Skip to main content

Full text of "Historic Sullivan; a history of Sullivan County, Tennessee, with brief biographies of the makers of history"

See other formats 


ISAAC   SHELBY 


,&*$ 


\ 


%  /fert; 


FACSIMILE  OF   SHELBY'S   HANDWRITING 

*  *  *  I  have  lodged  a  letter  in  my  father's  hands  for  you  with  some  papers  for  you, 
which  dont  forget  to  ask  him  for.  I  have  also  left  in  his  hands  hard  money  to  pay 
you  what  you  advanced  for  me  Going  to  the  Assembly 

Thflt  the  Great  Parent  of  Nature  may  always  Guard  &  Protect  you  hapilythro 
this  perplexing  world,  is  the  sineeer  wish  of  Your  Truly  affectionate  friend 

fare  well  Isaac  Shelby 

Col.  Jos.  Martin 


HISTORIC  SULLIVAN 

A  History  of  Sullivan  County,  Tennessee 

with  brief  Biographies  of  the 

Makers  of  History 


BY 

OLIVER  TAYLOR 


BRISTOL,  TENN. 

THE    KING   PRINTING   CO. 

{Le  Rot  Press) 

1909 


Copyright  1909 
by 

OLIVER  TAYLOR 


n  i 
SEP    16    1909 


DEDICATED  TO  THE 

MEMORY  OF 

THE  FRONTIERWOMEN  OF  TENNESSEE 

AND 

TO  A  DESCENDANT  OF  THOSE  WOMEN 

MY  MOTHER 


" Speak  of  me  as  I  am;  nothing  extenuate, 
nor  set  down  aught  in  malice " 

Othello— Act  V,  Scene  2. 


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 


The  author  here  acknowledges  his  gratitude  for  the  many- 
courtesies  extended  him  during  the  preparation  of  this 
history.  Below  is  a  list  of  some  of  those,  from  whom 
has  been  received  valuable  assistance,  in  the  way 
of  suggestions  and  data:  B.  L.  Dulaney,  J.  Fain  Ander- 
son, E.  A.  Warren,  L.  H.  Denny,  Wm.  St.  John,  C.  H. 
Slack,  John  B.  Brownlow,  W.  G.  Rutledge,  George  T. 
Hammer,  J.  McK.  Phipps,  J.  M.  Salts,  N.  J.  Phillips, 
Robert  Pile,  J.  E.  Arrants,  Guy  DeVault  and  the  Wis- 
consin Historical  Society. 

A  grateful  recognition  is  also  extended  to  the  many 
others  who  have  furnished  bits  of  information,  making 
this  work  possible. 

The  original  painting  of  the  Battle  of  King's  Mountain 
hangs  in  the  lobby  of  the  Imperial  hotel,  Knoxville, 
Tennessee,  and  I  am  greatly  indebted  to  the  artist,  James 
Wallace,  and  to  the  owner,  R.  W.  Fair,  for  permission  to 
use  a  copy  of  same. 

Special  acknowledgment  is  due  Col.  Sam  L.  King  and 
Claude  R.  Taylor  for  reviewing  manuscript. 


INTRODUCTION. 


For  a  long  time  an  impelling  influence  hung  about  me 
that  finally  pulsed  into  an  idea  that  something  should 
be  done  to  preserve  the  history  of  Sullivan  County.  It 
was  a  rich  mine  of  undeveloped  memories.  In  my  talks 
with  our  old  people  I  found  those  memories  falling  into 
deplorable  and  pathetic  decay.  The  written  records  of 
the  county  had  been  burned  during  the  battle  of  Blount  - 
ville  in  1863. 

With  a  limited  experience  and  other  limited  essentials 
I  dared  not  permit  myself  to  give  existence  to  an  effort 
so  rash  as  the  writing  of  a  history,  for  well  I  knew  it 
meant  the  tyranny  of  merciless  truths. 

The  beginning  was  a  store  of  boyhood  recollections — 
a  green  spot  in  all  our  lives — of  the  traditions  and  legends 
and  stories  told  in  front  of  back-log  fires.  I  thought 
by  linking  these  with  the  accepted  and  more  substantial 
facts  I  might  be  able  to  furnish  a  chain  strong  enough 
to  carry  us  to  another  generation  where  some  one  better 
equipped  could  bring  our  chronicles  to  a  more  fruitful 
completion.  Encouraged  by  this  I  decided  to  call  what- 
ever my  pen  should  bring  forth,  "Folk-lore  of  Sullivan 
County."  But  when  I  submitted  this  title  with  my  in- 
tentions to  a  consulting  friend,  rather  expecting  ap- 
proval, he  looked  at  the  floor  for  a  while  and  then 
passively  inquired:  "let  me  see,  now,  which  one  of  the 
Lores  is  that?"  This  provocation  is  my  apology  for 
giving  you  a  history  of  Sullivan  County. 

It  will  be  seen  I  have  devoted  more  space  to  Isaac 
Shelby  than  to  any  of  his  compatriots.  This,  of  course, 
is  because  he  made  his  home  in  Sullivan,  was  identified 


viii  Historic  Sullivan. 

with  its  interests  and  his  followers  were  Sullivan  County 
men.  The  names  and  fame  of  Sevier  and  Campbell  and 
their  associates  are  secure  and  I  would  in  no  way  detract 
from  them.  But  confined  as  I  am  to  the  limits  of  one 
county  my  entries  cannot  cover  the  ground  of  a  general 
history. 

I  have  not  allowed  myself  to  enter  into  the  regretful 
controversy  which  took  place  in  regard  to  Col.  Camp- 
bell's position  during  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain. 
Posterity  has  accorded  him  the  place  he  so  valiantly 
won  during  his  brief  but  thrilling  career  and  is  not  in 
sympathy  with  the  censure  visited  upon  any  of  the  men 
who  followed  him. 

The  secret  of  the  affair,  I  believe,  is  that  none  of  the 
men  who  went  through  that  campaign  ever  dreamed 
their  exploits  would  go  sounding  down  the  centuries 
or  even  beyond  the  mountains  that  encircled  them  like 
a  barrier  from  the  world  without. 

They  did  not  look  for  the  glory  of  arms  nor  booty 
after  the  battle,  but  made  an  aggressive  defense  of  their 
homes  and  firesides.  When,  in  after  years,  the  survivors 
saw  that  this  battle  would  be  included  in  the  list  of 
decisive  battles  of  the  world's  great  wars,  a  species  of 
envy  crept  into  their  bosoms  and  some  felt  they  had  not 
been  dealt  with  fairly  in  the  bestowal  of  praise.  Col. 
Shelby's  feelings  in  the  affair  were  no  doubt  aggravated 
by  his  traducers  in  Kentucky.  He  had  removed  there  and 
in  1792  was  a  candidate  for  Governor.  His  opponents 
tried  to  defeat  him  with  reports  discrediting  his  valiant 
services  in  behalf  of  his  country,  even  going  so  far  as  to 
create  a  doubt  that  he  commanded  a  regiment  at  King's 
Mountain. 

This  resulted  in  a  breezy  correspondence  between 
Shelby  and  his  old  time  friend  and  companion,  John 
Sevier.  And,  while  the  revival  of  Campbell's  tardiness 
was  one  of  the  topics,  it  has  never  occurred  to  me  that  the 
origin  of  Shelby's  attack  upon  him  was  to   question 


Introduction.  ix 

Campbell's  bravery,  but  rather  to  sustain  his  own  claims 
that  he  was  one  of  the  commanders  and  at  the  fore  when 
the  fighting  was  hottest. 

But  whatever  the  faults  of  these  men  may  have  been, 
and  no  one  denies  that  they  had  faults,  this  generation 
will  allow  no  censure  now  and  should  those  old  warriors 
of  the  wood  come  forth  in  line  review  a  grateful  nation 
would  grant  them  any  wish — every  man  of  them. 

For  space  devoted  to  a  review  of  the  life  of  "Raccoon" 
John  Smith  apologies  will  hardly  be  necessary.  While 
little  heard  of  at  the  present  time,  still  I  regard  him 
as  the  rarest  human  product  that  ever  sprung  from  the 
soil  of  Sullivan  County.  Born  in  a  log  cabin  in  Holston 
Valley — a  poor  boy  and  one  of  a  large  family  he  lived 
a  knock-about  life  in  his  early  days  and  had  but  five 
months  school  training  during  his  entire  career.  He  was 
tried  by  the  severest  tests  of  time;  he  was  scourged  by 
a  living  death,  but  with  a  masterful  courage  and  unwaver- 
ing devotion  to  the  call  of  duty  he  arose  to  a  rank  that 
made  him  a  power  throughout  great  portions  of  Kentucky, 
Tennessee  and  the  Middle  West.  He  was  a  full  measure 
man  and  you  will  be  glad  to  know  more  about  him. 

At  the  close  of  my  work,  when  I  reviewed  what  I  had 
written,  there  came  sounding  back  to  me  one  ringing 
regret — that  I  could  not  devote  more  space  to  the  many 
worthy  families  of  Sullivan  County.  I  have  dwelt  in 
their  midst  all  my  life.  Their  ancestors  were  good  people ; 
they  lived  peaceful  lives;  they  broke  no  laws;  they  bade 
their  neighbors  good  night  and  good  morning  and  God- 
speed. But  there  are  no  deeds  of  extreme  self-denial  to 
their  credit;  they  dared  nothing;  they  dreamed  their  lives 
away. 

History  is  for  posterity  and  that  posterity  prefers  the 
valor  of  war  to  the  virtues  of  peace ;  it  clamors  for  those 
scenes  of  conflict  where  battle  shreds  make  burial  shrouds. 

It  has  always  seemed  to  me  an  unkind  decree  of  fate  that 
what  is  best  in  life  is  often  deepest  buried  in  forgetfulness, 


x  Historic  Sullivan. 

while  some  cruel  act  that  jangles  us  rolls  on  down  the 
years,  gathering  a  little  moss  of  sympathy  here  and  there 
to  soften  the  harsh  places.  By  and  by  it  reaches  a 
people  who,  wanting  to  remember  and  ready  to  forgive, 
exalt  the  deed  as  one  of  heroic  daring  until  it  finally 
puts  on  the  burnished  armor  of  the  ages.  And  so  our 
"village  Hampdens"  and  our  "mute  inglorious  Miltons" 
must  rest  in  one  long  silent  sepulcher.  They  pass  from 
view  like  a  shadow  on  the  dial  of  a  day. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  work  I  had  much  assistance 
in  the  way  of  suggestion  and  advice — some  caustic  it  is 
true,  but  all  evidently  kindly  intended,  certainly  in  such 
a  spirit  received — and,  what  was  available,  appropriated. 
But  had  I  attempted  to  reconcile  all  the  various  opinions 
advanced  as  to  how  this  book  should  be  written  I  might 
still  be  struggling  over  the  mastery  of  any  kind  of  con- 
struction. And  this  I  have  learned  and  this  I  am  pre- 
pared to  say:  it  is  much  easier  to  sit  down  in  a  circle  of 
friends  and  talk  history  than  to  sit  down  by  one's  self 
and  try  to  record  history. 

I  rejoice  that  it  has  been  my  privilege  to  give 
this  work,  with  whatever  merit  it  may  have,  to  posterity 
as  an  expression  of  the  love  I  have  for  my  native  county 
and  state,  the  sentiments  and  traditions  of  whose  people 
have  been  such  an  inspiration  and  the  deeds  of  whose 
heroes  I  have  always  adored. 

Oliver  Taylor. 

Trinkle's  Valley,  Sullivan  County,  Tennessee, 
August,  1909. 


CONTENTS. 


I. — Before  the  Pioneer 
IL— The  Cherokees 
1 1 1  .—Pioneers— Explorers— First  Settlers 
IV.— The  Cavalcade  .... 
V.— The  Frontierwoman 
VI. — Coming  of  the  Shelbys   . 
VII.— A  Few  Days  Full  of  Trouble 
VIII.— The  Battle  of  the  Great  Kanawha 
IX.— "Spirit  of  75" 
X.— The  Transylvania  Trust 
XL— Battle  of  Island  Flats  . 
XII.— Christian  Campaign 
XIIL— The  Treaty  of  Long  Island 
XIV.— The  Shelby  Campaign     . 
XV.— Donelson's  Voyage 
XVI.— Sullivan  County 
XVIL— King's  Mountain  Campaign 
XVIIL— The  State  of  Franklin  . 
XIX.— Blountville 
XX.— Industries  .... 
XXL— Official  Life     . 
XXIL— The  Church 
XXIIL— War  Times— Tennessee  Valor 
XXIV.— Travelw ays— Transmission  of  Mes- 
sages      .... 
XXV.— The  Boundary  Line 
XXVI. — Hunters  of  the  Holston 
XXVIL— The  Old  Field  School    . 
XXVIIL— Slavery  Days    . 
XXIX.— Agriculture 
XXX.— The  Removal 
XXXL— The  Newspaper— Politics 


1 

5 

20 

24 

28 

33 

39 

45 

51 

53 

59 

64 

68 

73 

75 

89 

100 

109 

137 

151 

160 

176 

203 

224 

239 
248 
262 
272 
281 
286 
296 


xii  Contents. 


XXXII.- 

-Bristol 

.  312 

XXXIII.- 

-Odds  and  Ends 

.  318 

XXXIV.- 

-The  Last  Leaf— Passing  of  Old 

INDEX 

Families 

.  323 
.  325 

BIOGRAPHIES. 

Adair,  John     .             98 

Anderson,  Joseph  R 305 

Blount,  Wm 120 

Brown,  Abel  J 254 

Caldwell,  George  A 308 

Claiborne,  W.  C.  C 157 

Dulaney,  Elkanah  R 218 

Gaines,  Edmund  Pendleton 195 

Gregg,  Nathan 200 

Ketron,  Joseph  H 268 

King,  James 149 

Martin,  Joseph 17 

McClellan,  George  R 237 

Netherland,  John 292 

Rhea,  John 221 

Smith,  "Raccoon"  John 166 

Snapp,  James  P 279 

Sullivan,  John 85 

Tadlock,  James  D 258 

Ward,  Nancy 57 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FACING  PAGE 

Isaac  Shelby Frontispiece 

Facsimile  of  Shelby's  handwriting 

Opposite  Frontispiece 

The  Cherokee  Country        4 

Type  op  Tennessee  Frontierwoman        .       .  28 

When  Shelby  kept  store  at  Sapling  Grove     .  34 
Facsimile  of  original    muster-roll  of    the 
first  volunteer  company  to  leave  sullivan 

County 44 

Long  Island 58 

Rachel  Donelson 74 

John  Sullivan 84 

Map  of  Sullivan  County  (1836)         ...  88 

Battle  of  King's  Mountain        ....  100 

William  Blount 120 

Blountville 136 

James  King 148 

W.  C.  C.  Claiborne 156 

"Raccoon"  John  Smith 166 

Edmund  Pendleton  Gaines          ....  194 

Nathan  Gregg          200 

William  R.  Dulaney 218 

John  Rhea 220 

George  R.  McClellan 236 

Abel  J.  Brown 254 

James  D.  Tadlock           258 

Old  Field  School-teacher's  contract       .       .  262 

Joseph  H.  Ketron 268 

John  Ross          286 

John  Netherland     292 

John  Slack 296 

Joseph  R.  Anderson 304 

George  A.  Caldwell 308 

Historic  Spots    320 


CHAPTER  I. 

BEFORE  THE  PIONEER. 

The  South  is  a  land  of  sentiment.  Our  forefathers 
leaned  upon  it  and  were  guided  by  it  and  we  are  not  so 
far  removed  from  the  frontier  as  to  make  us  forget  them. 

Sullivan  is  still  a  young  county.  The  father  of  today 
will  tell  you — "I  have  heard  my  father  say  that  his  father" 
— and  there  the  story  ends.  Our  white  life  is  but  four 
generations  old. 

There  are  two  eras  in  the  life  of  any  country — one  look- 
ing forward,  the  other  looking  backward.  There  was  a 
time  in  the  history  of  Sullivan  County  when  our  fore- 
fathers yearned  for  the  day  when  they  would  be  free  from 
the  ever-present  dangers,  the  surprise  attack,  the  fire- 
brand, the  massacre — all  kept  them  in  a  state  of  alarm 
and  they  longed  for  the  peace  that  would  bring  safety 
and  happiness.  They  rarely  recorded  the  stirring 
tragedies'of  those  days.  They  did  not  even  try  to  remem- 
ber them — they  tried  to  forget  them.  What  made  history 
for  us  meant  horror  for  them.  They  blinded  their  eyes 
and  deafened  their  ears  to  scenes  and  sounds  and  kept 
many  sorrowful  experiences  from  their  children,  thus 
cheering  them  on  their  way. 

They  did  not  know  they  were  making  history — they 
came  here  to  make  a  quiet  living.  They  preferred  the 
wild  freedom  of  the  forest  to  the  political  and  religious 
persecutions  of  their  old  homes.  The  spirit  of  independ- 
ence led  them  here. 

The  uberous  years  came  on. 

Today  the  descendants  of  those  people  are  prosperous 
nothing  disturbs  their  happiness,  all  are  safe.  But,  in 
the  midst  of  thrift  and  luxury,  they  are  looking  backward. 
They  feel  they  owe  a  debt  to  some  one  somewhere  in  the 
long  ago  and  reaching  back  through  the  stretch  of  the  fast 


2  Historic  Sullivan. 

receding  century  they  are  trying  to  restore  scraps  of 
records  that  tell  of  those  people  and  of  those  times.  Now 
and  then  the  faded  and  musty  fragments  of  an  old  manu- 
script is  recovered  and  the  owner  treasures  it  as  would  a 
prodigal  that  bit  of  parchment  bequeathing  him  a  rich 
legacy,  unexpected  and  undeserved. 

There  are  those  who  go  beyond  the  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  years  of  our  settlement's  life  and  seek  to  learn 
something  of  the  people  who  antedate  the  pioneer. 
Concerning  this,  two  theories  are  advanced.  One,  that 
this  section  was  an  unbroken  forest,  containing  no  villages 
or  permanent  habitations;  that  it  was  held  in  reserve  by 
Indians  as  a  hunting  ground.1  The  other,  that  in  the 
midst  of  this  forest  were  sun-places,  plains  along  the 
river  and  creek  bottoms  covered  with  cane  brakes  that 
needed  only  the  torch  to  transform  them  into  fertile 
farm  lands;  that  the  wigwam  and  hut  were  here  and  the 
spiral  smoke  of  campfires  ascended  throughout  the  valleys. 

The  latter  is  more  plausable  on  account  of  the  various 
relics  that  have  been  found  throughout  the  county. 

This  book  was  printed  over  an  Indian  grave.  On  an 
adjacent  lot  have  been  found,  not  only  perfect  arrow 
heads,  but  others  in  various  stages  of  the  making,  and 
an  abundance  of  flint  chips  indicating  they  were  made 
upon  the  spot.  There  have  also  been  found,  in  various 
excavations  for  buildings  in  this  vicinity,  pieces  of  Indian 
pottery,  beads  and  bones  that  were  in  a  sufficient  state 
of  preservation  to  be  recognized  as  belonging  to  a  pre- 
historic race;  mussel  and  periwinkle  shells  that  showed 
contact  with  fire,  and  it  is  known  the  Indians  esteemed 
these  for  food,  as  coast  tribes  did  the  oyster  and  the  crab. 

OTHER  RELIC  DISCOVERIES. 

On  the  Rutledge  farm,  one  and  a  half  miles  east  of 
Blountville,  are  two  excavations  that  have  always  been 

lit  is  a  common  but  mistaken  notion  that  Indians  had  regular  battle  grounds. 
Indians  fought  by  stealth  and  surprise. 


Before  the  Pioneer.  3 

considered  flint  mines  out  of  which  the  local  tribes 
secured  material  for  their  arrow-heads  and  other  weapons. 

A  representative  of  the  Department  of  Ethnology2 
in  his  researches  throughout  the  county,  among  other 
things,  found  at  Beidleman's  mill  on  the  Holston  a 
mound  containing  copper  implements  of  Indian  make. 
The  various  tribes,  on  their  hunting  and  trading3  expedi- 
tions, were  in  the  habit  of  exchanging  wares,  which 
accounts  for  copper  being  in  this  section. 

At  Benjamin  Wexler's,  on  the  top  of  a  near-by  knob, 
the  representative  found  two  graves  containing  the  same 
kind  of  material  as  that  found  at  Beidleman's. 

Cyrus  Thomas,4  one  of  the  chiefs  of  the  Department, 
that  pertaining  to  Indian  mounds,  instructed  the  agent 
to  go  to  the  Shipley  farm,  near  Cawood  ford  on  the  Holston 
and  examine  a  large  mound  reported  found  there.  Upon 
opening  it  twelve  skeletons  were  found.  These  skeletons 
were  in  a  sitting  posture.  One  sat  in  the  center  while 
the  eleven  others  were  in  a  circle  around  it — all  facing 
the  center  as  if  in  council.  Over  each  skeleton  had  been 
erected  a  crude  vault  of  large  river  bowlders.  The  mound 
had  the  usual  accompaniment  of  charcoal  and  ashes  and 
corn  found  in  all  Indian  graves.  Lying  beside  the  center 
skeleton  were  two  large  steotite  pipes,  such  fine  specimens 
of  the  kind  as  to  attract  much  inquiry.  They  are  now  on 
exhibition  at  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  the  fifth  annual 
report  giving  an  illustration  and  description. 

At  the  John  Morrell  farm,  in  the  adjoining  county  of 
Carter,  is  a  field  of  ashes,  in  such  evident  quantity  that 


2J.  W.  Emmert. 

3It  was  customary,  and  still  is,  to  a  limited  extent  in  the  West,  for  large  parties, 
sometimes  a  whole  band  or  a  village,  to  make  long  visits  to  other  tribes,  dancing, 
feasting  and  trading.  Regular  trade  routes  crossed  the  continent  and  inter-tribal 
commerce  was  as  constant  and  well  organized  a  part  of  Indian  life  as  is  our  own 
railroad  traffic  today. — Mooney's  Myths  of  the  Cherokee,  p.  235. 

4Cyrus  Thomas  is  a  Sullivan  County  man  and  formerly  lived  at  Kingsport. 
In  his  youth  he  clerked  in  the  Netherland  store;  later  he  taught  school  near  the 
Ross  place.  In  his  young  manhood  he  went  to  Illinois  and  there  married  the  sister 
of  Gen.  John  A.  Logan.  He  became  connected  with  his  present  work  many 
years  ago  and  is  today  (1908),  although  about  eighty  years  of  age,  still  in  the  service. 


4  Historic  Sullivan. 

would  require  all  the  timber  in  the  neighborhood  to  make 
an  equal  sized  heap.  This  indicates  a  permanent  village  or 
a  camp  of  long  and  constant  use. 

Dr.  Thomas  Walker,  in  his  journal,  says  he  found 
unoccupied  Indian  cabins  of  substantial  structure  when 
exploring  this  country  in  1748.' 

The  Cherokees  were  the  aborigines  of  Tennessee,  or 
perhaps  should  be  described  as  the  tribe  of  Indians  in 
possession  of  this  land  when  the  first  white  people  came 
here. 

Their  warlike  deeds,  their  fierce,  revengeful  spirit,  the 
massacres  they  perpetrated  have  been  described  by 
many  historians.  This  work  will,  therefore,  describe  the 
interior  of  their  nation — explaining  their  religion,  super- 
stitions, their  myths,  their  games  and  hunts;  how  they 
loved  and  how  they  worshipped,  how  they  were  influenced, 
how  they  lived  in  peaceful  times. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  CHEROKEES. 

The  Cherokees  are  the  mountain  red  men  of  the  South. 
Their  original  boundary  included  the  northern  parts  of 
Alabama,  Georgia,  South  Carolina,  Western  North  Caro- 
lina, nearly  all  of  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  Southwest 
Virginia  and  part  of  West  Virginia.  They  were  con- 
sidered the  most  important  and  most  intellectual  tribe 
and,  excepting  perhaps  the  Iroquois,  the  most  powerful. 
They  numbered  about  twenty -five  thousand.  Their 
boundary  line,  which  to  an  Indian  was  seldom  plainly 
defined,  was  always  in  dispute  and  tribal  aggressions 
occasioned  many  wars. 

In  Virginia,  the  Powhatans  and  Monacans  contended 
against  the  Cherokees  for  territory.  They  were  held  in 
check  in  North  and  South  Carolina  by  the  Tuscarora  and 
Catawba.  The  Creeks  would  have  none  of  them  in  North 
Georgia.  To  the  west,  the  Chicasaw  and  Shawano,  along 
the  lower  Tennessee  and  Cumberland,  repeatedly  hurled 
their  forces  against  them,  and  the  bold  and  ferocious 
Iroquois  denied  them  any  pass  way  to  the  North. 

The  Cherokees  were  the  first  to  feel  the  onward  march 
of  the  white  man  and  little  by  little,  either  by  war,  treaty, 
or  by  purchase,  were  pushed  back  until,  by  their  final 
cession,  they  were  huddled  together  in  small  portions 
of  Tennessee,  North  Carolina,  Georgia  and  Alabama. 

The  Cherokees,  though  generally  supposed  to  be,  were  not 
migratory,  except  on  hunting  and  trading  voyages  and  in 
wars.  They  were  an  agricultural  people,  cultivating 
orchards  and  large  fields  of  corn  and  potatoes.  Their 
nation  comprised  more  than  fifty  towns,  the  capital, 
Echota,  being  situated  near  what  is  now  Tellico,  Tennessee. 

The  name  which  this  tribe  knew  itself  by  was  Yun-wi-ya 
or   Ani-yun-wiya,    meaning   "principal   people,"   which 


6  Historic  Sullivan. 

they  considered  themselves.  The  name  Cherokee  has 
no  meaning  in  the  tribe's  language1  and  is  either  a  cor- 
rupted name  or  a  nickname.  A  dialect  name  in  the  tribe 
is  Tsar-i-ga,  meaning  "cave  people,"  because  they  were 
mountain  dwellers  among  the  cave  regions.  The  English 
corrupted  this  name  into  Cherokee  and  the  Spanish  into 
Chaloque. 

Linguists  declare  the  dialect  of  the  East  Tennessee 
Cherokee  is  the  softest  and  most  musical  of  this  tribe's 
musical  language 

religion  of  the  cherokees. 

There  is  a  general  impression  the  Indians  worshipped 
one  god  called  the  "Great  Spirit."  This  impression  is 
supported  by  discoveries  among  the  contents  of  graves 
where,  along  with  the  dead,  are  deposited  evidences  of  a 
belief  in  the  immortality  of  the  soul.  The  dead  pony  and 
the  broken  bow  are  lain  upon  the  departed  warrior's 
grave — mute  testimony  of  the  service  they  will  render 
him  in  the  "happy  hunting  ground." 

According,  however,  to  A-yun-inior  "Swimmer,"2  the 
keeper  of  the  traditions  of  his  race,  many  gods  were 
worshipped  by  the  Cherokees — they  had  no  idea  of 
heaven  or  hell  or  the  hereafter — all  their  invocations 
were  made  for  temporal  use  and  addressed  to  tangible 
gods.  The  most  important  of  their  animal  gods  are  the 
rabbit,   squirrel,  dog,  hawk,  terrapin  and  rattlesnake. 

The  "Long  Person,"  meaning  river,  is  addressed  on  all 
occasions,  no  ceremony  being  complete  without  it. 

In  plant  life  the  chief  god,  ginseng  or  "sang,"  is  called 

IMooney. 

2Mooney  is  the  most  convincing  authority  on  Indian  history  I  have  examined . 
He  appears  to  have  been  satisfied  to  hide  behind  a  salary.  '  'Swimmer"  is  a  dis- 
covery of  his  and  from  whom  most  of  the  myth  material  was  secured.  The  author 
mourned  the  Indian's  death,  declaring  "he  was  buried  like  a  true  Cherokee_  on  the 
elope  of  a  forest-clad  mountain.  Peace  to  his  ashes  and  sorrow  to  his  going,  for 
with  him  perished  half  the  traditions  of  a  people."  During  the  Civil  War,  "Swim- 
mer" was  second  sergeant  in  a  company  with  Thomas'  Legion.  He  was  born  in 
1835  and  was  sixty-five  years  old  at  his  death.  James  Keelan,  known  as  the 
"hero  of  the  Strawberry  Plains  bridge, ' '  was  rescued  by  this  company  after  he  had 
been  left  for  dead. 


The  Cherokees.  7 

"Little  Man"  on  account  of  its  appearance.  Digging  it,  the 
Indian  passed  by  the  first  three  plants  selecting  the  fourth.3 

One  form  of  prayer  is  addressed  to  the  "Red -headed 
woman  with  hair  hanging  to  the  ground, ' '  but  it  is  not  clear 
just  what  the  entreaty  is  or  what  the  response.  The 
rattlesnake,  deer  and  ginseng  form  a  weird  trinity.  To 
kill  the  first  would  cause  the  other  two  to  disappear 
from  the  wood.  The  deer  is  the  most  prized  of  animal 
food. 

The  Cherokee  regarded  the  snake  with  reverential  fear 
and,  unless  compelled,  would  never  kill  one.  If  he  did 
kill  one  in  self-defense  he  immediately  sought  the  service 
of  a  priest  to  appease  the  spirit  of  the  snake  lest  the 
relatives  of  the  deceased  should  come  and  avenge  the  death. 
If  an  Indian  dreamed  of  being  bitten  by  a  snake  he  is 
treated  in  the  same  manner  as  if  he  had  been  bitten. 
When  an  Indian  is  bitten  by  a  snake,  in  addition  to  singing 
a  formula,  tobacco  juice  is  rubbed  on  the  wound,  the 
patient  going  round  four  times  and  always  turning  toward 
the  left  because  the  snake,  in  coiling,  turns  toward  the 
right.     The  reversal  of  movement  means  uncoiling  it. 

When  a  snake  is  killed  the  head  is  chopped  off  and  buried 
an  arm's  length  underground  and  the  body  is  placed  in  a 
hollow  log  to  hide  it  from  the  view  of  other  snakes  and 
to  prevent  a  long  wet  spell.4 

The  Indians  also  spared  a  wolf,  venerating  it  as  the 
hunter  and  watch  dog. 

In  the  animal  myths  the  rabbit  figures  most  prominently 
and  is  called  the  mischief  maker,  being  also  considered 
malicious.  A  broth  made  of  him  and  sprinkled  along  a 
path  where  a  runner  is  to  make  a  race  confuses  him  and 
causes  him  to  become  timid. 

The  aid  of  the  beaver,  on  account  of  his  well-known 


3The  numbers  4  and  7  are  talismanic  in  the  Indian  lore.     4  is  especially  sacred 
in  ceremonial  observances  and  in  medicine. 

4Probably  the  origin  of  the  habit,  among  superstitious  whites,  of  hanging  a 
dead  snake  on  a  fence  or  tree  to  bring  rain  during  a  drouth. 


8  Historic  Sullivan. 

gnawing  capacity,  is  invoked  in  behalf  of  teething  children. 
Animals  are  represented  as  speaking  and  have  their 
councils  and  meeting-houses.  At  one  of  their  councils 
the  discussion  arose  as  to  what  should  be  done  with  Man, 
the  arch  enemy.  All  favored  destroying  him  except  the 
little  ground  squirrel  who,  being  so  small,  unnoticed  and 
therefore  unharmed  by  man,  now  took  occasion  to  defend 
him.  This  act  so  enraged  the  polar  bear,  who  was 
presiding,  that  he  reached  over  and  scratched  the  little 
squirrel  on  the  back,  leaving  the  claw  marks  to  this  day. 
In  this  lore  other  marks  and  peculiarities  of  appearance 
are  accounted  for. 

BIRD  MYTHS. 

The  eagle  is  the  sacred  bird  of  the  Indian  and  is  featured 
in  their  religious  observances.  Its  beautiful  tail  feathers, 
much  prized  for  head  ornaments,  often  brought  as  much 
as  a  horse.  None  but  a  professional  eagle-killer  dared 
to  kill  an  eagle.  There  were  ceremonials  to  go  through. 
The  eagle-killer  prayed  four  days  then  killed  a  deer, 
exposing  the  fresh  meat,  while  he  hid  himself,  awaiting 
the  eagle.  On  killing  one  he  allowed  it  to  remain  four 
days  to  permit  the  parasites  to  leave  it.  The  feathers 
were  then  secured  and  a  dance  arranged  in  honor. 

In  reporting  the  capture  of  an  eagle  to  the  tribe  the 
eagle-killer  would  not,  out  of  fear,  speak  the  name  of  the 
eagle  but  would  say  "a  snow  bird  has  died."5 

The  buzzard  is  the  doctor.  On  account  of  feasting 
upon  the  dead  it  is  supposed  to  be  immune  from  disease. 
A  small  quantity  of  its  flesh  eaten  or  a  broth  of  it  used 
as  a  wash  is  believed  to  be  a  sure  cure  for  small  pox  and 
was  used  among  the  eastern  Cherokees  during  the  epidemic 
of  1866.     A  buzzard  feather  hung  on  the  door  will  keep 


5There  is  a  similar  superstition  on  the  stage.  At  the  rehearsal  of  a  new  play 
the  last  line  is  often  not  spoken  until  the  night  of  the  first  performance,  other 
words  being  substituted.  A  spectator,  at  a  rehearsal  once,  not  knowing  this,  was 
startled,  when  at  the  close  of  a  thrilling  curtain  climax,  the  star  shouted  '  "Three 
beers,  please." — N.  O.  Pacayne. 


The  Cherokees.  9 

out  witches,  they  believe,  and  in  the  application  of  medi- 
cine to  wounds  the  quill  of  a  buzzard  feather  is  employed, 
medicine  being  blown  through  it. 

The  owl  and  all  night  calling  birds  are  believed  to  be 
ghosts  or  witches  and  their  cry  is  considered  a  sign  of 
coming  danger.  A  child's  eye  bathed  with  water  in 
which  an  owl  feather  has  been  dipped  will  cause  the 
child  to  stay  awake  all  night. 

The  wren  is  the  stork  of  the  Indian  tribe  because  he  is 
always  slipping  in  and  around  homes  and  hears  what  is 
going  on.  He  carries  the  news  of  a  birth.  When  an 
Indian  wishes  to  know  the  sex  of  a  child  he  inquires, 
"is  it  a  bow  or  (meal)  sifter?" 

INSECT  MYTHS. 

The  Cherokees  anticipated  the  germ  or  microbe  theory 
long  before  its  scientific  discovery.  They  claimed  all 
human  ailments  of  a  lurking,  insidious  nature  were  caused 
by  insects  and  because  thousands  of  them  were  constantly 
being  killed  by  man  they  entered  slyly,  destroying  the 
human  system  out  of  revenge. 

The  Cherokees  believe  all  cruelties  are  punished  in 
this  life,  if  not  upon  the  one  doing  the  deed,  upon  some 
relative  or  upon  a  future  generation  of  his  kindred. 

The  cricket  is  the  barber  and  also  on  account  of  its 
singing  qualities  plays  an  important  part  in  various  ways. 
Children  slow  of  speech  have  their  tongues  scratched 
with  the  claw  of  a  cricket  to  make  them  sing  and  even 
eloquent.  Older  persons  are  treated  likewise,  but  with 
less  effect. 

The  moth  that  flutters  around  the  light,  the  Cherokee 
says,  "is  going  to  bed."  It  is  invoked  by  the  healer  in 
"fire  diseases,  including  sore  eyes  and  frost  bite." 

The  spring  lizzard  is  the  rain-maker. 

The  large  crawfish  is  used  to  scratch  the  hand  of  a 
child  to  give  it  a  strong  grip. 


10  Historic  Sullivan. 

When  a  jarfly  sings,  they  say  "the  jarfly  has  brought 
the  beans,"  his  song  being  taken  as  a  sign  that  beans  are 
ripe. 

During  an  eclipse  they  believe  a  great  frog  swallows 
the  sun  and  at  such  times  fire  guns,  beat  drums  and  make 
other  loud  noises  to  frighten  the  frog  away. 

MEDICAL  HERBS. 

The  Indian's  idea  of  medicine  is  very  crude.  Their 
reputed  knowledge  of  the  medicinal  value  of  herbs  has 
been  exploded  by  scientific  test.  Out  of  twenty  plants 
tested  only  five  had  the  curative  virtue  Indians  attributed 
to  them,  while  the  remainder  were  of  questionable  value 
or  even  injurious. 

A  decoction  of  cockleburs  is  recommended  for  for- 
getfulness  because  nothing  sticks  like  a  bur. 

In  rheumatism  a  patient  is  forbidden  to  eat  or  even 
touch  a  squirrel,  a  buffalo,  a  cat  or  any  animal  that 
"humps"  because  the  one  suffering  often  assumes  the 
attitude  described. 

The  ball  player,  in  like  manner,  is  not  allowed  to  eat 
frog  legs  because  the  bones  of  the  frog  are  brittle  and 
easily  broken. 

CHEROKEE  COURTSHIP. 

In  courtship,  like  death,  all  people  are  brought  to  a 
common  level.  Although  the  way  of  making  love  may 
be  clothed,  by  different  nations,  in  different  forms  of 
speech — all  mean  the  same.  The  Cherokees  have  a 
regular  formula  for  making  love  as  they  have  for  making 
medicine.  How  near  like  the  love-making  of  civilized 
nations  may  be  seen.  White  to  an  Indian  is  the  symbol 
of  happiness  as  blue  is  the  symbol  of  sorrow.6  When, 
in  the  following  formula,  the  lover  speaks  of  "white 
woman"  he  means  "happy  woman." 


6Perhaps  the  origin  of  "the  blues." 


The  Cherokees.  11 

The  Indian  lover  tried  to  make  the  one  he  loved  appear 
as  lonely  and  miserable  without  him  as  he  could,  at  the 
same  time  extolling  his  own  merits  and  debasing  these  of 
all  rivals.  She  should  never  be  lonely  with  him — the 
term  loneliness  being  the  most  abject  state  a  person 
could  get  into,  according  to  the  Indian  view  of  it.  Lone- 
liness to  a  dusky  maiden  meant  about  the  same  as  poverty 
to  a  white  maiden  contemplating  marriage.7 

"  Ku !  Listen !  In  Alahiyi  you  repose,  0,  Terrible  Woman, 
0  you  have  drawn  near  to  hearken.  There  in  Elahiyi 
you  are  at  rest,  0  White  Woman.  No  one  is  lonely 
when  with  you.  You  are  most  beautiful.  Instantly 
and  at  once  you  have  rendered  me  a  white  man.  No 
one  is  ever  lonely  when  with  me.  Now  you  have  made 
the  path  white  for  me.  It  shall  never  be  dreary.  Now 
you  have  put  me  into  it.  It  shall  never  become  blue. 
You  have  brought  down  to  me  from  above  the  white 
road.  There  in  mid-earth  (mid-surface)  you  have  placed 
me.  I  shall  stand  erect  upon  the  earth.  No  one  is  ever 
lonely  when  with  me.  I  am  very  handsome.  You  have 
put  me  into  the  white  house.  I  shall  be  in  it  as  it  moves 
about  and  no  one  with  me  shall  ever  be  lonely.  Verily,  I 
shall  never  become  blue.  Instantly  you  have  caused  it  to 
be  so  with  me. 

"And  now  there  in  Elahiyi  you  have  rendered  the  woman 
blue.  Now  you  have  made  the  path  blue  for  her.  Let 
her  be  completely  veiled  in  loneliness.  Put  her  into  the 
blue  road.  And  now  bring  her  down.  Place  her  stand- 
ing upon  the  earth.  Where  her  feet  are  now  and  where- 
ever  she  may  go,  let  loneliness  leave  its  mark  upon  her. 
Let  her  be  marked  out  for  loneliness  where  she  stands. 

"Ha!  I  belong  to  the  (Wolf)  (  +  +)  clan,  that  one 
alone  which  was  allotted  into  for  you.  No  one  is  ever 
lonely  with  me.     I  am  handsome.     Let  her  put  her  soul 


7Poverty  does  not  seem  to  have  played  any  part  among  the  earlier  Indians — 
all  had  an  equal  chance  and  there  was  considerable  thrift  among  them. 


12  Historic  Sullivan. 

the  very  center  of  my  soul,  never  to  turn  away.  Grant 
that  in  the  midst  of  men  she  shall  never  think  of  them. 
I  belong  to  the  one  clan  alone  which  was  allotted  for  you 
when  the  seven  clans  were  established. 

"Where  (other)  men  live  it  is  lonely.  They  are  very 
loathsome.  The  common  polecat  has  made  them  so 
like  himself  that  they  are  fit  only  for  his  company.  The 
common  oppossum  has  made  them  so  like  himself  that 
they  are  fit  only  to  be  with  him.  They  are  very  loathsome. 
Even  the  crow  has  made  him  so  like  himself  that  they  are 
fit  only  for  his  company.  They  are  very  loathsome. 
The  miserable  rain-crow  has  made  them  so  like  himself 
that  they  are  fit  only  to  be  with  him. 

"The  seven  clans  all  alike  make  one  feel  very  lonely 
in  their  company.  They  are  not  even  good  looking. 
They  go  about  clothed  with  mere  refuse.  But  I — I  was 
ordained  to  be  a  white  man.  I  stand  with  my  face 
toward  the  Sun  Land.  No  one  is  ever  lonely  with  me. 
I  am  very  handsome.  I  shall  certainly  never  become 
blue.  I  am  covered  by  the  everlasting  white  house 
wherever  I  go.  No  one  is  ever  lonely  with  me.  Your 
soul  has  come  into  the  very  center  of  my  soul,  never  to 
turn  away.  I — (Gatigwanasti,)  (0  0) — I  take  your  soul. 
Sge!" 

The  reader  of  history  is  inclined  to  regard  the  Indian 
merely  as  a  warrior,  a  hunter  of  scalps,  a  cruel  slayer 
of  women  and  children,  but  Indian  literature  has  a  charm 
of  simplicity  peculiar.  Their  legends,  stories  and  folk- 
lore are  not  surpassed  in  any  language  and  have  been 
borrowed  from,  many  times.8 

In  relating  a  story,  the  one  telling  it  always  begins 
by  saying,  "and  this  is  what  the  old  man  told  me  when 
I  was  a  boy." 


8Joel  Chandler  Harris  is  supposed  to  have  created  his  "Uncle  Remus"  out  of 
the  Southern  negro;  in  reality  he  simply  supplied  the  Indian  lore  with  the  more 
familiar  dialect.  "Brer  Rabbit"  is  the  same  mischievous  fellow  the  Indian  story 
tellers  delighted  their  children  with  during  the  long  winter  days  around  their  wigwam 
fires.     There  are  instances  where  writers  have  paraphrased  the  original  text. 


The  Cherokees  13 

the  rabbit  and  the  tar  wolf. 

"Once  there  was  such  a  long  spell  of  dry  weather  that 
there  was  no  more  water  in  the  creeks  and  springs,  and 
the  animals  held  a  council  to  see  what  to  do  about  it. 
They  decided  to  dig  a  well,  and  all  agreed  to  help  except 
the  Rabbit,  who  was  a  lazy  fellow,  and  said,  'I  don't 
need  to  dig  for  water.  The  dew  on  the  grass  is  enough 
for  me.'  The  others  did  not  like  this,  but  they  went  to 
work  together  and  dug  the  well. 

"They  noticed  that  the  Rabbit  kept  slick  and  lively, 
although  it  was  still  dry  weather  and  the  water  was  getting 
low  in  the  well.  They  said,  'That  tricky  Rabbit  steals 
our  water  at  night,'  so  they  made  a  wolf  of  pine  gum  and 
tar  and  set  it  up  by  the  well  to  scare  the  thief.  That 
night  the  Rabbit  came,  as  he  had  been  coming  every  night, 
to  drink  enough  to  last  him  all  the  next  day.  He  saw 
the  queer  black  thing  by  the  well  and  said,  'Who's 
there?'  but  the  tar  wolf  said  nothing.  He  came  nearer, 
but  the  wolf  never  moved,  so  he  grew  braver  and  said, 
'Get  out  of  my  way  or  I'll  strike  you.'  Still  the  wolf 
never  moved  and  the  Rabbit  came  up  and  struck  it  with 
his  paw,  but  the  gum  held  his  foot  and  he  stuck  fast. 
Now  he  was  angry  and  said,  'Let  me  go  or  I'll  kick  you.' 
Still  the  wolf  said  nothing.  Then  the  Rabbit  struck  again 
with  his  hind  foot,  so  hard  that  it  was  caught  in  the  gum 
and  he  could  not  move,  and  there  he  stuck  until  the  animals 
came  for  water  in  the  morning.  When  they  found  who 
the  thief  was  they  had  great  sport  over  him  for  a  while 
and  then  got  ready  to  kill  him,  but  as  soon  as  he  was 
unfastened  from  the  tar  wolf  he  managed  to  get  away." 

WHY  THE  MOLE  LIVES  UNDERGROUND. 

"A  man  was  in  love  with  a  woman  who  disliked  him 
and  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  him.  He  tried  every 
way  to  win  her  favor,  but  to  no  purpose,  until  at  last  he 
grew  discouraged  and  made  himself  sick  thinking  over  it. 
The  Mole  came  along,  and  finding  him  in  such  low  condi- 


14  Historic  Sullivan. 

tion  asked  what  was  the  trouble.  The  man  told  him  the 
whole  story,  and  when  he  had  finished  the  Mole  said: 
'I  can  help  you,  so  that  she  will  not  only  like  you,  but 
will  come  to  you  of  her  own  will.'  So  that  night  the 
Mole  burrowed  his  way  underground  to  where  the  girl 
was  in  bed  asleep  and  took  out  her  heart.  He  came 
back  by  the  same  way  and  gave  the  heart  to  the  man, 
who  could  not  see  it  even  when  it  was  put  into  his  hand. 
'There,'  said  the  Mole,  'swallow  it,  and  she  will  be  drawn 
to  come  and  can  not  keep  away.'  The  man  swallowed 
the  heart,  and  when  the  girl  woke  up  she  somehow 
thought  at  once  of  him,  and  felt  a  strange  desire  to  be 
with  him,  as  though  she  must  go  to  him  at  once.  She 
wondered  and  could  not  understand  it,  because  she  had 
always  disliked  him  before,  but  at  last  the  feeling  grew 
so  strong  that  she  was  compelled  to  go  herself  to  the 
man  and  tell  him  she  loved  him  and  wanted  to  be  his 
wife.  And  so  they  were  married,  but  all  the  magicians 
who  had  known  them  both  were  surprised  and  wondered 
how  it  had  come  about.  When  they  found  that  it  was 
the  work  of  the  Mole,  whom  they  had  always  before 
thought  too  insignificant  for  their  notice,  they  were  very 
jealous  and  threatened  to  kill  him,  so  that  he  hid  himself 
under  the  ground  and  has  never  since  dared  to  come  up 
to  the  surface." 

HOW  THE  PARTRIDGE  GOT  HIS  WHISTLE. 

"In  the  old  days  the  Terrapin  had  a  fine  whistle,  but 
the  Partridge  had  none.  The  Terrapin  was  constantly 
going  about  whistling  and  showing  his  whistle  to  the 
other  animals  until  the  Partridge  became  jealous,  so 
one  day,  when  they  met  the  Partridge  asked  leave  to 
try  it.  The  Terrapin  was  afraid  to  risk  it  at  first,  suspect- 
ing some  trick,  but  the  Partridge  said,  'I'll  give  it  back 
right  away,  and  if  you  are  afraid  you  can  stay  with  me 
while  I  practice.'  So  the  terrapin  let  him  have  the 
whistle  and  the  Partridge  walked  around  blowing  on  it 


The  Cherokees.  15 

in  fine  fashion.  'How  does  it  sound  with  me?'  asked  the 
Partridge.  '0,  you  do  very  well,'  said  the  Terrapin, 
walking  along.  'Now,  how  do  you  like  it,'  said  the 
Partridge,  running  ahead  and  whistling  a  little  faster. 
'That's  fine,'  answered  the  Terrapin,  hurrying  to  keep 
up,  'but  don't  run  so  fast.'  'And  now,  how  do  you  like 
this?'  called  the  Partridge,  and  with  that  he  spread  his 
wings,  gave  one  long  whistle,  and  flew  to  the  top  of  a 
tree,  leaving  the  poor  Terrapin  to  look  after  him  from  the 
ground.  The  Terrapin  never  recovered  his  whistle,  and 
from  that,  and  the  loss  of  his  scalp,  which  the  Turkey 
stole  from  him,  he  grew  ashamed  to  be  seen,  and  ever 
since  he  shuts  himself  up  in  his  box  when  any  one  comes 
near  him." 

THE  BRIDE  FROM  THE  SOUTH, 

"The  North  went  traveling,  and  after  going  far  and 
meeting  many  different  tribes  he  finally  fell  in  love  with 
the  daughter  of  the  South  and  wanted  to  marry  her. 
The  girl  was  willing,  but  her  parents  objected  and  said, 
'Ever  since  you  came  the  weather  has  been  cold,  and  if 
you  stay  here  we  may  all  freeze  to  death.'  The  North 
pleaded  hard,  and  said  that  if  they  would  let  him  have 
their  daughter  he  would  take  her  back  to  his  own  country, 
so  at  last  they  consented.  They  were  married  and  he 
took  his  bride  to  his  own  country,  and  when  she  arrived 
there  she  found  the  people  all  living  in  ice  houses. 

"The  next  day,  when  the  sun  rose,  the  houses  began  to 
leak,  and  as  it  began  to  climb  higher  they  began  to  melt, 
and  it  grew  warmer  and  warmer,  until  finally  the  people 
came  to  the  young  husband  and  told  him  he  must  send 
his  young  wife  home  again,  or  the  weather  would  get  so 
warm  that  the  whole  settlement  would  be  melted.  He 
loved  his  wife  and  held  out  as  long  as  he  could,  but  as  the 
sun  grew  hotter  the  people  were  more  urgent,  and  at  last 
he  had  to  send  her  home  to  her  parents. 


16  Historic  Sullivan. 

"The  people  said  that  she  had  been  born  in  the  South 
and  nourished  all  her  life  upon  food  that  grew  in  the  same 
climate,  her  whole  nature  was  warm  and  unfit  for  the 
North." 

There  is  a  popular  idea  that  the  Indians  had  no  humor. 

THE  TWO  OLD  MEN. 

"Two  old  men  went  hunting.  One  had  an  eye  drawn 
down  and  was  called  Uk-kwunagita,  'Eye-drawn -down.' 
The  other  had  an  arm  twisted  out  of  shape  and  was  called 
Uk-kusuntsuti,  'Bent -bow-shape.'  They  killed  a  deer 
and  cooked  the  meat  in  a  pot.  The  second  old  man 
dipped  a  piece  of  bread  into  the  soup  and  smacked  his 
lips  as  he  ate.  'Is  it  good?' said  the  first  old  man.  Said 
the  other,  'Hayu!  uk-kwunagi'sti — Yes,  sir!  It  will  draw 
down  one's  eye.' 

"Thought  the  first  old  man  to  himself,  'He  means 
me.'  So  he  dipped  a  piece  of  bread  into  the  pot,  and 
smacked  his  lips  as  he  tasted  it.  'Do  you  find  it  good?' 
said  the  other  old  man.  Said  his  comrade,  'Hayu! 
uk-ku'suntsuteti — Yes,  sir!  It  will  twist  up  one's  arm.' 
Thought  the  second  old  man,  'He  means  me;'  so  he  got 
very  angry  and  struck  the  first  old  man,  and  then  they 
fought  until  each  killed  the  other." 


Joseph  Martin 
a  biography 

Joseph  Martin  was  one  of  the  leading  frontiermen  of 
Sullivan  County,  and  was  one  of  the  county's  most  useful 
men  when  it  was  in  the  greatest  need.  He  was  born  in 
Albemarle  county,  Virginia,  in  1740.  His  early  school- 
ing was  neglected  through  his  own  incorrigible  nature, 
that  would  bear  no  restraint.  Among  his  early  associates 
were  Gen.  Thomas  Sumter  and  Col.  Benjamin  Cleveland, 
the  latter  a  hero  of  King's  Mountain. 

Martin,  when  a  boy  of  sixteen,  ran  away  from  home  and 
joined  the  army.  He  led  a  roving,  hunter's  life  for  many 
years,  as  did  so  many  who  afterwards  became  border  he- 
roes. It  was  the  school  of  experience  in  which  they  train- ' 
ed.  He  became  associated  with  Dr.  Thomas  Walker  in 
his  explorations  and  in  one  of  these  expeditions  visited 
Powell's  Valley,  where  he  decided  to  locate.  Here  he 
raised  a  large  crop  of  corn  in  1769. 

During  the  Indian  raids  of  1774  he  commanded  a  fort 
on  the  frontier  and  was  also  a  leader  of  scouts. 

When  Henderson  and  his  Transylvania  Company  pur- 
chased the  immense  tracts  of  land  from  the  Cherokees, 
Martin  was  made  their  agent  in  Powell's  Valley.  He  was 
captain  of  a  company,  with  Christian,  against  the  Chero- 
kees in  1776. 

In '1777  he  was  appointed,  by  Gov.  Patrick  Henry, 
Indian  agent  and  took  up  his  residence  on  Long  Island. 
Here  he  lived  until  1789. 

Martin  was  a  man  physically  well  proportioned,  being 
six  feet  tall  and  weighing  two  hundred  pounds.  On  one 
occasion  he  was  returning  with  two  companions  to  the 
Holston  settlement  when  the  party  was  waylaid  by  two 
Indians  who  suddenly  emerged  from  a  cave.  One  of  the 
men  was  shot  and  the  Indian  who  committed  the  murder 
retreated  into  the  cave.     Martin  crawled  into  the  cave, 


18  Historic  Sullivan 

killed  the  Indian  and  dragged  him  out.1 

While  Martin  was  a  brave  and  almost  reckless  Indian 
fighter  he  was  also  an  Indian  pacifier.  It  was  as  a  diplo- 
mat he  rendered  his  most  brilliant  service  to  the  country. 
His  treaties  were  lasting,  for  the  Cherokees  had  great 
confidence  in  him.  At  one  time,  while  visiting  the 
Cherokee  country,  he  came  into  contact  with  the  British 
agent  and  so  powerful  was  his  sway  that  he  had  the  agent 
expelled. 

His  influence  with  the  Cherokees  was  largely  due  to  his 
having  been  adopted  by  that  tribe — he  had  married  Betsy 
Ward,  the  beautiful  daughter  of  Nancy  Ward,  although 
at  the  time  he  had  a  lawful  wife.  This  act  he  always  tried 
to  explain  to  his  children,  who  were  chagrined  by  it,  by 
saying  it  was  to  further  his  influences  in  bringing  about 
treaties.  His  white  wife,  although  a  woman  of  refine- 
ment, would  never  let  her  children  speak  disrespectfully 
about  their  father  on  account  of  the  morganatic  alliance. 
And  although  Gen.  Martin,  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife, 
married  a  woman  of  some  distinction,  he  still  lived  with 
his  Indian  wife,  the  second  wife  also  countenancing  the 
union. 

He  was  associated  with  Isaac  Shelby  and  John  Donel- 
son  in  formulating  the  treaty  of  1783  at  Long  Island  and 
was  also  one  of  the  leading  figures  in  the  treaty  of  Hope- 
well (S.  C.)  in  1785. 

He  came  near  being  the  territorial  governor  of  the 
Territory  South  of  the  Ohio,  and  Thomas  Jefferson,  Patrick 
Henry  and  others  used  their  influence  with  Washington, 
who  was  then  President  (1790),  to  have  him  appointed, 
but  the  office  falling  to  a  North  Carolina  man,  William 
Blount  was  appointed.  These  two  men  worked  together 
harmoniously.  It  was  through  such  diplomatic  influence 
that  the  Indians  were  kept  inactive  and  the  Kings  Moun- 
tain campaign  was  made  possible. 

1  Draper  MSS.  Notes  32. 


Joseph  Martin  19 

In  a  military  way  Martin  rose  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General. 

He  retired  from  service  in  1789,  returned  to  Virginia 
and  resided  in  Henry  County.2  Here  he  engaged  in  poli- 
tics, was  elected  to  the  legislature  and  became  Madison's 
right  hand  man. 

His  last  public  service,  of  interest,  was  to  run  the  boun- 
dary line  between  Tennessee  and  Virginia  in  1800. 

He  died  at  his  home  in  Henry  County,  December 
18,  1808. 

2Martinsville  ii  now  the  county  seat  of  Henry  County. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  PIONEERS — EXPLORERS— FIRST  SETTLERS. 

In  1759  Col.  William  Byrd  was  ordered  by  the 
Governor  of  Virginia  to  collect  a  number  of  men  and 
proceed  to  the  relief  of  Fort  Loudon.  This  fort,  the 
first  built  on  Tennessee  soil,  was  erected  in  1756 
by  Gen.  Andrew  Lewis,  about  thirty  miles  below 
Knoxville.  For  a  long  time  it  enjoyed  the  undisturbed 
friendship  of  the  Indians,  by  whose  permission  it  was 
built,  but  in  1760  it  was  suffering  the  terrors  of  an  Indian 
siege. 

A  weaker  race  is  always  suspicious  and  jealous  of  a 
superior  race.  This  is  nowhere  better  illustrated  than 
among  the  red  and  white  races  of  America.  The  latter 
were  never  guarded  enough  in  their  treatment  of  the 
Indians  nor  careful  enough  with  their  pledges  of  peace, 
often  violating  treaties  which  had  been  made,  in  con- 
sequence of  which  they  suffered  much  from  the  reckless 
barbarity  of  their  own  irresponsible  men.  Some  of  the 
Indians  had  been  murdered  on  their  return  from  the  North 
and  their  kinsmen  now  sought  to  avenge  these  deeds 
and,  as  was  unfortunately,  but  often  the  case,  their 
vengeance  was  visited  upon  the  most  defenseless  and 
innocent.  A  life  for  a  life,  they  cared  not  whom,  was 
their  religion  and  law. 

On  his  way  to  relieve  the  fort  Byrd  built  another 
one  at  New  River  and  called  it  Fort  Chiswell,  in  honor 
of  his  friend,  John  Chiswell,  who  was  operating  the  lead 
mines  of  that  vicinity.  His  men  became  dissatisfied 
with  the  conduct  of  the  campaign  and  on  arriving  at 
Stalnaker's1   Byrd  resigned  and    Col.  Stephen  was   put 


INear  Marion,  Va. 


The  Pioneers— Explorers — First  Settlers.    21 

in  charge,    with    a    young    and  ambitious  sub-officer, 
Henry  Timberlake,  who  was  also  an  expert  surveyor. 

From  Stalnaker's  they  proceeded  to  Long  Island  and 
there  erected  a  large  and  substantial  fort,  naming  it  Fort 
Robinson.2 

On  August  8th,  1760,  Fort  Loudon 's  fate  was  sealed 
by  surrender  and  then  treacherous  massacre. 

When  Fort  Robinson  was  completed  the  Indians, 
four  hundred  in  number,  headed  by  Chief  Oconostota, 
arrived  and  sued  for  peace — no  doubt  fearing  punish- 
ment for  their  crime  at  Fort  Loudon.  A  treaty  was 
entered  into  November  16,  1761,3  on  the  completion 
of  which  the  chief  requested  that  one  of  the  garrison 
accompany  him  to  his  nation  as  a  pledge  of  good  faith. 
Timberlake  agreed  to  go. 

Not  long  after  Fort  Robinson  was  completed  the 
country  began  to  be  settled.  The  first  pioneers,  however, 
did  not  come  with  the  purpose  of  settling  here.  Those 
who  ventured  this  far  came  in  straggling  bands,  as  hunters 
or,  as  in  the  case  of  Daniel  Boone  and  his  party,  bound 
for  a  section  beyond  this.  But  all  who  happened  along 
the  fertile  valleys  of  the  Holston  went  back  with  glowing 
tales  of  the  country  and  what  there  was  here  for  those 
who  had  the  courage  to  make  it  a  home. 

Stephen  Holston  paddled  his  canoe  down  far  enough 
to  give  the  river  its  name.4 

2Summers'  Southwest  Virginia. 

3This  I  believe  is  the  first  treaty  made  in  Sullivan — historians,  generally 
seemed  to  have  overlooked  it.  Timberlake  in  his  memoirs  describes  his  reception 
in  the  Cherokee  nation  in  a  very  dramatic  manner.  Several  hundred  savages 
painted  in  a  picturesque  manner  met  him  on  his  entrance  into  their  towns  and 
among  other  friendly  acts  to  show  how  welcome  he  was,  an  expert  knife-thrower 
hurled  a  sabre  which  buried  itself  in  the  ground  within  two  inches  of  his  foot. 
They  then  escorted  him  into  the  council  chamber  where  his  reception  was  concluded 
in  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  warriors.  He  staid  in  the  nation  several 
months,  then  took  several  chiefs  on  a  visit  to  England  but,  having  no  credentials 
to  show  who  he  was  or  what  there  for,  was  treated  rather  cooly,  at  which,he  returned 
disgusted. 

4The  Indians  called  this  river  Cherokee  and  Coot-cla  as  far  down  as  the  mouth 
of  French  Broad.     Then  it  took  the  name  of  Hogoheege. 


22  Historic  Sullivan 

coming  of  boone. 

The  Boone  trail  struck  Sullivan  County  at  George's  Gap, 
named  for  James  George,5  one  of  the  Boone  party,  thence 
down  through  Shady  valley,  near  what  is  now  called  Fish 
Dam.  Here  a  skirmish  took  place  with  the  Indians 
and  a  log  fort  was  erected,  James  George  remaining 
in  charge.  This  spot  is  still  known,  by  some,  as  "fort 
hill." 

Boone  evidently  followed  the  course  of  the  Holston 
river.  On  a  farm  near  Emmett  Station  on  the  Virginia 
and  Southwestern  railroad,  two  workmen,  Ben  Webb  and 
Ed  Scalf,  who  were  clearing  a  tract  of  new  ground  in  1893, 
dug  up  a  copper  kettle  in  which  a  sapling  about  three 
inches  in  diameter  was  growing.  The  men  paid  little 
attention  to  the  vessel  beyond  a  few  speculations  as  to 
how  it  come  to  be  buried  there. 

Afterwards  some  one  discovered  the  inscription  "D. 
Boone  1760"  carved  under  the  rim.  This  at  once 
placed  a  premium  upon  its  value,  in  their  eyes,  and  it  is 
still  held  at  a  high  price.6 

Boone  spent  but  little  time  in  Sullivan  on  his  first  trip 
to  Cumberland  Gap. 

The  first  account  of  permanent  settlers  was  of  those 


5James  George  was  a  man  of  great  physical  strength.  Tests  of  strength 
were  common  in  the  early  days  and  challenges  frequent.  Those  old  warriors  that 
were  fearless  in  battle  were  almost  desperate  in  brawls.  One  day  George  sent 
for  the  old  pioneer  doctor,  Elkanah  Dulaney,  and  told  him  he  had  sent  for  him 
to  pull  all  his  teeth.  The  doctor  protested,  saying,  George's  teeth  were  too  sound 
to  be  pulled,  whereupon  the  latter  replied:  "  If  you  don't  pull  'em  I'll  bite  Blevins' 
ear  or  nose  off  the  very  next  fight  we  get  into."  The  law  against  biting  and  maim- 
ing was  more  strictly  enforced  then  than  now  and  meant  a  penitentiary  term.  The 
doctor  humored  the  inevitable  and  extracted  all  his  teeth.  The  George  family  keep 
these  teeth  in  a  pearl  case  as  heirlooms  and  molar  evidence  of  a  mighty  strength. 
The  family  is  also  remarkable  for  its  longevity  as  were  many  of  the  families  whose 
ancestors  lived  out-door  lives.  Dr.  John  George,  now  in  his  eighty-fifth  year, 
is  a  son  of  James  George  and  says  the  latter  died  in  his  ninety-sixth  year,  when  the 
former  was  but  a  few  months  old.  These  two  lives  reach  back  one  hundred  and 
eighty-one  years,  making  the  elder  twenty-three  years  of  age  when  accompanying 
Boone. 

6  I  have  seen  this  kettle  and  while  all  such  evidences,  like  it  and  the  famous 
beech  tree,  are  more  or  less  apochryphal  and,  while  I  am  not  so  moved  by  the 
emotional  surprises  of  relic  dicoveries  as  to  accept  everything  as  absolute  proof, 
at  the  same  time  I  do  not  belong  to  the  ultra-sceptic  class  who  will  accept  nothing 
circumstantial.  I  am  ready  to  believe  the  carving  on  the  tree  and  also  on  the 
kettle  is  genuine  and  the  work  of  the  same  man.  These  evidences  are  along  the 
line  of  the  trail  and  deserve  some  consideration  and  may  have  some  providential 
value. 


The  Pioneers— Expolrers— First  Settlers.     23 

who  came  here  in  1765.  In  the  spring  of  this  year  John 
Sharp,  Thomas  Sharp  and  Thomas  Henderson  came 
from  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  cleared  some  land  and 
raised  a  crop  of  corn  on  the  farm  once  owned  by  D.  0. 
King  in  Holston  Valley.  In  the  fall  at  harvest  time 
they  improvised  cribs  of  poles  and  put  up  their  corn. 
They  then  returned  to  their  homes  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1766,  came  back  with  their  families 
only  to  find  their  previous  season's  crop  almost  totally 
destroyed  by  the  wild  animals  that  roamed  at  will  during 
their  absence.  They  settled  upon  three  different  tracts 
of  land — the  one  later  owned  by  King,  another  once  owned 
by  Gen.  John  R.  Delaney,  and  the  third,  formerly  the 
property  of  Ireson  Longacre.  These  farms  were  about 
five  miles  apart  and  were  all  bordering  upon  the  Holston 
river. 

In  the  spring  of  1767,  two  years  after  the  first  settlers 
made  their  homes  in  the  county,  Jacob  Womack  built  a 
fort  two  miles  east  of  Bluff  City  on  the  land  once  owned 
by  Sam  Miller. 

Andrew  Crockett  brought  his  famly  from  Ireland  in 
1769  and  forted  at  Womack 's  during  Indian  raids.  It 
was  here  Margaret  Crockett  was  born  November  20, 1770, 
and  is  supposed  to  be  the  first  white  child  born  in  Sulli- 
van County.  These  Crocketts  were  the  ancestors  of 
Davy  Crockett.7"8 

Following  these  people  came  a  large  number  of  others 
of  wider  experience  and  wealth — men  whose  names  were 
destined  to  illume  the  pages  of  history,  give  strength  to 
the  community,  and  to  make  possible  lasting  peace  upon 
the  border. 

TDeery  MSS. 

8Limestone,  the  reputed  birth  place  of  Davy  Crocket,  has  no  absolute  proof 
of  this  birth  claim.  •  His  first  biographer  stated  it  and  those  following  fell  in  line 
with  the  idea.  Sullivan  was  the  home  of  his  ancestors  and  while  there  is  no 
record,  so  far  known,  of  his  birth  in  this  county,  it  is  more  than  probable  he  was 
born  here.  . . 

Among  the  county  records  at  Abingdon,  Va.,  is  a  will  of  David  Crockett's 
and  this  is  witnessed  by  Sudivan  County  men — among  them  Congressman  McClel- 
lan.     This  Crockett  was  an  ancestor  of  Davy  Crockett 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  CAVALCADE. 

It  is  a  wise  yet  sometimes  strange  provision  that  what 
is  most  needed  and  most  beneficial  is  most  plentiful.  The 
stage  coach  with  all  of  its  attendant  grandeur  is  gone, 
but  the  old  wagon  that  carried  our  forefathers  over  the 
mountains  and  along  the  little  rough  trail  remains. 
There  is  less  change  in  the  make  of  this  vehicle  than  of 
any  mode  of  conveyance  yet  introduced.  The  man 
who  first  designed  this  wagon's  bed  evidently  gave  it 
to  the  world  complete,  for  there  seems  to  have  been 
no  change  in  it  for  a  century. 

It  is  built  after  the  manner  of  an  ancient  battle  ship, 
galley  shape — a  dip  in  the  middle  and  the  rear  built  much 
higher  than  the  front. 

The  high  back  was  evidently  intended  as  a  precaution 
against  robbers  as  well  as  protection  against  a  lurking 
foe.  These  beds,1  with  their  contents  placed  against  the 
sides,  have  often  been  laid  seige  to  and  big  battles  have 
been  fought  from  within  their  reinforced  sides  and  rear. 
When  going  into  camp  travelers  would  place  their  wagons 
in  a  circle  for  protection. 

The  tar  bucket  and  one  dog  were  tied  to  the  rear  axle 
while  the  remainder  of  the  pack  followed.  Early  in  the 
day  the  dogs  following  would  give  chase  to  wild  game, 
much  to  the  discomfiture  of  the  dog  that  was  tied  to  the 
axle,  but  toward  the  close  of  the  day's  march  all  of  them 
were  content  to  follow  close,  being  fagged  out. 

The  lead  horse, and  sometimes  others,  had  bells  on  them. 
These  seemed  to  add  cheer  to  all  the  caravan.  When  the 
horses  were  hitched  and  the  bells  began  to  tinkle  the  dogs 
leaped  in  delight  that  the  day's  journey  was  to  begin  again. 


1  Wagons  with  these  beds  are  still   known   as   "North  Carolina  wagons" — 
the  first  travelers  from  that  state  used  them,  and  the  name  clings  to  this  day. 


The  Cavalcade.  25 

Check  lines  were  unknown  in  the  early  days  and  were 
not  introduced  until  the  eighteenth  century  was  far  ad- 
vanced. The  team  was  guided  by  the  rider  who  rode  the 
lead  horse. 

The  cattle  were  nearly  always  driven  behind  the  wagons. 
Bells  were  tied  to  them  too  and,  unless  in  case  of  men 
outriders,  the  horses  with  the  packs  followed  the  wagons 
also.  Very  often  young  children  were  placed  upon  the 
horses  and  carried,  one  on  either  side,  in  large  baskets — 
papoose  style. 

The  pack  saddle  was  made  out  of  limbs  of  trees  that 
forked  at  the  proper  angle,  much  in  shape  like  the  wish- 
bone of  a  chicken.  Two  of  these  having  been  cut  the 
proper  length  and  the  prongs  being  rounded  to  fit  the 
animal's  back,  short  boards  were  placed  across,  fastened 
with  wooden  pegs  and  the  saddle  was  complete.  A 
good  fork  was  not  always  to  be  found  and  any  tree  that 
had  one  was  carefully  noted.2 

AROUND  THE  CAMP  FIRE. 

Should  the  cavalcade  meet  a  traveler  going  in  the  oppo- 
site direction — which,  however,  did  not  often  occur — after 
the  surprise   greetings  they  plied   him  with  questions: 

"Can  we  reach by  night?"  or  "how  far  is  it  to 

meadows?"  and  like  interrogatories,  their  aim 

being  always  to  reach  a  suitable  camping  spot  before 
sundown,  one  near  a  spring  and  grazing.  The  pioneers 
had  a  peculiar  knowledge  of  the  country  just  as  in  some 
unaccountable  way  they  had  of  events.  News  traveled 
with  almost  incredible  swiftness,  considering  their  means 
of  transmission.  Stopping  for  the  night,  the  horses  were 
unhitched,  the  bell-horse  and  bell-cow  being  tethered, 
while  the  remainder  of  the  herd  was  allowed  to  forage 
at  will.    Then  the  men  of  the  party  built  a  fire  and  the 


2So  highly  prized  were  these  saddle  forks  that  on  one  occasion  an  old  minister, 
preaching  to  his  flock  in  a  grove  and  seeing  one  of  the  coveted  limbs  in  a  nearby 
tree,  without  stopping  -his  sermon,  said,  in  a  sing-song  tone,  'brethren  -I  see  a 
fork  in  yonder  tree." — Williams. 


26  Historic  Sullivan. 

women  began  the  cooking.  A  skillet  or  frying  pan,  coffee 
pot,  minus  the  coffee  and  a  kettle  in  most  cases  com- 
pleted the  vessel  list.  Meat  was  very  often  cooked  upon 
the  coals,  while  the  corn  meal  was  either  boiled  as  mush 
or  made  into  "johnny-cake."3  Sometimes  when  baked  in 
the  ashes  it  was  called  "ash-cake." 

When  a  stampede  of  stock  occurred  during  the  night, 
generally  caused  by  prowling  wild  animals  or  Indians, 
they  were  with  difficulty  corralled  the  next  day.4  It  often 
took  hours  to  do  this,  and  in  some  instances  the  Indians 
stole  the  horses  and  made  away  with  them.  When  the 
cavalcade  found  a  suitable  place  to  settle  down  for  a 
home  there  was  great  relief  that  the  journey  was  over 
and  a  new  life  begun. 

While  the  log  cabin  was  being  erected,  temporary 
shelters  were  made  by  standing  poles  slant-wise  and 
thatching  them  thickly  with  pine  boughs. 

The  bed  and  other  furniture  of  the  home  was  simple 
and  crude.  A  dogwood  sapling,  with  a  strong  fork 
at  the  proper  height  from  the  floor,  was  used  as  a  post  for 
a  bedstead.  One  end  was  fastened  to  the  joist  and  the 
other  end  let  into  the  floor  by  an  auger  hole.  Hickory 
withes  laid  across  were  used  as  slats,  while  elm  bark  held 
them  in  place.  Other  household  effects  were  made  in 
the  same  crude  fashion.  Their  hand-made  baskets  and 
other  wickerwork,  however,  excelled  the  manufactured 
article. 

Thus  did  the  borderers  make  their  first  appearance  to 
people  the  solitary  places  and  continue,  in  a  settled  way, 
the  half  gypsy  life  of  these  wanderers  in  the  wilderness. 


3" Johnny-cake"  is  a  corruption  of  "journey  cake,"  this  name  being  given 
because  it  was  baked  in  a  hurry. — Phelan. 

_4"0ver  night  we  are  now  at  the  trouble  of  hobbling  them  out  and  often  of 
leading  them  a  mile  or  two  to  a  convenient  place  for  forage,  and  then  in  the 
morning  we  are  some  hours  in  finding  them  again  because  they  are  apt  to  Btray  a 
great  way  from  the  place  where  they  were  turned  out.  Now  and  then,  too,  they 
are  lost  for  a  whole  day  together,  and  are  frequently  so  weak  and  jaded  that  the 
company  must  be  still  several  days,  near  some  meadow  or  highland  pond  to 
recruit  them." — Col.  William  Byrd 's  Journal,  1733,  page  71. 


The  Cavalcade  27 

Thus  those  determined  men,  rough  handed  and  hope- 
ful, slowly  transformed  the  wild  life  into  a  self-sustaining 
State.  In  the  train  of  these  forerunners  came  others. 
The  white  covers  of  the  wagons  went  over  the  undulating 
surface  of  the  country  like  sails  over  heavy  seas— now  up 
— now  down.  Scarcely  had  one  turned  the  hill  when  far 
in  the  distance  could  be  seen  another  coming.  The  echo 
of  the  advance  trumpeter  was  caught  by  those  following 
and  an  unbroken  chain  of  sound  reached  from  the  new 
settlement  far  back  into  the  midst  of  the  old — back  to 
Londonderry  and  the  Boyne!  and  heralded  the  creation 
of  a  new  civilization  in  the  far  wilds  of  the  frontier. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  FRONTIER  WOMAN. 

In  the  annals  of  all  countries  there  is  no  age  nor  race 
that  has  given  to  the  world  more  sterling  valor  than  that 
displayed  by  the  frontier  woman  of  Tennessee.  She 
shared  with  the  men  all  the  dangers  of  the  wilderness, 
with  all  its  toils.  She  came  with  the  first  settlers  and 
bore  with  fortitude  the  privations  of  a  forest  cabin. 

No  other  border  life  of  recent  times,  in  our  territories, 
presents  such  a  wonderful  growth  and  change  from  wild 
backwoods  to  the  dignity  of  a  state  in  twenty  six-years. 
To  her  presence  more  than  any  one  influence,  to  her 
moral  worth  and  example  is  due  the  high  rank  attained 
and  the  end  achieved  in  so  short  a  time.  She  did  not 
wait  for  the  clearing  and  the  building  of  the  cabin  and 
the  planting  of  the  crops — she  went  along  and  helped 
do  these  things. 

She  rocked  the  cradle  in  the  home — she  swung  the 
cradle  in  the  field.  She  spun  the  flax  and  carded  the 
wool  and  made  the  clothing  for  the  family. 

She  has  gone  to  the  aid  of  a  sick  neighbor  and  returned 
to  find  her  own  home  in  ashes. 

When  rumors  of  Indian  raids  reached  the  settlements 
she  went  into  the  fort  prepared  to  do  a  man's  part 
should  the  exigency  of  the  hour  demand.  In  such  a 
test  of  courage  she  stood,  gun  in  hand,  beside  the  dead 
body  of  the  man  who  had  fallen,  the  victim  of  a  besieger's 
bullet. 

And  still  the  mother's  thoughtful  care  over  her  children 
never  left  her.    She  trained  them  at  her  knee. 

The  frontier  woman  of  Sullivan  never  lacked  for  courage 
nor  opportunities  to  prove  it. 

There  was  a  peculiar  trait  which  seemed  to  be  born  in 
the  children  of  that  day,  or  which  mothers  had  taught 


TYPE  OF  TENNESSEE  FRONTIERWOMAN 

"Aunt"     BETSY   CARLTON    (right) 
Her   daughter,    "Aunt"   POLLY    HAWK  (left) 


The  Frontier  Woman.  29 

them — to  make  no  show  of  fear  nor  make  alarm — much 
like  the  young  of  birds,  which,  at  a  call,  seek  the  cover 
of  the  wing.  It  was  a  "hush"  of  caution  rather  than 
of  fear. 

TESTS  OF  COURAGE. 

Once  the  men  of  Holston  settlement  were  called  to 
Shelby's  station,  an  Indian  raid  being  expected.  Should 
the  Indians  come  from  an  unexpected  quarter,  as  they 
often  did  and  as  was  the  case  in  this  instance,  it  left 
unprotected  a  large  number  of  families. 

A  Mrs.  Roberts  living  at  King's  Mill,  on  Reedy  creek, 
whose  husband  had  responded  to  the  call,  heard  the 
Indians  were  coming  by  their  home.  Gathering  up  her 
three  children,  a  bundle  and  a  weapon,  whose  service 
would  ill  avail,  she  started  for  the  station  and  had  gone 
but  a  short  distance  when  she  was  made  aware  of  the 
approach  of  the  savages.  Stepping  aside  from  the  path 
and  crouching  beneath  the  undergrowth,  the  Indians 
came  by  within  a  few  feet  of  her  and  even  stopped  as 
if  suspicious  of  a  presence.  The  children  at  once  under- 
stood the  meaning  of  her  cautious  warning,  nestling  close 
and  keeping  very  still. 

After  the  savages  had  passed  on  she  gathered  up  her 
little  family  and  trudged  along,  arriving  at  the  fort  the 
next  day. 

About  this  time  there  was  a  still  more  remarkable 
example  of  the  "hush"  habit,  in  the  Snodgrass  settle- 
ment near  Blountville.  The  Indians  made  their  appear- 
ance in  the  neighborhood  during  the  absence  of  the  men 
of  the  homes.  The  women,  being  warned  in  time,  took 
their  children  and  sought  refuge  by  digging  out  a  place 
under  a  large  haystack.  Small  babes  were  among  them 
yet  no  sound  disclosed  their  whereabouts.  They  instinc- 
tively fell  into  the  hush  that  had  previously  marked  the 
behavior  of  the  others.  On  coming  out  they  found 
moccasin  tracks  all  about  the  place. 


30  Historic  Sullivan. 

The  lofty  regard  and  admiration  for  these  women  was 
almost  idolatrous  and  is  best  told  in  the  tributes  paid 
them  by  the  men  of  their  times. 

The  country's  esteem  was  no  more  sought  by  these 
fearless  and  rugged  frontier  men  than  were  the  approval 
and  praise  of  their  own  women.  When  the  term  of 
enlistment  in  their  country's  service  was  over,  the 
men  would  hasten  to  their  homes  and  lay  what  laurels 
they  had  won  at  the  feet  of  those  women,  craving  no 
richer  reward  than  their  approbation. 

Thus,  in  part,  wrote  Col.  Fleming,  to  his  wife, 
from  the  battlefield.1 

My  Dearest  Nancy: 

*  *  *  *  that  you  &  Lenny  are  daily  in  my  thoughts  you 
need  not  doubt  but  as  much  as  I  love  &  Regard  you  both  I  can  not 
Allow  myself  to  wish  me  with  you  till  the  expedition  is  finished  know- 
ing it  would  sink  me  in  your  esteem  &  that  you  would  despise  a  wretch 
that  could  desert  an  honorable  Cause,  a  Cause  undertaken  for  the  good 
of  his  Country  in  general,  and  more  immediately  for  the  Protection 
of  his  Family  as  included  amongst  the  Frontier  settlers  let  thoughts 
like  these  Animate  you  and  support  your  Spirits  and  remember  my 
Dr  Girl  that  the  Divine  Being  is  Omnipresent  as  well  as  Omnipotent. 
*  *  *  I  have  heard  of  sympathizing  thoughts  possessing  the  breasts 
of  Two  Distant  Lovers  if  there  is  anything  in  this  fond  Opinion  you 
must  know  what  passess  in  my  breast  at  present  and  not  accuse  this 
letter  of  coldness.  *  *  More  I  need  not  say  nor  would  it  be  prudent 
to  commit  more  to  paper. 

Nor  did  this  admiring  fealty  confine  itself  to  any  one 
age — youth  and  maturity  alike  paid  her  the  tribute  of 
their  tenderest  solicitude.  In  the  days  when  the  scalp- 
ing knife  and  the  tomahawk  showed  no  respect  for  sex 
or  age  regular  reports  were  sent  in  of  the  condition  of 
each  settlement. 

From  one  of  these  comes  this  pathetic  example  of 
youthful  courage  and  maternal  love:  "  *  *  *  The 
boy  that   was  scalped  is  dead2  he  was  an  extraordi- 

lSeptember,  1774,  Kanahwa  Expedition. 

2Manuscript  letter.     Col.  Arthur  Campbell  to  Col.  Wm.    Preston,  Oct.  6,  1774. 


The  Frontier  Woman.  31 

nary  example  of  patience  and  resolution  to  his  last, 
frequently  lamenting  'he  was  not  able  to  fight  enough 
for  to  save  his  mammy'."3 

From  such  women  came  the  men  who  won  for  Tennes- 
see the  name  of  "Volunteer."  She  left  them  the  heritage 
of  a  rugged  simplicity,  integrity  and  valor,  and  an  unswerv- 
ing loyalty  and  love  for  any  place  she  called  her  home. 
For  her  these  men  have  gone  down  through  the  untrav- 
eled  ways  and  wrested  a  place  for  civilization  from  a  savage 
hold;  for  her  they  have  stood  in  the  open  and  faced  the 
charge,  through  the  long  stretch  of  desert  sands  and 
under  suns  that  had  no  shade;  for  her  they  fill  icy 
sepulchers  in  the  far  North  country;  for  her  they  lie 
beneath  unmarked  mounds  all  over  the  waste  plains  of 
the  West  ;for  her  they  have  crossed  the  deep  and  in  strange 
climes  met  death  with  a  dauntless  courage  that  told  of 
their  fidelity  in  foreign  lands;  and  for  her  they  stand 
ready  today  to  answer  to  the  call  of  their  country,  remem- 
bering what  she  taught  them  at  her  knee — the  sacredness 
of  duty. 

In  the  homes  throughout  Sullivan  County  are  old 
pictures  hanging  upon  the  walls  and  under  the  folds  of 
old  albums  are  faded  types  of  a  time  that  is  gone.  Once 
those  pictures  were  looked  upon  and  laughed  at — the 
old  lace  cap  and  the  tie  and  the  strangely  made  dress 
were  so  quaint,  so  far  away  from  custom,  so  out  of  fashion 

3Colonel  Arthur  Campbell  accustomed  to  the  cruelties  and  hardships  of  frontie1" 
life,  happening  in  the  neighborhood,  went  to  see  this  boy  and  wrote  to  Col. 
Preston,  a  portion,  only,  of  his  letter  being  preserved. 

"Upon  whose  first  appearance,  my  little  hero  ran  off,  his  Uncle  called,  he 
knew  his  voice  and  turned  and  ran  to  him  rejoiced;  his  Uncle  questioned  him  and 
he  returned  sensible  answers.  Showed  his  murdered  parents  and  sisters,  his 
Brother  is  not  found,  and  I  suppose  is  captivated.  He  received  but  one  Blow 
with  a  Tomhake  on  the  back  of  the  Head,  which  cut  thro  his  scull,  but  it  is  general  ly 
believed  his  brains  is  safe,  as  he  continues  to  talk  sensibly  and  being  an  active  wise 
Boy,  what  he  relates  is  Credited.  For  my  part  I  don't  know  as  I  ever  had  tenderer 
feelings  of  compassion,  for  anyone  of  the  human  species.  I  have  sent  for  him, 
and  employed  an  Old  Man  that  has  some  Skill  to  attend  him.  I  wish  I  could  get 
Doctr  Loyd  to  him.  If  he  cannot  come  please  try  if  the  Doctor  could  not  send 
me  up  some  medicines  with  directions. 

I  have  been  to  tedious  and  circumstantial  in  relating  the  little  hero's  story, 
but  as  it  seems  to  be  a  singular  instance  I  am  persuaded  you  won't  be  displeased 
with  it."     (Draper  MSS.) 

Letter  quoted  in  note  3  was  written  previous  to  excerpt  of  letter  referred  to  io 
note  2. 


32  Historic  Sullivan. 

with  the  times.  But  as  the  years  went  by  they  became 
the  shrine  to  which  the  eyes  of  homage  turned,  and  now 
no  possession  is  more  cherished  or  more  revered. 

"Let  them  take  my  furniture  and  all  my  household 
goods,  but  leave  me  my  pictures — I  love  them  best  of  all," 
said  an  old  gray  haired  woman  when  threatened  with  a 
foreclosure  on  her  home.  They  were  her  deeds  of  inherit- 
ance from  out  of  the  dead  past — more  treasured  than  lands 
or  herds  or  princely  dwelling  places.  They  were  the  ties 
that  bound  her  to  those  vanishing  years  when  martyrdom 
made  possible  the  civilization  of  today. 

"Times  are  not  what  they  used  to  be,"  they  tell  us, 
and  the  alarmist  deplores  the  lack  of  chivalry  in  our  men 
and  the  decadence  of  old  fashioned  virtues  in  our  women. 
But  time's  pendulum  never  swung  so  far  out  that  it  did 
not  come  back  again.  Those  old  pictures  are  still  hanging 
upon  the  walls — those  old  faces  are  still  peering  out  of 
the  past.  In  our  direst  need  of  them,  and  when  the  time 
most  calls  for  them,  their  kindly  old  eyes  will  rekindle 
the  knightly  bearing  of  our  men  and  restore  to  the  hearth- 
stone, that  old  abandoned  altar,  around  which  hovered 
the  holiest  womanhood. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

COMING  OF  THE  SHELBYS. 

The  energetic,  enthusiastic  and  safety  life  in  the  lower 
Holston  settlements  began  with  the  arrival  of  the 
Shelbys. 

Evan  Shelby's  father,  who  also  was  Evan  Shelby, 
came  from  Wales  and  located  in  Frederick  county, 
Maryland,  at  a  place  called  North  Mountain.  Evan,  Jr., 
was  then  a  small  boy.  Here  he  grew  up  and  married 
Letitia  Cox,  by  whom  he  had  five  sons  and  one  daughter. 
His  wife  died  in  1777  and  is  buried  at  Charlottesville, 
Virginia. 

Isaac  Shelby,  the  most  eminent  of  the  name,  was  born 
in  Maryland. 

Evan,  the  father  of  Isaac,  had  seen  considerable 
military  service  before  coming  to  Holston,  having  fought 
in  many  Indian  battles.     He  had  the  title  of  Captain. 

How  he  was  regarded  at  his  old  home  may  be  seen  by 
the  following  letter  from  Gen.  William  Thompson, 
bearing  the  address,  "Carlisle,  6th  July,  1775."  It  was 
written  to  Capt.  Shelby  and  the  manuscript  bears  many 
mutilations. 

"Had  General  Washington  been  certain  that  you  could  have 
joined  the  army  at  Boston  without  first  seeing  your  family  [you] 
would  have  been  appointed  Lieut.  Colo,  [of  the]  Rifle  Battalion  and 

an  express  sent.     *     *     *     but  you  being  so 

the  general  concluded  it  [not — ]  ble  for  you  to  take  the  field  before 
seeing  your  family. 

*     *     *     I  leave  for  Boston  on  Monday  night." 

In  1771  Shelby  brought  his  family  to  the  Holston 
country,  settling  at  Sapling  Grove,  or  what  is  now 
Bristol,  Tennessee. 

Here  he  built  a  fort  which  was  known  as    "Shelby's 


34 


Historic  Sullivan. 


Station."  It  was  quite  commodious,  many  hundreds 
being  forted  there  at  times  during  Indian  raids.1 

This  fort  or  station  was  located  on  what  is  now  Seventh 
street,  on  the  hill  overlooking  Beaver  creek,  between 
Andersen  and  Locust  streets. 

Shelby's  military  services  will  be  reviewed  in  another 
chapter  and  the  same  statement  applies  to  his  sons. 
Their  lives  in  peaceful  times,  domestic  and  political, 
will  be  disposed  of  in  this  chapter. 

The  Shelbys  kept  a  store  at  their  fort.  On  the  fac- 
simile of  a  leaf  from  the  store  ledger  will  be  seen  the 
names  of  some  of  their  distinguished  customers — the 
Seviers,  James  Robertson  and  Daniel  Boone.  It  is  also 
interesting  on  account  of  the  price  of  different  com- 
modities at  that  time. 

Evan  Shelby  has  been  described  as  a  man  of  command- 
ing appearance,  stout  and  stern.  A  scrap  of  an  old 
ledger,  dated  Staunton,  Va.  Nov.  22,  1773,  has  some 
amusing  entries  to  the  account  of  Shelby,  made  no  doubt 
on  a  trading  visit : 


£ 


Nov.  22     To  1  Bowl  tody. . . 

To  3  gal  oats 

Nov.  23 

brk. 

To  1  Mug  Cider... 

To  1  Bowl  Bumbo 

To  6  diets 

To  Club  in  Wine .  . 


1 

3 

1 

3 

14 

2 

6 

6 

0 

1 

10* 

The  Seviers  had  been  induced  by  Shelby  to  locate  in 
the  Holston  settlements.  John  Sevier  was  out  here  on  a 
trading  expedition  in  1772  and  attended  a  horse  race 
at  the  Watauga  Old  Field.     While  there  he  witnesed  the 


1"I  find  four  hundred  forted  at  Shelby's  Station." — Col.  Wm. Preston  letter, 


1776. 


TT 


lis     £7<?  „  . 


W      SB 


^  •  <J         •     .  ■•     - 


y7T7JF77 


>^^^A^J|W^2^;       ^ 


^ 

fr 


#         ■  ■ 

.-Sri*. ■_ 

■<■'*  /O  n*/1i/ys,\  J  fefsZ\  is     .  fi  „   #-„  £ 

C>% 00/4  y^y  (rfcn  J~y/£/*^  P 0  ..  /3...  /.  H 

•^ 'to./ £+,2 ./up*  ^  2/v  fj^~3>   _  0  -  ^..  i* 

'•  ■"'  'A  ,W.^>./»  ^ .  — -  '  • '  £•  "  •'> 

-;>  «  U&y'jp+.^./s  -    -  ._-  —    ■*  -  ^  "  *" 

■     ff/>-     /■-  » -  *. 


WHEN  SHELBY  KEPT  STORE  AT  SAPLING  GROVE 


Coming  op  the  Shelbys.  35 

theft  of  a  horse  by  a  burly  fellow  named  Shoate.2  The 
horse  belonged  to  a  stranger,  but  the  thief  pretended  he 
won  the  animal  in  a  bet.  Sevier  was  about  to  leave, 
disgusted,  when  the  senior  Shelby  said  to  him,  "Never 
mind  these  rascals,  they'll  soon  take  poplar," — meaning 
take  a  canoe  and  get  out  of  the  country.  The  Seviers 
came  out  next  year  and  located  at  Key  wood,  about  six 
miles  from  the  Shelbys',  but  afterwards  removed  to 
Washington  county. 

In  1779  this  part  of  Virginia  was  found  to  be  in  North 
Carolina  and  the  division  threw  Evan  Shelby's  estate 
into  what  was,  the  following  year,  Sullivan  County. 
Gov.  Caswell  at  once  appointed  him  Brigadier- 
General — the  first  to  receive  such  military  rank  on  the 
Western  waters. 

Late  in  life  he  married  Isabella  Elliot,  the  records 
showing  that  she  required  one-third  of  his  estate  to  be 
deeded  to  her  before  marriage.  She  survived  him  and 
married  again — one  Dromgoole,  who  later  tried  to  satisfy 
a  spite  of  some  sort  by  desecrating  Shelby's  grave,  for 
which  he  was  severely  punished. 

The  Shelbys  gave  the  name  "Travelers  Rest"  to  their 
home,  indicating  a  hospitable  people. 

Evan  Shelby  was  seventy-four  years  of  age  when  he 
died  in  1794.  He  was  buried  in  Bristol,  Tennessee,  on 
the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  Lutheran  church,  (1908) 
on  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Shelby  streets.  At  the  time 
of  his  burial  seven  massive  oaks  grew  there — a  fit 
resting  place  for  this  pioneer  and  soldier.  Commerce, 
with  little  sympathy  or  sentiment,  decreed  the  oaks  must 
be  cut  down  to  make  way  for  a  street.  Apparently 
not  satisfied  with  the  old  general's  restless  career,  the 
caretakers  carted  his  remains  about  from  place  to  place. 
They  were  first  removed  in  1872  and  for  a  while  lay  in  the 
Tennessee  calaboose  for  safe  keeping — preparatory  to  put- 


2Shoate  became  notorious  as  a  horse-thief  and  was  killed  about  1779.  —  Draper 

MSS. 


36  Historic  Sullivan. 

ting  them  away  in  the  cemetery.3  Some  one,  probably 
realizing  the  unfitness  of  this  repository,  transferred  them 
to  the  postoffice.  Then  for  a  while  they  lay  in  the  ceme- 
tery, the  tomb  being  at  the  entrance,  but  later  they  were 
taken  up  again  and  given,  it  is  hoped,  their  final  resting 
place.  Shelby's  bones  have  been  moved  five  times. 
There  was  some  protest  on  the  part  of  Tennessee  in  re- 
gard to  the  last  removal  as  it  placed  him  in  Virginia, 
but  this  transfer  was  made,  perhaps,  with  no  intention 
to  State  claims  as  the  section  where  he  now  lies  is  de- 
voted principally  to  old  soldiers. 

Isaac  Shelby,  whose  career  in  a  military  way  will  be 
fully  described  in  other  chapters,  was  a  herder  of  cattle 
for  a  few  years  after  his  arrival  at  Sapling  Grove.  He 
also  became  a  surveyor,  which  seemed  to  be  the  leading 
profession  on  the  frontier  because,  no  doubt,  the  most 
needed.  Nearly  all  the  leading  military  men  were 
surveyors  and  the  state  showed  her  appreciation  of  their 
services  by  allotting  them  certain  tracts  of  land. 

Isaac  Shelby,  after  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain, 
married  Susanna  Hart,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Hart,  who 
was  one  of  the  principal  stockholders  in  the  Richard 
Henderson  Transylvania  purchase.       He  was  married  in 


3This  delay  was  no  doubt  occasioned  by  the  preparations  that  were  being 
made  to  re-inter,  with  civic  ceremonies.  Judge  A.  S.  Deaderick,  a  lineal  descendant 
was  present  and  presided.     The  re-interment  took  place  in  May,  1S96. 

In  1899,  the  Evan  Shelby  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  at 
Owensboro,  Kentucky,  sent  four  shrubs  with  the  request  that  they  be  planted  at 
the  four  corners  of  Shelby's  grave.  Accordingly  the  Ladies'  Memorial  Association, 
on  Memorial  Day,  June  1st,  planted  them  with  the  following  sentiments: 

Tree  No.  1. — Mrs.  J.  F.  Hicks.  "He  who  meets  death  for  his  country  thus  buys 
immortality." 

Tree  No.  2. — Mrs.  E.  T.  Jones.  "Here  rests  a  hero.  The  idols  of  to-day  push 
the  heroes  of  yesterday  out  of  recollection  and  will  in  turn  be  supplanted  by  his 
successors  to-morrow." 

Tree  No.  3. — Mrs.  J.    C.  Anderson.     "Strong  and  great  a  hero  sleeps  here." 

Tree  No.  4.- — Mrs.  W.  C.  Carrington.  "Here  sleeps,  until  awakened  at  the 
grand  reveille  of  God,  a  link  between  two  centuries — a  soldier,  a  veteran  and  a  hero.' ' 

Members  of  the  D.  A.  R.  have  been  zealous  in  their  efforts  to  secure  a  monument 
for  Evan  Shelby.  They  have  written  many  letters  and  have  contributed 
largely  to  the  press  of  this  section  and  Kentucky.  It  seems  the  recognition  ia 
about  to  come  in  a  suitable  monument  from  the  Government — Congressman 
Brownlow  having  introduced  a  bill  including  such  a  provision. 

At  present  his  remains  lie  beneath  a  simple  iron,  coffin-shaped  slab  with  the 
inscription: 

'General  Evan  Shelby 

Born    1720 

Age  74" 


Coming  of  the  Shelbys.  37 

Kentucky,  the  Harts  having  removed  there  from  North 
Carolina  to  take  charge  of  their  vast  estate.  This  may 
have  had  something  to  do  with  Shelby  adopting  the 
state  as  his  home.  It  is  said,  however,  that  when  Miss 
Hart  and  he  parted,  at  the  time  she  left  for  her  new  home 
in  Kentucky,  they  parted  in  a  tiff,  he  declaring  he  would 
not  follow  her.  Afterwards  he  began  to  pay  court  to 
another  young  lady  not  far  from  his  own  home,  but  she, 
knowing  of  his  former  attachment,  promptly  told  him 
it  was  his  duty  to  go  to  Kentucky  and  he  went.  His 
married  life  was  a  happy  one. 

