We have heard throughout our lifetime that the people of Aubrey were originally settlers from Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. If you really look closely at the locality, it will probably amaze you as it did me that the neighborhood of these three states is very close. The Cherokee Nation occupied several other states as well.

As the Europeans were making their way into the New England area with their knowledge and training, they were shoving the Cherokees over and forced them to move farther and farther south. After the Cherokees settled in the Georgia area in the 1800's, gold was discovered in the area, which brought an influx of adventure seeking people into their homeland. These people decided they wanted the land and belongings of the Cherokees once again and forced them to move. In 1838, the removal was supported by the U.S. Government. Many of the Cherokees died during this removal, but move they did.

The Cherokees named this region in Georgia "Ta-lo-Ne-ga", their word for the color yellow, which meant GOLD. "Dal-onega" is the white man’s version of the Cherokee word. Gold was discovered in the Cherokee county during the year of 1828. This caused a population explosion, and the population of the area was about 10,000 in 1832.

The Cherokees began processing and mining the gold, and while they only had six years to mine the gold on their land, they were able to process $6,000,000 in gold before the government forced them to leave their beloved mountain home.

The Cherokee were escorted out of Georgia by Federal Troops and Rangers. They were forced to leave any way possible, and they were found leaving by walking and riding what wagons and animals they could gather for the long, difficult, dangerous trail through the rugged weather. More than 4,000 Cherokees died of exposure.

The government wanted all of their land and gold, in exchange for their trip to the Indian Territory, where they became on of 38 tribes forced to relocate and move west of the Mississippi River.

When the Cherokees were forced to leave their homes and farms, the U.S. Government created the First Federal Branch Mint in Dahlonega, Georgia, where they minted another $6 million in coins during the first year, until the Civil War, when the Confederacy took control of the mint for a while.

I have written a good deal about the town where we now live that was called the Cherokee word, "Onega," which in the tribe language means white. The name of the village faced another removal when the town was renamed, and the original name is not referred to in the local history books. Again I am reminded that, "we are still here, for we never left."

Now as I accumulate facts about our town of Onega, where people came from, I find that it is very ironic that so many of our families here in Onega were from the area very close to Dahlonega, Georgia gold mines.

My grandfather, George W. Goin was born in Miledageville, to Robert and Eliza Wood Goin. Their arrival in Texas some few years after the Indian removal took place and the acquaintance to the Onega of Texas makes me aware of the close resemblance of their Georgia hometown.

While in route from their comfortable homes and villages, many of the Georgia families changed their identity to Black Dutch, which seemed to be very effective in sweeping the Indian names under the rug.

The other more sophisticated settlers and pioneers accepted the Black Dutch and the blending of their cultures was more accepted.

Many of the Native American descendants are going to be in our neighborhood this week-end. They are traveling a long distance to be with us during the peanut festival.