Don C. East

A Historical Analysis of the Creek Indian Hillabee Towns: and Personal Reflections on the Landscape and People of Clay County, Alabama Don C. East

The story of the Hillabees has been both the Cinderella and the Rodney Dangerfield of Creek Indian history. Until now, it has been neglected and has garnered little respect. But author Don C. East changes that in this extensive historical look at the rise and fall of the Hillabee faction of the Creek Indian tribe and its existence in Clay County, Alabama. Based on research, personal experience, and supplemented with maps and illustrations, A Historical Analysis of the Creek Indian Hillabee Towns uncovers a wealth of new information on these towns, their residents, the Creeks in general, and other Indian and white characters of the period. East's working knowledge of the Creek language produces new information on the meanings of many Creek Indian names and words associated with the Hillabees. Born and raised in the area, being of Creek Indian ancestry, and spending all of his youth and young adult years there, he has a deep personal understanding of the Hillabee Creek Indians and Clay County. The Creek Hillabees may have had a history of less than 300 years, but they secured an important and prominent place in Creek and local pioneer white history during that time frame.