Dedication

This book is dedicated to members of the Scraper-Sanders family who were prominent constituents of the Cherokee Nation.

According to available records, it is presumed that the Scraper family and the Sanders family were acquainted when both lived East of the Mississippi River. Prior to the forced westward march, known as the "Trail of Tears," part of the Sanders family moved to land west of the Mississippi; the Scraper family were among those who traveled on the "Trail of Tears".

While genealogical records of the Sanders' family can be easily traced to the mid-eighteenth century, the members who were prominent in the Cherokee Nation and whose names appear on many official documents are the sons of Mitchell and Susannah Sanders. They are David, George, Andrew, and Alexander whose name was sometimes spelled incorrectly as Saunders.

These brothers were prominent on various Cherokee committees during the eighteen twenties and thirties, acted as interpreters, and acted as liaisons between the Cherokees and the American government as well as between the Cherokees and some of the missionaries such as Daniel Sabin But(t)rick.

The Scraper family, also, can be traced to the mid-eighteenth century. They included members of the Benge, Duncan, and Carey families.

George Washington Scraper who was born in 1818 was a representative to Washington from the Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory as well as a Judge. His orphaned granddaughter, Etta Jane, whom he raised, became the first Cherokee Indian college educated school teacher in the Cooweescoowee School district. Soon after she commenced teaching, she married William Edward Sanders, the son of Eli and Catherine (Clyne) Sanders; the grandson of David and Susie (Peacock) Sanders; and the great-grandson of Mitchell Sanders.

Donald R. Sanders who is co-author of the book is the grandson of Etta Jane and William Edward Sanders.