National Register Record for REV JESSE BUSHYHEAD GRAVE

Historic Name: REV JESSE BUSHYHEAD GRAVE
Current Name: SITE #34AD141
Address: HIGWAY 59
City: WESTVILLE VICINITY            County: ADAIR
Section: None           Township: None           Range: None          
Description of significance: THE REV. JESSE BUSHYHEAD WAS AN IMPORTANT CHEROKEE RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL LEADER OF THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY. DURING CHEROKEE REMOVAL HE LED ONE OF THE DETACHMENTS WEST TO INDIAN TERRITORY AND LATER HELPED TO BRING OPPOSING FACTIONS TOGETHER TO CREATE THE CHEROKEE NATION. NO BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCTIVE LIFE OF REV. BUSHYHEAD REMAIN. THE REV. JESSE BUSHYHEAD GRAVE IS THE ONLY SURVIVING PROPERTY DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH HIS PRODUCTIVE LIFE. THE GRAVE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE BAPTIST MISSION CEMETERY AND IS ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT MARKERS WITHIN THE CEMETERY. BUSHYHEAD DIED ON JULY 17, 1844 AND HIS BURIAL IS MARKED BY A FIFTEEN FOOT TALL MARBLE OBELISK TOPPED BY AN URN. THE GRAVE OF REV. BUSHYHEAD IS LOCATED IN THE NE CORNER OF THE CEMETERY AND IS ONE OF THE OLDEST IDENTIFIED IN THE CEMETERY. LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER 12/6/2004.

Type: SITE
Historic Function: FUNERARY: CEMETERY
Current Function: FUNERARY: CEMETERY
Area of Significance 1: ETHNIC HERITAGE: NATIVE AMERICAN
Area of Significance 2: None
Architectural Style: None
Architect: None
Year Built: None            Original Site: YES
Condition: None
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: JULY 2003