Jan...since you waterski'd on Lake Dardanelle, are you aware that the site of the original Dwight Mission (now in OK, I believe), was covered when that Lake was made by the creation of the Arkansas One Project. I never knew that, until they did a memorial to that, and to that location being part of the Trail...I believe a historical marker was placed there (seems there was a memorial service with folks from both the Eastern and the Western Cherokee present). Please, correct me if I am wrong....or add to what I have written if I've missed something. Also, in regard to the Water Route...there is a memorial to the loss of many CHerokee lives, from Chlorea (as I recall), on one of those trips. Michael Walkingstick told me where it is, but forgive me if the detail skips my feeble mind. It's close to us as well. My parents moved from AL to WI when I was 6 years old....and there is so much I am just now (or within the last 10 years or so) learning. I visited my grandparents in AR, and my Aunt and Uncle who remained there. But, it is my only living Aunt from that generation who tried to keep the family history alive. When I lost my last Uncle, from that generation.....and she began to shows signs of age....and losing her memory....I decided I needed to step up to the plate. But, there were so many things I never knew...and have now only found out about my Grandmother Voss.....from her daughter (my aunt's) because she helped care for my grandmother in her last years of fighting colon cancer. Her visits to the sick with the local doctor; her herbal treatments, and healng potions; her gift of riding horses (not sidesaddle); and her independence from male dominance. Shee was a tall woman, six feet or over...but as big as she was, that's as gentle as she was. A God fearing, reverent woman...who was led by her beliefs and also believed in protecting those who were weaker than her. Tracing her family....and still tracing is what has brought about the links to the Cherokee.....back generations....to the early 1800's. I am told I am very much like her....not in medical healings, but emotional (social work was my field....with domestic violence and sexual assault). My role with the state wide coalition against sexual assaul (WCAS)t, was to advocate for the services in this state to be made available to women of color....all colors. I know what it's like to be discriminated against too...as you are, when you carry predominant white characteristics, in a native world. But, when you know in your heart that you carry the memories of all who came before you....and that you revere your connection with the earth, the 2 leggeds, 4 leggeds, winged, and creepy crawlers. Well, then you know what you find in your Christian church is not enough. That's what led me out....on a spiritual quest as well. So....I find that with the caretaking attitude handed down from the ancestors, and the spiritual beliefs in the bible. I know there is so much more to be revealed, and learned. jes

An Indian stories dont come under Indian territory ( ok ) sorry wont post any more. Ps - those people who complain, are they NA ? Justa thought Dan M silent mode - mmmm ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jerri (Rogers) Chasteen" <chasteen2@cox.net> To: <indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 11:45 AM Subject: [INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS] "Turtle Island" and other places. > Please, guys-- other subscribers are complaining! > Let's keep within the subject of this mail list--- which is "Indian > Territory". > > jc > List Mistress > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Wow...Oleta, Will Rogers. Seems I saw some of his stuff at the museum in Tahlequah also. Say do you go to the Indian Country Today site online....or read their paper. I've found it quite useful to get an idea about what is happening currently in "indian country". Yes...I understand we are in great peril of losing our "stories" as we are losing our elders....those that know them. It's good to know that there are places we can go where the truth is being documented....the native truth...not the anglo. I think the first book I ever read that actually told the stories from the indians prespective was "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee". I would recommend that to new folks trying to understand why the native people of today are skeptical of the government or even folks who don't do any research on things and then unknowingly say things that are offensive. Thank you again Oleta for sharing. jes Of course we could always talk about Christopher Columbus...if we want to start at the beginning!!

