For those of you not familiar with the name Nancy Ward she was a Cherokee Beloved Woman whose reputation is much too long and storied for me to tell here. Just let it be said that she is probably the most well know Cherokee Woman in history. When she died JD Clemmer said he saw her spirit rise from her body. He was 4 at the time and told the tale all his life. She is buried just south of Benton, Polk County, Tennessee. It is now a state park. Just last summer a very moving ceremony was held to dedicate the area. It was attended by several prominent Cherokee leaders. Just after she died a stone mason in Grainger Co, TN was commissioned to carve a statue in her likeness for her grave site. I can't recall from memory the exact reason why but the statue never made it to her grave. It was sold and found on the grave of Maggie Farmer in Granger County where it resided for 70 years. In the 1940's, periodically until the 1980's Polk Co. Historian, Roy Lillard, campaigned to get the statue returned to her gravesite. They had, apparently, negotiated a deal with Maggie Farmer's grandson but when they went to pick it up it was gone and had been missing for a month. Apparently a Mr. Allen somehow got possession of it in Morristown, TN. It followed him to Florida then into Maine. After Mr. Allen died his dtr sold the statue to an Antique dealer there. In New York Mr. Richard Lawrence who is a Nancy Ward descendent saw a photo of the statue in an antiques show ad. He contacted the owners in Maine then met with them to discuss the issue. He also contacted Mr. Ray Smith who was aiding in the search, along with Angie King (who works for TN Park service near Benton). www.smithdray.net is the web site for what has been achieved so far THere is quite an article in the newspaper about it this week with more to come next week. I intend to call Ms. King tomorrow to see what can be done to help retreive the statue. THe shop that has possession of the statue has it priced at $165,000.00. Ms. King is trying to learn if Mr. Lillard had completed the negotiations in 1980 that would prove ownership. Pray that this happens. After being gone from her grave site for 170 years it is time for it to come home. I understand that there is people looking into the legal aspects of the situation. You can be sure I will keep all of you informed of how this progresses. Everyone in this area who is anywhere near involved in the history of our area is very excited. Joyce Gaston Reece a..