Many years ago, Rickey Butch Walker took his tape recorder and camera and systematically began interviewing some of the oldest living descendants of the pioneer families of the Warrior Mountains of northwest Alabama. No price can be put on the stories that he recorded. He captured snapshots of Americana and family history that would have been lost forever. These historical sketches and photographs will be revered forever by the descendants of the families who lived on mountain farms in one of Alabama's most rugged back country. His down-to-earth style of writing is reminiscent of summer afternoons that I have spent in a front porch chair captivated and fascinated by listening to old timers telling of the old days and the old ways. My, the world has changed and maybe not for the better. Lamar Marshall, Cultural Heritage Director, Wild South

Warrior Mountains Folklore

History

Walker, Rickey Butch

Americas

Bluewater Publications

Among all the famous Native American Indian chiefs, people today easily recognize names like Geronimo, Sitting Bull, Tecumseh, and Crazy Horse. However, unless you live in North Alabama or Central Tennessee, chances are you've never heard of Cherokee Chief Doublehead. Described as overbearing, hot-tempered, and haughty, he possessed possibly one of the strongest personalities of any man who lived at the time. Through sheer force of will, Chief Doublehead became the principal leader among the Cherokees. Refusing to cede the valuable hunting grounds to white intruders, he managed to confederate several tribes of Indians to wage war for twenty-five years. It has been said tha Doublehead killed more men than anyone who lived during that time period. Butch Walker has written an excellent biography on the great chief, which has been long overdue. Walker takes Doublehead from warrior to famous chief to shrewd businessman. Butch Walker has painstakingly researched all available material on the fierce Cherokee Chief Doublehead. This is a must-read for anyone interested in Native American history.

Doublehead Last Chickamauga Cherokee Chief

Biographies & Memoirs

Community & Culture

Bluewater Publishing

Very few people have lived a life comparable to that of Chickasaw Chief George Colbert; Butch Walker tells the story of this little known Celtic Indian man that lived a life worthy of a Hollywood movie in Chickasaw Chief George Colbert: His Family and His Country. This historic timepiece tells Colbert's story from a son of a Scots father and Chickasaw mother to a decorated military leader, successful ferry operator, plantation owner, businessman, and Chickasaw chief. George Colbert was a relatively unknown historical figure and decorated military hero that led the Chickasaws through Indian removal which was one of the darkest eras of American history. This man was trusted by the Indians, friends to the whites, and respected by local and national figures alike, including former presidents of the United States. Butch Walker has diligently researched the history, family, and overall historical significance of this Chickasaw Chief; Walker spent countless hours researching the life and legacy of George Colbert who was half Celtic (Scots) and half Indian (Chickasaw). George was never defined or limited by his blood quantum; he was a proven leader of the Chickasaw Nation. This book takes the reader from the birth of George's father, through the time of the French-Chickasaw War, beyond the Chickasaw Removal. The tale of the "Half-Blood Prince" of the 17th century is for anyone wanting to increase their knowledge of southeastern Indians, particularly the "Unconquered Unconquerable Chickasaws." The life of George Colbert appears to be taken right from the pages of a Hollywood script. Chickasaw Chief George Colbert: His Family and His Country is a must read for anyone wanting to learn more about the Chickasaw Colbert family.

Chickasaw Chief George Colbert: His Family and His Country

Appalachian Indians of the Warrior Mountains embodies the American Indian history of southern Appalachia, along with an underlying deep love of great Native places such as the High Town Path, Melton's Bluff, and Doublehead's Town. Rickey Butch Walker describes his childhood backyard using details that will paint a picture before your eyes of the life and times of Indian people. Find out the history of our Native Americans of the Southeastern United States, hear a story about a battle and love of a young Chickasaw maiden Magnolia, listen to the passion of Walker's voice as you read about the struggle of the removal of his own people to another land, and embark through time as you read this book. It is so important to preserve the history of our aboriginal people and realize that they played an important part of what our country is today. Some historians and books would like to start American history with Columbus, the founding presidents, or the first Thanksgiving where Indians are first mentioned. The truth is our story as Native Americans and our American history starts way before Columbus; the first people struggled for survival thousands of years before European explorers made their first appearance in this country. Rickey Butch Walker does an excellent job in this book of keeping our past alive for present day; and, he gives this gift to our youth in order for them to have a record and recollection of their ancestors for years to come. Without these facts being passed or these stories being told, our heritage would slowly fade and dry up like a grape in the sun. I appreciate the fact that Rickey Butch Walker fights to keep our American Indian stories of the Southeastern United States fading from the pages of history. Brandy W. Sutton

