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Chapter VI: The Settlers

24 Monday Aug 2026

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A new chapter. Time to discuss the settlers who moved into and took possession of the land and improvements abandoned by the Cherokee people. Before and after the forced removal, the “Trail of Tears”. Settlers were living with and among the Cherokee people. This Chapter begins a discussion of several of them that would lead to Towns/Cities and communities developed from New Seneca Turkey’s Town.

Gideon E. Coats

Gideon Edward Coats, (Used by permission Patricia Highsmith collection, Swiss Literature Archive, Swiss National Library, SLA, date unknown, copyright with the Archive)

Gideon Edward Coats and his family are the first settlers in this discussion. In Turkeytown, a Community still bears this family’s name. It has long been stated that Coats’ Bend, Etowah County, Alabama, is named after Gideon Edward Coats. We will see that his mother and some of his siblings moved here. Annie Jo Coates, granddaughter of Gideon, daughter of Andrew Jackson Coates, stated in an article in the Gadsden Times in 1947 about the colonial home of her grandfather; 

“Gideon E. Coats (who spelled his surname sans (minus) the “e”) bought 5000 acres from the Cherokee Indians. The home was built in 1842, she said, an(d) construction of the home started while Indian wigwams still were in the vicinity.

“The land grant was made out at Jacksonville, Ala.”  Miss Coates said. My grandfather brought 150 slaves here from South Carolina and their cabins were back of the house.” 1

Gideon Edward Coats of Kershaw County, South Carolina, came to the Cherokee Nation and Turkey’s Town by the mid-1830s after his father’s death. His brother John M. Coats came with him. They both signed an affidavit attesting to James Lasley’s good character on 4 October 1837 in Cherokee County, Alabama. Notice that Gideon and John did not have the “e” in their names. Andrew J Coates, the youngest son, added the “e” to his name—no explanation as to why.

2

By the time of this affidavit (1837), Gideon is married to Margaret Lasley Vann, daughter of James Lasley and James’ first Cherokee wife, Elizabeth Wickett (sister to Susannah Wickett, Major Ridge’s wife).  In 1823, James Lasley moved to Turkey’s Town. His wife, Elizabeth Wickett, left him for Big Cabin. She was rejected by Big Cabin. She moved to Will’s Town, where she died in 1834. Margaret is listed in her will as Margaret Vann. Margaret, also known as Peggy, is separated from Andrew Vann. She is living with her father, who is now married to Caty, in Turkey’s Town.3

Gideon and Margaret are not on the Henderson 1835 census of the Cherokee Nation. Gideon, at the time of the Cherokee removal, had property and improvements validated. 

This is Gideon Coats’ claim from 1838. The transcript of the claim valuation follows.

Registration of claims of the Cherokee Indians against the United States, within the state of Alabama. No 1,

The United States to Gideon E. Coats DR for an improvement “near Turkey Town” Alabama

The State of Alabama) Dekalb County)

This day personally appeared before Jesse G Beeson & George Lowery Agents appointed by the regularity constituted authorities of the Cherokee Nation for taking & registering the claims of the Cherokee Indians. Gideon E Coats a citizen of the United States who intermarried with Margaritt Lasley a Native of the Cherokee tribe of Indians & after being duly sworn deposits & saith that he was in possession on the 23rd of May 1838 of an improvement near Turkey Town in the said nation containing as follow, Forty Eight acres of cleared land and in cultivation of which twenty Eight is river Bottom land of the quality also five acres of Bottom land cleared & not in cultivation with rails made for fencing the same the whole of which 48 acres is under good substantial fence ten or Eleven rails high 1 dwelling house of hewed logs & doors & locks. 18 by 30. 1 kitchen of hewed logs 18 by 14 feet good roof a door 1 smoke house 12 feet square good door & lock 2 cribs 18 by 10 feet 1 feeder house 12 by 12 feet 1 raised for dwelling house raised not covered 1 stable 18 by 14 feet in good lot containing 1/2 acre of cleared land with good & substantial fence around it one cluster of Pear trees supposed to be about fifty in it 1 wagon shelter & 1 good lot containing 1 acre of land with good fence around it in which the dwellings are situated all of which deponent saith he hath been disposed of & that he has never had the same valued or ever recieved anything on consideration for the same whatsoever from any source sworn to & subscribed this 22nd day August 1838.

Gideon E Coats (Seal)

Jesse G. Beeson & George Lowery Agents. The State of Alabama) De Kalb County)

This day personally appeared before Jesse G Beeson & George Lowery Agents & James Lasley & Richard Simmons who after being duly sworn deposits & sayeth that they are well acquainted with Gideon E Coats improvement & that as near as they could judge without measuring the same it contained forty eight acres of land in cultivation of which a large portion was river bottom of 1st quality all under good fence also five acres or therabouts of cleared land not in cultivation we also know that he had a good dwelling house of hewed logs floors doors locks & sayeth also a number of out houses such as kitchens corn cribs stables feeder houses wagon shed a good horse lot & lot around dwelling house all under good fence also some fruit trees about fifty in number from the appearance of the same we also futher state that the said Coats was in possession of on 23rd of May 1838 & had the same in cultivation & what said Coats was intermarried with Margarett Lasley who was a native of the Cherokee Nation & we do futher say that we have no knowledge said Coats ever recieved any compensation from the United States or from any source whatever for said improvement sworn to & subscribed before.

Richard Simmons James Lasley

Jesse G Beeson & George Lowery agents for collecting Indians claims in Ala August 22nd 1838 4

This is important because it shows that Gideon E. Coats has an established farm or plantation. Gideon Coats has only 53 total acres. The plantation was established before 1838. Of note, one of the witnesses is his father-in-law, James Lasley.

Margaret will be separated from Gideon Coats by the end of the year 1838. Margaret Lasley Vann Coats was removed West of the Mississippi in 1838 during the “Trail of Tears”. Margaret is not on any of the detachment lists. She left on her own with her children. She must have left for the West in May of 1838. Her father stated they were forced to march to Fort Payne 1st of June 1838. Margaret is not in that group.

Listed on; A muster roll of the Cherokee permitted to remove themselves to the Country assigned them west of the Mississippi X who committed their transportation, from the 23rd of May to the 1st of October 1838

Head of families Gideon E Coats-Males 10-25 age-1, Slaves Male 3, Slaves Females 5, Total 9, in the comment section; His wife (Peggy Lasley) commuted transportation and substance for self and children 5

Margaret goes west on her own with her children. During the physical removal of the Cherokee from Turkey’s Town, Gideon Coats changed his mind. Gideon Coats did not go west. He remained in Alabama. He will claim and purchase the 53 acres plus more. He files to purchase land through the US government. Of note, Gideon Coats has only 8 slaves. He only has 48-53 acres of land. This is much different from what the granddaughter, Annie Jo, stated in 1947. Note the timeline for Gideon Coats’ improvement claim. It is August 1838. So, he never left and was never paid for the improvements.

So much more to this story. Stay tuned.

  1. Gadsden Times, 1947 ↩︎
  2. Misc papers Record Group 75, Cherokee papers, James Lasley, NARA, Washington, DC. ↩︎
  3. Blog post, Oct, 22, 2025, Notable People James Lasley, ↩︎
  4. Tennessee Cherokee Collection, Tennessee State Library & Archives, Nashville TN.  Copy from Michael Wren’s collection. ↩︎
  5. Microfilm M234, Reel 115, A Muster Roll of the Cherokee permitted to remove themselves, NARA, Washington, DC ↩︎

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6 CSV

250 Years Ago

31 Friday Jul 2026

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250 years ago, on 4 July 1776, the colonists signed the Declaration of Independence. They separated from Great Britain. This started the Revolutionary War.

The Cherokee people sided with the British. This alliance would lead to the destruction of Cherokee towns. Some of the first were the lower towns on the Keowee River.

Chief Little Turkey’s hometown was Seneca. The American Revolution destroyed his hometown. He would move north away from the fighting. He would find himself part of the Chickamaugan group with Dragging Canoe. Then he established his New Seneca after 1782.

1 You can see Sennekaw, (Seneca), KeooKwee, (Keowee), Sugar Town. These towns would be destroyed by Col. Williamson.

Battle at Seneca 250 Years Ago

Col. Andrew Williamson (c. 1730-1786) was the commanding officer of the South Carolina backcountry militia. 2 On 22 July 1776 Williamson moved towards the lower Cherokee towns. 3 His search was for Alexander Cameron. Cameron was the agent to the Cherokee for Great Britain. He had refused to change allegiance as offered by Williamson. 4 On the 31st of July 1776, Williamson sent out spies to search for Cameron. They returned with two white men. At 6 pm that day, Williamson forced the prisoners to show him where Cameron was hiding out. (250 years ago, 31 July 2026.)

