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Chronicles of Oklahoma
Volume 4, No. 2
June, 1926
PERRYVILLE AT ONE TIME REGULAR MILITARY POST.
By J. Y. Bryce
Page 184
Not many people now living in the neighborhood of McAlester are aware that at
one time the little village just south of them about five miles, now known as
Cameron, was a Confederate military post of some importance as well as a
depot of supplies from which the Confederate forces while in operation in Indian
Territory received supplies. Perryville, at that time was one of the most
important centers in the country, located as it was on the old military road from
Fort Gibson and Fort Smith to the northeast, and Fort Washita and Fort Arbuckle
on the southwest; which at that time was one of the very few highways leading
through the Indian Territory. At this place the road forked, one branch going
west and south, passing through Stonewall and on to Cherokee town, located on
the Washita River east of Pauls Valley, then by the forts and on into Texas;
the other branch taking a southeasterly course, intercepted the old military
road near Isaac Colbert place on Brushy Creek leading from Fort Smith to
Stringtown and Boggy Depot and on to Fort Washita and Fort Arbuckle and into Texas.
Over this road a great many men of distinction have traveled, and made
Perryville their stopping place for the night. Perryville was then a stage stand,
boasting a Government blacksmith shop, Post Office, with more than a half dozen
business firms, and a little log school house used as occasion demanded for
church purposes as well as for Choctaw court purposes. This place was at one
time, possibly for sixty or ninety days, the Choctaw capitol. This statement can
hardly be substantiated now, but it is a fact nevertheless, that during a
squabble as to who had been elected chief, one contending faction, I have forgotten
which, moved the records to Perryville and set in motion the affairs of the
Nation. The other faction won, and the capitol was moved to Doaksville.
Perryville had the distinction of being a district and county court town for a number
of years. The writer has often witnessed the High Sheriff, Wm. Chunn, who was
merchant and Postmaster, convening court by crying, "Hear ye, hear ye, the
honor-
Page 185
able court of Tobusky County is now in session." At this place, near the
close of the war, the Confederates were defeated in an engagement of a few hours
duration, in which several were killed on both sides and a considerable number
wounded.
These old military trails could tell some wonderful history if they could
only make audible what they have witnessed in the by-gone years. During an
engagement in 1864 the Confederates were repulsed and driven out of the post by the
Federals, who after appropriating as much of the supplies as they were able to
carry, fired the buildings, leaving the women and children homeless and the
Confederates impoverished. A few days before the Federals had destroyed the
supplies at old North Town, located on the North Canadian River near where
Eufaula now stands. Their only other supply base was at Boggy Depot, located near
where the Delaware Creek empties into Boggy Creek, and about two miles from the
present location of Bogy Depot. My understanding is that the Federals failed
to reach this base of supplies, as they were not able to get farther south than
the immediate territory of Perryville. Not many months ago the writer in
conversation with an old Confederate soldier, who was then living in Pittsburg,
Pittsburg County, pointed out the place on the mountain southeast of Perryville,
where he with others did picket duty. There were three military trails
leading into Perryville, one from Fort Smith, via Skullyville (first known as
Choctaw Agency), one from Fort Gibson, via old Fisher town, on the North Canadian,
north side, thence by North Town on the south side of North Canadian, both
places near the confluence of the two Canadians, continuing south, passing through
the section of country where the towns of Canadian, Reams and McAlester are
now located. The third one came in from the southeast, being a branch of the
old military road from Fort Smith, via Skullyville, the Wade Hampton place on
Toll Mountain, near where Wilburton is now located, in Latimer County, thence on
by Johnson, near the Isaac Colbert place on Brushy Creek, where it, forked,
one branch leading northwest, crossing Bald Mountain, passing on by Blue
Springs and Picket Mountain, mentioned above, and into Perryville, thus connecting
these three roads.
