Native Americans Were County’s First Residents
For more then 100 years after the Native Americans were gone, area farmers would find arrowheads, pottery and other artifacts as they plowed their fields.
If I asked you what comes to mind the minute I say the word Douglasville I really doubt you would mention anything having to do with Native Americans, but if you want to be serious about our history we cannot leave them out.
They were here first, right?
You can still see their footprints if you know where to look.
If you search back into the recesses of your memory from middle school you might recall this area was home to both the Cherokee and Creek Nations. You might also remember they didn’t always get along so well. In fact, in 1821, the United States grew weary of the constant fighting between the two nations here in Georgia, so they established a buffer zone 10-miles across that would separate the two groups.
Fanny Mae Davis’ history of Douglas County advises however, both nations had liberty to hunt and fish in the neutral zone. The line and the old trail touched the north side of today’s United Methodist Midway Church property and crossed the future Southern railway track approximately one mile east of mid-town Douglasville. She further advises the site where Douglasville would eventually be located close to the skint chestnut tree was in the neutral zone. The skint chestnut was used as a direction marker and was a significant meeting place for both tribes. It stood at the highest point on the ridge close to where the old courthouse sits today. The picture with this post is one I took looking North from Strickland and Warren Streets indicating the elevation of the ridge where the old courthouse and the old skint chestnut tree is.
The Heritage of Douglas County, Georgia published by the Douglas County Genealogy Society advises a legendary Cherokee Chief, AmaKanasta, is associated with the eastern part of Douglas County and Lithia Springs where lithium laded waters of a spring were used as a cure for aches and pains and lifted the spirits of partakers. It was recorded the chief’s wigwam was located at Salt Springs (Bowden Springs/Lithia Springs). Other area historians advise you can find shallow hallowed rocks near the springs that were used as soaking tubs.
When Interstate 20 was under construction there are several stories regarding various Native American artifacts being unearthed. Some were taken home by construction workers while others were covered with tons of concrete and asphalt. The realization really makes one wonder what might be under the superhighway cutting through the county.
Both the Creeks and Cherokees used the land along the Chattahoochee to grow corn. Even today stones with handmade depressions in them used for grinding corn can be found along the river if you know what you are looking for.
Native Americans also left behind “bent” trees they used as pointers to identify important places or simply as directional markers. Fanny Mae Davis advises a young tree was trained to grow parallel to the ground, the new upward growth forming a right angle which ‘pointed in the direction to a village or spring’. Native carvers favored Beech trees for markers since the wood was easier to sink into. Trees bearing pictograms can be found along many local creeks and the Chattahoochee River.
Once the Indians were removed and the city of Douglasville and Douglas County were established the prime source of income for the area was agriculture. For more then one hundred years after the Native Americans were gone area farmers would find arrowheads, pottery and other artifacts as they plowed their fields. Often these items were simply plowed under and over because they just didn’t understand how important or significant the items might be to future generations. Davis writes about one Chapel Hill farmer who found a large stone weapon of some sort on his property, but at the time it was found it could not be removed without tremendous effort. Later on in the 1950s technology existed to finally remove the object the family had been plowing around. She also writes about an old Indian burial ground that was unearthed by a farmer in the 1930s along the Dog River.
Then there is the Princess Anneewakee Mound located on the west bank of the Chattahoochee River near what used to be Cambellton. Yes, the mound existed. See an aerial view from the 1950s here. The caption with the image advises the mound can be seen about dead center of the photo.
Is it really the burial mound for an Indian princess?
It might be the resting place of the daughter of a Creek chief, but a princess?
No.
The Cherokees and Creeks did hold certain women in high regard, and would have respected the daughter of the chief, but a daughter would not have carried the title princess as we think of a princess today.
One thing we can be certain of is the mound did exist.
George White, a preacher as well as an amateur historian and archaeologist travelled the state in the early 1800s and wrote Historical Collections of Georgia: Containing the Most Interesting Facts, Traditions, Biographical Sketches, Etc., Relating to Its History and Antiquities, from Its First Settlement to the Present Time. The publication was what we would think of today as a travel guide.
White advised, [The tomb was] opposite the village of Campbellton, on the western bank of the Chattahoochee, in a tuft of trees, on one of those mounds so common in Georgia; rests the remains of Anawaqua, and Indian Princess, the former proprietor of the soil. It is situated in a meadow, in a bend of the Chattahoochee, and near the foot of a considerable hill. Ancient fortification are [White’s exact words] traced all around the plain, extending from the river to the hill.
