One hundred feet east was one site where the Trail of Tears began. On May 23, 1838, the Indians of this general area, who had been held in a chestnut log stockade after being gathered by the U.S. Army, began their long trek to Oklahoma. The spring, which was the source of water for the Indians, is believed to be the mouth of an underground cavern. Eli O. Alexander and wife Margaret (Barry) Allison and Richard Barry settled in this area about 1838. The Richard Barry log house c. 100 yards west of the spring was recently (c. 1970) destroyed by fire.

Photo: Angela Nichols