Introduction: This section contains items of interest to me in subject, time & location associated with family history. This is a worksheet that is constantly being updated and corrected. Glean what you can; just understand that this is a work in progress.
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1800
West. Spain ceded lands west of the Mississippi back to France via the Treaty of San Ildefonso. Illinois became part of the Indiana Territory. Relations between the U.S. & France were "strained" because of French interference with American shipping. The U.S. worried the French might shut down the port of New Orleans, thus shutting down Mississippi River trade.
1801
West. Spain returned Louisiana to France.
1803
West. The population of the Illinois district was over 6000. The territory obtained from Spain by NAPOLEON was sold to the United States for $15,000,000 and became known as the Louisiana Purchase. Many folks had secured Spanish grants and had to settle them with the U.S. purchase. Andrew GOFORTH was one of these people. The French and Spanish governments ruled the St. Louis area before the Louisiana Purchase. Both the French and Spanish governors provided land grants to the early settlers. The 1838 Dupré Atlas outlines of the grants. This index provides the name of the grantee and the book and page number of the recording. Miles GOFORTH is at B 241. Many of these property owners had to defend their claim with the Board of Land Commissioners in St. Louis. Of the claims heard, about seventy percent were denied. Miles GOFORTH's son was named Zachariah. Miles had a cabin on a low bluff near a spring northwest of the junction of Highways 21 & 32 in Caledonia. His daughter, Sarah, was born in Tennessee. When the GOFORTHs arrived in the valley, there were only eight families. Many of the claims in Missouri at this time became known as "Squatter Sovereignty." ("During the Revolutionary War, the Goforth family was divided. At the Battle of Kings Mountain, a turning point in the war, two Goforth brothers on opposite sides of the fight shot and killed each other. Their widows returned their bodies from the battlefield and buried them at their homesteads." SOURCE: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2007/dec/15/michael-goforth-those-who-shaped-our-today/) The Jefferson administration continued to encourage Eastern Cherokee (mostly from TN, NC, SC & GA) to emigrate to Arkansas & settlements began to grow along the Arkansas River. War between the Osage & the Western Cherokee was common. David SHELTON received a land grant for military service. Several rather elaborate dwellings were erected. There were three stores, two distilleries, a post office, flour mill, sawmill & several lead furnaces.
1804
West. Ira P. NASH & two companions went up the Missouri River and staked the first claim on public lands in Howard County. Cooper's Landing was located on part of the Spanish grant owned by Ira P. NASH. Bellevue Valley, ten miles from Mine a Breton, had 20 American families, no French. Among those who came from Tennessee were the CROWS, REEDS, GOFORTHS, GREGGS & WOODS. It was mainly from this group that the Methodist Church came into being. The first school in Bellevue Valley was built. Miles GOFORTH became the first teacher. Before being called Bellevue, the valley was called Big Lick. The sons of Daniel BOONE, Nathan and Daniel Morgan, heard of the salt springs in the upper Missouri country.
1805
West. Nathan BOON & Daniel Morgan BOON started a salt making business in Missouri. Boone's Lick is north of Petersburg. The Santa Fe Trail began as an extension of the Boone's Lick Road. The first post offices of the new Louisiana Territory were St Genevieve, Cape Girardeau & New Madrid. Mail arrived by boat and then horseback. John B. Treat opened up a trading post at Spadra Bluff near present-day Russellville, Arkansas, to serve the growing Cherokee population.
1806
East. Stephen SHELTON (b. 1777) married Lydia HEATH in North Carolina. They moved right away to Ohio.
West. "New Diggings" south of Potosi in the Mine a Breton area, was discovered in Washington County, Missouri. New Diggings was in Liberty township near what became known as Palmer, Missouri. The Fourche ŕ Courtois Mines opened in 1814 and were named for a nearby stream. These mines were in Liberty township near what came to be known as Palmer, Missouri. (Background:
Palmer, Missouri, was laid out in 1830 and, from 1830 to 1867, was a post office known as "Harmony." The village was located in Harmony township, 15 miles southwest of Potosi. The village was also known as "Webster" during this time. The site was purchased by Courtland PALMER, Jr. of New York in 1870, and it was later owned by the Palmer Lead Company. The post office was re-established under the name of Palmer on December 9, 1875. By 1876 Palmer had become a thriving mining center.)
1807
West. Cherokee visited a trading post at Natchitoches (Louisiana) and reported they lived further up the Red River (probably in southwest Arkansas & northeast Texas). Nathan & Daniel M. BOONE took GOFORTH, BALDRIDGE and MANLY up the river to manufacture salt. All of the country above Cedar Creek was called Boones Lick country. Cedar Creek became the boundary line between Callaway and Boone counties. It was considered the western boundary of St. Charles. Washington County was divided into six townships, Breton, Bellevue, St Michaels, Big River, St Genevieve & Cinque Homme. Thirty Scotch Irish Presbyterians arrived in Bellevue Valley from South Carolina. They organized the first of their churches west of the Mississippi. William and Robert SLOAN were heads of the group. They stopped in Christian County, Kentucky, to make one or two crops. These folks really made a difference in the building up of the area. "All over Bellevue these families scattered, acquiring Spanish grants and locating their homes near good springs. Indian wigwams and teepees dotted the landscape as well as the early settlers homes. It is reported the "Spanish requested a number of southeastern Indian tribes move into their colony called Tejas. That same year, a delegation from the Cherokees, Chickasaws, Shawnees, and Pascagoula Indian tribe, led by Chief Pinaye of the Pascagoula tribe, arrived in Nacogdoches, Tejas, Mexico. They requested land in East Tejas for their settlement. The Spanish honored their request, but there is no known settlement of any of the Indians at that time. Numbers of individuals and groups from these and other Indian tribes did drift back and forth between Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana for the next ten years."
1808
West. The Secretary of War instructed their U.S. agent, Colonel MEIGS, to "use every inducement" to get Cherokee people to exchange their homelands for lands west of the Mississippi. By now there were already about 2,000 Cherokee in northern Arkansas. The Osage were complaining about Cherokee hunting along the White River without permission. The Osage also ceded northern Arkansas lands to the U.S. "Vast tracts of land north of the Arkansas River were opened for immigrant tribes." Colonel Benjamin COOPER built a cabin near Boone's Lick, Missouri. He came from Madison County, Kentucky. For awhile he was below Gasconade River, Loutre Island. About this time Stephen SHELTON & Lydia HEATH moved with two children from Ohio to West Virginia where they had seven more children.
