James Horton/Elizabeth Hicks update

One of the continuing ‘discussions’ that have enlivened family historians over the years has been the origin of the James Horton that married Elizabeth Hicks, daughter of the Cherokee Reuben Hicks and the Choctaw Chomoctay.Two theories have predominated.
The first and most often reported is that he was James R Horton, son of John and Lucinda Tanner, a Virginia family that migrated westward. Although the John Horton family Bible lists James as marrying Elizabeth Ikerd, and three of his brothers marrying Ikerd girls as well, this version has persisted.
The second theory is that James was Indian or part Indian as well as Elizabeth.The storyline is that they married in Indian Territory in the late 1830’s, had five children and James went back ‘East’ to take care of some family issue and was never heard of again.
For what it’s worth I would like to report that James and Elizabeth are listed in the 1850 census in District 3, Limestone Co, AL.

James, 37 (1813) GAsinging master
Elizabeth, 30 (1810)AL
Mary, 12(1838) AL
Sarah, 10 (1840) AL
Henry, 8 (1842) AL
James, 6 (1844) AL
William, 1 (1849) AL