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 48
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The first grand jury summoned by the court of pleas and quarter sessions, was com- posed of the following men: John McAdoo, foreman: Richard Medlin, Nathaniel Hale, James Scarborough, Page Portswood. N. Davis, Samnel Worthington, Jeremiah Jeffrey, C. Willhight, Richard Linville, Joseph Sharp. John Day, James Abbott and Henry Rus- sell. The first indictment was found against John Vaney, who submitted to the court and was fined 25 cents. The second was against Samuel Ussery for sending a challenge; upon trial he was acquitted. At the June term of the court, in 1804, Isaac Crane was put in the stocks two hours for contempt of court, and as he still persisted in his disorderly conduct he was committed to jail. The circuit court was organized some time in 1810, but all the earliest records of its transactions have been destroyed. The chancery court was organized on June 26. 1856, by Seth J. W. Lucky, who appointed W. H. Whitson, clerk and master. Judge Lucky continued upon the bench until 1861. The court was then suspended for three years, after which S. R. Rodgers served as chan- celor until 1856, when he was succeeded by O. P. Temple, who remained upon the bench until 1878. Mr. Whitson continued in the office of clerk and master until 1852. He was
839
ANDERSON COUNTY.
then succeeded by S. M. Leath. The latter in 1856 was elected clerk of the county, and the vacancy thus created was filled by the appointment of J. C. Scruggs.
The number of lawyers resident in the county has at no time been very large. The first was William Hogshead, who began about 1802 and continued for many years. The next resident attorney was probably John G. Whitson, who waslicensed to practice in 1842, and remained at Clinton until 1857 or 1858, when he removed to Knoxville. W. G. MeAdoo entered the profession at a little later date, and in 1852 was elected attorney- general. He then removed to Knoxville. In a list of the lawyers of Clinton, published about 1853, R. D. Bowman, G. W. Silvertooth, William H. Husbands and W. W. Griffey also appear.
D. K. Young also located in Anderson County previous to the war. He soon took a leading position at the bar, and in 1878, when the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit was formed, he became the presiding judge, a position he continued to hold until 1886. His succes- sor W. R. Hicks now judge of the second judicial circuit, located at Clinton soon after the close of the war, and until his election in 1886 was a prominent member of the bar. Congressman L. C. Houk was also a resident of Clinton for several years. The present members of the bar are Judge D. K. Young, D. R. Coward, C. J. Sawyer, W. L. Gamble and James Fowler.
The commissioners appointed to locate the county seat were William Lea, Kinza John- ston, William Standifer, William Robertson, Joseph Grayson, Solomon Massingale and Hugh Montgomery. They were instructed to locate it as near the river Clinch, on the north side, as circumstances would permit between Island Ford and Samuel Worthington's. They fixed it upon the land of John Leib, who donated forty acres for that purpose. The town was soon after laid off and named Burrville in honor of Aaron Burr. It continued to bear that name until after the fall of Burr, when by act of the Legislature in 1809 it was changed to Clinton. Of the earliest residents of the town but little is now remembered. Jared Harbin and Manpage Vowel were the first tavern keepers, Arthur Crozier was a magistrate, clerk of the circuit court. and later in partnership with his son, A. T. Crozier, was engaged in merchandising and running a tannery. Dr. Hugh Barton, John Mc Whirter, Samuel Terry and John Leib were also among the first settlers. John McAdoo, father of Hon. W. G. McAdoo of Knoxville, lived just above town. He was a farmer, magistrate and shoemaker.
Beginning with 1820 the principal merchants from that time to the war were James McKamy, S. H. Crawley, William Dickson, Crozier & Son, Cobb & Wheeler, John Whit- son, Robert McKamy, John Jarnagin & Co., W. W. Walker, George W. Baker, Carpenter & Ross and Lewis Miller. John Whitson and John Jarnagin were also hotel keepers.
