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Newsletter of the National Historic Trail Partnership • Spring 2019 – Number 31 TRAIL OF TEARS CURRICULUM PROJECT UNDER CONSTRUCTION University of North PICTURED: At the spring 2018 TOTA national LEFT TO RIGHT: BRIAN board meeting, a vote to partner with CORRIGAN, PUBLIC HISTORIAN/ MSNHA, DR. JEFFREY BIBBEE, the University of North Alabama to PROFESSOR FROM UNA/ALTOTA create a national curriculum for k-12 MEMBER , JUDY SIZEMORE, students on the Trail of Tears cleared MUSCLE SHOALS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA/ALTOTA the board and gave partners a green MEMBER, ANNA MULLICAN light to begin laying the framework for ARCHAEOLOGIST/EDUCATOR- TOTA’s first ever large-scale curriculum OAKVILLE INDIAN MOUNDS, ANITA FLANAGAN, EASTERN project. BAND OF INDIANS CITIZEN/ALTOTA BOARD Since then, there has been much MEMBER, DR. CARRIE BARSKE- CRAWFORD, DIRECTOR/MUSCLE ground covered to begin building SHOALS NATIONAL HERITAGE partners for the curriculum with not AREA, SETH ARMSTRONG PUBLIC only TOTA and UNA but also with HISTORIAN/PROFESSOR/ALTOTA MEMBER, SHANNON KEITH, the Muscle Shoals National Heritage ALTOTA CHAPTER PRESIDENT. Area. Just under one year out, our UNA and TOTA are committed to creating Educating students about the trail, who was Alabama planning group has secured something truly transformational for impacted, and the consequences for everyone $20,000.00 from the Muscle Shoals teachers around the country.” involved is essential. This cross-curriculum National Heritage Area, $25,000.00 project will allow teachers to introduce the from the University of North Alabama Dr. Carrie Barske-Crawford, Director of subject into their classes in multiple ways, and another $100,000.00 in in-kind the Muscle Shoals National Heritage hopefully enforcing just how important this contributions from UNA. We are Area had the following to say. moment in history was to students.” currently awaiting a $50,000.00 request from the Alabama Legislature “The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Article contributed by Shannon Keith, President to create a work space for interns to Area is excited to partner with the Trail of the Alabama Trail of Tears Chapter help work on this project as well as of Tears Association meeting space for the groups to get and the University work done cooperatively. of North Alabama on this exciting We will be working on the next fund- and much-needed raising phase within the next few project. The Trail months. If you or your organization of Tears shaped is interested in supporting this life in our region project with a donation, please in dramatic ways. MUSCLE SHOALS, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA AND THE NATIONIONAL TRAIL OF TEARS contact Troy Wayne Poteete at the ASSOCIATION ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE TRAIL OF TEARS CURRICULUM A REALITY. TOTA headquarters to obtain official information on donations.

At the spring 2019 TOTA national board meeting, representatives from UNA and the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area plan to attend the workshop put on by UNA professor, Dr. Jeffrey Bibbee. Dr. Bibbee has been a champion of this project from day one. He has worked hard to obtain funding and to lay out a basic Phase I structure for implementation. Now, it is time to bring TOTA into the planning of shaping that structure and advising into the implementation phase. Dr. Bibbee best sums up the importance of the project with this quote: “This is a national, if not global project, that seeks to bring this part of our history to each and every classroom in the USA.

