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 45
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The village continued under the name of Smith's Cross Roads until 1877. Its growth was slow until 1854, when a company of English capitalists, of whom Sir Titus Salts is principal, began the work of erecting blast furnaces, developing mines, and constructing a system of railroads for the transportation of raw material, coal. irou, and limestone. all of which is found near at hand. The first furnace was put in operation on February 9, 1886, and has since turned out an average of 100 tons of pig iron daily. A second fur- nace was put in blast about April 1. 1887. The first superintendent of the works was John H. Ferguson, who continued until about one year ago, when he was succeeded by George Jamie.
The other manufactories of the town are the Dayton Roller Mills, operated by Snow Bros .; a flouring-mill, owned by Allen & Keith, which is soon to be enlarged and reritted with the latest improved machinery; two planing and saw mills. operated by A. H. Renne- baum and B. G. Steece, and a broom factory, operated by Burchard & Galbraith. A foundry and machine shop will also soon be put in operation by John H. Ferguson. The commercial interests are represented by J. H. Rogers & Sou, H. T. Blevins & Co., R. N. Magill, W. N. Ault, Gilbert Reed. W. A. Yarber, Ferguson & Spence, Dayton Coal & Iron Company, and McAndrew & Johnsons, general merchandise; Shaver Bros. and John W. Hudson, groceries; S. A. Gettys & Co., notions and fancy goods; Buchanan & Crabbs and Bicknell & Johnston, drugs; J. M. Boynton, furniture; John Abel, jewelry, and J. A. Foster & Co., saddle and harness. The Dayton City Bank, with a capital stock of $50,000, has been incorporated, and will begin business within a few weeks. V. C. Allen is president, and D. C. McMillan vice-president.
The first newspaper, published in Dayton, was the Times, established by F. M. Mor- rison, who soon after removed it to Pikeville, and changed the name to the Adrance. In November, 1984, B. A. Frazier established the facetre. He then purchased the Advance, and under the name of the Advance-Gazette continued the publication until Sep- tember, 1888, when it was purchased by a stock company which consolidated it with the
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ROANE COUNTY.
Spring City News. It has since been known as the Vers- Hacette, of which T. T. Mc Whir- ter is general manager and B. A. Frazier, editor. The News was established by Mr. McWhirter at Rhea Springs in 1877, and removed to Spring City in 1880. The news com- pany, with perhaps one exception, has the most commodious and best equipped news- paper office in East Tennessee. In October, 1885, the Leader, a Republican paper, was established by Thomas & Gilmore, who have since continued its publication.
In 1885 the Dayton Masonic College, a large three-story brick building, was completed, and the institution went into operation with Creed MI. Fulton as president, who, with an able corps of assistants, is making the school a success.
The second largest town in the county is Spring City, situated ou the Cincinnati Southern Railroad about ----- miles from the northern boundary. It was laid out upon the building of the railroad on lands owned by Jonathan & Edley Caldwell. A narrow- gauge railroad, which has been completed over Wolden's Ridge to the Cumberland table- land, has added much to the importance of the town.
Evensville is another thriving village on the Cincinnati Southern Railroad. It took its name from the first merchant, J. S. Evens, who began business in 1879. It is the seat of the Tennessee Valley College, which went into operation in 1881 under the man- agement of Prof. W. E. Stephens.
ROANE COUNTY.
R OANE COUNTY occupies the territory and the junction of the Clinch and Ten- nessce, and Clinch and Emory Rivers, and embraces an arca of -- square miles. The surface is generally broken or rolling, but while much of the land is broken and untillable, there is also a large area of fertile river bottoms. Iron and coal of the best quality abound in inexhaustible quantities, and lie in close proximity to each other. Lime stone and marble are also abundant. The transportation facilities are the best of auy county in East Tennessee. The Cincinnati Southern Railroad traverses it from northeast to southwest, while the rivers are open for navigation from eight to ten months in the year.
