Excerpt from "Malmaison" by Mrs. W. H. Neill

Lately, I have been doing some more Carroll County family research and ran upon a copy of a poem, entitled "Malmaison." The poem was written by Mrs. W. H. Neill of Greenwood, Mississippi, and published in the local newspaper on April 12, 1942, not long after Greenwood Leflore's beautiful old mansion of the same name burned in Carroll County, Mississippi.  In the poem's entirely, the artistry of Mrs. Neill's words describe the feeling of loss and sadness experienced by other local Mississippians after the historical residence burned.  But in the excerpt below, the poet's words focus on the powerful enemy of all mankind, the force known as time.

But Time, relentless vandal, hastens onward in his flight,

And destroys with ruthless fingers, beauty, majesty and might.

Unless the strong oppose him, and with zeal his ravage mends,

And ever watchful of his craft, deter him in his ends.

- "Malmaison", by Mrs.W. H. Neill

"Malmaison," A Poem

Shortly after the fire that destroyed Malmaison, Mrs. W. H. Neill, a resident of Greenwood, Mississippi, wrote a poem about Greenwood Leflore's historic home. A copy of the poem, entitled simply "Malmaison," as it was published in the Greenwood Conservative on Friday, April 10, 1942, is reprinted here today.

Malmaison

"Home of a chief, it stands today, in dignity and pride.
The towering pine, and sturdy oak, as sentinels beside.
A monument it is, to him whose loyal hear ne-er swerved
From duty to the tribe he loved and, ever faithful, served.

Its pillared halls and lofty towers are symbols of his thought,
As beauty, majesty, and grace, were by his wishes wrought.
The name, 'Malmaison,' he bestowed, implies the tie that bound
Him to the country of his sire, tho' here a home be found.

And from that country, too, he chose his furnishings with care,
Brocades, for draperies and couch, and gold encrusted chair,
And candelabra, wrought with skill, with waxen tapers bright,
That made a scene of beauty, with their softly glowing light.

Carpets so velvety and soft, no foot fall e'er was heard,
And paintings, beautiful, and rare, were fashioned at his word.
All these have been preserved with care, tho' many years have past,
Since he left his loved Malmaison, Mighty chieftain to the last.

But Time, relentless vandal, hastens onward in his flight,
And destroys with ruthless fingers, beauty, majesty and might.
Unless the strong oppose him, and with zeal his ravage mends,
And ever watchful of his craft, deter him in his ends.

Mississippi! Tis your duty, it should be your joy and pride
To honor that great Chief, Leflore; make the honor nationwide,
And preserve Malmaison ever, as a symbol of his worth;
A tribute to his loyalty, in the land that gave him birth."

Fire at Malmaison

The article below appeared in the Greenwood (MS) Commonwealth on April 1, 1942:

"Historic Malmaison, show place and shrine for tourists, lies a smoldering ruin today following a fire at 8:30 last night which completely destroyed the mansion of Greenwood Leflore, last chief of the Choctaw Nation of Indians. Origin of the fire is unknown, but it is surmised that it must have started from a defective chimney in the building. Mrs. F. R. Montgomery and sister, Miss Florence Ray were at home with Mrs. W. C. McDougal and daughter, Isabel, as guests.

The group said that they heard someone upstairs, and Miss McDougal went to the front door and discovered that the building was burning. The noise they heard is now thought to have been timbers falling. Alarm was given by the shooting of pistols and five Negroes answered the call and managed to save a small amount of the furniture, including the table in the living room. A silver coffee pot, a silver pitcher and a few glasses and chairs were saved, but the greater part of the furniture, including the bed room furniture, historic pictures, draperies, silverware and china was destroyed in the blaze.

No water was available and nothing could be done to save any part of the building. One carriage shed was burned, but the carriage in which Greenwood Leflore rode to Washington from Malmaison for his historic visit with President Andrew Jackson was saved.

Malmaison was occupied as a residence by Mrs. Montgomery and Miss Ray, and the property was owned by them and their sisters, Mrs. P. H. Brown of Batesville and Mrs. C. C. Pardue of New Orleans. All are great-granddaughters of Greenwood Leflore.

Malmaison was one of the show places of Mississippi. It was a great tourist attraction and was visited annually by hundreds from all parts of the United States. Around it clung the memories of the transition of Mississippi from Indian territory to its present status. It was Greenwood Leflore as Chief of the Choctaws who signed the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, which provided for the Choctaws ceding their lands to the United States and moving to the Indian Territory, now a part of the state of Oklahoma. Leflore remained in Mississippi on his estate, which at its greatest, comprised 15,000 acres, dreamed of erecting a handsome house in keeping with the times and his own status as one of the greatest planters of the south.

