USA > Tennessee > History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present : together with an historical and a biographical sketch of from twenty-five to thirty counties of east Tennessee, V.2 > Part 41
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The Democratic Convention was held on the 11th and 12th of August, and resulted in the nomination of Robert L. Taylor, a brother of the Re- publican nominee for governor. The platform of the Democratic Na- tional Convention was indorsed. a National debt was denounced as a National curse, and it was declared a crime to hoard money in the treas- ury raised by taxation rather than pay it out on the interest-bearing indebtedness of the Government. It favored "the maintenance and im- provement of our system of public schools and the education of all classes of our citizens;" and finally advised the submission to a popular vote of the proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in Tennessee.
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797
JAMES COUNTY.
JAMES COUNTY.
TAMES COUNTY lies between Bradley and Hamilton Counties, and embraces an area of about 285 square miles. While it has not been developed to the extent of some other counties it possesses some of the most fertile land in the State. Savannah Valley, which traverses it, is about three miles in width, and is admirably adapted to agricultural purposes. The valley of the Tennessee River is also very fertile. The principal rocks are limestone and dolomite, with some shale and sandstone on White Oak Mountain, which lies partly within the county. Valuable deposits of iron ore are also found in the ridges
Previous to 1880 the territory was occupied mainly by the Cherokee Indians, some of whom were possessed of considerable wealth. Joseph Vann, who lived on the present site of Harrison owned a large number of slaves, as did also "Judge Brown," whose residence was about six miles above Ooltewah. White settlers began to come into the territory in 1833 and 1934. Thomas Shirley located about six miles north of Ooltewah. in which neighborhood Samuel Green, George Montgomery and Alexander Mahan also settled. William Crowder, at a little later date settled about one-half mile north of Ooltewah, with Alexander Stariner and R. L. McNabb near him. Michael Swisher and William McDonald heated a short distance south of where the town now is.
Hamilton County to which the greater part of the territory now included; in James County then belonged, was organized in 1819, and until 1810 Dallas, on the west bank of the Tennessee River, was the county seat. On January 8, 1840. a vote was takcu to determine whether the seat of justice should remain at Dallas or be transferred to a point within one mile of the place occupied by Joseph Vann, on the opposite side of the river. A majority of twenty-five was necessary to secure the removal. This majority was obtained and the removal took place during the year. Soon after a town was laid out and named in honor of Gen. Harrison, who was elected to the Presidency during that year. A substantial brick courthouse and jail were erected, and the town attained con- siderable importance. Among the first merchants were N. N. Rollins, A. G. W. Pickett, A. Hunter, Joshua Hunter and Thomas Spencer. Richard Henderson. L. B. Shirley. D. C. Trewhitt, A. G. W. Puckett and --- - Blacknell were the leading lawyers of the town. In November, 1970, the county seat was removed to Chattanooga, and on the 30th of the following January an act was approved for the formation of James County to include that portion of Hamilton County east of the Tennessee River, and a lice ruli- ning from the mouth of Harrison's Spring branch to the Georgia State line, and also to include a small part of Bradley County. The county court was organized in April. 1571, and two places, Ooltewah and Harrison were put in nomination for the county seat. The election was held, resulting in a majority of one vote for Ooltewah. Sixty-three votes returned from the Second Civil District were thrown out, as it was not stated for which place they were cast. The voters of the district asserted that they were cast for Harrisou and a long litigation ensued. It terminated in favor of Ooltewah, and in 1974 the elec- tion of a courthouse was begun. It is a three story brick building. The third story was built by W. A. Nelson Lodge No. 891, and Is used by them. In 1878 a jail building was completed.
The officers of the county since its organization has been as follows: County Court Clerks-James Childers, 1871-14: J. C. Heaton. 1871. Circuit Court Clerks-A. S. Stultz. 1871-74; S. I. Yarnell, 1874-86; A. E. Bell, 1886, Sheriffs-J. A. Green, 1971-76; R. K. Smith and Bruce Guthrie, 1ST6; E. E. Clingan. 1876-78: Samuel Lewis, 1878-80: E E. Clingan, 1880-52; J. W. Watkins. 1882-86; J. A. Green, 1556. Trustees-E. E. Palgett. 1871-74; Samuel J. Blair, 1874-76; John W. Smith, 1876-78: George Montgomery. 1578-
50
798
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
80; J. M. Seagle, 1880-82; J. M. McCully, 1880-84; W. H. Langston, 1844-56: W. F. Anderson, 1886. Registers-J. Rustin, 1871-78; R. B. Campbell, 1878-82; IL. H. MENabb, 1883. Clerk and Master-T. II. Roddy, 1871.
