Born on Robinson Road, MS, he was the son of Elisha Smallwood (1779-1831) and Mary LeFlore (1795-1936). He married Mary Abbigale "Abbie" James, Sinai LeFlore and Annie Burney in 1849. The chief served as a captain in the 2nd Choctaw regiment in the Confederate army in the Civil War. Chief Smallwood retired to his farm west of Lehigh in what is today Coal County, Oklahoma where he passed away on December 15, 1891 and where he is buried in a family burying ground.
(Chronicles of Oklahoma and Richard L. Smallwood)
In 1862 Ben Smallwood opened a mercantile business in Kiamichi county, but moved to Atoka in the following year, where he continues in the stock and farming business, being located about ten miles from Atoka and four miles from Lehigh. (A portrait of his picturesque residence will be found in this volume.) Since the age of eighteen years Ben has been holding office among his people, commencing as Ranger of Kiamichi County and graduating upward to Chief Executive. From 1847 until 1887, excepting the years of the war, he has held the office of representative, being four times speaker of the House. For many years he has figured as the leader of a strong party, but was defeated by small majorities until the year 1888, when he out-voted Wilson N. Jones and was inaugurated Principal Chief of his Nation. In 1890 the same contest took place; but Governor Smallwood had grown weary of official responsibilities and made no effort whatever to secure his re-election. The consequence was that his vote fell considerably below the previous term, while Wilson Jones, who had worked with energy throughout, polled a much larger vote than before. It is therefore assumed that the latter will take his seat, although this will not be rendered certain until the meeting of the Council in October next. Governor Smallwood was a captain during the war in the Second Choctaw regiment and experienced a good deal of service. He is a man of fine physical exterior; his face is handsome and indicates force of character, while his chest is broad and his limbs strongly built, and in height he is a little above the average. He is an excellent statesman and legislator, but prefers a quiet home life, with an occasional hunting trip in company with Governor Throckmorton, of Texas, to hunting votes for the coming election. No man, however, loves his people, or is more truly patriotic, than Mr. Smallwood. Such has ever been his reputation, and such it is likely to remain. His property consists of a farm of five hundred acres, beautifully located, and containing four mineral springs-one of iron, another carrying sulphur, and so on. These springs undoubtedly possess valuable curative properties. He has also a large herd of improved stock. He is a descendant of the Okla-falaya clan.
(From Leaders and Leading Men of the Indian Territory: Choctaws and Chickasaws By Harry F. O'Beirne, 1891, Pages 50-51)
(Chronicles of Oklahoma and Richard L. Smallwood)
In 1862 Ben Smallwood opened a mercantile business in Kiamichi county, but moved to Atoka in the following year, where he continues in the stock and farming business, being located about ten miles from Atoka and four miles from Lehigh. (A portrait of his picturesque residence will be found in this volume.) Since the age of eighteen years Ben has been holding office among his people, commencing as Ranger of Kiamichi County and graduating upward to Chief Executive. From 1847 until 1887, excepting the years of the war, he has held the office of representative, being four times speaker of the House. For many years he has figured as the leader of a strong party, but was defeated by small majorities until the year 1888, when he out-voted Wilson N. Jones and was inaugurated Principal Chief of his Nation. In 1890 the same contest took place; but Governor Smallwood had grown weary of official responsibilities and made no effort whatever to secure his re-election. The consequence was that his vote fell considerably below the previous term, while Wilson Jones, who had worked with energy throughout, polled a much larger vote than before. It is therefore assumed that the latter will take his seat, although this will not be rendered certain until the meeting of the Council in October next. Governor Smallwood was a captain during the war in the Second Choctaw regiment and experienced a good deal of service. He is a man of fine physical exterior; his face is handsome and indicates force of character, while his chest is broad and his limbs strongly built, and in height he is a little above the average. He is an excellent statesman and legislator, but prefers a quiet home life, with an occasional hunting trip in company with Governor Throckmorton, of Texas, to hunting votes for the coming election. No man, however, loves his people, or is more truly patriotic, than Mr. Smallwood. Such has ever been his reputation, and such it is likely to remain. His property consists of a farm of five hundred acres, beautifully located, and containing four mineral springs-one of iron, another carrying sulphur, and so on. These springs undoubtedly possess valuable curative properties. He has also a large herd of improved stock. He is a descendant of the Okla-falaya clan.