Legend tells us the chief chose that section of the river for his daughter’s resting place because he thought it was the most beautiful, and he loved his daughter so much he named Anneewakee Creek after her. The road would come much later.
Fanny Mae Davis advises in her history that anthropologist had known of the mound from the county’s early days but it wasn’t until after World War II when Dr. Robert Wauchope, and authority regarding Georgia’s platform mounds, gave the Princess Anneewakee mound an examination. He concluded the mound had been built over an earth lodge or log tomb due to the charred wood and pottery fragments found on the site.
Later on after the land exchanged hands the new owner needed some fill dirt and began chipping away at the mound. He had no idea what the mound was or might be. Once he was told about the significance regarding the mound he stopped, but by then there was only about a foot to eighteen inches left. Students from the University of Georgia visited the site and found several artifacts. Mrs. Davis’ book advises among the mound periphery there were tapering lenses, deposits from periods of surface erosions and outwash, fragments of pottery or shards from several ancient periods to early 1800 European ceramics. Shards were radio-carbon dated from A.D. 605 to A.D. 725.
Mary Walker’s article found in the Genealogy Society’s publication states according to “Ray Henderson’s Self Guided Driving Tour of Douglas County”, a 400 pound carved stela [or stele] was found on Jacks Hill and was purported to be the headstone of Princess Anneewakee. It was possibly exposed when the timber for railroad ties was cut for the new line to Birmingham. It was given to the state for display.
A stele is usually stone or a wooden slab with some sort of inscription carved on it. They were used to mark territory but were generally used to mark graves.
Our Native American history is every bit just as important as our history regarding the founding families of Douglasville, the impact or the Civil War, or how Bankhead Highway came to be. Legends along with documented stories and locations of events and found artifacts need to be gathered and documented. I plan to do a little more research regarding the items found in the Anneewakee Mound and some of the history regarding discoveries along I-20.
If you have any information regarding Native American footprints in the area please contact me.
Tell us in the comments.
Andrea Snelling
10:55 am on Monday, March 21, 2011
Your article depicts these Native Americans as primitive persons. Yet the Cherokee Nation had it's own government, newspaper, and written language. They were farmers and shopkeepers. I find it appalling that you did not state that the Native Cherokees and the Creeks were forcibly removed from their lands, including the land in Douglas county, in 1838-39. Over 5000 of the 16,000 Cherokees died on the infamous Trail of Tears, Nothing like "white-washing" history to make it benign.
A. Snelling, Roswell, GA
David Sauls
1:29 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Ms. Cooper in this article concentrates on the history of Native American presence prior to white settlement. The mound is the subject of the article and was obviously built prior to the historical era of the Cherokee you criticize her for omitting. The subject matter had nothing to do with President Jackson's and the state of Georgia's policies of reckless, cruel, and racist treatment of the Creeks and Cherokees. No one disagrees on that conclusion, and her article was not written to address it. Frankly, I find it unfortunate that one would make such implications about an article clearly written on a specific subject and time, that is, the mound, in the early 600's A.D., and attempt to politicize it with an agenda that is as far from the subject matter at hand as it could possibly be. If you are interested in an author that focuses on the foul treatment of these noble people (I am paternally descended from a family that intermarried with both Creeks and Cherokees and am qualified to take far graver exception to the treatment of my own ancestors, yet be educated enough to understand the context of an article that has nothing whatsoever to do with broken treaties, land grabbing, forcible removal from native lands, and outright murder), you need to read Horace Kephart, James Mooney, or Charles Royce.
David Sauls
Lisa Cooper
6:55 pm on Monday, March 21, 2011
Thank you so much, A. Snelling for your passionate comment. I’m glad you found my column this week appalling enough to actually take the time to type a few words, though I thoroughly disagree with you that my column white washed any history. Your thoughts are most appreciated, and I have given your comments more than a few minutes consideration before responding.
Please understand this is a weekly column focusing mainly on the history of Douglasville. Occasionally, I venture into the history of Douglas County as well, and yes, I like to provide a little state and national history to make the pieces all fit together sometimes.
My column for this week focused on the earliest footprints of Native Americans across the land that would one day be Douglas County. You were very correct in your analysis of my column focusing on Native Americans having a primitive history because THEY DID. All of mankind has a primitive history, and since this was one of my first columns dealing with our portion of Native American history here in Douglas County I decided to begin at the beginning with some of our oldest sites such as the Princess Anneewakee legend and the rocks found near Lithia Springs I mentioned in the article.
