USA > Tennessee > The Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century: Comprising Its Settlement, as the. > Part 37
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Mr. Meek was a surveyor, an emigrant from Mecklenburg county, N. C., and had, as early as 1785, explored the coun- try and made surveys on the frontier. Like most other pio- neers, Mr. Meek built his first cabin of round poles. This he covered with bark and grass, which, for the first year, sheltered his family. During the Indian alarms, the family frequently retired, at evening, to a deep sink, three-quarters of a mile from their cabin, and there spent the night. A fort or station was, at a later period, formed at the Strawberry Plains, now the residence of Rev. Thomas Stringfield. In this station the settlers collected together for mutual protec- tion and defence. It soon became the centre of an enter- prising, respectable and intelligent population, and there is still, one of the most flourishing and enlightened neighbour-
372
GILLAIM'S STATION ERECTED.
hoods in the country-distinguished for its Institutions of learning, its churches, its thrift and general prosperity.
Lands had been entered and surveyed, and grants issued for them, in what is now Knox and Grainger counties. The current of population followed the vallies, and here and there along the valley south of Clinch Mountain, could be seen springing up in the forests, at the head of Flat Creek, Bull Run and Beaver Creek, the humble cabin of the back- woodsman. In the fork between Holston and French Broad, new settlers began their clearings. Henry's Station, at Dumplin, ceased to be the last post north of the river. A little colony from it crossed Bay's Mountain, and formed what was known as Greene's, afterwards Manifold's, Station. Near it, Gibson, Beard, Bowman and Cozby settled, and with them came James White, afterwards the proprietor of Knox- ville. He first pitched his tent four miles above the mouth of French Broad, and on its north bank, near the present residence of John Campbell, Esq. His early compatriota Greene and Cozby, settled soon after near him, but on the- opposite side of the river. Captain Thomas Gillespie set- tled three miles below, on the north side of the river. The ruins of his house are still seen. It stood near the present residence of Mr. James Hufacre. A little later came Jere- miah Jack, Esq., and settled the second plantation above the mouth of French Broad.
Robert Armstrong planted corn and raised a crop, this 1787 [ year, on the plantation which, next year, he settled ( on Holston, a little above the mouth of Swan Pond Creek. Mr. Devereaux Gillaim, at the same time, occupied the plantation embracing the point between French Broad and Holston. His first cabin stood east of the dwelling house of the present proprietor, between it and the church.
Archibald Rhea, Sen., settled immediately opposite, on the south bank of French Broad. Alexander McMillan settled the place now occupied by Rev. Thomas Stringfield, then, as now, known as Strawberry Plains, and soon after removed to the farm on which he died, four miles above Armstrong's Ferry, on the present New Market Road.
The settlements between the rivers were less annoyed by
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373
MRS. GILLESPIE'S PRESENCE OF MIND.
the Indians, than those south or north of them. Almost in- sulated by the rivers, the intervention of these large streams furnished to the inhabitants some immunity from invasion. On one occasion, however, some armed warriors crossed the river, and presented themselves at the door of Captain Gil- lespie's cabin. The captain had, the day before, been clear- ing in the island and burning brush, and the fires were still burning there, in view of the house. He had left home early that morning, on his way to Dumplin, twelve miles off. The Indians, finding Mrs. Gillespie unprotected, entered the house, and one of them taking out a scalping knife, drew it across his bare arm, as if sharpening it He then went to a cradle, in which an infant lay asleep, and indicated with his finger a line around its head, along which he intended to apply the knife in scalping it. The other Indians looked on with savage ferocity. The heroic mother, with surprising presence of mind, sprang to the door, and, looking in the direction of the clearing, exclaimed, in a loud voice, " White men, come home ! come home, white men ! Indians ! Indians!" The warriors, disconcerted by her well contrived stratagem and her well timed equanimity, precipitately left the house, dashed down the hill towards the spring, and disappeared in the cane-brake. Mrs. G. bearing her child in her arms, es- caped in the opposite direction, and in sight of the path along which her husband would return. She had gone several miles in anxious apprehension of the murderous pursuit of the warriors, when she met the captain. He guessed the cause of their unexpected meeting, took the mother and the child upon his horse, carried them hastily back to Mani- fold's ; leaving them there, he reinforced himself with three men, and returned in haste to his house. The savages had plundered it of its contents, and while some were carrying off the spoils, one was busily engaged in setting fire to the house. He was fired upon by Captain G., who had outrode the other horsemen, and shot without dismounting. The In- dian was partly obscured by the smoke of the fire he was kindling, and escaped. The other men came up, the property was recaptured and the Indians were driven across the river. Two of them were wounded in crossing, at the mouth of Burnett's branch. It was believed that the Indians came to
874
WHITE AND CONNER SETTLE THE FUTURE KNOXVILLE.
