Benjamin Franklin Smallwood

Benjamin Franklin Smallwood (c. 1829 – December 15, 1891) was Principal Chief of the Choctaw Republic from 1888 to 1890. From 1847 to 1890, Smallwood held public office in Choctaw Nation, except for the time he served as an officer in the Civil War.

Early life He was born in about 1829 in Choctaw Nation territory within Mississippi to William and Mary (LeFore) Smallwood in Choctaw Nation in Mississippi. When he was a young child, his family moved to Indian Territory on the Choctaw Trail of Tears. As a child, Smallwood attended Spencer Academy in Choctaw Nation.

He ran for Principal Chief in 1886 as candidate for the National Party but was defeated by Progressive Party candidate Thompson McKinney. and a law authorizing appeals to the United States authority on matters of Choctaw citizenship after a Choctaw court decision had already been made. Smallwood himself pocketed $5,500 of the funds.

During his time in office, Smallwood had advocated for the expansion of Choctaw schools, but due to the divisive political situation, he made little progress. The sandstone house on his ranch, constructed in 1875, is known as the Benjamin Franklin Smallwood House.

Retirement After being defeated for reelection, Smallwood retired to his home near Lehigh, where he died on December 15, 1891.