Tombstone Tuesday - Remembering Tiger Tadpole

Tiger Tadpole was born in Indian Territory, the son of David Jr. and Polly (Vann) Tadpole. He was a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and listed on the Final Dawes Roll as a fullblood.

Tiger was first married to a Cherokee woman named Katie and they had a daughter, Annie. After Katie's death, Tiger then married Sallie Phillips and they were the parents of Lydia, Caturay, Betsy, Lizzie, Julia, Polly, Linda and Dennis.

Tiger was a kind man who was much loved by his family. After his mother passed away, Tiger fought to retain ownership of her allotment. After a long court battle among the heirs, a judge ordered the land be sold to the highest bidder. Tiger made the highest bid by paying much more than the land was worth.

After he purchased the land, Tiger and his wife returned to court to request his daughters, Betsy and Lizzie, be allowed to purchase the land from him. Their money was under the supervision of the Indian agents because they were given money in lieu of land during the allotment period.

Betsy and Lizzie didn't have very much money and the judge asked Tiger why he would be willing to sell the land to them and take a loss. Tiger's answer was that the land belonged to his mother and he wanted it to remain in the family. He said even though his daughters only had a little bit of money, their love for him more than made up the difference in the amount of money he had paid for the land. The sale was approved.

Tiger was a traditional Indian and lived by many of the old ways. One day, after visiting his daughter who was sick, he stopped along the road to get some cattails to make medicine. As he stepped back onto the road, he was hit by a truck. He died an hour later at the hospital where he was taken for treatment.

Originally, Tiger was buried in his family cemetery that overlooked his home. That cemetery was later moved and he now rests with many of his loved ones in the Fisher Cemetery in Wagoner County, Oklahoma.

Today, Tiger has been gone 71 years. Though he is gone, he still lives on in the memories and stories of his family. He is still respected and a lot of information about him was passed on through the stories of his grand nephew, Aaron.

***Note: The land Tiger fought so hard to keep in his family was eventually lost because it was condemned by the Corp of Engineers when Fort Gibson Dam was constructed. Not only did the family lose that land, but all the land they had received during the allotment period.***

copyright 2010, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

Tweet

1928 Baseball Game - Seneca Indian School

Baseball Game

The Seneca Indian school baseball team was defeated by the Tahlequah team last Saturday morning in a game at Tahlequah. The score was 3 to 2. The Tahlequah team will play a return game here next Saturday.

Seneca's players in Saturday's game were:
Buck Hampton, John Ketcher, Lewis Timothy, Andrew Locust, Luke Henry, Archie Crowe, George Locust, Daniel Washington, Edgar Bear.

The substitutes were John Snell, Muskrat Fox and Osley Snell.

The following employes of the Indian school made the trip with the team: Edna K. Alyenken (spelling may be wrong), Mary Fulton, Lulu Randall, Milton Cotter and J. T; Tunnell.

Source - Miami News Record; Miami, Oklahoma; Tuesday, May 8, 1928; p. 5.

Transcription by Polly's Granddaughter
copyright 2010, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

Tweet

1948 News - Gloves Champions Crowned; Vikings Claim Team Title

Gloves Champions Crowned; Vikings Claim Team Title

In a strict reversal of form from previous bouts, the Miami Golden Gloves closed last night with Northeastern A. & M. winning the team trophy with the Seneca Indian school in second place. Northeastern won six of the nine championships with the other three going to the Indian school.

Norvel Trask, middleweight, and Pidgeon Riley, lightweight, showed the way for the college boys as they finished off their opponents in the first round. Trask got the fastest knockout when he loosed a series of left hooks that sent his opponent, George Waddle, Miami National Guard, to the canvas at the end of 55 seconds.

The nine Miami champs, who received jackets with a Golden Gloves emblem as a prize, will go to the Northeast tournament in Tulsa Jan. 28, 29 and 30.

In the lightweights, the Seneca Indian school cleaned up with Monkey Carey taking the 105-pound title, March Wind the 112 and Jim Rogers the 118.

Carey started the fireworks early in the first round of the championship fights, when he tore into John James, Miami, with both hands. Carey, who packs dynamite in either glove for a 105-pounder, floored James in the first round with a solid left hook that landed well. James didn't take a count on the knockdown, but he could not get in the fight as Carey continued landing both rights and lefts. In the second round Carey found the range and laced James around the ring as he piled up a long margin.

