The 1851 Siler Roll is a key genealogy resource for tracing Eastern Cherokee families who remained east of the Mississippi after the Trail of Tears. Compiled to identify those eligible for a federal per-capita payment, it lists households, family groupings, residences, ages, and relationships, but it is incomplete and should be used with the later Chapman Roll.
Stonewall Jackson Rogers, born March 21, 1867, married Mary Kelly in July 1890. They had five children: Frances Leeper, born September 1, 1892, Robert Kelly, Mary Louisa, Henry Curtis, and Rebecca McNally. Frances married Joseph Garland Moore on November 4, 1916, and they welcomed two children: Eugenia Graeme and Joseph Garland Moore. Stonewall and Mary both passed away in September 1907. Their legacy continues through their descendants, whose educational pursuits and familial ties reflect the values of their time.
Benjamin F. Epperson, born on October 3, 1878, in Bradley County, Tennessee, was the son of William and Margaret Epperson. He married Dora May Born on July 12, 1904, and they had five children: Arthur, Louisa, Robert, Nannie Ruth, and Maggie May. After Dora’s death in 1920, Epperson continued to farm near Big Cabin and was an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His family background includes connections to the Foreman and Proctor families.
Simeon P. Maples, born October 2, 1842, in Bradley County, Tennessee, is a prominent farmer in Christian County, Missouri. Descended from French immigrants who served in the Revolutionary War, he followed a family legacy of farming. He enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Missouri Infantry during the Civil War and was discharged in 1864. After marrying Mary Maples, they had six children and settled on a 120-acre farm near Boaz. A member of the Missionary Baptist Church and a Republican, Maples remains a respected and substantial citizen of his community.
James Harlin Hale, born on October 10, 1832, in Washington County, Tennessee, exemplifies determination and industriousness. A blacksmith by trade and successful farmer in Stone County, Missouri, he navigated multiple relocations throughout his life, including his marriage in 1855 to Nancy Margaret Estes. Hale served in the Civil War, attaining the rank of corporal, and was wounded and captured briefly. He was a devoted Baptist and a respected community member, leaving behind a legacy of eight children and significant contributions to his region.
J. E. Wood, born on July 18, 1846, in Washington County, Tennessee, became a prominent member of the firm Wood & Reed in Gainesville, Missouri. After moving to Ozark County in 1871, he established a successful mercantile business while previously operating a cotton gin and farming. A Union veteran, Wood served in the Civil War and was captured at Athens, Alabama. He was involved in local governance and the Methodist Episcopal Church. Wood and his wife, Rebecca, had two surviving children, while several others died in infancy.
J. R. Reed, born on January 21, 1861, in Bradley County, Tennessee, has been an influential businessman in Gainesville, Missouri, for over a decade, co-founding the firm Wood Reed. After relocating from Tennessee to Kansas and then Missouri, he transitioned from farming to retail, growing a successful business with a stock valued at approximately $6,000 and multiple branch stores. Active in local politics and community organizations, Reed is also the president of the Bank of Gainesville and is deeply involved in his church. He has two children with his wife, Alaska Elliott.
William A. Maples, born in 1842 in Tennessee, emerged as a prominent farmer in Christian County, Missouri. He, alongside his family, demonstrated dedication to agriculture, resulting in significant property accumulation. An educator and former justice of the peace, Maples served in the Home Guards and joined the Twenty-fourth Missouri Infantry during the Civil War. Married to Martha Maples, he fathered ten children and remains respected in his community for his industriousness and good character, actively participating in the Missionary Baptist Church and local politics.
Elisha E. Frazier, born June 29, 1847, in Tennessee, became a notable farmer and stockraiser in Lincoln Township, Missouri. He was the fifth of nine children born to Dr. Lorenzo Lowe and Hannah Frazier. After marrying Margaret Jane Sharp in 1865, they raised twelve children. Frazier owned 880 acres, actively farming and raising livestock. He served as a justice of the peace and was a dedicated Methodist. His father established a local church, contributing to the community’s spiritual life.
James E. Webb, born in 1825 in Roane County, Tennessee, built a successful farming career on his 400-acre farm along the Sylamore River in Stone County, Arkansas. After moving with his family to Bradley County and then to Arkansas, he cultivated the land from 1859 onward. A dedicated farmer and community member, Webb served in the Third Arkansas Cavalry during the Civil War and raised nine children with his wife, Mary Davis. He is a deacon in the Missionary Baptist Church and affiliated with the Masonic Lodge.
Rev. William H. H. Ruble, born in 1841 in Tennessee, dedicated his life to both spiritual leadership and agriculture in Harrison Township, where he resided for nearly twenty years. Despite limited education, he became a well-informed individual after a late start in reading. A Union Army veteran, he served from 1864 to 1865. Over his life, he married twice and fathered sixteen children. An active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he was ordained as a deacon and elder, contributing significantly to church and community life.
Joseph B. Cobb, born on February 21, 1863, in Tennessee, moved to Indian Territory at age seven, where he grew up and received his education. After serving two terms in the Cherokee council and engaging in farming, he moved to Wagoner in 1914 for his children’s education. A retired farmer and a former county commissioner, Cobb supports the Republican Party and is active in community affairs. Married to Lilly Johnson, they have five children. The family practices Baptist faith and Cobb is affiliated with the Masons and Modern Woodmen of America.
Roscoe Simmons Cate, born on September 2, 1876, in Tennessee, was an attorney based in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He graduated from the Benton College of Law in 1901 and began his practice in McAlester. From 1908 to 1915, he served as chief clerk to the superintendent of the Five Civilized Tribes. Cate specialized in Indian affairs and was active in the Muskogee and Oklahoma Bar Associations. He married Martha Annette Griffin in 1905 and had two children. He is also involved in the Presbyterian Church and Masonic organizations.