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 42
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In 1860 the Baptists began a similar work, which was not completed until 1867. About 1868 the Methodist Episcopal Church erected their present house, and three years later the building of the Methodist Episcopal Church began. In 1873 J. H. Craigmiles built St. Luke's Episcopal Church, the handsomest structure of the kind in the city, in memory of his daughter. The first school in Cleveland was taught by James Tedford in a house just west of the spring. In 1840 Oak Grove Academy was completed. and Mr. Tedford was installed as teacher. He continued for two or three years, when he was suc- ceeded by H. W. Von AAldehoff, a German of superior attainments and an excellent teacher. Up to 1853 the girls were taught in a small house in the southwest part of town. In that year the trustees of Oak Grove Academy bagan the erection of a building for a female department, but being unable to complete it, in 1855 it was transferred to Cleveland Lodge, No. 134, F. & A. M., who finished the work. It was known as the Masonic Female Insti- tute, and was conducted under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity until the war. Mr. Von Aldehoff was the first teacher, and under his management the school was placed in & very flourishing condition. In 1865 it was opened by Capt. Blount. and from that time until 1884 the building was occupied by public or private schools of varying degrees of excellence. In 1884 the property was sold to J. II. Craigmiles, and a female institute under the care of the diocese of Tennessee has since been conducted, with Mrs. Victoria D. Bowers as principal.
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BRADLEY COUNTY.
Oak Grove Academy was continued until about 1875, when the building was con- demned as unsafe. Afterward the property was sold, and the proceeds applied to the pur- chase of a lot for the public school building, which was erected in 1885. The present excellent public school system of Cleveland had its origin in the appointment of a board of education in June. 1882. This board consisted of J. B. Ford, P. B. Mayfield and A. D. Scruggs. A tax levy for building purposes was at once made, and as soon as a sufficient fund had been obtained the present handsome building was erected. The schools went into operation in September, 1885, with Arnold as principal. The average enroll- ment is now about 375, and no city in the State has a better conducted system of public schools.
In 1883 the Holston Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South decided to erect a female college as a memorial of the one hundredth anniversary of the organized life of Methodism in America. Cleveland was chosen as the site, and funds for the erec- tion of the building were obtained from voluntary offerings, in sums ranging from 50 cents to $3,000. The largest contributors in Cleveland being C. L. Hardwick, J. H. Parker, J. B. Hoyl, Mrs. S. A. Johnston and Mrs. Mary Tucker. The college was opened on September 16, 1885. under the presidency of Rev. D. Sullins.
The first bank established in Cleveland was the Ocoee Bank, chartered about 1855 by Thomas H. Calloway and Euclid Waterhouse. In 1859 the charter was sold to Knoxville capitalists, and the bank was removed to that place. In 1866 the Cleveland National Bank was incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000. J. C. Raht became president and William Reynolds, cashier. In 1871 the capital stock was increased to $150,000. The bank is under excellent management, and enjoys the entire confidence of the business community. The present officers are J. H. Craigmiles, president, and J. H. Parker, cashier.
In May, 1885, the Cleveland Life Mutual Insurance Company was organized with the following officers: J. H. Craigmiles, president; C. S. Hardwick, vice-president; John T. Rogers, secretary, and J. H. Parker, treasurer. The operations of the company extend over Tennessee and several of the surrounding States.
The first newspaper of much importance was the Banner, a Democratic paper estab- lished in 1854 by Robert McNelly, who continued as editor and publisher until 1863, when it was forced to suspend. In 1865 the publication was resumed by Robert McNelly & Son, and was continued under the same firm name until 1885, although Robert McNelly died in 1883. In January. 1885, the Polk and Bradley Nes, which had been established at Benton two years before by V. A. Clemmer, was removed to Cleveland, and in the following November it was consolidated with the Banner under the name of the Banner- News. Since that time it has been published by a stock company with Mr. Clemmer as editor.
In 1872 N. A. Patterson established the Commercial Republican, and continued it until 1874, when the office was leased by W. S. Tipton, who changed the name to the Herald. Soon after Mr. Tipton became the owner, and has since conducted it. It was the first Republican paper established in the Third Congressional District.