1809
West. ggGrandpa Stephen SHELTON born in North Carolina. The Palmer Lead Mining Company was operating in Washington County, Missouri. Lead was hauled to St. Genevieve where it was then transported on the Mississippi River. Most mines were surface or shallow shaft mines. Miles GOFORTH became constable of Bellevue Township. Congress created Wisconsin & Illinois as the Illinois Territory. Kaskaskia became the capital. Between 1809 and 1812 about 2,000 Cherokee settled along the White and St. Francis rivers and in the Arkansas River Valley upstream from Little Rock. The Tennessee Valley district in northern Alabama was settled by Scotch-Irish from Tennessee. Emigrants from the Carolinas and Virginia came to central and western Alabama especially along the Tombigbee and Black Warrior rivers.
1810
West. Duwali (The Bowl), Tsulawi (Fox) and Talontuskee moved their people west of the Mississippi. Duwali had been chief of Little Hiwassee (in western North Carolina). Talontuskee became leader of the western Cherokee. With about seventy-five people they crossed the Mississippi River and located near the old Spanish trading center of New Madrid. The people were given land and they proceeded to plant their crops and build homes. These and other groups settled on the White & St Francis rivers in present NE Arkansas. Others settled on the Arkansas River in west-central Arkansas. Samuel HENDERSON (b. 1785) & Mary GOFORTH moved near Caledonia, Washington County, Missouri. Samuel (son of James & Hannah SOLLARS) HENDERSON married Mary GOFORTH in Greene County, Tennessee. They had three children there before moving to Missouri. Samuel HENDERSON served in the War of 1812 in L. DODGE's command of Missouri Militia. Mary's brother might be Major Andrew GOFORTH (b. 20 Jun 1791 in TN.) He fought in the War of 1812 & lived in Belleview Township, Washington County, Missouri. Samuel HENDERSON signed a petition to the Land Commissioners of Louisiana Territory. He was first a member of the Belleview Presbyterian Church in Washington County, Missouri. Then he converted Mormon. He and Mary GOFORTH had a dozen kids. The first three were born in Tennessee. Five forts were built in Old Franklin area in Missouri. (Coopers Fort, Kinkaids Fort, Fort Hempstead, Fort Head and Coles Fort.) Isaac (1766-1784), George (1785-1794) & Stephen SHELTON (1785-1794) are on the Buncombe Census from North Carolina, next to each other. David is there too. This David was born no later than 1765. Washington County had its first murder trial. The defending attorney was Henry M. BRECKENRIDGE. He lost. Peter JOHN was convicted and hanged for the murder of John SPEAR.
1811
West. (abt.) Nancy BROWN born. New Madrid was one of the first settlements in Missouri. "All the worst elements of a frontier river town were to be found in this place. The inhabitants were a mixed class of English, Spanish, French, Indian and Negro.. The New Madrid graveyard sank into the Mississippi River on 16 Dec, the day of the big earthquake. Nearly the whole country known as Little Prairie was flooded. The motion on the river caused a tidal wave and reversed the direction of the flow for a short while. Gabriel NICHOLLE, a French Canadian, claimed he purchased land on Saline from Wapcha, Chief of the Peoria, possibly chief of a small Indian village near St Genevieve.
1812
East. Andrew JACKSON led a group of Tennessee troops to victory against the Creek Indians during the War of 1812 and David CROCKETT, who had volunteered as a scout for JACKSON attained the rank of captain. U.S. forces captured Mobile from Spain and defeated the Creek Indians. This victory opened up large portions of land. Settlers swarmed in; many brought black slaves with them. Stephen SHELTON (b. 1777) who married Lydia HEATH & Judith NEAL, served in the War of 1812 as a soldier from Virginia. David, son of Lewis, was born 15 Sep 1812 in Buncombe County. (He moved to Missouri with his dad in 1819. This David fought in the Black Hawk War of 1832 and the Mormon War of 1837.)
West. Missouri was first called by that name. Before now it was the Illinois District, Upper Louisiana, District of Louisiana and the Territory of Louisiana. Now it became the Territory of Missouri. It included a considerable part of northern Arkansas. Cedar Creek area was now a village. The town that became Old Franklin was known as the Boones Lick Road. William BUFORD went to Kentucky and then Missouri, bringing a large number of horses. William bought land on which Caledonia is located from Miles GOFORTH.
1813
East. Deans, Reuben -- War of 1812 pension application states "Service in Captain James Shelton's Company of Virginia Militia from 29 October 1813 to 10 Mar 1814. Reuben's wife is Elizabeth Hubbard. Source: Arkansas Pensioners 1818-1900, Records of Some Arkansas Residents Who Applied to The Federal Government for Benefits Arising from Service in Federal Military Organizations (Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian and Mexican Wars), Compiled by Dorothy E. Payne
West. About 1/3 of the Cherokee were living west of the Mississippi. Many lived near the mouth of Petit Jean Creek in today's Conway County, about 10 miles northwest of Perryville. Agent William LOVELY reported conflicts between the Cherokee and Osage. He further reported that some whites living in the area were of the "worst character" and also posed a threat to the cause of peace in the region. Many Osage moved further south as more Cherokee came west. Washington County, Missouri was formed from St. Genevieve County. The seat of justice was at the village of Mine a Breton (Potosi). The Missouri Fur Company did trading in Harmony, Washington County, Missouri. The county is 762 square miles. The county seat of Potosi was named after Potosi, Bolivia, a silver mining town. It is a South American Indian word which means place of much noise. Other towns are Caledonia, Irondale & Mineral Point. Local legend has it that the Jesse JAMES gang frequently camped in a cave there. The Ozarks Trail, Trace Creek Trail and the Moses Austin Trail are thru Washington County. The forced march of the Cherokee in the Trail of Tears also passed thru. William CLARK became governor of Missouri, until 1821. Five original counties were St Charles, St Louis, St Genevieve, Cape Girardeau and New Madrid.