Near the middle of the nineteenth century, there came to Mississippi from Georgia, a young man, James Harris, an architect and builder. He is described as being of great physical strength, an athlete, graceful and handsome in appearance and of modest and courteous demeanor. The wealthy planters of the South were then in a golden age of prosperity. Their cotton was a source of riches. It was grown by slave labor. The white men were almost princes of the blood, surrounded by their retainers, secure in their strongholds of caste and station. They entertained with lavish and prodigality. They hunted, fished, gamed and feasted. Gentlemen drank deeply, but remained gentlemen. Most households had their vintage wines and stronger liquors mellowed in the oak. It became the fashion to build splendid mansions in keeping with the wealth and standing of the planters, where the generous hospitality, which was an outstanding characteristic of their time and class, might be dispensed without stint.

James Harris made a specialty of the construction of these palatial houses. They were built usually of wood, the heavy timbers hewed by hand and the other lumber brought from some local sawmill. A corps of trained slaves under the supervision of Harris and his expert assistants performed the work, to the most delicate on interior finishing and decorative paneling. The houses he constructed have hardly been excelled for strength, symmetry, spacious convenience, beauty and stability. They were the largest ever built in Mississippi, and some of them are standing today as solid, true and well-preserved as when constructed more than three-quarters of a century ago.

Greenwood Leflore had dreamed of a wondrous manor house, and in James Harris he found his builder. The haughty chief of the Choctaws had been a life-long admirer of Napoleon Bonaparte, in whom he saw the same indomitable spirit, the ambition of power and love of great achievement that he himself possessed. When Napoleon divorced Josephine, Greenwood Leflore’s admiration for the Emperor changed to disdain. But Josephine continued to be his heroine of romance, a martyr to man’s inhumanity like Joan of Arc, as long as he lived.

When the planter sought a name for his manor house, he decided on the name of the chateau, ten miles west of Paris on the Seine, where the unhappy “Widow Beauharnais” lived from 1798 to 1814 and where she died. The original Malmaison was also once the home of Cardinal Richelieu. So Greenwood Leflore’s great house was called Malmaison. It was the largest dwelling house that has ever been erected in Carroll County. It was still an imposing edifice, with its wide galleries, many balconies, lofty chambers, spacious halls and beautiful hand carved oak paneling.

Most of the furnishings were brought from France. The silver, glass and china, imperial in its magnificence, came in sets of twelve dozen. The furniture was made by special order. An example was the marvelous drawing room set of thirty pieces, of solid mahogany, finished in genuine gold and upholstered in priceless silk damask. It is said that the Duchess of Orleans tried to purchase the set before it was shipped to America and, failing, ordered a duplicate set for herself. Then there were beautiful mirrors, tables, large four-post beds of rosewood with silken and satin canopies, and four tapestry curtains depicting the four places of Napoleon and Josephine-Versailles, Malmaison, Saint Cloud and Fontainebleau. The furnishings were planned for the entertainment of two hundred guests at a time, and it is said that Greenwood Leflore was in his happiest mood when his home was filled with friends.

The mansion was occupied by Greenwood Leflore until his death in 1865 and by his descendants until it was destroyed last night.

Malmaison was endangered by fire several times during the War Between the States, for Greenwood Leflore, having taken an oath of allegiance to the United States as chief of the Choctaws, covenanting that he would never take up arms against the United States, kept that pledge during the great civil strife. Many of his buildings were burned, but the great mansion survived, and Greenwood Leflore kept his peaceful relations with his neighbors who respected his position.

Malmaison perpetuated the glory of the ante-bellum times. It maintained the legends, which are history. It shed the glow of halcyon days, upon the later times. These things were instantly caught by those who visited the ancient site. But the shrine is gone, and there is a mass of blackened ashes and only the old carriage house and the Leflore family graveyard to mark the site."

The Leflore Family of Mississippi, Part 5

Census records are a family researcher's best friend, since each entry tells its own unique story. In this chapter about the Leflore family in Mississippi, I am presenting a look at the family from information contained on U. S. Census records in Mississippi in the early 1800s.

According to the 1830 U. S. Census, there were four individuals named "Leflore" who headed households in the State of Mississippi:

Leflore, Greenwood (Yazoo Co)

Leflore, Lewis (Yazoo Co)

Leflore, Michael (Yazoo Co)

Leflore, William (Yazoo Co)

In 1840, only three heads of households were recorded:

Leflore, Greenwood (Carroll Co)

Leflore, Jackson (Carroll Co)

Leflore, William (Carroll Co)

By 1850, the first U. S. Census to record the names of all family members, there were twenty-four (24) individuals enumerated whose surnames were each Leflore:

Household #1 (Northern District - Carroll County)

Leflore, Greenwood, 50, farmer - real estate valued at 80,000

Leflore, Priscilla, 32 (wife)

