Indian Territory was established out of the state of Arkansas in the late 1820s for the removal of the "Five Civilized Tribes", from near the southern LeFlore County line and south was Miller County, north was Crawford County. It took many years to settle where the Eastern Arkansas/ Western Indian Territory boundry was and at one time Tom Wall, a prominent Choctaw claimed that the Old Fort, Ft. Smith was on Choctaw Nation land and laid personal claim to it. Fort Smith was established on Dec. 25, 1817. The town of Ft. Smith was established in 1840. Choctaws and Chickasaws passed through Ft. Smith on their way to the Choctaw Agency at Skullyville some 15 miles to the west, Cherokees continued on up the Arkansas to Gt. Gibson and Creeks and Seminoles on up the river. The claim of the Choctaws and Cherokees were to the lands along the banks and to the center of the Arkansas River. These rich bottom lands had been used by farmers for many years for free. Doug OKIEDAND@aol.com wrote: > As I am from the Ft Smith Area I am very interested in what you find out. I > myself have never heard of Ft Smith being a part of the Ok/IT. I have always > heard it was an outpost for the Indians as they were crossing over in OK. If > you are from that area you know that The River separates the AR/ OK border. It > is right on the banks of the river were Judge Parker "The hanging Judge" court > was at. As you cross the Garrison Ave Bridge going That crosses the River the > state line in about the center of the Bridge which would be the center of the > river. So there is a very thin line between AR/OK. I remember back about 10 > maybe 15 years ago the Indians clamed that the banks on the AR side was there > land & wanted to be paid for it. Never heard how that come out. > Your Mothers Maiden name was Taylor? My maiden name was Taylor. I am > researching the Taylors in AR. Trying to find info on my Great-grandfather > Marshal Taylor. > Be sure & post what you find out. And good luck. > Barbara