This website is to honor those who have led our Cherokee People; it is a 
continuing website--all information came from the internet; it is intertwined 
with my other website at: Alice's Corner and referals 
will be noted.
**Please do not take everything as factual because all information came from the 
internet!!!  PLEASE EMAIL CORRECTIONS TO ME.
Special mention and sources:  "Cherokee Lineages" by James R. Hicks and "The 
History of the Cherokee Indians" by Emmet Starr.
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For more information about the Eastern Cherokee Chiefs, click on: Eastern Cherokee Chiefs.

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Early leaders:
 Before 1794, the Cherokee had no standing national government. Their structure was based on clans  and towns, which had various leaders. The clans had functions within each town and the tribe. The  towns appointed some leaders to represent the tribe to British, French, and (later) American  authorities. The range of aboriginal titles were usually translated into English as "chief." The  term "emperor" is placed in quotes, since this title was created by Sir Alexander Cuming and was  not accepted by the tribe as a whole.
 1. Outacite (d. 1729), peace chief, signed a 1720 treaty with Governor Nicholson, outacite is  actually his title
 2. Charitey Hagey of Tugaloo (1716–1721)
 3. Long Warrior of Tanasi (1729–1730)
 4. Wrosetasetow, "emperor" of the Cherokees until 1730; real title was Ama-edohi or "water-goer"  [served as a trade commissioner]
 5. Moytoy of Tellico (also known as Ama-edohi); (d. 1741), declared "emperor" by the British from  1730 until 1741, real title was Ama-edohi or "water-goer" 6. Attakullakulla (or "Little Carpenter", Ada-gal'kala, Attacullaculla, Oukou-naka)(1708/1711 –1780), white peace chief from Echota recognized as primary chief by the British, or "president of  the nation" from 1762 to 1778
 7. Amouskositte (or Ammouskossittee, Amascossite, Ammonscossittee, Amosgasite, "Dreadfulwater") of  Great Tellico (b. ca. 1728), served as "emperor" from 1741–1753, son of Moytoy 8. Old Hop (or Guhna-gadoga, Kanagatucko, and "Standing Turkey")[11](1753–1756), war chief from  Echota; either Ammouskossitte's uncle or father.
 9. Moytoy of Citico (or Amo-adaw-ehi), war chief during the Anglo-Cherokee War (1759–1761), nephew  of the Moytoy of Tellico.
 10. Uka Ulah (also Ukah Ulah)(d. 1761), "emperor;" nephew of Old Hop, 11. Stalking Turkey (or Cunne Shote), traveled to England in 1762 with Henry Timberlake 12. Outacite of Keowee (ca. 1703–ca. 1780) (also known as "Judd's Friend", Outacity, Outassite,  Outacite, Outassatah, Wootasite, Wrosetasetow,[13] Ostenaco, Outassete, Scyacust Ukah) traveled  to England in 1762 with Henry Timberlake, chief
 13. Oconostota (also known as Ogan'sto', "Groundhog Sausage") (1712–1781), red war chief of Echota,  served entire tribe from 1778–1785,
 14. Savanukah of Chota (1781–1783)
 Old Tassel (or "Corntassel," "Tassel," Kaiyatahee) (d. 1788), peace chief from Echota, served from  1783–1788
 15. Raven of Chota (or Colonah), war chief; nephew of Oconostota 16. Little Turkey, served from 1788–1794 opposed by Hanging Maw (or Scolaguta), served 1788–1794

Chickamauga/Lower Cherokee (1777–1809)[edit]
 In 1777, Dragging Canoe and a large body of Cherokee separated themselves from the tribes which had  signed treaties of peace with the Americans during the American Revolution. They migrated first to  the Chickamauga (now Chattanooga, Tennessee) region, then to the "Five Lower Towns" area —further  west and southwest of there —in order to continue fighting (see Chickamauga Wars). In time, these  Chickamauga Cherokee became a majority of the nation, due to both sympathy with their cause and the  destruction of the homes of the other Cherokee who later joined them. The separation ended at a  reunification council with the Cherokee Nation in 1809.
 Chiefs:
 Dragging Canoe (1777–1792)
 John Watts (1792–1802)
 Doublehead, brother of Old Tassel, served from 1802–1807
 The Glass, or Ta'gwadihi (1807–1809)
 Cherokee Nation East (1794–1839)
 John Ross, c. 1866
 Little Turkey was elected First Beloved Man of the Cherokee (the council seat of which was shifted  south to Ustanali near what is now Calhoun, Georgia) in the aftermath of the assassination by  frontiersmen of Corntassel (also called Cornsilk) and several other leaders. Hanging Maw of  Coyatee, listed above, claimed the title as his right by tradition, as he was the headman of the  Upper Towns. Many Cherokee and the US government recognized him as Principal Chief. Little Turkey  was finally recognized as "Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation" by all the towns after the end  of the Chickamauga Wars when the Cherokee established their first nominal national government. Little Turkey (1794–1801)
 Black Fox (1801–1811)
 Pathkiller (1811–1827) Big Tiger (1824–1828); principal chief of the faction of those in the Nation  following Whitepath's teachings inspired by the Seneca prophet Handsome Lake. Charles R. Hicks (1827), de facto head of government from 1813 William Hicks (1827–1828)
 John Ross (1828–1839) William Hicks (1833–1835), elected principal chief of the faction supporting  emigration to the west.

