Tombstone Tuesday - Couseen Downing

Born December 13, 1833. Died July 1, 1876.

Re interred in the (new) Fisher Cemetery; Wagoner County, Oklahoma.

Original burial location unknown.

copyright 2012, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Tombstone Tuesday - John Moore

John Moore was the son of Matthew Reader Moore and Sarah Woodward (sister to my ancestor, Redbird Woodward.) He was a sergeant in Company C, Cherokee Mounted Volunteers, CSA. He was the husband of Susan Dennis (sister to my ancestor, Peggy Dennis) and they were the parents of William Moore and Sadie (Moore) Rowe.

A few weeks ago, I featured a news article about the shooting of my great, great, great grandfather, Dave Tadpole. John Moore was with him and was also shot. John died from those wounds.

copyright 2012, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Tombstone Tuesday - Cherokee Alexander Barnes

Alexander Barnes was born October 14, 1857 and died November 6, 1908. 

He is buried in the Coleman Cemetery in Porum, Oklahoma.

**Thank you to Karen West Sanchez for allowing me to use her photos.

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Tombstone Tuesday - In Memory of Uncle Jimmy

My Uncle Jimmy passed away yesterday, April 18, 2011. He was only 45 years old, two years older than me. It is hard to write about the loss of a loved one when the shock of their death is still present - when the grieving process has just begun - but I want to post a song that makes me think of our childhood. Summers spent at grandma's playing outside from dawn to dusk, building blanket tents in the house, telling scary stories to each other in the night when we were supposed to be asleep, sneaking down the stairs in the night to listen to what the grown ups were talking about, and so many other things.

It had been quite a while since I had seen Jimmy, it didn't mean I didn't love him and it doesn't mean I won't miss him.

 James William Mitchell

1965 - 2011

Rest in peace, Uncle Jimmy. You will never be forgotten

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

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The Granddaughter

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Tombstone Tuesday - Peggy Pumpkin

Peggy Dennis Pumpkin

abt 1835 - 1904

My great great great great grandma, Peggy Dennis, was the daughter of Peter and Arley Dennis, Old Settlers of the Cherokee Nation. She married Redbird Woodward and they had three children; Elizabeth, James and Sarah. Only Sarah survived to adulthood. Later, Peggy married Gabriel Martin and they had a son named William Martin. After that union ended, Peggy married George Pumpkin (aka Pumpkinpile) and spent the rest of her life with him.

Peggy was listed on the Dawes Roll as Cherokee by Blood. She was originally buried in the Old Fisher Cemetery that was on land from her grandson's allotment. Later, the cemetery was moved due to the construction of Fort Gibson Dam and now Peggy rests in the new location of the Fisher Cemetery near her husband, George; her daughter, Sarah; and several of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Tombstone Tuesday - Ayla Carey

Ayla Carey was born in Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, in 1891, the daughter of Aaron Carey, my great great grandpa, and Lidda Bighead or Ta-ga-ta. She was listed on the Final Dawes Roll as Cherokee by blood, full blood, card 7773, number 29062. According to the death affidavit in the Dawes packet, she died September 20, 1903. Her stone lists the year as 1904. Either way, she was just a little girl of about 12 or 13. She was buried in the Lost City Cemetery in Lost City, Oklahoma, and now rests with many from her family. May she rest in peace.

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Tombstone Tuesday - Cherokee Tombstone

Cherokee Tombstone

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Tombstone Tuesday - Polly Backbone Canoe

Polly Backbone Canoe

Born in Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, the daughter of Daniel and Lizzie (Downing) Backbone. Polly was the granddaughter of Dull Ho Downing and Polly Vann Downing Tadpole. She was also the sister of Jack Wall and mother of Nelson Rowe, and Ella and Jessie Canoe.

Polly was listed on the Final Dawes Roll as Cherokee by blood, full blood. Census card #2459 and Roll number #6286. Miller application #33145.

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Tombstone Tuesday - My Grandpa, Aaron Carey

October 13th was my grandpa's birthday. This is my way of honoring his request that we never forget about the horrors of war or the sacrifices our soldiers have made for us.




