Those interested in keeping the history of "The Trail of Tears" alive for generations to come were recently pleasantly surprised to hear legislation has passed designating Illinois 146 as a historic highway, and the route of the "Trail of Tears."

Gary Hacker, president of the Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society, said, "This gives us potential to help develop signage and more." Hacker said the legislation is an illustration of counties working together to accomplish a goal.

Leaders in Pope, Union and Johnson counties joined together in the past year to write letters of endorsement to legislators encouraging passage of the bill. "This shows what can be done - it gives us an opportunity to preserve our history," Hacker said. "Future generations will be made more aware of the Trail of Tears, following the legislation."

Hacker and others anticipate an increase in tourism in the area, thanks to the recently passed legislation. "The story needs to be told," he added.

He said of the 8,000 Indians who passed through the three counties of Southern Illinois during a forced relocation to Oklahoma sites, 1,500 to 2,000 perished along the trail during the winter of 1838-39.

"My feeling is that they camped at various places in Johnson County, places that haven't been officially documented," Hacker said.

There are several known "Trail of Tears" locations in both Pope and Union counties, that have been recognized; the Buel House in Golconda, a Pope County cemetery near Brownfield, the Trail of Tears State Park near Jonesboro and Campground Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Cemetery in Union County are a few.

Only 800 to 900 people lived in Johnson County when the Cherokee came through there. Many of the Indians were able to escape and remained in Southern Illinois, which explains the number of Cherokee descendents still in the area.

In his extensive research, Hacker has found several sites in Johnson County that are said to be stops for the participants of "Trail of Tears." The Cherokee came in groups of 1,000 or less and may have broken into smaller groups, searching for water supplies and for hunting purposes, heading north or south of the main east-west trail.

There is talk of a Cherokee campground near Wartrace and also near what is now Grantsburg on Big Bay Creek, in the eastern part of the county.

Another is east of Vienna on property then owned by the Gillespie family, near the Johnson Cemetery, north of Illinois 146. Another is on McCorkle Creek, near the present Gambit Golf Club.

Other sites were said to have been on the Hezekiah West farm near West Eden, and another on the William Elkins farm on Dutchman Creek.

The Cherokee also may have camped near what is now the village of Cypress, and it is almost certain that many spent time in Ferne Clyffe. Bridges Tavern on Buck Run Creek, west of West Vienna, was passed by the Cherokee, according to stories handed down to family descendents.

Last June, Hacker was appointed to the Illinois Trail of Tears Association board, along with Joe Crabb, president of the Pope County Historical Society. They joined Dr. Rowena McClinton and Cheryl Jett, both of Edwardsville; Sandy Boaz, Union County; Sue Glasco, rural Marion; Harvey Henson, Carbondale, and Dr. Andy West, president, Marion.

Hacker said, "A debt of gratitude goes out to the legislators and to the people who wrote the letters," including the Chambers of Commerce, the Southernmost Illinois Tourism, other groups and individuals.

In 1987, Illinois 146 was designated as "The Trail of Tears National Historic Highway," but the highway had never been recognized as a historic site by the State of Illinois.

Hacker plans to continue researching the possible sites and will be working along with the Illinois Trail of Tears Association, the National Trail of Tears Association and the Illinois Department of Transportation to obtain signage on Illinois 146 marking the sites associated with the sad chapter of history that resulted in so many Cherokee deaths.