He  was  honored  many  times  during  his  rugged  career, 
both  in  a  military  and  political  way.  He  was  Kentucky's 
first  ^yernor,  in  1792,  and  was  called  to  fill  the  same 
position  in  1812,  during  the  second  war  with  England. 

He  distinguished  himself  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames, 
with  Gen.  Harrison,  in  recognition  of  which  Congress 
awarded  him  a  medal. 

Monroe  offered  him  a  seat  in  his  cabinet,  as  Secretary 
of  War,  but  he  declined  on  account  of  old  age. 

DEATH  OF  ISAAC  SHELBY 

He  died  in  1826.  The  morning  before  his  death  he 
rode  over  to  see  his  son  Isaac,  returning  before  dinner. 
He  ate  a  hearty  meal,  then  walked  up  to  the  gate  in  front 
of  his  house,  came  back,  sat  down  with  his  wife  and  entered 
into  a  cheerful  conversation  with  her.  There  was  a  lull 
in  the  talk — she  heard  him  draw  a  long  breath,  his  head 
falling  back — he  was  dead.  The  old  man  had  frequently 
expressed  a  wish  that,  when  he  died,  no  one  but  his  wife 
should  be  present.  His  singular  wish  was  gratified. 
He  was  buried  upon  the  spot  where  he  pitched  his  first 
tent  in  Kentucky.  This  also  was  his  wish  and  for  fear 
it  might  be  forgotten  he  marked  the  place  himself.4 

4Niles,  Ky.,  Register  Sept.  9,  1826.     Draper  Collection. 


38  Historic  Sullivan. 

shelby  and  sevier 

Both  men  were  ambitions  and  both  desired  to  control, 
yet  each  arrived  at  conclusions  or  results  in  different 
ways.  If  a  campaign  was  on  Shelby  might  be  found 
bending  over  a  rough-sketch  map,  planning  and  scheming 
with  his  associates,  while  Sevier,  all  unmindful  of  any 
impending  crisis,  might  be  found  at  a  barbecue  or  horse 
race.  Yet  in  the  execution  of  military  maneuvers  there 
was  little  difference — both  were  brilliant  and  dashing  for 
men  of  any  time.  Sevier's  strategy  was  as  impromptu 
as  his  personality  was  impulsive.  Shelby  was  slow  to  plan, 
but  once  his  plan  was  formed  he  was  quick  of  execution 
and  determined.  Sevier's  rapid  movements  and  quick 
decisions  could  not  have  been  more  accurate  had  they  been 
more  closely  studied. 

In  religion  Shelby  was  prayerful  and  formally  devout, 
while  Sevier  allied  himself  with  no  church  during  his  life 
and  it  might  be  said  his  religion  was:  "write  me  as  one 
who  loves  his  fellow  man." 

Arriving  in  opposite  ways  at  the  same  results  and  each 
anxious  to  achieve  distinction  of  the  same  kind,  no  state 
was  big  enough  for  both  men.  While  the  friendship 
between  the  two  had  never  been  tried  in  the  gross  test  of 
controversy,  Shelby  clearly  saw  that  to  submit  their 
claims  to  the  people  at  large  Sevier  with  his  winning  ways 
could  out-class  him.  So  he  determined  not  to  chance  a 
possible  defeat,  preferring  to  risk  his  prospects  in  another 
field.  He  left  the  state  of  his  adoption  to  found  a  new  one 
in  the  Kentucky  country,  where  he  was  able  to  satisfy 
his  aspirations  for  leadership. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

A  FEW  DAYS  FULL  OF  TROUBLE. 

The  muster-master,  when  ordered  to  enlist  men  for 
urgent  military  duty,  did  not  always  find  it  an  easy  task. 
This  was  especialiy  true  on  the  extreme  border  where 
families  were  most  exposed  to  the  incursions  of  the  roving 
bands  of  Indians  and  renegades.  It  was  not  always 
from  lack  of  courage  they  were  difficult  to  enroll  for 
distant  campaigns,  but  because  self  protection  was  their 
first  consideration.  In  localities  where  the  inhabitants 
had  better  means  of  defense  and  were  not  so  apt  to  be 
the  victims  of  a  surprise,  the  men  were  usually  anxious 
to  go.  The  following  is  one  of  the  best  examples  of  the 
difficulties  sometimes  encountered  in  the  formation  of  a 
company. 

They  are  excerpts  from  letters  of  Maj.  James  Robertson1 
who  had  charge  of  the  erection  of  stockades  in  Culber- 
son Valley  and  are  selected  because  they  deal  directly 
and  describe  in  a  consecutive  way,  covering  but  a  brief 
period  from  the  issuance  of  the  order  till  the  men  were  in 
motion. 

Besides  there  is  a  sincerity  of  purpose  and  a  oneness  of 
interest  and  intention  so  serious  as  to  be  amusing. 
The  Major's  despair  at  the  outset  is  an  extreme  contrast 
to  his  exultation  over  the  completion  of  his  company. 
His  gratitude  is  expressed  in  such  language  as  might, 
with  little  change,  be  mistaken  for  a  testimonial  to  the 
effiicacy  of  some  wonder-working  remedy,  the  use  of 
which  resulted  in  recovery  from  a  dire  affliction. 

This  correspondence  passed  between  Maj.  James 
Robertson  and  Col.  William  Preston:2 

INot  the  Tennessee  pioneer. 
2Selected  from  the  Draper  collection. 


40  Historic  Sullivan. 

Tuesday  night  July  19th  1774 
Sir — Since  I  received,  your  Letter  I  have  been  Continually  on 
Horse  Back  amongst  the  People.  I  will  get  18  or  20  men  ready  to 
Start  Thursday  Evening  or  friday  morning,  for  My  Soul  I  Could  not 
get  them  to  March  Sooner  and  to  Leave  them  Behind  I  never  Expected 
to  See  them  untill  the  new  Draft  again  and  Scare  then.  I  am  in  Hopes 
there  will  be  no  Great  Danger  untill  we  get  there. 
I  am  Sir  Your  Servant 

James  Robertson 

There  is  always  an  unsettled  commotion  about  a  stock- 
ade. The  uncertain  stay  of  the  men  kept  the  commandant 
uneasy  and  on  the  lookout  for  new  recruits  and  provisions 
— a  labor  then  full  of  disappointment  and  provoking. 

Wednesday  morning  20th  July  1774 
Sir — Since  I  Reed,  your  letter  I  have  not  had  an  Hours  Rest  I  am 
Sure.  I  have  with  A  Great  Deal  of  Both  Good  words  and  Bad  ones 
Prevail'd  on  the  following  Persons  to  march  with  me  Thursday.  *  * 
I  thought  to  Got  them  marched  to  day  but  it  was  not  in  my  power 
Some  had  Grain  to  put  up  and  to  leave  them  would  [n]  ot  do  for  I 
would  Scarcely  Ever  See  Them  again.     I  am  your  Servant. 

James  Robertson 

N.  B.  This  last  news  I  Expect  is  no  more  than  Some  of  the 
Usual  Alarms.  But  if  they  are  about  I  am  in  hopes  we  will  be  there 
time  Enough  for  them.  Pray  Sir  if  Possible  Procure  me  a  Quire  of 
Paper  as  I  cannot  get  one  Sheet. 

He  announces  signs  of  Indians — and  foreshadows  his 
troubles  in  collecting  a  company  for  the  Kanawha  ex- 
pedition. 

Fort  Dunmore  26th  July  1774 
*  *  *  Onless  you  Send  Some  men  down  the  Case  will  be  Bad 
So  that  I  must  stay  with  not  more  than  Six  men  unless  I  kill  part  and 
tye  the  Other  I  Expect  we  will  have  a  war  amongst  our  Selves  without 
that  of  the  Indians,  these  men  tells  me  there  are  fresh  signs  of  Indians 
Seen  Every  Morning  about  the  plantation  of  Forbes,  Sir  Both  men 
and  Ammunition  will  be  much  wanted  about  this  place  verry  Soon 
as  I  Expect  a  Large  Body  of  Indians  Emediately.     I  Shall  Stand  by 


A  Few  Days  Full  of  Trouble.  41 

the  Place  Agreeable  to  my  Orders  if  Death  Should  be  my  Fate  I  am  Sir 
yours 

James  Robertson 

N.  B.  the  men  I  got  to  day  I  Station  Here  as  the  Setlers  here 
was  under  the  Necessity  of  moving  I  have  made  them  up  Ten  Soldiers 
and  they  Seem  Satisfy 'd 

A  diversity  of  news — Indian  forays — completion  of 
fort — the  lack  of  provisions  and  ammunition.  There 
was  a  constant  call  for  "more  powder  and  lead"  in  those 
days. 

Fort  Btrd  28th  July  1774 
Dr.  Sir — we  will  have  our  Fort  Genteely  finished  this  week,  we 
have  25  private  at  this  Place  I  have  ten  at  old  Billey  wood's.  I 
would  be  glad  to  have  Some  more  men  and  Ammun[i]tion  if  it  was  not 
So  good,  it  would  do  to  keep  the  fort,  there  is  signs  of  the  Indians  here 
Every  morning  and  I  Expect  they  will  give  us  a  Salute  when  they 
Assemble  their  party  altogether  if  I  had  Some  more  men  I  Could 
turn  out  with  a  party  which  I  would  be  Extreamly  fond  of.  I  have 
sent  out  the  Scouts  this  morning  and  to  Continue  out  three  days  unless 
they  See  much  signs  of  Indians. 

I  am  Dr.  Sir  your  Hbl.  Servant 

James  Robertson 

N.  B.  there  is  a  good  many  of  the  men  in  this  place  will  go  with 
me  to  the  Shany's  [Shawnee]  towns  Tom  Masdin  is  Sick  and  wants  to 
go  home.  Harry  Thomson  Set  off  yesterday  with  Some  men.  I  could 
not  Prevail  on  him  to  Stay  a  few  days,  untill  the  men  would  Come  out, 
as  he  Said  his  Business  was  So  Urgent  at  Court.  Sir  as  I  [am]  on  Duty 
here  and  has  no  Chance  to  Raise  A  Company  for  the  present  Expdn. 
Please  to  give  my  Comlmts.  to  Old  Will  In[g]  les  &  with  a  Litle  of  your 
own  assistance  I  hope  you  Can  Engage  us  Some  men 

I  am  yrs.     J.  R. 

More  rumors  of  Indian  outrages — call  for  men  and 
ammunition. 

Culbersons  1st  August  1774 
Sir — About  three  hours  agoe  John  Draper  Came  here  with  thirteen 
men,  which  makes  our  Number  33  or  thereabouts  this  minet  I  got 
flying  news  of  the  Indians  Shooting  at  one  of  Arbuckles  Centery's  on 
mudy  Creek,  they  say  Likewise  that  they  Atacted  one  of  Kelley's 
Yesterday  about  half  a  mile  from  that  Fort  where  they  Tomhak'd 


42  Historic  Sullivan. 

Kelley  and  Cut  him  Vastly,  but  the  men  from  the  fort  heard  the  noise 
and  Ran  to  their  Assistance  and  drove  the  Indans  off  before  they 
Either  Kill'd  or  Sculp'd  Kelley  they  took  his  Daughter  Prisoner  it  is 
Said;  but  the  Certainty  of  any  of  the  news  I  Canot  Assert  *  *  *  as 
to  my  Going  in  Sir  its  Impossible  Unless  we  give  up  this  place  Intirely 
for  the  men  Swairs  the  minet  I  set  off  they  Will  Start  Likewise,  and 
Indeed  I  cannot  leave  the  Compy.  as  I  See,  for  there  is  no  one  that  Can 
keep  any  Accts.  or  do  any  thing  towards  Geting  Provisions  for  the 
Compny.  Which  is  Realy  Vastly  hard  to  get  I  was  in  hopes  there 
would  be  some  flower  fr[om]  M.  Thomsons  for  us  before  now  the  Place 
must  Undoubtedly  Bre[ak]  up  Unless  we  Get  Some  Amunition.  *  * 
we  have  finished  our  fort  and  I  think  not  a  dispiseable  one.  I  have 
been  out  Raiseing  a  House  for  to  hold  Provisions  and  Amunition  but 
I  am  Afraid  the  Place  wont  be  Over  Stocked  with  Either,  in  haste, 
as  the  one  Cant  be  Possibly  got,  and  the  Other  People  Seems  Easey 
About  furnishing  us  with.     *     *     * 

James  Robertson 
N.  B.     I  am  afraid  111  be  far  behinn  about  my  Corny,  for  the  Shany 
Expdn.  as  I  am  confined  here 

Saturday  6th  August  1774  Culbersons 
Sir — I  suppose  you  heard  of  the  Indians  Killing  Kelley  on  mudy 
Creek,  we  heard  Some  Flying  accts  of  it,  but  not  the  perticulars, 
*  *  *  Sir  you  must  know  the  Great  Necessity  I  have  to  be  in, 
to  try  to  make  up  my  Compy.  and  make  Ready  as  well  as  these  men 
that  goes  with  me.  I  would  been  in  Sooner  but  by  no  means  Could 
Leave  the  men  for  several  reasons,  and  the  Day  I  set  off  I  Am  Sure 
they  will  be  Along,  and  Against  we  get  in  it  will  be  three  weeks  and 
Some  A  month,  as  Long  as  one  party  I  believe  Can  Well  Stay.  Sir 
I  am  Your  Hble.  Servant 

James  Robertson 

N.  B.  we  have  not  Seen  the  Signs  of  any  Indians  Since  I  Came 
here.  Pray  Sir  Send  down  Some  Flower  and  Powder  and  Lead  if 
Possible,     Let  it  be  Good  or  Bad. 

Announces  the  offer  of  gruesome  reward. 

Culbersons  11th  August  1774 
Sir — I  was  Expecting  Orders  to  Gone  Home  to  Seen  Some  What 
About  my  Affairs.  I  have  a  good  deal  to  do  before  I  Can  Start  to  the 
Expedition  Which  I  would  by  no  means  miss  if  I  can  Possibly  make 
out  to  go.  *  *  *  the  men  Seems  Resolute  for  a  Sculp  or  two,  and 
I  have  Offered  £b  for  the  first  Indians  hand  that  will  be  brought  in 


A  Few  Days  Full  of  Trouble.  43 

to  the  fort  by  any  of  the  Compy  *  *  *  they  left  a  War  Club  at 
one  of  the  wasted  Plantations  well  made  and  mark'd  with  two  Letters 
I  G  (well  made)  *  *  *  Sir  I  dare  say  you  have  a  Good  Deal  of 
Trouble  Geting  hands  to  us,  and  I  am  Sure  I  have  a  Vaste  Deal  of 
Trouble  in  Keeping  them  in  Tune  as  they  are  a  Distracted  Enough 
party  I  assure  you  my  Complmts.  to  your  famyly  and  Sir  I  Heartyly 
wish  you  Luck  from  your  most  Obd  S. 

James  Robertson 

N.  B.     I  have  a  Severe  Spell  of  a  Great  Cold  and  the  worst  tooth 
Ache  that  ever  was 

Jas.  Robertson 


More  trouble  in  enlistments — lets  out  the  secret  cause 
of  dissatisfaction  among  the  men — the  "Gent"  who 
makes  mutiny. 


Culbersons  12th  August  1774 
Sir — This  morning  Our  Scouts  met  with  a  Couple  of  Poor  Little 
Boys  between  this  and  Blue  Stone  one  A  Son  of  John  McGriffs  the 
Other  a  Son  of  Widow  Snydoes  at  Burks  fort,  that  made  their  Escapes 
from  the  Indians  Last  Tuesday  night  about  midnight  away  *  *  * 
Sir  Unless  you  keep  your  own  Side  of  the  mountains  well  Guarded 
there  them  Stragling  little  partys  will  do  Abundance  of  Damage  where 
People  is  Gathered  in  forts  there  Ought  to  be  men  under  Pay  Just 
Ready  on  any  Occasion  these  Small  partys  passes  Scouts  and  Companys 
with  out  Possibly  being  Discovered  if  my  Life  and  Honour  and  the 
Lives  of  all  my  Relations  &  the  Lives  of  all  my  well  wishers  was  at 
Stake  I  Can  do  no  more  then  I  have,  or  is  Ever  Willing  to  do. 
#*******!  j^j  j^  thought  of  Seting  home  next 
monday  but  I  wont  Atempt  it  untill  I  See  if  we  Can  Rub  up  these 
Yalow  Dogs  A  Little  I  suppose  my  helpless  famyly  is  in  Great  fear, 
and  Indeed  not  with  out  Reason.  Perhaps  I  look  on  you  to  be  in  a 
Dangerouser  Station  there  than  we  are  here  and  would  advise  you  to 
keep  a  party  constantly  on  their  Watch,  as  there  is  white  men  amongst 
them  they  Undoubtedly  know  men  of  the  Best  Circumstance  and 
that  is  what  they  Generaly  Aim  at 

Dea  Sir  I  am  Your  most  Hbl.  Servant 

James  Robertson 

"  N.  B.  Sir  I  have  been  in  the  Greatest  misery  Ever  any  felow 
was  in,  Since  Last  monday  with  A  pain  in  my  Jaw  one  of  my  Eyes  Has 
been  Shut  up  Ever  Since  and  has  hardly  Either  Eat  or  Slept  I  Declare. 

J.  R. 


44  Historic  Sullivan. 

Sir — I  thought  to  been  at  your  House  friday  or  Saturday  but 
Cannot  be  there  untill  Sunday  night  or  monday.  I  have  been  through 
the  whole  Company  and  meets  with  poor  Success  though  picked  up 
Some.  I  Gather  them  Altogether  Saturday  and  Pretends  to  make  A 
Draft  by  your  Orders  I  tell  them,  and  dont  want  to  Concern  with  any 
that  has  famylys,  but  Only  these  Hulking  younge  dogs  that  Can  be 
well  Spar'd.  if  you  please  give  me  a  Line  or  two  to  Back  me  I  would 
be  glad  you  would  desire  the  Oncers  in  Capt.  Cloyd's  and  Capt.  Taylers 
Compy.  to  Stir  up  Some  Backward  Scoundr[els]  in  their  Companys 
to  turn  Out  or  Else  force  them  for  no  Honour  nor  Intreateys  will  move 
them.  I  Could  Stay  untill  the  midle  of  next  week  and  Overtake  the 
Army  before  they  go  to  the  falls.  Perhaps  you  have  Seen  Some  what 
of  Capt.  Woods,  or  heard  what  number  he  has  to  Joyn  us 

I  am  Sir  Your  Obedt.  Servant 

James  Robertson 

1st  of  Sfepbr.  1774 

N.  B.  I  have  had  more  uneasyness  this  Eight  days  Amongst 
these  Deels  Buckeys  then  I  have  had  this  three  years  there  is  some 
procarious  Gent,  amongst  us  who  makes  some  mutiny  amongst  the 
men  as  they  want  Compns. 

Completion  of  company — "off  for  the  levels." 

Rich  Creek  15th  Septbr  1774 
Sir — we  are  Stop'd  a  day  to  Get  what  Beeves  and  Catties  We  Can 
Pick  up.  Capt.  woods  and  his  Party  is  Joynd  me  Which  makes  our 
number  of  the  Whole  55  the  Soldiers  I  had  at  Mr.  Woods  Desird 
Discharges  from  me  which  I  have  given  them,  though  they  are  willing 
to  Inlist  again,  if  you  See  Cause. 

I  have  sent  you  an  Acct.  of  their  time  Likewise  finding  their  Pro- 
visions for  the  time 

Mitchel  Clay  51  days  on  Duty  found  his  own  Provisions 
Zekil  Clay       51  days  found  his  Provisions 

David  Clay     51  days  found  Do 

Richd.  Blankenship  44  days  Do 

P.  S.  I  must  be  for  Ever  Obliged  to  all  my  good  friends  for  assist- 
ing me  in  Getting  my  Compy  made  up  as  I  thought  it  was  meerely 
Impossible  to  do  it  in  the  time  and  I  am  sure  there  is  not  Such  an  Other 
Compny  for  the  Quaintyty  of  men  belonging  to  the  Whole  Dr.  Sir 
I  wish  you  Every  thing  that  Would  make  you  happy. 

I  am  your  Obedt.  Servant 

James  Robertson 

Rich  Creek  16th  Sept.  1774 

N.  B.     We  are  just  starting  for  the  Levels.     J.  R. 


rv. 


&*,£.  '*J0& 


t    /sr^^t?;, 


&'**„ 


'&%*?, 


y 


J 


Ao 


:'Jwfe^^ 


^ 


[    -  'T  ill       ii .j-^a^-i..     rtyfj — -* , 


Facsimile  of  original  muster-roll  of  the  first  volunteer  company 
to  leave  Sullivan  County 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  GREAT  KANAWHA. 

After  the  arrival  of  the  Shelbys  on  the  Holston  there 
was  peace  along  the  border  until  1774.  Outside  of  a  few 
small  straggling  bands  of  Indians,  who  were  prowling 
about  and  stealing,  the  country  was  uneasily  quiet. 
The  neighborhood  gossips,  who  loafed  about  the  store 
kept  by  the  Shelbys,  were  now  startled  by  the  rumors  of  a 
threatened  invasion.  The  family  of  Logan,  the  Indian 
chief,  had  been  murdered  and  his  allies  were  seeking 
revenge — the  Shawanoes  and  other  tribes  were  on  the 
war  path.  They  had  already  killed  eleven  people  in  the 
settlements  of  Fincastle.1 

In  March,  1774,  Col.  William  Preston  had  asked 
Evan  Shelby  to  accept  a  captaincy  in  what  was  then 
Fincastle  county.     His  acceptance  and  enlistment  of  the 


IThe  family  of  John  Roberts,  at  Kings's  Mill,  including  himself,  wife  and 
several  children  were  killed  and  scalped.  The  oldest  son  was  taken  prisoner 
while  one  little  boy  lived  several  days  after  being  tomahawked  and  scalped.  He 
is  the  one  noted  in  Chapter  V. 

Logan  was  the  perpetrator  of  this  massacre.  The  father  of  Logan  was  a 
Frenctiman,  who,  being  captured  when  a  child,  was  adopted  into  the  Oneida  tribe 
and  became  a  powerful  chief  among  the  Susquehanna  Indians.  Logan's  mother 
was  a  Cayuga,  hence  this  was  his  tribe.  His  Indian  name  was  Tach-nech-darus, 
meaning  branching  oak  of  the  forest.  He  took  the  name  of  Logan  from  James 
Logan,  secretary  of  the  province.  During  the  French  and  Indian  war  he  remained 
neutral  and  took  refuge  in  Philadelphia.  For  this  he  was  compelled  to  leave  his 
old  home  and,  about  1772,  settled  in  Ohio.  Here  in  his  town,  on  Yellow  Creek, 
April  30,  1774,  his  people  were  massacred.  Logan  swore  to  have  revenge — that 
he  would  never  stop  killing  until  he  had  satisfied  his  thirst  for  blood.  He  made 
four  raids,  sparing  none  who  came  within  his  grasp — men,  women  and  children 
he  slew  with  savage  cruelty.  His  acts  brought  on  the  Dunmore  war,  culminating 
in  the  battle  on  the  Great  Kanawha.  When  the  chiefs  were  summoned  before 
Dunmore  to  discuss  terms  of  peace,  Logan  failed  to  appear.  Dunmore  sent  for 
him  and  received  a  reply,  saying  he  was  a  warrior,  not  a  maker  of  peace,  and  at 
the  same  time  delivered  what  is  conceded  the  most  eloquent  speech  in  savage  his- 
tory.    It  is  familiar  to  most  readers  and  runs  as  follows: 

"I  appeal  to  any  white  man  to  say  if  ever  he  entered  Logan's  cabin  hungry 
and  he  gave  him  not  meat;  if  ever  he  came  cold  and  naked  and  he  clothed  him  not? 
During  the  course  of  the  last  long  and  bloody  war,  Logan  remained  idle  in  his  camp, 
an  advocate  for  peace.  Such  was  my  love  for  the  whites  that  my  countrymen 
pointed  as  I  passed  and  said,  'Logan  is  the  friend  of  the  white  man.'  I  had  even 
thought  to  have  lived  with  you,  but  for  the  injuries  of  one  man.  Colonel  Cresap, 
the  last  spring,  in  cold  blood  and  unprovoked,  murdered  all  the  relations  of  Logan 
not  even  sparing  my  women  and  children.  There  runs  not  a  drop  of  my  blood  in 
the  veins  of  any  living  creature.  This  called  on  me  for  revenge.  I  have  sought  it. 
I  have  killed  many.  I  have  fully  glutted  my  vengeance.  For  my  country  I  rejoice 
at  the  beams  of  peace;  but  do  not  harbor  a  thought  that  mine  is  the  joy  of  fear. 
Logan  never  felt  fear.  He  will  not  turn  on  his  heel  to  save  his  life.  Who  is  there 
to  mourn  for  Logan?     Not  one.'" 


46  Historic  Sullivan. 

men  he  took  with  him  was  the  first  move  that  introduced 
the  now  famous  Tennessee  "Volunteer." 

Because  of  his  dread  of  their  warriors,  the  northwest 
Indian  held  in  perpetual  grudge  Southwest  Virginia 
and  upper  East  Tennessee. 

What  the  Indians  declared  were  encroachments  upon 
their  lands  were  merely  the  journeys  made  by  hunters 
and  surveyors  in  Kentucky  and  Ohio.  Daniel  Boone 
and  Michael  Stoner  were  sent  to  warn  the  surveyors  and 
settlers  of  the  peril  that  was  impending. 

In  1773  these  parties  were  threatened  by  Cornstalk, 
and  his  war  bands  became  numerous  and  dangerous  to 
the  settlements. 

In  September,  1774,  Lord  Dunmore,  who  was  then 
the  Royal  Governor  of  Virginia,  made  a  call  for  troops 
to  punish  the  Indians  and,  as  they  were  headed  by  Logan 
and  Cornstalk  and  other  brave  chiefs  of  a  like  determined 
character,  the  mission  was  one  of  vast  importance. 

Dunmore  decided  to  take  the  field  in  person.  He 
delegated  Gen.  Andrew  Lewis  to  take  charge  of  the 
Augusta  and  Fincastle  troops.  Accordingly,  Lewis  re- 
quested Col.  William  Preston,  the  county  lieutenant,2 
to  summon  his  men  for  the  campaign.  The  people  of 
this  section,  in  view  of  the  alarm,  were  all  forted  and 
prepared  for  defense. 

Gen.  Lewis'  command  was  divided  into  four  parts 
under  Cols.  William  Christian,  John  Field,  William 
Fleming  and  his  brother  Col.  Charles  Lewis.  Christian 
had  charge  of  the  Fincastle  troops  which  included  those 
from  Holston.  In  this  regiment  was  a  company  com- 
manded by  Evan  Shelby,  his  son  Isaac  being  lieutenant, 
while  James,  another  son,  was  also  a  member.  Col. 
Christian  was  detained  on  the  route  on  account  of  the 
slow  arrival  of  his  men  and  provisions. 


2A  county  lieutenant  was  the  highest  ranking  officer  in  the  county  and  carried 
with  it  the  title  of  colonel.     Isaac  Shelby  was  our  first  county  lieutenant. 


The  Battle  of  the  Great  Kanawha.  47 

Capts.  Shelby  and  Russel,  with  their  companies, 
pushed  on.  Christian  was  to  bring  up  the  rear  and,  being 
sorely  vexed  by  delays,  declared,  "I  would  not  for  all 
I'm  worth  be  behind  in  crossing  the  Ohio  and  lending 
assistance." 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Col.  Fleming  at  Camp  Union  he 
found  Capts.  Shelby  and  Russel,  with  part  of  their  com- 
panies, already  there. 

"The  Holston  men  were  the  advance  guard  of  civiliza- 
tion on  the  farthest  border  yet  pushed  out  into  the 
Western  wilderness,  out  of  which  the  States  of  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee  were  in  due  time  to  be  carved."3 

Military  discipline  was  not  as  rigid  on  this  expedition 
as  it  had  been  on  other  like  occasions.  The  men  were 
disposed  to  do  as  they  pleased.  There  was  considerable 
grumbling  about  the  meat,  some  claiming  partiality 
was  shown,  as  a  part  of  them  got  good  beef  while  the 
others  got  bad.  The  dissatisfied  ones  would  slip  out  of 
camp  and  hunt  for  game.  This,  however,  had  the  advan- 
tage of  affording  picket  service  as  otherwise  no  pickets 
were  sent  out. 

It  was  due  to  a  hunting  party  that  the  whole  army 
was  not  surprised  and  set  upon  when  they  arrived  in 
camp  on  the  Great  Kanawha. 

James  Shelby  had  fallen  sick  and  his  father  sent  James 
Robertson  and  Valentine  Sevier4  out,  early  on  the  morning 
of  October  the  10th,  "to  perch  a  turkey  for  him"  when 
they  ran  into  "five  acres  of  Indians"  about  a  mile  from 
camp.    These  Indians  were  moving  on  the  camp. 

Robertson  and  Sevier  fired  at  the  party  and 
succeeded  in  checking  their  movements.  The  two  men 
then  hastened  back  and  gave  the  alarm. 

The  drums  beat  to  arms. 


3Thwaite  and  Kellogg's  "Dunmore's  War." 

4Two  others,  Joseph  Hughey  of  Shelby's  Company  and  James  Mooney,  were 
also  out  hunting — the  former  was  killed  and  the  latter  rushed  into  camp  with  the 
report,  and  later  was  killed  in  the  battle. 


48  Historic  Sullivan. 

The  Battle. 

Instantly  the  men  rolled  out  of  their  blankets  and, 
knowing  what  it  meant,  prepared  for  battle.  The 
Indians  soon  rallied  from  the  surprise  of  the  fire  from  the 
two  hunters  and  came  on,  their  battle  line  extending 
one  mile  and  a  quarter.  Gen.  Lewis  ordered  out  two 
companies — three  hundred  men — under  Charles  Lewis 
and  Fleming,  to  meet  the  enemy.  When  about  half  a 
mile  away  these  companies  encountered  the  Indians  and 
the  men  remaining  in  camp  were  aroused  by  the 
thundering  report  of  hundreds  of  guns.  Two  hundred 
more  men  under  Col.  Field  were  rushed  to  the  spot. 
At  the  very  opening  of  the  battle  Col.  Charles  Lewis 
was  mortally  wounded,  Col.  Fleming  was  disabled5 
and  Col.  Field  was  slain  shortly  after  his  arrival. 
The  command  now  fell  to  Capt.  Evan  Shelby,  Gen. 
Andrew  Lewis  having  remained  behind  to  superintend 
the  fortifying  of  the  camp.  The  two  lines  of  battle,  at 
times,  came  so  close  together  that  the  commands  of  the 
officers  of  one  side  could  be  heard  by  the  other.  The 
men  were  even  close  enough  to  jeer  at  each  other.  The 
Indians  made  fun  of  the  fife  music,  "don't  whistle  now," 
they  shouted  and  invited  our  men  to  come  over  and  learn 
how  to  shoot.  The  chiefs  showed  daring  courage  in 
the  conduct  of  the  battle,  moving  along  the  lines  encourag- 
ing their  braves  to  "lie  low,  shoot  well,  be  brave."  Prev- 
ious to  the  battle  they  had  stationed  squaws  and  Indian 
boys  along  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  and  Kanawha,  well 
armed,  to  shoot  our  men  should  they  try  to  escape  by 

5  ROUGH  SURGERY  AT  PT.  PLEASANT 

"  I  received  three  balls  in  the  left  Line  two  Struck  my  left  arm  below  the 
Elbow  broke  both  the  bones  &  I  find  one  of  them  is  lodged  in  my  arm  a  third  entered 
my  breast  about  three  Inches  below  my  left  Nipple  and  is  lodged  some  where 
in  the  Chest,  on  finding  myself  effectually  disabled  I  quitted  the  field,  when  I 
came  to  be  drest,  I  found  my  Lungs  forced  through  the  wound  in  my  breast  as 
long  as  one  of  my  fingers.  Watkins  Attempted  to  reduce  them  ineffectually, 
he  got  some  part  returned  but  not  the  whole,  being  in  considerable  pain,  sometime 
afterward  I  got  the  whole  returned  by  the  Assistance  of  one  of  my  Own  Attendants 
since  which  I  thank  the  Almighty  I  have  been  in  a  surprising  state  of  ease." — 
Col.  Fleming's  letter  to  William  Bowyer. 


The  Battle  of  the  Great  Kanawha.  49 

swimming  the  river.  These  were  shouting  in  savage  ex- 
pectancy "drive  the  white  dogs  in." 

Isaac  Shelby,  who  assumed  command  of  his  father's 
company,  repulsed  a  flank  movement  of  the  Indians  and 
in  turn  assisted  by  James  Stewart  and  George  Mathews 
out -flanked  the  enemy.  Their  red  foes  began  to  retreat, 
but  on  reaching  safer  ground,  where  they  could  hide  be- 
hind fallen  logs,  made  another  stand,  again  re- 
treating however.  The  battle  had  lasted  seven  hours 
and  outside  of  a  little  skirmishing  was  nearing  its  end. 
During  the  night  the  Indians,  although  apparently 
defiant  and  threatening  a  renewal  on  the  morrow  with 
two  thousand  reinforcements,  retreated,  carrying  away 
as  many  of  their  dead  and  wounded  as  were  within 
reach.  Those  they  were  unable  to  carry  away  they 
scalped  rather  than  permit  them  to  be  thus  abused  by 
the  whites. 

There  were  many  heroic  hand  to  hand  encounters 
during  the  action  and  many  examples  of  individual 
bravery  shown.6 

It  was  a  sanguinary  contest — one  of  the  most  stubbornly 
waged  that  had  been  fought  up  to  that  time — result- 
ing in  seventy-five  of  the  whites  being  killed  with  one 
hundred  and  forty  wounded.  Their  only  surgeon,  Col. 
Fleming,  being  wounded  almost  to  death  and  unable 
to  render  any  assistance,  the  distress  and  suffering 
among  the  wounded  was  pitiable.7 

A  stockade  was  erected  and  garrisoned  with  a  com- 
pany under  the  command  of  Isaac  Shelby.     He  remained 


6Ramsey  gives  credit  to  John  Sawyers,  one  of  Shelby's  men,  for  making  a  des- 
perate charge  with  "a  few  others"  and  dislodging  the  enemy  from  a  dangerous 
advantage. 

7 As  an  example  of  distress  and  diversion  the  following  is  taken  from  Newal's 
Journal  dated  Oct.  21,  Camp,  on  Point  Pleasant,  Parole — Dumfrise: 

"The  guard  as  usual.  The  Revelie  to  Beat  before  daybreak,  the  lines  to  turn 
out  under  arms  &  have  their  arms  examined  by  officers  of  their  Companies,  the 
men  for  work  to  parade  as  soon  as  possible  &  compleat  the  breast  work.  At 

point  pleasant  was  a  stockaade  just  built  to  secure  the  wounded  men,  who  are 
dieing  daily  &  most  shocking  sight  to  see  their  wounds.  Alex.  McKee  caught  a 
cat  fish  that  weighs  57  M  lbs."     S.  Newal. 


50  Historic  Sullivan. 

here  nine  months,  when  the  place  was  abandoned  and 
the  stockade  destroyed  by  order  of  Lord  Dunmore. 

While  Sullivan  County  and,  for  that  matter,  what  was 
afterwards  the  State  of  Tennessee  had  but  a  few  more 
than  fifty  men  in  this  battle,  the  burden  of  the  day  rested 
upon  them,  and  there,  was  the  beginning  of  a  series 
of  daring  adventures  in  which  she  has  achieved  victories 
by  the  unyielding  struggle  of  her  stalwart  soldiery. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
"spirit  op  75." 

When  the  news  spread  over  the  country  of  the  condi- 
tion of  affairs  in  the  East,  and  especially  about  Boston, 
the  people  of  Botetourt,  and  Sullivan  was  once  a  part  of 
Botetourt,  were  not  slow  to  respond  with  their  sympa- 
pathies  to  the  distress  of  their  countrymen  and  stood 
prepared  to  back  them  up  with  a  bold  defense. 

How  quickly  the  conditions  change  and  how  easily 
the  maps  take  on  different  hues.  Allies  become  adver- 
saries, political  upheavals  lift  the  oppressed  above  the 
sceptered  sway  and  cover  the  oppressor  with  the  grime 
of  defeat. 

To-day  the  king  lashes  his  subjects  into  groveling  sub- 
mission, to-morrow  he  mixes  his  pottage  with  the  peas- 
antry. To-day  Andrew  Lewis  is  marching  under  the 
orders  of  Lord  Dunmore  against  the  stronghold  of  the 
Indians  on  the  Great  Kanawha,  to-morrow  he  is  driving 
his  Lordship  from  the  State  of  Virginia. 

The  colonists  had  petitioned  the  throne  in  vain — their 
petitions  had  been  spurned,  tossed  aside  as  unworthy 
of  consideration  or  regarded  as  rebellious  and  seditious. 

It  was  during  these  tense  times  "the  hunter  on  the 
Alleghany"  arose  to  cheer  his  brother  across  the  border. 

No  other  declaration  of  independence  surpasses  in  fer- 
vor and  loyal  patriotism  the  Declaration  from  the  Free- 
holders of  Botetourt.1 

To  Col.  Andrew  Lewis,  and  Mr.  John  Boyer. 

Gentlemen. 

For  your  past  service  you  have  our  thanks,  and  we  presume  it 
is  all  the  reward  you  desire.     And  as  we  have  again  committed  to  you 

IThere  is  no  date  to  this  declaration.  It  appeared  in  London  along  with  other 
documents  during  the  year  1775.  It  was  published  in  "The  Remembrancer  or 
Impartial  Repository,"  1776,  and  I  am  indebted  to  the  courtesy  of  Hon.  Daniel 
Trigg,  of  Abingdon,  Va.,  for  a  copy. 


52  Historic  Sullivan. 

the  greatest  trust  we  can  confer  (that  of  appearing  for  us  in  the  great 
council  of  the  colony)  we  think  it  expedient  you  hear  our  sentiments 
at  this  important  juncture.  And  first,  we  require  you  to  represent  us 
with  hearts  replete  with  the  most  grateful  and  loyal  veneration  for 
the  race  of  Brunswick;  for  they  have  been  truly  our  fathers,  and  at 
the  same  time  the  most  dutiful  affection  for  our  Sovereign,  of  whose 
honest  heart  we  cannot  entertain  any  diffidence;  but  sorry  we  are  to 
add,  that  in  his  councils  we  can  no  longer  confide;  a  set  of  miscreants, 
unworthy  to  administer  the  laws  of  Britain's  empire,  have  been  per- 
mitted impiously  to  sway.  How  unjustly,  cruelly,  and  tyrannically, 
they  have  invaded  our  rights,  we  need  not  now  put  you  in  mind.  We 
only  say,  and  we  assert  it  with  pride,  that  the  subjects  of  Britain  are 
one;  and  when  the  honest  man  of  Boston  who  has  broke  no  law,  has 
his  property  wrested  from  him,  the  hunter  on  the  Allegany  must  take 
the  alarm,  and,  as  a  freeman  of  America,  he  will  fly  to  his  representa- 
tives, and  thus  instruct  them:  Gentlemen,  my  gun,  my  tomahawk, 
my  life  I  desire  you  to  render  to  the  honour  of  my  king  and  country; 
but  my  liberty  to  range  these  woods  on  the  same  terms  my  father  has 
done,  is  not  mine  to  give  up;  it  was  not  purchased  by  me,  and  purchased 
it  was;  it  is  entailed  on  my  son,  and  the  tenure  is  sacred.  Watch  over 
it,  gentlemen,  for  to  him  it  must  descend  inviolated,  if  my  arms  can 
defend  it;  but  if  not,  if  wicked  power  is  permitted  to  prevail  against 
me,  the  original  purchase  was  blood,  and  mine  shall  seal  the  surrender. 
That  our  countrymen  and  the  world  may  know  our  disposition, 
we  chuse  that  this  be  published.  And  we  have  one  bequest  to  add, 
that  is  that  the  sons  of  freedom  who  appeared  for  us  in  Philadelphia, 
will  accept  our  most  ardent,  grateful  acknowledgements;  and  we  hereby 
plight  them  our  faith,  that  we  will  religiously  observe  their  resolutions, 
and  obey  their  instructions,  in  contempt  of  power  and  temporary 
interest;  and  should  the  measures  they  have  wisely  calculated  for  our 
relief  fail,  we  will  stand  prepared  for  every  contingency.  We  are, 
Gentlemen, 

Your  dutiful,  &c. 

The  Freeholders  op  Botetourt. 


^ 


\ 


""\S 


^  >" 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  TRANSYLVANIA  TRUST. 

Sullivan  County  was  interested  in  the  first  great  trust 
in  America.  The  transaction  known  as  the  Henderson 
Purchase,  made  by  the  Transylvania  Company — in  the 
business  parlance  of  to-day — was  a  trust. 

Daniel  Boone,  whose  name  stands  for  a  type  of  rugged 
integrity,  was  agent  for  this  company.  It  was  through 
the  ambitious  generosity  of  Col.  Richard  Henderson, 
who  had  wealth,  that  Boone  was  able  to  indulge  his  bent 
for  discovery.    Henderson  was  Boone's  Maecenas. 

On  his  return  from  a  hunting  and  exploring  trip  he 
outlined  such-  tempting  possibilities  in  the  beautiful 
land  that  Henderson  at  once  had  visions  of  vast  wealth, 
and  what  was  still  more  alluring,  the  sway  of  power. 

Although,  in  a  memorial  to  Congress,  the  company 
avowed  their  wish  "to  be  considered  by  the  colonies  as 
brethren  in  the  same  great  cause  of  liberty  and  man- 
kind," they  entertained  hopes  of  a  little  republic  of  their 
own. 

Henderson  associated  with  him  other  men  of  wealth — 
David  Hart,  Nathaniel  Hart,  James  Hogg,  John  Williams, 
Leonard  H.  Bullock,  John  Luttrell,  Thomas  Hart  and 
William  Johnson.  With  Nathaniel  Hart,  Henderson,  in 
the  fall  of  1774,  made  a  trip  to  the  Cherokee  country 
to  negotiate  with  the  Indians  for  the  purchase  of  their 
lands.  On  their  return  they  were  accompanied  by 
Chief  Carpenter,  who  had  been  selected  by  the  tribe 
as  their  representative  to  examine  the  merchandise  they 
were  to  receive  in  exchange  for  the  land.  On  going 
back  the  envoy  rendered  a  favorable  report  and  a  final 
treaty,  proposed  by  Oconostota,  was  to  be  framed  at 
Watauga  in  March,  1775.  Accordingly  twelve  hundred 
of  the  Cherokees,  headed  by  Oconostota,  Carpenter  and 


54  Historic  Sullivan. 

The  Raven,  were  there  to  celebrate  the  transfer.  It 
took  several  days  to  come  to  an  agreement,  and  during 
the  time  there  was  much  feasting.  No  intoxicating 
drinks  were  allowed,  but  many  beeves  were  barbecued. 

The  principal  opposition  to  the  sale  of  these  lands 
was  made  by  Dragging  Canoe,  who  argued  eloquently 
for  retaining  the  lands  of  his  ancient  people.  He  was 
finally  persuaded,  however,  and  the  treaty  was  concluded 
by  the  payment  of  £10,000,  in  our  money  about  $50,000. 
This  was  a  fabulous  sum  for  that  day,  since,  at  the  time 
of  the  Revolution,  there  was  but  one  millionaire  in  this 
country.1 

There  were  two  deeds  made  for  this  land — one  was 
called  the  "Path  Deed"  and  the  other  the  "Great  Grant." 
In  the  former  the  boundary  was:  "All  that  territory 
or  parcel  of  land  beginning  on  the  Holtson  river  where 
the  course  of  Powell's  mountain  strikes  the  same;  thence 
up  said  river,  as  it  meanders,  to  where  the  Virginia  line 
crosses  same;  thence  westward  along  the  line  run  by 
Donaldson,  etc.,  to  a  point  six  English  miles  eastward 
of  Long  Island  in  the  said  Holston  river;  thence  a  direct 
course  toward  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kanawha  until 
it  reaches  the  top  ridge  of  Powell's  mountain;  thence 
westwardly  along  the  said  ridge  to  the  beginning." 

The  other  deed,  among  other  descriptions,  had  this: 
"All  that  tract,  territory  or  parcel  of  land  situated, 
lying  and  being  in  North  America."  It  embraced  about 
all  of  Kentucky  and  had  the  marks  of  a  mighty  trust. 

OTHER  TRANSFERS. 

At  this  treaty  meeting  the  Watauga  Association, 
which  was  holding  lands  on  an  eight-year  lease,  now 
sought  a  deed  for  these  lands  and,  upon  the  payment  of 
£2,000,  secured  it. 

The  store  of  Parker  and  Carter,   two  merchants  living 

lliobert  Morris. 


The  Transylvania  Trust  55 

in  Carter's  Valley — later  a  part  of  Sullivan,  until  cut 
off  for  Hawkins  County — had  their  store  robbed  during 
the  passing  of  the  Indians  to  the  treaty  grounds  and  a 
claim  was  put  in  to  indemnify  them  for  the  loss.  This 
was  agreed  upon  and  for  a  further  small  consideration 
a  deed  was  made  to  them  embracing  land  lying  between 
"Cloud  Creek  and  Chimney  Top  mountain  of  Beech 
Creek." 

THE  LITTLE  REPUBLIC. 

The  Henderson  Company  built  Boonesborough  and  es- 
tablished a  land  office  there.  Joseph  Martin  was  also  agent 
for  this  company,  having  disposal  of  lands  in  Powell's 
Valley.  Special  inducements — gifts  of  large  tracts  of 
land — were  offered  to  the  first  settlers.  There  was  some 
attempt  at  organized  government  and  the  "Legislature 
of  Transylvania"  met  at  Boonesborough  in  1775.  The 
little  republic  was  short-lived — Henderson  became  dis- 
gusted with  his  associates,  called  them  "a  set  of  scoun- 
drels" and  retired  from  the  scene.  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina  declared  the  purchase  illegal,  but,  as  a  recognition 
of  Henderson's  work  in  peopling  the  West,  he  was 
given  two  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land. 

Long  and  tedious  litigation  resulted.  The  committee, 
appointed  by  Congress  to  consider  the  memorial,  decided 
the  purchase  was  illegal — that  "attempts  to  monopolize 
lands  were  dangerous  and  injurious  to  society."2 

Many  men  of  note  became  involved.  Among  them 
Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson,  who  the  company 
declared,  wanted  stock  in  the  deal,  but  were  denied. 
Henry  and  Jefferson  claimed  the  company  wanted  them 
to  take  shares,  which  they  declined. 

Among  the  many  troubles  of  the  Transylvania  Com- 
pany was  a  peculiar  lav/suit  with  William  Cocke.      At 

2The  exelusiveness  of  this  monopoly  was  much  in  its  working  like  trusts  of 
today.  Isaac  Shelby,  in  his  deposition  during  the  trial,  said  Oconostota,  at  the 
Long  Island  Treaty  in  1776,  told  him  that  he  was  wary  of  signing  papers  since 
his  trade  with  Henderson,  as  the  latter  tied  him  up  so  he  "  couldn't  catch  a  crawfish 
on  the  land."     (Shelby's  MSS.  Deposition.) 


56  Historic  Sullivan. 

one  time  Henderson  had  Boone  and  his  company  quar- 
tered in  Kentucky.  Fearing  they  would  leave  before  he 
wished  and  not  daring  to  go  there  himself,  "with  tears 
in  his  eyes"  he  appealed  to  a  group  of  men  and  offered 
any  one,  who  would  take  a  message  to  Boone,  twenty 
thousand  acres  of  land.  Cocke,  being  one  of  the  number, 
agreed  to  go  for  ten  thousand  acres  and  made  the  journey 
of  one  hundred  miles  without  mishap.  Through  one 
excuse  or  another,  payment  was  put  off  from  time  to 
time  until  after  Henderson's  death,  whereupon  Cocke, 
seeing  no  immediate  prospect  of  a  settlement,  brought 
suit  through  his  attorney,  John  Rhea  of  Sullivan  County, 
for  his  claim.3 


3Draper  MSS. 


Nancy  Ward 
a  biography 

"That  famous  Indian  woman"  was  Col.  William  Camp- 
bell's description  of  Nancy  Ward,  whose  acts  of  friendly- 
mediation,  and  humane  treatment  of  captives,  endeared 
her  to  the  whites  in  such  a  way  that  she  is  known  as  Ten- 
nessee's Pocahontas. 

Her  father  was  a  British  officer  named  Ward  and  her 
mother  a  sister  of  Ata-kullakulla,  leading  chief  of  the 
Cherokees  during  their  most  troublesome  times.  The  date 
of  her  birth  is  unknown. 

She  resided  at  Echota,  the  capital  of  the  Cherokee  na- 
tion, where  she  was  regarded  as  chief  woman  of  the  tribe, 
having  such  titles  as  "Beloved  Woman"  and  "Pretty 
Woman."  She  decided  the  fate  of  captives.  Oneofhermost 
benevolent  acts  was  to  save  the  life  of  Mrs.  Bean  after 
she  had  been  condemned  and  tied  to  the  stake,  at  the 
time  the  young  boy,  Moore,  was  burned. 

In  many  ways  she  showed  her  friendship  for  the  whites, 
especially  at  the  time  of  the  contemplated  raids  upon  the 
Holston  and  Watauga  forts,  in  1776.  On  the  occasion  of 
another  Cherokee  uprising  in  1780  she  shielded  a  number 
of  traders  and  helped  them  to  escape. 

It  was  out  of  consideration  for  her  kind  offices  that  the 
Indians  did  not  suffer  worse  treatment  when  the  whites 
invaded  their  nation.  Echota  was  not  burned  on  her 
account,  and  when  her  relatives  once  fell  into  the  hands  of 
an  attacking  force  they  were  spared  out  of  consideration 
for  her. 

As  chief  woman  of  the  tribe  she  was  permitted  to  appear 
and  speak  in  their  solemn  councils,  and  at  those  meetings 
her  word  was  supreme. 

James  Robertson  once  visited  her  on  an  errand  of  peace 
and  afterwards  described  her  as  "queenly  and  command- 


58  Historic  Sullivan. 

ing,"  and  said  that  her  "house  was  furnished  in  accordance 
with  her  high  dignity." 

Nancy  Ward  exerted  her  influence  for  the  higher  civil- 
ization and  general  betterment  of  her  race  and  her  kind 
acts  were  to  influence  her  own  people,  to  discourage  sav- 
age warfare  as  much  as  they  were  done  out  of  sympathy 
for  the  whites. 

In  a  domestic  way,  too,  she  was  progressive,  having 
introduced  cows  among  the  Arkansas  Cherokees  and  her 
efforts  along  all  lines  of  improvement  and  elevation  of 
the  race  were  commendable. 

The  date  of  her  death  is  unknown. 


o 

o 

CO 

o 

CO 

cc 

0. 

^ 

0) 

CD 

tt! 

o 
I 

£ 

E 

£ 

^ 

S 

£ 

o 

CD 

to 

c 

CD 

.c 

JZ 

id 

O 

■a 

3 

h- 

H 

c 

W 

lO     f 


0.   © 


CHAPTER  XL 

BATTLE  OF  ISLAND  FLATS. 

In  June,  before  the  battle  of  Island  Flats,  which  took 
place  August  20,  1776,  Nancy  Ward  sent  word  to  the 
Watauga  and  Fort  Patrick  settlements  that  the  Indians, 
seven  hundred  strong,  headed  by  Dragging  Canoe  and 
Abraham,  two  of  their  most  desperate  chiefs,  were  pre- 
paring to  make  a  raid.  Knowing  her  to  be  a  friend  of 
the  whites  the  scouts  that  were  sent  out  carried  warnings 
and  hurried  the  people  of  Carter's  Valley  into  the  stock- 
ades. 

There  was  a  gathering  of  soldiers  at  Eaton's  Station. 
This  station  was  not  a  fort  up  to  this  time,  but,  upon  the 
arrival  of  the  refugees,  rail  fences  were  torn  down  and, 
along  with  other  timbers,  stacked  into  a  sort  of  stockade. 
Several  other  companies,  counting  one  hundred  and 
seventy  men,  hastened  there  to  protect  them. 

Scouts  were  sent  out  and  returning  informed  the 
officers  a  great  body  of  Indians  was  approaching  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Long  Island.  At  a  consultation  it  was 
decided  not  to  wait  for  the  Indians  to  attack  the  fort, 
but  to  go  out  and  meet  them  for,  otherwise,  they  would 
perhaps  go  through  the  settlements  murdering  the  defense- 
less people  rather  than  attempt  to  fight  an  armed  body 
of  men  behind  a  stockade.  Accordingly,  following  the 
advice  of  William  Cocke,1  they  came  forth  and  prepared 
to  meet  the  enemy.  They  reached  Island  Flats.  Here 
the  advance  guard  met  about  twenty  Indians  coming 
up  the  road   toward  the  fort.     These  they  fired  into, 


1A  controversy  took  place  sometime  after  the  fight  in  regard  to  the  conduct 
of  Capt.  William  Cocke,  some  accusing  him  of  cowardice  as  he  happened  to  be  cut 
off  at  one  time  from  the  main  body  of  the  troops  and  it  was  supposed  he  was  retreat- 
ing. He  wrote  a  reply,  well  prepared  and  at  time^  emotional,  in  defense  of  his 
action  and  offered  to  suffer  the  pentilty  if  his  comrades  thought  him  guilty.  He 
was  court-martialed,  but  was  only  given  about  a  year's  suspension  from  service. 


60  Historic  Sullivan. 

dispersing  them,  after  which  they  pursued  them  some 
distance. 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  when  the  main  body  of 
whites  arrived,  and  it  was  thought  best,  in  a  council  of 
officers,  not  to  expect  the  enemy  that  day,  but  to  return 
to  the  fort.  They  had  gone  nearly  a  mile  on  their  return 
march  when  it  was  found  the  Indians  were  following  in 
large  numbers  and  in  line  of  battle.  The  whites  im- 
mediately prepared  to  meet  them  and  also  got  into  line, 
with  some  little  confusion,  however,  and  the  delay  was 
all  but  disastrous  as  the  Indians  came  near  flanking  them. 

The  battle  lasted  only  a  short  time,  but  was  fought  with 
fury.  During  the  engagement  some  individual  heroism 
was  shown.  Lieut.  Davis,  seeing  the  Indians  were  trying 
to  flank  them,  called  out:  "Boys,  boys,  we'll  be  sur- 
rounded, follow  me,"  and  leading  his  men  off,  formed 
them  across  the  flat,  to  the  ridge.  Thus  they  checked 
the  Indians'  attempted  coup  and  soon  put  them  to  flight. 

PERSONAL  HEROISM. 

Alex  Moore  and  another  private,  named  Handly,  seeing 
two  of  the  savages  in  flight,  agreed  to  pursue  them,  each 
designating  the  one  he  intended  to  attack.  Moore  was 
first  to  overtake  his  man  and  both  he  and  the  Indian 
fired  at  the  same  time — both  missed.  Moore  then  rushed 
up  and  struck  the  Indian  with  the  butt  of  his  gun,  break- 
ing it  off.  They  clinched.  Moore,  by  his  agility,  was 
able  to  throw  the  Indian,  but  the  Indian,  owing  to  his 
greater  size  and  strength,  recovered.  He  then  tried  to  tom- 
ahawk Moore  who,  seeing  his  intention,  knocked  the  wea- 
pon from  his  hand.  Handly,  in  the  meantime,  had  fol- 
lowed his  Indian  who,  when  he  found  that  he  was  unable 
to  outrun  his  pursuer,  turned  and  fired,  he  also  missing. 
The  Indian  then  stood  still,  presenting  a  brave  front — 
received  the  ball  from  a  deliberate  aim  and  fell  to  the 
earth,  Handly  scalping  him.  Handly  returned  to 
aid  Moore,  whom  he  found  still  clinching  with  his  Indian , 


Battle  of  Island  Flats  61 

/ 

while  the  latter  was  slowly  dragging  him  toward  the 
tomahawk,  which  Moore,  each  time,  would,  with  a 
hasty  kick,  place  beyond  his  reach.  This  was  kept  up 
until  the  arrival  of  Handly,  who  dispatched  the  Indian. 

The  Indians  Were  routed  in  this  battle,  "eighteen  of 
their  scalps  being  taken,"  while  only  four  of  the  whites 
were  wounded.  It  was  supposed  the  Indians'  losses 
were  much  larger  as  a  great  trail  of  blood  was  found. 
Of  the  whites  wounded  in  this  battle  only  one  name  is 
preserved.  N.  Logan  was  shot  in  the  back  of  the  neck 
with  an  arrow— guns  and  bows  both  being  used. 

While  it  was  not  a  great  battle,  the  result  served  a  great 
purpose.  It  strengthened  the  faith  of  the  settlers  in 
their  powers  of  defense  and  made  the  foe  distrust  his 
own  strength. 

OFFICIAL  REPORT  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  ISLAND  FLATS 

"On  the  19th  our  scouts  returned,  and  informed  us  that  they  had 
discovered  where  a  great  number  of  Indians  were  making  into  the  set- 
tlements; upon  which  alarm,  the  few  men  stationed  at  Eaton's,  com- 
pleted a  breast-work  sufficiently  strong,  with  the  assistance  of  what  men 
were  there,  to  have  repelled  a  considerable  number;  sent  expresses  to 
the  different  stations  and  collected  all  the  forces  in  one  body,  and  the 
morning  after  about  one  hundred  and  seventy  turned  out  in  search  of 
the  enemy.  We  marched  in  two  divisions,  with  flankers  on  each  side 
and  scouts  before.  Our  scouts  discovered  upwards  of  twenty  meeting  us 
and  fired  on  them.  They  returned  the  fire,  but  our  men  rushed  on  them 
with  such  violence  that  they  were  obliged  to  make  a  precipitate  retreat. 
We  took  ten  bundles  and  a  good  deal  of  plunder,  and  had  great  reason 
to  think  some  of  them  were  wounded.  This  small  skirmish  happened 
on  ground  very  disadvantageous  for  our  men  to  pursue,  though  it  was 
with  the  greatest  difficulty  our  officers  could  restrain  their  men.  A 
council  was  held,  and  it  was  thought  advisable  to  return,  as  we  imagined 
there  was  a  large  party  not  far  off.  We  accordingly  returned,  and  had 
not  marched  more  than  a  mile  when  a  number,  not  inferior  to  ours, 
attacked  us  in  the  rear.  Our  men  sustained  the  attack  with  great 
bravery  and  interpidity,  immediately  forming  a  line.  The  Indians 
endeavoured  to  surround  us,  but  were  prevented  by  the  uncommon 
fortitude  and  vigilance  of  Capt.  James  Shelby,  who  took  possession  of 
an  eminence  that  prevented  their  design.  Our  fine  of  battle  extended 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile.     We  killed  about  thirteen  on  the  spot,  whom 


62  Historic  Sullivan. 

we  found,  and  have  the  greatest  reason  to  believe  that  we  could  have 
found  a  great  many  more,  had  we  had  time  to  search  for  them.  There 
were  streams  of  blood  every  way;  and  it  was  generally  thought  there 
was  never  so  much  execution  done  in  so  short  a  time  on  the  frontier. 
Never  did  troops  fight  with  greater  calmness  than  ours  did.  The 
Indians  attacked  us  with  the  greatest  fury  imaginable,  and  made  the 
most  vigorous  efforts  to  surround  us.  Our  spies  really  deserve  the 
greatest  applause.  We  took  a  great  deal  of  plunder  and  many  guns, 
and  had  only  four  men  greatly  wounded.  The  rest  of  the  troops 
are  in  high  spirits  and  eager  for  another  engagement.  We  have  the 
greatest  reason  to  believe  they  are  pouring  in  great  numbers  on  us, 
and  beg  the  assistance  of  our  friends. 

James  Thompson,  John  Campbell, 

James  Shelby,  William  Cocke, 

William  Buchanan,  Thomas  Madison. 

To  Maj.  Anthony  Bledsoe,  for  him  to  be  immediately  sent  to  Col. 
Preston." 

The  Indians  taking  part  in  the  Island  Flats  fight  were 
led  by  that  savage  chief,  Dragging  Canoe,  the  other  divi- 
sion, under  Abraham,  attacking  Watauga.  Finding 
themselves  unable  to  take  this  point  they  laid  siege  for 
three  weeks,  but  with  little  success.  They  also  sent 
warriors  to  Womack's  fort. 

During  this  siege  a  Mrs.  Bean  and  a  youth  named 
Moore  were  captured.  On  returning  to  their  own  towns 
the  Indians  burned  the  Moore  boy.  Mrs.  Bean  was  con- 
demned to  suffer  a  similar  fate  and  was  already  tied  to 
the  stake,  when  Nancy  Ward  interceded  and  saved  her 
life. 

SOUTH  FORK  SKIRMISH. 

Marauding  parties  of  Indians  continued  to  harass  the 
settlers.  They  had  a  permanent  camp  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Long  Island,  from  which  they  would  come  forth 
and  pounce  down  upon  some  unsuspecting  settlement, 
killing  and  burning.  Spies  discovered  their  retreat  at  the 
mouth  of  the  south  fork  of  Holston  river.  One  night 
previous  to  this  a  party  of  whites  were  driven  into  the 
Snod grass  fort,  near  Abingdon.    The  next  day  recruits 


Batttle  of  Island  Flats.  63 

from  the  various  forts  met  near  the  camp  of  these  Indians 
and  prepared  to  surround  them,  but  before  they  were 
ready  someone,  suspecting  the  Indians  heard  them, 
fired  into  their  camp,  while  the  remainder  rushed  to  the 
river  and  plunged  in.  Seven  scalps  were  taken  in  this 
fight  and  out  of  twenty-five  Indians  discovered  in  camp 
only  one  returned  to  the  settlement  on  Chicamauga. 
The  rest  were  killed  or  drowned — the  river  being  flushed 
at  the  time.2 


2During  the  Chicamauga  campaign  inquiries  were  made  of  the  Indiana  about 
this  fight  and  they  reported  that  there  was  but  one  survivor. — Snodgrass  MSS. — 
Draper  collection. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

CHRISTIAN  CAMPAIGN. 

At  this  period  the  southern  Indians  became  more  active 
and  offensive  than  ever  before.  Chafing  under  the  crush 
of  defeat  they  were  ready  to  form  an  alliance  with  any 
nation  to  retrieve  their  lost  prestige,  both  as  a  military 
power  and  as  landowners.  In  this  way  they  thought  to 
restore  to  themselves  territory  which  they  felt  had  been 
wrung  from  them  in  forced  treaties.  It  was  in  this  state 
of  mind  the  British  agents  found  them  at  the  beginning 
of  the  Revolution.  John  Stuart,  the  British  Superin- 
tendent of  Southern  Indian  Affairs,  approached  these 
Indians  with  offers  of  aid  in  the  way  of  ammunition, 
food  and  clothing,  and  promises  of  much  loot. 

When  these  conditions  were  made  known  to  the  people 
of  the  Holston  settlements,  who  had  been  the  sufferers  in 
so  many  Cherokee  invasions,  they  decided  to  no  longer 
attempt  to  carry  on  a  war  of  defense,  staying  in  their 
stockades  at  home,  but  to  make  an  imposing  display  of 
arms  on  the  Indians'  own  grounds  and  assume  the  offen- 
sive. Accordingly  Col.  William  Christian  was  ordered 
to  Long  Island  with  a  force  of  men.  He  was  joined  by 
reinforcements  under  Cols.  Williams  and  Love,  and 
Maj.  Winston,  of  North  Carolina,  and  all  rendezvoused 
at  Long  Island  in  August. 

As  an  example  of  discipline  while  in  camp  there,  the 
following  is  recorded  in  Christian's  orderly  book: 

$'f:  For  the  Tryal  of  Capt.  James  Shelby  for  "giving^a  false  alarm  by 
the  report  of  his  gun,  Pleading  guilty  with  a  apology  that  "he  supposed 
the  powder  to  have  been  mostly  out  of  the  Gun  and  he  only  intended  to 
squib  her" — sorry — .     Fined  one  weeks  pay. 


Christian  Campaign.  65 

Andrew  King,  John  Barker,  James  Bates  and  James  Wilson  were 
likewise  fined  for  the  same  breach  of  deportment — one  week.1 

Accompanying  this  expedition  were  two  chaplains  and 
a  surgeon.    The  following  is  also  from  the  orderly  book: 

Camp  Lady  Ambler,  Oct.  20,  1776. 
Patrick  Vance  appointed  third  surgeon  with  pay  of  assistant.2 

Wm.  Cumins  &  Thos.  Ray  chaplains  of  first  battalion.  3 

Leaving  the  fort  they  crossed  the  island  and  camped 
the  first  night  on  the  head  waters  of  Lick  creek,  near 
Chimney  Top  mountain.  Here  they  remained  several 
days  awaiting  the  arrival  of  reinforcements  from  Watauga. 
Altogether  there  were  about  two  thousand  men  including 
wood  choppers,  pack  drivers,  and  cattle  drivers.  Each 
soldier  was  supplied  with  a  pound  of  powder  and  fifty 
bullets.  There  was  one  company  of  mounted  riflemen, 
the  remainder  being  infantry. 

lAlthough  the  promiscuous  shooting  of  fire-arms  is  a  breach  of  discipline, 
the  temptation  to  violate  this  rule  is  prevalent  in  all  organizations  that  carry 
weapons — whether  for  military  or  amusement  purposes.  It  is  punishable  by  fine 
or  often  more  severe  measures.  On  the  frontier,  where  powder  was  scarce,  it  was 
all  the  more  necessary  to  enforce  these  regulations.  Col.  William  Preston  had  had 
charge  of  the  issuance  of  all  supp  lies  for  many  years  and  knowing  how  hard  it  was 
to  secure  ammunition,  once  cautioned  Maj.  Robertson:"*  *  *  The  destestable 
habit  of  wantonly  firing  Guns  without  any  cause  is  also  to  be  avoided,  as  it  not 
only  wastes  ammunition  which  is  very  scarce  but  gives  the  Enemy  notice  where  you 
are  so  that  they  will  either  take  advantage  of  your  Imprudence  and  surprise  you 
or^Pass  by  the  Company  &  ravage  the  country." 

' ''  2Surgery  and  surgical  instruments  were  of  the  most  primitive  kind  on  the 
early  frontier.  During  the  Christian  campaign,  while  the  men  were  quartered  at 
Long  Island,  a  Dr.  Vance  discovered  a  treatment  for  scalped  persons.  He  bored 
holes  in  the  skull  in  order  to  create  a  new  flesh  covering  for  the  exposed  bone . 
On  being  called  away  he  taught  James  Robertson  how  to  perform  the  operation. 
Frederick  Calvit,  a  scalped  patient,  was  brought  in  and  Robertson  had  a  chance 
to  practice  upon  him — "he  [Vance]  bored  a  few  holes  himself,  to  show  the  manner 
of  doing  it."  He  further  declares:  'I  have  found  that  a  flat  pointed,  straight  awl 
is  the  best  instrument  to  bore  with  as  the  skull  is  thick  and  somewhat  difficult 
to  penetrate.  When  the  awl  is  nearly  through  the  instrument  should  be  borne 
more  lightly  upon.  The  time  to  quit  boring  is  when  a  reddish  fluid  appears  on  the 
point  of  the  awl.  I  bore  at  first  about  one  inch  apart  and  as  the  flesh  appears  to 
rise  in  these  holes  I  bore  a  number  more  between  the  first,  etc.  *  *  The  scalped 
head  cures  slowly.  It  skins  remarkably  slow,  generally  taking  two  years." — 
Draper  MS3 

3A11  other  authorities  give  but  one 'preacher,  Charles  Cummings.  This, 
however,  is  taken  from  Christian's  MSS.  orderly  book  and  is  conclusive.  The  names 
of  course  are  spelled  wrong.  Instead  of  "Wm.  Cummins  and  Thos.  Ray,"  they 
ehoud  be  Charles  Cummings  and  Joseph  Rhea.  Rhea  was  contemporary  with 
Cummings.  The  variance  in  the  spelling  of  proper  names  did  not  always  indicate 
different  persons  any  more  than  the  extravagant  use  of  capitals  indicated  illiteracy. 
Daniel  Boone  spelled  his  name  Boon  and  also  Boone, yet  all  antagonists  who  came  in 
contact  with  him  certified  that  he  was  one  and  the  same  person. 


66  Historic  Sullivan. 

Col.  Christian  kept  spies  constantly  in  advance 
of  his  troops,  as  the  Indians  had  made  the  threat  that 
no  white  man  should  cross  the  French  Broad  river. 

While  in  camp  near  the  mouth  of  Lick  creek,  Alex 
Harlin,  a  trader  among  the  Cherokees,  came  in  and 
told  Col.  Christian  that  three  thousand  of  the  enemy 
awaited  his  arrival  at  the  French  Broad.  But  their 
camp  was  deserted  on  arrival  of  the  white  troops,  although 
there  were  evidences  that  they  had  recently  been  there 
in  large  numbers.  Another  trader  during  the  absence 
of  Harlin  addressed  the  Indians  and  advised  them  not  to 
oppose  the  white  man  as  he  was  made  to  rule  over  them 
and  would  enter  their  towns.4  Christian  allowed  Harlin 
to  go  through  the  camp,  as  he  desired  their  strength  to 
be  reported  when  he  returned  to  the  Indians.  He  also 
sent  a  very  defiant  message,  saying  he  would  not  only 
cross  the  French  Broad,  but  the  Tennessee  as  well.  Just 
before  the  army  reached  the  river  they  were  met  by 
another  trader  with  a  flag  of  truce,  but  orders  were  given 
out  not  to  pay  any  attention  to  him.  Upon  arrival 
at  the  river  Col.  Christian  employed  a  piece  of  strategy 
similar  to  that  afterwards  executed  by  Gen.  Washington 
at  Trenton.  He  ordered  the  camp  fires  kindled  and 
kept  up  so  as  to  give  the  impression  that  he  was  going 
into  permanent  camp.  At  the  same  time,  with  one 
thousand  of  his  men,  he  made  the  very  difficult  passage 
of  the  river — the  men  traveling  by  fours  to  support 
each  other — and  arrived  safely  on  the  other  side,  but  found 
no  enemy  to  meet  him.  In  November  he  reached  their 
towns  which  he  also  found  abandoned.  He  remained 
in  their  nation  two  weeks  and  destroyed  many  of  their 
towns  and  crops.  At  the  request  of  the  Indians,  Christian 
agreed  to  a  truce,  which  was  to  be  followed  by  a  treaty,6 
to  be  made  at  the  Long  Island  during  July  1777.  He, 
however,  burned  the  town  of  Tuskega,  in  which  lived 

4Ramsey. 

SSee  Chapter  XIII. 


Christian  Campaign.  67 

the  warriors  responsible   for  burning  the   boy  Moore, 
captured  at  Watauga. 

Col.  Christian  returned  to  Long  Island  December  10th, 
and  disbanded  his  men  except  a  garrison  of  six  hundred 
which  he  left  in  command  of  Evan  Shelby  and  Anthony 
Bledsoe.  It  was  on  his  return  that  the  fort  took  the 
name  Fort  Patrick  Henry6 — one  of  Christian's  officers 
naming  it. 

6Mooney  is  evidently  in  error  in  saying  that  Christian  built  Fort  Patrick  Henry. 
Fort  Robinson  was  built  in  1§61  by  Col.  Stephen  and  was  afterwards  renamed 
Patrick  Henry.     Perhaps,  too,'  it  was  remodeled.  ^ 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  TREATY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 

In  accordance  with  Col.  Christian's  agreement  to  hold 
a  treaty  meeting  with  the  Cherokees  at  Long  Island, 
Govs.  Patrick  Henry  of  Virginia,  and  Caswell  of 
North  Carolina,  appointed  commissioners  to  represent 
the  two  states  at  this  conference,  which  convened  the 
latter  part  of  June,  1777. 

The  commissioners  for  Virginia  were  Col.  William 
Preston,  Col.  William  Christian  and  Col.  Evan  Shelby. 
Those  for  North  Carolina  were  Waighstill  Avery,  William 
Sharpe,  Robert  Lanier  and  Joseph  Winston. 

Col.  Christian,  accompanying  the  Indian  chiefs,  Ocon- 
ostota  and  others,  arrived  at  the  island  on  the  thirtieth 
day  of  June.  Two  days  later,  July  2nd,  just  as  the 
commissioners  and  Indians  were  becoming  good-naturedly 
acquainted,  with  prospects  of  a  tranquil  settlement,  a 
Cherokee  warrior  known  as  The  Big  Bullet,  was 
mysteriously  murdered.  This  so  alarmed  his  people  that 
they  withdrew,  suspecting  treachery  and  massacre. 
The  treaty  thereby  came  near  falling  through.  It  took 
several  days  and  much  persistence,  on  the  part  of  the 
representatives,  to  assure  the  Indians  that  they  were  in 
no  way  abettors  of  the  crime,  that  they  deplored  the 
murder  and  should  the  slayer  be  found  would  be  put  to 
death.  As  further  evidence  of  sincerity,  they  offered 
six  hundred  dollars  reward  for  the  arrest  of  the  murderer. 
Finally  the  Indians  consented  to  return  to  the  treaty 
meeting. 

The  Fourth  of  July  came  on  and  was  duly  observed,1 
this  of  course,  being  the  first  anniversary  of  the  Declara- 

lHaywood. 


The  Treaty  of  Long  Island.  69 

tion  of  Independence.  There  was  much  rejoicing  and 
parade.  It  was  explained  to  the  Indians  that  these 
festivities  were  in  celebration  of  promised  release  from 
the  tyrannical  oppression  of  Great  Britain. 

As  usual,  at  these  treaty  meetings,  there  were  many 
"big  talks"  by  the  chiefs  and  much  oratory  on  the  part 
of  the  whites.  These  talks  lasted  several  days.  The 
Cherokees,  by  nature,  are  ceremonious  and  their  vagaries 
had  to  be  nursed  to  convince  them  of  sincerity,  especially 
since  the  cowardly  murder  of  The  Big  Bullet,  to  whom 
they  frequently  referred. 

The  commissioners,  long  experienced  with  savage 
customs  and  dispositions,  were  very  deliberate  and  on  all 
questions  allowed  them  as  much  time  as  they  desired. 
The  speakers  on  both  sides  expressed  great  delight  that 
a  permanent  peace  was  about  to  be  established — a  pro- 
fession no  doubt  sincerely  uttered — however,  the  length 
of  this  amity  was  very  uncertain  as  these  agreements 
were  often,  on  some  flimsy  pretext,  violated  by  one  side 
or  the  other.2 

The  first  article  of  treaty  declared  that:  "Hostilities 
shall  forever  cease  between  the  Cherokees  and  the  people 
of  North  Carolina  from  this  time  forward  and  peace, 
friendship  and  confidence  shall  ensue." 

During  the  framing  of  the  treaty,  the  commissioners 
requested  the  Indians  to  speak  their  sentiments  without 
reserve,  as  they  were  not  brought  from  their  far  homes  to 
be  taken  advantage  of  nor  to  have  forced  upon  them 
anything  hurtful  to  their  interests.  Regret  was  expressed 
that  The  Lying  Fish  and  Dragging  Canoe  were  absent. 

The  foremost  cause  of  delay  in  arriving  at  a  conclusion 
of  the  treaty  was  the  Cherokees'  objection  to  the  pro- 
posed extension  of  the  boundary  line.  In  a  speech  on 
July  17th,  The  Old    Tassel    expressed    surprise,  saying 


2The  white  settlers  were  more  often  the  aggressors.  Frontier  law  was  either 
lax  or  summary  and  severe  punishment  was  not  usually  visited  upon  the  head  of 
any  white  man  for  offense  against  an  Indian. 


70  Historic  Sullivan. 

he  had  not  expected  overtures  for  land,  but  for  peace. 
He  asserted  "if  this  and  another  house  were  packed  full 
of  goods  they  would  not  make  satisfaction;  the  giving 
up  of  this  territory  would  spoil  the  hunting  grounds 
of  my  people.  I  hope  you  will  consider  this,"  he  pleaded, 
"and  pity  me;  you  require  a  thing  I  cannot  do." 

Finally,  on  July  2oth,  a  treaty  was  completed  and 
The  Raven,  the  spokesman  of  the  Indians,  expressed 
the  wish  that  the  boundary  line  between  themselves  and 
the  whites  be  "as  a  wall  to  the  skies,"  so  that  no  one 
could  pass  it. 

With  reluctance  they  yielded  Long  Island,3  desiring 
to  retain  this  strip  of  land  on  account  of  its  being  their 
ancient  treaty  place  and  where,  since  time  out  of  mind, 
peace  pacts  had  been  made.  So  the  present  treaty 
contained  the  following  protest  memorandum:  "The 
Tassel  yesterday  objected  against  giving  up  Great 
Island,  opposite  to  Fort  Henry,  to  any  person  or  country 
whatsoever,  except  Col.  Nathaniel  Gist,  for  whom  and 
themselves  it  was  reserved  by  the  Cherokees.  The 
Raven  did  the  same,  this  day,  in  behalf  of  his  people 
and  desired  that  Col.  Gist  might  sit  down  upon  it  when 
he  pleased  as  it  belonged  to  him  and  them  to  hold  good 
talks  on." 

The  more  prominent  articles  of  the  treaty  were:  All 
white  or  negro  prisoners,  if  any  there  be  among  the 
Cherokees,  shall  be  given  up  immediately  to  the  agent 
to  be  appointed  for  them;  and  all  the  horses,  cattle  and 
other  property  taken  in  the  late  war,  from  the  people, 
shall  be  delivered  up. 

That  no  white  man  shall  reside  in  or  pass  in  and  out 
of  the  Overhill  towns4  without  a  certificate,  signed  by 
three  justices  of  the  peace,  and  should  any  be  found  with- 


SThere  is  still  a  claim  among  the  Cherokees  that  Long  Island  was  not  ceded 
to  the  whites. 

40verhill  Cherokees — those  living  in  the  valleys  as  distinguished  from  the 
mountain  dwellers. 


The  Treaty  of  Long  Island.  71 

out  these  certificates  should  be  delivered  to  the  agent 
of  the  whites  while  the  Cherokees  could  appropriate  any 
effects  of  said  person. 

Should  any  runaway  negroes  get  into  the  Overhill 
towns  they  were  to  be  secured  until  the  owners  call  for 
them. 

That  all  white  men  authorized,  by  credentials,  to  pass 
through  shall  be  protected ;  that  if  any  white  man  murder 
an  Indian  he  is  to  be  delivered  up  to  a  justice  of  the  peace 
of  the  nearest  county,  tried  and  put  to  death  according 
to  law.  And  should  an  Indian  murder  a  white  man, 
said  Indian  is  to  be  put  to  death  in  the  presence  of  the 
agent  or  two  justices  of  the  peace. 

At  the  completion  of  the  treaty  the  following  boundary 
was  agreed  upon  between  the  two  parties; 

That  the  boundary  line  between  the  State  of  North  Carolina  and 
the  said  Over-hill  Cherokees  shall  forever  hereafter  be  and  remain  as 
follows,  (to  wit:)  Beginning  at  a  point  in  the  dividing  line  which 
during  the  treaty  hath  been  agreed  upon  between  the  said  Over-hill 
Cherokees  and  the  State  of  Virginia,  where  the  line  between  that  state 
and  North  Carolina  (hereafter  to  be  extended)  shall  cross  or  intersect 
the  same,  running  thence  a  right  line  to  the  north  bank  of  the  Holston 
River  at  the  mouth  of  Cloud's  Creek,  being  the  second  creek  below  the 
Warrior's  Ford,  at  the  mouth  of  Carter's  Valley,  thence  a  right  line  to 
the  highest  point  of  a  mountain  called  the  High  Rock  or  Chimney  Top, 
from  thence  a  right  line  to  the  mouth  of  Camp  Creek,  otherwise  called 
McNama's  Creek,  on  the  south  bank  of  Nolichucky  River,  about  ten 
miles  or  thereabouts  below  the  mouth  of  Great  Limestone,  be  the  same 
more  or  less,  and  from  the  mouth  of  Camp  Creek  aforsaid  a  south-east 
course  into  the  mountains  which  divide  the  hunting  grounds  of  the 
middle  settlements  from  those  of  the  Overhill  Cherokees. 

To  prevent  any  infringement  of  these  peace  terms,  it 
was  further  agreed  that  no  white  man  on  any  pretence, 
whatsoever,  shall  build,  plant,  improve,  settle,  hunt  or 
drive  stock  below  said  boundary  on  pain  of  being  driven 
off  by  the  Indians   and  punished  by  the  whites.    And, 


72  Historic  Sullivan. 

"that  no  man  shall  carry  a  gun6  in  search  of  any  cattle 
on  pain  of  forfeiting  said  gun  to  the  informer." 

In  testimony,  the  following  chiefs  and  commissioners 
signed: 

Waightstill  Avery,  (seal) 

William  Sharpe,  (seal) 

Robert  Lanier,  (seal) 

Joseph  Winston,  (seal) 

Oconostota,  of  Chota,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 

Rayetaeh  or  The  Old  Tassel,  of  Toquoe,  bis  X  mark,  (seal) 
Savanukeh  or  The  Raven,  of  Chota,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 

Willanawaw,  of  Toquoe,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 

Ootosseteh,  of  Hiwassee,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 

Attusah  or  The  Northward  Warrior,  of  the  mouth  of 

Tellico  River,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 

Ooskuah  or  Abram,  of  Chilhowee,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 

Rollowch  or  The  Raven,  from  the  mouth  of  Tellies  River, 

his  X  mark,  (seal) 

Toostooh,  from  the  mouth  of  Tellies  River,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 
Amotah  or  The  Pigeon,  of  Natchey  Creek,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 
Oostossetih  or  The  Mankiller,  of  Wiwassee,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 
Tillehaweh  or  The  Chestnut,  of  Tellies,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 
Quee  lee  kah,  of  Hiwassee,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 

Anna  ke  hu  jah  or  The  Girl,  of  Tuskega,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 
Annecekah,  of  Tuskega,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 

Ske  ahtu  kah,  of  Citico,  his  mark,  (seal) 

Atta  kulla  kulla  or  The  Little  Carpenter,  of  Natchey 

Creek,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 

Ookoo  nekah  or  The  White  Owl,  of  Natchey  Creek,  his 

X  mark,  (seal) 

Ka  ta  quilla  or  Pot  Clay,  of  Chilhowee,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 

Tus  ka  sah  or  The  Tarrapin,  of  Chiles  tooch,  his  X  mark, (seal) 
Sunne  wauh,  of  Big  Island  town,  his  X  mark,  (seal) 

Witness:  Jacob  Womack,  James  Robins,  John  Reed,  Isaac 
Bledsoe,  Brice  Martin,  John  Reed,  John  Kearns. 

Joseph  Vann,  Interpreter 


5A  gunsmith    by  agreement  was  to   accompany   th  e  chiefs,  reside  in  their 
nation  and  do  their  repairing. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  SHELBY  CAMPAIGN. 

In  the  spring  of  1779,  more  than  two  years  after  the 
Christian  campaign,  Evan  Shelby  commanded  an  expedi- 
tion against  the  Chicamaugas. 

Their  rendezvous  was  at  Big  Creek1  where  some  time 
was  spent  in  preparing  boats  for  the  first  naval  demon- 
stration in  this  section.  So  swiftly  did  they  descend  the 
river  the  Indians  were  taken  completely  by  surprise. 

Shelby  had  nearly  one  thousand  men  with  him.  The 
first  town  he  entered  was  Chicamauga,  where  lived  Drag- 
ging Canoe  and  Big  Fool, the  two  chiefs, with  five  hundred 
warriors,  all  of  whom  fled  at  the  approach  of  the  men. 
The  town  was  burned  and  the  Indians  were  pursued  until 
they  hid  themselves  in  the  fastnesses  of  the  mountains. 

Capturing  some  of  their  straggling  warriors  the  in- 
vaders sent  them  out  to  bring  the  chiefs  in  to  a  conference. 
The  Chicamaugas  were  wary,  however,  and  declined 
to  come. 

After  waiting  some  time  our  men  destroyed  their  towns 
— twelve  in  number.  They  also  destroyed  great  stores 
of  corn,  some  of  which  had  been  hid  in  the  cane  brakes. 
They  captured  goods  to  the  value  of  twenty  thousand 
pounds  sterling,  or  in  our  money,  about  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  Shelby  took  one  hundred  and  fifty 
horses,  one  hundred  head  of  cattle  and  large  quantities  of 
deer  skins,  which  an  English  trader  had  stored  there. 

After  completing  this  work  they  destroyed  the  vessels 
in  which  they  descended  the  river  and  returned  on  foot. 
There  was  considerable  suffering  among  the  troops 
before  they  reached  the  settlements. 

On  this  expedition  Shelby  had  the  services  of  Capt. 

l"We  rendezvoused  at  Long  Island." — MSS.  letter  William  Snodgrass. 


74  Historic  Sullivan. 

Montgomery,  who  opportunely  arrived  in  search  of  men 
for  George  Rogers  Clark.  In  the  latter 's  campaign 
Montgomery  served  with  distinction. 


RACHEL    DONELSON 


CHAPTER  XV. 
donelson 's  voyage. 

The  Donelsons  were  prominent  in  the  early  history 
of  Sullivan  County.  Stokeley  Donelson  was  one  of  the 
first  magistrates  and  helped  to  organize  the  county.  Col. 
John  Donelson  was  a  prominent  surveyor  and  was  also 
instrumental  in  negotiating  treaties  with  the  Indians. 
His  most  important  assignment  in  this  work  was  in 
association  with  Gen.  Joseph  Martin  and  Col.  Isaac 
Shelby  in  formulating  a  treaty  at  Long  Island  July  9th, 
1783.1 

In  the  fall  of  1779,  Col.  Donelson  brought  his  family 
from  Virginia  and  located  in  Sullivan,  near  Long  Island, 
now  Kingsport.  Here  he  built  boats — thirty  in  num- 
ber— preparatory  to  making  a  voyage  down  the  Holston, 
with  a  view  of  settling  on  the  Cumberland  river,  in 
Middle  Tennessee. 

His  daughter,  Rachel  Donelson,  who  afterwards  became 
the  wife  of  Andrew  Jackson,2  was  then  a  girl  thirteen 
years  of  age  and  accompanied  the  expedition.  The 
start,  owing  to  the  time  required  in  building  the  boats 
and  also  to  a  freeze-up  following  their  completion,  was 
not  made  until  December  22, 1779. 

This  feat  of  navigation  was  the  most  daring  of  any 
that  had  yet  been  made  to  settle  the  West.  Down 
unknown  rivers,  over  dangerous  shoals  and  falls,  through 
towns  of  hostile  and  treacherous  Indians,  these  bold 
navigators  pushed  their  way. 

The  boats  were  all  flat  boats — one  part  roofed,  Col. 
Donelson 's  and  Capt.  Blackmore's  being  the  largest. 


lAt  these  treaties  it  was  customary  to  give  the  chiefs  presents,  in  the  nature 
of  tips- 

2Andrew  Jackson  at  one  time  resided  or  boarded  with  the  family  of  William 
Cobb  in  the  "Forks"  in  Sullivan  County. 


76  Historic  Sullivan  i 

In  the  boat  of  Col.  and  J.  Donelson,  Jr.,  were  about 
fifteen  whites  and  thirty  blacks.  In  Mrs.  James  Robert- 
son's3 boat,  ten — all  told,  about  three  hundred  people. 
Haywood  gives  the  following  list  of  those  who  accom- 
panied Donelson:  "Some  of  them  who  came  with  Col. 
Donelson,  the  whole  of  them  not  being  recollected,  were 
Robert  Cartwright  and  family,  Benjamin  Porter  and 
family,  Mary  Henry  (a  widow)  and  her  family,  Mary 
Purnell  and  her  family,  James  Cain  and  his  family, 
Isaac  Neely  and  his  family,  John  Cotton  and  his  family, 
old  Mr.  Rounsever  and  his  family,  Jonathan  Jennings 
and  his  family,  William  Crutchfield  and  his  family,  Jo- 
seph Renfroe  and  his  family,  James  Renfroe  and  his 
family,  Solomon  Turpin  and  his  family,  old  Mr.  Johns 
and  his  family,  Francis  Armstong  and  his  family,  Isaac 
Lanier  and  his  family,  Daniel  Dunham  and  his  family, 
John  Boyd  and  his  family,  John  Montgomery  and  his 
family,  John  Cockrill  and  his  family,  John  Donaldson 
and  his  family,  John  Caffrey  and  his  family,  John  Don- 
aldson, Jr.,  and  his  family,  Mrs.  Robertson  (the  wife 
of  Capt.  James  Robertson),  John  Blackmore  and  John 
Gibson." 

When  camped  at  night  theirfires,  strung  alongthe  shore, 
made  an  impressive  scene.  Col.  Donelson 's  diary  de- 
scribes the  vogage. 

Journal  of  a  voyage,  intended  by  God's  permission,  in  the  good 
boat  Adventure,  from  Fort  Patrick  Henry  on  Holston  River,  to  the 
French  Salt  Springs  on  Cumberland  River,  kept  by  John  Donaldson. 

December  22,  1779. — Took  our  departure  from  the  fort  and  fell 
down  the  river  to  the  mouth  of  Reedy  Creek,  where  we  were  stopped 
by  the  fall  of  water,  and  most  excessive  hard  frost;  and  after  much  delay 
and  many  difficulties  we  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  Cloud's  Creek,  on  Sun- 
day evening,  the  20th  of  February,  1780,  where  we  lay  by  until  Sunday, 
27th,  when  we  took  our  departure  with  the  sundry  other  vessels  bound 
for  the  same  voyage,  and  on  the  same  day  struck  the  Poor  Valley  Shoal, 


3James  Robertson,  the  husband  of  this  Mrs.  Robertson,  had  gone  overland  in 
company  with  Richard  Henderson  and  others,  bound  for  the  same  destination. 


Donelson's  Voyage.  77 

together  with  Mr.  Boyd  and  Mr.  Rounsifer,  on  which  shoal  we  lay  that 
afternoon  and  succeeding  night  in  much  distress. 

Monday,  February  28th,  1780. — In  the  morning  the  water  rising 
we  got  off  the  shoal,  after  landing  thirty  persons  to  lighten  our  boat. 
In  attempting  to  land  on  an  island,  received  some  damage  and  lost 
sundry  articles,  and  came  to  camp  on  the  south  shore,  where  we  joined 
sundry  other  vessels  also  bound  down. 

Tuesday,  29th. — Proceeded  down  the  river  and  camped  on  the 
north  shore,  the  afternoon  and  the  following  day  proving  rainy. 

Wednesday,  March  1st. — Proceeded  on  and  camped  on  the  south 
shore,  nothing  happening  that  day  remarkable. 

March  2d. — Rain  about  half  the  day;  passed  the  mouth  of  French 
Broad  River,  and  about  12  o'clock,  Mr.  Henry's  boat  being  driven  on 
the  point  of  an  island  by  the  force  of  the  current  was  sunk,  the  whole 
cargo  much  damaged  and  the  crew's  lives  much  endangered,  which 
occasioned  the  whole  fleet  to  put  on  shore  and  go  to  their  assistance, 
but  with  much  difficulty  bailed  her,  in  order  to  take  in  her  cargo  again. 
The  same  afternoon  Reuben  Harrison  went  out  a  hunting  and  did  not 
return  that  night,  though  many  guns  were  fired  to  fetch  him. 

Friday,  3d. — Early  in  the  morning  fired  a  lour-pounder  for  the  lost 
man,  sent  out  sundry  persons  to  search  the  woods  for  him,  firing  many 
guns  that  day  and  the  succeeding  night,  but  all  without  success,  to 
the  great  grief  of  his  parents  and  fellow  travellers. 

Saturday,  4th. — Proceeded  on  our  voyage,  leaving  old  Mr.  Harris- 
son  with  some  other  vessels  to  make  further  search  for  his  lost  son; 
about  ten  o'clock  the  same  day  found  him  a  considerable  distance 
down  the  river,  where  Mr.  Ben.  Belew  took  him  on  board  his  boat. 
At  3  o'clock,  P.  M.,  passed  the  mouth  of  Tennessee  River,  and  camped 
on  the  south  shore  about  ten  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Tennessee. 

Sunday,  5th. — Cast  off  and  got  under  way  before  sunrise;  12 
o'clock  passed  the  mouth  of  Clinch;  at  12  o'clock,  M.,  came  up  with  the 
Clinch  River  Company,  whom  we  joined  and  camped,  the  evening  prov- 
ing rainy. 

Monday,  6th. — Got  under  way  before  sunrise;  the  morning  proving 
very  foggy,  many  of  the  fleet  were  much  bogged — about  10  o'clock  lay 
by  for  them;  when  collected,  proceeded  down.  Camped  on  the  north 
shore,  where  Capt.  Hutching's  negro  man  died,  being  much  frosted  in 
his  feet  and  legs,  of  which  he  dier1 

Tuesday,  7th. — Got  under  way  very  early,  the  day  proving  very 
windy,  a  S.S.W.,  and  the  river  being  high  occasioned  a  high  sea,  inso- 


78  Historic  Sullivan. 

much  that  some  of  the  smaller  crafts  were  in  danger;  therefore  came 
to,  at  the  uppermost  Chiccamauga  Town,  which  was  then  evacuated, 
where  we  lay  by  that  afternoon  and  camped  that  night.  The  wife  of 
Ephraim  Peyton  was  here  delivered  of  a  child.  Mr.  Peyton  has  gone 
through  by  land  with  Capt.  Robinson. 

Wednesday,  8th. — Cast  off  at  10  o'clock,  and  proceeded  down  to  an 
Indian  village,  which  was  inhabited,  on  the  south  side  of  the  river;  they 
insisted  on  us  to  "come  ashore,"  called  us  brothers,  and  showed  other 
signs  of  friendship,  insomuch  that  Mr.  John  Caffrey  and  my  son  then  on 
board  took  a  canoe  which  I  had  in  tow,  and  were  crossing  over  to  them, 
the  rest  of  the  fleet  having  landed  on  the  opposite  shore.  After  they 
had  gone  some  distance,  a  half-breed,  who  called  himself  Archy  Coody, 
with  several  other  Indians,  jumped  into  the  canoe,  met  them,  and  ad- 
vised them  to  return  to  the  boat,  which  they  did,  together  with  Coody 
and  several  canoes  which  left  the  shore  and  followed  directly  after  him. 
They  appeared  to  be  friendly.  After  distributing  some  presents  among 
them,  with  which  they  seemed  much  pleased,  we  observed  a  number 
of  Indians  on  the  other  side  embarking  in  their  canoes,  armed  and 
painted  with  red  and  black.  Coody  immediately  made  signs  to  his 
companions,  ordering  them  to  quit  the  boat,  which  they  did,  himself  and 
another  Indian  remaining  with  us  and  telling  us  to  move  off  instantly. 
Coody,  the  half-breed,  and  his  companion,  sailed  with  us  for  some  time, 
and  telling  us  that  we  had  passed  all  the  towns  and  were  out  of  danger, 
left  us.  But  we  had  not  gone  far  until  we  had  come  in  sight  of  another 
town,  situated  likewise  on  the  southside  of  the  river,  nearly  opposite  a 
small  island.  Here  they  again  invited  us  to  come  on  shore,  called  us 
brothers,  and  observing  the  boats  standing  off  for  the  opposite  channel, 
told  us  that  "their  side  of  the  river  was  better  for  boats  to  pass."  And 
here  we  must  regret  the  unfortunate  death  of  young  Mr.  Payne,  on 
board  Capt.  Blackemore's  boat,  who  was  mortally  wounded  by  reason  of 
the  boat  running  too  near  the  northern  shore  opposite  the  town,  where 
some  of  the  enemy  lay  concealed,  and  the  more  tragical  misfortune  of 
poor  Stuart,  his  family  and  friends  to  the  number  of  twenty-eight  per- 
sons. This  man  had  embarked  with  us  for  the  Western  country,  but 
his  family  being  diseased  with  the  small  pox,  it  was  agreed  upon  between 
him  and  the  company  that  he  should  keep  at  some  distance  in  the 
rear,  for  fear  of  the  infection  spreading,  and  he  was  warned  each  night 
when  the  encampment  should  take  place  by  the  sound  of  a  horn. 
After  we  had  passed  the  town,  the  Indians  having  now  collected  to  a 
considerable  number,  observing  his  helpless  situation,  singled  off  from 
the  rest  of  the  fleet,  intercepted  him  and  killed  and  took  prisoners  the 
whole  crew,  to  the  great  grief  of  the  whole  company,  uncertain  how 
soon  they  might  share  the  same  fate;  their  cries  were  distinctly  heard 
by  those  boats  in  the  rear. . 


Donelson's  Voyage.  79 

We  still  perceived  them  marching  down  the  river  in  considerable 
bodies,  keeping  pace  with  us  until  the  Cumberland  Mountain  withdrew 
them  from  our  sight,  when  we  were  in  hopes  we  had  escaped  them. 
We  were  now  arrived  at  the  place  called  the  Whirl  or  Suck,  where  the 
river  is  compressed  within  less  than  half  its  common  width  above,  by 
the  Cumberland  Mountain,  which  juts  in  on  both  sides.  In  passing 
through  the  upper  part  of  these  narrows,  at  a  place  described  by  Coody, 
which  he  termed  the  "boiling  pot,"  a  trivial  accident  had  nearly  ruined 
the  expedition.  One  of  the  company,  John  Cotton,  who  was  moving 
down  in  a  large  canoe,  had  attached  it  to  Robert  Cartwright's  boat,  into 
which  he  and  his  family  had  gone  for  safety.  The  canoe  was  here  over- 
turned, and  the  little  cargo  lost.  The  company  pitying  his  distress 
concluded  to  halt  and  assist  him  in  recovering  his  property.  They  had 
landed  on  a  northern  shore  on  a  level  spot,  and  were  going  up  to  the 
place,  when  the  Indians,  to  our  astonishment,  appeared  immediately 
over  us  on  the  opposite  cliffs,  and  commenced  firing  down  upon  us, 
which  occasioned  a  precipitate  retreat  to  the  boats.  We  immediately 
moved  off,  the  Indians  lining  the  bluffs  along  continued  their  fire  from 
the  heights  on  our  boats  below,  without  doing  any  other  injury  than 
wounding  four  slightly.     Jenning's  boat  is  missing. 