Aaron Carey was the third child of Dick and Nancy (Fisher) Carey, Cherokee Nation citizens who were both listed on the Final Dawes Roll. While a young teenager, Aaron's father was killed by a hit and run driver and he had to take over the role of helping his mother support the family of 9 children. He fetched water and kept the fire going for her as she did laundry for a living. He also helped a local widow on her farm and he would be paid in vegetables which he took home to his mother and siblings.

When he was 20 years old, he enlisted with the U.S Army on December 11, 1942. He was attached to the 612th Tank Destroyer battalion and was part of the European campaign. On Dec. 18, 1944, at the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, he was captured by the Germans at Honsfeld. After having his coat, gloves and boots taken away, he was marched toward the Prisoner of War camp. It was bitter cold and he had nothing to eat during the entire 10 day trip. He endured six months as a POW until he was liberated by American soldiers.

After the war, he returned to civilian life and raised a family like many other veterans. Carey never realized he had honors coming to him. Fifty-five years after WWII, he was presented 7 medals from United States Congressman Tom Coburn. Carey was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the POW medal, an European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal (with service stars representing the 8 major battles he participated in), a U.S. Victory medal, a Good Conduct Medal, a Combat and Infantryman badge, and a Rifleman Qualification Combat Infantry Army Award medal. He was also awarded a Cross of Valor by the State of Oklahoma.

Later when interviewed about his wartime experience, Carey said he felt it was important that the young people of today learn about the wars America has fought and the sacrifices made to keep the country free. He said he had told his children about it when they were young like many other veterans did, but he didn't know if the stories had been passed on to the younger generation. He said if given the opportunity to tell young people about WWII, he would advise them, "Let's not go through another thing like this again."

Two years and four months after he received his WWII medals, Aaron Carey was sick and near death. As he struggled to hold onto life, his oldest daughter laid her face beside his and told him she loved him and one day he would have four little Indian girls in Heaven with him. A few hours later, he died.

He was survived by 4 daughters, 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, his wife, and six brothers.

Let us never forget.......

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thank you for reading.

CC
The Granddaughter

copyright 2010, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Tombstone Tuesday - WhitePath

Burial in Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Trail of Tears Commemorative Park

From the plaque above -

Chief Whitepath served with Chief John Ross on the six person Management Committee for Cherokee Removal and Subsistence, arranging for ration stops along the "Trail of Tears".

Cherokee Memorial Park in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was one of the sites. The first party to arrive in Hopkinsville was led by Elijah Hicks, and included Chief Whitepath, the famous Cherokee war chief, and Fly Smith, a Cherokee clan leader. The Hicks party had been the second group to leave the Rattlesnake Springs stockade area on October 4, 1838 with Whitepath heading the column, but by the time they reached the Cumberland River they had already passed the first group under John Benge who had departed on October 1.

Chief Whitepath, a member of the Cherokee National Council, was a full-blood who had resisted the "new ways of the mixed bloods" with their "talking papers" (treaties). President Andrew Jackson had honored him with a watch for his bravery in 1814 when he, Junaluska, and Going Snake had led 600 Cherokees in a successful flanking attack against 1000 barricaded Creeks. As a result, General Jackson recorded a great victory in the Shawnee-Creek War at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.

Both Fly Smith and the 75 year old Whitepath had been seriously ill since their group had left Nashville, and they arrived in Hopkinsville on an army wagon. Within several hours they expired and were buried near the Cherokee camp on Little River. As late as the 1930s many unidentified limestone markers indicated the final resting place of Cherokees from many groups who passed through during the 1838-9 winter. Only four markers remain today including those of Whitepath and Fly Smith.

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Tombstone Tuesday - Tilden Tehee

In Memory of Tilden Tehee

Tilden Tehee was born about 1871 in Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory to Yu-che-tee and Susie. In 1880, he was listed on the orphan roll in Cooweescoowee District as Tilden Hayes and living with Rat Sanders.

Tehee married Annie Henson and had a daughter named Rosabelle.

