Today in Chickamauga History - January 28
1926, January 28: ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XX – Page 190 – 191 - GEORGE GRAHAM TO DAVID BARTON 36 - [NA:GLO, Misc. Lets. Sent, Bk. 161
GEN' LAND OFFICE 28th Januarg 1826
THE HON: DAVIDB ARTONC h. Com.
SIR, I return you the "Bill to extend the Land District in the Territory of Arkan~as",a~n~d in compliance with your request, have to state that that part of the bill extending the limits of the Lawrence District includes a part of the Lands ceeded to the Cherokees 38 and Choctaws also that part of the Territory of Arkansas lying west and North of the Lands ceeded to the Cherokees, and west of the old Osage boundary line. That part of the bill extending the limits of the Arkansas Land District, includes, it is believed, no other lands than those ceeded to the Choctaws.
I am &c
GEO. GRAHAM
P. S. I shall furnish you tomorrow with some information in relation to fees received by Land Officers under the relief law of 1821.
1826, January 28: ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XX – Page 191 – 192 - GOVERNOR IZARD TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR - [NA:OIA, Lets. Recd. (Ark.) :ALS
ARKANSAS TERRITORY Little Rock. Jan 28, 1826
THE HONable SECRETARAY AT WAR.
SIR, A Letter from Mr McKenney, covering a Report from him to you relative to the Memorial of the Legislature of this Territory to the President soliciting Permission for the Citizens to settle the Tract Known by the Name of Lovely's Purchase, came to Hand by the last Mail. I have the Honour to address you in Answer to the Reference made to me by your Direction on this Subject.-
By the Treaty of September 25, 1818,42 with the Great & Little Osages, they cede to the U. States the Tract of Country within the following Bounds; viz: "Beginning at the Arkansaw River, at where the present Osage Boundary Line strikes the River at Frog Bayou; then up the Arkansaw & Verdigris, to the Falls of Verdigris River; thence, eastwardly, to the said Osage Boundary Line, at a Point twenty Leagues North from the Arkansaw River; and, with that Line, to the Place of Beginning.'' The original Negotiations were entered into, as I am informed, by one Lovely, then an Agent or Factor in the Osage Country, and from him the Tract has Taken it's Appellation, though his name no where appears in that Treaty.-
When the Cherokees established themselves on the Arkansa River, conformably to the Treaty of July 8, 1817,43 the lines which were run under the Direction of Governor Miller, my Predecessor,44 did not satisfy the Indians; and on their Representations the Boundaries were resurveyed.45 The Course of their Line, Eastward of their present Location, is from Pointe au Remove (Point Remove) on the Arkansa River to the Catahoochee Mountain on the White River, above Batesville,--a Distance of Seventy-one Miles. On the Western Side, a Line parallel to the last, was drawn from the Mouth of a Bayou; about twenty Miles above Fort Smith on the Arkansa, which strikes the White River not far from the J~znctiono f the Little-North and the South Forks of that Stream; thus cutting off a triangular Tract of Land from what is called Lovely's Purchase of about two hundred square miles. What remains of the Purchase in Question is the Country which our Citizens are desirous of settling. It contains numerous & valuable Salt-springs, and there are strong Reasons for believing that it abounds with metallic Substances. The whole Tract, between the Falls of the Verdigris River (at the Point where our Western Territorial Boundary crosses that Stream) and the East and West Line which bounds us on the North, as far East as the Headwaters of White River, is unappropriated by the Government of the U. States and offers a commodious Outlet to the Cherokees for their hunting Parties to the Westward. The probable Consequence of settling the above designated Country, which is the Subject of the Memorial, will be a Disposition on the Part of the Cherokees to negotiate for their final Removal from our Limits. This Measure will be warmly opposed by the Whites & half-Casts of the Tribe, from Motives widely differing with the Views of the U. States for the Improvement & Civilization of the Indians. The Indigenes themselves are fast migrating to the upper waters of the Arkansa & Red Rivers. Many have already removed to the neighbouring Province of Texas.
I am very respectfully, Sir, Your most obed Sevt
GEO. IZARD.
[Endorsed] Little Rock, Jan. 28, 1826. Govr Izard. Relative to Loveley's purchase, which the Citizens of Arkansas wish to settle.