We  have  now  passed  through  the  Whirl.  The  river  widens  with  a 
placid  and  gentle  current;  and  all  the  company  appear  to  be  in  safety 
except  the  family  of  Jonathan  Jennings,  whose  boat  ran  on  a  large  rock, 
projecting  out  from  the  northern  shore,  and  partly  immersed  in  water 
immediately  at  the  Whirl,  where  we  were  compelled  to  leave  them, 
perhaps  to  be  slaughtered  by  their  merciless  enemies.  Continued  to  sail 
on  that  day  and  floated  throughout  the  following  night. 

Thursday,  9th. — Proceeded  on  our  journey,  nothing  happened 
worthy  attention  today;  floated  till  about  midnight,  and  encamped  on 
the  northern  shore. 

Friday,  10th. — This  morning  about  4  o'clock  we  were  surprised  by 
the  cries  of  "help  poor  Jennings,"  at  some  distance  in  the  rear.  He  had 
discovered  us  by  our  fires,  and  came  up  in  the  most  wretched  condition. 
He  states,  that  as  soon  as  the  Indians  discovered  his  situation  they 
turned  their  whole  attention  to  him,  and  kept  up  a  most  galling  fire  at 
his  boat.  He  ordered  his  wife,  a  son  nearly  grown,  a  young  man  who 
accompanied  them,  and  his  negro  man  and  woman,  to  throw  all  his  goods 
into  the  river,  to  lighten  his  boat  for  the  purpose  of  getting  her  off, 
himself  returning  their  fire  as  well  as  he  could,  being  a  good  soldier  and 
an  excellent  marksman.  But  before  they  had  accomplished  their 
object,  his  son,  the  young  man  and  the  negro,  jumped  out  of  the  boat 
and  left  them.     He  thinks  the  young  man  and  the  negro  were  wounded 


80  Historic  Sullivan. 

before  they  left  the  boat.*  Mrs.  Jennings,  however,  and  the  negro 
woman,  succeeded  in  unloading  the  boat,  but  chiefly  by  the  exertions  of 
Mrs.  Jennings,  who  got  out  of  the  boat  and  shoved  her  off,  but  was  near 
falling  a  victim  to  her  own  intrepidity  on  account  of  the  boat  starting 
so  suddenly  as  soon  as  loosened  from  the  rock.  Upon  examination, 
he  appears  to  have  made  a  wonderful  escape,  for  his  boat  is  pierced  in 
numberless  places  with  buliets.  It  is  to  be  remarked,  that  Mrs.  Peyton, 
who  was  the  night  before  delivered  of  an  infant,which  was  unfortunately 
killed  upon  the  hurry  and  confusion  consequent  upon  such  a  disaster, 
assisted  them,  being  frequently  exposed  to  wet  and  cold  then  and  after- 
wards, and  that  her  health  appears  to  be  good  at  this  time,  and  I  think 
and  hope  she  will  do  well.  Their  clothes  were  very  much  cut  with 
bullets,  especially  Mrs.  Jennings. 

Saturday,  11th. — Got  under  way  after  having  distributed  the 
family  of  Mrs.  Jennings  in  the  other  boats.  Rowed  on  quietly  that  day, 
and  encamped  for  the  night  on  the  north  shore. 

Sunday,  12th. — Set  out,  and  after  a  few  hour's  sailing  we  heard  the 
crowing  of  cocks,  and  soon  came  within  view  of  the  town;  here  they 
fired  on  us  again  without  doing  us  any  injury. 

After  running  until  about  10  o'clock,  came  in  sight  of  the  Muscle 
Shoals.  Halted  on  the  northern  shore  at  the  appearance  of  the  shoals, 
in  order  to  search  for  the  signs  Capt.  James  Robertson  was  to  make  for 
us  at  that  place.  He  set  out  from  Holston  early  in  the  fall  of  1779, 
was  to  proceed  by  the  way  of  Kentucky  to  the  Big  Salt  Lick  on  Cumber- 
land River,  with  several  others  in  company,  was  to  come  across  from  the 
Big  Salt  Lick  to  the  upper  end  of  the  shoals,  there  to  make  such  signs 
that  we  might  know  that  he  had  been  there,  and  that  it  was  practicable 
for  us  to  go  across  by  land.  But  to  our  great  mortification  we  can  find 
none — from  which  we  conclude  that  it  would  not  be  prudent  to  make 
the  attempt,  and  are  determined,  knowing  ourselves  to  be  in  such 
imminent  danger,  to  pursue  our  journey  down  the  river.  After  trim- 
ming our  boats  in  the  best  manner  possible,  we  ran  through  the  shoals 
before  night.  When  we  approached  them  they  had  a  dreadful  appear- 
ance to  those  who  had  never  seen  them  before.  The  water  being  high 
made  a  terrible  roaring,  which  could  be  heard  at  some  distance  among 
the  drift-wood  heaped  frightfully  upon  the  points  of  the  islands,  the 


*The  negro  was  drowned.  The  son  and  the  young  man  swam  to  the  north  side 
of  the  river,  where  they  found  and  embarked  in  a  canoe  and  floated  down  the  river. 
The  next  day  they  were  met  by  five  canoes  full  of  Indians,  who  took  them  prisoners 
and  carried  them  to  Chickamauga,  where  they  killed  and  burned  the  young  man. 
They  knocked  Jennings  down  and  were  about  to  kill  him,  but  were  prevented  by 
the  friendly  mediation  of  Rogers,  an  Indian  trader,  who  ransomed  him  with  goods. 
Rogers  had  been  taken  prisoner  by  Sevier  a  short  time  before.and  had  been  released; 
and^hat  good  office  he  requited  by  the  ransom  of  Jennings. — Ramsey.  | 


Donelson's  Voyage  81 

current  running  in  every  possible  direction.  Here  we  did  not  know 
how  soon  we  should  be  dashed  to  pieces,  and  all  our  troubles  ended  at 
once.  Our  boats  frequently  dragged  on  the  bottom,  and  appeared 
constantly  in  danger  of  striking.  They  warped  as  much  as  in  a  rough 
sea.  But  by  the  hand  of  Providence  we  are  now  preserved  from  this 
danger  also.  I  know  not  the  length  of  this  wonderful  shoal;  it  had  been 
represented  to  me  to  be  25  or  30  miles.  If  so,  we  must  have  descended 
very  rapidly,  as  indeed  we  did,  for  we  passed  it  within  about  three 
hours.  Came  to,  and  camped  on  the  northern  shore,  not  far  below  the 
shoals,  for  the  night. 

Monday,  13th. — Got  under  way  early  in  the  morning,  and  made'a 
good  run  that  day. 

Tuesday,  14th. — Set  out  early.  On  this  day  two  boats  approach- 
ing too  near  the  shore,  were  fired  on  by  the  Indians.  Five  of  the  crews 
were  wounded,  but  not  dangerously.  Came  to  camp  at  night  near  the 
mouth  of  a  creek.  After  kindling  fires  and  preparing  for  rest,  the  com- 
pany was  alarmed,  on  account  of  the  incessant  barking  our  dogs  kept 
up;  taking  it  for  granted  that  the  Indians  were  attempting  to  surprise 
us,  we  retreated  precipitately  to  the  boats;  fell  down  the  river  about  a 
mile  and  encamped  on  the  other  shore.  In  the  morning  I  prevailed 
upon  Mr.  Caff  rey  and  my  son  to  cross  below  in  a  canoe,  and  return  to  the 
place;  which  they  did,  and  found  an  African  negro  we  had  left  in  the 
hurry,  asleep  by  one  of  the  fires.  The  voyagers  returned  and  collected 
their  utensils  which  had  been  left. 

Wednesday,  15th. — Got  under  way  and  moved  on  peaceably  the 
five  following  days,  when  we  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tennessee  on 
Monday,  the  20th,  and  landed  on  the  lower  point  immediately  on  the 
bank  of  the  Ohio.  Our  situation  here  is  truly  disagreeable.  The  river 
is  very  high,  and  the  current  rapid,  our  boats  not  constructed  for  the 
purpose  of  stemming  a  rapid  stream,  our  provisions  exhausted,  the 
crews  almost  worn  down  with  hunger  and  fatigue,  and  know  not  what 
distance  we  have  to  go,  or  what  time  it  will  take  us  to  our  place  of  desti- 
nation. The  scene  is  rendered  still  more  melancholy,  as  several 
boats  will  not  attempt  to  ascend  the  rapid  current.  Some  intend  to 
descend  the  Mississippi  to  Natchez;  others  are  bound  for  the  Illinois — 
among  the  rest  my  son-in-law  and  daughter.  We  now  part,  perhaps  to 
meet  no  more,  for  I  am  determined  to  pursue  my  course,  happen  what 
will. 

Tuesday,  21st — Set  out,  and  on  this  day  laboured  very  hard  and 
got  but  a  little  way;  camped  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Ohio.  Passed  the 
two  following  days  as  the  former,  suffering  much  from  hunger  and 
fatigue. 


82  fK  ^Historic  Sullivan. 

Friday,  24th. — About  3  o'clock  came  to  the  mouth  of  a  river  which 
I  thought  was  the  Cumberland.  Some  of  the  company  declared  it 
could  not  be — it  was  so  much  smaller  than  was  expected.  But  I  never 
heard  of  any  river  running  in  between  the  Cumberland  and  Tennessee. 
It  appears  to  flow  with  a  gentle  current.  We  determined,  however, 
to  make  the  trial,  pushed  up  some  distance  and  encamped  for  the  night. 

Saturday,  25th. — Today  we  are  much  encouraged;  the  river  grows 
wider;  the  current  is  very  gentle,  and  we  are  now  convinced  it  is  the 
Cumberland.  I  have  derived  great  assistance  from  a  small  square  sail 
which  was  fixed  up  on  the  day  we  left  the  mouth  of  the  river;  and  to 
prevent  any  ill-effects  from  sudden  flaws  of  wind,  a  man  was  stationed 
at  each  of  the  lower  corners  of  the  sheet  with,  directions  to  give  way 
whenever  it  was  necessary. 

Sunday,  26th. — Got  under  way  early;  procured  some  buffalo-meat; 
though  poor  it  was  palatable. 

Monday,  27th. — Set  out  again;  killed  a  swan,  which  was  very 
delicious. 

Tuesday,  28th. — Set  out  very  early  this  morning;  killed  some 
buffalo. 

Wednesday,  29th. — Proceeded  up  the  river;  gathered  some  herbs 
on  the  bottoms  of  Cumberland,  which  some  of  the  company  called 
Shawnee  salad. 

Thursday,  30th. — Proceeded  on  our  voyage.  This  day  we  killed 
some  more  buffalo. 

Friday,  31st. — Set  out  this  day,  and  after  running  some  distance, 
met  with  Col.  Richard  Henderson,  who  was  running  the  line  between 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina.  At  this  meeting  we  were  much  rejoiced. 
He  gave  us  every  information  we  wished,  and  further  informed  us  that 
he  had  purchased  a  quantity  of  corn  in  Kentucky,  to  be  shipped  at  the 
Falls  of  Ohio  for  the  use  of  Cumberland  settlement.  We  are  now 
without  bread,  and  are  compelled  to  hunt  the  buffalo  to  preserve  life. 
Worn  out  with  fatigue,  our  progress  at  present  is  slow.  Camped  at 
night  near  the  mouth  of  a  little  river,  at  which  place  and  below  there  is 
a  handsome  bottom  of  rich  land.  Here  we  found  a  pair  of  hand-mill 
stones  set  up  for  grinding,  but  appeared  not  to  have  been  used  for  a 
great  length  of  time. 

Proceeded  on  quietly  until  the  12th  of  April,  at  which  time  we  came 
to  the  mouth  of  a  little  river  running  in  on  the  north  side,  by  Moses 
Renfoe  and  his  company  called  Red  River,  up  which  they  intend  to 
settle.  Here  they  took  leave  of  us.  We  proceeded  up  Cumberland, 
nothing  happening  material  until  the  23d,  when  we  reached  the  first 


Donelson 's  Voyage  83 

settlement  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  one  mile  and  a  half  below 
the  Big  Salt  Lick  and  called  Eaton's  Station,  after  a  man  of  that  name 
who  with  several  other  families,  came  through  Kentucky  and  settled 
there. 

Monday,  April  24th. — This  day  we  arrived  at  our  journey's  end  at 
the  Big  Salt  Lick,  where  we  had  the  pleasure  of  finding  Capt.  Robertson 
and  his  company.  It  is  a  source  of  satisfaction  to  us  to  be  enabled 
to  restore  to  him  and  others  their  families  and  friends,  who  were  entrust- 
ed to  our  care,  and  who,  sometime  since,  perhaps,  despaired  of  ever 
meeting  again.  Though  our  prospects  at  present  are  dreary,  we  have 
found  a  few  log  cabins  which  have  been  built  on  a  cedar  bluff  above 
the  Lick,  by  Capt.  Robertson  and  his  company. 

After  their  arrival  in  the  Cumberland  settlements, 
there  came  a  famine  year  and  Col.  Donelson,  with  his 
family  temporarily  removed  to  Kentucky.  Here  Rachel 
met  and  married  Lewis  Robards,  a  man  of  good  family 
but,  as  was  afterwards  learned,  of  vile  habits. 

After  the  death  of  Col.  Donelson,  who  was  killed  by 
Indians,  his  widow  returned  to  their  former  home  on 
the  Cumberland.  Here  Rachel  and  her  husband  often 
visited.  When  Andrew  Jackson  went  to  Nashville, 
he  boarded  with  Mrs.  Donelson,  partly  as  a  protection 
for  her  against  the  Indians.  It  was  at  this  home  that 
he  met  Mrs.  Robards  and  it  was  evident  to  him  she  was 
unhappily  married  and  was  being  mistreated  by  her 
husband.  On  account  of  this  Jackson  once  remonstrated 
with  Robards,  at  which  the  latter  became  jealous,  accused 
his  wife  of  undue  intimacy  with  other  men  and  threatened 
Jackson. 

The  young  couple  returned  to  Kentucky,  but  in  a  short 
time,  hearing  of  her  unhappiness,  through  continued 
mistreatment,  Samuel  Donelson,  one  of  her  brothers, 
went  to  Kentucky  and  brought  her  back. 

The  subsequent  events,  the  divorce,  her  hasty  mar- 
riage to  Jackson  and  a  second  ceremony  when  the  couple 
learned  they  were  married  before  the  legislature  had 
annulled  the  marriage  with  Robards,  are  matters  of 
familiar    history.      The    scandal    and    gossip    resulting 


84  Historic  Sullivan. 

from  this  mistake,  innocently  but  carelessly  made, 
caused  Jackson's  sensitive  nature  to  resent,  often  with 
the  dueling  pistols.  The  prominence  of  the  couple  and 
Jackson's  political  ambitions  caused  his  enemies  to  keep 
alive  these  rumors  during  the  life  of  Mrs.  Jackson. 

Jackson's  attachment  for  her  never  waned.  He  was 
inconsolable  at  her  death  and  no  political  burden  ever 
bore  down  upon  him  as  did  the  loss  of  his  companion. 
His  love  for  her  during  life  and  his  increasing  devotion 
to  her  memory  are  tributes  to  the  strength  and  amiability 
of  her  character. 

He  refused  the  gift  of  a  costly  sarcophagus4  as  his  last 
resting  place,  preferring  to  be  buried  beside  his  wife, 
and  the  epitaph  he  had  inscribed  upon  her  tomb  was  a 
sincere  intermingling  of  tenderness,  grief  and  true  devotion. 

Rachel  Jackson  was  a  type  of  Tennessee  frontier- 
woman  whose  culture  and  refinement  influenced  the  times. 

She  died  in  1828,  aged  sixty-one. 

4This,  sarcophagus  tendered  Jackson  through  Commodore  Elliott,  U.  S.  N., 
was  brought  from  Palestine  and  had  been  previously  prepared  for  King  Servius. 
Jackson  declined  it  and  his  reply  is  characteristic  of  his  democratic  simplicity. 


JOHN    SULLIVAN 


John  Sullivan, 
a  biography. 

John  Sullivan  was  born  at  Sommerworth,  New  Hamp- 
shire, February  17,  1740.  His  father  was  an  exile  from 
Ireland — a  poor  school  teacher,  but  familiar  with  five 
languages — a  man  of  considerable  learning.  The  type 
and  character  of  his  mother  may  be  inferred  from  her 
reply  to  the  inquiry,  "Why  did  you  come  to  this  country?" 
"I  came  here  to  raise  governors,"  she  replied.  One  son 
became  Governor  of  New  Hampshire  and  one  Governor  of 
Massachusetts,  while  a  grandson  became  Governor  of 
Elaine  and  still  another  grandson  became  a  United  States 
Senator. 

John  Sullivan  married  at  the  age  of  twenty  and  became 
a  lawyer.  His  dislike  for  England  was  born  in  him.  The 
ancestral  castles  of  his  family  in  Ireland  were  leveled  by 
that  nation.  He  clearly  saw  the  designs  of  the  British 
when,  while  he  was  a  member  of  the  Congress  in  1774, 
the  King  sent  an  order  prohibiting  the  shipment  of  mili- 
tary stores  to  this  country. 

Collecting  a  few  men  who  sided  with  him  he  went,  on 
December  13,  1774,  to  Fort  William  and  Mary  and  enter- 
ed in  broad  daylight,  through  the  fire  of  field  pieces  and 
musketry.  He  tore  down  the  royal  flag — the  first  occur- 
rence of  this  kind  in  American  history — and  carried  off 
one  hundred  barrels  of  powder  and  many  guns.  These 
he  towed  up  the  river,  cutting  a  channel  through  the  ice, 
and  deposited  in  the  cellar  of  a  church  at  Dover.1 

This  act  of  rebellion  against  England  preceded  Concord 
and  Lexington  four  months. 

The  ire  of  the  English  monarch  was  aroused  by  these 
proceedings  and  conciliation  was  now  impossible.  The 
war  was  on. 

lThi8  ammunition  was  afterward  used  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 


86  Historic  Sullivan. 

Sullivan  was  the  first  congressman  to  be  elected  from 
New  Hampshire,  but  his  restless  spirit  was  best  suited 
for  the  field .  While  he  was  in  the  trenches  around  Boston, 
during  the  winter  of  1773,  he  wrote  to  John  Adams,  urg- 
ing a  declaration  of  independence.  When  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congress  of  1774,  he  reported  declarations  of 
"rights  and  violations"  which  were  afterward  embodied 
in  the  immortal  Declaration  of  Independence. 

In  Congress,  Sullivan  had  a  congenial  ally  in  John  Rut- 
ledge,  of  South  Carolina.  The  dashing  Sullivan  suited 
the  spirit  of  the  South. 

When  the  enemy  had  been  driven  from  Boston  he  was 
assigned  to  the  army  in  Canada.  Montgomery  had  been 
killed  in  the  attack  on  Quebec  and  after  the  death  of  Gen. 
Thane,  Sullivan  assumed  command.  Seeing  the  useless- 
ness  of  a  stand  against  outnumbering  forces  he  skillfully 
withdrew  his  little  army,  not  even  leaving  a  sick  man 
behind. 

Seventeen  days  after  his  return  from  Canada,  July  29, 
1776,  he  was  promoted  to  Major-General. 

He  was  captured  in  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  (N.  Y.) 
where  he  had  to  face  an  army  that  outnumbered  him  four 
to  one  and  was  commanded  by  such  generals  as  Cornwal- 
lis,  Clinton  and  Howe. 

He  was  shortly  afterward  exchanged  and  immediately 
joined  Washington,  his  timely  arrival  and  command  of 
the  right  wing  enabling  the  Commander-in-Chief  to  make 
that  brilliant  movement  upon  Trenton,  the  night  he  cross- 
ed the  Delaware. 

Upon  landing  Sullivan  sent  word  to  Washington  that 
the  powder  was  wet.  "Use  the  bayonet,"  came  the  quick 
reply.  This  suited  the  tempestuous  nature  of  the  Irish 
general. 

In  the  battle  of  Brand ywine  he  again  commanded  the 
right  wing  and  his  bravery  drew  forth  the  encomium  of  a 
staff  officer  of  Stirling's:  "his  uniform  bravery,  coolness 
and  intrepidity  both  in  the  heat  of  battle,  rallying  and 


John  Sullivan.  87 

forming  his  troops  when  broke  from  their  ranks,  appeared 
to  me  to  be  truly  consistent  with  or  rather  exceeded  any 
idea  I  had  ever  of  the  greatest  soldier." 

He  suffered  with  the  army  during  their  memorable  win- 
ter at  Valley  Forge. 

In  the  spring  he  was  sent  to  Rhode  Island  and  put  in 
command  of  ten  thousand  men,  and  in  this  campaign  was 
thrown  with  Greene  and  La  Fayette.  "Nothing  can  give 
me  more  pleasure,"  wrote  La  Fayette  in  advance,  "than 
to  go  under  your  orders  and  it  is  with  the  greatest  happi- 
ness that  I  see  my  wishes  on  that  point  entirely  satisfied . 
I  both  love  and  esteem  you;  therefore  the  moment  we 
shall  fight  together  will  be  extremely  pleasant  and  agree- 
able to  me." 

Sullivan  fell  back  to  Butt's  Hill  where,  La  Fayette  says, 
was  one  of  the  most  hotly  contested  actions  during  the 
war.  The  British  made  several  attacks,  but  were  repulsed 
each  time  and  after  the  battle  had  lasted  seven  hours 
they  retired,  having  lost  one  thousand  men. 

An  extended  account  of  all  of  Gen.  Sullivan's  military 
exploits  is  not  possible  here.  His  last  service  on  the  field 
was  in  1779,  when  he  was  sent  against  the  Iroquois. 
They  were  the  most  defiant  of  the  northern  tribes  and 
recently,  at  the  instigation  of  Joseph  Brant,  John  Butler 
and  the  British  agents,  had  become  very  troublesome. 

With  four  brigades  Gen.  Sullivan  marched  against  them 
and  found  them — fifteen  hundred  strong — well  intrenched 
on  a  mountain  side.  By  a  well  designed  attack  he  put 
them  to  rout,2  thus  avenging  the  cruel  "massacre  of  the 
Valley  of  Wyoming." 

Gen.  Sullivan  now  resigned,  giving  as  a  reason  his  im- 
paired health  and  the  impoverished  condition  of  his  fam- 
ily— they  were  destitute.  "I  have  not  clothes  sufficient 
for  another  campaign,"  he  wrote. 


2It  is  coincident  that  in  the  same  year  the  forces  of  Sullivan  County  and 
others,  under  Gen.  Shelby,  routed  the  most  powerful  of  the  southern  tribes,  and 
so  these  combined  victories  restored  peace  all  along  the  border. 


88  Historic  Sullivan. 

Sullivan  had  bitter  enemies  in  Congress,  but  Washing- 
ton valued  his  services  and  when  the  former  left  the  army, 
wrote  in  part,  "I  flatter  myself  it  is  unnecessary  for  me  to 
repeat  to  you  how  high  a  place  you  hold  in  my  esteem, — ". 

He  filled  several  offices  in  his  state.  In  1786  he  was 
elected  Governor,  or  as  it  was  then  called,  President  of 
the  State.  He  was  re-elected  in  1787  and  in  1789  was 
again  chosen. 

He  was  made  grand  master  of  the  Masons  for  the  State 
of  New  Hampshire. 

Before  the  expiration  of  his  last  term  as  governor, 
Washington  appointed  him  first  judge  of  the  United  States 
district  court  of  New  Hampshire.  It  was  while  in  this 
office  he  began  to  fail,  both  mentally  and  physically  and, 
although  incapacitated  in  many  ways,  Washington  stead- 
fastly refused  to  remove  him,  proving  his  estimate  of  the 
man. 

Gen.  Sullivan  died  January  23,  1795,  in  his  fifty-fifth 
year. 

His  life  was  characterized  by  a  reckless  dash  and  au- 
dacity— a  little  erratic  perhaps,  but  arriving  at  ends  that 
justified  his  hasty  conclusions.  He  was  as  all  men  of  his 
type— trustworthy,  honest  and  sincere  in  the  support  of 
any  movement  that  impressed  him  to  be  the  right.3 

3Much  of  the  data  concerning  Sullivan  was  secured  from  addresses  delivered 
at  the  dedication  of  Sullivan's  monument  at  Durham,  Mass.,  September  27,  1894- 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

SULLIVAN  COUNTY. 

Sullivan  County  was  erected  in  1779.  Previous  to 
this  date  it  was  supposed  to  be  in  Virginia,  and  up  to 
1769  was  a  part  of  Augusta  county,  when  it  became 
Botertout  county  until  1772;  then,  that  portion  of  her 
population  dwelling  upon  the  Mississippi  river  being  too 
far  away  to  reach  the  court  house  conveniently  each 
month,  the  county  was  again  divided  and  this  portion 
became  Fincastle  county  with  the  court  house  near 
Wytheville.  The  population  on  the  extreme  border 
were  exempt  from  taxation  and  from  work  in  keeping 
up  the  roads. 

It  remained  Fincastle  until  1776,  when  Washington 
county  was  erected. 

In  the  year  1779  William  Cocke,  a  versatile  and  variable 
genius,  who  afterwards  became  one  of  Tennessee's  first 
United  States  Senators,  refused  to  pay  his  taxes  to  the 
Virginia  collector,  claiming  he  did  not  live  in  Virginia,  but 
in  North  Carolina. 

This  refusal  and  his  manner  of  doing  it  highly  incensed 
the  members  of  the  county  court  of  Washington  county, 
Virginia,  and  they — in  session  October  20th,  1779, — 
entered  the  following  order: 

On  Complaint  of  the  Sheriff  against  William  Cocke  for  insulting 
and  obstructing  Alexander  Donaldson  [Donelson]  Deputy  Sheriff 
when  collecting  the  Public  Tax  about  the  Thirtieth  of  September  last 
and  being  Examined  saith  that  being  at  a  fourt  on  the  North  Side  cf 
Holston  River  in  Carter's  Valley  collecting  the  Public  Tax  the  said 
William  Cocke  as  he  came  to  the  door  of  the  House  in  which  said  Sheriff 
was  doing  Business  he  said  that  there  was  the  Sheriff  of  Virginia  col- 
lecting the  Tax  and  asked  him  what  Right  he  had  to  collect  Taxes 
there  as  it  was  in  Carolina  and  never  was  in  Virginia  that  he  said  the 
People  were  fools  if  they  did  pay  him  Public  dues  and  that  he  dared 
him  to  serve  any  process  whatever  that  the  said  Cocke  undertook 


90  Historic  Sullivan. 

for  the  People  upon  which  sundry  people  refused  to  pay  their  Tax 
and  some  that  had  paid  wanted  their  Money  Back  again.  Ordered 
that  the  Conduct  of  William  Cocke  Respecting  his  Obstructing  Insult- 
ing and  threatening  the  Sheriff  in  Execution  of  his  office  be  represented 
to  the  Executive  of  Virginia. 

Ordered  that  William  Cocke  be  found  in  this  county  that  he  be 
taken  into  Custody  and  caused  to  appear  before  the  Justices  at  next 
Court  to  answer  for  his  conduct  for  obstructing  the  sheriff  in  execution 
of  his  office. 

Court  adjourned  until  Court  in  course. 

William  Campbell. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  court  did  not  try  William 
Cocke  or  at  least  no  further  record  is  found  and  it  is 
doubtful  if  he  was  ever  arrested.  His  act  of  revolt 
hastened  a  test  survey — the  Legislature  of  Virginia, 
the  year  previous,  1778,  enacting  a  law  providing  for  the 
extension  of  the  boundary  line  between  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina;  the  Legislature  of  the  latter  state  con- 
curring in  a  similar  act  a  year  later — which  resulted  in 
a  victory  for  William  Cocke  and  in  placing  us  in  North 
Carolina.1 

It  was  with  no  little  pride  this  same  man  sought 
further  vindication  when  he  boldly  entered  the  presence 
of  the  court  that  had  outlawed  him  and  there  caused 
to  be  entered  the  following  order: 

June  20th,  1780. 
On  motion  William  Cocke  Gent,  a  citizen  of  the  state  of  North 
Carolina  it  is  ordered  that  his  character  be  certified  to  the  examiners 
that  he  is  a  person  of  Probity  and  Good  Demeanor. 

The  organization  and  naming  of  the  new  county  now 
began.2 

If  by  the  varied  conveyances  Sullivan  County  was 
tossed  aside  as  a  castaway,  unclaimed,  it  has  rebuked 

IThe  Frye  and  Jefferson  line  ended  at  Steep  Rock,  in  Johnson  county.  The 
line  run  in  1779  is  known  as  the  Henderson  line. 

2While  it  is  often  difficult  to  arrive  at  the  origin  of  names,  there  is  much  to 
cause  me  to  believe  that  the  Rutledges  had  a  large  share  in  naming  Sullivan  County. 
Rutledge  of  South  Carolina,  a  lineal  relative  of  the  family  in  this  county,  was  a 
political  ally  of  Gen.  Sullivan's  in  the  Continental  Congress.  This,  added  to  the 
general 's  recent  military  service,  placed  him  in  line  for  name  commemoration. 


Sullivan  County.  91 

the  poor  fostering  care  of  an  uncertain  parentage  by 
spreading  before  the  eyes  of  the  world  as  glorious  a  page 
of  achievement  and  valor,  of  statesmanship  and  man- 
hood and  womanhood  as  can  be  found  in  any  nation  of 
any  time. 

In  the  brief  period  of  twenty-six  years  it  arose  from  a 
rugged  frontier  colony  to  the  dignity  of  a  state. 

The  original  boundary  of  the  county  began  at  Steep 
Rock;  thence  along  the  dividing  ridge  that  separates 
the  waters  of  the  Great  Kanawha  and  Tennessee,  to  the 
head  of  Indian  Creek;  thence  along  the  ridge  that  divides 
the  waters  of  the  Holston  and  Watauga;  thence  a  direct 
line  to  the  highest  point  of  Chimney  top  mountain,  at 
the  Indian  boundary.3 

Spencer  county,  or  what  was  afterwards  called  and  is 
still  known  as  Hawkins,  was  cut  off  from  Sullivan. 

The  official  organization  of  Sullivan  County  took 
place  at  the  house  of  Moses  Looney,  February  7,  1780. 
The  justices  of  the  peace  present  were  Issac  Shelby, 
David  Looney,  Gilbert  Christian,  John  Duncan,  William 
Wallace,  Samuel  Smith,  Henry  Clark,  Anthony  Bledsoe, 
George  Maxwell,  John  Anderson  and   Joseph  Martin.4 

John  Rhea  was  appointed  clerk  and  Nathan  Clark, 
sheriff. 

Issac  Shelby  exhibited  a  commission  from  Gov.  Caswell, 
of  North  Carolina,  dated  November  19,  1779,  appointing 
him  Colonel-Commandant  of  the  county.  Other  com- 
missions appointed  Henry  Clark,  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
David  Looney,  first  Major  and  John  Shelby,  second 
Major. 


3Excepting  a  small  portion,  Sullivan  County  was  not  taken  from  Washington 
county,  Tennessee,  as  is  generally  supposed.  The  former  was  a  county  long  before 
the  latter,  but  being  regarded  as  a  part  of  Virginia,  had  to  take  second  place  in  the 
date  of  erection.  So  far  as  Tennessee  is  concerned,  "Washington  District,"  in 
1777,  bears  the  distinction  of  having  first  used  the  name  of  Washington  in  naming 

■*R'  4Ramsey's  list  differs  some  from  the  above,  yet  I  am  inclined  to  accept  this 
because  it  is  taken  from  a  complete  copy  of  the  court  records  I  found  at  Madison, 
Wisconsin. 


92  Historic  Sullivan. 

In  February,  the  following  year,  "Joseph  Martin  and 
Gilbert  Christian  are  spoken  of  as  majors." 

"William  Cocke  was  admitted  to  practise  law  in 
February,  1782 — the  first  we  have  any  record  of  in  the 
county." 

"At  the  same  time  Anthony  Bledsoe  was  appointed 
Lieutenant-Colonel  [inserted  note  says  'must  have  been 
Kentucky']  in  1780."5 

For  six  years  the  county  seat  was  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Eaton's  Station,  or  what  we  now  call  Eden's  ridge. 

When  Hawkins  county  was  erected  in  1786  it  was 
found  necessary  to  build  a  court-house  at  a  more  central 
location  in  the  county,  and  a  commission  composed  of 
Joseph  Martin,  James  McNeil,  John  Duncan,  Evan  Shelby, 
Samuel  Smith,  William  King  and  John  Scott  were  named 
to  select  a  site  for  the  court  house. 

Up  to  1792,  this  commission  had  not  reported,  but  in 
that  year  a  tract  of  thirty  acres,  on  the  present  site  of 
Blountville,  was  conveyed  to  John  Anderson,  George 
Maxwell  and  Richard  Gammon  whereon  was  to  be 
erected  the  county  buildings.  It  took  another  set  of 
commissioners,  however,  before  the  work  was  completed 
and  in  1795  the  following  appear  to  have  been  selected : 
George  Rutledge,  James  Gaines,  John  Shelby,  Jr.,  John 
Anderson,  Jr.,  David  Terry  and  Joseph  Wallace. 

The  first  court-house  was  built  of  logs  and  was,  of  it's 
kind,  a  massive  structure.  It  was  built  on  the  south 
side  of  Main  street  nearly  opposite  to  the  present  one 
(1909) .    The  jail  was  placed  in  the  rear  of  the  court-house. 

It  was  in  the  same  year,  1795,  Blountville  became  the 
county  seat.  About  thirty  years  after  the  first  court 
house  was  built  in  the  town  a  brick  one  replaced 
it  which  served  until  1853,  when  the  present  building 
was  erected.  The  building,  with  its  contents,  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  during  the  battle  in  September,  1863 — 
the   walls    remained    intact,    however,  and  are  still  in 

5From  Draper  MSS.  notes. 


Sullivan  County.  93 

use.  Three  jails  have  been  built  to  accompany  the 
court-house — the  first  immediately  in  the  rear  of 
the  building,  the  second  on  a  lot  adjoining,  also  in  the 
rear  and  the  third  between  the  sites  of  the  first  and  the 
second. 

The  county  records,  for  eighty  years,  from  1780  to 
1860,  were  destroyed  during  the  war  between  the  states.6 

After  the  burning  of  the  court-house  the  next  meeting 
of  the  court,  in  October,  was  held  at  the  "Female  Insti- 
tute." The  records  make  this  undisturbed  announcement 
of  the  most  destructive  fire  that  ever  visited  the  county 
seat: 

State  of  Tennesse,      1   ,,     ,  .         ,         ,    ,         .  „ 

Sullivan  County  Court.  J  Monday  morninS.  the  5th  day  of  0ct-  1863- 

Court  met  pursuant  to  adjournment  (at  the  Female  Institute 
within  the  corporation  of  said  town  of  Blountville,  the  court  house 
having  been  burned  down  by  the  Federals  on  the  22d  day  of  September 
last,  pending  a  battle  fought  over  said  town  by  the  Federal  and  Con- 
federate forces.)  Present,  Henry  W.  Ewing,  George  Foust,  James  H. 
Gallaway,  John  G.  King,  G.  W.  Morton  and  R.  P.  Rhea,  Esquires." 

The  reorganization  of  this  court  took  place  in  January, 
1866,  when  all  offices  were  declared  vacant  by  reason  of 
the  occupants'  sympathy  with  the  Southern  cause,  and 
representatives  of  the  Union  sentiment  were  chosen 
to  fill  them. 

Considering  the  restoration  of  the  court-house  the 
following  was  enacted : 

"On  motion  of  Wm.  D.  Blevins:  "It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that 
there   be   Three  Commissioners  appointed   to  make   Contracts  with 


6Some  of  the  county  records  were  destroyed  previous  to  1787,  during  the 
troubles  of  the  Franklin  movement,  as  were  also  those  of  Washington  county. 
Sometimes  the  North  Carolina  party  would  be  in  possession  of  them  and  then 
again  the  "Franks"  would  secure  them,  and  this  alternating  ownership  resulted  in 
their  loss  or  perhaps  destruction. 

The  records  of  the  land  transfers  remain  intact,  Frederick  Sturm,  then  county 
registrar,  for  convenience,  kept  them  at  his  home  at  the  old  Sturm  hotel,  and  in 
this  way  the  valuable  documents  were  preserved. 

Our  county  records  have  always  been  carelessly  kept.  This  is  not  due  to  the 
negligence  of  county  officials  so  much  as  indifference  on  the  part  of  county  courts. 
No  appropriation  could  be  more  judiciously  made  than  one  for  the  better  security 
of  our  records  Next  to  Washington  county's,  ours  are  the  oldest  in  the  state  and 
their  destruction  would  entail  endless  litigation. 


94  Historic  Sullivan. 

Brick  Masons  and  House  Joiners  to  make  window  and  door  frames 
and  steps  and  cover  the  walls  of  the  court  house  so  as  to  secure  the 
walls  from  the  weather,  and  cover  the  building  with  shingles,  and 
thereupon  the  court  appointed  W.  W.  James,  Wm.  Gammon  and  F. 
L.  Baumgardner,  Commissioners  to  contract  for  and  superintend  said 
work,  and  make  their  report  to  the  January  term  of  this  court,  sixteen 
Justices  on  the  bench  voting  in  the  affirmative." 

James  Hunt  and  John  Lyle  were  the  building  con- 
tractors while  Robert,  Jacob  and  William  Smith  were  the 
brick  masons. 

The  only  court's  organization  that  has  been  preserved 
complete  is  that  of  the  Chancery  and  is  given  as  follows: 

organization  of  chancery  court.? 

May  Term,  1852. 

At  a  court  of  Chancery  begun  and  held  at  the  court  house  in  Blount- 
ville,  first  Thursday  after  third  Monday,  May,  1852,  it  being  the  20th 
day  of  the  month  for  the  Chancery  district,  composed  of  the  County 
of  Sullivan  there  was  present  the  Hon.  Thos.  L.  Williams,  Chancellor, 
etc. 

The  following  commission  was  produced  to  wit: 

William  B.  Campbell,  Governor  op  the  State  of  Tennessee. 
To  all  who  shall  see  these  presents. 
Greeting. 

Know  ye  that  whereas  Thos.  L.  Williams  was  on  the  4th  day  of 
Nov.,  1851,  elected  by  the  joint  vote  of  both  houses  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  said  state,  a  Chancellor  for  the  Eastern  division  in  the  said 
state,  for  the  term  of  8  years  from  the  first  day  of  March,  1852. 

Now  therefore  I,  Wm.  B.  Campbell,  Governor,  as  aforsaid  by  virtue 
of  the  power  and  authority  in  me  vested,  do  hereby  commission  the 
said  Thomas  L.  Williams,  a  Chancellor,  as  aforsaid  for  the  term  aforsaid, 
hereby  conferring  on  him  all  the  powers,  priviledges  and  emoluments 
to  said  office  appertaining. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  caused 
the  great  seal  of  the  state  to  be  affixed  at  the  City  of  Nashville,  the  1 5th 
day  of  December,  1851. 

By  the  Gov.  Wm.  B.  Campbell. 

W.  B.  A.  Ramsey,  Secretary  of  State. 

7These  records  were  perhaps  kept  outside  of  the  court  house,  hence  they  were 
not  destroyed  in  the  burning  of  the  building. 


Sullivan  County.  95 

State  of  Tennessee,     \ 
McMinn  County.     / 

Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  18th  day  of  Feby.  1852. 
''  '  The  Hon.  Thos.  L.  Williams,  the  person  named  in  the  within 
commission,  Chancellor  of  Eastern  Division  and  in  due  form  of  law 
took  the  oath  prescribed  by  law,  more  effectually  to  prohibit  dueling, 
an  oath  to  support  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  an  oath  to 
support  the  constitution  of  the  State  of  Tennessee  and  the  oath  of 
office  as  Chancellor. 

In  testimony,  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  the  date 
above  written. 

Chas.  F.  Keith, 
Judge  of  the  3rd  Judicial  District. 

George  F.  Gammon  was  thereupon  appointed  Clerk  and  M.,  20th 
May,  1852,  with  the  following  bondmen,  who  bound  themselves  to  the 
sum  of  $10,000,  for  his  faithful  discharge  of  office. 

Geo.  F.  Gammon,  B.  L.  Dulaney,  A.  L.  Gammon,  John  Flemming, 
James  Gregg,  M.  Massengill,   Robt.  P.  Rhea. 

The  same  bondmen  also  bound  themselves  for  the  following: 

$10,000  for  honorably  keeping  the  records  and  discharging  the 
duties  of  said  office. 

$500  that  he  (Gammon)  shall  well  and  truly  collect  and  pay  over 
into  the  public  treasury  all  such  taxes  in  law  suits  as  may  arise  in  said 
court. 

$1,000  to  collect  and  pay  into  the  public  treasury  all  such  fines  and 
forfeitures  as  may  arise. 

$10,000  to  faithfullly  account  for  and  turn  over  all  such  sums 
of  money  as  may  come  into  his  hand  as  special  commissioner  to  sell 
property  under  decree  of  court. 

RE-DISTRICTING  THE  COUNTY. 

In  1835  the  legislature,  by  an  act,  authorized  the 
re-districting  of  the  county.  Prior  to  this  time  the  dis- 
tricts were  in  military  divisions  with  a  justice  of  the  peace 
in  each  division. 

In  1836  four  commissioners  were  appointed  to  re-district 
the  county:  John  R.  Delaney,  Thomas  White,  Daniel 
Branstutter  and  Nathan  Bachman.  There  were  fifteen 
districts  while  at  present  (1909)  there  are  twenty-two. 

Prior  to  and  for  sometime  after  the  Civil  War  the  dis- 
tricts were  known  as  precincts  and  took  the  name  of  the 


96  Historic  Sullivan. 

neighborhood  or  justice  of  the  peace  as  follows:  first 
district  was  Carmack's  precinct;  second,  Paperville; 
third,  Crumley's;  fourth,  Rhea's;  fifth,  Blountville; 
sixth,  White's;  seventh,  Roller's;  eighth,  Spurgeon's; 
ninth,  Fork's;  tenth,  Foust's;  eleventh,  Gott's;  twelfth, 
Kingsport;  thirteenth,  Easley's;  fourteenth,  Bran- 
stutter's;  fifteenth,  Peoples';  sixteenth,  Bluff  City;  sev- 
enteenth, Bristol;  eighteenth,  Yoakley's. 

REGULATES  PRICES. 

At  one  time  the  county  court  undertook  to  regulate 
the  prices  of  commodities.  In  this  way  we  are  privileged 
to  make  comparisons  with  the  prevailing  prices  of  to-day 
as  well  as  to  compare  the  prices  that  governed  the  fluctuat- 
ing money  market  that  existed  before,  during  and  after 
the  revolutionary  period. 

These  prices  extended  to  beverages,  staple  goods  and 
apparel. 

During  1777  the  price  of  beverages  was  as  follows: 

Ordered  that  Liquor  be  rated  in  this  county  for  the  ensuing  year 
as  followeth:  Rum  at  16  shillings  and  one  pence  per  gallon.  Rye 
Liquor,  8  shillings  and  one  pence  per  gallon.  Corn  Liquor,  4  shillings 
and  one  pence  per  gallon.  Quart  Bowl  of  Rum  Toddy  made  with 
Loafe  Sugar,  2  shillings  and  one  pence,  with  Brown,  one  shilling,  six 
pence  and  so  in  proportion  for  a  greater  or  lesser  Quantity 

During  1780  quite  a  change  in  values  took  place  and 
it  marks  not  only  a  rise  in  the  price  of  food  stuffs,  but  a 
decline  in  the  value  of  Continental  currency. 

April,  1780. 

Ordered  the  Rates  of  Ordinaries  be  as  follows  (vis.):  Wine,  Nine 
Pounds  the  Quart.  West  Indian  Rum,  fifteen  Pounds  by  the  quart, 
Good  Whiskey,  seven  Pounds  four  shillings.  Rum  Tody,  by  the  quart, 
three  Pounds,  twelve  shillings,  good  Beer,  by  the  Quart,  one  Pound, 
sixteen  shillings  and  so  in  proportion  for  a  greater  or  lesser  Quantity. 

Diets,  warm  Dinner,  six  pounds,  cold,  do,  four  pounds  ten  shil- 
lings. Warm  Breakfast,  four  pounds,  ten  shillings.  Cold,  do,  three 
pounds.     Supper  the  same  as  breakfast.     Lodging  in  clean  Sheets, 


Sullivan  County.  97 

one  pound,  sixteen  shillings.  Provender  Corn,  by  the  gallon,  six 
Pounds.  Oats,  four  pounds,  ten  shillings.  Good  pasturage,  one  pound, 
sixteen  shillings. g 

When  the  excitement  and  disturbance  incident  to  the 
Revolution  became  settled  and  we  had  a  monetary- 
system  of  our  own,  rates  were  more  regular  and  the  fol- 
lowing prices  have  a  more  familiar  appearance. : 

Ordered  that  the  following  and  no  other  shall  be  tavern  rates 
in  Sullivan  County  for  the  year  1795:9 

Doll.  Cent. 

For  Breakfast 0  16 

For  Dinner 0  16 

Wine  or  Rum  for  half  pint 0  16 

Cyder  or  Rum  per  quart 0  6£ 

Horse  at  hay  or  good  fodder  per 

night 0  12* 

Corn  or  Oats  per  Gall 0  8 

For  lodging  good  bed  &c  per  night  0  8 

Brandy  per  half  pint 0  8 

Whiskey  for  half  pint 0  8£ 

Supper 0  16 


8"  Not  worth  a  Continental  dam"  had  its  origin  about  this  time.  It  is  not  a 
profane  expression.  A  "dam"  is  an  Indian  coin  of  less  value  than  one  cent  and  a 
Continental  one  cent  was  next  to  worthless  when  it  took  six  pounds,  or  about 
thirty  dollars  to  buy  a  "warm  dinner." 

9A  violation  of  this  order  meant  a  fine  and  the  court  records  enumerate  in- 
stances where  violators  were  tried,  especially  for  over-charging  in  the  sale  of  intox- 
icants. 


John  Adair, 
a  biography. 

For  several  generations  posterity  has  passed  by  the 
grave  of  John  Adair  and  left  it  unremembered  and  un- 
marked. But  for  the  annalist  he  might  in  a  few  more 
generations  be  forgotten. 

He  was  born  in  Ireland  and  emigrated  to  this  country, 
settling  in  North  Carolina.  Afterward  he  removed  to 
Sullivan  County,  then  North  Carolina  where  he 
became  entry  taker  in  1779.  He  was  one  of  Isaac  Shel- 
by's associates  and  rendered  that  officer  valuable  aid  in 
planning  the  King's  Mountain  expedition.  It  is  described 
elsewhere  how  he  gave  the  funds  of  the  county  to  aid 
Shelby  and  Sevier  in  the  execution  of  their  project. 

In  1788  he  was  commissioner  for  furnishing  supplies 
to  the  Cumberland  Guard . 

In  1794,  after  Blount  College  had  been  established, 
he  was  chosen  one  of  the  trustees;  he  was  a  member  of 
the  constitutional  convention  in  1796,  and  was  Presiden- 
tial elector  for  Hamilton  district  in  1796  and  1799. 1 

He  was  one  of  the  commissioners  of  Knoxville,  1797. 

The  Cumberland  Guard,  for  which  he  furnished  supplies, 
acted  as  escort  for  travellers  through  the  wilderness,  to 
the  Cumberland  Plateau. 

In  1788  he  located  in  the  vicinity  of  what  is  now  Knox- 
ville— North  Carolina  having,  in  recognition  of  his  services, 
granted  him  a  tract  of  six  hundred  and  forty  acres.  This 
tract  is  about  four  and  a  half  miles  north  of  Knoxville, 
and  there  he  erected  a  log  house  which  was  built  after 
the  manner  of  a  block-house.     It  was  known  as  Adair's 

ITennessee  at  first  was  divided  into  three  districts:    Washington,  Hamilton 
and  Mero. 


John  Adair.  99 

Station,  and  the  stream  running  through  it  is  still  known 
as  Adair's  Creek.  Adair  and  Gen.  James  White  were 
contemporaries  and  friends.  The  latter  founded  Knox- 
ville  in  1792. 

So  far  as  known  John  Adair  had  one  child — a  daughter, 
Mary,  who  married  Robert  Christian,  son  of  Gilbert  Chris- 
tian of  Sullivan  County.  This  marriage  no  doubt  took 
place  at  Christiansville  or  what  is  now  Kingsport  as  the 
Christians  were  living  there  then.  Maria,  a  daughter  of 
this  couple,  lived  with  her  grandparents  at  Adair's  Station 
and  there  married  John  Smith,  whose  descendants 
live  there  to-day.  This  land  still  remains  in  the  same 
family  after  having  come  direct  from  the  State. 

John  Adair  died  in  1827  and,  with  his  wife,  is  buried  on 
a  knoll  on  the  old  tract — the  exact  location  of  the  graves, 
however,  is  in  doubt.2 

21  am  indebted  to  C.  M.  McClung,  Esq.,  and  Judge  E.  T.  Sanford,  of 
Knoxville,  for  a  great  deal  of  the  data  concerning  John  Adair. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
king's  mountain  campaign. 

Between  the  years  1774  and  1780  there  were  restless 
times  in  the  Holston  settlements.  These  "over  the  moun- 
tain men"  as  the  Eastern  Carolina  folk  designated  the 
inhabitants  in  the  "back  parts"  of  the  state,  or  "back- 
woodsmen" as  their  enemies  sneeringly  called  them, 
were  following  one  campaign  with  another.  These 
campaigns,  however,  were  for  the  most  part  directed 
against  their  Indian  foes,  but  the  incursion  of  1779, 
into  the  very  heart  of  the  Cherokee  country,  had  par- 
tially silenced  opposition. 

Up  to  1780  these  people  had  paid  little  attention  to 
the  struggle  for  independence. 

This  year  they  were  called  upon  a  broader  field  of 
warfare. 

In  order  to  best  describe  the  King's  Mountain  cam- 
paign it  will  be  necessary  to  recite  some  of  the  events 
that  led  up  to  it. 

King's  Mountain  is  about  sixteen  miles  long,  running 
through  portions  of  North  and  South  Carolina.  That 
part  where  the  battle  took  place  is  in  South  Carolina, 
about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  North  Carolina  line. 

The  year  1780  was  a  dark  one  for  the  cause  of  liberty; 
Charleston  and  Savannah  had  fallen,  Georgia  was  subdued 
save  a  few  bands  of  invincible  patriots  who  were  ready 
to  fall  in  with  anybody  and  fight  to  the  death. 

So  sure  was  Sir  Henry  Clinton  that  the  whole  southern 
territory  would  soon  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  British  that 
he  left  the  management  of  the  campaign  to  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  and  returned  to  New  York. 


•    ^"///^    #f<    'lt0?42j\      //,;,>„/,, 


King's  Mountain  Campaign.  101 

ferguson  and  tarleton. 

With  Cornwallis  were  two  brilliant  officers,  Ferguson 
and  Tarleton — the  former  in  his  mode  of  warfare,  much 
like  our  Mosby  or  Morgan  or  perhaps  Forrest.  Tarleton 
while  a  dashing  cavalryman  was  also  a  very  brutal 
officer — his  men  were  plunderers,  outraged  women,  hung 
all  prisoners  whom  they  suspected  of  being  deserters 
and  rarely  offered  any  quarter  to  a  foe,  as  in  the  case  of 
Capt.  Buford's  command,  which  he  routed  and  massacred. 
It  was  on  this  account  "Buford"  was  first  the  password 
and  later  the  slogan  of  the  Americans  at  the  battle  of 
King's  Mountain. 

Ferguson,  at  this  time  thirty-six  years  of  age,  was  de- 
scribed as  a  man  of  medium  height,  slender  build  and  very 
affable  in  his  manner,  more  inclined  to  be  courteous  to 
a  conquered  foe  than  were  most  of  his  associate  officers. 
He  was  a  soldier  without  fear  and  was  counted  the 
best  marksman,  with  pistol  and  rifle,  in  the  British  army. 

Such  a  nature  easily  filled  up  his  ranks  from  the  tory1 
element  with  which  North  Carolina  was  overrun. 

These  two  officers  were  ordered  out  through  the  interior 
to  subdue  what  was  left  of  the  patriots. 

Seeing  North  Carolina  threatened,  Gen.  Rutherford 
sent  a  requisition  to  Shelby  and  Sevier  for  one  hundred 
men  each  to  help  defend  the  state  from  invasion. 

They  were  then  the  county  lieutenants  of  Sullivan 
and  Washington  counties,  respectively,  and  while  the 
Watauga  commonwealth  lived  under  laws  of  its  own, 
generally,  it  recognized  any  special  order  from  the  state 
to  which  it  acknowledged  allegiance.  This  was  par- 
ticularly so  in  a  military  way  as  the  officers  received 
appointments  and  pay  from  that  source.     Sevier  soon 


lit  is  hard  for  us,  in  this  day,  to  realize  the  opprobrium  attached  to  the  word 
"tory"  as  applied  to  those  who,  during  the  Revolution,  sympathised  with  the  British 
side.  The  epithets  "rebel"  and  "yankee"  never  reached  the  depths  of  derision 
of  this  word.  It  is  of  ignominious  origin  to  begin  with.  Although,  applied  in 
England,  to  the  court  of  James  II,  it  was,  even  then  a  nickname  or  term  of  reproach 
being  from  the  Irish  robber  word    toree,    meaning,  give  me,  i.  e.  your  money. 


102  Historic  Sullivan. 

got  his  men  together,  but,  instead  of  one  hundred,  collected 
two  hundred.  Shelby  was  absent  at  the  time  survey- 
ing lands  in  Kentucky,  but  as  soon  as  the  message  reached 
him  its  import  whetted  him  and  he  hastened  home, 
appealed  to  the  chivalry  of  the  pioneers  and  was  soon  on 
his  way,  crossing  the  rugged  trail  at  the  head  of  two 
hundred  mounted  riflemen.  It  was  decided  best,  in  view 
of  a  possible  Indian  invasion,  for  Sevier  to  remain  to 
patrol  the  borders  and  watch  the  Cherokees.2 

Shelby  proceeded  to  the  camp  of  Col.  McDowell,  who 
had  succeeded  Gen.  Rutherford.  Here  he  was  shortly 
detached,  with  additional  militiamen  and  officers,  and 
marched  against  a  British  fort  held  by  Col.  Patrick 
Moore. 

A  peremptory  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  fort 
was  refused,  Moore  declaring  he  would  hold  it  to  the  last. 
A  second  demand  accompanied  by  a  threat  from  Shelby 
that  he  would  turn  his  cannon  (a  thing  he  did  not  have) 
on  the  fort  caused  the  garrison  to  surrender. 

This  capture  was  followed  in  quick  succession  by 
varying  victories  at  Musgrove's  Mills  and  Cedar  Springs. 
At  the  latter  place,  on  the  8th  of  August,  they  encountered 
Ferguson's  advance  guard  and  dealt  them  a  severe  blow. 

CORNWALLIS  AROUSED. 

Lord  Cornwallis  was  now  thoroughly  aroused  by  the 
rapid  and  intrepid  movements  of  the  mountain  men 
and  ordered  Col.  Ferguson  to  go  through  these  districts 
and  line  up  and  discipline  the  loyalists.  So  with  his 
usual  tact  and  persuasive  manner  he  soon  found  himself 
at  the  head  of  two  thousand  men.  But  Shelby  baffled 
every  attempt  Ferguson  made  to  surprise  and  take  his 
forces. 

They  were  preparing  to  march  against  Ninety-Six 
when  a  horseman  dashed  up,  carrying  a  message, from 

2Roosevelt's  "Winning  of  the  West." 


King's  Mountain  Campaign.  103 

Gov.  Caswell,  apprising  them  that  the  southern  grand 
army,  under  command  of  Gen.  Gates,  had  been  cut  to 
pieces  by  Cornwallis  on  the  field  of  Camden.  The  Gov- 
ernor urged  Shelby  to  get  his  men  out  of  the  way  as  quickly 
as  possible,  for  the  general,  flushed  with  victory,  would 
improve  the  opportunity  and  try  to  catch  him. 

Their  withdrawal  was  hampered  by  the  large  number 
of  prisoners  they  had  captured,  but  they  marched  day 
and  night  without  rest,  finding  out  later  they  had  been 
hotly  pursued  by  Capt.  DePeyster  and  several  hundred 
mounted  men. 

REFUGEES  ON  WATAUGA. 

Returning  home  to  the  Holston  settlements  they 
found  it  had  become  the  mecca  for  refugees  from  all  parts 
of  the  South.  These  Holston  people  were  noted  for  their 
hospitality  and  never  refused  to  share  what  they  had 
with  all  who  came  among  them. 

Not  long  after  their  return  home  Col.  Ferguson,  who 
had  become  irritated  by  their  bold  dashes,  sent  a  message 
to  Shelby  saying,  if  the  "back-water  men"  did  not  sur- 
render and  espouse  the  cause  of  King  George  he  would 
then  come  across  the  mountain  and  put  them  to  the  sword 
and  burn  their  homes. 

It  must  be  kept  in  mind  this  little  settlement  was  con- 
fronted with  another  foe — the  Indians — an  attack  by 
them  was  liable  to  be  made  any  day,  more  especially 
since  the  British  had  made  allies  of  them.  Yet,  in  the 
face  of  these  dangers,  Shelby  sent  a  message  by  his  brother 
to  Col.  William  Campbell  of  Virginia,  requesting  him  to 
join  him  and,  mounting  his  horse,  hastened  to  the  home 
of  Sevier,  about  fifty  miles  away. 

He  found  Sevier  in  the  midst  of  a  jollification  and 
barbecue.  Himself  a  man  of  rather  serious  demeanor 
he  spoke  abruptly  to  his  friend,  telling  him  it  was  no  time 
for  fun-making,  then  explained  to  him  his  plans  for  a 
campaign,  over  which  Sevier  was  as  enthusiastic  as  he 
had  a  moment  before  been  in  the  frolic. 


104  Historic  Sullivan. 

On  returning  home  Shelby  had  a  message  from  Col. 
Campbell  declining  to  join  him  in  the  proposed  expedition 
and  saying  he  had  raised  a  company  and  promised  to 
assist  in  a  movement  to  defend  his  own  state  against  the 
invasion.  Shelby  sent  a  second  and  more  urgent  request 
and,  at  the  same  time,  sent  John  Adair  to  intercede  with 
Col.  Arthur  Campbell  the  ranking  officer  of  the  county. 
This  concerted  move  had  its  effect — the  appeal  was  so 
impressive  that  both  Arthur  and  William  Campbell 
entered  patriotically  into  the  campaign.  Shelby's  peti- 
tion to  these  men  was  in  the  nature  of  a  pathetic  descrip- 
tion of  Col.  McDowell's  plight  on  being  driven  across  the 
mountain  and  forced  to  refugee,  away  from  his  home  and 
friends. 

As  preparations  were  being  pushed  Shelby  and  Sevier 
saw  another  trouble  confronting  them — the  lack  of  money 
to  carry  out  their  project.  At  this  juncture,  seeing  no 
other  way  to  get  it,  Sevier  went  to  John  Adair,  the  entry 
taker  of  Sullivan  County,  and  suggested  the  use  of  the 
public  funds  for  this  purpose,  offering  his  and  Shelby's 
personal  security  for  the  return  of  the  loan.  Adair's 
reply  was  characteristic  of  the  times.  "Col.  Sevier," 
said  he,  "I  have  no  authority  by  law  to  make  that  dis- 
position of  this  money — it  belongs  to  the  impoverished 
treasury  of  North  Carolina,  but  if  the  country  is  overrun 
by  the  British,  our  liberty  is  gone.  Let  the  money  go  too 
— so  take  it."3&4  The  amount  was  nearly  thirteen  thous- 
and dollars. 

By  agreement  all  met  at  Watauga,  the  rendezvous, 
September  26th.  It  was  the  largest  gathering  that  had 
been  seen  in  this  part  of  the  country  up  to  that  time, 
was  very  impressive  and  caused  great  excitement.  Shelby 
and  Sevier  each  were  there  with  two  hundred  and  forty 
men.     Campbell  arrived  with  two  hundred  which  was 

3Draper's  "Kings  Mountain." 

4Shelby  and  Sevier  paid  back  every  dollar  of  this  money.  Shelby  in  return 
for  his  services  and  sacrifices  of  money  received  "six  yards  of  middling  broadcloth.' ' 
—Shelby  MSS. 


King's  Mountain  Campaign.  105 

afterwards  increased  to  four  hundred,  Arthur  Campbell  ar- 
riving with  two  hundred  more;  and  McDowell  with 
a  sufficient  number  to  make,  in  all,  more  than  one  thous- 
and men  ready  to  depart  on  the  hunt  for  Ferguson. 

The  men  wore  "fringed  and  tasseled  hunting  shirts,5 
girded  in  by  bead-worked  belts  and  the  trappings  of  their 
horses  were  stained  red  and  yellow.  On  their  heads  they 
wore  caps  of  coon  skin  or  mink  skin  with  tails  hanging 
down  or  else  felt  hats  in  each  of  which  was  thrust  a  buck 
tail  or  a  sprig  of  evergreen.  Every  man  carried  a  small- 
bore rifle,  a  tomahawk,  and  a  scalping-knife.  A  very 
few  of  the  officers  had  swords  and  there  was  not  a  bayonet 
nor  a  tent  in  the  army." 

When  preparations  were  completed  for  their  departure 
this  grim  host  stood  in  silence  for  a  while,  listening  to  the 
benediction  of  Rev.  Samuel  Doak. 

The  route  taken  by  this  army  was  changed  when  it 
was  found  two  of  their  number  had  deserted  and  gone  to 
join  Ferguson.  It  is  said  to  have  been  the  roughest 
march  ever  undertaken  by  an  army  of  horsemen. 

At  the  foot  of  the  mountain  they  fell  in  with  Col. 
Williams  of  South  Carolina  and  other  officers.  After 
rapid  marching  for  several  days,  much  of  the  time  in  the 

5This  description  of  a  hunting  shirt  is  from  Roosevelt's  "  Winning  of  the  West ,' 
who  in  turn  gave  credit  to  contemporary  authority.  It  may  compare  with  the  gar- 
ment used  in  that  campaign  but  we  of  this  day  do  not  recognize  it  as  the  description 
of  the  one  which  our  forefathers  have  really  brought  down  to  the  present  generation. 
It  was  clumsily  made,  blouse  fashion,  reaching  to  the  knees  and,  gathered  up, 
was  tied  around  the  waist.  In  the  fulth  was  often  carried  heavy  burdens,  as  much 
as  "a  bushel  of  corn"  at  one  time. 

I  found  Roosevelt  the  most  painstaking  of  our  historians — it  was  possible 
for  him  to  be — because  he  was  prepared  to  meet  the  expense  of  lengthy  research , 
when  in  doubt  about  historical  events  concerning  this  section,  he  is  "trumps." 
I  kept  him  at  my  elbow  as  I  did  my  Thesauras.  There  is  no  question,  but  that 
he  regarded  our  section  as  the  richest  in  the  multiformity  of  historic  lore  of  any 
in  America.  It  was  out  of  this  field  that  he  created  that  wonderful  work,  hi3 
"Winning  of  the  West"  which  probably  is  the  best  literary  fruit  of  his  productive 
pen.  It  is  therefore  to  be  regretted,  in  view  of  his  thorough  research  and  lofty  aim, 
that  he  did  not  live  a  few  years  among  the  people  whose  ancestors  he  has  undertaken 
to  describe.  He  could  then  be  more  in  sympathy  with  their  sentiments — -I  don't 
mean  biased,  as  he  is  with  the  cowboys  on  the  plains  with  whom  he  herded  cattle, 
sat  about  the  campfires  and  followed  in  hunts  and  jaunts.  And  so  he  has  under- 
taken to  tell  the  world  about  a  people  whose  acquaintance  he  has  formed  in  research, 
rather  than  through  association  and,  like  most  of  our  northern  annalists,  more 
of  a  historical  critic  than  a  historical  narrator — exact  and  exacting. 

I  hardly  ever  read  Roosevelt  that  I  don't  feel  like  putting  on  an  overcoat — 
so  many  icicles  on  his  adjectives.  He  reminds  me  of  a  great  iceberg,  beautifully 
chisled  and  chilly,  that  has  lost  its  moorings  in  the  frozen  north  and  floated  down 
here  on  our  mild  sea  of  sentiment,  cited  often,  but  stayed  away  from. 


106  Historic  Sullivan. 

rain,  at  which  time  they  protected  their  guns  with  their 
hunting  shirts,  they  decided  to  drop  some  of  the  horse- 
men as  their  slow  movement  impeded  the  progress.  They 
had  already  dropped  the  cattle  that  were  driven  along 
and  thereafter  subsisted  upon  wild  game,  killed  along  the 
route,  and  the  parched  corn  carried  in  their  wallets. 

military  courtesy. 

An  unusual  piece  of  military  courtesy  took  place  on 
this  march.  There  was  no  recognized  leading  officer 
so  Shelby  suggested  that  one  be  selected  and  desired 
Campbell  to  assume  command  as  it  would  take  too  long 
to  send  to  headquarters  for  an  officer.  Campbell,  on  the 
other  hand  knowing  that  Shelby  outranked  him,  requested 
him  to  serve  as  he  had  practically  been  in  command  up 
to  that  time.  Shelby  explained  that,  if  a  North  Caro- 
linian served,  it  should  be  McDowell  as  he  was  senior 
officer  and  while  he  was  regarded  as  brave  and  efficient 
he  was  too  slow  of  action  to  put  into  execution  orders 
necessary  for  the  rapid  movements  of  the  men. 

Campbell  thereupon  assumed  command,  addressed  the 
soldiers  and  requested  all  those  who  wished  to  withdraw 
to  do  so  now  and  not  wait  until  the  battle.  Not  a  man 
stepped  from  the  ranks.  It  was  found  necessary,  despite 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  men,  to  pick  out  the  swiftest  and 
less  jaded  of  the  horses  with  the  least  fatigued  horsemen 
and  the  best  guns  and  push  on  to  catch  Ferguson.  The 
men  were  lined  up  and  nine  hundred  and  ten  were  selected 
while  the  remainder  were  asked  to  follow  on  as  rapidly 
as  they  could.  Some  of  the  footmen,  however,  deter- 
mined not  to  be  left  behind,  followed  on  foot,  traveling 
almost  as  fast  as  the  horsemen  and  arrived  in  time  to 
take  part  in  the  battle. 

They  were  now  hot  on  the  trail  of  Ferguson. 

On  the  6th  of  October,  although  a  heavy  rain  was  falling, 
they  marched  all  night  and  came  near  the  enemy  the 
next  day. 


King's  Mountain  Campaign.  107 

When  within  about  three  miles  of  King's  Mountain 
some  of  the  men  stopped  at  a  farm  house  by  the  roadside 
to  get  some  information.  They  were  followed  out  by  a 
young  girl  who  inquired,  "How  many  are  there  of  you?" 
"Enough,"  was  the  reply,  "to  whip  Ferguson  if  we  can 
catch  him."  "He  is  on  that  mountain,"  she  said,  point- 
ing to  an  eminence  now  in  sight.6 

While  Ferguson  had  been  apprised,  by  the  two  deserters, 
of  the  coming  of  the  mountain  men,  he  was  not  prepared 
for  such  rapid  marching  and  did  not  know  they  were  in  the 
vicinity  until  they  were  making  ready  to  ascend  the 
mountain.  From  a  roistering,  loud  shouting  throng  they 
had  now  become  more  subdued  in  conversation,  not 
wishing  to  be  discovered.  When  within  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  of  the  spur7  of  the  mountain  the  order  went 
round  to  "halt,  dismount  and  tie  horses — take  off  great 
coats  and  blankets  and  tie  to  saddles — fresh  prime  guns 
and  every  man  to  go  into  battle  firmly  resolving  to  fight 
until  he  dies."8 

It  was  a  silent,  grim  and  determined  throng  that  now 
prepared  to  ascend — the  troops  having  been  disposed  all 
around  the  mountain .  The  last  orders  were  for  every  man 
to  fight  for  himself,  "to  shout  like  hell  and  fight  like  devils." 

Ferguson  had  previously  declared,  "I  hold  a  position 
God  Almighty  cannot  drive  me  from,"  but  when  he 
viewed  the  coming  of  the  Americans  he  was  fearful  of  the 
result. 

The  Americans  charged  up  the  mountain,  but  were 
repulsed  with  the  bayonet,  this  weapon  being  used  skill- 
fully by  the  British.  But  as  soon  as  the  men  were  driven 
down  one  side  of  the  mountain  the  men  on  the  other  side 
would  charge  the  heights,  thus  keeping  the  enemy  alter- 
nately rushing  from  one  side  to  the  other.  The  Amer- 
icans were  driven  back  a  gocd  many  times,  but  would 
always  rally  and  return. 

6Draper's  "King's  Mountain." 

7The  battle  was  fought  on  a  spur  of  the  mountain,  about  sixty  feet  in  height. 

8Draper. 


108  Historic  Sullivan. 

Some  of  his  men  urged  Ferguson  to  surrender,  but 
he  declared  that  he  would  never  surrender  to  such  a 
set  of  bandits  as  the  "backwoodsmen"  and  so  cut  down 
the  white  flag  that  had  been  hoisted. 

He  carried  a  whistle  and  wherever  it  sounded  the  battle 
was  the  fiercest.  The  mountain  was  "like  a  volcano" 
from  the  incessant  firing  and  smoke  of  the  guns. 

DEATH  OF  FERGUSON. 

In  one  of  Ferguson's  desperate  charges  he  was  recog- 
nized by  the  men  of  Shelby  and  Sevier — their  guns  turned 
on  him  and  he  was  shot  six  or  seven  times,  dying  almost 
instantly.9 

Shortly  after  his  death  the  white  flag  was  raised, 
but  some  of  the  Holston  men  did  not  know  what  it 
meant  and  kept  on  firing,  when  Campbell  rushed  up 
and  begged  them,  "for  God's  sake  cease  firing."  The  bat- 
tle began  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  and  lasted 
one  hour  and  ten  minutes.  __ 

The  effect  of  this  battle  was  far-reaching.  It  caused 
Cornwallis  to  retreat  and  change  his  plans  and,  better 
than  all,  brightened  the  hopes  of  the  despairing  Ameri- 
cans everywhere. 

Thomas  Jefferson  pronounced  it  "the  battle  that  turned 
the  tide  of  the  Revolution." 

9There  is  an  old  Revolutionary  relic,  reputed  to  have  been  the  gun  that  killed 
Ferguson,  known  as  "Sweetlips,"  that  periodically  or  spasmodically  makes  its 
appearance  before  a  too  credulous  public.  This  gun  may  have  been  in  the  battle 
of  King's  Mountain,  but  there  is  absolutely  no  authority  for  saying  that  it  killed 
Ferguson.  Even  if  it  should  be  the  one,  it  is  a  gruesome  relic — an  ugly  weapon  that 
has  the  ban  of  human  blood.  The  spectacle  of  a  public  speaker  holding  it  up 
at  the  conclusion  of  a  splendid  historical  discourse,  was  not  a  fitting  close  and  the 
audience  received  the  announcement,  "here's  the  gun  that  did  the  work,"  with 
silence  if  not  a  shudder.  And  this  protest  is  offered,  not  so  much  to  refute  a  claim, 
as  to  rebuke  the  display  of  barbarous  sentiment  that  belongs  to  guilotine  days. 
Besides  it  is  ungenerous,  disrespectful.  Ferguson,  withal  a  partisan  and  a  hard 
fighter,  was  a  courageous  officer  and  always  humane  to  a  fallen  foe. 

Ferguson  was  shot  many  times  and  there  have  been  many  claims  as  to  who 
killed  him,  each  company  of  at  least  two  regiments  making  a  claim  and  no  one, 
any  more  than  another,  with  any  authority. 

Sullivan  comes  along  with  a  tradition  that  one  of  her  soldiers  did  the  slaying. 
In  the  arrangement  of  troops,  it  happened  that  Shelby's  and  Campbell's  troops, 
got  together  during  the  action  and,  as  there  were  neighbors  and  friends  in  each 
company,  mingled  freely.  In  this  way  Rutledge,  of  Shelby's  forces,  and  Snodgrass 
of  Campbell 's  fought  side  by  side,  being  neighbors  at  home.  The  latter  had  volun- 
teered under  Campbell  before  the  King's  Mountain  expedition  was  put  on  foot. 

An  officer  was  seen  to  ride  back  and  forth  and  dismount,  as  if  looking  for 
something,  (had  dropped  a  medal)  when  Snodgrass  shouted  to  Rutledge,  "there  he 
is  George,  give  him  a  buck  load,"  meaning  two  loads,  one  on  top  of  the  other. 
This  was  done  and  upon  this  the  tradition  wa9  founded. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  STATE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolution  the  United  States  found 
herself  burdened  by  an  enormous  debt,  and  some  of  the 
creditors  were  not  easily  induced  to  temper  their  de- 
mands by  promises  and  uncertain  delays.  Congress  then, 
in  order  to  hasten  relief,  passed  a  recommendation,  asking 
those  states,  which  owned  them,  to  cede  certain  outlying 
or  unused  Western  lands  to  make  a  common  fund,  and 
thus  relieve  the  strain  on  the  nation's  credit. 

North  Carolina  was  very  generous  in  her  surrender,  in 
April,  1784,  ceding  practically  all  of  what  afterward  be- 
came Tennessee,  reserving  control,  however,  pending  its 
acceptance.  Congress  was  allowed  two  years  in  which 
to  accept  this  offer.  The  representatives  of  the  four  and 
only  established  counties  in  the  territory  ceded — Sullivan, 
Washington,  Greene  and  Davidson,  voted  for  the  bill 
because  North  Carolina  had  almost  ignored  them  in  the 
distribution  of  service  and  funds  and  was  of  little  aid  to 
them.  Their  condition  could  not  be  made  worse,  so  far 
as  support  was  concerned,  and  they  had  no  idea  Congress, 
in  its  already  crippled  financial  condition,  would  accept 
the  offer  as  it  would  necessitate  an  additional  outlay  of 
funds  in  keeping  the  frontier  protected. 

North  Carolina  and  her  "over  the  mountain  men"  were 
in  continual  discord  over  the  conduct  of  the  settlements 
— the  latter  charging  that  ample  provision  was  not  made 
for  the  sustenance  of  the  military — pay  was  small,  and 
that  grudgingly  given.  The  State  retaliated  with  charges 
of  extravagance,  even  insinuating  that  the  accounts  sent 
in  were  false. 

This  was  the  condition  of  affairs  the  new  settlement  had 
to  face — neglected  by  those  in  power,  threatened  all  the 
time  by  Indian  invasions,  while  criminal  refugees  sought 


110  Historic  Sullivan. 

their  midst  as  a  retreat.  The  only  protection  afforded 
them  was  in  their  self-constituted  Regulators,  who  dis- 
pensed summary  justice — and  in  this  they  were  taking  a 
step  backward. 

A  band  of  regulators,  however  good  their  intentions, 
either  become  hardened  in  crime  or  have  imputed  to  them 
the  acts  of  rash  imprudence  and  rascality  done  by  others. 
It  was  therefore  determined  that  some  better  means  of 
defense  was  necessary  and  a  convention  was  called,  at 
which  deputies,  representing  the  sentiment  of  the  people, 
were  to  assemble  and  decide  what  further  steps  should  be 
taken  for  self-protection. 

The  convention  met  at  Jonesboro,  August  23rd,  with  the 
following  deputies  present:  for  Sullivan — Joseph  Mar- 
tin, Gilbert  Christian,  William  Cocke,  John  Manifee,  Wil- 
liam Wallace,  John  Hall,  Samuel  Wilson,  Stokely  Don  el- 
son  and  William  Evans:  for  Washington — John  Sevier, 
Charles  Robertson,  William  Purphey,  Joseph  Wilson,  John 
Irviny/Samuel  Houston,  William  Trimble,  William  Cox, 
Landori  Carter,  Hugh  Henry,  Christopher  Taylor,  John 
Chisholm,  Samuel  Doak,  William  Campbell,  Benjamin 
Holland,  John  Bean,  Samuel  Williams  and  Richard 
White :  for  Greene — Daniel  Kennedy,  Alexander  Outlaw, 
Joseph  Gist,  Samuel  Weir,  Asahel  Rawlings,  Joseph  Bal- 
lard, John  Manghon,  John  Murphy,  David  Campbell, 
Archibald  Stone,  Abraham  Denton,  Charles  Robinson 
and  Elisha  Baker. 

Davidson  county  was  not  represented,  being  so  far 
away  the  people  were  not  especially  interested. 

A  committee,  with  John  Sevier,  president  and  Landon 
Carter,  secretary,  was  appointed  to  consider  the  situation. 
While  they  were  debating  measures  to  be  adopted  a  mem- 
ber produced  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  drew 
a  parallel  between  their  condition  and  the  condition  of 
the  colonists  when  they  declared  themselves  free. 

Thereupon  another  member  moved  to  declare  the 
western  colonies  independent  of  North  Carolina,  which 


The  State  of  Franklin.  Ill 

motion  was  unanimously  carried.  Upon  a  vote  as  to 
whether  or  not  they  would  establish  a  new  state,  a  major- 
ity decided  to  do  so — a  strong  minority, however,  opposed 
it.  This  opposition  was  led  by  John  Tipton,  who  became 
an  active  representative  of  North  Carolina  and  the  dis- 
turbing element  of  the  Franklin  move. 

Several  names  were  submitted  by  which  the  new  State 
should  be  known — among  them  Franklin,  for  Benjamin 
Franklin,  and  Frankland,  meaning  "land  of  the  free." 
The  former  was  chosen  by  a  small  majority.  Both  names 
have  been  handed  down,  which  may  have  been  through 
the  influence  of  William  Cocke,  the  chief  penman  and 
spokesman,  who  was  in  favor  of  the  name  Frankland  and 
persisted  in  writing  it  that  way. 

After  reading  the  plans  of  organization,  framed  by 
Messrs.  Cocke  and  Hardin,  the  deputies  considered  the 
calling  of  a  new  convention  to  form  a  constitution. 

The  convention  did  not  meet  again  until  November. 
The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  was  then  in  session  at 
Newbern  and  repealed  the  act  of  cession,  alleging  that 
other  States  had  not  complied  with  their  promises.  This 
action  was  no  doubt  caused  by  the  conduct  of  the  Frank- 
lin movement.  John  Sevier,  in  view  of  the  repeal,  and 
as  he  had  been  appointed  Brigadier-General  by  the  same 
Assembly,  concluded  to  "persue  no  further  measure  as  to 
a  new  state,"  but  his  associates  were  not  so  easily  pacified 
— they  were  determined  to  carry  the  project  through. 

JOHN  SEVIER,   GOVERNOR. 

The  next  convention  met  at  Jonesboro  and  again  ap- 
pointed John  Sevier,  president  and  Landon  Carter,  secre- 
tary. A  constitution  was  submitted,  subject  to  ratifica- 
tion or  rejection  at  some  future  meeting. 

At  the  first  legislative  assembly,  March,  1785,  Landon 
Carter  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  Senate  and  William 
Cage,  of  Sullivan,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons. 

John  Sevier  was  elected  Governor. 


112  Historic  Sullivan. 

Among  the  laws  enacted  by  that  body  was  one  parti- 
tioning Sullivan  and  Greene  and  forming  Spencer  county. 
The  assembly  of  North  Carolina  later,  disregarding  this, 
erected  the  county  of  Hawkins,  which  name  it  now  bears 
instead  of  Spencer.  The  Franklin  Assembly  also  fixed 
the  salaries  of  state  officers.  The  governor's  salary  was 
fixed  at  two  hundred  pounds  per  annum,  the  supreme 
judges'  at  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  per  annum  and 
the  others  in  proportion.1 

The  price  of  commodities  was  also  fixed,  and  it  is  inter- 
esting to  note  the  then  prevailing  prices  compared  with 
those  of  to-day.  "Good,  distilled  Rye  Whiskey"  is 
quoted  at  two  shillings  and  six  pence  per  gallon,  while 
"good,  country  made  sugar"  is  quoted  at  one  shilling  per 
pound.  One  pound  of  sugar  would  then  buy  nearly 
half  a  gallon  of  whiskey,  while  to-day  half  a  gallon  of  whis- 
key (as  long  as  it  lasts)  will  buy  forty  pounds  of  sugar. 

About  this  time  the  importance  of  the  new  State  was 
made  known  to  the  old  in  a  communication  signed  by  the 
Governor  and  the  Speakers  of  both  houses.  It  wore  the 
complexion  of  a  dignified  state  paper.  This  caused  Gov. 
Martin  to  issue  a  strong  manifesto,  in  which  he  views  at 
length  the  conditions  in  his  own  state  and  the  country  in 
general,  and  explains  the  tardiness  in  dealing  with  the 
Indians. 

He  coaxes,  cajoles  and  threatens — "By  this  rash  act  a 
precedent  is  formed  for  every  district  and  every  county 
of  the  State  to  claim  the  right  of  separation,"  and  again, 
"that  you  tarnish  not  the  laurels  you  have  so  gloriously 
won  at  Kings  Mountain  and  elsewhere,  in  supporting  the 
freedom  and  independence  of  the  U.  S.,  in  being  concerned 
in  a  black  and  traitorous  revolt."    He  advises  them  to 

lit  has  been  the  custom  of  some  historians  to  ridicule  the  Franklin  com- 
monwealth for  paying  salaries  in  skins  and  the  commodities  of  the  times.  Daniel 
Webster  once  twitted  a  congressman  about  paying  the  governor  in  fox  skins, 
when  in  h<s  own  state  musket  balls  had  been  used  as  money  and  milk  paila 
had  been  accepted  ic  payment  of  taxes.  Besides,  the  Governor  of  Franklin  was 
a  little  more  choice  than  to  accept  fox  skins — "it  was  mink,  sir  "I  And  mink 
skins  were  current  in  the  proudest  empires  of  Europe.  Money,  then,  was  very 
scarce.  Our  pale  continental  scrip,  as  proud  as  freemen  were  to  look  upon  it, 
did  not  have  color  enough  in  its  face  to  ask  credit  from  some  of  its  own  im- 
poverished people. 


The  State  of  Franklin.  113 

meet  the  next  legislature  and  present  their  grievances  in 
the  proper  way,  "and  I  make  no  doubt  her  generosity  in 
time  will  meet  your  wishes." 

Copies  of  his  manifesto  were  sent  broadcast  and  had  the 
effect  of  weakening  the  cause  of  the  "Franks." 

The  constitution  first  presented  was  an  egregious  blend, 
a  fusion,  with  some  poor  insertions,  of  the  constitutions  of 
the  United  States,  and  of  the  States  of  North  Carolina 
and  Virginia.  This  was  presented  by  the  Tipton  party 
and,  among  other  features,  provided  that  no  one  should 
hold  office  "if  he  were  immoral,  a  Sabbath  breaker,  a  cler- 
gyman, a  doctor  or  a  lawyer."  Evidently  the  last  restric- 
tion was  aimed  at  William  Cocke  as  he  was  spokesman  for 
the  other  side  and  a  lawyer.  This  constitution  was  not 
adopted. 

The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  met  in  1786,  at  Fay- 
etteville,  and  had  under  consideration  the  "New  State" 
movement.  Considerable  correspondence  had  passed  be- 
tween the  governors  of  the  two  states.  William  Cocke  was 
sent  as  ambassador  and,  being  permitted  the  privilege  of 
the  floor,  addressed  the  House  for  several  hours.2 

An  act  of  pardon  and  oblivion  was  passed,  affecting  all 
offenders  under  the  new  government,  who  returned  and 
avowed  anew  their  allegiance  to  the  old  state. 

The  assembly  held  in  office  all  who  occupied  those  offices 
prior  to  April,  1784,  and  declared  vacant  all  other  posi- 
tions, as  they  considered  an  acceptance  of  office  under 
the  Franklin  government  equivalent  to  resignation  from 
former  office.  They  also  ordered  all  back  taxes,  up  to 
and  of  the  year  1784,  collected,  and  those  due  since  to  be 
rescinded.  This  kindly  and  considerate  act  strengthen- 
ed the  North  Carolina  party  and  the  opposition  was  grad- 
ually losing  support. 

The  lack  of  unanimity  in  the  new  party  evidently 
caused  the  old  state  to  have  patience  and,  unlike  Virginia, 

2Haywood. 


114  Historic  Sullivan. 

she  was  not  unduly  alarmed  at  the  ultimate  result. 
It  was  further  directed  that  the  court  for  Washington 
county  be  held  at  William  Davis',  on  Buffalo  Creek,  ten 
miles  from  Jonesboro.  Later  the  court  of  the  Sevier 
party  was  also  held  at  Jonesboro. 

WAR   BETWEEN  FACTIONS. 

This  conflict  of  courts  brought  on  a  conflict  of  the  peo- 
ple. An  argument  took  place  between  Sevier  and  Tipton 
on  the  streets  of  Jonesboro.  Sevier  hit  Tipton  on  the 
head  with  a  cane,  the  latter  retorted  with  an  oath  and  a 
blow,  and  the  dispute  degenerated  into  a  common  street 
fight.  Fights  became  general.  The  rowdies  of  each 
party  had  no  other  argument  with  which  to  emphasize 
their  allegiance  than  blows,  and  they  were  frequent. 
When  officers  were  elected  due  consideration  was  given 
to  a  man's  strength,  as  this  qualification  was  often  called 
to  test.    The  sheriffs  of  both  parties  were  physical  giants. 

On  one  occasion,  while  the  Sevier  court  was  in  session 
at  Jonesboro,  Tipton,  at  the  head  of  a  small  army,  en- 
tered the  courthouse,  turned  out  all  the  magistrates  and 
took  possession  of  the  papers.  Later  Sevier,  in  like 
manner,  returned  the  party  call,  ousted  the  officials  and 
retook  the  papers,  which  his  brother,  Valentine  Sevier, 
hid  in  a  cave.3  In  this  way  many  valuable  records,  both 
of  marriages  and  deeds  were  destroyed  or  lost,  causing 
confusion  and  litigation  in  after  years. 

Sevier  began  to  look  about  him  for  sympathy  and  sup- 
port from  the  outside,  as  he  saw  that  the  opposition  was 
gaining  strength.  He  had  previously  appealed  to  Gov. 
Patrick  Henry,  promising  not  to  consider  any  proposition 
tending  toward  an  alliance  with  the  Southwest  Virgin- 

3The  effect  of  this  concealment  and  consequent  exposure  to  the  earth  can  be 
9  een  on  the  remaining  Washington  county  records. 


The  State  of  Franklin.  115 

ians,    who    wished    to  join    the     State    of    Franklin.4 

Both  parties,  during  1786,  tried  to  collect  taxes,  but 
when  the  people  declined  to  pay,  professing  they  did  not 
know  which  side  to  recognize,  enforcement  was  not  at- 
tempted, so  then  as  now,  taxes  were  dodged. 

On  all  sides  the  adherents  of  the  new  state  were  leav- 
ing it.  Judge  David  Campbell,  the  presiding  judge,  had 
accepted  a  senatorship  in  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina, 
while  Sullivan  County  sent  Martin,  Maxwell  and  Scott. 

The  beginning  of  the  year  1787  found  the  Franklin 
commonwealth  frail,  with  a  gloomy  future  facing  it,  but 
whose  few  loyal  supporters  were  still  defiant  and  ready 
to  stand  by  it  to  the  last. 

Gov.  Sevier,  in  his  desperation,  was  using  every  effort 
to  stay  the  end. 

At  one  time  the  governorship  was  tendered  Evan  Shel- 
by, but  was  declined.  He  had  tried  to  remain  neutral 
and  did  not  figure  in  any  of  the  previous  proceedings.5 
Sevier  sent  Maj.  Elholm,  his  friend  and  trusted  ally,  to 
make  overtures  to  Georgia,  promising  his  troops  to  aid  in 
putting  down  the  Creeks.  Elholm 's  mission  was  indeed 
fruitful,  for  the  Governor  of  Georgia,  instructed  by  the 
legislature,  communicated  his  desire  for  a  coalition,  and 
to  further  strengthen  their  interest  a  sum  of  money  was 
voted  to  aid  any  military  enterprise.  He  also  expressed 
gratitude  for  the  proffered  help  and  friendship. 

4Patrick  Henry,  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  took  an  alarming  view.  He  did 
not  at  any  time  fear  the  outcome  of  the  Revolution  so  much  as  he  dreaded  the 
prospect  of  Southwest  Virginia  in  rebellion  against  her  own  state.  The  Separatist 
movement  in  Washington  county,  Virginia,  "threatened  the  dismemberment  of 
the  Old  Dominion"  (Ramsey).  "The  proposed  limits,  "wrote  the  governor,  "in- 
clude a  vast  extent  of  country  in  which  we  have  numerous  and  very  respectable 
settlements  which  in  their  growth  will  form  a  barrier  between  this  country  and 
those,  who,  in  the  course  of  events  may  occupy  the  vast  places  westward  of  the 
mountains,  some  of  whom  have  views  incompatable  with  our  safety."  "Already 
the  militia  of  that  part  of  the  sate  is  the  most  respectable  we  have,"  and  further 
on  he  speaks  of  Washington  county  as  "that  nursery  of  soldiers  from  which  future 
armies  may  be  levied."  He  seemed  to  deplore  the  part  Col.  Arthur  Campbell 
was  taking  in  the  movement  to  join  the  State  of  Franklin.  (The  reader  is  re- 
minded that  France  and  Spain  were  then  in  possession  of  "the  vast  places  west- 
ward.") 

5The  attitude  of  Sullivan  County  toward  the  Franklin  movement  is  not  gen- 
erally understood.  The  majority  in  Sullivan  County  opposed  it,  not  so  much 
on  account  of  their  sympathy  with  the  opposition,  but  because  of  the  Shelby 
influence.  "My  grandfather  was  bitterly  opposed  to  the  Franklin  movement." — 
Isaac  Shelby,  Jr.,  MSS.  letter  to  Robert  Deery,  1876. 


116  Historic  Sullivan. 

As  a  last  resort  Sevier  wrote  to  Franklin,  for  whom  the 
state  was  named,  and  got  in  reply  a  cautiously  worded 
letter  of  apathetic  interest — "I  am  sensible,"  he  wrote, 
"of  the  honor  which  your  Excellency  and  your  council  do 
me,  but  being  in  Europe  when  your  State  was  formed  I 
am  too  little  acquainted  with  the  circumstances  to  be  able 
to  offer  you  anything  just  now  that  may  be  of  importance, 
since  everything  material  that  regards  your  welfare  will 
doubtless  have  occurred  to  yourselves."  He  then  gives 
fatherly  advice  to  the  young  foundling  as  to  patching  up 
the  differences  with  North  Carolina.  In  cool  politeness 
and  statecraft  he  concludes:  "I  will  endeavor  to  inform 
myself  more  perfectly  of  your  affairs  by  inquiry  and  search- 
ing the  records  of  Congress  and  if  anything  should  occur 
to  me  that  I  think  may  be  useful  to  you,  you  shall  hear 
from  me  thereupon."6 

He  told  them  nothing  more  than  they  already  knew. 
In  time  the  people  of  the  little  state,  had  they  succeeded, 
may  have  resented  such  apathy. 

In  marked  contrast  the  people  of  Georgia,  on  various 
occasions,  were  drinking  the  toast:  "Success  to  the  State 
of  Franklin,  his  excellency,  Gov.  Sevier  and  his  virtuous 
citizens." 

Gov.  Mathews,  on  the  5th  of  November,  1787,  seeing  an 
opportunity  to  profit  by  tender  of  aid,  declared  war 
against  the  Creeks  and  issued  a  proclamation  or  invita- 
tion to  the  new  state  to  aid  in  the  expulsion  of  the  Indians. 
He  was  willing  to  recognize  the  new  state  in  so  far  as  it 
did  not  violate  the  national  interest,  and,  therefore,  in 
consideration  of  this,  was  willing  to  permit  her  soldiery 
to  come  down  and  risk  their  lives  in  behalf  of  Georgia. 
If  they  so  minded  fifteen  hundred  of  them  could  come. 
Such  magnanimity  on  the  part  of  the  pawky  governor 
was  overwhelming,  and,  in  response  to  this  summons, 
fifteen  hundred  of  her  valiant  sons  mobilized  themselves 
around  their  own  firesides  and  staid  at  home. 

6Franklin's  letter  to  Governor  John  Sevier,  1787. 


The  State  of  Franklin.  117 

The  Legislature  of  Franklin  had  its  last  meeting  in 
September,  1787,  in  Greeneville,  which  had  become  the 
permanent  seat  of  government.  They  sent  representa- 
tives, in  the  persons  of  Judge  David  Campbell  and  Landon 
Carter,  to  the  North  Carolina  Legislature,  then  sitting  at 
Tarborough.  Campbell's  acceptance,  a  little  later,  of  a 
senatorship  in  that  assembly  engendered  considerable 
denunciation. 

END  OF  THE  STATE  OF   FRANKLIN. 

It  was  evident  North  Carolina  did  not  intend  to  recog- 
nize Franklin.  This  precipitated  a  little  civil  war.  An 
execution  against  the  estate  of  Sevier  caused  the  seizure 
of  nearly  all  his  slaves,  he,  at  the  time,  being  on  the  fron- 
tier fighting  the  Indians.  On  hearing  of  the  seizure  he 
hastened  home,  raised  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  and 
marched  on  Tipton's  house,  in  the  early  part  of  1788. 
He  was  further  enraged  when  he  heard  that  Tipton's  ob- 
ject was  to  seize  him  also.  Tipton  had  only  time  to  sum- 
mon about  fifteen  men,  after  he  learned  of  Sevier's  inten- 
tion, before  he  found  himself  confronted  by  this  little 
army.  He  barricaded  his  house,  determined  to  defend 
himself  to  the  utmost.  Sevier,  with  a  small  piece  of  ordi- 
nance, stationed  himself  on  a  slight  eminence  near  Tip- 
ton's house  and  demanded  the  unconditional  surrender  of 
Tipton  and  all  his  men,  threatening,  if  they  refused,  to 
fire  on  the  house. 
Tipton  sent  him  word,  "fire  and  be  damned." 
He  then  cautiously  despatched  a  few  messengers  to 
summon  more  men  to  his  assistance.  One  of  these  went 
to  George  Maxwell,  of  Sullivan  County,  who  was,  at  the 
time,  colonel  of  militia.  Cols.  Scott,  Pemberton  and 
Cowan  accompanied  Maxwell,  in  quick  time,with  one 
hundred  and  eighty  men.  They  staid  the  fore  part 
of  the  night  at  Dungan's  Mill,  intending  to  make  a  sur- 
prise attack  at  sunrise.  Sevier's  scouts,  who  had  been 
spying  about,  came  up  very  close  to  them,  but  did  not 


118  Historic  Sullivan. 

discover  them  and,  it  being  very  cold,  returned  to  camp 
to  get  warm.  A  strict  watch  was  kept  on  Tipton's  house 
in  order  that  they  might  intercept  any  one  going  in  or 
coming  out,  which  resulted  in  the  death  of  a  man  named 
Webb  and  the  wounding  of  a  neighbor  woman,  acciden- 
tally shot  in  the  shoulder.7 

Just  before  daybreak  Maxwell  and  his  men  cautiously 
marched  up  within  gunshot  of  the  Sevier  party.  They 
then  gave  a  great  shout  and  this,  assisted  by  a  volley8 
from  one  hundred  and  eighty  guns  and  the  besieged  men 
pouring  out  to  add  to  the  noise,  had  such  a  demoralizing 
effect  on  the  opposition  they  at  once  retired. 

A  blinding  snowstorm,  just  beginning,  added  to  the  con- 
fusion, but  was  very  opportune,  coming  like  a  veil  to  hide 
from  each  other  warring  neighbors  and  friends. 

It  was  a  time  when  none  could  be  spared  from  the  de- 
fense of  the  frontier.  Among  the  captured  were  two  of 
Sevier's  sons,  whom  Tipton,  in  his  uncontrollable  rage, 
decided  to  hang,  but,  by  much  persuasion  and  friendly 
intercession,  was  prevented.9 

Sevier  withdrew  from  these  scenes  and  was  soon  en- 
gaged in  daring  raids  through  the  Indian  country.  On 
his  return,  after  spending  a  day  in  holiday-making  with 
his  companions,  he  decided  to  spend  the  night  with  a 
friend.  Tipton,  hearing  of  this,  with  several  followers, 
surrounded  the  house  and  demanded  Sevier.  At  sight 
of  him,  Tipton  unraveled  his  wrath  and  was,  with  diffi- 
culty, prevented  from  shooting  him.  He  had  Sevier  hand- 
cuffed and  sent  to  Morgantown,  North  Carolina,  for  trial 


7Shot  by  mistake. — Ramsey. 

8The  discharge  of  the  guns  was  ordered  by  the  officers  as  a  precaution  against 
shooting  Sevier's  men,  there  being  no  desire  on  the  part  of  Maxwell's  forces  to 
ehed  blood  unless  self-defense  made  it  necessary. 

9Tipton  was  a  man  of  intelligence  and  great  energy,  but  had  a  temper  he 
could  not  temporize.  In  a  comparison  of  the  two  men,  Sevier  and  Tipton,  we 
find  one  of  the  best  illustrations  in  history  of  how  little  a  man  of  waspish  mind 
can  avail  against  one  of  self-control.  Sevier  climbed  from  one  promotion  to  another 
while  Tipton,  though  always  recognized  as  a  man  of  power,  never  arose 
higher  than  where  he  first  began.  He  was  a  smudge-fire  man — while  he  was  not 
smoking  he  was  in  a  blaze.  In  after  years  the  descendants  of  John  Tipton  ex- 
plained that  relatives  of  Webb — the  man  who  was  killed — and  not  Tipton,  were  the 
ones  who  demanded  the  lives  of  the  Seviers. 


The  State  of  Franklin.  119 

on  various  charges — his  Franklin  affair  and  for  allowing 
to  go  unpunished  the  murder  of  some  friendly  Cherokee 
chiefs  who  were  in  his  custody. 

Sevier's  sensational  escape,  at  his  trial,  by  leaping  upon 
a  waiting  horse,  assisted  by  some  of  his  faithful  followers, 
marked  the  closing  chapter  of  the  storm  tossed  little 
State  of  Franklin. 

