Hettie Mullen was the first cousin of my grandfather.

Aunt Mary Shepherd Mullen did have Cherokee ancestry through her fathers side. At one time I thought it might have been through her mother Sarah Jane Peters, but it was through the father Rev. William Silas Shepherd.

He was the son of Uriah Shepherd and Elizabeth Smith.
Elizabeth Smith was the daughter of James Alfred Smith and Nancy Mulkey, said to be Cherokee Indian.

So if Nancy was full blood, then Elizabeth Smith Shepherd, was one half, Rev William Silas Shepherd was one quarter, and Mary Shepherd Mullen was one eighth, and Hettie Mullen was one sixteenth.

However, James Mullen might have also had Indian blood, and therefore Hettie might have had some Indian ancestry on his side as well. I know that Hetties brother George Mullen married my great aunt Susan Shepherd. In his picture he has a dark complexion. Aunt Susan was very fair skinned, and blue eyed.

As it pertains to the Shepherd family, they were never admitted to the Cherokee Nation.

Would love to hear from you. Write me more on your line to me direct. travillion@hotmail.com

David Travillion Bunton