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 51
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About 1785 Col. George Doherty located west of Dandridge, at Shady Grove. He was one of the foremost of the early pioneers. He was elected colonel of militia under the Franklin government, and took part in several successful expeditions against the Indians. He represented the county in the Territorial Assembly, in which he was one of the most influential members. He was one of the delegates to the Constitutional Conven- tion of 1766, and was also a member of the Upper House of the first General Assembly and of the Lower House of the third. The date of his death could not be ascertained. His grave, in a very neglected condition may be seen not far from where he lived.
In 1785 the Franklin government formed two new counties out of the territory then embraced in Greene County. One of these was named Caswell. Its limits are not known, but it undoubtedly extended as far west as the junction of the French Broad and Holston. and included the greater part of the present Jefferson County. About all that is known concerning its transactions is that Joseph Hamilton was elected clerk of the county court, George Doherty, colonel of militia and John Schorn or Zabaun entry-taker. The last named lived on the French Broad above Dandridge.
Jefferson County was formed by ordinance of Gov. William Blount on June 11, 1792, contemporaneously with Knox County, the two having been taken off from Greene and How- kins Counties. The first county court was held at the house of Jeremiah Matthews. four and one-half miles west of Dandridge, on July 23, 1792, at which time the following magistrates were present: Alexander Outlaw, James Roddye, John Blackburn, James Lea, Joseph Wilson, Josiah Wilson, Andrew Henderson, Amos Balch and William Cox. Joseph Hamilton qualified as clerk; Robert McFarland, sheriff; James Roddye, register, and William Job, Robert Pollock, Josiah Rogers, John Reneau, Stephen Wolsey and Barsdill Riddle, constables. The first grand jury was as follows: John Gilliland. Ben- jamin Harrison, Joseph Rainey, Edward Wright, William Doherty, John Coffec, John Hornback, Benjamin Davis, Sr., James Alexander, James Hill, John Bradshaw, Benja- min McFarland, Samuel McSpadden, Tidence Lane and Thomas Jarpagin. The first indictment was found against Reuben Roach for petit larceny. He was tried and found guilty of having stolen three yards of linen, and the same amount of " royal ribbon " from George Baxter. For this offense he was sentenced to receive two lashes.
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At the August term, 1796, Samuel Duncan, John Bullard and William Carver were severally fined $2.50 " for fighting in the verge of the court." One of the first criminal cases that went to the superior court from Jefferson County was that of the State ts. Jesse Jeffrey for horse stealing in 1796. He was convicted, and the sentence passed upon him was that be should stand in the pillory one hour, receive thirty-nine lashes upon his bare back well laid on, have his ears nailed to the pillory and cut off, and that. he should be branded upon one cheek with the letter HI, and on the other with the letter T " in a plain and visible manner." The next year Robert Parker was tried for stealing 500 Spanish milled-dollars from Thomas Humes. He was convicted and sentenced to be hung.
The first and only case of murder tried by the county court took place on February 23, 1808, when Frank, a slave, was tried for the murder of Betsey Osborne, whom he had killed by strangling with a skein of thread. The grand jury returned a bill, and he was tried and convicted in one day. He was executed on the 20th of February, only eleven days after the commission of the crime. The trial and execution partook somewhat of lynch law as both were clearly beyond the jurisdiction of the court of pleas and quar- ter sessions even at that day.
On January 15, 1810, the circuit court was organized by James Trimble, and on April 4, 1836, the chancery court for the division composed of Jefferson, Cocke and Sevier Counties was organized by Judge Thomas L. Williams.
