Return Jonathon Meigs was born on December 28, 1740 in Middletown, Connecticut to Return Meigs and Elizabeth (Hamlin) Meigs. He served in the local militia and was named a captain in 1774. One year later, he was appointed a major in the 2nd Connecticut Regiment and continued his service until the end of the war. After the war, he became a surveyor in Ohio. Meigs participated in the finding of Marietta, Ohio and helped establish the code of regulation, which eventually became the Northwest Territory. He moved to Tennessee in 1801 to persue a combined position of agent to the Cherokee Nation and military agent for the United States War Department. As a Cherokee agent, he defended the rights during treaty negotiations and encouraged the Cherokee to form a republican government. He served as a Cherokee agent until 1813.

Return J. Meigs married Joanna Winborn in 1765, and the couple had four children. After her death in 1773, he married Grace Starr the following year. Return and Grace had three children together. Grace died in 1807. Meigs died on January 28, 1823 at the Hiwassee Garrison, Cherokee Agency in Tennessee.

Timothy S. M. Hawk was born June 5, 1837 to Madison C. Hawk (half-blooded Cherokee) and Betsey Meigs (daughter of Col. Return J. Meigs). Hawk's father was a minister and interpreter to the Cherokees. After his father's death, Betsey decided to remain in the east and not go with the others out west. Timothy was raised around his relatives in eastern Tennessee. He married Rosana J. Wilson in 1857, and the couple produced six children. Hawk died on August 20, 1912.