Page 186
Two Confederate soldiers, wounded in the battle at Perryville, were cut off
from their company and trying to make their way to some place where they could
have their wounds dressed, spent a short while at the Blue Springs, and then
trying to cross over the Bald Mountain so as to get south on the road leading
to Boggy Depot where they expected to get food and medical assistance. One
died, the other built a rock wall around him, in the absence of any tools with
which to dig. Here his body rested secure from the wolves and vultures until his
bones bleached. Curious white men afterwards tore the wall down and removed
most of the bones. Blue Springs was somewhat of a noted place, as the
Confederate forces rested there for some time after losing their supplies at Perryville
and North Town. The little place, mentioned above as Johnson, got its name
from George Johnson, a noted Choctaw Indian, who was considered the worst man in
the country at that time. He had killed several men and was always on the
lookout for some one else to kill. I have listened to several men, in conversation
as to characters in the community, and heard them say that George Johnson was
the only man that they were really afraid of, as be seemed not to have any
regard for human life whatever. Mr. Johnson had at different times as many as a
dozen wives, and at one time he swapped wives with another man, giving as a
difference between the two, a pen of corn shucks and an old side saddle.
One of the notable places on this old road was that of John Penn Rodgers, a
place about ten miles south of the Bald Mountain. At this place Mr. Rodgers had
settled at an early day, putting in quite a farm and buildings for that day,
a fine home, and a country store, from which supplies were bought by the
Choctaws and the few whites in the community. At this place one of the early-day
Post Officers was established. Mr. Rodgers was a Cherokee, but married a Choctaw
woman by the name of Miss Garland, who was a graduate of some female school,
and was a splendid musician, having the only piano in the country for a number
of years. At this place Mr. Rodgers had secured a right from the Choctaw
Government to put in a toll bridge, across a tributary to McGee Creek, which was a
source of considerable revenue to the family.
Page 187
Rev. W. F. Folsom, of whom mention was made in the last number of Chronicles,
used to preach at nearly all the points along this old military road; the
Colbert community, and the Rodgers settlement were both on his circuit as pastor
or interpreter for the presiding elder. The Rodgers family were Methodists,
and their home was a regular stopping place for the preachers of those early
days. Several good protracted meetings have been held in that locality where the
entertainment was, mostly, in the Rodgers home. Such families as the Staples
and Gathers, who lived for several years on Rodgers’ farm, were good
entertainers on those camp-meeting occasions. A Rev. John Mann, a Methodist divine of
some renown, used to make this neighborhood in his rounds on the Perryville
circuit Relating some of the experiences of the early day missionary may not be
out of place just here, showing some of the things with which they had to
contend. Toll bridges were the order of the day, provided a stream large enough
could be found across which to build one. If not, sometimes they would ditch
around in such a way as to make it impossible for a wagon to pass other than on the
bridge. A Mr. Johnson, not George above referred to, had built such a one
across Peaceable Creek, near Perryville, on the old military road running
directly south. Across this bridge Rev. Mann was necessarily forced to go. Mrs.
Johnson was a member of the Methodist church, and a member of Rev. Mann’s flock.
Coming in one day from a long, hard day’s travel, crossing the bridge and coming
on up to the residence of Mrs. Johnson, he was met by the good sister who
asked him for ten cents, the price charged for man and horse crossing the bridge.
In reply to her request for the money, Rev. Mann said: "Mrs. Johnson, you
would not charge me for crossing on the bridge would you, as I am your pastor?"
She replied: "Yes, I know you are my pastor, and I should not charge you, but I
use snuff and am out and have no money with which to buy it and this ten
cents will get me a box of snuff." He paid the fee and rode on, afterward relating
the circumstance with some relish. Brother Mann would frequently spend
several days in our home in Perryville. A few months before the annual Conference
was to convene, I remember that he wrote to his wife, who was in Arkansas,
asking her to make him a suit
Page 188
of clothes, out of the blackest black sheep’s wool in his flock, for the
Conference. That meant that Mrs. Mann was, no doubt, to shear the wool, card and
spin and weave it into cloth with her own hands, then cut by guess and fit him
for Conference. I wonder how many of our preachers of today would be satisfied
to wear such a suit to an annual Conference.