The bar of Jefferson County has always been distinguished for its ability. One of the earliest members was Alexander Outlaw, more eminent as a statesman, than as a lawyer. He was a member of the convention that formed the constitution for the State of Frank- lin, and a member of its Legislature. He represented Jefferson County in the Constitutional Convention of 1:96, in the first House of Representatives elected under that constitution. and in the State Senate in 1799. He was also twice appointed as a commissioner to treat with the Indians. In all these positions he acquitted himself with ability. Archibald Roane afterward judge of the supreme court, and governor of the State, also resided in the county for a short time. The first solicitor of the county was Luke Bowyer, who in 1797 was succeeded by John Shields. In 1808 Jacob Peck and Charles F. Keith were licensed to practice. The former was the son of Adam Peck, the first settler on Mossy Creek. He rose rapidly in his profession, and in 1822 was elected to a seat upon the supreme bench, where he remained until the reorganization of the courts under the constitution of 1834. He then resumed the practice of his profession. He is described by one who knew him as a large, jovial man, of bright intellect, and quick at repartee. Charles F. Keith continued the practice of law until the organization of the Seventh Judicial Circuit including the counties formed from the Hiwassee purchase, when he was elected to preside over the courts in that circuit. He then removed to Athens .* In 1822 Robert M. Anderson was admitted to practice in the courts of Jefferson County. He was then a resident of Knox County, but in 1837 he was elected judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, and he then removed to New Market. He remained upon the bench until 1852. His successor was Judge Robert H. Hynds, one of the ablest jurists ever in the county. He received his license to practice law in 1823, and soon took front rank at the bar, a position he held until his elevation to the bench. He died suddenly in July, 1856. One of his contempo- raries was James H. Carson, who was somewhat more of a politician than lawyer, and was several times elected to the Legislature. He remained an honored resident of Dandridge until his death. Napoleon B. Bradford was an attorney at the Dandridge bar for some time. He served as clerk of the circuit court from 1825 to 1834, and had just been elected to the Legislature when he died. His cousin, William M. Bradford, was also a prominent member of the profession in Jefferson County. At the beginning of the war, he entered the Confederate Army, and was made colonel of the Thirty-first Tennessee Regiment. He is now a resident of Chattanooga. James P. Swann entered the profession between 1845 and 1850, and continued to practice until about four years ago. Among the other attorneys of the county prior to the war were Jesse Reneau, J. M. Meek, William R. Caswell, John
*Tu 1909 David Barton was licensed as an attorney,and continued to practice more or less for many Fears. After the organization of the chancery court he served as clerk and master for a short time.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY.
D. Thomas, H. H. Hubbard and William F. Anderson. Mr. Meek was elected attorney- general in 1865, and subsequently removed to Knoxville, where he now resides. William R. Caswell was also elected attorney-general. Before entering upon his office, however. he became captain of a company of volunteers, and served in the Mexican war. Mr. Hubbard was then as now a resident of Mossy Creek.
The members of the profession now resident in the county are G. W. Pickle, the attor- ney-general of the State, W. R. Turner, J. L. Rogers, D. H. Meek, Alexander Hynds and W. F. Park.
In January, 1793, the county court appointed Alexander Outlaw, George Doherty, Garrett Fitzgerald, Andrew Henderson and Hugh Kelso to locate the seat of justice. After viewing two or three places, they fixed upon what in denominated in the act establishing the town as "the neighborhood of Robert Henderson's Lower Meeting-house." Tradition has it that a still-house had been erected in the vicinity and that the commissioners were so pleased with the liquor it afforded, they decided it to be the best location for the town. It is probable, however, that as a church and burial ground had been located there for several years, it had already become a central meeting point for the people of the county. This, together with its position on the bank of the French Broad, undoubtedly influenced the commissioners to make it the seat of justice. Fifty acres of land were donated by Francis Dean, and the town was laid off by Samuel Jack. It was named in honor of Martha Dandridge, the wife of President Washington.
Of the first inhabitants of the town but little is now known. In 1795 Edward George was licensed to keep an ordinary, as also were Jobn Coulter and James Jack, during the two succeeding years. The first physician was William Moore, who continued to practice his profession until his death about 1837. Of the merchants, as now remembered, the earliest were Hugh Martin and John Fain. The latter began business about 1810, and occupied the lot where the old store house owned by John Mitchell now is. Martin had a store on the southwest corner of the courthouse lot. A few years later Shadrach Inman, Hamilton & Deaderick, and Branner & Roper began business. The inhabitants of Dan- dridge in 1830. as remembered by a resident at that time, were as follows: Caswell Lea, Jobn Fain, Shadrach Inman and Joseph Hamilton, merchants; Paschal Carter, William B. Carter, Andrew Gass and Peter Carter, blacksmiths; John Parrott, saddler; Reuben Thomas, tailor; Jacob Myers and Fredenburg Thompson, tanners; Daniel E. Bicknell and Charles F. Bruckner, cabinet-makers; John Roper, tavern keeper; William Moore, physician, and Robert H. Hynds and James H. Carson, lawyers. Among the other mer- chants from that time until the war were Fains & King, Inman & Hamilton, W. & T. Harris and A. & M. Vogel. In 1854 the Bank of Dandridge was incorporated with an authorized capital stock of $50,000. Of this institution John Roper was president. Two years later the bank of Jefferson was organized with W. H. Inman as president, and W. F. Inman, cashier. Its capital stock was also $50,000. Since the civil war the business im- portance of Dandridge has somewhat declined, much of its former trade going to towns situated on the railroads. The merchants of the present time are Swann, Cowan & Co .. Henry Harris, W. E. Weldon, J. B. Gass & Bros., general merchandise, and B. M. Carr, drugs. The physicians of the town are J. C. Cawood, J. A. Harris, H. B. Coil and T. W. & E. M. Gallion.
