William J. Bryant, Principal Chief of the Choctaws

William Bryant 1870 - 1874 William Bryant was born in Mississippi in the early 1800’s. The exact date is unknown. Research failed to find who his parents were o­nly that his father was a white man. Jennifer Mieirs says his father was Lewis Bryant. Like most of the Mississippi Choctaw boys he attended neighborhood schools during his early childhood. Then in 1829 he was sent to the state of Kentucky to attend the Choctaw Academy.

Chief Bryant came to Indian Territory about 1840 and settled in Red River County near Water Hole Church. From there he located at Octavia in McCurtain County. He was soon active in tribal affairs. He became a member of the Choctaw Council in 1844, was a delegate to the Creek Convention in 1861 and was elected Supreme District Judge in 1865. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Bryant was elected Principal Chief of the Choctaws in 1870. In 1872 he ran for a second term against Turner B. Turnbull and won by a large majority. His third attempt to serve, as chief was not successful. In 1876 he ran against Coleman Cole and Allen Wright. Cole was victorious over the other men. During Bryant’s term of office he moved near Wilburton. In Addition to his duties as chief he acted as postmaster at Pleasant Ridge. The post office has since been discontinued. After he retired from office Chief Bryant moved near Tushka Homma. The exact date of his death was not found o­nly that he died at Tushka Homma and was buried two miles east of there in the vicinity of old Spring Station.