Trail of Tears tribute on Boiling Springs Road

 

By Shari Harris

Publisher

When Alex Evoy and Linda Gojohn bought their property on Boiling Springs Road in northern Texas County, they had no idea it would claim such a special place in their hearts. They typically purchase properties, renovate and then sell them. But after Evoy, who is a member of the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation tribe (an Algonquin tribe) and Gojohn, who has Cherokee heritage, learned the Trail of Tears passed through their property, they feel a connection to it that will be hard to break.

When they finally found a White River Trace sign indicating the trail, it was faded to the point of nearly being gone. Gojohn, who is a graphic artist with experience in preserving U.S. history, restored the sign. Evoy added a sign on a tall tree behind the White River Trace sign, indicating the route is a part of the Trail of Tears.

The newest addition to their monument is a seven foot tall statue of a native American, painted with authentic markings, standing in front of the signs along Boiling Springs Road. Evoy and Gojohn want the monument to memorialize all of the tribes of Native Americans who were affected by colonization and persecution, including Native American children who were killed or abused in residential schools in North America.

Approximately 13,000 Cherokees were forced by soldiers to make the migration from northern Georgia to Oklahoma in 1837 and 1838. An estimated 4,000 did not survive the journey. The White River Trace, first surveyed by the U.S. Government in 1835, was used in 1837 by the Hildebrand group of Cherokee as they crossed this part of Missouri on the perilous trip. Records indicate that Hildebrand left with a detachment of 1,449 (another report indicates 1,766) and arrived with 1311. They spent 154 days on the road and most of the Cherokee traveled the 800 miles on foot.

After the White River Trace was used for the Cherokees’ passage, it became a major route for settlers traveling west, and was established as a post road from Osage in Crawford County to Ellsworth in Texas County on August 3, 1854. The old trail was marked by the Dent County Historical Society in 1985.

Evoy learned he had a previous connection with the Hildebrand Trail of the Trail of Tears. He worked with Force Ministries in Hopkinsville, Ky., rehabbing Special Forces soldiers. Upon investigating the route of the Hildebrand trail, he found it passed through the property of Force Ministries.

Gojohn brought Evoy to visit the Eminence area, where her father, who worked for McDonnell Douglas, had spent many vacations visiting the Maggard family and Ella Howell. Her parents had even honeymooned in Eminence. Gojohn and Evoy decided to look for property in the area and bought their Boiling Springs location within seven hours of it being listed.

Much work has been put into their property, in addition to developing the monument site. A large dump site behind the residence has been cleaned up, and landscaping, fencing and work to the house has been done as well.

Now their concern is the tree to which they have attached the Trail of Tears sign. The base of the tree is within the easement for the electric line, and it is in danger of being removed. The side of the tree facing the electric line has been trimmed in the past, and as a result it curves to the branched side, so that the top of the tree is not within the easement. Evoy is continuing to plead his case with Intercounty Electric Cooperative.