Tehee died July 9, 1935, the victim of a homicide. He was originally buried in the old Fisher Cemetery. When the Corps of Engineers put in Fort Gibson Dam, the cemetery was moved and now he rests in the new location of the Fisher Cemetery along with many of his friends and fellow Cherokees.

News article from the Ada Evening News; Ada, Oklahoma; Sunday, July 14, 1935; p. 2.

Charge Murder In Slaying of Wagoner Indian

WAGONER, Okla., July 12.—
(AP) — Murder charges were filed here today against Stanton Skeen and Levi Peyton, alleging that they kicked and beat to death Tilton Tehee, 63-year-old Cherokee Indian, in a fight nine miles north of here last Tuesday.

Tehee's body was found Tuesday afternoon by Stute Sequoyah, with whom he lived. Skeen is
held in the Wagoner county jail and Peyton is reported to have fled to Dodge City, Kan. Two
nieces of the dead Indian, Luella Henson, 17, and Lillie Pumpkin, 20, witnesses to the fight, testified at the inquest through an interpreter.

Information obtained from Guion Miller application #9427 and Dawes applications #9334 and #2066.
Court information HERE.

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

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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

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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

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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.

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Tombstone Tuesday - My GGG Grandpa, Dave Tadpole

Dave Tadpole was born in approximately 1839; in Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory; the son of Dave and Lizzie (Downing) Tadpole.

Dave signed up to protect Chief John Ross when the Civil War started. After Cherokee Chief John Ross decided to side with the South, Dave left and went back home saying he would not fight against the treaty the Cherokee Nation had with the United States. Later, when given the opportunity, he joined the 3rd Regiment, Indian Home Guard, Kansas Infantry. Toward the end of the war, Dave married Polly Vann, a widow who had lost her husband during the war.

Dave and Polly were the parents of Tiger, Darkie, and Rose. Dave was also the step-father to Polly's two older children, Lizzie and Groundhog. He also helped raise his niece, Jencie, after her father, Eli Tadpole, died in the Civil War.

Toward the end of his life, Dave was unable to work due to injuries suffered during the war and he drew a pension until his death in February, 1900. Tweet

Tombstone Tuesday - My Great Grandpa Carey

Dick Carey was born in Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory in January 1890, the son of Aaron Carey and Polly Boots. At the age of 12, he was listed on the Final Dawes Roll as a fullblood. As a young man, Dick married a Cherokee woman whose name is not known. She and her son both died during childbirth.

In 1916, Dick married a Cherokee girl named Nancy Fisher. They lived on her allotment and had a family of 9 children. They only had one daughter who was named Nellie. Their sons were Mike, Aaron, Winston, Reed, Donald Ray, twins Millard and Willard, and John F..

Dick was a farmer who supplemented the family income by cutting hair for local men. Apparently he must have been pretty good at because many utilized the barber services he offered out of his home.

On New Year's Eve 1937, while walking home from town, Dick was killed by a hit and run driver. He was buried in the Old Fisher Cemetery and then later moved to the present Fisher Cemetery when the original had to be relocated.

The man who found Dick after he was hit did not see the vehicle that struck him. The driver who killed Dick was never found.

**Note: Documentation says Dick was born January 1890 and died December 31, 1937. The dates on the marker are wrong. This is a replacement marker and the dates were estimated for it.

copyright 2009, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Tombstone Tuesday - Remembering Uncle John F.

Johnson Fisher Carey, the youngest child of Dick and Nancy (Fisher) Carey, Cherokee Nation citizens, was born September 19, 1934. He attended Valley School and Wyandotte Indian School as a boy. He later enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Korea. Johnson was named after his maternal grandfather, Johnson Fisher, but was called John F. by his family. Because he was the baby of the family, he was adored by his siblings. Like his seven brothers, he excelled at music, art and athletics.

John F. was a wanderer after he left the military and one day, he hopped a train on one of his exploits. He never made it to his destination. On September 24, 1978, he was murdered by a group of hobos and thrown from a train in Wyoming. After several months, his body was returned to his brother, Aaron, in Oklahoma. He is buried in an unmarked grave between his brothers, Mike and Donald Ray.