1814
West. Among the first Grand Jurors for Washington County, Missouri, was Andrew HENRY. The Fourche a Courtois Mines opened, named for a nearby stream, in Washington County, Missouri. These mines were in Liberty township near what became known as Palmer, Missouri. William RUSSELL described the area in a letter to William RECTOR, P. D. Surveyor for Missouri, dated 20 Apr 1814. Of Washington County he wrote, "It is situated immediately west of Saint Genevieve on the head waters of Grand River and other southern branches of the Marrameek, includes all the principal lead mines now or lately worked in this territory and several good farming settlements ... In this county there are many private claims which cover some of the most valuable lands." Mr. Russell added, " … most of the settlements being already tolerably strong so as to prevent apprehensions of danger from hostile Indians." He mentioned they had mills, schools and other benefits of society already established which he suggested surveying into townships. "Indeed the scattering of private claims would seem to make it necessary in order to identify their particular locality … in what township they are situate." Washington County got its first sheriff, Lemuel BROWN. William STEVENSON was appointed by the Washington County Court to work with a Road Commission of three men to lay off a road through Bellevue Valley to the John LEWIS place. Bellevue was also called Crossroads. The first two public buildings in Bellevue Valley were the school and the Methodist Church, called the Shiloh Meeting House.
1815
West. James SHELTON md Polly Ann BRISTOW at Grainger, TN. They moved to Franklin, MO. and had Leroy. His father is William SHELTON and mother is Sarah DOGGETT. James was born in 1797 and Wm 1770s about??
1816
West. MISSOURI: Boones Lick area was attracting the most immigrants. Old Franklin was two miles from the present town of Franklin. It was laid out in what was called Coopers Bottom, opposite the present city of Boonville. Santa Fe trade was exchanging fur & salt for coffee, silver and wool. Prairie schooners pulled 8-10 horses or oxen. The Presbyterian reverend Samuel GIDDINGS organized the Concord (now Bellevue) church. John HARRISON and Mary CROCKETT of Virginia moved to Missouri with son, Thomas. Went to Saline. John, James & brother Thomas are sons of Captain John.
1817
East. Ralph SHELTON, who married Anna TAYLOR, owned a ferry on the Clinch near Pucheons Camp Creek. He owned Shelton's Ford in Claiborne. Chief Attakullakulla ceded large parcels of land in Tennessee, Kentucky & North Carolina. His son, Dragging Canoe, rejected the land sale and vowed to keep and protect the land from white encroachment. Alabama Territory was established. Eastern Cherokee were demanding that all those living in the west return to their homeland.
West. Headed by Major William BRADFORD, Fort Smith was built at Belle Point, at the confluence of the Poteau and Arkansas Rivers. The fort was to help keep peace between the Osage & the Western Cherokee. The Arkansas (or Western) Cherokee signed a treaty with the U.S. by which they obtained a large reservation in north-central Arkansas between the Arkansas and White rivers, encompassing most of the northwest quarter of the state. This also meant those Cherokee living south of the Arkansas River had to relocate. This forced Duwali, who had settled along the Petit Jean River, lead his people to Lost Prairie. See 1819. Duwali & several families had settled south of Dardanelle on Dutch Creek. A multi-tribal force of 600 Cherokee, Delaware and Shawnee attacked an Osage village in retaliation for Osage raids and horse stealing. This event was known as the Battle of Claremore Mound." Turkey Town Treaty signed. Four thousand Cherokee ceded their lands in Tennessee in exchange for a reservation with the western Cherokee in northwest Arkansas. Some Georgia land was also ceded. Missouri:
From lower Canada, thru Vermont came the "Fanatical Pilgrims". They esteemed their leader to be a prophet and arrived at New Madrid, Missouri in boats, to establish a new Jerusalem. They settled on Pilgrim Island opposite Little Prairie. At one time they numbered in the hundreds. "Many (finally) made their escape from the island and scattered over the southern part of Missouri. The sect finally removed to Arkansas where their leaders died" and the sect did too. A Methodist minister, William STEVENSON, left Washington County to start a group in Arkansas.
1818
West. Cherokee migrations into Arkansas en masse. One reference has a John BROWN leaving Creek Path for Arkansas in October. (This would be the grandfather of our ancestor John Brown, thru his son, Richard Brown). Sam HOUSTON moved west also. John JOLLY, the new western chief, was his adopted father. Blount County was pretty settled except for that portion known as Brown's Valley in the area of Knoxville. John HARRIS & wife Abigail GREGG were then living in Knoxville. My Stephen SHELTON was now nine years old; I don't know where he was living then. The Cherokee held Brown's Valley until 1839. Besides the Cherokees, there was a colony of about 200 refugee Creeks settled there, governed by John SHANNON, a half-blood Creek (called John OGEE). The Creeks had been brought there for protection soon after the Creek War had started. The man who brought them in was Colonel Richard BROWN (b. abt 1776). (Source for this information is A Description and History of Blount County by George Powell.) Missouri applied for admission to the union as a slave state. Duwali (The Bowl), Takatoka and Tolontuskee had once served as leaders among the Eastern Cherokee. Tolontuskee was now becoming the leader of a large community scattered along Illinois Bayou a few miles upstream from the Arkansas River. He requested the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to establish a mission among the Arkansas Cherokee. They moved south to a prairie near the Red River in present Miller County.
1819
West. Arkansas Territory was formed when Missouri applied for statehood. This area included Oklahoma until 1836. Thousands came for cheap land in Arkansas. There were bounty land claims in Arkansas (for War of 1812 Service) as well.Cherokee western migrations still heavy. By now there was about 6,000 Western Cherokee. Western Cherokee leader Tolontuskee died. He was succeeded by his brother John Jolly. The Bowl with several families settled south of Dardanelle on Dutch Creek. By 1819 they had moved south to a prairie near Red River in Miller County. See 1817. Duwali and his people had been forced to move from their settlement along Petit Jean Rover to Lost Prairie on the west bank of the Red River in southwest Arkansas (Spanish Territory). After a year Duwali and about 60 men moved to Texas and settled in Caddo Indian Country. They were driven from Lost Prairie by a local white militia who raided their settlement. This was the first known permanent settlement of a band of Cherokees in Texas. They lived there and planted and gathered two seasons of crops during the years of 1819-20. The Indians were forced to leave because of white settlers along the Red River. They moved to the forks of the Trinity River, which is that area of present day Dallas Texas. During their one year in that area, they received much trouble from the Taovaya Indians over hunting rights. The Cherokee were once again forced to leave their homes and crops to move further south into Spanish Territory. Naturalist Thomas NUTALL ascended the Arkansas and wrote that "both banks ... were lined with the houses and farms of the Cherokee." One account settled near Dallas and afterward to Rusk County. Clough SHELTON got land patent in Ohio. Seibert SHELTON received land patent in Carroll County, Missouri. So did John BROWN. Samuel HENDERSON bought lot 44 in Caledonia, Washington, Missouri. Lewis SHELTON moved his family from North Carolina to near St. Joseph, Missouri. His son, David, was born 15 Sep 1812 in Buncombe County, North Carolina. John SHELTON is in Franklin, Missouri, then Washington County. Moccasin Bend in Hamilton County, Tennessee, "contains some of the richest and most significant historical sites in the United States". Following a treaty with the U.S. the Cherokee were moved south of the Tennessee & Hiawassee rivers. Certain Cherokee and mixed bloods were, however, allowed 640 acre reservations. A John BROWN was one of these people. His claim was a reservation on the right bank of the river at a spot that took his name, Brown's Ferry. The Moccasin Bend terminus of Brown's Ferry is located where the present sewage treatment plant. The western terminus is on private land. BROWN's 640 acres tract on the north shore included a dwelling located on the road from old Washington.
