The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-29

Myths of the Cherokees." The author of this MT. James Mooney, is recognized as the foremost authority in America on matters relating to the Cherokee Indians. Substantially the same statement is re- peated in the Handbook of American ln- dians," issued in 1907, by the same bureau, as Bulletin No. 30, part l, page 362 This
 bureau is maintained by the United States government and is branch of the Smith sonan Institution at Washington.
 Now, to prove that the Creek Path Mis- sion referred to was located in Browns valley, in what Is now Marshall county, and only a short distance from the vil- lage of the same name. l introduce two contemporary eye-witnesses, Dr. John B McFerrln and Judge Louis Wyeth.
 In his Centenary Memories" published
 in the Nashville Christian Advocate some years ago, pr. McFerrin says:
 At the conference held in the fall of
 1927, was appointed missionary to the Cherokee Nation, Creek Path being my station. Creek Path was situated not far from what is now known as Guntersville, a few miles above old Fort Deposit, < where Andrew Jackson crossed his troops when he went out from Tennessee to chastize the Creek Indians Creek Path I think was so named because It was on the trail followed by the Creek Indians in early times, going to and from
  Cherokees were on friendly terms This trail led through beautiful section Of fertile land, known as Browns valley Tn the heart of this valley was located Creek Path Mission, established and sustained by the Presbyterians. At this time the station was in charge of Rev. MT. Potter. Among the early fruits of missionary toll was Catherine Brown, half-blood, be- longing to one of the distinguished tribes of the Cherokees. In the same valley was located the Methodist mission, school of which I had charge. In | the autumn of 1S2S was returned to the l Cherokee Nation. This year l travelled l a circuit Beginning at Creek Path we 1 crossed the Sand mountain, preached at | the house of Little John Ross, who lived | in the lower part of Will's valley, near 1 the Alabama line; thence across the Coosa river up through Vaughns va'ley, | to John Ross, Sr's, the principal chief; I thence through Dirt Town valley to l Chickamauga; thence to Taylor's, near where the town of Harrison now stands; 1 thence across the point of Lookout noun tain where the city of Chattanooga is To- l cated: down Lookout valley into Will valley across Raccoon mountain to Town l Creek valley, and thence to Gunter landing, or Creek Path, the beginning l corner"
 l On another occasion pr. McFerrin says:
  mountain, distance of 30 miles. to WIT valley, to hold two-days' meeting AS l is well known, Raccoon and Sand noun tain are one and the same. Creek Patn mission was. therefore, 30 miles rom Wills valley"
 Judge Louis wyeth in his History of Marshall County" says -
 Long before the treaty of 1885, mis- sionary station had been established Tor the Cherokee Indians. at the place now occupied by Mrs. Alfred Russell. about two miles east of Warrenton. The Rev. | William Potter was the missionary ir l charge of this called the Creek Patf Mission Station It was so called be- cause, as Mir. Potter informed me, 1t was on or very near the path which the Creek Indians travelled every fall in going from middle Alabama to the hunting grounds i'm Tennessee and Kentucky, and the shoals. below Gunters landing. about two miles, was called the Creek Crossing Place" Judge Wyeth came to Marshall county early in 1886 and he says that this missionary station was maintained til 1898. when the Indians were removed to the west.
 l These witnesses leave no doubt that Creek Path village and Creek Path Mis- sion were located one at and the other near the present town of Guntersville that they were Tn Browns and not in Wilrs valley; and that therefore. they were in Marshall and not in Etowah county. Yours truly,
 OLIVER D. STREET C,,,tarSxiIlo Ocfober 25 1g15