Almost The End Of The Cherokee's Sad Journey Westward

Almost The End Of The Cherokee's Sad Journey Westward. . The Indian Removal Act was signed by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830. This act put in motion the systematic removal of the Choctaws, Muscogee Creeks, Chickasaws, Seminoles, and Cherokees from their ancestral homes in the east to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). The trek from their ancestral homes was a sad uprooting full of uncertainties and dangers and has become known as the "Trail of Tears." , In the winter of 1838-1839 three parties of Cherokees came by here. These groups traveled west by land until they reached the Line Road north of Van Buren. Here they turned north and proceeded on the line Road to this area. Two groups turned and went west into Indian Territory. The third group ended their removal journey at Vineyard (Evansville). , Lieutenant Robert Whiteley with about 724 Cherokee passed here August 3, 1838. Lieutenant Gustavus S. Drane's Cherokee party passed here September 2, 1838. The Bell party of about 650 Cherokees led by Cherokee, John A. Bell, and Lieutenant Edward Deas reached here January 8, 1939 and disbanded. Other Cherokee parties coming from the north by Cane Hill may have passed here. , In the 1830s, John Latta moved to this area and called the place Vineyard, for "The Lord's Vineyard." He built his two story log house (photo above) about 1834. He was postmaster at Vineyard from 1835 to 1838. On December 27, 1838, Lewis Evans became postmaster and the name of the town was changed to Evansville. The Latta house was moved to the Prairie Grove Battlefield in 1958 where it still stands. , This grant program is made possible by one-time appropriations from the 86th Arkansas General Assembly.