During the civil war Cleveland suffered severely. The country for miles" around was laid waste, troops were quartered in churches and public buildings; property was destroyed and business paralyzed. As soon as peace returned, however, the work of restoration was begun, and the town has since continued to prosper. It is now one of the handsomest towns in the State, and has a population of about 3,000. The principal manu- facturing establishments are the Cleveland Woolen-Mill, established in 1882, and employing about seventy-five persons. The Cleveland Stone Works, put in operation in 1883 by J. H. Hardwick & Bro .; two sash and blind factories, owned by De Armond & Montgomery and Mrs. J. D. Hancock, respectively: The Cleveland Chair Factory, established in 1884, and now owned by B. F. Miller and S. H. Neer; extensive marble works, established in 1875 by Lewis Williams; two tanneries, operated by J. B. Fillauer and Batt & Co., respectively, and a grist-mill, with a capacity of 150 barrels of flour per day, owned by W. C. Mansfield. The mercantile interests are represented by J. F. Harle & Bro .. Surguine & Co., Taylor & Paul, C. T. Campbell, R. L. Cleveland. L. D. Campbell and Schultz & Co., dry goods and
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
groceries; John T. Rogers, Stud Bros. and Seruggs, Cooper & Bostick. drugs; Beckner Bros., J. M. Crow, C. D. McTeer, Rogers & Son, Hall & Johnson, James Kelly, Samuel Marshall, Berry Hill, John Gray and Mrs. Haynes, groceries: N. Hardegan and H. Joseph, clothing; F. F. Neil, hardware.
The town also has two excellent hotels, the Hatcher House, G. R. Hatcher, proprietor, and the Ocoee House, P. Layne, proprietor. In December, 1886, a short railway, three- fourths of a mile in length, was put into operation. The officers of the company owning it are J. II. Craigmiles, president, and J. H. Harle, secretary and treasurer.
The second largest town in the county is Charleston, which has a population of about 500. It contains four stores and a bank with a capital stock of $60,000. The merchants are Dorsey, Campbell & Co., Edwards & Bryant. William McKarny and William Knox
Chatata and McDonald's Station are small villages on the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railroad.
POLK COUNTY.
P POLK COUNTY occupies the extreme southeastern portion of the State, and includes an area of 100 square miles. About three-fourths of the county lies in the Chilbowee and Unaka Mountains, which abound in rich veins of iron and copper ores, with smaller quantities of gold and silver. The iron, being so remote from railroads, has never been mined, but with better transportation facilities it will make the county one of the richest in the State. Besides the minerals mentioned, there are large deposits of marble, talc, mica and ocre.
The best land for agricultural purposes is found in the western portion of the county and along the rivers and creeks. The Ocoee and Hiwassee Rivers traverse the county. running in a course a little north of east, and divide it into three very nearly equal parts. They unite about one mile from the west line of the county. The Conasauga River, in the southwestern portion of the county, belongs to the Gulf system. These streams. with their tributaries, furnish an abundance of water.
The territory now embraced in Polk County, with the exception of a small part north of the Hiwassee River, was formerly a part of Ocoee District, and was mainly settled after 1836. The first village established in this territory was Columbus, situated on the north bank of the Hiwassee River, about four miles north of the present town of 'Benton. It was on the old Federal road, running from Knoxville, by the way of Maryville to Cass ville, Ga. Over this road stock from Kentucky and southwestern Virginia was driven to the Southern markets, and during the fall and winter seasons immense droves of hogs, mules and cattle followed each other in close succession. Stands, at which drovers camped for the night, were established at convenient distances, usually about eight miles apart. The site of Benton, known as the "four mile stand," was first occupied by James Lindner, who, with his Cherokee wife, lived in a double log cabin. Levi Bailey. bis brother-in-law, also resided in the vicinity. In 1838 Lindner sold out to James McKamy, who continued to keep the stand until after the town was laid out.