The Indian title to the territory now included in Roane County was extinguished by three different treaties. The line fixed by the treaty of 1794 extended to within one mile of Southwest Point. In 1805 all the territory north of the Tennessee and Holston Rivers to opposite the mouth of the Hiwassee, with the exception of two or three small reservs- tions, was ceded by the Indians in a treaty made at Tellico. After the purchase of the Hiwassee District in 1819, the county was extended south of the river.
The first improvement made in the county was the wood road running from the Clinch River to the Cumberland settlements, which was cut out in 1785. After the founding of Knoxville, in 1792, it was extended to that place. This road became the most important thoroughfare in the State, and over it for more than half a century passed nearly all the travel between East Tennessee and the west. About 1822 it was made a stage route, the stages passing both ways twice a week. It ran through what is now the main street of Kingston.
In 1792 a fort was established at Southwest Point, and a detachment of United States troops, under Capt. McClelland, were stationed there to prevent incursions from the Cher- okee Indians into the settlements above. The garrison was maintained at that place until about 1806 or 180;, when it was removed to a point on the right bank of the Tennessee River, about six miles from the present town of Dayton. On October 23. 1799, the Legis- lature passed an act for the establishment of a town to be known as Kingston. on lands owned by Robert King. David Miller, Alexander Carmichael, George Preston, John
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Smith T., William L. Lovely, M. Smith and Thomas M. Clark were sppointed its commis- sioners. King lived in a small cabin standing about where French's Hotel now is. The first merchant was probably John McEwen. Samuel Martin & Co., Gideon Morgan, Thomas N. Clark, Sr., White & Cox and Nelson, Smith & King also opened stores during the first eight or ten years after the town was laid out. Cotton was at that time an important crop and Ingh. Beatty and John Stone both operated cotton-gins. The latter also filled the office of cotton inspector. Matthew Nelson opened a tavern in 1908. He was a carpenter by trade, but subsequently was elected treasurer of East Tennessee, a position he held for many years. His brother, William D. Nelson, was also an early settler of the town. Henry Liggett had a hatter's shop, and supplied a large section of country with hats. Among other pioneers of the town may be mentioned Dr. Daniel Rather, Thomas C. Childress, William French, William Lea, David Patton and John Purris.
Among the most prominent of the early settlers of the; county were the Browns- Thomas, John and William. Thomas Brown was the quartermaster for the garrison at the fort, and a politician of considerable reputation. He served several terins in the Legis- lature, and on one occasion was a candidate for the United States Senate. Gen. John Brown was the owner of a large tract of land, including the present site of Rockwood, and for twenty-three years was the sheriff of the county. William Brown became a lawyer and removed to Knoxville. Perhaps the person who enjoyed the greatest notoriety among the pioneers of this section was John Smith T., who lived about two miles south- east of Kingston. He obtained possession of a 50,000-acre grant of land which he held in defiance of all other claimants, and was the owner of a large number of slaves. He was an excellent shot, had fought several duels, and bad the unpleasant habit of killing people on the slightest provocation. The restraint of advancing civilization, however, soon became distasteful to him and he removed to Missouri
Kingston, from its position on the river and on the main road from Knoxville to Nashville, soon attained considerable importance. and in 1805 the Legislature voted to hold its next session there. It assembled on September 21, 1807, but two days later adjourned to Knoxville. About 1835 the regular steamboat navigation of the river was begun, and from that time until the war the town continued to prosper. Among the business men of the thirties were H. H. Wiley, James McCampbell, John Payne. George L. Gillespie, Nathaniel Hewitt, James Berry, Edward McDuffie. J. J. Munger, W. S. McEwen and Henry Liggett. Since the civil war the town has been somewhat on the. decline, but its favorable location for iron furnaces and manufactories will undoubtedly, in time, attract a much larger population than it has ever known. The present business interests of the town are represented by the following firms: S. J. D'Armond & Son, Childress & Martin, Butler & Co., Hartley & Melton and Joseph A. Meucke, general stores; C. F. Brause and Brown Bros .. drugs, and M. B. Everett, confectionery. The manufac- tories consist of a saw mill, operated by C. B. French; a grist-mill by William Rather, and a tannery by John A. Ferguson.
