The news & observer., 1897-03-07

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The Cherokees made two divisions of the
country, calling them Ayrate and Ortarrc
the former signifying the lowhnd, the lat
ter the mountain country.
The firts Colonial treaty that we have
in history was made in the year 1721 by
Governor Richardson, of South Carolina
by inviting the Cherokee Indians TO a gen
cral congress, with the view of the conclu-
sion of treaty Of peace
The territory by them made to South
Carolina embraced the lands on the wa
ters and between the Santee, Saluda AMI
Edisto rivers.
We find another treaty was made by
Governor Glenn. Of South Carolina, with
the Cherokees, November "a, 1895, for
another large region of country lying on
the waters of the Wateree and Savannah
rivers.
Then another treaty was made with
them on the 14th Of October, 1868, by
]. Stuart, British superintendent OF
Indian affairs This territory embraced
the Southwest portion Of Virginia.
Then October Is. 1T70, another treaty
was made with them, at place known as
I.ochbar. in South Carolina This treaty
embraced portion of West Virginia, Nir-
ginia, North Carolina aud East Tenncs-
see, aud q portin Of Kentucky. A por-
tion OF this treaty is overlapped by n
treaty made March II, 1915,
Then there was a treaty made with
them in 1772, which embraced a portion
of Virginia and West Virginia, and East
ern Kentucky.
Then on June IL, 1913, another treaty
was made by the superintendent Of In
ian affairs, for a large territory in GeOr-
gia north Of the Broad river and south
OF Savannah river, embracing the waters
of Beaver Dam creek, North Fork and
South Fork of Broad river and Long
creek and rs far as LghtwOOd Log
creek and Hannah and Black creeks.
Then there was another treaty made
with the Cherokees on the 18th day of
March, 1875, by Richard Henderson and
others, which embraced nearly all Of the
State of Kentucky.
We find that still another treaty was
made with them under the Colonial period
on the Goth day of May, 1777, with South
Carolina and Georgia. the tract in the
northwestern portion of South Carolina
on the Tugaloo river, which is called Sa-
vannah river, as it nears the coast. This
territory lies north OF the Tugaloo river
and embraces all the headwaters that flow
into this river and the headwaters of
Saluda river. The largest stream in this
territory is the KeOwee river.
There was another treaty made June
Goth. 1777, with Virginia and North Car
olina This territory embraced nearly all
of West North Carolina and Northeast
ern Tennessee. This boundary began at
the mouth Of the South Fork river, or
Clark's river, as it then was called ON
the Catawba river. and followed the me-
anderings UP the river to where the Lin
1 vile river empties into Catawba. Then
with that stream to the Blue Ridge to
the Virginia line Then with the dividing
line between North Carolina and Virginia
/ Then crossing New river and Iron noun
| tain to the Holstein river. Then down
that stream to the Great Island on said
river, where there had been built fort in
/ 175S, and where the Long Island battle
was fought in 1777 Then down the Hol
stein river to Clouds creek, below War
rior's ford. Then back to the highest
point on Chimney Top mountain. TheI
southeasterly, the line crossing Mole
chucky river, then crossing the BalC
mountain. Then to the Blue Ridge to tht
Swannanoa Gap. Then a south course
crossing Pacolet river near a place called
Cowpens. where the British soldiers were
defeated, and crossing Broad river, below
the mouth Of first Broad river, and theI
crossing Buffalo creek TO the beginning
This section Of country was under the do
minion and control of the Cherokee In
dians when those old brave pioneers Hen
ry Weidner. Conrad Yoder and George
WiIfong and others first settled in the
South Fork valley, in 1850 TO 1777, bu
the State Of North Carolina had some
thing to do with this portion of country a
this time We find that the Legislature
of North Carolina passed an act the fol
lowing year that no person shall enter
or survey any lands within the Cherokee
Indians hunting ground, or without the
limits heretofore ceded.
The country was aggravated great
deal in 1888, by the action of the Genera
Assembly of North Carolina in passing an
acr, without consulting the Cherokee In
dians, to extend the Western boundary OF
North Carolina to the Mississippi river
reserving, however, for the use of the
Cherokees a hunting ground, tract be
tween the point where the Tennessee river
first crosss the Southern boundary and
the headwaters of Big Pigeon river.
History tells us that the Cherokee In
dians had firmly established themselves
on the Tennessee river, or the H0gobego
(the Holstein) before the year 1850, and
had dominion over all the country on the
east of the Allegheny mountains, which
included all the headwaters of the Yad-
kin, Catawba, Broad and Savannah riv-
ers. And as late as 1856, when the Eng
lish built Fort Dobbs, ON the Yadllin, they
had first to obtain the privilege of doing
so by a treaty made with Attacullaculla,
the Cherokee chief. We learn further by
history. that the Cherokees We're those
mound builders found in Caldwell and
| Wilkes counties. We also learn further
! by history that the Cherokees were in
full possession of all this section of coun-
try when Henry Weidner and others first
settled the South Fork valley, which is
fully proven by an incident which is as