February 19, 1819 John C Calhoun who was Secretary of War for the United States signed a treaty with a group of Cherokee Chiefs ceding what is now McMinn County and several other counties to the United States. 
The Hiwassee District in which Calhoun was to be located was in the cession. 
One of the Cheifs who traveled to Washington was John Ross and his brother Lewis Ross.
According to the terms of this treaty, any Cherokee who chose to become an honorary citizen of the United States would be awarded 640 acres of a personal dwelling. The county court was organized at the home of Major John Walker in Calhoun. Chief Walker was a mixed-blood Cherokee and accepted a 640 acre tract on the north bank of the Hiwassee River.  Directly opposite on the South bank, Bank, Indian Agency for the District was located. Chief Walker donated his strategically located land for the county seat.

Major John Walker had two tracts of the 640 acres due to the land prior was already Cherokee Nation.
John Walker is the grandson of Nancy Ward. The Saulpaw Mill was originally the property of Major John Walker. 

Tva says In their Purpose and Need For Action Chapter 1 section 1.1 Background 
"Constructed in 1869, the dam is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)" 

They then go onto to state 1.2 Purpose and Need 
The purpose of the proposed project is to provide safer conditions for the recreating public and improve aquatic habitat and habitat connectivity for stream fish. 

In over 169 years there has been ZERO incidents of injury or death at the Saulpaw Mill Dam nor has it hindered aquatic life. This body of water serves as no purpose to the main body ways and should remain as it is if not simply because it is OUR History then because it is where generations after generations of families enjoy the site as it is. 
I think History debunked TVA claims as the reasoning to remove the dam but without everyone rallying behind this petition then TVA wins and we will forever have yet another piece of history removed because someone didn't like muddy water after a good rain. 

Go online to www.tva.com/nepa and let your comments and thoughts be heard!
Email: esmclamb@tva.gov  let her hear your voice. 

Major John Walker isn't here with us to fight for us as he did in the war, it's up to us to fight for him now to preserve and protect what he worked and fought so hard for. 

#bethevoiceforthevoiceless #history #JohnWalker #NancyWard #cherokeeindian #CharlestonNotSC, #calhounnotga  #TrailOfTears