First let me apologize for the delay in answering your e-mail. I'm doing a major "spring house cleaning" of my e-mail folders and I can't find where I ever answered your e-mail. If I have answered it - just chalk it up to old age okay? Thanks a million for the information. If you don't mind I'll forward this to both the Marion Co e-mail list and to Mysty McPherson of the Marion Co Hist/Geo Society. The Society is in the process of putting out a new book and I'm sure she will be interested in what you have. Linda lhaasdav@mindspring.com Home.page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~haas Marion.Co.AR http://www.rootsweb.com/~armarion List hostess for -h.a.a.s/l.e.w.a.l.l.e.n/w.a.s.h.i.n.g.t.o.n n.c ----- Original Message ----- From: rice To: lhaasdav@mindspring.com Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2001 10:36 AM Subject: Marion County Hi, and thanks for putting my query in - by the way, some of my family is buried in the Protem MO cemetery and there is an old, old monument in that cemetery for a William Taggart (spelling?) who was a Meadow Mtn Massacre survivor it says on his tombstone. It is in the 2st or 2nd row from the c;hurch and is so faded its hard to read, but its an upright stone and easy to find. Just in case someone in Historical Society is interested thought would let you know. I enjoy your page on internet, you've put a lot of work into it. I also know there was a Cherokee reservation there before the settlers came in - but having hard time finding my grt grandmother's last name,( I also realize the Indians didn't always have a last name ) all I have is family word of mouth information to go on, could have been Madison county also where they lived, but it was Boone later on, thanks anyway. My MOTLEY family was one of the original land owners in Marion county in 1850's and the HAWKINS came about that time, but think it was in Madison County area, all I know is my grandmother was the daughter of this "Sarah" cherokee and my grandfather was a Motley. That's my connection. so I am trying to cover all the possible areas.

I'm doing a major "spring house cleaning" on my e-mail folders and ran across this message. I'm unsure if I have already forwarded it to the list or not. If so just chalk it up to old age - okay? If anyone can help Shirley please be sure to respond directly to her. Linda lhaasdav@mindspring.com Home.page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~haas Marion.Co.AR http://www.rootsweb.com/~armarion List hostess for -h.a.a.s/l.e.w.a.l.l.e.n/w.a.s.h.i.n.g.t.o.n n.c ----- Original Message ----- From: shirley wolf To: lhaasdav@mindspring.com Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2001 11:26 PM Subject: madewell & slape family my gggrandfather and gggrandmother came from marion co was in boone co 1880. she Manisha Slape Madewell born ab 1838 tn. and on my ggrandfather death certificate his father said to be Joe Madewell but I can just find one Joe Madewell in the family. in civer war recard i find a joe but no married recard in marion co or boone co. can you tell me how research it. thank you shirley923@msn.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

----- Original Message ----- From: Dewayne Barnes <Bronson@olp.net> To: Linda Haas Davenport <lhaasdav@mindspring.com> Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2001 11:32 AM Subject: Re: Walter and Minnie Bridges.. <<My mother's father and my other Grandfather was P.V. Blankenship and her mother (my other Grandmother was Gertrude Blankenship.>> Brenda, My great aunt Mary "Molly" Gilley married Phalis Blankenship, they had (1) P.V. Blankenship, b.? d.? who married Gertude Burnes, b. 1896 - d. 1948 buried Yellville Cemetery. (2) Jesse Homer Blankenship, b. 1895 - d. 1960 buried Yellville Cemetery. who married Consuelo Burnes, b. 14 Jul 1900 - d. 17 Jan 1975 buried Yellville Cemetery. (3) Ezra Stell Blankenship, b.10 May 1892 - d. 14 Feb 1964 buried Burno Cemetery. who married Grace S. Massey, b. 5 Jul 1896 - d. 22 Feb 1977 buried Burno Cemetery. I have the parents of Gertude and Consuelo Burnes as B. Franklin and Samantha Jane (Angel) Burnes. (If I have any of this wrong, please someone let me know what is wrong) Phalis Blankenship parents were Presley D. and Louisa (Koon) Blankenship. Mary "Molly" Gilley, (my great aunt, maybe 2 greats) parents were Amos Smith Gilley and Elizabeth Tittle. I am sure you will get alot of help on the Blankenship and Burnes lines, I do not have alot on them. But I can help with the Gilley and Tittle lines, which I will be glad to do. Let me know about the Gilleys and Tittles. Also if there are others researching the Gilley - Tittle line I would like to hear from you. Wakley Ann Evans Doyal

