By Jonita Mullins
As soon as the Louisiana Purchase was completed in 1803, the federal government began to establish its presence in the Three Forks area through Indian agents. This is one reasons the Three Forks was so significant to the development of Indian Territory. The Indian agent, as the government’s representative to the native people, became one of the most important and influential men in the Territory.
Agents were appointed by the President. It was the agent’s responsibility to negotiate treaties and settle disputes. With the authority of the federal government behind him, he would often be the keeper of the peace when tensions arose between tribes or between Indians and non-Indians.
Agents often worked to further education and expand trade among Indians they served. Some Indian agents looked out for themselves rather than the Indians, but on the whole, these agents did strive to improve conditions in Indian Territory.
Many agents were individuals who had established a name for themselves before coming to Indian Territory. Some stayed in Indian Territory after serving to continue in positions of influence.
An early agent for the Osages was A.P. Chouteau for whom the town of Chouteau is named. His trading post at the Three Forks was usually referred to as the Osage Agency. The trading post later served as the first Creek Agency.
Another Osage agent was Nathaniel Pryor for whom the town of Pryor is named. Pryor was a soldier and part of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804. After he left the military, Pryor established a trading post at the Three Forks.
Another trader/agent in the Three Forks region was Sam Houston, an agent for the Cherokees. Houston only lived in Indian Territory three years, but during that time made a trip to Washington, D.C. on behalf of the Cherokees. He also attended most of the treaty meetings held at Fort Gibson.
The government consolidated the agencies of the Five Tribes in 1875 and a Union Agency was established in Muskogee. The agents appointed to the Union Agency included Col. Robert L. Owen, a Cherokee, who later became one Oklahoma’s first senators.
Leo Bennett was an editor of the Muskogee Phoenix and the Eufaula Indian Journal before serving as Union agent. He later served as federal marshal in Indian Territory. A third agent, Col. D.M. Wisdom, later served as Muskogee’s second mayor.