But  all  Tennesseans  look  back  with  pride  upon  the  State 
of  Franklin.  The  disaffections  and  divisions  in  the  ranks 
of  that  day,  and  the  prejudices  thereby  engendered,  have 
softened  with  the  departing  years. 

Sevier  had  been  taught  in  the  rough  school  of  pioneer 
politics  and  when  the  time  came  for  him  to  take  hold  of 
the  helm  of  the  ship  of  state  he  steered  it  safely  through 
the  tempest  of  those  disturbing  times. 


William  Blount, 
a  biography. 

Next  to  Shelby  and  Sevier  the  name  of  Blount  is  the 
most  compelling  in  our  nomenclature.  He  was  the  first 
governor  of  the  first  recognized  government  organization 
west  of  the  Alleghanies.  He  chose  as  his  official  residence, 
when  he  came  to  take  charge  as  governor  of  the  Territory 
south  of  Ohio,  the  home  of  William  Cobb  in  "The  Forks" 
of  Sullivan  County,  near  Piney  Flats.  Blountville,1  the 
county  seat,  was  named  for  him. 

He  was  a  polished  diplomat  and  a  gentleman  of  culture, 
commanding  in  presence  and  power.  He  understood  the 
people  with  whom  he  had  to  deal  and  they  understood  him. 

"He  was  of  an  ancient  English  family  of  wealth  and 
rank,  which  at  an  early  day  emigrated  to  North  Carolina. 
The  name  is  often  mentioned  in  the  annals  of  that  State 
during  the  Revolution.  Mr.  Blount  was  remarkable  for 
his  address,  courtly  manners,  benignant  feelings  and  a 
most  impressive  presence.  His  urbanity,  his  personal 
influence  over  men  of  all  conditions  and  ages,  his  hos- 
pitality unostentatiously,  but  yet  elegantly  and  gracefully 
extended  to  all,  won  upon  the  affections  and  regard  of 
the  populace  and  made  him  a  universal  favorite.  He 
was  at  once  the  social  companion,  the  well-bred  gentle- 
man and  the  capable  officer." 

Jacob  Blount,  the  father  of  William  Blount,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  War  Congress  of  North  Carolina. 

He  was  twice  married.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  eight 
children,  of  whom  William  was  the  eldest,  and  by  his  sec- 


lThe  Blounts  have  been  singularly  honored  in  Tennessee.  Blountville  and 
Blount  county  were  named  for  William  Blount,  while  Maryville,  the  county  seat  of 
Blount  county,  and  Grainger  county  were  named  for  his  wife.  Blount  college, 
which  was  later  merged  into  East  Tennessee  University  and  still  later,  University 
of  Tennessee,  was  named  for  him — he  being  one  of  the  directors. 


WILLIAM    BLOUNT 


William  Blount.  121 

ond  wife  he  had  five  children,  one  of  whom  was  Willie.2 
William  and  Willie,  half  brothers,  each  became  governor, 
each  serving  six  years  in  that  capacity.  William  Blount 
was  born  in  Bertie  county,  North  Carolina,  March  26, 
1749.  He  was  married  February  12,  1778,  to  Mary 
Granger,  daughter  of  Col.  Caleb  Granger,  of  Wilmington, 
North  Carolina. 

The  Blounts  were  in  the  battle  of  The  Alamance.3 

When  Congress  finally  accepted  from  North  Carolina 
the  ceded  lands,  which  afterward  became  Tennessee, 
Washington  appointed  William  Blount  Governor  of  the 
Territory  south  of  the  Ohio.  In  addition  he  had  the  su- 
pervision of  the  Indian  agency. 

During  his  encumbency  he  had  many  perplexing  duties 
to  perform,  requiring  sound  judgment,  a  firm  hand  and 
sympathy,  for  he  was  polishing  this  rough  structure  pre- 
paratory to  self-government.  His  most  difficult  prob- 
lems were  the  troublesome  Indian  affairs,  which  he  solved 
satisfactorily  to  all  concerned. 

Gov.  Blount  arrived  in  Sullivan  County  October  10, 
1796,  and  at  once  entered  upon  his  work.  One  of  his 
first  acts  and  one  in  which  he  was  very  zealous,  was  to 
encourage  immigration.  In  consequence  of  this  increas- 
ing interest  the  population  grew  in  unparalleled  rapidity 
from  six  thousand  in  1790  to  seventy-seven  thousand  in 
1795 — sixty  thousand  being  required  for  admission  to 
statehood. 

The  constitutional  convention  met  in  Knoxville,  Jan- 
uary 11,  1796.  Gov.  Blount  was  chosen  president  and  a 
constitution  was  adopted  that  lasted  from  1796  to  1834. 4 

John  Sevier  was  chosen  by  this  convention  first  Gover- 


2The  names  and  official  rank  of  the  two  Blounts  have  often  been  confusing. 
William  was  the  territorial  governor  and  United  States  Senator,  while  Willie  (not 
Wylie)  became  Governor  of  Tennessee. 

30n  account  of  unjust  taxation  and  exhorbitant  fees  exacted  by  officers  of  the 
crown,  the  people  of  Western  North  Carolina  formed  themselves  into  a  band  of 
Regulators  to  oppose  these  officers.  A  force  of  these,  numbering  more  than  two 
thousand,  was  met  by  Gov.  Tyron,  May  16,  1771  on  the  Alamance  and  was  defeated 
— some  refugeeing  on  the  Holston. 

4Thomas  Jefferson  decided  it  the  best  state  constitution  in  the  United  States. 


122  Historic  Sullivan. 

nor  of  Tennessee.  William  Blount,  the  retiring  territorial 
governor,  and  William  Cocke  were  elected  the  first  United 
States  Senators.  They  took  their  seats  in  the  fourth 
Congress,  of  1796. 

On  July  3rd,  next  year,  President  Adams  sent  a  confi- 
dential letter  to  the  Senate,  full  of  alarm.  This  alarm 
was  due  to  a  letter  that  had  been  discovered,  addressed 
by  Senator  Blount  to  "Dear  Carey."  It  was  read  before 
the  Senate  during  the  absence  of  the  Senator,  but  on  his 
return  was  reread  and  he  was  asked  if  he  had  written  it. 
He  replied  he  had  written  a  letter  to  Carey,  but  could  not 
say  whether  this  copy  was  correct,  and  asked  time  to  ex- 
amine his  papers.    This  was  granted. 

This  Carey  letter  was  written  at  the  mouth  of  Steeles 
Creek  in  Sullivan  County,  within  five  miles  of  the  county 
seat  and,  since  it  influenced  the  official  life  of  the  nation 
from  the  President  down,  aroused  the  greatest  excitement 
and  came  near  creating  international  complications,  it  is 
given  in  full: 

Col.  King's  Iron  Works,5 

April  21,  1797. 
Dear  Carey: 

I  wished  to  have  seen  you  before  I  returned  to  Philadelphia,  but 
I  am  obliged  to  return  to  the  session  of  Congress  which  commences  on 
the  15th  of  May. 

Among  other  things  that  I  wished  to  have  seen  you  about  was  the 
business  of  Captain  Chisholm  mentioned  to  the  British  Minister  last 
winter  in  Philadelphia. 

I  believe,  but  am  not  quite  sure,  that  the  plan  then  talked  of  will 
be  attempted  this  fall,  and  if  it  is  attempted,  it  will  be  in  a  much  larger 
way  than  then  talked  of,  and  if  the  Indians  act  their  part,  I  have  no 
doubt  but  it  will  suceed.  A  man  of  consequence  has  gone  to  England 
about  this  business;  and  if  he  makes  arrangements,  I  shall  myself  have 
a  hand  in  the  business,  and  shall  probably  be  at  the  head  of  the  business 
on  the  part  of  the  British. 

You  are,  however,  to  understand  that  it  is  not  yet  quite  certain 
that  the  plan  will  be  attempted,  and  to  do  so  will  require  all  your 

5Description  of  the  iron  works  is  given  in   chapter  on  "Industries." 


William  Blount.  123 

management.  I  say  will  require  all  your  management,  because  you 
must  take  care  in  whatever  you  say  to  Rogers  or  anybody  else,  not 
to  let  the  plan  be  discovered  by  Hawkins,  Dinsmoor,  Byers  or  any  other 
person  in  the  interest  of  the  United  States  or  of  Spain. 

If  I  attempt  this  plan,  I  shall  expect  to  have  you  and  all  of  my 
Indian  friends  with  me,  but  you  are  now  in  good  business  I  hope,  and 
you  are  not  to  risk  the  loss  of  it  by  saying  anything  that  will  hurt  you 
until  you  again  hear  from  me.  Where  Captain  Chisholm  is  I  do  not 
know.  I  left  home  in  Philadelphia  in  March,  and  he  frequently  visited 
the  Minister  and  spoke  about  the  subject;  but  I  believe  he  will  go  into 
the  Creek  Nation  by  way  of  South  Carolina  or  Georgia.  He  gave  out 
that  he  was  going  to  England,  but  I  do  not  believe  him.  Among  things 
that  you  may  safely  do,  will  be  to  keep  up  my  consequence  with  Watts 
and  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  generally;  and  you  must  by  no  means 
say  anything  in  faver  of  Hawkins,  but  as  often  as  you  can  with  safety 
to  yourself,  you  may  teach  the  Creeks  to  believe  he  is  no  better  than  he 
should  be.  Any  power  or  consequence  he  gets  will  be  against  our  plan. 
Perhaps  Rogers,  who  has  an  office  to  lose,  is  the  best  man  to  give  out 
talks  against  Hawkins.  Read  the  letter  to  Rogers,  and  if  you  think  it 
best  to  send  it,  put  a  wafer  in  it  and  forward  it  to  him  by  a  safe  hand; 
or  perhaps,  you  had  best  send  for  him  to  come  to  you,  and  speak  to  him 
yourself  respecting  the  state  and  prospect  of  things. 

I  have  advised  you  in  whatever  you  do  to  take  care  of  yourself. 
I  have  now  to  tell  you  to  take  care  of  me  too,  for  a  discovery  of  the 
plan  would  prevent  the  success  and  much  injure  all  parties  concerned. 
It  may  be  that  the  Commissioners  may  not  run  the  line  as  the  Indians 
expect  or  wish,  and  in  that  case  it  is  probable  that  the  Indians  may  be 
taught  to  blame  me  for  making  the  treaty. 

To  such  complaints  against  me,  if  such  there  be,  it  may  be  said  by 
my  friends,  at  proper  times  and  places,  that  Doublehead  confirmed  the 
treaty  with  the  President  at  Philadelphia,  and  received  as  much  as  five 
thousand  dollars  a  year  to  be  paid  to  the  Nation  over  and  above  the 
first  price;  indeed  it  may  with  truth  be  said  that  though  I  made  the  treaty 
that  I  made  it  by  the  instructions  of  the  President,  and  in  fact,  it  may 
with  truth  be  said  that  I  was  by  the  President,  instructed  to  purchase 
much  more  land  than  the  Indians  would  agree  to  sell.  This  sort  of  talk 
will  be  throwing  all  the  blame  off  on  the  late  President,  and  as  he  is 
now  out  of  office,  it  will  be  of  no  consequence  how  much  the  Indians 
blame  him.  And  among  other  things  that  may  be  said  for  me,  is  that 
I  was  not  at  the  running  of  the  line,  and  that  if  I  had  been,  it  would  have 
been  more  to  their  satisfaction.  In  short,  you  understand  the  subject, 
and  must  take  care  to  give  out  the  proper  talks  to  keep  my  consequence 
with  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees.  Can't  Rogers  contrive  to  get  the  Creeks 
to  desire  the  President  to  take  Hawkins  out  of  the  nation?  for  if  he  stays 


124  Historic  Sullivan. 

in  the  Creek  Nation,  and  gets  the  good  will  of  the  Nation,  he  can  and 
will  do  great  injury  to  our  plan. 

When  you  have  read  this  letter  over  three  times,  then  burn  it.  I 
shall  be  in  Knoxville  in  July  or  August,  when  I  will  send  for  Watts  and 
give  him  the  whiskey  I  promised  him. 

I  am,  &c, 

Wm.  Blount 

The  preceding  letter  was  enclosed  in  a  cover,  with  the  following 
directions,  viz:     "Mr.  James  Carey,  Tellico  Block  House." 

The  senate  committee,  after  a  brief  and  hurried  investi- 
gation of  five  days,  when  Senator  Blount  refused  to  an- 
swer questions,  presented  the  following  conclusion  by 
resolution : 

"Resolved  that  William  Blount,  Esq.,  one  of  the  Sena- 
tors of  the  United  States,  having  been  guilty  of  a  high 
misdemeanor,  entirely  inconsistent  with  his  public  trust 
and  duty  as  a  Senator,  be  and  he  hereby  is,  expelled  from 
the  Senate  of  the  United  States." 

The  resolution  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  twenty-five  to 
one — Senator  Tazewell,  of  Virginia,  voting  in  the  nega- 
tive. On  the  same  day  the  House  appointed  a  committee 
composed  of  Sitgreaves,  Baldwin,  Dana,  Dawson  and  Har- 
per "to  prepare  and  report  articles  of  impeachment"  and 
were  granted  power  to  send  for  persons,  papers  and 
records. 

The  two  most  important  witnesses  will  be  introduced, 
giving  in  brief  the  text  of  the  trial — Nicholas  Romaine 
and  James  Carey: 

interrogatories  of  the  committees  and  answers 
of  the  deponent6 

1.  Who  was  the  friend  at  whose  request  you  wrote  to  William 
Blount,  while  Governor  of  the  Southwestern  Territory,  about  the 
purchase  of  military  lands? 

Answer.     It  was  Mr.  Edward  Griswold,  now  resident  of  Paris. 

2.  You  have  said  that  articles  of  agreement  were  drawn  up  be- 
tween you  and  William  Blount,  previously  to  your  departure  for  Europe, 
in  1795.     Were  they  executed,  and  what  was  their  tenor? 

6From  Gen.  Marcus  J.  Wright's,  "Life  of  Blount." 


William  Blount.  125 

A.  They  were  executed,  and  are,  I  understand,  in  possession  of 
the  Committee.  They  related  solely  to  lands,  and  their  tenor  and 
contents  may  be  discovered  from  a  perusal. 

3.  How  long  did  you  remain  in  Europe,  and  what  part  of  it? 

A.  Something  more  than  a  year;  during  which  time  I  visited  first 
England,  then  Holland,  France,  and  Belgium;  from  whence  I  returned 
to  England,  and  after  a  short  stay  there,  embarked  for  New  York. 

4.  Who  were  the  persons  in  whose  hands  you  left  certain  maps 
and  papers  on  your  departure  for  England? 

A.  I  left  them  with  different  persons.  They  were  wholly  of  a 
private  nature,  and  in  no  manner  connected  with  the  subject  of  this 
examination. 

5.  Are  you  acquainted  with  Sir  William  Pulteney;  and  if  you  are, 
did  your  acquaintance  commence  with  him  before  you  visited  England 
in  1795? 

A.  It  did  not.  My  acquaintance  with  him  arose  from  letters 
from  Mr.  Williamson,  in  the  Genesee  country,  to  him,  with  which  I  was 
particularly  charged.  The  personal  delivery  of  those  letters,  winch 
I  understood  to  relate  to  private  concerns,  gave  rise  to  conversation 
between  us,  and  that  led  to  a  further  acquaintance. 

6.  Were  you  acquainted,  while  in  England,  in  1795,  with  Lord 
Grenville,  or  with  Mr.  Dundas? 

A.  Not  with  Lord  Grenville.  With  Mr.  Dundas  I  had  some 
acquaintance,  having  been  introduced  to  him  by  a  gentleman  at  whose 
house  I  met  him  at  dinner.  This  gentleman  afterwards  carried  me  to 
breakfast  with  Mr.  Dundas,  whose  desire  of  acquaintance  with  me 
might  have  arisen  from  some  sketches  which  I  had  written  respect- 
ing this  country,  and  which  I  believe  were  seen  by  him.  This 
was  all  the  acquaintance  or  intercouse  I  had  with  Mr.  Dundas. 

7.  Did  not  those  persons,  or  some,  and  which  of  them,  in  those 
conversations,  express  to  you  a  desire  to  add  Louisiana  or  the  Floridas, 
or  both,  to  the  British  crown;  and  did  you  not  hear  this  desire  expressed 
by  some  other,  and  what  persons  of  consideration  in  England? 

A.  I  never  heard  such  a  wish  expressed  by  those  or  any  other 
persons  in  England. 

8.  Were  you,  while  in  England,  requested  by  any,  or  what  persons 
to  sound  the  people  of  the  United  States  on  the  subject  of  a  plan  to  annex 
Florida  or  Louisiana,  or  both,  to  the  British  crown;  or  to  make  some 
propositions  tending  that  way? 

A.  No  such  request  or  overtures  were  ever  made  to  me.  The 
plan  originated  between  Mr.  Blount  and  myself,  as  far  as  I  know,  in  the 
manner  stated  by  me  in  my  deposition. 

9.  In  your  conversations  in  England  with  persons  of  consideration, 
was  any  mention  made  of  a  description  of  people  in  this  country  who 
wished  to  separate  the  Western  settlements  from  the  Union? 


126  Historic  Sullivan. 

A.  No  mention  of  such  persons  was  made  to  me  by  any  persons 
whatever. 

10.  How  long  have  you  been  acquainted  with  the  British  Minister 
in  this  country,  and  by  what  means  did  you  come  to  know  him? 

A.  I  was  introduced  to  him  at  London,  by  Mr.  Pickney,  soon 
after  his  appointment  to  this  country,  and  I  paid  him  a  visit  and  left 
some  letters  for  America,  of  which  he  took  charge.  I  have  never  seen 
him  since  his  arrival  in  America. 

11.  On  your  return  to  this  country,  in  1796,  you  wrote  to  Governor 
Blount,     Did  you  urge  him  to  meet  you  in  New  York? 

A.  I  did  write  to  him,  as  stated  in  my  deposition,  and  spoke  of 
some  private  business;  but  I  did  not  mention  this  subject,  nor  did  I 
request  him  to  come  to  New  York.  His  arrival  there  in  February  was 
without  my  knowledge  or  privity,  and,  as  I  understood,  for  private 
business  of  his  own. 

12.  To  what  persons  in  England  or  America  have  you  written  on 
the  subject  of  this  inquiry,  since  your  return,  and  what  answers  have 
you  received? 

A.  I  have  written  to  one  person  in  England,  a  member  of  Parlia- 
ment, but  not  of  Administration;  from  whose  answer  it  does  not  appear 
that  the  business  was  ever  spoken  of  there  by  him.  I  also  wrote  to 
Governor  Blount,  and  received  answers;  the  purport  and  substance  of 
which  I  have  already  explained.  I  likewise  wrote  to  Mr.  Liston,  and 
I  believe,  to  no  other  person.  Mr.  Liston  gave  me  an  answer,  which  is 
now  in  possession  of  the  Committee. 

13.  What  was  the  purport  of  your  letter  to  Mr.  Liston? 

A.  I  have  no  copy  of  the  letter,  but  I  recollect  its  purport,  which 
was  to  inform  Mr.  Liston  that  I  had  heard  of  a  certain  enterprise  in 
contemplation,  and  on  which  he  had  been  consulted,  and  to  caution  him 
against  it,  as  a  very  delicate  measure,  requiring  great  circumspection, 
and  capable,  if  known  to  be  encouraged  by  him,  of  injuring  the  interests, 
both  of  this  country  and  his  own,  which  I  was  persuaded  it  was  his  wish 
to  promote.  I  also  hinted  that  a  plan  more  extensive  was  contemplated 
by  fitter  persons;  and  having  understood  that  he  intended  to  send  his 
secretary  to  some  place  on  the  business  which  had  been  mentioned  to 
him,  I  strongly  dissuaded  him  from  this  step;  indeed,  to  do  so  had  been 
one  of  my  chief  inducements  to  address  him.  In  his  answer,  now  in  the 
possession  of  the  Committee,  he  assured  me  that  he  had  no  intention 
of  sending  his  secretary  anywhere.  I  was  induced  to  take  this  liberty 
with  Mr.  Liston  from  the  manner  in  which  I  became  acquainted  with 
him,  and  the  very  favorable  light  in  which  he  was  presented  in  letters 
which  I  had  received  from  England,  and  one  of  which  I  enclosed  to  him. 

14.  What  was  the  project  against  which  you  cautioned  Mr.  Liston? 
A.     It  was  that  of  Chisholm,  of  which  I  had  been  informed  by 


William  Blount.  127 

Governor  Blount,  and  which  the  latter  told  me  had  been  mentioned 
to  the  Minister. 

15.  What  was  the  project  to  which  you  alluded  as  being  in  more 
proper  hands?     Did  Mr.  Liston  know  of  it,  or  did  you  explain  it  to  him? 

A.  It  was  that  contemplated  bv  Governor  Blount  and  myself. 
Mr.  Liston,  as  far  as  I  know,  and  believe,  had  no  knowledge  of  it,  nor  was 
it  our  intention  to  give  him  any.  I  did  not  think  it  proper  for  him  to  be 
acquainted  with  it;  the  intention  being  to  apply,  not  to  him,  but  to  the 
British  government. 

16.  In  your  conversation  with  Governor  Blount,  at  New  York, 
you  expressed  your  regret  that  Louisiana  did  not  belong  to  England , 
since  the  value  of  lands  in  the  Western  country  would,  in  that  case, 
be  increased;  was  this  the  first  time  you  had  contemplated  or  expressed 
that  idea? 

A.  It  was  not.  I  had  reflected  on  the  idea  before,  but  had  never 
mentioned  it  verbally  to  any  person;  nor  in  writing,  except  once,  and 
that  was  in  a  letter  to  a  gentleman  in  England.  This  letter,  however, 
merely  stated  the  possession  of  those  countries  by  England  as  a  desirable 
tiling. 

17.  What  was  the  nature  and  object  of  the  business  contemplated 
between  William  Blount  and  you? 

A.  Nothing  precise  or  definite  had  been  agreed  upon.  Much  was 
to  depend  on  the  result  of  Governor  Blount's  inquiries  and  observations, 
upon  which  I  never  received  any  communication  from  him.  But  the 
general  object  was  to  prevent  the  Louisiana  and  the  Floridas  from  pass- 
ing into  the  hands  of  France,  pursuant  to  the  supposed  cession  of  Spain; 
and  to  make  propositions  to  the  British  government  in  that  view. 

18.  What  were  the  propositions  intended  to  be  made  to  the  British 
Government? 

A.  On  this  head,  also,  nothing  definite  had  been  agreed  upon. 
Had  Governor  Blount  gone  to  England,  he  would  of  course  have  pro- 
posed his  own  terms;  had  I  gone,  I  should  have  received  his  instructions. 
This  would  have  been  settled  in  the  interview  which  I  had  proposed 
between  us,  had  it  taken  place.  Had  I  gone  without  seeing  him, 
I  should  have  waited  in  England  for  letters  from  him  on  the  subject. 

19.  Was  it  not  understood  that  William  Blount  and  yourself 
were  to  use  your  personal  efforts  and  influence  to  prevent  the  supposed 
cession  of  Louisiana  by  Spain  to  France  from  being  carried  into  effect? 

A.  This  was  certainly  our  object;  and  every  means,  both  in  this 
country  and  Europe,  would,  of  course,  have  been  employed  by  us  for 
its  accomplishment. 

20.  Was  it  not  proposed  that  Great  Britain  should  send  a  force 
into  that  country  for  that  purpose? 


128  Historic  Sullivan. 

A.  To  ascertain  whether  they  would  do  this,  was  the  express 
object  of  Governor  Blount's  intended  visit  to  Europe. 

21.  Was  it  understood  that,  in  case  circumstances  should  require 
it  Governor  Blount  and  his  Western  friends  were  to  make  active  efforts 
in  co-operation  with  the  British  forces  which  might  be  sent  there? 

A.  When  Governor  Blount  and  myself  parted  at  New  York, 
the  understanding  between  us  was,  that  he  should  go  to  England. 
Nothing  was  then  said,  or  has  since  passed  between  us,  on  the  subject 
of  this  interrogatory;  nor  have  I  any  direct  knowledge  of  his  views  on 
that  head. 

22.  What  part  were  the  Indians  and  the  Western  people  to  act  in 
this  business;  and  in  what  manner  were  they  to  be  used  in  its  execution? 
Was  a  co-operation  by  force  from  the  territories  of  the  United  States 
contemplated? 

A.  As  to  the  Indians,  there  was  nothing  particularly  said  about 
them,  nor  had  I  any  idea  of  their  being  employed.  To  keep  them  quiet 
was  all  supposed  to  be  intended,  or  advisable.  The  Western  people, 
according  to  my  view  of  the  subject,  were  to  be  rendered  favorable 
to  the  possession  of  the  Floridas  and  Louisiana  by  the  British,  and 
disposed  to  emigrate  there,  and  assist  in  hold  ng  the  country,  should  the 
reduction  take  place.  No  co-operation  of  forces  was  mentioned  by 
Governor  Blount,  nor  have  I  any  knowledge  of  his  precise  intentions 
as  to  either  the  Western  people  or  the  Indians.  All  this,  as  I  understood 
the  matter,  was  dependent  upon  his  observations  and  inquiries  in  the 
Western  country,  on  which  subject  I  had  no  information  from  him. 

23.  What  part  was  William  Blount  to  bear  in  this  business,  and 
who  might  faver  or  aid  it,  were  to  derive  from  its  accomplishment? 

A.  I  had  no  doubt  that  Governor  Blount  had  high  expectations 
of  emolument  and  command,  in  case  the  project  should  succeed,  but 
nothing  definite  on  this  subject  was  spoken  of  between  him  and  me; 
and,  from  the  nature  of  the  business,  everything  must  have  depended 
on  the  arrangement  made  in  London  with  the  British  Government. 

24.  Did  William  Blount  ever  apply  to  those  persons  of  importance 
in  and  ouv  of  the  Government  whom  it  was  agreed  he  should  sound  on 
this  subject? 

A.  I  do  not  know  that  he  ever  did  apply  to  any  of  them.  1  had 
no  information  from  him  on  this  point. 

25.  In  one  of  your  letters  to  William  Blount  you  urge  the  propriety 
of  his  appearing  to  have  no  connection  with  the  land  schemes  and 

commerce  in .     What  plac  was  meant,  and  why  was  caution 

commended? 

A.  England  was  the  place  meant,  and  the  caution  proceeded 
from  an  opinion  in  me,  that  the  dignity  and  importance  of  character 


William  Blount.  129 

which  it  was  desirable  for  Governor  Blount  to  maintain  in  England, 
would  be  lessened  by  his  appearing  to  be  concerned  in  commerce  or  the 
sale  of  lands. 

26.  In  another  part  of  the  correspondence  between  William 
Blount  and  yourself,  you  tell  him  that  it  would  be  proper  to  keep  bis 
business  in  England  secret  from  Mr.  King.  What  was  the  reason  of 
this  caution? 

A.  The  reason  is  explained  in  the  letter  itself  which  contains 
the  caution.  It  is  possible  that  I  may  have  had  some  further  reasons 
than  are  there  expressed.  But  I  have  no  accurate  or  perfect  recollec- 
tion on  this  subject. 

27.  In  one  of  your  letters  to  William  Blount  you  mention  a  paper 
which  you  had  drawn  up  on  the  subject  of  your  business,  to  be  left  for 
him,  in  case  you  should  sail  for  Europe  without  a  personal  interview, 
and  which  you  wished  him  to  possess,  but  do  not  choose  to  send. 
Where  is  that  paper,  and  what  were  its  purport  and  substance? 

A.  The  only  copy  which  now  exists  was  sent  by  me  to  England, 
directed  to  myself  some  time  in  May  or  June.  It  contained  a  variety 
of  notes,  reflections,  and  cautions,  relative  to  the  business  contemplated 
between  me  and  Governor  Blount,  which  had  occurred  to  me  after  he  had 
left  Philadelphia  in  the  spring,  on  his  return  to  Tennessee,  but  I  cannot 
state  the  particulars.  They  were  reflections  which  occurred  to  me  at 
various  times,  when  thinking  on  the  subject,  and  were  noted  down  as 
they  occurred,  to  serve  myself  and  Governor  Blount  as  hints  and 
memoranda  in  the  progress  of  the  business.  One  copy  I  sent  to  Eng- 
land for  my  own  use  when  I  should  arrive  there.  Another  I  retained 
for  Governor  Blount,  but  afterwards  destroyed  when  I  conceived  the 
business  to  be  at  an  end.     They  were  never  seen  by  him. 

28.  Do  you  know  any  other  matter  or  thing  which,  in  your 
opinion,  is  material  to  the  objects  of  this  examination?  If  yea,  declare 
it  fully. 

A.  The  foregoing  depositions  and  answers  contain  all  that  I 
know  on  the  subject;  and,  aided  by  the  correspondence  now  in  possession 
of  the  Committee,  will,  I  presume,  furnish  them  with  every  idea  respect- 
ing it  in  my  power  to  communicate. 

Nicholas  Romaine. 

Carey  deposes: 

I  am  interpreter  for  the  United  States  to  the  Cherokee  Nation  of 
Indians,  and  assistant  at  the  public  store  established  at  the  Tellico 
Blockhouse,  and  I  reside  there  at  present.  For  these  offices  I  receive 
the  annual  salary  of  three  hundred  dollars,  besides  my  board,  from  the 
Government  of  the  United  States. 


130  Historic  Sullivan. 

I  attended  the  Cherokees  on  their  visit  to  Philadelphia  last  winter, 
and  one  day,  about  the  last  of  December,  or  beginning  of  January, 
was  invited,  with  two  of  the  chiefs,  John  Watts  and  John  Langley, 
to  dine  with  Col.  Mentges.  After  dinner,  Col.  Mentges  proposed  to  us 
to  take  a  walk  to  the  Schuylkill;  Captain Chisholm  overtook  us  in  a  coach 
and  invited  us  to  ride  with  him,  which  invitation  we  accepted  after  a 
little  hesitation.  We  stopped  at  a  tavern  in  the  nieghborhood  of  the  city 
and,  after  taking  some  wine,  we  all  returned  in  the  carriage  with  Captain 
Chisholm,  except  Col.  Mentges,  who  preferred  walking.  After  Col. 
Mentges  left  us,  and  on  our  way  home,  Chisholm  began  a  conversation 
with  me,  which,  at  his  request,  I  repeated  to  the  Indians  who  were  with 
us.  He  said  that  he  had  great  power  in  his  hands,  that  he  was  going  to 
England,  and  should  return  and  take  the  Floridas.  As  I  knew  him  to  be 
a  rattling,  boasting  kind  of  a  man,  I  laughed  at  him,  and  did  not  much 
regard  what  he  said.  He  then  told  me,  if  I  would  not  believe  him, 
he  would  show  it  to  me  in  writing.  Accordingly,  when  we  returned  to 
our  lodgings,  he  took  out  of  his  trunk  four,  or  five,  or  six  sheets  of  gilt 
paper,  the  whole  of  which  was  filled  with  writing  in  a  pretty  hand;  this 
he  said  he  had  received  from  the  British  Minister,  and  read  to  me  with 
such  rapidity  that  I  could  not  distinctly  understand  it.  It  had  neither 
signature,  direction,  or  address,  but  purported  to  be  a  plan  for  the 
reduction  of  the  Floridas  by  a  British  and  Indian  force,  of  which  how- 
ever, I  do  not  recollect  the  particulars.  It  did  not  specify  the  number 
of  men  or  ships  that  were  to  be  engaged  in  the  expedition;  Gov.  Blount's 
name  was  nowhere  mentioned  in  it,  nor  did  it  contain  the  names  of  any 
persons  or  parties  or  associates  in  the  project  or  who  were  to  be  desired 
to  join  it;  nor  do  I  remember  that  it  proposed  at  all  to  engage  any 
citizens  of  the  United  States  in  the  enterprise,  or  to  raise  any  force  for 
the  purpose  within  the  United  States.  Chisholm  was  styled  "Captain" 
in  the  paper,  and  was  to  go  to  England  to  the  British  Minister  with  it, 
or,  if  he  did  not  go  himself,  the  paper  was  to  be  sent  there,  and  the 
answer  was  to  be  returned  to  the  British  Minister  at  Philadelphia. 
If  Chisholm  should  not  be  in  Philadelphia  when  the  answer  was  received, 
it  was  to  be  forwarded  by  hand  to  Knoxville  to  him,  or,  in  his  absence, 
to  his  son,  Ig.  Chisholm,  who  was  to  send  it  to  the  Cherokee  Nation  to 
his  father;  or,  if  his  father  should  not  be  there,  to  deliver  it  to  John 
Rogers.  If  the  answer  should  be  sent  round  by  the  Floridas,  it  was, 
in  like  manner,  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Cherokee  country  to  Captain 
Chisholm,  or,  in  his  absence,  to  John  Rogers.  This  arrangement  was 
contained  in  the  paper.  Chisholm  himself  said  that  he  was  going  to 
England  to  get  everything  in  preparation,  and  to  procure  from  the 
Ministry,  men  and  naval  armament;  that  the  expedition  was  to  come 
out  in  a  large  privateer;  and  that  on  their  arrival  in  the  Floridas, 
he  was  to  obtain  the  assistance  of  the  Indians,  and  then  attack  the 


William  Blount.  131 

Spanish.  After  Chisholm  had  read  his  paper  and  finished  his  story,  I 
continued  to  laugh  at  him,  and  express  my  incredulity;  whereupon  he 
said  if  I  still  would  not  believe  him,  I  should  go  with  him  to  the  British 
Minister  the  next  morning,  and  take  the  Indians  with  me.  I  told  him 
that  I  had  no  business  with  the  British  Minister,  and  declined  going, 
and  so  did  the  Indians. 

Two  or  three  days  afterwards,  at  the  request  of  the  widow  of  the 
Hanging  Maw,  I  went  to  Gov.  Blount's  lodgings  to  ask  for  some  money 
that  he  owed  her.  I  found  him  engaged  in  writing  and  alone.  On  my 
entrance,  he  said  to  me,  "Carey,  what  in  the  devil  has  become  of  Chis- 
holm; damn  the  fellow,  where  is  he?"  I  replied  that  he  had  changed  his 
lodgings.  Being  thus  reminded  of  Chisholm,  I  concluded  to  tell  Gov. 
Blount  what  I  had  heard  and  seen.  I  said  to  him,  therefore,  "Governor, 
do  you  know  what  this  business  is  that  Chisholm  is  upon?"  He  instantly 
raised  his  head  eagerly  from  the  paper  on  which  he  was  writing,  and 
looking  at  me  said,  "No,  no;  what  do  you  mean,  Carey?"  I  then 
told  him  of  my  conversation  with  Chisholm,  and  what  Chisholm  had 
shown  me.  When  I  mentioned  the  writing  I  had  seen  he  again  raised 
his  head  suddenly,  and  looking  at  me  as  before,  asked  me  eagerly  whether 
the  writing  was  signed?  I  told  him  it  was  not,  and  then  he  said, 
"Pooh,  pooh,  Carey;  you  know  what  a  windy,  blasty  fellow  Chisholm  is, 
and  it  is  not  worth  while  to  take  any  more  notice  of  it,  or  say  anything 
about  it.  " 

I  had  no  time,  before  or  afterwards,  any  other  communication, 
of  any  kind  with  Gov.  Blount  relative  to  this  subject  or  any  political 
plan  or  scheme,  until  I  received  from  him  the  letter  dated  Col.  King's 
Iron  Works,  April  21,  1797,  except  that  once,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
last  winter,  he  advised  me  not  to  be  present  at  the  running  of  the  line, 
nor  to  have  anything  to  do  with  it,  as  he  said  it  would  be  a  troublesome 
business,  and  might  occasion  the  Indians  to  reflect  on  me. 

In  a  short  time  after  these  occurrences,  I  left  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia with  the  Indians.  At  Tellico  I  mentioned  without  reserve  to 
Mr.  Byers  and  other  gentlemen  there  what  Chisholm  had  said  to  me 
and  shown  me;  they  all  seemed  to  treat  the  thing  very  lightly,  and  to 
consider  Chisholm  and  his  communications  as  equally  unworthy  of 
attention.  I  mentioned  them  also  to  John  Rogers;  told  him  how  he 
was  mentioned  in  the  paper,  and  asked  if  he  knew  anything  about  it; 
he  said  he  did  not,  and  that  such  a  fellow  as  Chisholm  was  not  worth 
minding. 

After  my  return  to  Tellico,  on  or  about  the  20th  of  May,  I  was  told 
that  James  Grant,  commonly  called  Major  Grant,  wanted  to  see  me. 
When  I  met  him,  he  told  me  he  had  a  letter  for  me  which  he  wished  to 
deliver  to  me  when  we  were  by  ourselves.  We  walked  away  together 
some  distance,  and  then  he  said  he  had  a  letter  for  me  from  my  old 


132  Historic  Sullivan. 

friend  Gov.  Blount.  He  delivered  it  to  me,  and,  on  opening  it,  I  found 
within  the  same  cover,  two  letters,  one  for  John  Rogers,  dated,  "Tenn- 
essee, Sullivan  County,  April  21,  1797,  (Col.  King's  Iron  Works)"  the 
other  for  me,  dated  "Col.  King's  Iron  Works,  April  21,  1797,"  both  of 
which  letters  are  now  in  the  possession  of  the  committee.  Without 
attending  to  the  direction,  I  first  opened  that  which  was  addressed  to 
Rogers,  and  read  down  one  side,  which  related  to  a  runaway  negro  fellow 
before  I  discovered  my  mistake.  I  then  began  the  letter  which  was 
directed  to  me.  Major  Grant  and  I  were  sitting  within  two  or  three  feet 
of  each  other.  I  read  loud  enough  to  be  heard  by  him,  and,  as  I  was 
sometimes  at  a  loss  to  make  out  a  word,  being  a  poor  scholar,  he  told  me 
what  it  was,  and  explained  it  to  me  and  corrected  me  whenever  I 
blundered  as  I  went  along.  When  I  had  finished  reading  it  he  said  to  me 
"Now,  Carey,  you  must  be  very  careful,  as  your  friend,  Gov.  Blount 
puts  great  confidence  in  you;  you  must  observe  what  he  tells  you,  that 
when  you  have  read  the  letter  two  or  three  times  you  are  to  burn  it." 
He  then  asked  me  what  I  intended  to  do;  whether  I  would  send  the 
letter  to  Rogers,  or  send  for  Rogers  to  come  to  me.  I  told  him  I  did  not 
know;  perhaps  I  might  write  to  Rogers,  and  if  I  did  I  would  let  him 
know.  He  said  that  the  people  thereabouts  thought  it  all  over  with 
Gov.  Blount,  but  he  would  rise  yet;  that  if  his  plan  should  take  place, 
it  would  be  a  great  thing  for  the  friends  of  the  business  and  for  the 
country;  that  Gov.  Blount  would  entrust  nobody  with  the  letter  but  him 
and  that  he  came  to  Tellico  on  purpose  to  deliver  it  to  me;  that  I  should 
receive  another  letter  from  Gov.  Blount,  and  that  he,  Major  Grant, 
would  come  down  again  to  see  me  on  the  subject.  I  then  told  him  that 
I  could  not  tarry  there  any  longer,  as  I  was  wanted  at  the  store.  As 
we  returned,  he  repeated  to  me  that  I  should  be  careful,  that  the  business 
was  of  great  consequence,  that  it  would  be  of  much  service  to  his  friend, 
and  that  Gov.  Blount  placed  great  confidence  in  me.  He  then  returned 
to  Knoxville. 

I  kept  the  letter,  but  did  not  know  what  to  do  with  it  or  think  about 
it.  I  had,  a  few  days  before,  been  sworn  by  Mr.  Dinsmoor,  to  execute 
my  appointments  with  fidelity  to  the  United  States;  and  I  was  much 
embarrassed  with  my  regard  for  Gov.  Blount  and  what  might  possibly 
be  my  duty  in  respect  to  the  letter.  I  consulted  Major  Lewis  Loveley, 
who  is  clerk  at  the  store,  and  showed  him  the  letter.  He  told  me  he 
did  not  know  what  to  advise,  but  that  I  should  consider  my  oath. 
I  took  occasion,  a  few  days  afterwards,  when  I  was  alone  with  Mr. 
Byers,  to  tell  him  that  I  had  a  strange  letter  in  my  possession  which 
I  did  not  know  what  to  do  about.  He  asked  me  who  it  was  from. 
I  told  him,  and  promised  to  show  it  to  him  the  next  morning,  which  I 
did  accordingly;  and,  on  his  assurance  that  it  was  of  importance  to  the 
public  that  it  should  be  disclosed,  I  gave  it  to  him. 


William  Blount.  133 

After  Byers  had  brought  the  letter  to  Philadelphia,  Major  Grant 
came  to  Tellico.  I  was  planting  corn  on  the  other  side  of  the  river; 
he  and  Lieutenant  Davidson  came  over  to  me.  Major  Grant  took  a 
newspaper  out  of  his  pocket,  read  it  for  me  and  gave  it  to  me.  It  con- 
tained something  about  Doublehead's  having  been  at  Philadelphia  with 
Gen.  Knox  and  obtaining  a  greater  indemnity  for  the  Indian  country 
than  had  been  stipulated.  Davidson  and  Grant  entered  into  an  argu- 
ment about  it;  and  then  we  returned  to  Blockhouse,  whither  I  wanted 
them  to  take  a  drink.  They  pursued  the  horse  path  and  I  went  on  the 
foot  path  at  some  distance  from  them.  In  a  little  while  I  was  met  by  a 
soldier,  who  said  there  was  an  express  come  to  the  Blockhouse  for 
Lieutenant  Davidson  and  me,  and  then  passed  on  to  inform  Davidson. 
A  little  further  on  I  met  another  soldier,  with  a  paper  for  Lieutenant 
Davidson,  which  was  delived  to  him  as  soon  as  he  came  up;  and  he  told 
us  that  Lieutenant  Wright  had  come  to  the  garrison.  We  crossed  the 
river,  and  the  two  Lieutenants  entered  into  discourse,  and  walked  away 
by  themselves.  Grant  then  said  to  me,  he  believed  he  knew  what  all 
this  bustle  was  about;  that  he  said  at  Knoxville  that  he  was  going  into 
the  Indian  country,  and  he  supposed  Wright  had  come  to  stop  him. 
He  said  also  that  there  was  a  great  stir  at  Knoxville  about  something, 
but  he  could  not  make  out  what.  He  asked  me  what  I  had  done  with 
the  letter  from  Mr.  Blount.  I  said  it  was  gone,  but  did  not  tell  him 
where,  nor  did  he  pursue  the  question  further,  but  I  thought  looked 
very  cool  upon  me.  The  officers  soon  returned,  and  Lieutenant  Wright 
continued  with  me  and  Major  Grant;  and  I  afterwards  understood  that 
his  business  at  Tellico  was  to  follow  Major  Grant,  and  prevent  him 
from  having  any  private  intercourse  with  me.  Grant,  immediately 
after  taking  a  drink,  left  us  and  returned  to  Knoxville. 

A  few  days  afterwards,  a  Col.  John  McLellan,  of  Knoxville,  came 
to  Tellico,  and  called  me  out,  and  asked  me  if  I  had  not  received  a  letter 
from  Gov.  Blount.  I  said  I  had.  He  asked  me  what  were  the  con- 
tents, and  said  there  was  a  terrible  to-do  about  it  at  Knoxville,  and  it 
was  reported  that  Byers  had  got  it  from  me  when  I  was  drunk.  I  told 
him  it  was  true  that  Byers  had  got  it.  He  repeated  his  question  about 
the  contents.  I  told  him  I  could  not  recollect  them  all.  He  said 
that  it  was  a  damned  bad  thing  that  I  let  it  go.  He  then  asked  me  if 
the  cover  was  gone;  I  said  I  believed  not.  He  then  observed,  that 
he  supposed  the  letter  was  about  something  relative  to  Florida.  I 
replied,  I  supposed  it  was.  He  said  he  imagined  it  was  to  the  same  pur- 
pose as  one  which  he  had  himself  received  from  Gov.  Blount;  but  that, 
by  God!  they  should  not  get  that  from  him;  that  he  was  determined  to 
support  Gov.  Blount,  and  so  were  many  others  in  that  country. 

Some  days  afterwards,  Charles  McClure,  General  White,  Willie 
Blount,  and  Colonel  McLellan's  brother  came  to  Tellico  also  along  with 


134  Historic  Sullivan. 

the  Colonel;  but  I  was  desired  by  Lieutenant  Wright  not  to  hold  con- 
versation with  any  of  them  except  in  his  presence.  I  took  therefore, 
an  early  opportunity  to  mention  to  Colonel  McLellan  that  I  was  glad 
to  see  my  friends,  but  that  I  was  not  permitted  to  have  any  private 
discourse  with  them.  Afterwards,  they  wanted  me  to  go  over  the  river 
with  them  to  get  fruit;  but  I  declined,  telling  them  that  I  would  go  over 
and  send  them  some  by  the  Indians,  but  that  I  would  not  go  with  them. 

The  letter  for  John  Rogers,  which  was  indorsed  in  the  same  cover 
with  that  I  received  from  Gov.  Blount,  I  delivered  to  Col.  Hawkins. 

I  never  received  the  letter  which  is  now  produced  to  me,  signed 
"William  Blount,"  dated  April  24,  1797,  and  in  the  handwriting  of 
Gov.  Blount  and  directed  to  "James  Carey,  Tellico  Blockhouse — Col. 
King." 

James  Carey. 


In  the  midst  of  the  trial  Blount  dispatched  a  letter  to 
Tennessee  avowing  that  his  love  for  the  state  led  him  to 
do  what  he  did. 

Philadelphia,  July  26,  1797. 

Sir:  The  annexed  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  with  which  it  seems  Mr. 
Byers,  of  Tellico  Blockhouse,  came  express  to  this  city,  and  delivered 
it  about  the  20th  of  June  to  the  President,  with  whom  and  his  executive 
council  it  remained  until  the  30th  instant,  when  it  was  laid  by  him  be- 
fore both  houses  of  Congress,  with  other  papers. 

It  is  imputed  to  me,  and  has  involved  me  in  serious  difficulties, 
the  extent  of  which  I  cannot  at  present  foresee.  They  will,  however, 
shortly  be  detailed  to  you. 

I  ask  you  to  examine  it  with  attention,  and  determine  yourself 
if  the  contemplated  plan,  let  whoever  may  be  the  author,  had  gone 
into  effect,  what  would  have  been  the  result  to  the  citizens  of  Tennessee, 
whose  good  it  has  ever  been,  and  ever  will  be,  my  happiness  to  promote? 
I  repeat,  read  and  judge  for  yourself,  regardless  of  popular  clamor, 
which  its  publication  has  raised  in  this  and  other  places,  much  to  my 
injury.     Shortly  I  will  be  in  Tennessee.     In  the  meantime, 

Believe  me,  very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

William  Blount. 

Blount  was  represented  by  counsel,  he  refusing,  by- 
advice  of  his  counsel,  James  Ingersoll  and  A.  J.  Dallas, 
to  be  a  witness  at  the  trial. 

The  prosecution  was  handled  by  Byard  and  Harper  of 


William  Blount.  135 

the  House,  while  chairman  Sitgreaves  rendered  restless 
service  in  aiding  the  prosecution. 

The  people  of  Tennessee  never  lost  faith  in  Blount  and 
plundered  their  wits  to  help  him  out. 

Blount  was  evidently  under  the  care  of  bad  advisers. 
While  Tennesseans  love  to  think  of  him  as  a  martyr 
there  was  nothing  to  indicate  that  he  was  so  unpopular 
as  to  win  the  disfavor  of  the  administration,  partisan 
though  it  may  have  been.  His  refusal  to  answer  ques- 
tions was  at  least  suspicious,  and  his  letter  savored  of 
intrigue.  It  was  a  day  rife  for  all  kinds  of  political  plots. 
The  reconstruction  period  after  the  Revolution  was  more 
beset  with  perils  than  was  the  same  period  after  the  war 
between  the  states. 

The  spirit  of  possession  and  love  of  power  dominated 
the  people.  Instead  of  the  love  of  money  it  was  a  mad 
lust  for  lands.  These  lands  that  lay  stretched  out  before 
them  with  their  virgin  forests  and  verdant  plains  made 
an  inviting  field  for  operations.  Nor  did  this  craving 
for  tenure  mean  a  craving  for  wealth  alone.  The  quest 
of  domain  meant  the  zest  for  dominion. 

Gov.  Blount,  on  arriving  here,  was  not  long  in  acquaint- 
ing himself  with  these  conditions  nor  long  in  acquiring 
ambitions  that  went  beyond  them  all.  A  born  cavalier 
and  cultured  in  the  art  of  control,  he  saw  in  the  then 
disputed  territory  of  the  Mississippi  valley  vast  propor- 
tions and  possibilities.  What  his  motives  were  may 
never  be  known.7 

His  people  at  home  never  believed  him  guilty  and  never 
tired  of  doing  him  honor.  Open,  free  and  frank  as  they 
were,  the  fact  that  he  had  once  been  to  them  the  ideal  of  a 
lofty  character  would  not  have  shielded  him  from  their 
censure,  had  he,  in  their  minds,  deserved  it.    A  guilty 

7Dr.  Ramsey,  Tennessee's  distinguished  historian,  was  in  possession  of  some 
valuable  Blount  documents  during  the  preparation  of  a  second  volume  of  history, 
covering  a  later  period  than  his  first  volume,  but  he  lost  all  by  fire.  As  he  put  it 
"All  became  a  prey  to  the  rapacity  and  incendiarism  of  Federal  soldiers,  and  were 
all  consumed  together."  These  valuable  papers  contained  a  vindication  of  William 
Blount's  course. 


136  Historic  Sullivan. 

man,  however  popular  he  may  be,  loses  his  prestige  when 
he  mistreats  the  trust  of  a  confiding  constituency,  and  no 
people  show  their  readiness  to  condemn  more  quickly 
than  those  whose  confidence  has  been  violated. 

On  returning  to  his  home  at  Knoxville,  a  large  delega- 
tion met  him  some  distance  from  the  town  and  escorted 
him  in  as  triumphantly  as  though  he  were  a  Roman  con- 
queror. Gen.  James  White  resigned  from  the  legislature 
in  order  that  Blount  might  have  a  seat  in  that  body. 

James  Mathers,  the  sergeant-at-arms  of  the  United 
States  Senate,  went  to  Knoxville  to  arrest  Blount.  Here 
he  was  courteously  treated  by  the  citizens  and  was  a  guest 
of  Blount,  in  whose  home  he  was  hospitably  entertained. 
When  he  decided  to  take  his  prisoner  he  summoned  a 
posse  to  assist  him,  but  no  man  would  consent  to  serve. 

The  sergeant-at-arms  saw  there  was  no  use  to  attempt 
force  and  started  home  alone.  Several  citizens  accom- 
panied him  a  few  miles  from  town  and,  "after  assuring 
him  that  William  Blount  could  not  be  taken  from  Ten- 
nessee as  a  prisoner,  bade  him  a  polite  adieu."8 

Blount  was  elected  to  the  state  senate,  where  he  became 
speaker  and  would  have  been  chosen  governor  had  he 
lived  longer. 

He  died  the  21st  of  March,  1800,  at  Knoxville,  after  a 
short  illneess  and  was  buried  in  the  First  Presbyterian 
church-yard. 

Of  the  six  children  who  survived  him,  one  daughter 
became  the  wife  of  Gen.  Edmond  Pendleton  Gaines  of 
Sullivan. 

8Ramsey  quoted  in  Wright's  Life  of  Blount. 


BLOUNTVILLE 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

BLOUNT  VILLE. 

Blountville  is,  but  one,  the  oldest  town  in  the  State  of 
Tennessee,  Jonesboro  preceding  it  a  few  years. 

Tradition  has  given  the  locality  a  fort  and  a  settlement 
long  before  it  took  the  name  of  a  town.  The  Bledsoes 
had  a  fort  on  the  Reedy  creek  road,  north  of  the  town 
and  the  Looneys  had  a  fort  a  few  miles  southwest,  on  Mud- 
dy creek.  These  forts,  were  well  defended,  log,  living 
houses  with  port  holes  and  were  built  after  the  manner 
of  block-houses. 

The  land  on  which  Blountville  is  built  was  bought  by 
James  Brigham,  the  23rd  of  October,  1782,  and  originally 
contained  six  hundred  acres.  For  this  tract  Brigham 
paid  the  usual  price,  "fifty  shillings  for  every  one  hundred 
acres"  and  "provided  always  he  shall  cause  this  grant 
to  be  registered  in  the  Register's  office  of  our  said  County 
of  Sullivan  within  twelve  months  from  the  date  hereof 
otherwise  the  same  shall  be  void  and  of  no  effect."  This 
was  recorded  as  grant  No.  147. 

When  Sullivan  County  was  partitioned  to  help  make 
other  counties  and  it  was  decided  to  have  a  more  central 
location  for  the  county  seat,  with  permanent  buildings, 
James  Brigham  gave  thirty  acres  to  the  county  commis- 
sioners in  the  following  deed : 

DEED  TO  BLOUNTVILLE. 

This  indenture  made  this  Eleventh  day  of  December  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  &  ninety  two  between  James 
Brigham  of  the  county  of  Sullivan  &  Territory  of  the  United  States 
South  of  the  River  Ohio  of  one  part  &  John  Anderson  George  Maxwell 
&  Richd  Gammon  Commissioners  of  the  county  and  territory  aforesaid 
of  the  other  part  witnesseth  the  said  James  Brigham  hath  given  to 
Sullivan  county  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged  hath 
and  by  these  presents  doth  grant  alien  enfeof  and  confirm  unto  the  said 


138  Historic  Sullivan. 

commissioners  or  their  successors  heirs  or  assigns  forever  a  certain 
tract  or  parcel  of  land  containing  thirty  acres  be  the  same  more  or 
less  lying  and  being  in  the  county  of  Sullivan  Beginning  at  a  white 
oak  thence  north  sixty  eight  east  forty  poles  to  a  stake  thence  south 
thirty  five  and  a  half  East  eight  poles  to  a  stake  then  south  four 
West  one  hundred  poles  to  a  stake  on  said  Brigham's  old  line  thence 
along  the  same  West  twenty  eight  poles  to  a  stake  thence  a  straight 
line  to  the  beginning  containing  30  acres  of  land  to  be  vested  in  the 
aforesaid  John  Anderson  George  Maxwell  &  Richard  Gammon  Esquires 
commissioners  &c  to  erect  a  court  House  prison  &  stocks  on  for  the  Sd. 
county  also  to  lay  off  the  plan  for  a  town  for  the  benefit  of  said  county 
with  all  and  singular  the  woods  waters  water  courses  profits  commodities 
hereditaments  &  appurtenances  whatsoever  to  the  Sd  Tract  of  land 
belonging  or  appertaining  and  the  reversion  &  reversions  remainder 
remainders  rents  &  issues  thereof  &  all  the  estate  right  title  interest 
property  claim  and  demand  of  him  the  Sd.  Jas.  Brigham  his  heirs 
&c  of  in  &  the  same  &  every  part  and  parcel  thereof  in  law  or  equity 
to  have  and  to  hold  the  sd  thirty  acres  of  Land  with  appurtenances 
unto  the  sd  Commissioners  or  there  successors  heirs  &  assigns  against 
the  lawfull  title  claim  &  demand  of  all  and  every  person  or  persons 
whatsoever  shall  &  will  warrant  &  forever  defend  these  presents  In 
witness  whereof  the  sd  James  Brigham  hath  hereunto  set  his  seal  the 
day  and  year  above  written 

Signed  sealed  &  delivered  ") 

in  the  presence  of  j  James  Brigham  (Seal) 

Sullivan  County  1st  day  of  December  session  1792  within  deed 
was  acknowledged  in  open  court  by  Jas.  Brigham  Sept  6th  day  1793 
then  Regs. 

Mathew  Rhea  C.  S.  C. 

In  the  same  year  that  James  Brigham  gave  the  land 
on  which  Blountville  is  located  the  court  ordered  that  he 
be  "admitted  to  keep  an  ordinary  at  his  now  dwelling 
house  in  Sullivan  County  by  giving  bond  and  security 
according  to  law."  This  was  the  first  hotel  in  Blount- 
ville.1 

The  commissioners  platted  the  land  into  lots,  but  did  not 
offer  them  for  sale  until  three  years  later,  August  25, 
1795.    They  were  in  quarter-acre  sections,   measuring 

IThe  term  "ordinary"  as  applied  to  a  hotel  6imply  means  a  hotel  conducted 
in  the  ordinary  way — the  American  plan. 


BLOUNTVILLE.  139 

forty-two  feet  by  two  hundred  and  sixty-four  feet.  There 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  a  very  brisk  demand  for  lots 
at  first  as  on  the  opening  day,  August  25th,  but  two  lots 
were  disposed  of — one  to  Robert  Work  who  chose  lot 
No.  4  and  one  to  Col.  James  King  who  chose  lot  No.  13. 
Several  months  elapsed  before  there  were  any  more  con- 
veyances. The  largest  investors  in  these  lots  were  John 
Tipton  who  took  four  lots,  Elkanah  Dulaney  who  took 
three  lots  and  William  Deery  who  took  three  lots. 

It  is  curious  to  note  the  change  in  values,  even  in  a 
town  where  the  excitement  of  phenominal  increase  in 
land  values  was  hardly  known.  The  tract  of  thirty  acres 
on  which  the  town  is  located  originally  cost  the  purchaser 
two  dollars  and  sixty-two  and  a  half  cents.  It  cost  the 
comissioners  nothing  and  therefore  they  could  afford  to 
"grant"  away  a  few  lots,  as  the  records  show,  to  create 
interest. 

Not  very  long  after  the  first  two  lots  were  "granted" 
they  began  to  increase  in  value  and  the  next  conveyances 
were  for  "valuable  considerations."  They  then  began 
to  look  up  some  and  money  considerations  were  required. 
William  Deery  paid  thirty  dollars  for  one  lot,  while  the 
old  Fain  lot,  or  what  is  now  known  as  the  Powell  lot, 
sold  to  William  King,  of  Abingdon,  Virginia,  for  one 
hundred  and  one  dollars.2 

Later  the  commissioners  for  the  disposal  of  these  lots 
were  Elkanah  Dulaney,  George  Rutledge  and  James  Gaines. 
During  the  first  ten  years  the  lots  were  on  sale  there 
were  but  thirty-three  disposed  of.  Two  streets  are  noted 
in  the  transfers — Main  street  and  Back  street,  and  these  two 
remain  the  only  thoroughfares  of  any  length  in  the  town. 

In  1855,  during  the  administration  of  Mayor  W.  W. 
James,  the  council  decided  to  extend  Back  street,  which 
action  necessitated  running  through  Sturm's  tan-yard, 

2These  changes  in  values  are  not  to  be  compared  with  the  changes  in  value 
of  Bristol  realty.  It  is  a  tradition  that  the  entire  tract  on  which  Bristol  is  built 
was  originally  bought  for  an  old  gun  and  a  white  horse,  while  in  recent  years  lots 
on  State  street  sold  at  five  hundred  dollars  per  front  foot. 


140  Historic  Sullivan. 

in  the  old  Rhea  meadows.  He  was  paid  twelve  dollars 
and  a  half  for  a  right  of  way  with  the  additional  cost  to 
the  town  of  the  removal  of  the  buildings  across  the  street. 

Soon  after  its  organization  Blountville  became  the 
center  of  an  enlightened  citizenship.  The  Rheas,  Ander- 
sons, Fains,  Dulaneys,  Maxwells,  Tiptons,  Rutledges 
and  Gammons  are  some  of  the  settlers  who  came  here 
with  liberal  educations,  and  this,  with  the  wealth  many 
acquired  here,  enabled  them  to  dispense  a  hospitality 
that  was  rare  in  its  refinement  and  culture — the  percent- 
age of  illiteracy  was  less  in  the  early  days  of  the  county 
than  it  was  a  few  generations  following.  It  is  alarming 
to  relate  that,  beginning  with  the  first  record,  "his  mark" 
occurs  with  more  embarrassing  frequency  as  the  county 
advances  in  age.8  This  does  not  indicate  a  lack  of 
schools  today,  but  marks  a  lapse  following  the  arrival 
of  the  educated  pioneer.  He  who  was  not  favored  with 
wealth  and  culture  or  ambitions  permitted  his  children 
to  go  without  learning  because  he  could  not  impart  it — 
besides  the  demands  forced  him  to  spend  much  of  his  time 
on  the  border  while  his  children  helped  to  make  a  living 
for  the  family.  The  children  of  the  generation  that  fol- 
lowed, grew  still  more  careless  and,  unrestrained,  drifted 
back  into  an  ignorance  that,  when  opportunity  came, 
required  many  more  generations,  with  awkward  and 
even  painful  application,  to  efface. 

Education,  or  at  least  the  faculty  to  acquire  one, 
is  an  inheritance  and  no  ignorant  ancestry  ever  produced 
an  educated  posterity  in  one  generation. 

The  high-mindedness  of  the  people  was  reflected  in 
the  youth  of  that  day.  They  were  as  combative  as  any 
boys,  but  they  rarely  shied  their  grievances  into  public 
view.  They  "dared' '  one  another,  and  with  cool  tact  and 
safe  control  of  wounded  pride,  issued  verbal  challenges  to 

3In  addition  to  the  county  records  see  Roosevelt's  "Winning  of  the  West'' 
in  regard  to  the  hand  writing  of  the  pioneer.  The  old  county  records,  especially 
those  at  Abingdon,  have  some  remarkably  beautiful  pages  of  hand  writing  executed 
when  the  clerk,  no  doubt,  had  more  leisure  than  now.  They  resemble  the  printed 
page  of  Gothic  or  Old  English  so  prevalent  in  the  early  days. 


BLOUNTVILLE.  141 

"meet  on  Back  street."  Back  street  was  their  battle- 
ground and  here  differences  were  settled  with  delibera- 
tion, like  duelists  settling  their  disputes. 

Blountville  has  had  good  educational  facilities  for  more 
than  one  hundred  years. 

JEFFERSON    ACADEMY.4 

In  1806  Jefferson  Academy  was,  by  an  act  of  the  legis- 
lature, provided  and  William  Snodgrass,  John  Punch, 
Elkanah  Dulaney,  Abraham  Looney  and  William  Baird 
were  appointed  a  board  of  trustees  for  the  school.  Ten 
years  later  three  more,  Mathew  Rhea,  Jr.,  Audley  Ander- 
son and  Samuel  Rhea,  Jr.,  were  added  to  the  list  of 
trustees. 

The  first  academy  was  built  of  logs,  but  thirty  years 
later  a  brick  structure  took  its  place — this  in  a  few 
years,  however,  was  declared  unsafe  and  was  torn  down 
and  rebuilt.  There  were  two  dormitories  in  the  foreground 
that  crumbled  with  the  house.  The  academy  was  again 
rebuilt,  but  through  abuse  and  neglect  again  became 
unsafe  and  was  torn  down. 

Hon.  Charles  A.  Brown,  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  introduced  a  bill  legalizing  the  sale  of 
the  material,  brick  and  wood  work,  and  the  proceeds 
derived  therefrom  went  to  improve  the  Institute.  Jeffer- 
son Academy  stood  at  the  west  end  of  town,  opposite  the 
old  Yost  homestead  and  nearly  opposite  the  graveyard. 
Among  the  teachers  who  taught  there  before  the  Civil 
War  were  George  Wilhelm,  Rev.  Andrew  S.  Morrison, 
John  Tyler,  William  Roberts,  Archimedes  and  Jonathan 
Davis,  George  K.  Snapp,  James  P.  Snapp,  Abel  J.  Brown, 
Leonidas  Shaver  and  James  McClain.     Among  those  who 

came  after  the  war  were Turner,  Robert  Sturm, 

William  Geisler,  William,  John  and  Isaac  Harr,  William 
Davidson,  F.  B.  Hutton  and  John  Buchannon. 

4Named  for  Thomas  Jefferson  and  a  very  appropriate  patronymic  since  Jeff- 
erson is  the  father  of  higher  education  in  the  South.  .  <■  - 


142  Historic  Sullivan. 

Jefferson  Academy  was  the  first  prominent  institution 
of  learning  in  the  county  and  enjoyed  a  long,  well  de- 
served and  substantial  popularity.  It  has  sent  forth 
many  young  men  who  have  filled  responsible  places  in 
state  and  court  and  in  the  ministry — two  have  achieved 
international  attention.5 

On  January  9,  1837,  William  Deery  transferred 
to  the  trustees  of  the  "Female  Academy,  3870 
feet"  of  land  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  building,  as 
a  department  for  female  education.  The  trustees  were 
William  Deery,  John  H.  Fain,  David  Shaver,  William 
R.  Dulaney,  Andrew  R.  Edwards,  William  Gammon  and 
Samuel  Rhea.  The  site  was  given  "for  and  in  considera- 
tion of  good  will  toward  the  citizens  of  Blountville  and 
with  the  view  of  promoting  female  education  among 
them  and  of  building  up  a  course  of  religion  in  said  town." 

Later,  Whiteside  lodge  of  Masons  established  the 
"Female  Institute"  on  an  adjacent  lot  and  the  trustees 
of  the  "Female  Academy"  transferred  the  property  to 
this  lodge.  Jefferson  Academy  furnished  three  thousand 
dollars  to  aid  the  new  institution. 

A  big  dinner  was  given  to  secure  funds  for  the  erection 
of  the  Institute  and  tickets  were  sold  at  one  dollar  each. 
Three  young  girls,  Annis  Rutledge,  Mace  Rhea  and 
Rachel  Ellen  Anderson  sold  three  thousand  dollars  worth 
of  tickets,  many  paying  more  than  the  price  asked. 
Thomas  A.  R.  Nelson  paid  the  highest  price,  twenty 
dollars  for  a  single  dinner. 

Landon  C.  Haynes  delivered  the  dedicatory  address 
at  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone,  July  4,  1855,  and 
the  Abingdon  band  furnished  music  for  the  occasion. 

The  Holston  Conference  of  the  Southern  Methodist 
church  took  charge  of  the  school  about  1876  and  under 


5Richard  Garner  for  his  study  of  the  monkey  language  and  Irl  Hicks,  the 
weather  prophet.  The  latter  was  for  a  long  time  the  target  of  the  weather  bureau 
and  his  views  were  derided  while  the  public  was  warned  against  him.  Of  late  the 
same  department  is  making  experiments  along  the  line  of  development  begun  by 
Hicks. 


BLOUNTVILLE.  148 

that  guidance  it  lived  a  few  successful  years,  but  it  is  now 
in  charge  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

Among  the  early  teachers  at  the  Academy  were  Julia 
Dean,  Mary  and  Fanny  Smith,  George  Snapp,  Margaret 
McMurry  and  at  the  Institute,  W.  W.  Neal  assisted  by 

Agnes  and  Thomas,  T.  P.  Summers,  Robert  W. 

Douthat,  Mrs.  James  W.  Norvell,  Mary  Patten,  Tillie 
Wood,  W.  B.  Gale,  Josiah  Torbett,  R.  T.  Barton.  J.  Pede 
Marshall  and  Ben.  L.  Dulaney. 

GIANTS  AT  THE  BAR. 

In  1830  with  a  population  of  209,  one  Methodist  and 
one  Presbyterian  church,  six  stores,  two  taverns,  and  ten 
mechanics,6  Blountville  modestly  claimed  but  one  lawyer 
and  one  doctor.  Twenty-five  years  later  it  had  an  array 
of  legal  talent,  both  resident  and  visiting,  of  such  ability 
that  it  is  doubtful  if  any  county  in  the  state  could  claim 
an  abler  body  of  that  profession.  The  list  included — 
Landon  C.  and  Matt  Haynes,  Netherland  and  Heiskell, 
James  W.  Deaderick,  Hall  and  Walker,  F.  M.  Davis, 
James  E.  Murphy,  Judge  C.  W.  Hall,  Thomas  A.  R.  Nelson, 
Patterson  and  Davis,  Gideon  Burkhart,  C.  W.  Nelson, 
Tol  Logan,  John  McLin,  Charles  R.  Vance,  Maxwell  and 
Milligan,  A.  G.  Graham,  John  Mosby,7  N.  M.  Taylor, 
Brittan  and  Hawkins,  Sam  Powell,  T.  D.  Arnold,  G.  M. 
Murrel,  C.  J.  St.  John,  F.  W.  Earnest  and  W.  D.  Haynes. 

Blountville  in  the  early  days  became  the  center  of  a 
commercial  activity  that  drew  into  its  coffers  much  wealth 
and  formed  the  nuclei  of  later  fortunes.  It  lacked  the 
shipping  facilities  that  Kingsport  had,  but  three  stage 
lines  entered  the  town,  and  being  favored  with  govern- 

6Tennessee  Gazetter. 

7Col.  John  Mosby,  the  noted  Confederate  cavalryman,  was  living  in  Bristol 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  His  last  case  in  court  was  at  Blountville.  He 
had  already  joined  the  army  and  was  at  Abingdon  when  he  got  permission  from 
Capt.  Jones  to  go  to  Blountville.  His  war  record  is  familiar.  In  a  persona:  letter 
to  the  author  he  says,  "The  hardest  battle  I  had  to  fight  during  the  war  was  parting 
from  my  wife  and  children  at  Bristol."  He  is  now  in  the  Department  of  Justice 
at  Washington. 


144  Historic  Sullivan. 

ment  recognition  in  the  matter  of  postal  service  gave  it 
advantages  over  any  town  in  upper  East  Tennessee. 

The  leading  merchants  were  William  Deery,8  Samuel 
Rhea,  Rhea  and  Anderson,  John  R.  Fain  and  Sons,  James 
Rhea,  John  Q.  Rhea,  W.  W.  James,  Taylor  and  Pile, 
Jesse  J.  James,  William  Gammon,  John  Powell,  William 
R.  Dulaney,  Jesse  Reaves  and  Taylor  and  Jones. 

Morally  the  town  has  always  had  a  high  standard. 
A  review  of  the  criminal  records  show  that  but  one  murder 
has  been  committed  there  during  its  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  years  of  existence,  while  petty  violations  of  law 
have  been  in  proportion. 

The  murder  mentioned  was  not  committed  in  cold  blood 
or  premeditated.  Labin  Williams,  a  young  lawyer,  had  just 
returned  to  Blountville  from  Jonesboro  bearing  papers 
for  David  Stuart.  On  meeting  with  him  a  dispute  arose 
during  which  Stuart  called  Williams  a  liar,  whereupon  he 
drew  a  dirk  and  stabbed  his  accuser  to  death.  This 
dirk  was  not  the  property  of  Williams — he  had  been 
intrusted  with  its  delivery  to  some  one  in  Blountville. 
He  was  arrested  for  the  act,  but  was  not  tried  in  the  county 
as  he  claimed  he  could  not  get  justice — asked  for  a  change 
of  venue  and  was  put  in  jail  at  Jonesboro.  One  night 
some  of  his  sympathizers  broke  open  the  jail  and  spirited 
him  away  to  North  Carolina.  From  there  he  drifted 
to  Texas  where  he  became  a  Catholic  priest. 

THE  CHURCHES. 

The  first  denomination  to  erect  a  church  in  Blount- 
ville was  the  Methodist.  The  church  was  built  about  the 
time  of  the  erection  of  Jefferson  Academy.  The  leading 
workers  in  this  church  were  William  Snodgrass  and 
Thomas  Rockdold.    It  was  built  on  the  adjoining  lot 


SWilliam  Deery  was  an  Irish  peddler  who  made  trading  trips  to  Sullivan  from 
Baltimore.  He  was  finally  induced  to  locate  in  Blountville  by  Walter  James. 
Here  he  accumulated  a  fortune  and  for  his  day  was  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in 
Tennessee.  Late  in  life  he  married  Miss  Allison  of  a  very  prominent  family  in 
"The  Forks"  and  became  a  useful  man  to  Blountville  and  Sullivan  County. 


BLOUNTVILLE.  145 

west  of  where  it  now  stands  and  was  a  brick  building 
forty  by  thirty  feet  in  size.  All  denominations  used  it 
for  a  time  and  school  entertainments  were  also  held  there. 
When  it  was  repaired  it  was  dedicated  to  worship  only. 
In  1855  it  was  removed  to  its  present  site. 

The  Presbyterians,  who  had  been  holding  house  meet- 
ings under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Lake,  built  a  church  in 
1820,  on  the  hill  west  of  town,  a  graveyard  also  being 
enclosed.  Later  the  church  was  removed  to  a  lot 
opposite  the  "Female  Academy"  and  still  later  to  Main 
street. 

On  Sunday,  July  27,  1836,  while  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Rogan  was  preaching  in  the  Presbyterian  church, 
then  on  graveyard  hill,  a  distinguished  party  drove  up 
to  attend  the  meeting.  It  consisted  of  Andrew  Jackson, 
then  President,  A.  J.  Donelson,  afterwards  candidate  for 
Vice-President,  Col.  McClellan,  afterwards  Congressman 
from  Sullivan  and  about  fifteen  others,  some  riding  in 
carriages,  others  on  horseback.  Seeing  the  party  on  the 
outside  the  preacher  stopped  short  in  his  discourse,  an- 
nounced the  arrival  of  the  President,  parceled  out  a  hymn 
and  all  joined  in  the  singing,  thus  avoiding  confusion 
while  the  party  entered.  The  song  being  finished  the 
people  seated  themselves.  The  minister  preached  from 
the  text,  "Remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy." 
After  the  services  were  over,  Col.  McClellan  introduced 
the  visitors  to  a  number  of  the  congregation.9 

A  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  1833  by  William 
Cate  and  T.  J.  Poindexter.  The  first  association  was 
held  in  1870.  The  meeting  was  presided  over  by  William 
A.  Keen,  who  acted  as  moderator.  John  Crockett 
Rutledge,  who  was  clerk  of  the  county  court,  was  also 


9Gen.  Jackson  never  passed  through  Sullivan  on  his  way  to  or  from  Washington 
without  stopping  at  one  and  sometimes  two  or  three  places  in  the  county — often 
for  a  day  or  two  at  a  time.  He  generally  stopped  with  old  soldiers  who  had  accom- 
panied him  in  campaigns  at  the  Horseshoe  or  against  the  Seminoles  or  at  New 
Orleans.  His  salutation  to  his  old  war  comrades  was  an  embrace.  It  may  be  said 
in  this  connection  that  the  three  Presidents  Tennessee  furnished,  Jackson, 
Polk  and  Johnson  have  visited  and  spoken  in  Blountville. 


146  [Historic  Sullivan. 

clerk  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  kept  the  church  books 
in  his  office.  When  the  records  of  the  court  were 
destroyed  by  the  burning  of  the  court  house  in  1863, 
the  church  records  were  destroyed  with  them. 

THE  GOLD  SEEKERS. 

When  the  excitement  of  the  gold  discoveries  reached 
Sullivan  County  a  large  number  of  people  left  Blount- 
ville  and  that  vicinity  and  began  the  overland  journey  to 
California.  Some  took  their  families.  It  was  during 
the  days  of  "49"  and  the  dangers  incident  to  such  a  journey 
were  much  like  those  that  confronted  the  Donelsons 
on  their  voyage  down  the  Holston.  It  meant  three 
thousand  miles  of  travel,  some  of  it  over  treeless  deserts 
and  through  trackless  woods,  uninhabited  by  any  friendly 
face — war  bands  of  Indians  or  worse,  renegades  like  those 
who  perpetrated  the  Mountain  Meadows  massacre,  were 
ready  to  kill  and  plunder. 

These  emigrant  trains  resembled  in  many  ways  those 
of  the  pioneers,  and  the  men  who  accompanied  them  were 
full  of  the  same  adventurous  spirit. 

Among  the  number  who  left  during  the  early  excitement 
were  "Doc"  and  William  Anderson,  sons  of  the  hatter, 
Joe  Pectol,  of  Ketron's,  Tom  Bird  well,  Henderson 
Webb  and  James  Wilson,  from  Reedy  creek,  William 
Cretsinger,  of  the  family  of  ginger  cake  fame,  and 
Joseph  and  Nathan  Bachman  of  Horse  creek  valley.10 
These  who  went  to  California  started  in  the  spring  or 
early  summer  in  order  to  be  sure  of  finding  pasture  for 
their  stock  on  the  way. 

On  the  return  of  the  "49-ers"  with  belts  of  gold  nuggets 
and  quartz  the  excitement  was  again  kindled  and  many 

10A  strange  fatality  has  followed  the  Bachman  family  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
Joseph  was  lost  at  sea.  Nathan  in  his  eightieth  year,  spurning  to  ride  any  but  a 
spirited  horse,  waa  thrown  by  one,  his  thigh  fractured,  from  which  injury  he  died. 
Another  was  killed  by  Chinese  laborers.  William  Bachman,  of  Bristol,  on  June 
21,  1907,  while  enjoying]  an  outing  tendered  him  by  the  company  for  which  he 
worked,  went  down  with  the  excursion  steamer  Columbia  on  which  he  had  taken 
passage  for  Portland,  Oregon. 


BLOUNT  VILLE.  147 

others  went.  Among  those  in  the  second  pilgrimage 
were  David  Swicegood,  Wade  and  Rufus  Snapp,  and 
Charles  White  and  family.  Crossing  the  plains  White  and 
his  family  were  attacked  by  the  Indians — White  was  killed 
and  his  wife  taken  captive.  Being  pursued  by  a  band  of 
determined  men  the  Indians  killed  her  also. 

THE  GOLD  FINDERS. 

During  September,  1882,  "Sifty"  John  Hicks,  a  day 
laborer  about  the  town,  was  employed  to  clean  out  a 
cellar  under  the  circuit  court  clerk's  office  preparatory 
to  putting  in  a  supply  of  wood  for  the  winter.  The  rub- 
bish in  the  cellar  was  the  accumulation  of  years — 
had  not  been  cleaned  out  since  the  Civil  War.  It  con- 
sisted mainly  of  mortar  and  brick  and  burnt  wood — 
some  of  the  remains  of  the  court  house.  After 
digging  for  a  while  Hicks  struck  a  cast  iron  box  about 
twelve  by  sixteen  inches — four  inches  thick.  As  soon  as 
he  saw  that  it  contained  gold  and  silver  his  excitement 
would  not  permit  him  to  examine  further  or  to  take  any 
of  its  contents.  Rushing  out  he  excitedly  told  every  one 
he  met  that  he  had  struck  a  coffin  in  which  was  buried  a 
treasure  of  gold  and  silver  coins. 

The  romantic  feature  of  the  find  was  that  the  first  one 
he  informed  was  a  youth  sitting  on  the  stile  leading  from 
the  street  to  the  rear  of  the  court  house  yard.  He  was 
deploring  the  fate  that  deprived  him  of  parental  sympathy 
in  the  choice  of  his  life's  work.  He  wanted  to  be  a  physi- 
cian, but  his  parents  tried  to  discourage  him  in  the  idea, 
and  to  such  an  extent  as  to  deny  him  any  aid  in  the  furth- 
erance of  his  ambition.  He  had  finished  his  preliminary 
preparation  and  was  at  this  time  trying  to  accumulate 
enough  bones  to  make  a  complete  skeleton  in  order 
that  he  might  become  better  acquainted  with  the  subject 
of  anatomy.  On  being  told  that  a  coffin  had  been  un- 
earthed with  the  treasure  the  youth's  first  thoughts  were 
of  the  skeleton  that  he  might  secure,  but  when  he  reached 


148  Historic  Sullivan. 

the  spot  and  caught  sight  of  the  shining  metal  he  forgot 
his  misfortunes,  skeleton  and  all,  and,  "filling  his  pockets," 
hastened  home,  put  the  money  in  a  trunk  and  hurried 
back  for  more. 

In  the  meantime  the  news  of  the  discovery  spread 
rapidly  and  half  the  town  gathered  there,  and  in  the  wild 
scramble  the  money  got  scattered  and  mixed  up  in  the 
rubbish.  Few  went  there  who  were  not  repaid  for  their 
trouble — some  got  several  hundred  dollars.  The  silver 
coins  had  been  melted  by  the  heat,  but  the  gold  coins 
were  not  affected. 

The  trash  was  thoroughly  sifted — both  that  in  the 
cellar  and  the  portion  that  had  been  removed.  The  news 
soon  reached  the  country  folk  and  many  gathered  there, 
and  now  and  then  a  gold  coin  was  picked  up  that  served 
to  renew  interest  and  the  search.  Long  after  all  the  money 
had  been  found  and  the  dirt  gone  over  many  times,  some 
one  on  mischief  bent  would  slyly  bury  a  coin,  begin  dig- 
ging, unearth  it  excitedly  and  the  hunt  would  begin 
again.  The  box  contained  about  two  thousand  dollars, 
but  no  explanation  has  ever  been  given  as  to  when  or 
by  whom  the  money  was  put  there.11 

llln  arranging  the  chapters  on  Sullivan  County  and  Blountville  I  had  ac- 
cess to  the  county  records  at  Blountville  and  the  abstracts  in  the  office  of  W. 
R.  Page,  Bristol. 


JAMES    KING 


James  King, 
a  biography. 

The  senior  James  King  was  born  in  London,  England, 
in  1752  and  came  to  America  when  a  young  man.  He 
was  a  civil  engineer.  He  settled  first  in  Montgomery- 
county,  Virginia,  but  afterwards  removed  to  Sullivan 
County,  making  it  his  permanent  home.  Here  he  became 
associated  with  Thomas  Goodson  in  land  transactions, 
in  1778,  and  married  his  daughter  Sarah. 

His  military  service  began  in  1778  when  he  joined 
Gen.  Andrew  Lewis  in  the  Dunmore  War.  It  was  but  a 
step  from  this  to  the  Revolution.  Among  the  episodes 
of  his  military  career  was  an  experience  with  Gen.  Daniel 
Morgan.  With  others  he  was  hotly  pursued  by  a  body  of 
cavalry  and  so  closely  were  they  followed  that  they  were 
forced  to  take  refuge  in  Dismal  Swamp.  All  were  cap- 
tured except  King.  One  man  was  left  to  guard  the 
swamp,  but  after  waiting  for  some  time  and  despairing 
of  finding  his  man  the  guard  mounted  and  left.  King  at 
once  went  in  pursuit,  overtook  him  and  captured  his 
horse,  a  fine  riding  animal,  which  he  proudly  conducted 
back  to  camp. 

A  superior  officer  coveted  the  animal  and  would  have  it 
despite  protests,  but  King,  rather  than  give  it  up,  re- 
signed and  went  home.  He  relented,  however,  for 
having  been  so  rash  as  to  permit  a  horse  to  stand  between 
him  and  his  desire  for  liberty,  returned  to  the  army  and 
was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  York  town. 

While  a  man  of  many  peculiarities  he  was  always 
humane.  In  consequence  of  his  fair  dealings  with  the 
Indians  he  exerted  a  great  influence  over  them  and  Gov. 
Blount  sought  his  services  in  treaties  where  diplomacy 
played  an  important  part.  He  took  part  in  the  famous 
treaty  of  the  Holston. 


150  Historic  Sullivan. 

He  was  commander  of  the  fort  at  Knoxville  from 
1792  to  1795,  and  was  associated  with  its  founder,  Gen. 
James  White,  in  laying  off  the  town. 

A  military  life  of  seven  years  made  King  a  rover. 
He  owned  four  homes  and  whenever  the  notion  struck 
him,  would  move  his  family  without  giving  any  notice. 
He  gave  orders  one  time  to  move  to  Knoxville  with  the 
weeks  washing  in  the  tub,  at  the  boiling  point. 

He  died  August  17th,  1825,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three.  The  only  inscription  on  his  tomb,  which  is  a 
coffin  shaped  slab  of  iron,  is — "A  patriot  of  1776."  This 
is  to  distinguish  him  from  those  who  became  patriots 
after  the  war  was  over,  when  the  cause  was  more  popular. 

James  King,  Jr.,  the  son,  was  born  near  Bristol,  about 
1790,  and  inherited  a  vast  estate.  He  founded  King 
College  in  1866,  and  gave  it  to  the  Presbyterian  church, 
one  stipulation  being  that  ministers  and  Confederate 
soldiers  were  to  receive  free  tuition.  He  had  sent  a 
number  of  young  men  North  to  be  educated,  but  their 
return  with  abolition  views  caused  him  to  erect  the 
college.  He  also  founded  and  was  the  first  pastor  of 
the  first  Presbyterian  church  erected  in  Bristol. 

There  was  a  time  in  his  life  when  he  took  great  interest 
in  hunting,  but  on  one  of  his  rambles  in  the ' 'chestnut  flats, ' ' 
southwest  of  Bristol,  he  killed  a  deer  and  was  so  moved 
by  its  pitiful  human-like  death  moans  that  he  never  hunted 
animals  again,1  and  always  made  it  convenient  to  be  away 
from  home  at  hog  killing  time. 

The  name  King  is  so  closely  associated  with  the  educa- 
tional and  industrial  developments  that  it  has  been  pre- 
served more  indelibly  in  connection  with  public  institu- 
tions and  localities  than  any  other  name  in  the  county. 

James  King,  Jr.,  died  July  13,  1867,  and  is  buried  in 
Bristol. 


IBalzac   graphically   describes  the  human-like  death  moans  of  a  panther  in 
his  "A  Passion  in  the  Desert." 


CHAPTER  XX. 

EARLY  INDUSTRIES. 

The  frontier  people  became  mechanics  out  of  necessity. 
The  skilled  artisan  rarely  accompanied  the  emigrants 
to  a  new  territory.  His  service  always  in  demand  in  a 
settled  and  safe  community,  he  did  not  feel  that  the  pros- 
pects were  promising  enough  to  justify  his  going  into  a 
new  field  where  his  labor  was  not  sought  at  a  price  his 
skill  could  command.  Hence  our  forefathers  became 
their  own  shoemakers,  tailors,  carpenters,  tanners,  weav- 
ers and  the  most  needful  of  all,  millers.  The  mills  of 
early  days  were  of  clumsy,  yet  ingenious  design,  and  like 
the  mills  of  the  Gods,  ground  slowly,  but  unlike  them 
ground  exceedingly  course. 

One  way  of  obtaining  meal  was  with  "the  sweep." 
This  was  made  of  a  tough,  springy  sapling  about  twenty- 
five  feet  long.  One  end  was  placed  under  a  house  or  log 
or  stump  and  about  midway  a  forked  stick  was  used 
as  a  fulcrum,  raising  the  small  end  about  fifteen  feet  from 
the  ground.  A  wooden  pestle  about  eight  feet  long  and 
six  inches  in  diameter  was  attached — a  wooden  pin  was 
put  through  this  so  that  two  people  could  handle  it, 
and  thus  they  pounded  the  corn  in  the  receptacle  made 
for  it,  and,  when  the  corn  was  not  too  hard,  did  very  good 
work. 

Another  design  was  called  the  hominy  mill  or  "slow 
john,"  which  had  the  advantage  of  lessening  manual 
labor,  as  it  did  its  own  work.  A  beam  is  supported  at 
each  end  with  forked  uprights,  made  smooth  or  hollowed 
out  to  allow  the  beam  to  move  like  an  axle.  Across  the 
first  beam  is  placed  another,  at  one  end  of  which  is  at- 
tached a  hammer — at  the  other  end  a  trough.  Still 
another  trough  carries  water  to  the  first  trough,  which, 
when  filled,  is  weighted  down,  bringing  the  hammer  up — 


152  Historic  Sullivan. 

then  the  water  runs  out  of  the  trough  and  the  hammer 
comes  down  again  with  sufficient  force  to  beat  the  corn 
into  meal. 

The  grater  was  often  brought  into  use  when  the  corn 
was  too  new  and  soft  to  be  shelled  easily  or  beaten — 
a  whole  ear  of  corn  was  rubbed  across  the  grater. 

The  hand  mill  and  the  tub  mill  were  improvements 
upon  these,  stones  being  used,  much  after  the  manner 
of  modern,  improved  milling.  Sifters  were  then  used 
instead  of  a  bolting  cloth.  The  sifters  were  made  of 
perforated  skins,  in  a  parchment  state,  stretched  across 
a  hoop. 

The  method  of  tanning  was  also  primitive.  A  large 
trough  was  made,  after  the  manner  of  a  pirouge  or  canoe, 
hewn  out  of  a  large  tree.  This  trough  was  sunk  into  the 
ground.  After  the  oak  bark  became  dry,  instead  of  being 
ground,  as  now,  it  was  placed  upon  a  block  and  pounded 
with  an  axe  or  hammer  or  shaved  with  a  drawing  knife. 
Instead  of  lime,  ashes  were  used  to  remove  the  hair 
from  the  hides.  A  drawing  knife  with  the  edge  properly 
turned  was  used  as  a  currying  knife  and,  as  a  substitute 
for  fish  oil,  bears'1  oil,  tallow  or  lard  was  applied,  while 
chimney  soot  mixed  with  lard  made  the  blacking.  When 
shoes  or  boots  were  worn  they  were  polished  with  grease, 
this  being  especially  done  for  social  gatherings  and  on 
Sundays,  a  copious  application  of  peppermint,  hair  oil 
or  other  preparation  of  an  aromatic  nature  offsetting  the 
odor  of  the  grease. 

The  clothing  worn  was  home-made  and  there  was  a 
weaver  in  every  family.  Linsey  was  the  cloth  usually 
worn.  The  flax  patch  was  as  necessary  as  the  corn  patch. 
Linsey-wolsey,  the  most  comfortable  and  serviceable 
material  for  garments,  was  worn  by  both  sexes  and  was 
made  of  flax  and  wool.  The  flax  furnished  the  chain 
while  the  wool  supplied  the  filling. 

1  Indian  maidens  anointed  their  hair  and  bodies  with  bear's  oil  for  antiseptic 
purposes.  It  certainly  did  not  add  to  their  charms  of  person. — William  Byrd's 
Journal. 


INDUSTRIES.  153 

Shoe  packs,  made  of  leather  and  fashioned  after  mocca- 
sins, were  worn  where  the  owner  was  not  skillful  enough 
to  make  shoes.  These  shoe  packs  were  made  out  of  one 
piece  of  leather  with  the  seam  in  the  back — the  tongue 
being  fastened  on  the  outside  of  the  shoe.  Hunters  and 
trappers  supplied  their  own  wear,  which  was  the  simple 
moccasin. 

There  were  two  articles  in  the  manufacture  of  which 
the  backwoodsman  became  craftsmaster — that  of  wooden- 
ware,  such  as  buckets  and  tubs,  and  wicker  work,  in  chairs 
and  baskets,  the  latter  being  quite  ornamental  as  well  as 
serviceable.  No  modern,  machine-made  tubs  and  firkins 
equal  the  old  cedar  ones  with  their  alternating  white  and 
red  staves.  In  like  manner  the  chairs  and  baskets  were 
at  times  artistically  finished,  and  some  of  these  home- 
made wares  are  still  to  be  seen  and  still  retain  their  element 
of  strength — they  represent  the  type  of  people  who  used 
them — enduring. 

As  the  population  increased  and  the  frontier  with  its 
accompainment  of  Indian  hostilities  was  pushed  further 
back,  skilled  labor  came,  bringing  faster  if  not  better 
methods  of  manufacture.  The  forge  and  bloomery,  at 
which  were  made  iron- ware  and  implements,  were  erected. 
With  the  opening  of  the  ore  banks  came  the  opening  of 
industrial  life,  which  has  given  this  section  a  substantial 
commercial  strength  to  this  day. 

FIRST   IRON   WORKS. 

One  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first  iron-works  in  Tennessee 
was  erected  at  the  mouth  of  Steele's  creek,  in  Sullivan 
County,  and  was  operated  by  Col.  James  King,  about 
1784,  who  later  associated  with  him  Gov.  William  Blount. 

John  Sevier  also  became  interested  in  the  development 
of  the  iron  industry  in  Sullivan.2 

2John  Sevier  junior  and  senior  formed  a  partnership  with  Walter  King  for  the 
purpose  of  manufacturing  iron.— County  records. 


154  Historic  Sullivan. 

When  the  King  iron-works  was  dedicated,  after  Gov. 
Blount  became  a  partner  in  1790,  a  two  day's  jolli- 
fication took  place  and  some  of  the  old  fashioned 
games  were  indulged  in.  There  were  running  races, 
sack  races  and  feats  of  strength  and  agility.  Baxter 
Bean  excelled  in  distance  running;  Jacob  Akard  in  wrest- 
ling; William  Smith  in  foot  racing  and  a  negro,  "Cuff," 
in  lifting  the  heaviest  weight.  John  Blair  was  the  forge- 
man.  John  Smith,  the  foundryman,  was  brought  from 
England.     James  Brooks  became  chief  collier. 

When  the  furnace  was  charged  with  charcoal  and  ore 
Mrs.  Blount,  the  wife  of  the  governor,  in  the  presence  of  a 
large  gathering  of  people,  walked  up  on  a  platform  and, 
breaking  a  bottle  of  rum,  christened  it  "Barbara,"  the 
name  of  Gov.  Blount's  mother.3 

This,  too,  became  the  first  nail  factory  in  the  state, 
if  not  in  the  South. 

A  more  extensive  nail  factory,  however,  was  erected 
many  years  later  at  Pactolus,  which  supplied  nails  for  a 
wide  sweep  of  territory,  reaching  as  far  as  Huntsville, 
Alabama.  It  was  operated  by  Elijah  Embree,  who  after- 
ward became  connected  with  the  noted  abolition  journal 
at  Jonesboro.  In  1846  Gen.  Alfred  E.  Jackson  contracted 
for  the  entire  output  of  the  Embree  rolling  mill. 

As  the  demand  increased  for  leather  the  old  tanning 
trough  was  replaced  by  vats,  built  in  the  ground — the 
first  of  the  kind  we  have  any  record  of  was  erected  by 
Jacob  Sturm,  at  Blountville,  on  the  St.  John  lot,  at  the 
creek.  Kingsport,  Gunning's  and  Carmack's  were  among 
the  largest  tanneries  in  the  county.  W.  G.  Taylor 
operated  an  extensive  plant  at  Blountville.  It  was 
managed  by  George  Pile,  Sr.,  who  in  1872  discovered  and 
patented  a  process  of  tanning  which  lessened  the  time 
from  three  and  twelve  months  to  thirty  and  ninety  days, 
and  by  the  same  method  sheep  skins  were  made  strong 

3Deery  MSS. 


INDUSTRIES.  155 

enough  for  shoes  and  thong  leather.  This  process  came 
into  general  use. 

Another  factory  which  received  national  attention  was 
the  Cain  pottery,  located  at  Emanuel  church,  and  owned 
by  two  brothers,  William  M.  and  Abe  Cain.  This  pottery 
was  one  of  the  first  in  America  to  make  glazed  earthen- 
ware.4 It  was  operated  about  1840  and,  among  other 
wares,  souvenir  jugs  were  made,  many  of  which  are  still 
in  existence. 

The  most  prosperous  industry  in  Sullivan  and  East 
Tennessee  was  the  manufacture  of  iron.  There  were 
twenty-nine  furnaces  scattered  throughout  this  section. 
Sullivan  and  Carter  counties  had  thirteen.  The  Tilt- 
hammer  iron  works,  operated  by  water  power  at  the 
shoals  in  Kingsport,  thrived  for  a  number  of  years.  The 
best  known  was  the  Bushong  furnace,  which  was  the  sur- 
vival of  the  old  King  iron-works  and  was  operated, 
first  by  George  Bushong  and  then  by  his  son,  William 
Bushong,  who  managed  it  for  more  than  twenty-five  years. 
Industries  like  this  and  the  salt  works  of  Virginia  became 
the  center  of  commercial  activity,  and  lasted  as 
such  until  combined  wealth  throttled  local  business 
and  carried  the  iron  trade  of  the  South  to  Birmingham, 
Alabama.  The  inconvenience  of  the  ore  banks  in  Holston 
Valley,  Blountville  and  Shady  and  the  cost  of  transpor- 
tation by  wagon,  over  rough  roads,  made  poor  competi- 
tion for  carriage  by  rail  and  improved  mining  and  manu- 
facturing machinery. 

So  important  was  iron  that  it  became  with  us  a  medium 
of  exchange.  Money  was  scarce.  "I'll  give  you  so  many 
horseshoes  or  so  many  bull  tongues  or  so  many  hoes  for 

so  much  ,"  whatever  commodity  was  needed. 

This  did  not  mean  that  the  barterer  carried  the  clumsy 
currency  around  with  him,  in  his  pockets,  and,  stepping 
up  to  the  counter,  laid  down  a  horseshoe  or  a  bull  tongue 
in  exchange  for  its  equivalent  in  coffee  or  other  articles 

4See  works  on  American  Pottery. 


156  Historic  Sullivan. 

of  merchandise.  The  customer  was  extended  credit  if 
he  had  proven  himself  worthy  of  it  and  delivery  of  iron 
was  made  afterward.5 

Among  other  industries  that  have  disappeared,  unable 
to  compete  with  those  favored  by  location  and  capital, 
is  the  cotton  mill.  Frederick  A.  Ross  had  a  cotton  mill 
on  Long  Island  as  late  as  1849.  He  hauled  his  cotton  by 
wagon  from  Knoxville.  The  Sparger  and  Byrd  mills, 
at  Bristol  and  the  Prather  mills,  at  Bluff  City,  erected 
1874-5,  suffered  inconveniences  in  the  way  of  freights 
and  survived  but  a  few  years.  The  Jordan  and  Hoard 
woolen  mills,  in  South  Bristol,  sprang  up  and  disappeared 
the  same  way. 

The  tobacco  factories  operated  by  Reynolds,  at  Bristol 
and  Prather,  at  Bluff  City,  finally  became  the  victims  of 
the  trust  methods. 

There  was  a  hat  factory  located  near  Thomas'  bridge 
and  operated  by  Edward  Anderson.  A  good,  servicable 
wool  hat  was  made  here  and  the  old  house  where  they 
were  made  still  stands. 

Glazed  tiling  and  brick  made  by  C.  N.  Jordon,  David 
and  William  Roller,  at  Kingsport,  1885  to  1899,  furnished 
Hawkins  county  with  this  material.  But  the  central- 
izing of  wealth  and  the  advantage  and  opportunities  it 
gave  crushed  the  smaller  industries  of  every  kind. 