James came back in the third but Carey again found the range and a savage right sent James down again. James' reach and height helped even the third round up but he couldn't close the gap. Carey took the decision by a wide margin.

In the 112-pound class a couple of teammates from the Indian school battled for the crown. March Wind took a decision from Benny Bushyhead. March Wind opened up in the last two rounds and pounded Bushyhead time after time in close fighting.

At 118 pounds, another slugfest developed early in the first round when Jim Rogers, SIS, and Gene Flood, Chelsea, tore into one another. Rogers built up a long lead in the first two rounds as he consistently landed both lefts and rights as well as causing Flood to be wild. Flood staged a comeback in the third but couldn't do anything about the outcome.

J. E. Cook, last year's champion at 126, repeated as he won a decision over Bill Whipkey, Picher youngster. Whipkey had Cook in trouble in the first two rounds with his jabbing and aggressiveness. However, Cook came back in the final round, hooking with both rights and lefts, to win by the closest of margins.

Riley demonstrated some of his old form as he moved into action against Ronnie McLemore early in the first round. Riley landed a right cross and sent McLamore to the floor for a nine-count, but McLemore climbed back to his feet only to be floored again. The referee stepped in and stopped the fight at this point.

Lloyd Beard, newcomer to Miami fistic circles, an inexperienced but willing young puncher, took the welterweight toga, defeating Curtis Myers, also of Miami, in a torrid slugfest. Beard, younger and stronger, scored with a good left and piled up an advantage in the first two rounds. Myers, connected with a
looping right occasionally but it failed to bother Beard.

Julius Hecksher took a split decision over Tubby Logan, Commerce, for the light-heavyweight crown—and the decision drew a decision of booes. Logan scored repeatedly with a right cross, staggering Hecksher at least a half dozen times but the two judges overruled the referee giving the verdict to Hecksher.

The heavyweight championship went to J. W. Moreland, 6-foot, 5-inch, 205-pounder of Miami. He eked out a decision over Bud Parker, OMA stylist, in one of the best fights of the night. The smaller, courageous Parker did most of the leading but caught some solid smashes coming in. It was a whale of a battle with both boys eager and willing.

Results

105 Ibs.—Monkey Carey, SIS, decisioned John James, Miami.
112 Ibs.—March Wind, SIS, decisioned Benny Bushyhead, SIS.
118 Ibs.—Jim Rogers, SIS, decisioned Gene Flood, Chelsea.
126 Ibs.—J. E. Cook, Miami, decisioned Bill Whipkey, Picher.
135 Ibs.—Ridgeon Riley, Miami, TKO'd Ronnie McLamore, SIS, 1:11 first round.
147 Ibs.—Lloyd Beard, Miami, decisioned Curtis Meyers, Miami.
160 Ibs.—Norvel Trask, Miami, TKO'd George Waddle, Miami (NG) :55 first round.
175 Ibs.—Julius Hecksher, Miami, decisioned Tub Logan, Commerce.
Heavyweight—J. W. Moreland, Miami, decisioned Bud Parker, OMA.

Source - Miami Daily News Record; Miami, OK; Friday, January 23, 1948; p. 4.

Transcription by Polly's Granddaughter
copyright 2010, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

Tweet

1948 News - Last Show in Golden Gloves At 8 Tonight

Last Show in Golden Gloves At 8 Tonight

This is the night the champs will be crowned in nine divisions of Miami's annual Golden Gloves tourney. Winding up a three-night show, beginning this evening at 8 o'clock, will be the cream of the amateur fistic crop in this area. They're ready for the bell and you can bet there'll be plenty of leather tossed this night.

Winners will be eligible not only for top awards, but will represent the Miami sub-district in the Northeast Oklahoma tourney at Tulsa Jan. 28, 29 and 30.

In addition to the championship bouts, slated as in the past two shows at College gym, there will be a battle royal tonight between some of the hard-hitting smaller fellows.

Four of last year's champions will be on hand to defend their crowns with possibly Norvel Trash, who went to the finals in thc Tulsa meet last year, the biggest favorite to repeat. Pidgeon Riley will be on hand to defend his 135-pound title as will John James in the 105-pound class and J. E. Cook in the 126-pound division.

Trask in defending his 160-pound title will take on Bill Waddle, and is favored to win easily.

Riley takes on another Indian boy, Ronnie McLemore of the Seneca Indian school, in what promises to be one of the best fights on the night's card. McLemore entered the finals by pounding out a hard earned decision over Floyd Rogers, of Miami. Riley moved up by taking a first round TKO over Arlo Stanton of Chelsea.

