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.3 > Part 2
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While some of these Friends were slave-holders the great majority was opposed to the institution of slavery, and it was among those earnest, simple and God-fearing people, that the first society for the abolition of negro slavery in America originated. The first branch of the Tennessee Manumission Society was organized at Lost Creek Meeting.house in Jefferson County on February 25, 1815. On that day eight persons met for the pur- pose of forming themselves into a society, under the style of the Tennessee Society for
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promoting the Manumission of Slaves. These persons were Charles Osborne, John Canady, John Swan, John Underwood, Jesse Willis, David Maulsby, Elihu Swan and Thomas Morgan. The constitution adopted for this society was as follows:
ARTICLE I.
Each member is to have an advertisement in the most conspicious part of his house, in the following words, viz .: "Freedom is the natural right of all men, I therefore acknowledge myself a member of the Tennessee Society for promoting the manumission of slaves."
ARTICLE IL.
That no member vote for a governor or legislator unless he believe him to be in favor of emancipation.
ARTICLE III.
That we convene twelve times at Lost Creek Meeting-house. The first on the 11th of the third month next * *
* shall proceed to appoint a president, clerk and treasurer, who shall continue in office twelve months.
ARTICLE IV.
The required qualification of our members are true Republican principles * * * * and in form of * * and that no immoral character be admitted into the society as a member.
Soon after societies were formed in Greene, Sullivan, Washington and Cocke Counties and in Knoxville, and on the 21st of November, 1815, the first general convention was held at Lick Creek Meeting-house of Friends, in Greene County. The second annual con- vention was held on the 19th and 20th of November, 1810, at Greeneville. Unfortunately the first minutes of this society have been lost, and but little is known of the original members of other branch societies. The first secretary was John Marshall, How long this society existed could not be ascertained, but the following facts are learned from the minutes of the eighth annual convention, held at the Friends' Meeting-house at Lick Creek, in Jefferson County, on August 12 and 13, 1822. The delegates present were as follows: Green Branch -- John Marshall, Samuel McNees and David Stanfield; Mary - ville Branch -- David Delzel, Isaiah Harrison, Aaron Hackney and Andrew Cowan; Hick> ory Valley Branch-Isaiah Harrison and John Coulson; Nolachucky Branch-Lawrence Earnest; Turkey Creek Branch -- William Milliken; Washington Branch-Joseph Tucker; French Broad Branch-William Snoddy and John McCroskey; Holston Branch-Jesse Lockhart; Jefferson Branch-John and James Caldwell and Elisha Hammer; Middle Creek Branch -- John Kerr. Beaver Creek, Sullivan, Powell's Valley, Knoxville and Newport Branches were not represented. James Jones was chosen president; Thomas Doan, clerk, and Asa Gray, treasurer. The whole number of members in the various branches was reported at 474. Robert M. Anderson and Jesse Lockhart were appointed to draw up a memorial to Congress, and Stephen Brooks, Thomas Doan, Wesley Earnest, Abraham Marshall and James Jones were appointed the committee of inspection for the ensuing year. As had been the custom at each preceding convention an address, advocat- ing the abolition of slavery, to be distributed to the various branch societies, was pre- pared. Since it inaugurated the anti-slavery agitation, which culminated in the civil war, the organization of this society must be regarded as one of the most important events in the history of the country.
The first Methodist society in the State was organized in this county. It was named Ebenezer, and was established in the Earnest neighborhood some time about 1790. This neighborhood is on the Nolachucky River, opposite the present Fullen's Depot. Henry Earnest located there in 1778 or 1779. He was the father of five sons and six daughters, and it is said that his wife with the children constituted four-fifths of the member- ship of the new church. The first church building was erected prior to 1795, as in that year the Western Conference held its annual meeting there. From this time for several years this church seems to have been a favorite meeting place of the conference, that body hav- ing convened there in 1801, 1805, 1807 and 1822. One of the largest camp-grounds ever
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built within the bounds of the Holston Conference was erected about one and one-half miles from Ebenezer, near what is now Henderson's Depot. It was used for many years, and was not abandoned until the civil war. It was known as Stone Dam Camp-ground.
Another Methodist society was organized at a very early day at Vanpet's, in the vicin- ity of Carter's Station, on the north side of Nolachucky, in the western part of the commuty, where a camp-ground called Center was erected some time prior to 1813. The first charch building was built as early as 1793.
The first Baptist Church in the county was organized in 1793 or 1794 on Lick Creek. Among the first members were Phillip Hale, Robert Fristoe, William Johnson, B. Hopper, Samuel Baker, Thomas Wyatt and Richard Curtin.