Some of the persons who were residents of the village in that early period
were Wm. Chunn, Postmaster, high sheriff, merchant and general banker for the
community; his brother-in-law, Dr. D. M. Hailey, was the country doctor; Thomas
Ryan, also a brother-in-law, was bookkeeper and clerk; Joe Ryan, brother of
Thomas, was the village school teacher; Mr. John Dawson, who was afterwards a
brother-in-law of Win. Chunn, was the blacksmith with a Mr. Henry Norman as
assistant; and the writer’s mother was keeping the wayside Inn, feeding the
general public. Wm. Chunn, Thomas Ryan, D. M. Hailey and John Dawson were all
son-in-law of Robt. M. McCarty, whose residence was a few miles west of Fort Smith
on the old military road leading out of Fort Smith to Perryville. Mr. McCarty
married a Choctaw woman in Mississippi and came west with them. These families
were all leading families of the Choctaw Nation. Many of their descendants are
among the first families of our state today.
At Perryville I first saw the Choctaw Government inflict punishment for law
violation. I recall one instance in which two Choctaws were convicted for some
offense against the Government and were sentenced to be whipped. This was done
by first removing all garments from the waist up, then they were taken to a
tree and made to stand with their breasts next to the tree, when two men, one
each taking hold of the hand of the prisoner, would hold him close to the tree
while a third would administer the punishment. As I remember now there were
five men who did the whipping, one would give ten strokes then another would
give ten until fifty, minus one, had been administered. I recall that a man by
the name of Impson, who was a prisoner awaiting trial, one day broke jail and a
man by the name of Alex—who was part negro and deputy sheriff made a run for
him and overtaking him in a flat near by, fired three shots, killing him
Page 189
instantly. My father was called by the sheriff to bring his wagon and haul
him in. The man Impson, who was killed, had killed twelve men, and the negro
deputy had killed eleven, and the killing of Impson made an even dozen for him. I
remember how the man Alex would laugh and tell how he shot him and how the
fleeing man would beg him not to shoot; the negro seemed to take the whole thing
as a huge joke.
Another little incident shows western life in an early day. As has been said,
mother kept the wayside Inn, and everyone wishing meals served came to her.
On one occasion a man by the name of Tandy Walker, who was himself somewhat of
an outlaw, a deputy under Wm. Churn, came to the house about noon and asked
for meals to be served to himself and about a half dozen prisoners, who were
chained and hand-cuffed. Tandy himself being about half or two-thirds
intoxicated, his request was so violent and rude that mother positively refused to serve
them, whereupon Mr. Walker began to curse and male threats. Dinner was just
ready to be served to the family and mother had a kettle of boiling water on the
stove, to which she turned and pouring out a stewpan full, turned to the
boisterous man and ordered him from the house. Not seeing the hot water at first,
he repeated his threat and said: "This is a public eating house and I will
have my men fed." Mother made a start to throw the hot water in his face when he
took the hint and left. He told Mr. Chunn what he had experienced and Mr.
Chunn said: "You should have had better sense than to have gone there in the
absence of Mr. Bryce, in your drunken condition and made demands for dinner; she
should have thrown the water in your face."
Perryville was named for the man who first had a store in the place, a Mr.
Perry, who had a Government commissary prior to the war, and during the war,
settled there in an early day. Located as it was on the main thoroughfare leading
from Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas on the north and east, to Texas and Mexico
on the south and southwest, made it a very important commercial center. Mr.
Perry amassed quite a fortune before his death, which occurred just prior to
the rebellion of the Southern states. Mr. Perry was buried about four hundred
yards from where his place
Page 190
of business was located; there is nothing left there now to mark his resting
place, but when the writer lived in the town, it was tolerably well kept, the
method being used by the Indians of an early day, that of building a small
house and covering the same with clab boards.
About the time of Mr. Perry’s death, a Mr. Osborn Fisher, became proprietor
of the business, continuing stage accommodations, and the Post Office, which
had been established February 24, 1841, with John F. Houston as post master. The
evidences all go to show that the post office was in the old Perry business
house and that it was continued in the building after Mr. Fisher took charge.
