The Cherokee actually were moved to Oklahoma in two groups. The first group "saw the writing on the wall" and decided to go peacefully. The second group is the one known as the Trail of Tears. The first group had worked in mines back east and became interested in trying their luck in the California Gold Rush. They blazed a trail from the Oklahoma/Arkansas border area through Kansas to the Santa Fe Trail just south of present day Goessel. They followed the Santa Fe Trail to Colorado and broke off. I think they hooked up with the Oregon Trail at some point. The total length of the Cherokee Trail is longer than either of the two more famous trails. What makes the Cherokee Trail of interest to me is that it passes through El Dorado, my hay meadow, and Potwin. You can see the trail on newer Kansas maps. I recently discovered Cherokee beans and am growing them this year. These pole beans had pink blooms and reddish streaked pods. I plan to harvest them as dried beans. That is my gardening experiment this year in honor of the trail through my land.
Fascinating recounting of this history, Curt. I was wrecked thoroughly when I read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Leaders in our country I had admired came down hard because of the way the Indians were treated. I still honor them for their positive contributions but am soundly schooled on the dangers of putting people on a pedestal. Tragedy always follows when one entity thinks what belongs to others is fair game. "The Indian Problem" and how it was addressed is surely a stain that rivals any other stain on our history.
Every individual is a mixed bag. Jackson was an outstanding general. He was not a bad president but he made some really bad decisions with serious repercussions. I really like his populist leaning. But the forced removal thing seems like it was wrong on about every level.
Entertaining and informative! You might like Brian Kilmeade's book "Andrew Jackson Miracle of New Orleans". Jackson was as interesting a character as it gets. Hated the Brits for good reason.
My wife's family was from Southeast TN, just a few miles from Red Clay National Park, which was the last site of the Cherokee council before the removal. It's well worth a visit if you're in the Chattanooga area. It's been decades since we were there last; hope the fate of the park was better than that of the Cherokee.
The Cherokee actually were moved to Oklahoma in two groups. The first group "saw the writing on the wall" and decided to go peacefully. The second group is the one known as the Trail of Tears. The first group had worked in mines back east and became interested in trying their luck in the California Gold Rush. They blazed a trail from the Oklahoma/Arkansas border area through Kansas to the Santa Fe Trail just south of present day Goessel. They followed the Santa Fe Trail to Colorado and broke off. I think they hooked up with the Oregon Trail at some point. The total length of the Cherokee Trail is longer than either of the two more famous trails. What makes the Cherokee Trail of interest to me is that it passes through El Dorado, my hay meadow, and Potwin. You can see the trail on newer Kansas maps. I recently discovered Cherokee beans and am growing them this year. These pole beans had pink blooms and reddish streaked pods. I plan to harvest them as dried beans. That is my gardening experiment this year in honor of the trail through my land.
So... you really ARE a piece of history, aren't you? lol
Good summary Sandy. I knew there were couple of Cherokee movements but my understanding is not that deep. Good post!
Fascinating recounting of this history, Curt. I was wrecked thoroughly when I read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Leaders in our country I had admired came down hard because of the way the Indians were treated. I still honor them for their positive contributions but am soundly schooled on the dangers of putting people on a pedestal. Tragedy always follows when one entity thinks what belongs to others is fair game. "The Indian Problem" and how it was addressed is surely a stain that rivals any other stain on our history.
Every individual is a mixed bag. Jackson was an outstanding general. He was not a bad president but he made some really bad decisions with serious repercussions. I really like his populist leaning. But the forced removal thing seems like it was wrong on about every level.
Excellent point
Entertaining and informative! You might like Brian Kilmeade's book "Andrew Jackson Miracle of New Orleans". Jackson was as interesting a character as it gets. Hated the Brits for good reason.
Definitely a horrid story.
My wife's family was from Southeast TN, just a few miles from Red Clay National Park, which was the last site of the Cherokee council before the removal. It's well worth a visit if you're in the Chattanooga area. It's been decades since we were there last; hope the fate of the park was better than that of the Cherokee.
I doesn't take much family history to get us all entwined in these stories. Quite interesting. As all your posts are. :-)