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.
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↩︎
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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 ↩︎
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. ↩︎
St. Clair (AL) County Court Minutes (1828-1834), March-August, 1833 page 172 ↩︎
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
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.
“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 135Image 136Image 138Image 139Image 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.
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
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.
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.
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. ↩︎
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
John Riley is a notable person of Turkey’s Town. He was half Cherokee and half white. I am not going to go into his genealogy. This post will focus on his involvement in his farms. These farms will be known as the Double Springs, Turkey Town Valley, Cherokee County, Alabama. How it became Gadsden, Alabama.
There are several written histories of the City of Gadsden. All stating that John Riley’s house was the first house of Gadsden and that Gabriel Hughes purchased it. His son Joseph R. Hughes was the first white child to be born in Gadsden. The location of his house is at the intersection of North 3rd Street/Tuscaloosa Avenue/Reservoir Street/Ewing Ave. The house faced Tuscaloosa Avenue. At this location was the first Post Office of Gadsden.1 It was known as Double Springs and was established on 28 January 1833. The Postmaster is William B. Walker. The post office originally was in St Clair County.2 Cherokee County was established in January 1836.
The Postal records have William B. Walker as Postmaster, 1833. Is he living in John Riley’s house? John Riley is operating a “stand” out of his house. L.V. Bierce, in his journal, does not mention paying a toll to cross Black Creek. He does mention the “stand”. This was in 1823. A stand is a stop for travelers.
April 4. Struck our tent and went sixteen miles to Rileys stand, two miles farther and crossed Black Creek, a deep muddy, sluggish stream that takes its name from the tenge the earth gives the water. Three miles from Black Creek we encamped. 21 ml3
“Toal (Toll) Bridge”
4 Did you notice that the note added from Beaver Tail stated that John Riley had died? Dated March 1845. He died between 1842 and 1845.
The above claim was made by John Riley in 1842. It is from Tahlequah District Claim #193 dated March 8, 1842. It provides a lot of information. The Toal (Toll) Bridge is 2 miles from his residence. It is over Black Creek. The “Stand” as stated by Beirce is 2 miles from Black Creek. (I have driven from the intersection to Black Creek on Tuscaloosa Ave, it is 2 miles today.)The “Stand” is John Riley’s residence. So William B. Walker is the Postmaster at the time the PO is established. He may be living in one of Riley’s houses. Yet, he is most likely to have his own on the East side of the Coosa River. (See the Walkers involved with the ferry and other property on the Coosa in the claim with the ferry). Riley has 3 farms with several houses, the toll bridge, and a ferry. Walker will have ownership of quite a bit of Riley’s property. This is after Riley leaves for the West. The ferry on the Coosa River will be called Walker’s Ferry. Notice that others are involved with this toll bridge. They are called the “company”. Richard Ratliff, (this is Richard Ratliff Jr., who is married to Chief Pathkiller’s daughter.) Money Crier alias Money Hunter and Cul-qua-tay-kee. Cul-qua-tay-kee was the Cherokee name of Turner, the son of Widow Boot and Boot, the Creek Interpreter for Little Turkey. Boot and Turner were discussed in an earlier post. The Widow Boot is the one originally in the company. She died at Fort Payne during the Trail of Tears 1838. One other outstanding item in the above claim is the value. $4000 is today’s equivalent of $158,108. The next claim shows what else is at the bridge farm.
You can click on the images to make them larger. If you can read cursive writing, they are easy to read. You may have to look up some of the terms. “Puncheon” is a method for flooring made from a log shaved flat by an adze. The stand is one of the houses on one of John Riley’s three farms. These farms stretched from Black Creek to the Coosa River and onto the East side of the river. A line separates the farms listed in the claim.
The Farms
6 In this claim, we see the bridge claim again. This time, the Widow Boot is listed. This is before her death. Also is two orther claims. Sanders Chote is the son-in-law of John Riley. Beaver Tail claim. He is married to the niece of Peggy Pathkiller. They are listed in Peggy’s will.
Is the first farm listed on this claim #62 the house where John Riley lived?
John Riley names some white people by name. One of those is Tapley W. Nawl, who was also involved with trying to obtain parts of Peggy Pathkiller’s estate. The others are difficult to locate and follow.
Notice John Riley has property in Tennessee. He received a reservation below the Hiwassee River. This river empties into the TN River below Knoxville TN. John Riley is from Roan County, TN, which is this location. The area today is Kingston, TN. By these statements, John Riley and his family must have moved to the Double Springs after 1817 but before 1823. L.V. Bierce’s statement from above. The Gabriel Hughes family has a tradition. They noted that a man named Powell lived in the house before Riley. Gabriel Hughes will own the house after William B. Walker. More on this in the next post.
8 Part of the Perspective Map of the City of Gadsden, Alabama 18879
John Riley and his family left on their own for the West sometime between the dates listed above. They were not on the Trail of Tears.
Riley’s house, used as the PO, was purchased by a descendant of Gabriel Hughes. It was disassembled and moved to Whorton’s Bend, Etowah County, Alabama. There, it was reassembled as it would have looked in the 1830s. This happened in the late 1990’s.10
Photo from Messenger, July 3, 2002, Taken by Danny Crownover
Next, we will look at how it became Gadsden, Alabama.
