The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-08-31
CHEROKEES.
George Guess a,,d His Alphuoef.

| bringing letters written with the Chero-
kee characters, and that the alphabet
began to spread among the eastern
| Cherokees. At that time, there was no
thought Of having type cast to print the
language. The alphabet was learned rs
it came from the hand of Guess, without
any system. The writings of those who
learned it was very rude, because unac-
customed to the use of a pen. The pens
then used were made OF goose quilts.
But few learned the alphabet at the first,
indeed, there was little inducement to
learn it, because ouly a little writing was
done at that day by any one. Along the
road occasionally might be seen one side
of a tree hewn down tor several feet, and
writing on it, done with charcoal; the
letters being badly made, some lying
lengthwise, and scattered rather promis-
cuously. On beach trees, some would cut
their names, or cut few words in the
bark.
How long Guess remained in the east
crn nation, we cannot tell, as he was
living among the western Cherokees, in
which tine land they then occupied IN
Arkansas were exchanged for those upon
which they now live, a provision was in
serted, giving to George Guess a salt
spring on Lees creek. This gift was of
no real benefit to Guess. He lived on
Lees creek, but we never heard of his
making any salt at his spring.
Although Guess was a half-blo0d, he
lad no love for civilization, but was an
Indian of the old kind, in all of his habits
and tastes. He knew no other language
than the Cherokee. He disliked the
Christian religion, and though his inven-
ton proved to have been the
best means of disseminating the
doctrines Of Christ, yet he did not like to
see it used for that purpose He was an
unwilling tool in the hands of the Al
mighty God FOR spreading the truths of
the gospel among the full bloods
The alphabet, about the year 1926, af-
ter the nation had resolved to print
newspaper, was taken by the Rev. Sam'l
| a Worcester, a missionary, and svstema-
tised. 1t has been used in this form
! ever since, and it Is easier learned, than
the promiscuous' way in which G1ess set
them down Guess had no idea of VOW
els which govern the sounds of the Ian
guage. That part of the work was left
| for Mr.. Worcester to arrange.
So far as the character Of Guess, or 81
/ quo-ya, is concerned, there was nothing
| in it, different from any other old time
Indian, save that Of inventing the Chero-
-kee alphabet. He was no leader in any
thing among his people. We cannot
recollcct if he was ever an ofiice-holder
He WAS good, peacable man, but moth
/ ing more. ON the-arrival OF Ross with
| the main body of the eastern Cherokees,
and when the Old settler goverrilt'lJ was
subverted, Guess, being the old settler,
/ gave in his adhesion to the Ross faction,
/ which was the strongest.
Between the years 1910 and 1913, the
exact year we do not recollect, Guess
left the Cherokee Nation and went out
on the plains. It Is said by some, he
r. 90 ,.l
WV, ~ '1'''oi' VI me- 00''7 ''o ''i'' 90
- - - 80 1f "
of things in the Cherokee Nation. He
was an old time Indian, with all the
l.;.-3;I;.,.;,., H. e,uuI 80. 49, -
&c tt, -, ,,ba,.oe-oas IL aU
,r roa,l,, all tho old r,,ornors and o,,s
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doned t,oIavs If tho cIan. had baar dis
.Io,.od o,,4 tlro,,-, ,sido ond ,ba ,,,ar-
,I+,.I
''iiie O''- anu ',i'7'' '1"' .iieio
io'e ne "ei' 70 ','e l',@i',7 nom whence
i'' - '.,J .,J ''i,'q Ia,
Nv ''''N -o(-7o. ,1-,.'-'
STEA HBOdfS IND TIE MAILS.
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,f Io4,or, a.. ,,a,.,.iad ,,,4sid, +bo ,,o;1s
= ,.:.l,t;o,, - 1,,,, mn, r,boot ~.
inc. The 1tississir,r,i river and its tribr-
-. ,.o,,,,,.,I I,,, ,,,,.ol
,o+;oa =, ba issred 70 o,,,nors md ,,,os+or.
al otl,,,. -, IL
-. e - T. -.
...,.;-. c., It,. -;,I l,,.oaf...- l.
Ill, onforcod Undor Tho ,,ostaI ~
stoon,hoots ORC ,,orn,i+tod oniv 70 corr,,
a,,I ,Io1i1,r Ta++o,z H., - -.
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a1IIaat.lIo l., .1sa-i1oJ tLlt -
o,,,.ol,no. sbou - d,,1u diraataJ ~
,.-o,orI.- .,,lod 90, 4l,,,+ -, 49,. -
be taken therefrom without defacing the
tt7o tro,,s,,issio,, ~. rocoint tbereof shon
he written or stamped upon the epvelope
In conformitv with this notice the most
master Of this citv has been instructed TO
roror+ oil violations of this law that nav
come n his knowIedge to the end that
local proceedings MAJ be instituted