USA > Tennessee > Bedford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 13
USA > Tennessee > Marshall County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 13
USA > Tennessee > Wilson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 13
USA > Tennessee > Maury County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 13
USA > Tennessee > Williamson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 13
USA > Tennessee > Rutherford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 13
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Sam Houston, a very noted and somewhat eccentric individual was born in Lexington, Rockbridge Co., Va., March 2, 1793. His ancestors were Scottish Covenanters, who fled to the north of Ireland to escape per- secution. A number of them came to Pennsylvania about the beginning of the eighteenth century. The father of Sam was a soldier in the Rev- olutionary war, and at the time of his death, in 1807, was inspector of a. brigade. The mother with her nine children-six sons and three daugh-
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ters-soon after moved to East Tennessee and settled in Blount County, near the Cherokee country. Young Houston learned to read and write before leaving Virginia, and on his arrival at their new home was sent to school to an academy in the settlement. While attending school he com- mitted to memory almost the whole of Pope's translation of the Illiad. On his teacher's refusal to teach him Greek and Latin, he left school in disgust, with the remark that he would never recite another lesson. By the influence of his elder brother he entered a store as a clerk soon after leaving school. Becoming disgusted with his clerkship, he suddenly left and went to live with the Indians. His tall commanding figure and daring exploits as a hunter soon made him a great favorite among the Indians. The chief Ootooteka adopted him as his son. He remained with the Indians three years and grew to manhood, in size being fully six feet in height, of handsome, fine figure. He left his friends, the Indians, as suddenly as he had left home before. He was now eighteen years of age, and on his return home he opened a school. He charged the moderate rate of $8 per year for tuition; one-third payable in cash, one-third in corn and one-third in domestic cotton cloth.
He began his teaching in 1811, and soon had a flourishing school. The outbreak of the war with Great Britain afforded an opportunity for the display of his talents in a direction more congenial to his nature. In 1813 he enlisted as a common soldier, but soon rose to the rank of ensign. At the battle of the Horseshoe Bend, on March 27, 1813, he re- ceived a severe wound in the thigh from an arrow, and two balls in the shoulder. After the battle he was carried to Fort Strother on a litter. His wounds were thought to be mortal, but his robust constitution saved him. His bravery in battle made him a particular favorite of Jackson. After peace he was stationed at Knoxville as lieutenant, in charge of a post, but was soon afterward sent to New Orleans. While there his old wounds broke out afresh and he was compelled to undergo a very dan- gerous and painful surgical operation. After a winter of suffering he went to New York, where his health improved. In 1816 he returned to Tennessee, by way of Washington City, and was stationed at Nashville. On January 1, 1817, he was appointed to carry out a treaty with the Cherokee Indians. The next year he headed a delegation of Indians to Washington. While in that city he was accused of exercising too great zeal in putting a stop to the African slave trade through Florida, but was fully acquitted on trial. On March 1, 1818, he resigned his commission in the army and settled in Nashville, where he began the study of law. After a course of six months he was admitted to practice, and began his labors at Lebanon, Wilson County. His rise was rapid. In October,
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1819, he was attorney-general for the Nashville District, and in 1821 he was made major-general of the militia of the Western District. In 1523 . he was elected to Congress, and again in 1825. He was elected govern- or of the State by the very flattering majority of 12,000. In January, 1829, Gov. Houston was married to Miss Eliza Allen, but from domestic infelicity he left her in April, resigned his office, gave up his candidacy for re-election, and again went to his old friends, the Cherokees, now be- yond the Mississippi. His old adopted father, Ootooteka, again kindly received him, and by a council of the chiefs, on October 21, 1829, he was made a citizen of the Cherokee nation, with full power. Detecting frauds in contracts with the Indians he went to Washington in 1832, where he plead the cause of the Indians so strongly that it led to an investigation, which caused the suspension of several clerks, and led to a personal en- counter between himself and W. R. Stansbury, of Ohio, in which the lat- ter received a severe castigation. For this offense Houston was arrested and fined $500, and was reprimanded by the speaker. President Jack- son, however, caused his fine to be remitted, and he left Washington in disgust and returned to the Indians in December, 1832.