Brenda, without researching your entire family history for you, I can offer a few things that might be helpful in your research. I've noted the sources in which I found this information so you'll have it for your records. "Genealogies of Marion Co Families 1811-1900" compiled by Mysty McPherson & Vicki Roberts pub 1997. Sammy Lane Blankenship is the daughter of Parris Virgil "P.V." & Gertrude Moatt (Burnes) Blankenship. Gertrude Moatt Burnes b MCAR 1896 d Huntsville AR 1948 was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin "B. F." & Samantha Jane (Angel) Brunes. She m MCAR 1918 Parris Virgil "P. V." Blankenship b MCAR Aug 1889. He was the son of Phalis & Mary E "Polly" (Gilley) Blankenship. Consuelo Gladys Burnes b MCAR 1896 d MCAR 1976 bu Yellville Cemetery was the sister of Gertrude Moatt Burnes. She m 1918 Homer Blankenship d 1960 by Yellville Cemetery. He was the brother of Parris Virgil "P V" Blankenship. Howell Addison "Hal" Burns was a brother of Gertrude and Consuelo Burnes. He owned Burns Funeral Home in Yellville. The funeral home descended thru his daughter Betty Jo Burns who married Robert Marion "Bobby" Duren to his grandson Dan Duren who owns and operates it today. Ibid plus "Marion Co. AR 1890" by Helen McMindes. Una A./Minnie King b MCAR Jan 1889 was the daughter of Fountain C. "Fount" & Sarah Azeliah "Zee" (Jobe) King. "Marion Co Marriage Records 1905-1917" by Marian Burnes & Vicki Roberts. W W Bridges aged 23 of Eros m MCAR 24 Oct 1911 Minnie King aged 22 of Eros. "Marion Co. AR 1890" by Helen McMindes William W Bridges b Feb 1848 MO TN TN. In White River Township 1880, Union Township 1890, Crooked Creek Township 1900. Perilda Jane [Thompson] wife b Oct 1854 TN TN TN. Married 26 years, 11 children, 5 living (per 1900 census). William son b 1879. Maggie dau b Sep 1881 AR MO TN. Harbin son b Sep 1885 AR MO TN. WALTER son b Oct 1888 AR MO TN. Myrtle dau b May 1890 AR MO TN. "History of Marion Co" by Earl Berry pub 1976, p 28. "In 1954, Don Matthews sold his interest in the Echo to his partner, Roy L Sizemore, who published it until he sold it to Marvin Bridges in 1955. Mr Bridges kept it only two months before selling it to Jack Tipton, a newspaper man from Eastern Arkansas." "Cemeteries of Marion Co" by Lester & Marian Burnes. W W Bridges b23 Feb 1852 d 24 Oct 1908 bu Cowan Cemetery. Perrilda Jane (Thompson) Bridges, w/o W W, b 16 Nov 1852 d 27 Feb 1946 bu Cowan Cemetery. Ralph King Bridges, s/o Walter, b 14 Oct 1923 d 6 Feb 1930 bu Patton Cemetery. Walter W Bridges b 9 Oct 1888 d 19 Oct 1978 bu Patton Cemetery. Minnie (King) Bridges, w/o Walter, b 16 Jan 1889 d 21 March 1981 bu Patton Cemetery. Having done the research and talked with uncounted numbers of people in order to co-compile "Genealogies of Marion Co Families 1911-1900," I find no suggestion in any of these families nor any of the related families that would indicate any Native American heritage for your mother. The only way you could find out for sure would be to research each and every direct ancestor of your mother's until you found some sort of information or reference to a Native American. And, by the way, believe me, there's not a chance in this world that she could be full-blood Native American. Oh, you might like to know that Lester Burnes, co-author of "Cemeteries of Marion Co," was a brother of Gertrude, Consuelo, and Hal Burnes. You might like to roam around on the Marion Co web page http://www.rootsweb.com/~armarion to see if you can find more information on your ancestors. The MCAR 1880 census is there online, there are pictures and family histories that might be useful, there are queries that go back a long ways, there's a list of books the Historic Genealogical Society of Marion Co has for sale, there's a pretty comprehensive list of the resources the Society has in its Research Room at the Marion Co Library, and a whole lot more. I may sound prejudiced (and probably am), but it's one of the best county sites on the Internet - by far. If I can be of further help in your search, please feel free to contact me. I live in just south of Yellville. Mysty shakerag@mtnhome.com ******************************************** > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Dewayne Barnes <Bronson@olp.net> > To: Linda Haas Davenport <lhaasdav@mindspring.com> > Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2001 11:32 AM > Subject: Re: Walter and Minnie Bridges.. > > > Linda, thank you for your help. I have another piece of info I would like > > to forward.... > > > > My Mother is Sammy Lane Blankenship whose Aunt Consuelo and her sister > lived > > next door to eachother and were married to brothers there in Yellville. > > My Grandmother Minnie King Bridges had a sister named Thelma who lived > right > > across the street from my Grandparents on Rock Road in Yellville in a > white > > house with stair steps up to their front porch. It also had a rock fence > > around it. > > > > Also on my mother's side (the Blankenships) there was also an Aunt Terry > and > > a funeral home in town whom belonged to my Mother's side of the family. > > > > My mother's father and my other Grandfather was P.V. Blankenship and her > > mother (my other Grandmother was Gertrude Blankenship. > > > > My Grandmother Minnie died in the Yellville Ark. hospital, I believe. She > > died of old age. > > > > My Dad, Marvin Bridges, left home to attend the Branson's School of the > > Ozarks and was the youngest of all the children of Walter and Minnie. He > > doesn't really know but thought his mother Minnie was of Indian descent. > > Such an age gap between them. > > > > My Dad, Marvin's sister is Ruth Godfrey whom lived in Pyatt, Ark until her > > husband died and went to live with her daughter in Harrison. > > > > I am just thinking that we have alot of heritage in Yellville and needed > to > > know if anyone knew them. They were born around 1898 or so. > > But mainly we grandchildren believed Minnie was part if not all Indian, > but > > Dad just does not know for sure. > > > > Again, thanks for any help you can provide. > > > > Sincerely, Brenda Bridges *********************************************** > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Linda Haas Davenport" <lhaasdav@mindspring.com> > > To: "Dewayne Barnes" <Bronson@olp.net> > > Cc: "AR Marion List" <ARMARION-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2001 9:36 AM > > Subject: Re: Walter and Minnie Bridges.. > > > > > Dwayne: I'm afraid that I can't be of any help. I'm going to forward > this > > > message to the Marion Co list. There are lots of good folks on the list > > and > > > perhaps someone will be able to help you. Good Luck. > > > > > > Linda > > > > > > lhaasdav@mindspring.com > > > Home.page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~haas > > > Marion.Co.AR http://www.rootsweb.com/~armarion > > > List hostess for -h.a.a.s/l.e.w.a.l.l.e.n/w.a.s.h.i.n.g.t.o.n n.c > > >***************************************************** > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: Dewayne Barnes <Bronson@olp.net> > > > To: <lhaasdav@mindspring.com> > > > Sent: Friday, July 06, 2001 8:19 PM > > > Subject: Walter and Minnie Bridges.. > > > > > > > I am a grandaughter of Walter and Minnie Bridges. I have always > > wondered > > > if > > > > my Grandmother was of Indian descent. Minnie's maiden name is King. > > > > > > > > My father is Marvin L. Bridges who I think used to be the Editor of > the > > > > Mountain Echo long ago. > > > > I am not sure of that either. Long ago meaning around 1952 or so. > > > > > > > > Any info would be much appreciated. > > > > > > > > Brenda K. Bridges