Another church known as Flay Branch was organized at New Providence Meeting- house in 1803. Of its early members may be mentioned D. D. Shackleford, Nehemiah Woolsey, George Jones, Thomas D. Mason, V. Reynolds, Joshua Hardin, Frederick Dewitt, Joseph Reynolds, James Houston, J. Gilbert, H. Gilbert, Jeremiah Broyle and Giles Parman. The name of this church in 1885 was changed to Mountain View. Among other churches of this denomination are Roaring Springs, organized originally in 1817. present church of that name constituted in 1872; Clear Fork, 1825; Caney Branch, 1844; New Lebanon, 1848; Susong's Memorial, 1877; Romeo, 1878, and Lovelace, 1879.
The Presbyterians organized the first church in the county at Greeneville, for a sketch of which see elsewhere. A second church known as Providence was organized in 1784.
In April, 1783, the General Assembly of North Carolina passed an act dividing Wash- ington County for the second time, and establishing the county of Greene. On the third Monday in August, the court of pleas and quarter sessions met at the house of Robert Carr, which stood near to what is known as the Big Spring in Greeneville. The magis- trates present were Joseph Hardin, John Newman, George Doherty, James Houston, Amos Bird and Asahel Rawlings. Daniel Kennedy was elected clerk; James Wilson, sheriff; William Cocke, attorney for the State; Joseph Hardin, Jr., entry-taker; Isaac Taylor, surveyor; Richard Woods, register, and Francis Hughes, ranger. For convenience the county was divided into four civil districts, three of which lay north of the Nola- chucky and French Broad Rivers, while the fourth included all the residents south of these streams. For these districts the following assessors were appointed: First-Lanty Armstrong, Owen Owens and William Stockton; Second-Gideon Richie, James Dillard and Henry Conway; Third-Alexander Kelly, Jeremiah Jack and Henry Earnest; Fourth- The constables appointed were John Hammond, James Robinson Joseph Box and Robert Ore.
At the November session, 1783, the first grand jury was summoned. It was com- posed of the following men: Henry Conway, Joseph Carter, David Russell, Lanty Arm- strong, Alexander Galbraith, Archibald Stone, Andrew Martin, James Rogers, Jeremiah Jack, Anthony Moore, George Martin, David Copeland, Richard Woods, Robert Allison, and four others whose names could not be deciphered. This jury, however, found no indictments and was soon discharged. The court which was begun in February, 1734, levied a tax of one shilling specie on each 100 pounds of taxable property for the purpose of erecting public buildings. At the same session a road was ordered to be laid off from Robert Carr's "to the confines of the county in the direction of Sullivan Courthouse." At the next term Robert Carr was allowed £8 for the use of his house by the court while at the same time the sheriff entered a protest against the jail erected by Mr. Carr.
In May, 1785, the county was reorganized under the State of Franklin, and all the officers who were reappointed were required to take a new oath of office. The magistrates who appeared and qualified were Joseph Hardin, George Doherty, Benjamin and Job: Gist, John Newman, Asahel Rawlings, John Maughon, James Patterson. John Weir and David Craig. The old county officers were removed except Daniel Kennedy. clerk, and Francis Hughes, ranger. The county, as a whole, was the most loyal to the Frank- lin government of any of the counties composing the State, and jealously guarded against anything tending to weaken its influence or authority. In the records of the February session, 1786, is the following entry: "An anonymous printed paper, purport-
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
ing to be an address to the citizens of Franklin, is judged by the court to be a scandalous, wicked and seditious libel against the States in the Union, and individuals of the Ecclesi- astical order, and the same is ordered by the court to be burnt by the High Sheriff to-morrow at four o'clock in the afternoon." At the next term David Crawley was brought before the court on a charge of "threatening the county of Greene," and it was considered " that he be bound to good behavior for one year and a day." An amusing instance of the court's attempt to maintain its dignity against an irate attorney is found in the following entries in the minutes of November, 1786: "Luke Bowyer fined five shillings for insulting the court. Fi. fa. issue for the same. Luke Bowyer fined £10 for insulting the court, and 5s for profane swearing. Fi. fa. issue for the same." "Luke Bowyer ordered to be confined in the stocks for one-quarter of an hour; ditto one hour." At this juncture Mr. Bowyer doubtless bethought himself of the maxim, that "discretion is the better part of valor," and submitted to the court.
