Monument to history

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May 20, 2008

By JOSH NEWTON The Tahlequah Daily Press Tue May 20, 2008, 09:02 AM CDT

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — Covered by the shade of a large tree, the memorial marker for Joseph “Stick” Ross at Ross Cemetery on Bliss Avenue embodies Tahlequah history.

The marker, a Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class X project dedicated Monday morning by community leaders and descendants of “Stick,” reads: “Joseph ‘Stick’ Ross: Tahlequah pioneer and civic leader.”

Ross was born in the early 1850s in Indian Territory. A Cherokee Freedman listed on the Dawes Commission Roll taken at Fort Gibson April 10, 1901, Ross carried many hods of mortar during the building of the Cherokee Capitol in 1867.

“Stick Ross served as a councilor of the Cherokee Nation from the Tahlequah district in 1893,” said Beth Herrington, member of the Historical Preservation Board. “Other accounts list him as a member of an early commercial club in Tahlequah.”

He “came up the hard way,” according to Herrington, as he was born a slave who would “earn a place in history.”

Ross allotted land for himself and his children on a local hilltop, now known as Stick Ross Mountain. He donated the land for Ross Cemetery on the east side of Tahlequah – a site that, according to tradition, was used as a slave cemetery before the Civil War.

“Stick’s burial was not marked, and [its location] is not exactly known,” said Herrington. “There is no stone for Joseph Ross or his wife, Nancy.”

Richard Zellner, THPB member, said the memorial marker is a “very appropriate” dedication to Ross’ community involvement. “He was not only one of our earliest citizens, but one of the people who literally helped build our city,” said Zellner.

Several descendants of Ross offered their appreciation to leaders interested in recording history. Stick’s great-grandson, the late James Ross, helped THPB board members with a number of historical facts before passing away.

“Make the most of each day,” said Sally Ross, former Tahlequah mayor and THPB member. “We were going to honor James when we had this dedication, but James has since passed away.”

James’ wife, Evelyn, said her husband enjoyed Stick’s history and learning more about it, while at the same time trying to preserve it. “I’m sorry my husband didn’t get to make it,” said Evelyn. “He wanted this [dedication] to happen.”

One Ross Cemetery index lists 80 identifiable burial plots with names, though some historians believe there are many unmarked and some east of the cemetery that were never found. The local Historical Preservation Board is working toward a more complete history of this cemetery, according to Herrington.

Ross’ family history says Stick’s parents were Hector and Sallie Ross. The Dawes Roll lists his and wife Nancy’s children as Austin, Malcolm, Amanda, Patsy and Clem.

Tahlequah Mayor Ken Purdy charged the Leadership Class X members and community leaders to share the story of Ross Cemetery with others.

“Every week, every month, I run across folks in the community who ask about the historical significance of... our city,” said Purdy. “All of us have some duty to share with others in our community what this place is about. I appreciate the efforts. [History] is important to our community.”

Herrington offered a reminder that one of the THPB’s “very important” functions is to preserve history. “Roots are important,” said Herrington. “They tell us where we’ve been, what we may become, and what we hope to become.”

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