James was a member of the Chickasaw Tribe born in Pounds Valley, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma (Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory). Dawes Enrollment Number is 3693. His parents were Christopher Columbus Colbert born in Alabama and Nancy Matilda Bourland born in Texas. His birth date varies throughout documents. His birth year is likely 1866 based on his testimony before Dawes Commission officials in 1905.
I set out to solved a 104-year-old mystery … "What happened to James Beldon Colbert?" That question has been a mystery of the descendants of James Beldon Colbert family since 1920 when he disappeared from his family in Kosoma, Pushmataha, Oklahoma. I have been doing genealogy for nearly 40 years. And, when I heard a recent conversation about James disappearance and the conflicting accounts of his disappearance, I immediately went down the rabbit hole. James' third great-grandfather was James Logan Colbert who was a fur trader who moved to the Chickasaw Nation in the mid-18th century. Over time, Colbert had several Chickasaw wives and fathered many sons. James Beldon Colbert was born about 1866 in Pounds Valley near McAlester, Pittsburgh County, Oklahoma (Choctaw Territory) to Christopher Columbus "Lum" Colbert and Nancy Matilda Colbert nee Bourland. James married Ida Inas Wall on 4 May 1899 in Hope, Stephens County, Oklahoma. James and Ida were parents to seven children born between 1896 to 1914, the first born out of wedlock to James and Ida. I had only three United States census records available to begin my search; the 1900, 1910 and 1920. In 1900, the family lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 1910 they lived in Oaks, Choctaw County, Oklahoma, and in 1920 they lived in Kosoma, Pushmataha, Oklahoma. With that information in hand, the search was on looking for James using various methods, Ancestry, Family Search, various newspaper services, etc. James Beldon Colbert is referenced in 119 Family Trees on Ancestry all showing he died in 1922, location unknown. I began browsing newspapers in Pushmataha County and the state of Oklahoma finding references to James dating back to 1894 and other tidbits through 1920. The last article referencing James, was in 1920 about the Bank of Durant suing him. That was the last time he appeared in any newspaper until 1954 when his wife, Ida, through the courts, placed a "notice" that James had not been seen for at least seven years and presumed to be dead. Some family members through the years had speculated that he wandered off into the woods looking for a place to die. Family lore and traditions are something that should be chewed and tasted but never swallowed. More often than not they contain threads, sometimes even cables, of truth that when unraveled provide useful clues and leads upon which to base research despite inaccuracies, misstatements and embellishments of the truth. Paul Wilson Martin of Ardmore, OK, a grandson of James, said his mother, Gladys Colbert, told him James left for the day to go to Antlers, Pushmataha, Oklahoma, a distance of about 22 miles away from his home in Kosoma. It seemed rather strange to me there were no newspaper articles from 1920 until 1954 about his disappearance or seeking assistance trying to find him. I spent several days searching records on Ancestry.com and finally one record caught my attention. There was a death record in Douglas, Cochise County, Arizona with the name J. H. Colbert aged 70, born in 1863 in Oklahoma. The record showed he died on July 13, 1933 from atherosclerosis and cerebral hemorrhage, and listed no mother, father or any other relations. I knew now, like a hound dog following a scent, I might be on to something. But, the middle initial H gave me some doubt if this was James Beldon Colbert. Continuing my search, I came upon a 1930 Census for Pirtleville, Cochise, Arizona showing a James Colbert. He was single, 70, born in Oklahoma and an "inmate" at the Cochise County Hospital. The census showed his mother was born in Texas and father in Alabama. Next I came upon two voter records for a James Colbert, one for 1924 and the other for 1926. In 1924, he was living in Lowell, Cochise County, Arizona. In 1926, he was an "inmate" at the Cochise County Hospital. Both registrations showed that he was a registered Democrat. The last record I found was a coroner's record for a J. H. Colbert showing the same information that was on his death certificate. I still was not totally convinced this was James Beldon Colbert, that is until, I found his Dawes Roll Census record showing in 1902 he was living in a mining camp in Pearce, Cochise County, Arizona … Bingo, I shouted out, he had previous ties to Cochise County, Arizona. But what about the middle initial H on the death certificate and the coroner's report? I pondered that issue for some time. I happened to look down at my computer keyboard, and lo and behold, the letters B and H are right next to each other. It was a simple mistake. That lead me to believe, I was 100 percent sure that J. H. Colbert was indeed James Beldon Colbert. James was buried on July 14, 1933 in Section M, Block 65, Lot 6 at the Calvary Cemetery in Douglas, Cochise County, Arizona. The only question left now for James' descendants is why did he disappeared? The answer likely will never be answered. (By Mark Alexander Shibley Trainor, January 29, 2024. Mark is connected to the Colbert family through his wife's stepfather Al Smith Hendricks. Al's mother was Gladys Colbert, the daughter of James Beldon Colbert).