Notwithstanding the troublous times through which the new State was passing, the court of pleas and quarter sessions for Greene County continued to hold its sessions regularly, and to discharge its duties with the greatest fidelity, and even after every vestage of the authority of Sevier's government had disappeared from the other counties this court transacted its business in the name of the State of Franklin. In August, 1788, however, the county passed once more under the authority of North Carolina, and John McNabb, Alexander Outlaw, Abraham McCoy, Alexander Galbraith, Joseph Hardin and John Newman, qualified as magistrates. At this term new county officers were elected with the exception of clerk of the court, and the following attorneys were admitted to practice: John McNairy, Alexander McGinty, David Allison, Archibald Roane, Joseph Hamilton and Andrew Jackson. In November, 1790, the county court was once more reorganized, to comply with the government of the territory south of the river Ohio, but there were few changes in the magistrates or other officers. The same may also be said of what occurred six years later, when the officers qualified according to the laws of the State of Tennessee.
The circuit court for Greene County was organized on March 7, 1810, by William Cocke. The attorneys present were David Yearsley, attorney-general; John Kennedy, John F. Jack and Samuel Y. Balch. The chancery court for the district, composed of Carter, Greene, Washington, Cocke, Jefferson and Sevier. was organized at Greeneville, on May 16, 1825, by Thomas L. Williams, then one of the judges of the supreme court. Of the attorneys mentioned above only Samuel Y. Balch and James Reese are known to have resided in the present limits of Greene County. The latter was a member of one of the Franklin Assemblies and later represented Greene County in the Legislature of North Carolina.
About 1817 James W. Wyly received a license to practice, and from that time until 1835 he was one of the leading advocates at the bar. At the latter date he removed to Missouri. Contemporary with him were his brother, A. H. Wyly, and George T. Gil- lespie. The former removed to Texas during the war between that State and Mexico, and the latter, after serving for a time as clerk and master, removed to Russellville. Tenn. Alfred and Augustus Russell were also lawyers of some note during this period. About 1830 Robert J. Mckinney, who had studied law with John A. Mckinney, of Rogersville. located at Greeneville. Hle at once took a front rank in the profession, and it is doubtful if he ever had a superior as a jurist in the State. In 1848 he succeeded Judge Reese upon the supreme bench, where he continued to preside until the civil war.
About 1835 Thomas D. Arnold, formerly of Knoxville, located at Greeneville. fle was a man of only limited education. and of somewhat eccentric manners, but by his strong native intellect and force of character he had already raised himself to prominence. He had served a term in the Legislature. been attorney-general of his circuit. and bad held a seat in the XXII Congress. He engaged actively in the practice of bis profes- sion and in politics at Greeneville, and in 1840 he was elected to represent the First District in Congress. In 1841 David T. Patterson was admitted to the bar. Hs had studied in the office of Judge McKinney, and was well equipped for the practice of his profession. In
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1854 he was elected judge of the First Judicial Circuit, and six years later was re-elected. After the close of the war he served four years in the United States Senate, and since his retirement has not been engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1846 Samuel Milli- gan, also a pupil of Judge Mckinney, began the practice of law, but as more extended mention of him is made elsewhere it will not be repeated here .* Among the other attor- neys prior to the war were James W. Hale (who died in 1842), Robert M. Barton, J. Brit- ton, Jr., Robert Johnson, J. G. Rose and Robert McFarland. The members of the Greene- ville bar at the present time are James Robinson, R. M. McKee, A. M. Shown, James Armitage, Dr. W. A. Harmon, R. D. Harmon, Samuel Shields, J. E. Hale, A. B. Wilson and W. F. Milburn.
Greeneville may be said to have been founded in 1783, when the court held its first ses- sion at the house of Robert Carr. The name is first mentioned in the records of 1785. but the town was not established by the Legislature, nor regularly laid off until that year. The first settlers in the vicinity besides Carr were William Dunwoody (properly Dinwid- die), and Robert Hood, all of whom located about 1780 or 1:81. Hood lived on what is now the south edge of town, on land owned by Mrs. Walker. Dunwoody is said to have kept a tavern near the site of Self's hotel, but the first house of entertainment was kept . by Robert Carr, who in 1784 erected a house on the north side of Main Street, afterward occupied by Dr. James Isbell. The tavern rates as fixed by the court were: Diet, 1s .; liquor, half-pint, 6d .: pasture and stable, 6d .: lodging, 4d .; corn, per gallon, Sd .; oats, per gallon, Gd. The first courthouse was completed about 1785, and in November of that year the third Franklin convention was held in it. Afterward it served as the meeting place for the Commons, while the Senate met in Carr's old house near the Big Spring. The building is described by Ramsey as follows: "It was built of unhewn logs, and covered with clapboards, and was occupied by the court at first without a floor or loft. It had one opening only for an entrance, which was not yet provided with a shutter. Windows were not needed, either for ventilation or light, the intervals between the logs being a good substitute for them." It stood at the lower corner of the present courthouse lot. It was used until about 1804 or 1805, when both a courthouse and a new jail were erected. The latter was built of stone and stood near the middle of East Depot Street. It has had two suc- cessors, one completed in 1839, at a cost of $1,700, and the other built in 1882. It is con - structed entirely of stone and iron, and cost $14,000. The third and present courthouse was erected about 1822-23. In 1870 a front, containing four offices and two stair-cases, was added.
