Hair Conrad was born in Georgia to a Cherokee mother and a white (Scotch-German) father.  He became an important member of Cherokee society. Conrad founded a school for the Cherokee children to further their education. He also helped to write the Cherokee Constitution in 1827.  Prior to the Cherokee Removal in 1838, he worked as a representative of the Cherokee Nation in Washington D.C. During the time of the removal, he led the first detachment of Cherokee on the Trail of Tears. Hair Conrad was married twice, his second wife was Ollie Candy, the granddaughter of Nancy Ward, the couple had 5 children. Hair Conrad survived the Trail of Tears but died shortly after making it to Oklahoma. 

Hair Conrad had a home in Bradley County, Tennessee. It was a small log cabin.  That cabin still stands today and is the oldest residential structure in Bradley County.    

Source: 1827 letter from Henry B. Henegar describing the Trail of Tears. Henegar was wagon master employed by Chief John Ross during removal.   

Location: Bradley County  

Link: https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/cherokee-removal-and-the-trail-of-tears/sources/1508