Arkansas and Texas; #3

CHAPTER II

OUR ARKANSAS FAMILIES

Our Indian heritage seems to have come through Arkansas. When I started researching my family, I only thought our Indian blood came from the Brown’s and Guess/Gist’s, and that they were Cherokee. But the more I looked into it and the more evidence that arose, I started thinking we had found Indian ancestry with the Wayland’s as well. There is a strong possibility they were Catawba. Now our Joseph Richey married Mary Wayland, and their son Jeffrey married Josephine Brown. For this reason I thought it important to talk a little about the Richey’s, even though we don’t think they had any Indian blood. The part of the family we had originally thought were Indian-mixed and had intended to research because of family stories – were our Brown’s/Gist’s. So before actually getting back East of the Mississippi and finding the documentation of an Indian ancestry, I need to talk a little about our Arkansas heritage.

A. The Story of the Wayland’s

The Wayland’s came from England to Ireland, with our bunch arriving in South Carolina about the time of the American Revolution. Nevil Wayland, the progenitor of our branch of the Wayland’s in America, moved to Virginia about 1797. He died in 1806. It is thought he married a Catawba Indian woman. Her surname seems to have been Gibson. This will be brought out over time. When you read stories about the first families or the first settlers in Arkansas, the name “Wayland” usually pops up.

These Wayland’s are part of my family.

The Arrival of the Wayland’s in Arkansas

The earliest documentation I have found of our Wayland’s in Arkansas mention my ancestor, William Wayland:

Early Lawrence County, Arkansas Records

William Wayland, 1/2 appraised value

P 5 -- Tuesday, November 23, 1819 -- Thomas Griffith is authorized to keep a ferry at White River where James Akins now lives . . . He is allowed to charge the same rates . . .

Friday, November 26, 1819 -- William Wayland is appointed overseer of the second road of said township [Spring River Township]

P 10 -- Wednesday, third day of term, June 6, 1821 -- Jacob Flannery is appointed overseer of the first division in the place of William Wayland

Before Tuesday, January 15th, 1822 -- P 13 -- Samuel Crow is appointed overseer of the road leading from Davidsonville to White River, in the first road division of Strawberry Township in the place of William Wayland

P 21 -- Tuesday, the second day of term, 5 July 1825 -- Ordered that the following named persons be commissioned judges at the ensuing August election, to wit: Jesse Jeffrey, Henry Wayland, and Samuel D Gibson for Strawberry Township, and that the election, and that the election be held in the house of Jesse Jeffrey. [Vance’s note: Jeffrey and Gibson are both well-known Catawba surnames, and our Wayland’s lived with Gibson’s in the first known Melungeon community in Scott County, Virginia. Also note my ancestor, William Wayland, was at one time (until Jan 1822) overseer of a road from Davidsonville to White River. White River was the dividing line between the Arkansas Cherokee and the White settlers until sometime after 1828.]

P 23 -- Tuesday, February 28, 1826 -- Henry Wayland, Esquire, is appointed to apportion the hands to work on the lower road from Jacob Fortenberry's to the Independence County line.

P 24 -- Monday, June 26, 1826 -- Peyton R Pitman, Esquire, Rubin Richardson, and Henry Wayland and James Sloan, are appointed to apportion the hands to work on various road divisions in Lawrence County.

P 25 -- Monday, February 25, 1827 -- Henry Wayland is appointed an overseer of a road, and Joseph Ware of another road.

P 26 -- After Feb 27, 1827 and before June 25, 1827 -- The court now proceeds to settle with the sheriff, James M Kuykendall

So William is first mentioned in 1819, Henry in 1825, and Nevil not until about 1827. However while most researchers claim Nevil was in Arkansas first, documentation first mentions William, my ancestor. Notice the mention of a Jeffrey and a Gibson family. Both these surnames could be Catawba or Piedmont Catawba. As we’ll see, the Wayland surname pops up in Virginia living with these same known Catawba Indian families.

The Abraham Ruddle Story

You might wonder why I mention Abraham Ruddle, as we are not related to him. We have a tale of Abraham Ruddle. The author writes in flowery words about a man who was captured while still a small child, by the Shawnee and spent 16 years with them. He knew Tecumseh personally. I add this portion because at the end of this of this section of the book it casually mentions that Nevil Wayland came to Arkansas with him. I wish it had mentioned William as well, my ancestor, but it doesn’t. Since Lawrence County documentation mentions William before it mentions Nevil, I am hoping it can be implied William came with Abraham and Nevil Jr., also. [7]

REMARKABLE LIFE OF ABRAHAM RUDDELL.

