Comments on: About http://chenocetah.wordpress.com Cherokee Place Names Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:12:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: chenocetah http://chenocetah.wordpress.com/about/#comment-339 chenocetah Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:28:44 +0000 #comment-339 Dear Jo-Ann, Thank you for your comment on my blog. I am glad you visited. During the period before the removal, it is true that many of the Cherokee hid valuables to avoid those things being taken by the soldiers or the white people who took over their land. Most of the things hidden in the mountains and caves of western North Carolina were placed there for safety by those who did not go on the Trail of Tears, and these things were retrieved soon after it became clear that the soldiers would leave the mountain people in peace. There are many stories of others, who did go on the Trail of Tears, who also hid valuables, expecting to return for them when they were able. It is possible that some such caches remained unretrieved, the owners having died in the removal, and perhaps some of them still remain undiscovered. As you may know, some of the people had to take shelter in caves for a time during the removal, too. However, I do not have any special knowledge that would help anyone to find any remaining such caches. Quite probably, you already have better information than I have. I wish your daughter success in finding any traces, and I would be pleased to hear if she does. Best wishes, John Dear Jo-Ann,

Thank you for your comment on my blog. I am glad you visited.

During the period before the removal, it is true that many of the Cherokee hid valuables to avoid those things being taken by the soldiers or the white people who took over their land. Most of the things hidden in the mountains and caves of western North Carolina were placed there for safety by those who did not go on the Trail of Tears, and these things were retrieved soon after it became clear that the soldiers would leave the mountain people in peace. There are many stories of others, who did go on the Trail of Tears, who also hid valuables, expecting to return for them when they were able. It is possible that some such caches remained unretrieved, the owners having died in the removal, and perhaps some of them still remain undiscovered. As you may know, some of the people had to take shelter in caves for a time during the removal, too.

However, I do not have any special knowledge that would help anyone to find any remaining such caches. Quite probably, you already have better information than I have. I wish your daughter success in finding any traces, and I would be pleased to hear if she does.

Best wishes,

John

]]> By: jo-ann harper bailey http://chenocetah.wordpress.com/about/#comment-338 jo-ann harper bailey Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:29:32 +0000 #comment-338 I happened upon your web site when I was trying to find some information about Turtle Rock near Murphy, N.C. My daughter and her family are leaving Heflin, Al. today 10-12-to look at some of the land she has inherited. My story is not thought out and may seem convoluted. Here goes. Her Grandfather (Joe Bailey) and Grandmother (Lucy Warner Bailey) lived in Murphy at least 40 years before moving to Al. Joe and Walter (daughter's father) did core drilling for talc on some of the land Joe owned. I was married to Walter and only some of this period of time (late 60's) is clear. I taught school at the elementary school in Murphy. As time allowed Walter and I would explore the area where they were drilling. I do remember Joe hiking with us and showing us a rock that definitely looked like a turtle. The importance of the turtle was that the Cherokees had hidden their valuables in caves along the Hiwassee. He told us that there were other animals also carved or arranged rock that pointed the way to these caves. Some of the caves had been flooded when TVA dammed the river. My daughter was looking for information about this story so I said I would help. Of course this is short notice. I believe that I will check google maps and I think I can find the road to that land where the rock was. I happend upon your web site and it looked more promising than most. Have you ever heard this legend or have any information that I could share with her? Jo-Ann Harper Bailey I happened upon your web site when I was trying to find some information about Turtle Rock near Murphy, N.C. My daughter and her family are leaving Heflin, Al. today 10-12-to look at some of the land she has inherited. My story is not thought out and may seem convoluted. Here goes. Her Grandfather (Joe Bailey) and Grandmother (Lucy Warner Bailey) lived in Murphy at least 40 years before moving to Al. Joe and Walter (daughter’s father) did core drilling for talc on some of the land Joe owned. I was married to Walter and only some of this period of time (late 60’s) is clear. I taught school at the elementary school in Murphy. As time allowed
Walter and I would explore the area where they were drilling. I do remember Joe hiking with us and showing us a rock that definitely looked like a turtle. The importance of the turtle was that the Cherokees had hidden their valuables in caves along the Hiwassee. He told us that there were other animals also carved or arranged rock that pointed the way to these caves. Some of the caves had been flooded when TVA dammed the river. My daughter was looking for information about this story so I said I would help. Of course this is short notice. I believe that I will check google maps and I think I can find the road to that land where the rock was. I happend upon your web site and it looked more promising than most. Have you ever heard this legend or have any information that I could share with her? Jo-Ann Harper Bailey

]]> By: Earl Biederman http://chenocetah.wordpress.com/about/#comment-168 Earl Biederman Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:48:17 +0000 #comment-168 John, I am a semi-retired career newspaper report and editor from Western states. One fork of my father's family left Maryvale in southeast Tennessee for Missouri after the Civil War. I moved to Cleveland, TN from California about four years ago. I discovered your website today while searching for origins of certain obviously Indian place names. You offer excellent and well-presented information. Congratulations. Keep it up. And thanks. John,

I am a semi-retired career newspaper report and editor from Western states. One fork of my father’s family left Maryvale in southeast Tennessee for Missouri after the Civil War. I moved to Cleveland, TN from California about four years ago.