(From Leaders and Leading Men of the Indian Territory: Choctaws and Chickasaws By Harry F. O'Beirne, 1891, Pages 50-51)
Born on Robinson Road, MS, he was the son of Elisha Smallwood (1779-1831) and Mary LeFlore (1795-1936). He married Mary Abbigale "Abbie" James, Sinai LeFlore and Annie Burney in 1849. The chief served as a captain in the 2nd Choctaw regiment in the Confederate army in the Civil War. Chief Smallwood retired to his farm west of Lehigh in what is today Coal County, Oklahoma where he passed away on December 15, 1891 and where he is buried in a family burying ground.
(Chronicles of Oklahoma and Richard L. Smallwood)
In 1862 Ben Smallwood opened a mercantile business in Kiamichi county, but moved to Atoka in the following year, where he continues in the stock and farming business, being located about ten miles from Atoka and four miles from Lehigh. (A portrait of his picturesque residence will be found in this volume.) Since the age of eighteen years Ben has been holding office among his people, commencing as Ranger of Kiamichi County and graduating upward to Chief Executive. From 1847 until 1887, excepting the years of the war, he has held the office of representative, being four times speaker of the House. For many years he has figured as the leader of a strong party, but was defeated by small majorities until the year 1888, when he out-voted Wilson N. Jones and was inaugurated Principal Chief of his Nation. In 1890 the same contest took place; but Governor Smallwood had grown weary of official responsibilities and made no effort whatever to secure his re-election. The consequence was that his vote fell considerably below the previous term, while Wilson Jones, who had worked with energy throughout, polled a much larger vote than before. It is therefore assumed that the latter will take his seat, although this will not be rendered certain until the meeting of the Council in October next. Governor Smallwood was a captain during the war in the Second Choctaw regiment and experienced a good deal of service. He is a man of fine physical exterior; his face is handsome and indicates force of character, while his chest is broad and his limbs strongly built, and in height he is a little above the average. He is an excellent statesman and legislator, but prefers a quiet home life, with an occasional hunting trip in company with Governor Throckmorton, of Texas, to hunting votes for the coming election. No man, however, loves his people, or is more truly patriotic, than Mr. Smallwood. Such has ever been his reputation, and such it is likely to remain. His property consists of a farm of five hundred acres, beautifully located, and containing four mineral springs-one of iron, another carrying sulphur, and so on. These springs undoubtedly possess valuable curative properties. He has also a large herd of improved stock. He is a descendant of the Okla-falaya clan.
(From Leaders and Leading Men of the Indian Territory: Choctaws and Chickasaws By Harry F. O'Beirne, 1891, Pages 50-51)
(Chronicles of Oklahoma and Richard L. Smallwood)
In 1862 Ben Smallwood opened a mercantile business in Kiamichi county, but moved to Atoka in the following year, where he continues in the stock and farming business, being located about ten miles from Atoka and four miles from Lehigh. (A portrait of his picturesque residence will be found in this volume.) Since the age of eighteen years Ben has been holding office among his people, commencing as Ranger of Kiamichi County and graduating upward to Chief Executive. From 1847 until 1887, excepting the years of the war, he has held the office of representative, being four times speaker of the House. For many years he has figured as the leader of a strong party, but was defeated by small majorities until the year 1888, when he out-voted Wilson N. Jones and was inaugurated Principal Chief of his Nation. In 1890 the same contest took place; but Governor Smallwood had grown weary of official responsibilities and made no effort whatever to secure his re-election. The consequence was that his vote fell considerably below the previous term, while Wilson Jones, who had worked with energy throughout, polled a much larger vote than before. It is therefore assumed that the latter will take his seat, although this will not be rendered certain until the meeting of the Council in October next. Governor Smallwood was a captain during the war in the Second Choctaw regiment and experienced a good deal of service. He is a man of fine physical exterior; his face is handsome and indicates force of character, while his chest is broad and his limbs strongly built, and in height he is a little above the average. He is an excellent statesman and legislator, but prefers a quiet home life, with an occasional hunting trip in company with Governor Throckmorton, of Texas, to hunting votes for the coming election. No man, however, loves his people, or is more truly patriotic, than Mr. Smallwood. Such has ever been his reputation, and such it is likely to remain. His property consists of a farm of five hundred acres, beautifully located, and containing four mineral springs-one of iron, another carrying sulphur, and so on. These springs undoubtedly possess valuable curative properties. He has also a large herd of improved stock. He is a descendant of the Okla-falaya clan.
(From Leaders and Leading Men of the Indian Territory: Choctaws and Chickasaws By Harry F. O'Beirne, 1891, Pages 50-51)
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