ALBERT PIKE

Albert Pike was born at Boston, Massachusetts, December 29, 1809. He was educated at Harvard and in 1831, went west to Santa Fe. In 1832 he crossed the Staked Plains with several companions. After experiencing great hardships they finally arrived at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Remaining in Arkansas, Albert Pike first began teaching school, then took up newspaper work, and finally, engaged in the practice of law.

He was a prolific writer and was gifted with a large measure of poetic ability, even in the early part of his life. He served as a captain of volunteers during the Mexican War. He manifested great interest in public affairs and at the outbreak of the Civil War, acted as Commissioner to the Indians for the Confederate States. In November 1861, he was commissioned a brigadier general in the Confederate Army, but his active military career was brief, as he retired from the service in less than six months.

After the war closed, he lived for several years at Memphis, Tennessee, where he practiced law and edited the Memphis Appeal. In 1868 he removed to Washington where he continued to practice law until 1880. Thereafter he devoted his entire time to literary pursuits and to Freemasonry. He died in April, 1891.

Source: A History of Oklahoma by Joseph B. Throburn and Isaac M. Holcomb, Doub and Company San Francisco 1908.

Submitted by Deborah Crowell