2 Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News • Spring 2019 UPCOMING TOTA EVENTS TRAIL OF TEARS HISTORIC TRAIL NEWS Now available thru the new Indigenous Source Academic database March 9th, 2019 the Trail of Tears to a far Chapter Meeting larger audience than we 10:30am-501 Riverside Pkwy, Rome, GA have ever had before. We Cherokee/Creek Relationship (Part 1) will reach internationally “The Red Stick War” by W. Jeff Biship into institutions who have possibly never heard of March 29th & 30th, 2019 our existence and into the Grand Re-Opening of Center hands of researchers and Events - See box on bottom of page 3 educators who can help teach about this piece of history that still to this day March 30th, 2019 EBSCO INFO SERVICES HEADQUARTERS, IPSWICH, MA causes issues in the daily AR Chapter Spring Meeting & Public Program The Trail of Tears Association has lives of Native people. Having been National Research Center (SNRC) entered into an agreement whereby an academic librarian, it thrills my Little Rock, AR its Newsletter is now included in the soul to see that EBSCO continues Trail of Tears Resources and Research at SNRC databases utilized by Libraries all over to reach outward to build this Dr. Daniel Littlefield, SNRC Director the country. much needed genre of information and to disseminate it to a larger The Trail of Tears National Historic audience,” said AL Chapter Pres. April 6th, 2019 Trail News was nominated for Shannon Keith, who holds a Masters Chapter Spring Meeting inclusion on a new database to be in Library and Information Science 10:00am-Community Building Located Behind called Indigenous Source for use in from the UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, Restaurant of the , Tahlequah, OK Academic and University libraries. The Tuscaloosa, AL Dr. Daniel Littlefield, Seq. Nat’l Research Center nomination followed distribution of the Newsletter to State of AL officials EBSCO has over 300 different May 11th, 2019 during a visit of AL Chapter officers research databases that Libraries Georgia Chapter Meeting to Montgomery, AL to work on subscribe to on an annual basis to provide them as a research tool Bartow County Extension Office funding for the 2018 Conference and 10:30am-320 W Cherokee St., Cartersville, GA Symposium. for their patrons. These databases are used to assist publishers in Cherokee/Creek Relationship (Part 2) The data base has been developed reaching their target audience “Georgia Native People” by Dr. Joseph Kitchens by EBSCO Information Services, and maintaining and increasing headquartered in Ipswich, MA, a their core business (memberships, June 22nd, 2019 division of the Birmingham, AL subscriptions, etc.). TN Chapter Meeting & Commemorative Walk based EBSCO Industries, Inc. EBSCO Tellico Plains, TN is the leading provider of research Library patrons typically use EBSCO’s databases, e-journals, magazine databases to run a keyword search similar to how you would use a July 13th, 2019 subscriptions, e-books and discovery Georgia Chapter Meeting service to libraries of all kinds. commercial search engine (Google, (“EBSCO” is an acronym for Elton B. Yahoo, etc.). The results display a Bartow History Museum Stephens Co.) list of articles from many different 10:30am-4 E Church Street, Cartersville, GA publications. Along with each Cherokee/Creek Relationship (Part 3) “The EBSCO determination to record is a live link that directs traffic Speaker to be announced include the TOTA Newsletter in their back to that publications website. Indigenous offerings shows a very This gives the TOTA Newsletter September 13th, 2019 high level vote of confidence into our exposure and directs web traffic to Georgia Chapter Meeting activities and research. TOTA now the TOTA website originating from Rock Eagle 4H Center has the ability to get information out those using an EBSCO database in a 10:30am-350 Rock Eagle Rd. Eatonton, GA about the role we are taking on to library. Cherokee/Creek Relationship (Part 4) preserve the story and the legacy of “The Removal and the Antebellum South” by Dr. Claudioi Saunt Grand Re-Opening of Hiwassee River Center Events: Charleston-Calhoun-Hiwassee Historical Society October 12th-13th, 2019 March 29 -- Dr. Brett Riggs presentation on his completed Research --6:30 p.m 24th Annual National Conference & Symposium - Walker Valley High School, 750 Lauderdale Memorial Hwy, Cleveland, TN (near Charleston) Holiday Inn - Paducah, KY (Riverfront) 600N 4th St, Paducah, KY 42001 March 30 -- Hiwassee River Center Opens to the Public-- Noon Phone # - 270-366-7614 - Afternoon Lecture Series presented at the River Center Education Room Room Block: Trail of Tears 2019 Conference 1:00 McMinn County Sherriff Joe Guy--History of Walkers Ferry on the Hiwassee or (TTC) - Room Rate $89+tax 2:00 Troy Wayne Poteete--Charleston-Calhoun’s Cherokee Characters 3:00 Jim Ogden---Civil War Times on the Hiwassee 4:00 Laura Spann---Development of the Twin Cities on the Hiwassee after the Civil War (Event Information is Subject to Change)

Spring 2019 • Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News 3 CHEROKEE CYCLISTS PREPARING FOR ANNUAL “REMEMBER THE REMOVAL” RIDE away until 2009 when the Education Department revived the ride again with the idea of developing leadership in Cherokee youth and to give them confidence to take on future life challenges. This is the 12th time Cherokee cyclists will retrace the Northern Route. Today, the bicycle ride begins in , Georgia, the last capital of the Cherokee Nation before the forced removals. Cyclists travel an average of 60 miles a day, experiencing a small “REMEMBER THE REMOVAL” CYCLISTS CIRCLE UP TO PRAY BEFORE EMBARKING ON THEIR JOURNEY. part of the hardships their Cherokee ancestors faced as they made the same TAHLEQUAH - Preparations are being “TOTA’s incredible generosity to the trek on foot, by horse and by wagon. made for the 2019 “Remember the ‘Remember the Removal’ bike ride Removal” bicycle ride as youth and makes a lasting impact on all of the Article written by Will Chavez, Staff writer for mentor riders from the Cherokee riders as well as their family members the Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee and the communities that witness Indians train to face to challenge of their kind acts,” said 2017 RTR cyclist riding the Northern Route of the Trail Raven Girty of Gore, Oklahoma. “They of Tears during three weeks in June. make such an impact on the riders that come in contact with them. Wado The bicycle ride is a nearly 1,000-mile (Thank You)!” ride taken to honor the Cherokee people who were forced from their The first “Remember the Removal” ride homelands in 1838 and 1839. It also took place in 1984 when 20 Cherokee teaches young Cherokee people Nation cyclists left from Cherokee, ages 16 to 24 years more about their , in early June and culture, history and language as they traveled 1,100 miles through seven cycle the same route their ancestors states back to Oklahoma. The ride were forced to walk to , was taken to make people aware that now Oklahoma. the forced removal or “Trail of Tears” The route travels through seven happened and to encourage the states and relies on the support of federal government to mark the trails Trail of Tears Association chapters Cherokee people took to reach Indian along the route. Chapter members in Territory. North Carolina, Georgia, , , Illinois, Missouri, That first ride was also organized and Oklahoma support the cyclists for Cherokee youth to teach them with genealogy assistance and provide leadership qualities, to give them information about where the cyclists’ confidence and improve their self- ancestors lived before the removals esteem. Through hardship of the and where they stopped along the ride they realized the strength and capabilities they possess. “REMEMBER THE REMOVAL” CYCLISTS PREPARE TO CLIMB Northern Route. Chapter members A HILL ON THEIR WAY TO LEBANON, MISSOURI, IN 2018. also provide refreshments and meals TRAVELING THROUGH MISSOURI’S BACK ROADS IS ONE along the route as the cyclists make After the inaugural 1984 ride, the OF THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGES THE CYCLISTS FACE DURING their way to Oklahoma. Remember the Removal ride went THE THREE-WEEK RIDE FROM GEORGIA TO OKLAHOMA.