Appalachian Indians of Warrior Mountains

There have been many books written about the poor country hill people of the Appalachian Mountains, as well as the Indians of this historic place. In Celtic Indian Boy of Appalachia: A Scots Irish Cherokee Childhood, Butch Walker tells his personal tale of two cultures that influenced the stories of his upbringing. His roots are deeply planted in the mountains and valleys of the southern foothills of Appalachia; so springs forth this raw story of his life. Nothing is hidden from the reader as you are taken from the cotton fields, to the creek bottoms, and backwoods in a tale of heartache and adventure. People from all ages and backgrounds can appreciate stories from a Celtic Indian childhood that has not been forgotten. In the age of our fast paced and technologically advanced society, when most do not know the meaning of hard work, it is nice to be reminded of a simple time that revolved around family and living off the land. Celtic Indian Boy of Appalachia takes a personal approach to history, where memories become real; it takes you back to a time long forgotten in the hills and hollows of the Warrior Mountains. You will feel his sting of a poverty driven area; you will cry at his heartaches; you will feel the pain of needs to be met; and you will laugh at the little joys that meant so much to him, but all these things would be considered minor in today's world. Butch Walker's stories are true and full of life; his struggles and trials were real. Some folks might call people like Butch Walker, hillbilly, redneck, or just plain country; to him, the old ways and ways of the wild were just life, as it is, not retouched. Celtic Indian Boy of Appalachia is Butch Walker's best work yet; because it is from his heart, it is personal, and it is not sugar coated. I hope you find as much joy as I did while you laugh, cry, feel the triumph, and the pain of a Celtic Indian boy growing up in the southern foothills of the lower Appalachian Mountains.

Celtic Indian Boy of Appalachia: A Scots Irish Cherokee Childhood

Doublehead: Last Chickamauga Cherokee Chief

Very few people have lived a life comparable to that of Chickasaw Chief George Colbert; Butch Walker tells the story of this little known Celtic Indian man that lived a life worthy of a Hollywood movie in Chickasaw Chief George Colbert: His Family and His Country. This historic timepiece tells Colbert's story from a son of a Scots father and Chickasaw mother to a decorated military leader, successful ferry operator, plantation owner, businessman, and Chickasaw chief. George Colbert was a relatively unknown historical figure and decorated military hero that led the Chickasaws through Indian removal which was one of the darkest eras of American history. This man was trusted by the Indians, friends to the whites, and respected by local and national figures alike, including former presidents of the United States. Butch Walker has diligently researched the history, family, and overall historical significance of this Chickasaw Chief; Walker spent countless hours researching the life and legacy of George Colbert who was half Celtic (Scots) and half Indian (Chickasaw). George was never defined or limited by his blood quantum; he was a proven leader of the Chickasaw Nation. This book takes the reader from the birth of George's father, through the time of the French-Chickasaw War, beyond the Chickasaw Removal. The tale of the "Half-Blood Prince" of the 17th century is for anyone wanting to increase their knowledge of southeastern Indians, particularly the "Unconquered Unconquerable Chickasaws." The life of George Colbert appears to be taken right from the pages of a Hollywood script. Chickasaw Chief George Colbert: His Family and His Country is a must read for anyone wanting to learn more about the Chickasaw Colbert family.