A History of Etowah County, Alabama. Etowah County Centennial Committee, Gadsden Alabama, 1968; Part II, History of Gadsden, written & Compiled By Etowah County Historical Society – Joe Barnes, Coordinator, 1966. Pages 220-241. ↩︎
Appointments of U.S. Postmasters 1832-1971, Volume 11 ca. 1832-44, Saint Clair County, Alabama, Ancestry.com↩︎
Travels in the Southland, 1822-1823, The Journal of Lucians Verus Bierce, page 93 ↩︎
1842 Tahlequah District Claim #193 of John Riley dated March 8, 1842, John Ross Collection, Folder #962, The Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art (a/k/a Gilcrease Museum), Tulsa OK. ↩︎
1838 Claims made Before Emigration; Book A #242 and Book B #121; Tennessee Cherokee Collection, Box 5, Folders 1 and 2, Microfilm Collection 815, Reel 2, frame 25 and frame 75 respectively. Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, TN. ↩︎
Rice and McCoy/Rawlings and Massey’s Valuations, Cherokee County, Alabama, #62, #63, #64, #65; Property Valuations, Entry 224; Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. ↩︎
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. ↩︎
National Archive Microfilm M234 Roll 115, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. ↩︎
Messenger, July 3, 2002, The Vagabond, Vagabonding in Histories and Adventures by Danny Crownover, Returning to Gadsden’s First House↩︎
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, Sr was living and had a trading post at Clear Creek and Ratliff Creek (Line Creek). This location is not in Turkey’s Town. It was located at the foot of Raccoon Mountain (Sand Mountain). This is north and west of present-day Attalla, Alabama. But this location is very important to the history of Etowah County, Alabama. Not just because of the Creek Indian War, 1813-1814, that has been earlier discussed. It is the location of the first Post Office in what is now Etowah County, Alabama.
In 1818, Alabama had not been established as a State. Post Office routes were being established throughout the territory. A postal route is discussed by the US Government.
POSTAL ROUTE ADVERTISEMENT — June 20, 1818
#230 From Washington T. by Brown’s Ferry, Fort Ross, Willstown, Ratclift’s, Fort Strother, Fort Lasslie, Fort Williams, and Fort Jackson to Pleasant Level, 285 miles, once a month. 1
Richard Ratliff moved before May of 1820. Another Postal Route discussion by the United States in Congress.
An Act to alter and establish certain post-roads, May 13, 1820
From Cahawba, by Joseph Britton’s, Old Town, Falls of Cahawba, King and Smith’s store, Shelby courthouse, David M’Laughlin’s, St. Clair Courthouse, VINCENT BENNETT’S, the Cherokee Nation, by Ross’s and James Patterson’s, to Washington, in Tennessee. 2
No “Ratliff’s” in the above statement. Now it is “Vincent Bennett’s”. Vincent Bennett is the former Quartermaster for Gen Andrew Jackson during the Creek Indian War, 1818-14. He is listed in the 1820 US Census, Saint Clair County, Alabama. He purchased land from the US Government in Township 12, Range 5 East, Section 7. This is near Clear Creek and Line Creek (Ratliff’s Creek).3
Vincent Bennett established a store at this location. Or, did he take over Richard Ratliff’s after he abandoned it? Bennett’s store is listed as a US Post Office in March of 1822. The Postmaster is Thomas M. Barker. In May of 1823, the Postmaster was Vincent Bennett. August 1823 the name changed to Bennington. Other Postmasters are very significant. Chief John Ross’ brothers-in-law, John G. Ross Postmaster November 1826, Jonathon Mulkey Postmaster January 1828. The name changed to Bennetsville November 1830 and Vincent Bennett is Postmaster.4
As you see sometime between June 1818 and May 1820 Richard Ratliff moved. What happen?
State of Alabama
Resolution For Admission of Alabama into the Union, December, 14, 1819.5 After the State of Alabama was formed, Richard Ratliff, Sr. found himself in the State of Alabama and not in the Cherokee Nation. He moved.
Notice on the above map Bennettsville PO, Ratcliff’s or Line CR, Double Spring PO (Gadsden, Alabama), Turkey Town PO. You also see the resident of John G. Ross. You also see that Ratcliff would have been in Saint Clair County, Alabama. So he moved.
He moved to Turkey’s Town
A location in Turkey’s Town is called Ratliff’s Valley. Not too long after he had moved he was robbed.
Friend &Brother June 24th 1821
On Monday night last there was some white men came to the house of Richrd rattlerif and abused him a Takeing all his children money the sum was nineteen hundred dollars taking from his – of his children money John rattlerif(,) Janeny rattlerfis – this happened near Turkey Town my friend and I want you to assist them To know where this money is gone – when these men come they took him by the throat and beat him on the head and other Takeing the money when any person become old the property the have the exspect it for their children friend Hope you will contrive some way so they may get their money again – I was in hopes the theves was done stealing but they have To steal other ways people that has any thing are fraid sence that they will begain on them I want you to send some letters to the white people that lives in sent cleare county that they may make some search for this money that has been takeing from these people
/s/ pathkiller
the boots
rattleing gard
Tarkahakah
6. Pathkiller to Meigs Google Map, modern, before the new US 411 N four lanes added. Location in red added by Author
Just where Richard Ratliff Sr. lived is unknown. William Lasley, son of James Lasley called the area Ratliff Valley. It is also referenced in an agreement with Benjamin Pollard and John Ratliff (son of Richard Ratliff Sr.).