steal rather than to murder; indeed, this neighbourhood suffered more by having their horses stolen, than by any other form of Indian aggression. On one occasion only, is it re- collected that the people generally went into a station. A sudden invasion of Little River settlement produced an alarm, and the settlers temporarily forted at Gillaim's; the alarm subsided, and the people returned to their plantations.
The population accumulated rapidly ; being accessible by the two rivers, the neighbourhood received many families from the upper counties in boats and canoes. Amongst these were James Anderson, Moses Brooks and George McNutt, Esq., who removed from Chucky and settled on the north side of Holston, above Knoxville. James White, the year before, had moved from his first cabin in the Fork, and settled on what is since White's Creek. With Captain White, came his old neighbour from Iredell county, North-Carolina, and comrade in arms, James Conner, the worthy ancestor of H. W. Conner, Esq., of Charleston, South-Carolina. These two were the first to disturb the virgin soil, on which the future Knoxville was to be built. Tradition 'says, that the lot on which the First Presbyterian church now stands, was the place first cleared by them. Pounded corn was the only , bread the first settlers used. Their rifles, which had been used in the war of the Revolution, procured them meat. Their cabin stood half a mile from the mouth of the creek, and on its west side, north of Mrs. Kennedy's orchard. This cabin afterwards constituted one corner of White's Fort; Captain Crawford and others forted in it with him. A quad- rangular plat of ground, containing a quarter of an acre, was chosen, on each corner of which was a strong cabin, but of less imposing appearance than Mr. White's, which was two stories high. Between these corners, stockades were placed eight feet high, impenetrable to small arms, and having port-holes at convenient height and distance. A massive gate opened in the direction of the spring. White's Fort became the central point for emigrants, and the rendezvous for rangers and scouts. They were charmed with its beauties. In their short rambles around their en- campment, they noticed an elevated parallelogram, extend- ing south, and terminating with a bold front upon the Holston.
375
THE RURAL BEAUTY OF ITS ENVIRONS.
A creek of considerable size glided along its eastern, and another along its western base, from the banks of which gushed forth, in close proximity, fountains of excellent water. It was noticed that the two streams furnished several eligi- ble sites for water power. The highest point of land between them, seemed designed by nature for a barrack or garrison. As then seen, the site of the future Knoxville was lovely in the extreme-almost entirely sheltered by the primitive forest, in its rich foliage, and having an air of enchanting coolness and rural retirement and seclusion - its quiet disturbed only by the playful murmurings of rivulets, formed by the several springs, and winding through their grassy borders_in stillness to the creeks. Wooded hills and sylvan slopes com- pleted the picture of rural beauty. The high land terminated abruptly towards the Holston, seen here and there through the tall trees, winding its way along the cane-brakes which lined its margin. Immediately opposite, was the Lit- tle Island, robed in green and almost submerged by the tur- bid stream. The southern shore presented, in one place, lofty hills, resting upon a perpendicular cliff-in another, rising with a more gradual ascent to the ridge beyond. The whole country was carpeted with verdure and clothed with trees-dense woods surrounding you, with the solitude and silence of nature. These attractions, and the advantages of its position, had pointed out the place as the nucleus of a fu- ture settlement. Mr. White soon had other settlers as his neighbours. John Dearmond settled south of the river, near Col. Churchwell's Ferry, and other emigrants came rapidly around White's Fort. A small tub-mill was erected by him. "The necessity for it wasso urgent, that at first he was forced to Tuse a very inferior stone for runners. These were still in Tuse at the time of the treaty in 1791. Amongst other emi- grants, John Adair moved this year to his late residence in Knox county. He had been appointed Commissary under North-Carolina, to furnish provisions for the Cumberland Guards, and in the discharge of that trust, took his position on The extreme frontier. Adair's Station was erected at the same Cime with White's, about five miles north of it. The country began to be reached by wagons ; settlers were gradually ex-
376
CAMPBELL'S STATION EREOTED.
tending themselves west, and in quick succession, Well's, Bou- nett's, Byrd's, Hackett's and Cavett's Stations, were formed. Campbell's Station was settled by several emigrants of that name from Virginia, survivors of the gallant regiment which 'had signalized itself at King's Mountain. Of these the principal one was Col. David Campbell, who has left the savour of a good name wherever he was known. He was the ancestor of the present Governor of Tennessee, who has so well sustained the reputation of the Volunteer State, in the late Mexican War.
