Wilford Presents Rotary Program On Indian Family Heritage

Dan Wilford presented the program at the Thursday, March 17 meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club, held at the BTC Bank community room. Brian Upton presided over the business meeting, Joe MacDonald gave the prayer and Jeff Crowley was the sergeant at arms.
Wilford, who is also a member of the local club, told about Indian family heritage. He has traced his Indian family back to around 1800, when his great-great-great-grandfather, a Cherokee, was born in Eastern Tennessee. He said that Indian babies are not usually named until they are three years of age as many die before that time. His great-great-great-grandfather received the name of Running Bare (meaning he did not like to wear clothing when he was young). Wilford said his family lived in what was known as the Cherokee Territory and was able to build a home there, although they were not owners of the land on which it was built. Running Bare and his wife had four children (two boys and two girls). When the U.S. government took over the Cherokee Territory and moved the tribes to Eastern Oklahoma, his family name was changed to Brown. Wilford also related the story of how Running Bare sold three pelts and used the money he received to purchase freedom for a slave named Mamie, who took care of his children and helped with chores. Due to the limited time for the program, the club invited Wilford to continue the story of his family at a future meeting.
During the business meeting, President Brian Upton provided information regarding a virtual leadership meeting to be held April 12 and 19. Members interested in participating can contact him for more information. Members were also reminded to make their donation to the club’s Shoes for Orphan Souls project, with members asked to donate at least one pair of new shoes to the Shoes project and match that donation with one for the local shoes project through Bright Futures Trenton. All shoes will be collected by the club and distributed in late April. The public can also donate to the project by contacting chairman Diane Lowrey or any Rotary member
The club will meet again on Thursday, March 24 with Terri Critten from Bright Futures Trenton presenting the program on the Beds for Bulldogs project.