He soon after moved to Nacogdoches, Tex., and took a very active part in the affairs of that State. He was elected delegate to the conven- tion on April 1, 1833; while a member of that body he exercised great influence over its deliberations. On the outbreak of war between Texas and Mexico, Houston was made commander of the militia of the eastern district, and in October, 1835, joined his forces with Gen. Austin, who was besieging Bexar. Gen. Austin offered to resign the entire command to Houston, who refused to accept. By vote of forty-nine out of fifty Houston was made commander-in-chief of the Texan forces, but resigned March 2, 1836, because he was accused of wanting to make himself dictator. He was soon after re-elected commander-in-chief by the same- vote. He took command of the Texan forces at Gonzales, March 10, which numbered 374 men. A force under. Col. Travis held the Alamo against the orders of Houston, and were besieged and captured by Santa Anna and the garrison of 185 men massacred. A panic seized Houston's men when the news reached camp that Santa Anna was advancing with 5,000 men. With difficulty Houston, who was absent at the time, col- lected his fugitives and fell back to Peach Creek. Here he was joined by 100 men, and soon after by 650 more. Being without artillery he was unwilling to give battle; in the meantime Col. Fannin was ordered to join him with the garrison of Goliad, but the order was not promptly obeyed. The entire garrison was surrounded and captured by Gen. Urrea and 357 men were shot. Intense feeling was aroused against the
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Mexicans. Santa Anna's army, flushed with victory, captured Harris- burg, the capital, and burned it, also New Washington. On April 10 Houston received two six-pound guns from Cincinnati. His forces now numbered 783 men; Santa Anna 1,600 veterans. Houston attacked him at San Jacinto March 21. He opened with grape and cannister then charged with the cry, "Remember the Alamo." Houston had his ankle shattered by a ball and his horse mortally wounded, but urged him up to the works which were instantly scaled. The Texans having no bayonets used clubbed muskets, bowie knives and pistols. Few Mexicans escaped; 630 were killed, 208 were wounded, and 730 were captured. The next day Santa Anna was captured in disguise. Houston exerted all his influence to stay the butchery of the Mexicans and saved Santa Anna. While prisoner Santa Anna acknowledged the independence of Texas and agreed to withdraw his forces therefrom. Houston resigned his posi- tion in favor of Gen. Rusk and went to New Orleans for treatment for his wounds. On his improvement he returned to his old home in Texas. . A call was made in July for the election of a president of the repub- lic in September. Houston was selected to be a candidate, but with great reluctance consented. He was inaugurated October 22, 1836, and took his old competitors, Gen. Austin and Hon. Henry White, into the cabinet. He released Santa Anna and sent him to Washington to con- fer with President Jackson. He soon opened communication with the Washington government with a view to the annexation of Texas. His administration was as brilliant as his military career. The constitution prevented his re-election in 1838, when he was succeeded by M. B. Lamar. In 1841 he was again called to the presidency. In his inaugural address he said: "There is not a dollar in the treasury; we are in debt $10,- 000,000 or $15,000,000. We are without money, without credit, and for want of punctuality are without character." On the annexation of Texas he was chosen one of the United States Senators from that State, and was elected again in 1853 to serve till March 4, 1859. He was defeated for re-election in 1858, but was chosen governor again in August, 1859. He opposed the Kansas-Nebraska bill in a great speech March 3, 1854, and lamented the repeal of the Missouri compromise. He was a friend to the American or Know-nothing party. He favored the Lecompton constitution in the Kansas difficulties, and opposed secession at the out- break of the war. He resigned his office rather than subscribe to the oath presented by the convention. His death occurred at Huntersville, Tex., July 25, 1863. Personally Houston was a man of great courage, and was the soul of honor. While in Congress he made charges against Col. Irwin, postmaster at Nashville. These charges were resented by a
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challenge sent to Gen. Houston from Col. Irwin by the hand of Col. John Smith, of Missouri. This Houston refused to receive from Smith. The act of Houston was criticised by Gen. William White as being discour- teous to Col. Smith. A dispute arose which resulted in a challenge and duel. Gen. White was severely but not fatally wounded.