"Appalachian Indian Trails of the Chickamauga: Lower Cherokee Settlements" is definitely a must read for anyone interested in the ancestral landscape, aboriginal trails, and historical American Indian settlements of the Southeast. It is obvious in reading this book that Rickey Butch Walker has researched many years to share this extensive and detailed Indian history with us in the south. This information is worthy to be shared with our children and grandchildren to keep them in touch with their deep southern roots; let us never forget from where we started and the trails that our mixed Celtic and Indian ancestors once walked. By far, Rickey Butch Walker has written the most comprehensive historical document of the Chickamauga faction of the Lower Cherokees that occupied the Muscle Shoals, Big Bend of the Tennessee River, Warrior Mountains, and Coosa River Valley of northern Alabama. His book contains information on the Lower Cherokee settlements in North Alabama dating from 1750 to the Indian removal in 1838. In addition to the Indian trails, villages, and pre-removal forts, Butch Walker discusses Indian removal in North Alabama over land, by water, and by railroad. This is not just a book of a historical nature but also a book of Native pride. Butch loves sharing his mixed Scots Irish Cherokee heritage with others and it shines through in this well written document. Once again, his writing is filled with emotion, knowledge, and historical data of a time and landscape that must never be forgotten. Twila Godwin

Appalachian Indian Trails of the Chickamauga: Lower Cherokee Settlements

In the book , "Hiking Sipsey-A Family's Fight for Eastern Wilderness," Rickey Butch Walker teams with Jim Manasco to produce an ultimate guide to the Bankhead National Forest which includes the Sipsey Wilderness Area. It tells of the struggles to prevent the destruction of one of Nature's greatest gems which is located in the Warrior Mountains of Northwest Alabama. You will read of the efforts of those who cherished the unique treasures found in the Bankhead Forest and launched a determined and successful campaign to preserve it for this, and subsequent, generations. With the attitude that anything of value this great is worth fighting for, the Sipsey Wilderness was established. Meet the family of Jim and Ruth Manasco who have dedicated their life's work to preserve the natural beauties of the Warrior Mountains and the Rocky Plains. Follow the struggle to designate the heart of the Bankhead, the crown jewel of the forest, as a wilderness area so that it might return to its primitive state, that which proceeded the effort to turn it into a pine plantation. The book allows the reader to walk the trails of the forest and smell the wildflowers that grow in profusion within its boundaries-look but don't pick! Through words you visualize the habitat of the forest, listen to birds sing, frogs croak and the hoot of an owl. Read the messages left on the ancient Beech trees and recognize the different species of vegetation by examining the leaves and bark of the plant. Search for the herbal plants such as ginseng-but no digging allowed! Let the great variety of moss amaze you, but in all this, be careful to preserve this treasure for future generations.

Hiking Sipsey: A Family's Fight for Eastern Wilderness

Science & Math

Manasco, Jim

Nature & Ecology

In, "Cotton Was King Franklin-Colbert Counties" Rickey Butch Walker gives a wonderful account of Chickasaw Chief George Colbert as a cotton planter and the role of the Chickasaw Colbert's prior to the first white planters who moved with their slaves to claim the fertile lands of the Tennessee River Valley. After the Indian claims to the land were abolished by the 1816 treaty. The United States government transferred land titles to white settlers through federal land sales beginning in 1817. From the nutritionally deprived soil of cotton farms in the east, slave-owning planters poured into early Franklin County, Alabama, most of which is now present-day Colbert County. Rickey Butch Walker gives profiles of many of these wealthy plantation owners prior to the Civil War. This is the first detailed narrative of some of the white families of Franklin- Colbert County who helped develop the cotton industry of northwest Alabama. Some of the affluent planters, their plantations, land holding, property locations, and numbers of black slaves are discussed in detail. These early planters were dependent on black slave labor to become very wealthy and control vast tracts of land. This is a valuable read for anyone interested in the local history of cotton barons who came to North Alabama from North Carolina and Virginia.

Cotton Was King: Franklin - Colbert (Alabama Plantations)

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Walker, Rickey Butch. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Walker, Rickey Butch

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Walker, Rickey Butch. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Warrior Mountains Folklore

Doublehead Last Chickamauga Cherokee Chief

Chickasaw Chief George Colbert: His Family and His Country

Appalachian Indians of Warrior Mountains

Celtic Indian Boy of Appalachia: A Scots Irish Cherokee Childhood

Doublehead: Last Chickamauga Cherokee Chief

Chickasaw Chief George Colbert: His Family and His Country

Appalachian Indian Trails of the Chickamauga: Lower Cherokee Settlements

Hiking Sipsey: A Family's Fight for Eastern Wilderness

Cotton Was King: Franklin - Colbert (Alabama Plantations)