I set out to solved a 104-year-old mystery … "What happened to James Beldon Colbert?" That question has been a mystery of the descendants of James Beldon Colbert family since 1920 when he disappeared from his family in Kosoma, Pushmataha, Oklahoma. I have been doing genealogy for nearly 40 years. And, when I heard a recent conversation about James disappearance and the conflicting accounts of his disappearance, I immediately went down the rabbit hole. James' third great-grandfather was James Logan Colbert who was a fur trader who moved to the Chickasaw Nation in the mid-18th century. Over time, Colbert had several Chickasaw wives and fathered many sons. James Beldon Colbert was born about 1866 in Pounds Valley near McAlester, Pittsburgh County, Oklahoma (Choctaw Territory) to Christopher Columbus "Lum" Colbert and Nancy Matilda Colbert nee Bourland. James married Ida Inas Wall on 4 May 1899 in Hope, Stephens County, Oklahoma. James and Ida were parents to seven children born between 1896 to 1914, the first born out of wedlock to James and Ida. I had only three United States census records available to begin my search; the 1900, 1910 and 1920. In 1900, the family lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 1910 they lived in Oaks, Choctaw County, Oklahoma, and in 1920 they lived in Kosoma, Pushmataha, Oklahoma. With that information in hand, the search was on looking for James using various methods, Ancestry, Family Search, various newspaper services, etc. James Beldon Colbert is referenced in 119 Family Trees on Ancestry all showing he died in 1922, location unknown. I began browsing newspapers in Pushmataha County and the state of Oklahoma finding references to James dating back to 1894 and other tidbits through 1920. The last article referencing James, was in 1920 about the Bank of Durant suing him. That was the last time he appeared in any newspaper until 1954 when his wife, Ida, through the courts, placed a "notice" that James had not been seen for at least seven years and presumed to be dead. Some family members through the years had speculated that he wandered off into the woods looking for a place to die. Family lore and traditions are something that should be chewed and tasted but never swallowed. More often than not they contain threads, sometimes even cables, of truth that when unraveled provide useful clues and leads upon which to base research despite inaccuracies, misstatements and embellishments of the truth. Paul Wilson Martin of Ardmore, OK, a grandson of James, said his mother, Gladys Colbert, told him James left for the day to go to Antlers, Pushmataha, Oklahoma, a distance of about 22 miles away from his home in Kosoma. It seemed rather strange to me there were no newspaper articles from 1920 until 1954 about his disappearance or seeking assistance trying to find him. I spent several days searching records on Ancestry.com and finally one record caught my attention. There was a death record in Douglas, Cochise County, Arizona with the name J. H. Colbert aged 70, born in 1863 in Oklahoma. The record showed he died on July 13, 1933 from atherosclerosis and cerebral hemorrhage, and listed no mother, father or any other relations. I knew now, like a hound dog following a scent, I might be on to something. But, the middle initial H gave me some doubt if this was James Beldon Colbert. Continuing my search, I came upon a 1930 Census for Pirtleville, Cochise, Arizona showing a James Colbert. He was single, 70, born in Oklahoma and an "inmate" at the Cochise County Hospital. The census showed his mother was born in Texas and father in Alabama. Next I came upon two voter records for a James Colbert, one for 1924 and the other for 1926. In 1924, he was living in Lowell, Cochise County, Arizona. In 1926, he was an "inmate" at the Cochise County Hospital. Both registrations showed that he was a registered Democrat. The last record I found was a coroner's record for a J. H. Colbert showing the same information that was on his death certificate. I still was not totally convinced this was James Beldon Colbert, that is until, I found his Dawes Roll Census record showing in 1902 he was living in a mining camp in Pearce, Cochise County, Arizona … Bingo, I shouted out, he had previous ties to Cochise County, Arizona. But what about the middle initial H on the death certificate and the coroner's report? I pondered that issue for some time. I happened to look down at my computer keyboard, and lo and behold, the letters B and H are right next to each other. It was a simple mistake. That lead me to believe, I was 100 percent sure that J. H. Colbert was indeed James Beldon Colbert. James was buried on July 14, 1933 in Section M, Block 65, Lot 6 at the Calvary Cemetery in Douglas, Cochise County, Arizona. The only question left now for James' descendants is why did he disappeared? The answer likely will never be answered. (By Mark Alexander Shibley Trainor, January 29, 2024. Mark is connected to the Colbert family through his wife's stepfather Al Smith Hendricks. Al's mother was Gladys Colbert, the daughter of James Beldon Colbert).