Col. David Crockett.# son of John Crockett, of Irish birth, was born at Limestone, on the Nollichucky River, in Washington County, Tenn., on August 17, 1786. His mother's maiden name was Rebecca Hawkins. After some youthful adventures, a little schooling and a third courtship, young Crockett married a beautiful Irish girl. About 1808 he with his wife and two children moved to Lincoln County, Tenn., where in the two following years he began to distinguish himself as a hunter. In 1810 or 1811 he moved to Franklin County, and soon after the massacre at Fort Mimms went as a volunteer to the Creek war, participating in most of the important battles until its close in 1815. Soon after the close of the war his wife died, leaving three children, and in a short time he married as his second wife the widow of a soldier, who had two children, and by whom he had three more. He subsequently removed to the country purchased of the Chickasaw Indians, in what is now Lawrence County, and became successively magistrate, colonel of militia, and member of the Legislature. Having lost his property, failed in business, and given up all to his creditors, he determined to go farther West, especially as game was becoming scare in the locality where he lived.
In 1822 he removed to West Tennessee and settled in what is now Gibson County, but at that time Weakley County. Here he engaged in his favorite sport, bear hunting, and thus supplied his family with an abundance of meat. He also secured a large quantity of peltry, which he exchanged for coffee, sugar, powder, lead and salt. He was now elected for a second term of the Legislature, serving during the years 1823-24, voting against Gen. Jackson for United States Senator. In 1825 he became a candidate for a seat in Congress against Col. Adam R. Alexander, then serving as the first representative to that body from West Tennessee, but was defeated by two votes. For the next two years he was engaged in the lumber trade and in bear hunting, killing in one season no less than 105 bears. But his speculation in the lumber trade was a total failure. He then became a candidate a second time for Congress and defeated Col. Alexander and Gen. William Arnold by a majority of 2,748 votes. He acted with the "Jackson party" during the administration of President Adams, but during his second term he voted against the Indian bill, a favorite measure of President Jackson's.
*From a manuscript in possession of the Tennessee Historical Society.
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1830 he was a candidate for a third term in Congress, but owing to his opposition to the administration party he was defeated by his opponent William Fitzgerald. Two years later, however, despite the efforts of the partisans of the administration, he defeated Mr. Fitzgerald by a majority of 202. He co-operated with the Whig party forming the rechartering of the United States Bank, and opposing the removal of the deposits.
In the spring of 1834 Col. Crockett made a trip through the Northern States, visiting Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston and other cities, and was everywhere received with marked attention, especially by the Whigs. He was presented in Philadelphia by the younger Whigs with a very fine rifled gun, a present he prized very highly, and which he subsequently bore with him in many a bear hunt, as well as during his campaigns in Texas. Retiring to Washington, where he remained until the close of Congress, he returned home, and was a candidate for re-election, Adam Huntsman being his opponent. Crockett was defeated, having not only Huntsman but the influence of Andrew Jackson and Gov. Carroll backed by the Union Bank at Jackson to contend against. Feeling that "Crockett's occupation was gone " and being disgusted with the ways of scheming politicians, he determined to go to Texas. He made a parting address to his constituents, in which he reviewed his course in Congress and warned them against the policy of "the Govern- ment " and the President's disposition to nominate Mr. Van Buren as his successor, He also alluded to the unfair means used to defeat him in his late canvass, and closed by telling them that he was done with politics for the present, and that they might all go to h-1 and he would go to Texas.
Taking leave of his wife and children, and shouldering his rifle "Betsy," he started at once on the highway to Texas, to a heroic death .and to a fame as lasting as the memory of the bloody Alamo itself. He made his journey as rapidly as he could, and reached San Antonio in time to join the patriots before Santa Anna's army, previous to the siege of the city. He was one of the six Americans who survived the assault upon the Alamo on March 6, 1836. . The prisoners were taken before the Mexican chief, who gave orders for the massacre of the whole number. Col. Crockett, seeing their treachery, sprang like a tiger at his foes, when a number of swords were sheathed in his indomitable heart. His body, with others of the slain, was buried in a heap in the center of the Alamo. Thus ended the life of Col. David Crockett, the celebrated bear hunter of Tennessee, the eccentric congressman from the West and one of the heroes of the Alamo, whose fame is as immortal as history.
