Was SARAH GEUPEL of Cherokee Descent?

Not all agree that Sarah Atline (Griffin) Geupel is Cherokee. Those who believe that John Geupel married a full blood Cherokee Indian have produced substantial records, (yet circumstantial evidence) to support their belief, which would persuade most any judge and jury that it’s a fact. On the other hand, there are skeptics who are not in agreement, and with just cause. In review of a persuasive argument by Norman and Vickie (Ramsey) Alford, (Vickie is Sarah Geupel’s G-G-G-Granddaughter) they lay out census records with unquestionable relationships to a Timothy Griffin family. These Griffins lived next-door (so to speak) to the Geupel’s in 1870 Cleburne, Texas where census records are enumerated from house –to- house. Family stories coincide with the 1870s census records in an exact match to position Timothy, and Sarah as siblings in the right place at the right time. Records kept by Wynell (Odom) Erwin (Wynell is Sarah’s G-G-Granddaughter) have documented these family stories in numerous interviews with Geupel descendants, from Oklahoma to Florida, all of which proclaim the grandfather of Timothy T. Griffin (brother of Sarah Geupel) as a one-time Chief of the Cherokee Indians. In my own research, Cherokee Indians confined to the Army Reservation (now the state of Oklahoma) were listed in a census and made available at the Weatherford, Texas public library. These listings indicated a family of Griffins had survived the Trail Of Tears in the 1836 march from Alabama -to- Oklahoma. These Griffins could be the parents or grandparents of Sarah Geupel. In other research, I found where the Jacksboro, Texas: FRONTIER ECHO (a local newspaper published in 1911) reported a John Geupel and daughter Dora Miller were escorted by a cousin Tim Griffin on a trek to Oklahoma for a visit with John Geupel Jr. and that all had returned home safely. Again, further evidence of the 'Griffin' connection. However, skeptics claim the Griffins were not of Cherokee descent where nothing but stories support this theory. Truly, there is no hard and fast evidence to this end. Only the stories handed down from generation –to- generation makes this claim. Which we know can be of dubious content often filled with exaggerations and innuendos. The surname 'Griffin' itself comes under question when Sarah's maiden name is listed by a different spelling: 'Griffen', 'Grifuth', and 'Grifeth'. In this case, it would only be coincidental that a family of Griffins lived next door to her in 1870 Cleburne. Further, some census records have shown Sarah to place her state of origin to be Georgia and not from Alabama where the Griffins were known to reside. There are as many opinions on this subject as there are family members who descend from Sarah Atline Geupel, each with their own facts that carry the discussion to a persuasive conclusion. I’ve yet to decide. (Click on the photo to read more about Sarah Geupel.) Some kinfolk simply point to her dark skin and high cheekbones to prove their case while others scoff at such unscientific methods. Is Sarah a Cherokee? Do you think there will ever be a conclusion to this issue? What do some of our kinfolks say? Or, does Grandpa Geupel have it right when he says: It don't make no hoot. What do YOU say? (click the COMMENTS shown below)