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Brainerd Mission
Brainerd Mission is one of the most interesting features of Hamilton County history.
Aside from the influence of its religious and economic teaching among the Indians during twenty-one years, it continues to be, in a sense, a part of life today, for Brainerd Mission is spoken of almost as though it still existed.
The Mission was established in 1817 by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, which is now a part of the Congregational Church organization. It was at that time, however, a cooperative committee of three churches, the Presbyterian, the Dutch Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Congregational Church.
The plan undertaken by this cooperative board was to continue among the Cherokee Indians the missionary work, which had been commenced by Gideon Blackburn at the two missions, which he had established, one on the Hiwassee River, now near Charleston, Tennessee, and one at Sale Creek, now in Hamilton County.
He also had charge of the Ross school at Chickamauga, site of the future Brainerd Mission. The Mission at Brainerd, first called "The Mission on the Chickamauga in the Cherokee Nation," was thus the direct outgrowth and continuation of the work and plans of Gideon Blackburn and, although the mission never bore his name, it is his lasting monument and memorial.
Dr. Blackburn was born in Augusta County, Va., in 1772. When he was a child, he moved with his parents to what is now Washington County, Tenn.
He there attended Martin Academy, studying under Dr. Samuel Doak. He was ordained a minister in 1794 and set out with a company of soldiers for his first charge, a small fort on the present site of Maryville, Tenn.
Equipped for war or peace, with rifle, knapsack, hymn book, and Bible, he was one of those pioneer Presbyterian ministers of whom it was said, "They first prayed, then preached, then built churches and schoolhouses, and spent the rest of their time praying, preaching, and occasionally fighting."
The heart of the young minister went out to the Indians and he dreamed of helping them to civilization.
In 1803 he had the opportunity to begin work among them, as the Presbyterian Church appointed him missionary to the Cherokees. In the two missions which he established (at Charleston and Sale Creek) he did not confine himself to religion. He instructed the boys and men in agriculture and carpentry. He taught the girls and women domestic arts, conducting, in fact, at these schools, the first home economics course in Tennessee. He particularly encouraged spinning and weaving cotton and wool, and the result of his teaching was that the Cherokees became expert weavers and were always, thereafter, supplied with an abundance of cloth.
In 1810 his health failed and he was forced to resign active work among the Indians. He served, however, in the War of 1812, as chaplain under Gen. Andrew Jackson, and continued, to devote himself to ministerial work.
He was made a college president and died in 1838 in Carlinville, 111., where Blackburn College, founded after his death, was named in his honor.
Dr. Cyrus Kingsbury, of Alstead, N. H., a Congregational minister, visited the country in October, 1816. He desired to ascertain conditions and to find out whether it would be possible to resume the work which had been started by Dr. Gideon Blackburn.
He attended the annual council of the Cherokee Nation and was introduced to the council by Gen. Andrew Jackson and Col. R. J. Meigs.
When he had explained the plan for the Mission school, the principal chief took him by the hand and said: "We are glad to see you. We wish to have the schools established and we hope they will be of great benefit to our people." The council then appointed a committee of chiefs to cooperate in selecting a site for the school and buildings.
Dr. Kingsbury returned to the East and reported the reception he had received and the pledge of cooperation on the part of the Cherokees.
President Madison gave his entire approval. He sent instructions to the Indian Agent, Col. Return J. Meigs, to assist in every way possible; to build the necessary houses, and to aid in the effort to gain the attendance of the Indian youths.
In 1818, the name was changed to Brainerd Mission in honor of David Brainerd, a missionary among the Indians in New England, whose hundredth anniversary was being celebrated that year.
The Mission had sixty pupils, among them several members of the powerful Lowrey family. Lydia Lowrey, aged sixteen, daughter of Major George Lowrey—later assistant chief of the Nation—joined the church and was baptized Jan. 31, 1818. Soon after that date she married Milo Hoyt, son of Dr. and Mrs. Milo Hoyt. She died in the Indian Territory July 10, 1862.
Catherine Brown, aged seventeen, a three-quarter blood Cherokee, was the first convert at the Mission. She was baptized and joined the church in January, 1818. Two years later she established Creek Path Mission, now Guntersville, Ala., which was near her home. She died there July 11, 1823.
Another early convert was John Arch, a full-blood Cherokee, who could not speak a word of English when he applied for admission to the school. He made amazing progress and in 1824 was acting as interpreter and had translated a part of the Gospel of St. John into the Cherokee language. He died while he was quite young and is buried in the Brainerd Cemetery.
President James Monroe visited the Mission May 27 and 28, 1819. He expressed himself as greatly pleased with the Mission, and lie gave orders for many improvements. He gave a check for one thousand dollars as his personal contribution to the success of the work.
Brainerd Mission became a clearing house for other missions, as schools and churches were requested or needed. Some of the other missions were Echota, Carmel, Hightower, Willstown, Candy Creek, and Creek Path.
Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) - July 17 1822 Page 2 We gladly present to our readers the following extract of a letter from Rev. Francis M'Farland to Rev. E. M'Curdy, dated at Brainerd, August 3d, 1821. It contains some particular and gratifying intelligence of the progress and happy fruits of the Mission among the Cherokees - Pittsburgh Recorder,
"I have been a little round through the nation, and am highly gratified with the prospect of their speedy civilization. There are few who do not raise corn and cotton, and many manufacture their own clothing.
They have the nation divided into eight counties or districts, and have their Judges and Marshals, regularly appointed.
They have a small written or rather printed code of laws, with a copy of which the Chief presented me. The chiefs intend to introduce other improvements, as the people will bear it.
The most active and influential chief in the nation is a pious man, and is therefore decidedly in favour of missionary establishments. I spent some time at his house. His name is Charles R. Hicks. He speaks English well and is a very intelligent man.
This establishment at Brainerd is in a very flourishing condition. There are about 130 scholars at the school. It is a charming sight to see those little immortals snatched from the jaws of heathenism, and taught to sign the praises of the Redeemer. They sing may hymns by memory, both in English and Cherokee. I was truly delighted to hear a company of little girls, while sewing, which bidden by their teacher, singing several hymns in succession, without any assistance. They attend to books and to various kinds of work alternately. They are taught every thing necessary to them in their present circumstances.
I think 23 natives have joined the church, and none have apostilzed I preached to them last Sabbath.
The scholars, the mission family, and the neighbors, of whom a considerable number can now understand English, form a tolerable congregation. There was also a serve in the Cherokee language.
Things are certainly going on very prosperously here. There is a saw and grist mill in operation.
When President Monroe passed through this place, he saw that a house for the girls was much wanted and he ordered one to be built, that would cost about $1000. One thousand dollars annually are also received from the government.
The Missionaries here seem to be ardently devoted to the cause of God; but they are sinking under the pressure of their labours. They want and, which could be had in abundance, if the funds would bear it. I hope they will soon have help.
You probably know the situation of Brainerd. It is on the Chickamauga River, 16 miles from its mouth or the Tennessee River and about one mile north of the line between Tennessee and Georgia."
Source: History of Hamilton County
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