Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-01
THE OLDEN TIME.
HOW Brieness Young Lawyer OF
Nashville Turned Indian Interpre-
From the Gallatin Examiner

From the Gallatin Examiner.
l promised to tell you something more
eDoul Jim Allen, the Interpreter at the
ChickasaW Agency. Allen was raised and
educated by wealthy and indulgent
fatner, in North Carolina, studied law,
came to Nashville and settled. He brought
with him negro boy to wait on him and
two splendid mares. At Nashville he
made many warm friends, but finding no
law suits to attend to, spent his time and
money IN frolicking around. Soon he
found not only his money but his credit
gone. His pride being mortified beyond
measure, he determined to 90 back to his
father, and got the money to pay off bis
creditors. With this determination be
started and came out east Of Nashville two
miles, to Squire Nichols, to stay all night.
Here Allen said he determined never TO go
back to North Carolina, but made up bis
mind to take the negro boy and bis two
mares and go to the Indians. After stay
ing all night with Squire Nichols, next
morning be started to the Indians, taking
circuit north of Nashville in order to avoid
seeing any Of his old friends and associates.
Not being acquainted with the country, he
had hard times getting to Tennessee river.
here he swan his mares across, and takil
some paths, in few hours, came to Big
Town, Tin the Chickasaw Indian Nation.)
The indians seeing him and his negro on
such hue animals knew they we're strangers,
and as the Indians were at war with some
other tribe soon began to beat their little
drums and form q line of battle. Allen
said he was greatly alarmed and would
gladly run away if he had shy place to 60
or anything to eat. He and the negro
rode along until within two hundred yards
Of the line, when, they dismounted, and
leading their animals gave the bride to
the Indian in command, all The time trying
to make them understand that he wanted
to live with them. The old chief was sent
for, who soon appeared with negro who
could speak both languages. He made
known to the chief that be desired to live
with and be one Of his people. The old
chief gave him welcome and had bis mares
taken away. Here in Big Town he spent
five or six months under close watch.
Early In the sDring the Indians began to take
him and the negro out with their hunting
parties and showed him his mares, which,
to his great surprise, were nearly dead from
starvation. After this there was no more
watching Allen and the negro. Allen lived
q year or mora with the Indians in this way,
when be went to the chief and told him chat
be wanted wife, that he was a white man
and wanted but one, and that was Susie
Colbert. The chief gave his consent at
once and said he could have her. The In
dian style of choosing wife was TO make
bis desire as Allen had done to the chief or
parent, and if they approved the choice
would give their consent. The sutton would
go 20 his wigwam and wait until bis lady
love would be sent to him. Allen said he
waited until nearly dark when Susie Colbert
made her appearance a. his door with q
blanket closely drawn around her head and
face, leavingonly space enough for her to see
her way into his wigwsm where she took q
seat. This was bis courtship and marriage.