In 1806 Arthur Crozier, B. C. Parker, J. Roysden. Hugh Barton and Samuel Frost were appointed for Union Academy, and during the next two years, James Mc Whirter, Quin Morton and Joseph Hart were added to the original board. At what time the acad- emy was put into operation is not known, but it was probably late in the twenties. A frame building was erected on the hill in the south part of the town, and occupied until the war, when it was destroyed. Among the teachers were Charles Y. Oliver, who had previously served as sheriff of the county, and G. W. Stewart. After the war a new lot was purchased, and a substantial frame building has been erected upon it. The school is now under the control of a board of trustees composed of some of the leading citizens of the town, who have leased the property for a term of five years.
About 1845 the Baptists, chief among whom was Maj. John Jarnagin, erected a brick building near the first academy, and established a seminary, which was maintained until the war, when it too was destroyed and has never been rebuilt.
No church building was erected until about 1840. when the Baptists built their present house. Previous to that time the courthouse and academy had been used for holling services. About 1851 the Methodist Episcopal Church South erected a house of worship. and recently the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church have completed a building.
In 1567 the completion of the Knoxville & Ohio Railroad to Clinton added much to its prosperity, and other roads will soon be built, which will still further increase its
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840
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
importance. The business interests of the present time are represented by the following firms: Kinkaid & Overton, R. C. Dew, Henry Clear, Jr., Joseph Straighter and Mchan & DeBona, general merchandise; F. Clear and J. M. Gamble, groceries; P. M. Lisles. Dail & Carden and - Brooks, drugs. The manufacturers consist of the Edes, Mixter & Heald Zine Company's Smelting Works, employing from forty to fifty hands: Narcross & Thomas' Sons Mill. employing about thirty men, and J. W. Narcross' planing mill.
The second largest town in the county is Coal Creek, situated about ten miles north of Clinton, on the Knoxville & Ohio Railroad. It is the result of the mining operations in that vicinity, and has grown up since the opening of the railroad. The land upon which it is built was principally owned by Randal Adkins and Joel Bowling. The first store was opened by Calvin Queener. The business of the present consists of the stores conducted by Rufus Edwards, Charles McCarsey, Heck & Petree, D. H. Blackburn, John Bittle and the Black Diamond Store.
In 1857 the county completed the issue of $100,000 of bouds in payment for a similar amount of stock in the Knoxville & Kentucky (now Knoxvillle & Ohio) Railroad, then under construction. From this stock the county has never received any dividend, and the payment of the bonds has imposed a heavy burden upon the tax-payers. The prin- cipal and interest, amounting to about $300,000, has now been paid, with the exception of a few thousand dollars, which has been provided for, and the county is in a more pros- perous condition than ever before.
The following persons have held official positions since the organization of the county:
Sheriffs-John Underwood, 1801-12; Charles Y. Oliver, 1512-34; Richard Oliver, 1834-35; Alexander Galbraith, 1835-36; Robert McKamy, 1836-12; Calvin Leach, 1842-44; Alfred Cross, 1844-50: Calvin Leach, 1850-54; P. C. Wallace, 1854-56: John Rutherford, 1856-60: P. C. Wallace, 1860-62; G. W. Leath. 1864-66; D. A. Carpenter, 1866-68; G. W. Leath, 1868-70: W. B. Robbins, 1870-72; W. H. Gibbs, 1872-78; J. A. Brown, 1878-84; T. J. Prosise, 1884.86: G. W. Moore, 1886.
Trustees-Thomas Hill, 1801-06: Arthur Crozier, 1806-16; William McKamy, 1816-31; Aaron Slover, 1836-12; Samuel Moore, 1842-44; Barton McKamy, 1844-52; Levi Wallace, 1859-56; William R. Dail, 1856-60; John C. Chiles, 1860-62; John Leinert, 1862-64; David Dew. 1864 66; John C. Chiles. 1866-65; James A. Moore, 1868-76; J. H. Hicks, 1876-86; W. W. Hays, 1886.
Clerks of the county court -- Stephen Heard, 1801-12; Hugh Barton, 1812-34; John Jarnagin, 1834-36; William Cross, 1836-44; John Key, 1844-52; R. H. Coward, 1552-64; W. W. Weaver, 1$64-68; R. N. Baker, 1868-70; Robert C. Dew, 1870-78 ;. A. J. Queener. 1878-82; R. C. Dow, 1882-86; S. MI. Leath, 1886.