Pat: What was the name of the book by Eugenia Price? I have read lots or her books and am wondering if maybe I might have missed one. She is one of my favorite authors. It has been so long ago that I don't remember any of them. I am sorry to say, but I do remember her as an author. Colleen

Linda lhaasdav@mindspring.com Home.page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~haas Marion.Co.AR http://www.rootsweb.com/~armarion List hostess for -h.a.a.s/l.e.w.a.l.l.e.n/w.a.s.h.i.n.g.t.o.n n.c ----- Original Message ----- From: Dewayne Barnes <Bronson@olp.net> To: Linda Haas Davenport <lhaasdav@mindspring.com> Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2001 11:32 AM Subject: Re: Walter and Minnie Bridges.. > Linda, thank you for your help. I have another piece of info I would like > to forward.... > > My Mother is Sammy Lane Blankenship whose Aunt Consuelo and her sister lived > next door to eachother and were married to brothers there in Yellville. > My Grandmother Minnie King Bridges had a sister named Thelma who lived right > across the street from my Grandparents on Rock Road in Yellville in a white > house with stair steps up to their front porch. It also had a rock fence > around it. > > Also on my mother's side (the Blankenships) there was also an Aunt Terry and > a funeral home in town whom belonged to my Mother's side of the family. > > My mother's father and my other Grandfather was P.V. Blankenship and her > mother (my other Grandmother was Gertrude Blankenship. > > My Grandmother Minnie died in the Yellville Ark. hospital, I believe. She > died of old age. > > My Dad, Marvin Bridges, left home to attend the Branson's School of the > Ozarks and was the youngest of all the children of Walter and Minnie. He > doesn't really know but thought his mother Minnie was of Indian descent. > Such an age gap between them. > > My Dad, Marvin's sister is Ruth Godfrey whom lived in Pyatt, Ark until her > husband died and went to live with her daughter in Harrison. > > I am just thinking that we have alot of heritage in Yellville and needed to > know if anyone knew them. They were born around 1898 or so. > But mainly we grandchildren believed Minnie was part if not all Indian, but > Dad just does not know for sure. > > Again, thanks for any help you can provide. > > Sincerely, > > > Brenda Bridges > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Linda Haas Davenport" <lhaasdav@mindspring.com> > To: "Dewayne Barnes" <Bronson@olp.net> > Cc: "AR Marion List" <ARMARION-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2001 9:36 AM > Subject: Re: Walter and Minnie Bridges.. > > > > Dwayne: I'm afraid that I can't be of any help. I'm going to forward this > > message to the Marion Co list. There are lots of good folks on the list > and > > perhaps someone will be able to help you. Good Luck. > > > > Linda > > > > lhaasdav@mindspring.com > > Home.page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~haas > > Marion.Co.AR http://www.rootsweb.com/~armarion > > List hostess for -h.a.a.s/l.e.w.a.l.l.e.n/w.a.s.h.i.n.g.t.o.n n.c > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Dewayne Barnes <Bronson@olp.net> > > To: <lhaasdav@mindspring.com> > > Sent: Friday, July 06, 2001 8:19 PM > > Subject: Walter and Minnie Bridges.. > > > > > > > I am a grandaughter of Walter and Minnie Bridges. I have always > wondered > > if > > > my Grandmother was of Indian descent. Minnie's maiden name is King. > > > > > > My father is Marvin L. Bridges who I think used to be the Editor of the > > > Mountain Echo long ago. > > > I am not sure of that either. Long ago meaning around 1952 or so. > > > > > > Any info would be much appreciated. > > > > > > Brenda K. Bridges > > > > > > > > >