At first, each of these stations was a single cabin in the midst of a clearing. When Indian disturbances broke out, the inhabitants clustered together in the strongest one near them, and it then became a Station. They have all disap- peared, except Colonel Campbell's, which still exists as the east end of the present dwelling house of Mr. Martin.
Jacob Kimberlin found lead, and furnished it to the inha- 1787 bitants. It was found south of French Broad, not far ( from Gap Creek, on the farm now owned by Jere miah Johnson, Esq.
Besides the Counties of Franklin, the State was also ar- ranged into Districts. Whether these were judicial or mili- tary, this writer has no means of determining. The only evidence he has been able to procure of this subdivision of Franklin, is furnished by the "commission" of one of its Colonels, of Elholm District .* The original is before the writer, in the bold chirography of Governor Sevier. The seal of the state affixed to it, is a small wafer, covered with common paper. There was, in all probability, no other seal of state.
Leaving here the chronological order of events in Frank- lin, we pause to review some transactions in its Foreign policy, which could not be so well introduced elsewhere.
Georgia, desirous of extending her settlements to the rich
"Elholm District was, doubtless, so called in honour of Major Elholm. In this district, as the tradition is, was embraced all the territory of Franklin, below Washington county, viz : Greene, Caswell and Sevier counties. Washington District probably embraced Washington, Sullivan, Spencer and Wayne coum- ties. .
377
FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF FRANKLIN.
interior of the state, had established Houston county in that 1784 § part of her territory north of the Tennessee River, ( and including the Great Bend of that stream, oppo- site the Muscle Shoals. The Commissioners appointed to organize the new county, held an adjourned meeting, July 30, 1784.
"Present, Stephen Heard, Chairman; John Donelson, Joseph Martin and John Sevier, Esqrs.
"The Board resolved that John Sevier be appointed to receive locations and entries of lands, and that William Blount, Esq., Lachlin McIntosh, John Morell, John Donelson, Stephen Heard, William Downs, John Se- vier, Charles Robertson, Joseph Martin and Valentine Sevier, junior, Esqrs., be appointed justices of the peace.
"That John Sevier be recommended as Colonel, John Donelson, Lieut. Colonel, and Valentine Sevier, junior, Major. John Donelson, Esq., was appointed Surveyor, and Joseph Martin, Esq., recommended as Agent and Superintendent of Indian Affairs. The Entry-taker is requested to attend and receive entries for claims of land, on the fifteenth day of March next, at or near the mouth of Elk River.
"The Board adjourned to the 15th March next, and then to meet at the mouth of Elk River. STEPHEN HEARD, Chairman."
It is not known that the Board ever assembled at the mouth of Elk. It is scarcely probable that they did as the military expedition which accompanied them, descended the Tennessee River no further than the point where it was in- tersected by the state line. The appearances of the Indians were so hostile, the Commissioners remained but a few days, and then withdrew.
A further meeting of the Board took place 29th July, 1785, when it was
"Resolved, That the application be made to the Governor and Council by William Downs and Thomas Napier, Esquires, Commissioners, or either of them, for their direction and approbation, to have ten tracts of land, containing ten thousand acres each, to be laid out in the bend of Tennessee, for public use."
The Board met at Washington, July the 24th, 1787, and
" Took into consideration the state of the business, agreeable to a former resolution of the General Assembly, and having certain accounts from the State of Franklin, and the settlements of the Cumberland and Ken- tucky, that a number of people from the aforesaid settlements are about to go into the District of Tennessee, to make settlements thereon.
"Resolved, With leave of the Executive Council, that the business of surveying in said district, be immediately put into execution, agreeable to a Resolve of the Assembly, of February, 1784."
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878
LAW OF THE STATE OF FRANKLIN.
At the ensuing session of the Legislature of Franklin, the necessary provision was made to raise a force of mounted riflemen, sufficient to succour Georgia and subdue the Creek Indians. We copy the act of the Franklin Assembly frou the original manuscript in the possession of this writer.