Cherokee Nation West (1810–1839)[edit]
 Originally along the St. Francis and White Rivers in what was first Spanish Louisiana and later  Arkansas Territory, the Western Cherokee eventually migrated to Indian Territory after the Treaty  of Washington in 1828. They named their capital there Tahlontiskee. John Jolly died while the  Latecomers were arriving and John Looney succeeded automatically. Looney was deposed by the council  and replaced with Brown with a view toward putting the Cherokee Nation West in a better position  vis-a-vis the Ross party. After the murders of Major Ridge, John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot (Treaty  party members who supported the Old Settlers) in June 1839, the council had a change of heart about  resisting Ross' autocratic demands and deposed Brown, replacing him with Looney. A sizable faction  of the Old Settlers refused to recognize Looney and elected Rogers in his stead, but their efforts  to maintain autonomy petered out the next year.
 The Bowl (1810–1813)
 Degadoga (1813–1817)
 Tahlonteeskee (1817–1819)
 John Jolly (1819–1838)
 John Looney (1838–1839)
 John Brown (1839)
 John Looney (1839)
 John Rogers (1839–1840)
 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (1824–present):
 Yonaguska (1824–1839)
 William Holland Thomas (1838–1869)
 Salonitah, or Flying Squirrel (1870–1875)
 Lloyd R. Welch (1875–1880)
 Nimrod Jarrett Smith (1880–1891)
 Stillwell Saunooke (1891–1895)
 Andy Standing Deer (1895–1899)
 Jesse Reed (1899–1903)
 Bird Saloloneeta, or Young Squirrel (1903–1907)
 John Goins Welch (1907–1911)
 Joseph A. Saunooke (1911–1915)
 David Blythe (1915–1919)
 Joseph A. Saunooke (1919–1923)
 Sampson Owl (1923–1927)
 John A. Tahquette (1927–1931)
 Jarret Blythe (1931–1947)
 Henry Bradley (1947–1951)
 Jarret Blythe (1955–1959)
 Osley Bird Saunooke (1951–1955)
 Jarret Blythe (1955–1959)
 Olsey Bird Saunooke (1959–1963)
 Jarret Blythe (1963–1967)
 Walter Jackson (1967–1971)
 Noah Powell (1971–1973)
 John A. Crowe (1973–1983)
 Robert S. Youngdeer (1983–1987)
 Jonathan L. Taylor (1987–1995)
 Gerard Parker (1995)
 Joyce Dugan (1995–1999)
 Leon Jones (1999–2003)
 Michell Hicks (2003–present)

[Source: For more information, click on: Principal Chiefs of the 
Cherokee.]
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*Indicates that they are finished.
The following lists come from: The Cherokee Nation website: 
http:www.cherokee.org/Culture/ and other sources:
EARLY CHEROKEE CHIEFS:
*Moytoy, *Moytoy (Pigeon of Tellico) (1730-60); *Atakullakulla (1760-1775); 
*Oconostota (1775-1780); *Hanging Maw (1780-1792); Little Turkey (1792-1801); 
*Black Fox (1801-1811);  *Pathkiller (1811-1827); *Charles Renatus Hicks 
(1827); *William Abraham Hicks (1826-1828); *John Ross (1828-1839) prior to 
being elected under the 1839 Constitution in Indian Territory; *Chief Major 
Ridge & son *John Ridge; *Sour Mush; Chief Kelechule; Chief Sleeping Rabbit; 
Chief Roman Nose.
OTHER EARLY CHEROKEE CHIEFS:
*Ostenaco (War Chief)--French & Indian War; *Oconstota(Cunne Shote, 
Stalking Turkey or Standing Turkey)--one of 3 Cherokee Chiefs who travelled to 
London in 1762 to see King George III (nephew of the Chief "Old Hop"); *Old 
Hop; *Doublehead; *Chief (Major) George Lowrey; *Asst. Chief George Lowrey; 
*Chief Red Bird; *Chief John Watts Jr.; *Chief White Path, *Chief Fly Smith; 
*Chief Chulioa (Shoeboot);
OTHER CHIEFS, TOWN CHIEFS, AND IMPORTANT CHEROKEE People: *Sequoyah (George 
Guess);*Chief James Vann and son *Joseph Vann; *David Vann; *Chief John Benge; 
*Robert "Bob" Benge; *William "Will" Penn Adair Rogers, *Ned Christie; *George 
Washington Fields Jr.; *Richard George Fields, Capt. & Judge; *Houston B. 