Voltewah was laid out upon the completion of the Hiwassee or East Tennessee & Georgia Railroad. The land upon which it is located was owned by F. P. Watkins and William Stone. The first store was opened by George B. Guthrie and F. P. Watkins. the latter of whom was the first depot agent. Among the other merchants previous to the war were J. H. Barnett, Chestnut & Brownlow and A. Howard. Soon after the town was laid out a Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized by Hiram Douglas. The congregation erected a frame house, which was used also by the other denominations. About three years ago, the Baptists built a place of worship, which, although not entirely finished has since been occupied by them.
The business interests of the town at the present time are represented by the following individuals and firms: Z. T. Watkins, G. P. Wells and W. H. Mitchell, dry goods and groceries; G. W. Howard, drugs; Isaac Wolf and A. Phillips, family groceries. Oolte- wal Merchant Mills, owned by Green & Langston, are situated about two miles north of the town. The physicians are T. H. Koddy and S. I. Yarnell, and the attorneys at law, H. H. McNabb and J. P. Parker.
The other towns in the county are Harrison and Birchwood. The former, since the removal of the county seat, has greatly declined, and now consists of little more than two stores, a church and a blacksmith shop. Birchwood is a small village, consisting of about 150 souls. It is situated in the extreme northern part of the county.
BRADLEY COUNTY.
B RADLEY COUNTY lies south of the Hiwassee River, and is bounded ou the north by Meigs and McMinn Counties, on the east by Polk County, on the south by the State of Georgia, and on the west by James County. Its greatest length is about twenty-five miles, and the greatest width twenty-two miles. It embraces an area of 340 square miles. Its surface consists of a series of parallel ridges and valleys extending in a southwesterly course from the Hiwassee River to the Georgia line. The ridges are neither bigh nor abrupt, and the soil upon them, while not as fertile as that of the valleys, is well adapted to agricultural purposes. The valleys are each drained by a creek and its tributaries. Those emptying into Hiwassee River are Canda, Chatata, Chestua and Mouse, which together drain about two-thirds of the county. The remaining one-third slopes to the southward, and is drained by Coahulla, Sugar and Mill Creeks.
The territory now embraced in Bradley County lies in the central part of what was once known as the Ocoee District, which embraced that portion of the State south of the Hiwassee and Tennessee Rivers. In 1819 the Cherokee Indians having ceded to the United States the lands north of the Hiwassee, an agency was established upon the site of the present town of Charleston, which became known as the "Cherokee Agency." Col. Return J. Meigs, of Revolutionary fame, was the agent of the Government until 1823. when he died, and was succeeded by Gov. McMiun. At the latter's death Hugh Mont- gomery was appointed agent. Some years before the establishment of the agency Joba Walker bad erected a log house on the hill where the academy now stands, and had sold goods there, but lived on the other side of the river. Soon after the arrival of Col. Meigs. Lewis Ross, a brother of JJohn Ross, the Cherokee chief, opened a store in what has since been known as the Barrett house, and continued in business there until the removal of the Indians. He married a Miss Holt, a member of an old Virginia family. Another prominent merchant was John L. McCarty. A tavern was kept by John Cowan. About
790
BRADLEY COUNTY.
1S32 several white persons entered the Nation, as it was then called, and attempted to make settlement, but the most of them were compelled to withdraw. A few who had married Cherokees or half-breeds were already scattered throughout the territory. These encroachments made it evident to some of the more intelligent of the Cherokees that they would be compelled to vacate their lands, and for a consideration they proposed to code them to the United States, and to remove to a reservation west of the Mississippi, but a large part of the tribe, the leader of whom, John Ross, the principal chief of the Nation, strenuously opposed the measure. The leaders of the party in favor of the ces- sion were Maj. R.dge, and his son. John Ridge, Elias Boudinotte, James Starr. William and Johnson Rodgers and John Walker, Jr., all of whom were of mixed blood. They held a council at Red Clay, in Angust, 1834, and without the sanction of Ross made a treaty ceding the lands to the United States. This was considered an act of treason by the other faction, and they resolved to put the leaders to death, a resolution which they finally succeeded in carrying into effect. The first victim was John Walker, Jr. He was a well educated gentleman, who, in 1824, had married Miss Emily S. Meigs, a grand- daughter of Col. R. J. Meigs, who resided npon a farin about two and one-half miles north of the present site of Cleveland. As he was returning from the council in company with Maj. R. C. Jackson, now of Knoxville, he was fired upon by two Indians in ambush, and fatally wounded. He succeeded in reaching his home, however, where he died nineteen days later. His murderers were tracked to their homes, arrested and lodged in jail yt Athens. They were half-brothers, James Forman and Addison Springston. After lying in jail for some time they were released by Judge Keith, who decided that the court had no jurisdiction in the case.