Col. Williamson had a detachment of 330 mounted men. They rode several hours, arriving about two miles from Cameron’s camp. They were to surround the camp by daybreak. It is now 1st August 1776. They would cross the Keowee River at Seneca. The Cherokee with the British had set an ambush for them. When Williamson’s advance group broke into the town of Seneca, the signal guns sounded. Williamson’s was staggered but pressed on. They drove the Cherokee from their guarded positions. Col. Williamson’s horse was killed. He then mounted Lt. Farar’s horse. They found Frances Salvador, a friend of Williamson’s. Salvador was scalped, severely wounded, and dying. Salvador would die by the next morning. Williamson lost two others to death. There were six wounded, and they were sent to the settlements for care. Williamson thought his opposition to be considerable in size. They left behind several blankets, shirts, tomahawks, and bloody tracks.5

At daybreak on the 1st of August, Williamson ordered his men to burn the Cherokee house on both sides of the river at Seneca. They destroyed an estimated 6,000 bushels of corn and other food stores. He left two white flags standing as a sign of peace at Seneca. Williamson retreated to Eighteen Mile Creek to take refuge and regroup. It is here that a rider came into camp with a dispatch and a copy of the Declaration of Independence. Williamson had it read to the entire group. It was the first news that the Colonies had separated from Britain. It was after this news that Williamson and his forces moved into the Cherokee lands. They would destroy and burn the towns of Estateo, Qualhatchee, Toxaway, and Sugar Town. The last town on the Keowee River he burned was Keowee Town. 6

Fort Rutledge

On 24th August 1776 Williamson and his troops were back at Seneca. They had turned the place into their camp. Provisions arrived escorted by Captain Frances Logan. En route were ammunition, gunpowder, and lead. This camp and provisions were for invading the middle settlements. Captain Robert Anderson was put in charge of building a “stockade” for the storage of the supplies. It was to be 180 square feet. The men of the Seneca Camp built the fort. It was placed on a ridge near Seneca. It was named Fort Rutledge.7 It is named after John Rutledge, the first President of South Carolina. The location of this Fort today, 2026 is on the property of Clemson University. 8

Conculsion

250 years ago, men engaged in chasing down a leader of Great Britain with the Cherokee to find themselves in the war for independence. It was unknown to them until after their first engagement with the Cherokee, who had sided with the British. This led to the destruction of the town of Seneca. The home of Chief Little Turkey. He would settle in Northeast Alabama at a place he called New Seneca.

  1. The 1771 map above shows Seneca, spelled Sennekaw. A portion of
    “Mouzon’s Map 1771; Mouzon, H. and Robert Sayer and John Bennett,
    (1775) An Accurate map of North and South Carolina with their Indian
    frontiers, shewing in a district manner all the mountains, rivers, swamps,
    bays, creeks, harbours, sandbanks, and soundings on the coast; with the
    roads and Indians paths as well as the boundaries, or provincial lines, the
    several towns and other divisions of lands in both provinces, London, printed
    for Robt. Sayer and J. Bennett” from the Library of Congress.
    hpps://www.loc.gov/item/74692510/ ↩︎
  2. The American Revolution in South Carolina, https://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/patriot_leaders_sc_andrew_williamson.html ↩︎
  3. A Demand of Blood: The Cherokee War of 1776, Nadia Dean, Chapter 13, page 143. ↩︎
  4. Ibid, Chapter 5, pg 52 ↩︎
  5. Ibid, Chapter 13, pages 144-145 ↩︎
  6. Ibid, pages 145-147 ↩︎
  7. Ibid, pages 152-153 ↩︎
  8. 250 years after a battle here, Clemson is recreating a part of Fort Rutledge, https://news.clemson.edu/250-years-after-a-battle-here-clemson-is-recreating-a-part-of-fort-rutledge/ ↩︎

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6 CSV

Richard Ratliff’s Will?

27 Saturday Jun 2026

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A reader commented on Richard Ratlif Sr’s death. This is on the Notable People, Richard Ratliff post. I stated he was on the Trail of Tears. I stated that he died in the Arkansas Territory. I stated that there was a will of Richard Ratliff Sr. The reader suggested that I follow the timeline and his “will” to get the correct information. The source cited is his “will” of 25 February 1833.

I reviewed my statements, and I indeed made a mistake. I stated that there was a “will”. After reviewing the documents, I was not able to find a “will”. There is a document that reads like a “will,” but it is not a “will”.

I have corrected my statement. I have added the source citation. I am posting the document here. Therefore, you, as readers, can decide if it is a will or not.

This may be sensitive to some. This deals with enslaved people. Sad portion of history. First information the reader who commented quoted. From the Find A Grave web site, it states that Richard Ratliff Sr died in 1835. It has the following information:

Probate: February 25, 1833, presented Will to Cherokee Court being “now advanced in age”.…. Last Will & Testament of Richard Ratliff, “now advanced in age”; gives to his daughter Jenny (wife of Daniel Griffin) these Negroes:Tonney & her children Haner, Joe, & Liby & all their increase; 2 children named Beckey & Peter; Negro woman Mary

Here is the document. It is transposed below. It is difficult to read.

1

Transposed copy of the above NARA Records of the Supreme Court of the Cherokee Nation.It has the same date as above Find A Grave document stating a “Will”.

Cherokee Nation in the chartered limits of Alabama February 25th 1833

To all whom it may

Concern    Know ye by these presents that I RICHARD RATLIFF being now advanced in years and not knowing how soon the Great God whom I adore as my maker may call me out of this probationary State of existence on earth and more our being Sound by the blessings of providence in mind hav in consideration of the great love my daughter JINNEY the wife of DANIEL GRIFFIN JR has for me and in consideration of the equal affection that I entertain for her have thot proper to make this DEED OF GIFT to the Said JINEY &c and titles there of certain negroes to wit FANNEY and her children HANER, JOE and LILY and all ther in crease and PATTY and her Two children named BECKEY and PETER and negro woman named MARY which tittle and all right of mine appertaining I here by transfer and make over and interest to my daughter from this day in order that She may hold Keep and retain the Said negroes and their in crease free from all claims and I do moreover obligate mySelf to defend the Same to her the Said JINNEY her heirs and assigns from my Self my heirs an assigns and from all persons whom so ever    done at the place and date above written in the presence of the under Signed as witness my hand and Seal

RICHARD RATLIFF {seal}. EDWARD FRY Witness

I do certify the above to be a true copy of the original

24th Oct 1833 CHARLES H. VANN Clerk Supreme Court Ch. Nat.

I added the emphasis. It does not state “Last Will and Testament”. It is not titled Last Will and Testament. It has the language of a “Will”. Yet, it is a statement of a gift to Jinny and Daniel Griffin Jr.

The slaves were stolen as Jenney and Daniel Griffin Jr. traveled to the Arkansas Territory. Then a court case as to the rightful owners took place. Depositions were taken.

Jenny filed a claim for payment of the loss in 1837. The transposed copy below. I am posting that before a deposition.

2

# 843   Claim of JANE GRIFFIN of Arkansas for $2210.  [Since the claim was filed the claimant has departed this life and the Commissrs order the amount allowed be placed on the Register of Payments to the credit of the heirs of said claimant.]

The claimant JANE GRIFFIN on the 9th May 1837 made oath that the following property  viz:  one negro woman named PATSEY, one boy named PETER, one d(itt)o girl named BECKY, and one d(itt)o) woman MARY, and a fine mare, was forcibly taken from her husband in his life time by two white men named ROBERT WARE and HENRY L. SMITH, while her said husband and herself were on their way to Arkansas, which property was never recovered or paid for.

It appears by the proof filed in the case, that the negroes mentioned above are bequeathed to the said JANE GRIFFIN by her father RICHARD RATLIFF, that under a Deed of Gift from the said RATLIFF to the said JANE, her husband DANIEL GRIFFIN took the property into possession, and kept it until in the manner set forth.  The time of the forcible dispossession was March 1834.  It further appears that RACHEL RATLIFF, a granddaughter of the aforesaid RICHARD RATLIFF pretended at her deathbed to make a will bequeathing the negroes described which were not her property, and over which she had no control, to CATHARINE (a daughter of the said RACHEL) who afterwards married ISAAC BUSHYHEAD.  Under this false bequeath m–l(?), ISAAC BUSHYHEAD the husband of the aforesaid CATHARINE, made a sale of the negroes to the aforesaid WARE and SMITH, and the said WARE & SMITH pursued GRIFFIN and his family while they were on their way to Arkansas, and with the assistance of two white men named CAREY, freed the negroes from the possession of the said GRIFFIN, and carried them off.  Various attempts was made in the Courts of Justice to recover the property and some special proceedings on the subject took place, but they were wholly abutive(?) in redressing the wrong done to Griffin as the white men who were the opposing party in the suit, managed successfully to evade the execution of the orders of the Courts.

