Richmond was the Capitol of the Confederacy at this time and the nation’s Capitol rotunda was being used for cooking and serving the union and northern forces. Lincoln had waged war without the consent from Congress and at this point in the nation’s history, Lincoln was involved in everything that he said was of a calculated statement.

This period of time was only a few short years after President Jackson during the 1830's. He had forced the removal of all native Americans to the west of the Mississippi River. The order applied to all men, women and children.

The Cherokee were great warriors in the Civil War. The European immigrants had made slaves of many of the Cherokees and put them to work on their farms and in their factories. While this was a part of history, the local natives were involved in another interruption of their lives and were now required to fight in another war.

One of the most famous landmarks of the Onega region, within a couple of miles of downtown Aubrey is the famous Cagle Hill. I have heard stories that go back to the beginning of my life and early years from my great-grandparents. The Cagle Hill is a historical monument within itself. It provided a place for the younger generations for skating down the steep slope during the icy season. It was very difficult to climb during the wet season.

My Grandmother, Laura Goin, lived only a short distance east of Cagle Hill. She was the midwife for the mothers of the village during the late 1800's. Cagle Hill has been a landmark for over a century.

The Cagle family has been involved with the conflicts of the war. They have provided soldiers for the war, they have family members are listed on the rolls of inductions to armed duties and are recorded in the names of natives that have served their people.

The very top of this hill provides a great view of about a mile or two to the north where the Plunks resided. The valley that is between is one of the most scenic views in Denton County, and to this day still remains an area of undisturbed beauty and virgin soil.

The Plunks and Cagles were of the same family, and many family members still reside in this area on this same land. This land provides a place of rest for members of the Cherokee tribe.

This past week, the Native American Chamber of Commerce of Texas held its annual meeting in Arlington, at the Arlington Convention Center. The Mexican Chief, Dr. Rogers was awarded the Man of the Year Award Dr. Rogers was the person who invited the Texas Cherokees to Mexico to visit the cave where Chief Sequohay is buried. I wanted so badly to attend this historical event, but had just the day before had surgery on my face and did not feel like traveling away from my home

I remembered Shawn Cagle, who has been extremely interested in his Cherokee heritage, and called and asked if he would be able to attend this event. He enlisted the help of his friend Traci McReynolds and attended this meeting. Shawn has shared with me many historical family documents about his family and is very attentive when discussing the local native American history.

Shawn is very capable of operating a computer and a camera and documented the whole meeting and presentations on his camera to share with me. I was so happy that Shawn and Traci were able to fill such a quick order and attend this meeting at such short notice. Shawn and Traci did an excellent job in performing this assignment and in hindsight thinking back, no one could have been more qualified and done a better job at gathering information and taking photos. I will personally nominate Shawn and Traci as local couple of the year award for covering this banquet.

Shawn Cagle’s great-grandparents were enlisted in the previous wars of this nation and are on the Roster and Rolls of Denton County. He is from a family of local historians who have performed leadership responsibilities for the future generations.