Among the first settlers of the county were William M. Biggs, Abraham Lillard. Nel- son Lawson, Thomas Jones, R. W. McClary, Erby Boyd, John N. Taylor, Travis Rod- gers, William Higgins. Michael Hilderbrand and A. R. Stephenson. The early settlers were nearly all remarkable for their great size and strength, and some of them were con- spicuous in the numerous free fights which attended militia muster, political speakings and court days. Among these latter were Abraham MeKissick, Erby Boyd. Joseph Blanton, Thomas Crawford, Bert Sylcox and John F. Hannah.
The first store in Benton was opened by Jonas Hoyl, who continued in business for several years. Samuel M. Reid, Albert and Brazeale Blair, and William B. and Isaac W.
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POLK COUNTY.
Reynolds, were also early merchants. D. C. Haskins, W. P. Cooper and J. C. Donald- son. Knox & Boyd, Mass & McKamy. O'Neal & Hood, M. B. Grady, Joseph Fetzer, J. W. Hilderbrand, Denton & McClary and Greenlee & Marshall were also in business there before the war. The town was most prosperous about 1850. The completion of the East Ten- nessee & Georgia Railroad took away most of its trade, and since the suspension of the cop- per mining it has still further declined. The present business men of the town are Rymer & Clemmer, Lillard & Son and J. E. Taylor. A grist-mill and cotton-gin are owned by Rogers & Johnston. The first hotel in the town was kept by Commodore White. He was succeeded by Samuel J. Rowan. Later J. Q. A. Lewis and a Mr. Higgins kept houses of entertainment. The present hotel is conducted by J. L. McClary. The first physicians in the town were J. H. Stuart and Robert N. Fleming, the latter of whom is still engaged in practice. Dr. J. C. C. Garner has also practiced medicine in Benton for about twelve years.
In 1844 Ocoee Academy was established with Robert W. McClary, James McKamy, W. W. Henry, A. Lillard and W. E. McConnell as trustees. It was conducted as a boy's school until the war, since which time it has been occupied by a mixed school. For a few years previous to 1860, it was under the management of Rev. J. L. Milburn, and was very prosperous. The present teacher is T. L. Arnwine, a graduate of Emory and Henry Col- lege. About 1850 a female school was established in a brick building in the north part of town. It was continued for several years, but has now been abandoned and the property sold.
The first church in the county, known as the Four Mile Church was organized about 1837 by the Baptists, who rented a house one-half a mile cast of Benton. The Bap- tists were then the most numerous of any denomination in the county, and the congrega- tion which assembled at this church were very large. Later the Methodists, assisted by the Presbyterians, built a brick house in the town, and both denominations have since continued to occupy the house. A third church was erected by the Cumberland Presby- terians a few years before the war. The first minister of this church was Houston Henry. He was succeeded by J. L. Milburn. The first Baptist preachers were Jason Matlock and Zachariah Rose; the first Presbyterian was John N. Blackburn.
As has been stated, Columbus was established some time in the twenties, and prior to the location of Benton was a place of considerable importance. Among the mer- chants who did business there were S. M. Reid, John White, William and John Shields, Samuel McConnell, Pearson & Bro. and John Shamblin. This town has long since disappeared.
In 1850 copper in large quantities was discovered in the eastern portion of the county, and during the next four years several mines were opened. The principal ones were the Burra Burra, Hiwassee, Old Tennessee, Cherokee, Mobile, Polk County, Copper Hill, Culchota, Eureka, London. Isabella, Mary and East Tennessee. For some time no smelting was done at the mines. The ore was hauled in wagons to Cleveland, and shipped by rail to New York, but after a time smelting works were erected. During the war operations were suspended. but were resumed at its close by the Union Consolidated Mining Company, which continued uutil 1878. At that time wood, which was the only fuel, had become so scarce as to render smelting unprofitable, and the business was suspended. When better transportation facilities have been secured, these mines will again become a source of great profit, both to owners and to the county.