The treaty signed by the Ridge party was deemed valid by the United States Govery- ment, and settlers began to enter the Nation in large numbers, but John Ross still refused for some time to sanction it, and it was not until May 23. 1836, that the final ratification took place. As soon as this was accomplished troops were sent into the Nation to gather up the Indians preparatory to their removal. Gens. Scott and Wool were in command, with headquarters at Charleston. Barracks and other buildings were erected there, cov- ering an area of nearly ten acres, around which was a stockade. As the Indians were brought in they were camped around the place, where they died in large numbers. Their removal was begun in 1837, but not completed until the following year.
The survey of the lands in the Ococe District was begun under an act of the Legisla- ture in the spring of 1837 by John B. Tipton, surveyor-general. His deputies were John C. Kennedy, J. C. Tipton, Thomas H. Calloway, J. F. Cleveland and John Hannah. The base line for the survey began at a large mass of limestone on the Hiwassee River oppo- site Charleston, and ran 200 west of south, to the Georgia line, passing through Cleveland.
In November, 1838, an entry-taker's office was opened at Cleveland with Luke Les as entry-taker, and P. J. R. Edwards as land register. .
The lands were placed upon sale at prices ranging with the time in which it was entered. For the first four months the price was $7.50 per acre; the next four months $5, after which it was reduced to $2 and $1, and finally the last was sold in 1841 at one cent an acre. The settlers from the older counties came in rapidly, and Bradley County soon became quite thickly populated. In 1837 the Hiwassee Railroad was begun. but was not completed to Cleveland until the summer of 1851. In the fall of that year it reached Charleston, and in 1856 was opened to Knoxville, the name meantime having been changed to the East Tennessee & Georgia Railroad.
The organization of churches was begun several years before the removal of the Cherokees. In this work the Methodists claim priority. They began some time in the twenties, and succeeded in making many converts. Rude houses of worship were erected, regular circuits established, and camp-meetings frequently held. One of the first preachers was Dr. J. B. McFerrin. now of Nashville. Henry Price, a local preacher. was permitted to live in the Nation after 1832 or 1535, and being somewhat familiar with the Cherokee language. he sometimes preached to the Indians, and was active in two or three of their camp-meetings. The first circuit rider for the white congregations was Mi
800
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
J. Hawk, who began his labors in 1836. About 1830 the Presbyterians established a mis- sion school four miles northwest of the present site of Cleveland, with William Holland as teacher, and services were held there regularly by a Mr. Worcester and a Mr. Butler, ministers from the mission at Brainard's near Chattanooga. The first Baptist Church was organized about a mile from this mission school by Daniel Buckner. The first white Baptist Churches were Corinth and Blue Springs organized in 1838 or 1839. At about that time Hiram Douglass, William Bell and the Templetons, Cumberland Presbyterian preachers, began their labors in the county.
Bradley County was organized on the first Monday in May, 1836, just previous to the cession of the Ocoee District by the Indians. It then embraced all of Polk County and a portion of James. At the first term of the county court an election was ordered for the selection of a seat of justice, and two places, Andrew Taylor's and "Deer-in-the-Water." were put in nomination. The former place was chosen and named Cleveland, in honor of a Revolutionary hero. Soon after the town was laid off and a log courthouse erected upon the southwest corner of the public square. This served the county until 1839, when the present brick building was erected. It was then one of the best structures of the kind in East Tennessee, and is still in a good state of preservation. A jail was erected in the same year, the criminals previous to that time having been sent to McMinn County. This jail was used until about 1850, when the present one was built.
The first officers chosen were Rev. Henry Price, clerk of the circuit court; William Carter, sheriff; John H. Robertson, clerk of the county court; James Lauderdale. trus- tee, and Frank Kincannon, register. The succeeding officers have been as follows:
Sheriffs-Alexander A. Clingan, 1837-38; James Lauderdale, 1838-40; A. A. Clingan, 1840-46; Charles I. Price, 1846-48; Thomas L. Bates, 1848-54; John H. Kuhn, 1854-60; Isaac Low, 1860-66; C. D. Champion, 1866-68; P. W. Norwood, 1868-72; Isaac Low. 1872-76; George B. Hays, 1870-80; A. J. Carson, 1880-1882; W. G. Stockburger, 1882-94; H. J. Parks, 1884.
