Jesse Bushyhead facts for kids
Jesse Bushyhead (born 1804, died 1844) was an important Cherokee leader. He was a religious leader, a politician, and a Baptist minister. He was born near what is now Cleveland, Tennessee. When he was young, he became a Baptist minister.
Jesse Bushyhead was part of the group that supported Chief John Ross. In 1837, Ross sent him on a special trip to the Seminole people. Bushyhead did not agree with the U.S. government's plan to force Native Americans to move west of the Mississippi River. This forced move was called the Indian Removal. Even though he disagreed, he led about 1,000 Cherokee people on the difficult journey known as the Trail of Tears.
In 1839, he arrived near what is now Westville, Oklahoma. There, he started the Baptist Mission. In 1840, he became the chief justice of the Cherokee Nation. He held this important job until he died. His oldest son, Dennis Bushyhead, also became a very important leader. Dennis served as the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1879 to 1887.
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Early Life and Education
Jesse Bushyhead was born in September 1804. His mother was Nancy Foreman, a Cherokee woman with mixed heritage. His father, John Bushyhead Stuart, also had mixed Cherokee ancestry. They lived in a Cherokee village near the city of Cleveland, Tennessee. Jesse went to school at Candy's Creek Mission. He also taught at several schools for boys in that area.
Becoming a Missionary
In 1830, Jesse Bushyhead became a Christian and joined the Baptist church. He was very dedicated to his faith. He started teaching other Cherokee people about Christianity. He also started a church in Amohee, Tennessee, which was his hometown at the time.
He became good friends with a well-known Baptist missionary named Reverend Evan Jones. Reverend Jones would preach in English, and Jesse Bushyhead would translate his words into the Cherokee language. People said that Bushyhead was "the best interpreter in the nation."
In 1832, Reverend Jones suggested to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions that Bushyhead become an assistant missionary. He got the job and worked in this role for the next eleven years. Many believe he was the first Cherokee person to become an ordained Baptist minister. He kept working closely with Jones. Not only did he preach to the Cherokees, but he also helped translate the Book of Genesis and other religious books into the Cherokee language. He used the Cherokee syllabary for these translations. He also served as the pastor of the Amohee church.
Family Life
Jesse Bushyhead married Eliza Wilkerson. They had nine children together. His oldest daughter was Jane. His oldest son, Dennis Bushyhead, became very famous. Dennis served as the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation for two terms, from 1879 to 1887. Jesse Bushyhead's home in Cleveland was located near Mouse Creek, close to where Cleveland High School is today.
The Trail of Tears Journey
Jesse Bushyhead was against the forced removal of the Cherokee people from their homeland in the Southeast. However, the deadline for the move was coming. General Winfield Scott and the U.S. Army were going to make sure the Cherokee people moved to a new land called the Indian Territory.
Reverend Bushyhead volunteered to lead one of the groups of people moving. He led a group from a part of the Cherokee Nation that did not have a strong leader.
The group led by Bushyhead followed the same northern path as the group led by Evan Jones. This path went north through Tennessee and Kentucky. They crossed the Ohio River at Golconda, Illinois. Then, they went west to cross the Mississippi River near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. After that, they turned southwest towards the Indian Territory.
When they started the journey, Bushyhead's group had 950 people. During the long trip, 8 people sadly died, but 6 babies were born. One of these babies was his daughter, Eliza Missouri Bushyhead. In the end, 898 people from his group safely reached their destination on February 23, 1838.
The journey ended at a place Bushyhead called Pleasant Hill. This spot was about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) north of the modern town of Westville, Oklahoma. It was also about 70 miles (113 kilometers) from Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Cherokee people called this place "Breadtown" because food rations were given out there. Later, they named the place "Baptist Mission."
Death and Burial
Jesse Bushyhead passed away on July 17, 1844. He had been sick for a short time, but the exact illness is not known. He was buried at the old Baptist Mission cemetery near Westville.
Quick facts for kids |
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Bushyhead, Rev. Jesse, Grave
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Westville, Oklahoma |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1844 |
| MPS | Cherokee Trail of Tears MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001334 |
| Added to NRHP | December 06, 2004 |
Jesse Bushyhead's grave at the Baptist Mission Cemetery has a tall marble monument. It is about 15 feet (4.6 meters) high. This grave is the only remaining property connected to his life. Because of this, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Adair County, Oklahoma.
One side of the monument says: "Sacred to the memory of Rev. Jesse Bushyhead, born in the old Cherokee Nation in East Tennessee, September, 1804; died in the present Cherokee Nation, July 17, 1844. 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'" There is also an inscription in the Cherokee language at the bottom.
The other side of the monument has this message: "Rev. Jesse Bushyhead was a man noble in person and noble in heart. His choice was to be a true and faithful minister of his Lord and Master rather than any high and worldly position. He loved his country and people, serving them from time to time in many important offices and missions. He united with the Baptist Church in his early manhood and died as he had lived, a devoted Christian."
Images for kids
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Jesse Bushyhead's grave monument.
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A plaque at the grave site, mentioning the Trail of Tears.
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A closer look at the base of the grave monument.
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The Cherokee inscription on the side of the monument.