The act to erect a new county from portions of Bradley and McMinn Counties, to be named Polk County in honor of James K. Polk, was passed on November 28. 1839. John Towns, Jonas Hoyl, James Hawkins, Andrew Stevenson, Erby Boyd, John Williams, Allen Armstrong, Thomas Harper and John F. Hannah, were appointed commissioners to hold an election for a county seat, and to superintend the erection of county buildings. Five places were presented to them as eligible sites for the seat of justice. They were Hildebrand's, Ferguson's, McKamy's, Johnston's and at the ferry opposite Columbus. They chose MeKamy's and Ferguson's as the two most eligible sites, and these were presented to the people at an election held on February 8, 1840. McKamy's received a
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
majority of 103 votes, and the town was soon after laid out by John F. Hannah. The. lots, numbering 223, were sold at auction during the second week of April, for an aggre- gate of $11,386. only a portion of which was ever received by the county. The county court was organized at Columbus, on May 4, 1810. by the following justices: R. H. Mc- Connell, Sylvester Blackwell, Z. Rose, Stephen Blankenship. John Williams, R. Horn, A. R. Stevenson. W. W. Henry, William Wiggins, A. McKissick, A. Taylor, B. Ellis, J. H. Witt, James Ainsworth, L. L. Thruwitt, John Cannon and John Davis. At the next term of the court the county commissioners were ordered to erect a temporary court- house in Benton, and at the August term it was occupied. It was a frame building 20x30 feet, and stood on the public square, just north of the present courthouse. Soon after a brick jail twenty-two feet square, and lined with heavy timbers was erected. The prin- cipal cell was in the lower story, and was reached through a trap door in the floor of the- upper story. A debtor's room was also constructed in the upper story. The present jail was erected upon the present site in 1871. The present brick courthouse was begur in 1843, and completed during the following year. In 1846 a poor farm, consisting of 115 acres, and located in the Third District was purchased, and R. Thompson, R. H. McConnell and A. R. Stephenson were appointed the first commissioners. It has since been maintained as an asylum for the poor.
The following have been the officers of Polk County since its organization:
Clerks of the county court -- James Parks, 1840-48; E. P. Douglass, 1843-60; W. A. Bible, 1860-64; James Gamble, 1864-68; J. E. Taylor, 1868-70; D. C. Haskins, 1870-74; F. E. Lindner, 1874-82; W. W. Dodd. 1882-86; W. M. Bain, 1886.
Clerks of the circuit court-W. M. Biggs, 1840-14: John Williams, 1844-48; James Smith, 1848-39; J. C. Donaldson, 1959-64; James Parks, 1864-68; spencer B. Boyd, 1806- 68: W. A. Denton, 1868-70: John Henry, 1870-71; John C. Williamson, 1871-78: James H. Bible, 1878-80; M. H. Hancock. 1880-82; Jesse Rymer, 1882-86; J. L. Smith, 1886.
Sheriffs-John Shamblin, 1840-46; David Bradford, 1846-52; William I. Hughes, 1852-54: M. H. Hancock, 1854-62; W. P. Cooper, 1862-64: P. L. McClary. 1864-68; J. C. Duff, 1868-70; M. H. Hancock, 1870-74; I. B. Brock, 1874-80; J. C. Hannah, 1880-82: B. P. Rollins, 1892; N. B. Witt. 1892-84: F. M. Luttrell, 1884.
Trustees-Abraham Lillard. 1840-44; James Hawkins, 1844%8; H. Fry, 1848-52; John F. Hannah, 1852-56: S. B. Boyd, 1856-58: Jarvis Williams, 1858-60; J. L. Milburn, 1860-65; Samel Parks, 1964-68; James T. Bradford, 1868-70; G. B. Smith, 1870-80 James. Presswood, 1880-82; Isaac Nicholson 1882.
Registers-Samuel Kennedy, 1840-41; Robert W McClary, 1841-42; Samuel J. Rowan, 1842-48; Robert N. Fleming, 1848-65; William A. Bible, 1865-68; J. H. Scarborough, 1868-60; A. D. Donaldson, 1870-14; W. W. Dodd, 1874-82; G. W. Caruth, 1882-85; J. D. Caruth, 1885.