Abraham Ruddell, of Independence County, had a career which the pen of J. Fennimore Cooper might have depicted as it deserved, but which my pen in the space allotted cannot adequately express. He was born as far west as white people at that time had found permanent homes. Far down on the Holstein in Virginia in a log house on August 3, 1774, he first saw the light of day. He never knew much about this home nor his parents, for on June 22, 1780, the Indians fell upon the little settlement and with savage ferocity tomahawked its residents, carrying off as a prisoner the little curley-headed Abraham Ruddell. They carried him over into Kentucky and the same something that prompted his savage captors to spare his life, whatever that may have been, prompted the great Tecumseh to not only further spare him, but to take him into his family as an adopted son. Strange fortune was this! Strange mutation of the little child's life. He grew up under Tecumseh's eye and was trained by that renowned warrior in all the arts of Indian life and Indian warfare. He learned the language of the tribe, played the Indian boyhood games, and took part in all the Indian wars. He was an adept in the use of a tomahawk, though his white blood restrained him from its more barbarous uses. He was skilled with the bow and could contest favorably with all his dusky comrades. In the use of the rifle he had no superior and Tecumseh awarded him many happy encomiums. When the tribe fought other Indian tribes Ruddell fought at Tecumseh's side and fought well. He had no particle of cowardice in his system and was far more venturesome than even his savage friends. He was trained, however, to know that he was white, and Tecumseh always held out to him the fact that at some time he would go back to the whites to live the white man's life. So gentle was Tecumseh to him that he grew to love him and throughout his life had a warm vein of affection for the great warrior. When Tecumseh died there was one white man. at least, that sincerely mourned his death. Logan, the Mingo, stood alone in his absolute lack of mournful friends; Tecumseh was mourned by his tribe and by Abraham Ruddell. For Tecumseh's brother, the prophet, Ruddell had a supreme contempt, and it was only his love for Tecumseh that kept him from openly showing his dislike.

LIVED SIXTEEN YEARS WITH INDIANS.

After sixteen years of captivity under the provisions of Mad Anthony Wayne's treaty, he returned to the whites. His parting with Tecumseh was grievous, and each shook the hand of the other in proud good faith as they separated. Ruddell went back to his own people, a stranger in their midst. In Kentucky he started a new life, the white man's life with an added Indian education. His counsels were sought by the border woodsmen, and his Indian craft was used to circumvent the craft of the Indians. In 1811 he became a soldier of the United States and with the backwoodsmen of Virginia and Kentucky, with unerring rifles and forest tactics, marched with the brave and gallant Winchester into Canada. He was in the ever memorable fight of the Raisin and with others felt all the mortification of defeat. All day long his eye swept the field of savage faces hunting for the familiar face of Tecumseh. At the risk of his life he would have tried to shake Tecumseh's hand again. He had bullets for the Indians, but none for Tecumseh. But he saw not his friend, nor did he see that other, the Prophet, for whom he had saved a special bullet, and whom he would gladly have shot. Ruddell always attributed the prevalence of the Indian atrocities to the evil eye of the Prophet.

MOVED TO ARKANSAS.

In battle after battle the defeat was retrieved and the war cry "Remember the Raisin," became the rallying cry of all future combats. Ruddell served through the war and went back to his forest home to ever afterwards live a peaceful life. In 1816 the Western fever attacked his neighborhood and with one accord they pulled up stakes and began a journey into the greater and newer West. Crossing the Mississippi below St Genevieve they took the old St. Louis and Washita road and turned South. One by one they found their Canaan and blazed their claims. Ruddell found his in the fairest part of what is now Independence County, in that township which will forever carry his name. Grand old Abraham Ruddell! Was there ever a man more respected in the county?

UNIVERSALLY RESPECTED.

Fent Noland, who knew him well, who gleaned the fore-going story from his lips, said, "No. He was a man of his word, honest and clean. He was never asked for a bond, and hated a liar. He was not only respected, but loved, and at his death, February 25, 1841, the whole county grieved. He loved the forest and spent the greater part of his time in its depths. He knew all the trees and communed with them; he knew the habits of all the birds and loved to imitate their music. Every flower of the county was known to him, not by its Latin, but by its loving backwoods name. Such a man had in him all the fire of a poet linked to the soul of a scientist. He never injured any man and all men were his friends. He could lie down in the forest, draw the drapery of a couch around him, and in the presence of the stars sleep that sleep which abounds only in pleasant dreams." Fent Noland was a clean man — a man of lofty, poetic ideals, and his testimonial to the character of Abraham Ruddell is one of the brightest parts of old Independence County history. He had several children, but at his death had but one son and one daughter living, who with his wife shed genuine tears of regret. He never sought office, and but one of the name, John Ruddell, is enrolled on the county's official roll. George Ruddell was a citizen of Batesville in 1821. Abraham Ruddell's name marks the township in which Batesville stands, and that is a most signal honor. There on the hallowed ground where James Boswell, Richard Peel, Richard Searcy, Thomas Curran, J. Redmon, Charles H. Pelham, Charles Kelly, J. Egner, John Read, Colonel Miller, J. L. Daniels, Robert Bruce, John and James Trimble, Colonel and Fent Noland, James Denton, Townsend Dickinson, William Moore, and other choice spirits of the earliest times met with him and lived with him — there was he buried amidst the most profound grief of his fellows. No more romantic character ever lived on Arkansas soil, and some rising Arkansas Octave Thanet will do credit to her name by writing a characteristic romance with Abraham Ruddell as its central figure. He was "The Last of the Mohicans," as it were, but his life story ought not to die.

OTHER PIONEERS.

In the same year that Ruddell passed away, in the last days of August another settler who came in with Ruddell in 1816, but who settled in what is now Lawrence County, died and was buried, not with his fathers, but in a new graveyard in the west. His name was Nevill Wayland and he left children to perpetuate his name. In October of 1840, at Spring Hill, Hempstead County, died Aquilla Davis in his sixtieth year, having lived in Arkansas twenty-four years. He left a large family and a most excellent name. His house was headquarters for all the young people and his hospitality knew no bounds. He was said to entertain a poor man equally as lavishly and with the same spirit that he entertained richer people. His cheerfulness was his main characteristic and with this he made troops of friends.