4 Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News • Spring 2019 TNTOTA MEMBERS TAKE “REMEMBER THE REMOVAL” OVER LONDON CYCLISTSBOTTOM PREPARE PICTURE TO CLIMB FROM A HILLL TO ON R: THEIR RITCHIE WAY SNEED TO TNTOTA member and Director of the LEBANON,(PRINCIPAL MISSOURI, CHIEF, IN Sequoyah Birthplace Museum Charlie 2018. TRAVELINGEASTERN THROUGH BAND OF MISSOURI’SCHEROKEE BACK INDIANS), ROADS BO Rhodarmer recently traveled to London TAYLOR, EX. DIR. MUSEUMIS ONE with a delegation of Eastern Band FROM L TO R: BO OF THE OFCHEROKEE THE TOUGHEST INDIANS, Cherokees. Dawn Arneach, the assistant TAYLOR, BULLETT CHALLENGESSAM SNEED THE AND CYCLISTS CHARLIE STANDINGDEER, FACE DURINGRHODARMER, THE THREE- EX. DIR. director at the Museum of the Cherokee CHARLIE WEEKSEQUOYAH’S RIDE FROM BIRTHPLACE GEORGIA Indian, applied last year for the Warriors RHODARMER AND MUSEUM WALKINGTO OKLAHOMA. ACROSS of Anikituwah and Charlie to walk in JARRETT WILDCAT ABBEY ROAD WHILE STANDING IN FRONT REENACTING THE ICONIC the London New Year’s Day Parade. OF BUCKINGHAM BEATLES PHOTOGRAPH They recreated Lt. Henry Timberlake’s PALACE IN LONDON, TAKEN IN 1969 18th Century visits with three Cherokee ENGLAND. Warriors, Ostenaco, Cunne Shote, and Woyi. They visited several places that the Cherokees and Timberlake visited in 1762 and on his return trip in 1765. On his 1765 trip, Timberland was thrown into debtors’ prison because he could not pay the tavern and inn bill for himself and the Cherokee. To pay his debt, he wrote his memoirs about the time he spent in the Cherokee Overhill. It is an incredible work that describes the Cherokee life and culture in the 18th Century. Unfortunately, for Timberlake, he died before he could pay his way out of debtor’s prison. Submitted by Charlie Rhodarmer MISSOURI TOTA CHAPTER WINS AWARD On October 24, 2018, the Missouri Humanities Council held its annual Humanities Awards and Gala at the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis. The night highlighted four awardees of the 2018 Missouri Humanities Council Partner Award, one of which was the Missouri chapter of the Trail of Tears Association. Chapter President Deloris Gray Wood accepted the award on behalf of the chapter for its dedication and work in the humanities in the state. For the Chapter and the Trail of Tears across Missouri, the award recognizes the rich historic, cultural, and humanitarian significance of the Trail in Missouri at a critical time – a time when the Trail stories and Trail assets were nearly forgotten, nearly gone to that Humanities and Cultural Waste Station where facts are reworked to more acceptable fiction.

With strong support from the Missouri Humanities Council, the DR. WILLIAM “BILL” AMBROSE, SECRETARY AND DELORIS GRAY Missouri Chapter is rapidly becoming one of the leaders of the nine-chapter WOOD, PRESIDENT OF THE MISSOURI CHAPTER TRAIL OF TEARS Association, bringing new and exciting facts forward presented through ASSOCIATION; WITH DR. STEVE BELKO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MISSOURI HUMANITIES COUNCIL AFTER THE GALA AWARD engaging, high-tech, and interactive opportunities for participation by a general CEREMONY. BECKY AMBROSE PHOTO CREDIT. public seeking a history, genealogy, sight-seeing, tourism-prone experience. This partnership with the Missouri Humanities Council has facilitated efforts toward all of these goals with grants for research, asset protection funding, leadership toward public interpretation, and funding digitization and GIS geo-referencing of the trail. President Wood’s acceptance speech included the following: “For me personally, this award is my second Missouri humanities award as I received the Governor’s Award in the Humanities for excellence in community heritage in 2001, at the Missouri Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City. As President of the Missouri chapter of the Trail of Tears Association, I am proud and humbled to receive this second award in the name of the Missouri chapter, and even more proud to have as our partner to steward the truth of the Trail in Missouri the Missouri Humanities Council. A thank you to Dr. Steve Belko for believing in us and to the Missouri Humanities Council for supporting this nearly forgotten Missouri humanitarian epic.”

Spring 2019 • Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News 5 22nd HIKE THE HILL EVENT A SUCCESS The Partnership for the National Trail System (PNTS) held its 22nd annual Hike the Hill event in Washington, D.C., beginning with the board of directors meeting on February 9, 2019. The Trail of Tears Association is represented on the PNTS Trail Leaders Council (TLC) by Deloris Gray Wood, from which she was elected to serve on the PNTS board of directors, as well. The TLC includes 30 national scenic and historic trails and 34 trail associations.