Oleta and Jan....thank you very much for your continued information regarding your families, and your involvement in the OHS, Oleta. I know that OK is rich in Cherokee history....and in fact, in other tribes as well, being the end of the TOT. I have just started my traverse in OK....from AR. My time is somewhat limited, as I am only in AR half the year. However, I finally made it over last year to Tahlequah...and visited the Heritage Center. I really enjoyed my stay at the Herrins cabin, in the woods, near the Hertiage Center. I would like to go to the Celebration held over Labor Day, but have a conflict with my Voss Family Reunion on the same weekend. Perhaps this next year we'll change that date and we as a family may come over for that celebration. I was telling Jan about the Sequoyah Research Center, and, she, me; as we both live, and have our family history there. From there mine goes back to TN, then GA and NC. I was very surprised (pleasantly) by AR interest, and commitment to the part of the Trail of Tears (all routes, land and water) that traversed across AR. Probably because it is the homeplace of 5 generations of my Sikes, and Voss families....starting in about 1845 for the Voss....and 1898 for the Sikes. My Voss side goes back to around Henryville, TN.....and there is an oral history that says my ggggrandmother Charlotte Mitchell Voss..was a fullbood Cherokee, and she, and ggggrandfather Robert James Voss, were married at Chattanooga, which at that time was Ross's Landing. Although we can't trace by documented proof. Their son, William James Voss, married Susanna Pennington....whose family traced back through the Tuttles, and Proctors (both Cherokee) Their son, Franklin Pierce Voss, married, Mary Adeline Ellis, whose family traced back through the Sanders, Lunas (Looneys), and the Hogans. This is the Sanders, who by oral history was John Walkingstick....?? I would like to think he was, but nothing I have been able to document tells me so. All these families are in TN, before AR, and trace back to NC and GA. Been back to GA, to see the Sikes homestead, but have not been back to Henryville. Although a kin says that the Mitchells, and that family, are buried along the Natchez Trace...that runs through TN. I do hope to go, and pay my respects. I do have kin that was in Henryville, but moved. I just made contact with a Voss relative, who may be near the old homestead, as he is living on his grandfather's homestead. We'll see. jes Those are my stories...or parts and pieces of them. Guess the descendants of the Mitchell family did do applications for the Dawes, and the Guinon Miller, through Thomas Mitchell, the father. Apparently my gggrandfather Voss, cautioned his children not to identify themselves as Cheorkee...probably for the same reasons as others, who feither eared some type of retaliation, or wanted nothing from the government. But, my history says that the children were actually adopted by he and his wife, on their travels from NC to TN in about 1813...found in a campground outside of what was then Ross's Landing (now Chattanooga). That's what made us think they went there for their wedding to be with her family. So if that is the true oral history...we have no names to trace....as they were anglicized upon adoption to protect them...is my belief.

Jes- None of these people are on the Cherokee Final Roll. If you have the opportunity to get a book called Those Who Cried do so. These are the people on the Famous Trail. Of course I think there are 50,000 John Benges but one of them is my cousin and he was Commander of one wagon.There were thirteen wagons and I have copies of four. Finally wrote to my friend Senatot Boren but what he sent me doesn't look like the others. Been so long since all this has been looked at I hardly know what I've got. Oleta On Mon, 2 Oct 2006 11:46:02 EDT HealTheCircle@aol.com writes: > Oleta and Jan....thank you very much for your continued information > > regarding your families, and your involvement in the OHS, Oleta. I > know that OK is > rich in Cherokee history....and in fact, in other tribes as well, > being the > end of the TOT. I have just started my traverse in OK....from AR. > My time is > somewhat limited, as I am only in AR half the year. > > However, I finally made it over last year to Tahlequah...and visited > the > Heritage Center. I really enjoyed my stay at the Herrins cabin, in > the woods, > near the Hertiage Center. I would like to go to the Celebration > held over > Labor Day, but have a conflict with my Voss Family Reunion on the > same weekend. > Perhaps this next year we'll change that date and we as a family > may come > over for that celebration. > > I was telling Jan about the Sequoyah Research Center, and, she, me; > as we > both live, and have our family history there. From there mine goes > back to TN, > then GA and NC. I was very surprised (pleasantly) by AR interest, > and > commitment to the part of the Trail of Tears (all routes, land and > water) that > traversed across AR. Probably because it is the homeplace of 5 > generations of my > Sikes, and Voss families....starting in about 1845 for the > Voss....and 1898 > for the Sikes. > > My Voss side goes back to around Henryville, TN.....and there is an > oral > history that says my ggggrandmother Charlotte Mitchell Voss..was a > fullbood > Cherokee, and she, and ggggrandfather Robert James Voss, were > married at > Chattanooga, which at that time was Ross's Landing. Although we > can't trace by > documented proof. > > Their son, William James Voss, married Susanna Pennington....whose > family > traced back through the Tuttles, and Proctors (both Cherokee) Their > son, > Franklin Pierce Voss, married, Mary Adeline Ellis, whose family > traced back > through the Sanders, Lunas (Looneys), and the Hogans. This is the > Sanders, who by > oral history was John Walkingstick....?? I would like to think he > was, but > nothing I have been able to document tells me so. > > All these families are in TN, before AR, and trace back to NC and > GA. > > Been back to GA, to see the Sikes homestead, but have not been back > to > Henryville. Although a kin says that the Mitchells, and that > family, are buried > along the Natchez Trace...that runs through TN. I do hope to go, > and pay my > respects. I do have kin that was in Henryville, but moved. I just > made > contact with a Voss relative, who may be near the old homestead, as > he is living > on his grandfather's homestead. > > We'll see. > > > jes > > Those are my stories...or parts and pieces of them. Guess the > descendants of > the Mitchell family did do applications for the Dawes, and the > Guinon Miller, > through Thomas Mitchell, the father. Apparently my gggrandfather > Voss, > cautioned his children not to identify themselves as > Cheorkee...probably for the > same reasons as others, who feither eared some type of retaliation, > or wanted > nothing from the government. > > But, my history says that the children were actually adopted by he > and his > wife, on their travels from NC to TN in about 1813...found in a > campground > outside of what was then Ross's Landing (now Chattanooga). That's > what made us > think they went there for their wedding to be with her family. So if > that is > the true oral history...we have no names to trace....as they were > anglicized > upon adoption to protect them...is my belief. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message > >

