John Rollin Ridge

John Rollin Ridge (1827-1867) was a member of the Cherokee Nation. His Cherokee name is Cheesquatalawny or Yellow Bird. Ridge came to California during the Gold Rush but disliked mining and turned to writing to earn a living.

He published what is now considered the first Native American novel and first novel written in California, The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta: The Celebrated California Bandit (1854).