He and his family relocated to Indian Territory in 1837, where he was employed in business and also served as an interpreter and developed a keen interest in Chickasaw politics.
He also executed a formal alliance between his nation and the Confederate States of America after the outbreak of the American Civil War.
[5] Early in the 19th Century, the Federal Government began its attempts to force Native Americans out of their homelands in the Southeastern United States to a sparsely settled area that they had reserved for them across the Mississippi River.
By 1830, the Federal Government was putting heavy pressure on the Chickasaws to move from their homes in other Southeastern states to Indian Territory.
[d] Fluent in both English and Chickasaw, Cyrus Harris became useful as an interpreter in the many meetings with government officials to discuss details of the removal.
Cyrus, himself, moved in November, 1837, and settled along the Blue River in what is now Johnston County, Oklahoma, where he opened a mercantile business.
[3] Cyrus Harris' diplomatic experience before and during removal sparked his interest in Chickasaw political affairs.
He was selected to accompany Edward Pickens in 1850 and 1854 on missions to meet with Federal officials about tribal business.
[3] When he returned from the 1850 mission to Washington, he sold his Blue River home, and moved to Boggy Creek, where he lived for about a year.
[1] In 1855, after returning from his 1854 journey to Washington, Harris moved to Mill Creek, Oklahoma, which remained his home for the rest of his life.
[6] He only emerged from political retirement in 1886 to vigorously support his nephew, William Guy, who was the Progressive Party candidate for governor.