James was a member of the Chickasaw Tribe born in Pounds Valley, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma (Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory). Dawes Enrollment Number is 3693. His parents were Christopher Columbus Colbert born in Alabama and Nancy Matilda Bourland born in Texas. His birth date varies throughout documents. His birth year is likely 1866 based on his testimony before Dawes Commission officials in 1905.
I set out to solved a 104-year-old mystery … "What happened to James Beldon Colbert?" That question has been a mystery of the descendants of James Beldon Colbert family since 1920 when he disappeared from his family in Kosoma, Pushmataha, Oklahoma. I have been doing genealogy for nearly 40 years. And, when I heard a recent conversation about James disappearance and the conflicting accounts of his disappearance, I immediately went down the rabbit hole. James' third great-grandfather was James Logan Colbert who was a fur trader who moved to the Chickasaw Nation in the mid-18th century. Over time, Colbert had several Chickasaw wives and fathered many sons. James Beldon Colbert was born about 1866 in Pounds Valley near McAlester, Pittsburgh County, Oklahoma (Choctaw Territory) to Christopher Columbus "Lum" Colbert and Nancy Matilda Colbert nee Bourland. James married Ida Inas Wall on 4 May 1899 in Hope, Stephens County, Oklahoma. James and Ida were parents to seven children born between 1896 to 1914, the first born out of wedlock to James and Ida. I had only three United States census records available to begin my search; the 1900, 1910 and 1920. In 1900, the family lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 1910 they lived in Oaks, Choctaw County, Oklahoma, and in 1920 they lived in Kosoma, Pushmataha, Oklahoma. With that information in hand, the search was on looking for James using various methods, Ancestry, Family Search, various newspaper services, etc. James Beldon Colbert is referenced in 119 Family Trees on Ancestry all showing he died in 1922, location unknown. I began browsing newspapers in Pushmataha County and the state of Oklahoma finding references to James dating back to 1894 and other tidbits through 1920. The last article referencing James, was in 1920 about the Bank of Durant suing him. That was the last time he appeared in any newspaper until 1954 when his wife, Ida, through the courts, placed a "notice" that James had not been seen for at least seven years and presumed to be dead. Some family members through the years had speculated that he wandered off into the woods looking for a place to die. Family lore and traditions are something that should be chewed and tasted but never swallowed. More often than not they contain threads, sometimes even cables, of truth that when unraveled provide useful clues and leads upon which to base research despite inaccuracies, misstatements and embellishments of the truth. Paul Wilson Martin of Ardmore, OK, a grandson of James, said his mother, Gladys Colbert, told him James left for the day to go to Antlers, Pushmataha, Oklahoma, a distance of about 22 miles away from his home in Kosoma. It seemed rather strange to me there were no newspaper articles from 1920 until 1954 about his disappearance or seeking assistance trying to find him. I spent several days searching records on Ancestry.com and finally one record caught my attention. There was a death record in Douglas, Cochise County, Arizona with the name J. H. Colbert aged 70, born in 1863 in Oklahoma. The record showed he died on July 13, 1933 from atherosclerosis and cerebral hemorrhage, and listed no mother, father or any other relations. I knew now, like a hound dog following a scent, I might be on to something. But, the middle initial H gave me some doubt if this was James Beldon Colbert. Continuing my search, I came upon a 1930 Census for Pirtleville, Cochise, Arizona showing a James Colbert. He was single, 70, born in Oklahoma and an "inmate" at the Cochise County Hospital. The census showed his mother was born in Texas and father in Alabama. Next I came upon two voter records for a James Colbert, one for 1924 and the other for 1926. In 1924, he was living in Lowell, Cochise County, Arizona. In 1926, he was an "inmate" at the Cochise County Hospital. Both registrations showed that he was a registered Democrat. The last record I found was a coroner's record for a J. H. Colbert showing the same information that was on his death certificate. I still was not totally convinced this was James Beldon Colbert, that is until, I found his Dawes Roll Census record showing in 1902 he was living in a mining camp in Pearce, Cochise County, Arizona … Bingo, I shouted out, he had previous ties to Cochise County, Arizona. But what about the middle initial H on the death certificate and the coroner's report? I pondered that issue for some time. I happened to look down at my computer keyboard, and lo and behold, the letters B and H are right next to each other. It was a simple mistake. That lead me to believe, I was 100 percent sure that J. H. Colbert was indeed James Beldon Colbert. James was buried on July 14, 1933 in Section M, Block 65, Lot 6 at the Calvary Cemetery in Douglas, Cochise County, Arizona. The only question left now for James' descendants is why did he disappeared? The answer likely will never be answered. (By Mark Alexander Shibley Trainor, January 29, 2024. Mark is connected to the Colbert family through his wife's stepfather Al Smith Hendricks. Al's mother was Gladys Colbert, the daughter of James Beldon Colbert).
