William ALEXANDER, Chickasaw Freedman #1

William ALEXANDER

Chickasaw Freedmen #1

 

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   During the 1890’s many men and women became advocates and leaders in the Chickasaw and Choctaw Freedmen community. One of those individuals to emerge as a leader in their community was the brother of my great grandmother William ALEXANDER. During the tumultuous time when Chickasaw Freedmen were organizing, he was a member of the Chickasaw Freedmen Association led by Charles COHEE.

 

   Like so many of our ancestors there is not a full and complete record available so William can be recognized for his contributions, but within his Dawes file there is some information that allows us to get a general feel for his participation in the advocacy for Chickasaw Freedmen citizenship and land allotment.

 

The fact that William Alexander and his family were enumerated on Chickasaw Freedman card number one demonstrates how he was leading the way for other freedmen, as they sought to be recognized as people with legitimate rights for citizenship in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. There are thousands of ancestors like William Alexander, Choctaw and Chickasaw Freedman, that have left valuable record documenting our unique history.

Chickasaw Freedmen Card #1, front

   William ALEXANDER was born during the War of Rebellion, in Indian Territory to Cornelius PICKENS and Margaret Ann WILSON. It is believed his birthplace was Burneyville, Indian Territory in Pickens County. Like other freedmen he migrated north and settled in the community of Purcell, Indian Territory.

 

   During his testimony before the Dawes Commission, William informed the commissioner that his father died “sometime during the war” but it is not clear if Cornelius was a soldier and there are no clues about the circumstances of his death. 

M-1301 Chickasaw Freedmen #1, William ALEXANDER p6

   It is not clear why William had the surname of ALEXANDER, he did have a brother Colbert ALEXANDER that identified with that name, however his three sisters Salina, Isabella and Susan were all known by the surname PICKENS prior to their marriages. It is only speculation that William chose ALEXANDER as a surname based on the name of his maternal grandfather, Colbert Alexander? 

M-1301 Chickasaw Freedmen #1, William ALEXANDER p6

   Reading the limited information contained in William’s file illustrates just how connected and supportive our ancestors were when it came to issues of family and community. William indicates just how strong his bond was with his brother Colbert and sister Carrie ALEXANDER-BROWN; their children were a vital part of his family and given a warm embrace as they were raised in the home he shared with his wife Victoria and their four children; Isabella, Ora, Clinton and Odell ALEXANDER.

 

   Unfortunately I don’t know any of the descendants of William ALEXANDER; he died intestate and there was a large record concerning the property left to his widow and children. Hopefully in time we will discover the descendants of Isabella, Ora, Clinton and Odell? 

 

   More research is necessary to fully understand the record and legacy left by William Alexander, someone that was at the forefront of change in Indian Territory and Oklahoma; we cannot allow his legacy to be lost from the pages of history.