Clerks of the circuit court-Arthur Crozier, 1810-36; John Jarnagin, 1836-44; Milton Tate. 1844-56; Alfred Cross, 1856-60; I. C. Marshall, 1860-66; E. W. Boren. 1866-68; L. C. Cox. 1868-70: W. D. Lamar, 1870-78; D. L. Hall, 1878-82; H. C. Slover, 1882.
Registers - Kinza Johnston, 1801 --; Burk Johnson. ; William Dickson,
1829-33; Thomas Hart, 1832-36; John Garner, 1836 -; * * Reuben M. Long- mire, 18-58; B. W. Cross, 1858-62: G. W. Baker, 1862-64: John L. Shipe, 1864-68: John Coward, 1868-60: C. W. Cross, 1870-74; J. A. Brown, 1874-78; T. J. Prosise, 1578-84: H. M. Hollingsworth, 1884-86: T. J. Scruggs, 1886.
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841
MORGAN COUNTY.
MORGAN COUNTY.
M. ORGAN COUNTY is situated on the Cumberland Plateau, which has an elevation of about 1,500 feet above the sea. It is surrounded by the counties of Scott, Anderson, Roane, Cumberland and Fentress. The greater portion of the sur- face is very broken, especially in the southern part. The principal mountains are the Crab Orchard, Lone and Brushy, the general trend of which is about the same as that of the Cumberland range. The largest streams in the county are the Emory and Obed Riv- ers, with their respective tributaries, Crooked Fork and Clear Creek, and the Clear Fork of the Cumberland River and White Oak Creek. The mineral resources consist in exten- sive deposits of coal and iron. The soil, except in the bottoms, is not naturally rich, but is susceptible of a high degree of cultivation. Experiments have been made, extending over a period of several years, and it is found that nearly all valuable grasses can be suc- cessfully raised. It is believed, however, that the growing of fruit is destined to become the most remunerative industry of not only Morgan County, but the entire Cumberland Plateau. All fruits known to this latitude are grown here to perfection. Especially is this true of grapes for wine making, and this crop rarely if ever fails.
The settlement of Morgan County began soon after the Indian title to the lands was extinguished. One of the first settlers, if not the first, was Samuel Hall, who located about seven miles northeast of Wartburg in 1807. He had a large family of children, among whom were David. Elijah, Elisha Luke and Garrett Hall. His brother, Martin Hall, located in the same vicinity at about the same time David Stonecipher entered land, and made a settlement on Crooked Fork. Joseph and Benjamin Stonecipher entered land adjoining hina, while Ezra Stonecipher located on Beach Fork. In 1814 Michael Stonecipher made an entry on Big Emory. During the same year John M. Sta- ples settled on the south side of Big Emory, near the crossing of the Cincinnati Southern Railroad. He had six sons: John M., Abner F., David, William, Thomas and Benjamin T. The first two removed to other States. The last named located near Sunbright. the site of which he owned. The first settlers on Flat Fork were Elijah Reese and Titus England, both of whom located in 1808. The first to locate on White Oak Creek was John Freels, who came in 1811. The next year Royal Price settled on Clear Creek, at its junction with Obel River, on land which, prior to that time, had been occupied by Will. iam Shoemaker. Among the other pioneers who came to the county prior to 1815 may be mentioned the following: Mathias Williams, Ephriam Davis and Nicholas Summers. who located on Crooked Fork. Squire and Morgan Hendricks, who located on Emory River above the Hall's; John Webb, who lived below, on the same stream; Charles Will- iams, Lewis Rector. Littleburg Brient, John Craig, Charles and Andrew Prewitt, who lived on Little Emory. or its waters; Jesse Casey, Zachariah Embree. Hartsell Hurt, who located on Crab Orchard Creek: Jeremiah Hatfield and Basil Human, who settled on Bone Camp, and John Brasel, Jacob and JJohn Laymance. Andrew Shannon and Robert McCartt, whose locations could not be definitely determined. The house known as the "Indian Tavern" is said to have been built by William David-on, who came to the county about 1810. He had served in the Revolutionary war as captain of a company of North Carolina militia. and was one of the carly settlers of Buncombe County. He was a friend of the Cherokees, could speak their language, and his house became a sort of resort for them. hence its name. As he did not own the land upon which the house was built, be soon removed to land which he entered about one mile south of Kesmet.
