Jesse Chisholm was a well-known Cherokee for whom the Chisholm Trail was named.  He first moved to Pottawatomie County after his first wife, Eliza Edwards died in 1856.  With his 2nd wife, Suhkahkee McQueen and two sons, William E. and Frank, from his first marriage he moved from Edwards Trading Post, 8 miles south or present Holdenville in 1847.  In Pottawatomie county he established his Trading Post known as Chisholm Springs where he and Suhkahkee had 3 children: Jennie in 1848; Frank and Mary Chisholm.

Although only a one store town with an adjoining blacksmith shop, Chisholm Springs was well patronized by the Plains Indians to the west and even as far south as Texas.  Here Chisholm operated his wagon trains and pack mules, and stored large quantities of hides taken in trade from the Indians.

In 1849, during the California gold ruch, it was the last westward Trading Post and camping ground east  of New Mexico. 

In 1861, shortly after the Civil War began, Jesse Chisholm said, "This is white man's war," and he took no part in it.  He led over 100 families of Absentee Shawnees, Creeks and Seminoles from Pottawatomie County and nearby communities to a site where Wichita, Kansas was later established, going west from Chisholm Springs over the trail that Chief Black Beaver, the Delaware guide, led Captain Emory and the retreating Federal garrisons to Kansas.  Years later, after Chisholm's death in 1868, this trail became known as the Chisholm Trail.

Jesse Chisholm never returned to re-establish his Trading Post at Chisholm Springs.  His headquarters was at Council Hill Trading Post which he established in 1858.  This was located in the western edge of presnet Oklahoma City near the North Canadian River.

Jesse Chisholm, a remarkalbe man, spoke English and 14 Indian languages.  Chisholm's great grandfather, Captain John Chisholm, a soldier of fortune, was a Justice of the Peace in Tennessee in 1778.  In 1792 he established the old Chisholm Tavern in Knoxville.

His grandfather, John D. Chisholm, was a white man, but he married a Cherokee and became Chief of a band of Cherokees in Tennessee and Arkansas in 1819.  His mother's sister, Talihina (Diana) Rogers was the second wife of General Sam Houston.   Jesse Chisholm's uncle, Thomas Chisholm, was the last heriditary Chief of the western Cherokees at Tahlonteeske (1829-1939).  He was also the grandfather of one of the first two U.S. Senators from Oklahoma, Robert L. Owen, who served from statehood until 1924.

Chisholm had extensive cattle herds.  He and his son, Wm. E. "Bill" Chisholm owned the famous 7-C brand of cattle--each "C" represented a tribe of Indians of which Chisholm had been made an adopted brother.  He also owned vast salt mine interests in present Blaine County, (Okla.)

In American history, there are few men about whom can be said..."He was a friend to all, and he had no enemies."  Chisholm emerged as a most colorful figure in his day and he was noted as a man of great sagacity.  In the annals of American frontier, is the unusual fact that this man never carried a gun, but in turn he was never robbed or harmed--they all respected this man of integrity who spoke "with a straight tongue."

Jesse Chisholm died of food poisoning on March 4, 1868 at Left Hand Springs, about 8 miles northwest of present Geary, Oklahoma. 

To read more about Jesse Chisholm and view a photograph of him,  follow this link to WIKIPEDIA:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Chisholm

*Transcribed from THE ESCORT section of THE SHAWNEE NEWS-STAR, dated Sunday, July 27, 1969, by Charles Wm. Mooney, Sr. (used by permission.)