There is a lot of misunderstood information on Richard Ratliff Sr. One of them is he died in Turkey’s Town and is buried somewhere there. Find a Grave memorial 59363915 has a lot of information. Parts of this are incorrect. This is the link: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59363915/flower Richard Ratliff Sr. did not die in Turkey’s Town. He is on the Lt Edward Deas’ Detachment. This is those removed to the West on the Trail of Tears in June 1838. They left from Ross’ Landing in what is Chattanooga, TN, today. Traveled by boat.9 He is listed above his son Richard Ratliff Jr’s family. Richard Sr family has a male over the age of 50, who has to be him. They are listed as living in Turkey Town. He is also on the Henderson Roll census in 1835, in Turkey Town. He did file a will in Saint Clair County in 1833, gifting slaves to his daughter Janey (Jenny). (They were stolen from her.) He did not die in 1835. His son Richard Jr. is married to Charwahyooca, daughter of Chief Pathkiller and Peggy. They are listed in Peggy’s will.
A portion of page 2 of Lt. Deas’s Detachment Muster Roll, June 1838. 10
Richard Ratliff and family are notable people of Turkey’s Town as well as the State of Alabama.
Correspondence And Miscellaneous Records, M208, Records of the Cherokee Indian Agency in Tennessee, 1801-1835, https://www.fold3.com/image/205695162 Record Group: 75 ↩︎
Last page of a valuation of a claim for William Lasley RG 75, NARA. This property is the William Story property discussed in the James Lasley information. The cove near the Lasley Mill/Gin. ↩︎
Cherokee Registry Trail of Tears-Deas detachment, Cherokeeregistry.com ↩︎
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
There are many people named Richard Ratliff who resided in or near Turkey’s Town. There are many stories about Richard Ratliff. I am going to concentrate on Richard Ratliff, who was married to a Cherokee Woman. Richard Ratliff, who moved to Turkey’s Town after he found himself in Alabama and not the Cherokee Nation. Richard Ratliff, who is in an area called Ratliff Valley. Try to answer a question on why he is a “Notable Person” of Turkey’s Town.
First, we find a Richard Ratliff living between Clear Creek and Ratliff Creek. Ratliff Creek is also known as Line Creek due to its proximity to the Alabama-Cherokee border. This area will be on the Cherokee Border in Alabama after it became a State. Alabama became a State in 1819. Richard Ratliff operated a “stand” or trading post at this intersection. The Hightown Path/Creek Path passed by his stand. This path started at Gunter’s Landing on the southernmost point of the Tennessee River. It led to the Double Springs at the Coosa River. Then the Creek Path continues into the Creek land. The Hightown Path takes an east turn to reach Hightown (modern-day Rome, GA). At the Southernmost point of the Tennessee River Fort Deposit was built during the Creek Indian War. This was a supply fort for General Andrew Jackson and the Tennessee Militia. The Path would become the Jackson Military Road.1
A part of Gen. John Coffee’s map, January 1816. At the far right 3 o’clock position is Hightown. Turkey Town is in the center. North of Turkey Town is plotted Ratliff’s. The stream carved through the R on Ratliff’s is big Will’s Creek. The dotted line crossing the Tennessee River with a square block plot for Fort Deposit. The dotted line traveling south marks Jackson’s military road. 2
We learn a lot from the “Ten Island Three Research team”. Three ladies who researched the Cherokee and Friendly Creek Indians during the Creek Indian War. As well as a study on Fort Strother. These three were Charlotte Hood, Betty Sue McElroy, and Patsy Hanvey. Their work produced a book titled Jackson’s White Plumes.
Chapter2, page 19,
In 1800, Cherokee Captain John Brown and his family, including a new baby daughter, lived in Will’s Valley, not far from Ooe-Asah. Twenty five years later in 1825, Rufus Anderson, of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, was inspired to write and publish a book on the life of that little daughter. It was entitled Memoir of Catherine Brown, A Christian Indian of the Cherokee Nation. Anderson’s account stated that “John Brown’s residence in 1800 was within the chartered limits of the state of Alabama … between the Raccoon and Lookout mountains, twenty-five miles south-east of the Tennessee River”. This is where John Brown lived when Catharine Brown was born. The Alabama state line that divided the United States from the Cherokee Nation, Between Raccoon and Lookout Mountain in Will’s Valley, in 1825, was Ratliff’s or Line Creek, near present- day Highway 431 in Etowah County. This places John Brown in the vicinity of today’s Attalla, Alabama, in 1800. There is a branch of Clear Creek, below Ratliff’s or Line Creek, identified as Brown’s Creek. It is 25 miles southeast of the southern bend of the Tennessee River {i.e. present day Guntersville AL}.3
The intersection of the streams and crossroads is important. One could continue south, travel east, or west. This is where Richard Ratliff Sr. lived. We see it plotted on the map above. He encountered David Crockett.
David Crockett
We started and went to a Cherokee town about twenty miles off, and after a short stay there we pushed on to the house of a man by the name of Radcliff. He was a white man, but married to a Creek woman, and lived just in the edge of the Creek nation. He had two sons, large, likely looking fellows, and a great deal of potatoes and corn, and indeed almost everything else to go on, so we fed our horses and got dinner with him, and seemed to be doing mighty well. But he was bad scared all the time. He told us that there had been ten painted warriors at his house only an hour before and if we were discovered there they would kill us and his family with us. I replied to him that my business was to hunt for just such fellows as he had described, and I was determined not to go back until I had done it. Our dinner being over, we saddled up our horses and made ready to start.4
After our meeting we went on the Radcliff’s, where I had been before, while out as a spy; and when I had got there, we found he had hid all his provisions; We also got into the secret, that he was the very rascal who had sent the runner to the Indian camp, with the news that the “red sticks” were crossing at the Ten Island; and that this object was to scare me and my men away, and send us back with a false alarm. To make some atonement for this, we took the old scoundrel’s two big sons with us, and made them serve in the war. We then marched to a place which we called Camp Wills; and here it was that Captain Cannon was promoted to a colonel, and Colonel Coffee was promoted to a general.(November 1813) 5
Crockett thought Ratliff was married to a Creek Woman. Richard Ratliff’s children will tell a different story. He was married to a Cherokee Woman. I will let them tell that story a little later.