John James, Miami, may have a rough time in taking Monkey Carey in the 105-pound division. Both boys entered the finals on TKO's. Carey ending his fight in :55 seconds of the first round and James ending his in 1:04 of the first.

Cook, who represents the junior college, will take on Bill Whipkey, lanky boxer from Picher.

At 147 will be a couple of hard hitting boys, Curtis Meyers and Lloyd Beard. The heavyweight division will bring together J. W. Moreland, Miami junior college, and Bud Parker, of Oklahoma Military Academy, Both are youngsters and it should develop into a good scrap before it in over.

Two Seneca Indian school boys will battle it out for the 112-pound title, Benny Bushyhead and March Wind. At 118, Gene Flood, Chelsea, will meet Jim Rogers, Seneca, and in the light heavy division, Tub Logan, Commerce, will meet Julius Hecksher, also of Commerce.

Source for advertisement - Miami Daily News Record; Miami, OK; Wednesday, January 21, 1948; p. 4.

Source for article - Miami Daily News Record; Miami, OK; Thursday, January 22, 1948; p. 8.

Transcription by Polly's Granddaughter
copyright 2010, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

Tweet

Wordless Wednesday - The Birthplace of Will Rogers

As it looked in 1944.

Tweet

1948 News - Hard Punching Continues as Golden Glovers Reach Final Program Here

Hard Punching Continues as Golden Glovers Reach Final Program Here

Technical knockouts continued to play an important part in the semi-final rounds of the Miami Golden Gloves tournament as it continued at College gym last night. Four of the first six championship bouts were decided by TKO's and the fifth was added before the night's program was over.

The 105-pounders started it when Monkey Carey of the Seneca Indian school moved into the final round on a TKO over Earl Smith,- Miami, in 0:55 seconds of the first round. John James, defending champion in the 105-pound division, earned the right to meet Carey in the finals when he stopped Tommy Jimboy, SIS, in 1:04 in the first round.

The TKO's continued when J. E. Cook, A. & M. entry, was declared the winner when Leo Rollins, Quapaw, failed to answer the bell for the second round.

At 135 pounds, Floyd Rogers, Miami, and Ronnie McLemore of the Seneca Indian school mixed in one of the hottest contests seen here in a long lime. Both boys started swinging with both hands in the first stanza and it continued in the second. The first round was about even with neither being able to gain the advantage. In the second, McLemore shot several straight lefts to keep Rogers off balance. The Indian battler piled up his big margin in this round as the third saw a comeback by Rogers. McLemore got the decision.

Lloyd Beard, Miami, took a decision from Stanley Traak, Miami, in the 147-pound class to move into the finals. In the opposite bracket, former Golden Glover Curtis Meyers took a close decision from Leo Albro of Miami in a slugfest.

The technical knockouts ended in the light-heavy division when Tub Logan, Commerce battler, was awarded a fight over Buck Victor of the junior college, who failed to answer the bell for the third round. Victor connected with a right to the side of Logan's head late in the second round and broke his hand. It had been a fight for the first two rounds with the first going to Victor while the second went to Logan by a small margin.

In the final bout of the evening, Bud Parker of the Oklahoma Military academy took a decision from Dave Surber, Miami, in three rounds. Parker built up an early lead and then held on for the win.

Immediately after the intermission officials of the Junior Chamber of Commerce presented a plaque to J. N. Kagey, principal, and C. E. Reed, coach, of the Seneca Indian school, in appreciation of what they have done to foster the tournament in the six years it has been going on.

Finals will be held Thursday night in College gym, starting at 8 o'clock.

Results:
105-pounds—Monkey Carey,SIS, TKO'd Earl Smith, Miami, :55 of the first round.
105-pounds—John James, Miami, TKO'd Tommy Jimboy7 SIS, 1:04 first round.
112-pounds — Benny Bushyhead, SIS, dec. J. T. Vann, SIS.
118-pounds—Jim Rogers, SIS, TKO'd Truman Stone, Chelsea, 1:37 first round.
118-pounds—Gene Flood, Chelsea, won by forfeit.
126-pounds—J. E. Cook, Miami, TKO'd Leo Rollins, Quapaw, first round.
135-pounds—Ronnie McLamore, SIS, dec. Floyd Rogers, Miami.
147-pounds—Curtis Meyers, Miami, dec. Leo Albro, Miami.
147-pounds—Lloyd Beard, Miami, dec. Stanley Trask, Miami.
160-pounds—Bill Waddle, Quapaw, won by forfeit.
175-pounds—Tub Logan, Commerce, TKO'd Buck Victor, Miami, second round,
Heavyweight—Bud Parker, OMA, dec. Dave Surber, Miami.

