JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

Several days ago DonB posted a picture of a section of the trail of tears located at Port Royal SP in Tennessee which piqued my interest because sections of that trail are marked in southern Illinois as well. During the Winter of 1838-1839 thousands of the Cherokee on their forced exodus crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky into Golconda, Illinois which is in Pope County. During my research of this sad and shameful forced exodus I learned of a memorial located in a cemetery in Brownfield, Illinois also located in Pope County where many of the Cherokee were buried in a mass grave. Many died during that forced march into Oklahoma. I found that cemetery yesterday afternoon which is 24.3 miles from my house. I will be going back to clean those memorial markers.

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jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Good for you.

Ben's nana Loc: Chesterland, Ohio

Great shots...gave me goose bumps. I remember reading about this with my son. It never ceases to amaze me that the supposed "civilized" people can inflict such pain on those they perceive as inferior. There is a rose that can be found along the trail, called the Cherokee Rose. Legend has it that, in order to bring hope to the mothers on the trail, the chiefs prayed for some sign. It is said that a rose blossomed in the spot of every tear that was shed along the way. Very sad! I found this picture of one.

angler Loc: StHelens England

Excellent set.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

Nice image of the rose. Image #4 states what you are saying.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

What many may not know is that many Cherokee adopted the white man's way of living. Many were wealthy slave owners living in fine houses on plantations.

Ben's nana Loc: Chesterland, Ohio

That was a stock picture so can't take credit for that. I should have had my reading glasses on when I fist viewed your pictures
Fran

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Wonder if that can fall victim to our changing history.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Those forced movements were from 1830-1850. The largest was the 38-39. Several tribes had at least part of their people moved but the majority of the aprx 60,000 were Cherokee and their related groups.
Ballard County across the river from your region had 25% of the families tracing at least one ancestor back to the Trail of Tears. The story I heard from my Great Grandfather - born 1865 and both his Grandmothers were 1/2 Indian, one Cherokee and one Chickasaw - was that Church groups went to offer help in the camps and many young Indian's particularly women married into local families to get out of the movement. He said his Grandmother's told him their families encouraged it to get their daughters out of the movement into safe secure circumstances. That was my paternal Grandmother's family - the Penn's. A fairly large group of Penn's and relations moved to Western Kentucky in aprx 1791 to land the government gave them in exchange for debts to them from the Revolution.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

Robert, my maternal great grandmother was at least part Cherokee if not full blooded. There were probably more mixed marriages than we realize.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Yes, a lot of people in that area have some Indian ancestors.

One of my Grandmother's brothers and his wife had a restaurant in town on the side of US 60. He used to tell a story of one day shortly after he opened a man with Indian features opened the door and through the door asked if he and his family could eat there. Uncle Earl said "Sure, come on in." "But we are Indian." UE "I am part Indian also. You want to eat and I am in the business of feeding people. Come on in." Then he put two tables together right up front for the family. They were surprised, most places that would let them eat put them in the back, out of the way or gave them the food to go. That family passed the word and until the interstates rerouted travel from Oklahoma to the eastern reservations and back for tribal functions and pow wows Uncle Earl had Indians stopping a couple of times a year. Often several car loads of people at once and when going both ways. Just about the time the interstates took over Uncle Earl and Aunt Mattie retired and the owner of the building expanded his auto repair business into the location. And he used to do repairs and servicing for the Indians passing through. Often doing their work while they ate.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

Interesting. Thanks for sharing that story.

Dalek Loc: Detroit, Miami, Goffstown

A horrific act by two presidents who were founders of the Democratic party: Andrew Jackson (1829-1837, $20 dollar bill) and Martin Van Buren (1837-1841).

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

Excellent.

George II Loc: Fayetteville, Georgia

And to this day you cannot spend $20.00 bill on Indian Reservations...”thank you Andrew Jackson”