This obelisk was erected in the 19th Century, in memory of my great-great-great-great-great grandfather Mjr. George Lowrey by his countrymen, the Cherokee Nation. He was a judge and sometime chief, among countless other roles. Numerous inscriptions on the base of this monument speak of his many historic acts. The tombstone immediately beside/in front of it is that of his wife, my great-great-great-great-great grandmother Lucy Benge Lowrey.
Sounds like there are a few stories there, waiting to be retold.
Looks quite venerable.
Last August there was a dedication ceremony for a monument to my great (to the n power) grandfather, Thomas Gillespie for
Revolutionary War service, erected in the family plot in Tazewell, VA. I was very sorry not to be able to go, but it’s a day’s drive
and I had children to pack off to college at about the same time.
You just made me think of that, even though we’re talking about 2 quite different aspects of American history.
I intend to get there and get a pic of that marker though.
Meanwhile, I’ve been watching the HBO miniseries John Adams on dvd, and in part two Ben Franklin begins to play a prominent role.
It was actually Ben’s brother, William, who was my great (again, to the n power) grandfather on the Franklin branch, which intersected with
the Gillespie branch in the late 1920s when my dad’s parents married.
Makes me feel, now that I stop and think about it, inexorably bound to U.S. history…for all the good and bad of it.
In St Denis cemetery, there are two obelisks, each erected by very sucessful Irish men who emigrated late in the 19th c. These two men were lifelong fierce competitiors in business, and even in death;
one passing first and leaving money to build a higher obelisk than the other’s, should it exceed (as it did indeed,) his own.
There they stood, one slightly taller than the other, locally famous monuments to one-upmanship, until about 3-4 years ago. A freak storm blew in and flattend the taller of the two obelisks, shattering in in several pieces. Of course, ther was no money for replacement, and now it stands a broken reminder of the errors of pride.
!True!
It is a good thing to commemorate those who positively shape our lives and society. May the memory of his deeds inspire you and others to memorable acts as well. I am sure that far more than that monument stands in testament to his work - A great-great-great-great-great grandson comes to mind. 
How nice that you had ancestors that made a positive difference in this country. As the grandchildren of immigrants, we were always comfortable saying, “Don’t blame us for anything, our family just got here.”
It looks similar to the obelisk in Eaton, Ohio to my ggg-grandfather James B. Finley, principal Methodist missionary to the Wyandots during their period in the Ohio territory in the early 19th century.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Finley&GScid=42226&GRid=8641666&
I think the neo-Egyptian obelisk thing was pretty popular through the 1800s.
Lovely photo
What a good angle!
I second this
I have nothing like this on my side of the family (at least not to my knowledge…I guess well all led hum-drum lives), but apparently Patrick Sarsfield is a distant relative on my married side. He has a monument in Limerick City:
The Izzlets all think it’s cool
“Izzy’s side of the family … they went thataway!”
Here are a few stanzas from a poem I wrote about Major Lowrey.
Serving, ever, what was needed,
Duty’s call he always heeded.
Sent to Canada with a message,
Though a child, he made the passage.
In 1812 he saw War action,
Served with honor under Jackson,
Fighting bravely through all danger,
He received the rank of Major.
As chieftain of his town he served,
Where truth and justice were preserved.
Sequoyah was to trial brought
For such strange letters he had wrought.
Some people thought them witchcraft signs,
Because they were such strange designs,
But, by the Major’s court, 'twas found
A way to write the language down.
The Major became Second Chief
To serve John Ross as a relief,
But Jackson had them all expelled
From where they’d ever always dwelled.
Into stockades great men were pressed
And made the journey to the west.
Both God and man knew it was wrong
To press them on this journey long.
If he’s pointing toward Cork,then yeah 
I want ten of them on my grave.
ten pointing men in periwigs?
Sure. Why not?
Seems reasonable, sir.
Well, I’m sorry, but we’ve reviewed the balance sheets, and all that we’ll be able to afford is one statue of Susan Boyle singing My Heart Will Go On. I hope you can deal.
I will finance my own grave stones.