Nancy Ward

Nancy Ward is a Tennessee historical marker in Polk County.

Polk Co, TN 33 (US 411), west of Ocoee River

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High priestess of the Cherokee and always loyal friend of white settlers, is buried on the ridge to the west. She repeatedly prevented massacres of white settlers and several times rescued captives from death at the hands of her people. She is also credited with the introduction of milk cows and many improvements in homemaking into the Cherokee economy.

Maps this old were drawn largely by eye, so places on them can sit miles from where they really are. The pin is ours and marks the marker's location today.

TodayHistorical map

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1796 · Map of The Tennassee (sic) Government. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1886 · Cleveland, Tennessee (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)
1901 · Cleveland, Tennessee (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)
1935 · Benton, Tennessee (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)
1940 · Benton, Tennessee (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)

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What that marker records spans 1777 to 1789, overlapping William Gabby's years there.

From one family's 77-marker roster

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Marker text and location from the Tennessee Historical Commission, as the Commission publishes them on its marker map.

Nancy Ward

Historical maps covering this location

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