USA > Tennessee > Sullivan County > Historic Sullivan; a history of Sullivan County, Tennessee, with brief biographies of the makers of history > Part 20
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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.
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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.
4Oliver 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 1865, 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.
They located 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 state.
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.
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the beginning of 1909, a few more than two thousand, nine hundred-nearly six thousand people.
For a while criminals found the town a safe 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.
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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,
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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 100t 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 a 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.
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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 5.FR
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, 1903, the State of Tennessee ceded to WIN 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
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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 of 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-
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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
1These 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.
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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.
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
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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.
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HUNTERS OF THE HOLSTON.
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
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ABEL J. BROWN.
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
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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?"
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