Chapter I

HER HISTORY UNTIL SHE ENTERED THE MISSION SCHOOL AT BRAINERD.

_Her nativity.--Notice of her parents.--Condition of her people.--Her
triumph over temptation.--A missionary station commenced at
Chickamaugah, and named Brainerd.--She becomes a member of the
school._

Catharine Brown was born about the year 1800. The place of her nativity was a beautiful plain, covered with tall forest trees, in a part of the country belonging to the Cherokee Indians, which is now called Wills-Valley, and is within the chartered limits of the State of Alabama. It is between the Raccoon and Lookout mountains, twenty-five miles south-east of the Tennessee river. David, the brother of Catharine, says, that the name, by which the place is known among his countrymen, is _Tsu-sau-ya-sah_, or _the ruins of a great city_. But, if such ruins ever existed, all traces of them have long since disappeared.

The Indian name of Catharine’s father, is _Yau-nu-gung-yah-ski_, which signifies _the drowned by a bear_. He is, however, known among the whites by the name of _John Brown_. The Cherokee name of her mother is _Tsa-luh_. The whites call her _Sarah_.--Neither of Catharine’s parents understand the English language. They are now about sixty years of age. Since the decease of the daughter, whose history and character are to form the subject of this memoir, they have removed beyond the Mississippi river, to the Arkansas Territory, whither a part of the Cherokee nation of Indians have emigrated, within the last fifteen or twenty years.[1]

Mr. Brown is represented as possessing a mind more than commonly discerning; yet as having, when the missionaries first saw him, but few ideas on the subject of religion. He believed in a Supreme Being, the author of the visible creation, and that there is a state of rewards and punishments, after the present life; and appeared conscious, that there were things implied in this short creed, of which he had no distinct apprehension; such as the character of the Supreme Being, the nature of the rewards and punishments, and the manner in which the one is to be obtained, and the other avoided. He seemed to have no notion of forgiveness of sin upon any terms. When told of these things, he said he had never heard of them before.

Concerning the _mother_, less is known to the writer of this memoir. Her religious knowledge, if equal to that of her husband, did not probably exceed it. She is represented as having been more attentive to neatness and good order, in the internal arrangements of the family, and more conversant with the duties of domestic life, than her countrywomen generally.

Ignorant as were the parents of Catharine, on the most important subjects, they were among the more intelligent class of their people. Till within a few years, the Cherokees had scarcely begun to feel an impulse towards civilization. Indeed, as a nation, they were almost entirely destitute of the means of intellectual, or moral culture. In a very few instances, a youth was sent to school in the white settlements, bordering on the Indian territory; and still more rarely, perhaps, an outcast from civilized society would undertake for a short time, and from interested, and probably sinister motives, to instruct among the natives. In 1801, a Moravian mission was established at what is now called Springplace, and one or two excellent men have, since that period, resided there. But, their means having been limited, their influence could not be extensive. Very commendable exertions, in support of a school among the Cherokees, were also made, for a few years subsequent to 1803, by the Rev. Gideon Blackburn.

Excepting these efforts, there was, until the year 1816, nothing done for the Cherokees by the Christian church, nothing by the civilized world. They inhabited a country, which is described as susceptible of the highest cultivation. But most imperfect was their agriculture. They possessed a language, that is said to be more precise and powerful, than any, into which learning has poured richness of thought, or genius breathed the enchantments of fancy and eloquence. But they had no literature. Not a book existed in the language. The fountains of knowledge were unopened. The mind made no progress.

After these statements, the reader will be prepared to credit what will be said, in the progress of this memoir, respecting Catharine’s intellectual condition, when she first came under the care of the missionaries.

It is pleasing to observe here, that her moral character was ever irreproachable. This is the more remarkable, considering the looseness of manners then prevalent among the females of her nation, and the temptations to which she was exposed, when, during the war with the Creek Indians, the army of the United States was stationed near her father’s residence. Were it proper to narrate some well authenticated facts, with reference to this part of her history, the mind of the reader would be filled with admiration of her heroic virtue, and especially of the protecting care of Providence. Once she even forsook her home, and fled into the wild forest, to preserve her character unsullied.[2]

These occurrences took place before the establishment of a school at Brainerd, while Catharine was young, ignorant of the world, without any clear views of morality, and destitute of the knowledge and love of God. Strange that so great a sense of character should then have influenced her resolutions! But she was a chosen vessel of mercy, and a hand, which she then knew not, was doubtless extended for her preservation.

