Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-08-02
DEATH OF JOHN Ross, CHEF OF THE
CHEROEERS

John Ross, principal Chief of the Cherokee
Nation, died at the rooms of the Cherokee
Delegation, In this city, at o'clock yesterday
evening, after a protracted illness of nearly
five months. He was in his seventy-sIxth
year.
MT ROSS has been for half injury one of the
most remarkable men Of this country. During
that time he has been the head of his people
The Cherokee Nation, and to his yigor and the
intelligence OF his administration mus. we At
tribute much of their civilization In 1872 he
with small party made a some what dangerous
mission to what is now the State of Arkansas
for the purpose of preventing Tecumseh from
enlisting the western Indians in the war
against the United States Returning, he be-.
came an officer OF the Cherokee regiment in
the service the United States, in the Greek war.
and was at the battle OF Horse Shoe He orr
ginated the written constitution of the Chero
kee Nation.
When the effort was mace by the State of
Georgia to drive the Cherokees from their
lands in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee,
Mr. Ross. who had been for some time execu.
tive head of the Nation, resisted what he CON-
sidered the unjust propositions to deprive the
CherokeeS OF their property. The feuds thus
originated were buried by the treaty of Ial6
From that time the Cherokee Nation rapidly
progressed In CIVILIZATION and the arts of in
dustry 1t was the policy of Mr. Ross 10
eApend the Indian annuities for government
schools and public charities, and he resoIuteIy
opposed. as did the great maloritips of tho
Nation with hum. attempts to pauperize that
people by per capita payments To the In fey
IDLE purpose here exhibited their civilization
l. due.
When the late war broke ont the Unitad
states removed all the troops from the posts in
mat country. Nearly all of the agents of the
government had been Southern men MIR
hoss resisted all efforts 10 involve his peopIe
III the war. He held that il was q quarrel no
tween the people of the United States with
winch Ii concerned them not TO mpod lp but 10
rest on the obligation of treaties The nacessi
Ties OF war left the Cherokee Nation no aIterna
1--WE ana IN October, 1c6l, 4 treaty was mada
with the sO-called Confederate States Tbo,
thiS was a mere temporary eXpedient is clearly
eVinced oy the TACT that Mr.. Ross and the great
Dulk OF the Cherokee Nation threw themselves
into the Union cause the moment Union army
approached. For nearly years the Cherokee
Natlon. out OF population of $500 voters mn
81 nln the Union army, among them the Chiefs
three sons Mr.. Ross came 10 this city to try
engaged since 1~62 in that work The closing
part OF MS life has been embittered by attemn,s
10 impugn his loyalty.
By his first wife he had I've children, four
OF whom are still living. His second WIFE an
accomplished lady OF Wilmington, Della ware
deo ratner more than year ago. He had two
chrdren by the latter marriage. The death OF
MI. Ross is calamity TO the Cherokee Nation
Inc funeral services will be held at lows
Hotel corner OF eth street and the avenue AZ
hait-past seven o'clock this evening and the
remains OF the deceased will be taken To Wi
mlngton, Delaware, by the train which leaves
THIS city tomorrow morning at o'clock, and
deposited Ia vault, from whence they will
probably be removed for burial among his
people-the Cherokee Nation-some time IN the