Hike the Hill brings partners along the entirety of the (NTS) together to cohesively present to Congress and federal agencies the funding and other needs necessary to sustain the national trails. Trail partners discuss current initiatives, legislation, and goals for the future of the NTS as both a group and individually THE OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF PNTS POSE FOR A PHOTO AFTER with federal partners, congressmen or their staff, and fellow THEIR MEETING ON FEBRUARY 9, 2019, IN WASHINGTON, D.C. TOTA REPRESENTATIVE trail organizations. DELORIS GRAY WOOD (FRONT ROW, FAR LEFT) SERVES ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

ALABAMA by a group of Methodist ministers few tombstones with engravings is who protested the treatment of the for Edward Kelly, born in 1785 and ALTOTA Plans Marker for Temporary Cherokees, and opposed their died in 1840. Cherokee Capital at Chattooga removal. It is highly probable that some A marker is being planned for the Funding for the project is being members of the Brown family, who temporary location of the capital of provided by the Alabama Tourism were Cherokees, are buried there. the Cherokee Nation in northeast Bureau as part of the state’s John Brown Jr. owned a tavern only Alabama. When the State of Georgia Bicentennial celebration. One side a short distance away, and his sister no longer allowed the Cherokees of the marker will be in English and Catharine and their parents resided to use their capital at New Echota the other in Sequoyah’s syllabary. An with him. in 1831, they moved their base of unveiling ceremony is being planned operations to Chattooga, located in for October. Catharine Brown (1800-1823) is Northeast Alabama. recognized as the first Cherokee Historic Davidson Cemetery Being convert to Christianity and taught Following years of research by Cleared Cherokee girls at nearby Creek Mike Wren, Jim Lewis, and Larry Path Mission. When she died, only Smith, a marker will be placed to a wooden marker was erected commemorate the site of Chattooga at her grave. Missionary Daniel Courthouse, which doubled as the Butrick visited the graves of John capital. and Catharine Brown in 1823 and Although Chattooga served as the mentioned that he saw the empty capital only briefly—it moved to house of their parents, who had Red Clay, in Tennessee in 1832—the moved to Arkansas. Alabama chapter feels the site is MEMBERS OF THE GUNTERSVILLE, ALABAMA GENEALOGICAL The Browns were close friends deserving of a historical marker for SOCIETY MARK THE LOCATION OF GRAVES WITH PINK FLAGS IN DAVIDSON CEMETERY LOCATED IN MARSHALL COUNTY, with principal chief John Ross, who other reasons. ALABAMA. attended John Jr.’s funeral in 1822. Sequoyah was summonsed to Several members of the Guntersville David, another brother, is considered appear on a legal matter ten years Alabama Historical Society are to have been one of the most earlier “at the Indian court held at clearing an old cemetery that is intellectual Cherokees of his day. Chattooga.” He wrote down what thought to contain the remains of A tornado a few years ago almost he was going to say using his new important Cherokees buried there. obliterated the cemetery and is now syllabary, and when he read his Davidson Cemetery, located near the being cleared of fallen trees and remarks, the audience was amazed. base of Sand (Raccoon) Mountain in debris. Marshall County, Alabama contains It was also here that the Chattooga several graves, mostly identified by Photo & Articles Submitted By Larry Smith Resolves of 1830 were passed small natural sandstones. One of the 6 Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News • Spring 2019 Trail of Tears Association State Chapter News

ARKANSAS Region, these panels are located GEORGIA where the Benge Detachment The Arkansas Chapter is working The Georgia Chapter has more camped while passing through milestones to celebrate this year. to develop a Crawford County Fayetteville in January 1839. comprehensive research and We will be supporting the 200th site report on Chickasaw and Anniversary of Home Choctaw removal routes. Historic which is now the Chieftains Preservation Officer, Carolyn Museum in Rome, Georgia. Also Kent, is working directly with the 2019 will the 20th Anniversary Choctaw Nation to outline routes of the Funk Heritage Center at and rendezvous sites. In addition to Reinhardt University in Waleska, LOCAL MURAL AT TRAIL OF TEARS PEDESTRIAN TRAIL, Georgia. Both the Chieftains identifying routes and significant FAYETTEVILLE ENTITLED “HOLDING ON, LETTING GO: locations, the Choctaw are THE STRUGGLE AND STRENGTH OF THE TSA LA GI.” Museum and the Funk Heritage Center are certified sites on the interested in identifying places of Four pedestrian signs have been unmarked burials. They are currently National Historic Trail of Tears installed on the Tsa- La- Gi Trail and they are important in the in the process of working with in Fayetteville. The twelve-foot property owners for permission to preservation of paved bicycle and pedestrian trial here in Georgia. do a tribal archaeological study at connects to the popular Razorback Mary Black’s public house, used as Greenway trail at the University a ration depot in the Grand Prairie. of Arkansas Benge site park. In Kent is meeting with the Choctaw addition, two Historic Route at the Sequoyah National Research highway signs will be installed in Center in early March to share Fayetteville. ARTOTA President, research, gather resources, and help Bethany Rosenbaum, and Project direct them to significance places in Manager, John McClarty, are Arkansas. currently in consultation with the City of Fayetteville to design /MAJOR RIDGE HOME IN ROME, GA Another important removal site and install an interpretive panel This year’s General Meeting for the Choctaw and the Cherokee illustrating the new Tsa-La- Gi is Natural Dam, managed by Theme will be “Cherokee/Creek Trail artwork entitled “Holding Relationship”. The Georgia Chapter the U.S. Forest Service, Boston On, Letting Go: The Struggle and Mountain Ranger District. On is committed to educating the Strength of the Tsa- La- Gi.” public about the Trail of Tears. March 13th, ARTOTA will meet with Two road signs are scheduled to be USFS representatives at Natural each year our five public meetings installed on county roads between are held at different locations Dam to discuss research needs Prairie Grove and Cane Hill. Efforts and interpretive opportunities. throughout North Georgia. Our are also underway for additional first meeting will March 9th at These efforts will hopefully lead to Historic Route highway signs at Pea certification of Natural Dam. the Chieftains Museum and Jeff Ridge National Military Park and Bishop’s lecture will be “The Red Fitzgerald’s farmstead in Benton Stick Wars”. Mr. Bishop is a former and Washington counties. President of the Georgia Chapter The ARTOTA will host its Spring and is currently the Director of the Meeting and Public Program Funk Heritage Center. For more on March 30th at the Sequoyah information about our meetings National Research Center (SNRC) please visit our new website: in Little Rock. Director of the SNRC, gatrailoftears.com.