The case is clearly made out – 1st by a certified copy of the Deed of Gift from RICHARD RATLIFF to his daughter JANE;  2nd  by the affidavit of RICHARD RATLIFF given at a subsequent period, and to support this claim acknowledging that he had executed the aforesaid Deed of Gift, and confirming it in all its particulars,  3rd  by the affidavit of JAMES LASSLEY, an old, intelligent and highly respected Cherokee, who substantiates the facts set forth by the claimant JANE GRIFFIN, both in relation to the Deed of Gift, and the dispossession of the negroes; and 4th by a certified copy of a letter from Majr CURRY, then Superintendent of Cherokee Removals, dated March 21st 1836 addressed to the U.S. Dist Attorney at Savannah Geo. setting forth all the above stated facts.

The Cherokee Committee first referred the Claim to a select Committee which unanimously in favor of the justice of the claim, but suggested the reduction of $710 from the amount asked, which report was unanimously agreed to in Committee of the Whole.  The Commissioner, after a careful examination of all the proofs confirm the judgment of the Committee and allow the claim (to be applied to the benefit of the heirs of the said JANE GRIFFIN in the trust for the sum of $1500.

Emphasis added. Notice in this legal document, it does not say Richard Ratliff, deceased. It also repeats that it is a “Deed of Gift” for the enslaved people.

In this deposition, Benjamin Pollard calls it a “Bill of Sale or Deed of Gift”.

3

Transposed, Emphasis added: Benjamin Pollard

St Clair Co Alabama Can prove possession in R Ratliff transfer from Ratliff to Daniel Griffin Edward Fray said county to Bill of Sale or Deed of Gift John Ridge writer Floyd Co Ga Ruben McCoy & wife resided at Ratliffs at the time Bushyheads mother in law is said to have aquired her till 20 year ago & now lives in Benton Co near St Clair co Wm Childress lives in St Clair Childresville Alabama coosa River Can prove possession fifteen year ago in Richard Ratliff Sr & transfer to Jinny the wife of Griffin

Benjamin Pollard is a neighbor of Richard Ratliff Sr. He was also involved in a mill project with John Ratliff, Richard Ratliff’s son.

Conclusion

Even with the language of a “Last Will and Testament,” this document is a”Deed of Gift”. In 1835 Richard Ratliff Sr is counted in the Henderson census (October 1835). In the 1837 claim above, Richard Ratliff is not listed as deceased. So it is very plausible that Richard Ratliff Sr on the Deas Detachment, who is over the age of 50, is this person. He is the only person in the list of that family. It is stated that he lives in Turkey Town. There are no other Richard Ratliff Sr in Turkey’s Town of that age. So you can decide if the document is a will or, as stated, a Deed of Gift. There is no document showing that Richard Ratliff Sr died in Turkey’s Town.

  1. NARA Washington, DC, Microfilm 574, Reel 51, Microfilm Frame, 966-983 Special File 184, From personal collection of Mike Wren ↩︎
  2. Approved Spoliation Claims [ #843 ] of the 1st Board of Cherokee Commissioners involving Jane Ratliff & her husband Daniel Griffin Jr. Copies of the pages from the Decision Book. NARA Washington, DC. Copies from Mike Wren’s collection. ↩︎
  3. NARA Washington, DC, Microfilm 574, Reel 51, Microfilm Frame, 951-916 Special File 184, Copies from mike Wren’s collection. ↩︎

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6 CSV

Ballplay

31 Sunday May 2026

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1

Ballplay

The game is played with a ball, a stick with netting, and a basket to throw the ball into. This sporting event was played by the Indians. The Cherokee played this game. Tradition states that they had two goals, one at each end of the field. They called it “Little Brother of War”. 2 This is a sport still played today.

Where in Turkey’s Town did they play this sport? That site is lost to history. There are lots of traditions and stories about the location. None of them can be proven. In 1899, Si (James M.) Daniel, a historian for the area, stated in a Gadsden Daily Times News’ article, this;

Turkeytown is four miles long, has two main streets, railroad running right between them. One creek and street running across about the center of the town. Old man Turkey lived at the Sims farm, on the east street on Turkey creek. The Indian ball ground was at the north end of town, where the two streets and railroad come together. 3

Tradition does not agree with this site. The area described above by Mr. Daniels is on the western side of the Coosa River. However, it is plausible that this is the site where the Cherokees of Turkey’s Town played the game. It was a field of play and not a location. Today, it is a location.

Today’s Ballplay is on the Eastern side of the Coosa River. It is a community. There is Ballplay Bend and Ballplay.

Ballplay Creek

We can date Ballplay Creek on the east side of the Coosa River back to 1829. Information from “Report of assessors for valuing the improvements abandoned “. This list has heads of households. “Dates are from the 6th June to 2d of November, 1829, inclusive.” Widow Baldridge, Tesaufskee Baldrige, and Stinger McDaniel are listed as living in Alabama on Ballplay Creek.

Meeting in Cedar Bluff, February 1836.

State of ALABAMA, Cherokee county, mouth of Chattuga: 

The undersigned, a committee of the citizens of the State of Alabama, Cherokee County, who met in convention on the 6th February, at the mouth of the Chattuga, have had the matter upon the intrusion of the Cherokee Indians into our territory under consideration, and have sought for all the means of information to them practicable, and find that there are quite a large population of Creek Indians intruded into our country, and would suppose that a schedule of the relative locations, and the number so well ascertained, will give one of the best views of the case that can be presented to your excellency, viz: 

Spring creek …………………. 200 or upwards. 

Terrapin creek………..… 60 Polecat town. 

Terrapin creek ……..….60 Little Hogstown. 

Coosa river .…….. 500 Hillibulga and villages. 

Wolf creek …… 200 on Lookout mountain. 

Chattuga ……… 40 

Ball Play creek …….1,500 

Emigrants, two weeks successive ….. 50 bound NE  

Making, in all …………………. 2,610 4

The above list shows Creek Indians who avoided removal west and intruded into the Cherokee’s land, now Cherokee County, Alabama. Cherokee County, Alabama, became a county in January 1836. Interestingly, the largest group of Creek Indians is collected on Ballplay Creek.

Ball Play Becomes a Location

As the Cherokee people are removed from their lands, whites move in. Ballplay becomes a location rather than a game. A “Camp Meeting” in Ballplay is advertised in the Jacksonville newspaper.

5

Newspapers post mail routes in Alabama. From Huntsville papers.

6
7

Ancestry.com has listings of the Postmasters. Ballplay, Cherokee County, Alabama, first shows on the list with a date of 3 April 1840. The Postmaster is John Robinson. John G. Garrett was the Postmaster from 1853 through 1860. The first Postmaster of Ballplay, now in Etowah County, was Marcus H. Wagnon, June 1873. The first map of Etowah County shows the location of the Post Office at Mr. Wagnon.

8

McDuffie’s ferry is Wagnon Ferry. McDuffie was the first person to operate the ferry. The Wagnon family would take over it. The left side of the Coosa River is Coats’ Bend. GEC is Gideon Edward Coats.

Conclusion

Ball Pay is a sporting game. Today, it is a location. Ballplay Creek dates back to before 1929. This is before the removal of the Indians. The first Post Office dates to April 1840. “Little Brother of War” Ball Play.

  1. The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama) · 2 Mar 1924, Sun · Page 38, Newspaper.com
      ↩︎
  2. The Game Known as The Little Brother of War, https://visitcherokeenc.com/culture/stickball/ ↩︎
  3. Gadsden Daily Times News, 10 October 1899, Newspaper.com ↩︎
  4. American State Papers, Documents, Legislation, and Executive, and of Congress Vol. 6
    Google Books, image 690-692, pages 693-695, Military Affairs, Indian Hostilities in Florida 
    https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=C5MzAQAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.PA694&hl=en ↩︎
  5. 16 September 1846, Jacksonville Republican, newspaper.com ↩︎
  6. The Democrat, 12 September 1840, newspaper.com ↩︎
  7. The Independant Monitor, 16 November 1842, newspaper.com ↩︎
  8. Tallman’s Map of Etowah County, Alabama, Cincinatti: Krebs Lithographing Co., 1877, https://alabamamaps.ua.edu/historicalmaps/counties/etowah/etowah.html ↩︎

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6 CSV

Trail of Tears

27 Monday Apr 2026

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Sorry for not posting until now. It has been a time-consuming month.

