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Jackson County, Florida
Historic Sites and Research
Historic Sites and Research
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Econchatimico's Reserve
Following the destruction of his Ekanachatte village
at Neal's Landing in 1818, the Creek/Seminole chief
Econchatimico and the survivors of his band
relocated downstream to a new town site on the
west bank of the Chattahoochee River about ten
miles above its confluence with the Flint.
Here they established a new village called
Tocktoethla or "River Junction" (not to be
confused with the later town of River Junction near
Chattahoochee). By 1821, when Florida was
transferred from Spain to the United States, the
chief and his people had built cabins, cleared fields
and were rebuilding their lives.
Following his defeat during the First Seminole War,
Econchatimico had remained at peace with the
United States. In order to secure his agreement to
the terms of the 1823 Treaty of Moultrie Creek,
which required the movement of most of Florida's
Native American population to the central part of
the peninsula, American commissioners offered to
let Econchatimico remain here in Jackson County.
Accordingly, in 1825 a reservation was surveyed
for him, beginning at a point one mile below his
home and extending four miles up the
Chattahoochee. The site is now largely covered by
Lake Seminole, but portions remain above water
within the limits of the Apalachee Wildlife
Management Area.
By 1833, however, white settlers were flooding
into Florida and pressure increased on the
government to remove the last of the Native
Americans from their lands. On June 18, 1833,
Econchatimico signed a treaty at Pope's Trading
Post (present-day Sneads) agreeing to either sell his
land and move away, remain where he was but
without the protection of the U.S. government, or
accept $3,000 and relocate at government expense.
Federal authorities were slow in enforcing the
treaty and by 1835 Econchatimico was still living
on his reserve in Jackson County when the Second
Seminole War erupted in Florida. As a show of
good faith to his white neighbors, the chief sent
some of his young warriors to fight on behalf of the
United States in the war.
Alarmed by an outbreak among the Creeks in
neighboring Alabama, however, the chief's
neighbors organized, went onto his reserve, and
removed any arms found there. Econchatimico does
not seem to have resisted this move, even though it
left his people defenseless.
at Neal's Landing in 1818, the Creek/Seminole chief
Econchatimico and the survivors of his band
relocated downstream to a new town site on the
west bank of the Chattahoochee River about ten
miles above its confluence with the Flint.
Here they established a new village called
Tocktoethla or "River Junction" (not to be
confused with the later town of River Junction near
Chattahoochee). By 1821, when Florida was
transferred from Spain to the United States, the
chief and his people had built cabins, cleared fields
and were rebuilding their lives.
Following his defeat during the First Seminole War,
Econchatimico had remained at peace with the
United States. In order to secure his agreement to
the terms of the 1823 Treaty of Moultrie Creek,
which required the movement of most of Florida's
Native American population to the central part of
the peninsula, American commissioners offered to
let Econchatimico remain here in Jackson County.
Accordingly, in 1825 a reservation was surveyed
for him, beginning at a point one mile below his
home and extending four miles up the
Chattahoochee. The site is now largely covered by
Lake Seminole, but portions remain above water
within the limits of the Apalachee Wildlife
Management Area.
By 1833, however, white settlers were flooding
into Florida and pressure increased on the
government to remove the last of the Native
Americans from their lands. On June 18, 1833,
Econchatimico signed a treaty at Pope's Trading
Post (present-day Sneads) agreeing to either sell his
land and move away, remain where he was but
without the protection of the U.S. government, or
accept $3,000 and relocate at government expense.
Federal authorities were slow in enforcing the
treaty and by 1835 Econchatimico was still living
on his reserve in Jackson County when the Second
Seminole War erupted in Florida. As a show of
good faith to his white neighbors, the chief sent
some of his young warriors to fight on behalf of the
United States in the war.
Alarmed by an outbreak among the Creeks in
neighboring Alabama, however, the chief's
neighbors organized, went onto his reserve, and
removed any arms found there. Econchatimico does
not seem to have resisted this move, even though it
left his people defenseless.
| Econchatimico's Reserve Much of the chief's reservation is now submerged by Lake Seminole, but a few portions can still be seen. |
While he was in this defenseless condition, the
chief was attacked by a party of slave stealers from
Georgia. On March 10, 1836, these individuals
invaded the reservation, physically assaulted
Econchatimico and removed 10 African Americans
who had been attached to the chief's family for
many years. The thieves were quickly identified
and an indictment against them returned by the
local grand jury, but they were never brought to
justice by authorities in Georgia.
The reservation was visited in 1838 by the Comte
de Castlenau, a French nobleman making his way
along the Chattahoochee. He described
Econchatimico as an old man who had lost his nose
and ears as punishment for having committed
adultery at some point in his life. This practice,
called cropping, was used by the Creeks to enforce
morality among their warriors.
In October of that year, Econchatimico finally
received the $3,000 he had been promised for his
land and improvements. Escorted by two
companies of troops under the command of brevet
brigadier general (and future President) Zachary
Taylor, the chief and his followers went down the
Apalachicola River to the Gulf where they were
taken by boat to new homes in what is now
Oklahoma. Descendants of the Tocktoethla band
live near Muskogee, Oklahoma, to this day.
The site of Econchatimico's Reservation is along
the River Road north of Sneads. There are no
markers or interpretive displays, but the area
surrounds the intersection of River and Butler
roads.
chief was attacked by a party of slave stealers from
Georgia. On March 10, 1836, these individuals
invaded the reservation, physically assaulted
Econchatimico and removed 10 African Americans
who had been attached to the chief's family for
many years. The thieves were quickly identified
and an indictment against them returned by the
local grand jury, but they were never brought to
justice by authorities in Georgia.
The reservation was visited in 1838 by the Comte
de Castlenau, a French nobleman making his way
along the Chattahoochee. He described
Econchatimico as an old man who had lost his nose
and ears as punishment for having committed
adultery at some point in his life. This practice,
called cropping, was used by the Creeks to enforce
morality among their warriors.
In October of that year, Econchatimico finally
received the $3,000 he had been promised for his
land and improvements. Escorted by two
companies of troops under the command of brevet
brigadier general (and future President) Zachary
Taylor, the chief and his followers went down the
Apalachicola River to the Gulf where they were
taken by boat to new homes in what is now
Oklahoma. Descendants of the Tocktoethla band
live near Muskogee, Oklahoma, to this day.
The site of Econchatimico's Reservation is along
the River Road north of Sneads. There are no
markers or interpretive displays, but the area
surrounds the intersection of River and Butler
roads.
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