The circuit court of Benton County was organized at Columbus by Judge Keith. June 8, 1840, at which time H. H. Stephens, Levi Trewhitt, S. Frazier, S. T. Bicknell and J. T. Coffee were admitted to practice law. The first grand jury was composed of the following men: H. Bradford, R. W. McClary, Jeremiah Lillard, J. S. O'Neal, N. Lawson. James McCarney, A. W. Hagler, S. Blankenship, W. Caruth, A. Taylor, A. R. Stephenson, M. Harper, A. Copelin. The first indictment was found against H. Conner for an assault and battery upon John Weaver. He was found guilty and fined $5 and costs. A very large number of similar cases occupied the greater part of the attention of the court for the first few years. The first indictment for a felony was found against M. and C. Brooks. . at the February term, 1842. They were charged with having broken into the store of Sam- uel M. Reid and stolen some goods. Both were found guilty, and the jury fixed the pen- alty at one year's imprisonment in the penitentiary, but recommended them to the mercy of the court, who commuted the sentence to two months' imprisonment in the county jail. The chancery court was not organized until February, 1852. April 29, 1873, a law court was organized at Ducktown for the Seventh. Eighth and Tenth Civil Districts by Judge Hoyl. It was continued until 1878, when it was abolished.
The first lawyers to locate in Benton were Thomas and Columbus Taylor, who
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MONROE COUNTY.
remained until 1850, when they removed to Texas. At about the same time James R. Buchanan, a Universalist preacher, began the practice of law there. He also removed about 1850 to Arkansas, where he was afterward convicted of forging land warrants and was sent to the penitentiary. John B. and Levi Hoyl were engaged in the practice of law at Benton for five years succeeding 1850. The former, in 1870, was elected judge of the circuit court, and continued upon the bench for eight years. J. G. Stuart began practice in in 1853, and continued to reside in Benton until 1853; then he removed to Cleveland. A year or two later P. B. Mayfield, now one of the leading members of the Cleveland bar, was admitted to practice. He remained at Benton until 1868. The present members of the profession in Polk County are W. F and W. H. Wimberly and John C. Williamson, all of whom reside in the country.
MONROE COUNTY.
M ONROE COUNTY lies partly in the Tennessee Valley and partly in the Unoka Moun- tains. Like other counties of this region, it is rich in minerals, especially iron and marble, neither of which have yet been extensively developed. The western portion of the county is traversed by four parallel valleys, through which run Sweetwater, Pond, Fork and Bat Creeks. The largest stream within the county is Lillico Run, which rises in the mountains, and flowing north unites with the Little Tennessee, which forms the dividing line between Monroe and Blount Counties. Both of these streams are navigable. a portion of the year. The greater part of the county was originally included in the Hiwassee District, and at one time contained several Indian towns, among which were Tellico, Chota, Citico, Toqua and Tennessee. It also contains the ruins of the first structure erected in Tennessee by Anglo-Americans. It is known as old Fort Loudon, and was built in 1756 by order of the Earl of Loudon, then governor of Virginia. It was garrisoned by a force of 200 men under Capts. Demere and Stuart. Its armament consisted of twelve cannon brought across the mountains on pack horses. In 1760 the Cherokee Indians, instigated by the French, captured the fort, and afterward killed the greater part of the garrison. It was never reoccupied. After the purchase of the Hiwassee District the county was rapidly settled.
Among the first settlers in the vicinity of Tellico Plains were Thomas, Jolin and. Andrew L. Henderson, Austin and Alexander Rider, Samuel McSpadden, James and Michael Ghormley, Isaac, David and William Stephens, John, Jacob and Joseph Smith, William and Benjamin Reagan, William Williams, William Ainesworth, Michael Carroll and William Bradley. The last two named in 1821 erected a small iron furnace, which was continued in operation until some time in the forties, when more extensive works were established. The western part of the county was settled by William Patten, T. C. and Hugh Goddard, James Axely (the renowned pioncer preacher), William Neal, John Lotspeich, Daniel Heiskell. John Fine, Charles Owen, Jonas Derrick, Rev. Robert Sneed. Stephen McCaslin and brothers, Eli and Pressly Cleveland, Hugh H. Gregory and Alex- ander Biggs. In the central and northern portions of the county were the Johnsons, Montgomerys, McCrays, McCroskeys. "Kelsos, Tiptons, McGhees, Blackburns, Harrises, Calloways, Bicknells and Hickses.