I set out to solved a 104-year-old mystery … "What happened to James Beldon Colbert?" That question has been a mystery of the descendants of James Beldon Colbert family since 1920 when he disappeared from his family in Kosoma, Pushmataha, Oklahoma. I have been doing genealogy for nearly 40 years. And, when I heard a recent conversation about James disappearance and the conflicting accounts of his disappearance, I immediately went down the rabbit hole. James' third great-grandfather was James Logan Colbert who was a fur trader who moved to the Chickasaw Nation in the mid-18th century. Over time, Colbert had several Chickasaw wives and fathered many sons. James Beldon Colbert was born about 1866 in Pounds Valley near McAlester, Pittsburgh County, Oklahoma (Choctaw Territory) to Christopher Columbus "Lum" Colbert and Nancy Matilda Colbert nee Bourland. James married Ida Inas Wall on 4 May 1899 in Hope, Stephens County, Oklahoma. James and Ida were parents to seven children born between 1896 to 1914, the first born out of wedlock to James and Ida. I had only three United States census records available to begin my search; the 1900, 1910 and 1920. In 1900, the family lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 1910 they lived in Oaks, Choctaw County, Oklahoma, and in 1920 they lived in Kosoma, Pushmataha, Oklahoma. With that information in hand, the search was on looking for James using various methods, Ancestry, Family Search, various newspaper services, etc. James Beldon Colbert is referenced in 119 Family Trees on Ancestry all showing he died in 1922, location unknown. I began browsing newspapers in Pushmataha County and the state of Oklahoma finding references to James dating back to 1894 and other tidbits through 1920. The last article referencing James, was in 1920 about the Bank of Durant suing him. That was the last time he appeared in any newspaper until 1954 when his wife, Ida, through the courts, placed a "notice" that James had not been seen for at least seven years and presumed to be dead. Some family members through the years had speculated that he wandered off into the woods looking for a place to die. Family lore and traditions are something that should be chewed and tasted but never swallowed. More often than not they contain threads, sometimes even cables, of truth that when unraveled provide useful clues and leads upon which to base research despite inaccuracies, misstatements and embellishments of the truth. Paul Wilson Martin of Ardmore, OK, a grandson of James, said his mother, Gladys Colbert, told him James left for the day to go to Antlers, Pushmataha, Oklahoma, a distance of about 22 miles away from his home in Kosoma. It seemed rather strange to me there were no newspaper articles from 1920 until 1954 about his disappearance or seeking assistance trying to find him. I spent several days searching records on Ancestry.com and finally one record caught my attention. There was a death record in Douglas, Cochise County, Arizona with the name J. H. Colbert aged 70, born in 1863 in Oklahoma. The record showed he died on July 13, 1933 from atherosclerosis and cerebral hemorrhage, and listed no mother, father or any other relations. I knew now, like a hound dog following a scent, I might be on to something. But, the middle initial H gave me some doubt if this was James Beldon Colbert. Continuing my search, I came upon a 1930 Census for Pirtleville, Cochise, Arizona showing a James Colbert. He was single, 70, born in Oklahoma and an "inmate" at the Cochise County Hospital. The census showed his mother was born in Texas and father in Alabama. Next I came upon two voter records for a James Colbert, one for 1924 and the other for 1926. In 1924, he was living in Lowell, Cochise County, Arizona. In 1926, he was an "inmate" at the Cochise County Hospital. Both registrations showed that he was a registered Democrat. The last record I found was a coroner's record for a J. H. Colbert showing the same information that was on his death certificate. I still was not totally convinced this was James Beldon Colbert, that is until, I found his Dawes Roll Census record showing in 1902 he was living in a mining camp in Pearce, Cochise County, Arizona … Bingo, I shouted out, he had previous ties to Cochise County, Arizona. But what about the middle initial H on the death certificate and the coroner's report? I pondered that issue for some time. I happened to look down at my computer keyboard, and lo and behold, the letters B and H are right next to each other. It was a simple mistake. That lead me to believe, I was 100 percent sure that J. H. Colbert was indeed James Beldon Colbert. James was buried on July 14, 1933 in Section M, Block 65, Lot 6 at the Calvary Cemetery in Douglas, Cochise County, Arizona. The only question left now for James' descendants is why did he disappeared? The answer likely will never be answered. (By Mark Alexander Shibley Trainor, January 29, 2024. Mark is connected to the Colbert family through his wife's stepfather Al Smith Hendricks. Al's mother was Gladys Colbert, the daughter of James Beldon Colbert).
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