In 1817 the Legislature passed an act providing for the organization of a county to be named in honor of Gen. Daniel Morgan. Its boundaries as then fixed included a con-
842
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
siderable part of what is now Scott, Fentress and Cumberland Counties. The first term of the county court was held in January, 1818, but as the records have been destroyed little is known of its transactions. Soon, however, a town was laid off on land donated to the county by Daniel S. Lavender, and a jail erected. It was situated thirteen miles west of Wartburg, on the Nashville road, and was known as Montgomery. In 1823 Fent- ress County was erected, and it became necessary to remove the county seat to a more central location. Accordingly, on July 18, 1826. a new town of Montgomery was laid off on ten acres of land purchased from William Wall. and lying on the east side of Emory River, about one mile and a half west of Wartburg. The commissioners to locate the site and erect the county buildings were Jacob Laymance. chairman; John Triplett, Benjamin Hagler. John England. Shadrach Stephens. Samuel Scott and Ster- ling Williams. The first lot sold was purchased by Robert Bush, a colored blacksmith. Among the merchants who were engaged in business then before the war were-Cox, John H. Brient, William Staples, James Johnson and Constantine Brause. Thomas S. Lea, a physician, and Levi Trewhitt. a lawyer, were also residents of the place. Hotels were kept by Julian Scott and John II. Brient. The land around the town, which had previously belonged to William Wall, was purchased by Samuel Scott in 1824. He also entered a large tract of land on Emory River. above the town. He was the father of Thomas, John. Samuel, Russell and Julian F.
Some time in the thirties a county academy known as Walden Academy, was estah lished. The building was a two-story frame and stood in the rear of the courthouse. Among the teachers of this school were G. W. Keith, Hugh Montgomery and Thomas Scruggs.
In 1851 the first jail erected was replaced by a new one, and in 1852 the county court appointed commissioners to superintend the erection of a new courthouse which, however, was never entirely completed. These buildings were used until 1870, when on March 26 of that year, an election was held to decide upon the removal of the seat of justice to Wartburg. This resulted in a vote of 195 to 149, in favor of the removal, and C. G. Joy- ner, R. A. Davis, L. B. Snow, E. H. McKathan, W. L. E. Davidson, Amos Taylor and J. W. Davidson were appointed commissioners to sell the property in Montgomery with the exception of the jail, and to contract for the building of a courthouse. This building was completed in the following fall at a cost of $3,132.36.
The town of Wartburg had its origin in a colonization company formed in New York in 1845. The leading members were George F. Gerding. Augustus Guenther and Otto Kinbusch. A large amount of land lying in the vicinity of where Wartburg now is, was purchased and sold to colonists who came principally from Switzerland, though some from Germany were among them. Of those who came first, in 1845, may be mentioned Joseph Gschwend, Jacob Wespe, Christian Brei, Simon Schmidt, Christian Walt, Andrew Fischer, Z. Fischer, Peter Bardill, Anthony Volmar, Bernhardt Zobrist and five others. The next year about twenty-five families were added to this number. With the advent of these colonists, a town was laid out and named Wartburg, which in April, 1851, was incor- porated with Charles Kramer, John White, Thomas Jones, Charles Haag and William Jones as commissioners. The first settler on the site of the town is said to have been Walter Davis, who was succeeded by Martin Hall. Davis kept a public house which stood near the middle of the street nearly in front of the Central House. The first store was opened by F. Heyde- man on the lot where Mr. Scott now lives. Another store was kept by Mr. Gerding, in the building opposite the lot now occupied by John Hall. Back of this building stood what was known as the Emigration House, a log structure erected for the accommodation of colonists until they could build houses of their own. Among the first emigrants were a number of Catholics, and at one time the building of a monastery was begun, but the war coming on, the work was stopped and never resumed. About 1846 a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized, and the building still standing east of the Central Hotel waserected as a house of worship. This was occupied until 1854, when it was converted into a schoolhouse, and the present church erected. In 1876 a new schoolhouse was built, and the old church has since been used as a dwelling. The pastors
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813
MORGAN COUNTY.
