Cherokee Political Figure. Born in Tennessee, the son of Jane "Jennie" Ross and Joseph Shorey Coody. An educated man, he was the nephew of John Ross, and owned a large farm outside New Echota. When the Cherokee held its National Council meeting at New Echota in October 1830 for the last time, John Ridge became president of the National Committee, Coody and Richard Taylor were chosen to lead a delegation to Washington to protest the harassment of the Cherokee to no avail. In 1839, after Removal, he drafted the Constitution of the United (Eastern and Western) Cherokee Nation, Cherokee delegates met in Tahlequah, the new capital in Indian Territory. As a delegate to the national convention, he was one of the signators in September of that year, despite the ongoing Cherokee Civil War. In 1840, he was elected President of the Senate in the First Council of the Cherokee Nation. He was elected Senator from the Canadian District and President of the Senate, serving until his death. He also served as a delegate to Washington, D.C. in 1839 and 1845. He was a life long correspondent of the American Philosophical Society. His obituary in The National Intelligencer of April 17, 1849 stated simply, "In this city, early yesterday morning, William S. Coody, of the Cherokee nation - one of the representatives of the old Western Cherokees."
Cherokee Political Figure. Born in Tennessee, the son of Jane "Jennie" Ross and Joseph Shorey Coody. An educated man, he was the nephew of John Ross, and owned a large farm outside New Echota. When the Cherokee held its National Council meeting at New Echota in October 1830 for the last time, John Ridge became president of the National Committee, Coody and Richard Taylor were chosen to lead a delegation to Washington to protest the harassment of the Cherokee to no avail. In 1839, after Removal, he drafted the Constitution of the United (Eastern and Western) Cherokee Nation, Cherokee delegates met in Tahlequah, the new capital in Indian Territory. As a delegate to the national convention, he was one of the signators in September of that year, despite the ongoing Cherokee Civil War. In 1840, he was elected President of the Senate in the First Council of the Cherokee Nation. He was elected Senator from the Canadian District and President of the Senate, serving until his death. He also served as a delegate to Washington, D.C. in 1839 and 1845. He was a life long correspondent of the American Philosophical Society. His obituary in The National Intelligencer of April 17, 1849 stated simply, "In this city, early yesterday morning, William S. Coody, of the Cherokee nation - one of the representatives of the old Western Cherokees."
Bio by: Iola
Family Members
Siblings
Advertisement