Conmincing of stock household and kitchen furniture, farming utensils, he claimant was compelled to abandon when captured with many Cherokee on the 1st June 1838 by the United States troops under the command of Genl Scott and marched to Fort Payne a distance of about 35 miles, the claimant owing to the strict regulations of the millitary was not allowed or permitted to return to his residence to get or dispose of the articles charged set forth in the forgoing claim.

This is from James Lasley of Turkey Town. It is his claim in 1842. The claim is what he was forced to leave behind. You can go back to the “Notable People in Turkey’s Town” post on James Lasley and see more information. What needs to be pointed out is the date: June 1st, 1838, and they were forced marched to Fort Payne.

The best understanding of the “Trail of Tears” in Northeast Alabama is written in a Report for the National Trail of Tears Association. This report is about the camps, forts, and Trail of Tears. Alabama Collection Camps, Forts, Emigrating Depots and Travel Routes Used During the Cherokee Removal of 1838-1839. It was published in 2007. It is an excellent source. Extremely well documented with sources. This group did their homework.  Lamar Marshall, Larry Smith, Michael Wren, Gail King, Project Director.  This is the link to the site, you can download this to study through. https://nationaltota.com/alabama-forts-and-camps/

The round-up took place in June 1838. They were moved from a stockade to the final stockade before the detachments left from the “launching points”. There were stockades in Northeast Alabama. In today’s Cherokee County, there were three “Forts”. Fort Likens was in north Cherokee County, at what is called Barry Springs. (See the above report.) Fort Lovell was three miles east of today’s Cedar Bluff, which is today’s Lawrence Cemetery off of US Hwy 9. This location was documented by Mike Wren in 2022.1 Fort Turkey Town was on Tarapin Creek about 5 miles east of the Coosa River; the location has not been proven.

Detachments

There are at least 17 detachments. The ones the people of Turkey’s Town were mostly involved with are. The John Benge and Lt Edward Deas Detachments. Fort Payne is one of the launching points. This is today’s Fort Payne, Alabama. It is believed that the stockade was at Rev. John Huss’ cabin. John Huss is also referred to as Spirit the Preacher. He is Cherokee, and at the time of removal, he was married to Nancy, one of the Boot’s (Chulio, the Creek Interpreter) daughters. (See Notable People of Turkey’s Town, Chulio (Boot), the Creek Interpreter post.) From Fort Payne, the detachment led by John Benge went West to Arkansas on foot and wagons.

A portion of; An Accurate Map of the State of Alabama and West Florida [Sheet 2: Cherokee, DeKalb, Jackson] LaTourrette, John 1837. Notice the “Spirit the Preacher” (John Huss), and the spring next to him. This is the site of Fort Payne stockade. The “mission station” is Will’s Town Mission.2

The Benge Detachment 

The Benge and Lowrey Families 

From the above-mentioned report. John Benge was the conductor of Detachment #4 (detachment number in John Ross Papers) and George Lowery was the Assistant Conductor. It is not surprising that these two men were chosen to lead the Benge Detachment during the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation in the fall of 1838. The Benge family and the Lowery family had a long-term relationship dating back many years. Both families had their beginnings from white traders of Scottish descent, who came to trade in the Cherokee Nation during the middle to late 1700s and married Cherokee women.3 

The Benge Detachment is the only detachment that left from Fort Payne, Alabama. The letter as noted earlier in this chapter written from Wills Valley by John Benge and George Lowrey dated September 29, 1838 to John Ross clearly stated that the commanding officer at Fort Payne would stop disbursing rations if the detachment didn’t move by October 1st. Fifteen wagons had started that day (29th) and twenty more would probably start the next day. Lieut. Poole stated in a letter (also noted earlier in this chapter) that the detachment had left its “camp eight miles below Fort Payne (Lebanon) on October 4 and by October 7th was within fourteen miles of Gunter’s Landing. The Benge Detachment connection with Rattlesnake Springs in Tennessee and the William S. Coody’s eye-witness observations does not have credibility. 4

Those who can be identified on the Benge Detachment from Turkey’s Town

The list of heads of households. Ahdahwartuske & Quaty, Takey, Money Crier, Crying Snake (Son of Nancy, Grandson of Chief Pathkiller & Peggy), Turner (Son of Chilio (Boot), the Creek Interpreter), Augerhole, Nancy P. Killer (Daughter of Chief Pathkiller & Peggy), Houston (Son of Nancy, Grandson of Chief Pathkiller & Peggy), Nan, Nelly P. Killer (Daughter of Chief Pathkiller & Peggy), Jane P. Killer (Janey, Daughter of Chief Pathkille & Peggy), Corn Tassel, 5

The Lt. Edward Deas Detachment

Three detachments of Cherokee, totaling about 2,800 people, traveled by river to Indian Territory. The first of these groups led by Lieutenant Edward Deas left on June 6, 1838 by steamboat and barge from Ross Landing, present-day Chattanooga, Tennessee. They followed the Tennessee River, Ohio River, Mississippi River and the Arkansas River and arrived near Fort Coffee on June 19, 1838.

The second detachment, led by Lt. Robert H.K. Whiteley, left in mid-June and arrived two months later near Stilwell, Oklahoma.

The final detachment, led by John Drew, left in the late fall and arrived in Indian Territory the following March.

John Bell led one detachment from Cherokee Agency at Charleston, Tennessee, westward across the southern part of Tennessee to Memphis and then to Indian Territory.

His party consisted of about 650-700 Cherokee who supported the removal treaty and opposed John Ross. Bell’s detachment also differed from the Ross-allied parties in that it had a military escort. Lieutenant Edward Deas, who had earlier led a party by river, commanded the Bell’s detachment military escort. The Bell detachment took a more direct route than did the Ross-allied parties, and reached Indian Territory in January 1839.6

Those who can be identified on the Deas Detachment from Turkey’s Town

The list of heads of households. Silas Choat, Sanders Choat, Susan Radcliffe, Frances Hampton (Anna’s husband, Nelley’s daughter, Chief Pathkiller, and Peggy’s granddaughter), Liddy Fields, Jon-Man, Buffalo, William Lasley, George Campbell (Quata’s husband, Chief Pathkiller, and Peggy’s daughter), Owl, Se-lo-nee-kee, Beaver Tail (Husband to Qualeoo, Peggy’s niece’s, He is the son of Anoha Chief Pathkiller’s granddaughter, Anoha’s mother is unknown), Dirt Seller, Polly Smith, Siter, Olly Blackbeard, Liddy Blackbeard, Kity Rabbit, Richard Ratliff Sr., Richard Ratliff Jr., Matt Jones 7

Some people left for the West on their own.

Conclusion

This provides the names of people to help make the Trail of Tears more personal. These are people and their lives. This is not just a story.

  1. Finding Fort Lovel, Researching the Removal: A Case Study, Goingsnake District Heritage Association January 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfVNOw7EREw ↩︎
  2. https://alabamamaps.ua.edu/historicalmaps/counties/dekalb/dekalb.html ↩︎
  3. Alabama Collection Camps, Forts, Emigrating Depots and Travel Routes Used During the Cherokee Removal of 1838-1839, Lamar Marshall, Larry Smith, Michael Wren, Gail King, Project Director, Page 384, Chapter 10, ↩︎
  4. Ibid, page 400 ↩︎
  5. Ibid, Page 418-424, Muster Roll of Detachment No. of Emigrating Cherokee under Charge of Capt. John Benge, ↩︎
  6. Discovering the Trail of Tears on the Natchez Trace, National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/discovering-the-trail-of-tears-on-the-natchez-trace.htm ↩︎
  7. Cherokee Registry Trail of Tears-Deas detachment, Cherokeeregistry.com, also https://accessgenealogy.com/native/1838-cherokee-muster-roll-1.htm 1838 Cherokee Muster Roll 1, Accessgenealogy.com, Muster roll of Lt. Deas. Cherokees who arrived West 1 May 1838 ↩︎

Chapter IV Trail of Tears

19 Thursday Mar 2026

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Turkey’s Town and the Trail of Tears. A dark history of the US. How did this affect Turkey’s Town? How were the people involved?

Turkey’s Town’s involvement was first seen in the Treaty Ratification of October 1816.

Turkey Town Treaty

At midnight on 4 October 1816, Andrew Jackson and David Meriwether dictated a letter to be sent to William H. Crawford, Secretary of War with a summation of the treaty and other comments. In this letter at image 113, they talked about the removal West of the Mississippi. Several Chiefs inquired about the effects on the nation.

