Kansas Town Honors American Indian
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Updated: 8:37 AM Jun 12, 2004
Kansas Town Honors American Indian
Leory will honor Opothleyahola.
Posted: 8:37 AM Jun 12, 2004
Reporter: AP
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The city of LeRoy plans to honor an American Indian who led thousands of slaves and Indians out of Confederate territory in the 1860s.
His name was Opothleyahola, but is commonly shortened to Yahola. The Creek medicine man led thousands of Indians and black slaves out of Confederate territory into Kansas in 1861.
The group was attacked three times by Confederate soldiers before making it to Fort Row in Wilson County in late 1861. The group then went to LeRoy in 1862.
LeRoy Mayor Bill Freeman says re-enactors will re-live part of the journey Saturday, and a memorial will be dedicated in the LeRoy city park on Sunday.
Yahola participated in the famous "Trail of Tears'' in the 1830s, as the Creeks were removed from the south.

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