Rosia Atherton told me that there were four out-of-state Cherokee Tribe Chiefs present, and they were impressed with the fine variety of events and display of traditional clothing worn. I must admit that I too thought the event was a very beautiful celebration. It is very impressive that this group of people is interested in holding to the traditions that were common in this area.

Many of the land grants and titles to the local land in Denton County began developing during the 1850's up until the time of the Civil War. The people occupied and tilled the soil for production of corn and other foods. It was during the 1840's, 1850's and 1860's that the Red Man’s habits were being changed and not necessarily for the betterment of the Indians. Many log houses and native rock homes were being built which was causing the Indians to relocate. The Indians had been roaming around from year to year in this unmolested environment.

They thought of the area as their possession, but while they were thinking this, a politician, Sam Houston, who had lived with the Cherokees for a long period, had other deep secreted thoughts to implement.

Many of the early day settlers had made the change from their old customs to that of the present day population and adopted the title of "Black Dutch." Their ancestors who remained in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama in the former Cherokee Nation had already changed their identity to Black Dutch. The Black Dutch found that they were accepted when they acquired the new identity and were allowed to acquire land and grants also.

On March 5, 1861, Dennis Cowan from Harrison County possessed 640 acres that included the local downtown area, and soon became good land for the local speculators. On September 3, 1850, Mr. W. L. Holman from the Cowan survey. John Lowder had bought 58.5 acres on November 5, 1872 to a Mr. W.W. Holman. It was the area that became the first business section in the 1850's and 1860's.

Most Indian descendants that I have known and talked with have been put down for being illiterate, dirty and uneducated. I have learned that when an Indian is put down, the person who is putting them down is probably the more illiterate of the two. This reaction is quite obvious and is a very old part of the Indians’ life. Many Europeans found that what the Indians had was far superior to what they were accustomed to in their old country.

One example of a local Native American custom was when the Civil War ended, it took the message three weeks to travel to Texas. And yet on the other hand, when General Custer was defeated in his famous battle, the message arrived in Texas the next day. General Custer’s defeat was only a few years after the Civil War ended, and no high speed communication methods had been developed in this short period. However there were many different languages being spoken in the entire country which included many different languages that the Native Americans were still speaking.

In talking with the Texas Cherokee Tribe Chief, he said that the Texas Cherokees had a good time on their annual visit to Mexico. I told him that I was making plans to make the next trip when the time rolls around again.