USA > Tennessee > Sullivan County > Historic Sullivan; a history of Sullivan County, Tennessee, with brief biographies of the makers of history > Part 14
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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.
1George 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.
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OFFICIAL LIFE.
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.
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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. O. 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.
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OFFICIAL LIFE.
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 for 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
"RACCOON" JOHN SMITH
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"RACCOON" JOHN SMITH.
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
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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
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"RACCOON" JOHN SMITH.
"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,
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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
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"RACCOON" JOHN SMITH.
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
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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."
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,
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"RACCOON" JOHN SMITH.
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 ad journ 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-
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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."
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