Teehee; *US Sen. *Robert L. Owen; *NANCY (Nanye'hi) WARD; *Princess 
Cornblossom Doublehead and husband Jacob "Big Jake Troxell; *Diana "Talihina" 
Rogers and husband Sam Houston; *The Terrapin; Commission Appointed by Pres. 
Cleveland in 1893:  *CN Senator William H. Hendricks Jr. (Pres.); James M. 
Keys; Thomas R. Knight, Coffee Woodall, and Darius E. Ward (Sec.); *CN/Sen. & 
Judge John Gunter Schrimsher; *Stephen Riley Lewis; *Rev. Jesse Bushyhead;
OLD SETTLER CHIEFS (AR):
*Col. John Bowles (1795-1813); Takatoka (1813-1818); Tahlonteskee (1818-1819); 
*John Jolly (1819-1838); *John Rogers Jr. (1838-1839); *John Looney (1838-Apr. 
22, 1839 and July 1839-Sep 1839, when the Oklahoma Settler (Western) Cherokee 
signed an agreement with the Eastern Cherokee, and the Cherokee Nation's 1839 
Constitution was signed into agreement; Third Chief: *Thomas Chishom; *Chief 
Black Coat.
CONSTITUTIONAL CHIEFS OF THE CHEROKEE NATION (Federally Recognized Tribe)(IT & 
OK):
*John Ross (1827-1866); *William Potter Ross (1866-1867, 1872-1875); *Lewis 
Downing (1867-1872); *Charles Thompson (1875-1879); *Dennis Bushyhead (1879-
1888); *Joel Bryan Mayes (1888-1891); *Colonel Johnson Harris (1891-1895); 
*Samuel H. Mayes (1895-1899); *Thomas Mitchell Buffington (1899-1903); 
*William C. Rogers (1903-1907) (served until 1917 in various capacities); *W. 
W. Keeler (1971-1975) (served since 1949, as named by US Presidents (see Chief 
for A Day); *Ross Swimmer (1975-1985); *Wilma Mankiller (1985-1995); *Joe Byrd 
(1995-1999); *Chadwick "Corntassel" Smith (1999); Acting Chief Joe Crittenden; Bill John Baker;
CHEROKEE CHIEFS OF TEXAS:
*John Bowles (*See Old Settler Chiefs, moved from MO to AR to TX, died in 
1839); Big Mush (Hard Mush, and Gatunwali)(Diplomat or "War Chief") died in 
1839;*Richard Fields (killed in 1827) (shared leadership with John Bowles);
*Tah-chee or "Dutch" refused to go to from AR to IT, settled in east Texas;
KEETOOWAH CHEROKEES (Federally Recognized Tribe in OK):  *Redbird Smith and 
sons: *Sam Smith, *John Redbird Smith; *Oce Hogshooter, Alex Deerinwater, 
Lincoln Towle;
CHEROKEE CHIEFS OF THE EASTERN BAND, NC (Federally Recognized Tribe):
*Will Thomas (White Chief of the Cherokee), *Chief Drowning Bear, *Chief James 
Billy; *Chief Junaluska (Snow Bird Clan); *Flying Squirrel (Call-lee-high) 
Principal Chief and John Jackson (0-wah-ben-tee) 2nd Chief (1870-75); *Lloyd 
R. Welch (1875-80); *Nimrod Jarret Smith (1880-91); Stilweel Saunooke (1891-
85); Andy Standing deer (1895-99); Jesse Reed (1899-1903); Bird Saloloneeta 
(1903-07); John G. Welch (1907-11); Joseph A. Saunooke (1911-15); David Blythe 
(1915-19); Joseph A. Saunooke (1919-23); Sampson Owl (1923-27); John A. 
Tahquette (1927-31); *Jarrett Blythe 3 terms: (1931-47) (1955-59) (1963-67 
(Retired); Jesse Reid; Leon Jones; Michell Hicks; Jonathan L. Taylor;
CHEROKEE CHIEFS OF THE CIVIL WAR (IT):
During the Civil War years, the Cherokee Nation was divided into factions--the 
Northern and Southern.  The National Council was dismissed and Chief John Ross 
was in Philadelphia.  Both sides attempted to conduct business when 
necessary.  Temporary Chiefs were chosen to lead for both sides. 