Leflore, Jane, 18

Leflore, Rebecca, 12
Leflore, Greenwood, 9

Household #2 (Northern District - Carroll County)

Leflore, John D., 24, farmer

Leflore, Francis, 18

Household #3 (Leake County, Beat 2)

Leflore, B., age 54, farmer, real estate valued at 10,720
Leflore, Mary, 40, wife

Leflore, Arian, 25

Leflore, Manerva, 17

Leflore, Martha, 13

Leflore, Lewis, 13

Household #4 (Leake County, Beat 2)

Leflore, Campbell, 22, lawyer
Leflore, George, 22, student

Household #5 (Leake County, Beat 2)

Leflore, A. H., 25
Leflore, Sophia, 23
Leflore, W. R., 3
Leflore, G. A., 1

Household #6 (Southern District - Carroll County)

Enumerated in the household of Martha Terry (44 y/o) and Stephen Terry (52 y/o) were:

Leflore, Greenwood, 19
Leflore, Elizabeth, 13
Leflore, Susan, 11
Leflore, John, 9
Leflore, Josephine, 7

Next: Fire at Malmaison

The Leflore Family of Mississippi, Part 4

As the great Chief of the Choctaws, Greenwood Leflore was not only the youngest leader in the history of the tribe, but he was the first of the Choctaw Nation's leaders to receive a formal education. And education for members of the nation was one of the reforms that Leflore attempted to institute. Another reform advocated by Leflore, was the abolishment of the tribal practice of flattening the heads of male Choctaw infants. As Chief, Leflore traveled to Washington to meet with President Andrew Jackson in an attempt to intervene on behalf of the people of the Choctaw Nation. Apparently, a successful working relationship developed between Jackson and Leflore, as evidenced by Leflore's commission by Jackson as a Colonel in the U. S. Army. It has been said by some that Leflore continued to fly the U. S. flag from the top of his home in Carroll County, Mississippi, throughout the Civil War.

Although Leflore had always supported removal, after the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was signed in 1830, he remained in Mississippi on land that he owned. By the mid 1800's, according to some accounts, Leflore owned over 10,000 acres of plantation and timber lands. He referred to his holdings, which included the land, a sawmill, brickyard, and several hundred slaves, as "Teoc Plantation." This area is still known today as "Teoc."

About 1854, Leflore hired an architect named James C. Harris, of Georgia, to design and build his new home, a mansion of Greek revival and Italianate design. Leflore named his family's new home "Malmaison," French for "House of Sorrow," allegedly for the palace in Paris where Josephine lived in exile after having been divorced by Napoleon. Ironically, James Harris would later become Leflore's son-in-law.

According to Patricia Wellborn-Gunter, a Leflore researcher, Greenwood Leflore and his wife, Priscilla Donley, had three children: John Donley Leflore, Jane, and Rebecca. Named for her paternal grandmother, Rebecca Cravat, daughter of Chief Pushmataha, Rebecca Leflore married James C. Harris, the architect and builder of Malmaison. Rebecca and James Harris would later have at least two children. Their daughter, Jane, married John B. Halsey, and one of their sons, Greenwood L. Halsey, was named for his maternal grandfather.

Although some of some of Leflore's descendants undoubtedly are scattered throughout the United States, many of them continue to live in Mississippi.

Next: Leflore Family Members According to Census Records in MS

The Leflore Family of Mississippi, Part 3

Greenwood Leflore was born June 3, 1800, the son of Louis LeFlore, a trader, and Rebecca Cravat, was a mixed blood Choctaw, who was educated for six years in Nashville, Tennessee. His education outside the state was apparently influenced and facilitated by his confidant, close personal friend, and mentor, Major Donley. The holder of mail contracts for the Natchez Trace area, including French Camp, Major Donley became acquainted with Louis Leflore and his young son, Greenwood. Apparently, Major Donley saw Greenwood Leflore's potential for leadership, and with the permission of his father, Greenwood traveled to Nashville to live with the Donley family and attend school there.

His early association with Major Donley would have a dramatic impact on the remainder of Leflore's life, beginning with his education and later with his choice of a marriage partner. When Greenwood completed his education in Nashville around age 22, he returned to Mississippi with Priscilla Donley, a daughter of Major Donley, as his wife. In 1826, Greenwood Leflore became Chief of the Choctaw Nation, Western District, and was later elected Chief of the Choctaw Nation. After his conversion to Christianity in 1829, Greenwood Leflore, along with his followers, often challenged tribal traditionalists led by Mushalatubbee and Nitakechi over religious, economic, and political issues. Leflore advocated education of tribal members and supported the Choctaw Academy founded in Kentucky in 1825, and he opposed additional land cessions.