Dear Don, Thank you very much for the history you recently posted on the removal of the Indians. I have read a book written by Eugenia Price on the removal of the Cherokee from Georgia. These were a very religious group of people, business owners, farmers and for the most part educated. However, none of this was even a consideration when they were torn from their homes and forced on reservations west of the MS. Yes, it was a very dark time in history. Thank you for the information and I hope that you are able to reach your goal. Sincerely, Pat Ward

Dwayne: I'm afraid that I can't be of any help. I'm going to forward this message to the Marion Co list. There are lots of good folks on the list and perhaps someone will be able to help you. Good Luck. Linda lhaasdav@mindspring.com Home.page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~haas Marion.Co.AR http://www.rootsweb.com/~armarion List hostess for -h.a.a.s/l.e.w.a.l.l.e.n/w.a.s.h.i.n.g.t.o.n n.c ----- Original Message ----- From: Dewayne Barnes <Bronson@olp.net> To: <lhaasdav@mindspring.com> Sent: Friday, July 06, 2001 8:19 PM Subject: Walter and Minnie Bridges.. > I am a grandaughter of Walter and Minnie Bridges. I have always wondered if > my Grandmother was of Indian descent. Minnie's maiden name is King. > > My father is Marvin L. Bridges who I think used to be the Editor of the > Mountain Echo long ago. > I am not sure of that either. Long ago meaning around 1952 or so. > > Any info would be much appreciated. > > Brenda K. Bridges > >

Don, Thank you for sharing your extremely moving account of the Trail of Tears. It definitely is a part of our history that should be remembered and understood. Lindy

