cherokee chiefs- pt.1 Appointed by the President, these Principal Chiefs, many holding the title for only a single day, signed documents and performed other pro forma duties as required by the federal government. Andrew Bell Cunningham, Chief for 17 days: November 8 – 25, 1919 Edward M. Fry, Chief for 1 day: June 23, 1923 Richard B. Choate, Chief for 1 day: 1925 Charles J. Hunt, Chief for 1 day: December 27, 1928 Oliver P. Brewer, Chief for 1 day: May 26, 1931 William W. Hastings, Chief for 1 day: January 22, 1936 Jesse B. Milam, 1941 until May 8, 1949 William W. Keeler, Chief for 22 years: July, 1949 until August 1971 when he was elected by the Cherokee people and served until 1975 under that capacity. Atakullakulla (A-da-gul-ka-lu) Atakullakulla, or Little Carpenter, was a Civil Chief of the Cherokee and friend of the English who arranged for the release of Oconostota, the War Chief who had been captured by Governor Lyttleton of North Carolina. His sister was Nancy Ward’s mother. He also spent time serving as a War Chief. Black Coat The Second Chief of the Western Cherokee, or Old Settlers. He was a delegate in charge of the Cherokees who went to Washington with Sam Hosutin in December 1831. Charles Thompson (u-tse-la-ta, or oochelata) 1875 - 1879 Born in the Eastern homelands of the Cherokee, he settled after the Removal in what is now Delaware County. He served in both the Confederate Army and Union Army during the U.S. Civil War. Thompson was elected to the Cherokee Senate in 1867 and was designated Acting Chief during the last illness of Principal Chief Lewis Downing. His principal concern during office was the intrusion of whites into Indian territory and the crimes committed by these unlawful intruders.Cherokee Nation Chiefs in Early Times (partial list) These Chiefs served in the Cherokee Nation East. Historically, there were tribal town chiefs, and then Principal Chiefs whose jurisdiction encompassed all tribal towns and districts. The following were considered Principal Chiefs. Moytoy, 1730 – 1760 Atakullakulla, 1760 – 1775 Oconostota, 1775 – 1780 Hanging Maw, 1780 – 1792 Little Turkey, 1792 – 1801 Black Fox, 1801 – 1811 Pathkiller, 1811 – 1827 Charles Renatus Hicks, 1827 William Hicks, 1827 – 1828 John Ross 1828 – 1839 (prior to being elected under the 1839 Constitution in Indian Territory) During the Civil War years, the Cherokee Nation divided into Northern and Southern factions. The National Council was dismissed and John Ross was in Philadelphia. Both sides attempted to conduct business when necessary. Temporary Chiefs were chosen to lead. For a time, Stand Watie assumed the title of Chief for the Southern Cherokees. Union Chiefs: Major Thomas Peggs, 1862 – 63 Smith Christie, 1863 Lewis Downing, 1864 – 66 Confederate Chiefs: John Spears Samuel McDaniel Taylor Cherokee Chiefs As voted by the Cherokee People under the Cherokee Nation constitutions. John Ross 1827 – 1866 William P. Ross 1866 – 1867 Lewis Downing 1867 – 1872 William P. Ross 1872 – 1875 Charles Thompson 1875 – 1879 Dennis Bushyhead 1879 – 1888 Joel Bryan Mayes 1888 – 1891 Colonel Johnson Harris 1891 – 1895 Samuel H. Mayes 1895 – 1899 T.M. Buffington 1899 – 1903 William C. Rogers 1903 – 1907 W.W. Keeler 1971 - 1975 Ross Swimmer 1975 - 1985 Wilma Mankiller 1985 - 1995 Joe Byrd 1995 - 1999 Chadwick Smith 1999 - 2011 Bill John Baker 2011 - present Dennis Wolf Bushyhead Bushyhead served as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1879 until 1887. He was nominated to head the Independent Party, and won by a majority of approximately 400. He stressed better accounting and use of tribal monies, and he had been National Treasurer for eight years. During his second term, three-fourths of the newly elected council were fullbloods, including Senator Ned Christie. His Cherokee name was Tsu lo hv s gi, which the non-Indians mispronounced “Junaluska.” Major George Lowery Lowery was the Second Chief (Assistant Chief) of the Eastern Cherokee, and was a cousin of Sequoyah. He served as Assistant Chief under Principal Chief John Ross from 1843 until 1851. He was born at Tuhskegee on the Tennessee River about 1770, and died October 20, 1852 at the age of 82. He is buried in Tahlequah City Cemetery. Lowery is credited with many accomplishments in his life, and fought in the War of 1812 and was a member of two Cherokee Constitution Conventions (1827 and 1839).Joel Bryan Mayes The election campaign which led to the term of 1887-1891 was one of most bitter in the history of the Cherokee Nation. Chief Bushyhead allegedly tried to block the results of the election by keeping the ballots from being counted by the Senate. Federal agents and a committee broke into the capitol building, broke down a door and took the ballots away from Bushyhead, and after being counted, it was determined that Mayes had won. During his term, he negotiated the sale of the Outlet lands to the Federal government. A teacher, lawyer and farmer, he opposed opening the Unassigned Lands to settlement. One newspaper account read, “Chief Mayes was offered $50,000 cash to sign the bill and refused with politeness.” Later he said, “We don’t have to sell the Cherokee Nation.” In the campaign of 1891, Mayes ran with Stephen Teehee in a three party race. Mayes won, but another candidate was elected as Assistant Chief…Henry Chambers. On December 10, after the officials took office, Assistant Principal Chief Chambers died, and four days later, Mayes also died.John Jolly 1818-1838 Emigrated west to Arkansas Territory in 1818. As early as 1820, he was made Principal Chief of the Old Settlers, and he held this office until his death in 1838. He was a wealthy merchant and planter. Jolly spoke no English, and dressed in buckskin with a hunting shirt, leggings and moccasins. He was a brother of Old Settler Chief Tahlonteeskee, and both were uncles of Cherokee Chief John Rogers. He was also the uncle of Tiana Rogers, Sam Houston’s Cherokee wife and of Chief John Rogers, Jr. John Ross Cherokee name was Koo-wi-s-gu-wi, the name of a mythological, or rare migratory bird, and the name of one of the current districts of the Cherokee Nation. Although only 1/8 Cherokee, he was raised traditionally and had a preference for native clothing and mode of dressing as a boy and young man. He was educated in mission schools and at private boarding schools. His first wifes name was Elizabeth Brown Henley (her Cherokee name was Que-ti) and they were married in the summer of 1813. They raised 5 children together, although she gave birth to 6, who was stillborn. After completing his schooling, he was hired as assistant to Federal Agent Return Meigs. In this capacity, he served as an emissary to the Cherokee lands in the west. He was elected to the National Committee of theCherokee National Council after the Creek War in 1814. His first duty was negotiating treaty agreements establishing permanent boundaries for the Cherokee with the U.S. In 1819, he was elected President of the National Committee. He represented the Chickamauga District in the first Constitutional Convention. During his service to the Cherokee people as Principal Chief, he witnessed devastation by both the Indian Removals and the U.S. Civil War. Joseph Vann Vann, born February 1, 1789, was the first Assistant Chief of the Cherokee Nation under the new 1839 Constitution, serving with Principal Chief John Ross. His brother, Andrew Vann also spent time serving as an assistant chief, completing Joseph’s term after he resigned from office. Another brother, David, served as treasurer of the Cherokee Nation. He was also related to Principal Chief Lewis Downing through his mother’s side.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 17:07:25 +0000
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