So you want stories. Well the elders believed in Turtle Island. How the Island was created. This was shared with me years ago and again today on my list where we have hundreds of stories posted a month. ============ Big Turtle Huron Many years ago the world had two parts. Animals lived in the lower part, which was completely covered in water and had no land or soil. Above was the Sky World, where the sky people lived. The Sky World had lots of soil, with beautiful mountains and valleys. One day a girl from the Sky World went for a long walk and became very tired. "I'm so tired, I need to rest," she said. She sat down under the spreading branches of an apple tree and quickly fell asleep. Suddenly, there was a rumbling sound like thunder and the ground began to crack. A big hole opened up next to the apple tree. "What's happening?" screamed the frightened girl. She tried to move but it was too late. She and the tree slid through the hole and tumbled over and over towards the watery world below. "Help me! Help me!" screamed the girl. Luckily two swans were swimming below and saw the girl tumbling down from the sky. "Come on!" yelled one swan. "Let's catch her before she hits the water." "Okay!" yelled the other. The swans spread their wings together and caught the girl on their soft feather backs. "Whew! That was lucky," said the girl. "But what do I do now? I can't get back up to the Sky World and I can't stay on your backs forever." "We'll take you to big turtle," said the swans. "He knows everything." After hearing what happened, the Big Turtle called all the animals in the water world to a meeting. He told them an old story about soil being found deep under the water. "If we can get some of that soil, we can build an island on my back for you to live on," said the Big Turtle. "Sounds good to me," said the young girl. The Otter, Beaver and Muskrat started arguing over whom would dive for the soil. "I'll go," said the sleek Otter, brushing his glossy fur.. "No! I'll go," said Beaver, slapping the water with his big flat tail.. "I'm the best swimmer," said Muskrat "I'll go." "Aaaachooo!" sneezed the young girl." Guys, guys, would just one of you go. These swan feathers are getting up my nose and making me sneeze". "Sorry" said the swans. "That's alright," said the young Sky girl. Then Toskwaye the little Toad popped up out of the water. "I'll go. I can dive very deep," she said. The other animals started laughing and pointing at Toskwaye. "You! You're too small and ugly to help". Cried the others, laughing. "Be quite!" said Big Turtle in a loud, stern voice. "Everyone is equal and everyone will have a chance to try". The sleek Otter smoothed his glossy fur, took a deep breath and slid into the water. He was gone for a long time before he came up gasping for air. "It was too deep," he said. "I couldn't dive that far. "Now it's my turn," said Beaver. He slapped the water with his tail as he disappeared. After a long time he came to the surface again. "It's too far" he gasped. "No one can dive that deep." Muskrat tried next and failed. "Aaaachoo!" sneezed the young girl. "This is not looking good" "Now it's my turn," said little Toskwaye the Toad. She took a deep breathe and jumped into the water. She was gone a very long time and everyone thought they wouldn't see her again. Suddenly Otter pointed at the water, shouting, and "Look, look bubbles!"Toskwaye's small, ugly face appeared through the water. She spat a few grains of soil onto the Big Turtle's back, then fell back into the water -dead. The Turtle ordered the others to rub the soil grains and spread them around on his shell. The grains grew and grew, until a large island was formed - big enough for the girl to live on. It grew into our world, as we know it today. And the descendents of the Sky girl became the Earth's people. Today, some people say the whole world still rests on Big Turtles back. When he gets tired and changes his position, we have earthquakes. Toad has not been forgotten either. American native Indians call her"Mashutaha", which means 'Our Grandmother'. No one is allowed to harm her. Native stories have no owners so there is no one to cite that I know of. Dan M