The treaty mentioned was after the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794. Admittedly the Author spices up this account a great deal. I am not sure the details are accurate. Other authors mention his brother Stephen Ruddle and say Stephen was treated well by the Shawnee and Abraham was treated as a slave. Whatever the truth, when my family meets interesting figures, I want a record of it so others of later generations can know of it. My Wayland's travelled to Arkansas with Abraham Ruddell, and Abe knew Tecumseh.

On pages 113-114 of the same book we have the following:

What shall we say of Lawrence County in early days? In 1830 a census was taken, which showed some remarkable instances of long life. The rules of the United States Census Bureau in 1830, although not so systematic as today, required nevertheless that the ages should be classified.

Between sixty and seventy years of age at the date of the enumeration were the following Lawrence County pioneers: William Hix, Sr., Henry Murrey, Arthur Murphy, Colonel Stephen Byrd, Thomas Lewis, John Pierce, Mary Welch, Mrs. Nathaniel McCarroll, Ananias Erwin, William McKnight, Isaac Flahery and James Davis.

Between seventy and eighty years: Nathan Luttrell, Sr., James Boyd, Mrs. Wayland, Peter Taylor, James S. Fortenberry, Daniel Williams, Martin Van Zant and Mrs. Joseph Killett.

Eighty years and upward: John Shaver:

Twenty-one persons were in Lawrence County sixty years of age and upward in 1830.

On that 1830 census this elderly “Mrs. Wayland” was living in the household of my direct ancestor, William Wayland. Kezziah was the name of William's mother. She is the one with Catawba/Saponi heritage. I'll explain this later. We believe William’s wife to have been a Stuart, but we can’t prove it. One of William’s daughters was named Mary Stuart Wayland. At any rate, an elderly woman is recorded living in William’s household.

First Church in both Arkansas and Indian Territory

Our Wayland’s were some of the earliest settlers in Arkansas. There is a record of our family helping organize the first Methodist Church in Arkansas, which it turns out was also the first church in Indian Territory as it was defined at the time. Below is some of the documentation to back that up. If fact most histories say the First Church was at Dwight Mission. It wasn’t established until 1818. Well, when they showed up, we were already there. Our church was on the White River in north-central Arkansas while the far better known Dwight’s Mission was on the Arkansas River in the west-central part of that state.

From “The History of Methodism in Arkansas”, we have [8]:

In the Tennessee Conference which met at Bethlehem, Wilson County, Tennessee, October 20th, 1815, Spring River Circuit was made a part of the Missouri District. This was the first regular work laid off by the Conference in the Territory of Arkansas. . . As the work was left to be supplied, this was done by Eli Lindsay, a local preacher who lived on the Strawberry River, near the mouth of Big Creek.

Rev. John M. Steele, from whose manuscript I am indebted for this information, says: “Col. Magnus stated to me that their first preacher was named Lindsay, and that he preached on White River and Little Red River, and thence to Strawberry and Spring River.”

In 1818 [note: should be 1828] the tribes of Indians, began, according to treaty stipulation, to remove to the West, but as they were not hurried by the influx of the Whites into the territory, they did not all remove for a number of years.

From this date, as the original inhabitants began to decline in numbers, and the White population to increase . . .

From “The Story of Methodism in Oklahoma” [9]:

In recording the activities of Methodism in what is now the State of Oklahoma, we necessarily have to commence with Methodism as it functioned in what is now the State of Arkansas.

At one time the western boundary of Arkansas was a line beginning near Fulton, on the Red River, Hempstead County, thence in a northeasterly direction to the mouth of Point Remove Creek, on the Arkansas River, Conway County, thence to a place on White River near Batesville, Independence County, thence northwest up the White River to Missouri line, ail west of this line belonging to Indian Territory. Roughly estimated, this line gave twenty-seven counties, or about one-third of the present State of Arkansas to Indian Territory. It must also be remembered that at one time Indian Territory was Arkansas Territory . . .

Chronicles of Oklahoma Article

Volume 7, No. 4, December, 1929 [10] :

. . .

From history of Methodism in Arkansas, by Horace Jewell we learn that the Tennessee conference which was held in Wilson County, Tennessee, October 20, 1815, Spring River Circuit, which is in Arkansas, was made a part of the Missouri District and left to be supplied. This was the first regular circuit in the Territory of Arkansas. Sometime during the conference year, a local preacher by the name of Eli Lindsay was placed on the new circuit as a supply. Spring River, from which the circuit was named, has its source in the Mammoth Springs located in Fulton County, the southwest corner of said county being about ten miles distant from the White River, which was at one time, as stated above, the dividing line between the Indian and Arkansas territories. From Jewell’s history, we are informed that the local preacher, Eli Lindsay, while on the Spring River Circuit, preached at points on White River, Little Red River, Strawberry River and Spring River. The point we are making here is that, Little Red River is south and west of White River, and therefore in the Indian Territory, when the White River was the dividing line between Arkansas and Indian country. At the close of the conference year, Mr. Lindsay reported a membership of ninety-five, which was a good report for such a new and sparsely settled country. . .