 It was internalize to us however several of the chiefs that a strong disposition prevailed among many individuals of the nation to emigrate to the west of the Mississippi and they wished to know whether in the event of national removal it was practicable to effect an exchange with the General Government. .1

The Removal Bill

Americans elected Andrew Jackson of Tennessee as president in 1829. The Removal Bill of 1830 initiated the voluntary Indian removal. It was also known as the Indian Removal Act. The Indian Removal Act was passed in May 1830. It provided for lands in the Arkansas territory as a place to move to. So-called “West of the Mississippi River”. 2

Chief John Ross, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, protested. The State of Georgia passed a bill in January 1830, claiming all of Northwest Georgia and the Cherokee Territory. This included Georgia State laws over the land.3 To add to the takeover of land, gold was found in Northwest Georgia. White men intruded by the hundreds searching for gold. 4 Georgia then sectioned off the land, and a lottery was held for 160-acre lots.

New Echota Treaty 1835

The Treaty of New Echota was signed on December 29, 1835, in New Echota, Georgia. Officials of the United States government and representatives of a minority Cherokee political faction, the Treaty Party, were involved.

The treaty set terms for the Cherokee Nation to give up its territory in the southeast. They were to move west to the Indian Territory. The treaty was not approved by the Cherokee National Council. Principal Chief John Ross did not sign it. Still, it was amended and ratified in March 1836 by the US Congress by one vote. This amendment and ratification made it the legal basis for the forcible removal. 5

The twenty-member council, “Treaty Party” that signed (by mark or signature).

Major Ridge,   Te-gah-e-ske,  James Foster,   Robert Rogers,  Tesa-ta-esky,  

John Gunter,  Charles Moore,  John A. Bell, George Chambers,  Charles F. Foreman, Tah-yeske,  

William Rogers, Archilla Smith, George W. Adair, Andrew Ross,  Elias Boudinot, 

William Lassley,  James Starr, Cae-te-hee,  Jesse Half-breed, 

Stand Watie, John Ridge. were the ones who provided instructions. 6

John Ridge, with this group, held 3/8 interest of Chief Pathkiller’s estate. This included the ferry, house and orchards at what is today’s Centre, Alabama. Review Chief Pathkiller’s ferries in this blog. John Ridge was the National Council’s Clerk (Secretary). William Lassley is the son of James Lasley. He is mentioned in the posts on James Lasley.

1835 Census

To know who would be potentially removed from Turkey’s Town, we need to review the 1835 census. A census was ordered to be taken of all Cherokees left in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. This refers to the Henderson Roll. Below are the heads of households from Turkey’s Town. Rezin Rawlings took the census in Alabama. Recorded October 26, 1835. 7

page 15

N. Pathkiller, SE NO WAY, Writer, Nann, TE SEE, Johnson, Seeds, AT TA WO NO LE SKE, CHU WA STE TA, AH TA LO NE, Dirt Seller, Buffalo,

page 16

John E WAY NAH, SOR KE NEE, SE QUA TAH, TEN A YA CHEE, TA KEE, CHU QUA LOO KEE, Richard Ratliff Jr., George, Richard Ratliff Sr., James Lassley, Gun Fill, Pumpkin Pile, TU NE WAH, TOO NEY, Young Wolf,

page 17

Money Cryer, WAT TEE, James Carroll, John Ratliff, George Campbell, TE LU NA SKEE, Corn Tassel, Beaver Tail, John Riley, A NEY, Nelly, Auger Hole (Coosa),

Next Time

Who is on the detachment rosters? The Cherokee in Turkey’s Town were rounded up and forced to the stockade at Fort Payne. During June and July of 1838, they were forced from their homes.

  1. Image 113, National Archives, Record Group 11, General Records of the United States Government, Series Indian Treaties; RIT #83; Ratified Indian Treaty #83, Cherokee, Chickasaw Council House September 14, 1816, There are 231 images of this with correspondence of letters and a journal. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/100220646 ↩︎
  2. Indian Removal Act: Primary Documents in American History. Library of Congress. https://guides.loc.gov/indian-removal-act ↩︎
  3. John Ross and the Cherokee Indians, Rachel Caroline Eaton, A. M. 1914, Chapter VII, The Removal Bill, Image 60,Google Books, https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=0eUNAAAAIAAJ&pg=GBS.PA60 ↩︎
  4. Ibid, Image 64 ↩︎
  5. The Treaty of New Echota, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_New_Echota ↩︎
  6. Laws and Treaties, Volume II, Charles J. Kapplar, Treaty with the Cherokee 1835, https://americanindian.si.edu/nationtonation/pdf/Treaty-of-New-Echota-1835.pdf ↩︎
  7. Cherokee Indian census of 1835 of the states of Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina. Copy of the transcribed Alabama Section of the Old Book. Personal Copy of Jeffrey Sauls, received as a gift in 1992. ↩︎

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6 CSV

David A Gage, Notable People

03 Tuesday Mar 2026

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As we continue with David Gage in Turkey’s Town, we see that he is involved with Tarpley W. Nall. Tarpley W. Nall was trying to buy a part of Nelly’s farm. This farm is on the East side of the Coosa River. Modern-day Alford’s Bend. Review the previous documents. All of this property was Chief Pathkiller’s until he and his wife, Peggy, separated (divorced). Peggy has gifted the improvements to her daughter, Nelly. Nelly has gifted them to her daughter Anna. Dragging Canoe (deceased), Chief Pathkiller, and Peggy’s son’s family are claiming it along with David Gage. Confusing? Sky-a-too-ka, the son of Dragging Canoe, has enlisted David Gage on their part. Tarpley Nall decided not to buy after speaking with some Cherokee. He also said Sky-a-too-ka said he is not the owner. Tarpley W. Nall is a white man not married.

1

Quata, Peggy and Chief Pathkiller’s daughter sided with Anna on who owned the improvements.

2

Quata is married to George Campbell. George is a white man. They are listed in Peggy Pathkiller’s will. Anna is married to Frances Hampton.

3
4

Money Hunter is a nearby neighbor.

David Gage and William Lasley

David Gage is involved with William Lasley. William is the son of James and Elizabeth Lasley. Elizabeth is Elizabeth Wicket, a Cherokee woman. James and Elizabeth separated in 1822 when Elizabeth wanted Big Cabin as a husband. You can review this in the section on James Lasley. The following document is where William Lasley is try to buy an improvement next to his father. The location of this is about four miles north of modern-day Turkeytown Creek. It would be on Spring Avenue. This is near modern-day Croft Ferry. Croft Ferry is James Lasley’s Ferry.

5
6

David Gage, Pathkiller’s Original Ferry

David Gage assisted James Kay in acquiring Chief Pathkiller’s original ferry. When Chief Pathkiller and Peggy separated Chief Pathkiller moved north and “took” a new wife. He started the improvements that would become Pathkiller’s Ferry, modern-day Garrett’s Ferry, Centre, Alabama. Peggy was left with the original ferry and improvements. This was one-and-a-half miles south of Turkeytown Creek. This is modern-day Fitts Ferry. This separates Alford’s Bend on the east side from White’s Chapel/Gaston School area on the west side.

John Ratliff filed a Claim for this ferry on January 16, 1837 (he was one of four owners). He filed it before Josiah Harper, Acting Justice of the Peace for Cherokee County, Alabama. He stated that the Ferry was 1½ miles below Turkeytown and was then in the possession of James Kay. He said that a white man named Hays took the ferry from him. This happened shortly after the laws of Alabama were extended over the Cherokee lands in January 1832.7

8
9
10

The Original Patentee for the ferry’s location was James Kay. He homesteaded the west side of the ferry.11

Conclusion

David Gage, a notable person of Turkey’s Town. He and his family moved west during the Trail of Tears. They moved on their own. They are not listed on a detachment roll for the Trail of Tears. They settled in Texas.

He was elected the first Constable of Turkey Town, Alabama.

Also confirmed in these documents is that Turkey’s Town is in modern-day Etowah County. All of the documents state, “five miles below Lasley”. Alford’s Bend and Croft Ferry are in Etowah County, modern-day.

