A great find in the Bracken Oklahoma/Indian Territory Collection. This is the only piece with the rare designation of Choctaw Nation. This is a letterhead for J.J. McAlester, Dealer in Dry Goods, Boots, Clothing, Groceries in McAlester, C.N. (Choctaw Nation), 1874. Yes, he was the namesake for this town. Letter is to Frank Ford and mentions working with judges about a settlement with Tusly & Bro. Someone is trying to prevent a land deal(?): "he says that he will let me & Bill (Tusly) know that we do not own this part of the country. He is doing all he can to stop the payment. We must get Judge Ward..." Signed by James J. McAlester. McAlester was an American Confederate Army soldier, merchant, founder of McAlester, Oklahoma, and a primary developer of the coal mining industry in eastern Oklahoma. He also served as the United States Marshal for Indian Territory (1893Ã’1897), was one of three members of the first Oklahoma Corporation Commission (1907Ã’1911) and was the second Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma (1911Ã’1915). In 1866, he went to the Choctaw Nation and worked as a trader to the Indians. He married Rebecca Burney, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, which made it possible for him to gain citizenship in and the right to own property in both the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations. He was also able to make many lucrative coal claims in the area and to establish what eventually became McAlester Coal Mining Co. His trading company, J. J. McAlester Mercantile Company, was the company store for the miners since much of their pay was issued in the form of scrip redeemable only at J. J. McAlester Mercantile. Very rare.Date: 1874Country: State: OklahomaCity: McAlesterProvenance: Gary Bracken Collection