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John Ross (Cherokee)
Little John

"By peace our condition has been improved in the pursuit of civilized life."

John Ross, Chief of the United Cherokee Nation from 1839 to 1866, was born on October 3, 1790 near Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. Although his father was Scottish and his mother only part Cherokee, Ross was named Tasman-Usda (Little John) and raised in the Cherokee tradition. A settled people with successful farms, strong schools, and a representative government, the Cherokee resided at that time on approximately 43,000 square miles of land, located mainly in Georgia, which they had held for centuries.

See Today In History, October 3 for the rest of the story.


QUATIEíS BLANKET
"On the Trail of Tears, Chief John Ross led the last detachment made up of many elderly people and children. Among the people lost was the Chiefís beloved wife Quatie. Though already suffering she gave up the only blanket shielding her from the elements. The compassion Quatie showed a sick child cost her, her life." (quoted from "QUATIEíS BLANKET")

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Compiled by: Glenn Welker




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