So the parts of this first Methodist circuit that were west of White River were in Indian Territory at the time.

From “Lawrence County, Arkansas Historical Journal”, [11] Summer 1982 – Volume 4 – Number 3, History of Methodism in Walnut Ridge:

. . . Here it should be noted that Walnut Ridge Methodist Church has drawn some if its most staunch Methodists and strongest leaders from pioneer families in the western district of Lawrence County. It will be remembered that the Spring River Circuit, which includes part of Western Lawrence County, was the first pastoral charge organized in Arkansas in 1815 by the Rev. Eli Lindsey. It was this same year that Nevil Wayland came to Arkansas and his son, Jonathan Wayland. They, with Hugh Rainwater and Terra Stuart and their families, organized a Church on Flat Creek. Jonathan Wayland became a local preacher and so did Hugh Rainwater.

To the present generation of Waylands and Rainwaters (many of whom have held membership in Walnut Ridge) belong the distinction of being descendants of the first Methodist Church organized in Arkansas.

On page 66 of “A Centennial History of Methodism in Arkansas, 1815-1935” under the chapter title “1836-1843” we have the following [12]:

Jonathan Wayland was grandfather to E. T. Wayland of North Arkansas Conference. He had in 1815 cooperated with Eli Lindsay in organizing Flat Creek Church, possibly the first Protestant Congregation ever organized in Arkansas, and certainly one of the first churches of the first circuit organized.

The above is in error. It was Jonathan’s father who helped create the first church in Arkansas territory, Jonathan wasn't born until 1818. This photo of Jonathan was taken from the same page as the above named book. The photo in the book concentrates mostly on his head, however. His grandfather was White, but we have substantial evidence that Jonathen’s paternal grandmother was Melungeon, from a community of people proven to be tri-racial in Southwestern Virginia and Northeastern Tennessee. Wild claims that they were Gypsies or Portuguese or even Turks is ridiculous. Sorry, but evidence of that is based on people who were afraid to say in a court of law that they had any Negro blood, at a dark time in history when Negroes were slaves. I use the Occam’s Razor approach and claim them only tri-racial, White, Black, and Indian, with the Indian component being Saponi. These were a band of the Catawba. They were not Cherokee.

Military Service at Fort Gibson with Bean’s Ranger’s

In “A Tour on the Prairies” [12] by Washington Irving, we have a first-hand account of the First Dragoon Expedition. In 1832, Washington Irving, the creator of Rip Van Winkle and Ichabod Crane, travelled to Indian Territory and Fort Gibson. He mentions travelling to the “Cross Timbers” (central Oklahoma) with the Army, of meeting the various Indian tribes. One tribe called “Pawnee Picts” in this account and other accounts was actually the Wichita who are related to the Pawnee and the two tribes often were allies . Again why bring this up?

According to Fort Gibson records, Jarrett and James Wayland served at Fort Gibson from its founding from at least, around 1832 to about 1836. Jarrett and James were first cousins to my great-great grandma, Sarah Ann[Wayland] Richey. They were also first cousins of each other, With Sarah descending from William, Jarrett descending from Nevil Jr. (as did Jonathan pictured about – they were brothers), and James being a son of Henry, the oldest son of Nevil Sr.

Roster of Bean’s Rangers

[13] “Act of Congress approved June 15, 1832, authorized the President to raise a battalion of 600 mounted rangers to serve on the frontiers.” Rangers were to be “Active men, under 40 years of age, capable of enduring all the fatigues of arduous service.” The following list from the National Archives was made from the first muster rolls at Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. Most of the men were enlisted by Jesse Bean from his own Batesville, Independence Co., Arkansas area. Possibly many were future Oklahomans.

OFFICERS: Jesse Bean, Capt., Joseph Pentecost, 1st Lt., Robert King, 2nd Lt., George Caldwell, 3rd Lt. John W. Patrick, 1st Corp. Annanias Erwin, 2nd Corp. James Elms, 3rd Corps. Jarrett Wayland, 4th Corp. John England, 5th Corp. Edward W. Scruggs, 1st Sgt. Robert A. Gibson, 2nd Sgt. Morfet E. Trimble, 3rd Sgt. Isaac Bean, 4th Sgt. Furgus S. Morrison, 5th Sgt.

