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IHISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
To add to the hardships which continually beset the traveler, he was frequently deprived of the comforts even of a shelter for his head. After the destruction of Nick- ojack, occasional log-cabin taverns were found scattered along the line of travel, and their number increased after the admission of Tennessee to the Union. But the ac- commodations were inferior even by comparison. and the host, as a rule, was a distiller of whiskey and kept a tip- pling house for the sale of his own beverages. If no tavern could be found, the traveler was thrown upon the mercy of the first human inhabitant of a cabin, and this was rarely denied. The traveler was expected to sleep on his own bedding, generally a blanket and his own clothes, receiving perhaps a bundle of straw or a little flax to eke out his rest. The beds usually given by tavern keepers to emigrants were filthy beyond deserip- tion, and when the night was cold the unlucky traveler was often caught in a dilemma, one of whose horns was a bad cold, the other, the itch. There is a tradition which still survives among wags, that a traveler was once rudely ejected from one of these inns because of his ob- jection to the towel. The irate host was unable to brook the squeamish conceit of one who objected to a towel which fifteen others had used without a word of com- plaint. Often as many as a dozen and even more were crowded into a room twelve by ten feet. If fortunate enough to go to bed by himself it was no guarantee that he would be without one. possibly two bedfellows when he awoke. The fare was generally sufficient to satisfy the appetite, but luxuries were not to be had. Tea, coffee, and sugar had to be supplied by the traveler. The host gave him always bread . (in the earlier days made of pounded corn), butter, and milk, occasionally pork, ba- con, beans, eggs, potatoes, mush, rice, and in season, a few vegetables. Fresh meat depended upon the chances of the last hunt. The tavern rates in Greene County
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in 1785 were as follows: Diet, one shilling ; liquor, half pint, six pence ; pasture and stable, six pence ; lodging, four pence ; corn, per gallon, eight pence ; oats, per gallon, six pence.
But the seed had been sown and it fell upon good soil. Both the eastern and the western settlements throve. The question of survival was gradually being answered in favor of the fittest. People were spreading all through the eastern valleys, and from there to the middle of the future State, with the exception of the narrow strip of Indian ground which cut into it like a pair of scissors in a sheet of paper. In the forts the various phases of life eame most distinctly to view, and the contrasts were most sharply defined. The log cabins were still there, but they were more scattered. The seven original forts on the Cumberland were still there - they had been necessary and might be again, but they were, with the exception of Nashville, gradually dissolving and spreading. The block- houses still had their port-holes, their projecting roofs, their moats or ditches, but the cabins reaching out through the country were putting on a neater appearance. When, in 1777, J. W. Deadrick had built a cabin a few miles from Jonesboro, and covered it with shingles, it was re- garded as a pleasant innovation. But shingles now began to vie with clapboards. Piazzas began to divide the cab- ins. Round poles disappeared and the logs were hewn more carefully and plastered more neatly. About 1796 frame houses began to appear. In 1800 Bishop Asbury stayed in Knoxville at the house of Franeis Ramsey, the father of the historian. This house was built of stone. The public buildings showed an advance beyond the round-pole, log court-house, in which the old Watauga heroes assembled and legislated. In 1784 a court-house was ordered to be built in Jonesboro, the floor of which was to be neatly laid with plank. "Shingles were used on the roof." To the court-house was now joined a jail in
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the same style of architecture. In the deeds to purchas- ers of lots in Nashville, it was specified that they should shortly ereet on the lot one well-framed, log, brick, or stone house, sixteen feet square at least, eight feet clear in the pitch. Briek and stone houses were therefore among the near probabilities, and soon ceased to be mat- ters of curiosity. Occasionally glass windows were seen where formerly the wooden-hinge shutter had been, but these were brought from long distances and were still rare and costly. Not seldom the glass was broken by the ig- norance of those who attempted to frame it.