My response continues in the next comment.....
Lisa Cooper
6:57 pm on Monday, March 21, 2011
Continued from above...
While I would dearly love to tell the entire story in my column, I cannot. I simply do not have the space nor would our esteemed editor here at Douglasville Patch allow me to do so. I have to tell the story in pieces, and that is what I have done here. There was no attempt to whitewash any history or leave any out. My attempt was to point out certain aspects of the earliest known inhabitants of our county, and I believe I did just that.
I believe all of the achievements regarding the Cherokee Nation you mention in your column are all worthy of discussion, and they should be taught in our classrooms over and over, so that it is not forgotten. However, we also need to remember the Cherokee and the Creek Nations did have a primitive beginning with the Mississippian Culture, the premier mound builders. I would venture to state that many of our citizens as well as students do not realize we have the remains of a Native American mound here in the county. There is nothing wrong with remembering the earliest roots of a culture.
In the coming weeks I intend to write more about the Native Americans who lived within Douglas County including the impact of the forced removal and how a scant few actually managed to remain behind. I also intend to share many wonderful stories regarding Douglas County. One at a time though....just one at a time.
David Sauls
1:34 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
I know it's been a while since Andrea Snelling slammes this article, but I had to post a response. My maternal family, the Lee's, owned the old Beaver place until I graduated from high school. My Great-grandfather bought it, and it overlooks the field across the river in which the mound was situated. I grew up along the Fulton County side of that stretch of the river. It's sad that we have so little history on the southeastern peoples prior to (and even after) European exploration and settlement. Snelling's critique of your srticle belies a reader who can read, but not comprehend.
Lisa Cooper
7:08 pm on Monday, March 21, 2011
Continued from above....
Writing about Native Americans is nothing new to me. I’m aware of the rich heritage of the Cherokee and the Creek Nations, and I’m aware of the terrible atrocities committed against Native Americans in the past as well. I invite you and my other readers to visit my two websites for more articles I’ve written at the following links:
http://mymindisongeorgia.blogspot.com/2007/04/chief-vann-house-stamping-out.html
http://historyiselementary.blogspot.com/2007/04/advancing-towards-trail-of-tears.html
and other articles can be scrolled through at this link:
http://historyiselementary.blogspot.com/search/label/Native Americans
I think you will find that the word “benign” is hardly a description for my passion regarding history of all types.
stephen young
7:44 pm on Monday, March 21, 2011
If the Cherokee or the Creek peoples could move the other off their lands they would have...and did try. One group finally managed to move them both. Am I supposed to feel guilty? (because the successful tribe in question was European?) Blah blah blah! News flash; large groups of people not getting along with other large groups...film at 11:00!!!
Statistics are rarely kept well even in "modern times"...I wonder what the fellas name was that stood on the Trail of Tears and made little hash marks on his (cause you know them native European women couldn't count) note pad for every Creek or Cherokee that fell over dead. But hey accuracy isn't important when you're dealing out portions of shame and guilt.
Good story Lisa, complete and interesting.
Jim J
8:29 am on Tuesday, March 22, 2011
On a purely objective evaluation, I'm trying to figure out what part of this article is white washed. This is a snapshot in a moment of time in the span of a window into history. Nowhere does the snapshot lead into the Trail of Tears, where a person could assert white washing to begin with. Had Ms. Cooper said that the Cherokees moved to Oklahoma to run a chain of casinos and live happily every after, that is white washing.
I knew Mrs. Davis and she was very dedicated in expressing thoughtful and fact based material. Nowhere in her writings would she have pulled the wool over anyone's eyes. Ms. Cooper does a very good job in relating Fanny Mae's look into the history of Douglas County. I find it rather appalling that Ms. Cooper along with the degree of separation with Mrs. Davis is called appalling by someone with a knee jerk reaction, who evidently was not able to comprehend what the article said in the first place.
I would recommend a remedial reading course for A. Snelling.
Cathey Kuhn
10:02 am on Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Thank you, Lisa, for encapsulating a brief moment in the timeless story of Douglasville and Douglas County. History is quite often presented as factual material, and it is to some extent, but one must realize that it also includes the subjective perspective of the writer and the audience.
Lisa Cooper
6:40 pm on Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Stephen than you so much for your comment. It's always interesting to get different viewpoints.
Lee, you are becoming a regular. I thrive on the support. I would love to speak with you regarding your personal knowledge regarding Ms. Davis. I wish I had known her.
