Cleveland in Bradley County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

"Chief Jack" Walker

Photographed by Judith Barber, November 13, 2011

1. "Chief Jack" Walker Marker

Inscription. Here stood the home of John Walker, Junior, known as “Chief Jack”. A grandson of Nancy Ward, he was prominent in the affairs of the Cherokee nation, belonging to the party advocating a voluntary treaty of removal of the Cherokees to the West. His murder by James Foreman in 1834 resulted in one of the most famous criminal trials of early Tennessee history. He married Emily Meigs, granddaughter of Return Jonathan Meigs. He is buried here.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2A 71.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1834.

Location. 35° 11.994′ N, 84° 50.79′ W. Marker is in Cleveland, Tennessee, in Bradley County. It is at the intersection of Keith Street Northwest (U.S. 11) and Stuart Road, on the right when traveling north on Keith Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4345 Keith Street NW, Cleveland TN 37312, United

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States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bradley Central High School (approx. 2.1 miles away); Former Site of Hughes Hall (approx. 2.7 miles away); Former Site of the Old Auditorium (approx. 2.7 miles away); Former Site of the Music Building (approx. 2.7 miles away); Lee College (approx. 2.7 miles away); Pathway Press (approx. 2.8 miles away); Craigmiles House (approx. 2.9 miles away); Confederate Memorial (approx. 2.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cleveland.

Additional commentary.
1. "Chief Jack" Walker Info
I am an ancestor of "Chief

"Chief Jack" Walker Marker Area image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 21, 2014

2. "Chief Jack" Walker Marker Area

Jack" on my father's side. He was the Great Grandfather of his grandmother, Emma Lane (Drake) Taylor. If you would like to discuss additional information about him or the family lineage you may contact me. In fact "Chief Jack" was a controversial figure in Cherokee history.

→ If you wish to correspond with this person, ask an editor for his email address. —Ed

Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted February 10, 2025.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 11, 2014

3. "Chief Jack" Walker Marker area.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 2,883 times since then and 140 times this year. Last updated on March 12, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1. submitted on December 5, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. 2. submitted on May 21, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 3. submitted on March 1, 2025, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.