The first newspaper in Kingston was established in 1855 or 1856 by N. A. Patterson. It was published as the Gazette and the Register until the beginning of the war. In the fall of 1865 the East Tennessean was established with F. M. Wiley as editor. After about six months it was suspended, but in November, 1866, its publication was resumed by W. B. Reed, who has since continued it as a non-political paper. In 1873 C. F. Brause began the publication of the Valley Vers which he continued for about eighteen months, when he sold it to Rev. G. W. Coleman. who, after changing the name to the Independent, moved it to Maryville. The press was subsequently returned and used in the publication of the Herald. In 1880 John J. Littleton established the Cyclone, a Dem- cratic paper. He subsequently sold to Hood & Haggard, who changed it to a Repub- can paper un er the name of the Patriot. It has since been published as the Republican, nd is now under the editorial management of S. E. Franklin.
As early as 1806 an act was passed by the Legislature providing for the establishment of Rittenhouse Academy, and appointing Thomas J. Van Dyke, Samuel Eskridge, Jacob
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ROAND COUNTY.
Jones, Zachariah Ayer and Jesse Byrd, as trustees. To this board were added, in 1809. John Purris, M. Smith, T. N. Clark, Thomas Brown, John Brown, Matthew Nelson and Samuel Martin. There is no evidence, however, to show that the school was put into operation until 1822. when Rev. William Eagleton was installed as principal. His suc- cessors up to 1828 were A. G. Gallaher, John A. Hoops, Jacob K. Spooner and John G. Lackins. The institution soon gained a wide reputation, and the attendance was large. The first building was a log structure, standing in the same lot with the First Presby- terian Church. In 1832 the main part of the present house was completed, and in 1553 the wing was added. Among the subsequent principals prior to the war were George S. Rich, B. F. Smith, John Wyatt, Benjamin V. Irvine, H. W. Von Aldehoff and William G. Lloyd. For several years after the close of the war the building was occupied by schools of varying degrees of excellence. Recently the institution was reincorporated, and is now one of the best schools of the kind in East Tennessee.
The first Church in Kingston was a brick building, erected by the Presbyterians about 1820 upon the hill now occupied by the cemetery. It was used until about 1858 or 1859 when the present frame house was erected.
About 1831 the Methodists erected a frame building on the hill south: ast of the courthouse. This was replaced by the present house in 1855, and is now occupied by the Methodist Episcopal Church South. About 1870 the Methodist Episcopal Church in co-operation with Union Lodge, No. 30, A. F. & A. M., erected a two-story frame. building which is occupied jointly by them.
In March, 1877, a congregation of Baptists was organized, and the following year they erected a house of worship.
The largest town in Roane County is Rockwood. situated at the base of Walden's Ridge, on the Cincinnati Southern Railroad, about five miles from the southern boundary line of the county. The population numbers about 3.000, the greater portion of whom are employed by the Roane Iron Company in their mines and furnaces. This company began the erection of their first furnace in 1867 upon land purchased from John Brown, and until within the past six or eight years the town consisted almost exclusively of their employes. They now operate two furnaces and 180 coke ovens. They also conduct a large store. The remaining business firms are S. B. Leeper & Co., Eblen & Morrison, James Underwood, John Swofford, L. M. Walsh, W. J. Owens & Co., and J. F. Tar- water. General stores: G. W. Brant, Richard Rector, John G. Irvine and Arch. Lee, groceries and J. E. George & Co., drugs and groceries.