This is no doubt the same building in which Wm. Chunn conducted a general
business for many years, until the Katy Railroad built through and the town of
McAlester was established. At the time the railroad was built through the
Territory, Wm. Chunn was post master at Perryville. The year 1875, Mr. Chunn closed
out his business at Perryville, and moved his family on to a cattle ranch six
miles to the southeast, where lie had wonderful success as a ranchman; here he
remained until the time of his death which was about the year 1880 or 1881. His
son William R., still lives in the immediate vicinity of the ranch.
Mr. O. Fisher left Perryville, according to our best information, about the
close of the war and settled in McGee Valley, where he conducted a large
mercantile business in connection with extensive cattle interests which he
maintained for many years. The Fisher family made their home in Tishomingo after
leaving Perryville; there both Mr. Fisher and his wife died and are buried. McGee
Valley is one of the finest sections of the Choctaw Nation, and is located south
and east of the old military road, mentioned above, passing by the Isaac Colb
ert place on Brushy and on down by the John P. Rodgers place. On this O. F.
ranch were some of the best cattle and horses raised in Indian Territory. Three
daughters of the Fisher family are living two of them Mrs. Flemming, and Mrs.
Ben Colbert, in Tishomingo, and Mrs. H. L. Muldrow, in Norman.
While Perryville has lost its identity, it has not lost any of the romance
for those who were associated with it in an early day. There is a piece of
masonry remaining intact in
Page 191
the well that is of considerable interest to the writer; it is just as it was
when we used to draw water out of the well, with an old sweep more than fifty
years ago. On a visit to the old place some days ago we noticed that the
stone walk leading from the kitchen to the well was torn up by the trees that had
grown there since my time in the little village. Some of these trees were as
large as a man’s body. We were want to say on gazing on the old site in the
language of the poet:
"Lives there a man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, My native land."
J. Y. BRYCE
This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Chunn
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/yhI.2ACEB/107.1
Message Board Post:
I have checked the 1860 census and it is as follows:
John Chunn 36; Mary 30; Calvin 11; Lafayette 9; Pinkney 6; Ida 1 all born in Alabama. Also Mary Bayles age 78 born in South Carolina also living there as well. Besides her name is a checkmark for colored.
Hope it helps. Have more info if needed on the Chunn line can email me direct at poohbearable(a)hotmail.com
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Surnames: CHUNN
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Please post any reply to poohbearable(a)hotmail.com.
The message was posted under the wrong sign-in name.
Thank you!
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Surnames: CHUNN
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Message Board Post:
1860 Census for Fannin County, Georgia lists Adam J. Chunn age 26 born in TN along with Elizabeth 26 born in TN and Jenice 6 born in Tenn; George W. 4 born in Georgia; William 1 born in Georgia.
Anymore information as to whom they belong to would be great.
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Surnames: Chunn
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On the 1850 Census for Ruddell Township, Independence County, Arkansas, John F, T or G Chunn age 40 born in Virginia is listed along with Elizabeth 35; Charley R. 17; Sarah E. 15; Penelope 14; Pallona? 12; Maury 10; Margaret 7; Francis G. 7; Louisa G. 6; John J. 4; William E. 2. All the kids except John & William were born in Tennessee. John & William were born in Arkansas. Does anyone else have anything on this person or family and who they connect with?
John was a schoolteacher.
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Surnames: Chunn
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Lias Chunn 34 b. TN is listed on the 1870 census for Johnson County, IL along with Sarah 29 b. IL; Riley 3 b. IL;
David 1 b. IL.
I have no connection with other chunns. Does anyone know who they belong too?
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Surnames: CHUNN
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Hello ya'll. I've been doing more census looking and have found WIlliam age 55 born in TN married to Aurora age 51 born in TN on the 1870 Census in Johnson County, IL. They have the following children: Nathan 19; Isah 17; Sarah 15; Wesley P???? 11 (not a chunn); William P???? 10 (not a chunn); Ann 9. Does anyone know who they are?
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Surnames: CHUNN, GRAHAM, WIGGINS
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On the 1860 Census in Monroe County, Alabama - Burnt Corn I have William Chunn age 64. Born in North Carolina. That puts his born date at about 1796. My problem is: I have always seen this William as William Robert Chunn s/o Sylvester Littleberry Chunn b. 1812 who married (1) Amelia Graham & (2) Sophia Wiggins. This cannot be the same William as William Robert Chunn was born 1812. Does anyone have any ideas on this? Please help. Could this possibly be Sylvester Littleberry's brother William?