INTERPRETIVE PANELS INSTALLED AT THE TRAIL OF Dr. Daniel Littlefield, will give a TEARS SIDE PARK NEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS program on Trail of Tears resources Another major project for 2019 will CAMPUS, FAYETTEVILLE. and research at the repository and be the updating and reprinting Two Trail of Tears interpretive panels accessibility, as well as provide an of our NPS Trail of Tears brochure were recently installed at a small update on the new digital platform for Georgia. Although the current park site on the south side of the for Trail of Tears across the state. brochure has served us well we University of Arkansas campus. Pending final approval, the ARTOTA would like to update many of the Developed in partnership with will host a NPS workshop in April to certified sites photos and include the City of Fayetteville, University develop and complete a Northwest both the Cherokee Garden and of Arkansas, ARTOTA, and the Arkansas trail plan that promotes the Old Federal Road route. We NPS National Trails Intermountain cohesiveness of trail development. look forward to working with the

Spring 2019 • Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News 7 GEORGIA (continued) MISSOURI Trail Office The Missouri chapter of the Trail of in updating our brochure. Leslie Tears Association held its annual Thomas, our Preservation Officer, meeting during the TOTA Conference is continually researching possible and Symposium in Decatur, historic sites to be added to Georgia Alabama. Board members present section of the Trail of Tears. were President Deloris Gray Wood, Treasurer Denise Dowling, Secretary Dr. William ‘Bill’ Ambrose, and board ILLINOIS member Brick Autry. We welcomed As 2019 gets underway, the Illinois Becky Ambrose, the chapter’s newest Chapter has identified a number of member. goals we hope to get accomplished this year. Our primary focus this year KRISTINA ADKINS SCOTT In January, Dr. Ambrose, Wood, and will be to assist in the planning and One of the big things at park last board member Mark Spangler made coordination of the 2019 National years was National Park Service a stop at the Missouri State Archives Conference to be held in Paducah, Passport Program. We had many for a special tour from Archivist John Kentucky. We look forward to visitors from all over visit to get Dougan. He showed the group the working with the Kentucky and their passports stamped. We saw section of the archives that holds old Missouri Chapters to highlight this many families and others begin maps and rare documents. part of the Water Route. their Passport Journey at the Park, with it being their first stamp. We We are also very close to finishing sell the Passports at site. Kentucky the Wayside Exhibits for Fort Trail of Tears other Passport site is Massac and Fort Defiance. They are Columbus-Belmont State Park. currently undergoing final approval and will be at the fabricators soon. We are working with Carol Clark We will also be partnering with the and Paducah on the two wayside U.S. Forest Service to host an open exhibits for the Riverfront in DR. TONI M. PRAWL, DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY STATE house at the newly developed and HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER, DIVISION OF STATE Paducah. Hope to get them soon. PARKS, AT THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL interpreted Hamburg Hill segment Also, in that area working on RESOURCES BUILDING WITH MISSOURI CHAPTER BOARD of the Trail, which will also have a two more river sites. One could MEMBER MARK SPANGLER. Wayside Exhibit installed this year. possibly be a big one. Possibly Following the visit to the Archives, another interpretive site. the board met up with Dr. Steve We plan to continue hosting and Bleko, Missouri Humanities Council providing public presentations in Troy and Jack came in January executive director, and Dr. Toni M. order to introduce people to the and we met at the Holiday Inn Prawl, Missouri Division of State Parks Trail of Tears and further educate Riverfront, Paducah to start director and deputy state historic them about this historical event. planning the 2019 Trail of Tears preservation officer, for a meeting Finally, our list of research topics Conference and Symposium to about cultural resources along the continues to grow, so we hope be held in Paducah, Kentucky in Trail, including grave sites located to spend some time this year October. Meeting with us was along the Northern, Hildebrand and researching possible witness Sandy Boaz, and Heather Carey, Benge Routes. structures and ground truthing Illinois Chapter Trail of Tears, Carla segments in the field. Hildebrand. Also, Linda-Peters Dr. Ambrose and Wood revisited KENTUCKY Jones Director convention & the Archives in late January, at visitors center. Trail of Tears Commemorative which time Dougan evaluated the Park went under much needed research and maps of Phelps County On Febuary 6, I met with Sarah renovations last year. We had located at the Archives and the ones Holcomb and Sherry Johnson who a good year. We have two from Wood’s research, including a came through planning the 2019 outstanding volunteers at park. 1929 resurvey of the old St. Louis Remember the Removal Bike Kristina Scott who has volunteered to Springfield road done by the ride. We always look forward to for six years, and Richard Narkevic. Phelps County Commission, Civil War working with them every year. We were able to keep the Heritage Maps of the forts in Rolla, railroad Center open seven days a week. maps, general land office maps, and Planning a meeting in May at a The Heritage Center opens for this resurveys of Phelps County in 1887 site to be announced later. season March 1. showing the roads. 8 Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News • Spring 2019 Removal communities are in the MISSOURI (continued) works. NCTOTA’s 2019 theme is “Resilience and Rebuilding: Four Post-Removal Cherokee Communities in Western North Carolina.” Each quarterly meeting will focus on a different community. Board Director Brett Riggs will lecture on Welch’s Farm in April. DR. WILLIAM ‘BILL’ AMBROSE, SECRETARY, AND DELORIS GRAY WOOD, PRESIDENT OF THE MISSOURI CHAPTER Educational Outreach Chair TRAIL OF TEARS ASSOCIATION; AND JOHN DOUGAN, MISSOURI STATE ARCHIVIST, AT THE MISSOURI STATE Anita Finger-Smith and NCTOTA ARCHIVES MAP, JANUARY 15, 2019. member Robin Swayney are leading the annual Remember the HEADSTONE OF JACKSON CHRISTIE NORTH CAROLINA Booklets containing biographical Removal Bike Ride Genealogical information and genealogies of On October 29, 2018, the North Studies Program, which lasts the three Cherokee survivors had Carolina Chapter of the Trail of for six weeks. The Chapter is been prepared by David Hampton Tears Association hosted a sign partnering with the Macon who researched and compiled dedication in honor of the 50th County Public Library to host a all the information necessary to Anniversary of the National Trails display and two lectures on the certify the survivors of the Trail of System Act. NCTOTA partnered with Trail of Tears as part of the library’s Tears. the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Walking with Spring series. The and Nantahala Hiking Club to mark lectures will take place on April Prior to the marking, a luncheon the crossing of the Appalachian 4th and 11th at 6 pm. The library was held at the Stilwell Depot for National Scenic Trail and the Trail of will also show the NPS TOT video the descendants of the honorees Tears National Historic Trail near the on March 21st at 2 pm. and for the Oklahoma Chapter campus of the Nantahala Outdoor members. After lunch, everyone Center. There were over 70 people in gathered at the Hungry Mountain attendance. Cemetery for the dedication where welcome and remarks were made by David Hampton, treasurer of the Oklahoma Chapter. Opening prayer was offered by Rev. D. J. McCarter and hymns in the were sung by Rev. McCarter and the Cherokee Elder Choir. Remarks TOTA PRESIDENT JACK BAKER AND NPS NATIONAL TRAILS and welcome were presented INTERMOUNTAIN REGION SUPERINTENDENT AARON MAHR by Jack D. Baker, President of the UNVEILED SIGNS AT NCTOTA’S EVENT HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM ACT ON SUE ABRAM WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HER SERVICE AS National Trail of Tears Association. OCTOBER 29, 2018. (PHOTO BY PAIGE TESTER) PRESIDENT AT THE DECEMBER NCTOTA MEETING. (PHOTO BY ANITA FINGER-SMITH) The biographical tribute to NCTOTA met at the Museum of the OKLAHOMA Jackson Christie was read by Cherokee Indian on December 15, Brenda Christie a great-great 2018 for the final Chapter meeting of The Oklahoma Chapter of the Trail granddaughter of Jackson 2018. EBCI Storyteller Kathi Littlejohn of Tears Association had a grave Christie. The biographical tribute shared a YouTube series she has marking dedication for three to James Bigby was read by developed that ties Cherokee stories survivors of the Trail of Tears at 2:00 Mary Jo Swietek a 5th great to Trail of Tears sites. pm on October 20, 2018 at Hungry granddaughter of James Bigby, Mountain Cemetery west of Stilwell, and the biographical tribute to The Spring NCTOTA Board meeting Oklahoma. Those survivors that Catherine Foreman Bigby was will take place in March. The Chapter were honored were Jackson Christie read by Lisa Kay Hawkins. is currently working on several (c1836-1900), James Bigby (c1779- projects. Four damaged NCTOTA 1855), and Catherine Foreman Bigby In closing, Amazing Grace in interpretive signs were replaced (1785-c1867). Bronze plaques were Cherokee was sung by those in January. Four new interpretive placed on the headstones of the assembled and the benediction signs that explore the Post- three Cherokee survivors. was given by Rev. McCarter.

