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). Two men from Cleveland County are know to have fought in this war–David Beam and John Harrill.
Cleveland County History 