Chief Pathkiller’s Complaint to Gen Andrew Jackson
The Path Killer (a principal King of the Cherokee nation) complains to Majr Genl Jackson that a part of the East Tennessee troops on their return home from this place went to John Ratliffs – a half breed Cherokee & took Ratliff & a parcel of his negroes perhaps Twenty & some horses, the number not known – They also took from a cherokee by the name of the Whooping boy eight horses – from one El__ a half breed, they took two horses and a mare & colt from an Indian called the Duck. — The Whooping boy is one of the Cherokee of Dick Browns party, who marched himself to Majr Genl Jacksons army and was in the battles of Tallishatchee & Talladega at the latter place he got wounded & was down with his wounds –6
If any thing could have been proved against old Rattcliff, of any Treason, or hostility …………. I have to request on the receipt of this you will cause old Rattcliff to be liberated, his property returned, and the offenders arrested and punished ……….. Is it not cruel that the whooping boy who fought bravely at Talushatchey and got wounded at the Battle of Talladega – should be plundered, by the east Tennessee troops, whilst confined with his wounds ……To John Cocke from Andrew Jackson.7
John Ratliff, Whooping Boy, and William Ratliff are sons of Richard Ratliff Sr.
John Coffee’s Journal January 1816
10th January (1816) This day traveled to Thompson’s Ferry and lay all night at Capt. Thompson’s. Bill $7.50
11th January Travelled to Young John Brown’s at the foot of the mountain – Lay all night – Paid the bill to amount of $1.50
12th January Travelled to Ratliffe’s – Lay all night
13th January Snowing. We lay all day and night at Ratliffe’s – Paid the bill to amt. $6.50
14th January Set out from Ratliffe’s early in the morning – and arrived at Fort Strother the same evening – Took a house in the old fort and got our supplies from Capt. George Blaik, who resided at the fort with his family.
15th January Reed, who I had engaged as a pack horseman at Ratliffe’s, arrived this day, brought with him a Negro fellow named Jo – The property of Tom Bruner who had been in the Cherokee Nation, and was then on his way home. Sent for Fife.
28th January (1817)….. Crossed Canoe Creek in a canoe and swam the horses – Travelled the road towards Ratliff’s, ten miles, and after traveling in it about five miles struck the road a little sout of the lick ……
29th January A file morning, the first we have had in ten days, statrted early, got to Ratliff’s and bought supplied to carry on, viz ………….. $5.75. Bought a tomahawk at the Old Duck’s – Price $1.008
All of the above are notations from the Creek War 1813-14. It shows that Richard Ratliff Sr. was very involved with Jackson’s army. A notable person. At this time, he lived at what would become the border of the State of Alabama and the Cherokees. Present-day, a few miles north of Attalla, Alabama.
Post the Creek War, why did he move? Where did he move to? The story continues.
Tracing Gen. Andrew Jackson’s Army Across Marshall County, Alabama. A Publication of the Guntersville Historical Society, Tyrus M. Dorman Jr., Editor. Chip Manning, Larry Smith, Danny Maltbie, Pete Sparks, John Oliver Ross. Kindle Direct Publishing. 2025 ↩︎
Jackson’ White Plumes. Charlotte Adams Hood. 1995. Lavender Publishing Company, Bay Minette, Al ↩︎
THE LIFE OF DAVID CROCKETT, The Original Humorist and Irrepressible Backwoodsman. An Autobiography. Chapter 5, page 52. (after the Creeks massacre at Ft Mimms, Aug 31, 1813) ↩︎
Jackson’ White Plumes. Charlotte Adams Hood. 1995. Lavender Publishing Company, Bay Minette, Al. Chapter 6, page 68-73. ↩︎
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
Not what I think, not what I believe, not what I know. It is what I can prove.
Where is this plantation? Where did James Lasley live?
1937 Etowah County, Alabama map. University of Alabama Historic Maps of Alabama. Present-day Spring Avenue is missing from this map. The stream that crosses diagonally across the NE 1/4 of section 35 is the stream that parallels today’s Spring Avenue. The new 4-lane US 411 is not on this map. This shows the patent purchasers of the property in 1840. I noted the people who stated they were on the property in 1838. (The time of the forced removal, Trail of Tears). Info on the purchasers comes from the Bureau of Land Management website for Etowah County, Alabama. Names of note: William Lay, Josiah Harper, and John W. Croft. Note the name Murrycross.
The names of William Lay and Josiah Harper should stand out on the above mapping of Lasley’s property. If you remember from last post on James Lasley. They were accused by James Lasley of stealing from him. See the following clip from James Lasley’s 1842 claim where he names these two white men.
This confirms the location of James Lasley’s plantation. Josiah Harper was appointed Justice of the Peace in the newly formed Cherokee County Alabama, in 1836. (Alabama U. S. Civil Appointments 1819-1939, Ancestry.com) He, along with William Lay, homesteaded the property and filed for purchase through U. S. Patent Office in 1838.1 This is the present-day Croft Ferry area. John W. Croft, with preemption in 1838 purchased 159 acres on both sides of the Coosa River, which includes the ferry2. The original survey on the BLM website shows the road leading to this ferry. On the East side, it is labeled as Smith Ferry Road.