Don, THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!! It is wonderful to see the correct definition of the "Trail of Tears". Basically EVERY tribe had their "Trail", not just the Cherokee. And there were more deaths and drop-offs along the way than heads of each wagon train in each tribe would admit. Good luck in getting the Benge route recognized. I have learned much about Indian research and continue to learn from 2 Cherokees who are professional Indian researchers in the old Cherokee Nation. Connie Schofield ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Ott" <dott@centurytel.net> To: <ARMARION-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, July 06, 2001 10:08 AM Subject: Fwd: Cherokee > Lou, > Thanks for expressing your opinion on the information I put on the > Marion County Arkansas List. Since you gave your permission I will post > your reply directly on the list. You and I may have somewhat differing > views on what "The Trail of Tears" really is and who might qualify as being > a participant. In my several years of study, I am of the opinion that the > term (nu na hi du na tlo hi lu i) "Trail Where They Cried", could apply to > all 90,000 plus Indians who were relocated as a result of the 1830 Indian > Removal Act, passed by the U.S. Congress. This includes Delaware, Ottawa, > Shawnee, Pawnee, Potawatomi, Sauk, Fox, Miami, Kickapoo, Choctaw, > Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole as well as the Cherokee. The Cherokee resisted > and were among the last to be forced to move. They were removed from > present day Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina > ,South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. The Cherokees lived in villages in > the land of valleys, ridges, mountains, and streams and their culture was > based on farming, hunting and fishing. This was their ancestral home. They > were a fully civilized society, harming no one. > The Indian Removal Act called for the voluntary or forcible > removal of all Indians from East of the Mississippi River. When Andrew > Jackson said to the Indians, "My friends, circumstances render it > impossible that you can flourish in the midst of a civilized community.", > this alone was enough to make most Indians cry. They in fact were a > civilized society, living here long before those who were throwing them out > of their homes their farms and their close knit communities. > Many of the Indians resisted and reluctantly agreed to move. They > were living in the home of their ancestors, the only place they had know > for all their life. Those who did not voluntarily 'hit the trail' were > rounded up. President Martin Van Buren ordered the implementation of New > Echota in 1838 and had the U.S. Army, under Gen. Winfield Scott, to build > stockades and forts and move the remaining Indians to them immediately. The > Cherokee were the main remaining Indians at that time who had resisted the > move, Gen. Scott ordered the forced round up of about 17,000 remaining > Cherokees. > The Army process was swift and brutal. Soldiers arrived at every > Cherokee house and drove men, women and children out of their homes with > only the clothes on their backs at the point of a bayonet. They were placed > in concentration camps where conditions were horrendous. Food and supplies > were limited and disease was rampant. Intimidation and acts of cruelty at > the hands of the troops, along with the theft and destruction of property > by local residents, caused untold heartache and personal suffering. Finally > Chief John Ross appealed to President Van Buren to let him and some > Cherokee sub chiefs oversee their removal and he guaranteed the President > that he would carry out the process. The remaining Cherokees were divided > into 16 detachments of about 1000 each. Some went by water routes and some > overland. Walking from Alabama to Oklahoma in the dead of winter certainly > was not an enjoyable outing for the Benge group who came through Marion > county Arkansas during Christmas time 1838. Estimates on the amount who > died on this route range from 33 to 242. There were 1103 started the trip, > where would you set the limit so that this route could be appropriately > called a "Trail of Tears"? Where would you set the minimum limit of suffering? > Although over 4,000 Cherokees died, to me it is not that important > as to whether a mother lost one or six of her children. Whether a father > lost his wife, mother, father or just a friend, all of these humans cried > in their heart. I have never heard in my life, anyone who tried to classify > one act of removal as more brutal than the other. I have never heard of > anyone who tried to put a head count on those who died, to qualify part of > the removal as "Trail of Tears" and the other part as just an amble in the > park. > I have worked for several years trying to get the Benge Route of > "The Trail of Tears" nationally recognized and appropriate signs placed on > the trail to memorialize those who passed this way in one of our nations > darkest moments. My plans are to continue until this action is complete, I > encourage those so inclined to help identify the route and to encourage the > appropriate government officials to take appropriate actions. There will be > a National Dedication of the Benge Route of "The Trail of Tears" at noon on > 14 Sept. 2001 at Fort Payne, Alabama. > I believe the term "Trail of Tears" has long been defined Lou and > you and I probably will have little success in trying to change the meaning > or definition. > Don Ott > > > > > >From: LouPero@aol.com > >Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2001 14:56:49 EDT > >Subject: Cherokee > >To: dott@centurytel.net (Don Ott) > >X-Mailer: AOL 6.0 for Windows US sub 10520 > > > >I am not a subscriber to the Marion Co mailing list, so can't answer directly > >to the list. My cousin sent me your interesting account of the group of > >Cherokee who passed through Marion Co. > > > >It seems to me that I have read that there is technically only one Cherokee > >removal party that was considered the Trail of Tears. Many of the parties > >travelled with minimal loss of life and often under their own control as the > >Indians moved west. It seems to me to be almost disrespectful of the trials > >of those who were on the disastrous Trail of Tears where so many were lost to > >call all removal groups the 'Trail of Tears". But since it has been quite a > >few years since I read up on this, I am not sure I have the details right on > >this. > > > >In my family (James Madison Luther) there was a persistent notion that we > >were part Cherokee. One of my relatives, son of James M Luther, actually > >applied for Indian status in 1905 (claim rejected.) His story was that the > >Indian blood was from their mother, Lucinda, whose father was Joel Van of > >Clay Co, IN. The story was that the name had been changed from Van to White > >because of bad trouble. I can't even begin to tell you how many years I spent > >trying to track down this story. > > > >This family did have the practice of naming one of the sons Van, or a middle > >name of Van. But I was able to trace the family of Joel White into Pulaski > >Co, KY, back to at least 1800. From what I could learn of the Vann's of the > >Cherokee, the only way this could be a Cherokee Vann was if Edward Van/White > >was the son of Trader Vann by some other wife than Wa-Wli. So there the story > >hung. > > > >Well, in the last couple of years, I have learned more of the history of the > >Pulaski Co area, and I can now see two possibilities for an Indian > >connection. There are Melungeons in the Pulaski Co area, and also, there are > >connections of other Pulaski Co families to Tuscaroras of northeastern NC. > > > >What I think happened is, there probably was an Indian connection back there > >somewhere, but it probably wasn't to the Cherokee. I think my relatives, > >knowing about the use of the Van name in the family for several generations, > >and knowing there were Cherokee Vanns (they were living among the Cherokees > >by 1905) probably just reasoned that they must be Cherokee Vanns. I am hoping > >to unravel the true story some day, but in the meantime, I can tell you that > >ancestral "memories" are not always totally accurate. > > > >If asked to give advice about someone trying to trace Indian connections, I > >would say, "Do your homework." Learn as much as you can about your ancestors > >by the old-fashioned expedient of actually searching records. Follow them in > >the census as far as you can. Read the history of the communities where you > >find them. Learn about their neighbors and allied families. Not every Indian > >was Cherokee, but I would cherish knowing about mine whatever tribe they > >belonged to. > > > >You may post this as you wish, or just take it as a thank you for your good > >deeds. > > > ============================== > Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp > Search over 2500 databases with one easy query! >