The first merchant in Greeneville was Andrew Greer, who had previously been known as a prominent Indian trader. William Dickson began business some time prior to 1800. and continued as one of the leading merchants until his death, a period of nearly half & century. He was a man of wealth, and served two terms in Congress, from 1801 to 1805. Joseph Brown and John Russell both opened stores about 1800, the former in a small frame house where the Presbyterian Church now is, and the latter on the lot now occupied by Brown & Brown. Among the other residents of the town at about this time were James Stinson, county register and tavern keeper; Robert Kyle, a tailor. and Valentine Sevier, clerk of the county court.
In 1819 the merchants of Greeneville were Deaderick & Sevier, William Dickson, Henry & Peter Earnest. Lewis H. Broyles & Co., John C. Greenway & Co. and Joseph Allen & Co. At this time Greeneville had ceased to be a village, and had become a town of some 600 or 700 people. It was a good business point. and during the next decade it continued to improve. The merchants were prosperous. and many of them acquired a large amount of wealth, hence a sort of aristocracy sprang up, which, on political issue, was opposed by the mechanics and the laboring class generally. Among the latter the leaders were Andrew Johnson, Mordecai Lincoln and Black- stone McDaniel. The last named was a plasterer and is still living. Mr. Lincoln was a tanner and also carried on a shoe and saddler's shop. He was a relative of Abraham Lincoln, and is said to have been very much like the latter, both in character and per-
* See page 404.
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sonal appearance. Mr. Johnson arrived at Greeneville, from North Carolina, in Septem- ber, 1826, and finding a good opening for a tailor, he concluded to locate. He was accompanied by his mother and stepfather, and they took up their residence in a small frame building nearly opposite Spencer and Brown's factory. Andrew worked for a time in a shop on Main Street, but subsequently removed to the corner of Depot and Water Streets. Meanwhile he had married, and he now purchased the brick house opposite his shop, where he continued to reside for several years. In 1828, in an election for alderman, he led the opposition to the aristocratic element, and was successful. This he repeated two years later with the same result. At about this time a debating society was organized, and to it Mr. Johnson doubtless owed much of his future success. The origin of this society is described by Mr. McDaniel, a surviving member, as follows: Johnson and McDaniel were intimate friends, and both, during their leisure hours, were fond of discussing current political topics. They finally became involved in a discussion of the merits of a bill then lately passed by the Legislature, extending the criminal laws of the State over that part of the Cherokee Nation in Tennessee. Mr. McDaniel advo- cating the measure and Mr. Johnson opposing it. Thediscussion continued until at last & challenge to a public debate was made and accepted. Assistants were chosen and other preliminaries arranged, and on the following Saturday night the disputants, together with a small audience, assembled at the shops of Mordecai Lincoln. None of them present except Mr. Lincoln knew anything. of parliamentary proceedings, therefore he was made chairman. Mr. McDaniel opened the debate, but Mr. Johnson refused to speak until all the others had finished, and then he proceeded with great trepidation. This debate led to the organization of a society which met every week, and some times twice a week, for two or three years, and Mr. Johnson soon became one of its most active members and best speakers.