The improvements on the inside had kept pace with those on the outside. Puncheon floors were rapidly disap- pearing, the plank floors were clean and dry, there was an increase in the articles of furniture. Formerly the mas- ter of the house had made the tables, chairs, benches, and boxes with his own tools. But here and there a success- ful trip to Natchez and back had introduced pieces of var- nished furniture. On every hand were seen evidences of a new era ; new clothes, new utensils and artieles of huix- ury. Up to 1792 the commercial intercourse with the outside world had been of the most meagre description, more especially in the west. At times a peddler came through with a pack-horse or two, over the Virginia or North Carolina mountains, from Charleston, or Rich- mond, or Philadelphia, but he generally disposed of what he had brought in Washington, Greene, and Sullivan counties. In Nashville, the Indians or French traders were the only resource. Sometimes they came peacefully. more frequently, however, by force. It was often hinted in the letters and dispatches of those days that the Cum- berland people were much more willing to organize expe- ditions against the Indians who traded with Natchez and New Orleans than those who did not. The Coldwater expedition had brought the settlement a rich harvest of " taffia, sugar, coffee, cloths, blankets. Indian wares of all
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sorts, salt, shot, Indian paints, knives, powder, tomahawks, tobacco, and other articles suitable for Indian commerce." A part of the sugar and coffee was returned to the cap- tured traders, but none of the dry goods. As early as 1780. or perhaps a little earlier, a man named Daniel Broadhead had established a "dry goods store " at the Ohio Falls, and shortly afterwards James Wilkinson opened a store at Lexington, Kentucky. In 1783 Lard- ner Clark followed their example at Nashville, and kept a mixed stock of pins, needles, buttons, and the simplest dry goods for women and whiskey for the men. In 1786 a train of ten pack-horses loaded with merchandise ar- rived at Nashville. This was regarded as a great acces- sion of luxury and wealth.
The necessities of their situation, however, forced the · Cumberland people to extend the operations of their com- merce, and we soon find them in Natchez and New Or- leans, and occasionally a few at Kaskaskia and other northwestern points. Steamboats appeared on the Mis- sissippi River in 1812. Up to that time the means of transportation on water were slow, cumbersome, and often dangerous. The keel-boat, the ferry-boat, the Kentucky- flat, were used for heavy freight. These were preceded by the pirogue, and even the skiff in which traders carried down tallow, furs, buffalo robes, deer, and hides to Natchez at first, and later, to New Orleans, and in which he brought back groceries, simple dry goods, such as chintz and calicoes, and plain domestics, hunting shirts, pins, needles, and a few articles of personal adornment. The trip from Nashville down the river and back was neither pleasant nor safe, but if successful, it was always profit- able. The chief source of danger was, naturally, the In- dians, incited often by the Spanish and French traders, whose jealousy of all encroachments upon their trade was always on the alert. But another source of annoyance was the so-called pirates, gangs of outlaws, and despera-
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does of all nations who infested the Mississippi River, from New Madrid down, and who preyed indiscriminately upon all who fell in their way. It was first a subject of mutual suspicion between the Spanish and Americans, and each were ready to see in the other the causes of the depredations. As early as 1782 Thomas Molloy had sent a letter to the Spanish governor, denying a report which was being circulated through the western world, that the Cumberland settlement was the home of those who made the navigation of the river unsafe. In the same year the Committee of Notables laid restrictions upon those who desired to trade with the Indians, requiring a bond and previous permission. In January, the year following, one James Montgomery was bound over to appear at the next term of the court. He was suspected of being a river pirate. The most dangerous band of pirates was that under a desperado named Colbert, and "Colbert's Gang " was one of the terrors of that day. One reason for the prompt action taken by the Notables of Nashville was the desire to preserve amicable relations with the Spanish in order to enjoy the advantages of their market. This was one of the threads of diplomacy by which Governor Mero had hoped to draw the people of Tennessee into the conspiracy which was to establish a southwestern empire under Spain's protectorate. The cause of this failure was not to be found in any lack of appreciation on the part of the Tennessee people of the necessities of their commerce. It resulted, however, in keeping them constantly jealous of any action looking to their exclusion from the Mississippi River, and an invasion of the Spanish region of America was always a smouldering contingency, which the least accident might fan into flame. The people of Tennessee would not brook the Jay Treaty, and Jackson's vote against Washington in the House of Representatives was chiefly the result of the suggested terms of this treaty.