Early in the autumn of 1816, a missionary, sent by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, made his appearance in a general Council of the Cherokees, and offered to establish schools among them. His offer was favourably received. After consultation, a principal chief came forward, took him by the hand, and said: “You have appeared in our full Council. We have listened to what you have said, and understand it. We are glad to see you. We wish to have the schools established, and hope they will be of great advantage to the nation.” This missionary was the Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury, who, after commencing and aiding in the formation of the first establishment of the Board among the Cherokees, took up his residence among the Choctaws, was the chief agent in forming the stations of Elliot and Mayhew, and is now the superintendent of the Choctaw mission.

The place selected for the first school, was then called Chickamaugah; but it subsequently received the name of Brainerd, in memory of David Brainerd, that devoted friend and benefactor of the American Indians, who stands pre-eminent among modern missionaries.[3] Early in the following spring, Mr. Moody Hall and Mr. Loring S. Williams, with their wives, arrived as assistant missionaries; and, soon after their arrival, a school was opened, with fair prospects of success.

Information of these proceedings soon spread through the nation. It came to the ears of Catharine, then living at the distance of a hundred miles, and excited in her a desire to attend the school. She besought her parents to send her, and they granted her request. Accordingly, on the 9th of July 1817, when she was about seventeen or eighteen years of age, she became a member of the missionary school at Brainerd.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] A more particular account of the family of Catharine, may be acceptable to the reader.

Mr. John Brown was the son of a man named Brown, who has long been dead. It is not known whether he was a white man, or partly Indian. The mother of Mr. Brown was a “full-blooded” Cherokee. So, also, was the mother of Mrs. Brown; but her father was white. Catharine’s parents were brought up like others of their nation;--no better acquainted with the language, religion, manners, or customs of the white people.

Mr. Brown has had three wives. The first had two children, neither of whom are living. One of these children became a man of much distinction. In the Creek war he had the title of Colonel, as he commanded a large number of Cherokees, who made a part of the army under General Jackson. He was severely wounded at the battle of the _Horse-shoe_; but recovered, and died subsequently of a fever, or consumption. He is said to have possessed uncommon powers of mind, and to have exerted much influence among his people. He is familiarly referred to by the name of _Col. Dick Brown_.

The children of Sarah, the second and present wife of Mr. Brown, were _John_, who died in the Christian faith, February 1822, leaving a widow, _Susannah_, who is a professor of religion; _Catharine_, the subject of this memoir; and _David_, of whose piety hopes have been entertained for almost five years.

The children of the third wife, named _Wottee_, or _Betsey_, who, for some years, has been living in the Arkansas Territory, are _Polly_, (or Mrs. _Gilbreth_,) _Alexander_, _Susan_, and _Edmund_. Polly and Susan are esteemed pious.

Sarah and Betsey lived with Mr. Brown at the same time. But some difficulty arising, the latter separated from him.

Sarah was the wife of a man named Webber, before she married Mr. Brown. The children, by this marriage, are _Betsey_, (now Mrs. _Looney_,) a professor of religion, and _Walter_, called Col. _Webber_. He was at Washington city, about two years since, and possesses a handsome property. These children were quite young, when their father died. Col. Webber is now about thirty-five years old.

It appears, therefore, that of Mr. Brown’s family no less than _nine_ have become hopefully pious, within the last seven years, viz. Mr. and Mrs. Brown, John, Catharine, David, Polly, Susan, Susannah, and Mrs. Looney.

* * * * *

The reader will be apt to infer, when he sees individuals called by names and titles, with which he is familiar, that they are very much like other individuals, whom he has known under similar titles; in short, that they are civilized and intelligent persons. Such an inference, however, is not warranted. The mere possession of an English name, in an Indian country, is no evidence that the person thus distinguished is able to speak the English language; much less, that his habits are those of civilized life, or that his mind has been in any degree cultivated.

As to the military titles of captain, major, colonel, and even general, they are conferred as a matter of courtesy, in consequence of some sort of undefined authority, which is exercised over others, and which is supposed to bear some distant analogy to the authority, implied in these titles, among us. Of course, the titles are conferred by the whites. In some instances, when Indian auxiliaries have been employed in active warfare, by European governments, or by the United States, individuals may have received regular commissions. Mr. Brown and his son John, were both denominated Captain.

[2] “I was pleased to find,” says a friend, “that General Jackson, (who commanded in the war with the Creeks,) had a high opinion of Catharine. In the course of our conversation he remarked, _She was a woman of Roman virtue, and above suspicion_.”

[3] Brainerd is situated within the chartered limits of Tennessee, on the Chickamaugah creek; two miles north of the line of Georgia; seven miles south-east of Tennessee river; two hundred and fifty north-west of Augusta in Geo.; one hundred and fifty south-east of Nashville, and one hundred and ten south-west of Knoxville, both in Tennessee.