Nice views of Settingdown Creek, an historic tributary of the Etowah River can be had from Poole’s Mill Park. The name of the creek is officially Settingdown, but variants over time include Settendown [most commonly], and Sitting Down. In his landmark book, Georgia Place Names, Kenneth Krakow wrote: [It] was called this because [Chief Setten Down] allowed some of the white settlers to “set down” and live peaceably near his village. The village called Settendown was located on this stream, four miles northwest of Cumming.
Little is known of the creek’s Cherokee namesake, Chief Setten Down. According to the book Cry of the Eagle: History and Legends of the Cherokee Indians and their Buried Treasure by Forest C. Wade: He had a home on the south side of Settendown Creek in the present Matt community about one mile from Matt on the Matt and Cumming Highway. The chief was named after the creek on which he lived. Chief Settendown had three sons. Two were named Nickel and Tassel Sucker, and the name of the third is yet to be discovered by the author…The chief and his group were one of the many small tribes that comprised the whole of the Hightower Indians.
I disagree with the origins of the name Settendown. The origin of Settendown is inextricably linked to the origin of Hurricane Creek.
Both Settendown and Hurricane deal with a single event that occurred over 40 days and nights. While I don’t have a Mormon bone in my body, the origin story goes that community may have been visited by the Christ, our Savior.
As the story goes that family of Indians who lived in the aforementioned area, was visited by a mysterious white man or pale man. Keep in mind that the Hightower tribe was very close knit and unlike today, they knew their neighbors. This was a man they’d never seen before even in passing.
Traits of Him were that he was that He was very loving, peaceful and kind. The village children always flocked to Him and He loved and played with them. That He was a wonderful teacher. Most importantly He taught them of the One Great Spirit and corrected them that there were to be no more sacrifice on the stone by them. That there had been one sacrifice for all.
He lastly gave the Chief, Ten Laws for them to follow. Those were to be their governing spiritual laws. While Chief Settendown may have been kind to allow white settlers into his area, that is coincidence. The white man disappeared as mysteriously as He appeared. And nothing of Him was ever recorded seen again.
Hurricane is English for the Cherokee word Harrakan or Harakkan (forgive any misspelling) that means WHITE or WHITE man if I’m correct in honor of that encounter with Harrakan. And Settendown represents the 10 Laws that He sat down. Or Set Ten Down. It wasn’t a lazy way of saying setting down or sitting down. It was all about Harrakan’s 10 Laws that He sat down for the Cherokee.
This looks like a friendly creek for children. Reminds me of my childhood.
Thank you for sharing!
I’ve always liked your historic homes and farm scenes and I enjoy some the outdoors photos and I like your outdoors scenes too.