The Chisholm Trail traveled by Texas longhorn cattle moving northward across present-day Oklahoma to Kansas,was named for mixed-blood Cherokee Jesse Chisholm (1805?-1868). Though Chisholm's prominence in western ore rests largely on this connection, he was active on the frontier long before the naming of the trail. Because he left no diaries, letters, or personal documents, however, his life has been shrouded in mystery. Stan Hoig offers the clearest picture to date of the many important roles Chisholm played: trailblazer, friend of Indian chiefs, linguist of Indan languages, scout, and perhaps most important - liaison between Indian tribes, the U.S. government, and the Republic of Texas. With his formidable intellect and talent for diplomacy, Chisholm blazed a trail in the history of the American Southwest more fascinating even than the one t hat bears his name.

Originally published: Niwot, Colo. : University Press of Colorado, 1991.