1820
East. From 1820 State Census for Limestone, Alabama
Peter Shelton 1-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 (Peter is also listed in 1819 with "Northern Alabama Residents". Source: The Alabama Genealogical Register Volume IX, Number 1, March 1967, 1967, Elizabeth Wood Thomas.
Also Conecuh County AL - Census 1820
William H. Shelton 2-2-1-3-8-0-0-8
Dallas County AL - Census 1820
Jonathan Shelton 1-0-0-0-1-0-0-1
Source: The Alabama Genealogical Register, Volume VII, Numbers 1,2,3, & 4, 1965, March, June, September and December, compiled by Elizabeth Wood Thomas
Key: White males over 21 | White males under 21 | White females over 21 | White females under 21 |
| Total of white inhabitants | Total of free people of colour | Total of slaves | Total of inhabitants |
West. Stephen SHELTON received a land patent in Parish Louisiana.
25 Aug: Cephas WASHBURN, Albert FINNEY, Jacob HITCHCOCK & Colonel James ORR arrived in Arkansas. Established Dwight (named for Timothy DWIGHT) Mission near present Russellville, Arkansas. Met with John JOLLY & James ROGERS. James ORR was a Colonel from Nashville. In 1800 he went bankrupt and began mining gun powder for the Indians. Following in his deceased brother's footsteps, John JOLLY was also a strong advocate of educational programs. He helped with getting Dwight Mission established. It was built along Illinois Bayou in the vicinity of Tolontuskee's settlement and served the Arkansas Cherokee as a mission and school until their removal in 1828.
Nancy BROWN arrived as a missionary to Dwight. Duwali and others moved to the extreme southwest part of Arkansas in spite of government orders stating they were to use the Arkansas River for a southern boundary. From Arkansas Duwali got permission from the Spanish to move into Spanish Texas. "While Principal Chief John Jolly was attempting to negotiate peace with the neighboring Osage, War Chief Takatoka was encouraging Chief Duwali (The Bowl) and others to take revenge against the Osage." Duwali moved south to extreme SW Arkansas, with permission of the Spanish moved into Spanish Texas.
Missouri: The Missouri & Pennsylvania Lead Company was located in Harmony, Missouri & had mines of lead and other ores and minerals in Washington and Crawford counties in Missouri. Samuel HENDERSON, Sr. moved back to Tennessee so he would not need to give up his slaves when Missouri joined the union. William WOODS & Samuel BROWN lived at Township 35, Route 2 East (Belgrade & Bellevue on Cedar Creek). Thomas R. HARRIS lived at Township 36, Route 2 East on Big River. Robert BOGGS lived in Township 37, Route 2, South of Potosi (Breton). Andrew HENRY and William HENDERSON lived in Township 36, Route 3 East (Concord). Samuel HENDERSON, Andrew GOFORTH & William WOODS lived at Township 35, Route 1 East (Sunlight and Belgrade).
1821
West. Harmony Mission school for the Indians of Missouri was built east of Rich Hill on the north bank of the Osage River. This was founded by the United Foreign Missionary Society of New York, supported by the Presbyterian, Congregational and Dutch Reformed churches. Minister for the 41 member mission family was Nathaniel B. Dodge. An Osage-English dictionary was developed with the help of "Mountain Man Bill" Williams. He was then an interpreter at a nearby trading post. Harmony Mission was Missouri's first Indian mission school & was the first county seat and first white settlement in Bates County, Missouri. (Was named after Missouri Governor Frederick BATES.) The Wazhazhe were first called Osage by the French. The area of Bates County remained largely uninhabited by white men. Unlike much of Missouri, it was not opened up for homesteaders until 1837.
1822
West. Sequoyah settled permanently in the west. Duwali sent Richard FIELDS to Mexico to negotiate with the Spanish government for a land grant. Spanish governor Antonio MARTINEZ estimated there were 25,000 Cherokee, Choctaw, Miami & Kickapoo then in Texas. Lewis SHELTON was in Gallatin Township, Clay, Missouri. Rev. Lewis of Baptist Church was in California Town, Moniteau, Missouri. He sold land to Thomas SCOTT and moved eight miles south.
1824
West. A new post called Cantoment Gibson was built near the convergence of the Arkansas, Verdigris and Grand Rivers in now northeastern Oklahoma to help keep peace between the Osage & the Western Cherokee. Fort Gibson was built closer to the Osage. It was about a half-day's ride south of the Union Mission. Fort Smith was abandoned. Dwight Mission had a large dormitory where 70-80 students lived during the week. Today this land is under the waters of Lake Dardanelle; but Dwight Mission cemetery remains.
1825
West. The Osage ceded the last of their Missouri lands. Lewis SHELTON got a land patent in Moniteau County, Missouri. William H. SHELTON got one in Clay County, Missouri. Mary Goforth HENDERSON died. This would be about the time Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) was told by his father that he was about to marry his half sister.
1826
West. Creek Indians were removed from their eastern homelands and sent west. Stephen SHELTON got a land patent in Township 15-N, Sangamon County, Illinois. This is the Stephen b. 1777 who married Lydia HEATH. Joel SHELTON got a land patent in Rush County, Indiana. Thomas SHELTON got a land patent in Marion County, Illinois. James SHELTON got a land patent in Boone County, Missouri & in Franklin County in 1831.
1827
West. Elijah SHELTON got land patents in Decatur & Shelby counties in Illinois. Samuel HENDERSON of Caledonia, Washington County, Missouri, married second to Elizabeth HARRIS. They had nine more children. They moved southwest of Belgrade near where the mill stood. Samuel was a member of the Belleview Presbyterian Church. (Elizabeth's sister, Abigail, later married Stephen SHELTON.) Major John HARRISON and wife Mary CROCKETT settled on Harrison's Branch, Callaway, Missouri. Leroy C. was born to James SHELTON and Polly Ann BRISTOW in Missouri.