BUGLERS: Elijah G. Shrum, Musician Alexander C. Childers, Musician

PRIVATES: Aikin, Eli V.; Allen, Washington; Archer, Andrew B.; Alston, James; Allen, Westly; Bennett, James H.; Barr, James; Baird, Benjamin; Brounts, Joshua; Bayles, Caleb; Compton, John B.; Clements, Jeremiah; C. Caldwell, James; Caldwell, Abiram; Dupuy, David; Davis, Abner; Dudley, William; Darter, Hezekiah; Davis, Johnson; Dennis, John; Dillard, John; Elms, Garrett; Elms, David M.; Fulbright, William; Gill, Addison; Guist, Isaac; Griggs, Samuel; Garner, John C.; Hammon, John; Hammon, James M.; Hulsey, William B.; Hogan, John W.; Hyles, David; Hyde, Ezekial; Howell, Harvey B.; Ivy, Thomas G.; Johnson, Samuel; Johnson, Marbree; King, Drury; Kister, John (also spelled Kester. Died 30 Oct 1832); Kellet, William; Kavanaugh, John; Litchfield, Samuel; Labass, John; Logan, Massa; Logan, Bennett T.; Lee, John; McClenden, Willis; McKinney, Clark S.; McCloud, Neil; Meacham, James A.; Meacham, Christopher; Murphy, Mark; Markham, Thomas Sr.; Markham, Thomas Jr.; Manson, William; Martin, James; Nipper, Solomon; Newcomb, Thomas; Newman, John; Nelson, Charles; Osburn, James; O’neal, John; Powers, Simmeon; Palmer, David M.; Palmer, King L;. Penter, Martin; Peel, Richard; Peel, John; Peel, William; Pool, Washington; Palmer, John J.; (Died 27 Sept 1832); Price, Jacob; Peryhouse (?), Nelson; Ryan, John; Russell, Samuel; Raney, David J.; Ryan, William; Stokes, James; Shaddon, Lewis; Sawyers, William; Turley, Thomas S.; Tate, William C.; Turney, Isham; Taylor, Wiley; Vickers, William; Wilson, John S.; Wilson, Absolom; Wilson, Edward; Wilson, Daniel; Wilson, Joseph; Wyatt, Joseph S.; Wilson, William; Wayland, James; Welborne, Melton [Vance’s note: was he related to the Alabama Melton’s?]; Young, Harvey K.; Zeachsa, Burr H. Replacements for the two deaths were Dolson Howell and Phillip Howell. Their origin is not noted.

http://www.angelfire.com/il/oaparchives/cd072499.html

OKLAHOMA -- Peace on the Plains. About 5 mi. S. E. Wichita Village in Devils Canyon was scene of first meeting between U. S. and Plains Indians in Oklahoma to promote peace, July 21, 1834. U. S. Dragoon Regiment under command of Col. Henry Dodge accompanied by other officers and civilians including Capts. David Hunter and Nathan Boone, 1st. Lt. Jefferson Davis, Ex-Gov. Montford Stokes, N. C. and George Catlin, artist.

THE FIRST REGIMENT OF CAVALRY

by APT. R. P. PAGE WAINWRIGHT, 1ST U. S. CAVALRY. [15]

The "United States Regiment of Dragoons" was organized by Act of Congress approved March 2, 1833, becoming the "First Regiment of Dragoons" when the Second Dragoons were raised in 1836. Its designation was changed to "First Regiment of Cavalry" by the Act of August 3, 1861. The first order announcing appointments in the regiment was dated March 5, 1833, and gave the names of the colonel, lieutenant-colonel, major, four captains and four lieutenants, stating that the organization of the regiment would be perfected by the selection of officers from the "Battalion of Rangers." Headquarters were established at Jefferson Barracks.

The organization of the regiment does not appear to have been completed until June, 1834, the regimental return for that month naming the following officers:

Colonel Henry Dodge.

Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen W. Kearny.

Major Richard B. Mason.

Captains Clifton Wharton, E. V. Sumner, Eustace Trenor, David Hunter, Lemuel Ford, Nathan Boone [Vance’s note: son of Daniel Boone], J. B. Browne, Jesse Bean [Vance’s note: roster of Bean’s Rangers is listed above and included 2 of our Wayland’s. This tells us that Jesse and Jarrett Wayland’s unit, Bean’s Rangers, went along on this expedition], Matthew Duncan and David Perkins.

First Lieutenants P. St. G. Cooke, S. W. Moore, A. Van Buren, J. F. Izard, Jefferson Davis, L. P. Lupton, Thomas Swords, T. B. Wheelock, J. W. Hamilton (adjutant), B. D. Moore, and C. F. M. Noland.

Second Lieutenants James Allen, T. H. Holmes, J. H. K. Burgwin, J. S. Van Derveer, J. W. Shaumburg, Enoch Steen, James Clyman, J. L. Watson, and B. A. Terrett.

Brevet Second Lieutenants William Eustis, G. W. McClure, L. B. Northrop, G. P. Kingsbury, J. M. Bowman, Asbury Ury, A. G. Edwards and T. J. McKean.

Lieutenant Jefferson Davis was the first adjutant but resigned the staff position February 4, 1834, and was assigned to Company A.

In October, 1833, the five companies first organized were sent under Colonel Dodge to winter in the vicinity of Fort Gibson, Arkansas Territory, where they remained until June, 1834.

In June, 1834, the regiment was sent on the "Pawnee Expedition," [Vance’s note: these were mistakenly called Pawnee – in reality they were Wichita, their close relatives] during which, although it ended in September of the same year, one fourth of the officers and men of the command died of fevers. On the 6th of August, Colonel Dodge writes to Lieutenant-Colonel Kearny: "I have on my sick report 36 men, four of whom have to be carried in litters. My horses are all much jaded, and would be unable to return by the mouth of the Wishitaw and reach their point of destination this winter season. This has been a hard campaign on all; we have been for the last fifteen days living almost on meat alone. The state of the health of this detachment of the regiment makes it absolutely necessary that I should arrive at Fort Gibson as early as possible, as well as the difficulty of providing grain for the horses. I am well aware you are placed in a most unpleasant situation, encumbered as you must be with sick men, baggage and horses, and regret exceedingly that it is not in my power to help you."

