Few Alabama towns can trace their origin to a more interesting person than Gunterville's namesake, John Gunter. He was probably the Tennessee Valley's first "squatter". Squatter's or "sooners" were whites that settled illegally on Indian lands before the land was acquired by treaty.¹

Although Gunter was an important and historical figure in Northeast Alabama, unfortunately very little is known of his early life. There are several stories about his vocation and (word cannot be read). Some say he was a powder maker of Welsh decent while others say he was a Scotsman who traded with the Indians. Historian O. D. Street said Gunter was "...a full-blooded Welshman who settled among the Cherokees, probably during the Revolution on account of his Troy sentiments, and came with the Indians to this country." Street added "One account says he was captured in South Carolina by the Cherokees and brought up as a member of their tribe."²

Another account of John Gunter's Life was written by Carol Thomas Foreman of Oklahoma, an authority on Cherokee History, who said "Among the early citizens of Alabama was John Gunter, a Scots trader who arrived in the country about 1750 or 1760.³

John Gunter's ancestry is perhaps best described by an article in the March 21, 1877 Cherokee Advocate. It stated Gunter was a Scot who came to America as a young man and was a merchant.⁴

Whether he came to the Great Bend of the Tennessee River by himself or with the Cherokees will perhaps remain a mystery. It is known however, that both John Gunter and the Cherokees arrived about the same time, around 1750.⁵

Gunter settled near the south approach to the (word cannot be read) George Houston Bridge in what was called Kusa-Nunnahi (Creek Path) by the Indians.⁶ It was here that he met Chief Bushyhead of the Paint Clan. Chief Bushyhead is said to have offered his young daughter, Ghe-go-he-li, who is described as a beautiful, young princess, to Gunter in exchange for salt. Although he was already 35 years old, John Gunter nonetheless took the 15 year old Ghe-go-he-li as his wife after signing a treaty with the chief which stated "as long as the grass grows green and the water flow the Indians shall have salt."⁷

Although sometimes characterized as being "more Indian than white", Gunter anglicized his wife's name to Catherine (or Katy), and they raised a large family in their approximately 50 years together. Their offspring were to produce some of the most instrumental leaders in Cherokee affairs and one of this country's most beloved humorists, Will Rogers. John and Catherine Gunter's children included three sons and four daughters - Samuel, Aky (sometimes seen spelled Agy), Martha, Edward, Elizabeth, John Jr., and Catherine. To house his large family, John Gunter built "a large two story log house with hallway and ell", some 200 to 300 yards from Big Spring Creek. For many years it was the largest house in the area. ⁸

For some unknown reason, Gunter left Kusa-Nunnahi for a few years. When Gen. Andrew Jackson and his troops came through the area in 1813, John Strother, Jackson's cartographer (Side note: cartographer is one who makes maps.) talked to Gunter to obtain information on where the hostile Creeks where. Gunter told him he once lived for four years at Hickory Ground, site of the Creeks' main army, near present Wetumpka, Alabama. It is difficult to imagine why Gunter, who was married to a Cherokee, moved to the heart of the Creek territory for four years, since the two tribes where usually bitter enemies. ⁹

Around 1818, Edward Gunter established a ferry at Kusa-Nunnahi, and the area became known as Gunter's Ferry. It was next called Gunter's Village, then Gunter's Landing. Flatboats were sometimes eight or ten rows deep at the landing, loaded with all kinds of merchandise, corn and whiskey, as it was an important stopover for boatmen traveling to and from New Orleans.¹⁰

John Gunter, Jr. opened a store at Gunter's landing in the late 1920'sand when he had it painted, it became known as the "White House" with customers as far away as Tuscaloosa. The store, landing, a gin, a warehouse, and the several Gunter residences provided the nucleus for present Guntersville and was located in the vicinity of the present Harbor House Restaurant.¹¹

John Gunter amassed a great deal of property and wealth during his approximately 50 years at Gunter Landing and for many years he was the richest individual there. In addition to owning land at Gunter's Landing, he had a mill and plantation in Browns Valley. He also owned land "on the island" (later called Henrys Island, across from Gunter's Landing) plus some property eight miles up the river in what was then Jackson County. He grew a great amount of cotton and had numerous slaves to help plant and harvest his crops and tend the livestock.¹²

Very little is known about Catherine Gunter except that she was full-blooded Cherokee. Her family were important figures in Cherokee affairs, especially amoung the Paint Clan. She was also a cousin of Mayor George Lowery, who was a second Chief of the Cherokees. She died on August 11, 1835, 17 days before her husband.¹³

Following is information on each of the Gunter's seven children:

Samuel Gunter was the oldest, having been born in 1796. He was recruited by General Andrew Jackson during the Creek War of 1813-14 and was buried with full military honors by order of General Winfield Scott.¹⁴ He was the only one of his surviving brothers and sisters to not migrate to the Indian Territory. He married a Cherokee by the name of A-yo-ku and they had one son, George Washington Gunter, who was born in 1800 in Hamilton, Tennessee (Side note: I am not sure if they meant his wife, A-yo-ku, was born in 1800 or if they were referring to his son George. If they were referring to George, it is not possible for him to have been born two years after his father!) George W. Gunter moved to the Indian Territory and served as a captain in the Second Cherokee Mounted Guards during the Civil War, owned the first cotton gin in the Indian Territory and was a successful politician.¹⁵ The date of Samuel Gunter's death is not known.

Aky Gunter was born in 1798, married Alexander McCoy, and they had one daughter, Lucy. She probably died soon after giving birth, as she is not mentioned in her father's will. John and Catherine Gunter raised Lucy, who married James Gatlin.¹⁶

Martha (Patsy) Gunter was born in 1800 and married Hugh Henry, who opened a store at Gunter's Landing around 1829 and became a prominent merchant. For some reason, John Gunter and Hugh Henry did not get along, perhaps because of the competition for trade with the Indians. At any rate, Gunter disliked his son in law so much that he specified in his will that Martha not receive any of her inheritance as long as she was married to Hugh Henry. Whether or not this had any bearing on her marriage is not known; however she divorced Henry and married Dick Blackburn and later moved with him to Ft. Smith, Arkansas. They had two children, Samuel R. Blackburn, who married Nannie P. Lattermore and Jeannie Blackburn, who married Carter W. Mayfield.¹⁷

Edward Gunter, also called Edward and Ned, was born between 1789 and 1802 and was the most successful of the Gunter children, being described as a "man of wealth and distinction among his people."¹⁸ He was recruited by General Andrew Jackson in 1813 to fight the Creeks and was wounded during battles but returned home and recovered.¹⁹ He is the first person known to have operated a ferry in the Guntersville Basin, beginning his operation as early as 1818. He was a large land owner, both in both Alabama and the Indian Territory, where he moved his family in 1838.²⁰ He was awarded 640 acres of land north of the Tennessee River as a result of the Treaty with the Cherokee, 1819.²¹ The Cherokee Census Roll of 1835 lists Edward Gunter as owning 30 slaves, two farms, and two ferryboats. His will, written in 1842, attests to the affluent lifestyle he and his family enjoyed, as he listed Windsor chairs, cherry tables, silver spoons and books as some of the items he wished to be divided among his family.²² He married twice, first to Elsie McCoy and then to Letitia Keys. Altogether, he was the father of 12 children - Nannie, Nellie, Sarah, James, Margaret, Eliza, Jenny (Jane), Daniel McCoy, John, Catherine, Martha and Elizabeth. Edward Gunter died in 1843 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.²³

Elizabeth Hunt Gunter was born in September of 1804 at Gunter's Landing and married Martin M. Schrimsher at Creek Path in September of 1831. She migrated to the Indian Territory and died near Claremore, Oklahoma, on February 14, 1877. She had a son, John Gunter Schrimsher, who was a captain in the Civil War and ad successful politician, and a daughter, Mary America Schrimsher. She was born October 9, 1839 and married Clement Van Rogers. It was this marriage which produced the famous humorist, Will Rogers²⁴

John Gunter Jr. was born in 1806 and has been described as being his fathers' favorite son. He was an enterprising person, with various business interests. He never married and moved to Webber Falls, Oklahoma in 1827, the first of the Gunter children to move to the Indian Territory. He returned often to his old home as he ran a steamboat between Cincinnati, Ohio and Gunter's Landing. He died of smallpox aboard his boat on the Arkansas River in 1838.²⁵

The youngest of the Gunter children was Catherine who was born in 1811. She married James B Vaught, then Oliver Lipe in 1839. She moved to the Indian Territory in 1838 and opened and operated a store in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She and her second husband had the following children - Dewitt Clinton Lipe, Jennie Lipe, Clark Lipe, Oliver Lipe and Fannie Lipe.²⁶

Although they were only half-Indian, Samuel, Edward and John Gunter Jr. were influential leaders of the Cherokee Nation. Their names appear on many treaties and correspondence, between the Cherokees and the US Government, dating back to as early as 1819 and continuing after their removal to the West. Their dealings with the affairs of the Cherokees brought them into contact with the top Indian chiefs and many of the federal officials. They were always in the thick of important decisions, and sometimes the Gunter's were caught up in serious controversies associated with the legislation pertaining to their people.