August 24, 1838, James Lasley filed a Claim where he states that; “he had a ferry across the Coosa River possibly taken by David Smith.3
His house is located on the ferry road on the west side of the Coosa River. On the above map the ferry road travels straight then makes a left turn to travel to the river landing. The house was on the right side of the road at the left turn. This also falls within the one mile from the “cove” property discussed in the last post. Metal detectors found a Spanish button from the mid-1740s on the lot where the old homestead was located. James Lasley is the only known person to trade with the Spanish living on this property. He would have a garment from the time period.
James Lasley did not mention the Croft family or George Crone. They must be friends with James Lasley. They are mentioned on miscellaneous papers in good favor of James Lasley. William, David, and John W. Croft are brothers. Review the above map of property owners. Reminder you can click on the image to make it larger.
Other Confirmation
A letter by H. S. Gold to Gen. D. B. Brinsmade. He went to visit his sister in New Echota, but also traveled to Creek Path (Guntersville, AL). They traveled from Vann’s Valley which is Caves Springs, Georgia. This researcher has driven from Caves Springs to Croft Ferry on as much of the route that still exists. It is 35 miles. Elias Boudinot is Buck Watie, the Editor of the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper.
Transcript of letter written by Herman S. Gold on 22 May, 1830 to Gen. D. B. Brinsmade. A letter found in a vault in Calhoun. Georgia in 1960.
James Lasley is listed in the Henderson roll 1835 (Cherokee Census). On page 82 as in Turkey town in the transcribed copy;
“Six Cherokee, 1 fullblood, 2 halfbreeds, 2 quadroons (quarter blood Indian), 2 slaves, intermarraiage with white race. This family owned a mill and a ferryboat. One farmer, 2 farms, 1 reader of English, one weaver, 1 spinster.”5
As James Lasley stated in one of his Claims (previously posted), he was removed from his property in June 1838. James Lasley is listed in the Benge Detachment in the removal from Fort Payne, with 3 persons in the family. James and Elizabeth’s children also went West. Margaret, also known as Peggy, was married to Gideon Coats. She went with her children from Andrew Vann’s previous marriage. It is listed that she went by “her on account”, 3 persons in the family. William went “on his on accord”, seven in the family. Auley, who was married to Jack Griffin with four in the family was in the Bell Detachment.6
Blount Plantation
How did the name of this location come to be known as the Blount Plantation?
William Lay purchased 660 extra acres in 1848. Lasley accused him of stealing a portion of his property. This purchase brought Lay’s total to 887 acres. On 18 January 1854, he sold the property to brothers Joseph G. Blount and David E. Blount.7 24 May 1854 David Blount sold his share to Joseph. Joseph G. Blount moved to Alabama from Georgia ca. 1854. He would move back-in-forth from Alabama to Dekalb County, Georgia, and Gadsden, Alabama. Blount is on the 1860 US Census listed in First District, Cherokee County, Alabama, P.O. King’s Hill (present-day Slackland, Alabama). This would be on this homestead. The 1860 US Census lists Joseph G. Blount, 27 years old, Male, Farmer occupation. Value of real estate $16,000.00, personal property value $50,000.00. Wife Maria L. (Freeman), 23 years old, Female, Daughter; Anne T., 2 years old, Female. Living next door is Henry M. Cox whose occupation is “Overseer”,8 (He is the overseer for the plantation). Mr. Blount owned 45 slaves per the 1860 slave schedule in Cherokee County, Alabama. In 1870 he is listed as living in Gadsden City, P.O. Gadsden, 37 years old, Mechanic occupation, Wife Maria L, 32 years old, keeping house as occupation, son Joseph A., 3 years old (Gus). In 1880 Blount is living in DeKalb County, Georgia, on the census at District 531, Joseph G. Blount, 47 years old, Farmer occupation, wife Maria, 42 years old, keeping house occupation, son Augustus, 14 years old. Blount is on the 1900 Census in Turkeytown, Alabama. Joseph G Blount is 67 years old and has a Farmer occupation. His wife, Martha F., is 46 years old (Joseph lists this as his 2nd marriage since his first wife Maria, died Feb 1897). Son Joseph A., 33 years old, is a lawyer by occupation. Joseph Augustus (Gus) Blount married on 24 November 1900. This took place in New Orleans. He married Marie Lily Tremonlet (daughter of Henry Tremonlet).
John W. Croft lived just south of this plantation. On the Croft property in May of 1863, Colonel Abel Streight, US Army, and General N. B. Forrest (CSA, Cavalry) would come to a head-to-head fight. It is at this location that Colonel Gilbert of the 73rd Indiana US Regiment was killed. Four other Union soldiers also died. All of their bodies were exhumed. Hathaway taken to his home town in Indiana. The other Union soldiers taken to the Military Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia. In the Official Record of the War of Rebellion this location is called the “Blount Plantation”.9
Oak Hill
Oak Hill Post Office. John W. Croft purchases the property North and South of the ferry. His two brothers will be a part of these purchases. In 1838, John W. Croft purchased 159 acres. This land was in NW ¼ of section 1 of Township 11 South, Range 7 East. This land is on both sides of the Coosa River and includes the ferry. See the map above. The original survey on the BLM website shows the road leading to this ferry on the East side. It is labeled as Smith Ferry Road. John W. Croft purchased 159 acres in section 2. It was the NE 1/4. This land is on the West side of Coosa River. He purchased Josiah Harper’s 159 acres in section 35 north of him. He also owned the SW ¼ of section 35, which brings John W. Croft’s total to right at 636 acres. His brothers William B. and David Croft purchased the NW ¼ and the SW ¼ of section 2.10 After the formation of Etowah County in 1868, a Post Office was established at Mr. John H. Croft’s home (son of John W. Croft) on May 24th, 1875. This post office was named after the farm Oak Hill because of the oak trees on the hill behind it.