The subject of education early engaged the attention of the people of Greene County, and Greeneville College, the first college in the State, was incorporated in 1794. The trustees were Hezekiah Balch, Samuel Doak, James Balch, Samuel Carrick, Robert Henderson, Gideon Blackburn, Archibald Roane, Joseph Hamilton, William Cocke, Dan- iel Kennedy, Landon Carter, Joseph Hardin, Sr., John Rhea and John Sevier. Hezekiah Balch was chosen president, and Robert Henderson, vice-president. The first meeting of the trustees was held at the house of Jaines Stinson on February 18, 1795. Robert Henderson, James Balch, Joseph Hamilton and John Rhea were appointed to prepare & memorial to the President and Congress of the United States, soliciting assistance for the college. This Mr. Balch offered to present. He soon after started upon a trip to Phil- adelphia and the Eastern States, and, upon his return, reported that he had collected and brought a large number of books, and received $1,352 in cash donations and $350 of sub- scriptions. It was then decided to erect a frame building 60x30 feet, two stories high. Messrs. Balch, Hardin, Kennedy and Henderson were appointed to fix upon a site for the building in the neighborhood of Mr. Balch's plantation about three and one-half miles from Greeneville. It was also resolved " that the board propose a lottery for the purpose of in- creasing the funds sufficiently for building the above house, the sum to be $1,000, and Gov. Sevier, John Rhea and Joseph Hamilton be a committee to prepare a scheme." Whether this resolution was carried into effect is not known. In August, 1796. the trustees held another meeting, at which time Mr. Balch offered to donate 150 acres to the college, but the conditions upon which he proposed to make the donation were such that the trustees re- fused it. The plan for a building, presented at the previous meeting, was found to be too expensive, and it was decided to erect a house 32x26 feet, two stories high, "with a stock of chimnies at each end."
From this time until March 3, 1800, if any meetings were held, the minutes have been lost; at the latter date Rev. Charles Coffin was elected vice-president to succeed Rev. Mr. Henderson, and was commissioned to go to the Northern and Eastern States to solicit subscriptions. The college building had not yet been completed, and there is no evidence that the school had been put into operation. On July 1, 1808, the president was authorized to have the schoolroom glazed, and made comfortable for the accommodation of pupils.
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and this was probably about the date at which the college was opened. The first men- tion of any graduate was in 1808, when Hugh Brown received the degree of A. B. After four years of labor, soliciting donations for the college, Mr. Coffin returned in 1805, and reported that he had secured about $14,000, of which $8,855.96 came from the "other side of the mountains." These funds placed the college upon a firmer foundation, and it at once entered upon a prosperous career. In 1810 Mr. Balch died, and was suc- ceeded by Mr. Coffin, who continued at the head of the institution until 1827, when he accepted the presidency of East Tennessee College. His successor was Henry Hoss, « who was elected in 1828, and served until his death, in 1836. Alfred Hoss then served for a short time as president pro tem .. and in 1838 Rev. James McLin succeeded him. It was then decided to remove to Greeneville, and a committee was appointed to superintend the erection of a building at that place. This building was completed in 1841 upon a lot in the northeast part of town, donated by Valentine Sevier. From some cause, how- ever, the college failed to prosper, and after three or four changes in presidents, among whom were Samuel Matthews, Charles A. Van Vleck, and J. J. Fleming, the college was suspended. In1854 Rev. William B. Rankin, then principal of Rhea Academy, was elected, and so continued until the suspension of the schools by the war.
In 1818 Dr. Samuel Doak, who had formerly been president of Washington College, came to Greene County and established a school known as Tusculum Academy. It soon became known as an excellent institution, and in 1842, under the management of Rev. Samuel W. Doak, who had succeeded his father. it was incorporated, with the following board of trustees: Samuel W. Doak, president; John McGaughey, John Moore, James Broyles, Alexander Williams, Andrew Johnson, William Crawford, R. J. Mckinney, Thomas D. Arnold, William West, John Blair, Silas Dobson, Jeremiah Moore, Joseph Henderson, Williato Robinson, James Robinson, R. M. Woods, Rev. Isaac Braughan, F. A. McCorkle, William Denney, Henry Earnest, Robert Rankin, William M. Lowry, James Hale and John Jones. About 1845 five acres of land were donated by Mr. Doak, and the two-story brick building, which is still occupied, was erected upon it. Previous to that time a small house, still standing just back of the Doak mansion, had been occupied by the academy for several years. Mr. Doak continued as president until his death, about the close of the war. At that time both Greeneville and Tusculum Colleges were in a somewhat demoralized condition, and it was decided to consolidate the two institutions under the name of Greeneville and Tusculum College. This was accomplished in 1968, and Dr. W. S. Doak became president. He continued at the head of the college until his death in 1882, although the year previous he was elected State superintendent of pub- lic instruction. In 1833 Rev. Jere Moore, the present president, was elected. During the past year one of the finest college buildings in the State has been erected at a cost of about $14,000, the greater portion of which was donated by the widow of the late Cyrus W. McCormick, of Chicago. The present faculty is as follows: Rev. Jere Moore. A. M., president and professor of mental and moral science; L. C. Haynes, A. M., professor of mathematics and physical science; T. S. Rankin, P. S., professor of natural science and English literature; Rev. W. C. Clemens, A. B., professor of Greek; Rev. S. A. Colle, A .. M., vice-president and professor of Latin; Eduard Lindemann, professor of music and modern languages.
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