The first newspaper published in Dandridge was the Herald established in 1855. It was edited by Samuel Ramsey and published by H. C. Craig. In November of the next year H. C. Craig and F. M. Wylie established the American Statesman, which they soon after removed to Morristown. The next paper was the Dandridge Watchman established by a joint stock company edited by Dr. J. N. Lyle. In 1880 it was consolidated with the Newport Reporter, and was published as the Watchman and Reporter by L. Bible until his death. In April, 1982, Alexander Eckle established the Republican Banner, which he has since continued to publish.
The character of the first county buildings erected in Dandridge is not known, but they were undoubtedly like those of other counties at that time, rude log structures. The first jail must have been of a very temporary character, for upon its completion in 1793
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
the sheriff appeared before the court and protested against it. The courthouse remem- bered by the oldest residents was a small brick structure standing on the lower side of the present lot. In 1816 the county court appointed Robert H. Hynds, John Branner. Samuel Moser, William Caldwell and William Dick to superintend the erection of the present courthouse, which was completed two or three years later. The jail was erected about the same time. It succeeded a hewed-log building, with double walls filled between with rock.
The first schools in Dandridge are said to have been 'taught in a log house, which stood on the corner where R. D. Hill now lives. In 1806 the following trustees were ap- pointed for Maury Academy: George Doherty, Adam Peck, Thomas Galbraith, Thomas Suoddy and Parmenas Taylor, to whom were added the following year William Mills and Joseph Hamilton. The school, however, was not opened until 1818. A brick building was then erected, and the academy put into operation as a mixed school. Subsequently a frame building was erected on Flint Street and a school for girls established. In 1850 the Dandridge Female Academy was incorporated with H. J. Dick, W. R. Caswell, Will- iam Bradford, James Fuller, William D. Fain, George M. Simpson, James Scruggs, T. I. Bradford and James P. Swann as trustees. A large three-story brick building was then crected. The first floor was occupied by the Sons of Temperance, the second floor by the Masons, the first floor by the school. The school was opened in the fall of 1851 under the care of Rev. William Harrison. In 1857 he was succeeded by Mrs. R. H. Hynds, a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, and a superior teacher, who had previously taught for several years in the old frame building. After standing a few years, the new house became unsafe, and was torn down and replaced by the present brick building which was erected by the Masonic fraternity.
The oldest church in Dandridge is the Hopewell Presbyterian Church, organized in 1785, eight years before the town was established. By whom the church was organized is not definitely known. It is thought by some to have been Hezekiah Balch, by others Rev. Robert Henderson. It is certain that the latter soon'became its pastor, and so con- tinued until 1811. During that time he was also pastor of Westminster Church, organ- ized in 1787, about ten miles northeast of Dandridge. For about cigliteen months after his resignation, Hopewell was without a pastor. In October, 1812, Rev. David Wear was installed pastor, and so continued for one year. The pastorate was then vacant until about 1816, when Rev. John McCampbell took charge as stated supply, and remained with the church until his death in 1859. For a time prior to 1813 James H. Goss gave a portion of his time to the congregation. Rev. Nathaniel Hood was then employed for onc-fourth of his time, until the death of Dr. McCampbell, who had given three-fourths of his time. In 1860 James H. Alexander took charge as stated supply, and remained until 1801. The church was then vacant until 1865. In 1866 P. J. H. Myers took charge as stated supply. This connection was broken in about eighteen months. The pulpit was then filled for short periods by James A. Griffes and E. N. Sawtell. In January, 1872, Rev. W. H. Lyle became pastor, and has since devoted one-half of his time to this congregation. No minutes of church sessions prior to 1816 are now in existence, there- fore but little is known of the first members. The elders in 1816 were Alexander Shad- den, Samuel McSpadden, John Blackburn, Thomas Rankin, Sr., James McSpadden and Anthony Caldwell. The trustees in 1810 were Andrew Henderson, Andrew Edgar, Will- iam Caldwell, Alexander Caldwell, Thomas and Richard Rankin and James Scott. In 1807 the members numbered ninety-six, among whom, besides those mentioned as tru-tees and elders, were Hugh Martin, Charles F. Keith, John Fain, Samuel Bicknell, George Branner, Jacob Foute, William Mathes, Samuel Lyle and the Innmans, McCuistians. Gal- braiths and Newmans. In 1820 a large number of members withdrew to form the New Market Church, and in 1841 thirty-eight members were set off to organize Mount Horeb Church, which has since been divided into three churches. In 1853 Concord Church. ten miles west of Dandridge, was organized. After the close of the war, sixty members of Hopewell united to form a congregation under Knoxville Presbytery. The congrega- tion of Hopewell has been under the following Presbyteries: Presbytery of Orange.
