Tobucksy County, Choctaw Nation facts for kids
Tobucksy County was a special area in the Choctaw Nation. This was before Oklahoma became a state. It was part of a larger area called the Moshulatubbee District, which was one of three main administrative regions.
History of Tobucksy County
The county's name was spelled in a few ways, like Toboxy or Tobaksi. In the Choctaw language, Tobaksi Kaunti meant "coal county." Coal was known to be in the area when the county was created. Later, coal mining became the main business there. Many coal mines stretched from McAlester and Perryville towards the east.
Most people settled in the valleys and lowlands. Farming and mining were the main activities. The Canadian River formed the county's northern border. The Shawnee Hills were to the west, and the San Bois Mountains were to the east.
Two important roads crossed in Tobucksy County. The east-west California Road met the north-south Texas Road. This crossing became a natural place for people to settle. A town called Perryville started here in 1838. It grew into a busy trading center and became the county seat. These two major roads helped the county's economy stay strong.
During the Civil War, a supply depot for Confederate soldiers was set up in Perryville. On August 26, 1863, about 4,500 Union soldiers crossed the Canadian River. They destroyed the Confederate supplies at Perryville. This event is known as the Battle of Perryville, Indian Territory. Union Major General James G. Blunt ordered the town burned because it was a major supply center for the Confederates. The town was rebuilt, but it never became as successful as it was before the war.
After the Civil War, the Choctaw Nation signed a treaty with the United States. This treaty said they had to allow railroads to be built through their land. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad, also called the Katy, was the first. It opened in the early 1870s. The Katy Railroad became very important for shipping coal, timber, and other goods. It also encouraged more railroad lines to be built.
Tobucksy County was not one of the first 19 counties created by the Choctaw Nation in 1850. It was formed in November 1855. This happened after the Chickasaw Nation was created from what used to be the Chickasaw District of the Choctaw Nation. This change led to new political boundaries.
The county was used for elections to the National Council. It also served as a local government unit. The county had elected officers who served for two years. These included the county judge, sheriff, and a ranger. The judge oversaw the county's administration. The sheriff collected taxes and kept an eye on people who entered the land illegally. The sheriff also conducted the census. The county ranger would advertise and sell lost livestock.
Tobucksy County and Statehood
As Oklahoma was becoming a state, leaders met to plan the new state's counties. They realized that the Choctaw Nation's counties, though well-designed, might not work as economically strong areas in the new state. In most counties, the county seat was mainly for holding court, not for a large population. Tobucksy County was different, with its busy towns and profitable coal mines. However, it still had to be changed to fit the new state's needs.
The people who planned the proposed State of Sequoyah also saw this problem. They met in 1905 to suggest statehood for the Indian Territory. The Sequoyah Constitutional Convention also suggested a county structure that would get rid of the Choctaw counties. Tobucksy County was mainly divided into three proposed counties: Cheadle, Eufaula, and Tobuxsy. Cheadle County would not have had any large towns. Eufaula County would have included Checotah and Eufaula. Tobuxsy County would have had McAlester and South McAlester.
However, almost none of this plan was used two years later by Oklahoma's founders. They adopted a very different county structure for the region. The area that was once Tobucksy County now mostly falls within Pittsburg County. Tobucksy County stopped existing when Oklahoma became a state on November 16, 1907.