Cathey, you make a valid point. All history...even realia exhibited in a museum....presents subjective perspective. It is one of the most important characteristics I tried to teach my many fourth and fifth graders. I always suggest that we access historical contact from many sources and from all sides in order to ascertain a true picture. We also need to evaluate each source in isolation to understand where each point of view originates.
Gary L. Warner
5:18 pm on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
I too want to say thank you, not only for the Native Americans in Douglasville story, but for each story you have supplied to the Douglasville Patch. I have enjoyed each and every one of them, and look forward to your new articles. I have never thought that you in any way tried to "white wash" anything.
Again, thank you for your articles.
Gary
Lisa Cooper
9:08 am on Thursday, March 24, 2011
Gary, thank you so much for the comment. While writing is my passion I am loving the fact that I'm learning so much about this area's history. I've met so many interesting citizens that I wouldn't have had it not been for Douglasville Patch.
Brian
12:22 am on Saturday, April 2, 2011
I worked at the Antonio J. Waring , Jr. Archaeological Laboratory on the campus of the University of West Georgia. The Anneewakee mound collection can be found there, including documents and human remains. It surprised me, as other documents suggested that the collection was at the capital.
Lisa Cooper
9:49 am on Saturday, April 2, 2011
Hi Brian.....Thank you so much for taking time to comment and adding more information. Yes, I saw the same references that the collection was in Atlanta. I've toured the state capital building extensively over the years several times and had never seen any reference to the mound, so it's great to know where the artifacts ended up. Seems like I need to make contact with someone at West Georgia, and perhaps a visit is in order.
Matt
12:13 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Howdy Lisa I wanted to add my thanks for this article. I had no idea Creek indians were also north of the Chattahoochee as it has always been my understanding the dividing line between the two tribes was the Chattahoochee, Creek indians to the south, Cherokees to the north. I suppose with a few thousand years of inhabiting the lands both tribes ventured and lived in various places. Interestingly, you speak of Jack's hill and how a "400 pound carved stela" was found here. This is now private property and I have been caretaker of this property for more than 20 years. It is a wonderful place with lots of wildlife and terrain most people would not expect in Douglas County. Over the years we have found several arrowheads and even a stone tool used for grinding corn as you described. In April of this year I found a beautiful flint rock arrowhead with incredible detail. I found it right at the base of Jack's hill and actually most of the artifacts we have stumbled across have been in the same general area around the base of the hill. I have also been told that Jack's Hill was used as a lookout for the Union during the Civil War. This would make sense because you can see 100 miles to the north, easily seeing the Kennsaw, Red Top Mountain, Stone Mountain and Atlanta areas, and even far to the south around the Jonesboro area.
Matt
12:14 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Continued from above...Although Native American history has always been a fascination for me and I have read much on the subject, I do not consider myself an expert of any kind. Thanks for the interesting article. Not sure what A. Snelling has stuffed in her peace pipe, but to claim the Native Americans around here had no primitive history is the real insult and I find that "appaling". I have physical proof beyond any doubt. Thanks again for the informative, well written article.
Lisa Cooper
9:25 am on Thursday, September 15, 2011
Matt, what a wonderful contribution to the conversation here. I would be most interested in seeing some of those artifacts you mention along with speaking with you concerning the property. I'm sorry it has taken me as long as it has to acknowledge your comment. Please accept my apologies and feel free to contact me at my email address at your convenience.....historyiselementary@gmail.com - or through this forum.
Linda Webb Cleveland
6:10 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
Lisa, I thank you for the article I happened upon it as I was looking for my Strickland ancestors and it came upon a list with Strickland names. I saw Strickland Street here. My ancestors came to Georgia in the 1805 land lottery and I'm not proud that they were some of the people who persecuted the Indians out of their land. But they also saved some of the Cherokee women from the Trail of Tears by marrying them that would have otherwise been led to their deaths. We all have our histories and thank you for keeping the stories alive.
Lisa Cooper
3:24 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012
Hi Linda, Thanks for the comment. I would love to speak with you concerning your Strickland relatives. I've been doing some research regarding your family and would love the puzzle pieces regarding the Cherokee relations. Please contact me at my personal email address if possible..... historyiselementary@gmail.com Thanks!!!
David Sauls
2:05 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
We absolutely MUST preserve southeastern Native American history, what little we actually know and have unearthed. Accolades to Lisa Cooper for writing such an excellent article.
Lisa Cooper
3:20 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
David, thank you so much for your comments on this article. I'd love to talk with you about the Lees and your experiences growing up along that stretch of land. You can reach me at historyiselementary@gmail.com :)