  1. NARA, Record Group 75, Entry 236, Miscellaneous Claims Papers, 1836-1839, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Image 449, National Archives Building, Washington, DC ↩︎
  2. Ditto, Image 580 ↩︎
  3. Ditto, Image 582 ↩︎
  4. Ditto, Image 590 ↩︎
  5. Ditto, Image 439 ↩︎
  6. Ditto, Image 443 ↩︎
  7. John Ratliff’s Spoliation Claim for a Ferry and Improvement. Folder of John Ratliff; Miscellaneous Claims Papers, 1836-1839, of the First Board of Cherokee Commissioners, Entry 236; Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives Building, Washington DC.  ↩︎
  8. St. Clair (AL) County Court Minutes (1828-1834), March-August, 1833 page 172 ↩︎
  9. Ditto, page 226 ↩︎
  10. Ditto, page 227 ↩︎
  11. Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, Eastern States Office, Springfield, VA. Pre-emption Certificate #6,885 for James Kay of Cherokee County Alabama issued June 1, 1845 for fraction “A” of fractional Section 20 in Township 11 of Range 7 East. Pre-emption Certificate #8,419 for James Kay of Cherokee County Alabama was issued April 10, 1847 for the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 20 in Township 11 of Range 7 East. Both in the District of Lands subject to Sale at Lebanon Alabama. http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/ ↩︎

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6 CSV

David A Gage, Representative

21 Saturday Feb 2026

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This is the last person I am posting in the “Notable People of Turkey’s Town, Chapter. David Gage is a white man married to a Cherokee Woman. She is Lucy (she is of the Fish family, not a surname). The Fish family lived in Will’s Valley. David and Lucy have a farm in Will’s Valley. He also has a farm in Turkey’s Town. He served many Cherokee people of the area as their representative (like a lawyer). I will show documents. I will also show who he was involved with. This will help you understand his role and his involvement with Turkey’s Town.

The following is from the GINI website. I know some of the people who helped with the research for this profile, so I trust it. It is an overview of David Gage.

GAGE, DAVID (1796–1854). David Gage, early settler and legislator, was born in Kentucky (or White County, TN according to enlistment records for War of 1812) in 1796. He moved to Texas from Alabama in 1839 and, on May 21, purchased a fourth of the Leonard Williams league; he settled in the Williams Settlement in southern Rusk County, near Mount Enterprise. A few months later he organized and was made captain of a company of minutemen for protection against the Indians. He served with the company during 1840 and 1841. Gage was elected representative to the Eighth and Ninth congresses of the republic, December 4, 1843, to June 28, 1845, and in 1845 was elected senator for the Fourth District and delegate to the Convention of 1845. After annexation he served three terms in the Texas legislature. He died at his home near Mount Enterprise in 1854.


A BRIEF HISTORY OF DAVID GAGE’ The homesite of David Gage is located in the southern part of Rusk County, in the John Rutland survey, approximately five miles north of Mt. Enterprise and approximately two miles southwest of the community of Minden. This location is just north of what is now the ASH Griffin farm. His homesite is described by the Handbook of Texas as being one-fourth of the Leonard Williams league in Southern Rusk County, near Mt. Enterprise, Texas.
He was granted a 3rd class certificate for 320 acres of land as an immigrant after October 1, 1837, and prior to January 1, 1842. The Certificate is dated December 31, 1839. At the time of his death, he owned approximately 12,000 acres of land in the southern part of Rusk County.


He immigrated to Texas in May 1839, from Arkansas. The Handbook of Texas states (in error) he came to Texas from Alabama. He was a veteran of the War of 1812. He enlisted 10 July, 1814, and was discharged 9 July, 1819, at Ft. Scott, Ga. He was a corporal in Capt. Thomas Blackstone’s Company, Seventh Regiment of Infantry. From 1840-1841, David Gage served as Captain of a company of minute men in Rusk County. These minute men were organized for protection against the Indians.


He was elected Representative to the Eight and Ninth Congresses of the Republic of Texas December 4, 1843, to June 28, 1845. In 1845, he was also elected a delegate to the Annexation convention. He was a signer of The Joint Resolution for annexing the Republic of Texas to the United States. He was also a signer of the Constitution of the State of Texas adopted in convention at the City of Austin, August 27, 1845. After Annexation, he was elected to serve three terms in the State Legislature: the 2nd, 1847-48; the 3rd, 1848-1850; and the 5th, 1853-54. His name appears along with the other sixty signers of the Resolution and Constitution on the west wall of The Memorial Museum, Univ. of Texas Campus, Austin, Texas.


On February 5, 1847, a Post Office was established at Gage’s with David Gage appointed Post Master. It was discontinued on October 21, 1847. (See letter, Gen. Service Administration, dated May 14, 1962.)
David Gage married Elizabeth Austin in Madison County, Alabama, February 28, 1820. He had one known child, William Patterson Gage, born 1821. (1860 Census, Rusk County gave his age as 39.) Record is lacking of dissolution of this union by death or otherwise.


The next record we have of David Gage is in Cherokee Country in Northeastern Alabama, where he was elected Constable of Turkey Town, St. Clair County, on January 13, 1833. He was one of seven captains presiding over the St. Clair County Beats, his beat being Turkey Town. David Gage’s second wife was Lucy Fish, a full-blooded Cherokee Indian. Their marriage was about 1832 or 1833, as Rusk County 1850 Census shows the age of their oldest child, Mary Ann, as being 16. Their second child, Eliza Jane, age 12, (married James A. Bane, Laneville) was shown as being born in Arkansas. David Gage had five farms in DeKalb County, Alabama. I have a list of property for which the U.S. paid him when the Indians were removed from Alabama to Indian Territory, Oklahoma. He lived on Little Wills Creek, DeKalb County, Alabama. This inventory was dated September 29, 1836, and valued at $3,843.54.
David Gage died April 26, 1854 at his home near Minden, Texas. His place of burial is on the west side of Highway #259, on the first little hill across the stream, south of the farm of the late W.G. Hodges. The burial place is located on the farm known in the 1920’s as the Bill Shadden farm.
1

The above is mostly about David Gage after he moved from Turkey’s Town. How is he connected?

Turkey Town Constable

The first election held in Turkey Town was in 1833. This would become Cherokee County in 1836. It later became Etowah County, Alabama, in 1868. Saint Clair County, Alabama, claims the territory. David Gage was elected Constable. Notice that the “beat” in Turkey’s Town is “Capt. Gage’s beat.

2

“and also of one other return of an Election held at Turkey Town in Capt Gages Beat for Two Justices of the peace and a Constable on 19th day of January 1833 That James Street and James G Carroll was duly Elected Justices of the peace. Capt David Gage Constable ———–“

There was no Etowah or Cherokee County at the time. This is the first election in what would become Etowah County, Alabama. A constable in the 1800s was a local law enforcement officer. They were responsible for keeping the peace, serving legal documents, and enforcing minor laws. They represented the primary form of policing. The Treaty of 1830 with the Cherokee set in motion the removal to the West. The Treaty of Cusseta in 1832 moved Alabama to proclaim laws over all of what would become Alabama.3 So this brought the election to take place. Saint Clair County claimed the territory that is Turkey Town. Follow the timeline. 1830 Treaty, 1832 Treaty, 1835 Treaty, then Trail of Tears, 1838.

As a Constable, David Gage can represent people in legal proceedings.

David Gage and Chief Pathkiller’s Family

David Gage became involved with Chief Pathkiller’s family. Dragging Canoe, Chief Pathkiller, and wife Peggy’s son died in 1833. Dragging Canoe’s son, Sky-a-too-ka, entered into a dispute with Anna, daughter of Nelly (sister of Dragging Canoe). The disagreement was about who had the right to the improvements on the East side of the Coosa River. This site is the old residence of Chief Pathkiller. This is at today’s Fitts Ferry on the east side of the river, known as Alford’s Bend. This is in present-day Etowah County, north of Gadsden. This area became Peggy’s when Chief Pathkiller move north and took a new wife. He created the new improvements, which are the Garrett farm in Centre, Alabama. At the time of the dispute, Dragging Canoe, Chief Pathkiller, and Peggy were deceased. When Peggy died, she left it to Nelly. Nelly gifted it to Anna, who is married to Frances Hampton. Sky-a-too-ka is claiming this for himself, his mother, Watty, and his sister, Martha.

The following are documents showing Sky-a-too-ka’s claim. These involve several people. Several of them are white people who are intruders now moving into the area because of the Treaties. The first document is recorded in Benton (Calhoun) County. This county also would claim Indian territory. Read them closely. Click on them to make them larger. These also confirm Turkey’s Town’s location in today’s Etowah County, Alabama. They are all from the NARA microfilm. 4

Image 133, Notice that Benton County (Calhoun) is also claiming the area.
Image 135
Image 136
Image 138
Image 139
Image 140

If you read these closely, you see the claim of Peggy running Dragging Canoe’s family off this property. In Cherokee culture, the woman is in charge of the estate. She is and will be responsible for the girls in the family. Not the sons. You see this in Peggy’s will. She left everything to the girls and their families. She even left some of it to her sister’s daughter. Dragging Canoe was not included in her will. He is a male and is to take care of himself.

One of the persons involved is Tarply W. Nalls. He is a white man. He is involved with others other than the Pathikllers. He is doing his best to take advantage of what is going on and the move west. I will post his response to his trying to buy or acquire parts of this property.

Another person is William Garrett, Jr. He is the son of William Garrett. William Garrett is the brother of John H, Garrett. John H. Garrett will dispose (move off) John Ridge’s tenet. This is after Ridge acquired Chief Pathkiller’s ferry at today’s Centre, Alabama.

