Benson Pikey

Benson Pikey was born in 1837. He traveled to Indian Territory during the time of the Chickasaw Removal. He was an active member in the Chickasaw House of Representatives, and honorably served as Speaker of the House during the Civil War.

As a prominent public servant, Benson established Pikey's Crossing, one of several integral cattle crossings for the Chisholm Trail. After the land run of 1889 and the establishment of Oklahoma City, Pikey's Crossing became the main crossing point on the South Canadian River between Chickasha and Oklahoma City until 1932.

In 1889, Benson and three other ranchers received permission from the Chickasaw Nation to build a drift line fence along the south bank of the South Canadian River. The fence was constructed to protect residents from "moon shiners" slipping across the river to steal food, horses and anything else they could carry away. Benson died in 1895 and his memory lives on in the Chickasaw Hall of Fame.