Spring 2019 • Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News 9 Trail of Tears Association State Chapter News TENNESSEE Saturday March 30 we will officially November 10, 2018: The Tennessee Hiwassee River Heritage Center Sets open to the public. Our lecture series Trail of Tears Association held a Re-Opening Events for the afternoon will be held in our commemorative walk on November new meeting facility. Speakers include 10, 2018 at Cherokee Charleston-Calhoun-Hiwassee Joe Guy, Troy Wayne Poteete, Jim Memorial Removal Park in Birchwood, Historical Society is happy to Ogden and Laura Spann. We hope you Tennessee. The walk was held to announce the Grand Re-opening will plan to join us in our celebration! remember those who crossed the Ceremony for Hiwassee River Heritage For more info call 423-665-3373. at Blythe Ferry during Center. Along with the center opening (For Event Schedule See Page 3) the forced Removal in 1838. Nearly we will be dedicating our National 10,000 Cherokees with their slaves Historic Trail. Final touches are going September Membership Meeting - The and several hundred Muskogee Creeks in at the center, new exhibits are being Tennessee Trail of Tears Association crossed the Tennessee River leaving produced and our signs will be going welcomed Dr. Daniel F. Littlefield, Jr, their homelands to relocate in the West. in soon. March 29-30 has been set Director of the Sequoyah National aside for the festivities. Research Center to the September The ceremony included a blessing membership meeting. Littlefield spoke by Lee Trevino and Amazing Grace of the need to include African-Indians performed in Cherokee by Faye in the interpretation of the Trail of Calloway. The group of about 50 Tears. The well-attended event was people walked to the river bank where held at Red Clay State Historical Area in Mildred Choate Taylor from Oklahoma Bradley County, Winchester, Tennessee. presented a commemorative wreath in honor of the Cherokees and Melba THE RECENTLY REMODELED HIWASSEE RIVER HERITAGE Commemorative Walk, October 27, Checote Eads a citizen of the Muskogee CENTER IS LOCATED AT 8746 HIWASSEE STREET, CHARLESTON, TN 37310. CHARLESTON WAS THE SITE OF 2018: Fifty hardy people braved the Creek Nation presented a wreath in FORT CASS DURING THE FORCED REMOVAL. rain for the inaugural Winchester honor of the Creeks. Taylor’s ancestors We will begin with a ribbon cutting Trail of Tears Commemorative Walk, crossed the Tennessee River at Blythe March 29 for invited guests. Friday sponsored by TNTOTA and the Franklin Ferry during the Trail of Tears. Music night we will reassemble at Walker County (TN) Historical Society. The was presented at the river banks by Valley High School at 6:30. The public walk fell on the 180th anniversary Kyle Coatney of Knoxville and a prayer is invited to hear Dr. Brett Riggs as he of the Bell Detachment’s arrival in was given by Jack Crawford in both presents his now completed research Winchester on Oct. 27, 1838. English and Cherokee. on Fort Cass. Blythe Ferry Commemorative Walk,