With the disappearance of Spain from New Orleans, a
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MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND MODE OF LIFE.
new life was breathed into both settlements of Tennessee, chiefly the Cumberland, and the increase of trade kept pace with the influx of population. The pirogue now gave way to the larger boats, and constantly shipments of corn, dried beef, tobacco, whiskey, which was now being distilled on a large and increasing scale, flax, tallow, hides, skins, and furs were sent down the Cumberland, Tennes- see, and Mississippi rivers, with escorts sufficient to pro- teet them from the inland buccaneers. The journey was exceedingly slow. Seventy-five days from Pittsburgh to New Orleans was regarded as a fair voyage, and the trip from Nashville must have been in proportion. The voyage baek was doubly tedious, and was not seldom made by land from Natchez to Nashville by the celebrated Natchez Trace, which was through the heart of the Chickasaw country. Generally the shipments had been the venture of several parties. The things brought back were the simplest necessities of life, including farming implements, carpenters' tools, nails, and the like. Though simple, they nevertheless rendered lite more endurable. added to the accumulation of wealth, and deepened the foundations and extended the limits of civilization and refinement and social intercourse.
The prosperity of Nashville was phenomenal, and by the beginning of the century it was, both in the number of its inhabitants and the bulk of its trade, the leading city of the Southwest. One of the most marked signs of im- provement was the various mills erected along the banks of the brooks and creeks. The Davidson County Court gave leave to one Headon Wells to build a water grist- mill on Thomas Creek, the first in that part of the coun- try. This was succeeded by others in rapid succession until meal ceased to be a luxury, except, perhaps, during a protracted drought. In the earlier stages of the settle- ment, bear's oil had been the substitute for gravy, lard, and butter. But the bringing in of hogs by the new emi-
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
grants supplied the inhabitants both with lard and bacon, which with bread now became the staple articles of food. Walnuts, hickory nuts, and wild grapes began to lose something of their importance. Another result of the growing commerce was the supply of ready money, by which the operations of exchange and trade were simpli- fied and expanded beyond the utmost possibilities of bar- ter. At first, rifles, cows, horses, axes, and cow-bells, the five things iu greatest demand, had been the ordinary medium of exchange, and after the organization of the guards to conduet emigrants through the Indian country, guards' certificates were added to the list. This, however, embraced other things though not in such general use. Each incoming emigrant brought a little gold or silver, and the New Orleans and Natchez trade soon relieved what is now called the stringency of the money market.
In the matter of personal attire the changes were slow. There is a tradition that a "few elegant stiff brocade pet- ticoats " existed in Tennessee before the close of the last century, but the names of the owners have not been handed down. Calico, chintzes, coarse woolen goods, un- bleached linen, were still in universal use by our grand- mothers, although the leathern apron and the moccasin had begun to disappear. Furbelows, flounces, and similar ornamental additions no longer occasioned surprise. With these, of course, the looking-glass appeared. The men were not less willing to profit by the opportunity of don- ning attire both more comfortable and more pleasant to behold. The vests, pants, and shirts, made of deer-skin, worn next the person, were discarded, and also the caps of coon-skins and other furs. The hunting shirt still re- mained, though not so generally worn, as likewise the leggings and moccasins. Leather thread for leathern garments gave place to cotton and flax thread.
The chief occupation of the people, of course, was agri- culture, locating land, clearing it and cultivating it. grow-
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ing corn, a little wheat. hemp, flax, tobacco. a few vege- tables, and a very little cotton. Everybody tried to raise horses, cattle, and hogs. If any sheep had as yet been introduced, the writer has not been able to find any trace of the fact. Some of the stations had now become towns, but as yet there was no clearly marked boundary between them and the country. Still the division of labor which betokens wealth and prosperity and an increas- ing population was rapidly taking place. There was the farmer, the ferry-man, the tavern keeper. the distiller, the miller, the manufacturer of salt. the lawyer, the physician. the merchant, the tailor, the shoemaker, the tanner, and the blacksmith. I might even add the miner, for Jacob Kimberlin found lead in 1787 south of French Broad.
