Chief John Bowles leader of the Cherokee Nation was killed on July 16, 1839, at the “Battle of Neches.” The two-day battle between the Indians and Texas Militia started at the headwaters of the Neches River and ended just off Texas Hwy 64 between Edom and Tyler. Bowles the last Chief of the Cherokee had followed the same trail as my ancestors from North Carolina to Tennessee and then to Texas at
about the same time in history. In my book, Adam’s Daughters, I wrote two
chapters about Chief Bowles and his family. Many in the Bowles family had
thought we were kin. After forty years of research and DNA tests of three family members, I am convinced there is no relation. Had there have been I would have been proud to claim Chief Bowles kin.