Exhibitions
Joe Hudson, Miami, dec. Teddy Thomas, Miami.
Donald Pool, Miami, dec. Tommy Hemphill, Miami.
Leo Roach, SIS, dec. Ernest Chrisman, Picher.
Levi Roach, SIS, dec. John F. Carey, SIS.
Marvin Smith, Commerce, dec. Jim Graybeal, Welch.

Source - Miami Daily News Record; Miami, OK; Wednesday, January 21, 1948; p. 4.

Transcription by Polly's Granddaughter
copyright 2010, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

Tweet

Robin Coffee

October 5, 1953 - June 22, 2010

With deep sadness we share the news that Cherokee poet and artist, Robin Coffee, has passed away. Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.

CC Tweet

1948 News - Glovers Pack Lethal Fists in Ring Here

Glovers Pack Lethal Fists In Ring Here

Miami's sixth annual Golden Gloves boxing tournament opened, at College gym last night with competition in all the brackets except the heavier divisions. Competitors will swing to action again tonight in the semi-finals with the finals scheduled for Thursday night.

It was a night of short fights as an even half dozen of the bouts were ended by TKO's. The quickest ending of the night was in the 160-pound-division, where Norvel Trask, favorite from Northeastern A. & M., stopped Marvin Smith, Commerce, in 29 seconds of the first round. Trask's teammate, Pidgeon Riley, sailed into Arlo Stanton of Chelsea and the referee stepped in and stopped the fight after 33 seconds of the first round of their 135-pound scrap.

In one of the few fights to go the whole distance, Gene Flood, 118-pound favorite, floored Austin Groeneman of the junior college in each of the three rounds in taking a decision. They stood toe to toe in the first round and slugged. Groeneman connected with a hard right and Flood went to the floor. After a short count, he was back on his feet and just before the bell he sent a crusher to Groeneman's jaw and Groeneman went down. Flood piled up points in the second as he continued to connect with hard rights. The third round saw him land another to the jaw and Groeneman went to the floor again. Flood piled up his big margin in winning the third round.

John James, Miami, used his height and reach in taking a decision from Leo Roach, game little scrapper from the Seneca Indian school. James is the defending champion in the 105-pound division.

At 8 o'clock tonight the semifinals will start with all divisions through the heavyweights throwing leather. As originally scheduled, the event will be observed as Seneca Indian school night and the school will be awarded a plaque in recognition of what they have done in promoting the Junior Chamber of
Commerce Golden Gloves shows.

There will be at least 12 bouts in the championship class, with more exhibitions to be added, to the card.

Tonight's card reads:

Tonight's card reads:
105 pounds — John James vs. Tommy Jimboy.
105 pounds—Monkey Carey vs. Earl Smith.
112 pounds—J. T. Vann vs. Benny Bushyhead.
118 pounds—Gene Flood vs. Billy Downing.
118 pounds — Jim Rogers vs. Stone.
126 pounds—J. E. Cook vs. Leo Rollins.
135 pounds—Floyd Rogers vs Ronnie McLemore.
147 .pounds—Leo Albro vs. Curtis Meyers.
147 pounds'—Stanley Trask vs Lloyd Beard.
160 pounds —Bill Waddle vs Charlie White.
175 pounds—Buck Victor vs. Tub Logan.
Heavyweight—Parker, OMA, vs Dave Surber, Miami.

Results Last Night
105 pounds—Tommy Jimboy, SIS, Tko'd Vernon Highley, Quapaw, 1:27 second round.
105 pounds—John James, Miami, decisioned Leo Roach, SIS.
118 pounds—Gene Flood, Chelsea, decisioned Austin Groeneman, Miami.
118 pounds—Truman, Stone, Chelsea, TKO'd Phillip Peacock, Miami, :34 of second round.
126 pounds—Bill Whipkey, Picher, decisioned Thurman Stone, Chelsea.
135 pounds—Pidgeon Riley, Miami,TKO's Arlo Stanton, Chelsea, :33 of first round.
147 pounds —Lloyd Beard, Miami, decisioned Bill Bowen, Miami.
147 pounds—Stanley Trask, Miami, TKO'd Francis Smith, Miami, 1:36 second round.
160 pounds — Charles White, Quapaw, TKO'd Jim Graybeal, Welch, 1:43 second round.
160 pounds—Norvel Trask, Miami, TKO'd Marvin Smith, Commerce, :29 first round.