----- Original Message ----- From: <HealTheCircle@aol.com> To: <indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 9:30 AM Subject: Re: [INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS] Natural Archives closure > Dan....I am not one to argue....but rather I'd ask others of native blood to speak up to that statement and see what they have to say. > > jes ======<>!<>====== Not much to say - History goes back farther than DeSoto Native stories are very important that go back before the Euro. Euro was the main downfall we know because of the paper documents , clash between Euro beliefs and Native beliefs caused some discrepancies in stories because Euro could not personally interpret the Natives of any land not just this one. Since a lot of it was to conquer, they did not much care about the Natives as History says. But to go back - back before even Desoto who was first , his records show there were many varieties of races here as he saw it then, he recorded Black people and others. Since the beginning of people - no one really knows where all the races began or where they came from. DNA samples of lots of Native being tested are getting some results, but one has to understand once the continents and waters were different and people been going all over all the lands for how ever many years people been in existence . I listened to an elder once, we talked about a lot of things, she was born 1875, she told stories of her dads , her favorite one was as is many of others , when asked how long his people been on this land, he said ( we have been here forever) and Natives mainly Cherokee firmly believe it. No one is going to try to change the truth , but the truth is still under the microscope. some Native do not want to hear the story, they want the true facts, where are we really from!) and that is the main theme of these genealogy lists ( the truth) How ever the stories are our life, because they have special meanings, the true facts should not be covered up. Now mixed in Euro hate , we know what happened there, but what happened ( before) the involvements is where the stories should take us, maybe some day anold enough story might reveal another land where there are blood relations. There is never an argument in facts. Never give up on looking for the stories. Have you looked into the Lost Sea ? Dan M

James, Thank you for sharing this great information. I know of two old cemetery locations in Pocola that need some recognition before they disappear. Unfortunately I live in California and have only visited Pocola on time. I am planning a trip next spring, for the sole purpose of attempting to get permission to go onto the private property and take photographs of the one we can see from the highway, and locate the other, whose location has been passed down by word-of-mouth. I am very excited to hear about the tribal program and I will definitely be in contact with them!!! Carri -----Original Message----- From: patton14@crosstel.net To: indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com Sent: Sun, 1 Oct 2006 8:15 PM Subject: Re: [INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS] Harjo, OK( Indian Graves) Thank you. If you would forward any information to me, I will give to our tribal council member and she will contact the tribal office. They might want to call you or have you contact them about physical directions, etc. Or if you decide you want to contact them: 1-800-522-6170, ext 2125. The director is Terry Cole. On their website, their is a brief description of the program, www.choctawnation.com click on programs, on the scroll, click community services and cultural resources. I'm glad you are interested in this important undertaking. James Brown ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gene Phillips" <okienms@telepath.com> To: <indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 9:36 PM Subject: Re: [INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS] Harjo, OK( Indian Graves) >I have some information on a lost Choctaw Cemetery (Bacon Springs) in Bryan >County. It's way out in the boonies and grown over. Let me know if you >would like the information on this cemetery. > > Gene > > At 08:56 PM 10/1/2006, you wrote: >>The Choctaw Nation, of which I am a >>member has a cultural program that is in the process of locating old >>Indian >>Burying Grounds. > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ________________________________________________________________________ Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more.