[UNION CHIEFS]: *Major Thomas Peggs (1862-1863); Smith Christie (1863); and 
*Lewis Downing (1864-1866) *See Constituional Cherokee Chiefs.
[CONFEDERATE CHIEFS]:  *Stand Watie (assumed the title of Chief for the 
Southern Cherokees for a while); John Spears, and Samuel McDaniel Taylor.
CHEROKEE CHIEFS FOR A DAY (Cherokee Nation IT & OK):  Appointed by US Pres., 
for a day at a time to sign documents, among other such duties.
*Andrew Bell Cunningham, Chief for 17 days: Nov. 8-25, 1919; Edward M. Fry, 
Chief for 1 day: June 23, 1923; *Richard B. Choate, Chief for 1 day, 1925; 
*Charles J. Hunt, Chief for 1 day: Dec. 27, 1928; *Oliver P. Brewer, Chief for 
1 day: May 26, 1931; *William W. Hasting, Chief for 1 day: Jan. 22, 1936; 
*Jesse B. Milam, Chief for 1 day: Apr. 14, 1942 and also for 6 years from May 
18, 1943 to May 8, 1949; *William W. Keeler, Chief for 22 years: July 1949 
until Aug 1971 when he was elected by the Cherokee people and served until 
1975.
ASST. CHIEFS OF THE CHEROKEE NATION [IT & OK]: [Source: Chronicles of OK]
*Joseph Vann 29 Sep 1839-26 Jun 1840); Anderson Vann 26 Jun 1840-43; George 
Lowrey (1843-51); *Richard Fox Taylor (1851-55); John Spear (1855-59); Joseph 
Vann (1859-62),(1867-1871); Robert Buffington Daniel (1871-16 Jan 1872); James 
Vann (23 Nov 1872-75); David Rowe (1875-79); William P. Adair (1879-21 Oct 
1880); *Rabbit Bunch (1880-5 Nov 1887); *Samuel Smith (1887-91); Henry 
Chambers (Nov & Dec 1891); *Rev. Stephen Teehee (23 Dec 1891-95); *George 
Washington Swimmer (1895-1903); *David McNair Faulkner (3 Aug 1903-30 Jun 
1904).
CHEROKEE ARTISTS: *Talmadge Davis;
OTHER FAMOUS CHEROKEES:  Granville "Oral" Roberts and son Richard Roberts, 
evangelists;  *For other famous people, *click on the 2 links listed below.
0THER CHEROKEE TRIBES:
There seem to be many Cherokee Tribes:  Many Cherokees hid during the removal 
and many stayed at locations along the Trail of Tears.  Many states have state 
recognized bands--AL has at least 4; GA, MO, AR, TX, CA...even Mexico!!  All 
of these Cherokees have the same blood in their veins as those in OK and NC!  
My main goal was to list those found mainly in the Cherokee Nation of OK.
Miscellaneous Cherokee Information:
(1) *Legend of "Tsali" (Look under Tsali); (2) *Legend of the Cherokee Rose 
(look under Cherokee Rose); *Legend of the Rose Rock (look under Rose Rock); 
*Cherokee Village/Towns (look under Cherokee); *Seven Clans (look under Seven 
Clans); The Seven Ceremonies of the Cherokee (look under Seven Ceremonies);  
Cherokee Sacred Colors (look under Sacred Colors); Indian Affairs: Laws and 
Treaties (look Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties);  Cherokee Tradition 
Clothing (look under clothing);
HISTORICAL CHEROKEE SITES (*indicates finished): (1) *Brainerd Mission and 
*Brainerd Mission Cemetery, Chattanooga, TN; (2) *Ross' Landing, Chattanooga, 
TN; (3) *Chief John Ross Home, Rossville, GA; (4) *Red Clay, TN; (5) *Tellico 
Blockhouse, Vonore, TN (6) *Fort Loudon, Vonore, TN; (7) *The Sequoyah 
Birthplace Museum, Vonore, TN; (8) *Junaluska Museum (See Chief Junaluska); 
(9) *Qualla Boundary (Eastern NC Cherokees) and the Museum of the Cherokee 
Indian, Cherokee NC; 10) Dahlonega Gold Museum, GA; (11) 
*Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home (see Major Ridge); (12) *Chief 
James Vann Home (see Chief James Vann & Joseph "Rich Joe" Vann); (13) 
*Cherokee Removal Forts (see Forts, Cherokee Removal); (14) *New 
Echota, GA; (15) *Tahlequah, OK, Historic Chreokee Sites and Monuments; (16) 
*Murrell Home at Park Hill, OK *See Murrell; (17) *Sequoyah's Home at 
Sallisaw, OK, (*see George Guess);
*Cherokee Warrior Memorial (located at the Cherokee Tribal Complex, Tahlequah, 
OK): see Memorial, Cherokee Warrior.