Junaluska – One Hundred Years Later

(Originally Published Thursday, November 18, 2010 – Blogger: One Daughter’s Point of View)

I was honored to be included in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the original dedication of the grave of Junaluska. Even today our members remain excited about the role our chapter played a century ago to ensure the marking of the grave of Junaluska.

Imagine. One hundred years have passed since the original dedication in November 1910. In 1910, William Howard Taft was President of the United States. The Boy Scouts of American had just been organized. The Titanic had not yet been completed, let alone sunk. There were just 47 states. Clothes didn’t have zippers. The Wright Brothers has only recently conquered flight and the Model T-Ford was just a couple of years old. The war to end all wars had yet to be waged and the roaring 20s had yet to roar.

And in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a small group of women had organized a chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution which was just a few years old. But in 1910, this newly formed chapter of only about 15 members had already made a mark to preserve history.

In preparation for speaking at the centennial event, I retrieved records from our chapter archives as well as talked to some of our members about oral history. I have to admit, it was easy to get lost in 100 years of amazing chapter history made by amazing DAR women.

According to documentation found, it appears that the first reference to the Junaluska project was in correspondence to Mrs. William N. (Kate Bitting) Reynolds dated 1907. It seems she was trying to solicit funds to erect a monument for Junaluska but had not been successful. The fact that this project originated when Mrs. Reynolds was regent is support by chapter oral history and other documented records.

Mrs. Reynolds was a devout Presbyterian who supported missionary work. And it was via this cause that Mrs. Reynolds learned from Miss Hawkins, a missionary working with the Cherokee, the difficulties in securing funding to preserve the grave of Junaluska.

But it wasn’t until 1908 that the Junaluska project is first mentioned in the chapter’s minutes. On June 1st, the following was recorded: “It was decided to celebrate Flag day and the Regent was asked to inquire [about the] cost of [purchasing a] Flag and also to take up the matter of suitably marking the grave of Junaluska in Clay County and report at the next meeting.”

The chapter recessed for the summer until October, but called a special meeting on September 13, 1908 for “an important business meeting” and included further discussion regarding the marking of Junaluska’s grave. According to the minutes, “The Regent read a letter from Miss Hawkins relating our proposed monument to Junaluska, and it was decided to take immediate action to have the grave marked with a large bounder, suitably inscribed.” An interesting side note is that the important business also included marking a local inn where General Washington had slept.

At the state convention that same year, the chapter regent reported about the chapter’s intent to “…erect a monument to the noble Indian Chief Junaluska, the friend of Andrew Jackson, whose life he once saved. The body of the old brave has lain for a century in an unmarked grave in Clay County, among his beloved mountains and our Chapter has arranged to have the spot enclosed and marked by a large boulder bearing a plate suitably inscribed.” But there is still no mention of why the ladies decided to place a large boulder.

During the December 1908 meeting, additional correspondence was read from Ms. Hawkins regarding the boulder which was purchased for $25 and not the $50 originally proposed. Given the size of the $25 boulder and the effort it took to put it in place (8 oxen, up hill, rugged NC mountain roads), it was probably a wise move. The discussion regarding the expenses for the boulder and later a fence suggest that the chapter treasury funded the memorial in lieu of an individual member as has been reported. Continued correspondence during 1909 and 1910 shows that the women followed the progress of the memorial work from Winston-Salem with great interest.

The first mention of the iron fence that was placed around the grave site was noted in the minutes of October 1909 when “…a motion was made to enclose [the] grave with an iron fence, the gate bearing the name of Junaluska to cost $25. The unveiling was to take place March 26th, 1910, this being the anniversary of the Battle of Horse Shoe Bend.” The ladies appointed a committee to secure funding for the fence. Two months later the regent reported that the fence, gate and freight to transport it to the grave site cost $21.37. I’m sure the women were relieved to be under budget on this project.

