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Old News Stories
Deaths of Two Ridges and Boudinot, 1839

From The Wisconsin Enquirer
Madison, Wis.
Aug. 24, 1839

THE CHEROKEE AND HIS BEAUTIFUL BRIDE

"The death of John Ridge and his son, and of Boudinot, leaders among the Cherokees, is confirmed. They were murdered by the Ross party of Cherokees. Ross and his friends were adverse in the migration of the nation, which latterly the Ridges and Boudinot encouraged, and hence the feud which has resulted in assassination.

The Ridges and Boudinot were educated men; the latter was for a long period the editor of that most extraordinary of newspapers, the Cherokee Phoenix. We fear this crime may lead to others among the ill-fated people." N. Y. American.

"There are some incidents connected with the history of one of the individuals above named, that partake somewhat of the romantic. Something like fifteen years since, a school was established by the exertions and munificence of a number of philanthropic individuals at Cornwall, Connecticut, for the education of several young Indians, who were brought from the Cherokee country. Among that number were Elias Boudinot and (we believe) John Ridge, whose names appear in the extract at the head of this article. While attending the Cornwall school, young Boudinot made rapid progress in studies and in acquiring the (word illegible) accomplishments of civilization and with these, added to the manly figure and noble bearing of one of the most majestic of the youthful sons of the forest, he succeeded in captivating and securing the affection of a beautiful and accomplished young lady, the daughter of one of the most respectable families in Cornwall. Her parents and friends remonstrated long and resolutely against her encouraging a passion so strange and unnatural; but, as is generally the case, under like circumstances, the young lady, by entreaties, intercessions, and beseeching with all the fervor and persevering energy of a woman's love and a woman's eloquence, succeeded in overcoming the most positive opposition of her parents, and the beautify, the lovely and accomplished young girl became the Indian's bride.

Soon after this the delicate young bride bade farewell to her parents, to her friends, to the dear companions of her childhood, to the hallowed (word illegible) of home, severed the holy ties that bound her to what she had been want to (word illegible) by all that was dear and lovely and sacred to her on earth–and with her youthful forest lord pushed afar off to her wigwam home in the forest of the Cherokee land.

Boudinot, by his superior education and the energy of his character, soon became a distinguished leader among his nation; and as editor of the Cherokee Phoenix, which was printed in a language which his own ingenuity invented for the use of his people, he displayed talents of no ordinary character, and exercised an influence over his nation that was for a long time truly irresistible. The cause and manner of his downfall and death are briefly related at the commencement of this article.

The Cherokee's bride has several times been visited by her former acquaintances, since she became an exile from the land of her nativity and the home of her youth. She was represented as appearing contented and happy with her lot, in the midst of her little family of half-papoose, half Yankee urchins, which were the fruits of the Cherokee's marriage with his lovely and beautiful Connecticut Bride." Rochester Republican.

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