In 1880 D. M. Coffman established the newspaper called the Roane County Republican, which he published until 1884, when his office was destroyed by fire. He then removed to Kingston, where he resumed the publication of his paper, but in 1886 returned to Rock- wood. On October 30 issued the first number of the Times, which has already obtained a large circulation. Soon after the establishment of their furnace the Roane Iron Com- pany built two churches, one for white and another for colored congregations. In 1873 or 1874 the Methodist Episcopal Church South erected a brick building, and in 1886 the Church of Christ completed a house of worship. An excellent brick building has also been erected for the use of the public school, which was put into operation in 1885. In this school a principal and three assistant teachers are employed.
The act of the Legislature establishing Roane County was passed November 6, 1501, Hugh Nelson, John Smith T., Alexander Carmichael, William Barnett, Paul Harlson and Zacheus Ayer were appointed commissioners to superintend the erection of a courthouse prison and stocks at Kingston. The court of pleas and quarter sessions was organized in December following at the house of Hugh Beatty, at which time William White, Samuel Miller, Hugh Nelson. Paul Harlson, Zacheus Ayer, George Preston. William Campbell,. James Preston, Isbam Cox, William Barnett, George McPherson and Abraham McClel- land were present and qualified as justices of the peace. Thomas Brown was elected collector of direct tax; Zacheus Ayer, entry taker; Jacob Jones, surveyor; George Mc- Pherson, ranger; Francis Lea. Patrick Burrus and Robert Kirkpatrick, constables. The county at that time extended from Anderson and Knox Counties to the southern boundary
824
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
of the State, but did not include any territory south of the Holston and Tennessee Rivers. For militia and civil purposes it was divided into six companies commanded respectively by Capts. Thomas Coulter, Richard Oliver, Gray Syins. George Ingram. James Walker and ---- Francis. The taxes for 1802 were raised on 100, 191 acres of land, 27 town lots. 275 white polls and 197 black polls, amounting in the aggregate to $673.83. The court- house, a brick structure, was completed in the fall of 1809, and was occupied until the crection of the present building, which was received by the county court in 1856. The first jail was a log structure surrounded by a stockade, and stood upon the site of the present jail. It was used until about 1828, when it was superseded by a brick building lined with timbers. The third jail was built of stone just previous to the war, and was used until 1881, when the present excellent brick structure was erected at a cost of about $13.000.
The circuit court was organized on the first Monday in March, 1811, by James Trim- ble, judge of the Second Judicial Circuit. The first grand jury was empaneled at the next term, and was composed of John Givens. James Todd, Jesse White, Williamn Waller, Samuel Hays, Thomas Rayburn, Jacob Warren, Joseph Robinson, Nicholas Nail, John Mckinney, Thomas Oden, Asa Cobb, John Rector, H. McPherson and George Cross. The first indictment was against William Small for the murder of William Ails. He was convicted of manslaughter, and being asked why sentence of death should not be pro nounced upon him plead the "benefit of clergy." which was granted. He was then sentenced to be branded on the thumb and confined in the jail for nine months. The sec- ond indictment for a felony was found against Leonard Vandagriff for horse stealing, who, upon conviction, was branded, whipped, pilloried and imprisoned for six months. The first person sent to the penitentiary was William Sexton, who was sentenced at the September term. 1831. to three years' imprisonment for horse stealing.
A chancery court for the district composed of Knox, Anderson, Morgan. Roane, Rhea. Hamilton, Campbell, MeMinn, Monroe and Blount, was organized at Kingston October 21, 1824. by John Catron, one of the judges of the supreme court.
It was presided over by Jacob Peck and other judges of the supreme court from that time until 1828, when Nathan Greene, the first regularly elected chancellor took his seat.