If you really want to start ( at ) the beginning, Columbus had nothing to do with it, nor did Desoto, oh they <<changed history>> and the future from their visits but it was not the beginning of NA history here. There were lots of things going on before that. too bad we dont know what they were - or do we ? Dan M ----- Original Message ----- To: <indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com> <snipped>> > Of course we could always talk about Christopher Columbus...if we want to > start at the beginning!!

Yes Fran....my Sikes (white) ancestors, were from an area near Athens, GA, and the family graveyard is in the middle of a new housing development. That cemetary was vandalized also. However, the Pittman side of that family was fortunate enough to have it's homestead saved and made into a museum by the folks who founded the housing development, just miles from the other one. Hard to know. Of course, I would have to say that finally non indian folks are experiencing the things we've experiencing for years...as far as sacred burial grounds. Not that it's right....but perhaps now they can understand why so many laws were inacted to preserve them. But, still things like St Louis being built on a city much like Cahokia (IL).....is just a statement of how progress overshadows our honoring of previous history. If you visit the mounds at Cahokia...you will see how that was a prosperous trading center for Cherokee ancesotrs (the mound builders). But, the one under St. Louis was larger, if I remember my information correctly.. Of course if we go to Europe we'll see cities built on top of cities (England....underground rivers have Roman ruins. Istanbul has underground ruins of the Roman period as well). But, I think there they had an excuse....space?? The US, well we know how vast the areas of wilderness were...so building on top of ancient dwellings....burial grounds, etc., was not that necessary. Of course we only have to go back to The Crusades, to see the greatest disrespect, and destruction of historical information. I think you could compare the destruction and proposed assimilation of the native people, to that travesty as well. Imteresting too, as the published reason was because those people were non Christian.....when the motivating factor was the taking of plunder....and material wealth. Hmmm does that sound familiar. The one thing that seems to be in common...is the lack of respect for the past, and the importance of progress, and the almighty dollar. OK...I'm off my soapbox now. jes

Greetings, I have info on several HARJO families living in Seminole co. OK in 1907 census..also records of many Harjo buried in Vamossa cemetary (southern Seminole co. near Konawa, OK). Let me know if you want the entire list. Forrest forrest.reed@sbcglobal.net Fran Baribeau <fbarib@sbcglobal.net> wrote: Anybody out there from Harjo, OK or live nearby. Looking for an old cemetery, possibly grown-up. Many Indian graves there. Gr-Gr Grandma Maudie Mae (Blagg) Taylor was buried there in Oct. 1928. -- Fran ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thank you. If you would forward any information to me, I will give to our tribal council member and she will contact the tribal office. They might want to call you or have you contact them about physical directions, etc. Or if you decide you want to contact them: 1-800-522-6170, ext 2125. The director is Terry Cole. On their website, their is a brief description of the program, www.choctawnation.com click on programs, on the scroll, click community services and cultural resources. I'm glad you are interested in this important undertaking. James Brown ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gene Phillips" <okienms@telepath.com> To: <indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 9:36 PM Subject: Re: [INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS] Harjo, OK( Indian Graves) >I have some information on a lost Choctaw Cemetery (Bacon Springs) in Bryan >County. It's way out in the boonies and grown over. Let me know if you >would like the information on this cemetery. > > Gene > > At 08:56 PM 10/1/2006, you wrote: >>The Choctaw Nation, of which I am a >>member has a cultural program that is in the process of locating old >>Indian >>Burying Grounds. > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