5With  the  advent  of  new  methods  of  business  the  old  time  credit  system, 
where  man  trusted  man,  has  almost  disappeared.  An  example  of  the  old  way 
may  be  found  in  a  transaction  that  took  place  in  Holston  Valley,  between  Daniel 
Odell  and  John  Thomas.  They  were  friends  and  cattle  traders.  Nothing  was 
thought  of  either  borrowing  from  the  other  large  sums  of  money  without  even 
giving  a  receipt.  But  as  times  changed  this  manner  of  doing  business  was  con- 
sidered careless  and  they  agreed  to  give  notes.  Thomas  borrowed  five  hundred 
dollars  from  Odell  and  made  out  his  note.  The  question  then  arose  as  to  which 
should  keep  the  note.  Finally  Odell  said  to  Thomas:  "You  got  the  money; 
you  just  keep  the  note  so  you'll  know  when  to  pay  it  back." 


W.    C.    C.    CLAIBORNE 


W.  C.  C.  Claiborne. 

A  BIOGRAPHY. 

W.  C.  C.  Claiborne  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  states- 
men of  the  South.  When  about  sixteen  years  of  age, 
after  finishing  a  course  at  William  and  Mary  College,  he 

went  to  New  York  and  entered  the  office  of Beckley, 

secretary  to  Congress.  When  Congress  was  removed  to 
Philadelphia,  Claiborne  went  also.  It  was  here  he  met 
Thomas  Jefferson,  whose  friendship  he  obtained  and  for 
which  he  afterwards  proved  his  gratitude.  Here  also  he 
met  Gen.  John  Sevier,  by  whom  he  was  pursuaded  to  go 
to  Tennessee  and  practice  law.  After  spending  a  short 
time  in  the  study  of  law  in  Richmond  he  obtained  license 
in  Virginia,  thus  avoiding  delay  that  would  result  from 
probationary  residence  required  in  the  state  of  his  adop- 
tion. He  then  came  to  Sullivan  County  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was  more 
fortunate  than  most  young  lawyers,  his  first  case  bringing 
him  a  fee  of  five  hundred  dollars.  He  was  employed, 
thereafter,  on  every  cause  of  importance,  being  frequently 
called  to  neighboring  courts  in  Virginia.  At  one  time  he 
was  called  two  hundred  miles  away  to  argue  a  case  involv- 
ing an  immense  amount  of  property,  and  the  fee  promised 
was  so  large  Claiborne  refused  to  take  it,  although  he  won 
the  suit,  and  accepted  a  fine  saddle  horse  instead  of  the 
money. 

He  continued  the  practice  of  law  for  two  years,  when  he 
was  tendered,  by  Gov.  Sevier,  a  seat  on  the  supreme  bench 
of  Tennessee.  He  was  at  this  time  in  his  twenty-first  year. 
Claiborne  was  one  of  the  principal  authors  of  the  first 
constitution  of  Tennessee,  which  called  from  Jefferson 
such  high  praise. 

Gov.  Blount  said  of  him,  that  making  the  necessary 
allowance  for  his  youth  he  was  the  most  extroardinary 


158  Historic  Sullivan. 

man  he  had  met  with,  and  that  if  he  lived  to  attain  the 
age  of  fifty  nothing  but  prejudice  could  prevent  his  becom- 
ing one  of  the  most  distinguished  political  characters  in 
America. 

When  he  was  appointed  to  the  supreme  bench  his 
friends  urged  him  not  to  accept  as  he  could  make  more  in 
the  practice  of  law.  "My  motto,"  said  he,  "is  honor  and 
not  money;  Gov.  Sevier  is  my  friend  and  if  I  can,  I  am 
bound  to  aid  his  administration." 

A  vancancy  shortly  afterward  occurred  in  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  United  States  and  he  was  urged 
to  become  a  candidate.  He  entered  the  race  and,  although 
opposed  by  a  man  of  talent  and  great  wealth,  was  elected 
by  a  big  majority. 

He  was  elected  to  Congress  in  his  twenty-second  year, 
not  yet  being  of  eligible  age,  and  was  the  youngest  man 
ever  elected  to  a  seat  in  that  body. 

It  was  during  his  term  of  office  that  the  famous  Jeffer- 
son-Burr contest  took  place,  which  wrought  the  country 
up  to  such  a  feverish  state  of  excitement.  Presidents 
were  not  then  elected  by  the  people,  but  by  their  repre- 
sentatives. Jefferson  and  Burr  tied.  They  had  been 
voted  for  at  the  same  time  and  Jefferson's  name  appeared 
first,  leaving  the  impression  that  the  result  would  be, 
Jefferson  for  President  and  Burr  for  Vice-President. 
But  party  lines  were  severely  drawn.  The  Federal 
party  supported  Burr  and  saw  clearly  that  the  election 
depended  upon  the  vote  of  Claiborne.  He  became  so 
conspicuous  that  he  went  armed.1  The  agitation  lasted 
several  days;  finally  on  the  thirty-seventh  ballot  Vermont 
voted  blank  and  Jefferson  was  elected. 

It  was  not  very  long  after  this  that  Claiborne  was 
appointed  by  Jefferson,  Governor  of  the  Mississippi  terri- 
tory, and  he  arrived  at  Natchez  to  take  charge  of  his 
new  office,  November  23,  1801.  Many  of  the  most  prom- 
inent citizens  of  that  territory  had  petitioned  for  him. 

IThe  National  Portrait  Gallery. — Longacre  and  Herring. 


W.  C.  C.  Claiborne.  159 

Previous  to  this  he  had  married  Eliza  Lewis  of  Nashville. 

He  governed  Mississippi  for  two  years — was  then 
transferred  to  the  Louisiana  territory,  as  governor,  a 
hazardous  undertaking  then,  as  in  this  capacity  he  had  to 
dispose  of  many  kinds  of  intrigues  and  to  deal  with  a 
variety  of  people. 

In  the  pursuance  of  his  duties  he  had  a  controversy 
with  Daniel  Clark,  one  of  the  supposed  conspirators  with 
Aaron  Burr,  which  resulted  in  a  duel  and  Claiborne  was 
badly  wounded.2*3 

In  this  trying  climate  he  suffered  an  attack  of  yellow 
fever,  his  wife  and  child  were  similarly  stricken  and  died 
from  it,  while  his  brother-in-law,  Lewis,  was  killed  in  a 
duel.  All  three  died  the  same  day  and  were  buried  in 
the  same  grave. 

Claiborne  was  married  three  times.  As  Governor  of 
Louisiana  he  had  the  perplexing  questions  to  solve 
which  later  brought  on  the  war  of  1812.  He  personally 
participated  in  the  maneuvers  in  his  state,  but  was  pre- 
vented from  engaging  in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  by 
being  placed  in  command  of  Chef  Menteur  pass,  when  on 
his  way  to  join  Jackson. 

In  1817,  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  as  governor, 
he  was  elected  to  represent  Louisiana  in  the  United 
States  Senate,  but  he  died  in  New  Orleans  the  twenty- 
third  of  November,  before  taking  his  seat.  He  was  forty- 
two  years  of  age. 

No  man  in  the  history  of  the  government  had  received 
higher  honors  at  such  an  early  age. 

20ut  of  the  episodes  which  connected  the  names  of  Burr,  Wilkinson,  Clark 
and  others,  comes  this  piece  of  romantic  history.  Pendleton,  a  second  of  Alexander 
Hamilton  in  his  duel  with  Burr,  was  closely  related  to  Gaines  for  whom  Claiborne 
secured  a  military  position.  Gaines  afterwards  married  the  daughter  of  Clark 
who  fought  the  duel  with  Claiborne,  the  latter  having  been  the  patron  of  Gaines. 

3The  South  is  inclined  to  take  a  charitable  view  of  the  shortcomings  of  Aaron 
Burr.  This  is  probably  due  to  the  high  esteem  in  which  his  daughter  Theodosia 
is  held — that  while  aiding  her  father  with  sympathy,  her  Cordelia-like  loyalty  has 
endeared  her  to  the  people  as  one  of  the  most  tender  and  pathetic  characters  in 
the  annals  of  exalted  American  womanhood. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

OFFICIAL  LIFE. 

The  official  life  of  Sullivan  County,  either  by  residence 
or  birth,  will  rank  with  the  best  records.  It  includes 
one  President,  six  United  States  Senators,  seven  Gov- 
ernors, eight  Congressmen,  one  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury, one  Minister  to  Russia,  one  Supreme  Judge,  one 
Federal  Judge,  two  Chancery  Judges,  four  Circuit 
Judges  and  two  Attorneys-General. 

Those  serving  in  the  United  States  Senate  were  Wil- 
liam Blount  and  William  Cocke,  who  were  the  first  sen- 
ators from  Tennessee  elected  by  a  vote  of  the  legislature, 
assembled  in  Knoxville,  in  1796,  when  the  state  was  first 
organized.  William  Blount  was  expelled  in  1797.  An- 
drew Jackson  was  appointed  in  1797,  but  resigned  a 
year  later;  Daniel  Smith  was  senator  1798-1799  and 
again   from  1805  to  1809;   George  W.  Campbell,  1811 

,  resigned  to  accept  a  cabinet  position — Secretary  of 

the  Treasury,  1814,  and  afterwards  became  minister  to 
Russia,  1818-1821;  W.  C.  C.  Claiborne  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  Senate  from  Louisiana,  but  died  be- 
fore taking  his  seat;  Andrew  Jackson  became  senator 
again,  1823-1825,  but  again  resigned. 

Congressmen :  Andrew  Jackson  became  a  member  of 
the  fourth  congress;  W.  C.  C.  Claiborne  served  in  the 
fifth  and  sixth  congresses;  George  W.  Campbell  in  the 
eighth,  ninth  and  tenth;  John  Rhea  from  the  eighth  to 
the  thirteenth  inclusive  and  again  in  the  fifteenth  and 
sixteenth;  John  Sevier  in  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth; 
William  G.  Blount  in  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth;  Abra- 
ham McClellan  in  the  twenty-fifth,  twenty-sixth  and 
twenty-seventh;  Austin  King  served  in  congress  from 
Missouri. 

The  list  of  Governors  begins  with  William  Blount, 


Official  Life.  161 

first  governor  of  the  Territory  south  of  the  Ohio,  1790  to 
1796;  W.  C.  C.  Claiborne  became  second  governor  of 
Mississippi  and  first  governor  of  Louisiana;  John  Sevier, 
first  governor  of  Tennessee,  1796-1801,  and  again,  1803- 
09;  Willie  Blount,  1809-15;  Isaac  Shelby  became 
first  governor  of  Kentucky;  Austin  King,  born  in  Sullivan 
County,  1801,  moved  to  Missouri  in  1830,  elected  governor, 
1848-53;  John  Isaac  Cox,  serving  as  speaker  of  the 
senate,  suceeded  Gov.  Frazier,  1905-7,  who  succeeded 
Senator  William  B.  Bate,  the  latter  having  died  in  office. 
On  the  judicial  list:  W.  C.  C.  Claiborne  was  appointed 
to  the  supreme  bench,  1796;  George  W.  Campbell  also 
became  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors  and  Appeals, 
1809-11.  Circuit  judges:  William  Cocke,  1809-12, 
impeached — circuit  judges  were  at  first  elected  by  the 
legislature,  but  after  1853  were  elected  by  the  people; 

H.  Tyler  Campbell,  1894-1902 ;  Alonzo  J.  Tyler,  1902 ; 

C.  St.  John,  Jr.,  was  appointed  judge  during  the  contested 
election  between  Tyler  and  Harmon,  serving  from  Sept- 
ember, 1902,  until  January,  1904. 

Chancellors:  C.  J.  St.  John,  Sr.  (appointed  to  fill 
out  the  unexpired  term  of  H.  C.  Smith,  deceased),  1885- 
86;  Hal  H.  Haynes,  1902 . 

Attorneys-General:  John  Fain,  1878-86;  H.  Tyler 
Campbell,  1886-94. 

Federal  Judge:    C.  F.  Trigg,  1862. 

Thomas  Curtin  was  appointed  special  judge  of  the 
supreme  court,  1902,  to  sit  in  a  case  on  account  of  the  in- 
competency of  Judge  Shields.  W.  V.  Deaderick  was  ap- 
pointed referee  judge,  an  intermediate  court  to  relieve 
the  congested  condition  of  the  supreme  court. 

The  members  of  the  constitutional  convention, 
representing  Sullivan  County,  were:  1796 — George  Rut- 
ledge,  William  C.  C.  Claiborne,  John  Shelby,  Jr.,  John 
Rhea  and  Richard  Gammon.  Convention  of  1834 — 
Abraham  McClellan.  Convention  of  1870— W.  V.  Dead- 
erick. 


162  Historic  Sullivan. 


STATE  SENATORS  AND  REPRESENTATIVES. 

In  the  first  territorial  assembly,  which  met  in  Knoxville, 
1794,  Sullivan  was  represented  by  George  Rutledge.1 
He  also  represented  the  county  in  the  senate  in  1796, 
along  with  representatives  John  Rhea  and  David  Looney. 

Assembly,  1797^-George  Rutledge;  1799— George  Rut- 
ledge,  John  Scott  and  Richard  Gammon;  1801 — George 
Rutledge,  John  Tipton  and  William  Snodgrass;2  1805 — 
James  King,  John  Scott  and  John  Tipton;  1807 — Sullivan 
and  Hawkins  district  was  represented  by  Hawkins  county 
— John  Tipton,  representative;  1809 — John  Tipton  and 
John  Phagen;  1812 — George  Rutledge  and  John  Tipton; 
1813 — records  lost;  1815 — Absalom  Looney  and  William 
King;  1817 — John  Tipton  and  Elkanah  R.  Dulaney; 
1819— Jacob  Miller  and  Elkanah  R.  Dulaney;  1821— 
Jacob  Miller  and  Elkanah  R.  Dulaney;  1823 — George 
Gammon  and  Abraham  McClellan;  1825 — Elkanah  R. 

lGeorge  Rutledge  was  of  South  Carolina  origin  and  a  descendant  of  the  famous 
Rutledge  family  that  rendered  such  service  to  the  county.  He  came  to  Sullivan 
when  he  was  about  seventeen  years  of  age  and  from  his  youth  was  active  in  all 
that  helped  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  county.  He  was  with  Evan  Shelby 
in  his  Chicamauga  campaign  and  with  Isaac  Shelby  at  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain. 
He  helped  to  frame  the  first  constitution  of  Tennessee  and  was  Sullivan  County's 
first  representative  in  the  state  senate.  He  was  also  sheriff  of  the  county.  In 
addition  to  his  usefulness  as  a  public  man  he  did  much  to  develop  agricultural 
interests  and  was  more  instrumental  than  any  other  man  in  introducing  blooded 
stock  into  the  county.  He  succeeded  Gen.  John  Sevier  as  military  commandant 
of  the  district.  Gen.  Rutledge  died  July  1,  1813,  fifty-three  years  of  age  and  is 
buried  at  Blountville.  He  was  at  first  buried  near  his  home,  but  shortly  after  the 
graveyard  was  laid  out  at  Blountville,  was  exhumed  and  buried  there.  His  wife 
survived  him  several  years  and  died  at  Kingsport.  The  remains  were  brought  to 
Blountville,  and  as  this  funeral  party  approached  from  the  west,  the  cortege  in 
charge  of  the  general's  remains  came  over  the  hill  from  the  east,  a  bell  tolling  all 
the  while.     They  were  both  buried  on  the  same  day. 

2William  Snodgrass  was  born  in  Virginia  and  removed  to  Sullivan  County 
in  his  youth.  He,  like  so  many  others  on  the  frontier,  helped  to  defend  the  border 
forts.  His  first  assignment  as  an  officer  was  as  sergeant  in  Evan  Shelby's  expedi- 
tion against  the  Chicamauga  Indians,  in  1779.  He  then  served  as  leader  of  the 
scouts  under  Col.  Campbell,  in  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain.  "Very  early  in  the 
morning  after  the  battle  Colo.  Campbell  came  to  me  and  asked  me  if  I  would  be  will- 
ing to  go  back  and  meet  the  footmen  and  stop  them  from  coming  to  the  mountain 
and  to  take  some  men  with  me  as  a  guard.  I  told  him  I  did  not  want  any  guard 
— I  left  about  sunrise  Edward  Smith  accompanying  me.  *  *  *  * — MSS. 
letter.  Draper  Collection. 

Snodgrass  was  one  of  the  last  survivors  of  the  battle.  In  the  Creek  War 
he  arose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel — commanding  the  Tenth  Tennessee  regi- 
ment. 

He  owned  a  plantation  midway  between  Blountville  and  Bristol  and  his  home 
stood  on  the  lot  where  D.  Akard's  house  now  stands  (1909).  Here  he  entertained 
hospitably.  It  was  one  of  Andrew  Jackson's  favorite  resting  places  when  on  his 
way  to  and  from  Washington.  Col.  Snodgrass  died  in  1845,  eighty-five  years  old, 
surviving  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain  sixty-five  years,  and  is  buried  in  the 
Snodgrass  graveyard.  He  and  Gen.  Rutledge  were  war  comrades,  neighbors  and 
friends. 


Official  Life.  163 

Dulaney;  1827— George  Gammon  and  Abraham  Mc- 
Clellan;  1829— Abraham  McClellan;  1831— Abraham  Mc- 
Clellan;  1833— John  Netherland;  1835— Elkanah  R. 
Dulaney    (vice   John   Netherland);   1837— Elkanah   R. 

Dulaney;  1839 ,3  Jesse  Cross;  1841 , 

James  Eanes;  1843 ,  Jesse  Cross;  1845 — Alfred 

Martin  and  John  B.  Hamilton;  1847 ,  Jesse  Cross; 

1849 — Abraham  Tipton  and  James  J.   Odell;   1851 — 

,  F.  M.  Davis;  1853 ,  James  J.  Odell; 

1855 ,  F.  D.  Massengill;  1857 ,  A.  L. 

Gammon;  1859 — George  R.  McClellan  and  J.  F.  Trevitt; 

1861 ,  Alvin  M.   Millard;    1865— ("Brownlow 

Legislature")  William  Mullenix;    1867 —  ,   John 

Welsh;  1869 ,  John  Slack;  1871— F.  W.  Earnest 

and  J.  H.  Cross;  1873— S.  K.  N.  Patton  and  L.  H.  Denny; 

1875 ,  James  J.  Odell;  1877— L.  H.  Denny  and 

N.  Gregg;  1879— H.  T.  Patton  and  N.  Gregg;  1881— 

,  N.  T .  Dulaney,  Sr.;  1883 , Nathan  Gregg; 

1885 ,  N.  T .  Dulaney,  Sr.;  1887 ,  N. T . 

Dulaney,  Sr.,  John  M.  Fain,  floater;  1889 ,  A.  J. 

Patterson;  1891 ,  Charles  A.  Brown;  1893— 

John  B.  Harr  and  John  I.  Cox;  1895 ,  William  A. 

Robeson;  1897 ,  W.  A.  Dulaney;  1899—  John 

Slack  and  Jack  Faw;  1901 — John  I.  Cox  andW.  D.  Lyon; 
1903— John  I.  Cox  and  W.  M.  Poe;  1905— John  I.  Cox 
and  W.  D.  Lyon;  1907— John  I.  Cox  and  J.  Parks  Worley; 
1908— John  I.  Cox  and  J.  Parks  Worley. 

COUNTY  OFFICERS. 

The  entry  takers  of  the  county  so  far  as  the  records 
show  were:  John  Adair,  James  Gaines  and  William 
Snodgrass. 

County  Clerks:  John  Rhea,  1780-87;  Matthew  Rhea, 
1787-1820;  Richard  Netherland,  1820-32;  G.  W.  Nether- 

3Senators  elected  from  counties  outside  of  Sullivan  are  not  noted. 


164  Historic  Sullivan. 

land,  1832-36;  John  C.  Rutledge,  1836-44;  Jacob  T.  Mes- 
sick,  1844-48;  Thomas  P.  Ford,  1848-52;  John  C.  Rutledge, 
1852-65;  William  C.  Snapp,  1865-66;  George  L.  Yates, 
1866-67;  N.  B.  Simpson,  1867-68;  David  Pence,  1868-70; 
James  P.  Rader,  1870-74;  A.  J.  Cox,  1874-82;  Page  Bul- 
lock, 1882-86;  N.  D.  Bachman,  Sr.,  1886-94;  John  M.  Fain, 
1894-98;  John  R.  Snow,  1898-1902;  S.  J.  Kyle,  1902. 

Sheriffs:  Nathan  Clark,  1780-85;  Archibald  Taylor, 
1785-87;  George  Rutledge,  1787-92;  William  McCormick, 
1792-94;  John  Scott,  1794-96;  Isaac  Shelby,  Jr.,  1796-98; 
John  Anderson,  1798-1800;  Francis  H.  Gaines,  1800-02; 
Thomas  Shelby,  1802-04;  Thomas  Rockhold,  1804-06; 
James  Phagen,  1806-29;  Thomas  White,  1829-30;  Jacob 
K.  Snapp,  1830-36;  Amos  James,  1836-40;  John  B.  Ham- 
ilton, 1840-44;  M.  Massengill,  1844-46;  John  W.  Cox, 
1846-50;  N.  M.  Hicks,  1850-54;  B.  L.  Dulaney,  Sr., 
1854-58;  A.  Odell,  1858-60;  A.  G.  Lowry,  1860-65;  Henry 
Oliver,  1865-66;  G.  W.  Sells,  1866-68;  Thomas  H.  Easley, 
1868-70;  Nathan  Gregg,  1870-76;  S.  L.  Millard,  1876-80; 
E.  S.  Worley,  1880-84;  J.  S.  Gunning,  1884-86;  G.  W.  Sells, 
1886-88;  R.  S.  Cartwright,  1888-92;  A.  McClellan,  1892-96; 
W.  M.  Newland,  1898-1902;  William  Odell,  1902-04; 
W.  M.  Newland,  1904-06;  J.  S.  Ford,  1908. 

Registrars:  William  Wallace,  1780;  Stephen  Major, 
1789;  W.  C.  Anderson,  1790;  *  *  Frederick  Sturm, 
1840-65;  N.  J.  Phillips,  1865-66;  Frederick  Sturm,  1866-70; 
O.  M.  White,  1870-82;  John  W.  Farmer,  1882-86;  E.  D. 
Baumgardner,  1886-90;  Will  S.  Anderson,  1890-94;  J. 
M.  Yost,  1894-1902;  E.  F.  Mauk,  1902. 

Circuit  Court  Clerks:  Thomas  Shelby,  1810-20; 
William  Anderson,  1820-36;  John  Irvin,  1836-  (died  in 
office — supplied  by  Samuel  Evans),  1848;  John  Cox, 
1848-52;  John  W.  Cox,  1852-60;  W.  W.  James,  1860-64; 
Abraham  Cox,  1864-65;  J.  0.  B.  Cloud,  1865-70;  A.  H. 
Bullock,  1870-78;  G.  L.  Clay,  1878-82;  W.  S.  Anderson, 
1882-90;  H.  T.  Cole,  1890-94;  W.  L.  Crumley,  1894;  — 
(died   in  office — Riley  Pearson  appointed)  1896;  E.  F. 


Official  Life.  165 

Mauk,  1896-1902;  J.  A.  Cole,  1902— (died  in  office— W. 
F.  Mullenix  appointed),  1906;  T.  J.  Cross,  1906. 

Trustees:  Prior  to  the  Civil  War  the  office  of  trustee 
was  called  revenue  collector  and  the  taxes  were  collected 
by  a  house  to  house  canvass,  requiring  about  all  of  the 
officer's  time.  This  title  continued  a  number  of  years 
after  the  war.  On  the  election  of  J.  F.  Thomas  in  1874 
the  office  of  tax  collector  became  known  as  trustee.  Gov. 
Brownlow  appointed  John  Roller  in  1865.  He  was  re- 
elected in  1866,  for  two  years.  A.  C.  Shipley,  1868-70; 
Samuel  L.  Stone,  1870-74;  J.  T.  Thomas,  1874-76;  Robert 
P.  Eanes,  1876-80;  George  R.  Barnes,  1880-84;  J.  M. 
Morton,  1884-88;  J.  C.  Yoakley,  1888-90;  S.  S.  Hall, 
1890— declined  to  qualify,  E.  S.  Worley  appointed  by 
county  court  tor  two  years — elected  1892-94;  John  Slack, 
1894-98;  N.  D.  Bachman,  Sr.,  1898-1902;  R.  R.  New- 
land,  1902-08;  John  R.  Snow,  1908. 

Those  holding  records  in  the  official  life  of  Sullivan 
are  Frederick  Sturm,  elected  by  the  people  twenty-nine 
years  as  registrar.  Thomas  Fain,  by  appointment, 
served  fifty  years  as  post-master  of  Arcadia;  W.  V.  Dead- 
erick  when  candidate  for  judge  received  the  largest 
popular  vote  ever  given  a  candidate,  with  opposition, 
in  the  county. 

Hal.  H.  Haynes  was  complimented  by  both  parties 
when  a  candidate  for  judge.  He  not  only  had  no  op- 
position, but  the  election  commissioners  of  both  parties 
placed  his  name  on  their  tickets. 

John  I.  Cox,  by  his  succession  to  the  office  of  gov- 
ernor, has  received  the  highest  honors  of  any  native 
Sullivan  County  man,  in  his  native  state. 


"Raccoon"  John  Smith, 
a  biography. 

Southeastern  Kentucky  and  upper  East  Tennessee  are 
closely  linked  by  a  lineage  that  began  with  the  states' 
birth.  Sullivan  County  has  provided  much  of  Kentucky's 
sturdy  citizenship.  Isaac  Shelby,  who  deserves  the 
name  of  first  citizen  of  Sullivan,  might  also  be  called, 
with  the  same  propriety,  first  citizen  of  Kentucky. 

Following  close  upon  his  trail  across  the  border  went 
another  character  who,  for  natural  ability  and  for  those 
traits  that  exalt  a  man  above  his  fellows,  has  had  no 
superior  in  either  state — John  Smith — who,  partly  to 
distinguish  him  from  others  of  the  same  name,  and  perhaps 
also  to  characterize  the  man,  was  called  "Raccoon"  John 
Smith,  a  name  which  clung  to  him  all  his  life.  He  was 
born  in  Holtson  Valley,  Sullivan  County,  October  15, 
1784,  coincidental  with  the  birth  of  an  outcrop  of  cleavage 
from  conventional  methods  of  law  life — the  little  State  of 
Franklin.  It  was  a  plain  log  cabin  Smith  was  born  in, 
and  he  lived  there  during  the  early  years  of  his  life,  the 
ninth  of  thirteen  children.  His  father — German,  his 
mother — Irish,  had  removed  from  Virginia  to  escape 
religious  persecutions,  the  established  church  being  in 
power  there  as  in  England.  He  lived  in  Sullivan  until  he 
was  eleven  years  old,  having  in  that  time  the  benefit 
of  but  four  months  schooling — taught  by  a  man  who  had 
drifted  into  the  community,  as  was  the  custom  with 
teachers  in  those  days.  During  his  life  he  made  three 
attempts  to  get  an  education,  resulting  altogether  in  five 
months  of  school  training. 

In  the  fall  of  1795  his  father  took  the  family  to  Powell's 
Valley.     The  following  spring  emigration  set  its  face 


'.'••' 


^^m  -*«%*S 


"RACCOON"   JOHN   SMITH 


"Raccoon"  John  Smith.  167 

toward  the  Kentucky  lands  and  thither  he,  with  two  of 
his  sons,  went  to  find  a  home.  An  evidence  of  young 
Smith's  hardihood  and  endurance  in  trial  was  given  a  test. 
They  were  running  short  of  provisions  and  he  was  sent  to 
mill,  one  hundred  miles  away,  leading  one  horse  on  which 
to  carry  back  the  "turn."  The  route  lay  through  thick 
woods,  along  bridle  paths  and  across  swollen  rivers, 
but  he  made  the  trip,  though  almost  forgetting  his  errand 
at  one  place,  where  the  shuffling  of  feet  drew  him.  He, 
peeping  in,  stared  in  wide-eyed  wonder  at  the  guadily 
dressed  fiddler,  who  in  after  years  proved  to  be  one  of  his 
best  friends  and  co-laborers. 

The  family  was  finally  settled  in  Stockton's  Valley. 
Here  John  undertook  to  resume  his  studies,  but  his  teacher 
was  an  indolent,  illiterate  fellow  and  a  slave  to  drink. 
On  one  occasion  he  challenged  the  pupils  to  give  him  a 
question  in  arithmetic  he  could  not  answer.  John,  after 
satisfying  himself  that  he  could  make  his  escape  easily, 
propounded  this  question:  "How  many  grains  of  corn 
will  it  take  to  make  a  square  foot  of  mush?"  The  master 
made  a  movement  as  though  he  would  answer  with  a  good 
deal  of  emphasis,  but  the  wary  student  had  made  his 
escape. 

On  another  occasion,  when  the  master  had  fallen  asleep, 
under  the  influence  of  liquor,  he  deliberately  took  the 
shovel  and,  after  filling  it  with  live  coals  from  the  fire, 
emptied  them  into  one  of  the  coat  pockets  of  the  snoring 
pedagogue.  All  the  students  fled  in  fright  and  this 
incident    closed    the    school — the    master   disappeared. 

Young  Smith  was  full  of  merriment,  wit  and  song,  and 
was  the  promoter  of  much  innocent  amusement  which 
made  him  a  jolly  companion.  His  father,  to  whom 
he  was  devoted,  died  March  20,  1804,  and  so  im- 
pressive was  his  last  exhortation  to  his  son  that  the  young 
man  sought  religion.  Burdened  by  this  perplexing 
question  and  grief  over  his  father's  death,  he  gradually 
gave  up  his  jesting  and  merry  songs  which  had  before 


168  Historic  Sullivan. 

made  him  a  welcome  guest  everywhere  he  went.  One 
day  at  a  muster,  having  become  a  member  of  the  mili- 
tia, he  was  hailed  by  his  companions  with  a  shout, 
"Come  John,  we  want  some  of  your  best  songs  today." 
"Boys,"  he  replied,  "I've  played  the  fool  for  you  till  I've 
nearly  ruined  my  soul,  I  shall  never  sing  for  you  again 
while  I  live." 

The  burden  of  his  sins  increased  day  by  day.  He  did  not 
know  what  to  do,  how  to  go  about  seeking  salvation. 
One  day  he  heard  there  was  going  to  be  an  experience 
meeting  in  the  neighborhood  and  he  decided  to  go  there, 
thinking  he  might  hear  something  that  would  lead  him 
into  the  light.  He  did  not  go  inside,  but  peeped  through 
a  crevice  in  the  wall.  An  old  man  arose  to  give  his  ex- 
periences. "One  morning,"  he  began,  "I  went  out  into 
the  woods  to  pray  and  I  saw  the  devil."  After  a  pause 
he  continued,  "I  saw  the  devil  and  it  wasn't  imagination 
either,  I  saw  the  devil  as  plainly  as  I  see  you,  Brother 
Denton." 

"And  what  did  he  look  like?"  asked  another  brother. 

"He  was  about  the  size  of  a  yearlin'." 

Young  Smith  turned  away  in  disgust.  In  December, 
1804,  he  was  baptised  according  to  the  tenets  of  the 
Baptist  church. 

His  first  attempt  as  an  exhorter  at  the  home  gatherings 
of  the  neighbors  was  a  failure,  for  as  he  arose  to  speak 
his  thoughts  deserted  him  and,  becoming  confused, 
he  left  the  house.  However,  after  a  stumble  and  a  severe 
fall  in  his  flight,  he  regained  his  memory,  returned  and 
went  through  with  his  talk. 

It  was  at  this  home  that  he  met  the  girl  who  afterwards 
became  his  wife — Anne  Townsend.  The  morning  after 
his  marriage  he  proposed  to  his  wife  that  they  go  to  the 
new  home  he  was  preparing,  four  miles  away.  She  con- 
sented, so  with  an  ox-team  drawing  a  sled,  his  wife  perched 
upon  the  household  effects,  which  included  her  dowry — 
a  feather  bed  and  cooking  utensils,  he   arrived  at  his 


"Raccoon"  John  Smith.  169 

"undaubed  pen  of  logs."  Through  the  crevices  crept 
the  December  wind;  snow  was  piled  in  heaps  upon  the 
dirt  floor,  and  no  shutter  had  yet  been  made  for  the  little 
window.  Smith  soon  started  a  fire  with  his  flint,  but 
life  in  an  empty  cabin  without  a  hearthstone  was  no  very 
pleasant  prospect  for  a  young  and  hopeful  wife.  Yet  she 
was  not  accustomed  to  luxury  and  the  neighbors  knew 
the  meaning  of  privation  and  toil,  so  their  poverty  did  not 
suffer  by  humiliating  contrast.  He  carried  logs  into  the 
cabin  and  upon  these,  which  he  had  made  into  sleepers, 
placed  some  clapboards,  this  serving  as  a  temporary 
resting  place — a  bed,  while  a  coverlet,  stretched  along  the 
wall,  kept  out  the  cold  wind .  He  lost  no  time  in  making  a 
puncheon  floor  with  his  axe  and  wedge,  and  after  he  had 
finished  the  chinking  and  daubing,  had  a  comfortable 
cabin. 

It  was  not  long  after  this  that  he  heard  of  an  opening  of 
new  lands  in  Alabama,  and  removed  his  family  there. 

At  one  time  while  he  was  some  distance  away,  preach- 
ing and  his  wife  was  also  absent  from  home — on  an  errand 
of  mercy  for  a  sick  neighbor — the  cabin  caught  on  fire 
and  burned  down,  two  of  their  children  being  victims. 
All  his  household  effects  were  destroyed.  His  wife, 
grief  stricken,  was  taken  sick  and  died,  and  he  lay  for 
months  given  up  to  die.  When  he  was  finally  brought 
back  to  partial  health  he  was  invited  to  come  and  meet 
his  old  brethren  in  Kentucky.  A  great  meeting  was  then 
in  progress  at  Crab  Orchard,  so  he  decided  to  go.  All  he 
had  to  wear  on  this  trip  was  picked  up  here  and  there — 
"A  pair  of  homespun  cotton  pataloons,  striped  with 
copperas,  loose  enough,  but  far  too  short  for  him,  a  cotton 
coat,  once  checked  with  blue  and  white,  but  now  of  un- 
distinguishable  colors.  They  had  been  given  to  him  in 
Alabama.  His  shapeless  hat  was  streaked  with  sweat 
and  dust,  his  shirt  was  coarse  and  unbuttoned  at  the 
neck — his  white  cravat  was  in  the  coffin  with  his  wife." 

Upon  his  arrival  near  the  meeting  house  he  dismounted, 


170  Historic  Sullivan. 

threw  his  saddle  bags  across  his  shoulder  and  joined  the 
crowd,  but  no  one  in  that  vast  assemblage  seemed  to 
recognize  him.  He  had  more  the  appearance  of  a  vaga- 
bond than  a  minister.  He  made  an  effort  to  get  inside  the 
church,  but  was  pushed  aside  by  the  better  dressed  people 
and  finally  was  forced  to  sit  on  the  doorstep. 

Soon  he  heard  a  voice  within:  "Brother  Moderator, 
it  is  impossible  to  transact  the  business  of  the  Association 
in  the  midst  of  such  a  multitude  as  this.  Many  hundreds 
of  people  are  yet  without  and  the  house  can  hold  no  more. 
Let  some  one  be  appointed  to  preach  to  the  people  from 
the  stand."  Two  young  divinity  students  were  appointed. 
As  the  overflow  crowd  was  making  its  way  to  the  grove 
some  one  recognized  Smith  and  begged  him  to  go  also. 
He  plead  to  be  excused,  but  finally  agreed  to  go  and  be 
a  listener.  He  did  not  take  his  place  on  the  stand  with 
the  other  ministers,  but  was  content  to  sit  on  a  log  nearby, 
for  he  had  over-heard  one  of  the  well-dressed  men  make 
inquiry,  "Who  is  that  dirty  fellow  following  us?" 

These  two  young  men  arose,  in  turn,  and  tried  to  preach, 
but  each  after  a  struggle  over  his  text,  gave  up  and  sat 
down.  Then  came  Smith's  turn.  He  was  urged  to  go 
forward  and  keep  the  crowd  from  dispersing — an  inspira- 
tion came  to  him — he  arose,  went  upon  the  stand  and 
faced  the  crowd .  His  appearance,  following  the  discomfit- 
ure of  his  two  predecessors,  was  the  occasion  of  frequent 
jests  and  many  began  to  leave. 

his  famous  sermon. 

He  saw  that  heroic  measures  were  necessary  to  hold  the 
crowd,  and  shouted:  "Stay  friends,  and  hear  what  the 
great  Augustine  said.  Augustine  wished  to  see  three 
things  before  he  died."  Smith  went  on,  "Rome  in  her 
glory  and  purity,  Paul  on  Mars  Hill  and  Jesus  in  the  flesh." 
Many  remained.  Others  started  to  leave,  when  again  he 
inquired  with  a  full  volume  voice,  "Will  you  not  stay 


"Raccoon"  John  Smith.  171 

and  hear  what  the  great  Cato  said?  Cato  repented  of 
three  things  before  his  death:  first,  that  he  had  ever 
spent  an  idle  day;  second,  that  he  had  ever  gone  on  a 
voyage  by  water  when  he  might  have  made  the  same 
journey  by  land;  third,  that  he  had  ever  told  the  secrets 
of  his  bosom  to  a  woman."  The  people  now  began  to 
crowd  closer,  but  seeing  a  few  small  groups  standing  at 
some  distance  he  cried  in  a  loud  voice:  "Come  friends 
and  hear  what  the  great  Thales  thanked  the  gods  for. 
Thales  thanked  the  Gods  for  three  things:  first,  that 
he  was  endowed  with  reason  and  not  a  brute;  second, 
that  he  was  a  Greek  and  not  a  Barbarian;  third,  that  he 
was  a  man  and  not  a  woman." 

"And  now  friends,  I  know  you  are  ready  to  ask  and 
pray,  sir,  who  are  you?" 

"I  am  John  Smith  from  Stockton's  Valley.  In  more 
recent  years  I  have  lived  among  the  rocks  and  hills  of 
the  Cumberland.  Down  there  saltpeter  caves  abound  and 
raccoons  make  their  homes.  On  that  wild  frontier  we 
never  had  good  schools  nor  many  books,  consequently  I 
stand  before  you  today,  a  man  without  an  education. 
But,  my  brethren,  even  in  that  ill-favored  region  the  Lord 
in  good  time  found  me.  He  showed  me  his  wonderous 
grace  and  called  me  to  preach  the  ever-lasting  gospel  of 
the  Son." 

One  of  the  spectators  stirred  by  his  eloquent  prelude 
hastened  to  the  house  and  urged  the  moderator  to  stop 
all  business  and  go  to  the  grove. 

"Why,  what  is  the  matter?"  inquired  the  moderator. 

"Why,  sir,  that  fellow  with  the  striped  coat  on  that  was 
raised  among  the  coons,  by  the  name  of  Smith,  is  up  preach- 
ing." 

"What!  John  Smith?"  Leaving  the  order  of  business 
in  the  care  of  some  one  else  he  immediately  went  to  the 
grove  and  took  his  seat  on  the  stand.  It  soon  became 
whispered  around  that  something  unusual  was  taking 
place  in  the  woods.    The  crowd  left  the  house  in  groups 


172  Historic  Sullivan. 

until  preachers  and  people  all  flocked  around  the  stand, 
many  climbing  trees  to  get  a  better  view. 

In  closing  Smith  delivered  an  impassioned  plea  and 
when  the  people  arose  there  was  not  a  dry  eye  among 
them.  When  he  concluded  many  of  the  ministers 
embraced  him,  and  his  name,  his  sermon  and  his  recent 
bereavements  were  the  topics  of  conversation  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  day. 

At  one  time,  when  he  had  charge  of  a  church  at 
Bethlehem,  Kentucky,  an  Universalist  began  to  disturb 
the  belief  of  many  of  the  people.  This  aroused  Smith, 
who  promised  that  on  his  next  visit  he  would  preach  on 
"Universal  Damnation."  .-  jpf 

When  the  time  came  he  had  an  immense  crowd.  He 
began :  "I'm  going  to  deliver  a  discourse  today,  brethren, 
which  the  Lord  knows  and  you  know  I  don't  believe  one 
word  of,  but,  to  expose  the  absurdity  of  a  doctrine  of 
which  you  have  been  hearing,  I  will  show  that,  applying 
the  Universalists'  mode  of  interpretation,  all  men  without 
exception  will  be  damned.  And  what  if  I  should  succeed 
in  proving  that  the  devil  will  get  the  last  one  of  you.  I 
fear  it  is  nothing  more  than  you  richly  deserve  anyhow." 

About  the  year  1820  a  religious  revolution  began  to 
manifest  itself  in  John  Smith  and  he  openly  avowed  his 
dissatisfaction  with  some  of  the  doctrines  of  the  church 
to  which  he  had  allied  himself.  He  had  become  interested 
in  the  doctrines  as  preached  by  Alexander  Campbell. 
In  the  spring  of  1824  Campbell  visited  Kentucky  and  at 
Flemingsburg  a  meeting  took  place  between  himself  and 
Smith.  At  their  introduction  Campbell  ventured,  "Oh, 
is  this  Brother  John  Smith.  I  know  Brother  Smith  very 
well,  but  have  never  seen  him  before." 

He  soon  after  began  to  imbibe  and  accept  the  doctrines 
of  Campbell,  and  made  no  secret  of  his  belief. 

In  1827  the  association  discussed  his  heresy,  but  de- 
cided Smith  was  too  good  and  powerful  a  preacher  to  let 
go  and  so  recommended  that  a  year's  time  be  allowed  him, 


"Raccoon"  John  Smith.  173 

to  reconsider,  feeling  assured  by  the  end  of  that  time  he 
"would  return  to  the  faith  of  his  fathers."  But  in  this  they 
were  mistaken.  He  became  more  outspoken  in  denuncia- 
tion of  certain  doctrines.  "What  shall  we  do  with  him," 
warningly  asked  one  brother  of  another.  "He  is  dis- 
tracting society,  sowing  dissension  in  families  and  over- 
turning churches;  yet  the  law  will  do  nothing  with  him." 

In  that  day  to  proselyte  a  person  was  more  of  an  achieve- 
ment than  to  convert  from  sin. 

Enraged  by  Smith's  officiation  in  the  baptism  of  a 
young  girl,  who  had  belonged  to  another  church,  an  elderly 
lady  declared :  "When  you  took  that  dear  young  girl  in 
the  water,  sir,  you  led  her  that  much  further  toward  hell." 
"Madam,"  he  replied,  "if  you  will  study  the  Word  a  little 
more  you  will  find  the  route  to  hell  is  not  by  water." 

At  one  time,  after  the  renunciation  of  his  former  relig- 
ious views,  he  was  urged  to  go  to  Frankfort  and  preach. 
When  he  arrived  he  found  every  church  door  of  the  town 
closed  against  him.  Judge  Owsley,  who  was  then  hold- 
ing court  there,  was  informed  of  it.  "What!  is  it  John 
Smith  of  Montgomery?  What  is  the  matter  with  the 
people  that  they  shut  their  houses  against  such  a  man? 
Tell  him  I  will  adjourn  the  court  and  he  can  preach  in  the 
court-room." 

The  news  spread  that  "Raccoon"  John  Smith  would 
preach  that  evening  in  the  court-house.  The  room  was 
crowded — lobby,  aisles  and  windows  were  filled.  Only 
four  members  of  the  legislature,  then  in  session,  were 
absent. 

Wherever  John  Smith  went,  crowds  followed  him.  The 
sincerity  of  the  man  and  his  purpose,  his  forceful  ways, 
appealed  to  friend  and  foe — all  wanted  to  hear  him  whether 
they  agreed  with  him  or  not. 

He  lived  in  a  day  of  new  doctrines,  which  meant  the 
survival  of  the  fittest.  His  was  the  stormy  career  of  con- 
troversy. Although  his  mind  was  like  a  giant  in  repose 
he  would  often  enliven  his  discourses  with  little  pleasant- 


174  Historic  Sullivan. 

ries,  irresistible.  He  was  a  ready  wit  as  well  as  a  sound 
reasoner.  No  opponent  could  stand  against  his  wither- 
ing logic — few  tried,  as  he  often  employed  that  most  pow- 
erful weapon,  which  succeeds  when  all  else  fails — ridicule. 

In  one  debate  he  took  the  most  unpopular  side  of  a 
question  against  three  opponents,  and  won.  He  there- 
upon agreed  to  reverse  sides  with  them,  and  won  as  easily 
the  other  side. 

He  was  much  in  his  manner  and  discourse  like  the  late 
evangelist,  Sam  Jones.  He  spared  nothing,  not  even  the 
ministry. 

"My  very  soul  is  stirred  within  me  when  I  think  of  what 
a  world  of  mischief  the  popular  clergy  have  done.  They 
shut  up  everybody's  mouth,  but  their  own,  and  their 's 
they  won't  open  unless  they  are  paid  for  it." 

"Thirty-five  years  ago,"  says  one,  "  I  heard  him  preach 
in  a  cabin  near  Monticello.  I  was  then  a  boy,  but  I  could 
not  keep  from  listening,  and  to-day  I  distinctly  remem- 
ber that  sermon — the  text,  the  doctrine,  and  the  arrange- 
ment.   No  recent  discourse  is  so  vivid  in  my  mind." 

There  was  a  tender  side  to  Smith's  life  and  he  had  a 
very  cordial  feeling  for  all  mankind,  especially  for  those 
who  were  in  need  of  sympathy.  He  said  once,  "Kindness 
is  the  best  sort  of  revenge  and  wins  more  victories  than 
wrath." 

During  the  cholera  pest,  whose  periodical  visitations 
terrified  the  country  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  some  refugees  stopped  one  night  at  the  Smith 
home  and  asked  for  shelter  until  morning.  They  were 
welcomed  by  Mrs.  Smith,  but  after  their  departure  she 
became  alarmed,  lest  in  her  hospitality  she  had  subjected 
her  own  family  to  the  plague.  Upon  the  return  of  her  hus- 
band she  acquainted  him  with  the  facts.  "You  did  ex- 
actly right,  Nancy,  though  we  should  all  die  for  it.  If  we 
must  die  let  us  die  doing  good." 

Smith,  although  one  of  the  greatest  preachers  in  his  day, 
received  but  little  pay  for  his  services.    It  is  doubtful  if 


"Raccoon"  John  Smith.  175 

he  averaged  one  hundred  dollars  per  year  during  more 
than  half  a  century  of  labor.  As  an  example — from  1822 
to  1825  he  received  but  eighteen  dollars  and  that  was  by 
the  cancellation  of  a  debt. 

His  family  depended  upon  a  small  farm,  which  he  had 
acquired  before  his  entrance  into  the  ministry. 

He  was  married  twice,  his  second  wife  being  Nancy 
Hurt. 

He  was  eighty-four  years  old  at  his  death,  which  occur- 
red in  Missouri,  he  having  gone  there  to  visit  his  daughter. 
His  remains  were  shipped  to  Lexington,  Kentucky,  and 
now  rest  in  the  shadow  of  the  tall  shaft  which  stands  over 
the  grave  of  Henry  Clay.  Along  with  Shelby,  Clay  and 
Boone,  Smith  has  left  an  imperishable  impress  upon  the 
State  of  Kentucky. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  CHURCH. 

In  the  company  of  the  pioneer  was  the  minister — 
himself  prepared  for  the  trials  of  border  life,  and  journey- 
ing with  a  cavalcade  much  as  a  chaplain  goes  along  with 
an  army — expecting  to  see  hard  service  and  to  become 
accustomed  to  hard  living.  They  came  prepared  not 
only  to  battle  against  sin  with  the  gospel,  but  also  to 
bear  arms  like  the  rest,  not  knowing  when  a  service  might 
be  interrupted  by  an  Indian  foe.  The  preachers  and  the 
men  members  went  armed  to  church. 

While  the  Presbyterians  were  the  first  to  have  establish- 
ed places  of  worship  in  Tennessee,  it  is  probable  the  first 
minister  to  preach  on  Tennessee  soil  was  of  the  Episcopal 
faith,  or  one  of  the  established  Church  of  England. 

When  Col.  William  Byrd  began  his  survey  at  Curry- 
tuck,  in  1733,  there  went  along  as  chaplain,  Rev.  Peter 
Fountain,  an  Episcopalian.  In  1759-60  when  Byrd  was 
sent  out  to  relieve  Fort  Loudon  he  left  the  company  at 
Stalnaker's,  the  rest,  however,  went  as  far  as  Long  Island 
and  no  doubt  the  chaplain  went  there  too. 

Charles  Cummings  and  Joseph  Rhea  are  known  to  have 
preached  in  Sullivan  when,  as  chaplains,  they  accompan- 
ied the  Christian  expedition  in  1776. 

The  first  church  to  be  erected  on  Tennessee  soil  was 
called  Taylor  Meeting  House  and  was  located  near  Gun- 
ning's, about  four  miles  west  of  Blountville.  Rev.  Jacob 
Lake  preached  to  the  congregation  that  assembled  there. 
This  church  antedates  all  other  claims  by  a  year  if  not 


1  Allison  claims  Salem  church  was  erected  in  1777.     Others  claim  it  was  erected 
in  1778. 


The  Church.  177 

The  following  letter  corroborated  by  records  on  the 
first  county  minute-book  of  Washington  county,  Virginia, 
establishes  the  claim  of  this  church.  No  date  was  found 
showing  the  year  in  which  the  church  was  erected,  but  it 
was  before  1777. 

Green  Castle,  Indiana,  March  29,  1877. 
Rev.  P.  D.  Cowan, 

My  Dear  Brother: — After  my  kind  respects  to  you  I  wish  to  say  to 
you  I  have  been  well  pleased  with  your  letters  in  the  Herald  &  Presbyter 
a  paper  I  have  been  taking  for  many  years,  indeed  I  can  say  from  its 
very  beginning.  I  wish  to  tell  you  why  I  am  interested  in  letters  from 
East  Tennessee  it  was  my  early  Home  I  was  born  in  Sullivan  County 
near  75  years  since  and  knew  all  the  first  settlers  in  that  county 
and  many  in  your  county  My  father  settled  in  4  miles  of  Blountville 
west  1776  was  identified  with  all  the  interests  of  the  county  till  1815 
when  we  moved  to  Kentucky  when  he  died  John  Jennings  was  his 
name.  My  grand  Father  and  grand  Mother  were  members  of  the 
first  Presbyterian  Church  in  Sullivan  County  and  I  think  in  the  State 
and  their  bodies  are  buried  in  that  old  Church  yard  one  mile  East  of 
where  I  was  born  known  as  Taylor  Meeting  House.  I  well  remember 
when  it  was  burned  down.  I  was  much  interested  in  your  giving  an 
account  of  the  Churches  in  your  part  of  the  State,  and  When  I  receive 
my  H  &  P  the  first  thing  I  look  for  is  your  letter  The  last  one  of  my 
old  friends  I  met  was  one  that  I  knew  from  Blountville  Samuel  Rhea 
an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  met  in  New  York  in  1856  in  General 
Assembly  I  had  not  saw  him  for  many  years  he  was  a  student  when  I 
knew  him  in  Blountville  at  the  Academy  My  father  was  teacher  I 
became  acquainted  with  Judge  Luckey  of  your  town  1836  at  the  General 
Assembly  we  were  member,  the  first  Presbyterian  Minister  that  ever 
preached  in  East  Tennessee  Rev.  Lake  he  took  charge  of  Taylor  church 
I  can  give  you  the  names  of  many  of  the  old  members  Rhea  Taylors 
Anderson  Potters  Kings  Nash  Gammons  Spurgens  &  Cole  I  hope  you 
will  excuse  me  for  writing  this  letter  I  am  an  old  man  and  you  may 
find  some  one  who  knew  me  when  a  boy  that  would  like  to  hear  from 
me  for  I  was  well  acquainted  with  all  the  leading  families  of  Sullivan.2 

Yours  truly 

John  S  Jennings 

2This  letter  was  sent  me  by  J.  Fain  Anderson,  of  Washington  College,  and 
I  here  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  him  for  many  courtesies  in  the  way  of 
data  concerning  Sullivan  County  history.  The  letter  was  not  received  until  this 
book  was  being  prepared  for  the  press,  some  already  in  type  and  therefore  a  full 
investigation  of  the  history  of  the  church,  if  procurable,  was  not  permitted  on 
such  short  knowledge  of  its  existence. 


178  Historic  Sullivan. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  this  letter  the  records  of  Sullivan 
County  were  searched  for  a  deed  of  conveyance,  but  none 
was  found.  The  following  however  is  recorded  at  Abingdon, 
the  church  being,  as  was  then  supposed,  in  Washington 
county,  Virginia. 

January,  1777. 

Ordered  that  David  Steele  be  surveyor  of  the  Main  road  from 
Steele's  Creek  to  the  Meeting  House  and  that  John  Anderson  Gent 
give  him  a  list  of  tithables. 

Ordered  that  Amos  Eaton  be  surveyor  of  the  Main  Road  from  the 
Meeting  House  to  Fort  Patrick  Henry  and  that  John  Anderson  give 
him  a  list  of  tithables. 

The  congregation  of  this  church  was  no  doubt  preached 
to  by  other  ministers  of  the  time  besides  Rev.  Lake. 

Samuel  Doak  owned  a  tract  of  three  hundred  acres 
of  land  near  there  and  was  associated  in  the  establishing 
of  churches  in  this  county. 

Following  this  church  came  two  others — Upper  Concord 
and  New  Bethel — the  former  near  Vance's  and  the  latter 
in  the  Forks.  These  two  churches  were  organized  by 
Samuel  Doak,  in  1780,  and  1782,  respectively.  Upper 
Concord  is  now  known  as  Weaver's — Frederick  Weaver 
having  given  three  acres  of  land,  the  ground  around  the 
church  being  used  as  a  graveyard.  Many  of  the 
first  settlers  are  buried  here — among  them  a  soldier  named 
Bean  who  was  a  victim  of  the  accidental  discharge  of  his 
gun,  when  returning  home  with  the  troops  from  King's 
Mountain. 

At  New  Bethel  is  a  graveyard  wherein  are  buried 
ancestors  of  some  of  the  best  families  of  Sullivan  County. 
The  remains  of  William  and  Isaac  McKinley,  relatives  of 
President  McKinley,  lie  there. 

In  1882,  at  the  suggestion  of  Rev.  R.  F.  King,  a  cen- 
tennial was  held,  commemorating  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  Forks  church.  The 
celebration  lasted  from  August  23rd  to  26th,  and  a  histori- 


The  Church.  179 

cal  sermon  by  Rev.  Samuel  Hodge  was  the  feature. 
Many  thousands,  including  the  ablest  men  in  this  section 
gathered  there,  venerating  the  memory  of  the  old  pioneer 
preachers. 

Kingsport  has  long  been  a  home  of  the  Presby- 
terian church — one  feature  alone  would  keep  the  memory 
of  that  church  alive  there — the  sending  out  of  four 
brothers  as  ministers,  who  have  distinguished  themselves 
in  the  work — Nathan,  John,  Robert  and  Lynn 
Bachman. 

All  the  early  churches  were  surrounded  with  grave- 
yards.3 It  was  a  part  of  the  early  religious  life  to  appear 
solemn  and  anything  that  suggested  death  and  "this 
world  is  not  my  home"  was  made  as  ever-present  as 
possible.  The  songs  were  mournful  and  impressed  one 
with  the  uncertainty  of  life  and  certainty  of  death.  While 
attending  church  the  sexes  separated  at  the  door  and 
sat  apart  during  the  services.  When  musical  instruments 
were  suggested  for  the  choir  a  wail  of  protest  went  up 
from  some  of  the  old  line  clergy.  As  recent  as  the 
organization  of  the  Methodist  church  in  Bristol,  Bishop 
McTyeire,  in  giving  his  views  about  the  introduction 
of  a  melodion  in  the  church,  declared,  "  When 
you  brought  that  melodion  in  here  you  brought  the  devil 
in  with  it."  Still  later  a  debate  took  place  between 
Rev.  William  Robeson  and  Dr.  David  Sullins  upon  the 
same  subject,  Rev.  Robeson  opposing  the  introduction 
of  the  organ,  which  he  defined  "a  box  of  whistles." 

The  Presbyterian  church  had  some  of  their  strongest 
men  in  the  field  at  the  opening  of  this  new  country. 
Cummings,  Doak  and  Rhea  were  educated  men — learned 
in  the  classics.  That  church  was  demanding  an  educated 
clergy  at  a  time  when  the  frontier  afforded  no  convenient 
way  of  supplying  preachers  of  that  kind.  In  this  the  Pres- 

3In  the  Blountville  graveyard  there  is  erected  a  marble  slab  dedicated  to  tha 
memory  of  Samuel  Rhea — "Persia  Sam,"  as  he  was  known,  who  died  in  Persi- 
and  is  buried  there.  He  was  in  that  land  as  a  missionary,  sent  out  by  the  Pres 
byterian  church. 


180  Historic  Sullivan. 

byterians,  while  having  a  most  liberal  open  door  policy — the 
requirements  for  membership  being  a  simple  confession 
of  faith — yielded  an  opportunity  that  in  a  way  belonged 
to  them  by  right  of  exploration.  Other  denominations 
were  looking  toward  this  field  with  the  view  of  evangeliza- 
tion. 

The  Methodist  and  Baptist  churches  required  no 
educational  qualifications  of  their  ministers — they  simply 
wanted  men  of  God  and  they  pushed  them  into  the  by- 
ways of  the  western  country  with  a  rapidity  and  a  dis- 
regard for  sacrifice  that  well  nigh  stunned  their  religious 
contemporaries.  The  itineracy  system  of  the  Methodist 
church  has  been  a  power  in  the  development  and  preser- 
vation of  western  civilization.  Wherever  there  were 
three  or  more  gathered  together  one  of  them  was  likely 
to  be  an  itinerant  preacher.  They  expected  but  little 
and  got  little  for  their  services;  they  became  the  jest  of 
the  better  provided  men  of  the  gospel;  they  went  on 
unmindful  of  this  and  buried  themselves  in  the  wilderness, 
but  their  work  made  Tennessee  the  stronghold  of  Method- 
ism in  the  South. 

The  Methodists  became  established  in  Sullivan  County 
shortly  after  the  Presbyterians.  In  1774  Edward  Cox 
came  here  from  Maryland,  where  he  had  been  converted 
under  the  ministry  of  Bishop  Asbury,  and  settled  near 
Bristol,  a  little  later  removing  to  the  Holston  river,  near 
Bluff  City.  It  was  at  his  home  the  first  Methodist  society 
in  the  county  and  state  was  organized.  Jeremiah  Lamb- 
ert was  the  first  regularly  appointed  minister  to  take  up 
work  in  the  county,  being  appointed  in  1783. 

Acuff  's  chapel,  named  for  Timothy  Acuff,  was  the  first 
Methodist  church  built  on  Tennessee  soil.  Acuff  donated 
the  land  for  the  church  and  graveyard. 

Much  of  the  history  of  all  church  organizations  is- 
in  dispute.  Strange  though  it  may  be,  legal  and  military 
records  being  better  preserved  than  the  proceedings  of 
the  church. 


The  Church.  181 

The  first  conference  of  the  Methodist  church  was  held 
at  Keywood's  or  Cawood's,  on  the  Holston  river.4  Bishop 
Asbury,  in  his  journal,  speaks  of  this  conference  as  follows: 

April  28,  1788. 
We  reached  the  head  of  the  Watauga;  came  to  Greer's.  The 
people  are  in  disorder  about  the  Old  and  New  State;  two  or  three  men 
have  been  killed.  At  Nelson's,  I  had  a  less  audience  than  was  expected; 
the  people  having  been  called  away  on  an  expedition  against  the  new- 
state-men.  Preached  on  Hebrews,  vi.  chapter,  11th  and  12th  verses. 
Shortly  afterwards,  he  preached  at  "Owens',  on  Psalm  148,  verses 
17,  18,  19,  with  some  fervour.  Came  to  Huff  acre's  and  Keywood's 
where  we  held  Conference  three  days;  and  I  preached  each  day.  The 
weather  was  cold;  the  room  without  fire,  and  otherwise  uncomfortable. 
We,  nevertheless,  made  out  to  keep  our  seats  until  we  had  finished 
the  essential  part  of  our  business." 

The  Baptist  church  was  established  in  Tennessee 
by  Rev.  Tidance  Lane,  in  1779.  It  got  a  firm  hold  in 
Sullivan  County  in  1786.  In  that  year  Kendrick's 
creek  church  was  organized  by  Jonathan  Mulkey  and 
in  the  same  year  an  association  was  held  at  Double 
Springs — Rev.  Lane  was  moderator.  From  1792-94 
Thomas  Murrell  was  moderator.  In  1795  a  church  was 
organized  at  Long  Island  by  Abel  Morgan  and  Richard 
Murrell.  Reese  Bayless  was  moderator  in  1833.  Rev. 
William  Cate  was  in  the  same  position  at  Muddy  creek 
in  1853,  and  Rev.  Elkanah  Spurgeon  at  Muddy  creek 
in  1865.  The  first  association  held  at  Blountville  was  in 
1870,  by  Rev.  W.  A.  Keen.  Among  the  early  pastors 
of  Muddy  creek  church  were  Elders  Peter  Kuhn,  William 
Cate  and  Noah  Cate,  also  Elder  W.  A.  Keen  and  Rev. 
Noah  Baldwin — the  last  named  had  also  preached  at 
Kingsport. 

Revs.  P.  J.  Poindexter,  Andrew  McGary,  N.  N.  Buckles 
and  Asa  Ruth5  were  also  among  the  early  pastors. 

4Price  in  his  "Holtson  Methodism"  claims  this  conference  was  held  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Virginia. 

5Rev.  Asa  Ruth  was  one  of  the  leading  preachers  of  the  Baptist  church  in 
Sullivan.  He  had  the  largest  family  in  the  county  being  the  father  of  twenty- 
three  children.  An  obituary  notice  shortly  after  his  death  announced  this  fact 
closely  followed  by  the  text  of  the  minister,  "  Man  born  of  woman  is  of  few  days 
and  full  of  trouble." 


182  Historic  Sullivan. 

One  of  the  greatest  revivals  ever  held  in  Blountville 
was  conducted  by  Rev.  Ruth  in  1869-70,  the  other  preach- 
ers in  the  town  co-operating.  Over  one  hundred  con- 
versions resulted  from  this  meeting,  which  lasted  many- 
weeks. 

A  Baptist  church  existed  for  years  on  the  Holston 
river,  above  Bluff  City,  in  charge  of  Rev.  Edwards. 
There  was  also  one  in  lower  Kingsport  with  Rev.  Noah 
Baldwin  as  its  minister. 

The  Lutheran  church  was  organized  in  Sullivan  County 
between  1790  and  1795,  on  Reedy  creek.  The  first  min- 
isters of  this  denomination  in  the  county  were  Revs. 
Paul  Henkel  and  John  G.  Butler.  Revs.  Adam  Miller 
and  Jacob  Zink  were  first  to  reside  here  as  regular  pastors. 
The  church  in  this  section  became  connected  with  the 
Synod  of  North  Carolina  until  1820,  at  which  time  the 
Tennessee  Synod  was  formed,  the  churches  remaining 
in  this  connection  until  1861  when  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Holston  Synod  was  organized  at  Zion's  church, 
in  Sullivan  County.  Among  the  ministers  included 
were  Abel  J.  Brown,  William  Hancher,  J.  M.  Schaefer, 
J.  K.  Hancher,  J.  B.  Emmert,  J.  Fleener,  A.  Fleener, 
J.  A.  Seneker,  J.  Clovinger  and  J.  C.  Barb.  Dr.  A.  J. 
Brown  was  not  only  the  ablest  representative  the  Lutheran 
church  had  in  this  section,  but  was  one  of  the  ablest  in 
the  South.  He  contributed  largely  to  the  church  papers 
and  was  a  profound  debater. 

Emanuel  has  always  been  the  home  of  this  denomina- 
tion in  the  county. 

The  Christian  church  was  first  organized  at  Concord 
(Weaver's)  about  1842.  David  T.  Wright  was  the  minister 
in  charge.  Among  those  who  were  early  officials  in  the 
church  were  the  Millards,  Hughes,  Nelsons,  Love,  Hatch- 
ers, Blevins  and  Warrens.  For  many  years  the  members 
of  this  denomination  in  Bristol  were  one  congregation, 
worshipping  at  their  church  on  Spencer  street,  (Virginia 
side)  but  the  increasing  membership  and  the  inconven- 


The  Church.  183 

ience  of  the  location  made  necessary  the  erection  of  a 
second  church,  which  now  stands  on  the  corner  of  Sixth 
and  Broad  streets  (Tennessee  side)  and  is  known  as  the 
Central  Christian  church.  The  Christian  church  from  a 
small  beginning  has  made  a  wonderful  showing  in  the 
county  within  the  last  decade. 

The  Church  of  the  Brethren  has  undergone  more 
changes  in  name  than  any  other  denomination.  It 
had  a  peculiar  origin.  In  1724,  a  German,  for  the 
purpose  of  religious  contemplation,  retired  to  a  place  of 
solitude  some  distance  from  Philadelphia,  where  he 
attracted  many  visitors  and  won  followers  to  his  belief 
and  teachings.  At  various  times  they  were  known  as 
the  Brotherhood  of  Euphrates,  Tunkers,  Seventh  Day 
Baptists,  "Tumblers,"6  Dunkards  and  until  recently 
German  Baptists.  In  1908,  at  their  annual  gathering 
in  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  they  adopted  the  name  of 
Church  of  the  Brethren. 

The  annual  meeting  of  this  church  in  1905  was 
held  in  Bristol  during  the  month  of  June  and  attracted 
many  thousands  of  visitors  and  church  delegates  from 
all  parts  of  the  country.  The  even  tempered  courtesy 
of  the  communicants  and  their  unaffected  devotion  in 
daily  life  left  an  impression  that  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 

The  organization  of  this  church  in  the  county  was  in 
1850,  three  miles  southwest  of  Blountville  and  was  known 
as  Pleasant  Hill  congregation.  Elder  John  A.  Bowman 
and  M.  M.  Bowman  were  the  first  ministers  and  Henry 
Garst  and  Benjamin  Wine  were  the  first  deacons.  Octo- 
ber 3,  1851,  the  church  lot  and  burying-ground  were 
donated  by  Elder  John  A.  Bowman  and  Benjamin  Wine 
and  deeded  to  M.  M.  Bowman,  Henry  Garst  and  Jacob 
Lear,  first  trustees. 

The  Jewish  church  organization  of  Sullivan  is  of  recent 
date.    The  B'Nai  Sholon  congregation,  a  religious  society 

6Nickname,  given  no  doubt,  on  account  of  their  way  of  immersion — face 
foremost. 


184  Historic  Sullivan.' 

to  promote  the  cause  of  Judaism,  was  organized  in  Bristol 
in  October,  1903,  the  membership  including  every  male 
Israelite  in  the  city,  which  at  that  time  numbered  six 
persons,  and  was  the  first  institution  of  its  kind  here. 
The  officers  elected  for  the  first  year  were  as  follows: 
A.  S.  Gump,  president;  Abe  Morris,  Vice-president  and  H. 
J.  Simon,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  congregation 
has  grown  steadily  in  recent  years,  its  membership  now 
numbering  over  thirty-five.  The  Jewish  population, 
including  all  ages,  numbers  at  present  about  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five.  The  congregation  in  1906  purchased 
its  own  cemetery  site  near  the  old  fair  grounds.  No 
house  of  worship  has  been  erected  by  the  Jews  of  Bristol, 
although  steps  are  now  being  taken  to  that  end.  Devo- 
tional services  are  conducted  in  a  hall  on  Sixth  street, 
under  the  direction  of  a  minister,  recently  elected — Rev. 
Dr.  Lesser.  Sunday-school  exercises  are  also  held  every 
Sunday  morning. 

The  Episcopal  and  Catholic  denominations,  although 
having  many  communicants,  have  never  had  an  organ- 
ized church  in  the  county.7  In  Bristol  the  Tennessee 
members  worship  in  churches  of  their  respective  faith 
on  the  Virginia  side. 

The  Salvation  Army  was  organized  in  Bristol  during 
1884  by  Capt.  Emma  Westbrook  and  Lieut.  Elva  Baker. 
The  first  meeting  was  held  in  Burson's  church.  Capt. 
Westbrook  was  one  of  the  original  seven  who  with 
Moore,  the  leader,  were  sent  over  from  England  to 
organize  the  Army  in  America.  Moore  had  not  been 
here  very  long  before  he  undertook  to  apostatize  his 
following  and  organize  a  new  Army.  This  caused  a 
disruption  in  the  ranks.  Capt.  Westbrook  remained 
loyal    to  the  Salvation  Army,  but  there  was  a  lapse 

7It  is  remarkable  that,  while  an  Episcopalian  was  perhaps  the  first  Protestant 
minister  to  set  foot  upon  Tennessee  soil,  it  took  that  church  nearly  three-quarters 
of  a  century  to  come  back  again.  The  early  settlers  here  were  uncompromising 
in  their  hatred  of  the  established  Church  of  England  and  they  did  not  seem  willing 
to  differentiate  between  the  religion  of  George  Washington  and  that  of  George  the 
Third. 


The  Church.  185 

of  nearly  ten  years  before  interest  was  renewed  in 
Bristol  and  active  work  was  begun  again. 

Capt.  Will  H.  Harper  reorganized  the  Army  in  1897, 
at  Fair  mount  chapel. 

The  present  structure  on  Seventh  street,  devoted 
exclusively  to  Army  work,  was  erected  in  1903,  the 
lot  being  donated  by  Maj.  A.  D.  Reynolds. 

The  first  Sunday-school  in  the  county  was  organ- 
ized at  New  Bethel  by  Rev.  L.  G.  Bell,  in  1830.8 
Samuel  Hodge  and  James  Gregg,  Jr.,  were  the  first 
superintendents.  Rev.  Daniel  Rogan  organized  the 
first  Sunday-schools  at  Blountville  and  Kingsport 
about  1836. 

"church  militant." 

The  spirit  of  the  church  militant  hovered  over 
Sullivan  County  exactly  one  hundred  years.  But 
these  warrior  hosts  were  not  always  fighting  sin — they 
were  fighting  themselves.  Church  was  arrayed  against 
church  and  the  smoldering  fires  of  disputes  about  church 
dogmas  found  an  outburst  in  boisterous  debates  which 
often  degenerated  into  street  swagger.  Church  debates 
became  frequent.  A  public  debate  took  place  in  the 
Forks  church  between  Frederick  Ross  and  W.  B.  Rogers. 
During  the  discussion  William  G.  Brownlow,  who  was  a 
spectator,  becoming  dissatisfied  with  the  way  Rogers 
was  handling  his  side  of  the  question,  arose  in  the  audience 
and  said:  "Rogers,  if  I  couldn't  do  any  better  than  you 
I'd  sit  down."  This  debate  lasted  five  hours.  The 
controversial  storm  was  always  centered  at  Blountville. 
Here,  just  prior  to  the  war  between  the  states,  the 
Presbyterians  and  the  Methodists  got  into  a  dispute 
about  the  management  of  the  school  at  the  Institute. 
Rev.  W.  W.  Neal,  a  Methodist  minister,  was  in  charge 
with  two  assistants,  the  Misses  Thomas,  who  were  Pres- 
byterians.    One  very  cold  morning  the  fire  in  the  assist- 

8Hodges'  Historical  Sermon,  1882. 


186  Historic  Sullivan. 

ants'  room  was  nearly  out.  The  Misses  Thomas,  not 
lacking  in  warmth  of  feeling  for  their  side  of  the  dispute, 
went  to  the  fireplace  and  sat  upon  the  wood  and  no  doubt 
would  have  sat  upon  the  views  of  the  Rev.  Neal  had  he 
been  within  reach.  They  then  dismissed  their  part  of 
the  school  and  went  home.  John  R.  Fain,  at  whose  home 
the  young  women  were  boarding,  remonstrated  with  Rev. 
Neal  and  this  brought  about  a  fight  between  the  two  men. 
Factions  became  more  antagonistic.  Rev.  Neal  with- 
drew his  forces  from  the  Institute  and  opened  a  school  in 
the  Methodist  church.  Sympathizers  from  the  country 
about  Blountville  came  in  to  strengthen  and  increase 
the  number  of  the  rebellious  forces.  The  students  of  the 
two  schools  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  each  other. 
This  state  of  affairs  continued  until  the  end  of  the  school. 

The  war  between  the  states  quieted  for  a  while  the  war 
between  the  churches,  but  the  disputes  arose  again  and 
became  acute  in  Blountville.  The  Methodist  church 
was  the  object  of  attack  and  the  best  mode  of  baptism 
to  wash  out  sins  was  the  doctrine  most  discussed.  The 
Baptists  took  up  the  fight.  Not  only  did  the  older 
people  dwell  upon  the  differences,  but  following  their 
example  the  youths  of  both  sexes  became  involved. 
The  latter  knew  little  of  church  doctrines,  and  so  their 
disputes  resolved  themselves  into  banters  about  which 
church  bell  was  the  biggest  or  which  steeple  reached 
nearest  heaven  and  other  material  things,  often  ending 
in  one  or  the  other  side  being  worsted  in  a  fist  fight. 

A  servant  girl,  living  in  a  family  opposite  the  Methodist 
parsonage,  one  day  poised  herself  on  the  stile,  arms 
akimbo,  head  tossing  to  and  fro,  and  challenged  the  cook 
of  the  preacher's  family.  "Yes,  she  shouted,  "you  read 
in  the  good  book  about  John  the  Baptist,  but  you  never 
hear  of  John  the  Methodist, ' '  and  with  a  triumphant  sweep 
of  her  hand  retired  to  her  cloister  in  the  kitchen,  thankful 
she  was  not  like  other  people  she  knew. 

Proselytism  became  almost  piratical  in  the  town.    A 


The  Church.  187 

young  boarding-school  girl  was  kept  locked  in  her  room 
and  chaperoned  to  school  by  devotees  of  one  church  lest 
some  one  of  an  opposing  faith  should  kidnap  her.  She  had 
been  persuaded  that  she  would  be  damned  in  eternal  per- 
dition if  she  failed  to  be  baptized  according  to  the  rites 
of  the  church  which  had  her  in  charge.  Her  hysterical 
acceptance  of  this  baptism  brought  on  a  controversy 
whose  everness  was  almost  intolerant. 

Dr.  J.  T.  Kincannon  began  discussing  baptism  in  the 
pulpit  from  the  Baptist  standpoint.  Three  or  four  ser- 
mons followed.  As  would  naturally  result  he  criticised 
other  modes  of  baptism  This  drew  a  sermon  from  Rev. 
William  Robeson,  preacher  in  charge  of  the  Blountville 
circuit,  defending  the  Methodist  mode  of  baptism.  On 
hearing  of  it  Kincannon  challenged  Robeson  to  a  joint 
debate,  which  challenge  was  promptly  accepted. 

The  debate  was  widely  advertised  in  the  church  papers 
and  drew  able  divines  and  laymen  from  many  sections 
of  the  country.  It  took  place  in  the  Methodist  church 
on  June  10th,  11th  and  12th,  1874.  Press  representatives 
were  there  from  most  of  the  church  papers  of  Tennessee 
and  Virginia.  They  placed  their  tables  in  front  of  the 
pulpit  and  made  so  much  show  in  the  shifting  of  paper 
and  other  bustling  movements  that  one  spectator, 
unused  to  such  scenes  in  the  staid  old  church,  was  led  to 
remark  that  it  reminded  him  of  the  money  changers  in 
the  temple. 

The  Baptist  divine  placed  a  banner  on  the  wall,  back 
of  the  pulpit,  with  baptidzo  in  partial  conjugation 
thereon;  this,  to  the  unlettered,  was  an  alarming 
mystic  that  meant  much  in  his  favor.  Piles  of  com- 
mentaries, text-books  and  reference  books  lay  all  about. 
The  speakers  were  allowed  fifteen  minutes  each  and  the 
discussion  was  continuous  from  the  morning  hour  until 
noon— then  a  recess  for  dinner,  after  which  the  speaking 
was  again  begun,  the  same  time  being  allowed  during  the 
afternoon.    No  meeting  was  held  at  night.    The  referees 


188  Historic  Sullivan. 

in  the  debate  were  Dr.  A.  J.  Brown,  Lutheran,  of  Blount- 
ville,  and  Dr.  W.  A.  Montgomery,  Baptist,  of  Morristown. 

Each  debater  presented  his  side  ably  and  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  side  represented,  but  in  other  respects 
there  was  nothing  to  make  the  event  remarkable  except 
the  length  of  it.  However,  the  audience,  which  packed 
the  church  to  the  doors,  even  crowding  the  gallery  and 
windows,  did  not  diminish  during  the  three  days. 

The  effect  of  this  discussion  was  wholesome  and  far 
reaching.  It  silenced,  perhaps  for  all  time,  the  petty 
church  disputes  that  had  become  annoying,  and  brought 
together  in  more  friendly  relation  the  various  church 
people.  And  if  these  worthy  men  had  never  done  else 
in  their  lives  worth  recording,  this  event  alone  deserves 
to  be  remembered  as  having  united  the  people  of  that 
town  and  vicinity  in  friendlier  lellowship  than  ever  before. 

THE  CAMP-MEETING. 

The  most  popular  and  therefore  the  most  numerously 
attended  tent  meetings  in  upper  East  Tennessee  were  at 
Bond's  camp-ground,  four  miles  southwest  of  Blountville. 
It  was  organized  in  1842  by  Rev.  George  Eakin,  better 
known  as  "Father  Eakin."  The  original  tent  holders 
at  the  time  of  its  organization  were  John  Barnes,  John 
Fleming,  John  Denny,  Benjamin  Johnson,  Moses  Wright, 
Robert  Easley,  Noah  Hull,  Rev.  Samuel  Stevens,  William 
Cole,  William  Hilton,  Stephen  Adams,  William  Linda- 
mood,  Looney  Gammon,  Alexander  Standfield,  William 
Snodgrass,  David  Snodgrass,  William  Barnes,  Benjamin 
Yoakley,  Rev.  Blake  Carlton,  Rev.  W.  K.  Cross,  Peter 
Yoakley,  John  Hull,  Rev.  J.  J.  James,  Joseph  Spurgeon, 
Henry  Yoakley,  Jacob  Snapp,  Jacob  Messick,  William 
Deery,  Rev.  Thomas  P.  Ford,  Frederick  Carlton,  Rev. 
Joseph  McCrary  and  Martin  Hawk. 

The  influence  of  these  meetings  went  beyond  the 
bounds  of  the  camping  places.  They  usually  began  on 
Friday  and  extended  well  into  the  following  week — 


The  Church.  189 

sometimes  a  revival  would  carry  them  on  for  several  days. 

The  camp-meetings  were  held  until  the  Civil  War 
and  were  not  revived  until  1867-70.  The  tenters  who 
rebuilt  then  were  J.  C.  Yoakley,  Rev.  W.  K.  Cross, 
Jonathan  Morrell,  Jonathan  Hawk,  David  Akard,  H. 
D.  Hawk,  Jessie  Adams,  James  Barnes,  Sr.,  James 
Barnes,  Jr.,  G.  R.  Barnes,  E.  C.  Barnes,  J.  S.  Cart- 
wright,  R.  S.  Cartwright,  John  Roller,  David  Roller, 
Bettie  Holt,  Dod  Cross,  James  H.  Baird,  W.  F.  Yoakley, 
W.  A.  Boy,  S.  S.  Hall,  "Aunt"  Betsy  Carlton,  Ellen  Yoak- 
ley, Polly  Yoakley,  Betsy  Bond,  Polly  Hawk,  all  noted 
for  their  religious  zeal  and  power  in  prayer. 

The  result  of  these  meetings  was  felt  in  commercial 
as  well  as  in  religious  life.  It  is  of  record,  but  without 
explanation,  that  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Bond's  camp- 
ground was  worth  ten  dollars  on  the  acre  more  than  land 
outside  of  its  inflence. 

The  social  life  too  was  strengthening,  elevating  and 
spiritual.  Those  old  women,  who  gathered  and  tented 
there  year  after  year  had  no  ambition  but  to  please  and 
entertain  and  worship.  Their  tents  were  open  so  long 
as  there  was  any  place  to  stay  and  their  tables  gave  up 
in  profusion  the  best  of  their  farm  products.  Their 
cooking  became  as  famous  as  their  religion.  Young 
women  have  gone  there  to  learn  the  secret  of  those  tempt- 
ing dishes  and  today  many  a  table  that  is  spread  in 
Sullivan  County  offers  delicious  evidence  of  an  art  learned 
around  the  kitchens  at  the  old  camp-ground. 

The  lives  of  those  old  women,  like  "Aunt"  Betsy  Carlton, 
have  been  a  benediction.  Whether  in  the  kitchen  pre- 
paring the  food  or  at  the  table  serving  it  and  begging  you 
to  have  more  or  at  the  altar  bending  in  prayer  or  in  the 
sick  room  nursing  back  to  health  the  ebbing  life  of  a 
neighbor,  they  have  been  missionaries  of  unpretentious 
tenderness  and  care.  Too  few  have  been  the  years 
allotted  to  them,  for  in  such  hearts  rests  the  real  religion 
of  the  world.     "Aunt"  Betsy  Carlton,  born  during  the 


190  Historic  Sullivan. 

warring  years  of  the  seventeenth  century  and  reaching 
far  into  the  eighteenth,  represents  the  type  of  Tennessee 
frontier  women  who  played  such  a  noble  part  in  the 
struggle  of  our  early  days. 

The  ground  upon  which  the  tents  of  the  old  camp-ground 
stood  still  remains  the  property  of  the  church,  but  the 
tents  are  gone  and  nothing  remains  but  a  memory  to 
remind  one  of  the  scenes  that  transpired  there. 

The  last  sermon  at  Bond's  was  delivered  by  Rev.  John 
E.  Naff,  a  grandson  of  "Father"  Eakin,  who  preached 
the  first  sermon  there.  The  meetings  were  discontinued 
about  1895. 

Ketron's  camp-ground  was  established  about  the  same 
time  as  Bond's — a  year  later  perhaps.  It  was  also  known 
asjj  Reedy  creek  camp-ground.  Henry  Ketron  gave 
the  land  for  the  tents,  church  and  burying-ground. 
The  church  was  burned  down  in  1863  and  the  camp- 
meetings  at  that  place  abandoned.  Among  the 
early  tenters  were  John  Ketron,  Wesley  Ketron,  Watson 
Ketron,  Joseph  Newland,  William  Newland,  Abner 
Hughes,  Lot  0.  Gott,  Rev.  S.  D.  Gaines  and  Philip  Foust. 

An  exciting  incident  at  this  camp-ground  was  the 
fight  that  took  place  between  Rev.  W.  G.  Brownlow 
and  Fayette  McMullen.  Brownlow  had  made  some  sting- 
ing criticisms  of  McMullen  and  the  latter  went  to  the  camp- 
ground and  proceeded  to  "cane"  Brownlow,  who  drew 
his  pistol,  but  was  prevented  from  shooting  by  the  inter- 
cession of  friends.9 

Rockhold's  camp-ground  was  organized  a  few  years 
after  Bond's  camp-ground.  The  following  is  the  deed  of 
conveyance: 

This  Indenture  made  this  Fifteenth  day  of  March  1847  Between 
Wm.  Rockhold  of  the  one  part  and  Andrew  Riley,  Andrew  Boy,  Jacob 
Boy,  Royston  Boy,  James  B.  Worley,  Henry  Kesler,  Nathl  Hix,  Joseph 

9Price  says  this  fight  took  place  at  Brush  creek  camp-ground.  The  story  was 
told  me  by  a  spectator  of  the  difficulty,  but  reports  varied  as  to  Brownlow 's  part. 
One  claimed  Brownlow  snapped  his  pistol  at  McMullen,  another  that  he  shot  him 
and  still  another  that  McMullen  was  shot  three  times  and  was  killed. 


The  Church.  191 

Merideth  and  Wm  Rockhold  all  of  the  County  of  Sullivan  &  State  of 
Tennessee  Witnesseth  that  the  said  William  Rockhold  this  day  in  con- 
sideration of  his  high  regard  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  in 
consideration  of  his  promises  heretofore  made  to  said  Church  hath  this 

&c  by  these  presence  do  convey  in  trust  as  trustees  for  said  Church 

that  tract  or  parcel  of  land  whereon  the  Camp  &  Meeting  house  is  situ 
ated  on  the  river  Holston  in  Sullivan  County  commonly  called  Rockholds 
Camp  ground.  Bounded  as  follows  by  Morrels  line,  Shells  line  &  the 
river  containing  twelve  acres — be  the  same  more  or  less  for  them  the 
said  trustees  to  have  and  to  hold  in  trust  for  said  Church  as  long  as 
said  Church  continue  the  same  in  the  plan  of  their  Circuit  &  to  hold 
Camp  Meeting  on  the  said  premises  and  it  is  further  understood  should 
it  so  happen  at  any  time  that  either  Andy  Riley  A.  Boy,  R.  Boy,  J.  Boy, 
J.  B.  Worley,  H.  Kesler,  N.  Hix,  J.  Merideth  or  W.  Rockhold  the  said 
trustees  or  any  of  them  die,  resign,  leave  said  church  or  be  expelled 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  those  in  office  to  fill  said  veyquancy  &  when  fild 
thair  acts  shall  be  as  valid  as  the  acts  of  those  mentioned  in  this  Deed 
and  it  is  further  understood  &  greed  should  it  so  happen  hereafter 
that  said  church  desist — the  use  of  said  premises  as  a  place  of  public 
worship  or  drop  the  same  from  the  plan  of  same  circuit  in  said  Church 
then  the  said  premises  reverts  back  to  said  Rockhold  his  heirs  &c. 
In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  subscribed  my  name. 

Wm.  Rockhold 

This  camp-ground  is  the  only  one  in  the  county  that  has 
continued  its  meetings  annually. 

At  Acuff  's  camp-ground  was  the  earliest  camp-meeting 
held  in  the  county.  It  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Acuff 's  chapel. 
The  tents  were  built  of  logs  and  covered  with  bark.  But 
little  is  known  of  its  history. 

TEMPERANCE. 

The  history  of  temperance  in  Tennessee  is  as  old  as  the 
history  of  the  state.  James  Robertson,  the  "Father  of 
Tennessee,"  declared  that  "the  conversion  of  crops  of 
grain  into  spirituous  liquors  is  an  unwarranted  perversion, 
unservicable  to  white  men  and  devilish  for  Indians,"  and 
expressed  the  hope  "that  there  may  never  be  any  waste  of 
grain  by  distillation,  or  waste  of  estates  or  ruin  of  soul 
by  drinking  liquor."10 

lOBlackmore's  address  at  Bledsoe's  memorial. 


192  Historic  Sullivan. 

The  early  advocates  of  temperance  were  not  practical. 
They  could  not  realize  the  difference  between  ethics  and 
ether.  They  depended  upon  prayer  rather  than  upon 
politics,  and  in  consequence  the  old  Prohibition  party 
was  never  in  itself  successful.  When  St.  John  was  a 
candidate  for  president  on  the  Prohibition  ticket  he  re- 
ceived two11  votes  in  Bristol  and  one12  in  Blountville. 
As  early  as  1785  a  part  of  Tennessee  declared  for 
prohibition  and  later  the  entire  state  was  in  the  pro- 
hibition column. 

In  the  early  years  of  the  temperance  movement  great 
demonstrations  were  made  and  the  organization  of  tem- 
perance societies  was  prevalent.  The  Washingtonian 
Society  was  the  first  introduced,  its  object  being  the  same 
as  those  following,  such  as  Good  Templars  and  Band  of 
Hope. 

Doss  Leedy,  the  old  stage  driver,  once  drove  a  temper- 
ance band  wagon  from  Kingsport  to  Arcadia  and  Blount- 
ville, and  along  the  way  testimonials  to  the  cause  were 
prepared. 

At  Blountville  temperance  enthusiasts  bought  out  the 
"groggery,"  with  the  bad  will  of  the  owner,  and  as  there 
was  only  one  barrel  it  was  taken  with  its  contents  to  a 
grove  at  the  east  end  of  town.  Here  a  great  concourse  of 
people  had  assembled.  A  keg  of  powder  was  placed 
beneath  the  barrel  and  while  the  crowd  stood  in  suspense 
a  fuse  attached  to  the  keg  was  lighted — in  a  little  while 
the  flying  staves  and  flames  gave  evidence  that  the  liquor 
was  no  more. 

The  tenseness  and  religious  severity  of  the  scene  was 
appeased  by  the  put  in  of  a  local  wit,  who,  surrounded 
by  a  company  of  fellow  sympathisers,  protested  loud 
enough  to  be  heard,   "boys,  that's  a  damned  waste." 

Temperance  became  a  lively  issue  in  a  political  cam- 


11J.  R.  Anderson  and  Robert  Watkins. 

12Joel  Millard.     There  were  not  over  one  dozen  votes  in  the  county  for  the 
ticket. 


The  Church.  193 

paign  of  1853.  James  Odell  and  John  Spurgeon  were 
candidates  for  representative.  Odell  represented  the 
anti-temperance  sentiment.  The  real  issue,  however, 
was  a  row  of  cherry  trees.  These  trees  had  been  on 
Spurgeon 's  farm  and  grew  along  a  roadside,  the  public 
each  year  helping  themselves  to  the  crop.  This  tres- 
passing soon  became  a  nuisance  and  the  trees  were  cut 
down.  This  incident  Odell  used  with  telling  effect, 
relating  how  Spurgeon  deprived  the  poor  people  of  his 
cherries — how  he  cut  the  trees  down  rather  than  let  them 
have  any.  Odell  was  elected,  but  more  on  account  of  the 
cherry  tree  story  than  his  anti-temperance  platform. 

The  churches  early  began  to  take  a  hand  in  the  regula- 
tion of  the  liquor  traffic.  At  the  Cold  Spring  church 
it  was  decided  that  the  distilling  and  drinking  of  liquor 
was  a  growing  evil  and  that  the  manufacture  of  it  by  the 
elders  should  cease.  But  this  restriction  was  too  sudden 
and  absolute  and  less  prohibitive  measures  were  adopted. 
All  members,  but  one,  were  to  abandon  the  making  of 
whiskey  and  he  was  to  do  the  "stilling"  for  the  congre- 
gation.13    Drunkenness  was  a  rare  thing  in  those  days. 

The  business  men  of  the  nation  came  to  the  rescue  of 
the  temperance  people.  The  railroads  were  the  first  to 
declare  against  drinking.  Human  lives  depended  upon  the 
sobriety  of  their  employees  and  abstinence  became  a  quali- 
fication required  by  all  employers.  Other  lines  of  business 
followed.  The  old  political  parties,  that  had  year  after 
year  incorporated  in  their  platforms,  "we  are  opposed  to 
sumptuary  legislation,"  had  their  ears  to  the  ground, 
and  now  abandoned  "sumptuary,"  hurriedly  espousing 

r  ■'■'■[  13This  church  is  not  given  as  an  exception.  The  practice  was  prevalent 
if  not  legalized  among  the  members  of  various  churches  of  that  day.  The  following 
story  furnishes  another  picture  of  the  times:  One  of  the  ministers  who  preached 
to  the  Cold  Spring  congregation  was  in  the  habit  of  taking  a  pack  of  hounds  to 
church  and  announcing  from  the  pulpit  that  all  those  who  desired  to  join  in  the 
fox  chase  could  meet  him  early  Monday  morning  at  his  stopping  place.  One 
Sunday  a  favorite  hound  followed  the  minister  into  church,  crawled  up  in  a  window 
and  fell  asleep.  It  was  some  distance  to  the  ground  and  a  worshipper  seeing  the 
dog  there  pushed  him  outside.  The  preacher  saw  the  act  and,  although  in  the 
midst  of  his  sermon,  walked  down  from  the  pulpit  and  was  about  to  strike  the 
offender  when  friends  interfered.  The  minister  then  went  back  and  resumed 
his  discourse. 


194  Historic  Sullivan. 

the  cause  of  temperance.  This  action  was  a  partial  solu- 
tion of  the  question — there  were  plenty  of  men  in  both 
parties  who  were  ready  to  align  themselves  with  the 
cause,  but  when  it  came  to  a  test  they  could  not  turn 
their  backs  on  the  party  with  which  they  had  been  so  long 
associated. 

The  country  people,  when  given  an  opportunity,  have 
stood  for  temperance.  The  brewers  and  distillers,  seeing 
the  wave  of  public  sentiment,  tendered  their  services  to 
help  reform  the  saloon.  But  the  saloon-keepers  have 
never  been  able  to  control  an  opportunity;  they  have,  by 
their  excesses  and  ridicule  and  boasting,  made  once 
flouted  prohibition  a  refuge  and  a  respected  issue,  and 
they  come  each  year  within  closer  view  of  the  saloon's 
inevitable  end. 

The  temperance  question  is  still  an  issue  and  as  in 
all  moral  questions  extremes  meet  extremes  in  often 
bitter  antagonism. 


EDMUND   PENDLETON   GAINES 


Edmund  Pendleton  Gaines, 
a  biography. 

Sullivan  County's  most  noted  military  man  was  Gen. 
Gaines.  At  one  time  he  was  considered  for  the  place  of 
commander-in-chief  of  the  United  States  army.1 

He  was  a  descendant  of  Edmund  Pendleton,  who  at 
one  time  was  president  of  the  Virginia  Court  of  Appeals. 
This  Pendleton  had  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in 
Sullivan  County — some  five  thousand  acres — one  of  the 
first  entries,  and  thither  his  nephew  James  Gaines,  the 
father  of  Edmund,  removed  when  the  latter  was  in  his 
thirteenth  year.  Here  he  was  brought  into  association 
with  influences,  like  the  Indian  depredations,  that 
determined  him  upon  a  military  career. 

When  eighteen  he  was  chosen  a  lieutenant  in  a  company 
of  volunteers  under  command  of  J.  Cloud. 

Three  years  later  he  began  to  devote  himself  to  the 
study  of  law,  but  about  this  time  W.  C.  C.  Claiborne, 
recognizing  his  work  in  a  military  way  obtained  an  appoint- 
ment for  him  in  the  regular  army  under  Col.  Butler. 
In  1801  he  was  selected  to  make  a  topograghical  survey 
from  Nashville  to  Natchez. 

In  1804  he  was  appointed  collector  of  customs  at 
Mobile.  In  addition  he  was  appointed  agent  of  the  Post- 
master-General, the  duties  of  which  office  was  to  inspect 
the  post-offices  of  his  district  and  find  out  who  were  im- 
plicated in  the  plot  with  Aaron  Burr.  While  stationed 
at  Fort  Stoddart  it  was  reported  to  him  that  a  person  of 
distinction  was  seen  traveling  in  the  district  and  suspect- 
ing that  it  was  Burr,  for  whose  arrest  a  proclamation 
had  recently  been  sent  out  by  the  President,  he  at  once 
determined  to  intercept  him. 

lPresident  Adams  is  credited  with  having  remarked  once  that  he  was  afraid 
to  appoint  either  Gaines  or  Scott  commander-in-chief,  as  the  appointment  of 
either  might  result  in  a  duel — they  being  irreconcilable  enemies. 


196  Historic  Sullivan. 

Gaines'  arrest  of  Burr  was  quite  dramatic.  When 
the  officers  approached  Burr  he  assumed  a  startled  pose, 
demanding  upon  what  authority  a  citizen  was  thus  stopped 
upon  the  highway.  The  arrest  was  made  with  positive- 
ness,  but  with  a  courtesy  due  the  rank  of  the  distinguished 
citizen.     Burr  was  sent  with  escort  to  Richmond. 

Although  only  carrying  out  orders,  Gaines,  all  through 
his  career,  felt  the  effects  of  the  Burr  influence 
against  him,  and  it  invariably  asserted  itself  when  he 
stood  for  promotion. 

Gaines  shortly  after  this  event  decided  to  resign  from 
government  service  and  take  up  the  practice  of  law,  but 
the  probability  of  war  with  England  made  it  necessary 
to  grant  him  only  temporary  leave.  He  began  the 
practice  of  law  in  the  counties  of  Washington  and  Baldwin, 
Mississippi.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before  a  summons 
came  for  him  to  assist  his  country  against  the  advance 
of  the  British. 

He  was  now  thirty  years  of  age.  It  was  this  war  that 
brought  him  fame.  In  his  memorable  defense  of  Fort 
Erie  he  was  made  so  conspicuous  by  his  bravery  that 
Congress  voted  him  a  gold  medal,  while  the  states  of  New 
York,  Tennessee  and  Virginia  presented  him  costly  swords 
in  token  of  their  appreciation. 

In  this  war  he  arose  from  rank  to  rank  until  he  reached 
that  of  Major-General,  the  highest  authorized  by  law. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  assigned  to  a  command 
in  the  South,  on  the  borders  of  Georgia  and  Florida, 
where  the  negroes  and  Indians  were  giving  trouble  and 
there  he  was  associated  with  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson 
in  the  Seminole  War. 

Gen.  Jackson  appointed  Gaines  president  of  a  court 
martial,  to  try  Arbuthnot  and  Ambrister — the  former 
being  hung  and  the  latter  shot.  These  executions 
were  strongly  condemned  by  Jackson's  enemies  and 
called  for  a  thorough  investigation,  in  which  the  officers 
were  exonerated. 


Edmund  Pendleton  Gaines.  197 

During  Gaines'  military  operations  in  Florida  he  had 
a  fierce  battle  with  the  Seminoles,  led  by  Chief  Osceola,  in 
February,  1836. 

Gen.  Gaines  was  relieved  of  his  command  in  1846 
because,  without  authority,  he  was  supposed  to  have 
summoned  volunteers  to  aid  Gen.  Taylor  in  the  Mexi- 
can War,  but  a  court  of  inquiry,  that  had  been  convened 
at  Fortress  Monroe,  on  the  20th  of  July  the  same  year, 
acquitted  him. 

He  was  then  put  in  command  of  the  Eastern  Depart- 
ment. 

He  died  at  New  Orleans,2  June  6,  1849,  seventy-two 
years  of  age.  Gen.  Gaines  was  married  three  times — 
his  last  wife  being  the  widow  Myra  Clark  Whitney, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Clark.3 

THE  BATTLE  OF  ERIE. 