Clerks of the county court-Joseph H. Davis, 1856-66; Samuel Hunt, 1866-10; J. H. Rucker, 1870-S4; F. A. Frazier, 1884.
Clerks of the circuit court-John H. Payne, 1848-64; J. C. Tipton, 1864-74; W. H. Curry, 1874-78; R. W. Seludge, 1878-86; A. J. Fletcher, 1886.
Registers-William H. White, 1843; A. J. White, 1843-48; Stephen Hempstead, 1848-52; J. W. Hicks, 1852-66; A. B. Norton, 1866-70; J. W. Hicks, 1870-86; A. A. Rags- dale, 1886.
Trustees-Eli King, 1838-40; John Woods, 1840-42; John H. Payne, 1842: *
* * * A. R. Potts, 1856-58; Perry Roberts, 1858-60; James H. Newman, 1860 -- 64; John F. Hays, 1864-71; A. J. White, 1871-74; J. W, Gass, 1874-76: A. J. White, 1876-82; J. A. Denton, 1882-84: M. L, Julian, 1884.
Clerks and masters-James Berry, 1840-56; William Hunt, 1856-62; D. C. McMillan, 1862-64; A. J. White, 1864-70; W. H. McKamy, 1870.
The circuit court of Bradley County was organized May 30, 1836, by Judge Charles F. Keith, who continued upon the bench until 1848. But little business was transacted at the first term of the court, except to qualify the officers and to admit George W. Rowles and Monroe Campbell as attorneys. At the next term, which was held in September. a large number of cases came before the court, but they were of small importance. The jurors were Francis Storr, Richard Dean, William Grant, Wilson Keeling, Samuel Lain, William Rice, George Cox. B. F. Taylor, Jo. Billingsley, John Roberts, John Dunn, Noah Fisher, A. H. Napin, Ab. Lillard, William Henry, William Higgins, William Hammond, John Towns, Jesse Poe, John 1. De Armond. William Tripplett, James Dobb, James Burk, James Wilson and Sherwood Osborne. The first indictment was found against Jere and Elias Towers for malicious mischief. They were charged with throw- ing down the fence of Robert Watkins and found guilty, but were granted a new trial, and the case was finally dismissed. Green W. Whitt was the first person convicted and fined; he was a grocery keeper and had engaged in a fight. The first delegate to the
801
BRADLEY COUNTY.
penitentiary from Bradley County was William Bailey, who was arrested for horse stealing; he plead guilty and was sentenced for a term of three years. The first per- sou indicted for a capital offense was Abraham Scott, against whom a true bill for murder in the first degree was found at the September term, 1837. The case was con- tinved until the next term, when he was found guilty of manslaughter, and his term in the penitentiary was fixed at three years. He was granted a new trial, but before the case came up for hearing he died. He was charged with the murder of Fanny Barnes.
Of the attorneys resident in Cleveland prior to the civil war, George W. Rowles was one of the most prominent. He was a man of fine ability, and great force of character. and was a very excellent equity lawyer. He represented the county in the Legislature in 1841-42. At the beginning of the war he removed to Georgia. Levi Trewhitt came to Cleveland from Morgan County about 1836, and for several years practiced his profession in partnership with John C. Gaut. He read law after he was married, but although he thus began practice somewhat late in life, he became eminent as a criminal lawyer. Judge Gaut is a native of MeMinn County. His early education was somewhat limited, but bis strong native ability soon placed him in the front rank of his profession. He was elected judge of the Third Judicial Circuit in 1854, and continued upon the bench until about 1863. He is now a resident of Nashville. After the dissolution of the partnership between Gaut and Trewhitt, the former associated with himself a younger brother, Jesse H. Gaut, who is still one of the prominent members of the Cleveland bar, and who was the first representative to the Legislature after the organization of the State Government, at the close of the war. Mr. Trewhitt took into partnership his son, D. C. Trewhitt. the present able judge of this judicial court. In 1847 Samuel A. Smith was elected attorney-general. and located at Cleveland. He was an excellent advocate and a man of fine ability. In 1855 he was elected to Congress, and two years later was re-elected; he died in 1864. R. M. Edwards was a student in his office. Col. Edwards was admitted to practice in 1850, and has since been one of the leading lawyers in this portion of the State. He is a fine speaker, a good judge of human nature, and consequently a most excellent advocate. He is especially strong in criminal practice, and in cases against railroads. He has also been very successful in equity practice. In one case, in Polk County, involving the title to a copper mine, he received a fee of $15,000. It was begun in 1858, was carried to the supreme court of the State, and to the United States Supreme Court, in both of which the decision was rendered in favor of his clients. He represented the county in the Legisla- ture in 1861-62.