Thank you, I certainly didn't mean to not include the necessity of all graves and abandoned cemetaries being preserved. My non-Indian great grandparents are buried in the cemetary at Van Buren, Arkansas. Surname: Franks. The last time I was at the cemetary there was in the early 90s, a lady from our church passed away and her family were buried there. Surname : Yost. ( maiden name: Ollie. I look forward to hearing from you again. James Brown ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fran Baribeau" <fbarib@sbcglobal.net> To: <indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 9:53 PM Subject: [INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS] Harjo > Yes James, I definetly agree with you on saving the burial grounds, and > not just of the Indian, but all of our ancestors graves. I began doing > some research from Crawford County, AR and was devasted to know that my > great-grandfather may be buried somewhere under I-40. I read in the > "History of Headstones of Crawford County" that graves were destroyed to > make room for a housing project, roads were cut through them and I-40 was > laid over one. Then there is the graveyard in the George Washington Carver > monument park in Diamond, Mo. It has been vandalized twice with all the > original headstones being knocked over and broken. These are just an > inkling of the graves and burial grounds that have been demolished. > > I just returned from the Random Acts of Kindness website and I did see > your name under Haskell County. Way to go, James! -- Fran > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

My opinion is this burial would have definately been handled by a funeral home. Funeral homes keep records of funeral costs, place of burial, and some keep the imformation that make up the obituary. I certainly recommend that you attempt to find the funeral home that conducted the services. James Brown Sans Bois Mountains ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carla B" <soarsister@cableone.net> To: <indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 9:41 PM Subject: Re: [INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS] Harjo, OK( Indian Graves) > Our Choctaw ancestor Tom Goins was buried in Crowder Springs Cemetery in > 1939. All that is known is that he was buried by a big tree and in a black > casket. I would love to know for sure where he is and put a marker. Would > the funeral homes at that time had to have kept a record of burial, or was > it up to the families? > Keep up the good work, I so appreciate the info I have gotten online from > people who take the time to take pix and record! > Carla > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

Our Choctaw ancestor Tom Goins was buried in Crowder Springs Cemetery in 1939. All that is known is that he was buried by a big tree and in a black casket. I would love to know for sure where he is and put a marker. Would the funeral homes at that time had to have kept a record of burial, or was it up to the families? Keep up the good work, I so appreciate the info I have gotten online from people who take the time to take pix and record! Carla

I have some information on a lost Choctaw Cemetery (Bacon Springs) in Bryan County. It's way out in the boonies and grown over. Let me know if you would like the information on this cemetery. Gene At 08:56 PM 10/1/2006, you wrote: >The Choctaw Nation, of which I am a >member has a cultural program that is in the process of locating old Indian >Burying Grounds.

I hope you are sucessful in your search. The Choctaw Nation, of which I am a member has a cultural program that is in the process of locating old Indian Burying Grounds. Recently my tribal council member, Charlotte Jackson asked if I knew about graves in 2 certains areas. Coincidently I did. When the men came down from the tribal office this summer it was 101 degrees, but we trekked across the hills and located them. With the property owners permission these few graves will now be fenced and recorded in our tribal history. Only oral history and supposition that those old ones buried there most probably had connections to the Indian allotment, the land where they now lay buried. The people that came down introduced me to an awesome piece of high tech equipment, and since I knew it had to get tribal council approval to purchase,I'm sure it was very expensive. The "machine" can determine approximately how many persons are buried in the area. My son says! " Way Cool". I personally believe this is so important that these graves be located and recorded somewhere. If not after our generation , this vital piece of history will be lost forever. Have you considered contacting the Citizen Potawatomie Nation or other tribal offices. Their cultural or historical archives might assist with recorded knowledge. And last, you might check your library for a publication ( I'm sure out of print ) " Frontier Lore 1975 No. 1- Pottawatomie County Oklahoma- Pottawatomie County Historical Society" Published by Pottawatomie County" I called a friend in Shawnee to get the title of this....his cell was cutting out..but I believe that is fairly accurate. We have a historical publication in Haskell County and in its contents are most of the cemetaries and mentions of abandoned ones. Ok. I didn't mean to go on and on...Indian Burying Grounds preservation is very important to me as well as you locating these graves. If you don't mind, I would like to hear how things go. James ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fran Baribeau" <fbarib@sbcglobal.net> To: <indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 8:36 PM Subject: Re: [INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS] Harjo, OK( Indian Graves) > Thank you James, those are two really good ideas. I will try first the > Random Acts of Gen. Kindness. They have helped in my research before. > She died in 1928. I would think they would have used funeral homes by that > time. I'll check into the ones in the Harjo/Maud area. Thanks again. -- > Fran > > James Brown <patton14@crosstel.net> wrote: > http://www.raogk.com/oklahoma2.htm > You might try the link above for Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness. > There are volunteers in each county that will often take photographs of > tombstones, etc. The volunteer there in Pottawatomie County is La Vera > Jones, If you are interested in inquiring there, she might have knowledge > of the cemetary. I do volunteer look ups in Haskell County. I have in the > past had knowledge of an abandoned burying ground to assist a family > member. > Another thought ,if you know any names of persons that you believe to be > buried there and you think the burial was recent enough to be handled by a > funeral home, make an inquiry there about location. Do you know the name > of > the cemetary? Often funeral home directors know where most cemetaries are, > even if not used anymore. Wishing you the best in your search. > > James Brown > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Fran Baribeau" > To: > Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 7:59 PM > Subject: [INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS] Harjo, OK > > >> Anybody out there from Harjo, OK or live nearby. Looking for an old >> cemetery, possibly grown-up. Many Indian graves there. Gr-Gr Grandma >> Maudie Mae (Blagg) Taylor was buried there in Oct. 1928. -- Fran >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

