Sunday afternoon ceremonies marked the dedication of the memorial at the grave of Cherokee Indian Princess Otahki at Trail of Tears State Park. The memorial, provided by the Rotary Club of Cape Girardeau, is partly shown at the rear. From the left, Irvin M. Peithman, authority on Indian lore, from Southern Illinois University; E. L. Robinson, club president; C. W. Boutin, Larry Burns of Farmington, district Rotary governor; John W. Allen, past president Illinois State Historical Society, Carbondale; Mrs. Paul Spitzmiller. executive director Otahki Council of Girl Scouts; Manager Allen Robinson, Chamber of Commerce; Rush H. Limbaugh, who gave address; Rev. Don Pelsue, First Christian Church; Justice N. B. Johnson, Oklahoma Supreme Court; State Sen. A. M. Spradling, Joseph Jaeger, Jr., director Missouri Park system; Rep. Robert Hemperley of Cape county; J. B. Bushyhead, Jack and J. B. Bushyhead, Jr. of St. Louis.

Members of the Bushyhead family, descendants of the Cherokee Indians who lost many of their number on the migration across the Mississippi River and this area into Oklahoma, were present Sunday afternoon when the memorial at the grave of Princess Otahki, one of the Cherokee tribe who died on the march, was dedicated. From the left are Ann Bushyhead and her mother, Mrs. Jack Bushyhead, J. B. Bushyhead, Sr., Beverly and Janet Bushyhead, Jack Bushyhead, J. B. Bushyhead, J. B. Bushyhead, Jr., Robert Bushyhead and Mrs. J. B. Bushyhead, Jr. All live in the St. Louis area.

grave site in the
Trail of Tears State Park
Cape Girardeau County Missouri.

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Old newspaper article.

When the Cherokee Indians were on their way in 1839 to their new home in the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) they lost one of their fair daughters, Princess Otahki. She was buried on a beautiful knoll near Mocassin Springs, north of Cape Girardeau, by her husband, Hilderbrand. She was a daughter of a favored minister, named Bushyhead. A tomb was erected to mark the grave. A fire swept over the place and left a few broken stones. Years later evil-disposed persons dug up her remains, it is supposed, expecting to find jewels as her father was wealthy. The remains were restored by settlers. A cross marks her last resting place, on the "Trail of Tears."

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