The  battle  of  Niagara  had  been  fought  and,  while  it  was 
an  American  victory,   the  English  disputed   it,  and  to 

2Jefferson  Davis  was  once  on  Gen.  Gaines'  staff.  Later  when  on  a  wedding 
journey  to  New  Orleans  he  called  upon  the  General.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  had 
just  published  his  book  on  military  tactics  and  as  he  had  recently  returned  from 
a  visit  to  Europe  his  book  was  full  of  foreign  phrases.  On  being  asked  by  Davis 
what  he  thought  of  the  book,  Gaines  replied:  "The  English  language  is  sufficiently 
copious  to  explain  any  idea  Gen.  Scott  ever  had. " 

3Daniel  Clark  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  came  to  New  Orleans  as  Consul 
in  1766.  Here  he  became  entangled  with  a  beautiful, French  woman  named  Zulime 
Carrier,  by  whom  he  had  a  daughter,  born  in  1806.  Shortly  before  his  death,  in 
1813,  he  left  this  daughter  in  the  care  of  a  Philadelphia  family  named  Davis,  who 
brought  her  up  in  ignorance  of  her  parentage.  In  1830  Davis,  who  was  then 
a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  legislature  sent  home  for  certain  papers  and  Myra, 
in  searching  for  them,  "discovered  letters  that  partially  revealed  the  secret  of  her 
birth.  In  1832  she  married  W.  W.  Whitney,  of  New  York,  who  followed  up  the 
clew,  discovered  an  old  letter  containing  an  account  of  a  will  made  by  Clark  be- 
fore his  death  giving  all  his  estate  to  Myra  and  acknowledging  her  as  his  legitimate 
child.  The  will  could  not  be  found,  but  other  testimony  was  found  that  disclosed 
the  fact  of  its  one  time  existence  and  of  a  secret  marriage  between  Clark  and  Miss 
Carrier  in  Philadelphia  in  1803. 

Whitney  brought  suit  against  the  city  of  New  Orleans  to  recover  property 
that  had  been  willed  to  his  wife.  It  was  hotly  contested,  but  Whitney  died  before 
a  decision  was  reached. 

In  1839  the  widow  married  Gen.  Edmund  P.  Gaines,  of  Sullivan  County,  who 
entered  into  the  case  as  enthusiastically  as  his  wife.  It  was  carried  through  all 
the  courts  and  dragged  its  slow  tapeful  length  along,  but  was  lost.  Gen.  Gaines 
died  in  1852;  his  widow  never  gave  up  the  suit.  She  had  secured  some  new  evidence 
and  while  losing  in  the  lower  court,  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  sustained 
her  claim.  The  value  of  the  property  was  $35,000,000.  The  city  appealed  the 
case,  and  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  delayed  judgment  until  1867,  when  once  more 
judgment  was  rendered  in  her  favor.  In  her  lifetime  she  secured  more  than  $6,000,- 
000  and  the  suit  became  the  sensation  of  the  country. 


y 


198  Historic  Sullivan. 

such  an  extent  did  they  regard  it  as  their  victory  the 
soldiers  wore  the  name  "Niagara"  on  their  caps. 

The  English  now  turned  their  attention  to  Fort  Erie. 
Gen.  Ripley  was  in  charge  of  the  fort,  while  Gen.  Drum- 
mond  was  directing  the  English  forces  against  it. 

Gen.  Gaines,  in  August,  1814,  was  sent  to  Fort  Erie  and 
at  once  took  command.  He  began  by  acquainting  him- 
self with  the  condition  of  the  defences  and  his  efforts  and 
interest  put  new  life  into  the  garrison. 

On  the  13th  Drummond  began  a  cannonade,  which 
was  continued  until  the  next  day.  When  this  ceased,  on 
account  of  the  little  damage  done,  it  was  clear  that  the 
British  general  would  make  a  direct  assault.  Gaines 
therefore  detailed  two  sets  of  men — one  to  be  prepared 
against  a  surprise  attack  at  night  and  the  others  on  duty 
by  day.  A  shell  from  the  enemy,  on  the  evening  of  the 
14th,  exploded  in  a  small  magazine  and  made  a  deafening 
noise.  The  British,  thinking  that  they  had  destroyed  the 
main  magazine  of  the  Americans,  prepared  to  follow  this 
up  with  another  well  directed  blow. 

At  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  15th  the  Ameri- 
can pickets  announced  the  coming  of  the  enemy,  who 
expected  to  find  the  Americans  asleep — but  in  this  they 
were  mistaken.  When  the  advance  columns  came  up  a 
brilliant  rocket  was  fired  into  their  midst,  disclosing  their 
whereabouts  and  enabling  the  Americans  to  fire  with  more 
accuracy.  The  English  did  not  lack  for  bravery  and 
made  five  attempts  to  scale  the  walls,  but  each  time  were 
driven  back  with  great  loss — the  grape  and  cannister 
doing  deadly  work.  In  one  of  these  attacks  Drummond, 
who  was  preparing  to  deal  with  the  foe  "showing  no 
mercy,"  was  himself  the  sufferer  from  his  own  rash  order. 
After  having  denied  Lieut.  Macdonough  quarter  and 
killing  him,  the  officer  executing  the  order  was  slain  in 
the  same  way.  Having  shown  no  quarter  he  received 
none.    The  battle  raged  all  along  the  lines  until  dawn. 

The  British  were  preparing  to  make  another  desperate 


Edmund  Pendleton  Gaines.  199 

attack  when  an  explosion  was  heard  and  there  was  great 
confusion  and  retreat.  The  bastion,  which  had  been  filling 
up  with  soldiers,  was  exploded,  sending  bodies  high  into 
the  air.  At  this  the  British  broke  ranks  and  left  the  field. 
When  the  enemy  retreated  there  were  found  to  be  two 
hundred  and  twenty-one  killed;  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
four  wounded  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  prisoners. 
The  American  loss  was  seventeen  killed;  fifty-six  wounded 
and  eleven  missing. 

Both  sides  prepared  to  renew  the  struggle,  both  having 
received  reinforcements.  The  British  daily  threw  shells 
into  the  fort  to  the  annoyance  of  the  garrison  and  on 
the  28th  a  shell  fell  through  Gen.  Gaines'  office  and, 
exploding,  destroyed  his  writing  desk  and  wounded  him 
so  severely  that  he  was  forced  to  give  up  his  command, 
and  was  sent  to  Buffalo.  Gen.  Jacob  Brown,  although 
in  broken  health,  succeeded  him.  The  fighting  was 
desultory  after  the  first  victory  and  camp  fever, 
brought  on  by  heavy  rains  in  the  marshy  camp  of  the 
British,  aided  the  Americans  in  accomplishing  the  defeat 
of  the  enemy  along  the  Canadian  borders. 


Nathan  Gregg. 
a  biograhhy. 

Nathan  Gregg  was  born  August  5,  1835,  on  the 
Watauga  river,  two  miles  below  White  Store.  He  spent 
the  routine  life  of  a  country  boy,  working  on  the  farm 
during  the  season,  which  usually  extended  from  January 
1st  to  December  31st.  He,  however,  attended  the 
district  school  and  obtained  a  fairly  good  education. 
He  then  took  up  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed 
until  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War. 

Coming  from  fighting  ancestry — his  grandfather  being 
in  the  Revolution  and  his  father  an  officer  in  the  War  of 
1812 — he  early  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  Confederacy. 
He  joined  Capt.  Willetts'  company,  made  up  mostly  of 
Washington  county  (Tenn.)  men,  and  was  chosen 
lieutenant. 

He  was  desperately  wounded  April  6,  1862,  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Shiloh,  where  so  many  of  the  South 's  brave  sons 
gave  up  their  lives.  His  captain  (Willetts)  was  killed  in 
the  battle. 

During  the  following  summer  he  enlisted  again — this 
time  in  Col.  John  Crawford's  regiment,  and  was  elected 
lieutenant-colonel.  This  regiment  was  known  as  the 
Sixtieth  Tennessee. 

He  was  captured  in  the  battle  of  Big  Black  River 
Bridge,  near  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  on  the  17th 
day  of  May,  1863,  and  was  taken  to  Johnson's  Island 
and  held  as  a  prisoner  until  near  the  close  of  the  war, 
when  he  was  exchanged,  upon  which  he  returned  home. 
Col.  Crawford  resigned  his  command  in  1864  and  Col. 
Gregg  was  promoted  to  a  full  colonelcy  and  given  charge 
of  the  regiment — remaining  with  it  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  His  regiment  was  disbanded  April  12,  1865, 
at  Christiansburg,  Virginia. 


NATHAN   GREGG 


Nathan  Gregg.  201 

During  his  military  career  he  had  the  reputation  of 
being  a  humane  and  courageous  officer.  He  returned 
to  his  home  at  the  close  of  the  war  and  in  1870  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Sullivan  County — was  reelected  in  1872 
and  again  in  1874.  He  was  elected  three  times  to  the 
legislature  from  Sullivan  County,  in  1876-78-82.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  legislature,  which  became  historic 
for  its  settlement  of  the  state  debt,  when  such  men  as 
Butler,  Gregg  and  others  became  famous  in  their  efforts 
for  a  just  settlement,  as  did  the  name  "Smith  of  Fen- 
tress" become  a  byword  and  a  reproach. 

In  the  legislature  Gregg  became  a  leader,  and  in  his 
political  life,  while  a  man  of  forceful  nature— com- 
manding in  stature  and  style,  he  was  more  shrewd 
than  statesmanlike. 

Once,  when  anxious  to  get  a  bill  passed,  which  he  knew 
the  speaker  of  the  house  did  not  favor,  he  had  a  dainty 
letter,  written  in  a  feminine  hand,  sent  in  to  the  pre- 
siding officer,  requesting  his  presence  in  the  lobby  at 
once.  The  speaker,  not  divining  any  trick,  excused 
himself,  and  his  successor,  being  in  sympathy  with  Col. 
Gregg,  had  the  bill  passed  during  the  absence  of  the 
regular  officer. 

During  the  first  administration  of  Grover  Cleveland 
Col.  Gregg  was  appointed  Pension  Agent,  with  offices  at 
Knoxville,  Tennessee.  This  was  the  last  political  office 
he  held. 

At  one  time  he  was  urged  to  become  a  candidate  for 
governor,  but  he  rather  discouraged  the  suggestion, 
modestly  admitting  his  lack  of  educational  qualifica- 
tions— he  having  had  only  limited  opportunities  during 
his  youth.  He  was  gubernatorial  timber  nevertheless — 
his  splendid  moral  character  and  honesty  in  handling 
public  trusts  making  him  valuable. 

He  had  peculiar  ideas  about  charity  and  would  not 
subscribe  even  small  amounts,  always  excusing  himself 
by  saying  that  one  could  never  tell  when  it  was  deserving. 


202  Historic  Sullivan. 

His  motives  were  not  understood  until  after  his  death, 
when  it  was  found  that  he  had  willed  all  his  fortune  to 
the  church. 

Col.  Gregg  never  fully  recovered  from  the  wound  he 
received  in  battle  and  this  no  doubt  hastened  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  his  country  home  July  15,  1894,  in 
the  sixtieth  year  of  his  age. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

WAR  TIMES — TENNESSEE  VALOR. 

Tennessee  rarely  boasts  about  her  battle  men.  The 
world's  war  language  has  linked  the  name  of  "volunteer" 
with  the  valor  of  all  times.  The  part  she  has  played  in 
the  military  achievements  of  this  nation  has  not  been 
given  due  credit  because  not  generally  understood. 
But  from  the  outset  of  our  national  existence  her  frontier- 
men  protected  from  invasion  by  the  Indians  those  settle- 
ments that  dared  to  spring  up  on  her  borders.  She 
hurried  her  pickets  far  out  beyond  the  firing  line.  Her 
Shelbys  and  her  Seviers  went  at  the  first  call  when,  at 
Point  Pleasant,  the  outcome  depended  so  much  upon 
their  skill  and  courage. 

When  the  cause  of  American  independence  looked 
gloomiest;  when  the  well  disciplined  troops  of  regulars 
were  losing  heart  and  faith  and  forsaking  the  cause; 
when  Washington  wrote  "I  have  almost  ceased  to  hope," 
these  same  sturdy  pioneers  formed  a  plan  on  Tennessee 
soil,  left  their  homes  almost  unprotected  and  marched 
across  the  mountains  to  check  the  advance  of  the  victor- 
ious British.  The  memorable  and  decisive  battle  of  King's 
Mountain  was  the  result. 

When  that  same  foe  sought  to  invade  our  shores  a 
second  time  Tennessee  sent  her  Jackson  to  New  Orleans, 
where  he  plowed  through  the  red -gold  ranks  of  the 
gallant  Packenham,  leaving  seven  hundred,  with  their 
leader,  dead  on  the  field. 

At  the  same  time  she  sent  her  Gaines  to  protect  the 
northern  boundary  and  his  courageous  defense  heralded 
him  the  hero  of  Fort  Erie. 

When  the  independence  of  Texas  was  sought  her  Samuel 
Houston,  badly  wounded  was  born  from  the  battlefield  of 
San  Jacinto,  while  the  mangled  remains  of  Davy  Crockett 


204  Historic  Sullivan. 

lay  heaped  in  the  Alamo.  Her  James  Bowie,  already 
dying  of  a  fever  from  wounds  unhealed,  hearing  the  cry 
"no  quarter",  arose  in  his  couch  and  with  the  knife  that 
still  bears  his  name  dug  his  way  to  a  welcome  death. 

When  conflict  with  Mexico  seemed  inevitable,  Tennessee 
was  called  upon  to  furnish  two  thousand,  eight  hundred 
men  and,  remembering  the  Alamo,  thirty  thousand 
responded  to  that  call. 

Her  Maury  mapped  the  ocean  ways. 

When  the  war  of  secession  was  declared  and  the 
martial  spirit  of  the  South  was  stirred  as  never  before, 
the  manhood,  yes,  and  the  boyhood  of  middle  and 
west  Tennessee  followed  in  the  tread  of  her  intrepid 
Forrest.  The  greater  portion  of  East  Tennessee,  still  a 
part  of  that  South,  but  thinking  best  to  preserve  the 
Union,  stubbornly  buried  herself  like  a  wedge  in  the  heart 
of  her  own  country  while  her  Farragut  swept  the  seas. 

She  gave  Sam  Davis  as  a  sacrifice  for  her  soldiers' 
honor. 

In  the  still  more  recent  Spanish-American  War  it 
seemed  like  a  recognition  of  her  victorious  past  that 
Tennessee's  gunboat  "Nashville"  should  fire  the  first 
gun  that  echoed  the  most  destructive  and  triumphant 
naval  conflict  of  modern  times. 

Missionaries  were  sent  here — sent  to  the  mountain 
homes  to  tame  the  sons  of  the  men  who  tamed  the  wilds 
and  made  it  possible  for  them  to  come.  These  mountain 
men,  though  rough  of  speech  and  always  ready  with 
rude  song,  have  no  ambition  save  to  be  hospitable  and  to 
fight  when  fought;  these  men  will  give  their  lives  for  any 
cause  that  disturbs  the  peace  of  our  people,  for  in  their 
veins  still  flows  the  blood  that  made  the  valor  of  our 
volunteers  immortal. 


Congress  has  voted  thanks  or  a  medal  or  sword  to 
twenty-nine  military  men  since  the  organization  of  the 


War  Times— Tennessee  Valor.  205 

army  in  1789.  Of  this  number  two  are  Sullivan  County- 
men— no  other  county  in  the  Union  has  received  as  many. 
One  medal  was  presented  to  Maj.-Gen.  Gaines  in  1814, 
and  one  to  Isaac  Shelby  in  1818. 

That  the  thanks  of  Congress  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  presented 
to  Major-General  Gaines,  and,  through  him,  to  the  officers  and  men 
under  his  command,  for  their  gallantry  and  good  conduct  in  defeating 
the  enemy  at  Erie  on  the  fifteenth  of  August,  repelling  with  great 
slaughter  the  attack  of  a  British  veteran  army,  superior  in  number; 
and  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to  cause  a  gold 
medal  to  be  struck,  emblematical  of  this  triumph,  and  presented  to 
Major-General  Gaines. 

Approved  November  3,  1814. 

That  the  thanks  of  Congress  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  presented 
to  Major-General  William  Henry  Harrison,  and  Isaac  Shelby,  late 
governor  of  Kentucky,  and,  through  them,  to  the  officers  and  men  under 
their  command,  for  their  gallantry  and  good  conduct  in  defeating 
the  combined  British  and  Indian  forces  under  Major-General  Proctor, 
on  the  Thames,  in  Upper  Canada,  on  the  5th  day  of  October,  1813, 
capturing  the  British  army,  with  their  baggage,  camp  equipage,  and 
artillery;  and  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to 
cause  two  gold  medals  to  be  struck,  emblematical  of  this  triumph, 
and  presented  to  General  Harrison,  and  Isaac  Shelby,  late  governor  of 
Kentucky. 

Approved,  April  4,  1814.1 

In  1812  England  again  tried  to  conquer  this  nation, 
employing  methods  similar  to  those  adopted  before — 
inciting  Indian  allies.  This  brought  on  the  Creek  War, 
and  the  battle  of  Horseshoe,  March  24,  1814. 

Tennesseans  under  Jackson  practically  waged  this  war, 
the  East  Tennessee  troops  being  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  John  Cooke.  Transportation  was  by  boat  and, 
in  addition  to  the  soldiers,  this  section  was  expected  to 
furnish  the  supplies.2  The  rivers  were  low  and  not 
boatable,  and  in  consequence  of  the  delay  this  caused, 
Jackson  became  very  irritable — placed  the  blame  first  on 


lHistorical  Register  of  U.  S.  Army,  Vol.  I,  page  47. 
2Loesing's  Field  Book  of  the  War  of  1812. 


206  Historic  Sullivan. 

Cooke,  then  the  weather,  the  water  and  all  mankind  in 
general.3 

Among  the  officers  who  accompanied  Cooke  from  Sulli- 
van  County   were   William    Snodgrass,    Cloud, 

William  King,  Jacob  Snapp  and  Benjamin  Beeler.  Cloud 
was  the  first  man  to  attempt  to  scale  the  breastworks 
at  the  Horseshoe,  and  was  killed.  He  was  closely  followed 
by  King  who  succeeded.4 

Sam  Houston,  a  young  ensign,  was  also  among  the 
first  to  go  over  the  breastworks — he  was  shot  with  a 
barbed  arrow. 

The  Thirty-ninth  United  States  infantry  was  strongly 
supported  by  Gen.  James  Doherty's  East  Tennessee 
brigade,  making  the  van  of  a  storming  party,  the  forces 
behaving  most  gallantly  as  they  pressed  on  in  the  face  of 
a  deadly  fusilade  of  bullets  and  arrows.  Soldiers  and 
Indians  fought  hand  to  hand  at  the  port-holes.  The 
bayonet,  dextrously  used,  at  last  broke  the  line  of  the 
Indians'  defense  and  they  fled  in  wild  confusion  to  the 
woods  and  waters.  The  Creeks  asked  no  quarter  nor 
gave  any;  it  was  a  fight  to  death.  The  defeated  Indians 
refused  to  surrender,  expecting  no  mercy. 

When  the  battle  was  over,  five  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
Indian  warriors  lay  dead  in  the  bend  of  the  river  alone, 
and  of  the  one  thousand  who  went  into  the  fight  but  two 
hundred  survived.  Jackson's  loss  was  thirty-two  killed 
and  ninety-nine  wounded,  while  his  Cherokee  allies  lost 
eighteen  killed  and  thirty-six  wounded. 

The  Seminole  War  of  1817-18  followed  and  again 
Tennessee  troops  went  to  the  front  as  if  it  was  their  fight 
also — Sullivan's  leading  representative  being  Gen.  Gaines. 

The  Cherokee  removal  took  place  in  1838,  and  is  fully 
described  in  Chapter  XXX.  Maj.  John  R.  Delaney 
organized  a  company  for  that  campaign  as  follows: 

Muster  Roll  of  Captain  Abraham  McClellan's  Company  of  the 
2nd  Regiment,  2nd  Brigade  of  Mounted  Volunteer  Militia,  Commanded 

30n  account  of  this  delay  and  the  unfortunate  massacre  of  the  friendly  Hillabee 
people,  Jackson  accused  Cooke  of  rivalry,  but  was  later  convinced  of  his  error. 
4Lossing^says.L.  P.  Montgomery. 


War  Times— Tennessee  Valor. 


207 


by  Major  John  R.  Delaney,  ordered  into  service  of  the  United  States 
by  the  Requisition  of  the  Secretary  of  War  of  25th  of  May  1836.  from 
the  1st  day  of  March to  the  30th  day  of  April,  1837. 


Abraham  McClellan,  Captain 
Abraham  Gregg,  First  Lieutenant 
James  B.  Riley,  Second  Lieutenant 
Henry  Bullock,  Ensign 
Saml.  Evans,  First  Sergeant 
Saml.  E.  Edwards,  Second  Sergeant 
Maxwell  Smith,  Third  Sergeant 
Christian  C.  Elkins,  First  Corporal 
James  J.  Angell,  Second  Corporal 
William  P.  Lacy,  Third  Corporal 
William  H.  Snodgrass,  Bugler 
Uriah  Acre,  Private 
Royston  Boy,  Private 
Jno.  G.  Burnett,  Private 
John  L.  Burkhard,  Private 
v  Jacob  Bushong,  Private 
Eh  Cain,  Private 
Thomas  Cawood,  Private 
Jesse  Craft,  Private 
Saml.  L.  Cross,  Private 
Jonathan  J.  Dryden,  Private 
David  A.  Dryden,  Private 
Hazel  B.  Davis,  Private 
Larkin  Elkins,  Private' 
Danl.  Elkins,  Private 
Abel  Edwards,  Private 
John  Flemming,  Private 
Allen  Farmer,  Private 
John  M.  Gifford,  Private 
George  W.  Goodman,  Private 
John  Godsey,  Private 
Abraham  J.  Hicks,  Private 
Hiram  B.  Hughes,  Private 
William  Hobbs,  Private 
Obed  Hull,  Private 
Henry  Kingery,  Private 
Thomas  McLane,  Private 
Timothy  Millard,  Private 


Elihu  Messick,  Private 
James  Morton,  Private 
Joseph  McPhatridge,  Private 
Andrew  J.  Millhorn,  Private 
Thomas  J.  Newton,  Private 
Timothy  Nickols,  Private 
Davia  Pile,  Private 
Henry  H.  Pemberton,  Private 
John  Page,  Private 
John  Peters,  Private 
Edward  C.  Rutledge,  Private 
Thomas  T.  Rockhold,  Private 
John  Sanders,  Private 
John  C.  Sawyers,  Private 
Walter  J.  Snodgrass,  Private 
David  D.  Spivy,  Private 
Geo.  L.  Smith,  Private 
Benjamin  Smith,  Private 
John  G.  Scott,  Private 
John  I.  Smith 

Nathaniel  N.  Smith,  Private 
Alexander  H.  Smith,  Private 
David  Steel,  ^Private 
John  Steel,  Private 
Isaac  Stoffle,  Private 
Henry  Smith,  Private 
Clifford  Tyler,  Private 
William  R.  Tipton,  Private 
John  Torbitt,  Private 
Jonathan  E.  Vance,  Private 
John  Webb,  Private 
Uriah  Woods,  Private 
Owen  M.  White,  Private 
Jesse  B.  White,  Private 
James  Hancher,  Private 
William  O.  King,  Private 
Elcanah  Millard,  Private 


(Copied  from  original  muster-roll) 


208 


Historic  Sullivan. 


The  next  call  for  troops  was  for  the  Mexican  War. 
George  R.  McClellan  was  in  command  of  a  company 
from  Sullivan  County,  which  was  taken  in  flat-boats  to 
Memphis,  whence  they  were  transported  to  New 
Orleans  and  across  the  gulf  of  Mexico.  The  eagerness 
of  Tennesseans  to  enlist  for  this  war  was  so  notable  that 
the  Secretary  of  War  sent  the  following  message  to  Gov. 
Brown:  "We  do  not  intend  that  Tennessee  shall 
fight  this  war." 

5  Reg.  Tenn  Vol— G.  R.  McClellan  Col  Comdg— John  Shaver 
Capt — Wm.  King  1st  Lieut — Saml.  R.  Anderson  2  and  J.  J.  Odell  2-2 
Lieut. 

Sullivan  County  Volunteers  mustered  into  service  10th  day  of 
Nov.  1847.     Dischd.  20th  July,  1848  at  Memphis. 


G.  R.  McClellan,  Capt. 

John  S.  Shaver,  1st  Lieut. 

Saml.  R.  Anderson,  2  Lieut. 

James  Patton,  O.  S. 

Wm.  King,  2d  Lieut. 

Jno.  T.  Snapp,  S. 

John  Braden,  S. 

James  Barnes,  S. 

David  Almaroad,  C. 

David  P.  OBrian,  C. 

Joel  D.  Millard,  O. 

Thos.  Rodgers,  O. 

James  Good,  Mu. 

Wm.  H.  Almaroad 

Audley  Anderson 

L.  O.  Byers 

Tho.  L.  Berry 

David  B.  Bragg 

Dillion  D.  Blevins 

Andrew  Blevins 

James  Blevins 

John  Bowling 

Geo.  W.  Bookhamer 

Johathan  Bachman 

Geo.  L.  Carlton 

Thos.  Carroll 

Geo.  Crudgington 


Endiman  Hall 

Hensley 

Wm.  H.  Harkleroad 
Elisha  Harbor 
David  S.  Hilton 
David  Ingle 
Joel  Johnson 
James  G.  King 
G.  S.  Love 
James  Milhorn 
John  McCrary 
Walker  McCrary 
William  McKamy 
Stephen  H.  Miller 
John  W.  Malone 
Saml.  G.  McClellan 
James  Minnick 
Wm.  H.  Moore 
John  Moore 
John  McMinn 
James  J.  Odell 
Wm.  D.  Offield 
Benjm.  Phillips 
Job  Powell 
Calvin  M.  Prince 
Wm.  O.  B.  Pile 
Isaac  Pearce 


War  Times— Tennessee  Valor. 


209 


Jury  Cathiman  Jesse  Pullum 

Elkana  Cross  Jacob  Rodgers 

James  Garden  William  Rimmer 

Thos.  D.  Carter  Josiah  Smith 

C.  C.  Cargale  Saml.  W.  Scott 

Allen  Dyer  Hugh  R.  Smith 

James  Dinsmore  Richard  Shipley 

Elkana  D.  Droke  Nathan  H.  Shipley 

En os  Dinsmore  Elkana  D.  Shipley 

John  W.  Emmert  John  M.  Smithson 

Thos.  O.  Elkins  James  K.  Shaver 

Nelson  Elsey  Wm.  Smith 

Wm.  D.  Fulkner  Wm.  L.  Smithson 

Gabriel  Frye  A.  W.  M.  Willoughby 

Endemon  Foster  Sol.  H.  Whitaker 

John  G.  Gale  G.  H.  Whitaker 

Wm.  Gertman  Joseph  P.  Wilson 

Wm.  J.  Gale  James  H.  Wilson 

Wm.  Graham  Joseph  S.  Pitman 

W.  W.  Good  Jacob  H.  Latture 
(Copied  from  original  muster-roll) 


The  Civil  War  came  on.  The  scenes  that  led  up  to  the 
struggle  were  here  more  antagonistic  than  in  most 
Southern  localities,  where  the  sentiment  was  not  divided. 
In  East  Tennessee  the  supporters  of  the  Confederate  and 
Union  sides  waged  a  war  of  oratory  before  the  battle  of 
smoke  and  shell  began.  When  the  excitement  was  at  its 
highest  and  companies  were  forming  to  join  the  Con- 
federate forces,  Andrew  Johnson  and  Thomas  A.  R. 
Nelson,  who  were  the  champions  of  the  Union  cause, 
made  an  appointment  to  speak  in  Blountville. 

Some  of  the  leading  citizens,  fearful  of  the  possible 
results  of  such  a  speaking,  owing  to  the  feverish  state  of 
the  people,  sent  a  delegation,  headed  by  David  Sullins — 
then  a  young  minister  in  charge  of  the  Blountville  circuit — 
to  meet  the  speakers  on  the  approach  to  town  and  acquaint 
them  with  the  feeling  in  the  communtiy.  They  were  met 
at  "Medical  Grove"  on  the  Jonesboro  road,  and  the  speak- 
ers agreed  to  be  governed  by  the  vote  of  the  citizens, 
taken  in  open  meeting. 


210  Historic  Sullivan. 

Sullins  returned,  called  the  throng  together  in  front  of 
the  court-house  and  explained  the  situation,  asking  those 
who  desired  the  speakers  to  come  to  town  to  remain 
standing,  while  those  who  did  not  desire  them  were  to 
"squat  down."5  The  majority  was  overwhelming  in 
opposition  to  the  speakers.  Sullins  went  back,  told 
Johnson  and  Nelson  the  result,  then  escorted  them  to 
town,  as  far  as  Sturm's  hotel,  where  they  had  dinner. 
During  this  time  a  guard  of  soldiers  was  placed  on  the 
bridge  to  prevent  any  assembling  of  the  people  or  undue 
excitement  on  account  of  the  presence  of  the  men. 
After  dinner  the  speakers  left  town. 

For  this  kindly  act  of  precaution  Sullins  was  compelled 
to  leave  Tennessee  after  the  war  and  refugee  in  Virginia 
for  two  years. 

The  first  company  organized  in  Sullivan  selected  James 
P.  Snapp,  captain,  and  the  young  ladies  of  the  town 
presented  a  flag.  The  occasion  of  the  presentation  was 
made  thrilling  by  patriotic  songs  and  the  speech  of 
acceptance  delivered  by  C.  J.  St.  John,  Sr.,  first  lieu- 
tenant of  the  company. 

East  Tennessee  early  became  a  battle-ground  for 
the  Northern  and  Southern  forces.  The  railroad  running 
through  this  section  was  the  chief  means  of  communica- 
tion, travel  and  supply  for  the  South.  For  this  reason 
the  bridges,  telegraph  lines  and  tracks  had  to  be  protected. 
They  were  practically  in  the  possession  of  the  Confederate 
forces  for  nearly  three  years  of  the  war,  but  when  Burn- 
side6  was  assigned  to  the  command  in  East  Tennessee, 
reaching  Knoxville,  September  3,  1863,  he  mapped  out 
an  agressive  campaign  to  be  prosecuted  all  along  the  line 


5David  Sullins  had  early  in  his  career  established  a  reputation  as  a  revivalist. 
The  crowd  at  the  court-house  was  so  large,  an  old  woman  who  was  some  distance 
away  from  the  speaker  could  not  hear  what  was  going  on,  but  seeing  most  of 
the  people  assuming  the  negative  posture,  said," It's  all  right  now,  Davy's  got  'em 
on  their  knees.". 

6Ambrose  E.  Burnside  was  born  in  Indiana.  He  was  a  West  Point  "cadet, 
graduating,  number  twenty-eight,  in  the  class  of  1847.  He  became  major-general 
March,  1862.     Died  September,  1881. 


War  Times— Tennessee  Valor.  211 

of  railroad.  He  detached  Gen.  James  Shackleford7 
for  service  in  upper  East  Tennessee. 

On  the  Confederate  side  was  Gen.  Sam  Jones,8  whose 
headquarters  at  the  time  were  at  Zollicoffer.  Burnside 
had  twenty  thousand  men,  while  Jones  had  between  five 
and  six  thousand.  These  men  were  distributed  up  and 
down  the  railroad. 

At  Morristown  Shackleford  sent  Col.  John  W.  Foster 
on  a  flanking  move.  Gen.  Jones  sent  out  Col.  James 
Carter,  who  met  Foster  and  engaged  him  in  desultory 
fighting,  driving  him  back  as  far  as  the  river  at  Shipley's 
ferry.  This  was  on  Sunday.  Foster  was  reinforced  at 
the  river,  returned  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  22nd  of 
September,  1863,  drove  the  Confederates  back  to  Blount- 
ville. 

On  their  return  the  Federals  bombarded  the  Dulaney 
home,  suspecting  it  harbored  Confederate  sharpshooters. 
No  one  was  there  but  the  women  of  the  family,  who 
managed  to  throw  out  a  white  cloth,  which  prevented 
a  complete  annihilation  of  the  home  and  death  of  the 
occupants. 

BATTLE  OF  BLOUNTVILLE. 

Arriving  at  Blountville  Col.  Carter  decided  to  engage 
the  enemy  and  stationed  his  battery  on  the  plateau  east 
of  town.  Foster  took  a  stand  on  the  opposite  side,  near 
the  graveyard — some  of  the  remaining  grave  stones  show 
the  effects  of  the  fight. 

The  non-combatants,  women  and  children,  accustomed 
to  seeing  uniformed  men,  were  not  aware  that  a  battle 
was  impending  and  were  at  dinner  when  the  firing  began. 
These  retired  with  the  sick  and  aged  to  the  best  protected 


7James  M.  Shackleford  was  born  in  Kentucky.  He  enlisted  in  the  Union 
army  as  colonel  of  the  Eighteenth  Kentucky  Cavalry,  September  13,  1861.  He 
became  brigadier-general  March  2,  1863,  resigned  January  18,  1864. 

8Sam  Jones  was  by  birth  a  Virginian.  Cadet  at  West  Point  in  1837,  graduating, 
number  nineteen,  in  July,  1841.  He  reached  the  rank  of  captain  in  1853.  Resigned 
April  27,  1861,  to  enter  the  Confederate  service.  He  became  major-general  and 
remained  in  the  war  from  1861  to  1865. i&He  died  July  31,  1887 


212  Historic  Sullivan. 

cellars — those  of  the  Cate  House  and  the  St.  John  residence. 
The  battle  began  at  noon  and  lasted  until  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon.9 

The  Confederate  forces  numbered  twelve  hundred  and 
fifty-seven,  while  there  were  double  that  number  on  the 
Federal  side. 

Capt.  Davidson's  battery,  that  participated  in  this 
fight,  had  distinguished  itself  in  the  battle  of  Manassas. 
As  an  example  of  marksmanship  for  which  the  American 
soldier  is  renowned — Capt.  Davidson  was  told  that 
Federal  sharpshooters  were  in  the  belfry  of  the  Metho- 
dist church  and  he  decided  to  fire  upon  it.  He  was  asked 
not  to  hit  the  bell  and  its  location  was  pointed  out  to  him ; 
he  then  sent  one  ball  just  above  and  one  just  below  the 
bell  although  the  church  was  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away. 

After  the  battle  had  been  in  progress  some  time  the 
Federals  decided  upon  a  flank  movement  and  made  a 
charge  toward  the  center  of  the  opposing  forces  to  divert 
their  attention 

In  the  meantime  the  besieged  women  and  children  and 
the  helpless  were  notified  that  the  town  was  burning  and 
they  must  flee  for  their  lives.  A  shell  from  the  Federal 
guns  had  entered  the  court-house,  setting  it  on  fire,  and 
as  there  was  no  means  of  relief  the  flames  spread  rapidly, 
destroying  the  best  part  of  the  town.10 

In  the  thick  of  the  fight  and  more  dangerously  exposed 
than  the  soldiers  of  either  side  were  the  fleeing  women. 
In  the  confusion  of  such  a  hasty  departure  distracted 
mothers  became  separated  from  their  children;  cavalry- 
men dashed  across  their  path,  while  bullets  and  bombs 
whistled    above    them.    They    went    through    Brown's 


9Dr.  J.  J.  Ensor,  who  acted  as  surgeon,  timed  the  battle  from  the  firing  of  the 
first  gun  and  so  reported  it  to  me. 

lOBesides  the  court-house  and  jail  many  other  houses  were  burned — the 
residence  and  store  of  Samuel  Rhea;  hotel  and  store  of  Rev.  N.  C.  Baldwin;  Lawrence 
Snapp's  hotel;  residence  and  shop  of  F.  L.  Baumgardner;  residence  and  store  of 
W.  W.  James;  residence  and  store  of  Jack  Powell;  residence  and  store  of  Hugh 
and  John  Fain;  residence  and  store  of  Dr.  Wm.  R.  Dulaney. 


War  Times— Tennessee  Valor.  213 

meadow  and  finally  found  a  safe  retreat  beyond  the  hills.11 

The  Confederates,  learning  of  the  flank  movement, 
began  to  retire  in  the  direction  of  Zollicoffer;  a  few,  how- 
ever, went  toward  Bristol  and  were  captured. 

At  Hamilton's  hill  Jones  reinforced  Carter  and  another 
stand  was  made.  The  Federals  were  driven  back,  retiring 
to  Blountville,  but  later  retreated  further.  The  returning 
citizens  of  the  town  found  that  what  homes  were  left 
had  been  looted  and  what  was  not  taken  had  been  destroy- 
ed. There  was  nothing  to  eat  and  the  women  were  com- 
pelled to  beg  meal  from  the  soldiers. 

The  casualties  were  not  great  on  either  side — the  Con- 
federates losing  only  three  dead  and  eight  or  ten  wounded, 
while  the  Federals  had  twelve  killed  and  as  many  more 
wounded.  The  Institute  and  Methodist  church  were 
used  as  temporary  hospitals  and  Dr.  J.  J.  Ensor  and 
Dr.  Nat  Dulaney,  Sr.,  aided  the  Federal  surgeons  with  the 
wounded.12 

In  October  Burnside's  forces  again  sought  to  secure 
control  of  the  railroad,  which  resulted  in  a  running  fight 
through  the  county.  A  skirmish  took  place  at  Blountville 
on  October  14th.  There  was  also  a  fight  at  Bachman's 
ford.  Gen.  Jones  drove  the  enemy  as  far  as  Big  creek, 
in  Hawkins  county,  where  he  surrounded  and  captured 
six  hundred — among  them  two  spies,  who  were  court-mar- 
tialed and  shot,  near  David  Wolford's. 

HSome  of  the  escapes  of  women,  during  the  war,  were  miraculous.  Dr. 
M.  M.  Butler,  who  was  surgeon  of  the  Thirty-seventh  Virginia  regiment,  tells  of  a 
woman  whose  residence  was  directly  in  the  line  of  fire  at  the  battle  of  Chancel- 
lorsville.     She  escaped  unhurt  with  seventeen  bullet  holes  in  her  dress. 

12Dr.  Ensor  related  the  following:  Among  the  wounded  on  the  Federal  side 
was  an  Irishman,  who  wanted  to  be  relieved  from  service.  Receiving  a  flesh  wound 
on  the  head  he  feigned  unconsciousness  and  was  placed  in  the  temporary  hospital. 
When  the  surgeon  went  to  examine  him  he  was  moaning  in  an  delirious  manner, 
"send  for  a  praste(  bring  me  a  cand'l;  send  for  a  praste,  bring  me  a  cand'l."  The 
surgeon,  not  wishing  to  operate  on  him  in  that  condition,  passed  him  by  for  the 
time,  remarking,  "the  poor  fellow  is  in  a  bad  way."  The  wounded  soldier  confided 
to  Dr.  Ensor  his  desire  to  quit  the  army  and  the  doctor  told  him  he  would  not 
interfere  with  his  plans. 

The  next  day  the  patient  was  at  breakfast  with  the  Ensor  family  when  a  servan  t 
entered  and  said  the  Federal  surgeon  was  coming.  The  Irishman  on  learning  this 
jumped  up  from  the  table  and  broke  through  a  window  to  get  back  in  the  hospital. 
When  the  surgeon  made  his  rounds  he  found  his  patient  stretched  out,  apparently 
weaker  than  the  day  before  and  still  faintly  and  incoherently  calling,  "send  for  a 
praste,  bring  me  a  cand'l."  The  surgeon  passed  him  by.  The  man,  sure  of  being  put 
on  the  dead-list,   left   for   parts   unknown. 


214  Historic  Sullivan. 

The  next  military  exploit  of  eventful  outcome  was 
Stoneman's13  raid  in  December,  1864.  He  left  Knoxville 
December  10th  with  four  thousand  cavalry  and  was  re- 
inforced by  Gillem  with  nearly  two  thousand  more;  also 
Gen.  Burbridge 's  Kentucky  troops.  They  overtook  Duke's 
men,  then  under  command  of  Col.  R.  C.  Morgan14 — Duke 
being  on  leave  of  absence — and  drove  them  across  the  river 
at  Rotherwood.  Morgan  had  three  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  thirty-nine  of  which  garrisoned  themselves  on  a 
rocky  and  thicketed  eminence  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
to  prevent  the  enemy  from  crossing.  These  men  kept 
Stoneman  back  for  several  hours.  During  the  afternoon 
of  the  13th  Gillem  sent  Col.  S.  K.  N.  Patton  up  the 
river — he  crossed  and,  coming  down,  surrounded  the  men. 
When  this  was  done  the  rout  was  complete.  Several 
were  killed  and  wounded  and  many  others  captured. 
Among  the  prisoners  taken  was  Morgan;  he  had  been 
drinking  heavily  during  the  day  and  danced  with  indif- 
ference when  captured.  His  wagon  train  was  also 
taken. 

This  work  completed,  Gen.  Burbridge,15  the  same 
afternoon,  pushed  on  to  Bristol.  Passing  through 
Blountville  during  the  night  his  soldiers  did  a  good  deal 
of  plundering.  He  reached  Bristol  on  the  morning  of 
the  14th,  in  time  to  intercept  Gen.  Vaughn,  who  was 
trying  to  join  Breckenridge  at  Saltville.  At  Bristol  he 
destroyed  the  depots,  all  the  rolling  stock  of  the  railroad 
and  a  great  quantity  of  stores  and  ammunition.  In  the 
skirmish  two  hundred  prisoners,  which  included  non- 
combatants,  were  captured.  This  raid  was  for  the  pur- 
pose of  destruction.    A  raiding  party  is  not  a  pleasure 


13George  Stoneman  was  from  New  York.  He  entered  West  Point  in  1842, 
and  graduated,  number  thirty-three,  in  1846.  He  became  major-general  of  volun- 
teers in  1862.     He  died  September  5,  1864. 

14After  the  death  of  General  John  Morgan,  the  fearless  Confederate  cavalry- 
man, his  command  fell  to  Gen.  Basil  W.  Duke,  of  Kentucky.  In  this  regiment  was 
Col.  R.  C  Morgan,  a  brother  of  Gen.  Morgan. 

15Stephen  G.  Burbridge  was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth  and  entered  the  Union 
army  as  colonel  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Kentucky  regiment,  August,  1861.  He  was 
made  brigadier-general  July,  1864 — died  Nov.  30,  1894. 


War  Times— Tennessee  Valor.  215 

party,  but  there  are  rules  that  govern  civilized  warfare. 
The  looting  of  homes,  where  none  were  left  to  protect 
them  but  the  women;  the  destruction  of  a  church  and 
the  demolition  of  the  sacred  relics  of  a  masonic  lodge 
did  not  leave  a  very  exalted  remembrance  of  the  name 
Stoneman. 

About  this  time  the  Fifteenth  Pennsylvania  regiment 
was  quartered  at  Peltier.  Afterwards  they  were  driven 
down  through  Hawkins  county  by  Maj.  Frank  Phipps. 
Among  the  incidents  of  the  military  maneuvers  around 
Kingsport,  one  relates  to  a  peculiar  capture.  P.  S.  Hale 
had  hired  a  substitute  known  as  "Tater"  Dick  Morris. 
Morris  deserted  and  went  into  the  Union  army,  and 
while  refugeeing  in  Sullivan  County  captured  Hale, 
the  man  who  paid  him  to  go  into  the  army. 

In  the  last  two  years  of  the  war  Sullivan  County  was 
the  scene  of  a  great  many  raids  and  skirmishes — Zolli- 
coffer  and  Bristol  being  the  points  most  desired  by  the 
Northern  forces,  on  account  of  the  railroad.  Zollicoffer 
was  the  headquarters  at  various  times  of  Gen.  William  E. 
Jones16  and  Gen.  Sam  Jones  and  Cols.  Williams  and 
Lafferty. 

The  following  is  a  partial  list  of  the  officers  from 
Sullivan  serving  during  the  Civil  WTar,  who  reached  the 
rank  of  captain  and  higher.  Colonel --Nathan  Gregg; 
Lieutenant-Colonel — George  R.  McClellan,  James  P 
Snapp,  J.  J.  Odell,  James  A.  Rhea;  Major— Henry 
Geisler;  Captain — John  W.  Bachman,  Joe  R.  Crawford, 
L.  H.  Denny,  A.  L.  Gammon,  Polk  Gammon,  Jacob 
Geisler,  Cyrus  Ingles,  Crockett  Millard,  Alvin  Millard, 
John  Morrell,  George  Mathews, Trevett. 

While  no  companies  were  organized  in  Sullivan  for 
the  Federal  army  some  of  the  soldiers  who  joined  that 
side  became  officers.  Colonel — S.  K.N.  Patton;  Captain 
— Thomas  Easley,  David  B.  Jenkins,  Sam  P.  Snapp. 

16William  E.  Jones  was  a  Virginian — cadet  at  West  Point,  graduating,  number 
ten,  1848.  He  entered  the  Confederate  service  as  brigadier-general  1861,  rising 
to  the  rank  of  major-general.  He  was  killed  at  Mount  Crawford,  Virginia,  June 
5,  1864. 


216  Historic  Sullivan. 

There  were  some  heroic  acts  in  defence  of  bridges, 
in  East  Tennessee.  At  Zollicoffer  Susan  Wood  openly 
defied  the  burners.  She  lived  near  the  county  bridge 
and  the  Federals  had  already  put  the  torch  to  the  timbers 
and  they  were  in  flames.  As  a  threat,  to  awe  her,  the 
soldiers  shouted,  "You  put  that  fire  out  and  we'll  come 
back  and  burn  the  house  over  your  head."  They  had 
hardly  disappeared  before  she  took  some  little  boys, 
formed  a  bucket  brigade,  and  succeeded  in  putting  out 
the  fire.17  &18 

RECONSTRUCTION. 

When  the  war  was  over  and  the  crippled  remnant 
of  the  once  splendid  army  straggled  back  they  found 
themselves  discredited,  disfranchised;  found  a  slave  race 
freed.  Many  who  were  able  went  in  search  of  other  homes, 
never  to  return.  Those  who  remained  picked  up  their 
broken  fortunes  and  began  again.  They  faced  the 
horrors  of  reconstruction.  The  scenes  of  that  time, 
the  warnings,  the  dread,  the  sufferings  are  still  too  fresh 
in  memory  to  be  revived — they  were  acts  of  revenge, 
in  retaliation  for  wrongs  suffered  when  the  war  com- 
menced. But  in  the  condemnation  of  those  deeds  it  is 
well  to  be  reminded — what  might  have  been  the  fate  of 
the  Union  soldiers  of  East  Tennessee  had  the  South 
succeeded.  The  tories  of  the  Revolution  were  as  sincere 
in  their  loyalty  to  the  king  as  were  the  Union  soldiers  of 
East  Tennessee  in  their  loyalty  to  the  United  States. 

17 James  Keelan  was  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Civil  War.  He  was  a  member 
of  Thomas'  Legion,  a  regiment  originally  composed  of  Cherokee  Indians,  which  was 
guarding  bridges  in  East  Tennessee.  While  at  Strawberry  Plains  in  November, 
1862,  Keelan  was  stationed  to  guard  the  bridge.  Forty  Federal  soldiers  attacked 
him,  but  he  stood  his  ground.  He  was  shot  in  the  side,  in  the  left  arm  and  in  the  hip. 
The  men  charged  him  several  times,  but  he  forced  them  to  retire.  His  left  hand 
was  cut  off;  his  right  hand  was  split  and  he  was  cut  with  sabres  on  the  head  and 
body.  Finally,  the  Federals  retired,  fearing  on  account  of  Keelan's  fearless 
stand,  that  reinforcements  were  near.  They  left  three  dead  and  many  wounded 
as  a  result  of  the  fight.  The  bridge  was  saved.  Keelan  was  cared  for  in  the 
neighborhood,  being  laid  up  for  twelve  months.  When  he  became  able  to  get  out 
he  joined  the  army  again — this  time  in  Col.  Love's  command. 

He  lived  in  Bristol  after  the  war,  and  died  there  February  12,  1895,  aged 
seventy- two  years. 

18In  addition  to  conversations  with  participants  in  the  Civil  War  I  had  ac- 
cess to  official  reports  in  "Records  of  the  Rebellion." 


War  Times— Tennessee  Valor.  217 

Virginia  and  Tennessee  and  Mississippi  shed  the  tears  of 
the  Confederacy.  The  sepulchers  of  the  South  are  there. 
The  war  clouds  hung  lowest  there  and  from  off  scarred 
fields  and  desolated  homes  were  the  last  to  be  lifted. 
For  forty-four  years  a  frail  and  bent-over  figure  in  black 
has  been  journeying  to  a  mound  that  does  not  measure  the 
length  of  a  man.  In  that  boyhood  grave  is  buried  the 
hope  of  so  many  Southern  homes.  From  Shiloh  and  from 
Gettysburg  and  from  Chickamauga  came  the  long  dead- 
list  of  the  budding  chivalry  of  the  South. 

So  long  as  the  mourner  stoops  by  the  grave;  so  long  as 
the  old  soldier  hobbles  to  the  reunion,  there  will  be  mem- 
ories to  remind  us.  There  is  much  history  that  needs  to 
be  forgotten.  The  records  of  the  years  that  followed 
the  war  can  be  written  by  the  annalist  of  the  years  to 
come;  it  is  no  time  to  tell  them  now. 


Elkanah  R.  Dulaney. 

A  BIOGRAPHY. 

When  Elkanah  Dulaney  and  Benjamin  Dulaney  came 
to  Sullivan  County  with  the  early  pioneers,  the  one 
carried  a  pair  of  saddle  bags  and  the  other  a  sword — 
the  one  a  warrior,  the  other  a  healer  of  wounds. 

The  military  life  of  the  Dulaneys  is  like  that  of  most 
of  the  old  settlers  in  Virginia,  in  the  colony  days.  They 
were  with  Braddock  in  his  ill-fated  Indian  campaigns 
and  in  the  fierce  border  forays;  joining  Lord  Dunmore's 
ranks  when  he  issued  his  stirring  address  for  resistance 
to  the  repeated  ravages  of  the  Ohio  tribes;  then  enlisting 
with  Gen.  Andrew  Lewis  against  his  Lordship;  then 
plunging  into  service  of  their  country  when  it  declared 
for  freedom — a  service  full  of  peril  because  beset  on  the 
one  band  with  the  annoying  Indian  surprises  and  on 
the  other  with  strife  engendered  by  political  antagonism. 

Then  away  from  these  scenes  came  Benjamin  Dulaney, 
carrying  a  sword1  that  in  his  official  capacity  he  had 
carried  in  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine — and  Elkanah  Dula- 
ney with  his  medicine  chest  that  has  been  carried  by 
four  generations  following,  to  the  present  time.  Of 
those  who  remained  in  Virginia,  Dr.  William  H.  Dulaney 
became  commandant  of  his  county,  with  the  rank  of 
colonel,  and  Henry  Dulaney,  entering  the  War  of  1812 
as  lieutenant,  rose  to  the  rank  of  captain. 

The  Dulaneys  who  came  to  Sullivan  had  disposed 
of  their  personal  property  as  well  as  the  lands  which 
the  government  had  granted  them  for  military  service, 
and  with  the  proceeds  bargained  for  land  in  and  about 
Blountville. 

They  settled  on  tracts  adjoining,  one  mile  southwest 
of  Blountville — the  one  becoming  the  home  of  Elkanah 

IThie  sword  is  of  peculiar  pattern  and  is  now  an  heirloom  in  the  St.  John 
family. 


WILLIAM    R.    DULANEY 


Elkanah  R.  Dulaney.  219 

Dulaney,  called  "Medical  Grove,"  is  still  known  by 
that  name  and  is  still  in  the  possession  of  his  descendants. 

When  one  studies  the  formation  of  a  county  it  is 
remarkable  what  near  neighbors  the  families  have  been 
all  along.     That  is  the  way  Sullivan  was  peopled. 

Beginning  with  a  few  emigrants  from  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  who  journeyed  through  Frederick,  Maryland, 
picking  up  the  Shelbys  on  the  way;  going  thence  through 
Fauquier  and  Culpepper  counties,  Virginia,  the  company 
was  completed.  They  came  over  that  same  trail  for  a 
long  time. 

These  emigrants  were  not  all  Scotch-Irish,  as  many 
claim.  The  Shelbys  were  Welch,  and  an  analysis  of  our 
nationalities  will  disclose  a  good  pay-streak  of  German 
metal  that  has  to  be  accounted  for — the  Beelers,  the 
Bachmans,  the  Beidlemans,  the  Boohers  were  so  German 
when  coming  to  this  section  many  could  not,  at  first,  sign 
their  names  in  English. 

It  was  a  cosmopolitan  company  that  journeyed  here — 
some  with  the  cavalier  blood,  it  is  true,  but  all  became 
commoners  in  their  mutual  struggle  and  defense.  They 
were  sturdy  men,  stout  limbed  and  accustomed  to  adven- 
tures— faces  escutcheoned  by  endurance  and  toil,  and 
they  gave  to  Sullivan  the  military  rank  it  won  and  still 
holds. 

There  was  unusual  quiet  following  the  wars.  The  leaders 
who  remained  here  became  restless ;  the  silence  was 
too  sudden  and  they  sought  the  next  best  substitute 
for  war — politics. 

The  early  practice  of  medicine  meant  long  rides  in  all 
kind  of  weather — and  short  pay,  so  Elkanah  Dulaney, 
leaving  the  solitude  of  these  long  forest  rides,  entered 
politics  and  became  a  candidate  for  the  legislature  in 
1819,  though  not  altogether  abandoning  his  practice. 
He  was  successively  elected  for  four  terms  and  after  an 
intermission,  was  twice  elected,  in  1835-37.  He  died 
July  10,  1840,  in  his  seventieth  year. 


220  Historic  Sullivan. 

Of  the  four  sons  of  Elkanah  Dulaney,  two  arrived  at 
mature  manhood — William  R.  Dulaney  and  Benjamin  L. 
Dulaney,  Sr.  They  received  their  education  at  Jefferson 
Academy— the  former  having  been  under  the  instruction 
of  the  first  teacher  we  have  record  of  at  the  Academy — 
John  Jennings.  Benjamin  Dulaney  became  a  farmer 
and  his  life  is  also  closely  interwoven  with  the  political 
history  of  his  day.  In  various  ways  he  served  the  people 
in  an  official  capacity,  being  at  one  time  sheriff  of  the 
county.    He  died  September  23,  1859. 

Dr.  Willam  R.  Dulaney  was  born  in  Culpepper  county, 
Virginia,  April  2, 1800.  He  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
father  in  the  practice  of  medicine.  He  was  the  first 
physician  of  Sullivan  county  to  attend  lectures — in  1838 
riding  horseback  to  Lexington,  Kentucky,  where  he 
spent  several  months  in  the  lecture-room. 

It  is  in  the  realm  of  medicine  the  name  of  Dulaney  is 
best  known  in  this  county.  Had  those  old  doctors 
chosen  a  wider  field  for  operations  they  would  have 
become  better  known — certainly  better  paid.  Joseph 
Dulaney  rendered  notable  service  as  a  surgeon  in  the 
Confederate  army,  being  in  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee 
Regiment. 

Unlike  some  practitioners,  suffering  did  not  harden 
their  natures,  but  made  them  gentle — they  gathered  les- 
sons of  tenderness  from  the  sick-room.  They  gave  pre- 
scriptions and  the  money  to  buy  the  medicine.  They 
gave  nobly  to  the  world's  needs — a  century  of  service 
from  them  meant  a  century  of  sacrifice.  The  call  from 
the  cabin  on  the  hillside  was  to  them  a  call  to  duty. 
They  went  at  any  hour  of  the  night,  braving  any  weather, 
and  have  passed  much  time  in  patient  watch  where 
ragged  bedclothes  and  scant  furnishings  gave  promise 
of  no  pay.  And  sometimes,  when  those  old  doctors 
.found  all  earthly  aid  exhausted,  they  sought  the  divine 
and  in  the  solemnity  of  the  death-chamber,  with  no 
one  near  to  minister  to  spiritual  needs,  they  have 
solaced  some  departing  soul  with  prayer. 


JOHN    RHEA 


John  Rhea, 
a  biography. 

The  Rhea  family  is  the  most  akin  to  family  in  Sul- 
livan County. 

Joseph  Rhea,  the  ancestor  of  the  Rheas  of  Sullivan, 
was  born  in  Londonderry,  Ireland,  1715.  He  was  pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Fahn  for  twenty  years  and 
then  sent  in  the  following  resignation : 

As  I  received  the  congregation  of  Fahn  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Londonderry,  I  have  labored  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  above 
twenty  years  in  that  place  and  as  the  congregation  has  fallen  into  very 
long  areas  and  has  been  very  deficient  in  the  original  promise  to  me 
which  was  24  pounds  yearly  I  am  unable  to  subsist  any  longer  among 
them  and  I  do  hereby  demit  my  charge  of  them  and  deliver  them  into 
the  hand  of  them  from  whom  I  received  them. 

Subscribed  this  16th  Aug.  1769. 

Jos.  Rhea 

P.  S. — I  have  only  this  further  to  request  of  the  Presbytery 
that  they  will  see  justice  done  me  in  that  congregation  in  my  absence. 

He  came  to  America  in  1770  and  settled  in  Maryland. 
He  joined  the  Christian  campaign  in  1776  as  one  of  the 
chaplains  and  in  this  way  became  acquainted  with  the 
Holston  country.  He  decided  to  locate  here  and  to  that 
end  secured  land  at  the  mouth  of  Beaver  creek.  Return- 
ing home  he  decided  to  bring  his  family,  but  shortly  after 
reaching  home  he  was  taken  sick  and  died. 

The  family  came  to  Sullivan  the  following  year. 

John  Rhea  the  most  prominent  of  the  name  was  a 
graduate  of  Princeton  and  took  part  in  the  Revolution — 
was  in  the  battles  of  Brandywine  and  King's  Mountain. 

In  1785  he  went  to  Ireland  to  bring  back  the  widow 
Borden  and  her  three  daughters.  He  rode  his  white 
horse  to  Philadelphia.  The  ship  in  which  he  was  to  sail 
was  about  ready  to  leave,  so  he  tied  the  horse  to  a  stake  at 


222  Historic  Sullivan. 

the  dock  and  hastily  gave  instructions  to  the  hotel  keeper 
about  caring  for  the  animal  during  his  absence.  It  so 
happened  the  hotel  man  rode  the  horse  down  to  the  dock 
on  the  day  of  Rhea's  return  and  tied  him  to  the  same 
stake.  In  that  day  it  took  several  months  to  make  a 
round  trip  across  the  ocean  and  on  landing,  Rhea,  seeing 
his  horse  tied  to  the  same  stake  at  which  he  had  left  him, 
became  furious  and  proceeded  to  punish  the  hotel  man 
for  his  negligence  in  allowing  the  horse  to  remain  there, 
but  he  was  finally  made  to  understand  how  it  happened. 

When  Rhea  arrived  in  Sullivan  County  with  the  widow 
and  her  three  Irish  girls  his  three  brothers  at  once  began 
to  court  them  and  in  time  "the  three  Rhea  brothers 
married  the  three  Borden  sisters."  This  is  what  John 
Rhea  had  desired.     He  never  married. 

In  1789  he  was  licensed  to  practice  law  in  Knoxville 
and  was  a  member  of  the  legislature  of  North  Carolina 
in  the  same  year. 

In  1796  he  was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  conven- 
tion, which  framed  the  first  constitution  of  Tennessee, 
and  in  the  same  year  became  a  member  of  the  general 
assembly  of  the  state. 

In  1803  he  was  elected  to  congress  from  the  first  district 
and  served  in  that  body  successively  for  twelve  years, 
six  years  of  which  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
post-offices  and  post-roads, 

In  1816  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners  to  treat  with 
the  Choctaws.  This  concluded  he  again  ran  for  congress 
in  1817,  was  elected  and  remained  in  that  body  six  more 
years,  making  eighteen  years  in  congress.  During  the 
last  six  years  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  pen- 
sions and  Revolutionary  claims. 

He  declined  to  run  any  more  at  the  expiration  of  his 
term  in  1823.  A  tradition  in  the  family  has  it  that  the 
old  white  horse — he  was  partial  to  white  horses — which 
he  had  ridden  so  often  to  Washington,  had  become  ac- 
customed to  making  the  trip  and,  not  knowing  that  his 


John  Rhea.  223 

master  would  not  go  again,  started  alone  about  the 
time  for  the  convening  of  the  next  congress  and  had 
gone  as  far  as  Glade  Spring  before  he  was  overtaken. 

Congressman  or  "Old  John"  Rhea,  as  his  descendants 
usually  speak  of  him,  came  into  possession  of  vast  tracts 
of  land  in  Tennessee  and  also  in  other  states  and  was 
counted  a  wealthy  man  in  his  day. 

He  died  May  27,  1832,  and  is  buried  at  Blountville. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

TRAVELWAYS— TRANSMISSION  OF  MESSAGES. 

When  in  1760  the  expedition  known  as  the  Byrd  expedi- 
tion cut  its  way  to  Long  Island,  opening  a  new  highway 
that  has  always  been  known  as  the  Island  road,  and  when 
in  1775  Daniel  Boone  and  his  company  cut  out  the  Wilder- 
ness road — also  called  the  Kentucke  or  Caintuck  road 
and  now  known  as  the  Reedy  creek  road — then  was  the 
beginning  of  bad  roads  in  Sullivan  county. 

But  over  the  one  the  great  flow  of  southwest  immigra- 
tion has  gone  and  over  the  other  numberless  cavalcades 
have  passed,  bound  for  the  west.  These  two  roads  and 
one  other  served  our  ancestors  many  years.  There  were 
other  paths,  but  these  were  the  main  travelways — 
the  "great  roads"  as  they  were  then  called.  It  was  not 
from  a  lack  of  the  spirit  of  progress  that  our  ancestors  did 
not  establish  other  good  roads— the  Indian  wars  and  the 
war  with  Great  Britain  kept  them  busy  for  twenty-five 
years.  But  in  the  year  1795  a  road  building  energy  and 
enthusiam  seized  the  people;  eight  great  roads  were  pro- 
posed and  established  in  this  year,  and  at  the  same  time 
the  county  court  appointed  a  jury  of  twenty-six  prominent 
citizens  "to  view  the  great  road  from  Sullivan  court-house, 
leading  to  Abingdon,  in  Virginia,  as  far  as  the  Virginia 
line  and  report  to  the  next  court." 

They  were  James  Brigham,  William  Snodgrass,  Capt. 
Webb,  Gilbert  Carr,  David  Steel,  William  Armstrong, 
Henry  Smith,  John  Burk,  John  Shelby,  Robert  Rutledge, 
David  Mahon,  Stephen  Hicks,  Timothy  Acuff,  Samuel 
Caruthers,  George  Rutledge,  Jeremiah  Taylor,  Edward 
Cox,  James  Arnold,  Lewis  Wolf,  Walter  James,  Greenberry 
Cox,  Job  Foy,  Richard  Rodgers,  Jobias  Gifford,  Solomon 
Jones  and  Jonathan  Owens.  The  records  of  the  court 
are  meager  and  no  report  of  this  jury  could  be  found,  but 


Travelways— Transmission  of  Messages.     225 

"viewing"  meant  to  pass  upon  the  condition  and  this 
generation  believes  itself  capable  of  surmising  what  sort  of 
report  was  made. 

The  orders  of  the  court  for  the  other  roads  ran  as 
follows: 

OLD  ROAD  BUILDERS. 

Ordered  by  the  court  that  the  following  persons  review  the 
great  road  from  John  Yanius'  to  the  North  Fork  of  Holston  river 
by  way  of  Ross'  Furnace,  also  to  fix  a  proper  place  for  a  bridge  across 
Reedy  Creek  at  the  public  expense  of  Sullivan  County,  viz :  S.  Porter- 
field,  J.  Lowry,  J.  Anderson,  M.  Rowler,  Jr.,  R.  Shipley,  Capt.  Childress, 
Eli  Shipley,  H.  Mock,  John  Dean,  Jacob  Moyers,  Jr.,  John  Waddle, 
Sr.,  John  Shoemaker,  Sr.,  James  Gaines,  John  Yancy,  Walter  Johnson, 
John  Anderson,  P.  Foust,  David  Erwin  and  make  their  report  to  the 
next  court. 


Ordered  that  the  great  road  be  established  from  the  Coaling 
Ground  Beaver  Creek  Iron  Works  onwards  to  Jacob  Thomas  the  nearest 
&  best  way  &  that  the  following  persons  be  appointed  to  view  the  same, 
viz:  James  Harris,  James  Young,  Jacob  Thomas,  John  Bougher, 
Will  Beaty,  William  Helbrick,  John  Cooper,  Julius  Hacker,  Stephen 
Wallin,  Henry  Harkleroad,  John  Vance,  Esq.,  Woolsey  Beeler,  John 
Beeler,  and  make  their  report  to  the  next  court. 


Ordered  by  the  court  that  the  following  jury  be  appointed  to 
review  the  road  leading  from  the  Court  house  to  Keywoods  Creek 
the  nearest  and  best  way,  viz:  John  Sharp,  David  Diddon,  John 
Keywood,  Jr.,  John  Pemberton,  John  Shelby,  Sr.,  Thomas  Hughes, 
Jonathan  Owen,  Robert  Rutledge,  James  Yerin,  [?]  James  Hill,  Will 
Rhea,  Joseph  Rhea,  Robert  Cowan,  William  Carr,  Capt.  McCormick, 
John  Shelbj',  Jr.,  and  make  their  report  the  the  next  court. 


Ordered  by  the  court  that  the  following  jury  be  appointed  to 
view  and  lay  off  a  great  road  the  easiest  and  best  way  from  Shoats 
ford  on  Holston-  river  to  the  Virginia  line  leading  to  Abingdon,  viz : 

Capt.  Joseph  Cole,  Geo.  ,  Elisha  Cole,  Jacob  Boy,  Abraham 

McClellan,  Dill  Blevins, ,  William  Carr,  Edmund  Warrin, 

John  Shelby,  Sr., , Beeler,  John  Bealer,  Benjamin 

Ryston, ,  John  Funkhouser  and  make  their  report  to  the 

next  court. 


226  Historic  Sullivan. 

Ordered  by  the  court  that  the  following  persons  be  appointed 
to  view  and  lay  off  a  great  road  the  nearest  and  best  way  from — 
Weavers  line  by  Ryston's  Ford  on  Holston  River  Indian  Creek  to  Join 

the  Washington  line,  viz:     Solomen  ,  Patrick  Cregan,  Arnold 

Schell,  John  Funkhouser,  Jacob  Weaver,  Abeloid  Edwards,  Benjamin 
Ryston,   John   Richardson,   Samuel  Miller,    William  Carr,   Frederick 

Weaver,  William  Morgan,  John  Miller,  Harman  Arrants,  George , 

Jacob   Boy,   Thomas  Price,   Joseph  Cole,    Jr.,    Elisha  Cole,   William 
Cross  and  Aquilla  Cross  and  make  their  reports  to  the  next  court. 


Ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  following  Jury  of  men  view  and  lay 
off  a  great  road  from  Sullivan  Court  house  to  John  Keywoods  Mill  the 
nearest  and  best  way,  viz:  James  Brigham,  John  Burk,  blacksmith, 
John  Fagan,  Stephen  Taylor,  William  Gifford,  Jos.  Rhea,  Andrew 
Crockett,  Rob.  Rutledge,  Jonathan  Owens,  William  Delaney,  John 
Pemberton,  John  Sharpe,  Robert  Cowan,  David  Hughes,  John  Richard- 
son and  John  Keywood,  Sr.,  and  make  their  report  to  next  court. 


Ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  following  Jury  of  men  view  and 
lay  off  a  great  road  the  nearest  and  best  way  from  Shoats  ford  on 
Holston  River  to  the  Virginia  line  to  wit:     John  Beeler,  Joseph  Beeler, 

Edmund  Warren,   George  ,   William  Carr,   Benjamin   Ryston, 

Will  Rhea,  Julian  Hacker,  Sr.,  Jacob  Thomas,  Will  Hedrick,  Geo. 
Beeler,  David  Weeb,  Leonard  Hart,  Jonathan  Webb,  Benjamin  Webb, 
Sr.,  Mathias  Little  Nighdeon,  Nathan  Lewis,  George  Little,  Thos. 
Price,  Elisha  Cole,  and  make  their  report  to  next  Court. 


Ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  following  persons  be  appointed  to 
view  and  lay  off  a  great  road  from  Sullivan  court  house  to  Roberts  Mill 
on  the  Kentucky  road  the  nearest  and  best  way,  to  wit,  John  Tigan, 

John  Burk,  Jesse  Cox, Kee,  Timothy  Acuff,  Abraham  Brittain, 

Solomon  Jones,  Samuel  Caruthers,  Sr.,  Edmund  Stephens,  Stuart  Ander- 
son, John  Bowman,  Sr.,  James  Brigham,  Stephen  Hicks,  Greenberry 
Cox,  Henry  Roberts,  John  Anderson,  Stephen  Taylor  and  make  their 
report  to  next  court. 


Ordered  by  the  Court  that  all  Roads  Southeast  of  the  road  leading 
from  Henry  Mysengales  and  Crossing  at  Shoats  ford  on  Holston  River 
to  Abingdon  in  this  County  be  discontinued.! 


IThese  "orders  of  the  court"  are  selected  from  a  scrap  of  the  county  records, 
for  1795,  in  some  way  preserved,  and  now  in  the  possession  of  George  T.  Hammer, 
Bristol. 


Travelways— Transmission  of  Messages.     227 

The  descendants  of  the  old  road  builders  laughed  at 
the  way  the  roads  were  laid  off  and  built — laughed  for 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  years,  but  kept  on  traveling 
over  the  same  rough  thoroughfares. 

These  roads  were  not  established  with  a  consideration 
for  grade  altogether.  When  the  court  order  read,  "the 
nearest  and  best  way,"  it  meant  the  safest  way.  They 
went  over  the  hills  because  on  the  backbone  of  these  hills 
was  the  best  road-bed,  the  best  drainage,  and  one  other 
consideration  which  we  lightly  accept,  the  greatest 
safety  from  attack  by  highwaymen  or  Indians. 

Our  ancestors  had  enough  to  do  in  removing  the  massive 
growth  from  the  thickly  timbered  land — trees  centuries 
old;  for  they  dug  through  the  dense  forests  to  get  these 
roads,  and  to  dig  a  way  around  hills  to  avoid  steep  grades 
meant  more  toil  than  was  their  portion. 

Besides  they  had  no  machinery  with  which  to  make 
stone  beds  and  the  soft  virgin  soil  was  ill-suited  for  heavy 
rolling  wagons.  The  early  travelways  of  Sullivan  followed 
the  bison  trail  or  the  Indian  trail.  When  these  were  cut 
out  and  changed  the  rumbling  wagons  rolled  them  and 
prepared  them  for  the  coming  of  the  stage-coach.  Of 
the  various  methods  of  travel  that  were  once  in  use, 
all  remain  save  one.  The  footman  still  gropes  his  way 
along  the  unfrequented  forest  paths;  the  horse  is  still 
carrying  his  burdens ;  the  old  style  ox- wagons  often  move 
about  our  busiest  streets,  but  the  stage-coach  is  gone. 
With  its  departure  went  out  the  most  romantic  period 
of  the  business  and  social  life  of  the  interior  of  the  county. 
There  was  a  splendor  attached  to  the  stage  life  that 
showed  itself  in  the  farms  and  homes  and  villages  along 
the  route.  Houses  took  on  a  new  dress  and  the  farms 
fronting  on  the  stage-roads  were  kept  in  better  condition. 
Whitewashed,  or  often  painted  plank  fences  bordered 
the  stage-road;  ornamental  frames,  flower  beds  and  well 
kept  lawns  added  to  the  rustic  beauty — all  these  things 
were  offered  for  the  approbation  of  the  stage  passenger 


228  Historic  Sullivan. 

or  to  shield  the  owner  from  unfavorable  comment  or 
comparison. 

There  was  one  main  stage-route  to  Blountville  from 
Abingdon.  From  Blountville  there  were  three  others — one 
going  west  by  way  of  Kingsport  and  Rogersville;  another 
branching  off  at  the  cemetery  and  going  by  way 
of  Jonesboro,  and  the  third  going  into  Virginia 
by  way  of  Estillville  (now  Gate  City).  The  most  im- 
portant route  was  by  way  of  Kingsport.  Leaving 
Abingdon  there  were  four  relays  on  this  route;  the  first  at 
King's  meadows,  the  second  at  Blountville,  the  third  at 
Jack  Shaver's  and  the  fourth  at  Kingsport.  The  horses 
were  changed  at  these  points,  which  were  about  ten  miles 
apart.  The  run  of  a  driver  was  about  twenty-five  miles — 
the  driver  from  Abingdon  laid  off  at  Blountville;  another 
one,  taking  the  stage  there,  went  as  far  as  Jonesboro. 
The  run  from  Abingdon  to  Blountville  required  three 
and  one-half  hours  and  if  nothing  very  serious  occurred 
the  stage-coach  arrived  nearer  on  scheduled  time  than 
do  the  railway  trains  of  today. 

The  baggage  on  the  stage-coach  was  carried  behind 
in  a  leather  covered  rack,  called  a  boot.  The  United 
States  mail  was  carried  under  the  seat  of  the  driver. 

A  coach  would  accommodate  nine  passengers  and 
when  there  were  more  they  rode  on  top.  The  driver  was 
rarely  without  company  as  many  preferred  an  outside 
seat,  especially  in  good  weather. 

If  a  breakdown  occurred  of  such  a  nature  that  it  could 
not  be  repaired  with  the  tools  carried  along  for  the  purpose 
the  best  conveyance  that  could  be  secured  in  the  neigh- 
borhood transferred  the  passengers  to  the  next  stopping 
place.  Blountville  had  an  extensive  repair-shop  where 
there  were  workmen  skilled  enough  to  build  a  vehicle 
from  tire  to  top.  Long  used  to  handling  the  lines  the 
drivers  became  very  deft. 


Travelways — Transmission  of  Messages.     229 

doss  leedy's  drive. 

Doss  Leedy,  an  old  time  driver,  offered  to  bet  ten 
dollars  he  could  turn  a  four-horse  coach  on  a  silver  dollar 
without  allowing  the  wheel  to  slip  off  the  coin. 

The  entrance  of  a  stage  into  Blountville  was  spectacular. 
The  town  was  then  in  the  heyday  of  its  business  and  social 
life.  With  no  nearer  competitor  than  fourteen  miles, 
it  had  gathered  into  its  circle  some  of  the  most  exclusive 
and  proudest  names  of  the  county's  population. 

The  driver,  as  the  stage  approached  the  town,  an- 
nounced his  coming  with  a  long  horn  and  each  driver  had 
his  peculiar  alarum,  much  like  locomotive  engineers 
have  today.  This  was  repeated  several  times  before 
coming  to  a  stop.  It  was  a  cue  to  the  horses  who  seemed 
to  understand  that  the  master  of  the  lines  would  now 
make  a  wild  dash  through  the  streets.  With  a  long  sweep 
of  his  whip,  cracked  high  above  the  horses  heads — never 
intended  to  touch  them — he  came  on  at  full  speed,  leaning 
back,  his  arms  stretched  their  length,  his  body  swaying 
from  side  to  side  with  the  motion  of  the  coach,  his  hat 
brim  turned  up — the  very  summit  of  exciting  life  and 
hurling  motion.  Reaching  the  end  of  his  journey  he 
would  toss  his  lines  to  a  waiting  groom  and  alight, 
sure  of  being  surrounded  by  eager  spectators,  some  in 
admiring  curiosity,  some  inquiring  the  news,  while  the 
wondering  small  boy  looked  upon  him  as  a  living  model 
of  the  heroes  of  his  fiction  world,  and  to  these  boys  he  often 
recounted  ' 'hair-breadth  escapes  in  the  imminent  deadly 
breach." 

While  there  was  no  telegraph  or  telephone  by  which 
the  hotel  keeper  could  be  informed,  he  had  a  strange  fore- 
knowledge of  the  number  of  passengers  that  would  want 
meals — and  rarely  miscalculated. 

Among  the  old  stage  drivers  were  Doss  and  James 
Leedy,  John  Curry,  Bill  Bolinger,  Bill  Jenkins,  Pete  Mon- 
tague and Clark. 


230  Historic  Sullivan, 

river  traffic. 

Before  the  building  of  the  railroads  there  was  much 
shipping  by  boats.  Boat-yards  were  strung  along  the 
river  fronts  through  the  county,  the  principal  one  being 
at  Kingsport  where  there  were  also  docks.  When  the 
timber  suitable  for  gunwales  became  exhausted  there  or 
was  too  far  inland  for  convenience  in  handling,  contracts 
were  made  with  builders  to  put  boats  together  further  up 
the  river  and  start  them  down  empty  at  the  beginning 
of  the  tide,  and  by  the  time  they  were  loaded  at  Kingsport 
the  river  was  navigable  and  they  could  continue  their 
journey. 

These  vessels  were  of  the  flat-boat  pattern,  with  a  small 
cabin.  They  were  sixty  to  seventy  feet  long  and  sixteen 
to  eighteen  feet  wide,  and  about  five  men  were  required  to 
handle  them.  Each  boat  usually  carried  from  one 
thousand  to  fourteen  hundred  bushels  of  grain.  Large 
quantities  of  iron,  salt  and  meat  were  also  shipped.  No 
accommodations  or  cabins  were  to  be  had  for  passengers 
except  in  special  cases,  as  the  boats  made  no  return  trips. 
Arriving  at  their  destination  and  the  cargo  being  disposed 
of  the  vessels  were  sold  for  whatever  they  would  bring — 
from  three  to  five  dollars — the  owner  being  at  the  mercy 
of  the  buyer. 

Boating  was  begun  with  the  spring  tides  and  continued 
as  long  as  the  river  was  flush. 

Among  the  old  boatmen  on  the  Holston  were  Jack  Mil- 
horn,  W.  K.  Cross,  Tom  Craft,  Abraham  Sanders,  John 
R.  Spurgeon,  E.  S.  Millard,  Hezekiah  Lewis,  Jacob  Harkle- 
road,  John  Lindamood,  James  Webb  and  John  McCrary. 
The  boatmen  sometimes  returned  home  from  a  trading 
trip  by  stage;  frequently  they  would  buy  horses  and  ride 
back,  but  the  return  journey  was  more  often  made  on  foot. 
Hezekiah  Lewis,  after  taking  his  breakfast  in  Knoxville  one 
day,  would  breakfast  at  his  home  in  Kingsport  the  next 
morning,  making  the  trip  on  foot  in  twenty-four  hours. 


Travelways — Transmission  of  Messages.     231 

steamboats. 

In  the  year  1850,  when  the  building  of  the  East  Ten- 
nessee, Virginia  and  Georgia  railroad  was  contemplated, 
some  of  the  promoters — Thomas  A.  R.  Nelson,  Dr.  Cun- 
ningham and  others  wanted  the  road  to  go  the  present 
route,  by  Jonesboro.  The  natural  route  was  by  Kings- 
port.  The  bison  had  gone  that  way;  the  Indian  had  his 
trading  and  war  paths  there,  and  the  white  man  followed. 
Those  interested  in  the  other  route  approached  the  people 
of  Kingsport  with  a  proposition.  They  said  to  Netherland 
and  O'Brien  and  Pierce  and  Ross,  "You  have  a  river  for 
your  transportation,  give  us  the  railroad  and  we  will  see 
that  you  get  an  appropriation  for  cleaning  out  a  channel 
in  the  Holston  that  will  make  it  navigable  for  steamboats."2 
They  even  went  so  far  as  to  send  two  steambots  up  there 
to  prove  the  feasibility  of  the  plan.  The  "Mary  Mc- 
Kinney"  and  "Casandra"  puffed  into  port.  These  were 
high-sounding  names  and  were  received  with  some  cere- 
mony and  still  more  curiosity.  The  former  was  named 
for  a  member  of  one  of  the  leading  families  of  Hawkins 
county.  The  boats  came  in  on  a  tide  and  as  they  had  not 
counted  upon  the  rapid  ebb  of  this  mountain  river,  the 
receding  water  left  the  boats  grounded  on  a  sand-bar. 

The  event  was  exciting  and  served  the  object  of  the 
promoters'  efforts.  The  Netherland  hotel  in  the  enthu- 
siasm of  the  prospect  painted  a  few  more  words  on  its 
sign — "Head  of  Steamboat  Navigation  on  the  Tennessee 
River."  The  railroad  went  by  Jonesboro,  but  the  river 
appropriation  never  went  anywhere. 

During  the  building  of  the  two  roads,  making  the  Vir- 
ginia and  Tennessee  air  line,  there  was,  for  a  while, 
increased  stage  travel,  in  transferring  from  one  tempo- 
rary terminus  to  the  other. 


2Another  version  is  that  the  engineers  were   bribed    to    make   a   false    report 
as  to  the  grades  on  both  routes. 


232  Historic  Sullivan. 

The  completion3  of  the  two  railroads  in  1856-7  pushed 
the  stage  further  west  and  the  boat's  occupation  was  gone.4 
The  abandonment  and  crippling  of  these  two  means  of 
travel  and  transportation  crushed  for  a  time  the  social 
activity  of  the  interior  of  the  county.  The  absence  of  the 
busy  scenes — bustle  and  rumble  of  heavy  wheels  and 
splash  of  oars  created  a  lonesomeness  and  a  longing  to  leave 
the  country  for  the  throngs  that  gathered  in  the  cities. 

Kingsport  surrendered.  It  warped.  So  sleepful  did 
it 'j  become  that  it  reverted  to  the  original  owner — the 
unsought  complacency  of  a  quiet  country  life.  The 
citizens  planted  corn  patches  where  Oconostoto  avenue 
might  have  gone.  They  did  not  seem  to  realize  that  the 
town  was  in  the  cycle  of  success  and  its  turn  must  come. 

It  did  come  but  it  took  fifty  years  to  complete  the 
orbit — in  the  completion  of  the  Clinchfield  road  in  1908. 

The  bonding  and  building  of  railroads — The  South 
Atlantic  and  Ohio  in  1890  and  the  Holston  Valley  in  1891, 
together  with  the  main  trunk  lines — discouraged  the 
building  of  county  dirt  roads  or  even  the  improvement 
of  them.  The  stage  company  had  done  much  to  keep  their 
routes  in  good  repair.  The  bond  issue  for  the  railroad  had 
given  trouble  and  the  issuance  of  county  road  bonds 
seemed  remote.  But  at  no  time  since  the  act  of  John 
Adair  have  the  people  of  Sullivan  County  feared  the 
responsibility  of  an  appropriation.  They  dreaded  the 
responsibility  of  misappropriation ;  they  were  cautious. 

In  1899  Hal  H.  Haynes,  assisted  by  A.  C.  Keebler  and 
J.  H.  Burrow,  prepared  a  bill,5  which  was  passed  by  the 


3When  the  two  roads  met  in  Bristol  it  was  found  that  the  grade  of  the  Tennessee 
division  was  nearly  two  feet  lower  than  the  grade  of  the  Virginia  division. 

When  the  first  trains  were  run  over  the  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  and  Georgia 
Railroad,  the  engines  drawing  them  were  named  instead  of  numbered, 
i  i  The  first — a  work-train,  laying  track — was  pulled  by  the  engine  "Washington," 
Capt.  Underwood,  engineer.  The  first  passenger  train  was  pulled  by  the  "Greene- 
ville,"  Henry  Salts,  engineer  and  Dr.  John  P.  Hammer,  conductor.  Other  engines 
used  at  the  time  were  "Bristol,"  "Knoxville,"  "Jefferson"  and  "Tracklayer." 

40ne  other  attempt  was  made  at  steam  navigation  on  the  Holston.     Maj. 
Henry  Eakin,  of  Knoxville,  ran  a  boat  six  miles  above  Rogersville. 

5See  Acts  of  1899,  Chapter  262,  Page  598. 


Travelways— Transmission  of  Messages.     233 

legislature,  providing  for  the  issuance  of  county  road  bonds 
to  the  extent  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The 
newspapers  and  their  county  correspondents  did  much 
to  encourage  the  appropriation.  In  order  to  convince 
the  county  court  a  train  was  chartered  by  Hal.  H.  Haynes, 
John  I.  Cox  and  John  H.  Caldwell  and  the  members  were 
invited  to  go  to  Hamblen  county  and  examine  the  new 
road  construction. 

Several  accepted  the  invitation  and,  from  Morristown, 
vehicles  carried  the  party  over  the  roads.  Everyone 
was  pleased  with  what  they  saw,  but  when  the  court 
met  to  consider  the  question  it  was  lost  by  twenty  votes. 

In  1907  the  act  of  1899  was  amended  so  as  to  submit 
the  question  to  a  vote  of  the  people.6  In  1908  the  county 
voted  upon  it  and  Bristol's  vote  gave  a  safe  majority 
for  the  bond  issue. 

The  court  appointed  a  committee— John  H.  Caldwell, 
chairman,  John  W.  Swadley,  secretary,  and  John  G. 
Preston.  This  committee  won  the  favor  of  the  public 
and  made  a  record  for  financiering  by  selling  the  county 
bonds  at  a  premium  of  five  thousand,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars.  The  first  good  road  building  began  west  of 
Bristol,  on  the  main  road  through  the  county.  When 
an  additional  appropriation  of  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars  was  asked  for,  the  motion  carried.  The  same  com- 
mittee was  appointed  for  the  handling  of  this  appropria- 
tion, with  an  additional  committee  composed  of  John  M. 
Fain,  Joseph  H.  Burrow,  Fred  S.  Thomas,  James  C. 
Brown  and  James  S.  Hawk,  the  duties  of  these  men  being 
only  advisory — to  suggest  routes. 

transmission  of  messages. 

The  improvement  of  travelways  and  the  increased 
speed  of  travel    in  conveyance  quickened    the  trans- 


6See  Acts  of  1907,  Chapter  336,  Page  1134. 


234  Historic  Sullivan. 

mission  of  messages.  The  system  of  sending  letters 
and  other  messages  in  the  early  days  was  unsatisfactory 
— they  were  sent  by  hand  and  the  writer  was  careful  to 
note  on  the  corner  of  the  fold  by  whose  hand — sometimes 
in  words  of  courteous  recognition.  Isaac  Shelby  writing 
from  Point  Pleasant  to  his  uncle  directed — 

"To  Mr.  John  Shelby,  Holstons  River,  Fincastle 
county,  favr.  by  Mr.    Benja.    Gray." 

This  was  before  the  use  of  envelopes  and  the 
letters  were  folded  so  as  to  make  a  packet  then  a  seal 
of  wax  was  placed  upon  it  to  secure  the  contents.  Even 
after  the  government  took  charge  of  the  postal  system 
there  were  no  envelopes  and  stamps  in  use  until  1847. 

In  1802  the  post-office  at  Blountville  became  very  im- 
portant as  a  distributing  point — one  of  the  most  import- 
ant in  the  South.  This  was  due  to  John  Rhea's  influence 
— he  later  becoming  chairman  of  post-roads  and  post- 
offices.  James  Rhea,  the  post-master,  was  directed  to 
open  all  packets  consigned  to  "Virginia  State,  Tennessee 
State,  or  Northern,  Southern,  Eastern  or  Western  (except 
Kentucky)  and  extract  and  forward  to  their  proper 
destination  any  letters  from  Virginia  or  Tennessee 
offices." 

Jonesboro  registered  a  complaint  against  this  office 
and  on  September  23,  1802,  the  following  letter  was 
received  from  the  department: 

September  23,  1802. 

John  Rhea,  Esq.,  Sullivan  Court  House,  Tenn. : 

Sir:  I  have  just  received' a  letter  from  Jonesboro,  which  states  that 
letters  from  the  northward  arrive  at  your  office  and  lie  there  one  week 
before  they  are  sent  on  to  that  office,  owing,  it  is  said,  to  there  not 
being  sufficient  time  to  distribute  the  northern  mail  before  the  depar- 
ture of  the  mail  for  Jonesboro.  There  is  no  fixed  hour  for  the  arrival 
of  the  northern  mail  at  your  office,  but  it  ought  to  be  there,  provided 
it  is  carried  regularly  in  proportion  to  t.me,  and  distributed  at  10  a. 
m.  on  Thursday,  and  the  departure  of  the  mail  by  Jonesboro  is  fixed 
at  12  o'clock  noon  the  same  day.  It  is  supposed  that  one  hour  would 
be  fully  sufficient   for  the  distribution   of  the  mails.     I   have  now 


Travelways— Transmission  of  Messages.     235 

written  to  the  contractor  requesting  him  to  deliver  the  mail  from  New 
Dublin  every  Thursday  at  10  a.m.,  and  to  wait  for  it  until  noon. 
This,  I  hope,  will  enable  you  to  always  distribute  the  mails  before 
their  departure.  A.  B. 

There  were  but  three  post-offices  in  the  county  at  this 
time — Paperville,  Blountville  and  Kingsport;  George 
Burkhart,  James  Rhea  and  John  Lynn  being  post-masters. 
These  remained  the  only  official  post-offices  in  the  county 
until  1850. 

Some  of  the  early  post-masters  received  but  little 
compensation  for  their  labors  and  many  offices  were 
conducted  for  the  convenience  of  the  community.  Dr. 
Andrew  Shell  was  post-master  at  Piney  Flats  in  1855  and 
from  October  1st  of  that  year  until  March  31,  1860 
the  receipts  were  only  twenty  dollars  and  one  cent.  He 
got  sixty  per  cent,  of  this  for  his  salary. 

In  the  early  days  government  postage  was  high.  The 
following  address  covers  a  good  deal  of  the  history  of  the 
postal  service.  It  was  written  by  Thomas  Cawood,  who 
was  then  (1840)  at  Kelley's  Ferry,  Meigs  county,  Ten- 
nessee, and  was  directed — 

"Mr  Campbell  E  Waren 

Blounville  Sullivan  County 

Kellys  Ferry  [  E   Ten 


July  13         I  18?" 


The  numerals  were  written  on  the  corner  of  the  folded 
and  sealed  sheet  and  indicated  that  the  receiver  was  to 
pay  that  much  postage  before  he  could  get  the  letter. 
It  left  Kelley's  Ferry  July  13th  and  arrived  at  Blount- 
ville August  4th,  having  been  twenty-two  days  in  transit 
Letters  then  were  accompanied  by  a  way-bill,  by  which 
the  government  checked  its  post-masters.  The  prepay- 
ment of  postage  was  made  compulsory  in  1855,  when  the 
rates  were  reduced  to  three  cents  for  every  half  ounce. 
There  have  been  man}^  innovations  from  time  to  time, 


236  Historic  Sullivan. 

and  now  it  is  one  of  the  best  regulated  public  services 
in  the  world. 

But  the  public  that  had  once  been  satisfied  with  a 
message  that  traveled  across  the  state  in  twenty-two  days 
and  later  still  in  twenty-two  hours,  demanded  more — 
and  got  the  same  messages  delivered  in  twenty-two 
seconds  by  the  telegraph  and  telephone.  The  telegraph 
followed  the  railroads.  The  first  telephone  line  in  the 
county  was  from  Bristol  to  Blountville,  organized  and 
built  for  convenience  in  consulting  with  the  county 
authorities.  This  was  in  1887  and  the  promoters  were 
John  I.  Cox,  Hal  H.  Haynes  and  John  H.  Caldwell. 

In  1889  the  East  Tennessee  Telephone  Company 
installed  a  system  here,  but  a  telephone  war  grew  out  of 
an  endeavor  to  charge  the  same  price  for  physicians' 
residence  'phones  as  was  charged  for  office  'phones. 
Out  of  this  war  grew  the  Bristol  Telephone  Company — 
J.  A.  Dickey,  president,  and  Jere  Bunting,  secretary, 
which  has  since  changed  hands.  This  line  absorbed  the 
original  line  to  Blountville. 

The  R.  F.  D.  service  was  established  in  January,  1900, 
requiring  twenty-four  carriers  and  having  nine  distribut- 
ing points.  Fourteen  offices  were  dropped  upon  the 
introduction  of  this  service. 


GEORGE   R.    McCLELLAN 


George  R.  McClellan. 

A  BIOGRAPHY. 

George  R.  McClellan  was  a  ready  soldier — the  veteran 
of  three  enlistments  in  the  army. 

He  was  born  on  Beaver  creek  in  1815 — was  brought  up 
on  a  farm  and  attended  the  best  schools  of  the  county, 
acquiring  a  good  education.  At  the  age  of  twelve  he  en- 
tered Washington  College  with  the  intention  of  completing 
his  education,  but  there  was  a  call  for  troops  to  aid  in 
the  removal  of  the  Cherokees  from  their  eastern  homes 
to  the  allotted  lands  in  Indian  Territory  and  he  enlisted. 

In  1847  there  came  another  call  for  men  and  he 
mustered  a  company  at  Blountville.  The  best  means 
of  transportation  in  those  days  was  by  water,  so  he  car- 
ried his  company  down  the  Mississippi  to  New  Orleans, 
thence  across  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  In  this  war  he  became 
colonel  of  the  Fifth  Tennessee  volunteers  and  saw  much 
hard  service,  being  in  the  battle  of  Chapultapec,  where 
so  many  were  killed  and  captured.  He  entered  Mexico 
with  the  victorious  forces  under  Gen.  Scott. 

When  this  war  was  over  he  returned  and  his  regiment 
was  honorably  discharged  at  Memphis,  July  28,  1848. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  Col.  McClellan  bore  the  distinction 
of  being  the  last  field-officer  of  the  war. 

In  1857  he  was  appointed,  with  Judge  Samuel  Milligan, 
a  commissioner  on  the  part  of  Tennessee  to  re-mark  the 
boundary  line  between  Tennessee  and  Virginia. 

In  1859  he  was  elected  state  senator,  which  office  he  was 
filling  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War. 

He  enlisted  again,  organized  the  Fourth  Tennessee 
cavalry  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Greasy  Cove.  He  was 
with  Bragg  at  Knoxville  and  with  Zollicoffer  when  that 
officer  was  killed,  rendering  valuable  service  in  restoring 
assurance  among  the  men  and  escorting  them  to  Nashville. 


238  Historic  Sullivan. 

He  then  joined  Gen.  Forrest  and  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Shiloh,  1862.  When  this  battle  was  over  he  went 
with  a  detail  of  soldiers  to  gather  up  his  wounded  men. 
Coming  across  Capt.  Gage  of  the  Fifteenth  Mississippi,  in  a 
dying  condition,  he  gave  orders:  "take  this  man  over  the 
hill  and  have  him  cared  for  by  my  surgeons."  Upon 
examination  it  was  found  that  a  ball  had  struck  a  silk 
handkerchief  which  the  captain  carried  in  his  pocket  and 
had  carried  it  entirely  through  one  lung.     Surgeons  W.  T. 

Delaney  and Cate  pulled  out  the  handkerchief, 

bringing  the  ball  with  it,  and  succeeded  in  saving  his 
life. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  retired  to  his  farm,  east  of 
Blountville,  broken  in  spirit  and  fortune. 

A  few  years  later  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the 
county  court  and  was  afterward  elected  chairman  of 
the  court,  occupying  the  office  a  number  of  years. 

He  was  enthusiastic  over  good  roads  and  when  state 
senator  offered  his  influence  in  getting  convict  labor  to 
build  them.  The  suggestion  resulted  in  a  newspaper  con- 
troversy between  him  and  Rev.  William  Robeson,  the 
latter  opposing  the  use  of  convicts  on  grounds  that  made 
the  movement  unpopular,  and  it  was  therefore  abandoned. 

Gov.  Marks  appointed  him  one  of  the  railroad  commis- 
sioners of  the  state.  During  Cleveland's  first  adminis- 
tration he  was  appointed  deputy  internal  revenue 
collector. 

While  Col.  McClellan  cannot  be  ranked  in  the  list 
of  our  greatest  soldiers,  he  was  a  willing  one.  Whenever 
the  country  called  for  troops  he  answered,    "here." 

No  man  served  longer  or  in  more  capacities  in  the 
public  life  of  the  county  than  he.  He  was  born  and 
reared — he  lived  and  died  a  Sullivan  County  man. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  BOUNDARY  LINE. 

When  Frye  and  Jefferson  undertook  to  survey  the  line 
between  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  they  abruptly 
ended  their  work  at  a  place  called  Steep  Rock  in  Johnson 
county.  This  sudden  termination  entailed  litigation 
and  other  troubles  upon  the  generations  that  followed. 
The  line  was  run  about  1749  and  the  location  of  the  end 
has  not  been  found. 

Joshua  Frye  and  Peter  Jefferson  were  the  commissioners 
on  the  part  of  Virginia,  while  Daniel  Weldon  and  William 
Churton  were  the  commissioners  on  the  part  of  North 
Carolina. 

There  had  been  many  minor  difficulties  over  the  line, 
but  the  first  acute  controversy  grew  out  of  a  contested 
election  for  representatives  of  Washington  county, 
Virginia  between  Anthony  Bledsoe,  William  Cocke, 
Arthur  Campbell  and  William  Edmiston,  the  two  latter 
claiming  that  Bledsoe  and  Cocke  had  secured  their  election 
through  votes  of  citizens  of  North  Carolina.  The  con- 
test was  not  successful,  however,  as  Virginia  was  declared 
to  extend  as  far  down  as  Long  Island,  now  Kingsport. 

A  year  later  Bledsoe  and  Campbell  were  elected  and 
the  former  offered  and  had  passed  a  bill  providing  for 
the  extension  of  the  line  between  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina. 

William  Cocke,  the  many  sided  man,  although  he  had 
previously  been  elected  to  the  Virginia  legislature 
and  was  supposedly  a  Virginian,  now  undertook  to 
dispute  with  the  Virginia  tax  collector,  claiming  his  citi- 
zenship in  North  Carolina. 

In  1779  the  legislature  of  North  Carolina  passed  an 
act  similiar  to  that  of  Virginia  and  appointed  as  her 
commissioners  Oroondates  Davis,  John  Williams,  James 


240  Historic  Sullivan. 

Kerr,  William  Baily  Smith  and  Richard  Henderson, 
or  any  three  of  them,  while  Virginia  appointed  Thomas 
Walker  and  Daniel  Smith  as  her  representatives. 

