Coleman Ratliff ROBERTSON, Sr.
1824 - 1886

Birth: 12 Aug 1824 Missouri
Died: 20 Oct 1886 Muskogee, Creek Nation, Indian Territory
Buried: Green Hill Cemetery, Muskogee, Oklahoma

Father: John ROBERTSON, b. Abt 1795/1805, Virginia, d. Bef 1854

Married 1: Nancy TERRELL, b. Abt 1827, Chestatee River, Cherokee Nation East (Georgia), d. Apr 1859, Ketcher Town, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory
Married: Abt 1849 Tahlequah Dist., Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory

Children:
1. Melvina ROBERTSON, b. 20 May 1850, Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, d. 6 Aug 1877, Muskogee, Creek Nation, Indian Territory
2. Andrew Jackson "Jack" ROBERTSON, b. 6 Aug 1854, Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, d. 12 Feb 1934, Tahlequah, Cherokee Co., Oklahoma
3. Coleman Ratliff ROBERTSON, Jr., b. 29 Apr 1857, Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, d. 28 Jun 1880, Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory
4. Nancy J. ROBERTSON, b. 7 Feb 1859, Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, d. 4 Jan 1925, Tahlequah, Cherokee Co., Oklahoma

Married 2: Rebecca "Becky" TERRELL, b. Oct 1839, Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, d. Abt 1907, Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory
Married: Abt 1860 Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory
Divorced Abt 1865

Children:
1. Jefferson Davis "Jeff" ROBERTSON, b. 22 Mar 1862, Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, d. 22 Sep 1912, Manard, Muskogee Co., Oklahoma

Married 3: Biddy Ann MILLER, b. 30 Jul 1836, North Carolina, d. 9 Oct 1930, Tahlequah, Cherokee Co., Oklahoma
Married: 30 Jan 1868

Children:
1. Jennie Lyn ROBERTSON, b. 15 Dec 1868, Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky, d. 17 Feb 1951, Muskogee, Muskogee Co., Oklahoma
2. Ratliff ROBERTSON, b. 5 Jan 1871, Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky, d. 5 Sep 1871, Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky
3. George Washington ROBERTSON, b. 26 Sep 1872, Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky, d. 18 Nov 1941, Kansas City, Wyandotte Co., Kansas
4. David ROBERTSON, b. 15 Dec 1874, Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky, d. 21 Jul 1932, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California
5. Fannie ROBERTSON, b. 12 Dec 1878, Muskogee, Creek Nation, Indian Territory, d. 26 Jul 1955, Modesto, Stanislaus Co., California
6. A. ROBERTSON, b. 3 Feb 1880, Muskogee, Creek Nation, Indian Territory, d. 3 Feb 1880, Muskogee, Creek Nation, Indian Territory

Notes:
◦An act admitting Coleman R. Robertson to Cherokee citizenship was passed by the government of the Cherokee Nation following his marriage to Nancy Terrell. It was signed by Chief John Ross, and reads as follows (from “The Constitution and Laws of the Cherokee Nation, passed at Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation 1839-51,” page 217):

An Act admitting Coleman R. Robertson to Citizenship.

Be it enacted by the National Council, That Coleman R. Robertson, late a citizen of the State of Arkansas, and married to a Cherokee female, be, and he is hereby admitted to the rights of a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, so long as he may continue to reside therein.
Tahlequah, 25th November, 1850.
Approved--JNO. ROSS.

Nancy and Coleman settled on Cherokee tribal land in the present-day area of Metory, southwest of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. According to Anna Terrell Martin, a great-grand-daughter of Nancy’s brother Moses Terrell, and life-long resident in the Metory-Woodall area, the old Robertson house was situated on the hill near Metory Springs and Price Cemetery. The style was typical of many Cherokee homes: two large rooms separated by a breeze-way. One room was used as a kitchen and dining room, while the other side was used for bedrooms. There was also attic space above the rooms. Coleman was a blacksmith and probably ran his business from the home.

Mrs. Nancy Robertson died shortly after the birth of little Nancy, and the baby had a Black wet-nurse. After Nancy’s death, her sister Miss Rachel Terrell raised the Robertson children. Coleman remarried shortly thereafter to Becky Terrell, a niece to his first wife Nancy. She probably moved into the Robertson home upon their marriage.

Coleman supposedly served in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War, though no record has been found of his service. Coleman’s marriage to Becky did not last long, and they probably separated during the Civil War.

Coleman and his third wife Biddy resided at Eddyville, Kentucky and are found on Lyon County tax lists from 1867 to 1877. Records show that they owned several hogs and cows as well as $6.00 worth of precious metal. Coleman was enrolled in the state militia and continued his blacksmith trade. He was initiated in the Masonic Order in the Suwanee Lodge No. 190 at Kuttuwa, Kentucky on February 11, 1873; passed May 10, 1873; raised July 7, 1873. He was a Master Mason and served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Lodge until 1877. He was demitted on August 10, 1878.

In 1877, Coleman and Biddy with children Ellen, Jennie, George and David moved to Muskogee, Creek Nation, Indian Territory. Coleman and his son Jack opened a blacksmith shop there, which was one of the first businesses of Muskogee. According to the W.P.A. interview of Ella Robinson, she stated: “First blacksmith shop in Muskogee. Owned by Coleman Roberson, 1876. Located at what is now Day and C Streets.”

In another W.P.A. interview of Ella Robinson, she talks about the early history of the First M.E. Church, South, at Muskogee:

“The question for a place for the preacher to live at once presented itself. After having arranged for a three room box home, to be erected on the south side of the church, Mr. Brewer returned home to return the following Sunday to begin his work. When the little home was ready, Mrs. Brewer and two children, Robert and Reba, came to make their home in the little village.
The following Sunday, after Conference, Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Ross joined by letter, making a membership of three with which to start. A few weeks later Mr. and Mrs. John Cunningham came in and then Mr. Coleman Roberson and family joined. As there were not enough men available to serve as Stewards, Mrs. Robinson served on the Board of Stewards, and also taught a Sunday School class.”

On September 5, 1877, the Cherokee Advocate of Tahlequah reported: “Our old friend Coleman Robinson, whom many of our citizens will remember, paid us a visit last Saturday. Old Time has been punching his lineaments with his cold

[Source: http://wadeprater.com]