Kenny L. Brown, Professor of History Emeritus, University of Central Oklahoma Born in Arkansas in 1842, J. J. McAlester moved to Indian Territory in 1866. He would go on to become the primary developer of coal in Indian Territory and the town of McAlester still bears his name.
McAlester's plans did not sit well with all of the Choctaws and almost led to his execution when Chief Coleman Cole (pictured above) had McAlester and his associates arrested.