Stories About Aortli Carolina Amnes
Standing in a Row
Thp Clicrokees named a famous
valley in llie Great Smokies from
the way the ridges rose.
Ki; II. C. WILBUIttt
To ihc white man: Catalochcc; to
the Cherokee: Ga-da-lu-tsi! The spell¬
ing is about as near a correct render¬
ing of the Cherokee exclamation as
the English tongue widder usu¬
ally comes to reproducing Cherokee
sounds. Cherokee words do not fit in
the while man's mouth as round ob¬
jects do not fit in square holes.
In the old limes before the coming
of white settlers into this area, a well-
beaten Indian trail passed through
the Calaloochcc and Big Creek valleys
from Davenport Gap in the Smokies
via Mi. Sterling Postoffice. Ml. Ster¬
ling Gap and connected with other
trails in the Waynesvillc area.
The war party in the drawing by
Douglas Grant has just come into Cove
Creek Gap and paused, perhaps for
rest, but most likely for observation.
One of them gestures and exclaims,
Ga-da-lu-tsi! as we might say "Moun¬
tains, row upon row!"
James Mooney says that the Chero¬
kee word ga-da-lu-tsi means "stand-
THE STATE. February 9.
«952
ing in a row or series." and that it
apparently refers to the "timber grow¬
ing in streaks on the mountain side."
The definition is correct, but it is my
belief that the word is descriptive of
the several ranges or ridges of moun¬
tains. one rising behind and beyond
the other in a row or scries, instead
of a fanciful conception of the timber
growing in streaks.
The ranges visible from Cove
Creek Gap over which these Chcro-
kccs are looking toward the north¬
west. are Noland Mountain, the Short
Bunk, the Long Bunk, Cooks Knob.
Rough Ridge. Indian Ridge; and
against the skyline. Ml. Sterling Ridge,
flanked on the right (behind the dead
tree) by Mt. Sterling proper, and on
the left by Big Calaloochcc Knob.
These place names are reminis¬
cent of early settlement days and the
hunting and cattle ranging activities
of the Davidson family and others
which began, possibly as early as the
establishment of Maywood County in
1808.
In 1807 William Davidson con¬
veyed a tract of 300 acres to William
Mitchell Davidson on Jonathan's
Creek. The description in the deed
mentions the Indian Path and Indian
fields.
From the mouth of Laurel Creek,
the trail followed up Statclinc branch
for some distance, then bore to the
right to the lop of a flat ridge, and
passed through Davenport Gap into
Tennessee.
But the ancient Cherokee passersby
on the old trail were not content with
a distant view of the Calaloochcc area.
They penetrated its wilds and roughs
in quest of game and fish that have
ever made the streams famous. Cul¬
tural material that has been picked
up at a number of places along the
streams is evidence of campsites and
frequent occupancy. Scattering finds
(arrowheads, etc.) along the ridge tops
and in gaps mark this as a notable
hunting ground long before the coming
of the white man.
By the treaty of llolston in 1791
the Cherokee gave up title to all the
land in Calaloochcc and Big Creek.
Five years later, in 1796. a state grant
of 176,000 acres was made to one
John Gray Blunt. This grant covered
the area in question, and much more
besides. About 96,000 acres of this
grant is included in the bounds of the
Great Smokies Park. Soon after it was
issued individuals began to take up the
choice lands, mainly along the streams,
both in Calaloochcc and Big Creek.
The earliest settlers, probably in the
order named, were: Davidson, Han¬
nah, Palmer, Caldwell. Bennett,
Woody. Sutton. Conrad. Messer. Hall,
and some others.
At the time of the inclusion of this
area in the park there were approxi¬
mately 56 families living in Cataloo-
chee. 25 in Big Creek, representing
altogether a population of about 390
persons. At the present time there are
only three families in Calaloochcc. In
Big Creek, however, a number of
families remain for the reason that all
the lands in that area were not in¬
cluded in the park.
NEW PUBLISHERS
The Henson Review has been pur¬
chased bv Mr. and Mrs. William W.
Willson, formerly of Bath. Maine.
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