Thomas  Sharp  and  Anthony  Bledsoe,  with  a  company 
of  militia,  acted  as  escort  to  the  commissioners,  who  met 
as  Steep  Rock  in  the  summer  of  1779,  and  entered  upon 
their  duties. 

Steep  Rock,  where  Frye  and  Jefferson  ended  their 
survey,  owing  to  the  destruction  of  the  timber,  obliterating 
the  markings,1  could  not  be  located. 

After  much  calculation,  assisted  by  astronomical 
observation,  in  order  to  get  the  sun's  meridian,  they 
began  the  line,  which  they  extended  forty-five  miles  to 
Carter's  valley.  Here  the  commissioners  disagreed  vig- 
orously, the  North  Carolina  party  protesting  that  the 
line  was  running  too  far  south  and  it  was  supposed  the 
variation  was  caused  by  some  iron  ore  influencing  the 
needle  of  their  instrument.  It  was  suggested  by  the 
Virginia  commissioners  that  two  lines  be  run,  the  correct 
one  to  be  determined  later.  This  was  at  first  agreed  to, 
then  declined,  though  two  lines  were  run  to  the  Cumber- 
land mountains. 

The  "no  man's  land"  lying  between  the  Henderson 
and  Walker  lines  was  the  cause  of  much  trouble.  Those 
people  occupying  it  declined  to  do  military  duty  or  pay 
taxes  to  either  state.  This  tract  of  land  was  about  two 
miles  in  width. 

When  North  Carolina  ceded  her  land  to  the  United 
States  and  the  territorial  government  was  established, 
the  officers,  William  Blount  and  Col.  Gilbert  Christian, 
the  county  lieutenant,  insisted  upon  the  Henderson  line 
as  their  boundary. 

After  the  territory  became  the  State  of  Tennessee  the 
Virginia  legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing  the  appoint- 
ment of  three  commissioners  to  meet  a  corresponding 

1"  Virginia  vs.  Tennessee,"  1891. 


The  Boundary  Line.  241 

number  from  Tennessee  and  settle  the  boundary  line. 
The  same  was  concurred  in  by  the  latter  state  in  1801 
and  their  commissioners  were  Moses  Fisk,  Gen.  John 
Sevier  and  Gen.  George  Rutledge,  while  Virginia  was 
represented  by  Gen.  Joseph  Martin,  Creed  Taylor  and 
Peter  Johnson. 

This  commission  decided  to  run  a  parallel  line  equi- 
distant from  the  Henderson  and  Walker  lines.  Brice 
Martin,  son  of  Gen.  Joseph  Martin,  and  Nat  B.  Markland 
were  the  surveyors.  The  result  of  this  survey  was  agreed 
upon  by  both  states,  but  by  the  year  1856  the  line  had, 
"by  lapse  of  time,  the  improvement  of  the  country, 
natural  waste  and  destruction  and  other  causes,  become 
indistinct,  uncertain  and  to  some  extent  unknown,  so 
that  many  inconveniences  and  difficulties  occur  between 
the  citizens  of  the  respective  states  and  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  government  of  those  tsates." 

The  two  states  thereupon  agreed  to  appoint  two 
commissioners  each  to  represent  them  in  a  re-survey  of 
the  line — Tennessee  appointing  Col.  George  R.  McClellan 
and  Samuel  Milligan — Virginia  appointing  Leonidas 
Baugh  and  James  C.  Black.  The  line  was  known  as  the 
Baugh  and  Black  line.  A  clause  in  the  report  of  the 
commissioners  to  Gov.  Isham  G.  Harris,  of  Tennessee, 
read:  "We  began  the  experimental  work  at  the  town  of 
Bristol,  a  small  village  situated  on  the  compromise  line 
of  1802,  at  a  point  where  there  was  no  controversy2 
as  to  the  locality  of  the  line,  and  our  first  observation  at 
that  point  showed  the  latitude  to  be  36°  36'." 

Accompanying  these  commissioners  were  Prof.  Revel 
Keith,  an  experienced  astronomer,  and  Charles  S.  Williams, 
a  practical  engineer,  with  an  efficient  field  party. 


2It  has  been  charged,  as  an  explanation  of  the  offset  in  the  line  between  Bristol 
and  Step  Rock,  that  the  commissioners  at  that  point  visited  a  still-house  and  instead 
of  going  back  to  where  they  left  off,  continued  the  survey  from  the  still-house. 
But  this  explanation,  which  has  been  applied  to  other  state  line  surveys,  is  too 
ridiculous  to  be  considered  and  is  only  mentioned  here  because  it  is  retold  each 
year. 


242  Historic  Sullivan. 

The  General  Assembly  of  Virginia  did  not  approve  of 
this  survey  and  in  1860  made  provisions  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  another  set  of  commissioners,  asking  Tennessee 
to  do  the  same.  The  Civil  War  prevented  the  carrying 
out  of  these  plans,  but  in  1871-2  Tennessee  appointed 
another  commission,  which,  after  investigating,  defended 
the  compromise  line  of  1802. 

On  July  5,  1881,  the  mayor  and  council  of  Bristol, 
Tennessee— J.  A.  Dickey,  mayor,  and  N.  B.  Hayes, 
G.  C.  Pile,  John  Slack,  A.  D.  Reynolds,  J.  D.  Thomas, 
N.  M.  Taylor  and  W.  T.  Sullivan  passed  a  resolution, 
conceding  the  middle  of  Main  street  to  be  the  dividing 
line. 

The  mayor  and  council  of  Goodson,  Virginia — J.  F. 
Terry,  mayor,  and  Z.  L.  Burson,  J.  S.  Good,  W.  W. 
James,  S.  L.  Saul  and  E.  H.  Seneker  passed  the  same  reso- 
lution. 

In  1886  Virginia  made  another  effort  to  get  a  survey, 
which  Tennessee  would  not  accede  to,  claiming  the 
compromise  line  was  satisfactory.  However,  the  uncer- 
tainty of  the  inhabitants  as  to  which  state  they  owed 
allegiance— the  increase  of  land  values — the  building  of 
thriving  towns,  all  operated  to  bring  about  a  settlement 
of  the  state-line  question  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States. 

As  the  town  of  Bristol  was  no  longer  a  little  village 
a  serious  problem  had  to  be  solved. 

A  cherry  tree  and  a  sycamore  tree  stood  for  first  honors. 
The  cherry  tree3  stood  as  a  marker  near  the  corner  of  Front 
street,  within  the  pavement  line,  and  the  sycamore, 
which  some  claimed  to  be  the  state-line  tree,  stood  in  the 
middle  of  Main  street,  between  Eighth  street  and  the 
alley  leading  to  the  car  barn.  The  post-office  came  in 
for  its  share  of  wrangling.  The  first  post-office  established, 


3This  cherry  tree  was  cut  down  about  1853  and  the  lumber  secured  from 
it  made  into  souvenir  furniture  which  is  still  in  the  families  of  John  C.  Anderson 
and  John  H.  Caldwell. 


The  Boundary  Line.  243 

after  the  town  was  organized,  was  on  the  Tennessee  side, 
Joseph  R.  Anderson  being  post-master.  It  later  drifted 
to  the  Virginia  side.  Not  being  considered  of  enough 
importance  in  the  early  days  to  be  worth  a  dispute, 
it  made  little  difference  where  it  was  located.  During 
the  administration  of  Andrew  Johnson  the  office  was 
ordered  returned  to  Tennessee,  E.  D.  Rader  being  ap- 
pointed post-master.  Since  that  day  it  has  been  consid- 
ered a  Tennessee  appointment,  the  building  remaining 
on  that  side.4 

On  account  of  the  prominence  and  convenience  of  its 
location  the  Tennessee  side  of  Bristol,  where  the  marriage 
laws  are  less  stringent,  became  a  Gretna  Green  for  love- 
linked  couples  from  Virginia  and  West  Virginia  who  fell 
under  the  ban  of  age  limit  or  parental  objection.  Rev. 
A.  H.  Burroughs,  who  took  charge  of  the  old  Nickles 
House,  was  an  accommodating  annex  to  his  hotel,  which 
soon  prospered  as  a  widely  advertised  refuge  for  run- 
aways. These  couples,  fleeing  from  the  wrath  that  fre- 
quently followed  on  the  next  train,  found  this  conven- 
ient ally,  with  a  lantern,  awaiting  them  at  the  depot. 
The  number  of  couples  he  has  joined  together  reached,  at 


Bristol,  Tenn.,  March  23.  1909. 
401iver  J.  Taylor,  Esq., 
Bristol,  Tenn. 
Dear  Sir: 

In  response  to  your  enquiry  as  to  any  facts  that  I  may  remember  relating  to 
the  establishment  of  the  postoffice  in  Bristol,  in  the  years  immediately  following 
the  Civil  War,  I  would  say: 

That  in  1S65,  during  the  reconstruction  era,  a  Mr.  W.  E.  Cunningham,  of 
Greene  county,  Tennessee,  was  appointed  as  postmaster  in  Bristol,  with  Rev.  James 
K.  Hancher,  now  deceased,  as  assistant. 

'    TEeylocated  the  office  on  the  Virginia  side  of  Main  (now  State)  street  in  a  small 
one-story  frame  building,  at  or  near  the  present  site  of  T.  C.  Kain's  building. 

In  the  year  1867,  my  father,  the  late  E.  D.  Rader,  was  appointed  to  the  position 
by  President  Johnson.  My  father  was  notified  by  the  Postoffice  Department, 
and  by  President  Johnson  personally;  that  as  the  position  was  a  Tennessee  appoint- 
ment, he  must  make  his  official  bond  in  Tennessee  and  establish  the  office  in  that 

This  was  the  sole  cause  of  its  removal.  Personally,  my  father  much  preferred 
that  the  location  remain  where  it  was  as  the  building  then  occupied  was  in  every 
way  more  eligible  and  commodious  than  any  place  that  he  could  secure  in  Tennessee. 
The  equipment  and  supplies  of  the  office  were  principally  removed  at  night— 
not  by  stealth,  as  has  been  insinuated,  but  from  a  desire  not  to  interfere  with  the 
operations  of  the  office  during  the  business  hours  of  the  day. 

Respectfully, 

James  P.  Rader. 


244  Historic  Sullivan. 

the  beginning  of  1909,  a  tew  more  than  two  thousand, 
nine  hundred — nearly  six  thousand  people. 

For  a  while  criminals  found  the  town  a  sale  temporary 
retreat.  If  a  crime  was  committed  on  one  side  of  town 
the  offender  could  step  across  to  the  other  side,  tarry  a 
while,  and  then  get  away  before  requisiton  papers  could 
be  secured. 

Policemen  were  taunted  and  abused  by  some  victims 
of  arrest,  who,  being  released,  would  take  a  stand  on  the 
opposite  side — out  of  the  officers'  jurisdiction.  These 
deficiencies  were  finally  bridged  with  a  fugitive  law, 
making  it  lawful  to  seize  at  once  any  culprit,  on  either 
side,  for  offences  committed  against  either  state. 

"'THE  WATER-WORKS  WAR." 

The  most  serious  difficulty  that  arose  over  the  state- 
line  issue,  and  one  which  threatened  bloodshed,  was 
what  has  been  termed  the  "The  Water- Works  War."  In 
April,  1889,  the  Bristol-Goodson  Water  Company,  then 
just  completing  their  plant  on  the  Tennessee  side,  desired 
to  extend  their  water-mains  to  the  Virginia  side.  This 
evoked  a  loud  protest  from  the  Virginia  authorities 
and  public.  Sam  L.  King,  president  and  principal  owner 
of  the  water  company,  ordered  his  workmen  to  extend 
a  pipe  to  Everett's  restaurant,  located  near  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Front  streets.  No  sooner  had  the  workmen 
reached  the  disputed  territory  than  officers  arrested  them 
and  they  were  fined  for  trespass.  As  a  further  test  the 
president  himself  stepped  into  the  ditch  and  began  digging, 
when  he  was  arrested  by  officer  James  Cox — taken  to 
jail  and  afterwards  fined.  The  Goodson  council  issued 
an  injunction,  restraining  the  water  company  from  work- 
ing beyond  the  middle  of  Main  street.  This  injunction 
was  respected.  The  Goodson  authorities  had  engaged 
some  of  the  leading  lawyers  on  the  Tennessee  side  as 
council- N.  M.  Taylor,  C.  J.  St.  John,  Sr.,  and  W.  D. 
Haynes. 


The  Boundary  Line.  245 

When  the  Bristol-Goodson  Water  Company  desisted 
in  their  work  the  Goodson  council  ordered  work  to  begin 
on  a  line  of  pipe  down  Main  street.  They  had  a  large 
force  of  men  and  made  considerable  speed.  King  appealed 
to  Gov.  Taylor  of  Tennessee  to  prevent  them  from  tres- 
passing, claiming  that  the  agreement  between  the  two 
councils  as  to  the  location  of  the  line  had  never  been 
approved  by  the  legislature  of  either  state.  The  governor 
in  answer  referred  him  to  his  legal  advisers,  who  were 
also  representing  the  city  of  Goodson.  Warrants  were 
issued  for  E.  H.  Seneker,  acting  mayor — in  the  absence 
of  Mayor  Fanning  Miles— and  all  his  councilmen. 

The  matter  being  laid  before  Judge  John  P.  Smith, 
chancellor  of  the  first  Tennessee  division,  an  injunction 
was  issued,  restraining  the  Virginia  authorities.  N.  M. 
Taylor  withdrew  from  the  case. 

Sheriff  R.  S.  Cartwright,  with  his  deputies,  was  placed 
in  charge.  Sheriff  Hughes,  with  his  deputies,  hastened 
to  the  scene  to  protect  the  interests  of  Washington  county 
and  the  State  of  Virginia. 

Gov.  Taylor  being  notified  of  the  injunction,  imme- 
diately wired,  "The  laws  of  Tennessee  must  be  upheld." 

Cartwright  hurried  his  deputies  through  Sullivan 
County  and  summoned  a  posse  comitatus.  Several 
hundred  responded.  They  came  with  all  kinds  of 
weapons,  as  determined  as  their  forefathers  were,  when 
called  to  defend  their  country. 

King's  forces  seized  the  armory  of  the  A.  D.  R.  Rifles 
and  appropriated  all  the  guns.  The  hardware  stores 
found  eager  buyers  for  all  the  weapons  in  stock. 

On  account  of  King's  life  having  been  threatened, 
Sheriff  Cartwright  made  him  a  deputy  sheriff  so  that  he 
could  go  armed,  to  protect  himself. 

The  Sullivan  County  forces  rendezvoused  on  Alabama 
street— they  marched  out  Fifth  street  to  Main  and 
lined  up  and  down  the  street,  facing  the  ditch  on  the  Vir- 
ginia side.     The   workmen   in   this  ditch  were  armed, 


246  Historic  Sullivan. 

as  were  the  line  of  deputies  put  there  to  defend  them. 

Sheriff  Cartwright,  with  a  warrant  for  James  Cox, 
stepped  over  to  serve  it,  when  Cox,  in  his  effort  to  elude 
that  officer,  caught  his  loot  on  a  water  pipe  and  fell,  with 
the  sheriff  on  top  of  him. 

Charles  Worley  came  to  Cox's  rescue,  when  H.  C.  Cald- 
well, Chief-of-Police  of  Bristol,  and  Tip  Powell,  a  deputy, 
rushed  to  Cartwright 's  assistance.  It  became  a  general 
scuffle  and  the  tenseness  of  the  scene  was  such  that, 
had  a  cap  exploded,  it  would  have  been  followed  by  ?  fusil- 
ade  of  bullets,  for  the  guns  were  not  loaded  with  blanks 
that  day. 

Officer  Worley,  who  had  not  taken  the  situation  so 
seriously  as  had  some  of  the  others,  said  to  Caldwell, 
"Oh,  let's  get  out  of  this,"  and  the  two  men  got  up  and 
walked  off  together. 

Mayor  Seneker,  acting  under  seasonable  advice,  with- 
drew his  workmen  from  the  ditch  and  placed  them  in 
another  part  of  the  town.  Influential  citizens  addressed 
the  assembling  crowds  and  urged  peace.  After  much 
persuasion  the  leaders  agreed  to  settle  the  matter  in 
court,  and  so  the  friction  between  the  two  states,  that 
had  threatened  a  bloody  conflict,  was  tempered  by  the 
prospect  of  an  amicable  adjustment. 

In  1890  the  state-line  controversy  came  up  before  the 
United  States  Supreme  Court.  The  state  of  Virginia 
was  represented  by  Rufus  A.  Ayers  and  William  F.  Rhea — 
Tennessee  by  A.  S.  Colyer,  Abram  L.  Demoss,  N.  M.  Taylor 
Thomas  Curtin,  Hal  H.  Haynes,  C.  J.  St.  John,  Sr.,  and 
W.  D.  Haynes.  Rhea  for  Virginia,  and  Curtin  for  Tenn- 
essee were  the  examiners.  Many  witnesses  were  intro- 
duced— among  them  the  sole  surviver  of  a  former  survey, 
Col.  George  R.  McClellan.  Gen.  J.  D.  Imboden  and 
Gen.  James  Greever  were  also  witnesses.  As  usual  the 
ridiculous  side  developed  in  the  testimony  of  some  of  the 
witnesses.  One  confused  the  Henderson-Walker  line 
with  the  Mason  and  Dixon  line. 


The  Boundary  Line.  247 

A  complete  history  of  the  dispute  was  submitted  and 
the  Supreme  Court  decided  in  favor  of  Tennessee — that 
the  compromise  line  of  1802  was  the  correct  line.5    I  .  JJ| 

In  April,  1900  a  commission  composed  of  William 
C.  Hodgkins,  of  Massachusetts,  James  B.  Baylor,  of  Virgin- 
ia, and  Andrew  Buchanan,  of  Tennessee,  was  named  to  re- 
trace and  re-mark  the  old  compromise  line  of-1802.  This 
was  completed  in  1901-02. 

On  January  28,  1503,  the  State  of  Tennessee  ceded  to 
Virginia  the  northern  half  of  State  street,  thus  ending  a 
long  and  tedious  controversy. 

5See  "Virginia  vs.  Tennessee"  in  Supreme  Court,  1891. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

HUNTERS  OF  THE  HOLSTON. 

The  hunters  of  the  Holston  country  were  of  two  kinds. 
The  transient  hunters — men  with  sporting  proclivities, 
who  came  in  organized  bands,  staid  for  a  little  while  and 
went  back;  and  the  resident  hunters — those  who  took  up 
their  abode  here  and  were  among  the  first  settlers.  They 
left  the  plains  because  they  loved  the  mountain  haunts 
and  the  places  least  sought  by  the  permanent  settlers, 
and  passed  the  greater  part  of  their  lives  as  hunters. 
They  traded  in  furs  and  skins,  exchanging  the  fruits  of 
their  hunt  for  meal  and  other  food  stuffs  and  wares  car- 
ried by  the  traders,  passing  through  on  their  way  to  the 
Indian  nations.  They  did  not  always  depend  upon 
the  loom  to  supply  them  with  material  for  clothing  \ 
they  wore  buckskin  trousers  and  sometimes  coats  of  the 
same  material,  though  the  latter  was  more  often  made 
of  linsey-wolsey. 

These  men,  passing  so  much  of  their  time  in  the  woods, 
became  skilled  in  the  use  of  the  rifle  and  learned  in  the 
lore  of  the  forest.  They  knew  the  wild  animal  haunts, 
their  ways  and  cries  and  calls,  and  were  adroit  in  imita- 
tion of  sounds  made  by  them — especially  that  of  wild 
turkeys,  often  enticing  them  a  long  distance.  They  were 
rugged  nature  students  and  understood  the  April  ways 
of  the  weather,  what  a  heavy  or  light  mast  meant;  they 
consulted  the  goose  bone,  observed  the  "signs"  and  the 
"light"  or  "dark"  of  the  moon — all  the  religion  they  had 
was  enlightened  superstition. 

They  wore  moccasins  of  their  own  make  and  were 
stealthy  in  pursuit  of  game.  Their  patience  was  pro- 
verbial. They  have  passed  the  whole  day  or  night  at  the 
deer  "stand"  or  when  "treeing"  bears,  wolves  or  foxes 
in  caves  and  hollow  trees.    They  wore  their  hair  long 


Hunters  of  the  Holston.  249 

to  taunt  their  Indian  foes,  not  wishing  to  withhold  privi- 
leges from  them  when  their  tuft  was  so  invitingly  offered 
for  scalping  purposes. 

These  were  the  "still"  hunters  and  nearly  always 
hunted  alone. 

There  were  also  the  "round-up"  hunters  and  the  "fire' 
hunters. 

These  two  kinds  went  in  organized  bands  and  hunted 
only  at  stated  intervals,  doing  so  more  for  protection 
against  the  ravages  01  the  wild  beasts  than  for  sport  or 
for  subsistence. 

The  hunts  were  especially  directed  against  wolves. 
Sometimes  more  than  one  hundred  men  would  engage 
in  the  round-up.  They  would  encircle  a  large  boundary 
of  land  and  drive  the  animals  toward  the  center,  gradually 
closing  in  upon  them  and  giving  but  little  chance  of 
escape.  In  this  way  Piney  Flats  got  its  name.  For 
a  long  time  that  section  was  infested  with  packs  of  vicious 
and  destructive  wolves — which  were  made  more  bold  by 
the  veneration  of  the  Indians  for  them — and  the  neighbor- 
hood hunters,  agreeing  upon  a  "meet,"  would  name  "the 
flats." 

Many  a  wild  animal  was  driven  into  timbered  lands 
and  killed  or  captured  and  then  tortured  and  turned 
loose  as  a  warning  to  the  others.  Singeing  was  one  of  the 
favorite  remedies. 

The  neighborhood  of  Arcadia  was  also  a  favorite 
"meet"  for  the  round-up.  Sometimes  pits  were  dug 
and  skilfully  covered  over  with  light  brush  and  leaves 
and  then  baited.  The  wolves,  bears  and  other  animals 
falling  into  them  were  unable  to  get  out,  but  they  soon 
became  suspicious  of  these  places,  scenting  the  earth  and 
avoiding  them. 

The  "fire  hunters"  worked  after  the  manner  of  the 
"round-ups"  except,  instead  of  using  men,  they  fired  the 
woods  in  a  cirlce,  sometimes  for  several  miles.  This 
way  did  not  require  so  many  men,  but  was  not  often  re- 


250  Historic  Sullivan. 

sorted  to  owing  to  the  danger  of  the  fire  getting  beyond 
control — then,  too,  the  pitiful  cries  of  distress  from  the 
helpless  huddle  of  beasts  restrained  the  ardor  of  the 
most  determined  hunter. 

The  trapper  had  even  more  success  as  a  fur  gatherer 
than  the  hunter  with  his  gun.  Sometimes  a  hunter 
would  trap  as  well  as  hunt,  but  there  were  some  who 
devoted  their  entire  time  to  trapping.  These  trappers 
lived  along  the  rivers  and  their  creek  tributaries.  Mink, 
otter  and  beaver  were  plentiful  in  those  days  and  their 
furs  much  in  demand.  They  were  considered  more 
valuable  than  some  of  the  currency  and  in  consequence 
became  a  medium  of  exchange. 

There  are  old  hunters  today  who  have  preserved 
stories  of  many  of  the  exploits  of  those  old  "still  hunters," 
who  lived  here  all  their  lives.  A  few  of  the  names  are 
here  recorded,  along  with  characteristic  incidents.1 

dan'l  gertman. 

Gertman  and  some  of  his  friends  once  "treed"  a  bear 
in  the  hollow  trunk  of  a  large  poplar  that  had  broken 
off  about  twelve  feet  from  the  ground.  They  tried  to 
get  him  out  by  beating  on  the  trunk,  but  with  no  success. 
The  bear  was  preparing  to  "den  up"2  and  could  not  so 
easily  be  forced  to  abandon  his  ease. 

The  hunter  finally  employed  another  device.  He  got 
a  large  rock  and  prepared  it  with  powder  so  that  when  it 
was  tumbled  into  the  cavity  it  would  spew,  about  the 
time  it  reached  the  bear.  No  sooner  had  the  smoke  and 
sulphur  fumes  penetrated  the  place  than  those  outside 
heard  a  terrible  scratching  and  scuffling  on  the 
inside.  The  bear  was  scrambling  out.  Gertman  rushed 
to  the  tree,  prepared  to  receive  him   and  as  the  bear 


IThese  tales  are  not  told  on  account  of  any  remarkable  prowess  on  the  part 
of  the  hunters,  but  rather  to  show  the  type  of  men  and  the  kind  of  animals  that 
were  once  here. 

2Hibernate. 


Hunters  of  the  Holston.  251 

tumbled  to  the  ground  the  hunter  leaped  astride  him. 
The  animal,  being  the  victim  of  a  second  shock,  rushed 
for  the  thick  undergrowth  with  the  hunter  clinging 
fast.  Seeing  no  way  to  stop  him  and  being  unwilling  to 
let  go,  Gertman  drew  his  hunting  knife  and  killed  him. 

THE  BEAR  CUBS. 

On  another  occasion  Gertman  was  going  alone  along 
a  mountain  path  when  his  attention  was  attracted  to  two 
bear  cubs  engaged  in  play.  "I'll  just  take  you,"  thought 
the  hunter  and,  slipping  up,  he  secured  one,  but  the  other 
got  away.  He  had  gone  quite  a  distance — all  the  time 
trying  to  pacify  the  cub,  which  was  becoming  very 
troublesome  in  its  increasing  efforts  to  escape — when 
suddenly  he  heard  something  coming  behind  him,  making 
a  terrible  noise — blowing,  growling  and  breaking  limbs. 
Looking  back  he  beheld  the  old  mother  bear  hurrying 
after  him  at  a  furious  rate  and  in  a  very  threatening 
manner. 

"By  the  Lord  A 'mighty,"  shouted  Gertman  and 
pitching  the  cub  in  one  direction  and  the  bundle  he 
carried  in  another,  fled.  The  bear  pounced  on  his  bundle, 
mistaking  it  for  Gertman,  and  soon  tore  it  into  pieces. 
Her  attention  thus  diverted  the  hunter  slipped  over  a 
log  and  made  his  escape. 

H  TOMMY  ODELL. 

This  hunter  once  arranged  a  "blind"  at  a  deer  lick 
upon  which  he  had  placed  some  fresh  salt.  After  seclud- 
ing himself  within  his  blind  and  waiting  for  a  time  a 
deer  came  up.  As  Odell  drew  a  nice  "bead"  upon  it 
he  was  suddenly  made  aware  of  a  rival  hunter  in  the 
forest,  that  had  been  lying  in  wait  for  the  same  prey. 
There  was  a  loud  crackling  of  bark  and  a  huge  panther 
sprang  from  a  tree  on  the  deer  and  soon  disembowled 


252  Historic  Sullivan. 

it.  It  was  now  Tommy's  turn.  He  again  leveled  his 
gun  and  the  panther  was  the  victim.  He  secured  both 
deer  and  panther,  the  panther  measuring  nine  feet  from 
"tip  to  tip." 

WILLIAM  BLEVINS. 

There  is  no  name  on  the  hunter  roll  more  familiar 
than  the  name  of  Blevins.  Once  William  Blevins  had  to 
go  through  the  mountains  to  salt  his  cattle.  He  came 
upon  them  in  a  small  clearing  and  was  just  in  time  to  see 
them  stampeded  by  a  panther  that  had  just  killed  a 
small  heifer.  As  soon  as  the  panther  saw  Blevins  it 
leaped  for  him  and  succeeded  in  reaching  his  belt,  which 
it  tore  from  him,  but  with  a  dextrous  swing  of  his  knife 
Blevins  freed  himself,  the  beast  paying  the  penalty  for  its 
rash  deed. 

JIMMY  TWIST. 

Last  as  well  as  least  of  these  old  hunters  was  Jimmy 
Twist.  He  was  a  very  small  man — about  five  feet  in 
height  and  weighing  seventy-five  pounds,  but  was  as  brave 
as  the  best  of  them.  He  would  often  spend  the  night 
alone  in  the  mountain.  One  time  night  overtook  him 
on  the  mountainside.  He  rolled  up  a  bank  of  leaves 
near  a  large  log  and  crawled  in,  prepared  to  spend  the 
night.  He  had  been  asleep  for  some  time  when  he  was 
awakened  by  something  pulling  the  leaves  away,  trying 
to  get  to  him.  Divining  the  cause  he  lay  very  still — 
as  near  motionless  as  he  could,  feigning  death.  The 
animal,  which  proved  to  be  a  wolf,  after  satisfying  himself 
that  Twist  was  asleep,  departed.  But  Twist  was  too 
experienced  a  hunter  to  think  the  departure  of  the  wolf 
was  final  or  due  to  his  deception.  He  crawled  out  and 
reaching  the  nearest  tree,  climbed  up,  and  had  hardly 
accommodated  himself  to  a  limb  when  he  heard  the  wolf, 
not  a  great  distance  away,  calling  to  its  companions. 


Hunters  of  the  Holston.  253 

In  a  short  while  the  barking,  snarling  pack  came  back. 
They  leaped  to  the  shelter  only  to  find  their  coveted 
prey  perched  upon  a  limb,  out  of  reach.  At  this  dis- 
appointment they  grew  furious,  fighting  among  themselves 
and  gnawing  the  tree  until  morning,  when  all  went  their 
way. 

At  another  time  this  hunter  had  taken  up  his  abode 
for  the  night  under  the  huge  trunk  of  a  tree  which  the 
storm  had  uprooted,  but  which  was  still  leaning  high 
enough  above  ground  to  furnish  shelter.  Here  he  built  a 
small  fire  and  prepared  to  sleep.  When  the  embers  were 
getting  low  Twist  heard  something  creeping  slyly  along  the 
top  of  the  trunk  above  him,  now  looking  and  craning  its 
neck  down  over  one  side  then  over  the  other,  as  if  preparing 
to  spring.  At  an  opportune  time  this  quiet^little  man 
quickly  drew  his  knife  and  plunged  it  into^the  body  of 
the  animal — a  wild  cat— ending  its  life. 


Abel  J.  Brown. 

A  BIOGRAPHY. 

Abel  J.  Brown  was  born  at  Lincolnton,  North  Carolina, 
March  27,  1817,  and  died  at  Blountville,  July  17,  1894. 
During  his  youth  he  received  the  benefits  of  the  coun- 
try schools  of  his  home.  He  then  went  to  Washington 
county,  Virginia,  where  in  1842  he  married  Julia 
Teeter,  who  died  a  year  later.  He  went  to 
Emory  and  Henry  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1847. 
The  year  following  he  married  Emily  Teeter,  a  sister  of 
his  first  wife.  The  same  year  he  went  to  Blountville  and 
became  principal  of  Jefferson  Academy.  With  the 
exception  of  two  years  he  taught  at  Greeneville  College 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  at  Blountville. 

He  was  connected  with  Jefferson  Academy  at  intervals 
up  to  the  Civil  War  and  in  addition  did  church  work. 
He  was  elected  pastor  of  Emanuel  and  Buehler's  (Beeler) 
churches  in  1858,  and  served  these  congregations  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death — a  period  of  thirty-six  years. 

After  the  war  he  was  again  connected  with  Jefferson 
Academy.  In  addition  to  his  church  and  school  duties 
he  became  a  contributor  to  the  church  papers,  and  was 
the  literary  defense  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  the  Tenn- 
essee Synod.  His  ministry,  beginning  in  1835,  covered 
a  period  of  sixty-eight  years.  Some  of  his  best  remem- 
bered sermons,  which  were  published,  are  "The  Heavenly 
Country,"  "Portraiture  of  Lutheranism, "  "The  Divine 
Formula  for  the  Administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper," 
"The  Importance  of  Divine  Truth,"  "The  Conflict  and  the 
Crown"  and  "Nightless  Day  in  the  Home  of  the  Blest." 
The  last  named  was  a  funeral  sermon  and  while  delivering 
it  he  fainted,  was  carried  from  the  church  to  his  home 
and  never  recovered. 

Dr.  Brown  was  a  man  of  great  mental  energy.     He  read, 


ABEL  J.    BROWN 


Abel  J.  Brown.  255 

he  wrote,  he  talked,  he  taught.  And,  while  recognized 
as  one  of  the  leading  ministers  of  the  Lutheran  denomina- 
tion, he  is  best  remembered  for  his  work  as  an  edu- 
cator. He  was  a  great  teacher  and  his  influence  for 
higher  education  was  felt  throughout  this  section. 

This  brief  biography  will  deal  with  some  of  the  char- 
acteristics of  that  part  of  his  life  and  are  recollections 
of  a  child's  experience  at  the  old  academy.  Others  have 
told  of  the  graver  man. 

His  methods  of  teaching  were  simple  enough  to  suit  a 
child — his  culture  broad  enough  for  maturer  years. 
The  leading  traits  of  his  character  were  gentleness  and 
impartiality.  He  may  have  had  favorites,  but  he  did 
not  let  them  know  it.  He  caused  no  little  fellow's  head 
to  bow  with  shame  by  making  comparisons.  His  school 
room  was  a  home,  the  students  were  his  children  and  he 
was  a  father  with  a  heart  big  enough  for  them  all. 

At  one  time  of  his  life  Dr.  Brown  was  an  incessant 
smoker.  Sometimes  he  would  fill  his  pipe  and  puff  away 
during  school  hours.  One  day  there  was  a  lull — his 
head  was  slowly  nodding — his  pipe  was  held  loosely 
in  his  fingers  and  his  spectacles  crept  down  to  the  end 
of  his  nose.  He  was  asleep  and  the  boys  were  slipping 
from  the  room.  Outside  they  began  their  usual  games. 
How  long  he  slept  he  never  knew,  but  the  noise  awoke 
him  and  he  soon  grasped  the  situation.  Going  to  the 
back  door  he  tried  to  appear  harsh — "Boys!"  said  he, 
"what  are  you  doing,  march  right  in  here."  As  they 
passed  he  gave  each  one  a  rap  with  his  light  willow  switch, 
which  did  not  hurt,  although  he  pretended  he  was  as  angry 
as  could  be.  When  they  were  all  in  he  lectured  them  on 
the  sins  of  truancy  and  disobedience  and  then— gave 
recess.  But  the  boys  never  stole  out  any  more,  for 
he  quit  smoking  in  school. 

His  manner  of  breaking  a  boy  from  carrying  mischief 
too  far  was  most  successful.  About  the  middle  of  one 
session  a  tall  gawky  fellow  from  the  country    entered 


256  Historic  Sullivan. 

school.  He  was  a  stranger,  but  it  was  not  long  before 
every  boy  knew  him.  He  had  brought  with  him  a  very 
attractive  weapon  which  he  called  a  "fly-killer;"  also  he 
carried  a  "G.  D."cap  box  wherein  he  placed  the  dead  flies. 
He  gladly  exhibited  the  weapon  and  allowed  anyone  to 
gaze  upon  the  dead  who  cared  to  do  so.  It  was  not  long 
before  every  student  had  a  fly-killer  and  a  morgue.  Fly 
killing  became  a  fad.  One  boy  had  as  many  as  two  hundred 
flies  lying  in  state  at  one  time.  Excitement  ran  high 
and  the  killing  was  engaged  in  during  "books."  One 
day  a  very  expert  marksman  shot  a  fly  on  the  wing  and 
drove  him  against  the  doctor's  face.  As  the  little  insect 
fell  into  his  lap  he  looked  at  it  a  while,  then  pulling  out 
his  watch  said,  "Boys,  I'll  give  you  just  ten  minutes 
to  kill  every  fly  in  the  room."  There  was  a  hush,  then  an 
onslaught.  Flies  fell  in  great  numbers.  After  it  was  all  over 
the  boys  resumed  their  studies.  No  one  cared  to  kill 
flies  after  that  and  the  weapon  fell  into  disuse.  It  was 
a  great  victory  for  the  doctor.  He  never  ruled  by  force. 
The  students  studied  hard  under  him — studied  and 
learned  because  they  loved  him. 

Dr.  Brown  was  a  magnanimous  man.  It  was  the 
custom  then  to  "bar  the  teacher  out"  when  Christmas 
came  round.  One  crisp  winter  morning  as  he  came 
through  the  campus  he  saw  several  of  the  smaller  boys 
huddled  together  on  the  front  steps,  shivering — more 
through  fear  than  cold.  They  were  too  small  and  timid  to 
be  taken  into  the  confidence  of  those  who  were  in  mutiny. 
Lee  Balthis,  the  leader  of  the  revolt,  stood  at  an  open 
window  up  stairs,  ready  to  dictate  terms.  His  hench- 
men were  stationed  at  various  places  of  exit,  which  were 
securely  barred.  The  little  fellows  ran  to  meet  the 
doctor  and  informed  him  that  he  was  barred  out.  Going 
in  front  of  the  window  he  demanded: 

"Lee,  what  are  you  doing  up  there?" 

"Nothin'." 

"What  did  you  bar  me  out  for?" 


Abel  J.  Brown.  257 

"To  get  a  treat." 

"What  kind  of  a  treat  do  you  expect?" 

"We  want  two  bushel  o'  apples  and  five  pounds  o' 
candy." 

The  little  fellows  stood  close  to  the  teacher,  shocked 
at  Lee's  audacity  and,  as  they  had  never  had  enough 
money  to  buy  more  than  half  a  dozen  apples  at  one  time, 
they  thought  his  demands  outrageous. 

Turning  to  some  one  near  him,  his  face  showing  no  signs 
of  anger,  the  doctor  said :  "Go  down  in  town  and  get  me 
two  bushels  of  apples  and  ten  pounds  of  candy."  As 
the  news  spread  on  the  inside  there  went  up  a  great  shout 
and  the  boys  surrendered.  He  staid  long  enough  to 
distribute  the  apples  and  candy,  then — wishing  the  boys  a 
merry  Christmas — went  home. 

That  same  schoolhouse  door  has  been  battered  with 
axes  and  the  window-sash  and  panes  have  been  crushed 
by  irate  teachers  who  forced  an  entrance  on  like  occasions, 
and  then  compelled  those  who  engaged  in  the  innocent 
sport  to  submit  to  a  severe  whipping.  But  those  men 
deservedly  won  and  kept  all  their  lives  the  contempt 
of  the  entire  school. 

The  old  academy  and  Dr.  Brown  fell  about  the  same 
time.  One  became  a  crumbling  mass  of  mortar  and 
brick — while  the  other  lay  beneath  a  little  mound  of  clay 
and  climbing  vines.  But  above  the  pyre  of  dead  and 
gone  years  rises  the  venerable  form  of  the  kind  hearted 
teacher  and  friend  and  all  about  him  are  structures  of 
character  imperishable. 


James  D.  Tadlock. 

A  BIOGRAPHY. 

James  D.  Tadlock  was  born  at  Mill  Brook,  Greene 
county,  Tennessee,  August  4,  1825,  and  died  in  Bristol, 
Tennessee,  August,  1899. 

In  his  youth  he  worked  on  his  father's  farm  and  at- 
tended school  at  Washington  College,  later  completing 
his  education  at  Princeton  Seminary.  He  then  became 
professor  of  mathematics  in  Washington  College  and 
afterwards  conducted  a  school  for  girls  at  Jonesboro. 

When  King  College  was  founded  by  James  King  in 
1867,  Tadlock  became  its  first  president.  This  school, 
however,  was  run  as  a  high  school  the  first  year. 

He  remained  president  of  King  College  for  eighteen 
years.  In  1885  he  was  called  to  the  chair  of  ecclesiastical 
history  and  church  government  in  Columbia  (S.  C.) 
Theological  Seminary,  where  he  remained  thirteen  years. 
In  1898  he  returned  to  Bristol  and  again  filled  the  chair 
of  mathematics  at  King  College  until  March  the  following 
year,  when  he  was  taken  sick.  He  died  in  August  of  the 
same  year. 

Along  with  school  duties  he  did  ministerial  work. 
Although  at  one  time  he  preached  regularly  at  the  Cold 
Spring  church  and  frequently  in  Bristol  and  other  places 
it  was  always  in  connection  with  school  work.  His  best 
remembered  sermons  are,  "No  Night  There,"  "Let  The 
Redeemed  Say  So,"  "Security  of  the  Believer,"  "The 
Final  Confirmation,"  "The  Vision  of  Dry  Bones,"  "Quit 
Ye  Like  Men."  The  latter  was  the  subject  of  the  first 
baccalaureate  sermon  preached  at  King  College,  he 
having  been  chosen  by  the  graduating  class  to  deliver  it. 
That  sermon  followed  those  young  men  all  through  their 
lives. 

His  sermons  combined  the  ornate  and  profound  with 


JAMES   D.    TADLOCK 


James  D.  Tadlock.  259 

such  rare  completeness  that,  despite  a  poor  delivery,  they 
were  impressive  and  persuasive,  v 

But  he  loved  the  schoolroom.  He  loved  the  society 
of  young  men.  His  knowledge  of  a  young  man's  needs 
and  ambitions  and  frailties  was  gained  by  his  every-day 
labors  with  them.  He  took  them  aside  and  talked  with 
them,  and,  while  always  frank  and  occasionally  almost 
severe,  there  were  other  times  when  his  criticisms  took  a 
whimsical  turn. 

One  Friday  afternoon,  during  chapel  exercises  an 
advanced  student  read  an  exhaustive  treatise  on  a  current 
topic.  He  dealt  in  rounded  periods  and  hyperbole,  and, 
at  the  conclusion,  left  the  stage  as  though  he  had  com- 
pleted his  work — left  but  little  to  be  said.  His  thesis 
drew  extended  discussion  from  the  faculty,  but  when  it 

reached  Dr.  Tadlock  he  simply  remarked,    "Mr. , 

the  portico  was  bigger  than  the  house — call  the  next 
speaker." 

On  another  afternoon  one  of  the  younger  students 
read  an  essay  on  "Idleness".  It  closed  with,  "Idleness 
is  the  most    indolent   thing    I    know  of."     The  only 

comment  offered  by  Dr.  Tadlock  was,  "Mr. a 

hog  is  more  like  a   hog  than  anything  I  know  of — 
call  the  next  speaker." 

In  his  chosen  field— mathematics — he  had  mastered 
all  the  difficult  problems  and  made  others.  He  worked 
out  problems  on  the  blackboard  with  a  rapidity 
that  amazed  the  students.  Mathematics  caused  him  to 
live  much  in  the  abstract — away  from  people,  away 
from  earth;  and  while  in  a  domestic  way  he  lived  one  of 
those  old  fashioned,  happy,  home  lives,  this  abstraction 
often  carried  him  far  away  from  his  family  as  it  did  from 
his  associates.  One  of  his  little  daughters,  desiring  to 
get  something  that  she  did  not  especially  need,  sought  the 
aid  of  her  mother,  "Mama,  you  ask  papa  for  the  money, 
I'm  not  well  acquainted  with  him." 


260  Historic  Sullivan. 

His  mind  was  a  labyrinth  of  logarithms.  Sometimes, 
when  taking  a  stroll,  he  would  pass  a  friend  and  never  see 
him.  He  has  been  known  to  walk  half  a  mile  with  a 
congenial  companion  and  not  say  a  word. 

"Dr.  Tadlock,  if  I  treated  people  as  you  do,  I  wouldn't 
have  a  friend  in  the  world,"  said  one  of  his  faculty  in 
friendly  rebuke,  and  yet  that  professor  knew  that  every 
boy  in  school  idolized  Dr.  Tadlock.  Among  them  he 
was  affectionately  called  "Old  J.  D." 

It  makes  little  difference  whether  a  man  seeks  friends 
or  not — if  he  be  proficient  in  what  he  professes  and  lives 
up  to  what  he  teaches  there  will  be  no  need  of  trenches 
for  his  defense.  Napoleon,  with  all  his  austerity,  found 
breastworks  made  of  the  dead  bodies  of  the  Old  Guard, 
when  his  life  was  in  danger. 

Dr.  Tadlock  would  not  make  debts.  He  would  go  with- 
out provisions — coffee  or  sugar  or  meat — before  he  would 
go  in  debt  for  them. 

He  was  not  understood  by  the  poor  people.  They 
believed  him  to  be  aloof  from  them  and  yet  no  man  had 
more  consideration  for  them. 

A  newly  married  couple  of  moderate  circumstances, 
living  near  the  college,  was  once  serenaded  by  the  students. 
They  used  tin  pans  and  horns  and  kept  up  a  horrible  noise. 
The  next  day  Dr.  Tadlock  kindly  admonished  them — 
"Young  men,  don't  do  that.  They  are  our  neighbors; 
they  are  poor  and  your  act  may  have  hurt  them.  Their 
privileges  are  few,  their  wants  are  many;  respect  them, 
don't  mistreat  them." 

The  one  great  lesson  he  tried  to  teach  young  men  was 
manliness. 

A  young  man  was  once  added  to  the  faculty  of  King 
College,  whose  ability  was  never  questioned,  but  whose 
youth  invited  censure  because  a  portion  of  the  students 
felt  he  was  prejudiced  and  had  gone  beyond  the  bounds 
of  the  faculty  privileges  in  taking  sides  with  one 
literary  society  against  the  other.    This  feeling  reached 


James  D.  Tadlock.  261 

a  climax  when  the  young  professor  declined  to  pass  a 
member  of  the  rebellious  society  on  a  senior  examination. 
The  students  mutinied.  They  would  have^the  professor 
put  out  of  the  faculty,  and  circulated  a  petition  to  this 
effect.  It  reached  Dr.  Tadlock,  and  holding  it  up  before 
the  students  at  chapel  exercises  one  morning    he  said, 

"I  see  on  the  petition  the  name  of ,  a  noisy 

little  'Prep,'  who  never  recited  a  lesson  to  Prof.  

in  his  life  and  yet  he  asks  that  this  man  be  removed." 
Thus  he  presented  the  ridiculous  side  and  shamed  them. 
Then,  in  concluding,  he  arose  to  higher  appeals — "Young 
men," — and  when  he  thus  addressed  them  every  listener 
knew  he  appealed  to  every  bit  of  manliness  there  was  in 
them — "Young  men,  this  young  man  is  just  beginning 
his  life-work  as  you  will  soon  go  out  to  begin  yours.  You 
will  meet  difficulties  as  he  is  meeting  them  here  today; 
you  will  meet  men  who  will  try  to  drag  you  down  as  you 
are  trying  to  drag  this  young  man  down.  Don't  throw 
obstacles  in  his  way;  you  will  regret  it  in  the  years  to  come. 
Young  men,  stand  by  this  young  man. ' '  The  petition  was 
withdrawn. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE  OLD  FIELD  SCHOOL. 

Our  first  settlers  were  not  enthusiastic  on  the  subject 
of  education.  They  brought  their  religion  with  them 
and  the  minister  was  always  welcome,  but  they  looked 
upon  learning  as  little  needed  in  the  development  of  their 
forest  homes.  Woodcraft  was  more  valuable  to  them 
than  statecraft.  There  were  some,  however,  like  the 
Shelbys,  Seviers  and  Bledsoes  who  had  higher  ideals  than 
the  every-day  logic  of  the  log  cabin,  and  the  teacher  who 
finally  straggled  into  the  settlement  found  lodgement 
with  them.  The  schoolhouse  was  the  last  building  to  be 
erected  and  often  the  meeting-house  was  pressed  into 
service  for  school  purposes — later,  however,  the  separation 
of  the  school  and  the  church  was  marked  by  the  erection 
of  separate  buildings.  The  schoolhouse  was  left  half 
finished;  the  spaces  between  the  logs  were  not  chinked, 
being  left  open  to  admit  light — also  they  admitted 
the  rain  and  snow. 

A  big  fireplace,  heaped  with  logs,  tempered  the  cold 
within.  The  benches  were  made  of  riven  trees,  placed 
with  the  splintered  side  up,  at  the  proper  or  perhaps 
rather  improper  height,  with  wooden  pegs  for  legs — 
they  had  no  backs.  On  these  rude  benches  the 
smaller  children  would  sit,  bent  over  their  tasks,  their 
feet  not  touching  the  ground ;  there  were  no  floors  in  the 
schoolhouses. 

The  salary  of  the  teacher  was  paid  in  whatever  currency 
the  cabin  could  afford  and  such  as  the  higher  state  officials 
did  not  refuse — cloth  and  skins  and  other  products  of  the 
loom  and  farm.  It  was  the  time,  too,  when  he  "boarded 
round" — each  patron  taking  his  turn  at  "finding  him." 
A  week  was  the  length  of  time  he  was  allowed  at  each 
home  and  according  to  his  ability  to  help  in  the  work  about 


.  !).,//■> 


OLD    FIELD   SCHOOL-TEACHER'S   CONTRACT 

John  Russell  agrees  to  teach  the  children  oi  Holston  Valley  al  Cawood's  plan- 
tation? for  twelve  months  and  is  to  receive  fifty  cents  per  montt ifor  each    schola • 
Half  of   this  salary  is  t„  be  paid  in  "Good  Bar  Iron  to  be  de ,  vered     t     ■"  <   J      ' 
house."     Also,  "We  the  sd  employers  do  agree  to  find  sd  Teach  i     '...',;,,,,- 
Washing  &c."     They  also  furnished  firewood.     He  is  to  ins  triut    >'     n r      i 
Spiling,  Reading,  Writing  And  Arithmetic  so  far  as  his  and  then   Capacitj 

Barnes  George  pays  part  of  ins  subscription   in  advance The ,  othe,  subscrib- 
ers are  John  Boober  (written  in  <  lerman),  James  Blevins,  Agatha*  •"'"';■  ^         ,. 
Blevins,  John   Cawood,  Sr.,  Sally  Cawood, Sam ^^L.^rownlow ^^^fofc 
John  Morrell,  John  Blevins.  John  Russell,  Thomas  Major*,  KOD-n  l 

^^fci^SfS^ESS^SSfe  Sffir-SS^y  e«h  patron  is  si o  opposite 

their  names. 


The  Old  Field  School.  263 

the  farm  or  house  was  he  popular  and  welcome  in  the 
community. 

Among  the  young  boys  where  the  master  boarded 
it  was  considered  a  great  honor  to  "sleep  with  teacher," 
and  they  would  perform  extra  tasks  under  promise  of 
this  privilege.  It  was  an  honor  unsought  by  the  teacher, 
however,  who  foresaw  that  he  would  toss  the  early  hours 
away  in  bread-crums  or  perhaps  awake  and  find  himself 
imbedded  in  a  full-grown  sweet  potato,  as  the  boys  always 
carried  a  meal  to  bed  with  them. 

There  were  no  text-books  in  the  early  schools.  What- 
ever book  "come  handy"  to  the  young  student  was  used, 
and  many  a  youth  has  received  his  rudimentary  train- 
ing from  Bunyan's  Pilgrim's  Progress,  the  Bible  and 
other  works  familiar  to  all  households.  Sometimes 
the  teacher  would  make  his  own  text-books  and  teach 
therefrom.1  These  were  often  made  in  splendid 
imitation  of  print — easy  to  read  and  serviceable.  In  con- 
sequence of  the  various  number  of  books  used  and  the 
lack  of  uniformity,  each  pupil  composed  a  class  by  him- 
self and  the  same  rule  governing  the  service  at  our  tavern 
tables — first  come,  first  served — applied  to  the  wilderness 
schoolhouse.  The  pupil  first  to  arrive  in  the  morning 
was  the  first  to  receive  attention  whether  he  be  a  student 
of  Bunyan  or  the  Bible. 

As  the  years  advanced  so  did  the  school  life  advance 
and  a  more  regular  system  was  introduced.  The  increase 
in  the  scholastic  population  made  necessary  the  adoption 
of  uniform  text-books  and  the  organization  of  classes. 
However,  educational  facilities  of  that  period  were  still 
far  behind  those  of  today. 

A  degree  of  advancement  was  not  reached  by  grades, 
but  a  student's  progress,  beginning  at  his  abecedarian 
days,  advanced  to  words  of  two  syllables  like  "b-a — ba- 


lAt  the  Johnson  home  on  the  Reedy  creek  road  I  was  shown  a  copy  of  a 
text-book  {used  :by,  George  Wilhelm,  an  old  pioneer  teacher.  It  was  an  arithmetic. 
In  the  family  Bibles  during  his  visits,  "boarding  'round'  among  his  patrons,  he  made 
some  attempt  at  rhyming  verse,  usually  of  a  religious  nature. 


264  Historic  Sullivan. 

k-e-r — ker,  baker,"  until  the  reading  period  began,  then 
he  was  promoted  to  "readers"  first,  second,  third  and 
on  to  the  sixth.  When  these  were  completed  the 
Latin  and  the  Greek  classics  were  taken  up  provided 
the  teacher  was  himself  advanced  far  enough  to  teach 
them. 

Then,  too,  there  were  the  sciences,  but  at  times  these 
met  with  some  protest.  One  mother  objected  seriously 
and  wrote  the  teacher  that  she  did  not  want  her  daughter 
to"ingage  in  fizziology"  because  she  did  not  want  her  to 
"talk  about  her  bones  right  before  the  boys." 

"FRIDAY  EVENING." 

On  Friday  afternoons  all  recitations  were  abandoned 
and  the  time  given  over  to  composition  and  "speeches" 
or  declamation.  Each  student  alternated,  offering  a 
composition  one  week  and  a  declamation  the  next. 
Among  the  girls  these  compositions  usually  took 
up  some  domestic  economy  or  morals.  The  boys' 
discourses  usually  dwelt  upon  the  sports,  the  seasons 
and  now  and  then  a  deep  theological  thesis,  which  of 
course  was  copied .  The  declamations  among  the  girls  were 
tender  selections  like  "Mary's  Lamb,"  and  "Death  of 
the  Sparrow,"  while  the  already  "Busy  Bee"  put  in 
some  overtime. 

The  boys  exposed  the  hero,  Casabianca,  on  the  deck 
early  in  the  year  and  had  weekly  conflagrations  with  him 
until  the  close  of  school.  The  "benighted  boy"  was 
delivered  in  such  a  rambling  sort  of  way  one  could  hardty 
tell  which  was  Harry  and  which  was  the  guide-post. 
The  deaf  old  sexton  might  not  have  heard  the  curfew, 
but  it  split  the  ears  of  the  groundlings  at  the  old  field 
school  and  no  doubt  is  ringing  in  memories  yet.  The 
barque,  the  prince,  the  sad  old  king  who  "never  smiled 
again"  and  Bingen  had  their  devotees.  In  their  oratory 
they  had  little  regard  for  the  season.  "Young  Norvell" 
was  kept  on  the  Grampian  hills  with  his  flocks  without 


The  Old  Field  School.  265 

regard  to  temperature.  "Come,  come,  the  summer  now 
is  here"  was  often  delivered  in  January,  while  "Old 
winter,  alack,  how  icy  and  cold  is  he"  was  kept  in  a 
state  of  congealment  during  the  warmest  weeks  of  May. 
The  more  advanced  students  delivered  selections  of 
more  ambitious  range  like  Hayne's  spirited  defense 
of  South  Carolina,  but  rarely  ever  attempted  Webster's 
studied  and  stately  diction  in  reply.  Some  of  the  efforts 
were  not  altogether  without  merit  and,  "When  the  beams 
of  the  rising  sun  had  guilded  the  lofty  domes  ot  Carthage" 
was  attempted — no  matter  how  indifferently  delivered — 
Regulus  was  sure  of  a  respectful  hearing.  It  was  the 
inherited  war  spirit  of  the  wilderness  schoolboy  that 
charged  him  with  sympathetic  listening  interest. 

GAMES  AND  AMUSEMENTS. 

During  the  long  school  hours,  which  began  at  eight 
o'clock  in  the  morning  and  continued  until  four  in  the 
afternoon,  there  were  three  intermissions— one,  an  hour  at 
noon  and  two  called  recesses.  The  noon  hour  was  for  din- 
ner— the  recess  in  the  morning  was  at  half  past  ten  for  fif- 
teen minutes  and  the  recess  in  the  afternoon  was  at 
three  and  for  the  same  length  of  time.  During  these 
intermissions  the  old  time  games  were  played— 
marbles,  quoits,  prisoner's  base,  bull-pen,  town-ball, 
cat-ball,  fox  and  hounds  and  antne-over. 

Prisoner's  base  was  a  running  game.  Two  sides  were 
chosen,  each  selecting  a  base— the  distance  between  them 
varying  according  to  the  space  convenient,  usually  from 
thirty  to  fifty  feet.  To  run  around  a  base  without  being 
caught  won  a  game.  To  be  caught  or  tagged  away  from 
a  base  made  a  prisoner  of  the  one  caught,  who  was  im- 
mediately taken  to  a  place  of  detention2  near  the  side 


2For  some  reason  the  place  of  detention  in  prisoner  s  base  was .called  the 
"stink."  "That's  not  fair,  he's  on  the  stink"  and  other  complaints  ^  heard 
throughout  the  games.  It  was  one  of  those  words  that  belonged  to  a  boy  s  vocabu 
lary,  whose  etymology  is  best  left  unsolved. 


266  Historic  Sullivan. 

capturing  him.  He  could  be  retaken  by  his  own  side 
or  exchanged  as  a  prisoner  of  war. 

Bull-pen  was  a  sort  of  four-cornered  ball  game.  The 
lucky  ones  on  the  four  corners  had  the  privilege  of 
handling  the  ball.  They  tossed  it  to  and  fro  and  at  an 
opportune  time  hit  one  of  the  boys  in  the  pen.  The  corner 
men  then  retreated  to  a  stand  and  the  one  who  had 
been  hit  by  the  ball  had  a  chance  to  secure  a  base  by 
hitting  one  of  the  boys  that  occupied  them. 

Antne-over,3  a  corruption  perhaps  of  ante-over,  was 
played  over  a  building — usually  the  schoolhouse.  The 
sides  took  positions  opposite  each  other — the  building 
between.  The  party  holding  the  ball  would  shout 
"antne" — the  ones  opposite  would  respond ,  "over,  "and  the 
other  again,  "over  she  comes."  If  one  of  the  party 
to  whom  the  ball  was  thrown  caught  it  the  crowd 
then  rushed  around  and  captured,  by  hitting  with  the 
ball,  one  or  more  of  the  opposition. 

Town-ball  was  the  forerunner  of  baseball.  There 
were  three  bases  and  a  home  plate.  Instead  of  tagging 
out  a  runner  with  the  ball  he  was  crossed  out,  the  ball 
being  thrown  between  him  and  the  base.  In  other 
respects  it  was  similar  to  the  present  popular  and  national 
game. 

Cat-ball  was  a  timid  game  usually  played  by  girls  or 
small  boys.  It  was  a  three-cornered  game  and  a  paddle 
instead  of  a  bat  was  used  to  strike  the  ball. 

3BOARD  OF  EDUCATION 

OF 

Sullivan  County,  Tennessee 
J.  E.  L.  Seneker,  Supt. 

Blountville,  Tenn.,  December  14,  1908. 
Mr.  Oliver  Taylor, 

Bristol,  Tenn. 
Dear  Sir — 

Yes,  I  remember  well  that  years  ago  children  at  school  in  the  country  played 
"Antne  Over,"  "bull  pen,"  "prisoner's  base,"  "black  man,"— "What  will  you  do 
when  you  see  the  black  man  coming?"     (Answer.)     "Kill  him  and  eat  him." 

As  to  the  etymology  of  the  "Antne  Over"  I  must  say,  I  don't  know.  Perhaps 
it  had  its  origin  from  the  old  verb  ante  which  meant — "deposit  your  stake."  This, 
you  know,  is  required  in  games  of  chance.  When  ready  to  play  the  one  holding 
the  ball  called  out,  "ante"  or  "antne"  and  they  on  the  other  side  answered  "over." 
Now  this  is  only  guessing  on  my  part. 

Very  truly, 

J.  E.  L.  Seneker. 


The  Old  Field  School.  267 

There  were  other  games  that  did  not  require  so  much 
activity,  such  as  "mumbly-peg"  (mumble  the  peg)  and 
others. 

The  games  of  the  social  life  of  the  old  field  school 
were  innocent,  consisting  of  Tennessee  Snap,  Old  Sister 
Phoebe,  Twistification,  Who's  Got  the  Key,  Weavely 
Wheat,  London  Bridge,  Moll  Brooks  Come  Out  of  My 
Orchard  and  others.  Most  of  the  games  had  a  kissing 
penalty  which  rendered  them  very  popular. 

The  older  people  contented  themselves  with  the  old- 
fashioned  dances  and  the  shifting  of  feet  was  accompanied 
by  a  squeaky  duet  on  the  fiddles,  painfully  drawing  out 
"Old  Jimmy  Sutton,"  "Sourwood  Mountain,"  "Arkansaw 
Traveler,"  "Rosin  the  Bow,"  "Liza  Jane"  and  "Cripple 
Creek." 


Joseph  H.  Ketron. 

A  BIOGRAPHY. 

Every  little  boy  has  an  ambition  of  some  kind  and  it 
follows  him  all  through  life,  however  much  he  may  be 
diverted  from  it.  Joseph  Ketron,  when  a  little  boy, 
longed  to  have  Webster's  Unabridged  Dictionary.  It 
was  the  biggest  book  he  knew  of  and  contained  much 
wisdom.  That  yearning  represented  Ketron 's  life — he 
wanted  a  library  and  he  wanted  learning,  and  more, 
he  wanted  to  impart  that  learning  to  others.  He  got  his 
dictionary  and  imposed  upon  himself  the  task  of  memoriz- 
ing one  hundred  words  a  day.  He  got  a  library— one  of 
the  choicest  private  libraries  in  the  state.  He  got  learning 
and  became  one  of  the  pioneer  educators  in  this  section. 

But  to  attain  these  things  he  snuffed  the  candle  at  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  he  snuffed  out  many  years  of 
his  life. 

Joseph  H.  Ketron  was  born  near  Bloomingdale, 
November  12,  1837,  and  died  there  November  1,  1901, 
lacking  but  eleven  days  of  reaching  his  sixty-fourth  year. 

With  the  little  extra  money  he  earned  at  the  plow  and 
with  the  hoe  he  attended  the  short  sessions  of  an  occasional 
school  conducted  near  his  home.  But  in  the  midst  of  his 
studies  he  was  called  to  serve  in  the  army  during  the 
Civil  War.  In  the  battle  of  Big  Black  River  Bridge, 
near  Vicksburg,  May  17,  1862,  he  was  shot  in  the  thigh, 
which  wound  caused  him  much  suffering  at  the  time, 
his  life  being  despaired  of,  and  from  which  he  suffered  at 
times  all  his  life. 

After  the  war  he  took  up  school  work  again,  becoming 
principal  of  Reedy  Creek  Academy,  at  Arcadia,  in  August, 
1864.    There  he  taught  nine  years. 

Then,  deciding  to  attend  school  again,  he  went  to  Wes- 
leyan  University,  at  Athens,  Tennessee,  where  he  remained 


JOSEPH    H.    KETRON 


Joseph  H.  Ketron.  269 

a  year  and  a  half,  studying  and  tutoring.  In  1875-76 
he  attended  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University,  at  Bloom- 
ington,  Illinois,  where  he  graduated  with  highest  honors 
in  his  thirty-ninth  year.  After  his  graduation  he  spent 
one  year  teaching  at  New  Market,  Tennessee. 

Then  he  faced  the  temptation  of  good  salaries— salaries 
big  enough  to  have  furnished  a  substantial  living  without 
much  responsibility— but  he  chose  to  go  back  to  his  old 
home,  where  he  built  a  school  and  endowed  it  with  best 
endeavors  that  a  good  education  and  a  willingness  and 
love  for  work  and  the  memories  of  the  old  place  could 
inspire.  He  named  the  school  after  the  best  man  he 
knew,  Bishop  Kingsley — Kingsley  Seminary.  It  was 
dedicated  August  6,  1877. 

He  taught  there  for  twenty-five  years;  until  the  end  of 
his  life.  One  thousand  and  four  students  attended 
the  seminary  during  that  time,  and  in  his  forty-one  years 
of  teaching  he  gave  instructions  to  two  thousand  and  ten 
boys  and  girls — young  men  and  young  women.  Sixty 
young  men  prepared  themselves  for  the  ministry  under  his 
tutelage. 

First  of  all  Joseph  Ketron  was  a  scholarly  teacher. 
"You  may  be  called  to  preach,  but  I  was  called  to  teach," 
said  he  to  a  young  man  one  day.  He  slept  in  his  library; 
he  lived  in  his  library.  Being  such  a  hard  close  student 
he  was  not  considered  by  some  a  practical  man,  but  a 
close  study  of  his  life  and  habits  will  disprove  this.  In 
botany  he  could  explain  the  morphological  and  phaneroga- 
mic and  then  go  out  into  his  yard  and  intelligently  culti- 
vate his  flowers;  he  trimmed  the  wicks  of  the  lamps  of 
architecture,  and  v/ith  a  saw  and  a  hammer  and  a  jack- 
plane  helped  to  build  the  house  his  parents  lived  in;  he 
could  write  a  song  and  sing  it  himself;  he  could  teach 
the  science  of  agriculture,  the  chemistry  of  the  soil — how 
much  potash,  phosphoric  acid  or  nitrogen  was  needed, 
and  he  could  raise  a  good  crop  of  potatoes  and  beans. 


270  Historic  Sullivan. 

He  believed  in  few  acres  and  intense  culture  and  once 
made  a  test  of  an  acre  of  corn,  raising  one  hundred  and 
five  bushels. 

He  could  teach  higher  mathematics  then  go  out  and 
survey  a  tract  of  land — he  was  the  surveyor  of  the 
neighborhood;  he  could  tell  you  about  metallurgy  and 
then  go  into  a  blacksmith  shop  and  make  a  horseshoe. 

As  a  versatile  teacher  Sullivan  County  has  never  had 
his  superior.  He  would  have  made  an  efficient  head 
of  an  industrial  school. 

If  you  were  to  ask  the  students  who  were  under  his 
instruction  at  the  seminary,  what  particular  study  Ketron 
excelled  in,  they  would  tell  you  all  of  them.  He  was 
a  student  all  his  life — he  went  to  school  to  himself. 

He  was  a  man  of  careful  habits  and  taught  his  students 
how  to  save  time.  As  an  example — he  always  laid  down 
his  pen  or  pencil  with  the  point  toward  him  so  it  could  be 
picked  up  again,  ready  for  use,  without  being  turned 
around. 

He  was  more  than  a  teacher  in  the  schoolroom — he 
was  a  living  example. 

When  twelve  years  old  he  professed  religion  at  the 
Reedy  creek  camp-ground,  and  his  was  a  devotional  life. 
While  always  loyal  to  the  denomination  to  which  he 
belonged  his  Christianity  was  never  crinkled  by  sectarian 
prejudice. 

When  but  a  youth  he  was  chosen  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school  at  his  home,  which  position  he  held 
all  his  life  with  the  exception  of  the  four  years  spent 
at  college.  He  opened  and  closed  the  day's  work  at  the 
seminary  with  religious  lessons. 

When  his  body  was  borne  to  the  grave  it  was  followed 
by  a  procession  of  school-children,  each  carrying  a  bunc^ 
of  flowers. 

One  of  his  favorite  songs  was  "Work  for  the  Night  [s 
Coming." 

On  the  day  of  the  night  of  his  death  he  worked — dispos_ 
ing  of  his  mail — he  worked  himself  to  death. 


Joseph  H.  Ketron.  271 

For  thirty  years  he  kept  a  diary;  a  few  days  are  given 
here: 

January  1,  1868:  Snow  six  or  eight  inches  deep.— Brother  John 
married  to-day  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Agee.— I  feel  impressed  with  the 
shortness  of  time;  if  spared  this  year,  I  intend  to  try  to  improve  it. — 
Lord  help  me. 

January  1,  1870:  Surveyed  a  lot  of  land  for  Papa,  planted  some 
fruit  trees,  did  a  few  other  little  jobs  of  work. — Read  in  the  Bible  and 
other  books. — Drizzled  rain  a  part  of  the  day. 

January  1,  1871:  Conducted  a  Sunday  School  Concert  at  Oak 
Grove — had  a  nice  time — house  was  crowded — I  gave  a  talk. — Com- 
pleted our  "Twelve  Lessons  About  Jesus." — Resolved  to  try  to  improve 
in  knowledge  and  try  to  do  right — Lord  help  me. 

January  26,  1887:  To-day  we  celebrate  my  father  and  mother's 
'Golden  Wedding" — We  had  a  pleasant  time. — Cold  day. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

SLAVERY  DAYS. 

The  contention  of  the  negro  that  he  has  arrived  at  his 
present  state  of  development  during  the  last  forty  years 
is  absurd — it  has  been  nearer  four  hundred  years.  It 
must  be  remembered  slaves  did  not  remain  savages  in 
bondage.  The  length  of  time  slavery  has  existed  in  any 
community  of  the  South  marks  the  time  of  the  negro's 
translation  from  savagery  to  civilization  and  enlighten- 
ment. Being  a  race  of  imitators  with  good-natured  en- 
dowments and  diplomacy  they  soon  absorbed  the  customs 
of  the  people  among  whom  fate  had  cast  them. 

Slavery  is  coexistent  with  the  first  settlements  of 
Sullivan  County.  The  earliest  records  we  have — dating 
back  to  the  last  quarter  of  the  seventeenth  century — 
mention  the  purchase  and  exchange  of  slaves  and  more 
often  the  presence  or  possession  of  them.  This,  then, 
is  evidence  of  their  having  had  the  benefit  of  over  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  years  in  developing  in  this 
county  alone  over  what  they  would  have  received  had 
they  remained  in  their  original  state. 

The  Island  road,  named  for  Long  Island,  from  Kings- 
port  through  Virginia,  was  one  of  the  great  thorough- 
fares of  slave-trade,  as  was  the  Blountville  road,  to  Jones- 
boro  and  back  through  Virginia.  This  explains  why 
there  were  more  slave- owners  along  these  two  roads  than 
there  were  along  the  Reedy  creek  road,  running  between 
and  parallel  with  them.  Being  thus  brought  into  contact 
with  the  trade  the  temptation  to  buy  slaves  was  greater. 
This  also  created  rivalry  of  ownership  among  the  buyers. 
Where  one  man  owned  ten  slaves  his  neighbor  would 
soon  be  in  possession  of  twelve  or  fourteen. 

Literature  controlling  public  sentiment  has  stamped 
the  slave-trader  with  a  stigma  that  would  be  hard  to  re- 


Slavery  Days.  273 

move  and  the  ban  reaches  all  of  them  alike,  even  to-day. 
To  these  men  more  than  any  other  cause  is  due  the 
reputed  bad  treatment  of  slaves. 

The  slave  trader  usually  had  guaranty  of  the  sale  of 
a  good  many  of  his  slaves  before  starting  on  a  journey. 
Sometimes  they  were  sold  at  auction — the  age,  tempera- 
ment, experience  and  strength  governing  the  price. 
Buyers  would  examine  the  mouth  and  teeth  of  a  slave 
as  they  would  a  horse.  The  price  ranged  from  five 
hundred  to  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  The  number  in  a 
"drove"  varied  from  six  to  twenty-five.  The  unruly 
ones  and  those  likely  to  attempt  escape  were  hand- 
cuffed in  pairs  while  the  females  were  carried  in 
wagons. 

Next  to  the  slave  trader  the  negro  boss  of  the  planta- 
tion was  the  most  dreaded  and  despised  by  the  slaves. 
He  was  usually  very  tyrannical  in  the  exercise  of  his 
brief  authority  and  was  harder  on  the  laborers  than  his 
white  owner  might  have  been. 

A  man's  wealth  was  often  estimated  by  the  number  of 
slaves  he  owned  rather  than  by  his  acreage  of  land. 
The  Cobb  family  at  one  time  owned  more  than  one 
hundred  slaves,  but  this  high  mark  of  possession  usually 
preceded  a  division.  When  the  young  people  of  the 
family  married  and  went  to  their  new  homes  they  were 
given  their  favorite  servants.  There  have  been  instances 
where  a  favorite  daughter  of  the  family  would  find  it 
hard  to  make  a  selection,  all  of  the  old  slaves  wishing  to 
accompany  her.     These  separations  were  very  affecting. 

The  son  of  an  owner  of  slaves  was  always  provided  with 
a  body-servant  who  was  considered  his  property.  This 
servant  was  usually  much  older  than  his  master.  The 
selection  for  this  position,  in  most  cases,  was  the  one  who 
took  the  most  interest  in  the  young  man  and  pleased  him 
most,  and  the  attachment  between  the  two  was  very 
marked.  The  young  master  relied  greatly  on  "uncle's" 
judgment  and  confided  most  of  his  affairs  to  him.     He 


274  Historic  Sullivan. 

would  often  discard  a  hat  or  garment  if  the  old  negro 
coveted  it.  On  many  of  his  rambles  "Uncle  Jim"  was 
his  companion  and,  be  it  said  to  his  memory,  there 
are  rare  instances  where  these  old  servants  exercised 
any  baleful  influence  over  the  young  men  of  the  South. 

Many  of  those  who  enlisted  for  the  war  took  their 
servants  with  them.  They  wanted  to  go  and  their  pres- 
ence did  much  to  cheer  the  Southern  soldier — the  young 
men  knowing  that  should  they  be  wounded  they  would  be 
looked  after,  and  if  killed  would  not  be  left  on  the  field  of 
battle,  but  would  be  carried  back  and  laid  to  rest  in  the 
shadow  of  the  old  home. 

The  attachment  between  the  "young  missus"  and  her 
old  black  "mammy"  was  even  more  marked  and  cordial, 
she  always  looking  after  the  girl's  every  want.  Nothing 
made  her  prouder  than  to  be  keeper  of  the  keys  of  the 
family  larders,  and  while  the  old  servant  performed  the 
work  of  a  menial  she  was  the  real  "boss"  of  the  house- 
hold. The  children  knew  her  permission  was  equivalent 
to  the  consent  of  the  rest  of  the  family. 

This  vesting  of  authority  in  her  was  simply  an  expres- 
sion of  the  love  and  confidence  that  all  bore  her.  Should 
the  young  mistress  make  a  journey  of  any  length, 
her  salutations,  on  her  return,  were  not  complete  until 
"Aunt  Mariah"  had  been  greeted.  In  the  sick  chamber 
the  old  negro  woman  sat  through  the  long  night 
vigil,  watching  for  any  movement  or  sound  that  would 
indicate  the  condition  of  the  patient.  If  death  perchance 
occurred  her  grief  was  as  uncontrollable  as  had  been  her 
joy  over  some  pleasant  surprise. 

And  that  feeling  that  once  existed  between  the  two 
races  is  sometimes  in  evidence  today.  The  descendant 
of  a  slave  owner  will  greet  an  old  remnant  of  bondage 
days  with  a  smile  and  frequently  a  donation.  Not  a  great 
while  ago,  in  Sullivan  County,  an  old  ex-slave  lay  dying. 
A  descendant  of  his  former  master,  hearing  of  his  illness, 
hastened  to  his  bedside.     As  his  life  was  ebbing  av/ay 


Slavery  Days.  275 

he  expressed  great  concern  lest  there  should  be  no  place 
to  bury  him.  "Don't  worry  Uncle  Jake, "  said  the  young 
man,  "don't  worry,  if  your  own  race  can't  find  a  place 
for  you  there's  a  little  vacant  spot  in  the  cemetery  by  the 
side  of  father  and  mother — we'll  bury  you  there." 

The  race  is  not  without  its  quaint  humor  and  philos- 
ophy. An  old  street  preacher  touring  through  Sullivan 
took  his  stand  on  a  street  corner  in  Bristol.  He  had 
but  recently  arrived  from  Alabama.  "I  was  preachin'  in 
Birmingham  de  otha  day,"  said  he,  "when  dey  axes  me 
did  I  b'lieve  a  niggah  was  as  good  as  a  white  man.  I 
looks  'bout  me  kind  o'  slant  wise  an'  I  sees  a  passel  of 
white  folks  an'  I  says  no— but  I  b'lieves,  gem 'men,  dat  a 
good  niggah  is  better 'n  a  bad  white  man." 

Indian  slaves1  worked  side  by  side  with  negro  slaves 
and  in  this  way  the  latter  absorbed  much  of  the  humor 
and  quaint  folk-lore  of  the  Indian,  but  the  Indian  being 
a  conservator  would  have  none  of  the  negro. 

Slaves  were  often  paid  wages  and  were  allowed  a  certain 
portion  of  time  each  week  and  a  plot  of  ground  to 
cultivate  for  their  own  profit.  In  this  way  many  bought 
their  freedom. 

While  perhaps  there  were  no  manumission  societies, 
slaves  were  accorded  humane  treatment  in  Sullivan 
County  and  a  few  owners  liberated  a  portion  of  their 
slaves  and  sent  them  to  Liberia. 

The  reputed  cruel  treatment  of  slaves  has  been  much 
magnified  as  far  as  this  county  is  concerned,  but  of  course 
we  may  have  had  a  milder  form  of  slavery  than  the  corn 
and  cotton  countries.  Some  owners  never  even  whipped 
their  servants,  while  others  did  chastise  the  unruly  ones 
when  occasion  demanded. 

A  slave  owner,  living  near  the  mouth  of  Beaver  creek, 
once  ordered  a  slave  up  a  tree  to  saw  off  one  of  the  limbs. 
After  the  slave  had  climbed  the  tree  he  realized   the 


llndians  often  sold  themselves  into  slavery  to  pay  gambling  debts.     Indian 
prisoners  of  war  were  also  frequently  made  slaves. 


276  Historic  Sullivan. 

predicament  he  would  be  placed  in  by  sawing  the  limb  off 
between  himself  and  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  and  protested : 
"Why,  massa,  the  limb  will  fall  on  me  and  break  my 
neck."  "Whose  loss  is  it,  suh!"  replied  the  master. 
However,  had  a  fatality  been  the  result  no  one  would 
have  bemoaned  the  accident  more  than  the  master. 
From  a  commercial,  if  not  a  humane  standpoint,  great 
care  was  taken  to  guard  the  health  of  a  slave  and  as  no 
owner  would  care  to  cause  the  death  of  a  thousand  dollar 
horse  neither  would  he  indulge  in  projects  that  would 
imperil  the  life  of  a  fifteen  hundred  dollar  slave. 

In  most  cases  the  negro,  with  his  talent  for  mimicry, 
would  assume  the  style  and  speech,  as  near  as  possible, 
of  the  family  to  whom  he  belonged,  always  taking  the 
name  of  his  last  owner.  If  the  family  laid  great  stress 
upon  ancestry,  the  slave  believed  the  ancestry  was  his 
own  also  and  thereupon  assumed,  often  ridiculously,  a 
dignified  air  in  dress  and  in  the  use  of  words. 

If  the  family  was  inclined  to  bluntness  or  combativeness 
the  negro  was  often  offensive  or  even  dangerous.  If  the 
family  was  in  but  moderate  circumstances  and  lacked 
prestige,  the  negro  reflected  it  in  a  subdued  look  and  did 
not  care  to  discuss  his  family  history. 

Prior  to  the  war  a  traveler,  passing  through  Blount- 
ville,  accosted  a  spry  and  lofty- aired  negro  and  inquired : 
"Who  do  you  belong  to  uncle?"  "I's  a  Rutledge,  suh," 
with  a  toss  of  the  head  indicating  his  surprise  that  anyone 
should  be  in  ignorance  of  his  family  identity.  On  meeting 
another  the  same  inquiry  was   put   and  was  answered 

with:    "I  b 'longs  to  de  fambly,  knows  e'm?" 

in  a  tone  that  plainly  showed  he  was  ashamed  of  his 
master. 

Society  had  its  factions  and  cliques,  and  the  line  of 
social  intercourse  was  as  distinctly  drawn  among  the 
blacks  as  among  the  whites.  A  "corn  field  coon"  could 
not  keep  pace  with  the  coach  driver — the  "gem 'man" 
groom  in  waiting. 


Slavery  Days.  277 

Outside  of  Sullivan  and  one  or  two  other  counties 
the  greater  portion  of  East  Tennessee  fought  for  the 
Union.  The  influence  of  Johnson,  Nelson,  Brownlow 
and  Maynard  was  supreme.  But  those  men  were  not 
anti-slavery  in  sentiment— they  were  opposed  to  fighting 
under  any  other  flag  than  that  of  the  Union.  Many  of 
their  followers— the  mountain  whites— did  not  despise 
slavery  as  an  institution,  but  they  opposed  the  bringing 
of  slave  labor  into  competition  with  their  own,  and  they 
despised  the  aristocracy  of  the  slave-owner.  It  was  the 
desire  of  the  poor  whites  to  throw  the  slave  upon  his  own 
resources  and  thereby  diminish  free  labor  and  withdraw 
privileges  from  the  servant  that  even  the  savant  was  not 
permitted  to  enjoy.  On  the  other  hand  Sullivan  had, 
with  perhaps  the  exception  of  Greene  county,  the  smallest 
number  of  slaves  of  any  county  in  East  Tennessee,  in 
proportion  to  its  population.  In  1795  it  had  seven 
hundred  and  seventy-seven  while  Hawkins  county,  which 
had  been  made  out  of  Sullivan,  had  two  thousand,  four 
hundred  and  seventy-two,2  more  than  three  times  as  many. 

The  songs  of  slavery  have  become  a  part  of  our  lyric 
literature.  But  no  one  save  the  old  time  negro,  when 
awakened  by  the  inspiring  memories  of  cabin  days, 
can  sing  them  as  they  should  be  sung,  with  their  weird 
appealing  melodies.  They  are  the  songs  of  captivity 
and  have  a  melancholy  that  is  peculiarly  and  characteris- 
tically their  own.  Some  of  these  songs  became  blended 
with  the  Indian  chants  and  can  now  be  heard  where  there 
are  groups  of  negro  laborers — especially  on  public  works- 
using  the  pick  and  hammer.  The  strokes  of  these  im- 
plements measure  time  for  them. 

In  a  great  majority  of  cases  slaves  belonged  not  only 
to  the  wealth  but  the  culture  of  the  land  and  in  such  homes 
they  were  taught  to  read  and  write  and  what  is  more- 
reverence.  No  people  were,  apparently,  more  reverential 
or  more  moved  by  spiritual  influences.     The  negro  had 

2Tennessee  Gazetteer. 


278  Historic  Sullivan. 

more  opportunities  than  the  poor  white  and  reached 
higher  social  privileges  during  slavery  days  than  has  ever 
been  permitted  him  since,  because  then  he  never  abused 
those  privileges.  This  social  phase  did  not  mean  familiar 
contact,  but  there  was  a  friendly  understanding  be- 
tween master  and  servant. 

On  Sundays  these  slaves  were  expected  to  put  on  their 
best  garments  and  attend  church — a  place  being  set  apart 
for  them,  or  in  the  more  wealthy  communities  galleries 
were  arranged  for  them. 

As  in  the  slave  days  when  the  greatest  bugbear  to  the 
negro  and  his  greatest  dread,  next  to  the  trader,  was  the 
boss  of  his  own  color  who  was  in  charge  of  a  number  of 
hands,  so  today  the  greatest  menace  to  his  advancement 
has  been  the  bad  advice  coming  from  some  of  the  leaders 
of  his  race,  or,  what  is  perhaps  worse,  from  evil  designing 
whites.  This  is  more  pronounced  in  the  press  of  the 
Northwest  where  the  race  problem  is  alarmingly  discussed. 

The  authorities  of  Chicago  undertook  to  control  the 
anarchistic  spirit,  then  creating  disturbances  there,  and 
which  resulted  in  the  Haymarket  riot,  by  dealing  with 
the  leading  instigators,  and  the  subsequent  quiet  that 
prevailed  proved  the  wisdom  of  the  procedure. 

That  legislation  intended  to  reach  the  "low  and  vic- 
ious" will  find  upon  investigation  that  that  element 
gives  forth  only  the  irresponsible  echo  of  some  sentiment 
expressed  by  others  more  intelligent. 

The  race  problem  is  agitating  the  minds  of  those  who 
have  to  deal  with  it  far  less  than  it  is  the  lookers  on,  and, 
while  the  country  is  sometimes  racked  with  dread  and 
shocked  at  the  perpetration  of  crimes,  the  South  holds 
herself  in  check  by  the  recollection  that  the  faithful  old 
slave,  in  times  that  tried  him,  was  the  greatest  safeguard 
of  the  sanctity  of  the  Southern  homes — and  remembers, 
with  increasing  regard  as  the  years  go  by,  that  the  old 
"black  mammy"  rocked  the  cradle  and  helped  to  rear  the 
courtliest  race  of  white  men  and  the  proudest  and  purest 
race  of  white  women  the  world  has  ever  known. 


James  P.  Snapp. 

A  BIOGRAPHY. 

James  P.  Snapp  was  born  August  3,  1823,  west  of 
Blountville  on  the  old  Snapp  place.  His  early  youth 
was  spent  on  the  farm.  During  that  time,  however, 
he  lost  no  opportunity  to  get  an  education  and  in  con- 
sequence was,  at  the  close  of  his  school  life,  one  of  the 
best  educated  men  in  the  county.  He  attended  Jeffer- 
son Academy  at  Blountville  and  finished  a  college  course 
at  Emory  and  Henry,  graduating  in  the  class  with  Dr. 
A.  J.  Brown,  1847. 

Col.  Snapp,  after  finishing  school,  taught  for  several 
years,  between  1850-55,  at  the  academy  where  his  school 
life  began.  He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law,  which 
he  finished,  and,  having  an  analytic,  legal  mind,  would 
have  made  an  able  jurist  but  for  the  war  diverting  him 
from  his  chosen  work. 

In  April,  1861  he  was  made  captain  of  Company  C, 
organized  at  Blountville,  which  became  a  part  of  the 
Nineteenth  Tennessee  regiment,  under  Col.  Pitts. 
Snapp 's  company  was  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh  and  during 
that  engagement  occurred  one  of  those  incidents  which 
appear  ludicrous,  even  through  the  awfulness  of  battle. 
Two  regiments  of  Federals,  in  the  confusion,  were  taken 
by  Col.  Pitts'  regiment,  but  he  did  not  have  enough  men 
to  hold  them,  and  the  enemy,  recovering  themselves 
and  realizing  the  helplessness  of  the  victor,  were  in  turn 
preparing  for  a  capture,  when  Pitts  and  his  men 
saved  themselves  by  slipping  away. 

In  the  fall  of  1862  Snapp  was  made  a  major.  Col. 
Pitts  afterward  resigned  and  James  G.  Rose  succeeded 
him  as  colonel  while  Maj.  Snapp  became  lieutenant-colonel. 

He  was  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  the  battles  of  Fishing 
Creek,  Wild  Cat,  Kentucky  and  others  of  less  severity. 


280  Historic  Sullivan. 

He  attained  the  full  rank  of  colonel  before  the  end  of  the 
war. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  his  farm,  but 
later  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Union, 
now  Bluff  City,  and  sold  goods  successfully  for  a  number 
of  years. 

Always  well  posted  on  current  events  he  was  often 
importuned  to  run  for  office,  but  he  never  entered  ac- 
tively into  politics. 

Although  never  wounded  in  battle  his  bravery  was  of 
the  daring  type  and  he  made  an  efficient  officer. 

He  was  a  man  of  high  moral  character  and  his  integrity 
tallied  to  a  penny.  Being  a  very  candid  man  his  out- 
spoken views  engaged  him  in  controversies  that  were  not 
always  amicably  settled. 

Col.  Snapp  was  a  close  Bible  student  and  took  great 
interest  in  Sunday-school  work.  The  young  men  who 
were  fortunate  enough  to  be  in  his  class  received  that 
instruction  which  can  only  be  obtained  from  a  discerning 
mind  and  a  conscientious  student. 

He  was  never  married.     During  the  last  years  of  his 
life  he  retired  to  his  farm  west  of  Blountville  and  was 
much  concerned  in  building  up  the  farm  interests  of  the 
county. 
ggHe  died  June  30, 1901. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

AGRICULTURE. 

Sullivan  County  wheat  took  first  prize  over  the  world  at 
the  Vienna  Exposition  in  1872 1  and  the  bones  of  the  swiftest 
horse  of  the  racing  days  between  1845  and  1860  mouldered 
on  a  field  at  the  old  Fain  farm,  east  of  Blountville.  Yet 
this  is  not  a  wheat  county  nor  is  it  the  habitat  of  the  horse. 

Nature  has  always  indicated  in  advance  what  her 
climate  and  her  soil  are  best  suited  for.  In  consequence 
the  bison  with  its  bifurcated  hoof  made  a  path  to  the 
salt-licks  and  from  under  the  cover  of  cliffs  cropped  the 
grass  along  beaten  trails  that  led  even  to  our  mountain 
tops.  But  the  horse  with  his  flat  hoof  did  not  belong 
to  our  rugged,  stony  highways.  He  was  running  his  wild 
life  out  over  the  spungy  turf  of  some  western  prarie.2 

Likewise  the  wheat  that  was  sown  on  our  mountain- 
sides showed  in  every  breeze  that  stirred  its  rivery  ripples 
that  it  belonged  to  level  culture — its  original  home  being 
the  rich  bottoms  of  the  river  Nile.  By  the  effect  of  these 
same  breezes  on  the  cornstalk  and  the  shaggy  growth 
of  our  trees  we  see  that  they  are  native  and  firmly  rooted 
in  the  rocks  and  clay. 

Tennesseans  are  a  race  of  destroyers.  This  de- 
destructive  spirit  has  been  inherited  through  generations 
from  our  forefathers,  who  indulged  their  inclination  in 
battle.  Being  denied  any  other  means  of  statisfying 
this  craving  to  destroy,  we  of  later  days  lay  waste  the 
land. 

When  the  first  settlers  cleared  a  piece  of  ground  they 


1  Allison's  Historical  Map. 

2There  is  a  tradition  in  the  neighborhood  of  Kingsport  that  a  wild  horse  found 
its  way  as  far  east  as  Bay's  mountain.  This  horse  in  struggling  for  a  foothold 
above  the  stream  that  ran  along  the  mountain  fell  in  and  was  drowned.  It  was 
a  bay  horse  and  in  consequence  of  this  incident  the  mountain  was  called  Bay  s 
mountain  and  the  stream,  Horse  creek. 


282  Historic  Sullivan. 

worked  it  until  its  producing  quality  was  well-nigh 
exhausted.  They  made  no  effort  to  restore  the  humus 
to  the  soil ;  they  cleared  and  tilled  a  new  piece  while  the 
old  tract  rested  and  reacted.  But  they  left  here  and 
there  in  these  clearings  sugar  maples  and  nut-bearing 
trees.  The  former  with  their  succulent  sap,  had  they 
been  spared,  would  have  furnished  a  forest  of  wealth  in 
the  products  of  maple-sugar  and  syrup,  as  they  do  in 
Vermont  and  Ohio  today. 

The  generations  that  followed,  with  a  better  knowledge 
of  the  chemistry  of  the  soil,  but  ignorant  of  forestry,  found 
a  readier  and  more  remunerative  profit  in  saw  logs,  and 
they  cut  the  maple  for  its  bird's-eye  finish  while  the  walnut 
found  its  way  into  the  cabinet-shop  and  the  wagon  maker 
used  the  hickory.  They  little  thought  to  replace  this 
growth  with  its  cultivated  congener,  such  as  the  hardy 
pecan  and  English  walnut. 

We  have  so  abused  the  provident  foresight  of  our  ances- 
tors that  legislative  bodies  are  seeking  the  best  way  to 
preserve  from  wholesale  destruction  the  forests  of  the 
Appalachian  range,  of  which  we  form  a  part,  while  the 
government  sends  out  a  commission  to  study  the  social 
conditions  and  needs  of  farmers.  Nature  in  this  section 
is  in  the  hands  of  a  receiver.  Then,  too,  our  forefathers 
saw,  in  the  tree  growth  of  the  fragrant  wild  crab-apple 
and  the  twining  vines,  a  fruit  country — and  they  planted 
orchards,  and  the  vines  with  purple  clusters  climbed  along 
the  door  of  every  cabin  while  the  wild  strawberry  that 
grew  on  some  far  away  hillside  was  served  in  delicious 
abundance.  The  orchards  planted  by  that  generation 
lasted  one  hundred  years,  and  when  they,  in  the  natural 
course  of  their  lifetime,  gave  out,  the  people  gave  up; 
they  acted  as  though  they  believed  that  nature  was 
traveling  along  with  some  political  party  and  demanded 
a  change. 

As  time  went  by  and  the  people  became  safe  from  sur- 
prise attacks  there  was  much  work  to  do,  in  reconstructing. 


Agriculture.  283 

But  the  toil  of  those  years  was  tempered  by  the  neighborly 
interest  each  felt  in  the  other.  "Ill  help  you  hoe  today 
and  you  help  me  hay  tomorrow." 

They  communitised  themselves.  The  work  of  the 
slow,  plodding  and  laborious  flail  that  bursted  the  heads 
of  wheat,  and  the  cloth  which,  shaken  across  the  pile, 
winnowed  it,  did  not  dishearten  them,  for  they  saw  jolly 
times  ahead.  The  apple  butter  stirrings,  corn  shuckings 
and  quiltings  all  found  company  and  content. 

The  wooden  plow  mould,  with  its  iron  point,  tore  up  the 
earth  for  sixty  years.3  Then  came  the  steel  plow,  and 
the  flail  was  followed  by  the  ground-hog  thresher. 

As  the  implements  became  more  labor-saving,  new  ideas 
sprang  up  and  were  advanced  as  to  what  method  should  be 
adopted  to  increase  the  yield  and  enlarge  the  profits. 
This  was  the  beginning  of  the  fair  and  grange. 

The  first  fair  in  the  county  was  held  at  Blountville  a  few 
years  before  the  Civil  War.  It  was  begun  in  a  domestic  way 
in  the  court-house  and  was  conducted  more  in  the  nature 
of  a  bazaar.  Products  of  the  farm  were  exhibited,  while 
the  young  women  of  the  neighborhood,  to  whose 
interest  was  largely  due  the  origin,  brought  their  needle- 
work and  dainty  cooking,  which  no  age  has  improved  upon. 

The  merchants,  seeing  wider  commercial  possibilities, 
enlarged  upon  this,  organized  a  company  and  held  the 
fair  at  the  east  end  of  the  town,  where  a  race  track  of  oval 
shape  was  provided.4  A  pavilion  sheltered  the  farm 
exhibits.  These  fairs  continued  up  to  the  Civil  War, 
when,  like  many  other  diversions,  they  yielded  to  the 


3When  we  are  inclined  to  laugh  at  the  primitive  methods  of  plowing  employed 
by  other  countries,  compare  them  with  the  plows  used  as  late  as  1840,  when  the 
steel  plow  was  introduced  here. 

4The  horse  mentioned  in  the  first  of  this  chapter  was  the  property  of  Gen. 
Stokes  and  was  called  Ariel.  It  ran  the  races  from  Richmond  to  New  Orleans. 
So  successful  was  it  that  through  lack  of  competition  it  was  ruled  off  the  track. 
Not  to  be  outdone  Stokes  had  it  dyed  and  entered  it  under  a  new  name.  Again 
it  was  successful  and  passed  at  many  fairs  without  being  detected.  When  the 
time  came  to  remove  the  dve  the  hostler's  instructions  were  to  remove  but  half  at 
a  time,  but,  disregarding  this,  he  removed  it  all,  from  the  effects  of  which  the  horse 
died. 


284  Historic  Sullivan. 

stern  demand  of  living.  To  this  day  the  old  field  where 
the  lairs  were  held  is  called  the  fair-ground. 

The  next  fair  to  be  held  was  the  Border  Fair  of  Bristol, 
supposedly  on  the  state  line,  and  was  the  joint  interest 
of  Sullivan  County,  Tennessee,  and  Washington  county, 
Virginia.  Its  first  president  was  LB.  Dunn.5  It  was  an 
enterprise  that  was  much  appreciated  by  the  county  folk, 
both  of  the  town  and  country — the  best  medium  of 
agricultural  social  life  we  have  had.  It  drew  large  crowds 
— usually  lasted  three  days  and  the  patronage  both  of 
entry  and  attendance  made  it  successful  in  every  way  for 
a  number  of  years.  But  these  fairs  can  not  be  conducted 
successfully  without  the  sympathy  and  cooperation  of 
the  farming  element  and  attempts  to  revive  them  with- 
out their  aid  has  proven  unsuccessful. 

A  fair  was  organized  at  Thomas'  bridge,  on  Beaver 
creek,  in  1891,  by  Jacob  and  Marshall  Thomas.  The 
fair  consisted  chiefly  of  horse-racing  and  was  conducted 
for  two  years  with  varying  success. 

The  abandonment  of  the  county  fair,  the  camp-meetings 
and  other  assemblings — the  bad  roads,  the  withdrawal 
of  the  court  from  Blountville,  the  lack  of  the  old  time 
community  spirit  has  done  much  to  discourage  farm  life 
in  Sullivan,  and  has  driven  much  of  its  best  energy  to  the 
thickly  settled  cities,  while  the  lonesome  day  laborers 
strayed  away  to  public  works.  The  newspapers,  that 
reached  the  people  of  the  interior,  told  of  great  achieve- 
ments and  progress  beyond  them  while  they  remained 
the  same,  and  the  unknownness  of  places  and  people 
made  country  life  only  tolerable  while  the  temptations 
to  leave  it  were  great. 

The  old  time  swapping  spirit  is  gone — swapping  of 
good  nature,  swapping  of  labor,  swapping  of  visits,  swap- 
ping of  products,  and  swapping  of  horses. 


51.  B.  Dunn  was  president  of  the  Border  Fair  for  three  years,  from  1875-78. 
He  was  followed  by  J.  M.  Barker,  1879-82  ;  George  W.  Kuhnert,  1882,  for  one 
year.     There  has  been  some  racing  since,  but  no  organized  Fair. 


Agriculture.  285 

Sullivan  County  in  its  physical  formation  is  one  beauti- 
ful park.  There  is  enough  level  land  for  culture;  there 
are  enough  slopes,  if  carefully  turfed,  for  grazing  herds 
of  cattle  and  flocks  of  sheep,6  and  enough  broad 
limbed  trees  to  shade  them;  there  are  enough  clear  cool 
springs  for  dairying,  to  make  us  famous  for  the  products 
of  this  pursuit.  Then,  instead  of  the  great  loads  of  wheat 
wagon-hauled  by  the  Dicksons  and  Rollers  and  Thomases, 
it  would  be  more  natural  to  see  great  herds  of  cattle 
and  sheep — a  better  grade — driven  by  the  Cartwrights 
and  Hamiltons — not  driven  to  slaughter,  but  to  stock 
other  sections  not  so  favored  as  ours. 