Although the struggle for life was still earnest and full of serious vicissitudes, it would be inaccurate to think of the early settlers as always beyond the cheerful influences which make more bearable even the heaviest burdens. But the relaxation was rarely carried to excess, and those festivities were most enjoyed which had a practical and useful outcome. House raisings, choppings. frolics. and corn shuckings were more popular than target shooting, throwing the tomahawk, racing. jumping, and wrestling, though all were indulged in. The only amusement of the women not enjoyed in common with the men was that of quilting. The younger generation generally amused them- selves imitating the actions of their elders, and after the introduction of schools, by occasionally forcing the teacher to accord them a holiday. This was accomplished by " barring him out " until he yielded to the popular de- mand. If he gained entrance, it became a contest of strength, frequently ending in great personal violence. When Judge Guild was a boy, he took part in a " bar- ring out " which terminated in letting the teacher down the well in a bucket, and burning the school-house. As the population grew, however, other amusements began
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to make their appearance. In 1787 a distillery which bore the enphonious name of Red Heifer was built. Pat- ton's Still House eame soon after. A road was ordered by the county court to be laid off from Clarksville to this place. A tavern was opened in Nashville, " Black Bob," for many years the centre of the habit of drinking intoxicating drinks which was so prevalent in the very earliest days of our history. Bishop Asbury's journal is filled with allusions to distillers and tavern keepers, and on one occasion he met a congregation too drunk to listen to his admonitions. Of Francis A. Ramsey he says in 1800, " It may not be amiss to mention that our host has built his house and takes in his harvest without the aid of whiskey." The records of the county court were filled with regulations fixing the price of whiskey. In 1787 the price of a dinner was set at twenty-five cents, whiskey one dollar a quart. Among the vices legislated against in the county court of Davidson County in 1784 was in- temperanee, nor was this the only erime committed in those days. Our ancestors were, as a rule, honest and fearless, but there were men among them who were both cowardly and dishonest. In 1784 an aet of the county court refers to wicked men too lazy to get their living by honest labor, who make it their business to ride in the woods and steal cattle and hogs and alter and deface marks and brands. They were to be branded with the letter T in the palm of the hand. On another occasion it is ordered that Sam Henry be fined ten shillings for profanely swearing in the presence of the court. Even gatubling was not entirely unknown. It is said that a valnable tract of land in Maury County was lost and won at the game of Rattle and Snap, by which title the place is still known. It would be a mistake to suppose that the earlier settlers were without any of the faults which usually accompany the frailties of human nature in even its most favorable surroundings. The majority
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MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND MODE OF LIFE.
were men who had come to improve their condition, to obtain land at small prices, and to " grow up with the country." They belonged to the sturdy yeoman class and were thrifty, energetic, and honest in their dealings ; not a few were bankrupts who sought a new career, debtors who wished to evade their creditors. These were the first comers, the first to break the soil and to withstand the murderous onslaughts of the Indians. There were also those who had left the older communities to escape the punishment of their crimes, vicious and lawless men, add- ing a disintegrating element to the already lax organiza- tion of a primitive society. The inhabitants of Powell's Valley, especially, were noted for their lawless, desperate characters. It will surprise those who know the inhab- itants of that beautiful tract of country, celebrated as one of the homes of Methodism, to learn that they were accused in those days of disguising themselves as Indians in order to rob emigrants as they passed through. This element, however, gradually disappeared before the influx of population and the increase of social order. They long existed, however, as pirates on the Mississippi River, as horse thieves in the surrounding country, and as high- way robbers on the Natchez Trace, and were the legiti- mate predecessors of Murrell's band of later years.
