Hello Jean.
I haven't worked on this for a while but was pleased to see your response. Grandma always said her grandmother was Cherokee. And indeed there is no doubt that Mary Jane and Virgil are Native american. However, my research in the Cherokee nation didn't go well, and while on a trip to Piatt Castles ( the two grand homes Northwest of Columbus, Ohio
which the Piatt family built), I found out from a resident that many of the Native Americans that were hired by the Piatt family were from a sub tribe of the Pawnee called Maccochee.
This is not documented and may come out wrong. But I have found evidence of this in Pawnee history. Mary Jane and Virgil had many customs that were considered strange by midwest standards, and were rumored to be witches by nosey nieghbors who saw them pour salt around the exterior of the property and other acts considered odd. I have to dig around and see if I have any more info on where they came from before they hit mid Ohio. I do know that wherever Mary Janes parents came from, they travelled through Cincinnati Ohio on their way. There is even a street named after one of the Piatts in Cincinnati. Anything seem interesting or ring any bells Jean? Let me know.