Jesse Bushyhead
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Jesse Bushyhead (1804–1844) was a Cherokee
religious and political leader. He was born in southeastern Tennessee
. As a young man, he was ordained a Baptist minister. A member of the John Ross
faction of the Cherokees, he was dispatched by Ross in 1837 on a mission to the Seminole
s. Although he opposed the policy of removal to the west, he accepted the inevitable and led a party of about 1,000 people on the Trail of Tears
. On his arrival in 1839 near present-day Westville, Oklahoma
, he established the Baptist Mission, which marked the end of the Trail of tears. He became chief justice of the Cherokee nation in 1840 and remained in that office until his death.
.
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
religious and political leader. He was born in southeastern Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. As a young man, he was ordained a Baptist minister. A member of the John Ross
John Ross (Cherokee chief)
John Ross , also known as Guwisguwi , was Principal Chief of the Cherokee Native American Nation from 1828–1866...
faction of the Cherokees, he was dispatched by Ross in 1837 on a mission to the Seminole
Seminole
The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation emerged in a process of ethnogenesis out of groups of Native Americans, most significantly Creeks from what is now Georgia and Alabama, who settled in Florida in...
s. Although he opposed the policy of removal to the west, he accepted the inevitable and led a party of about 1,000 people on the Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830...
. On his arrival in 1839 near present-day Westville, Oklahoma
Westville, Oklahoma
Westville is a town in Adair County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,596 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Westville is located at ....
, he established the Baptist Mission, which marked the end of the Trail of tears. He became chief justice of the Cherokee nation in 1840 and remained in that office until his death.
Rev. Jesse Bushyhead Grave
Jesse Bushyhead's grave at the Baptist Mission Cemetery is marked by a 15 feet (4.6 m) marble monument. His grave is the only surviving property associated with his life, and as such is listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.