Charles Philip Mooney is the Murrycross Post Office Postmaster, 1898. (United States Postal records found online at ancestry.com.) The name of Murrycross or Murry Cross came from Joseph Augustus (Gus) Blount, son of Joseph G. Blount. He named a new Post Office for his friend Father Daniel Murray of the Mobile Archdiocese. Father Murray served in the Birmingham Alabama Diocese.
In the history of St James’ Catholic Church of Gadsden 1957 titled; History of St. James Parish, by Flounce A. Burke. page one;
“Thirty years ago, on October 3, 1927 St. James Church was dedicated” . . . Will I Martin was the only person living who knew first hand of the early days of the Catholic Church in Gadsden, . . .
Joseph Augustus (Gus) Blount was educated at Kirkwood Military Institute in Atlanta, and Mt. St. Mary’s College, a Catholic institution at Emmitsburg, Md. He graduated in 1886. He took up the study of law with Judge James Aiken, of Gadsden, in 1888. He was admitted to the bar in 1890.
Continued from the history of St James Church;
They invited a Catholic priest, Father Murray from Mobile, to come to the district. He stayed in their home. A year later yellow fever broke out . . .and the story, “BEING A CATHOLIC PRIEST, FATHER MURRY VISITED ALL THE HOMES WHERE THERE WERE VICTIMS OF THE DREAD SCOURGE.” He contracted the disease and died, in 1903. Not long after the death of Father Murray, Gus Blount was given permission to select a name for the newly established post office. He wanted it named for the hero priest, Father Murray. The name was sent to Washington, and through a typographical error, the name was spelled “Murrycross”. It was impossible to have it changed, so until this day it is called Murrycross.” 11
Mr. Martin is incorrect about the timeline. Newspaper reports and the U. S. Postal Records confirm the story and correct the timeline. Rev. Father Daniel Murray, serving in Birmingham, served the Catholic Church in Gadsden during the year 1896.12 He died of yellow fever on 24 September 1897 in Mobile, Alabama. He had moved to Montgomery, Alabama, to be the assistant at St. Peter’s Church. He left the same position after three years and three months at St. Paul’s Church in Birmingham, Alabama. While on a temporary assignment in Mobile, he contracted yellow fever and died on 24 September 1897. He was serving the congregation at St. Vincent’s Church in Eufaula, Alabama.13
Murrycross and its Post Office were established on 10 November 1897. Oak Hill’s name changed. The Postmaster is Charles Philip Mooney Jr., “Philip”. The 1910 census of Etowah County lists Charles P. (Philip) Mooney Jr. living between Joseph G. Blount and James A. Penny (which would lead you to believe this is the old Oak Hill PO). James A. Penny becomes the Postmaster in 1905 of Murrycross PO. James A. Penny is married to John H. Croft’s widow (Mary E. Hughes Croft). Mary Elizabeth is the daughter of James A. Hughes Jr. and his wife Parolee Whorton. The Whortons and Hughes families are notable people in Turkey’s Town. Their stories to come later.
US Postmasters Records Etowah County, Alabama, Ancestry.com Murrycross application, 1897, NARA, Washington, DC. image 693, Record Group 75, Records of the Post Office Department, Series: Report of Sites Locations. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/68180758?objectPage=693
Conclusion
James Lasley is a notable person of Turkey’s Town. His plantation became multiple family farms after his forced removal. Today, the community is referred to as Murrycross/Croft Ferry. North of James Lasley is Richard Ratliff Sr. He, too, is a notable person of Turkey’s Town. His story has connections to General Andrew Jackson and David Crockett. This area, before James Lasley moved to it was called Ratliff’s Valley.
Google Earth photo with locations added for James Lasley’s plantation.
