Season 7, Episode 5, Part 1: Jimmy Stephens (Choctaw) on Holloway’s Station and the Butterfield Overland Mail Route

Part 1

For centuries, American Indians carved out a labyrinth of pathways across this land. Spanning hundreds of miles, these trails not only enabled connections among their communities, but also provided access to prime hunting grounds, water and seasonal dwellings.

Over time, these well-trodden paths underwent a transformation at the hands of non-Natives, evolving into mail routes, stagecoach lines, railroads, and highways. These pathways continued to serve as essential conduits for all people, across vast distances, albeit in a markedly different capacity.

Today, we embark on an adventure spanning 192 miles through old Indian Territory. Along the way, we'll discover some of those trails crafted by our ancestors, which later became pathways for others journeying westward to California.

My guest, Jimmy Stephens (Choctaw), holds a personal connection to this history, as he traces his lineage back to William Holloway, a Choctaw forebearer and 4^th great grandfather, who owned a station along one of these renowned routes. You’ll enjoy learning about Jimmy’s ancestry and of the pioneers of the American roads that have connected us throughout history!

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