Midwest Family Research

Choctaw Freedman Battice Harris of Haskell County, Oklahoma

Battist Harris first appeared on the 1900 Choctaw Nation Census report for Township #7. This report indicated that Battist was a black male that was born in 1869. He was married to another black, Emily Harris who was born in 1877. At this time they had two children, Rosa B Harris (1896) and Daniel Harris (1898).

They were next found on the 1910 Beaver Township, Haskell County, Oklahoma census.

Haskell County was one of the first permanent settlements for the Choctaw Indians in the Indian Territory. The county seat of Haskell County is Stigler.

This report listed Battist as a black male. His wife Emily is now listed as 1/2 Choctaw Indian. Other records indicate that Emily's father was 100% Choctaw Indian and her mother was an African American. Their family now includes two additional children, Nora (1903) and Telce (1907). All children are listed as 1/4 Choctaw Indian.

The 1920 Beaver Township, Haskell County, Oklahoma census report indicates that all of Battist and Emily's children have left the home except for Talce and Rosa. Rosa is now married to Jim Cherry (1891). Jim Cherry was a coal miner. Jim and Rosa have three children, Eulysia Cherry (1915), Willie Cherry (1918), and Battist James Cherry (1909). Rosa, her husband and all of their children live in Battist and Emily's home.

Battist and Emily's son Daniel and his wife Mattie (1902) live next door to them at the time. Both Daniel and Mattie were listed as Mulattos.

The 1930 Beaver Township, Haskell County, Oklahoma census report indicated that all of Battist and Emily children have left the home except for Rosa B. Rosa's husband Jim Cherry has either left the home or passed away. Rosa now has an additional child, Georgia Mae Cherry (1921). Rosa and all of her children are still in the home. Battist and Emily also have 4 other grandchildren, Dorothy Macintosh (1909), Earnest Harris (1920), Celest Harris (1922) and L.A. McKoy (1925), in the home.

Their next door neighbors at the time were listed as black family consisting of Frank Harris (1896), Susan Harris (1902), Marie Harris (1923) and Nancy Harris (1928).

After taking a closer look at Battist, I came to the conclusion that Frank Harris was Battist's nephew. Frank's father was named Isaac Harris (1866 - 1904). Isaac was the son of a Virginian born lady named Sara Harris (1819 - 1925). The Indian Roles indicate that all of Battist and Emily's children were delivered by a midwife named Sara Harris. From this I extrapolated that Sara was also Battist's mother.

Sara, Battist, Emily and Daniel (Battist and Emily's son) are all buried in the Lewisville Cemetery in Haskell County, Oklahoma.

The following is a listing of Sara's Descendants

Descendants of Sara Harris

1 Sara Harris 1819 - 1925
......... 2 Battice Harris 1870 - 1957
............. +Emily 1875 - 1935
.................... 3 Rosa B Harris 1896 -
........................ +Jim Cherry 1891 -
............................... 4 Ulysees Cherry 1916 -
............................... 4 Willie Cherry 1917 -
............................... 4 James Battist Cherry 1919 -
............................... 4 Georgia Mae Cherry 1921 -
.................... 3 Daniel Harris 1898 - 1963
........................ +Mattie 1901 -
............................... 4 Joe Nathan Harris 1921 -
............................... 4 Celestine Harris 1922 -
.................... 3 Nora Harris 1903 -
.................... 3 Talce Harris 1906 - 1975
........................ +Hallie Nero 1900 - 1975
............................... 4 Curtis Telce Harris 1925 - 1998
................................... +Jessie Mae Love
............................... 4 Kathryn Harris 1920 -
......... 2 Isaac Harris 1866 - 1904
............. +Lela Star 1875 - 1956
.................... 3 Lucinda Harris 1887 -
.................... 3 Frank Harris 1896 - 1968
........................ +Susan 1902 -
............................... 4 Marie Harris 1923 -
............................... 4 Nancy Harris 1928 -
.................... 3 Wes Harris 1902 - 1933
.................... 3 Mancie Harris 1903 -
.................... 3 Bettuce Harris 1905 -
.................... 3 Emma Harris 1902 -
........................ +Jacob Walters 1900 - 1974

Links:

Dawes Final Roles Index

Haskell County, OkGenWeb

Haskell County Obituary Index

Lewisville Cemetery, Haskell County, Oklahoma

Roots.Web Haskell County Research

San Bois Cemetery, Haskell County, Oklahoma

Star Cemetery, Haskell County, Oklahoma