The county court was organized in 1820, but as the records have been lost or destroyed nothing is known of the original members composing it. The first meetings were held at William Dickson's, on the Tennessee River. Later the courts are said to have been held at Caldwell's, now known as the Henderson place, about three miles east from Madison- ville. Three places were put in nomination for the seat of justice, viz. : Caldwell's, Hall's Ferry and the one chosen. Soon after the town for the county sext was laid off a brick
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
courthouse was erected, which a few years later was destroyed by fire. It was replaced by a second brick building, which was burned during the civil war, and in 1868 the pres- ent courthouse was completed. The first jail was a brick building, standing upon the site of the present one. It was used until the war, when it was torn down by the citizens at the demand of the Federal troops. In 1866 the county court ordered the erection of a new jail, which was completed two years later, at a cost of $3,300.
The circuit court was organized at the house of William Dickson, on the south bank of the Tennessee River, on the first Monday of May, 1820, by Charles F. Keith, "who con- tinued to preside until 1839, when the county was transferred to the Second Judicial Cir- cuit. The succeeding judges were as follows: Edward Scott, to 1844; E. Alexander, 1844-57; J. M. Weleker, 1857-58: George Brown. 1858-63; E. T. Hall, 1864-78. In 1878 the county was placed in the Third Circuit, of which S. A. Rodgers has since been the judge.
The chancery court for the district, composed of Blount, Monroe and McMinn Coun- ties, was organized at Madisonville, on April 2, 1832, by William B. Reese. After the adoption of the new constitution in 1835, the district was changed to comprise McMinn, Monroe and Bradley, and Thomas L. Williams became the chancellor.
The first lawyers who located in Madisonville were Finley Gillespie and Indell D. Wright, both of whom were leading members of the bar for many years. The latter was a very large man physically, and was somewhat rough in his manners. He was a good speaker, and was several times elected to the Legislature. John O. Cannon began the practice of law about 1837, and continued to reside at Madisonville until elected a circuit judge, when he removed to Cleveland. H. H. Stephens, who studied in the office of Can- non, received a license to practice some time in the thirties, and became the partner of his preceptor. He was a good advocate, somewhat of a politician, and served one or more terms in each house of the General Assembly. George Brown and J. B. Heiskell, both of whom have since become prominent, began the study of law with Finley Gilles- pie. The educational advantages of the former had been limited, and the beginning of his legal career is said to have been very unpromising. He was exceedingly awkward in manner, and his first attempts at public speaking were utter failures, but a strong native intellect, united with great energy, soon placed him in the front rank of his profession, and in 1858 he was elected judge of the Second Judicial Circuit. Heiskell, after obtain- ing a license, practiced at Madisonville for several years, then removed to Memphis, and afterward was elected attorney general by the supreme court. John L. Hopkins began the practice of his profession about 1852, and remained at Madisonville eight or ten years. He then removed to Georgia, where he has since occupied a seat upon the bench of the supreme court. He is now one of the leading lawyers of Atlanta. Among the other attorneys who resided in Madisonville previous to the war were D. P. Hurly, Joseph Wright and William Aiken. Judge D. M. Key, who is a native of the county, also began his legal career there, but soon removed to Kingston, and thence to Chattanooga. His father, John Key, was a local Methodist preacher, and an early settler of the county. The present members of the bar in Monroe County are W. B. Stephens, C. W. Hicks, S. P. Hale, T. E. H. McCroskey, Z. T. Hunt, Robert Prichard and R. K. Robinson, of Madisonville, and S. E. Young and J. B Sizer, of Sweetwater.
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