1828
West. The Territory of Arkansas was established and the white people again wanted Indian lands. Arkansas white settlers were demanding removal of Cherokee & Osage to a place called Lovely's Purchase. Lovely's Purchase was 7 million acres. A delegation of Cherokee, including Sequoyah, visited Washington. They were eventually pressured by John Q. ADAMS' administration to give Arkansas land for Oklahoma. Significant occupation of Arkansas land by Cherokee people came to an end; Arkansas Cherokee moved to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). Trail of Tears forced removal from eastern homelands caused serious factionalism between the western "Old Settlers" and the "National Party" of eastern immigrants. A large number refused to move to the Indian Territory and moved south to join Duwali in Texas under Mexican jurisdiction. One of these was Chief Tahchee (Dutch), one of the early emigrants to Arkansas. Continued factionalism in the main body of the Cherokee resulted in civil war lasting several years. The new Dwight Mission at Nicksville along Sallisaw Creek in northeastern Oklahoma included 11 log cabins that housed 65 Cherokee students. All the people from Dwight relocated 150 miles west into Indian Territory. The area of the Ozarks was open for white settlement. Two thousand Chickamaugaa people remained in Arkansas and Missouri. They never left. Their descendants primarily reside in northern and western Taney County, southern Christian County, Ozark County and Stone County. In Arkansas they are between Siloam Springs on the west to Mountain Home to the east. Today they have organized as the Sac River and White River Bands of the Chickamauga-Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri, Inc, headquartered in Fair Play, Missouri. Some are Cherokee-Shawnee-Quapaw. There is a Cherokee Brown cemetery in Bolivar, Missouri. Isaac D. SHELTON got a land patent in Howard County, Missouri. William SHELTON got a land patent in Sangamon County, Illinois. Ralph SHELTON 2nd md Anna TAYLOR, sister of Joel. Ralph might be the son of Azariah. If so, three of Ralph's brothers became physicians and wrote medical texts. Ralph and Anna had Penelope who married Robert BEELER at Rutledge in 1861. Robert & Penelope moved from Clear Spring, Grainger, Tennessee, to Elk Farm, McDonald, Missouri. They had 15 children. Both died at Neosho, Newton, Missouri in 1924. John B. BROWN is mentioned in a marriage record.
1829
West. Zebedee SHELTON married Lavina MILLER in Franklin County, Missouri. James BROWN, John BELL & BRECKENRIDGE were also in Franklin County. Gabriel N. SHELTON got a patent in Pettis County, Missouri.
1830
West. Gggreat Grandpa Stephen SHELTON appears on U.S. census at Harmony Township, Washington County, Missouri. First Liberty, then Harmony, then Webster, then Palmer, Missouri was laid out but from 1830 to 1867 its post office was called Harmony. The village was located in Harmony township, 15 miles southwest of Potosi. The village was also known as Webster during this time. The site was purchased by Courtland PALMER Jr. of New York in 1870. Samuel HENDERSON is on the Washington County census. It is not known when Stephen (1809) first heard about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Church came to Missouri in 1830; but Stephen wasn't baptized until 1837. On 20 Dec 1830 Parley P. Pratt wrote, "We halted for a few days in Illinois, about twenty miles from St. Louis … although in the midst of strangers we were kindly entertained, found many friends and preached to large congregations in several neighborhoods." Ephriam Hixson Jr. (b. 1797) bought John BROWN's 640 acres for $5500. This was in the vicinity of Fields ferry on the Tennessee River and the Brown reservation. HIXSON is of the same family known for Hixon Station. Semore DAVIS from Maryland married Elizabeth G. SHELTON b 1810 in Lincoln Co., Missouri. Liz is the daughter of David & Rhonda G. HURT and sister to James D. SHELTON.
1831
West. Marimon SHELTON got a land patent in Ray County, Missouri. Pines H. SHELTON got a land patent in St. Charles County, Missouri. Robertson SHELTON got a land patent in Lincoln County, Missouri. The Mormons were now in Independence and had a newspaper called the Evening Star. On 25 Jan, in Franklin County, Missouri, Samuel SHELTON married Prudy MILLER. David SHELTON got land patent in Lincoln County, Missouri. John SHELTON got one in Miller County. The Mormons moved to Clay, Carroll and Caldwell counties where they built up Far West by today's Kingston. Mary Ann SHELTON was born to Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) and Nancy BROWN in Harmony Township, Washington, Missouri. Parley P. PRATT wrote: "In the beginning of 1831 we renewed our journey and passing through St. Louis and St. Charles we traveled on foot for three hundred miles through vast prairies and through trackless wilds of snow, no beaten road, houses few and far between … " Parley arrived at Independence in the County of Jackson on the extreme western frontiers of Missouri and of the United States around Feb 1831. Along the way he preached the gospel to tens of thousands of Gentiles and two nations of Indians, "baptizing, confirming and organizing many hundreds of people into churches of the Latter Day Saints. This was the first mission performed … in any of the states west of New York. We were the first members of the Church which were ever on this frontier." James SHELTON's will mentions wife, Lydia, children Marymon, Nancy, Larkin J. & Polly. Youngest dau Virinda is underage. Othen names mentioned in this area are the CROWs, John BROWN & Nancy RICHARDSON.
1832
West. (Sauk Indians, led by Black Hawk, were faring poorly after removal to Iowa. They crossed the Mississippi to their former cornfields to plant new crops. Sauk followers of Black Hawk were massacred by Illinois militia led by General Henry ATKINSON. It is written that the old men, women and children were all killed without regard for pleas of mercy or white flags.
1833
West. (abt) Nancy BROWN died. Also, the Cherokee & the Creek met at Cantonment Gibson to settle boundary disputes. John B. BROWN married Martha ADAMS in Franklin County, Missouri.
1834
West. Marimon SHELTON got a land patent in Ray County Missouri. An act of deposement was drawn against John BROWN & John ROGERS. BROWN went to Mexico.
1835
West. Treaty of New Echota gave the Cherokee Nation the Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Griffith D. SHELTON got a land patent in Monroe County, Missouri. James N. SHELTON got one in Lincoln County, Missouri. Mary M. SHELTON got one in St. Charles County, Missouri. Milton SHELTON got a land grant in Franklin County, Missouri. Peter R. SHELTON got a land patent in Lincoln County, Missouri.
