William Holland Thomas
William Holland Thomas
never knew his father, was raised by a single mother in a lowly mountain home, lacked any formal education, but is one of the most prominent figures in Western North Carolina's history.
In 1839 William Thomas was declared "Chief" of a small group of Indians in Western North Carolina and was in Washington fighting for the claims of the Eastern Cherokees in 1839-1840. Chief Yonaguska appointed his adopted son Will as Chief because he believed Will was the best choice and that Thomas also held the Cherokees' best interests at heart.
Thomas was also the commanding colonel of North Carolina's sole American Civil War legion, Thomas' Legion, and is the only white man to serve as a Cherokee chief.
In 1839 William Thomas was declared "Chief" of a small group of Indians in Western North Carolina and was in Washington fighting for the claims of the Eastern Cherokees in 1839-1840. Chief Yonaguska appointed his adopted son Will as Chief because he believed Will was the best choice and that Thomas also held the Cherokees' best interests at heart.
Thomas was also the commanding colonel of North Carolina's sole American Civil War legion, Thomas' Legion, and is the only white man to serve as a Cherokee chief.