Source - Miami Daily News Record; Miami, OK; Tuesday, January 20, 1948; p. 4.

Transcription by Polly's Granddaughter
copyright 2010, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

Tweet

Tombstone Tuesday - Monkey Carey

Millard "Monkey" Carey, my great uncle, was the son of Dick and Nancy (Fisher) Carey, Cherokee Nation citizens who were both listed on the Final Dawes Roll. He was one in a set of twins. When the twins were babies, their sister pushed them around in a baby buggy and once when someone saw the two little faces, they said, "Oh look, Monkey and Gorrilla." The nicknames stuck and Millard was always referred to as either Monkey or Monk from then on.

While a young child, Monk's father was killed by a hit and run driver. This left the family of nine children with only one parent and in a desperate state of poverty. After his two older brothers left for World War II, Monk's mother was unable to support the remaining boys on her own so he, along with his brothers, was sent away to attend Seneca Indian School at Wyandotte, Oklahoma.

While attending Seneca Indian school, Monkey participated in boxing and was quite good. His participation in the 1948 Golden Gloves tournaments is featured in this blog this week.

copyright 2010, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

Tweet

1948 News - Glovers Clash in Local Ring Monday Night

Miami's sixth annual Golden Gloves competition opens Monday night and runs through Jan. 20 and 22. Miami is a sub-district tournament of the Tulsa district meet and all winners will go to Tulsa.

Early entries point to one of the largest fields of fighters since the inauguration of the first tourney in 1940. It looks like 50 to 60 boys will be fighting for the nine championships and the jacket that goes with each.

The Northeastern A. and M. team and the National Guard squad will carry the colors of Miami while a team from Chelsea and two others have indicated they will be here. A large number of boys are fighting unattached.

Four winners of crowns last year have indicated they will defend their titles. Norvel Trask, at 160 pounds, is favored to retain his crown. Last week he went to Bartlesville and won the . 175-pound title, beating Charles Buchannan of Bartlesville by a fairly wide margin. Other winners who will be back arc J. E. Cook at 126; Pigeon Riley, 135, and Bob Witchcr at 147. All four boys represent the Northeastern A. and M. college.

Dave Surber, heavyweight finalist in the novice tourney, will fight at this weight. Surber also won the Bartlesville heavy title, beating Sears of Bartlesville easily.

Cook may run into trouble in defending his title against Ronnie McLemore of the Seneca Indian school. McLemore, a novice last year, has moved into the 126-pound class and was last year's 118 novice champion.

Pigeon Riley figures to have lots of competition from Floyd Rogers, Miami, and Richard Patton of Chelsea. Rogers won the novice championship held here last month and figures to be a better than average fighter. Patton, who was short on experience last year has gained in this respect and will give somebody a good fight before they beat him.

The welters have come up with a couple of good boys on Curtis Meyers of Miami and Bob Witcher, titlist last year. Meyers is back in competition this year for the first time since getting out of service. He lost one of the closest fights in the history of the Miami tournament to John (K.O.) Froman in 1940. The decision was Froman's by only the narrowest of margins.

The Seneca Indian school will have a couple of battlers in the 105 bracket who will he favored. One is Monkey Carey, a hard little puncher. His teammate, Leo Roach, lost a decision to Carey in the novice tournament in a free-swinging fight. The 112-pound class will be wide open, while in the 118 bracket Gene Flood of Chelsea, who was a finalist last year, will be back. Part of Flood's chief competition will come from Benny Bushyhead, who was a finalist at 112 last year.

There are a few choice seats left after a week's advance sale. Fans can obtain their tickets by calling or going to the Oklahoma Tire and Supply store. Tickets will remain on sale there until around 6 o'clock Monday night, when they will be moved to the A. & M. gym. Ringside ducats are selling for $l.50 and reserved seats for $1. General admission and students' tickets will not go on sale until the night of the fights at the gym.

Plans call for making Jan. 20 an appreciation night for the Seneca Indian school. Immediately after the intermission a plaque will be presented to school officials in appreciation of the help they, have been in making the Miami tournament a success through all the years. Every year since the first show they have had a bunch of scrappers in the running for crowns.