Dear Don, That is one letter I want to save with my family history. Thanks. It compares to the removal of the Acadians from what is now Nova Scotia. If you have ever read "The Miracle of the Acadians by Dudly LeBlanc you will see what my husbands ancestors went through. Though there were not so many as there were Indians. Thanks again for a beautiful written history. Lou Price Landry llandry@cajunnet.com

Lou, Thanks for expressing your opinion on the information I put on the Marion County Arkansas List. Since you gave your permission I will post your reply directly on the list. You and I may have somewhat differing views on what "The Trail of Tears" really is and who might qualify as being a participant. In my several years of study, I am of the opinion that the term (nu na hi du na tlo hi lu i) "Trail Where They Cried", could apply to all 90,000 plus Indians who were relocated as a result of the 1830 Indian Removal Act, passed by the U.S. Congress. This includes Delaware, Ottawa, Shawnee, Pawnee, Potawatomi, Sauk, Fox, Miami, Kickapoo, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole as well as the Cherokee. The Cherokee resisted and were among the last to be forced to move. They were removed from present day Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina ,South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. The Cherokees lived in villages in the land of valleys, ridges, mountains, and streams and their culture was based on farming, hunting and fishing. This was their ancestral home. They were a fully civilized society, harming no one. The Indian Removal Act called for the voluntary or forcible removal of all Indians from East of the Mississippi River. When Andrew Jackson said to the Indians, "My friends, circumstances render it impossible that you can flourish in the midst of a civilized community.", this alone was enough to make most Indians cry. They in fact were a civilized society, living here long before those who were throwing them out of their homes their farms and their close knit communities. Many of the Indians resisted and reluctantly agreed to move. They were living in the home of their ancestors, the only place they had know for all their life. Those who did not voluntarily 'hit the trail' were rounded up. President Martin Van Buren ordered the implementation of New Echota in 1838 and had the U.S. Army, under Gen. Winfield Scott, to build stockades and forts and move the remaining Indians to them immediately. The Cherokee were the main remaining Indians at that time who had resisted the move, Gen. Scott ordered the forced round up of about 17,000 remaining Cherokees. The Army process was swift and brutal. Soldiers arrived at every Cherokee house and drove men, women and children out of their homes with only the clothes on their backs at the point of a bayonet. They were placed in concentration camps where conditions were horrendous. Food and supplies were limited and disease was rampant. Intimidation and acts of cruelty at the hands of the troops, along with the theft and destruction of property by local residents, caused untold heartache and personal suffering. Finally Chief John Ross appealed to President Van Buren to let him and some Cherokee sub chiefs oversee their removal and he guaranteed the President that he would carry out the process. The remaining Cherokees were divided into 16 detachments of about 1000 each. Some went by water routes and some overland. Walking from Alabama to Oklahoma in the dead of winter certainly was not an enjoyable outing for the Benge group who came through Marion county Arkansas during Christmas time 1838. Estimates on the amount who died on this route range from 33 to 242. There were 1103 started the trip, where would you set the limit so that this route could be appropriately called a "Trail of Tears"? Where would you set the minimum limit of suffering? Although over 4,000 Cherokees died, to me it is not that important as to whether a mother lost one or six of her children. Whether a father lost his wife, mother, father or just a friend, all of these humans cried in their heart. I have never heard in my life, anyone who tried to classify one act of removal as more brutal than the other. I have never heard of anyone who tried to put a head count on those who died, to qualify part of the removal as "Trail of Tears" and the other part as just an amble in the park. I have worked for several years trying to get the Benge Route of "The Trail of Tears" nationally recognized and appropriate signs placed on the trail to memorialize those who passed this way in one of our nations darkest moments. My plans are to continue until this action is complete, I encourage those so inclined to help identify the route and to encourage the appropriate government officials to take appropriate actions. There will be a National Dedication of the Benge Route of "The Trail of Tears" at noon on 14 Sept. 2001 at Fort Payne, Alabama. I believe the term "Trail of Tears" has long been defined Lou and you and I probably will have little success in trying to change the meaning or definition. Don Ott >From: LouPero@aol.com >Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2001 14:56:49 EDT >Subject: Cherokee >To: dott@centurytel.net (Don Ott) >X-Mailer: AOL 6.0 for Windows US sub 10520 > >I am not a subscriber to the Marion Co mailing list, so can't answer directly >to the list. My cousin sent me your interesting account of the group of >Cherokee who passed through Marion Co. > >It seems to me that I have read that there is technically only one Cherokee >removal party that was considered the Trail of Tears. Many of the parties >travelled with minimal loss of life and often under their own control as the >Indians moved west. It seems to me to be almost disrespectful of the trials >of those who were on the disastrous Trail of Tears where so many were lost to >call all removal groups the 'Trail of Tears". But since it has been quite a >few years since I read up on this, I am not sure I have the details right on >this. > >In my family (James Madison Luther) there was a persistent notion that we >were part Cherokee. One of my relatives, son of James M Luther, actually >applied for Indian status in 1905 (claim rejected.) His story was that the >Indian blood was from their mother, Lucinda, whose father was Joel Van of >Clay Co, IN. The story was that the name had been changed from Van to White >because of bad trouble. I can't even begin to tell you how many years I spent >trying to track down this story. > >This family did have the practice of naming one of the sons Van, or a middle >name of Van. But I was able to trace the family of Joel White into Pulaski >Co, KY, back to at least 1800. From what I could learn of the Vann's of the >Cherokee, the only way this could be a Cherokee Vann was if Edward Van/White >was the son of Trader Vann by some other wife than Wa-Wli. So there the story >hung. > >Well, in the last couple of years, I have learned more of the history of the >Pulaski Co area, and I can now see two possibilities for an Indian >connection. There are Melungeons in the Pulaski Co area, and also, there are >connections of other Pulaski Co families to Tuscaroras of northeastern NC. > >What I think happened is, there probably was an Indian connection back there >somewhere, but it probably wasn't to the Cherokee. I think my relatives, >knowing about the use of the Van name in the family for several generations, >and knowing there were Cherokee Vanns (they were living among the Cherokees >by 1905) probably just reasoned that they must be Cherokee Vanns. I am hoping >to unravel the true story some day, but in the meantime, I can tell you that >ancestral "memories" are not always totally accurate. > >If asked to give advice about someone trying to trace Indian connections, I >would say, "Do your homework." Learn as much as you can about your ancestors >by the old-fashioned expedient of actually searching records. Follow them in >the census as far as you can. Read the history of the communities where you >find them. Learn about their neighbors and allied families. Not every Indian >was Cherokee, but I would cherish knowing about mine whatever tribe they >belonged to. > >You may post this as you wish, or just take it as a thank you for your good >deeds.