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Very truly. AnyAf Hubbard.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY.
1,85-88; Abingdon, 1768-99; Union, 1793-1325; French Broad, 1825-40; Union, 1840 to the present time, having joined the new school upon the separation in 1837.
The first church building that is now remembered was a very large hewed-log house, weather-boarded, which stood not far from the spring just back of Mrs. Hynd's residence. In 1843 a frame building was erected upon the lot where the present church stands. The latter was begun in 1869 and completed in 1872. The second church established in the vicinity of Dandridge, and the only one haring a complete record from its organization is the Baptist Church. It was organized as the French Broad Baptist Church at Coons' Meeting-house, two and one-half miles east of Dandridge, on March 25, 1786, by Jonathan Murkey and Isaac Barton. The original roll of members is as follows: Michael Coons, James Randolph, Henry Haggard, John Fryer, Wesley White, Charles Gentry, Rebecca Coons, Dolly Haggard, Margaret Smith, Sarah Fryer, Tabitha and Elizabeth Gentry, Elizabeth Morrow, Elizabeth Johnson (Sr. and Jr.), Margaret Johnson, Alexander Morrow, Unius and Sarah Carlock, Joseph and Sarah Witt, Elizabeth Whitman and Catron McGirk. The first clerk was Charles Gentry, who continued in that position for several years. In 1797 a committee consisting of Duke Kimbrough, Robert Gentry, Joseph Witt and Smelson were appointed to organize Dumplin Creek Church on July 29 of that year.
In April, 1843, the members of the French Broad Church decided to erect a building in Dandridge, and James H. Carson, Isaac Kimbrough, Caswell Lea and William Harris were appointed to supervise the work. A lot was donated by Joseph Hamilton, and the expense of erecting the building was largely borne by Samuel Carson. The new church was dedicated on February 22, 1815, by James Kennon. The members at that time numbered 253. Since that time the church has continued to prosper, but owing to the organization of a large number of new churches its membership is not now so large.
At what time the Methodists formed an organization in Dandridge is not known. but it was some time early in the history of the town. About 1828 a brick church was erected. It was occupied until about 1854 or 1855. when it was replaced by the present one. Among the first members of this church were DI. William Moore, George Clementson, Daniel Bicknell, Andrew Gass, John Henderson and Peyton and Paschal Carter.
About 1819 James Tucker opened a house of entertainment ten miles north of Dan- dridge on the stage route frori Knoxville to Abingdon, Va. The place became known as Tuckertown, and during the next few years a small village grew up in the vicinity. As the town becaine established it was given the name of New Market. The land upon which it is built was owned by Gen. William Brazleton, Abraham Woodard and Abraham Frazier. The house built by Tucker now forms a part of the residence of W. H. Moffett The first merchants of the town were Gen. William Brazleton, J. P. Chase and T. D. Knight. Those of a later date were W. H. Moffett, Henry Bowell, A. & M. Blackburn, Abraham Murphey, William Dick and A. I. Thornburgh. Among the other early settlers were II. Neal, hatter; William Guinn, Patton Howell, George Hoskins and James Russell, blacksmiths. About 1831 a newspaper, The New Market Telegraph, was estab- lished by McAfee & Bunker. It continued for but a few years. In 1825 the Holston Conference decided to establish a manual labor training school, and appointed a committee to fix upon a location. They chose New Market. A farm was then purchased, the necessary buildings erected, and in 1830 Holston Seminary was opened under the supervision of Henry Saflle. After several years he was succeeded by Allen H. Mathes. He resigned about 1845 or 1846. Rev. Creed Fulton was then in charge for a short time. Rev. W. C. Graves then acted as president for about two years, assisted by John E. Robertson and John B. Hoyle. The manual labor feature of the institution was never put into oper- ation, and the farin was finally sold. The school was maintained under various teachers until abont 1385, since which time the property has been unoccupied, and a seminary has been maintained by the Presbyterians in the church formerly used by them.