The  farmer  of  Sullivan  county  has  never  given  agri- 
culture the  dignity  it  deserves. 

The  good  roads,  just  beginning  to  reach  these  possi- 
bilities, will  bring  into  the  neglected  farms  new  interests 
and  carry  out  of  them  new  products. 

Sullivan  County  is  just  putting  on  its  agricultural 
overalls. 


6Secretary  Wilson  said  East  Tennessee  was  the  finest  country  for  sheep  raising 
he  had  ever  seen. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE  REMOVAL. 

The  history  of  the  Cherokee  Indians  is  so  intervolved 
with  the  history  of  the  first  settlers  of  our  State  that  any- 
thing concerning  that  tribe  interests  our  people. 

The  removal,  in  1838,  of  these  Indians  from  their  life- 
long homes  surpasses  in  pathos  any  page  of  our  national 
history.  It  is  the  blot  on  the  Escutcheon.  The  cause  of 
this  removal  was  covetousness  on  the  part  of  the  white 
race — a  longing  for  more  land.  The  Indians  were  slowly, 
and  almost  for  a  song,  ceding  away  their  chosen  land. 
Although  the  government  in  a  treaty  (1798)  agreed  to 
"continue  the  guarantee  of  the  remainder  of  their  country 
forever"  the  whites  did  not  cease  making  inroads  and 
encroaching  upon  the  tribe's  land.  By  a  treaty  made 
January  7,  1806  the  Cherokees  ceded  the  large  tract  be- 
tween Duck  river  and  the  Tennessee,  which  included 
Long  Island  in  Sullivan  County  and  embraced  nearly 
seven  thousand  square  miles.  For  this  immense  tract 
they  received  two  thousand  dollars  per  year  for  five  years, 
a  grist  mill,  a  cotton  gin  and  a  life  pension  of  one  hundred 
dollars  per  year  for  the  aged  chief  Black  Fox.  After  anoth- 
er treaty,  made  on  March  22,  1816,  they  declared  they 
would  never  give  up  any  more  land. 

Gov.  McMinn,  of  Tennessee,  under  instructions 
from  Washington,  was  using  his  efforts  to  have  the  In- 
dians removed.  At  a  council  in  November,  1818,  he  rep- 
resented to  the  chiefs  it  was  no  longer  possible  to  protect 
them  from  the  encroachments  of  the  whites,  that  their 
lands  would  be  taken,  their  stock  stolen,  their  women 
abused,  and  their  men  made  drunkards  unless  they  re- 
moved to  the  allotted  territory  in  the  West.  He  concluded 
by  offering  them  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  their 


JOHN    ROSS   (Gu   wisguwi) 
Last  Chief  of  the  Eastern  Cherokees 


The  Removal.  287 

lands.  They  indignantly  refused.  He  then  doubled  the 
sum,  but  the  negotiations  failed. 

A  new  civilization  and  a  new  form  of  government  now 
sprung  up — principally  through  the  influence  of  John 
Ross,  the  last  chief  of  the  Eastern  Cherokees.  It  became 
treason,  punishable  by  death,  for  any  one  to  sell  lands 
without  the  consent  of  the  council. 

Another  Cherokee — Sequoya — distinguished  himself 
about  this  time  by  inventing  the  Cherokee  alphabet.  He 
was  the  Cadmus  of  his  race.  It  was  easily  learned  and 
even  without  the  aid  of  schools  communication  became 
more  rapid  and  intelligent.  Sequoya  was  granted  a  pen- 
sion by  the  government  and  was  the  only  literary  pen- 
sioner in  the  United  States.  The  Sequoya  trees  of  Cali- 
fornia are  named  in  his  honor. 

John  Ross  was  made  chief  in  1828  and  is  the  principal 
author  of  a  constitution  which  was  the  first  to  govern 
an  Indian  tribe.  He  held  the  position  of  chief  up  to  his 
death  in  1866,  being  thirty-eight  years  the  head  of  the 
nation. 

Their  acquirements  in  the  way  of  enlightenment  seem- 
ed to  avail  them  little.  Georgia  was  pressing  them  for 
their  lands  and  was  resorting  to  all  kinds  of  strategy — to 
secret  schemes  and  open  overtures,  but  all  were  met  with 
firm  refusal.  "It  is  the  final  and  unalterable  determina- 
tion of  this  nation  never  again  to  cede  one  foot  more  of 
land." 

When,  in  1827,  the  Cherokees  adopted  a  constitution, 
the  Georgia  legislature  passed  a  resolution  affirming  that 
the  State  "had  the  power  and  right  to  possess  herself,  by 
any  means  she  might  choose,  of  the  lands  in  dispute  and 
to  extend  over  them  her  authority  and  laws." 

CAUSE  OF  REMOVAL. 

Up  to  1815  all  negotiations  had  been  for  land  only. 
In  this  year  a  little  Indian  boy  in  his  rambles  along  the 
Chestatee  river  brought  a  shining  pebble,  about  the  size 
of  a  small  marble,  to  his  mother.     She  carried  it  to  the 


288  Historic  Sullivan. 

nearest  settlement  and  sold  it  to  a  white  man.  It  proved 
to  be  gold.  The  news  spread  and  in  four  years  this  sec- 
tion was  overrun  with  white  prospectors. 

In  1828  gold  was  found  on  Ward  creek — the  end  of 
Cherokee  possession  was  near. 

In  this  same  year  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  Presi- 
dent. He  was  an  Indian  fighter  and  an  Indian  hater. 
Although  the  Cherokees,  six  hundred  strong,  were  among 
his  greatest  allies  in  his  battle  against  the  Creeks,  he 
now  turned  against  them  and  would  offer  them  no  sym- 
pathy nor  aid. 

Junaluska,  one  of  the  bravest  of  the  chiefs  who  accom- 
panied him,  was  heard  to  say, "If  I  had  known  that  Jackson 
would  drive  us  from  our  homes  I  would  have  killed  him 
that  day  at  the  Horseshoe."  When  it  was  known  the 
sympathy  of  Jackson  was  not  enlisted  for  the  Indian, 
depredations  by  the  whites  became  general.  Armed  men 
went  through  the  tribe,  pillaging  and  burning.  Laws 
were  passed  dispossessing  the  Indians  of  their  homes 
without  redress.  Life  became  almost  intolerable  and 
property  valueless  to  the  Cherokee.  He  was  not  allowed 
to  dig  gold  on  his  own  land  nor  was  his  testimony  permit- 
ted against  any  white  man.  He  was  helpless.  The  Su- 
preme Court  and  the  laws  of  Georgia  conflicted.  Georgia 
defied  the  courts.  The  issue  became  a  national  one  and 
party  lines  were  drawn.1  Such  men  as  Henry  Clay,  Dan- 
iel Webster,  Edward  Everett,  Wise  of  Virginia  and  Davy 
Crockett  defended  the  Indian.  Through  all  these  trials 
Chief  John  Ross  was  very  active  in  behalf  of  his  people; 
so  much  so,  he  had,  under  threat,  to  seek  refuge  in  Ten- 
nessee. He  was  later  captured  by  the  Georgia  guard 
along  with  John  Howard  Payne,  who  was  then  stopping 
with  Ross  for  the  purpose  of  studying  the  Indian  life. 
They  were  taken  across  the  line  into  Georgia  where  Ross 
was  held  a  prisoner  for  some  time,  but  was  finally  released 
without  explanation. ' 

lit  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  two  races,  the  Indian  and  the  negro,  have  caused 
the  bitterest  controversies  in  our  government. 


The  Removal.  289 

The  treaty  of  1835,  wherein  about  four  hundred  out  of 
seventeen  thousand  Cherokees  ceded  all  their  lands  west 
of  the  Mississippi  to  the  United  States  for  five  million 
dollars,  and  a  portion  of  land  in  Indian  Territory  was  rat- 
ified at  New  Echota.  A  man  named  Schermerhorn  was 
the  government  representative.  He  purported  to  be  a 
minister  of  the  gospel,  but,  on  account  of  his  underhand 
dealing,  had  to  be  warned  that  nothing  but  "fair  and  open 
terms"  would  be  acceptable.  The  removal  was  to  take 
place  two  years  from  the  date  of  the  treaty. 

At  the  expiration  of  this  time,  however,  only  about  two 
thousand  of  the  Indians  had  left  and  it  became  evident 
that  the  removal  would  only  be  accomplished  by  force. 
Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was  given  charge  of  these  affairs 
with  about  seven  thousand  soldiers,  four  thousand  of 
whom  were  volunteers.  Sullivan  County  furnished  her 
share  and  more  wanted  to  go. 

Troops  were  sent  to  various  points  in  the  Cherokee 
country,  where  they  erected  stockades  in  which  to  hold 
the  Indians  after  they  were  corralled.  From  these  stock- 
ades squads  of  soldiers  armed  with  rifles  and  bayonets 
were  sent  through  the  mountains  to  bring  in  all  Indians 
that  could  be  found.  Men  going  along  the  road  or  found 
in  their  fields  were  seized,  and  squaws  engaged  in  their 
domestic  duties  were  taken,  while  children,  all  unmindful 
of  the  approaching  seizure,  were  often  caught  at  play  and 
forced  to  go.  There  were  instances  when  a  family,  on 
being  taken, looked  back  and  saw  their  old  home  burning — 
set  on  fire  by  rowdy  camp-followers;  some  on  mischief 
bent,  some  for  purposes  of  theft,  some  out  of  revenge. 
These  ruffians  were  so  ruthless  in  their  thefts  they  even 
dug  into  the  graves  of  the  dead  to  rob  them  of  metal  orna- 
ments. 

One  old  gray-haired  Indian,  when  told  he  must  go, 
called  his  family,  including  his  grandchildren,  about  him 
and  all  knelt  down  and  prayed  in  their  own  language. 


290  Historic  Sullivan. 

Even  the  hardened  hearts  of  the  soldiers  softened  at  this 
sight.  Concluding  the  prayer  they  silently  followed  the 
soldiers. 

At  one  house  which  the  soldiers  surrounded,  as  was  their 
custom  to  prevent  escape,  the  woman  of  the  home  went  to 
the  door,  called  up  the  chickens  to  be  fed  for  the  last  time, 
then,  with  her  infant  on  her  back  and  leading  two  other 
children,  followed  the  men  to  her  exile. 

All  the  Indians  were  not  so  submissive.  An  aged  man 
called  Tsali  (Charley)  was  taken  with  his  family  and  the 
families  of  his  three  sons.  His  wife,  being  too  old  to  walk 
as  fast  as  the  soldiers  desired,  was  prodded  with  bayonets 
to  hurry  her  along.  The  old  man  could  not  control  him- 
self. Talking  in  Cherokee  to  the  others  he  quickly  form- 
ed a  plan  to  attack  the  soldiers  at  a  given  signal.  This 
was  done  and  each  Indian  grabbed  the  soldier  nearest 
him — their  guns  were  taken  and  one  soldier  was  killed. 
The  rest  fled  while  the  Indians  escaped  into  the  mountains. 
Many  also  escaped  from  the  stockades  and  seeing  it  im- 
possible to  secure  all,  Gen.  Scott  made  a  proposition 
through  Col.  Thomas,  agreeing  that  if  they  would  surren- 
der Charley  and  his  party  for  punishment  he  would  let  the 
others  alone  until  the  courts  could  adjust  the  matter. 
Charley  on  hearing  this  came  in  of  his  own  accord,  accom- 
panied by  his  brother  and  sons.  He  offered  himself  a 
sacrifice  for  his  nation.     All  were  shot. 

Those  fugitives  that  remained  at  large,  unmolested, 
were  the  ancestors  of  the  present  tribe  of  the  eastern  Cher- 
okees. 

After  having  collected  nearly  seventeen  thousand  of 
the  Cherokees  the  long  journey  began.  Some  went  by 
river,  but  the  great  majority  went  overland.  A  delay  of 
several  months  was  occasioned  by  the  extreme  hot  weath- 
er. The  march  was  resumed  in  October  and  continued 
through  the  entire  winter. 

It  was  a  great  cavalcade,  requiring  six  hundred  and 
forty-five  wagons  besides  horses  for  riding.     The  course 


The  Removal.  291 

of  the  exiles  was  a  trail  of  death — from  ten  to  twenty- 
dying  each  day.  Among  them  was  the  devoted  wife  of 
Chief  Ross  who  had  to  be  buried  by  the  roadside.  When 
the  end  came  in  March,  1839,  over  four  thousand  had  died 
from  the  effects  of  the  removal. 

It  is  hard  for  us  now  to  harmonize  our  convictions  with 
the  events  that  transpired  at  this  period,  but  the  act  re- 
calls that  of  William  the  Conqueror,  who,  to  satisfy  his 
passion  for  outdoor  sport,  demolished  the  homes  and 
churches  of  the  peasantry  for  thirty  miles  in  New  Forest, 
and  offered  no  return  for  the  loss.  It  befell  that  in  a  short 
while  three  of  his  house  met  violent  accidental  deaths  in 
this  forest. 


John  Netherland. 
a  biography. 

John  Netherland  was  born  in  Powhatan  county,  Vir- 
ginia, September  20,  1808,  but  his  parents  removed  to 
Sullivan  County  when  he  was  an  infant  and  settled 
at  Kingsport. 

He  had  the  advantage  of  a  good  education,  being  a 
pupil  of  Doak,  under  whom  his  academic  course  was 
completed  in  his  fourteenth  year — after  this  he  had  home 
training  under  Henry  Hoss,  an  excellent  scholar. 

He  began  the  study  of  law  in  1828  and  was  practising 
in  1829.  Early  in  life  he  became  interested  in  politics, 
and  in  1833,  when  but  twenty-five  years  old,  was  elected 
to  the  state  senate  from  the  district  composed  of  Sullivan, 
Hawkins  and  Carter  counties.  While  in  this  body  he 
attained  high  rank  among  his  colleagues. 

While  he  was  a  member,  one  of  the  leading  questions 
of  the  day  came  up — that  pertaining  to  the  removal  of 
the  Indians  from  their  eastern  homes  to  the  territory 
set  apart  for  them  beyond  the  Mississippi.  In  an 
eloquent  speech,  in  which  he  appealed  to  the  humane 
side,  he  took  a  stand  against  the  removal. 

A  revision  of  the  state  constitution  in  1834,  by  which 
the  eligible  age  of  a  state  senator  was  placed  at  thirty, 
threw  him  out  of  the  race.  In  1835,  however,  he  was 
elected  to  represent  Sullivan  County  in  the  legislature. 
It  was  while  serving  as  representative  that  he  furnishes 
an  example  of  high  integrity  in  office.  He  refused  to 
vote  for  a  resolution,  asking  our  senators  to  vote  for  the 
expunging  clause,  which  referred  to  an  act  of  censure 
passed  upon  Andrew  Jackson.  Sullivan  County  en- 
dorsed it  in  a  primary  and  asked  Netherland  to  vote  for  it, 
but  rather  than  go  against  his  principles  he  resigned  his 
commission  and  returned  to  private  life. 


KS 


^  w^\ 


JOHN   NETHERLAND 


John  Netherland.  293 

In  1848  he  was  elector  for  the  state  at  large  on  the 
Taylor-Filmore  ticket. 

In  1851  he  was  elected  representative  from  Hawkins 
county. 

When  in  1859  the  Whig  or  what  was  then  known  as 
the  "Opposition"  party  wanted  a  candidate  for  governor, 
Netherland  was  unanimously  the  choice  of  the  conven- 
tion at  Nashville.  He  accepted  although  he  knew  he 
had  little  chance  of  success.  Isham  G.  Harris  was  his 
opponent  and  defeated  him — Netherland,  however, 
ran  far  ahead  of  his  ticket.  Along  with  Thomas  A. 
R.  Nelson  and  Andrew  Johnson,  Netherland  took  sides 
with  the  Union  during  the  Civil  War  and  while  he  suf- 
fered, as  many  others  on  both  sides,  he  did  not  harbor 
hatred,  but  advised  tolerance  and  good  feeling  when  the 
battles  were  over. 

His  last  official  act  was  as  a  member  of  the  constitutional 
convention  of  1870,  although  he  was  afterwards  tendered 
a  foreign  mission  by  President  Johnson,  which  he  declined. 

It  is  more  as  a  lawyer  than  as  a  politician  that  his 
memory  will  be  preserved.  He  was  one  of  the  strongest 
advocates  in  this  or  any  other  state. 

During  John  Netherlands  last  days  as  a  practicioner 
at  the  Blountville  bar  the  venerable  appearance  of  the 
man  seemed  to  add  weight  to  all  said.  Besides  his  legal 
knowledge  he  knew  human  nature.  He  was  a  well  in- 
formed man,  reading  much  and  committing  to  memory — 
his  favorite  writings  were  the  Bible  and  Robert  Burns, 
from  which  he  would  often  quote.  No  jury  could  resist 
his  style  of  delivering  a  message  to  them.     He  would 

often  make  personal  appeals  to  a  juryman — "Bob , 

I  remember,  sir,  when  your  father  was  cut  to  pieces  in 

that   sawmill  "    And   while   such  methods  may 

not  conform  to  legal  ethics,  they  influenced. 

He  was  especially  forceful  in  criminal  practise  and  the 
prisoner  was  well  favored  who  secured  him  as  counsel. 
When  he  was  acting  in  a  murder  case — defending  a  prisoner 


294  Historic  Sullivan. 

— groups  of  men  could  be  seen  entering  the  court-house. 
The  farmer  found  it  possible  to  postpone  his  work,  the 
business  man  left  his  counter,  the  carpenter  his  bench 
and  even  the  school  boy,  always  ready  to  rebel  against 
listening  to  discourses  of  any  kind,  hurried  to  the  court- 
room— all  drawn  thither  by  the  report  that  "John  Nether- 
land  closes  for  the  defense." 

He  was  once  engaged  to  defend  a  young  man  charged 
with  murder.  There  are  two  periods  of  life  that  appeal 
to  any  jury — youth  and  old  age.  He  would  often  say,  "I 
quote  from  the  good  book — the  greatest  of  all  books — 
the  book  upon  which  all  human  law  is  founded."  This 
time  he  plead  for  mercy.  He  told  the  story  of  Absalom, 
the  young  man  who  mutinied,  and  how,  despite  the  grave 
charge,  the  king  plead  for  his  life  on  account  of  his  youth. 
"And  David,"  said  he  in  concluding,  "  'numbered  the 
people  that  were  with  him  and  set  captains  of  thousands 
and  captains  of  hundreds  over  them.  And  David  sent 
forth  a  third  part  of  the  people  under  the  hand  of  Joab 
and  a  third  part  under  the  hand  of  Abishai  and  a  third 
part  under  the  hand  of  Ittaii.  And  the  king  stood  by 
the  gate  side  and  all  the  people  came  out  by  hundreds 
and  by  thousands.  And  the  king  commanded  Joab  and 
Abishai  and  Ittaii,  saying,  deal  gently  for  my  sake  with 
the  young  man  Absalom' — gentlemen  of  the  jury, 
deal  gently  with  the  young  man." 

But  for  his  cheerful  spirit,  that  never  forsook  him, 
his  last  days  might  have  gone  out  in  gloom.  Himself 
a  great  sufferer  from  bodily  affliction,  his  cup  of  sorrow 
was  filled  by  the  unhappy  fate  of  his  household.  His 
favorite  kinsman  had  passed  from  earth;  his  son  and 
namesake,  John,  had  died  from  pneumonia,  the  result 
of  exposure  in  rescuing  his  father  from  drowning;  his 
wife,  the  companion  of  his  long  life,  was  dead  and  his 
daughter,  Molly,  had  been  killed  by  being  thrown  from  a 
runaway  horse.  And  as  the  old  jurist  sat  on  his  sunny 
porch  one  afternoon,  his  long  stem  pipe  held  in  a  palsied 


John  Netherland.  295 

hand,  which,  with  his  increasing  emotion,  tossed  the 
ashes  in  his  lap,  he  thus  sorrowed.  "Sam,"  he  said  to 
his  companion,  "old  John's  gone — and  young  John's 
gone — and  Sarah's  gone — and  Molly's  gone " 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

THE  NEWSPAPER— POLITICS. 

John  Slack  was  the  Nestor  of  the  press  of  upper  East 
Tennessee. 

He  was  born  in  McMinn  county,  Tennessee,  December 
19,  1835,  his  family  having  removed  from  Fauquier 
county,  Virginia.  Orphaned  during  his  infancy  he  and 
his  two  elder  brothers  were  reared  by  a  bachelor  uncle. 

When  seventeen  years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed  to 
Sam.  P.  Ivans  of  the  Athens,  Tennessee,  Post — remained 
with  him  for  four  years  and  then  became  a  journeyman 
printer,  working  at  various  places  in  the  South. 

In  1859  he  went  to  Jonesboro  and  in  partnership  with 
Charles  Byars  established  the  Whig,  which  later  became 
the  Express,  Byars  selling  out  to  Slack. 

While  there  he  met  Julia  P.  Holston,  who  was  attending 
school,  and  was  married  to  her  in  September,  1862. 

He  moved  to  Bristol  in  1865,  bought  out  and  revived 
the  Bristol  News.  He  was  appointed  post-master  by 
Andrew  Johnson,  later  going  to  Greeneville  to  manage 
and  publish  a  paper  in  Johnson's  interest.  It  was 
Union  in  politics. 

He  was  elected  to  the  legislature  from  Sullivan  County 
in  1869 — started  the  Bristol  Courier  in  1870.  A  more 
extended  account  of  his  newspaper  connection  is  given 
later  in  this  chapter. 

In  1885  he  was  appointed,  by  Cleveland,  post-master 
at  Bristol — was  elected  trustee  of  Sullivan  County  in 
1894  and  re-elected  in  1896.  In  1898  he  was  elected 
state  senator,  being  in  this  office  when  he  died,  October 
13,  1900. 

It  would  be  hard  to  measure  the  influence  and  the 
worth  to  East  Tennessee  of  a  man  like  John  Slack.  He 
was  a  commoner  and  he  came  at  a  time  when  the  times 


JOHN    SLACK 


The  Newspaper— Politics.  297 

most  needed  him.  The  war  was  over,  but  there  were 
wounds  to  heal.  He  was  always  conservative.  Had  he 
been  of  a  discordant,  jarring  nature  he  could  easily, 
through  his  paper,  have  kept  alive  the  coals  of  controversy, 
which  some  one  was  always  ready  to  fan  into  a  blaze. 
But  he  sought  to  smooth  down  dissension  and  he 
tempered  the  times  with  sound  advice. 

He  differed  from  his  associates  in  political  sentiment, 
but  he  did  not  differ  from  them  in  their  sorrow. 

Frank  in  the  outward  show  of  the  inner  self,  he  at  times 
appeared  brusque  and  rude  in  manner,  but  he  was  of 
kindly  heart  and  envied  no  man  a  betterment. 

He  craved  no  honor  that  carried  with  it  only  the  glitter 
of  parade.  When  Gen.  William  B.  Bate  was  elected  gov- 
ernor he  invited  the  editor  to  become  a  member  of  his 
staff,  the  position  adorning  the  holder  with  the  title  of 
colonel.  His  reply  was  characteristic — "I  am  too  homely 
to  be  an  ornament  and  too  poor  to  be  useful — please 
excuse  me." 

In  church  work  he  was  a  balancing  force.  He  was 
especially  interested  in  the  Sunday-school  and  the  class- 
meeting — that  love  least  where  the  faithful  old  souls 
gather  and  wring  the  heart  of  religion  and  sympathize 
with  one  another  and  sob  away  their  sorrow.  Here  he 
was  to  be  found  and  his  best  epitaph  is  the  memory  the 
survivors  have  of  him.  The  secret  of  his  influence 
with  his  fellow  citizens  lay  in  his  confidence  in  them, 
which  they  rewarded  with  unquestioned  confidence  in  him. 

One  day  a  tall,  swaying  figure  brushed  into  his  office — 
his  trousers  stuffed  into  his  boot  tops.  Slack  was  stand- 
ing at  a  case,  setting  up  an  editorial.  "John,"  said  the 
man,  "I  got  your  dun.  Look-a-here  John,  I  paid  you 
that  subscription  last  fall,  don't  you  mind?" 

"Well,"  replied  the  editor,  "if  you  say  you  paid  it  I'll 
take  your  word  for  it  and  scratch  it  off  the  books,"  and 
he  did. 

He  kept  his  accounts  with  his  fellow  men  as  he  kept 


298  Historic  Sullivan. 

his  accounts  with  his  conscience.  He  was  honest  in  purse 
and  purpose.  And  standing  on  the  rim  of  his  rounded 
life  and  looking  back  over  the  circle  of  his  years  the  path 
he  left  is  not  hard  to  find,  and  there  are  not  so  many 
divergences  but  that  it  may  be  safely  followed. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  publishing  business  of  Sullivan 
County  the  newspaper  had  a  varied  existence.  The 
office  generally  occupied  space  not  suited  for  any  other 
active  industry.  The  usual  force  consisted  of  two  type- 
setters and  the  devil,  who  was  general  utility  boy.  In 
the  event  of  breakdowns  and  delays  the  editor,  who  was 
nearly  always  a  practical  printer,  set  his  editorials  from 
memory.  The  old  Washington  hand  press  was  then  in 
use.  The  office  towel  was  also  in  use  and  was  never 
clean. 

The  editor's  sanctum  was  the  loafing  place  of  political 
students  and  those  who  wanted  to  read  the  dailies — 
it  was  a  time  when  individuality  was  stamped  upon  the 
editorial  columns.  The  querry  was  not  "what  does  the 
Tribune  have  to  say,"  but  "what  does  Horace  have  to 
say?" — meaning  Horace  Greeley. 

The  editor,  too,  was  supposed  to  be  a  general  informa- 
tion bureau  and  was  expected  to  know  everything  from 
how  to  plant  cucumbers  in  the  sign  to  expounding  inter- 
national law.  For  many  years  the  county  was  content 
with  the  four-page  weekly  paper,  and,  while  the  business 
corner  announced  the  subscription  price  "one  dollar  per 
annum,  invariably  in  advance,"  few  there  were  who — 
mindful  that  the  editor  was  mortal,  had  wants  and  must 
eat — heeded  the  rule,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year  this 
sway  of  public  opinion  was  glad  to  accept  wood  or 
vegetables  or  any  kind  of  farm  products  in  payment  of 
delinquent  subscriptions.  One  paper,  in  good-natured 
desperation,  offered  to  take  spring  greens. 


The  Newspaper— Politics.  299 

With  the  advent  of  the  railroads  came  the  newspapers. 
In  May,  1857,  a  stock  company  bought  a  press  and  A. 
K.  Moore,  a  real  estate  agent,  was  made  the  first  editor 
of  the  Bristol  News.  J.  Austin  Speery  succeeded  him  in 
a  short  while  and  is  still  considered  the  pioneer  editor 
of  this  section.  Speery  remained  with  the  paper  until 
1862,  when  he  went  to  Knoxville  to  take  charge  of  the 
Knoxville  Register.  This  paper  refugeed  in  Bristol 
during  the  Civil  War.  The  News  press  also  printed 
the  Presbyterian  Witness,  which  was  edited  by  Revs. 
A.  Blackburn,  J.  M.  McClain  and  James  King. 

The  Southern  Advocate  succeeded  the  News  v/ith  Rev. 
W.  W.  Neal,  editor,  and  at  the  close  of  its  brief  career 
the  State  Line  Gazette  was  started.  W.  L.  Rice  had  re- 
cently sold  some  land  with  a  view  of  going  west  when  he 
was  persuaded  by  Martin  Coman  to  invest  here  and  the 
result  was  the  launching  of  the  border  paper.  The  Gazette 
began  business  with  all  the  promise  of  prosperity. 
Coman  made  a  soliciting  trip  through  Wise,  Russell  and 
Lee  counties,  Virginia,  securing  five  hundred  dollars 
worth  of  subscriptions  and  job  work.  Rice  made  a  busi- 
ness trip  to  Baltimore  immediately  after  the  war,  when 
the  East  was  seeking  to  renew  trade  with  the  South,  and  the 
way  merchants  took  advertising  space  made  his  heart 
glad.  He  thereupon  spent  several  hundred  dollars 
for  additional  material  to  accommodate  the  visions  of 
abundance  that  were  heaping  up. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  year  Rice  thought  it  was  time 
some  remittances  were  coming  in  to  reimburse  him  for 
the  money  he  was  paying  out  to  keep  the  paper  alive. 
Statements  were  sent  to  Wise,  Russell  and  Lee  counties 
and  in  return  counter  statements  were  received  of  debts 
Coman  had  made  before  associating  himself  with  the 
newspaper.  To  complete  his  experience  the  editor  got 
into  a  controversy  with  George  Gresham,  of  the  Jones- 
boro  Flag,  and  the  bitter  personalities  threatened  to 
bring  the  two  men  together;  however,  after  Gresham 


300  Historic  Sullivan. 

and  a  party  of  friends  came  to  Bristol  with  the  intention 
of  whipping  Rice,  they  suddenly  changed  their  minds  and 
returned  home  without  making  any  explanations.  Rice 
sold  out  to  W.  W.  Neal  and  not  before  he  was  ready 
to  sell.  He  had  sunk  three  thousand  dollars  in  the  enter- 
prise. 

In  1865  John  Slack  restored  the  old  News,  and  in 
1866  leased  it  to  D.  F.  Bailey,  who  ran  it  for  a  year. 
It  was  then  purchased  by  I.  C.  and  Elbert  Fowler,  remain- 
ing the  property  of  the  former  until  his  appointment 
as  clerk  of  the  Federal  Court,  at  Abingdon,  Virginia. 
A.  C.  Smith  and  M.  T.  Harrison  then  had  charge  of  the 
paper  until  1890,  when  it  became  a  daily  and  Sam. 
C.  W.  Smith  succeeded  Harrison— the  father  and  son 
ran  it  for  eighteen  years.  It  then  became  the  property  of 
a  stock  company  with  N.  B.  Remine,  editor. 

John  Slack  founded  the  Bristol  Courier  in  1870.  W. 
M.  Burro w  purchased  it  in  1876,  but  retained  the  editor, 
who  a  year  later  took  charge  again.  It  enjoyed  a  large 
job  printing  patronage,  issuing  college  papers  and  the 
Holston  Methodist.  In  1880  an  attempt  was  made  to 
publish  the  Daily  Courier  but  it  was  ephemeral— lasting 
only  three  weeks. 

In  1888  Charles  H.  Slack  became  connected  with  the 
business  and  the  first  permanent  daily  paper  established 
in  the  county  was  launched  September  15th  of  that 
year.  The  editorials  were  characterized  by  an  independ- 
ence of  thought,  expressed  in  such  terse  style  that  they 
were  quoted  all  over  the  state  and  the  paper  became 
an  iconoclast  in  Tennessee  journalism.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  about  one  year,  during  which  publication  was 
supended,  it  existed  as  the  Daily  Courier  until  merged 
with  the  Herald  in  February,  1907,  becoming  the  Herald- 
Courier.  C.  H.  Slack,  John  Slack,  Munsey  Slack,  Jack 
Faw,  Nat  Dulaney,  Jr.,  N.  B.  Remine  and  Herschel 
Dove  have  successively  been  managing  editors  of  this 
paper. 


The  Newspaper— Politics.  301 

In  1896  the  Daily  Times  was  launched  by  Faw  and 
Underwood.  In  1898  this  paper  bought  the  Daily  Courier 
and  became  the  Times-Courier — John  Slack,  however,  re- 
taining the  Weekly  Courier.  In  September,  1898,  the 
Daily  Tribune  was  started  as  a  campaign  paper,  James 
A.  Stone  and  John  W.  Price  being  the  promoters,  with 
Herschel  Dove  as  associate  editor.  ^This  paper  was 
merged  into  the  Times-Courier  in  December,  same  year. 
In  1900  a  company  bought  the  Tribune-Times-Courier 
and  the  paper  again  became  the  Daily  Courier. 

The  first  daily  paper  published  in  the  county  was 
called  the  Daily  Argus,  the  first  copy  appearing  November 
17,  1879.  George  T.  Hammer  and  John  T.  Barnes 
were  the  proprietors,  with  W.  F.  Rhea,  John  Caldwell 
and  Will  Pepper  editors  at  different  times.  It  lived 
for  three  months  and  was  the  first  penny  daily  ever  printed 
in  Tennessee.  It  declared  in  its  first  issue,  "our  aim  shall 
be  to  live  and  let  live  and  in  order  to  live  up  to  it  or  rather 
down  to  it  we  must  run  our  business  strictly  on  a  cash 
and  pay-down  system."  The  subscription  price  was 
five  cents  per  week. 

In  1873  William  Burrow  published  the  Souvenir,  a 
literary  journal,  which  for  a  time  had  the  phenomenal 
circulation  of  five  thousand,  covering  many  states. 
It  was  run  for  two  years. 

In  1879  William  and  Robert  Burrow  began  the  publi- 
cation of  the  Reporter,  a  weekly  paper.  In  1885  Thomas 
J.  and  Joseph  H.  Burrow  took  charge.  This  paper  ran 
for  two  years  and  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  the 
best  condenser  of  news  in  the  state. 

The  Landmark  was  a  Bluff  City  product,  appearing  in 
1872— W.  D.  Pendleton,  proprietor,  and  Maj.  B.  G. 
McDowell,  editor.  R.  M.  Dickey  and  Will  V.  Vance  were 
also  editors,  the  former  in  1873  and  the  latter  in  1874. 

This  paper  was  moved  to  Blountville  in  1878  and  was 
the  first  paper  to  be  published  at  the  county  capital. 

The  Central  Star  followed  it  a  few  years  later,  fostered 


302  Historic  Sullivan, 

by  Ben.  L.  Dulaney  and  N.  J.  Phillips.  Phillips,  coming 
into  full  possession,  removed  the  paper  to  Newport, 
Tennessee.  After  sinking  a  discouraging  amount  of  money 
the  editor  one  day  opined  that  he  would  as  soon  as  not 
sink  the  whole  outfit  in  the  river,  which  ran  back  of 
the  office.  And  such,  sometimes,  is  the  vexatious  and 
uncertain  existence  of  this  kind  of   enterprise. 

Between  the  closing  of  1906  and  the  beginning  of  1907 
there  was  an  interregnum  in  the  newspaper  business  of 
Sullivan.  But  this  lapse  was  partly  covered  by  the 
issuance,  at  Kingsport,  of  a  weekly  paper  called  The 
Zephyr,  William  Peltier  being  the  promoter. 

The  Sullivan  County  Developer  is  the  latest  offering 
from  the  press  and  began  its  existence  at  Bluff  City 
in  1908,  with  W.  D.  Lyon,  editor. 

With  all  the  drawbacks  in  the  way  of  office  accommo- 
dations and  the  meager  support  the  early  editor  derived 
from  his  paper  there  is  no  doubt  of  its  influence.  As 
a  fashioner  of  sentiment  it  was  most  powerful  because  of 
extensive  circulation.  The  men  who  conducted  these 
old-time  weekly  papers  uniformly  gave  sound  advice  and 
were  conservative.  Whatever  radical  opinions  they 
may  have  had  they  did  not  find  it  expedient,  in  the  face 
of  limited  means,  to  assert  such  views,  and  in  all 
instances  were  builders  of  prosperity  as  well  as  of  public 
opinion. 

POLITICS. 

Most  of  the  newspapers  of  Sullivan  have  been  political 
and  the  politics  of  the  county  has  been  democratic.  The 
influence  of  Andrew  Jackson  still  lives. 

The  most  exciting  campaign  was  during  the  Polk  and 
Clay  candidacy  for  President.  Polk  being  a  Tennessean 
made  the  fight  local  as  well  as  national.  It  was  a  color 
campaign — pokeberries  and  clay  mud  being  the  party 
emblems.  One  side  would  stain  a  fence  or  house  with 
pokeberries  and  the  other  would  would  cover  it  with  a 


The  Newspaper— Politics.  303 

daub  of  clay  mud.  In  those  days  candidates  always 
engaged  in  joint  debate.  It  was  not  necessary  to  chal- 
lenge— it  was  understood.  These  joint  discussions  drew 
immense  audiences  and  were  consequently  conducted 
in  a  grove  or  open-air  pavilion.  There  being  no  great 
number  of  newspapers  the  people  sought  information 
from  the  political  speakers  and  they  usually  obtained 
it,  for  these  speakers,  accustomed  to  public  appearances 
and  never  knowing  what  inquiries  might  be  made,  became 
well  informed  men. 

During  the  Know-nothing  campaign  of  1855,  in  a  speech 
at  the  Institute  grove  in  Blountville,  Andrew  Johnson, 
for  the  edification  and  enlightenment  of  his  audience 
as  well  as  to  the  discomfiture  of  his  opponent — Meredith 
P.  Gentry — defined  know-nothingism  as  "the  little  end  of 
nothing  whittled  to  a  point." 

These  speakers,  too,  often  appealed  to  the  sentiment 
of  the  audience  and  when  lacking  for  a  more  suitable 
plea  imposed  upon  prejudice. 

When  Gen.  Stokes  and  DeWitt  Senter  were  opposing 
each  other  for  governor  they  engaged  in  a  discussion  at 
Blountville.  Stokes  was  the  owner  of  Ariel,  the  famous 
race-horse.  He  appealed  to  the  horse-breeding  and 
agricultural  spirit  of  his  countrymen,  "the  bones  of  Ariel," 
said  he,  "are  mouldering  on  Sullivan  County  soil." 

Replying  to  this  Senter  said :  "I  grant  you  it  is  a  great 
honor  to  have  the  resting  place  of  the  fastest  horse  of  the 
times,  but  gentlemen  the  bones  of  an  ancestor  of 
mine,  who  fought  in  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain,  are 
sleeping  in  Sullivan,  and  what  are  the  bones  of  the  fastest 
horse  in  the  world  compared  with  the  sacred  dust  of  a 
man  who  fought  for  your  liberties." 

That  politics  makes  strange  bedfellows  is  demonstrated 
in  the  following:  When  John  Blair  and  John  Tipton 
were  running  for  congress  in  1825  they  had  an  engage- 
ment to  speak  in  Blountville.  After  they  had  completed 
their  discussion  they  went  to  the  hotel  and  the  proprietor 


304  Historic  Sullivan. 

unthoughtedly  assigned  both  men  to  the  same  room. 
However  opposed  to  each  other's  political  views  men  in 
that  day  may  have  been  they  could  accommodate  personal 
inconveniences  with  singular  inconsistency.  When  the 
two  men  retired  Tipton  described  how  he  had  been  to 
Hawkins  and  fixed  things  to  suit  himself  and  thus,  secure 
in  his  own  contemplation,  laughed  himself  to  sleep.  Blair 
then  quietly  dressed  himself,  slipped  down  stairs,  ordered 
his  horse,  and  when  his  antagonist  awoke  next  morning 
the  Hawkins  affair  was  being  fixed  the  other  way. 


JOSEPH  R.  ANDERSON 


Joseph  R.  Anderson. 

A  BIOGRAPHY. 

The  true  measurement  of  a  man  is  not  the  much 
he  amounts  to  while  living,  but  more  of  the  much 
he  amounts  to  when  dead. 

The  name  of  Joseph  R.  Anderson  grows  in  strength 
as  the  years  go  by.  He  had  the  elements  of  greatness. 
A  man  who  can  found  a  city  can  found  a  republic — 
the  only  difference — opportunity. 

He  was  born  in  Scott  county,  Virginia,  October  25, 
1819,  and  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm.  He  went  to  school 
at  the  country  log  schoolhouse — his  favorite  study  being 
mathematics. 

One  day  he  sold  a  bushel  of  Irish  potatoes,  which  he 
had  raised,  for  fifty  cents.  This  fifty  cents  was  the  first 
money  he  ever  made  and  he  kept  it  for  three  years.  This 
act  may  indicate  a  miserly  nature,  but  a  miser  he  was  not 
as  his  wealth  was  accumulated  more  through  economy 
than  selfish  hoarding. 

In  his  fifteenth  year  he  went  to  Blountville  and  became 
a  clerk  in  the  store  of  his  uncle,  Samuel  Rhea,  who  paid  him 
fifty  dollars  a  year  and  board.  He  remained  in  this  capac- 
ity for  eight  years,  until  1842,  part  of  the  time  being 
deputy  post-master. 

During  this  time  he  had  saved  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars,  and,  borrowing  one  thousand  dollars  from  his 
father  and  uncle,  engaged  in  merchandising  on  his  own 
account  at  Eden 's  Ridge.  Here  he  remained  until  March, 
1844,  paid  back  the  five  hundred  dollars  to  his  uncle 
and  offered  to  return  to  his  father  the  five  hundred 
dollars  he  had  borrowed  from  him,  but  his  father 
would  not  take  the  money.  Thirty  years  later  he  paid 
the  note  with  interest  and  the  money  was  divided 
among  the  heirs. 


306  Historic  Sullivan. 

In  March,  1844,  he  bought  a  half  interest  in  his  uncle's 
store  and  remained  at  Blountville  until  1853. 

He  married  Malinda  King,  daughter  of  Rev.  James 
King,  June  3,  1845.  In  September,  1853  he  removed  to 
Bristol  and  began  selling  goods  in  a  brick  store  on  the 
corner  of  Fourth  and  State  streets.  This  store  he  con- 
ducted until  1860,  when  he  also  went  into  the  banking 
business. 

The  Civil  War  interfered  with  his  plans  and  disjointed 
his  business,  but  after  the  war  he  resumed  both  the  mer- 
chantile  and  banking  business.  Later  he  disposed  of 
his  store  to  his  son,  John  C.  Anderson  and  his  nephew, 
A.  B.  Carr  and  devoted  himself  to  the  banking  business 
exclusively. 

Joseph  R.  Anderson  was  not  a  great  banker  nor  was  he 
a  great  financier.  His  methods  lacked  policy.  He  did 
not  live  in  a  day  when  captains  of  industry  were 
co-evil  with  existing  contradictions.  A  man  who  de- 
posited his  money  in  the  old  Anderson  bank  deposited 
his  morals  with  it.  In  all  sincerity  the  banker  reached 
out  with  a  fatherly  concern  to  his  depositors.  One  day 
a  patron  of  his  bank  went  to  the  cashier  and  told  him 
he  wished  to  draw  out  some  money — several  hundred 
dollars.  Seeing  him  there  and  knowing  that  he  was 
dealing  in  futures,  Anderson  told  him  he  could  not  have 
the  money. 

"Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  I  can't  draw  out  my  own 
money?" 

"That's  what  I  mean,"  said  the  banker,  "you  can't 
have  it — you  are  gambling  in  futures." 

The  man  threatened  the  banker,  but  the  banker 
stood  firm,  until  finally  convinced  that,  although  he 
would  be  doing  the  depositor  a  great  service  in  refusing, 
he  had  no  legal  right  to  do  so. 

It  is  not  for  the  money  Anderson  accummulated 
that  he  will  be  remembered.     His  fortune  was  small 


Joseph  R.  Anderson.  307 

beside  some  that  have  been  made  by  others  since  his 
time.    And  besides  wealth  is  not  worth. 

It  was  for  his  moral  strength — his  high  standard 
of  excellent,  irreproachable,  clean,  every-day  life. 
He  was  clean  of  person  and  clean  of  character.  He 
was  a  healthy  man  and  he  had  a  healthy,  wholesome 
religion. 

Early  he  espoused  the  cause  of  temperance  and  he 
never  wavered.  He  believed  that  the  preventive  was 
better  than  the  cure — that  the  best  one  could  do  with 
the  man  in  the  gutter  was  to  reclaim  him,  and  so  he 
organized  the  Band  of  Hope — took  little  boys  by  the  hand 
and  led  them  away  from  temptation.  It  is  significant 
of  his  foresight  that  a  member  of  one  of  his  boy  bands 
led  the  forces  in  the  temperance  fight  in  Bristol  in  1907. 

He  was  nominated  for  governor  by  the  Prohibition 
party  in  1888,  but  the  news  never  reached  him  until  too 
late — he  was  dying  and  his  family  never  told  him. 

When  posterity  sums  up  the  work  of  the  toilers  who 
have  struggled  through  the  years,  sometimes  with  little 
hope  to  cheer  them;  when  they  carry  their  riband  wreaths 
to  adorn  the  deserving,  there  will  be  a  steady  pilgrimage 
to  his  tomb. 


George  A.  Caldwell. 

A  BIOGRAPHY. 

By  the  time  a  man  deserves  a  title  he  does  not  have 
much  need  of  one. 

In  East  Tennessee  Dr.  Caldwell  was  not  near  as  big  a 
man  as  George  A.  Caldwell.  Gen.  Washington  was  no 
greater  than  Washington — and  as  for  Mr.  Napoleon 

George  A.  Caldwell  was  born  near  New  Market,  Jefferson 
county,  Tennessee,  February  10,  1825,  and  died  in  Bristol, 
July  2,  1896,  aged  seventy-one  years. 

He  was  educated  at  Maryville  College  and  Union 
Theological  Seminary,  New  York.  His  college  life  was 
not  one  of  ease. 

He  began  his  ministry  at  Athens,  Tennessee,  in  1852, 
and  in  April  of  that  year  married  Margaret  Brooks,  daugh- 
ter of  Gen.  Joseph  A.  Brooks,  of  Knoxville. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War  the  Southern  Presby- 
terian church  selected  two  missionaries.  A  church  organi- 
zation in  the  army  is  not  practicable  on  account  of  the 
uncertain  movements  of  the  men,  and  it  was  the  duty 
of  these  missionaries  to  visit  the  various  camps  and  have 
supervision  over  the  chaplains.  The  church  appointed 
Caldwell  and  B.  M.  Palmer,  of  New  Orleans.  The  former 
was  engaged  chiefly  with  the  armies  of  Johnson  and 
Bragg  and  there  was  such  a  call  upon  his  time  that  he  did 
not  get  to  see  his  family  for  four  years. 

The  section  where  Caldwell  was  living  became  strongly 
Union  in  sentiment  and  when  he  returned  after  the  war 
was  waited  upon  by  sympathizers  with  the  Union  and 
warned  to  leave  town  before  morning  or  he  would  be  whip- 
ped. He  went  to  the  gun-rack,  whereon  an  old  gun  had 
rested  and  rusted  during  the  years  of  his  absence;  this  he 
took  down,  cleaned  up,  fired  two  or  three  times  to  see  if  in 
good  condition,  and  awaited  his  persecutors.   They  did  not 


GEORGE  A.    CALDWELL 


George  A.  Caldwell.  309 

come — they  knew  too  well  the  meaning  of  these  prepara- 
tions. He  had  perfect  reliance  on  divine  protection, 
but  during  these  times  it  often  took  a  gun  to  convince 
others. 

He  left  Athens  and  came  to  Bristol,  arriving  on  a  sec- 
tion hand-car  with  his  gun  across  his  knee.  At  Watauga, 
on  this  trip,  he  met  some  stragglers  coming  back  from  the 
war.  They  were  returning  to  their  homes,  but  had  been 
met  by  bushwhackers.  One  wretched  fellow,  who  had 
been  beaten,  escaped  from  his  pursuers  and  fell  exhausted 
at  the  feet  of  Caldwell,  imploring  him  to  save  his  life.  He 
was  helped  into  a  box  car,  where  the  minister  had  his 
household  goods,  just  as  the  men  who  were  after  him 
arrived.  They  demanded  the  escaped  soldier,  but 
Caldwell  stood  in  the  doorway,  protecting  him.  The 
mob  threatened  his  life  if  he  did  not  give  up  the  man, 
but  he  stood  firm  and  told  them  calmly  the  man  should 
not  be  molested.  His  firmness  whipped  them — they 
skulked  away. 

Not  long  after  he  had  taken  charge  of  a  Bristol  church 
he  had  an  appointment  to  preach  in  Hawkins  county. 
The  Sizemore  band  of  outlaws  sent  him  word  that  if 
he  preached  there  he  would  be  dealt  with  violently. 
Despite  the  threat  he  went  and  filled  his  engagement. 

He  was  a  fearless  man.  He  barely  touched  the  raiment 
of  the  disappearing  wilderness  preacher  and  brought  down 
to  the  present  many  of  his  characteristics— his  bravery; 
his  enthusiasm  for  a  cause  and  his  way  of  telling  about  it, 
with  fervid  eloquence — an  orator  with  tears  in  his  voice. 

There  is  one  side  of  a  preacher's  life  that  is  seldom  seen 
by  the  general  public — the  cheerfulest  part  of  him — his 
comradeship.  It  seems  a  mission  of  his  to  hide  this, 
except  when  on  jaunts  or  when  in  the  company  of  his 
own  cloth.  There  used  to  gather  at  the  old  Courier 
office,  when  it  was  lodged  in  the  little  checker-board  front 
on  Fourth  street,  a  group  of  men  consisting  of  Caldwell, 
Sullins,  Munsey  and  Neal.    That  was  the  raconteur  hour 


310  Historic  Sullivan. 

with  them  and  they  employed  it  to  their  content.  Cald- 
well entering  would  often  salute  in  rhyme:  "Good  morn- 
ing, Brother  Neal,  how  do  you  feel?"  "Not  so  well, 
sorry  to  tell,  Brother  Caldwell"  came  the  rhyming  reply. 
Munsey,  gawky  and  green  and  hunting  for  words,  would 
sweep  the  group  with  a  broad  grin — the  same  man  who 
in  after  years  swept  vast  audiences  with  his  ethereal 
eloquence.    And  Sullins  told  tales. 

If  there  was  any  one  trait  in  Caldwell's  life  that  stood 
apart  from  the  others  it  was  his  fearlessness.  Once  satis- 
fied that  he  was  on  the  right  side  no  power  could  move 
him;  it  mattered  not  if  he  stood  alone — he  would  stand 
by  his  convictions.  He  italicized  sin  when  he  told  about 
it,  either  from  the  pulpit  or  on  the  pavement,  and,  being 
outspoken  in  his  beliefs,  he  made  enemies,  but  no  man 
ever  disputed  his  power  as  an  eloquent  preacher. 

In  1874  he  was  a  commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly 
at  Columbus,  Mississippi.  This  is  the  highest  court  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  The  students  of  the  theological 
seminary  of  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  were  protesting 
against  an  order  issued  by  the  faculty  of  that  institution, 
compelling  attendance  upon  Sunday  services.  Caldwell, 
as  a  member  of  the  standing  committee  on  theological 
seminaries,  brought  in  a  minority  report  together  with 
Rev.  L.  H.  Wilson.  In  the  debate  that  followed,  by  his 
impassioned  oratory  and  earnest  pleadings  in  defense  of 
the  students,  he  won  the  distinction  of  being  called 
"the  Ajax  of  the  Assembly."  As  a  result  two  of  the  pro- 
fessors and  some  of  the  directors  of  the  seminary 
resigned,  while  the  students  were  vindicated  in  their 
stand  for  "liberty  of  conscience  and  right  of  private 
judgment",  for  it  was  decided  that  compulsory  attend- 
ance was  inexpedient  if  not  unconstitutional. 

Caldwell  said  he  preferred  to  preach  to  congregations 
in  the  country — that  they  were  the  more  receptive  and 
responsive. 

He  dedicated  many  churches,  among  them  Arcadia 
in  1872. 


George  A.  Caldwell.  311 

He  was  sought  all  over  East  Tennessee  as  an  evangelist 
and  was  a  leading  worker  in  the  great  revival  in  Knox- 
ville  in  1874,  when  there  were  many  hundreds  of  con- 
verions. 

He  was  liberal  in  his  views  with  regard  to  other  denomi- 
nations and  was  often  accused  by  his  own  members  as 
being  "half  Methodist." 

He  served  the  church  in  Bristol  actively  for  twenty- 
seven  years — resigned  in  1892,  and  was  then  chosen 
pastor  emeritus,  until  his  death  four  years  later,  making 
thirty-one  years  that  he  was  connected  with  one  church. 

He  grew  up  with  Bristol  and  was  one  of  its  best  guides. 
He  knew  the  citizens  of  all  denominations;  he  spoke  to 
them;  he  treated  them  as  one  family  and  his  genial  socia- 
ble nature  made  him  not  only  the  pastor  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  but  the  pastor  of  the  people. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

BRISTOL. 

In  the  Sapling  Grove  tract  there  were,  originally,  nine- 
teen hundred  and  forty-six  acres.  It  was  surveyed  and 
sold  in  1749  to  James  Patten  "in  consideration  of  the 
ancient  composition  of  9£,  7s  and  6d." 

It  later  became  the  property  of  John  Buchanan,  having 
been  sold  to  him  by  William  Campbell  and  William 
Preston,  executors  of  James  Patten,  deceased. 

On  February  11,  1773,  Isaac  Barker  and  Evan  Shelby 
bought  the  tract  tor  "608£  current  money  of  Virginia." 
Anthony  Bledsoe,  who  had  been  living  on  the  land,  bought 
an  adjoining  piece,  to  which,  on  May  18,  1789,  he  added 
twelve  hundred  acres  in  three  separate  conveyances — 
one  tract  being  located  on  the  Island  road. 

In  the  winter  of  1809  James  Shelby,  the  son  of  Isaac 
Shelby,  visited  Sapling  Grove.  His  visit  was  for  the  pur- 
pose of  seeing  the  home  of  his  ancestors  and  making  a 
trade.  For  some  time  James  King  had  been  in  communi- 
cation with  the  Shelby  heirs  with  a  view  to  purchasing 
this  section.  James  Shelby  went  from  the  home  of  King, 
with  whom  he  had  lodged,  to  visit  friends  and  relatives  in 
Abingdon,  and  while  there  wrote  his  father,  urging  him 
to  dispose  of  the  "distant  property" — not  to  let  the 
opportunity  to  sell  go  by.  The  Shelbys  were  anxious  to 
sell  and  showed  it,  and  James  King  was  as  anxious  to  buy, 
but  assumed  indifference,  which  made  the  young  man 
more  insistent  that  his  father  sell. 

The  tract  was  finally  sold  to  King  for  ten  thousand 
dollars  and  thereafter  was  known  as  King's  Meadows 
until  it  took  the  name  of  Bristol,  nearly  half  a  century 
later. 

The  odor  of  fresh  mortar  and  brick  and  building 
material  impresses  one  that  Bristol's  history  is  now  being 


Bristol.  313 

made  rather  than  has  been  made.  But  history  begins 
where  memory  fails — twenty  years  makes  history. 

When  the  news  reached  Blountville  that  a  railroad 
was  in  contemplation,  whose  terminus  would  be  King's 
Meadows,  Joseph  R.  Anderson,  with  a  business  foresight 
that  always  went  far  ahead  of  his  time,  bought  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  from  his  father-in-law,  James  King,  and 
employed  Henry  Anderson,  the  county  surveyor,  to  lay 
the  tract  off  into  lots  and  streets.  This  was  in  1852. 
And  that  foresight  reached  still  further  when  he  viewed 
the  ore-beds  all  about  the  place — he  foresaw  smoke  rising 
from  furnace  stacks;  he  heard  the  rumbling  of  heavy 
trains  carrying  away  the  products  of  this  section,  and 
he  called  the  new  town  Bristol,1  after  the  manufacturing 
city  of  the  same  name  in  England. 

This  tract  of  one  hundred  acres  was  bounded  by  a 
line  following  Beaver  creek,  from  the  railroad  culvert 
to  Main  street;  then  running  diagonally  across  the  country 
to  the  railroad,  about  where  King  College  now  is;  then 
along  the  railroad,  back  to  the  culvert.  It  also  included 
a  little  plot  lying  east  of  the  railroad,  on  both  sides  of  Main 
street,  embracing  a  portion  of  Second  and  Third  streets. 


1  While  Bristol  has  undergone  three  changes  in  name,  Bluff  City  not  only 
takes  first  rank  in  the  county  but  in  the  state  for  the  number  of  names  it  has  borne. 
It  was  first  known  as  Shoate's  Ford,  named  no  doubt  for  Emanuel  Shoate, 
whose  name  correctly  spelled  would  perhaps  he  Cboate.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth  century  it  took  the  name  of  Middletown  and  really  became  a  town — 
the  name  was  given  because  of  its  location  between  Abingdon  and  Jonesboro 
and  between  Blountville  and  Elizabethton.  Lots  were  selling  at  a  good  price 
as  early  as  1805 — in  that  year  one  quarter-acre  lot  brought  eighty-two  dollars. 
Later  the  town  took  the  name  of  Union — then  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War 
the  citizens  hurried  from  one  extreme  to  honor  the  product  of  another, 
and  called  it  Zollieoffer  When  the  war  was  over  the  town  resumed  life  as  best 
it  could  under  the  name  of  Union.  Then  in  1S76  when  prosperity  began  to  filter 
through  the  clogged  seive  of  past  misfortunes  it  took  the  name  of  Bluff  City. 

Kingsport  holds  next  place  for  changes  of  name  in  the  county.  It  began 
its  career  as  the  Island — then  Big  Island,  Great  Island  and  Long  Island.  Then 
when  it  became  known  as  a  good  starting  point  for  boatmen,  a  large  number 
of  boats  were  built  there,  and  it  took  the  name  of  Boatyard.  When  Gilbert  Chris- 
tian purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  there  and  plotted  it  for  a  town  it  took  the 
name  of  Christianville.  When  the  lots  were  put  on  sale  the  first  two  purchasers 
were  William  King,  of  King's  Iron-Works,  and  William  King,  of  Abingdon,  owner 
of  the  salt-works.  These  two  men  shipped  such  large  quantities  of  the  output  of 
their  forge  and  salt-wells  that  it  was  called  Kings'  Port.  The  fusion  of  <the  words 
by  usage  made  Kingsport. 

Paperville  on  the  other  hand,  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  the  state,  has  always 
held  to  one  name — this  originated  from  the  manufacture  of  paper  there  by  the 
Burkhardts. 


314  Historic  Sullivan. 

Originally  the  streets  were  only  numbered,  no  names 
being  used,  and  extended  through  both  sides  of  the  town. 
Nine  was  the  highest  number  reached.  Anderson  street 
was  then  Ninth  street  and  Cumberland  street  was  then 
Seventh  street.  Of  the  old  streets  only  three  remain 
with  the  original  names  and  location — Second,  Third 
and  Fourth.  Sixth  street  was  where  Fifth  street  now  is 
and  Fifth  was  where  Olive  now  is.  Sixth  street  ran  into 
a  graveyard  at  the  Presbyterian  church  and  had  to  go 
through  an  alley  to  get  around  the  church.  There  was  no 
other  cross  street  between  the  then  Sixth  street  and  the 
bridge.  There  was  no  Fairmount  addition  nor  Piedmont 
avenue,  and  the  citizens  cut  down  big  trees  on  Solar  hill  and 
in  the  Blountville  addition  to  make  their  winter  fires. 
There  were  two  hundred  and  sixteen  lots  in  the  plot  of  the 
town — among  the  first  purchasers  were  Robert  L.  Owen, 
Robert  Bibb,  John  N.  Bosang,  Francis  McCrosky  and 
John  G.  Simpson.  Lots  were  sold  for  one  hundred  dollars 
each. 

Circulars  were  sent  out  announcing  the  sale  of  these  lots. 
One  clause  of  the  announcement  read — "Reservation 
will  be  made  in  all  conveyances  to  prohibit  the  occupant 
or  his  agent  from  making  or  selling  intoxicating  liquors 
upon  the  premises.  This  regulation  is  deemed  indispen- 
sable to  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  town." 

The  first  group  of  buildings  was  constructed  along  the 
railroad.  The  old  brick  house  on  the  corner  of  Fourth 
and  State  streets — the  home  of  the  Anderson  family  for 
a  number  of  years — is  the  only  remaining  one  of  the 
original  group. 

The  town  was  chartered  February  22,  1856.  Joseph 
R.  Anderson  became  its  first  mayor,  1856-59.  Those  who 
have  filled  this  office  since  are  L.  F.  Johnson,2  1859-65; 


2While  Bristol  people  have  been  givers  to  educational,  charitable  and  other 
causes — gifts  that  have  sometimes  been  beyond  the  portion  of  the  giver,  yet  it 
is  notable  that  Bristol's  first  two  mayors  have  been  the  only  ones  who  have  given 
to  the  public  at  large.  Each  gave  resting  places — one  for  the  living — ons  for  the 
dead.     Anderson  gave  the  city  park  and  Johnson  gave  the  cemetery. 


Bristol.  315 

A.  P.  Campbell,  1865-66;  Jacob  R.  Crumley,  1866-70; 
E.  C.  McClanahan,  1870-72;  T.  L.  Nelms,  1872-73;  George 

B.  Smith,  1873-74;  J.  M.  Barker,  1874-78;  J.  A.  Dickey, 
1878-85;  J.  W.  Norvell,  1885-89;  John  H.  Caldwell,  1889- 
91;  S.  W.  Rhea,  1891-93;  John  C.  Anderson,  1893-1901; 
Charles  J.  St.  John,  Jr.,  1901-02;  J.  A.  Dickey,  1902-09; 
L.  H.  Gammon,  1909. 

The  Virginia  side  was  incorporated  in  the  same  year 
under  the  name  of  Goodson,  being  named  for  Samuel 
Goodson.  The  First  mayor  was  W.  L.  Rice.  The 
mayors  who  followed  were  I.  C.  Fowler,  John  F. 
Terry,  A.  F.  Miles,  W.  A.  Rader,  J.  H.  Winston,  Jr., 
Charles  F.  Gauthier  and  W.  L.  Rice. 

In  1879  Bristol,  Tennessee,  was  recognized  by  an 
act  of  the  legislature  establishing  chancery  and  common 
law  courts,  which  privilege  was  extended  to  the  First, 
Second,  Seventeenth  and  Nineteenth  districts.  Accord- 
ingly Judge  H.  C.  Smith  organized  the  chancery  court 
June  9,  1879,  and  E.  A.  Warren  was  appointed  clerk. 
Others  who  have  served  as  clerks  are  George  T.  Hammer, 
A.  C.  Smith,  R.  L.  Torbett,  M.  M.  Pearson  and  James 
Wood. 

The  law  court  was  organized  June  28,  1879,  by  Judge 
Newton  Hacker,  with  W.  M.  Burrow,  clerk.  Others  who 
served  in  this  capacity  were  W.  P.  Brewer,  John  Alf 
Brewer,  Dr.  John  P.  Hammer,  Grey  Childers,  W.  R. 
Page,  W.  M.  Burrow,  George  T.  Hammer,  J.  F.  Chil- 
dress. 

Although  rich  in  industrial  possibilities,  Bristol's 
boast  has  been  of  her  schools.  Seeing  the  need  of  a 
more  advanced  school  than  the  ones  then  being  conducted, 
L.  F.  Johnson3  brought  Mme.  Henriquez  from  Lynch- 


3L.  F.  Johnson  died  in  1004,  in  his  ninety-first  year.  He  lived  in  Bristol 
nearly  half  a  century.  He  came  here  with  the  railroad — he  helped  to  bring 
the  road  here.  He  helped  to  bring  many  otner  useful  things  to  the  town.  His 
was  the  most  unselfish  useful  life  lived  in  Bristol.     He  could  have  left  behind  him 


316  Historic  Sullivan. 

burg,  and  accompanying  her  were  Prof.  Bartlett  and 
Prof.  Greenleaf  and  her  adopted  daughter,  Amelia.  This 
school  was  very  successful,  but  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil 
War  it  was  discontinued.  In  1866,  W.  W.  James,  who 
took  great  interest  in  education,  induced  Mrs.  B.  L. 
Chancelaume  to  open  a  school  in  the  Episcopal  church. 
This  was  the  beginning  of  Sullins  College.  The  following 
year  James  visited  Philadelphia  and  opened  negotiations 
with  Joseph  Johnson  for  the  purchase  of  the  lot  now 
occupied  by  the  college,  the  deal  being  consummated  in 
1869.  The  school  was  first  known  as  Sullins  Institute, 
but  when,  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  in  1873,  it  was 
incorporated  it  was  called  Sullins  College.  David  Sullins 
was  its  first  president. 

Virginia  Institute  began  its  existence  in  1884  at  Glade 
Spring,  but  in  1893  it  was  removed  to  its  present  quarters 
in  Bristol,  with  Samuel  D.  Jones  as  president.  The 
Baptists,  however,  had  a  college  in  Bristol  many  years 
previous  to  this.  It  was  located  on  the  south  side  of  An- 
derson street,  between  Sixth  and  Seventh  streets,  and 
was  managed  by  D.  C.  Wester. 

King  College  was  the  first  school  in  Sullivan  to  introduce 
a  college  curriculum.  Since  Tadlock,  those  who  have 
been  president  of  this  institution  are  J.  Albert  Wallace, 
H.  W.  Naff,  A.  G.  Buckner,  George  J.  Ramsey,  George  D. 
Booth,  F.  P.  Ramsey  and  B.  R.  Smith.  In  1909  this 
college  erected  a  hall  at  the  south  end  of  the  main 
building  which  was  dedicated  to  the  memory  of  George 
A.  Caldwell  and  James  D.  Tadlock  and  called  the  Cald- 
well-Tadlock  Memorial  Hall. 

The  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  an  institution  for  the  upbuilding  of 
young  men  and  boys  in  a  religious,  educational  and  physi- 


a  fortune  in  wealth — he  left  a  fortune  in  a  name.  And  when  he  was  buried,  business 
Bristol  closed  its  doors  and  bowed  its  head  while  the  great  throng  followed  him 
to  his  grave. 

Johnson  Commandery,  Knights  Templar,  and  Johnson  street  are  named  for 
him,  and  it  is  of  special  significance  that  this  recognition  was  given  (luring  his 
liietime. 


Bristol.  317 

cal  way,  was  organized  in  Bristol  in  1871-72.  The  first 
meeting  was  held  in  the  old  Methodist  church,  then  on  the 
corner  of  Scott  and  Lee  streets.  After  the  first  meeting 
it  was  transferred  to  a  room  on  Fourth  street. 
Its  first  organizers  were  G.  B.  Smith,  J.  M.  Barker, 
B.  G.  Maynard,  M.  L.  Blackley,  Clint  Craft,  A.  S.  Dead- 
erick  and  Fitz  Coman.  The  organization  was  abandoned 
for  a  while,  but  was  revived  in  1884.  Those  most  active 
in  its  reorganization  were  A.  D.  Reynolds,  John  Slack, 
E.  W.  King,  C.  E.  Dilworth  and  Charles  Slack.  For  the 
first  few  years  the  Y.  M.  C.  A  .  depended  upon  local  man- 
agement and  occupied  various  buildings.  When  D.  D. 
Taylor  was  employed  as  secretary  a  movement  was  started 
to  secure  permanent  quarters,  resulting  in  the  erection  of  a 
building  on  Fifth  street  in  1888.  The  secretaries  following 
Taylor  were  W.  D.  Lyon,  Taylor  McCoy,  B.  W.  Godfrey, 
H.  0.  Pattison  and  V.  T.  Grizzard.  In  1903,  during  the 
administration  of  the  latter,  a  plan  for  the  erection  of  a 
new  building  was  adopted,  which  resulted  in  the  com- 
pletion in  1908  of  the  present  structure,  on  the  corner  of 
Fifth  and  Shelby  streets.  It  was  dedicated  by  Gov. 
A.  J.  Montague,  January  23,  1908. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

ODDS  AND  ENDS. 

Jacob  and  Ann  Cretsinger1  were  the  heads  of  a  German 
family  who  lived  southeast  of  Blountville  and  became 
known  throughout  the  country  for  their  ginger-cakes. 
On  muster  days  or  at  public  speakings,  races  or  shooting- 
matches  they  could  be  found  dispensing  their  cakes — 
invariably  charging  ten  cents  a  piece  for  them.  What 
recommended  them  most  was  their  delicious  ginger 
flavor  and  the  fact  that  they  remained  fresh  for  a  long 
time. 

On  court  days  they  could  be  seen  coming  into  Blount- 
ville in  a  little  one-horse  wagon,  and  the  children,  with 
their  dimes  in  their  hands,  waited  on  top  of  fences  to  get 
the  first  peep  at  them  as  they  appeared  in  the  town. 

Their  coming  was  always  greeted  by  the  crowd  with 
"here  comes  the  Cretsingers"  and  there  would  be  a  rush 
for  the  wagon. 

How  these  cakes  were  made  no  one  but  the  originators 
seemed  to  know.  It  is  known  they  sweetened  them  with 
honey  and  made  their  own  soda  out  of  popular  bark  ashes, 
while,  jestingly,  they  were  accused  of  kneading  the  dough 
with  their  feet. 

They  professed  to  have  given  the  recipe  to  others, 
but  those  familiar  with  the  original  insist  that  the  making 
of  the  old  time  Cretsinger  ginger-cake  has  become  a  lost 
art. 

"OLD  SHUTT." 

There  once  resided  northeast  of  Blountville  an  eccentric 
character  who  was  called  "Old  Shutt."  The  court  docket 
often  contained  his  name  and  he  was  often  sent  to  jail. 

lCretsinger  ha3  been  erroniousily  spelled  Crutsinger  and  Krutsinger. 


Odds  and  Ends.  319 

After  an  unusually  long  period  of  freedom  he  went  one 
day  to  the  jail  and  inquired  why  it  had  been  so  long 
since  he  was  taken  up. 

He  always  had  on  ill-fitting  clothes,  much  worn;  his 
hair  and  beard  were  touseled  and  in  need  of  a  comb. 
One  time  when  in  need  of  a  new  coat,  he  had  some  cloth 
spread  out  upon  the  floor — then,  lying  down  upon  the 
cloth,  his  outline  was  marked  with  chalk. 

Children  looked  upon  him  with  dread  and  no  worse 
censure  could  be  visited  upon  the  head  of  a  child  than, 
"You  are  just  like 'Old  Shutt'"  or  "You're  worse  than 
'Old  Shutt.'  "  No  youth  of  knight-errantry  days  was  ever 
more  frightened  by  the  apparition  of  Black  Douglass 
than  those  children  who  knew  him  could  be  with,  "  'Old 
Shutt'  will  get  you  if  you  don't  behave." 

In  some  way  he  had  saved  money  and  finally,  forlorn 
and  forsaken  he  returned  to  his  former  home  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

WEATHER  FREAKS. 

Sullivan  County  has  been  visited  by  some  disastrous 
floods. 

There  are  no  figures  or  details  concerning  the  flood  of 
1790.  In  1817  Holston  river  reached  a  height  of  seven- 
teen feet  above  low  water-mark,  and  in  1835  it  was  fifteen 
feet  above  low  water-mark. 

About  1840  a  hurricane  swept  over  a  portion  of  the 
county.  In  1847-48-51  there  were  destructive  tides. 
These  were  occasioned  by  rains,  which  lasted  three  or 
four  days. 

September  15,  1861,  the  water  reached  almost  as  high  as 
the  county  bridge  at  Zollicoffer.  February  21,  1862, 
this  was  repeated.  This  tide  was  general  throughout  the 
Southern  Confederacy  and  as  it  destroyed  some  Federal 
boats  the  superstitious  hailed  it  as  a  sign  of  divine 
approbation. 

The  "flood  of  '67"  surpassed  all  others  within  recollec- 
tion.   Observations  were  made  at  the  mouth  of  Beaver 


320  Historic  Sullivan. 

creek — it  commenced  raining  February  26,  1867,  and 
continued  throughout  that  night,  the  next  day  and  during 
the  following  night  until  daylight  on  the  28th,  which  was 
a  clear  day,  but  during  the  following  night  it  commenced 
raining  again  and  continued  without  intermission  until 
March  1st. 

On  Monday,  March  4th,  the  river  reached  a  height  of 
eighteen  feet  above  low  water-mark— it  then  receded. 
The  rain  began  again  and  kept  up  intermittently  until 
about  five  o'clock  Wednesday  afternoon,  then  rained 
continuously  until  seven  o'clock  Thursday  morning. 

This  tide  was  followed  by  four  other  tides,  averaging 
twelve  days  apart,  when,  on  May  20th,  it  reached  the  great- 
est height  recorded — twenty-seven  feet  above  low  water- 
mark. Great  damage  was  done.  Farm  houses,  mills 
and  rich  bottoms  were  washed  out.  The  washing  away 
of  the  land  exposed  many  Indian  burying-places  and 
apparently  ancient  towns — some  of  the  weapons  found, 
such  as  axes,  hatchets,  and  arrow-heads  had  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  prehistoric.2 

In  the  winter  of  1874-75  there  was  another  great  tide 
reaching  within  four  feet  of  the  tide  of  1867. 

During  the  summer  of  1893  a  cyclone  passed  over  a 
portion  of  Bristol,  doing  great  damage.  It  came  from 
the  southwest;  demolished  the  new  market-house  on 
Shelby  street  and  unroofed  houses  in  various  parts  of  the 
city. 

LEGEND  OF  LINVILLE  CAVE. 

About  three  miles  south  of  Blountville  is  Linville  cave. 
It  was  named  for  two  brothers  who  took  up  their  residence 
here  during  the  early  settling  of  the  county.    They  were 


2From  Fickles'  scrapbook.  Robert  P.  Fickle  and  Robert  Deery  were^en- 
thusiastie  over  preserving  the  history  of  Sullivan  County.  In  the  summer  of  1S76 
they  organized  a  historical  society,  appointing  committees  composed  of  prominent 
citizens  all  over  the  county.  No  record  could  be  found  of  the  work,  if  any  was 
accomplished  by  this  society.  Fickle  and  Deery  made  some  efforts  in  research 
and  a  few  sheets  of  manuscript  have  been  found.  Wherever  quoted  from,  due 
credit  has  been  given. 


HISTORIC  SPOTS 


Odd  and  Ends.  321 

hunters,  which  occupation  furnished  them  a  living.  They 
often  made  long  journeys  which  exposed  them  to  the 
Indians  and  while  out  one  day,  not  far  from  the  cave,  they 
suddenly  came  upon  a  band  of  Indians.  One  of  the 
brothers  was  wounded  and  the  other  carried  him  into 
the  cave,  where  he  died  and  was  buried.  Guides  still 
point  to  the  rock  whereon'  he  lay  when  dying.  The  other 
brother,  after  this,  returned  to  Fort  Chiswell.3 

Another  tradition  in  regard  to  John  Linville  is  that  he 
became  enamored  of  an  Indian  maiden  and  she  encouraged 
his^attentions  to  such  an  extent  that  he  frequently  ven- 
tured where  it  was  not  safe,  his  devotion  finally  costing 
him  his  life. 

Historic  Spots. 

The  first,  beginning  at  the  top  of  the  page,  is  a  pic- 
ture of  the  home  of  William  Cobb,  in  the  "Forks." 
This  is  the  original  log  house,  weather-boarded.  The 
place  was  once  known  as  "Rocky  Mount"  and  mail  still 
comes  to  Piney  Flats  bearing  that  address.  Here  Wil- 
liam Blount  resided  as  governor  of  the  Territory  south 
of  the  Ohio,  and  here  was  made  the  first  attempt  at 
organized  government  west  of  the  Alleghanies. 

Second  picture — DeVault's  ford,  which  many  claim  was 
the  crossing  place  of  the  King's  Mountain  men — some 
going  so  far  as  to  claim  it  is  Sycamore  Shoals.  Shelby, 
in  his  autobiography,  says  he  rode  fifty  miles  to  see  John 
Sevier,  which  would  indicate  he  went  to  the  ford  and 
then  up  the  river.  From  the  Cobb  residence  is  a  beauti- 
ful view  over  the  "Old  Fields"  and  the  mountains. 

Third  picture — New  Bethel  church  in  the  "Forks" — 
one  of  the  first  organized  in  the  county.  The  site  of  the 
original  church  is  just  in  front  of  the  new  one.      The 


3W.  W.  James  MSS. 


322  Historic  Sullivan. 

graveyard  is  beyond  the  church — some  of  the  old  grave- 
stones can  be  seen  in  the  picture. 

Fourth  picture — The  Netherland  hotel,  Kingsport. 
This  house  sheltered  and  entertained  many  noted  persons 
before  the  Civil  War.  The  walls  of  the  first  story  are 
built  of  stone  and  are  very  thick. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

THE  LAST  LEAF— PASSING  OP  OLD  FAMILIES. 

The  passing  of  old  families  is  a  pathetic  chapter  in  the 
history  of  our  county.  There  are  many  names  that  once 
took  a  place  among  those  who  helped  to  make  Sullivan, 
but  are  no  longer  heard  in  the  roll-call  of  the  council- 
chamber.  Where  are  the  Shelbys?  Where  are  the 
Blounts?  Where  are  the  Donelsons?  They  did  so 
much  in  the  making  of  this  historic  county.  Where  are 
the  Bledsoes,  the  Looneys,  the  Gambles,  the  Dunlaps 
and  others  who  took  the  lead  in  our  first  forming? 
Once  in  a  while  a  scion  of  some  illustrious  ancestry  is 
found  clinging  to  a  little  strip  of  land,  the  piece  of  a 
once  vast  estate;  willing  to  be  let  alone — almost  ashamed 
to  own  his  lineage,  his  life  being  such  a  waste. 

"Like  the  last  leaf  on  the  tree  in  the  spring, "  a  favoring 
wind  tosses  him  about,  rattling  the  remains  of  an  armorial 
past  against  the  withered  branch  of  an  old  family  tree  and 
he  is  heard  for  a  little  while,  but,  by  and  by,  the  gust  of 
some  great  endeavor  blows  up  and,  unable  to  hold  on  any 
longer,  he  drops  down  to  mingle  in  the  mould  of  those 
gone  before. 

The  gentler  names  are  here.  They  planted  no  un- 
peaceful  ambitions — sowed  no  seeds  of  disturbance. 
They  delved  deep  for  brighter  substance  than  alluvial 
soil,  and  out  of  that  metal  made  plows  and  hoes  and 
domestic  usables.  From  an  iron  ancestry  came  an  iron 
posterity  that  time's  wearing  has  polished,  and  they  do 
and  they  adorn. 

But  the  war-gods  are  gone — the  proud  restless  spirits 
lifted  up  their  eyes  and  looked  beyond.  They  too  used 
the  iron,  but  they  wrought  it  into  blades  and  shards 
and  bellowing  steel.  They  found  no  enduring  solace 
in  the  triendly  glow  of  the  hearthstone,  but,  gathering 


324     The  Last  Leaf— Passing  of  Old  Families. 

around  the  fagot  fire  on  the  edge  of  a  forest,  saw  in  the 
smoke  the  symbol  of  battle  and,  in  the  weird  somberness 
of  the  deep  wood,  the  war-dance  in  the  flickering  shadows. 
The  love  of  conquest  lured  them  on  and  they  left  us  to 
fight  and  win  for  others  what  they  found  and  won  for  us. 


INDEX 


Agriculture  .  .  .  281 
Sullivan  products  receive  med- 
als, 281;  what  nature  points  out, 
281;  careless  thrift,  282;  com- 
munity of  interest,  283;  Blount- 
ville  fair,  283;  Border  fair, 
284;  sheep  and  cattle  country, 
285;  agricultural  possibilities, 
285. 


Battle  of  Island  Flats  59 
Settlers  warned,  59;  scouts  re- 
port approach  of  the  Indians, 
59;  soldiers  at  Eaton's  Station 
decide  to  go  out  and  meet  them, 
59;  the  battle,  60;  personal 
heroism,  60-61;  official  report, 
61-62;  chiefs  taking  part,  62; 
Mrs.  Bean  and  the  Moore  boy 
captured,  62;  South  Fork  skirm- 
ish, 62-63. 


Battle  of  the  Great  Kana- 
wha ....  45 
Causes  that  led  to,  45;  mas- 
sacre of  the  Roberts  family, 
45;  sketch  of  Logan — his  speech, 
45;  first  volunteer  company, 
46;  Lord  Dunmore  decides  to 
take  the  field,  46;  his  leading 
officers,  46;  Gen.  Andrew  Lewis 
46;  Shelby  and  Russel,  47;  loose 
military  discipline,  47;  Robert- 
son and  Sevier  meet  the  attack- 
ing party,  47;  the  battle,  48; 
Evan  Shelby  in  command,  48; 
Isaac  Shelby  captain,  49;  left 
in  charge  of  fort,  49. 


Before  the  Pioneer  .  .  1 
Looking  forward  and  backward, 
1;  opinions  as  to  this  section 
being   inhabited,    2;    relic    dis- 


coveries, 2-3;  the  Cherokees,  4; 
Cyrus  Thomas,  3;  Indian 
mounds,  3;  Dr.  Walker,  4. 

Blountville  .  .  .  137 
James  Brigham  gives  land,  137; 
deed  to  Blountville,  137-138; 
first  hotel,  138;  sale  of  lots,  139; 
the  citizenship,  140;  Jefferson 
Academy,  141;  "Female  Insti- 
tute," 142;  old  lawyers,  143; 
Col.  John  Mosby,  143;  leading 
merchants,  144;  the  churches, 
144-146;  the  gold  seekers,  146; 
the  gold  finders,  147. 

Boundary  Line,  The  .  239 
First  line  run,  239;  difficulty 
that  brought  about  the  running 
of  the  line,  second  time,  239; 
commissioners,  239;  disagree- 
ments— "no  man's  land,"  240; 
the  Baugh  and  Black  line,  241; 
the  mayors  and  councilmen  of 
Bristol-Goodson  act,  242;  the 
post-office,  243;  the  Gretna 
Green,  243;  the  "Water  Works 
war,"  244;  the  injunctions,  245; 
the  sheriffs  of  Sullivan  County, 
Tennessee,  and  Washington 
County,  Virginia,  summon 
posses,  245;  threaten  blood- 
shed, 246;  settled  by  supreme 
court,  247;  Tennessee  cedes  half 
of  the  street  to  Virginia,  247. 


Bristol  ...  .312 
Sapling  Grove  tract,  312;  first 
owner,  312;  King's  Meadows, 
312;  town  laid  off,  313;  list  of 
mayors,  314;  chancery  and  law 
courts,  315;  the  schools,  316;  Y. 
M.  C.  A.,  316. 


3M6 


Index. 


Cavalcade,  The  .  .  24 
North  Carolina  wagons,  24; 
pack  saddles,  25;  around  the 
camp-fire,  25;  vessels  and  furni- 
ture of  the  cabins,  26. 

Cherokees,  The  5 

Original  boundary,  5;  hostile 
neighbors,  5;  origin  of  name, 
5-6;  religion,  6;  "Swimmer,"  6; 
superstitions,  6-7-8;  bird  myths, 
8;  insect  myths,9;  medical  herbs, 
10;  courtship  formula,  10-11; 
Joel  Chandler  Harris,  12;  stories, 
13-14-15-16. 

Christian  Campaign  .         64 

Col.  Christian  ordered  to  Long 
Island,  64;  discipline,  65;  strat- 
egy, 66;  marches  against  Indian 
towns  and  destroys  them,  66; 
Fort  Patrick  Henry,  67. 

Church,  The       .  .       176 

First  Protestant  ministers,  176; 
first  church  on  Tennessee  soil, 
176;  Jenning's  letter,  177;  other 
early  churches,  178;  early  reli- 
gion, 179;  Asbury's  Journal,  first 
conference,  181;  organization  of 
different  churches,  181-185; 
"Church  Militant,"  185;  first 
Sunday-school,  185  ;  long  de- 
bates, 186-7  ;  camp-meeting, 
188-91;   temperance,    191-94. 

Coming  of  the  Shelbys  .  33 
Welch  descent,  33;  comes  to 
Holston,  33;  wanted  by  Wash- 
ington, 33;  arrive  at  Sapling 
Grove,  33;  location  of  Shelby's 
fort,  34;  kept  store,  34;  Shelby 
induces  Sevier  to  come  to  Hol- 
ston, 34;  appointed  brigadier- 
general,  35;  second  marriage, 
35;  "Traveler's  Rest,"  35;  death 
of  Evan  Shelby— burial,  35-36; 
Isaac  Shelby,  36;  marries,  36; 
governor  Kentucky,  37;  Thames, 
37;  Secretary  of  War  offered, 
37;  death  of,  37;  Shelby  and 
Sevier,  38. 

Donelson's  Voyage  .         75 

The  Donelsons  locate  in  Sulli- 


van, 75;  build  boats  prepara- 
tory for  voyage,  at  Long  Island, 
75;  families  who  went  with  the 
Donelsons,  76;  journal  of  the 
voyage,  76-83;  arrive  at  jour- 
ney's end,  83;  marriage  of 
Rachel,  83;  divorce  and  mar- 
riage with  Jackson,  83-84. 

Few  Days  Full  of  Trouble, 

A  .  .  .  .  .  39 
Difficulties  in  forming  military 
companies,  39;  Maj.  James 
Robertson,  39;  letters  of  Robert- 
son to  Col.  William  Preston, 
40-44. 

Frontierwoman,  The  .  28 
Her  help  in  the  frontier  home, 
28;  tests  of  courage,  29;  Col. 
Fleming's  letter  to  his  wife,  30. 

Hunters  of  the  Holston  248 
Habits,  248;  the  still  hunt,  the 
round-up  and  the  fire-hunters, 
249;  Dan'l  Gertman,  250;  the 
bear  cubs,  251;  Tommy  Odell, 
251;  William  Rlevins,  252; 
Jimmy  Twist,  252. 

Industries  .        .        .        151 

"The  sweep,"  and  "slow  John," 
151;  other  primitive  machinery, 
152;  first  iron-works,  153;  nail 
factory,  Pactolus,  154;  tanner- 
ies, 154;  "Bushong  furnace," 
155;  other  industries,  156. 

King's  Mountain  Campaign  100 
Location  of  mountain,  100; 
Ferguson  and  Tarleton,  101; 
Shelby's  quick  movements 
arouses  Cornwallis,  102;  defeat 
of  Gates,  103;  refugees  on 
Watauga,  103;  threat  of  Fergu- 
son, 103;  Shelby  asks  Sevier 
and  Campbell  to  join  expedi- 
tion, 104;  John  Adair  furnishes 
money,  104;  the  rendezvous, 
104;  the  benediction,  105;  the 
route,  105;  military  courtesy, 
106;  the  hard  march,  106-107; 
some  of  the  soldiers  dropped,  106; 


Index. 


327 


reach  the  mountain,  107;  final 
orders,  107;  they  surround 
mountain,  107;  the  battle,  107- 
108;  aeath  of  Ferguson,  108; 
surrender,  108. 


Last  Leaf,  The — Passing  of 
Old  Families  .  323 

Newspaper,  The — Politics  296 
John  Slack,  ...  296 
Becomes  a  printer,  296;  enters 
politics,  establishes  Courier,  296; 
state  senator,  296;  church  work, 
297;  traits  of  character,  297. 
Newspapers,  298;  office  of  the 
four-page  weekly,  298;  first 
newspapers  and  their  editors, 
299-302;  politics,  302. 

Odds  and  Ends  .        .       318 

The  Cretsingers,  318;  "Old 
Shutt,"  318;  weather  freaks, 
319;  legend  of  Linville  cave, 
320;  historic  spots,  321. 

Official  Life  .  .  .  160 
United  States  senators,  160; 
congressmen,  160;  governors, 
160-61;  judges,  161;  members, 
of  the  constitutional  conven- 
tion, 161;  state  senators  and 
representatives,  162-63;  county 
officers — county  clerks,  163; 
sheriffs,  164;  registrars,  164; 
circuit  court  clerks,  164;  trus- 
tees, 165;  records  in  office,  165. 

Old  Field  Schol,  The  .  262 
Early  prejudices,  262;  the  teach- 
er's salary,  262;  text-books,  263; 
"Friday  evening,"  264;  games 
and  amusements,  265-267. 

Pioneers — Explorers — First 
Settlers,  The  .  .  20 
William  Byrd  expedition,  20; 
Fort  Chiswell,  20;  Stalnakers, 
21;  Fort  Robinson,  21;  Stephen 
Holston,  21;  first  treaty  in 
Sullivan,  21;  Fort  Loudon,  21; 
Timberlake,  21;  coming  of 
Boone,  22;  James  George,    22; 


Boone  kettle,  22;  first  set- 
tlers, 23;  Fort  Womack,  23; 
the  Crocketts,  23. 


Removal,  The  .  .  .  286 
Indians  cede  lands,  286;  Gov. 
McMinn  negotiates  treaty, 
286;  Sequoya,  287;  John  Ross, 
287;  cause  of  removal,  287; 
Andrew  Jackson,  288;  Juna- 
luska,  288;  Ross  captured,  288; 
Winfield  Scott,  289;  touching 
scenes,  289-90;  result  of  removal 
290-91. 


Shelby  Campaign,  The  73 

Marches  against  the  Chicka- 
maugas,  73;  destroys  the  towns 
of  Dragging  Canoe  and  Big  Fool, 
73;  return  on  foot,  73. 


Slavery  Days     ...       272 
Slaves    with   the    first   settlers, 
272;    slave    trader,    273;    how 
valued,    273;    attachment    be- 
tween   owner   and   slave,    274 
humor    and    philosophy,     275 
religious     and     musical,     276 
Union   sympathizers   not   anti- 
slavery,  277;  the  menance  of  the 
race,  278. 


"Spirit  of  '75"  .  .  51 
Declaration  of  Freeholders  of 
Botetourt,    51-52. 

State  of  Franklin,  The.  109 
Ceding  of  land,  109;  the  conven- 
tion at  Jonesboro,  110;  naming 
new  state,  111;  John  Sevier 
governor,  111;  Gov.  Martin 
protests,  112;  the  constitution, 
113;  North  Carolina  considers 
new  state,  113;  war  between 
factions,  114;  Evan  Shelby 
offered  governorship,  115;  Pat- 
rick Henry  alarmed,  115;  Frank- 
lin's apathy,  116;  end  of  the 
State  of  Franklin,  117-118; 
arrest  and  trial  of  Gov.  Sevier, 
118. 


328 


Index. 


Sullivan  County  .        .  89 

Date  of  erection,  89;  causes  that 
created  new  county,  89;  Wil- 
liam Cocke's  arrest  ordered,  90; 
organization,  91;  Blountville, 
county  seat,  92;  records  de- 
stroyed, 93;  organization  of  the 
chancery  court,  94-95;  redis- 
ricting county,  95;  regulates 
prices,  96-97. 

Transylvania  Trust,  The  53 
The  Henderson  purchase,  53; 
Daniel  Boone,  agent,  53;  the 
treaty,  54;  the  Raven,  Dragging 
Canoe,  54;  "Path  deea,"  "Great 
Grant,"  54;  Carter's  valley,  55; 
the  little  republic,  55;  Hender- 
son abandons  it,  55;  William 
Cocke's  lawsuit,  56. 

Travelways — Transmis- 
sion of  Messages      .       224 
Beginning   of  bad   roads,    224 
the  first   "Great  Roads,"  224 
old     road     builders,     225-226 
how  the  old  roads  were  built, 
227;    stage   travel,    227;    stage 
routes,    228;    the   stage   driver, 
229;  river  traffic,  230;  old  boat- 
men,    230;     steamboats,     231; 
railroads,  231;  improvement  of 
country     roads,     232;     county 
bonds,     233;     transmission     of 
messages,  233;  ways  of  sending 
a  letter,  234;  early  post-offices, 
235;  the  telephone  and  R.  F.  D., 
236. 

Treaty  of  Long  Island,  The  68 
The  commissioners,  68;  Col. 
Christian  arrives  with  the  chiefs, 
68;  murder  of  Big  Bullet,  68; 
first  Fourth  of  July,  68;  the 
Raven  objects  to  ceding  Long 
Island,  70;  articles  of  treaty, 
70-71;  signatures  of  chiefs  and 
commissioners,  72. 

War  Times — Tennessee 

Valor  ....  203 
What  Tennessee  has  done  in 
war 203 


Congress  votes  medals,  205; 
Creek  War  and  War  of  1812, 
205;  officers  in  Creek  War,  206; 
Seminole  War,  206;  muster-roll 
for  the  Cherokee  removal,  206-7; 
Mexican  War,  muster-roll,  208- 
9;  Civil  War,  209;  early  scenes  of 
preparation,  209-10;  battle  of 
Blountville,  211-13;  second  raid, 
213;  Stoneman's  raid,  214-15; 
officers  from  Sullivan,  215;  re- 
construction, 216. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 

Adair,  John  ....  98 
Aids  Isaac  Shelby,  98;  Blount 
College,  98;  Cumberland  guard, 
98;  locates  near  Knoxville,  99. 

Anderson,  Joseph  R.  .  .  305 
Youthful  thrift,  305;  a  store- 
keeper, 305;  banking,  306; 
experience  with  a  depositor, 
306;  temperance,  307;  nominat- 
ed for  governor,  307. 

Blount,  William  .  .  .120 
Characteristics,  120;  the  Blounts, 
120-121;  arrival  in  Sullivan 
County,  121;  governor  of  terri- 
tory, 121;  the  state  of  Tennes- 
see, 121  ;  president  of  convention, 
121;  elected  United  States  sena- 
tor, 122;  impeached,  122;  Carey 
letter,  122-123-124;  trial,  124; 
depositions  of  Nicholas  Ro- 
maine,  124-129;  James  Carey, 
129-134;  Blount's  letter,  134; 
Tennesseans  stand  by  Blount, 
135;  re-elected  to  office,  136; 
citizens  warn  officers  not  to 
arrest  him,   136;  death,   136. 

Brown,  Abel  J.  254 

Where  educated,  254;  his  best 
known  sermons,  254;  his  metho- 
ods  as  a  teacher,  255;  ex- 
periences at  Jefferson  Academy, 
256-257. 

Caldwell,  George  A.  .  .  308 
Education,  308;  first  ministry, 


Index. 


329 


308;  missionary  in  the  Confed- 
erate army,  308;  comes  to 
Bristol,  309;  life  threatened, 
309;  traits  of  character,  310; 
in  demand  as  evangelist,  311; 
liberality,  311. 

Claiborne,  W.  C.  C.     .        .157 

Brilliant  statesman,  157;  friend 
of  Jefferson  and  Sevier,  157; 
induced  by  Sevier  to  locate  in 
Sullivan,  157;  seat  on  supreme 
bench,  157;  Jefferson-Burr  con- 
test, 158;  governor  of  Mississippi 
158;  governor  of  Louisiana,  159; 
elected  United  States  senator, 
159. 

Dulaney,  Elkanah  R.  218 

The  Dulaneys'  services  in  the 
colonial  and  Revolutionary  wars, 
218;  locate  in  Sullivan,  218; 
German  element,  219;  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine,  219;  William 
R.  and  B.  L.  Dulaney,  220; 
services,  220. 

Gaines,  Edmund  Tendleton  195 
Moves  to  Sullivan,  195;  favored 
by  Claiborne,  195;  arrest  of  Burr 
195-6;  the  Burr  influence,  196; 
practices  law  in  Mississippi,  196; 
medal  for  war  services,  196; 
reaches  rank  of  major-general, 
196;  relieved  from  dutv,  197; 
Daniel  Clark,  197;  battle  of 
Erie,  197-199. 


Gregg,  Nathan  .  .  .  200 
Ancestry,  200;  enlists  in  Civil 
War,  200:  wounded  at  Shiloh, 
200;  captured,  200;  rank  of 
colonel,  200;  civil  offices,  201; 
urged  to  run  for  governor,  201. 


Ketron,  Joseph  H.    .  268 

His  youthful  longing,  268;  goes 
to  war,  268;  attends  school  late 
in  life,  269;  versatile  teacher, 
270;  studious  life,  270;  his  diary, 
271. 


King,  James    .       .  .149 

English  ancestry,  149;  war 
record,  149;  commander  of  fort 
at  Knoxville,  150;  a  rover,  150; 
James  King,  Jr.,  founder  of 
King  college,  150. 

Martin,  Joseph  .  .  .17 
Early  youth,  17;  agent  Tran- 
sylvania Co.,  17;  Indian  agent, 
17;  encounter  with  an  Indian, 
17;  marries  Betsy  Ward,  18; 
influence  with  Cherokees,  18; 
Indian  treaties,  18;  boundary 
line,  19. 

McClellan,  George  R.  .  237 
Early  education,  237;  in  the 
Mexican  War,  237;  boundary 
line  commissioner,  237;  Civil 
War,  238;  for  good  roads,  238; 
fills  many  public  offices,  238. 

Netherland,  John  .  .  292 
Gets  good  education,  292;  stud- 
ies law,  enters  politics,  292; 
elected  state  senator,  292;  can- 
didate for  governor,  293;  power 
over  a  jury,  293;  method  of 
speaking,  294;  misfortunes,  294 

Rhea,  John     .  .        .   221 

Rev.  Joseph  Rhea's  resignation, 
221;  comes  to  America,  221; 
chaplain  in  the  Christian  ex- 
pedition, 221;  John  Rhea  takes 
part  in  the  Revolution,  221; 
visits  Ireland,  222;  elected  to 
congress,  222;  the  old  white 
horse,  222. 

Smith,  "Raccoon"  John  .  166 
Where  born,  166;  early  strug- 
gles, 166;  family  removes  to 
Kentucky,  167;  conversion, 
168;  removes  to  Alabama,  169; 
misfortunes,  170;  return  to 
Kentucky,  170  ;  his  famous 
sermon,  170;  controversies, 
172-73;  stvle  of  speaking, 
174;  kindness,  174;  death,  175. 


330 


Index. 


Snapp,  James  P.     .  279 

Attends  Jefferson  Academy, 
279;  finishes  at  Emory  and 
Henry,  279;  studies  law,  279; 
enters  the  army,  279;  in  the 
battle  of  Shiioh,  279;  interested 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  280. 

Sullivan,  John  .        .85 

Birth,  85;  attacks  Fort  William 
and  Mary,  85;  military,  record, 
86-87;  resigns,  87;  governor  of 
New  Hampshire,  88. 


Tadlock,  James  D.  .  .  258 
Finishes  at  Princeton,  258; 
his  best  known  sermons,  258; 
influences  with  young  men, 
259;  a  mathematician,  260; 
his  experiences  in  the  school 
room,  260-61. 

Ward,  Nancy   .  .57 

Parentage,  57;  friendship  for 
whites,  57;  influence  with  the 
Indians,  58. 


■r 


Deacidified  using  the  Bookkeeper  process. 
Neutralizing  Agent:  Magnesium  Oxide 
Treatment  Date: 

JUL 


nnuucc 


IMt 


UC! 


[PER 


PRESERVATION  TECHNOLOGIES.  LP. 
1 1 1  Thomson  Park  Drive 
Cranberry  Township,  PA  16063 
(724)779-2111