I discovered your website today while searching for origins of certain obviously Indian place names. You offer excellent and well-presented information.

Congratulations. Keep it up. And thanks.

]]> By: Dale Piper http://chenocetah.wordpress.com/about/#comment-164 Dale Piper Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:50:08 +0000 #comment-164 Do you have a book published? Do you have a book published?

]]> By: Steve Frazier http://chenocetah.wordpress.com/about/#comment-148 Steve Frazier Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:42:52 +0000 #comment-148 John, You've compiled a lot of great information here. Thank you for making it available to us. I'm very interested in the accurate translations and origins of the places alleged to be of Cherokee or Creek origin and meaning. Oconee is one I've been tracking for the past couple of years. Thanks again! John,

You’ve compiled a lot of great information here. Thank you for making it available to us. I’m very interested in the accurate translations and origins of the places alleged to be of Cherokee or Creek origin and meaning. Oconee is one I’ve been tracking for the past couple of years. Thanks again!

]]> By: Shane http://chenocetah.wordpress.com/about/#comment-100 Shane Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:19:15 +0000 #comment-100 Hey John, I spend a lot of time out in the woods hanging out on mtn tops. SE Appalachian are my favorite and I have been trying to come up with the pre-European names for prominent peaks such as those up in what is now called the Pishgah National Forest. Of particular interest would be "Sams Knob" and "Cold Mtn" in the Shining Rock Wilderness. And most curious to me right now is what is called "Cedar Rock Knob" (above Brevard, NC). There I had intense dreams of snakes and later have noticed that the west face of it bears strong resemblance to the "Cherokee Ouroboros". Can you tell me anything about this place? It's name? Did it have any significance in Cherokee lure? And, do you have any listing of Appalachian mountain top names as they were called by the Cherokee? (I've read that "Appalachian" is a native word that came from Florida??) -Shane Hey John, I spend a lot of time out in the woods hanging out on mtn tops. SE Appalachian are my favorite and I have been trying to come up with the pre-European names for prominent peaks such as those up in what is now called the Pishgah National Forest. Of particular interest would be “Sams Knob” and “Cold Mtn” in the Shining Rock Wilderness.

And most curious to me right now is what is called “Cedar Rock Knob” (above Brevard, NC). There I had intense dreams of snakes and later have noticed that the west face of it bears strong resemblance to the “Cherokee Ouroboros”. Can you tell me anything about this place? It’s name? Did it have any significance in Cherokee lure?

And, do you have any listing of Appalachian mountain top names as they were called by the Cherokee? (I’ve read that “Appalachian” is a native word that came from Florida??)

-Shane

]]> By: kim williamson http://chenocetah.wordpress.com/about/#comment-40 kim williamson Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:11:59 +0000 #comment-40 Hi John~ I stumbled on your site while researching where I live. I live off Sixes Road in Canton, GA on a creek that I did not see on your website. My home sits on Tonigh Creek and a beautiful waterfall which empties into Little River and Lake Allatoona. My street is Waterfall Way. Have you heard of the creek or the waterfall? My property sits on the beginning of the Core of Engineers. As you can imagine, there is so much I have stumbled upon while walking the trails of this special place. Ironically, I am of Boone descent (father's side) and have a small bit of Cherokee blood in me. When I found my home - I had no clue what to expect. Do you have any history on this area? From my understanding - the gold mines were on both sides of my home (Little River and Tonigh). I have found some interesting things on the land and I hope you can share your knowledge with me. All the best, Kim Williamson Hi John~

I stumbled on your site while researching where I live. I live off Sixes Road in Canton, GA on a creek that I did not see on your website. My home sits on Tonigh Creek and a beautiful waterfall which empties into Little River and Lake Allatoona. My street is Waterfall Way. Have you heard of the creek or the waterfall? My property sits on the beginning of the Core of Engineers. As you can imagine, there is so much I have stumbled upon while walking the trails of this special place. Ironically, I am of Boone descent (father’s side) and have a small bit of Cherokee blood in me. When I found my home – I had no clue what to expect.

Do you have any history on this area? From my understanding – the gold mines were on both sides of my home (Little River and Tonigh). I have found some interesting things on the land and I hope you can share your knowledge with me.

All the best,

Kim Williamson

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