The third effort to make contact with these Western Indians was successfully carried out in 1834, by what became known as the famous Dragoon Expedition. General Henry Leavenworth arrived at Fort Gibson April 28 of that year and assumed command of the post, which he held until June 12 when he departed in command of the expedition. This expedition included also Colonel Henry Dodge, Colonel Stephen Watts Kearney, and Major R. B. Mason. Jefferson Davis, a lieutenant a few years out of West Point, was in command of one company. This train of five hundred mounted troops, a large number of white-covered baggage wagons, and seventy head of beeves made an imposing procession. It was accompanied by eleven Osage, eight Cherokee, six Delaware, and seven Seneca Indians who went along to serve as guides, hunters, interpreters, and as representatives of their respective nations. They crossed the Arkansas River below the mouth of Grand River, passed over the prairies near the site of the future Muskogee, traveled southwest to the mouth of the Washita River, then northwest, where they visited the site of a Comanche village at the western end of the Wichita Mountains.

This was a disastrous expedition which resulted in the deaths of nearly 150 men from disease and the effects of excessive hot weather and poor water upon the unseasoned and undisciplined soldiers lately recruited from private life in the North and East. Included among the casualties of this expedition was that of General Leavenworth, who died July 21 near the Washita River.

However, they did succeed in bringing back to Fort Gibson representatives of the Kiowa, Wichita, and Waco tribes, and after their return invitations were extended to all the Indians within reach to attend a grand council at the post--Choctaws, Cherokees, Creeks, Senecas, Osages, Delawares, and others. Here, on September 2, 1834, began one of the most interesting and important Indian councils ever held in the country. [Vance’s note: the above is not 100 percent true – only 2 or 3 years earlier the Osage had massacred an entire Kiowa Village at a place and event called “Cutthroat Gap Massacre,” so-called because the Osage cut their throats, and placed the severed heads in cooking pots. Therefore the Kiowa did not attend. They did not want peace until they had gained revenge on the Osage. More on this in Appendix 6 at the end of this report.] On this occasion every effort was made to impress the wild Indians who had never made a treaty with the United States and make them understand the changed political condition of the country. There were 150 Indians participating in the council, & with their numerous women & children, tepees & tents, they made one of the most picturesque scenes ever witnessed at any army post.

Governor Stokes and the army officers who attended did not have authority at this time to enter into a treaty, but, with the potent influence of Colonel A. P. Chouteau, who participated in the council, the commissioners secured an agreement with the wild Indians to meet in treaty council the following year. And so the plans which were launched and carried out at Fort Gibson resulted in a treaty council begun August 24, 1835, at Fort Mason on the Canadian River near the present Purcell, Oklahoma, where was negotiated the first treaty ever entered into by a number of these western tribes.

In 1837 members of the Kiowa, Apache, and Tawakoni tribes were induced to send representatives to Fort Gibson, where on May 26 another important treaty, the first with these Indians, was negotiated. These treaties gave assurance of peace on the part of the Indians and guarantees of safe passage for the traders over the Santa Fe route. And two of my Wayland’s were there, too.

B. Our Richey’s go to Arkansas

Goodspeed Biography

Hamilton Richey was interviewed for the Goodspeed Biography and said the following about his father, John Richey:

John Richey, of Virginia, who moved to Indiana in his younger days, and married Miss Polly Woods, of that State, locating in Gibson County, where Hamilton was born December 29, 1829. John Richey followed his occupation of farming in Indiana until the year 1844, when he removed to Arkansas, and settled in Lawrence County. He resided in that place, and reared his family, until the time of his death, in the fall of 1861, when he passed away, regretted by all who knew him. Up to the time of his decease Mr. Richey had been a survivor of the War of 1812, and was at Mobile, Ala., when the battle of New Orleans was fought. He was also a captain of militia during his residence in Indiana.

About the above claim that John was a “Captain of Militia” – I contacted an Indiana historian about this claim. I told him I had my doubts about this because he would have so young, more a boy than a man. Census records put his birth about 1797. He said this was an honorary title, only. He said some units designated a new “Captain of Militia” weekly or monthly. Also boys as young as he was were allowed to enlist in those days.

War of 1812 Service Record for John Richey

On John Richey’s grave is a veteran’s tombstone. On it is recorded: John Richey; PVT, PEYTON’S MTD RANGER; WAR OF 1812; 1797-1861.

On a website marking the veterans of the War of 1812 [16] the following is found --

Name:

JOHN RICHEY

COMPANY: CAPT. PEYTON'S CO., MOUNTED RANGERS, INDIANA MILITIA.

Rank - Induction: PRIVATE

Rank - Discharge: PRIVATE

Roll Box: 174 Roll Exct: 602

Joseph Richey

Joseph E. Richey was John’s eldest son. He was born 19 Oct 1821 in Gibson County, Indiana, and died 15 Feb 1852 in Lawrence County, Arkansas. He married Sarah Ann Wayland 03 Feb 1848 in Lawrence County, Arkansas. She was born about 1829 in Lawrence County, Arkansas, and died 1857 in Lawrence County, Arkansas. She was the daughter of William Wayland and Elizabeth [Stuart] Wayland. They had two children –Alfred H. Richey, b. 1849, and last appears in the 1860 census. No one knows what happened to him. I descend from the other brother Jeffrey Hoten Richey. Jeffrey was born 1 May 1851. Joseph Richey died in 1852, and his younger brother Hamilton, married his widow.

