The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1895-04-19
GREENWOOD LEFLORE.
Career Of One Of Mississipprs Most
Famous Characters.
%ketch OF the Noted Indian Chief In
whose Honor the County OF Lefiore and
the City OF Greenwood Are Named.

AA insight into the life and character
OF Greenwood Leiore, one Of Missis-
sippis noted Indian chiefs, would be in
teresting at this time.
In the month of September, 1890, the
celebrated Dancing Rabbit Greek
treaty" was made between the Choctaw
Nation and the United States. OF that
treaty the following is taken from Hutch
inson's Mississippi code, 170S to 1913:
l. Perpetual peace and friendship is
pledged and agreed upon by and between
the United States and the Mlngoes 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
lnconVentent with the provisions OF this,
are hereby declared null and void.
2 The United States, under a grant
specially to be made by the President OF
the United States shall cause TO be con-
Yeyed TO the ChoctaW Nations a tract OF
country west OF the Mississippi river, in
Zee simple TO them and their descendants.
10 insure to them while they shall ex-
ist as nation and live on it: Beginning
near Fort Smith, where the Arkansas
ming thence to the source OF the Canadian
Fork, N In the limits; thence due south
to Red River. and down Red River 70
the west boundary OF the Territory OF
70 the beginning. The boundary 10 the
same to be agreeable TO the treaty made
and concluded I'm 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 Lefiore, Metackachie
and Mushulatubbe. there is garnted a res
ervation OF four sections OF land" For
further information OF this treaty see
Hutchinson's code OF Mississippi)
Greenwood Lefiore was born near
French Camp, Miss, in the year 1900. He
was Of Indian and French parentage, his
father being a Frenchman and his moth
er 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 LeflOre had
his early happy hunting-gr0unds. Fleet
Of foot as the deer that rOamed 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
Indian boy, destined TO play an active
and conspicuous part in the States his
tory, grew and strengthened into man
hood. At the early age of Is years
Greenwood LefOre sought in marriage
the handsome daughter Of Maj. DOnley,
Of Nashville, Tenn. His suit prOspered,
and the happy couple were united in
wedlock. Returning with his bride TO
stage upon which the
most interesting part Of his life was act
he became the chief Of the ChOc-
taw Nation. In this position he was en-
abled TO serve the United States govern |
mo Hn. hn va Of hrfv hrsr Nf.
Dancing Rabbit Greek treaty" in 1890 |
for which he was handsomely awarded |
by n gift of 1900 acres Of the most fer /
tile lands Of Mississippi in Carroll coun-
ty and a portion Of Leflore county, va
zoo Delta, the latter county BEING formed |
In 1871 and named Lefore in honor of |
the chief. Selecting the most beautiful /
spot in all his broad acres for a home i
site, such as only nature in her most /
artistic moods can touch into a living /
picture, for when the roof tree was plant
ed, this undulating section of country i
was replete with scenic grandeur, a pa
atial home was erected in 1855. Rose
wood furniture from Paris, France, up
in handsome damask, finished
n exquisite workmanship of brass. The
shades that hung from the windows
claimed the brush and skill Of an artist
If true worth. Upon them were painted
he Tuilleries, with its gardens and pal
ice Of beautiful Paris, showing the in
lerent love he bore the country Of his
,aternal ancestor. This furniture, cost
ne $4,000, was placed in his parlOr All
he furniture in his home was imported
rom Paris, as also was a handsome car
'age and horses, which is now at the
III home of his second wife, who sur
ives him, living there. Greenwood Le-
lore christened his beautiful home Nal
lais0n, and here, in ideal luxury, he lived
With his wife and three children. He
wned 600 slaves, who loved him, as he
vas a kind and just master. If one
hanced to become dissatisfied and ran
way, he never made an effort to cap
ure him.
In 1851 Lefore was elected to the State !
enate, serving his people well. He was
lected on the Whig ticket. During the !
of President Andrew
ackson there was an Indian agent
AIMED Martin, who by his unworthy and q
ishonest acts rendered himself so OBJ I
oxi0us TO Leilore that he wrote several !
mes to the President asking for his re- /,
Ioyal. Failing to have the agent re-
loved i'm this way, Greenwood Leiiore
counted his horse and rode to Washing I
m TO see the President. After talking {
,me time to President Jackson, impor- u
ming him to remove Agent Martin, n
lckson finally, getting angry, rose to
r full hight and said:
'I Andrew JacksOn, President of the
nited States, say Martin is a gentleman
Id shall remain" Il
The intrepid and indomitable chief Of v
e Choctaws also rose and said:
II, Greenwood Leflore, chief and king
the Choctaws, say that Martin is a
n rascal and shall be removed" II
Turning upon his heel, he left the Pres y,
ent and started home Upon his ar r.
val he found that Martin had been re- !
owed, and by President Jackson's or =
rs. K
In 1S41 the name Of the little village W
Williams Landing, on the YezoO river, N
rs changed to Greenwood in honor Of j
e chief. II was the custom Of Lefl0re T.
buy his supplies in the Northwest and 4
we them brought down the Mississippi y
7er and then through the Yazoo pass, 3
wn the Yazoo river 10 Greenwood. The "a
liens of the town having a new char al
r, imposed a tax Of 81 on all water III
aft that landed at the town wharf "
le Of Greenwood Lefore's fatboats hav- :.
! been charged the wharfage fee Of 81 =
:ensed him TO that point that he said
would build him q town Of his own.
! built a road from the foot Of the hill
the mouth of the Yalobusha, where ii ~
pties into the Ts lahatchie, forming or
} Yazoo river. This road was nine Ii
les long and was thrown up with dirt ell
d laid with puncheons in many places. pr
built his town. calling II Point Lenore. pr
one tlme 'neze & were .~s,sS n, o@',5SsS ~ a,, pr
- "A ,.rs. .stt<,, 49,, fror, roint SCI