This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Cei.2ACEB/4322.2 Message Board Post: Richard Check your local library, many of them have books on Cherokee descendants. Here are some notes about the most famous Hicks of mixed Cherokee ancestry. Charles R Hicks was half Cherokee, educated, and introduced farming as a new way of life for Cherokee men, who before had thought it undignified except for Women. Many men changed to the new way but progress was not fast enough to take hold before white settlement forced them out. Charles, even though burdened with a crippled hip, served in the Cherokee Cavalry and aided Andrew Jackson in the battle against the Creek Indians. Jackson later betrayed their loyalty when he became President, and forced them to leave their Eastern Homeland. Charles was second principal Chief of the Cherokee, and performed the duties of Chief, with the aged First Chief Pathkiller's approval. Charles was leader of the treaty delegation to Washington D.C. in 1819. The Washington government was threatening either war or removal of the Cherokee to west of the Mississipi River. Charles negotiated a deal whereby the Cherokee would exchange part of their homeland for an equal amount in the west to be given to those Cherokee who were willing to go. Chief Pathkiller said, "Chief Charles Hicks and the Ross brothers have saved our nation." Unfortunately it was only saved for a few years, until after the deaths of Pathkiller and Charles. Charles was principal Chief after Pathkiller's death, but only lived about two weeks when Charles also died, of pneumonia. " source, Trail of tears."