of the church have been as follows: Revs. George Wilken, Theodore Hirschinan, B. C. Brigman and the present pastor. About 1879 a small Catholic Church was erected by Amelius Letorey, who donated it to the bishop of the diocese. A few years ago a Presby- terian Church was organized with about twenty members, with John L. Mason, Jacob Bonafacius and G. Schlicher as ruling elders. The pulpit was supplied by Rev. Thomas Roberts until 1836, when he was succeeded by John Silsby. A church building to cost $1,500 is now under process of erection.
Since the opening of the Cincinnati Southern Railroad several thriving villages have sprung up along its line. The two most important are Sunbright and Kismet. In the northwest part of the county, at the junction of Clear Fork and White Oak Creek, is the famous Rugby colony. This colony originated with a company organized in 1St7 in Boston, Mass., under the name of " the Board of Aid to Land Ownership." with which Thomas Hughes, Q. C., and John Boyle, barrister at law, and other English capitalists after- ward became associated. Large tracts of land in Morgan, Scott and Fentress Counties were purchased, and October 5, 1880, the colony was formally opened by Mr. Hughes in the presence of a large number of English and American settlers. The board at once began and carried out a large amount of useful work. Among the improvements were the Tabord Hotel. the Newbury House, Vine and Pioneer cottages, and a turnpike road to the railroad. In 1881 Christ Church, with a schoolroom below it, was completed at a cost of nearly $5.000, and on June 5, 1882, the corner-stone for the Hughes Public Library was laid by Mrs. Hughes, the mother of Thomas Hughes. The library consist- ing of 6,000 volumes. was donated by the publishers of Boston, New York and Philadel- phia. In 1984 the old Tabord Hotel was burned, but in July, 1897, a new building, one of the finest of the kind in the South, was opened under the name of the Tabord Inn.
The village of Rugby now contains a population of from 200 to 300, and is fast becoming known as one of the great health and pleasure resorts in America.
The following persons have been the officers of the county since its organization, so far as their names could be obtained:
Sheriffs-Garrett Hall. 1818-20; James McClintock, Thomas England: Albert Hurt, 1836-40; Garrett Hall, 1840-12; Julian F. Scott. 1842-13; James Wilson, 1843-48; Jesse Triplett, 1848-51; Hausley Human. 1851-56; James M. Melton, 1856-58; Meshack Ste- phens, 1858-60; E. Lavender, 1860-61; James R. Stanfield. 1861-64; Julian F. Scott. 1864-66: J. H. Byrd, 1866-68; J. F. Scott, 1868-60; John Williams, 1870-72: G. D. Joyner. 1872-71; John Williams. 1874-76; J. F. Scott, 1876-77; J. M. Staples, 1877 (January to September); John Williams, 1877-78; John B. Williams, 1878-80; G. W. Green, 1880-85: H. Davidson. 1855-80; Benjamin Brasel, 1886.
Clerks of the county court -- William Wall, 1818-25; Elijah Lavender, 1825-36; E G. Kington, 1836-39: Samuel P. Vaughn, 1839-48; G. W. Keith, 1848-56; H. Human. 1856-57; Simon Hurst, 1857-58: James M. Melton, 1858-61; John H. Brient, 1861-64, John L. Scott, 1864-74; John Hall. 1874-77; H. C. Wilson, 1877-78; M. F. Redman, 1878-85: J. A. Morris, 1885.