On the 11th of September, 1777, was born Felix Grundy, the young-
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est of seven sons of George Grundy, of Berkley County, Va. He was of English parentage. The family moved from Virginia to Browns- ville, Penn., in 1779, and 1780 to Kentucky, which State was then indeed a "dark and bloody ground." At least three of the family fell victims to the tomahawk and scalping knife of the savage; not only were several of the family victims of the savages, but their home and household ef- fects were swept away also. This was a time according to the language of himself when "death was in every bush, and when every thicket con- cealed an ambuscade." He was placed in the academy at Bardstown, Ky., under that eminent educator, Dr. Priestley, who afterward became presi- dent of the University of Nashville. Being the seventh son the mother destined him for a physician, but that profession being distasteful to him he chose the law. He entered the law office of Col. George Nicholas, a gentleman who stood at the head of the Kentucky bar at that time. In 1798 he began practice and soon attained eminence as a criminal lawyer. It was in this department of the law that he ranked highest and in which he had few if any equals and no superiors.
He was chosen a member of the convention to revise the constitution of Kentucky in 1799, and the same year became a member of the Legis- lature of that commonwealth, where he remained for several successive terms. In 1806 he was appointed judge of the supreme court of errors and appeals and on the resignation of Justice Todd Mr. Grundy became chief justice of the State, at the age of twenty-nine. The salary of the office being small, he resigned and moved to Nashville in 1807, to enter a broader field of usefulness. He was admitted to the practice of law in the several courts of the State on Saturday, November 14, 1807. Of his professional ability Hon. John M. Bright, who delivered an oration on the "Life, Character and Public Services of the Hon. Felix Grundy," says: "At the first step in his profession, he took rank with one Haywood and Whiteside, and as an advocate he rose in time far above competition, and challenged every age and every country to produce his peer. After his settlement in Nashville, it is said, out of 165 individuals whom he de- fended on charges of capital offenses, one only was finally condemned and executed. His name was a tower of strength to the accused, and his retainer a city of refuge. At his bidding prison doors flew open, and the captive leaped from his falling chains into the arms of his swooning wife. At the bar he was always dignified in his bearing, conciliatory in his address, Saxon in his diction, and never stooping to coarseness in his allusions. His speeches not only breathed a high tone of morality, but the purer essence of religion. He was fa- miliar with the Bible and perhaps drew from it the sparks that kindled
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into the boldest imagery that ever shed a luster on the bar. Although he sometimes indulged a pungent humor and a caustic wit, he ever held a resort to vituperation and abuse as dishonorable as the chewed bullets and poisoned arrows of savage warfare. I have sought in vain to find some clue to the secret of his success." Doubtless his earnestness, com- mand of words, his pictures from nature, his consciousness of his own strength, his ability to read human nature and power to portray charac- ter had much to do with it. On December 4, 1811, Mr. Grundy became a member of Congress where he remained for two terms, positively refus- ing to accept the nomination in 1815. This was during the period of the second war with Great Britain, when great questions were de- bated and there were great men to discuss them, i. e., Clay, Webster, Cal- houn, Randolph and others.
The interval from 1815 to 1819 Mr. Grundy spent in building up his profession and his fortune. In 1819 he became a member of the State Legislature, where he remained for six years. While a member of the Legislature he, with Mr. William L. Brown, was made a member of a committee with unlimited power to settle the very delicate question of the boundary line between Tennessee and Kentucky. This question had caused some bitterness between the sister States but was amicably settled February 2, 1820. At a called session of the Legislature of 1820 to de- vise some means to release the public from financial distress, Mr. Grun- dy was the author and successful advocate of a bank, founded exclusively upon the funds of the State. On the death of those two eminent states- men, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, on July 4, 1826, Mr. Grundy was chosen to deliver the funeral oration for the State. The effort was one worthy of the occasion. Following the election of Gen. Jackson to the presidency came the election of Felix Grundy to the United States Senate. He was re-elected in 1833 and served in that body till 1838. He was a member of the committee, with the great "Pacificator," which shaped the compromise tariff bill of 1833. He was made Attorney-Gen- eral of the United States in September, 1838, by appointment of Mr. Van Buren. . He resigned this office in 1840 and was again elected to the United States Senate, but his death occurred before taking his seat. In . 1840 Mr. Grundy took a very active part in the presidential campaign of that year in favor of Martin Van Buren against Gen. Harrison. Al- though suffering from physical infirmity, he entered into the canvass with all the ardor of his youth and in the full vigor of his great intellect. He survived this work but a short time. At 4 o'clock of Saturday after- noon, December 19, 1840, was witnessed the closing of the earthly career of this great man.