John F. never married and never had children.

copyright 2009, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Tombstone Tuesday - George Pumpkin

George Pumpkin was born in 1839, in Goingsnake District, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, the son of Pumpkinpile and Nancy Vann. In 1859, he married Peggy Dennis, a Cherokee Nation citizen. He worked on his father's farm until he was twenty four and then began farming for himself.

When the Civil War started, he volunteered to protect Chief John Ross. After learning he would have to fight for the South, he, along with his friend, David Tadpole , turned and went home, refusing to fight against the treaty the Cherokee had with the United States. On July 11, 1862, he enlisted with the third regiment of the Indian Home Guard under Colonel Phelps and served for three years on the side of the Union, mustering out on May 3, 1864.

Though disabled during the war, he was still able to manage a 30 acre farm afterward. He was educated in the public schools of the Cherokee Nation and could speak and read both Cherokee and English. He often served as an interpreter for Cherokee Nation citizens who could not speak English. He was listed on the Final Dawes Roll as Cherokee by blood as a full blood.

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Tombstone Tuesday - My Other Grandma Polly

Polly Boots, my great great grandma, was born in Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, in 1851, the daughter of Boots and Lee-say (AKA Lizzie Scott). Polly married Hiram Smith and they were the parents of Sam, Tom, and Ellen. Polly was also the mother of Susie Whitewater, Joe McKay, Jim Pickup, Dick Carey and Jim Bean.

Polly lived most of her life in the Lost City area, near where Hulbert, Oklahoma is located today. Polly only spoke Cherokee and was very traditional. Though she opposed the breaking up of Cherokee land and refused to make an application for the Dawes Roll, she was listed on it anyway, as all the others who opposed it were. She was also listed on the Guion Miller roll and all the other Cherokee rolls that were taken during her lifetime.

She was most likely buried in one of the old Indian cemeteries near her home. At that time, many Indians marked their graves with rocks. Each family had a common rock so family members could more easily be identified in the burial ground. Because Polly's grave is not marked in the conventional American manner, it is unlikely the exact location of her grave will ever be known. The picture above is just an example of what her grave might look like. It is not her actual tombstone or grave. Even though I don't know where she is buried, I know that she lived and I will never let her be forgotten.

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thank you for reading.

CC
The Granddaughter

copyright 2009, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Tombstone Tuesday - Meet Grandma Polly

Polly (U-da-yi) Vann Tadpole was born in Georgia, the daughter of Ave and Betsey (Scott) Vann, citizens of the Cherokee Nation. While still a toddler, in 1837, she relocated with her family from Georgia to Indian Territory before the forced removal of the Cherokees that came to be known as the Trail of Tears.

After growing to adulthood in Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, Polly married Dul ho Downing in the Cherokee tradition and they had two children, Groundhog and Lizzie. Sadly, while serving with the Indian Home Guard, Kansas Infantry during the Civil War, Dul ho died from disease. About a year later, Polly married David Tadpole Jr. and they had three children; Tiger, Darkie and Rose. They also raised their niece, Jencie Tadpole, after her father died in the Civil War, and another orphan, John Swimmer.

Polly was left a widow for the second time when David died in March 1900. At this time, Polly was caring for her grand nephew, George Coffee, who was left an orphan when his mother, Jencie, died. She also raised two of her granddaughters, Ella and Nancy. Both girls had lost their mothers when they were very young.

Polly was listed on the Final Dawes Roll and received an allotment of land. At the time of the application, she was 68 years old. Later, she received a widow's pension for her husband's service during the Civil War. She died October 18, 1919 at approximately 84 years of age. By the end of her life, Polly had outlived both her parents, all 7 of her siblings, all three of her daughters, the niece she had raised and one of her sons. She was originally laid to rest in the family cemetery overlooking the home of her son, Tiger, but that cemetery was moved when the Corps of Engineers built Fort Gibson Dam. Now Polly rests in the new location of the Fisher Cemetery along with many of her family members and descendants.

**Note - The birth year on the stone appears to be wrong according to the documents where Polly reported her age and location of birth. She was most likely born in 1833 or 1834 instead of 1837.**

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thank you for reading.

CC
The Granddaughter

copyright 2009, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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