Opothle Yohola
| Opothleyahola | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Opothle Yahola c. 1778 Tuckabatchee town (Elmore County, Alabama) |
| Died | March 22, 1863 (aged 85) Quenemo in Osage County, Kansas |
| Resting place | near Fort Belmont in Woodson County, Kansas |
| Residence | Alabama |
| Nationality | Muscogee |
| Other names | Laughing Fox |
| Occupation | Tribal chief |
Opothleyahola, also spelled Opothle Yohola, Opothleyoholo, Hu-pui-hilth Yahola, and Hopoeitheyohola, (about 1798 – March 22, 1863) was a Muscogee Creek Indian chief, noted as a brilliant orator. He was a Speaker of the Upper Creek Council and supported traditional culture.
Known as a diplomatic chief, he led Creek forces against the United States government during the first two Seminole Wars. During the American Civil War, he was among the minority of Creek in Indian Territory who supported the Union. He led his followers to Kansas, where they sought refuge at a federal fort but suffered due to inadequate supplies, disease and harsh winters. He died at one of the refugee camps in Kansas.
Opothleyahola was born circa 1780 at Tuckabatchee, the Creek capital of the Upper Creek Towns, located in present-day Elmore County, Alabama. The Upper Creek Towns' population comprised the majority of the nation. His name literally translated means 'child', 'good', 'whooper' or 'good speaker'. Langguth says the name could be translated as "...good shouting child." According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History, his father was Davy Cornell, a mixed-blood Creek, and his mother was an unidentified full-blood Creek woman.
While Opothleyahola was of European and Creek ancestry, as he was born to a Creek mother, he was fully part of the tribe. It had a matrilineal kinship system of property holding and descent, making the mother's clan the determining one for the status of her children. Traditionally, her brothers were more important than the biological father in rearing the children. For instance, a maternal uncle would teach a boy men's roles, and introduce him to men's societies. The historian Angie Debo found evidence suggesting that the boy's father was David Evans, a trader of Welsh descent. He may have taught him English and literacy, or sent him to school.
Lower Creek leaders had made treaties with the state of Georgia to cede former hunting lands in 1790, 1802 and 1804. The Creek had already lost use of the land for hunting because of encroachment by settlers. They began to adopt more farming practices in order to survive. Under pressure from Georgia and its settlers, they also had more relationship with Benjamin Hawkins, the US Indian agent of the Southeast.
...
Wikipedia