Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1895-04-20
GREENWOOD LEFLORE.
Career of One of Mississippi's Most
Famous Characters.
sketch of the Noted Indian Chief In
whose Honor the County of Leflors and
the City of Greenwood Are Named.

OF Greenwood Letore, one of Missis-
sppl's noted Indian chiefs, would be in
teresting at this time.
In the month of September, 1880, the
celebrated dancing Rabbit Creek
treaty was made between the Choctaw
Nation and the United States. OF that
treaty the following is taken from Hutch
lnson's Mississippi code, 1893 to 1S4S:
!, Perpetual peace and friendship Is
pledged and agreed upon by and between
the United States and the Mngoes chiefs
and warriors of the Choctaw nation of red
people; and that this may be considered
the treaty existing between the parties,
all other treaties heretofore existing, and
procurement with the provisions of this,
are hereby declared null and void.
q The United States under "A grant
specially to be made by the President of
the United States, shall cause to be con-
veyed to the Choctaw Nations tract of
country west of the Mississippi river, in
fee simple to them and their descendants,
to insure to them while they shall ex-
ist as a nation and live on it: Beginning
near Fort Smith. where the Arkansas
boundary crosses the Arkansas river; run
ming thence to the source of the Canadian
Fork, if in the limits thence due south
to Red River, and down Red River to
the west boundary of the Territory of
Arkansas; thence north along that line
to the beginning. The boundary to the
same to be agreeable to the treaty made
and concluded in Washington city in the
year 1926 The grant is to be executed as
soon as the present treaty shall be salts
fed Section Is of the treaty says. ITO
each of the chiefs of the Choctaw Nation,
tO-wit: Greenwood Letlore, Metackachie
and Mushulatubbe, there is garnted res
ervation of four sections of land For
further information of this treaty see
HutChinson's code of Mississippi)
Greenwood Lcilore was born near
French Camp, Miss. in the year 1900 He
was of Indian and French parentagc. his
father being lrcnchman and his moth
cr a half-breed of the Choctaw Nation
In the sweet, pure atmosphere of the
pines, whose towering nights cast their
shadows across the hills that ribbed this
section of country. young Lelorc had
his early happy hunting-srounds. Fleet
of foot rs the deer that roamcd the for
est, and straight in form as the arrow Of
his own make, with his mothers features
and expressions more strongly accent
uated than those of his sire, this comely
and conspicuous part in the States his
tory, grew and strengthened into man
hood. At the early age of Is years
Greenwood Lellore sought in marriage
the handsome daughter Of Maj. Donley
of Nashville, Tenn. His suit prospered
aud the happy couple were united in
wcdlock. Returning with his bride to
Mississippi-the stage upon which the
most interesting part of his life was act
ed-herc he became the chief of the Choc-
taw Nation, In this position he was en-
abled TO serve the United States govern
ment TO the extent Of bringing about the
Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty" in 1880.
for which he was handsomely awarded
by Il gift of 10000 acres of the most fer
tile lands of Mississippi in Carroll coun-
ty and portion of Lcllore county, va
200 Delta, the latter county being formed
in 1871 and ulmed Lcilore in honor Of
the chief. Selecting the most beautiful
spot in all his broad acres for Il home
site, such as only nature in her most
artistic moods can touch into living
picture, for when the roof tree was plant
ed, this undulating section of country
was replete with scenic grandeur. Il pa
latial home was erected in 1850. Rose
wood furniture from Paris, France. up
ioIS''feu Ill handsome aailask' ihished
III eNluisi'e Workmanship OF prass. ne
shades that hung from the windows
claimed the brush and skill of an artist
of true worth Upon them were painted
the Tuillcries, with its gardens and pal
ace ol neauli'ui iarlS' showing the IN
hereht rove lie nore lhe country OF ms
pa'crhal ancestor Inns furniture, cost
lng Nio'o""' was paced III ms parlor' All
the lhrhlture III MS nome was imported
from laflS' as aiso was handsome car
rlaSc ana hoIseS "hlch Is NOW at tne
oid nome OF ms second wIle' VINO sur
viNes MN hVihS 'hefe' Hreehwood ie-
more chriS'ened ms heau'iiul nome MAI
malSoil' ana mere III ideal luNury, ne llVeu
with ms Wile ana three children' lie
owned o"o saves VINO loVed MN. ns he
was Nlhd ana JUS, muster, IL one
chahceu 10 become niSSa'sned ana ran
away ne never ihade an elort TO cap
turc nm.
In 1891 Leilore was elected to the State
Senate, SERVING ms people wei. lie was
elected on the wing ucket. during the
administration OF President Andrew
Jackson there was an Indian agent
named Martin, VINO by his unworthy and
dishonest ac's rendered himself so OBJ
noNlous to Lcilorc that he wrote several
times to the President asking for his re-
movai. fallihS To nave the agent re-
moved III TINS way, Greenwood Ieflore
mounted ms horse ana rode to Washing
ton TO see the PRESIDENT. After taking
some time to President jackson, lmpor-
tuning him to remove Agent Martin.
Jackson hnally' getting angry rose to
ms lull hight ana san:
Il Andrew ia *. son, President OF the
United States. say Mar'lE is gentleman
and shall remain.
The intrepid and indomitahle chief OF
the Choctaws also rose ana said;
i, Greenwood Lefore, chiet ana KING
of the Choctaws, say that Martin is n
d--n rascal ana shall be removed.
Turning upon his heel, he left the frcs-
ident ana Strrted nome. Upon his ar
rival he found that Martin mad been re-
moved, ana by PRESIDENT Jacksons Or
ders
In lS4l the name OF the little village
OF Williams Landing, on the iazoo river.
was changed to Greenwood in honor Of
the chlel. 1t was the custom OF Lctiore
to buy his supplies in the Northwest and
nave them Drought down the MISSISSIPPI
river and then through the iazoo pass,
down the lazoo river TO GREENWOOD. The
citizens of the town having a new char
ter. imposed tax OF FL on all water