The Cherokee War

Another war occurred before Cleveland became its own county. In 1838, the “Cherokee War” began. Also known as the “Trail of Tears,” this event involved U. S. military and state militias rounding up approximately 15,000 Cherokee people from their homes in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee and relocating them to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). Only two men from Cleveland County are know to have fought in this war:

  • David Marcus Beam, grandson of John Teeter and Elizabeth Rudolph Beam, and
  • John Harrill, son of Judge Housen and Lovisa McBrayer Harrill
Photograph taken by Herbert Tauss of image from the
National Geographic Image Collection/Alamy Stock photo.