Thank you in advance for your help.
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Someone very kindly shared the following information with me and I thought it should be posted and passed on.
According to sources, Sylvester Chunn's parents are not Joseph & Catherine as assumed by the parcel of land he sold as well as "all rights to Joseph & Catherine's estate".
The information lists John Chunn III and Lydia as the parents of Sylvester. He was born April 1758 according to a record in Nov 1760 that states he was age 2 years April last. He was bound to James Smith, Sr at that time til age 21.
I have more information that is too lengthy to share. If you have more questions, or would like more info, please email me direct at poohbearable(a)hotmail.com
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Surnames: Chunn, Jackson, Smith, Rowland
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/yhI.2ACEB/108
Message Board Post:
Some updated information: Cornelius or Neely Chunn as he is known married (1) Catherine Jackson Aug 02 1845 in Maury County, TN. Source: Early Middle Tennessee Grooms, (1989 Sistler), pg 101, Chunn, Neely to Catherine Jackson 8-2-1845 [Mu]. (2) Olive Frances Smith Dec 30 1853 in Marshall County, TN. Source: Maury County Tennessee Chancery Records 1810-1860 Volume 1, pg 123.
Assumption - he divorced Olive as in 1855, he filed a petiton in Aug 4 1855. Complaintant dropped the petition though...so we don't really know......
(3) Rebecca Rowland May 3 1860 in Troup County, Georgia.
Source: www.rootsweb.com, "Electronic," Troup County, Georgia Website
Hope it helps someone.
I have Mary Sophia Bayles b. July 18, 1828 and d. Feb 01 1871 in Bells Landing, Monroe County, Alabama.
She married John M. Slaughter Chunn (s/o Sylvester Littleberry Chunn & Martha Slaughter) on Feb 10, 1848.
John was b. Dec 26 1824 in Bells Landing, Monroe County, Alabama & d. Feb 01 1902.
At the moment, I only have one child for them: Anson Evanda Chunn b. Aug 15 1866.
However I did look at the 1850 Census for Monroe County Alabama. I show John S. Chunn (listed as Churn) age 23; Mary age 22; Calvin O age 11/12; Mary Bayles age 65 b. in South Carolina.....all the rest were born in Alabama.
I don't know if this helps or not.
Christine
----- Original Message -----
From: jbmrc2(a)bellsouth.net
To: CHUNN-L(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2004 7:02 PM
Subject: [CHUNN] Bayles/Chunn Marriage/ Al
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Surnames: Bayles/ Baylis/ Chunn
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I am still trying to get past a brickwall .I have found in a 1850 Monroe Co. Alabama a Mary Bayles living in the CHUNN household.
I have also found where a Mary Bayles married John Slaughter Chunn abt. 1826 in Bell's Landing, Monroe co.
One child Calvin O. Chunn b. abt. 1849
Anyone with ties or info into either of these lines?
==== CHUNN Mailing List ====
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Hi Folks and Family,
Just me making sure that the mailing system is working correctly. If you got
this, then it is working just like it should!!! If you didn't, I will have to
clean the files a little more!
( No need to reply, the computers will send an automatic alert if there is a
problem! )
Have a great day - and remember this is a "leap year"!
Dianne
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Surnames: Bayles/ Baylis/ Chunn
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I am still trying to get past a brickwall .I have found in a 1850 Monroe Co. Alabama a Mary Bayles living in the CHUNN household.
I have also found where a Mary Bayles married John Slaughter Chunn abt. 1826 in Bell's Landing, Monroe co.
One child Calvin O. Chunn b. abt. 1849
Anyone with ties or info into either of these lines?
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Surnames: Bayles/ Baylis/ Chunn
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http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/yhI.2ACEB/106
Message Board Post:
I am looking for any one with ties or info. concerning a mary bayles living in a Chunn household. Taken in Monroe Co. Alabama 1850 census.
Or anyone with Chunn ties maybe of this line.