1836
West. Harmony Mission in Bates County, Missouri closed since the Osage had ceded their Missouri lands and moved away. MerryMan SHELTON got a land patent in Ray County, Missouri. William SHELTON got one in St. Louis County, Missouri. Elisha BROWN lived in Two 36, Range 1 West (Harmony on Cub Creek in Washington County, Missouri. Afgey SHELTON married Nancy SHOOMAN in Franklin, Missouri.
1837
West. It seems Stephen (b. 1809) was living by other family members when he first converted, probably in Missouri. Patriarch Emer HARRIS later wrote: "Thou hast had many ups and downs in this world, and have experienced many troubles and sorrows because thou hast had afflictions and hast left they friends and relations for Christ and the gospel's sake and thy friends have counted thee foolish and unwise." An early church file shows Stephen's baptism as May 1837. William was about 11, Samuel about 9, Andrew Jackson about 7, and Polly about 6. William & Samuel may have been baptized then also. LDS baptism age minimum is 8 yrs. Haman SHELTON got a patent in Jackson County, Missouri. John SHELTON got one in Texas County, Missouri. Zebedee SHELTON got one in Franklin, Missouri. Nancy Sarilda GOFORTH SHELTON MANTLE was born 2 Feb. She is the daughter of a Mr. GOFORTH & Abigail HARRIS (who later married Stephen SHELTON). The Missouri "Platte purchase" originated with General Andrew S. HUGHES. Of the Mormon War, Lewis SHELTON history says, "When the Mormons finally surrendered at Far West, he (David b. 1812) was present as he had been an active participant in helping to drive them out of the state." David SHELTON married Frances WILSON of Kentucky in 1837. Lewis SHELTON is mentioned as a preacher in Miller County, Missouri. Bates County, Missouri, opened up to homesteaders. This happened late because it had previously reserved for Indians. For many years the Osage had been making their home in southern Bates & norther Vernon. They all left.
1838
West. Chief John JOLLY died at his home in Webber Falls, Oklahoma. He was replaced by John BROWN, son of Richard BROWN. This could be my Nancy's father. Most of Samuel & Mary Goforth HENDERSON's family (12 children from first wife) and 9 children from Elizabeth HARRIS, his second wife, joined the Mormons between July and October. At that time most of the LDS members were gathered at Kirkland, Ohio, or at Far West, Missouri. With so much open hostility against the young religion, most did not feel safe living in outlying areas. By April 1838 the Far West was being abandoned. "Ten to fifteen thousand Saints had left Missouri and abandoned everything they owned," according to Latter-Day History by Brian KELLY. Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) second married Abigail HARRIS (b. 1818), daughter of John HARRIS & Abigail GREGG (or Gragg) of Knoxville, Greene, Tennessee. Abigail HARRIS was born 6 May 1818 in Tennessee. She married Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) in Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1838. From a previous marriage to a Mr. GOFORTH, Abigail had a daughter named Nancy Sarilda GOFORTH (1837) who was afterwards adopted by Stephen SHELTON. There is a record that has "Serilda HARRIS born 1837 in Missouri." There is also a reference "GUNN or GURNEY" next to husband GOFORTH. It is not clear if this is a first name. We've got a time-and-place conflict about now in our Shelton history with Stephen' SHELTONs (b. 1809) second marriage. Nauvoo did not yet exist in 1838. Since my great grandfather, John, was born 4 Dec 1839 in Nauvoo to this couple, I tend to believe the time of the marriage is correct, just not the place. Perhaps Stephen (b. 1809) & Abigail (b. 1818) got married in Quincy instead of Nauvoo. Stephen had a brother who was a preacher in the area at that time.
1839
West. This year is sadly associated with the forced removal of the Eastern Cherokee. Duwali lived on Bowles Creek about three miles northwest of Alto in Cherokee County. Duwali was killed in the Battle of the Neches near Tyler, Texas. He was shot in the head at close range by a Texas militiaman. Duwali was 83 years old. The militia burned homes, destroyed crops & slaughtered livestock. The Texas Cherokee people were scattered and lived as fugitives in Texas and Mexico. Many of the residents around the area of Quincy, Illinois, were helpful and kind to this homeless flock of Mormons that descended upon them out of Missouri. Joseph SMITH bought a farm near Commerce City, which was north of Quincy. He moved his family there on 10 May 1839. Two cities were to be built, one on each side of the Mississippi. The one on the west would be called Zarahemla and the one on the right would be called Nauvoo. Samuel HENDERSON & Elizabeth HARRIS moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. So, of course, did Stephen SHELTON & Abigail HARRIS. Both families had converted to the Mormon faith. My great grandfather, John SHELTON (md. Mary MORTON) was born to Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) & Abigail HARRIS (b. 1818) on 4 Dec 1839 in Nauvoo.
1840
West. In 1840 Mary Ann (Polly) SHELTON was baptized in an ordinance "officiated by Joseph SMITH, Jr."
1841
West. On 21 Mar 1841 Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) became a member of the "Quorum of the Lesser Priesthood." He was ordained a priest by brothers Miller Witney HIGBEE & KNIGHT. On 10 Jul 1841 Joseph SMITH ordained Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) an elder.
1842
West. There was an Illinois state election in 1842. On 5 Mar 1842 Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) signed a petition for lengthening Wells Street in Nauvoo. On 14 May 1842 there is a record of a stove purchased. Also in 1842 he is listed in the Ward 2 Census. A daughter, Elizabeth SHELTON, was born in Jun 1842 in Nauvoo. She died on 28 Aug 1843 of the measles.
1843
West. In 1843 Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) was assessed .25 (Yes, that is twenty-five cents!) for property tax in Nauvoo, Illinois. His land was valued at $50 and his property at another $50. There is mention of horses (probably one) $20, cattle $12 ("one good cow and calf"), $8 wagons & $10 for furniture & tools. According to church historian Jim KIMBALL, this assessment was better than average. Only one family in 20 had a wagon. Stephen's home was probably a nice wood (better than average but not brick (alltho possible brick fireplace--later). The average assessment was about $30. He was better off than average, successful but not wealthy. There is also a record that Stephen registered to vote in 1843.
