Native American Heritage
We think the Native American heritage comes from Lula Smith, who was Robert Lafayette Piper's wife. They had three children, Adelia born on April 27, 1888 in Pettus, Arkansas. Ora the 2nd daughter was born in about 1890 in Lonoke County, Arkansas, and the 3rd daughter Berdie was born in 1893, in Lonoke County, Arkansas. Lula Smith died in Lonoke in 1893, most likely after her 3rd daughter was born. Aside from her having Native American Heritage, we do not know much else about her.
There is also the thought that the Cherokee Native American heritage comes from the Turner / Hill side of the family; Bersheba Jane Hill Turner. Her father was Isaac Hill and mother is Rebecca, maiden name not verified as of yet. A Turner relative (descendant of Bersheba Hill and Jessie Norris Turner) by the name of Thomas Jackson Turner (born in 8-5-1877 in Johnson County Arkansas d. 10-23-1942) was offered land in Oklahoma in the 1920's or 1930's but turned it down because he was living in Texas at the time. We think the Native American comes from either the Hills or Rebecca, whose maiden name we have not yet verified. Not all Native Americans registered with the government.
Much more is known about the Turners of Tennessee than Lula Smith's family. We are still searching for her parents and siblings. We will add more information as we obtain and verify it.
With all of that said, our family celebrates and is proud to have Native American ancestry. The original Americans are a part of our heritage and our future generations.