Trail of Tears Trail of Tears National Park Service National Historic Trail Association National Trails Intermountain Region, Santa Fe

Trail News is produced by the The Trail of Tears Association has entered The National Trails Intermountain Region partnership of the Trail of Tears into a cooperative agreement with administers the Trail of Tears NHT, the Association and the National Park Service, the National Park Service to promote Santa Fe NHT, El Camino Real de los National Trails Intermountain Region, and engage in the protection and Tejas NHT, and the Route 66 Corridor Santa Fe. preservation of the Trail of Tears NHT Preservation Program. El Camino Real resources; to promote awareness of the de Tierra Adentro NHT and Old Spanish Editor trail’s legacy, including the effects of NHT are administered jointly by the Troy Wayne Poteete the U.S. Government’s Indian Removal National Trails Intermountain Region Contributors Policy on the Cherokee and other tribes; and the New Mexico State Office of the Bethany H. Rosenbaum, Will Chavez, and to perpetuate the management Bureau of Land Management. These trail Larry Smith, Mary Belle Chase, Deloris and development techniques that are and corridor programs are administered Gray Wood, Laurie Brockman, Cara Harris, consistent with the NPS’s trail plan. in partnership with American Indian Debbie Moore, Dr. Bill Ambrose, Paige tribes; federal, state, and local agencies; Tester, Alice Murphree, Heather Carey and Trail of Tears Association nongovernment organizations; and Shannon Keith 412 N. Hwy 100, Suite B private landowners. P.O. Box 329 National Trails Intermountain Region Special Thanks to our Proofreaders Webbers Falls, OK 74470 Laura Spann, Patsy Edgar, Cleta Townsend PO Box 728 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504 Contact: Troy Wayne Poteete 918-464-2258 Trail of Tears Association 505-988-6098 P.O. Box 329 [email protected] Webbers Falls, OK 74470 [email protected] [email protected] www.NationalTOTA.org

10 Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News • Spring 2019 Vision Becoming Reality TOTA State Chapter Using Partnerships to Develop the SCAN QR Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Presidents Contact Info In 1987, Congress acknowledged the DIGITALCODE CONTENT AVAILABLE: significance of this tragic event in our Alabama Nation’s history by establishing the CERTIFIED SITES WITH LINKS Shannon Keith Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. The James Brown Cherokee Plantation, TN Phone: 256-337-8024 Email: [email protected] National Park Service administers the Trail Jentel Farm Trail Segment, IL in cooperation with federal, state, and House, TN Arkansas local agencies; the Cherokee Nation and John Ross House, GA Bethany Henry Rosenbaum the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Memorial and Museum, NC Phone: 417-592-2623 interested groups; and Lake Dardanelle State Park, AR Email: [email protected] private landowners. La Petite Roche, AR Georgia The Trail of Tears Association and the Laughlin Park, MO Tony Harris National Park Service National Trails Mantle Rock, KY Phone: 770-425-2411 Intermountain Regin, Santa Fe have been Maramec Spring Park/Massey Iron Works, MO Email: [email protected] working with trail partners to increase McGinnis Cemetery Trail Segment, IL Illinois visibility for the trail and to develop it for Mount Nebo State Park, AR Sandy Boaz visitor use. Old traces, historic buildings, and Murrell Home, OK Phone: 618-833-8216 other resources are being preserved. Many Museum of the Cherokee Indian, NC Email: [email protected] sites have been certified and numerous Museum of the Native American, AR on-the-ground projects have been New Echota State Historic Site, GA Kentucky completed, such as route signing, visitor-use Alice Murphree Paducah Waterfront, KY Phone: 270-886-5375 development, interpretive wayside exhibits, Petit Jean State Park, AR Email: amurphree1139@bellsouth. and interior museum exhibits at existing Pinnacle Mountain State Park, AR net facilities. Port Royal State Park, TN Radford Farm, KY Missouri Certified Sites Deloris Gray Wood Andrew Ross House, AL Red Clay State Historic Area, TN Phone: 573-729-2545 Arcadia Valley Campground, MO Rockdale Plantation/George Adair Home, GA Email: lostgeneration@embarqmail. com Audubon Acres, TN Running Waters, John Ridge Home, GA Berry’s Ferry and John Berry Homesite, KY Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, TN Snelson-Brinker Cabin, MO North Carolina Big Spring, KY Paige Tester Cemetery, TN Star City Ranch Trail Segment, MO Phone: 828-269-8281 Browns Ferry Tavern, TN Tennessee River Museum, TN Email: [email protected] Toler Farm Trail Segment, IL Campground Cemetery, IL Oklahoma Cedartown Camp, GA Trail of Tears Commemorative Park, KY Trail of Tears State Park, MO Curtis Rohr Chattanooga Regional History Museum,TN Phone: 918-341-4689 Cherokee County Historical Museum, NC Tuscumbia Landing, AL Email: [email protected] Cherokee Garden at Green Meadows, GA Vann Cherokee Cabin, GA Vann House Historic Site, GA Tennessee , OK Debbie Moore Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home, GA Village Creek State Park, AR Wagner Farm Trail Segment, IL Phone: 423-715-2254 City of North Little Rock Riverfront Park, AR Email: [email protected] Columbus-Belmont State Park, KY Wayside Store and Bridges Tavern Site, IL Crabb-Abbot Farm, IL Waterloo Landing, AL Crider Tavern Complex, KY Willstown Mission Cemetery, AL David Crockett State Park Trail Segment, TN Federal Protection Components and SCAN QR Delta Cultural Center, AR Interpretive Sites CODE Fitzgerald Station and Farmstead, AR Arkansas River Visitors Center/Old Post Road DIGITAL CONTENT AVAILABLE: Fort Gibson, OK Park, Russellville, AR Fort Payne Cabin Site, AL Arkansas Post National Memorial, AR BOARD OF DIRECTORS Funk Heritage Center, GA Cadron Settlement Park, AR Cherokee Memorial Park, Blythe Ferry, TN Giles Co. Trail of Tears Interpretive Center, TN Fort Smith National Historic Site, AR Green County Trail Segments, MO Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN Golconda Riverfront, IL Holla Bend Nat. Wildlife Refuge, Dardanelle, AR Gray’s Inn, KY Mark Twain National Forest, MO , TN Mocassin Bend, TN Hamburg Hill, IL Pea Ridge National Military Park, AR The Hermitage, TN Shawnee National Forest, MO Historic Road from Ross to Ridge’s, GA Stones River National Battlefield, TN Hiwassee River Heritage Center, TN Trail of Tears State Forest, IL Spring 2019 • Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News 11 Trail of Tears Association P.O. Box 329 Webbers Falls, OK 74470

