasaw records it is unsure if Campbell held the Courtney claim up to statehood and the private allotments..
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