Among the first resident attorneys at Kingston were John Purris, admitted to prac- tice in 1807; James McCampbell, in 1810; W. C. Dunlap and J. W. M. Breazeale, in 1820; and J. Y. Smith and I. Hope, in 1823. Purris did not practice very much, but was looked upon as a sound lawyer, and a safe, conservative counselor. His son Henry S. Purris was also a lawyer, but was engaged the greater portion of his life in filling some official position. He died in 1844. James McCampbell was a good lawyer of thorough educa- tion, but was addicted to habits of intemperance. He had two brothers, John and Andrew, also lawyers. The former resided at Knoxville, and the latter, in 1836. became chancellor of the Western District of Tennessee. They were the sons of a widow, who settled in the county early in the century. John and James married daughters of Thomas N. Clark, as did also Judge James Trimble, who resided at Kingston for a short time, about 1816. William C. Dunlap was one of a large family of sons, all lawyers. The father, Hugh Danlap, was one of the first merchants in Knoxville. After the establish- ment of the fort at Southwest Point, he located upon a grant of 5,000 acres of land in the vicinity of Post Oak Springs. His sons, Richard G., William C., Hugh, James P., Dever- eanx and John, all attained more or less distinction. J. W. M. Breazeale was the son of the first clerk of the county court. He practiced his profession at Kingston for a time, but subsequently located at Athens. John Y. Smith continued as one of the leading members of the bar until his death in 1861, a period of nearly forty years. For several years he was a partner of Thomas N. Clark. Among the other lawyers who resided at Kingston previous to the war were Samuel L. Childress, W. B. Staley, N. A. Patterson, D. M. Key and Albert G. Welcker, the last two of whom remained but a short time. Patterson Was appointed judge of a circuit in Middle Tennessee by Gov. Brownlow in 1865, and is now , a resident of Johnson City. W. B. Staley continued to practice at Kingston until 1978. when he was elected chancellor. He now resides at Knoxville. Judge Childress died at
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LOUDON COUNTY.
Kingston. The present members of the bar are James Sevier, George W. Henderson, E. E. Young. S. C. Clark, George L. Burke and W. H. Dietz.
The following persons have filled official positions in Roane County since its organ- ization:
Clerks of the county court -- Henry Breazeale, 1802-86; HI. H. Wiley, 1836-40; Aus- tin L. Greene. 1840-60; . James T. Shelly, 1860-61; J. M. Sturges, 1861-78; J. C. Pope, 1878.
Clerks of the circuit court .- William Brown, 1811-33; Elbridge G. Sevier, 1833-36: Henry S. Purris, 1836-44; Thomas A. Brown, 1844-48; John A. Patton, 1848-54; W. S. Patton, 1854-74; E. E. Young, 1874-82; J. F. Cormany, 1882.
Sheriffs-John Brown, 1802-25; Robert S. Gilliland, 1825-32; Joseph Byrd, 1832-39; Lewis Burris. 1838-44; Ed. McDuffie, 1844-50; Sterling T. Turner, 1850-56; Rufus Marney, 1850-38; D. G. Taylor, 1858-64; Isham Young, 1864-66; S. P. Evans, 1566-70; John Marney, 1870-74; D. G. Taylor, 1874-80; John Marney, 1880-82; S. P. Sparks, 1882-86; J. J. Bowers, 1886.
Trustees -- Isham Cox, 1802-20; W. C. McKamy, 1820-32; William Galbraith, 1832-36; Thomas McConnell, 1836-12; Wilham M. Work, 1842-50; George Yost, 1850-60; Robert K. Byrd, 1860-61; W. S. Center, 1862-64; W. C. Turner, 1864-66; Robert Marney, 1866-70; J. W. McNutt. 1870 -- 12; William Ellis, 1872-78; G. A. Guenther, 1878-84; Joseph A. Muecke, 1884-86; Samuel Harvey, 1886.
Registers-John Stone. 1802-07; John McEwen, 1807-21; H. S. Purris, 1821-33; H. H. Wiley, 1883-36; Robert D. Duncan, 1836-44; John A. Patton, 1844-43; John H. Taylor, 1848-52; R. M. Allison, 1852-64; W. H. King, 1804-70; J. C. Clark, 1870-71; G. A. Guen- ther, 1872-71; R. M. Allison, 1874-78; S. D. Stanfield, 1878-86; Thomas Childress, 1856 (deceased).