1844
West. John BROWN returned from the Texas Cherokee. Alexander SHELTON, son of David SHELTON & Catherine MILLER, married 2nd Nancy RIDDLE. They had Merrimon SHELTON about 1856. He married Nancy SHELTON. Alexander is the brother of Isaac. Also, William SHELTON married Chloe RIDDLE. They had Andy, James Matilda, Noah, Wm Riley, Nancy, Peter, John Minerva, Jane, Eliphaz, Irvy Damsel, Iona & Montgomery. Noah married Liz METCALF. Margaret Shelton HAIR wrote, "Stephen (SHELTON b. 1809) went through all the mob drivings and troubles of the early day Saints in Missouri and Illinois. He was a bodyguard to Joseph SMITH and was guarding the city the night Joseph SMITH was killed. He said he never saw such a night. Such thunder and lightning he had never saw in his life." It was 27 Jun 1844. Abigail HARRIS (b. 1818) was "sick" that night and Mrs. ROBERT took care of her. Martha Jane (md. James B. HAMILTON) had been born a week previous, on 22 Jun 1844 in Nauvoo, Illinois. On 19 Sep 1844 Stephen (b. 1809) petitioned to become a member of the Nauvoo Masonic Lodge. It says he was 35 years old and a farmer. His petition was accepted on 17 Oct 1844. On 8 Oct 1844 Stephen (b. 1809) was ordained into the Ninth Quorum of the Seventies.
1845
West. U.S. annexed Texas.
1846
West. The party of (Cherokee) Old Settlers and Treaty Party members who had traveled West in the summer of 1845 returned in January. They held a council at which they decided to ask the U.S. to either provide them with a home in Texas (upon their relinquishment of their rights in the Cherokee Nation) or to divide the Cherokee Nation into two parts. Stand WATIE assembled a band of 60 at Fort Wayne. General ARBUCKLE responded by increasing his number of dragoons at the border. Lt. JOHNSON of Company D, stationed near Fort Wayne, advised WATIE to disband. General ARBUCKLE was told that the white people of Arkansas were incouraging WATIE & other Cherokee to violence. Murders were frequent. Among those killed were Granville ROGERS, son of John ROGERS, Jr., at Beattie's Prairie, by Braxton NICHOLSON & PITNER, a white man who was married to a Cherokee. Charles SMITH, son of Archilla SMITH, stabbed & killed a young man, John M. BROWN, because he had been a member of the party which had killed Smith's friend, Bean STARR, at Fort Washita. Charles SMITH was killed when he resisted arrest.
The people of Arkansas finally tired of providing sanctuary for dissident Cherokee. Citizens of Washington County presented resolutions to Captain BOONE of the dragoons requesting he remove the refugee Cherokee. The Arkansas Advocate demanded that the STARRS (who had committed murders in Arkansas) be apprehended. Acting Principal Chief George LOWREY called a special session of the National Committee and National Council to appoint a delegation in Washington to assist in protecting the Nation against division.
Agent McKISSICK repored the murder of Stand (not WATIE), of the Ross party, by Wheeler FAUGHT at the investigation of the "Starr boys". This was a revenge murder for the killing of James STARR and others the previous November. It was followed by the murder of CORNSILK, another of Ross' men, by the same "Starr boys". The Cherokee police killed TURNER (Treaty Party) and wounded Ellis, Dick & Billy STARR. They were attempting to escape Arkansas for the murder of TOO-NOO-WEE. BALDRIDGE & SIDES (Ross party) were killed by Jim & Tom STARR. The Light Horse police company (Ross government) killed Billy RYDER (Treaty Party). TA-KA-TO-KA, head of the police, was killed. Then FAUGHT was executed by the Ross government.
Both General ARBUCKLE and the Governor of Arkansas supported the Treaty Party and the portion of Old Settlers who wanted to divide the Cherokee Nation. The Treaty Party delegation was composed of George W. ADAIR, John A. BELL, Joseph LYNCH, Bryce MARTIN & Ezekiel STARR. Stand WATIE joined them later, after Federal forces took possession of Fort Wayne. This delegation went to Washington in support of the bill to split the Nation. Ross & his delegation defeated it. Ezekiel STARR died in Washington; John LOONEY, an Old Setttler in Ross' delegaiton, died in Washington and was buried in the Congressional cemetery. John ROGERS Jr., the last Principal Chief of the Old Settlers, died at the boarding house of Mrs. Eugene A. TOWNLEY in Washington. He was buried in the Congressional cemetery.
The Treaty of 1846 was made 6 Aug between U.S. commissioners Edmund BURKE, William ARMSTRONG & Albion K. PARRIS & John ROSS, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. It provided that the landsoccupied by the Cherokee Nation "shall be secured to the whole Cherokee people for their common use and benefit;" "All differences heretofore existing between the several parties of the Cherokee Nation are hereby settled and adjusted and shall as far as possible be forgotten and forever buried in oblivion". There was also a fund of $5,000,000 to pay claims of persons dispossessed by the Treaty of 1935. There was to be a per capita allowance for the Old Settlers; and indemnity for the Treaty Party. Provisions would be established for the heirs of the Ridges and Boudinot. There would be payment to the Old Settlers for the confiscated salines. There would be payment for a printing press. There would be settlement of claims under the 1835 treaty. The Treaty of 1846 was signed by John ROSS, William S. COODY, R. TAYLOR, C. V. McNAIR, Stephen FORMAN, John DREW & Richard FIELDS for the government party; and John BROWN, William DUTCH, John L. McCOY, Richard DREW & Ellis F. PHILLIPS for the Old Settlers.
At the time they left Nauvoo, this is an accounting of the family group. Nancy BROWN (b. abt 1811), Stephen's (b. 1809) first wife, would have been about 36 but had died about 1833 in Missouri; William SHELTON (son of Stephen & Nancy BROWN) was about 20 & was probably out on his own. Jewel SHELTON (? Son of Stephen SHELTON & Nancy BROWN) would have been about 19 if living but had died before 1830 in Missouri; Samuel SHELTON (son of Stephen SHELTON & Nancy BROWN) was about 18. Andrew Jackson SHELTON (son of Stephen SHELTON & Nancy BROWN) was about 16. Elizabeth SHELTON (daughter of Stephen SHELTON & Abigail HARRIS) would have been about 4 but had died in 1843 of the measles. An accounting of those family members who left Nauvoo and went west include: Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809), patriarch of the clan, about 37; Abigail HARRIS (b. 1818), Stephen's second wife, was about 28; Mary Ann (Polly) SHELTON (daughter of Stephen Shelton & Nancy BROWN) was about 15; Nancy Sarilda (GOFORTH) HARRIS (daughter of Mr. GOFORTH & Abigail HARRIS (GOFORTH) was about 9. Although family records show Stephen adopted her, some records later on still show her using HARRIS for her last name; John SHELTON (son of Stephen SHELTON & Abigail HARRIS) was about 7; & Martha Jane SHELTON (daughter of Stephen SHELTON & Abigail HARRIS) was about 2.