Most importantly, Greenwood Leflore advocated removal, a policy of Andrew Jackson, believing it would save the Choctaw Nation. It was this policy and Mississippi's state law threatening Choctaw sovereignty that ultimately caused the three district chiefs, including Lefore, to agree to removal as it was outlined in the Treaty of Dancing Greenwood Leflore was ultimately deposed as the last Great Chief of the Choctaws east of the Mississippi River.

Next: Greenwood Leflore, Mississippi Planter and Statesman

Reference Source:
Cushman, Horatio Bardwell, History of the Choctaw, Chickasaw and Natchez Indians, published by Headlight Printing House, 1899. Original from Harvard University Library, digitized August 15, 2006. Available via GoogleBooks, and accessed on February 26, 2009.

The Leflore Family of Mississippi, Part 2

In my recent post entitled "The Leflore Family of Mississippi, Part I," I included details of Louis Leflore's life as a young man. But much can be learned about Leflore and his family from the simple reading of his Last Will and Testament. Because Leflore was involved in the settlement and development of Holmes County, Mississippi, it seems appropriate that his will is recorded in Holmes County Record Book 1, page 1.

Leflore's will, dated October 28, 1833, states the following:

"Considering the uncertainty of this mortal life being of sound mind; memory (blessed by almighty God for the same), do make and publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say, First I will to direct that all my land debts be paid out of monies to be raised by the sale of such personal property as I may leave at my death exclusion of Negroes provided the same shall be sufficiently for that purpose but if not sufficient then I direct that so much of my real estate shall be sold as may be necessary to complete the amount required for the payment of my said debts. Secondly, I give and bequeath to my son Forbis Leflore the sum of seven hundred dollars, to my two nephews Stephen Crevat; Placid Crevat each three hundred dollars to my niece Maruyayu (?) Crevat,three hundred dollars to be paid by my executioners within one year of my after my decease out of monies to be raised by the sale of such personal property, Negroes excepted as I may leave at my death if the same shall be sufficient for the purpose after the payment thereout (sic) of my just debts but if not sufficient there I direct that so much of my real Estate shall be sold as may be necessary to complete the amount requisite for the payment of my said debts the (illegible) above bequeathed. Thirdly I direct that if at the time of my decease a crop of cotton shall be growing on my plantation then my Executioners shall keep my Negroes necessary stock imployed (sic) upon the plantation until the crop shall be gathered prepared for market before any part of my personal or real estate is disposed of or until the month of February next after my decease provided the said crop shall not be soon gathered that during the said month of February my real estate shall be sold a public salevendue (sic) to the highest bidder the terms of sale to be one third part of purchase money to be paid within twenty days after said sale, one third part on the first day of January following the last payment two payments, to be secured by mortgage upon the premeses (sic) two months notice of such sale to be given by publication in two (illegible) public newspapers. Forthly (sic) , I will and direct that my executioners divide all my Negro slaves for life of which I may die prepossessed or leave at my decease unto eleven lots as parcels of (illegible) of nearly as equal a value as may be required being had to family connections. The said divisions to be made at the time of the sale of my real estate as before directed & that upon the decision of said slaves unto eleven equal parcels as aforesaid. The names of my eleven children Greenwood, Benjamin, William, Basila, Jackson, Louisa Haskins, Felicity Long wife of Samuel Long Winnia McGahy Silva Harris. Shall be writing upon separate slips of paper placed in one box then the numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11, shall be written upon separate slips of paper place in another box whereupon one of my said executioners shall commence and draw from the box containing the names (illegible) said children one slip or name at a time same person to be used by my said child shall at the same time draw from the box containing the said numbers on slips as often as often as a name is drawn from the other box until all the names numbers shall be drawn when my said eleven children shall commence in the order of the numbers drawn the second names make choices of the parcels of the said Negroes sukcessfully (sic) it being my will to give the said Negroes to my said eleven children to be divided among them as nearly as possible in equal shears. Fifthly with respect to all the rest residue of my estate property of whatever kind (illegible) give bequeath the same to my said eleven children Viz. Greenwood Leflore, Jackson Leflore, Lousia Haskins, Felicity Long wife of Samuel Long, William McGaley ; Silva Harris, Clarissa Wilson, Isabel Brashers, wife of Vaughn Brashers them theirs alike to be paid over to them by my Executioners or as soon as can be done consisting with the directions herein before after paying all my just debts, funeral charges Exequines (?)of Executing this my last will and testament lastly, I appoint my Son in law Samuel Long and my friend Abraham A. Halsey my Executioners of this my last will an (sic) testament. In testimony (illegible) whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal this 11th day of April one thousand Eight hundred and thirty there.

/s/Louis Leflore

Signed Sealed published and declared by the same above named Lewis Leflore to be his last will and testament in the presence of the person of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witness in the presence of the Testator.

Wm Parker
W.W. Cherry
J. M Chisum