ABSTRACT
The militancy of the Jones’ Baptists over the issue of slavery and the fact that their followers had moved from preaching to political organization over the issue became an increasing threat to the officials responsible for the Indian Territory. Federal Agent George Butler (a member of Fort Gibson Lodge #35) officially accused Evan Jones of being an “abolitionist” leading Jones to demand that Butler cite the specifics of his charges.2 In 1858, Butler also noted the influence of certain “other” individuals, “there are a few Black Republicans, who are the particular fondlings of the abolition missionaries that have been, and still are making themselves officious upon the subject of slavery.”3 Although Agent Butler did not identify these “Black Republicans,” we must consider the message of liberation being spread in the Indian Territory by black ministers such as Joseph Island, Old Billy, Brother Jesse, Monday Durant, and Uncle Reuben.