The character of the early settler was peculiarly adapted to his surroundings and the necessities of his sit- uation. It was but natural that he lacked those features of character which are the result of mental friction, the mingling of many people. In the matter of Christian worship and belief he was rather religious than denomina- tional, rather practical than religious. Bishop Asbury wrote in 1797, " When I reflect that not one in a hundred came here to get religion, but rather to get plenty of good land, I think it will be well if some or inany do not event- ually lose their souls." His personal courage was as nec- essary as the Deck-hard rifle he handled with such ease of
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motion and precision of aim. ITis time was necessarily divided between the necessities of agriculture and the duties of the chase. His ambition pointed towards the future when the Indian should be exterminated, when he should be in the midst of prosperity, and all his fields yellow with harvests. His wants were as simple as his mode of life. Next to cowardice, he most despised lack of loyalty to one's friends. Drunkenness was the most contemptible of vices, and slothfulness a subject of gen- eral indignation. Having by the force of his character won all that he possessed, he had acquired a self-reliance which was apt to break into rebellion where law became irksome. Familiarity with weapons made him prone to resent insult with violence. But he never struck in the rear, and the assassin of that day, like the rapist of this, went without judge or jury. The Indian, however, he never regarded as a human being. Panthers, Indians, and bears were to be destroyed like vermin. When first we meet with him he wears moccasins, leggings. hunting shirt, and coon-skin cap. His rifle rests in the hollow of his arm. Around his waist is a leathern belt, while shot, powder, and powder horn are strung over opposite shoul- ders. A dog is apt to be at his heels. As the settlement advances, however, his character is modified in a great de- gree with his appearance. The cap goes first, then the moccasins and leggings, and finally the hunting shirt. He hunts less and works more. Perhaps he now has a negro slave or two, a couple of horses, and a few "head of stock." His family increases, also his slaves and his cat- tle. He loses some of his prejudice against the refine- ments of life. He even brooks a ruffled shirt. The earnestness of his character, kept at nervous tension dur- ing the days of Indian warfare, begins to mellow some- what as his form grows more round. He has prospered in the new order of things perhaps better than his neigh- bor. He has ventured successfully a few cargoes to New
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Orleans. His wealth continues to increase. He builds a frame house in which there are various rooms. It is no longer necessary for his entire family to eat. sleep. and live in two rooms, or probably one, with a curtain parti- tion. Seated on his piazza he can see broad acres of wheat, corn, and tobacco. His son is with Doak in the east or at Davidson College ; his daughters are possibly in South Carolina. During the last fall one of his horses has carried off the "sweepstakes." He is, by the way, in common with Mr. Jackson, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Diekin- son, and others, very fond of the race-course. The aspect of the world has changed. As he sees one of his old friends pass, one whose lands are mortgaged and whose sons and daughters help him eke out a seanty living, it begins to dawn upon him that there are various stations in life. The idea of class is formed in his mind and the old days of perfect and noble equality among all settlers are forever past. Degrees of prosperity bring in the arti- ficial modes of thought and the shallow and unnatural methods of life which still exist, and which belie the true spirit of republicanism founded in theory upon the uni- versal brotherhood of all men.
CHAPTER XX.
ADMISSION TO THE UNION.
AMONG the last resolutions of the first territorial Gen- eral Assembly was, "that the sense of the people be taken with respect to a new State." Governor Blount, with the political tact which was but little below states- manship, was among the first to perceive the necessity of meeting this growing demand of the people, and at once took measures to hasten its realization. The General Assembly had been prorogued to the first Monday in October, 1795. He called it together again on the 20th day of June, 1795. A bill was passed for the enumera- tion of the inhabitants of the Territory. More than 60,000 free votes were cast in favor of this measure, as required by the act of cession. A constitutional con- vention was called, and met at Knoxville on the 11th of January, 1796. Among the members present were John MeNairy, Andrew Jackson, and James Robertson from Davidson County ; William Cocke, from Hawkins ; Jo- seph Anderson and Archibald Roane, from Jefferson ; William Blount, James White, and Charles McClung, from Knox ; W. C. C. Claiborne, from Sullivan ; John Tipton, from Washington : and Daniel Smith, from Sevier. The constitution adopted was, apart from the election of officers, substantially the one under which we now live. Ramsey says : " It is a tradition that the beautiful name given to our State was suggested by General Jackson." It may have been that Jackson, in committee, made the formal motion to adopt Tennessee as the name of the
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