Mexican War – Joseph Richey’s Time at Fort Smith and Fort Gibson

In a book entitled “Arkansas Mexican War Soldiers” we have the following:

Historical Highlights by Jay Brent Tipton. [17]

The Arkansas Gazette on June 25, 1846 [18] reported that a company of volunteers (mounted gunmen) from Lawrence County led by Capt. J. S. Ficklin arrived at Little Rock and took the road to Fort Smith where they are destined for service on the Arkansas frontier. The Lawrence County troops, Company C, Arkansas Battalion Infantry and Mounted Rifles were officially mustered into U. S. service at Fort Smith on July 6th, 1846, and were sent to Fort Gibson in the Indian Territory. . . Company C, along with the other companies of the Battalion, was mustered out of service on April 20th, 1847 at Fort Gibson. Even though they did not face the Mexican Army, these men served Lawrence County, Arkansas and ultimately the nation by volunteering and remaining at their station.

Two men in this company are Richey’s and are brothers, including my direct ancestor, Joseph E. Richey. The other is David L. Richey. David’s wife was also a Wayland girl, by the way. They were mustered in and out at the dates and places mentioned in the previous paragraph. Later I hope to mention a Catawba migration to the vicinity of Fort Smith, Arkansas. A son of Joseph Richey and Sarah Wayland, Jeff Richey, married Josephine Brown, a daughter of David Brown and Harriet Guess/Gist, in 1872. I descend from that union. This seems to be the origin of our Indian blood.

C. Our Brown’s Arrivein Arkansas in 1848

David Brown last appears in Alabama on a tax list dated 1847. He first appears in Lawrence County, Arkansas the next year, in 1848, a year after Joseph Richey returned from military service in Indian Territory. A daughter of David Brown will later marry a son of Joseph Richey, and become my ancestors.

The 1850 census lists David’s family:

David B. Brown 29 farmer Ala

Harriet Brown 33 Ala

Nancy I. Brown 7 Tenn

Thomas McNutt 16 farmer Ala

Nancy A. Loony 6 Ala

Thomas Opdych 61 physician Ohio

1860 Census, Lawrence County Arkansas:

Thomas McNutt 26 laborer Ala

Orlena McNutt 25 Ala

James McNutt 21 Arkansas

Betsy A. McNutt 3/12 Ark

“ -- next door is – “

David B. Brown 37 Al

Harriet Brown 43 Tn

Nancy I. Brown 17 Tn

Nancy A. Brown 15 Al

John Brown 8 Ar

Josephine Brown 6 Ar

Sarah A. Brown 3 Ar

Amanda Brown 1 Ar

Notice “Nancy A. Loony” in 1850 has become “Nancy A. Brown” in 1860. Oh before I forget, other records say Nancy I. Brown’s real name was Nancy I. Joiner. Where do these McNutt’s, Joiner’s, and Loony’s come from? More on these things later.

I find the Wayland’s and Richey’s – my direct line of Wayland’s – and a Gibson (most likely related to my Wayland’s) – all living next door to one another. There is another interesting family of Brown’s living in Lawrence County, Arkansas that wasn’t there in 1850, listed below.

1860 census, Lawrence County, Arkansas:

Mary Brown 59 NC

Nancy J Brown 19 Ala

Martha L. Brown 16 Ala

(next door)

Malinda JOHNSON 34 AL Laborer

Nancy “ 13 AL

Levi “ 12 AL

David “ 10 AL

Thomas “ 1 AR

Malinda Johnson was living next door to Mary Brown (her mother) for this census, 1860. Ten years earlier for the 1850 Walker County, AL census, Malinda is Linday, and the children Nancy, Levi and David, were living in the Mary Brown household.

I was able to get in contact with one of these Johnson’s and she said she was told they had Indian blood on the Johnson side. At the time, she was unaware that Malinda Johnson was a “Brown”.

I found this same family in 1850 in Walker County, Alabama:

1850 Walker County, Alabama census

Mary Brown 49 NC

Linday Brown 25 Ala

Elizabeth Brown 16 Ala

Orleny Brown 15 Ala

Alfred Brown 13 Ala

Nancy Brown 10 Ala

Martha Brown 8 Ala

Syntha Brown 4 Ala

Nancy Brown (inmate) 5 Ala

Levy Brown (inmate) 3 Ala

David Brown (inmate) 1/12 Ala

1870 Lawrence Co., AR census, Marion Township, page 278, household #35

David Johnson 21 MS Farm Laborer

Malinda JOHNSON 45 AL Keeping House

Levi Johnson 22 AL Farm Laborer

Rufus Johnson 15 MS

Thomas Johnson 11 AR

Mathew Johnson 08 AR

Sarah HARVEY 18 AR

Malinda Johnson is a daughter of Mary Brown. Malinda was living with Mary Brown (her mother) for the 1850 Walker County, AL census. In 1860 Malinda lived next door to Mary Brown in Lawrence County, AR.

