Most…are poor and exceedingly dissipated.

In 1838 and 1839, twelve detachments with at least 11,000 weary Cherokee passed through Jackson, Missouri, on their journey to Indian Territory. Most of the groups followed the Northern Route of the Trail of Tears, entering town on Greensferry Road and then traveling northwest toward Farmington, Missouri. On December 1, 1838, Jackson's newspaper, the Southern Advocate, reported that during that week 1,900 Cherokee being removed by the government had passed through the town, adding that some had considerable wealth and appeared very respectable, but most were poor and exceedingly dissipated. They still had 450 miles to go.

Jackson, Missouri · United States