Clerks and masters-Thomas N. Clark, Jr., 1824-34; Thomas Brown, 1834-19; Thomas N. Clark, 1848-64; James T. Shelly, 1864-70; H. Crumbliss, 1870-82; Isaac A. Clark, 1882.
LOUDON COUNTY.
T OUDON COUNTY lies on both sides of the Tennessee River, and extends north to the L Clinch. The Little Tennessee also passes through it. It embraces about 275 square miles. and has more tillable land, in proportion to its size, than any other county in East Ten- nessee. The territory south of the river contains the fertile valleys of Sweet Water, Pond. Fork and Town Creeks, and to the north are the broad bottoms of the Tennessee River. Marble of the finest quality has recently been discovered in the vicinity of Loudon. and several quarries have been opened.
The part of the county lying south of the rivers, formerly belonged to the Hiwassee District, and was not settled until 1819-20, but settlements were made on the north bank of the Tennessee and Little Tennessee, within the present limits of the county, previous to the beginning of the century. Among the first settlers were James, William and Samuel Blair, Jesse and Simcon Eldridge. Henry Bogard. Jacob Gardenhill, John and Pomeroy Carmichael, John Browder, Benjamin Prater and William B. Lenoir. On October 25. 1818, the Legislature passed an act for the establishment of the town of Morganton. which had been laid off at the mouth of Baker's Creek, on land owned by Hugh and Charles Kelso. The commissioners appointed were William Lowry, J. J. Greene, John Eakin, Richard Dearman. Matthew Wallace, James Wyley. John Lambert, Sr., and Joseph Duncan. It was at that time on the border of the Hiwassee District, and became an important trading post. It was subsequently included within the limits of Monroe County.
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
The first settler south of the river is said to have been William Tunnell. who entered the land now owned by T. J. Mason. Several others, however. located at about the same time. Among them were James Blair, Robert and Ebenezer Johnston. James Johnston. Robert Campbell, James Greene. Barnard Franklin, Robert Cannon and James Bacome, all of whom lived on the road leading to Philadelphia. The Johnstons-Robert and Ebenezer --- were bachelors. They owned a cotton-gin and press, a hemp breaker and grist-mill. Robert Cannon kept a house of entertainment. James Johnson, a young man who married a daughter of James Johnston, opened a store where William E. Huff now lives. Thomas Johnston and John Holston located on the river above the ferry. The latter operated a saw mill. and built large boats for the river trade. About a mile below the ferry were John and James Harrison. The ferry was kept by James Blair.
In the fall of 1821 or 1822. a town was laid off about six miles southwest of the ferry by William Knox and Jacob Pearson, who named it Philadelphia. It was then in Monroe County, but it is now near the line in Loudon County. Among the first settlers in that vicinity were Jacob Grimmett, Stephen Bond. William Reynolds, George Yokum, Daniel Prigmore, Hardy Jones and James Bacome, who removed from his first location in 1821. The firststore in the town was opened by Robert Browder. About 1824 Morgan & Jacobs, of Knoxville. established a store with S. H. Crawley as manager. The first hotels were opened by Robert Carden and Capt. James Maddy. Carden was also the first black- smith. Capt. James Dodd ran a still-house, and Lewis Patterson a tan-yard. The latter was succeeded by Robert Shugart, and he by J. D. Jones and Eli Cleveland. A grist- mill was built about 1821 by Jacob Pearson. For ten or fifteen years succeeding 1840, the town was at the height of its prosperity, and a large amount of business was carried ou there. Of the merchants of that period may be mentioned R. R. Cleveland. James Chest- nut, E. E. Edwards. Hugh Smith and John Stanfield.
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