December 14, 2005

Last week, I was explaining about the fort and cave in Mexico where Sequoyah was buried. Near this cave was a spring flowing from the ground from an 8 to 10 inch pipe. The fresh water flowed freely from the ground. The water is pleasantly a warm body temperature of 98.6 degrees as it comes out of the ground. It flows continuously throughout the year. The water is cooled down after a few minutes and offers a cool drink.

After Sequoyah’s death, his two sons slipped back to Oklahoma and the Cherokee Nation to spread the news of his death. It was not believed and many did not accept his death at the cave. His son named, Tsee-sa-le-ab-lab, had deep regrets for not providing Sequoyah with a more decent burial.

At the time Sequoyah was leading the Cherokee nation, he was recognized by Washington D.C. When forty-six other leaders in the Cherokee Nation assembled to form a treaty that recognized the Cherokee Nation by Washington. John Ross was a major in 1791 and was a diplomat of genuine Indian character. He was assistant principal chief in 1827. The government in Washington was trying to break the monopoly of the Cherokee Nations down

I would like to mention that John Ross was a distant relative of Iva Hampton who currently lives in Aubrey.

I didn’t finish telling about the Ed Rae home a couple a weeks ago. Jim Bell and his family were in the family photo. From the photo you could tell that the land produced cotton. Jim Bell married Allie (Sanders) Bell and raised his family on the large farm.

The Ed Rae family owned this land previous to Jim Bell. The "Old Settlers" secured a large tract of the deep sandy soil which produced many products in that early day.

Ed Rae, the great grandfather of M. Leon Melton, was the chief engineer for the development of the Rae Lake. The Rae Lake covered several acres and served the community in the summer months as a place for public picnics and swimming. The Rae family spent many laborious hours with the horse drawn fresno that would pull up the bushels of dirt. The driver would start the horse down in the lower part of the huge water spring and scoop a load of dirt and pull the fresno loaded with dirt back up to the higher portion of the land to build the area for the public beach. Churches were free to use the lake for their ritual services.

The Bell house served their family for many years. O.D. (Wacker) Melton recalls many visits to the farm. O.D. and Leon Melton’s mother was a Sanders. Her name was Sudie and she married J.D. Melton. Her sister was Etta Sanders who married Herman Johnson.

May 2006 bring more moisture and may the New Year be peaceful and an abundant year for all of us. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!