From the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), General Land Records online website, the two white men filed pre-emption in 1838. Josiah Harper purchased, section 35, Township 10 S, Range 7 E; 159 acres, SW ¼. William Lay in section 36, Township 10 S, Range 7 E, the NW ¼ 159 acres. ↩︎
From the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), General Land Records online website, NW ¼ of section 1 of Township 11 S, Range 7 E, this is ↩︎
” Indian Pioneer Papers, University of Oklahoma, Western History Collection, Norman Ok, Volume 105, Grant Forman Interview #1425. Registration of Claims of Cherokee Indians against the U. S., within the State of Alabama. Claim #19. The original Claim Book is in Oklahoma Historical Society Microfilm CHN80 in Section X (Cherokee-Federal Relations). Page 246, Ferries, Coosa River #7 Township 11 South, Rang 7 East, Section unknown (probably 1 and 2)” Lasley Ferry/ Smith’s Ferry/ Croft’s Ferry by Mike Wren recorded in “Alabama Collection Camps, Forts, Emigrating Depots and Travel Routes Used During the Cherokee Removal of 1838-1839” ↩︎
Spanish button found on the property in 2023 by relic hunters. Other period items were found on the property. Interview by the author ↩︎
RG 217, records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, E 525, settled Indian Accounts and Claims, 1794-1894, Box 379, Account 6432, National Archives, copies from the Michael Wren collection. ↩︎
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), General Land Records online website. ↩︎
1860 US Census listed in First District Cherokee County Alabama P.O. King’s Hill ↩︎
Personal copy of the History of the Saint James Catholic Church, Gadsden, Alabama. ↩︎
The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, Alabama, 15 March 1896, Sunday, Page 3, December 1896, Page 3, The Birmingham News, Birmingham, Alabama 19 January 1897, Tuesday, page 1, Newspaper.com↩︎
Birmingham News, Birmingham, Alabama, 19 January 1897, Tuesday, page 1, Newspaper.com, The Eufaula Daily Times, Eufaula, Alabama, 24 September 1897, Friday, Page 4 and The Herald-Journal, Bessemer, Alabama, 30 September 1897, Thursday, Page 4, Newspaper.com ↩︎
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
James Lasley’s complex or Plantation in Turkey’s Town is quite large. His story is told through Cherokee Claims stored in the National Archives. These records mention James Lasley, who operated a ferry in Turkey’s town. He had on the property a large complex of houses and a cotton gin/mill with a cotton house. There were cribs, a blacksmith shop, and a trading post. He also had slave quarters, stables, several acres of fenced river bottoms, and “uplands.” Extra structures included sheds, a barn, a smokehouse, and a hen house. There was a potato house, a corn crib, and a sheep house. Wagon shelters, a hog house, and apple, pear, plum, and peach trees were also there. He has 250 acres of various sizes of fields, from 50 acres to ½ acre lots, all fenced separately.
There were 5 houses of various sizes, all single stories, made of logs with floors, shutters, doors, and locks. They all had wooden chimneys with rock-backed fireplaces and hearths. The house sizes were 16’x20’ largest to 15’x15’ smallest. There was a block of cabins 36’x13’ with two chimneys, three doors, finished floors, and shutters. The total valuation of this property was listed at $8,223.15 in 1842, with today’s inflation added (2025) this would be valued at $324,885.
Cotton Gin and Mill
Notable is the description of the cotton gin in the claim. It is stated to be;
One cotton gin House 18’ – 18’ 2 st (stories) one story frame the other normal logs board ruff lower room sealed with board fashion floor mill with board water wheel 14 ft in diameter and in shot 8 ft cage wheel good trunnel head and band wheel 100 ft race 25 ft down logs and planks
One cotton House 14’ – 14 1 st split logs board ruff lined with board fashion floor
One cotton Prep & sew & swas (saws) all new and in good order1
The cotton gin complex was located on the stream coming from Owl’s Hollow. Today, the new US 411 4 lanes cover the location. 500 yards from the cove to US 411 North. Today Spring Avenue off of US 411 North, going into Owl’s Hollow runs parallel to the stream. The stream creates the cove through Shinbone Ridge. The proof is provided in a document for the purchase of two improvements. These two improvements were purchased by David Gage for William Lasley (son of James Lasley) and William Brock. Purchased 26 November 1835. It seems William Lasley and William Brock never paid Gage. (This document is very hard to read.) James Lasley purchased the improvements on 19 June 1837. This will become an issue between father and son.
. . . improvement lying in Ratliff’s Valley about four or five hundred yards north of Lasley’s mill consisting of a dwelling house, smoke house, corn crib, horse lot & one field northeast of said building containing ten acres more of less . . .3
William Lasley went after this improvement. He paid David Gage. Here is the copy of the documents. I wonder who really paid who?
5. This note presents where James Lasley’s house was located. “. . . being in a cove one mile from your house . . ” It is just over one mile to the ferry on the Coosa River. His house was 300 to 400 yards before you get to the ferry landing.6
It is unknown as to the outcome of this. The claim by James Lasley is missing at least two pages. Are these improvements on those pages? We will never know unless those pages are found. They are not with these pages in the National Archives.
Store Book, Housing Complex
This is the mill and cotton gin complex on the property. The house was near the Coosa River and the ferry. There are a lot of structures involved with the home place. To help us certify the location for this farm and ferry, we can see that Mr. Lasley also filed a claim for his “store books” on the 22nd of March 1842. The store or trading post was near his home, but on the main road.
This claim lists the appraisal amounts for notes owned to Lasley with the store. Has appraisal amounts for the store goods and a new cotton gin. It states improvements made “after 23 May 1836.” On this claim are a house, Kitchen, smokehouse, and 50 acres of cleared river bottom cleared in 1836. It lists other acres of various sizes, stock, and various farm equipment. The total on this claim is $6,469.00. (In 2025 with inflation calculated the claim is $255,585. Total of both claims is $580,470. This does not include the land value.)
I wanted to post the claim by James Lasley with the witnesses’ notes. This way, you can read them as is. These are in good condition. I know this is cursive dip ink scroll writing. You have to read these closely. He names names. Who are these white men, Josiah Harper, William Lay, Pollard, James Street, John H. Garrett, George Biddy, and Madison Gage? If you read closely, you can find out the exact day that the US troops came to his house. They forcibly marched him and his family to Fort Payne, a stockade. The city of Fort Payne, Alabama, got its name from the stockade. It was the launching point for detachments of the Trail of Tears. The witnesses: Turner, son of Boot. Margaret (Peggy Coats) is James Lasley’s daughter and the wife of Gideon Coats, namesake of Coats’ Bend. More on that in its own post.
I will continue this in the next post on where this is and how we know. I will explain how and what the community is today. This will help explain who the white men are.
