Interview #4609
Field Worker: Maurice R. Anderson
Date: June 22, 1937
Name: Mr. Harry White
Residence: Wynnewood, Oklahoma
Date of Birth: 1875
Place of Birth: Indian Territory
Father: S.M. White
Mother: M. Harris
My Grandfather was Cyrus Harris and he came to the Indian Territory in
1837 with his mother and a few other families. They all came to Fort Coffee and when
they got there they found out that some of their friends were in camp near Scullyville.
Cyrus Harris remained in camp at Scullyville about two weeks then with several
families, started to find a desirable place for settling and finally located on Blue
River. This was in 1838.
While living on Blue River, Mr. Harris was induced to enter politics.
In 1850 a council was convened at Boiling Springs in Panola County, in which he was
appointed to accompany Edmond Pickens to Washington City, to arrange some National
business, which proved ineffectual.
Upon returning home my grandfather sold his place on Blue River and
settled at Boggy Depot. He resided there for a year and again sold out and moved to
a point on Pennington Creek, about a mile west of Tishomingo, where he remained until
1855. Not satisfied there, my grandfather once more sold out and moved to a place on
Mill Creek and started a trading post and after the stage line came through there, he
built a hotel and boarding house.
In 1854, he was again appointed a delegate to go with several others to
Washington City. In 1856, after the adoption of the Chickasaw constitution, he was
elected the first governor of the Chickasaw Nation. He was re-elected for three more
terms, making a total of eight years during which time he held the governorship of the
Chickasaw Nation.
Cyrus Harris was my grandfather on my mother's side.