Finally, in October 1910, the ladies of the General Joseph Winston DAR Chapter begin to make plans to attend the unveiling of the Junaluska monument. Given that it took me four hours to drive modern highways in 2010, one can only imagine the effort it must have taken to plan and make the trip in 1910 from the town of Winston to the mountains of North Carolina near the Georgia and Tennessee state lines.

Also, at the October 1910 meeting, the ladies noted that the land or rather “the town of Robbinsville” had been sold, but that the deed to the burial site had been retained for presentation to our chapter. Sadly, this fact would eventually be forgotten and buried in our chapter records until the late 1980s when the property rights were returned to the Cherokee.

So, at that first dedication one hundred years ago, it was decided that the chapter regent, Mrs. John L. (Emma Jones) Gilmer, would speak at the unveiling and that the U.S. Flag would be used as a veil which would be removed by the Cherokee to reveal the grave site. They also requested a brass band.

In November 1910, the chapter presented a report at the state convention regarding their activities for the year. The report finally yields information regarding why a large boulder was selected for the memorial of Chief Junaluska.

“Our first meeting of the past year was marking the grave of the grand old Indian Chief Junaluska. Through his loyalty to the whites and the great service rendered [to] Andrew Jackson at the Battle of Horse Shoe Bend [his was considered] One of the few immortal names/That were not born to die.

“The unveiling was to have taken place March 26th, the anniversary of this battle, but was postponed until November 5th to suit the convenience of the members who wished to attend the exercises.

“This huge granite boulder marked by a bronze tablet is especially appropriate, typical of the strong, noble character of the old Indian chief…”

The word “native” was often used when referring to the boulder. The boulder or rock was native to North Carolina, perhaps carved from the mountainside. It has been widely documented how much Junaluska loved his native home, overcoming obstacles to include forced removal to the west, and was finally able to return here until his death surrounded by the beautiful mountains.

I think the bounder represents his love of the mountains, nature and North Carolina. I think the boulder symbolizes his strength as a warrior and well as in character. I think this boulder is the perfect memorial to Junaluska.

But why in the world would a small group of ladies from the city seek to honor Junaluska in the far mountain corner of the state?

We begin all of our DAR meetings with the following words:

” To perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence; to promote the development of an enlightened public opinion; and to foster patriotic citizenship; – these are the objects of our Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.”

These objects drive the tasks of the Daughters of the American Revolution. We have committees established to honor veterans, support active duty military personnel, DAR Schools, schools for Native Americans, and Native American history and culture as well as scholarship opportunities. I suppose the question isn’t why did we honor Junaluska, but instead, why wouldn’t we?

If you go to the national DAR website, http://www.dar.org/, you’ll immediately see the following words in large font:

• Education;
• Landmarks;
• History;
• Preservation; and
• Patriotism

These are words that are taken seriously by a member of the DAR. In the case of Junaluska, I think our members in 1910 felt it was our duty to educate the public with a landmark of his burial site, preserving for history the man who expressed great patriotism for both North Carolina and the U.S. as well as his beloved Cherokee. It is gratifying to see that one hundred years after the initial dedication, that these ideals are more than words. These ideals are goals that have now been achieved thanks to the work of many of the people who attended the centennial dedication.

As a matter of fact, the whole site which once consisted of little more than a large rock with a plaque to mark the grave site surrounded by an iron fence has grown into a beautiful memorial to both the man who was Junaluska and the Cherokee past and present.

Our current national DAR President General has invoked the theme “Preserve the Past, Enhance the Present, and Invest in the Future” for her administration. It is easy to see this theme living and breathing around us today.

Note: The ladies working on the original dedication didn’t always have their facts correct. They reported that Junaluska had been buried 100 years before, but he fought in the War of 1812 with General Jackson and died after a long life in the 1860s. Additionally, chapter minutes refer to him as a Chief. But I was advised that while he was a great leader, Junaluska was never a Chief. So, while the facts weren’t always right, their hearts were at least in the right place.

Pictures of the original dedication may be found on our Facebook page (click here and “like” us) as well as photos of the memorial today.