Cyrus Harris facts for kids

Cyrus Harris (born August 22, 1817 – died January 6, 1888) was an important leader of the Chickasaw Nation. He was born in Mississippi and was part Chickasaw. He became the very first Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. He served five times, each time for two years.

Even though he only had a basic education, Cyrus Harris was very good at speaking both English and the Chickasaw language. This skill was very helpful throughout his life. In 1837, he and his family moved to a new place called Indian Territory. There, he worked in business and also helped as an interpreter. He became very interested in the politics of the Chickasaw people.

In 1856, Cyrus Harris was chosen as the first governor of the newly formed Chickasaw Nation. He helped set up the government after the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations became separate. During the American Civil War, he helped his nation form an alliance with the Confederate States of America. After the war ended, he played a big part in helping the Chickasaw Nation recover. He stopped working in politics in 1874 after his fifth term as governor. He passed away in 1888 at his home in Mill Creek.

Early Life of Cyrus Harris

Cyrus Harris was born on August 22, 1817, near Pontotoc, Mississippi. His mother was Elizabeth Oxbury. He started school at the Monroe Mission School in 1827. Later, he went to another school in Giles County, Tennessee. He only had a basic education and did not go back to school after leaving Tennessee.

Cyrus's grandfather was General William Colbert. He was a brave Chickasaw warrior and a respected leader. In 1830, Cyrus went back to live with his grandmother, mother, and uncle, Martin Colbert.

Moving to Indian Territory

In the early 1800s, the United States government wanted Native American tribes to move from their homes in the southeastern U.S. They wanted them to go to a new area across the Mississippi River. This area was called Indian Territory.

In 1818, the Chickasaws were one of the first tribes to sell their lands in Kentucky and Tennessee to the government. They were part of a group known as the Five Civilized Tribes. By 1830, the government put a lot of pressure on the Chickasaws to move. Their relatives, the Choctaws, had already signed a treaty to move from Mississippi.

Because Cyrus Harris spoke both English and Chickasaw fluently, he was very helpful. He worked as an interpreter in many meetings between tribal leaders and government officials. These meetings were about the details of the move. In November 1837, Cyrus Harris himself moved. He settled near the Blue River in what is now Johnston County, Oklahoma. There, he started his own business.

Cyrus Harris and Chickasaw Politics

Cyrus Harris's experience as an interpreter made him very interested in Chickasaw politics. He traveled to Washington D.C. in 1850 and 1854 to meet with government officials about tribal matters. After his 1850 trip, he moved his home several times before settling in Mill Creek, Oklahoma in 1855. This remained his home for the rest of his life.

In August 1856, the Chickasaw Nation created a new constitution. In the election for governor that year, no one won enough votes. So, the decision went to the Legislature. They chose Cyrus Harris to be governor by just one vote! He spent most of his first two-year term setting up the new government. He ran for governor again in 1858 but lost.

Cyrus Harris was elected Governor again in 1860. During this time, the American Civil War began. The Chickasaws were the first of the Five Civilized Tribes to support the Confederacy. Governor Harris signed papers supporting this decision on May 25, 1861.

He lost the 1862 election and did not run in 1864. But he ran again in 1866 and won his third term as governor. He was reelected in 1868. He did not run in 1870. His last campaign was in 1872, when he won his fifth and final term as governor. He ran again in 1874 but lost. In 1878, he tried for a sixth term but lost by only five votes. After this, he retired from politics. He spent the rest of his life at his home in Mill Creek. He only came out of retirement in 1886 to support his nephew, William Guy, who was running for governor.

Harris Family Life

Cyrus Harris was married three times. His first wife was Kizzie Kemp. His second wife was Nancy Thomas, who was born in 1830. They married in 1848 and had eight children together. Nancy passed away young, at age 34, on January 22, 1864, in Mill Creek, Oklahoma. His third wife was Hettie Frazier.

In 1960, a flood near Mill Creek threatened the old Mill Creek Cemetery. Cyrus Harris's relatives decided to move his remains to the Drake-Nebo Cemetery. His wife and one daughter, Emily, had already been buried there. Another daughter, Lucy Harris Lael, was reburied in Oaklawn Cemetery in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.