Next Time

I will leave this for you to ponder over. Review the documents again. This is the view of Dragging Canoe’s family. The maternal side of the family is the dominant side for the Cherokee people. I will post next time Tarply W. Nalls’s response for attempting to purchase part of the improvement. I will show Nelly’s side of this dispute. I will introduce David Gage’s involvement with William Lasley. He is the son of James Lasley and Elizabeth Wickett Lasley. Notice that he is the interpreter on the documents. His father is white and his mother is a full-blood Cherokee.

  1. https://www.geni.com/people/David-Gage/6000000034236981239
    Managed by: Mark Randall Landt
     ↩︎
  2. From the collection of Historian Jim Lewis, Cherokee County, Alabama. ↩︎
  3. https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/treaty-of-cusseta-1832/ ↩︎
  4. National Archive Record Administration, Microfilm No. 574, Special file of the office of Indian Affairs, 1807-1904, Roll 51, File 183-184, Images 132-140. ↩︎

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6 CSV

John Riley’s Ferry-Walker’s Ferry-Gadsden, Alabama

05 Thursday Feb 2026

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We continue to uncover the history of John Riley. He is a notable person of Turkey’s Town. We explore his ferry and its connections to Gadsden, Alabama.

Our best research on this ferry is found in a report to the National Trail of Tears Association, 2009. Alabama Collection Camps, Forts, Emigrating Depots and Travel Routes Used During the Cherokee Removal of 1838-1839  1

Chapter Eight is about the ferries in Northeast Alabama on the rivers and streams. “Topography of the Removal Routes”, written by Mike Wren. Riley’s ferry/Walker’s ferry begins on page 251.

COOSA RIVER #9 

Township 12 South, Range 6 East, Section 3 

John Riley’s Ferry / Walker’s Ferry 

2

A Road called the Jacksonville Road crossed the Coosa River at this point. John Riley owned a Ferry on the Coosa River in what was described as Turkey Town Valley in Cherokee County.80 3Riley’s Ferry was the second most valuable on the Coosa River. 


John Riley filed a claim for $3,000 for dispossession of his ferry on the Coosa River opposite the Double Springs by William B. Walker, a white man. Silas Choate confirmed his statement. It is interesting that W. B. Walker also confirmed Riley’s statements. The Claim was not allowed apparently because it had already been valued.81 4Riley also filed a claim on February 12, 1838 for spoliation of 6 years of rent from 1832.825In 1842, Riley petitioned for reimbursement of the aforementioned ferry rent of $1,450 and also for $112 for a “Note of Hand Executed to Richard Riley on the 10th day of August 1821 by H. Walker and Robert Walker, citizens of the U. States…”83 6On March 16, 1842 Mrs. Susannah Riley also filed a claim that included “Fifty dollars, note of hand on William Walker, citizen of the U. States, Executed in the year 1835, prevented from collection by her Removal West and Interest on the same for seven years, Alabama Inst.”84 7

85 8

On LaTourette’s 1837 Map, the Ferry at the Double Springs Post Office is identified as Walkers Ferry. Double Springs is the present location of the City of Gadsden Alabama. The Jacksonville Road that crossed the Coosa River at Walker’s Ferry would today be U.S. Highway 431. There were no Walkers among the Original Patentees in Section 3.86 9Claim #958 in the Records of the 4th Board made by the Heirs of John Riley vs. US was for loss of a ferry from 1807 to 1819.87 10This likely refers to a different ferry. 

Mike does not tell us how this connects to Gadsden, Alabama, in the report. Notice on LaTourette’s map: Walkers Ferry is plotted on the east side of the river. William B. Walker lived on the east side of the river. William B. Walker is listed as the Postmaster in 1833 for Double Springs. John Riley is still living here at that time in Turkey’s Town. Who established the Post Office? Postal records have not been found telling us who established the PO.

What Happened to William B. Walker?

William B. Walker is listed on the 1830 US Census Record in Saint Clair County. He has a family. Where did they go?

William B. Walker 1830 US Census Saint Clair County, Alabama. From the website of FamilySearch.com

He is not on the 1840 census for Saint Clair County or Cherokee County, Alabama. Did they move off or did he die and his family move? The answers are unknown. Walker was the Postmaster for Double Springs, Alabama, as noted. He was paid $16.37 in September 1839 as the postmaster at Double Springs, Alabama.11 After the payment for the postmaster in 1839, all records of William B. Walker were lost or disappeared.

Ferry

Riley’s ferry will be called Walker’s Ferry by the early settlers. It shows up in the Saint Clair County records. The court minutes show who is in charge of the postal routes. They also show the authorization and fees for ferries. On page 203; “It is odrdered by the Court that Nathaniel Davis be appointed overseer of the road from William Walker’s ferry to the Benton County line. Road 2 grade.“12

You can read the record of the ferry as Walker’s Ferry. It list the fees. This was recorded in 1832.

13

It will become Hampton’s Ferry then Ewing’s Ferry. The ferry landing and John Riley’s house will become the hub or center point for establishing a town. This town will be called Gadsden, Alabama.

Homestead

The 1928 Woman’s Club’s book records information about the beginning of Gadsden. This section was written by Mary E. Hughes (wife of Joseph R. Hughes, son of Gabriel). It was written in 1884 as the Woman’s Club noted.

In 1844 these three men field entry to the Government for the land grants and received the patents in 1845. John S. Moragne entered sixty acres, Joseph Hughes entered twenty acres, and Lewis L. Rhea entered forty acres, which he sold to Joseph Hughes July 14, 1846. On these 120 acres the original survey of Gadsden was made. Page 15-16

The Steam boat landing was finally located at the foot of Broad street after much contention as other parties wanted it at Hampton’s (now Ewing’s) ferry. Having gained the victory, Messrs. Gabriel and Joseph Hughes and John S. Moragne laid off the town on their land in 1846 and deeded Captain Lafferty who located the land for them, a number of lots. They met one day by appointment to name their embryo city, at a building near the river not far from Barrett residence now stands and once decided to call the place Lafferty-and Lafferty it surely would have been but for the opposition of the Captain himself, who had met with them. . . they decited to name their town after the hero of the hour, General Gadsden. . . . Page 1814

Here is a listing of the patent purchasers who homesteaded the property that would become Gadsden, Alabama, in the 1840s. You can see Joseph Hughes, John S. Morgan, and Lewis L. Rhea in the center.

15

One last image of what would become Gadsden is the first map of Etowah County. Tallman drew it and it was published in 1877. The image comes from the University of Alabama’s website on Historic Maps of Etowah County, Alabama. You can see Ewing’s Ferry, the original Riley’s Ferry. You can see Wisdom’s Ferry, which is the Lafferty Landing and the ferry they created for it in 1846. Then there is the lower ferry, which is unnamed. You can see the location that is plotted out for Gadsden.

16

John Riley is a notable person of Turkey’s Town. His farm and ferry led to the establishment of Gadsden, Alabama.

