Cherokee

The first Cherokee came to Arkansas in the 1700's. In 1794 after the so called massacre at Muscle Shoals a group of Cherokee came to Arkansas in order to escape the reprisals that were sure to follow. In 1808 Chief Tahlonteskee led a group of 300 to Arkansas. In 1813 Major William Lovely was sent to Pope County as the agent to the Western Cherokee. In 1817 Oolateeskee (John Jolly), brother to Tahlonteskee, lead a group of 331 Cherokee to Arkansas. They settled at the Galley. When Tahlonteskee died John Jolly became Chief of the Western Cherokee. The Indian agent in 1819 was Mr. Rollin, who lived at the Galley part of the time. John Rogers, one of the most respectable of the Cherokee lived at the Galley.