The Heritage Book Committee, under the auspices of the North Okaloosa County Historical Association, is collecting family stories for The Heritage of Okaloosa County Florida, Vol II. Deadline for submitting stories is 30 Sept 07. We have designated a Native American section in this volume. If you are - or are descended from - Native Americans and have ever been a resident - or your ancestors were residents - of Walton/Okaloosa County FL. we invite you to honor your heritage by submitting a story about your Native American family for publication. To view detailed submission guidelines go to the "Baker Block Museum" website which also provides ordering information and a sample story. There is no cost to submit if you keep within the guidelines. You may also choose to communicate via this email or to one of the following committee members who can provide details and assistance. Also, depending upon the date of your story, Okaloosa was once part of Santa Rosa and Walton Counties, -- this meets the criteria for submission.
ann57@netscape.com
lemarfarm@cyou.com
flashgordon523@cox.net

Thank you for the info Judy. I sent an email to all of our members/officers at the Genealogical Society of Okaloosa County (GSOC).

V/r
Jeremy
VP, GSOC
http://www.rootsweb.com/~flgsoc/

My grt grt grandmother was from Walton County and Okaloosa Counties in Florida: They were from a town called ucheeann which was occupied by Native Americans a tribe called Yutsi or uchee. this territory covered what is now known as Defuniak, Crestview,Freeport,Paxton Florida; They were seperate yet part of the Lower Muskogee Creeks from Ga. This was in the 16th-17th century. There is a Island and some land In South Carolina called Uchee Island and they migrated to Florida which was then Alabama and part of Georgia. During the French And Spainish Wars Geronimo and some of his people and Indians from all over the U.S. you had Apaches,Shawnee,Cherokee's,Oneida'a and more come to this area: That is when the Seminole ran in to the Florida Swamps and were then called by the creek's runaway. The Uchee scattered some went to Mexico, some to N.C. some to Central Florida (Santa Rosa County) and some were captured and sent to Oklahoma and were added to the Muskogee Creek Nation. Still today some do not affiliate themselves with the Muskogee Creek but consider themselves as a seperate people Celebrating theyre ceremonie's on a different Square Ground Seperated from the Muskogee Creek's. They have a homecoming every year and its usually in July. I have been trying to get rolls or find a way to get rolls on the Yutsi and so far have not had any luck in doing so. There are still some Yutsi in Florida and SouthCarolina. They speak a entirely different dialect and its called Itsi some speak with a french dialect and some speak with a Spainish Dialect. The Definition of Yutsi amoung many of the other tribes was traslated as meaning: Mean People, Im not sure of what clan they may of derived from but from what I have been reading they may have been from the Calusa, and Couhatta tribes and possibly others. The dialect they have is like no other tribe or clan in the U.S. and they lived on the banks of the ocean and then moved inland to set up communities amoung the Savannah, Flint, Chatahootchee Rivers. The National Historical Society said at one time they did have a home coming there on the Savannah and are now trying to get together another one they hope will evolve soon. I have 5 books on the Indians of N.W. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama Indians. The maps I have show all of North Florida, Walton County, Okaloosa County and more up to the Georgia line as being Alabama Territory and Tallhassee down being La'Florida.
I will have to go back and get the Creditionals on References for you. Im just giving an insight to you as far as the information I have. I will get the credits to you soon.
Hope this helps.
Linda
cherokeeladyfox@cox.net

