Floyd County GaArchives Biographies.....Ridge, Major Family
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Donna Byas SWatie@aol.com 

For more information see:
http://roadsidegeorgia.com/site/chieftains.html 
Major  Ridge, a prosperous Cherokee Chief, trader, and
ferry owner, built Chieftans (now in Rome - Floyd
County) on the Oostanaula River. When the treaty, which
moved the Cherokees to Oklahoma, was signed, and the
United States government seized his home and property. 

He also owned (with a white man) a trading store and
had long been a great Cherokee orator and warrior, very
active in the Cherokee government and headed up the
Cherokee lighthorse (policing company).


The son, John Ridge, lived at Running Waters
plantation, also in the Rome, GA, area, was also a
great Cherokee orator, also traded, also had a ferry,
also very active in the Cherokee government. 

The 2 are often times confused, and sometimes
incorrectly melded into 1 person


They were both assassinated. 

John Ridge was dragged from his bed into the yard in
front of his home, then was ceremoniously stabbed and
stomped to death. 

His father, Major Ridge was ambushed by a party
alongside a road in Arkansas (not far from the Oklahoma
line). 

Both are buried at Polson Cemetary, barely inside the
state line of Oklahoma & just outside Southwest City,
Missouri. 

John's cousin, Major's nephew, Elias Boudinot (formerly
known as Buck Watie) was killed by some Cherokees
"seeking medicine". He was clubbed from behind with
tomahawks and stabbed with a knife. He is buried
outside of Tahlequah in the same cemetary that the Rev.
Samuel Worcester is buried in--which is across the road
from Foreman Cemetary.

There is much info available on these Cherokee patriots
on the web.

Prior to removal to Indian Territory (what would become
NE Oklahoma), the Ridges lived in Floyd County---
what is today Rome, Ga.  Elias Boudinot lived in New
Echota, what is today Calhoun, GA.

They were all leaders of the Treaty Party. Major Ridge
and Elias Boudinot signed the Treaty of New Echota in
the home of Elias Boudinot (with 18 other committee
members) on Dec. 29, 1835. John Ridge (along with Elias
's brother, Stand Watie) signed the treaty in
Washington, DC, March 1, 1836, making 22 Cherokee
signatures on the treaty. Amendments to the New Echota
Treaty were signed by a different committee, also in
Washington, DC, also on March 1, 1836. Though many
claim their murders were committed due to their signing
the treaty, only 3 were killed, yet about 30 signed the
2 treaties. 

The Rev. Evan Jones, leader of many who assasinated the
Ridges & Boudinot, admitted that they were executed due
to their continual opposition and effective
roadblocking of the plans of Principal Chief John Ross.

Chieftains is a Georgian style mansion in Rome, Georgia
(Floyd County) which is now a museum.