Of the other attorneys resident in Cleveland previous to the war, may be mentioned John T. Coffee and Charles F. Gillespie, who came to the county soon after its organiza- tion, and T. J. Campbell, J. B. Collins, John B. Hoyl and B. Jarnagin. Campbell removed to Cleveland about 1856, and remained until the war, when he became a com- missioner of the Confederate State Government. In that office he made himself so obnoxious to the Union element, that he did not deem it prudent to return to the county. and removed to Texas. Collins began practice in 1848, but after a few years abandoned the profession, and removed to a farm. He is still living in the county. Judge John O. Cannon was also a resident of the county a short time previous to his death. Judge Hoyl removed to Cleveland from Benton in 1855, and from that time until his elevation to the bench in 1870 was one of the leading members of the bar. Since the expiration of his term of office he has been living in retirement. At the close of the war John W. Ram- sey, a former resident of the county, returned from Alabama, and continued the practice of law until his death in February, 1887. He was a man of tine attainments, and a lawyer of good ability.
The lawyers of Cleveland at the present time are R. M. Edwards, J. H. Gaut. J. G. Stuart, P. B. Mayfield, James Mayfield, S. P. Gaut, Arthur Trayuor, John C. Ramsey and J. N. Aiken.
The chancery court was organized in 1840 .by Judge Thomas L. Williams, who remained upon the bench until 1854. His successors have been as follows: T. N. Van- dyke, 1854-62; N. G. Welker, 1862-63: D. C. Trewhitt, 1864-70; D. M. Key, 1870-76; W. M. Bradford. 1876-86; S. A. Key, 1886.
802
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Cleveland was laid off and the streets surveyed by John C. Kennedy in 1836 upon land occupied by Andrew Taylor, who had come into the Nation some time before, and married a Cherokee woman. His house stood about where Hartsell's store now is, on the west side of the public square. In 1837 the General Assembly passed an act estab- lishing the town of Cleveland as the county seat, and appointing the following commis- sioners: Levi Trewhitt, Nicholas Spring, P. J. G. Lea, James Berry, John C. Kennedy, Robert Swan, John Hardwick, Robert Bashears and Burrows Buckner, provided they agreed to the provisions of the act appointing them. Should they dissent, William Cham- pion, Ezekiel Spriggs, George Reed, Isaac Brazleton and John Hammond were to act as commissioners. The provisions of the act referred to wore that the two quarter sections upon which the town was located, except the part laid off into lots, should be sold to pay the State price for the land, and to raise a fund of $8,000 for the crection of a courthouse and jail ; also, should there be a deficit, after selling the land, an amount sufficient to supply it was to be levied upon the occupants of the lots in the town, each individual paying in proportion to the value of his property. These conditions were complied with, and, as has been stated, the county buildings were erected in 1839. The town was settled quite rapidly, and by 1840 the inhabitants numbered about 500. Among the first mer- chants were Dr. Nicholas Spring, P. J. G. Lea. John D. Traynor, Baldwin Ilarle, Rob- ert Humphreys, L. B. Miller, Lowry & Wasson, Robert Bashears, Robert and Isaac Swan, Andrew Russell, A. B. Foster, W. K. Pickens, D. C. Kenner, Washington Parks and W. H. Tibbs. At first goods were hauled in wagons from Nashville, Augusta and other dis- tant points. After the construction of the Western & Atlantic Railroad was begun the terminus of that line became the shipping point for Cleveland. The first blacksmith in the town was John McJunkin, who had previously worked for the Indians. Hiram Pen- dergrass also located at about the same time. Paschal Carter and John Wamble came soon after. Among the early carpenters and cabinet-makers were George Rider, Joseph Shields, William Samples, John Woods and Henry Brown. Several small tanyards were sunk on the creek west of town. They were owned by John Hardwick, John Shugart, James Ruble, Isaac Low and John Goodner. The early saddlers were John Thornberry, James Riddle and George T. Parker. John Osment and W. L. Brown were tailors.
The first churches organized in Cleveland were the Methodist and Presbyterian, both in 1837. The former was organized by Charles K. Lewis, and the latter by James Tedford. Services were held in the courthouse until about 1840, when each built a frame house. In 1849 the Methodists erected a brick structure, and about 1857 the Presbyterians also built a brick house. About 1840 the Baptists and Cumberland Presbyterians began organizing congregations in the county, and in 1859 the latter erected a brick church in Cleveland.
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