http://www.raogk.com/oklahoma2.htm You might try the link above for Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness. There are volunteers in each county that will often take photographs of tombstones, etc. The volunteer there in Pottawatomie County is La Vera Jones, If you are interested in inquiring there, she might have knowledge of the cemetary. I do volunteer look ups in Haskell County. I have in the past had knowledge of an abandoned burying ground to assist a family member. Another thought ,if you know any names of persons that you believe to be buried there and you think the burial was recent enough to be handled by a funeral home, make an inquiry there about location. Do you know the name of the cemetary? Often funeral home directors know where most cemetaries are, even if not used anymore. Wishing you the best in your search. James Brown ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fran Baribeau" <fbarib@sbcglobal.net> To: <indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 7:59 PM Subject: [INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS] Harjo, OK > Anybody out there from Harjo, OK or live nearby. Looking for an old > cemetery, possibly grown-up. Many Indian graves there. Gr-Gr Grandma > Maudie Mae (Blagg) Taylor was buried there in Oct. 1928. -- Fran > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Yes James, I definetly agree with you on saving the burial grounds, and not just of the Indian, but all of our ancestors graves. I began doing some research from Crawford County, AR and was devasted to know that my great-grandfather may be buried somewhere under I-40. I read in the "History of Headstones of Crawford County" that graves were destroyed to make room for a housing project, roads were cut through them and I-40 was laid over one. Then there is the graveyard in the George Washington Carver monument park in Diamond, Mo. It has been vandalized twice with all the original headstones being knocked over and broken. These are just an inkling of the graves and burial grounds that have been demolished. I just returned from the Random Acts of Kindness website and I did see your name under Haskell County. Way to go, James! -- Fran

Thank you James, those are two really good ideas. I will try first the Random Acts of Gen. Kindness. They have helped in my research before. She died in 1928. I would think they would have used funeral homes by that time. I'll check into the ones in the Harjo/Maud area. Thanks again. -- Fran James Brown <patton14@crosstel.net> wrote: http://www.raogk.com/oklahoma2.htm You might try the link above for Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness. There are volunteers in each county that will often take photographs of tombstones, etc. The volunteer there in Pottawatomie County is La Vera Jones, If you are interested in inquiring there, she might have knowledge of the cemetary. I do volunteer look ups in Haskell County. I have in the past had knowledge of an abandoned burying ground to assist a family member. Another thought ,if you know any names of persons that you believe to be buried there and you think the burial was recent enough to be handled by a funeral home, make an inquiry there about location. Do you know the name of the cemetary? Often funeral home directors know where most cemetaries are, even if not used anymore. Wishing you the best in your search. James Brown ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fran Baribeau" To: Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 7:59 PM Subject: [INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS] Harjo, OK > Anybody out there from Harjo, OK or live nearby. Looking for an old > cemetery, possibly grown-up. Many Indian graves there. Gr-Gr Grandma > Maudie Mae (Blagg) Taylor was buried there in Oct. 1928. -- Fran > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message