I found this to be very interesting. I'll let you read about what these people are doing. Note this will not be a free service but it might turn out to be worth whatever they will be charging. www.americaschronicles.com Linda lhaasdav@mindspring.com Home.page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~haas Marion.Co.AR http://www.rootsweb.com/~armarion List hostess for -h.a.a.s/l.e.w.a.l.l.e.n/w.a.s.h.i.n.g.t.o.n n.c

Thank you to the people that sent me the information on the trail of tears, i appreciate it. Sarah ----- Original Message ----- From: <ARMARION-D-request@rootsweb.com> To: <ARMARION-D@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, July 06, 2001 4:00 AM Subject: ARMARION-D Digest V01 #142 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.261 / Virus Database: 131 - Release Date: 6/6/01

Don, What wonderful information on the trail of tears. I THOUGHT i had saved the information you gave, the history...and I apparently lost it...is there some way that some one out there could send me that? I would truly appreciate it. Please email to Shadowseeker@Prodigy.net thanks so much. Sarah ----- Original Message ----- From: <ARMARION-D-request@rootsweb.com> To: <ARMARION-D@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 12:00 PM Subject: ARMARION-D Digest V01 #141 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.261 / Virus Database: 131 - Release Date: 6/6/01

Don, thanks for the lookups and especially thanks for the information. I have included the information about the passage of the group through Yellville in my timeline and I will include your information with it. I thank you for the background to the group. Reta

Don: I also appreciate this bit of information that you just passed on to us. But I know and I think most of the others do too, that there were more than one trail of tears. And you can only report what is there. You are greatly appreciated. Colleen

