Col Benjamin interpreter Love (Chickasaw)

• General Notes
  • Col. Benjamin "Chickasaw" Love, born 1805 in Chickasaw Nation, East; died July 03, 1849 in Houani Creek, IT; married Charlotte "Lottie" "Chickasaw" Burney in MS; born 1816 in MS; died 1926.  Notes for Col. Benjamin "Chickasaw" Love: Benjamin was born in MS a short distance below Buena Vista. He was educated in Washington City, the name our Capitol was called in those days. He was listed as a resident in the census report in Chickasaw Nation, 1818. He as active in the affairs of his people, and was often referred to as Ben Love, the interpreter. Upshaw said he was the most talented man in the Nation; he understood and knew how business should be done. Ben and his brother Isaac were members of the exploration party in 1828 that came west to inspect the propoesed new home for the tribe. He was a member of the Commission of Seven which disbanded when the land sales were practically completed.  Ben was a son-in-law of Simon BURNEY. He and his wife, Charlotte Burney, resided at Holly Springs, MS. and were members of the nearby Presbyterian mission. Benjamin was baptized in Monroe Mission, Pontotoc Co, MS, July 6, 1828. Migrating west, they settled near the mouth of the Washita where Ben farmed and raised cattle. Like most of the Loves, he was a large slave owner. He had two daughters, the oldest named Narcissa." On the 3rd day of July, 1849, Ben Love was killed on Houani Creek near the old Bell Academy, in present Marshall County, OK. This creek evidently named for the Ah-yow-wan-na tribe which sometimes camped there. Two reports on the assassination have come to my attention. One - "Benjamin Love was murdered by a Shawnee who was taken into dustody at Fort Washita. He claimed murdering was his business. Said he was hired by two Chickasaws to commit the murder." Two - "Ben Love was shot from ambush while watering his horse. I have heard my Mama tell about it many times. .... The two men who killed Ben Love were Adam Jemmie and Raven Porter. They were held for a long time and finally turned loose. ... Someone killed Porter as he crossed Red River, and Adam Jimmey was killed near the Adam Jimmey Point."  Grant Foreman in his book, "Five Civilized Tribes", states that, "Benjamin Love, the [Federal] interpreter, five miles from his residence, while returning from a Biloxi village on July 3, 1849, was assassinated. Col. James McLaughlin was then appointed Federal Interpreter."  Notes for Charlotte "Lottie" "Chickasaw" Burney:  She was listed as a resident in the census report in Chickasaw Nation, MS, 1818. Charlotte was baptized at in Monroe Mission, Pontotoc Co, MS, 5 Jul 1829. She was listed as a resident in the census report on '1855' Choctaw Roll, Chickasaw District, IT, December 1856. She was listed as a resident in the census report on Annuity Roll, Chickasaw Nation, IT, 1860. Charlotta is reputed to have been 110 years of age at her death, and that she was blind the last ten years.