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Hugh Lawson White was the son of Gen. James White, one of the earliest pioneers of East Tennessee, and in many respects a remarkable man. Gen. White was born of Irish parentage, and spent the early part of his life in North Carolina, where in 1770 he married Mary Lawson. During the Revolutionary war he served as a soldier from that State, but at its close removed with his family to Fort Chissel, Va. In 1787 he immigrated to Knox County, Tenn., and in 1792 laid the foundation of the present city of Knoxville. He was a member of the Franklin con- vention in 17S5; of the Territorial Assembly in 1794, and the Constitu- tional Convention of 1796. During the Creek war, although advanced in years, he served with distincton as brigadier-general of militia. Taken all in all he is one of the most conspicuous figures in the early history of East Tennessee.
Hugh Lawson White was born October 30, 1773, and was conse- quently a lad of fourteen when with his father he came into Tennessee. His early life was spent in hardy toil, with very limited facilities for ob- taining even the rudiments of an education. At the age of fifteen, however, by earnest effort, he had sufficiently advanced to take up the study of the ancient languages, which he did under the direction of Rev. Samuel Carrick, with some assistance from Judge Roane. His studies were soon in- terrupted by Indian hostilities, and he volunteered as a soldier under the leadership of John Sevier. In this campaign he distinguished himself, not only for bravery, but for strength and endurance. At the age of twenty he was appointed private secretary to Gov. Blount, with whom he remained until the close of his term of office. He then went to Phila- delphia where he took a course of study, after which he engaged in the study of law with James Hopkins of Lancaster, Penn. In 1796 he re- turned to Knoxville, and at once assumed a leading position at the bar. Five years later, at the age of twenty-eight, he was elected judge of the su- perior court, then the highest judicial tribunal in the State. He resigned in 1807, and was elected to the State Senate. He was re-elected two years later, but did not serve the second term, as he was elected by the Legislature one of the judges of the supreme court. He continued in that capacity until December 31, 1814, when he again resigned. He had been elected president of the Bank of Tennessee in November, 1812, and from that time until July, 1827, he continued to direct the operations of that institution. In 1820, his health being impaired, he returned to his farm, but the country had need of his services, and he was not al- lowed to remain in seclusion. The next year he was appointed by Presi- dent Monroe one of the three commissioners to settle the claims under the treaty providing for the transfer of Florida from Spain to the United
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States. This occupied his time and attention for three years. In 1825 he was elected to succeed Andrew Jackson in the United States Senate, and continued as a member of that body until 1840.
During his senatorial career he delivered but few speeches of any considerable length. He usually spoke briefly and to the point, and his opinions were always received with marked respect. On most questions he was in harmony with the Democratic party. He opposed the Federal system of internal improvements, the rechartering of the United States Bank and the sub-treasury bill. He voted against the famous " expung- ing resolution" on constitutional grounds, but offered a set of resolutions in lieu of it. In 1836, through the influence of certain members of his party, he was prevailed upon to take a step which embittered the few re- maining years of his life. It had become evident that President Jackson wished to make Mr. Van Buren his successor in the presidential chair. This was distasteful to a large element of the party, especially in the South. In October, 1835, resolutions were passed by the General Assem- bly of Tennessee nominating Judge White for the presidency, and he finally consented to make the canvass. For this step he was bitterly de- nounced by President Jackson, Judge Grundy, Cave Johnson, James K. Polk and many others, heretofore strong friends. Yet with all the lead- ers of his own party in Tennessee against him, and with no chance of success, he carried the State by a majority of 10,000 votes-a magnificent testimonial to the high estimation in which he was held. The General Assembly of 1839-40, having passed certain resolutions of instruction to its senators in Congress, which the latter could not support, Judge White resigned his office and retired to private life. He died very soon after -April 10, 1840.
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