My grt grt grandmother was from Walton County and Okaloosa Counties in Florida: They were from a town called ucheeann which was occupied by Native Americans a tribe called Yutsi or uchee. this territory covered what is now known as Defuniak, Crestview,Freeport,Paxton Florida; They were seperate yet part of the Lower Muskogee Creeks from Ga. This was in the 16th-17th century. There is a Island and some land In South Carolina called Uchee Island and they migrated to Florida which was then Alabama and part of Georgia. During the French And Spainish Wars Geronimo and some of his people and Indians from all over the U.S. you had Apaches,Shawnee,Cherokee's,Oneida'a and more come to this area: That is when the Seminole ran in to the Florida Swamps and were then called by the creek's runaway. The Uchee scattered some went to Mexico, some to N.C. some to Central Florida (Santa Rosa County) and some were captured and sent to Oklahoma and were added to the Muskogee Creek Nation. Still today some do not affiliate themselves with the Muskogee Creek but consider themselves as a seperate people Celebrating theyre ceremonie's on a different Square Ground Seperated from the Muskogee Creek's. They have a homecoming every year and its usually in July. I have been trying to get rolls or find a way to get rolls on the Yutsi and so far have not had any luck in doing so. There are still some Yutsi in Florida and SouthCarolina. They speak a entirely different dialect and its called Itsi some speak with a french dialect and some speak with a Spainish Dialect. The Definition of Yutsi amoung many of the other tribes was traslated as meaning: Mean People, Im not sure of what clan they may of derived from but from what I have been reading they may have been from the Calusa, and Couhatta tribes and possibly others. The dialect they have is like no other tribe or clan in the U.S. and they lived on the banks of the ocean and then moved inland to set up communities amoung the Savannah, Flint, Chatahootchee Rivers. The National Historical Society said at one time they did have a home coming there on the Savannah and are now trying to get together another one they hope will evolve soon. I have 5 books on the Indians of N.W. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama Indians. The maps I have show all of North Florida, Walton County, Okaloosa County and more up to the Georgia line as being Alabama Territory and Tallhassee down being La'Florida.
I will have to go back and get the Creditionals on References for you. Im just giving an insight to you as far as the information I have. I will get the credits to you soon.
Hope this helps.
Linda
cherokeeladyfox@cox.net

Eu chee Town
Principal Chiefs: Tim poo che Barnard
there was a total of 7 under him including slaves women and men.
William Barnard: total of 20
Pon aker Thlocko: " " " 9
No names are listed: These are just the chiefs.

There is a town also called: Hitch e tee town

Chiefs are listed as: E ne har Emarthlar 6 total under his clan.
Tun nee chee 4 under his clan.

This Uchee Anna was inhabited originally by:Ucheann Indians " They describe as Ucheann family. These Indians came for South Carolina and were known as Yuchi. This was the original name of the Indians in Eucheeann. We are talking late 1600's to late or early 1700's. Living near the Savannah River, Flint River, and Chatahootche rivers.
At the beginning of the Indian wars some ran with the Seminole, some to The Lower Musckogee Creeks of Georgia and some Were captured and taken to Oklahoma and still remain there today. They speak their own distinct language and are part of the Creek Nation but consider themelves a part of "But" completely independent. They hold their gatherings and they do not call them pow-wows they call them homecomings, and you have to be invited by an elder. They use to have homecomings in their homeland and The Florida Historical Society and The South Carolina Historical Society help sponsor these homecoming. Needless to say being a non-profit organization these funds have not been available for a while, they do occasionally hold them in Oklahoma.
This information was sourced from: www.gagensociety.org
also you can get detailed information on The Yuchi Indian Tribes history at: www.accessgenealogy.com/tribes/uchean/yuchihist.htm
"My own personal opinion is that I think these peoples may have branched off from the Calusa who everyone thought may have been extinct. They speak their own native tongue. Early writers state that they were driven fromt their country in 1681 by (Shawnee)?? This is Questionable. A lot of them gathered and migrated to N.W. Florida and settled a lot of them were my ancestors one being a Henry B Smith who Purchased land 40 acres in N.W. Florida.The surnames listed below belong to some of the Original people who were settled in these communities and whos ancestors migrated from N.C.,Ga.,S.C.,Al.
I hope this will help some, your welcome to see my tree its loaded with pictures Documents and tons of people.

My Relatives from that area were:
Henry B Smith
Sarah Smith
Cynthia Smith
Samantha Smith
Morris Smith
Margaret Smith
Madison Smith
Savannah Smith
Amanda Smith
Cynthia Cannon
John Milton Cannon
John Milton Cannon Jr.
Mariann Cannon
Martha Cannon
Mary Anna Cannon Southern
Ollie or Allie Southern Atwell
Maggie Southern Urbaniak
May Southern "deaf,dumb"
Willie Tom Southern
Carrie Mae Brown
Robert Boyd
Martha Smith
Griffith
That is just to name a few, please feel free to look at my tree./ also you can contact me at:
cherokeeladyfox@cox.net

How can I get a cop of this Okaloosa Co., Fl. Heritage book?
Please reply to: boco@tampabay.rr.com