Although he did not sign the Treaty With the Cherokee, 1819, Edward Gunter was mentioned in the document as one of the 31 Cherokees to receive land. Important Indians were often given land as an inducement for them to sign land cession treaties, and this seems to have been the case with Edward Gunter, who was awarded a full section of land north of the Tennessee River. By signing the 1819 treaty, the Cherokees gave up all their land north of the Tennessee River with the exception of the land specified in the treaty, and this opened up the area to legal settlement by the whites. What later became Claysville immediately attracted good many white pioneer families.²⁷

In 1825 plans were made for a Cherokee constitutional convention. Samuel and Edward Gunter were candidates for the convention from the Chattanooga District, which included Creek Path. John Gunter served as clerk of the election.²⁸

On April 8, 1829, Secretary of War John H. Eaton sent a letter to Edward Gunter, John Ross and other Cherokees in response to their inquiry about the Cherokees' alliance with the British during the Revolutionary War.²⁹

On August 6, 1831, Samuel Gunter signed a letter to Lewis Cass, the new Secretary of War, calling attention to intrusions of whites or Indian land. The letter was also signed by John Ross and John Ridge, the two most important leaders of the Cherokee Nation at the time.³⁰

John Gunter, Jr. wrote C. C. Clay (later a governor of Alabama) on December 22, 1833 stating John Ross should not be recognized as principal chief of the Cherokees.³¹ It is not known what caused the rift between John Gunter, Jr. and John Ross. Evident Ross and Samuel Gunter were not at odds, for they both signed a document on February 28, 1835, agreeing to the amount to be paid the Cherokees for land they would sell the US Government.³²

The most important and controversial treaty the Cherokees signed was the Treaty of New Echota of December 29, 1835, which ceded their remaining lands east of the Mississippi River to the US Government. In a preliminary meeting held a week prior to signing the treaty, John Gunter, Jr. served as presiding officer.³³ He was nominated to go to Washington along with Major Ridge and others for additional talks. The 1835 treaty specified that John Gunter, Jr., among others, be authorized to recommend certain Cherokees for pre-emption rights. ³⁴

Wilson Lumpkin was appointed as Commissioner for the US Government to implement the Treaty of New Echota and went to the Cherokee capital on July 7, 1835 to work out some of the details. John Ridge, John Gunter, Jr. and Elias Boudinot were among the Cherokees who met with Lumpkin.³⁵

Not all government officials in Washington agreed with President Andrew Jackson's policy of Indian removal and it became a great item of debate among the two political parties. Henry Clay of South Carolina, the famous Whig leader, sided with the Indians. In a letter dated September 10, 1836, to John Gunter, Jr., Clay apologized for the wrongs done against the Indians. Davy Crockett of Tennessee, then a member of Congress, also sided with the Indians and this cut short his political career.³⁶

Samuel and Edward Gunter and five other Cherokees wrote a letter on October 18, 1837, to Osceola and other Seminole chiefs in Florida, asking them to cease their warfare against the United States and make peace.³⁷

Edward Gunter had second thoughts about terms of the Treaty of New Echota (as did a majority of the Cherokees) for on December 6, 1837, he and Chief John Ross wrote a lengthy and eloquent letter to a federal official pleading for a more humane treatment of their people. They had been altered by President Jackson without the consent of the Cherokees. The Cherokees thought the terms of the treaty they signed at New Echota would have to be presented to their entire nation for debate and that their signatures on the document did not constitute final agreement. In pouring out their hearts to the U. S. Government, Gunter and Ross stated "...The accusation that we are to be driven by force if necessary from our homes, our hearths, our lands, our county, fills to overflow our cup of bitterness..."³⁸

John Gunter, Jr. signed the Treaty of New Echota along with 19 other Indians, including John Ridge and Elias Boudinot. Many, if not most Cherokees became enraged when they learned the full terms of the treaty and sought revenge on those who had signed the treaty. On June 22, 1839,John Ridge and Elias Boudinot were murdered and they had moved to the Indian Territory by Cherokees that had revived their old "Blood Law" of 1828. Although Edward Gunter did not sign the treay, a group of his supporters came to his protection in the Indian Territory when it was rumored that his life was in danger. John Gunter Jr., who did sign the treaty was also not harmed.³⁹

Details concerning supplies needed for removal of the Indians to the West was the subject of an agreeemnt signed on September 6, 1838 at Gunter's Landing. Edward Gunter was amont the Cherokees signing the document, which called for the steamboat Knoxville to tow flatboats with supplies for the Cherokees to use in their journey westward.⁴⁰

So many Indians were dying of extreme heat during the summer of 1838 that Edward and Samuel Gunter wrote Gen. Winfield Scott asking him to delay any further removal until fall.