1880 Campbell, Lawrence Co, Ar census

Rufus Johnson 25 M W farmer Ms Al Al

Amanda 52 F W kpn hs Al Al Al

Madison 16 M W frm lbr Ar Al Al

Marriages Found

Name: RUFUS JOHNSON

Spouse: BETTIE A. RANEY

Marriage Date: 26 Dec 1877

County: Lawrence

State: AR

Name: DAVID JOHNSON

Spouse: ELVINA RANEY

Marriage Date: 2 Mar 1871

County: Lawrence

State: AR

This is all we know at present, about the Johnson branch of our Brown’s.

Alfred Brown

This is the same family that is in Lawrence County, Arkansas in 1860. Are they David’s family? Also note that “Malinda” Johnson is “Linday” Brown in 1850. They 3 youngest children in the Brown household in 1850 in Alabama are her children in 1860, and they are all Johnson’s. They are living next door to Mary Brown, her mother. We have found Alfred Brown in Hopkins County, Texas in the 1860 census, is 22 years old, and says he was born in Alabama. He then appears in Lawrence County, Arkansas again in 1870, and is married. Notice “Orleny” Brown, 15 years old in Alabama in 1850 is 25 years old and is married to Thomas McNutt, who was living in David’s household in 1850 and they are next door to him in 1860.

1870 Census Lawrence County, Ar

Alfred Brown 33 laborer Al

Nancy I. Brown 25 keeping house Tn

Mary J Brown 5 Ar

Louisa Brown 3 Ark

Alice Brown 2/12 Ark

Is this Alfred Brown the same “Alph Brown” in whose house my great grandparents were married in 1872? Well, one more census record will clinch it.

1880 Census, Denton County, Texas

Jeffrey H. Richey, age 28, Ar, In, Ar

Josephine, 26, Ar, Al, Al.

Etta E., 2, Tx, Ar, Ar.

Swaney, 1, Tx, Ar, Ar.

Mandy Knight, 18, sister-in- law, Ar, Al, Al.

Mary J. Brown, 16, cousin, Ar, Al, Al.

“Mandy Knight” is “Amanda Brown” in previous census records, sister to Josephine [Brown] Richey, Jeff’s wife. Mary J Brown is a “cousin”. She was sister-in-law to the head of household, Jeffrey Richey. The 1870 census of Alfred Brown – he had a daughter named Mary J Brown, 5 years old. Mary J Brown is a cousin IF Josephine’s father David Brown and Alfred Brown are brothers! Mary J. Brown lists her parents born in Alabama. Since this census lists Mary as a cousin -- David and Alfred are brothers! Hence David is a son of Mary, also.

It has taken a lot just to get this background material in place. I could have made it three times longer had I included more census records, so be thankful . . . I have a lot more information than I will ever be able to organize. I have painstaking verified all the relationships so far mentioned and they are correct.

I’d like to learn more about Alph/Alfred Brown. That one document said he is wanted for “Assault with intent to kill” in Indian Territory. Also there are a lot of Catawba Jeffries and Brown’s. Maybe that’s concidence, I don’t know. But in the 1890s there was a big movement to organize the Catawba in Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma/Indian Territory. The warrant for Alph Brown’s arrest was in 1884, only a few years before and these Catawba were being organized near Fort Smith.

We have also found descendants of our Nancy Loony on the 1850 census. A fellow researcher sent us a death certificate for a Nancy Owens, who was their ancestor. It marks her death as March 3rd, 1922, in Barton County, Missouri, stating she was 77 years, 6 months, and 6 days old. For her father’s name, all it says is “Loney”. For her mother, she says “Mary Monday.” It states that she was born in Tennessee, same as ours. This would put her time of birth about 1844, same as ours per 1850 census. Unfortunately, we still don’t know who her father was, or anything about the Monday’s, or why our family raised her.

Conclusion:

I have heard stories that we were somehow related to a famous Indian, whom we believe to be Sequoyah, for most of my life. That is the main reason I have done this research. I have tried to be both pragmatic and objective, but also I know I have a personal bias, and am trying my best not to let it get the best of me. I think I have succeeded.

My family has spent quite some time in Oklahoma when it was known as "Indian Territory", first arriving here about 1832 serving in the military at Fort Gibson for the first half of that decade., We helped organize the first church in Indian Territory, and our church predates Dwight Mission by about three years. It was at a location on the White River now in central Arkansas, the western bank of which was in Indian Territory until the Old Settler Treaty of 1828. My great-great-grandpa also served at Fort Smith and Fort Gibson during the Mexican War of 1846-1847. We were in and out of Indian Territory in the 1830s and 1840s, then came to stay (except for a stint in Denton County, Texas in the 1880s) in the 1870s. Of course this is not proof of Indian ancestry, but it does say we were comfortable amongst Indian peoples.

I researched literally every Gist/Guess/Guest family found first in Indian Territory and Arkansas. Then I had to keep going east – Mississippi and Alabama. The further east I went the more I thought mabye the family stories of being related to Sequoyah might not be true. Research was taking us back to a location in North Carolina, and a hundred or more years further back in time! Are we wrong? But we’ve some so far from where we were, I must keep looking. If anyone will help me, I’ll gratefully accept that help! There was no way I could do this alone. Gradually a possible connection to Sequoyah emerged in a place I hadn’t expected. PART TWO will provide more information. Absolute proof is very difficult to run across, but it is worth aiming for nontheless.