Women Writing the West’s “Hottie Historian,” Janelle Molony, has recently brought long-overdue attention to Jacquelina “Lina” Biggs King, a Cherokee-descended Arizona pioneer interred in Phoenix’s oldest cemetery.
This April, Molony began a genealogical research project on the King family in Arizona. In doing so, she conducted a search for the wife of her subject. Finding next to no information on FindAGrave, limited information at the cemetery and confusing Cherokee lineages constructed by guesswork, it became essential to speak with a family historian to help clear up the story.
After reaching out to several people listed on popular genealogy sites such as Ancestry and FamilySearch, Molony was fortunate enough to receive a response from one of King’s direct descendants. They exchanged information over the course of a week and Molony began to craft a narrative. The descendant shared as much as possible, though most of their work was on adjacent persons and contained many preconceptions and opinions. To flesh out a more factual account, Molony tapped the expert guidance of Nancy Sosa with History Raiders Research.
Molony was also challenged to carefully incorporate tribal history that was outside of her comfort zone. She has shared: “Lina’s heritage is crystal clear, but what has transpired in the Cherokee People’s history and politics since her passing complicates how her story is communicated. Considering that, I don’t want to draw conclusions that I am unqualified to draw.” She has invited representatives from relevant tribal bands to contribute to or follow up on the story and has received no response from any to date.
With the discoveries and confirmation of Lina’s Cherokee lineage and citizenship, Molony needed to observe Federal laws set out in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). In accordance, she communicated with the relevant bands that should have a right to know about Lina’s death and final resting place. Volunteers at the Pioneers’ Cemetery Association (who steward the cemetery Lina is buried in) were more than helpful during this discovery process and have expressed their excitement to finally be able to tell Lina’s story and ensure her grave is given the culturally-sensitive care it deserves.
After a whirlwind of study, Molony produced a 32-page manuscript that offers a foundational look at Lina King’s life. The material includes relevant points in Cherokee history such as the Trail of Tears, westward migration routes, stories of her husband’s shootouts and pursuits for vengeance, their presence in New Mexico during Earp et al.’s famous Vendetta Ride, and important considerations for future researchers and visitors to Lina’s burial grounds. The conclusions drawn are subject to change as other experts weigh in and (hopefully) more family members contribute.
The unpublished (and unedited) manuscript is held at the Pioneer & Military Memorial Park in Downtown Phoenix. It is available by request to future researchers. Guided tours can be arranged through AZHistCemeteries.org. Visitors should prepare for the extreme heat that can be felt in the naturally stark desert landscape.
Molony can be booked for speaking engagements on this discovery by reaching out at JanelleMolony.com/Contact.
Feature image: Jacquelina King headstones and photo. (Janelle Molony)
…is an award-winning author from Phoenix. She is a member of Women Writing the West and the Western Writers of America and is popularly known on YouTube as the “Hottie Historian.” Molony’s latest nonfiction, Birds Gone Wild (And Other Stories of Arizona Ostrich Ranching), has been called “a delightful romp” by AZ historian Jan Cleere and “Fascinating” by D.C. Cogburn of the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch.
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