Clara Denton Roach shares historical information with me from time to time.
Recently, she sent me a copy of an article that appeared in the Nov. 19, 1879 issue of the Charlotte Observer.
The article is about an interview that the Reverend A.W. Miller, DD – a Presbyterian minister – had with Cheesequire, a Cherokee who lived in the Ground Squirrel Branch area of what is now Graham County.
Rev. Miller was on an evangelistic tour of western North Carolina when he met Cheesequire. Miller was able to converse with Cheesequire with the assistance of an interpreter named John Sneed and also through the Cherokee Chief, John Ross.
Miller found Cheesequire to be more friendly and willing to talk to him than he had expected. Cheesequire held his hand out in greeting and said “See you, howdy.” Miller noted that Cheesequire was still mentally sharp, but had some physical ailments. He thought Cheesequire was 140 years old at the time.
Cheesequire spoke of a flood he had experienced at some time, referring to it as a “wash.” He also talked about fighting against Andrew Jackson.
Rev. Miller asked Cheesequire if he believed in God and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Cheesequire replied that he did believe in them and believed that the Lord would help him when he died. The reverend found that there were a few copies of the New Testament of the Bible written in the Cherokee language present in the area at the time.
Apparently, the Cherokee were aware of some of the religious practices of the white people at the time. It seems that Cheesequire may have thought Miller was a Methodist or a Baptist, for he asked him if he was “Little Water” or “Much Water,” referring to their baptisms.
Miller said that Cheesequire made pocket knives, pistols, rifles and buggies. Miller bought a breech-loading rifle from him that day and said that it shot with precision.
Since a story about Cheesequire and a photo of his grave stone appeared in the Jan. 26, 1995 issue of The Graham Star, there have been numerous requests for more information. People came from as far away as California to visit his grave site.
Marshall McClung is the historical columnist for The Graham Star.