The first religious service hold in New Market was in March, 1819, at the house of James Tucker. The sermon was preached by Rev. John MeCampbell, of the Presbyte- rian Church. The first sacramental meeting was held in October, 1823, in the grove south
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
of town. Other meetings followed, and in 1825 a house 50x30 feet was erected. Septem- ber 30, 1826, the New Market Presbyterian Church was organized, with fifty members. The ruling elders elected were William Dick, Anthony Caldwell, Sr., John Caldwell, Sr., and Alexander Caldwell, all of whom had held the same position in Hopewell Church. From 1819 until his death Rev. John McCampbell preached statedly to this congregation. The other ministers who preached alternately with him during this period were G. S. White, 1834-42: William Harrison, 1842-46; William Minnis, 1849-59, and afterward con- tinued up to his death in 1862 or 1863.
May 20 a new church edifice was dedicated by Rev. John McCampbell. This house was used until August, 1884, when the present handsome and commodious brick building was completed. About 1532 or 1833 the Methodists erected a house of worship, which in honor of Mrs. T. D. Knight was named Elizabeth Chapel. Since the close of the war it has been replaced by a new building. The Baptist Church was erected about 1845.
The water power furnished by Mossy Creek carly attracted grist and saw mills and other manufactories. The stream is about only five iniles in length. and its rapid descent affords a large amount of power. Toward the close of the last century Christopher Haynes obtained a large body of land at the head of the creek by establishing iron works there. These works were operated for a term of years, but did not prove very successful, and were, doubtless, erected only to procure title to the land. The first grist-mill was built by Adam Peck, who lived below the present town. After his death, about 181;, it passed into the hands of his son. A second grist-mill was built by William Cox, an ax handle factory by Patton Howell, a wool-carding machine by Henry H. Peck, and a cot- ton spinning factory by Knight, Humes & Gill. Nearly all these manufactories were in operation by 1836. The cotton spinning factory was operated for a time by John and William Oldham, and is now owned by Col. S. N. Fain. The first store on Mossy Creek was opened by Thomas Humes some time prior to 1795. He was succeeded soon after by Samuel Y. Martin & Co. In 1818 licenses were issued by the clerk of the county court to A. Peck & Co. and Brazleton & Massingale to sell goods at Mossy Creek. About 1835 a store was opened by George Branner, who was succeeded by J. R. and W. A. Branner. Among the other merchants from that time to 1870 were B. MI. Branner and James C. Johnston. Samuel McDaniel, Abijah Bible, J. W. Godwin & Bro., Rhoton & Mendenhall, Hyatt & Dickey and Robert H. Ashmore. Within the past few years the portion of the town in the vicinity of the college has been known as Carsonville. The business interests of the two places are represented as follows: J. W. Godwin & Bro., J. T. Watkins, R. H. Ashmore, J. L. Smith & Co., Carson & Peak, Beeler & Huff, and Flora & Johnson, gen- eral merchandise; Nicholas & Trotter, hardware, and Jarnagin & Tittsworth, drugs. The manufactories consist of four grist-mills distributed along the creek and owned respect- ively by 8. W. Warnes, T. F. Hayworth, S. G. Sanders and J. W. Peck. The old cotton- mill is owned by Col. S. N. Fain.
About 1830 zinc ore was discovered in close proximity to the town by Willis Hamn- mond and George Wright. No effort was made to develop it, however, until about 1575, when extensive works were built by the Mossy Creek Zinc Company, for the manufacture of oxide of zinc. This enterprise proved a failure, and since that time the mines have been worked in a small way for shipment.
The first church in the vicinity was organized about 1817, at which time a small log structure was erected as a place of worship. About 183; the Baptists organized a congre- gation, and two or three years later erected a church edifice. October 18 and 19. 1867. the members of the Presbyterian Church effected an organization, but it was not until Decem- ber 17, 18:1, that they dedicated a house of worship.
In 1849 Rev. William Rogers and Rev. C. C. Tipton conceived the idea of establish- ing a Baptist College at this place, and as financial agents succeeded in collecting suffi- cient funds for the erection of what is now known as the "old building." The school was opened August 7, 1551, by William Rogers and R. R. Bryan, and was soon after chartered as the Mossy Creek Baptist Missionary Seminary. In August. 1853. Dr. Samuel Ander- son was installed as president, and so continued until 185;, when he was succeeded by
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