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA The Trail of Tears Association Charter Members of the would like to thank the following for their generous upgraded membership support: Pheonix Giving Society Benefactors $1000+ Land Routes ($1000-$4999) Cherokee Nation - $10,000 Riley Bock - $2000 Cherokee Nation Business - $15,000 Water Routes ($500-$999) Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians $7,200 John Wible, Jr. - $500 Anita Finger-Smith -$625 Patrons $500 – $999 Carolyn Nohria - $500 Jack Baker - $600 Removal ($100 - $499) Sponsors $100 - $499 (Listed in alpabetical order) $325 Barbara Debbie Jack Baker $100.00 Tonnia Maddox $110.00 Lawrence Smith Moore Simmons $105 Lea Brit Dick Bass $100.00 Pam Matthews $100.00 $250 Cleta Labrie David Breland Ronald Black $100.00 Rowena McClinton $230.00 Melissa $100 Brick Autry H. Riley Bock $200.00 Erin Medley $130.00 Twaroski John Mclarty Judy Sharon Britt $110.00 Mary Ellen Meredith $110.00 $210 Tony Harris Sizemore Frank Brown $110.00 Frederick Morris $100.00 Wesley Vicki Rozema Sandra Boaz Janet Cantrell $110 Billie Napolitano $135.00 Harris Steven Sasha Bowles $200 Stanley Jason Irby Chattanoogo Area CVB $120.00 Becky Nelson $110.00 Leslie Thomas Troy Wayne Melba Eads City of Waynesville, MO $100.00 Mike Nelson $100.00 $195 Poteete Sheila Yehi Cara Cowan-Watts $100.00 Gina Olaya $100.00 Rod Wheeler Wanda Joe Campbell Andrew Denson $300.00 Joseph Owle $100.00 $125 Patterson Sir Glenn JoAnn Eriksen $100.00 Gary Payne $200.00 Mike Nelson Bethany Jones Debra Eskie $110.00 John Perry $110.00 $125 Rosenbaum Jeffrey Lowell Fay $100.00 Ansley Saville $100.00 Becky Nelson Bibbee Amber Fite-Morgan $110.00 Vernon Schoonover $100.00 Treaties & Wars (up to $99) Jack Gardner $100.00 Lawrence Simmons $440.00 Laura Spann Will Chavez Deborah Kirk Jay Hannah $110.00 Leslie Simmons $100.00 Galen Gritts Mildred Taylor Patsy Edgar R. Wesley Harris $130.00 Elizabeth Slappey $120.00 Michael Abram Ulrike Wiethaus Billy Kirk Bobbie Heffington $125.00 Mark Spangler $110.00 Laurie Brockman Sandra Riley Odene Kirk Steve Belko Paul Austin Larry Smith Sarah Hill $180.00 Richard Starbuck $100.00 Rebekah Cessna Nancy Feroe Bill Wall Sir Glenn Jones $205.00 Melissa Twaroski $150.00 Jim Ogden Joy Montgomery Deloris Wood Bob Jost $100.00 Jack Vincent $100.00 Denise Dowling Heather Carey KY-MS River Pkway Com $150.00 John Wible, Jr. $140.00 Darlene Goins Cleata Townsend Dozier Lee, Jr. $100.00 Mary Young $100.00 Phoenix Giving Society amounts shown are cumulative.

12 Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News • Spring 2019