The Full
Blood Cherokees Progress. Political,
Business and Social Activities
Redbird Smith, who was the moving spirit of
the Nighthawk branch of the Keetoowah
organization of Full-blood Cherokees, was
born July 19th, 1850, somewhere
near the city of Ft. Smith, Ark. His father
and mother, together with other Cherokees
being enroute to Indian Territory from
Georgia.
Pig Redbird Smith, (the name Smith
being added by the white people in Georgia
because he was a blacksmith by trade), was
an old and ardent adherent of the ancient
rituals, customs and practices of the “Long
House” group of eastern Indians of which the
Cherokees were the head band or tribe.
The wife of Pig Redbird Smith and mother
of Redbird Smith was Lizzie Hildebrand
Smith, a woman who carried the best
blood-lines of the Cherokees.
At an early date in the boyhood life
of Redbird Smith, his father dedicated him
to the services and cause of the Cherokee
people in accordance with ancient customs
and usages. At the early age of ten years,
Redbird received instruction at the council
fires. At this time, the latter part of
1859, Pig Redbird Smith, Budd Gritts and
Vann, all being impressed with the virtues
of the religious and moral codes of the
ancient Keetoowah order, concluded to
reorganize.
|
Stoke Smith
8th Son |
|
Kiah Smith
7th Son |
|
John Smith
Oldest Son |
Red Bird Smith |
Sam Smith
2nd Son |
|
Richard Smith
3rd Son |
|
Thomas Smith
4th Son |
Source: History of the Cherokee Indians and Their Legends and Folk Lore,
Emmet Starr, 1921, The Warden Company, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Online Publication: The manuscript was scanned and
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