Weighing will start at 2 p. m. in College gym Monday. It is urged that all boys who can, weigh, in as early as possible in order to avoid confusion. All fights will start at 8 p. m. unless too many bouts appear on a night's card. Then it will be necessary to start at 7:30 p.m.

Source - Miami Daily News Record; Miami, OK; Sunday, January 18, 1948; p. 5.

Transcription by Polly's Granddaughter
copyright 2010, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

Tweet

1948 Golden Gloves Sub District Tournament Ad

Join us this week for the series of news articles that discussed this boxing tournament and the Indian students from Seneca Indian school who participated in it. This series will be the introduction to our new blog theme - Sunday School.

CC
The Granddaughter

copyright 2010, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

Source - Miami Daily News Record; Miami, OK; Sunday, January 18, 1948; p. 5.

Tweet

Tombstone Tuesday - Darkie Tadpole Fisher

Darkie Tadpole was the second child of David Tadpole Jr. and Polly Vann, citizens of the Cherokee Nation. She was born about 1870 in Indian Territory. As an adult, she married Johnson Fisher Jr. and they had two daughters, Elizabeth (Lizzie) and Nancy. Darkie was included on the application her family made during the Dawes enrollment period, but sadly, she died in childbirth before the Final Roll. She was only 32 at the time of her death.

copyright 2010, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

Tweet

Madness Monday - The Standards For Sound Genealogical Research apply to Cherokee Genealogy Too

I have been taking a break from this blog in order to research and work on some other projects concerning Cherokees, but due to some recent comments, I think it is important to start writing here again on a regular basis. It is apparent some people simply do not understand exactly what makes one Cherokee. In my mind, it is pretty simple...one must descend from a Cherokee in order to be Cherokee, but some people just don't seem to get it. The fact that people want to do their Cherokee genealogy without following the Standards For Sound Genealogical Research drives me "mad"!

People offer all sorts of "proof" to show they are or someone else is Cherokee. They say their family escaped the Trail of Tears or hid out to avoid removal. They say their family refused to enroll. They say they speak the language, know the customs or follow the traditions. One reader even said it was obvious Johnny Depp was Native American because he directed and starred in a movie called "The Brave", has an Indian tattoo and has constantly spoke of his ancestry since early in his career. Probably the craziest thing I have heard came from a woman who insisted her grandmother was Cherokee because she was a mystic and wore moccasins!

Maybe to some, these claims sound logical, but to anyone who knows and understands Cherokee history, true Cherokee history, these claims are absurd. They don't understand that, even if their family did escape the Trail of Tears, hide out to avoid removal, or refused to enroll, their ancestors would still be found on earlier rolls. They don't understand that speaking the language, knowing customs or following traditions are things that can be learned by anyone and offers no proof of ancestry. They don't understand that there is no law preventing a white man from claiming to be Indian, starring in and directing a movie about Indians or from getting an Indian tattoo. They don't understand that these New Age beliefs and hippie-like attire are not Cherokee. And, they don't understand that Cherokee genealogy is exactly the same as any other genealogy. It must be verified and supported with evidence.

If you are one of those people who believes you will never be able to verify your Cherokee ancestry because there are no records or because the records were lost or the records burned up in a fire, I urge you to learn some actual Cherokee history instead of listening to what others say. The Cherokee people are possibly the most documented group of people in the United States and one of the most documented in the world. I have said it before and I will say it again, Cherokee genealogy is extremely easy and in my opinion, easier than the genealogy of whites. After all, the government kept track of Indians. Whites were allowed to move about and do whatever they wanted without the government recording it or keeping track of them.

In closing, I would like to share a few truths --- There are 30+ rolls of the Cherokee people dating back to before the forced removal. There are rolls with the names of those who did not remove from the east on the Trail of Tears. Not enrolling on the Dawes Roll was not an option - people were arrested and forced to enroll or informants gave the information for them. Because of the previous rolls, the Dawes Commission knew who to look for and inquire about. If your family is not found on any of the rolls of the Cherokee people, then there is only one logical conclusion to make - they were NOT Cherokee. All the other claims and reasons people give (many listed above) don't hold water and certainly don't adhere to the Standards For Sound Genealogical Research. The ONLY thing that makes one Cherokee is decent from a real Cherokee who is found in the historical documentation of the Cherokee Nation. Basing your genealogy on anything else means you are writing a work of fiction based on what you want to believe rather than what the evidence shows. "Genealogy without proof is mythology."

Those are my thoughts for the day,
Thank you for reading,

CC
The Granddaughter

copyright 2010, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

Tweet