Also that year Lewis SHELTON died in Missouri. The Mormon pioneer SHELTONs (listed above) left Illinois & are known to have stayed for a time at Mt. Pisgah, Iowa, on their way to Utah. The Mt. Pisgah camp started on 18 May 1846. The United States declared war with Mexico & Captain ALLEN of the U. S. Army came thru the LDS camp recruiting for this cause about 26 June 1846. I cannot find where Stephen SHELTON was a member of the Mormon Battalion although Susan W. EASTON indicates the roster shows him as a private in Company D (perhaps mixed up with Seibert SHELTON). Stephen's (b. 1809) son, Joseph (died abt 1867), was born at Mt. Pisgah in September of 1846. On 10 Nov 1846 a sick detachment returned back to Mt. Pisgah. Perhaps Stephen (b. 1809) volunteered, left Abigail with child, and then returned back with the sick a month after Abigail gave birth to Joseph. More research is needed here.
We really don't know exactly when Stephen left Illinois, only that Abigail was at Mt. Pisgah in September. The exodus from Nauvoo began in February and ended in September. Stephen had been working on the temple & it is known that some workers stayed behind to help finish it. The last few hundred people at Nauvoo were mostly the elderly, the sick and the poor. Some stayed to finish the temple, sell property and harvest crops. Some of the last were forced out by gunpoint. Some were thrown into the Mississippi River. Most of these people lost nearly all that they had. They crossed the river and traveled a few miles thru Iowa where they stopped at "Poor Camp." I think Stephen SHELTON may have been with Samuel HENDERSON in leaving Illinois. Both the HENDERSONS and the SHELTONS claim to have experienced the "miracle of the quail". They were about 2/3 thru Iowa when winter forced them to stop at Mt. Pisgah in Indian Territory. For most Mt. Pisgah was just a temporary stop. The HENDERSONS (and probably the SHELTONS) stayed there for two years. TWO of Stephen & Abigail (HARRIS) SHELTON's children were born there. Stephen (b. 1809) & Abigail's (b. 1818) next son, Hyrum (md. Emma SULZER), was the second son, born at Mt. Pisgah on 10 Mar 1849. (That's a good indicator that Stephen was around after Captain ALLEN came recruiting!)
Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) had a "better than average" financial status in Nauvoo. Although we do not know how he acquired this, we can guess that he was probably successful in his field of endeavor there. He listed his occupation as a farmer; so perhaps we could speculate that he was a "better than average" farmer. At Mt. Pisgah, there were volunteers who stayed behind to grow crops for those who would follow. By the birth years of Joseph (1846) and Hyrum (1849), it would seem Stephen may have been one of the individuals who stayed to grow food. I was pleased to learn this about him. I liked thinking of my second great grandfather as one motivated by his desire to serve others. On the sign at Mt. Pisgah it says they had "peas, cucumbers, beans, corn, buckwheat, potatoes, melons, pumpkins and squash." Mt. Pisgah was abandoned in 1852.
In the spring of 1849 the HENDERSONs (& the SHELTONs??) moved to Council Bluffs, at the border of Iowa and Nebraska on the Missouri River. They wintered there and moved further west in the spring of 1850. Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah shows Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) came to Utah in the Captain Melvin ROSS Ox Team Company; however, I find no such company in my research. Stephen SHELTON settled the family in Provo where he farmed He was also a shoemaker and raised flax to tan leather. Stephen (b. 1809) & Abigail's (b. 1818) last son, Stephen (md. Margaret BONNER on 11 Sep 1876), was born on 5 Aug 1851 in Provo, Utah, followed by Abigail born on 5 Jan 1854 (married Adelbert Deeston HULLINGER. In 1852-53 Stephen (b. 1809) was on the Provo Fifth Ward Bishop's Report. ?John HIGBEE was the bishop.
1848. EAST. On 23 Sep John Rollin RIDGE wrote Stand WATIE that he had "worked harder than any slave" he'd ever owned, and to no purpose. He gave up mining and took up "a literary" career in California.
1848. WEST. Gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in the Sacramento Valley of California. Many folks were stricken with "gold fever" in this Califormia Gold Rush. Very few, however, were successful in actually obtaining gold.
1850. EAST. North Carolina Cherokee communities included: Qualla Town, Cheoah, Stekoa & Valley River. Only a few folks could read or write English. Only a few folks could read or write Cherokee. No school was regularly available. The number of Christians increased; but shamans and conjurers continued to be influential. The Valley River Cherokee refused to cooperate with Mullay's census because they thought it was a plot to remove or defraud them.
1850. WEST. John A. WATIE wrote his brother, Stand WATIE from the California gold fields on 10 Nov. In his letter he mentions "Judge BROWN". WATIE says he is located about 65 miles from Stockston, CA.
1851. WEST. The Drennen Roll (Census) covering "Emirgrant Cherokees" was made. It is sometimes called the 1852 Roll. It covers Eastern Cherokee who came west after 1835, and who were residing in Indian Territory in 1851. An Old Settlers Roll was also made, which contains 3267 names.
1853. WEST. On 23 Sep John Rollin RIDGE wrote Stand WATIE that he had "worked harder than any slave" he'd ever owned, and to no purpose. He gave up mining and took up "a literary" career in California.
1854. WEST. On 8 Jun Barbara "Longknife" (Mrs. William TOMPKINS) wrote Stand WATIE that "California is not what it was represented to be". She says R. TUFF died on the plains; WELCH died after they arrived; Charles (brother of Stand WATIE) went north in 1852; John CANDY is there & still has not "made his pile". Barbara is the daughter of George HILDERBRAND & granddaughter of Peter HILDERBRAND, the millwright. Index to the Siler Roll shows: Eliza BROWN, Polly BROWN, Narcissa BROWN & John BROWN all pointing to entry #56; William BROWN pointing to entry #71; & Mrs. BROWN pointing to entry 110.
1855. WEST. On 16 Oct D. Jarrett BELL wrote James M. BELL. He had achieved some success in California; but it was not in the gold fields.
On 29 Mar 1855 Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) & Abigail HARRIS (b. 1818) got their patriarchal blessings (Vol 210, Pg 119).
NOTE: My timeline turned into more of a family story. With all of the build-up of the previous timeline entries, it just seemed fitting to wrap up info on Stephen SHELTONs (b. 1809) family. Everything before that only served as information affecting this family unit.
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