is, the gov’ment wants them all out. They think they ain’t going to make a living on the land and they’re going to get in the way of civilization. The bottom line is, the Choctaws gotta go. And ‘fore you say anything, listen to what the Gov’nor told me. If’n an Indian and a white man has a problem and even if’n the white man is wrong, the Indian is the loser. The gov’ment’s going to move them all to the Oklahoma Territory just as sure as the sun’s going to rise in the morning.”
The brothers sat quietly looking at one another, too shocked to respond.
“Mister Mac, there can’t be over fifty or sixty Choctaws left in Newton and Neshoba County, is there?” responded Lott.
“There is about six or seven thousand registered at the state office now,” replied Mister Mac.
“Six or seven thousand!” exclaimed Jake. “I ain’t seen them around here. Sounds like a bunch of lies to me.”
“They is here, Jake. I has never lied to you boys. They’s here.”
“What’s the President’s feelin’ about this?” asked Lott. “And Jake, you better pass yore jug to me. I don’t usually fool with whiskey, but I think, I need a little help right now.”
“Lott, you boys been keepin’ up with Gen’ral Jackson through the years? I know you has, and you also know what he’s done to the Cherokees. They took their case to the highest court in the land, up in Washington—and won,” stated Mister Mac, blowing a large circle of smoke toward the ceiling.
“Did the Cherokees get to stay on their land? Hell no. President Jackson moved them anyway. That tell you boys anything?” concluded Mister Mac.
“Sure does, Mister Mac. Them Indians who fought with Ole Hick’ry against the Creeks and Seminoles were fightin’ on the wrong side. They should have killed that son of a bitch long time ago. You know, I heard one of them Indians actually saved his life. Can you believe it? They saved that bastard’s life,” added Jake.
“What can we do to help them Choctaws, Mister Mac?” asked Lott.
“Jake, I don’t know what you can do. From what I has experienced, I don’t see nothin’ you can do. You two better get on yore knees and do a heap of prayin. It’s going to take the power of the good Lord to save that bunch.”
“Well, Mister Mac, Jake and I is going to try to help them, and that damned Jackson ain’t always going to be pres’dent. Them fancy politicians up North ain’t seen the fury of the Wilsons when we get our dander up,” Lott said, nodding at Jake to get his approval.
“You right brother. Preach on. I like the way you is talkin,” added Jake.
No sooner had Mister Mac left the following morning, than another visitor rode up to the house. He introduced himself as Thomas Walker, a merchant from the nearby settlement of Meridian, and he had a proposition for Lott and Jake. He wanted to purchase ten acres of land about a mile south of the Wilsons’ home so he could build a general merchandise store and construct a water mill on the nearby creek to grind corn and wheat for the growing community.
When Lott and Jake selected their site, they thought a transportation route would be running right in front of their house some day. But they were wrong. The settlers chose an Indian path that had been used for centuries. It ran through the southern section of the Wilsons’ property, and it was there Mister Walker proposed to build his store.
Mister Walker explained what his purchase could do for the community, “This store and mill could be the beginning of a town. And with growth, you can expect, someday a church, a school for yore children, and a group of people who can help one another in this here new country. Without yore help, it can’t and won’t happen, at least not here.”
Lott and Jake decided to sell.
Soon a village grew rapidly from the forest. At first it was called Coon Tail for all the raccoon tails Mister Walker nailed to the side of his store commemorating his many successful hunting trips. Later it was renamed Little Rock.
The Wilsons brothers were dedicated in their support of this village but were powerless in saving their Choctaw friends who were seeing a destruction of an environment that had sustained and protected them since the time of their forefathers.
COONTAIL
By 1850, drastic changes transformed the forest lands of Newton county into many thriving communities. Large stands of virgin pine and hardwoods still sheltered most of this land, but where ancient, majestic trees had once stood like sentries guarding their fellow comrades, now open fields of grain, log cabins, and split rail fences were emerging. Where paths made by the Choctaws once weaved themselves through the entanglement of swamp bottom reeds and canes and twisted endlessly into the open forest, roads wide enough to allow wagons to pass now crisscrossed the county like a huge spider web and where vast herds of deer had once roamed at will, cattle, sheep, hogs and horses now grazed in the same open fields and meadows. The wilderness was gone.
By 1850, Little Rock was growing and prosperous. Thomas Walker’s general store and mill was thriving and he also sold lots to others who built a blacksmith shop, a livery stable and a tannery. One structure the entire community deeply valued and appreciated was its United Church. People of several protestant faiths came together to build this first edifice in the eastern section of Newton County. Each group only met once a month on its designated Sunday for its own worship. It was also in this church that people came together to discuss problems and have fellowship with one other. They also took great pride in organizing a school which was held in the building. All children in the community were invited to attend and most took advantage of the offer whenever they could be excused from their farm chores.
Lott and Sarah now had six children, but of the six, two died as infants; one during delivery and another of typhoid fever when only a few months old. Of the remaining four, the first three were boys and their last a girl.
Their eldest son, James Earl born in 1839, was a sickly child who suffered from asthma and could not stand the long and tiring days in the field. But, he could take care of livestock and gained a reputation as the most knowledgeable person in the community. People from all parts of the county would come to talk with him about problems they were having with their cattle and horses.
The second son, Thomas Stanley, was born in 1841. He was strong and energetic and much like his Uncle Jake; he grew into a large boisterous man who never met a stranger but had difficulty controlling his temper. Thomas loved working in the fields with his father and often would keep at it after his father called it quits. At times when they were behind and the moon was full, he would remain in the field with the company of only the night creatures.
The third child, born in 1845, was called John Lewis. He became a versatile young man loved and respected by all in the community. Like Thomas, he was strong enough to stay in the fields and could work along with his father and Thomas on an equal basis. He also liked helping James Earl with the livestock and horses and became fascinated with horse racing. What made him different from his brothers was his intense desire for education. His ambition to become a lawyer and judge drove him to hours of reading late into the night.
Finally in 1847, Sarah bore the girl she had wanted and needed for so long. Mary Lucretia was the prize of the family. Sarah, Lott and the boys all loved and overprotected her. In fact, she was so spoiled she considered herself the most important member of the family and felt her every wish should be fulfilled. But she was quick to learn and, like John, valued her education at the First United