Don, Your are so generous to do all this look-ups for us. Thank you very much for your time and concern for fellow searchers. Lou Price Landry llandry@cajunnet.com

Thanks to all those who have requested that I look at the Captain John Benge, Trail of Tears Muster Roll for names of your ancestors. I appreciate those who have expressed their appreciation whether or not I could find the names requested on the roll. To those of you who questioned my paternity because I could not find the names you asked about, I am sorry. Some have said they know their ancestors were Cherokee, and great grandma said they were on the Trail of Tears. I can only report to you what the official document says. Remember there were several routes for the Trail of Tears, only one of them came through Marion and Baxter County. Just a few facts about this group of folk and a little history that you can bounce off your "Family Tradition". The 959 Indians and 144 Negroes were from DeKalb County, Alabama. Dekalb County is in the Northeast corner of the state, the beginning of the Appalachian Highlands which extend all the way into New York state. DeKalb County was part of the Cherokee Nation and the first white men came during the American Revolution. A British agent, Alexander Campbell, was sent into the area to arouse the Cherokees against the southern colonies. In 1777 Campbell made his headquarters at Wills Town, Wills County, Alabama a Cherokee village located on Big Wills Creek. This settlement was near the present town of Lebanon, Alabama. All of this was named for Chief Red-Head Will Webster. The agent was successful in arousing a number of the Cherokee's interest by promising them clothing and conquered territory in exchange for the scalps of white settlers. In 1816 the Presbyterian Church established a mission at Wills Town calling it "Wills Town Mission" after the Indian Chief who was Indian/Caucasian. The site of the mission is still marked by the gravestone of the missionary Reverend Ard Hoyt. Living in the same area during that time was George Guess "Sequoyah". After 12 years work he announced in 1821 that he had developed an alphabet for the Cherokee language, the alphabet contained eighty-six symbols. Each symbol represented a syllable. It was so well thought out that the average Indian could learn to read and write in just a few hours. By 1830 the immigration of settlers into the Cherokee country increased and friction between the two races grew. The whites wanted the federal government to buy the good land and move the Indians out. A small group of Indians led by John Ridge and Elias Boudinol, who were opposed by a majority of the Cherokees, agreed to give up Cherokee lands east of the Mississippi River. The Treaty of New Echota, signed December 29, 1835, ceded the Cherokee lands in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia to the federal government for a consideration of five million dollars and a joint interest in certain western Indian Territory. The nation's chief John Ross and a vast majority of the Indian population was opposed to this action. The treaty was enforced and federal troops were sent by President Andrew Jackson to transport the Indians westward. General Winfield Scott was placed in charge of these federal forces in 1838 and on May 10, 1838 he issued a proclamation to the Cherokees warning them that their emigration was to commence in haste and that "before moon had passed" every Cherokee man, woman, and child must be in motion to join his brethren in the far west. Most were forced out of their homes and lands with only the clothes on their back and what animals they could take. General Scott sent troops to several areas to build stockade forts and gather the Indians in preparation for the move west. Captain John Payne was sent to Wills Town Mission, Alabama where he selected a site just 200 yards northeast of the big spring. A stockade (and internment camp, only one in Alabama) was built by Captain John Payne and his 22 soldiers, called Fort Payne. Several groups of Cherokees departed during 1838 form Fort Payne with a guide provided by the federal government while others left under their own command. One such, under their own command, was led by Cherokee leader John Benge. They left on 3 October 1838 with 959 Indians and 144 Negroes. They crossed the Mississippi River south of Cape Girardeau Missouri and came down in Arkansas to near Batesville, taking the old military road through to the west. They passed through Baxter and Marion County Arkansas, crossing the White river just above Cotter during Christmas time 1838. They came up the Denton Ferry Road to Flippin Barrens, on west to Summit area, crossing the Crooked Creek just west of Yellville and on to Bruno area where they went west to Everton and on through Fayettevile to Talaquah Oklahoma, arriving on 17 January 1939. Unless your ancestors were Cherokee Indians from the current DeKalb County, Fort Payne area, in and prior to 1838, the likelihood of them being on this roll is small. Many of the Indians from that area came up the Arkansas River on boats furnished by the government. Although the number of losses is greatly contested, generally it is believed that deaths and desertions took about 1 in 7 of the group that started from the east. I believe John Benge lost only about 33 to death and desertion and had at least one birth on the trip. Many of the names on the roll are Cherokee Indian names only such as Laughing Mush, Choctaw Killer, Young Ducks Widow etc. I hope this helps those searching for their Cherokee Roots. Don Ott

No Briggs. Don At 11:34 AM 03-07-01 -0400, you wrote: >Don, > >Please check for Briggs. > >Thank you so much!! > >Lindy > > >============================== >Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp >Search over 2500 databases with one easy query!