Clerks of the circuit court --- Robert A. Dabney, A. F. Cromwell; H. G. Bennett. 1836-40: Thomas S. Len. 1840-41; John H. Brient, 1844-46; W. H. Williams, 1846-52; John H. Brient, 1852-56: William J. Scott, 1856-60; M. Stephens, 1860 -; William J. Scott, 1864-66; M. F. Redman, 1866-70; S. H. Staples, 1870-82: J. W. Scott, 1882 -.
Clerks and masters-B. T. Staples. 1858-60; H. H. Lansdon, 1860 -; John H. Brieut. 1865-70; G. W. Keith, 1870-82; S. HI. Staples, 1882.
Registers-Benjamin C. White, 1818-24; Daniel S. Lavender, 1824-36; Herndon Lea. 1836-45; Albert Hurt. 1845-46; J. D. Bennett, 1846-55; M. M. Brown, 1855-56; John Williams, Sr., 1856-60: L. H. Mosier, 1860-64; Garrett Hall, 1861-70; W. B. Crenshaw. 1870-75; John L. Scott, 1878-86; II. Davidson, 1886.
Trustees -- William D. Fields, 1842-48: J. C. Martin, 1848-50; Constantine Brause. 1850-53; Julian F. Scott. 1553-54: Albert Hurt. 1554-60; Jesse Stonecipher, 1560-66: John McCartt. 1866-68; M. Lyons, 1868-72; John Shaunon. 1872-74; William Howard, 1874-50; John D. Kreis, 1880-86: M. B. McCartt. 1856.
844
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
CAMPBELL COUNTY.
CAMPBELL COUNTY is one of the extreme northern counties of East Tennessee. C lying immediately above Anderson. It is bounded on the cast by Claiborne and Union Counties, and on the west by Scott County. It is traversed by the Cumberland Mountains, on the east side of which also, extending the entire length, is Powell's Valley. Que of the finest agricultural sections of the State. On the opposite side of the mountains is another extensive valley, but one not so fertile. Its geological formation is much the same as that of Roane and Anderson Counties, and consequently it has an abundance of coal and iron.
The settlement of Campbell County was begun some time not far from 1795, and for several years it was restricted mainly to that portion to the east of the mountains. all of which was included in ITenderson County's grant .* One of the first settlers was Hugh Montgomery, who owned the site of Jacksboro. He was a man of considerable wealth for the time in which he lived. and was the father of Col. Lemuel P. Montgomery, who was killed at the battle of Horse Shoe. In 1808 Benjamin and Thomas Wheeler located near where Caseyville now is, and a brick house built by the former in 1813 is still stand- ing. It was probably the first brick house erected in Powell's Valley. Jacob, Daniel and Henry Queener. brothers, from Pennsylvania, located south of Jacksboro. Atab xit the same time Charles Dabuey, with his two sons, Cornelius and Thomas, settled a little farther to the southeast. James Grant and Horace Tudor lived at the forks of the Clinch and Powell's Rivers, where a town named Grantsboro was laid off. The act of the Leg- islature authorizing its establishment appointed Walter Evans, Edward Scott, Shadrack Reedy. Patrick Campbell, Richard Chandler, James V. Ball. Thomas Lewis, Charles L. Bird and George Wilson commissioners for its regulation. Its subsequent history could not be learned, but it is probable that it extended no farther than this act. The vicinity of Glade Spring, now Fincastle, was settled at an early date, as it was organized there prior to 1802. In that year it was represented in the Tennessee Association by Bailey Greenwood and David Whitman. Among the pioneers who located on Indian Creek were the Hatmakers, Wilsons, Ridinours. Whitmans, Browns, Sharps and Williamses. Prominent among the other early settlers of the county were Isaac Agee, Robert Glenn (one of the first representatives of the county in the Legislature), William Casey. Am.os Maupin and Joseph Hart.
The pioneer iron manufacturer was William Lindsay, who built the first bloomery in the county on Cedar Creek, for George Baker and brothers. He afterward erected three others, one on Big Creek, another on Cave Creek, and the third on Davis Creek. The capacity of these works ranged from 600 to 900 pounds of iron per day. At a later date Jobn Queener, similar works on Cave Creek, about three miles South of Jacksboro.
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