Copy of 1842 James Lasley Claim, National Archives, Washington DC, Record Group (RG)75 Bureau of Indian Affairs, Entry (E) #224, Volume 25, pages; 96, 97, 99, 100, Copy from Michael Wren’s personal collection. ↩︎
Copy of 1842 James Lasley Claim, National Archives, Washington DC, Record Group (RG)75 Bureau of Indian Affairs, Entry (E) #224, Volume 25, pages; 96, 97, 99, 100, Copy from Michael Wren’s personal 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
James Lasley has been mentioned several times throughout this history. He is someone who becomes very notable. His connection with the Cherokee people is strong, yet it has not been explained before. He is a white man married to a Cherokee woman. He was married to two Cherokee women at different times. He did not like the United States. He preferred the Cherokees and their way of life. He was an entrepreneur. He brought many trades to the Cherokee people that became useful. He was very wealthy. He was connected to Major Ridge’s family. He was very good friends with Chief Pathkiller and his family. He was removed on the Trail of Tears to the Arkansas territory. His story has survived through the Cherokee census, his spoilage claims records, affidavits, and geological records of Cherokee families. This led to the formation of a community that still exists in Turkey’s Town.
Caty James Lastly’s wife Full Blood Turkeytown Coosa Cherokee Co Alabama Valuation $428.75
Enter $8009.15 James Lasley. White Man Turkey Town Coosa river Cher. Co Alabama Valuation $8225.15 Deduct valuation of Gov place decreed by the Commissioners to David Gage William Lasley 214 $8009.15. Sept 18371
The above clips from the pages in the register book in the National Archive show information on James Lasley. Caty is the second wife of James Lasley in Turkey’s Town. This valuation of James Lasley’s is $8000, which is 270K in 2025. In 1837, they lived on the Coosa River in Cherokee County, Alabama. Cherokee County was established in January 1836. We will explore who his first wife was and where he came from to Turkey’s Town. We will examine his significant role in the history of Turkey’s Town. We will explore what community came from his plantation.
James Lasley moved from Turnip Mountain Town to Turkey’s Town in 1823.2 His first wife was Elizabeth Wickett.3 She is the sister of Major Ridge’s wife Susanna Wickett. Also sister to Wutty, the wife of John Fields.4 Elizabeth left James Lasley and pursued Big Cabin. Big Cabin rejected her.5 It was stated by Big Cabin, “If she would not do for Lasley, she would not do for him.” The below notation is made by Richard Blount, August 1826. “I learn more fully some of their customs & manners.”
James Lasley move to Turkey’s Town and took a new wife Caty. William, James and Elizabeth’s son stated in the claim for the Turnip Mountain Town improvements. He did this on behalf of himself and his siblings. They claimed that their father abandoned them. From the claim by William Lasley , Record Group 75, Entry 250, Case 88, NARA, Washington, DC. The last page of the claim did not survive. The exact date is unknown. It has to be after 1836. They quote the 1835-36 treaty.
“James Lasley the husband was a Whiteman, a citizen of the United States, resided with his wife & children on their improvement, until about the year 1822 or 1823, when he abruptly deserted his wife Elizabeth Lasley & infant children . . . went to Turkey town, took up with another Indian woman, drove off her husband continued to live with that other woman, with a view to get the reservation at or near Turkey town.”
One can take which side they wish to be on. That of the Children or James Lasley. Richard Blount describes a different separation, as shown in the clip above, in his journal. Or you can believe what the children say. James and Elizabeth did separate. The place that James Lasley moved from was Turnip Mountain. This is Coosa, Georgia present day. Turnip Mountain Town is on John Coffee’s map at the right side. He had over 640 acres and operated a toll ferry across the Coosa River.
James and Elizabeth (Wickett) Lasley had three children. Auley (Aulley), William, and Margaret. Elizabeth was married to John Fields before marrying Lasley.6 John and Elizabeth had several children. James Lasley and Elizabeth daughter, Margaret (Peggy), marries Andrew Vann (Vann Valley, Caves Springs, Ga), then Gideon E. Coats (a white man). Gideon Coats and family are the namesake of Coats’ Bend, which will have its own post.
James Lasley moved to Turkey’s Town during the year of 1823. He took up with Caty. As stated by William Lasley, Caty had a husband, but he is unknown. It is not known if James Lasley sold his improvements at the Turnip Mountain Town. He did have money and started building a large complex in Turkey’s Town. His son, William, will move next door, about a mile away from him. Margaret and her children with Andrew Van will move on James Lasley’s property. As stated, she will marry Gideon Coats. Auley marries Daniel Griffin they live near her mother. Elizabeth Lasley, the former wife, moves to Wills Valley near Wills Town. She dies either at the end of 1833 or early 1834. She filed a will in Saint Clair County in 1832. This will was probated in March 1834. Hope you are connecting the “dots”.
NARA Record Group 75 E247, B227-228, copy from the Michael Wren collection ↩︎
William Chamberlain visited James Lasley at Turnip Mountain June 5, 1822. From Chamberlain’s journal; REV WILLIAM CHAMBERLIN PRIVATE JOURNAL MAY 23 – NOVEMBER 4, 1822 ABCFM 18.3.1 V3 – Items 25-30[KUTSCHE 2260-2262]MF Reel 738 [images 116-120] In the afternoon rode to Lasleys at Turnip Mountain 12 miles. Here we found that br. Mills, had gone to Brainerd, & most of the people had either gone to the ball play, or to Eucalooga, to spend the Sabbath. ……. We thought it best to accept Mr. Lastleys invitation to stay here till after the Sabbath. ↩︎
New Seneca Turkey's Town 