  1. https://nationaltota.com/alabama-forts-and-camps/ ↩︎
  2. 79. Survey of Township 12 South of Range 6 East, of the Huntsville (AL) Meridian, fraction north of Wills Creek and the Old Cherokee Boundary Line. Plat certified June 10, 1840 by James W. Weakley, Surveyor General of the public lands in Alabama. Jonathan M. Cunningham, Deputy Surveyor. 
    http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/SurveySearch/
    ↩︎
  3. 80. Rice and McCoy/Rawlings and Massey’s Valuations, Cherokee County, Alabama, #62; Property Valuations, Entry 224; Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. The Ferry was included within Riley’s entire Valuation. It simply noted “One Ferry on Coosa River, nette income on an avridge for the last 3 years $815.00. Amount allowed $8,150.00.”  ↩︎
  4. 81 John Riley’s Claim dated December 17, 1836. Folder of John Riley; Miscellaneous Claims Papers, 1836-1839, of the First Board of Cherokee Commissioners, Entry 236; Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives Building, Washington DC. The Folder of also contains an affidavit dated October 7, 1837 from George W. Walker affirming Riley’s Claim. It is not known what George Walker’s relationship was to William B. Walker. The Folder also contains a statement from Hezekiah Oden dated December 11, 1837 that refers to Walker as Capt. William B. Walker. See also St Clair County Court Minutes Book (1828-1834) page 190 where during the August 1832 Term it is recorded “Ordered by the Court that William B. Walker be authorized to Establish a ferry on Coosa river at his residence at the following rates….”  ↩︎
  5. 82 Ibid. Riley wrote a letter to General Nathaniel Smith on Feb 14 about the loss of the rent. Commissioner Kennedy issued his opinion on May 7, 1838 disallowing any payment for loss of income.  ↩︎
  6. 83 John Riley Claim. Tahlequah District Claim #194. Folder 815. John Ross Collection. The Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art (a/k/a Gilcrease Museum), Tulsa OK. “Curtailment on spoliation Claim for a Ferry on the Coosa River, after passing the Cherokee Committee while setting on Claims at the Cherokee Agency in 1838. Curtailed by the U. States Commissioners.”  ↩︎
  7. 84 Susannah Riley Claim. Tahlequah District Claim #167. Folder 808. John Ross Collection. The Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art (a/k/a Gilcrease Museum), Tulsa OK. 
    John Riley’s wife, Susannah, was white and her maiden name was Walker. It is not known if there was any familial relationship between her and any of these white men named Walker.  ↩︎
  8. 85 John LaTourette, An Accurate Map of the State of Alabama and West Florida, NY: Colton & Co., 1837. http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/historicalmaps/alabama/1825-1850.html, Sheet 2 covers Cherokee, DeKalb and Jackson Counties. 
    Specifically see http://cartweb.geography.ua.edu:9001/StyleServer/calcrgn?cat=North%20America%20and%20United%20States&item=States/ Alabama/LatouretteSheet02.sid&wid=500&hei=400&props=item(Name,Description),cat(Name,Description)&style=simple/vie w-dhtml.xsl#  ↩︎
  9. 86. Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, Eastern States Office, Springfield, VA. Pre-emption Certificate #6,072 for James S. Leeth of Cherokee County Alabama issued May 1, 1845 for fractions “A” and “B” of fractional Section 3 in Township 12 of Range 6 East. Pre-emption Certificate #6,359 for William Boyd of Benton County Alabama issued May 1, 1846 for fraction “C” and the south part of the southeast quarter of fractional Section 3 of Township 12 in Range 6. Pre-emption Certificate #6,811 for William Tillison and Francis M. Tillison, assignees of Thomas Hollingsworth (as tenants in common) issued June 1, 1845 for the northwest fractional quarter and the fraction “D” of fractional Section 3 in the fractional Township 12 of Range 6 East. All in the District of Lands subject to Sale at Lebanon Alabama. http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/ ↩︎
  10. 87 Claim #958 (Heirs of John Riley vs. the United States) is not extant; Claims Papers, 1846-1847, of the Fourth Board of Cherokee Commissioners, Entry 250; Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives Building, Washington DC. See Fourth Board Minute Docket 2 page 71; Minutes of the Fourth Board of Cherokee Commissioners, Entry 249; Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives Building, Washington, DC.  ↩︎
  11. images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS8GP9R6-
    F?view=fullT ext : Jan 27, 2026), image 1917 of 1990; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS8G-P9R6-F?view=fullText
    ↩︎
  12. St Clair County Court Minutes Book (1828-1834) page 203, FamilySearch.com https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-K93K-S?view=fullText&keywords=William%20Walker%2CWilliam%2CWalker%2Cferry&lang=en&groupId= ↩︎
  13. St Clair County Court Minutes Book (1828-1834) page 190, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-K93L-T?view=fullText&keywords=William%20Walker%2CWilliam%2CWalker%2Cferry&lang=en&groupId= ↩︎
  14. A Little Book About Gadsden, Alabama. Written and Published by the Department of Archives and History of the Woman’s Club of Gadsden, 1938. Page 14-15, 18 , Gadsden Public Library, Gadsden, Alabama.  ↩︎
  15. Survey of Township 12 South of Range 6 East, of the Huntsville (AL) Meridian, fraction north of Wills Creek and the Old Cherokee Boundary Line. Plat certified June 10, 1840 by James W. Weakley, Surveyor General of the public lands in Alabama. Jonathan M. Cunningham, Deputy Surveyor. 
    http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/SurveySearch/ Lables add by the writer. ↩︎
  16. http://cartweb.geography.ua.edu/lizardtech/iserv/calcrgn?cat=North%20America%20and%20United%20States&item=States/Alabama/Counties/etowah//Etowah1877a.sid&wid=1000&hei=900&props=item(Name,Description),cat(Name,Description)&style=simple/view-dhtml.xsl ↩︎

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6 CSV

John Riley – Double Springs – Gadsden, Alabama

23 Friday Jan 2026

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Double Springs Riley’s Stand

Almost all the old historians of Gadsden state that John Riley built the house he lived in. They state that Gabriel Hughes purchased it from him about 1840. A Post Office was established called Double Springs. The earliest of these histories is a book at the Gadsden Public Library titled A Little Book About Gadsden, Alabama. Written and Published by the Department of Archives and History of the Woman’s Club of Gadsden, 1938. This book seems to be the base of all the histories that followed. On page 14-15 they state;

In 1836 there stood at Double Springs a story and a half log house, built by half breed Indian John Riley. Here, from Huntsville on its way to Rome Georgia, the stage coach stopped and delivered the mail. The Postmaster, William Walker, had purchased the house from the Indian. When young Gabriel Highes arried here in 1840 he bought the log house and settled in it with his wife, Asenath Young Hughes, and his brother, Joseph.1

The book does have several errors. In 1938, they were working with the information they had. This has that Riley sold his house to William B. Walker. Walker sold it to Gabriel Hughes. John Riley stated he was not paid for his houses and improvements (three farms). He listed these in Turkey Town Valley. (See Claims posted earlier). So no one bought it from Riley.

There are no stagecoach routes recorded in historic documents. Postal routes and road improvement are recorded. (I will share those that deal with this location later). Today, we have the digital world of information to sort through. We did look at who built this house, which is probably not John Riley. What can we prove? This house is set in Township 12, Range 6, Section 4, SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4. Did Leath buy this from the US Government? Or, did Gabriel Hughes buy it? Or did these people just move into “free stuff”? (No one bought it from the Indians.)

Map section from the website of the US Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, Survey 1839. Plotting added from the Track book images for sections 3 and 4, Township 12, Range 6.

It appears that John C. Leeth owns the property where John Riley’s house is located. Leeth stated he had the property by 1838. John Riley is on the transportation pay list. He is set to move to the west on his own. This move is scheduled during the months of May through October, 1838. See the earlier post. Riley is not on any of the detachment lists on the Trail of Tears.

John C. Leeth is on the 1840 census at or near this location. His brother James bought the A and B fractions on the East side of the Coosa River. His son Ranburn bought the NW 1/2 of the NW 1/4 by 1851. John C. Leath moved sometime before 1850 to Turkeytown between Dr. John C. White and Stephen R. Hood. Today, this is just north of the intersection of Broken Arrow Drive and US 411. John Leath’s son Ranburn will move to the Turkeytown location as well.2 None of our early historians speaks of the Leeth family. John Riley does not speak of Leeth or Hughes.

The following is from the Track book of the Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records’ website. These are the listings of the original purchasers of the property.

Section 3

https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/volumeviewer/default.aspx?volumeID=365&imageID=0129&sid=erxwemii.efb

Section 4

https://glorecords.blm.gov/results/default.aspx?searchCriteria=type=patent|st=AL|cty=055|twp_nr=12|rng_nr=6|sec=4|sp=true|sw=true|sadv=false

Click on the images to bring them up larger. The left column on the second image of each section contains notes. These notes show when the buyer has taken possession of the property. PE ’38 is Pre-Exemption 1838. John C. Leeth, Gabriel Hughes, and Joseph Hughes state 1838. But notice that Gabriel Hughes’ purchase is west of the John Riley house. Notice that Joseph Hughes’ purchase is South of the John Riley house. Of note is that the price is $1.25 per acre. Gabriel and Joseph Hughes have someone buying for them. Joseph’s purchases are the closest to the Riley house. It is all called Double Springs.

Questions

What does this have to do with the history of Turkey’s Town and Gadsden? If John C. Leeth is in the house before Gabriel Hughes then it changes the history. That would be important if I were a descendant of John C. Leeth. Double Springs Post Office. Who bought what? What happened to William B. Walker? The Etowah Abstract Company just might have the answer to “who bought the Riley house from the US Government”. We also need to explore the “ferry.” It plays a part in the history of the founding of the City of Gadsden. Postal routes and the ferry.

John Riley and his farms are notable to the history of New Seneca Turkey’s Town, and the City of Gadsden.

  1. A Little Book About Gadsden, Alabama. Written and Published by the Department of Archives and History of the Woman’s Club of Gadsden, 1938. Page 14-15 , Gadsden Public Library, Gadsden, Alabama. ↩︎
  2. Documented from US Census Records 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1900. Cherokee and Etowah County, Alabama, John Clark Leath family page. John Clark Leath Male 1801 – after 1880
    LQR4-QF1 FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/LQR4-QF1 ↩︎

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6 CSV