WHEREAS, it appears to this House, from a letter of the 27th d August, 1786, to his Excellency, Governor Sevier, from his Honour, the Governor, Edward Telfair, of the State of Georgia, with certain informa- tion that the Creek Indians had declared war against the white people, and had committed several murders on their frontier of late ; 'and thet in consequence of which, he had sent a Peace Talk to the nation of la- dians, and that from the best accounts he could get, they intended to make vigorous assaults on the white people, as soon as they had gathered their corn ; and that the said state intends to carry on a vigo- rous campaign against said Indians, if they do not treat with said state, and were to march by the first of November next: and also by a letter from Colonel Joseph Martin, dated the first of October, instant, with cer- tain accounts that the Creek Indians were laying in a large quantity of powder, for the purpose of carrying on the war, which was furnished by the Spaniards; and that they had spies in all the Cherokee towns, and on our frontiers, and were making every preparation for war ; and haw had also information from the Cherokee Indians, that the Creeks intended attacking our frontier, and were making outrageous threats against m daily. And whereas, it is the indispensable duty of the inhabitants of this state to guard against all dangers, and the Confederation directs and empowers each state to defend itself against any enemy.
Be it therefore Resolved by this General Assembly, That each county in this state, raise one-fourth of the militia of each county, who are here- by required to hold themselves in readiness, to march on horse to the frontiers of this state, at the shortest notice, to defend their own state, in case there should be any attacks made on it by any enemy, or nation of Indians, when attacked by the State of Georgia, and that every six men furnish themselves with one pack-horse, and twenty days' provision each man.
2. And be it further Resolved, That there be officers appointed to command such men so raised, and that they all go as militia men, and to be paid as such, and all plunder taken in action from the enemy, shall be free plunder to the captors.
3. That the light horse regiment of this state be immediately equipped, and made ready to march with the above draft.
4. And be it further Resolved, That the Governor and Council hold a friendly correspondence with his Honour, the Governor of Georgia; and that they communicate to him our intentions, and that the men so raised, and holding themselves ip readiness, march at their direc- tion, on the shortest notice, to the protection of our frontiers.
And it is Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be directed to hold the militia of this state in immediate readiness to march to the aid of the frontier, on the shortest notice.
879
PROMULGATION OF THE FRANKLIN LAWS.
Resolved, That the Governor, by and with the advice of his Council, is hereby empowered to call the Assembly to any part of the state he thinks right, to direct the movements of the army, now ordered out, in case he should find it necessary to march them out of the state.
Attest- Jo. CONWAY, C. S. I. TAYLOR, C. C. HENR. CONWAY, S. C.
GILBERT CHRISTIAN, S. S.
October 13th, 1786.
As far as is now known, the manuscript from which the above is copied, is the only legislative enactment of the State of Franklin that has survived the ravages of time and accident. At that day, there was no printing press nearer than Richmond, Newbern or Charleston. The proceedings of Franklin were never printed, and for that reason it be- came necessary to revive a provision made under similar circumstances, many years before, in North-Carolina ; and that was, at the opening of the first session of the county courts, and at the first militia training or muster, after the rise of the General Assembly, an individual was appointed to read all recent enactments aloud in the hearing of the peo- ple, at the court-house or muster-grounds. Thirty years since, the late Col. F. A. Ramsey was often mentioned as " the man who read Sevier's laws to the militia of Franklin."
If further proof were wanting to show that the "Consti- tution of the State of Frankland" was never adopted or acted under, the above act furnishes that proof irrefragably. That Constitution, as has been seen, provides for a single house, while this act is signed by the Speaker of the Senate, and by the Speaker of the Cominons, and is also attested by the Clerk of the Senate, and by the Clerk of the Commons.
After intelligence had reached the authorities of Georgia that the people of Franklin, of Cumberland and of Kentucky, were intending to emigrate tothe Bend of Tennessee, another attempt was made to effect the settlement of Houston county. Gov. Sevier was written to on the subject. His reply is dated: Gov. SEVIER TO GOV. TELFAIR :
STATE OF FRANKLIN, Washington County, 14th of May, 1786. Sir :- Being appointed one of . the Commissioners of Tennessee District, I beg leave to inform your Honour that it appears impractica- ble to proceed on that business before the fall season.
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380
PROJECTED INVASION OF THE ORERES.
The people here are apprehensive of an Indian war. Hostilities an daily committed in the vicinities of Kentucky and Cumberland. Cet. Donelson, Christian, and several other persons, were lately wounded and are since dead.
The success of the Muscle Shoal enterprise, greatly depends on the number that will go down to that place. A small force will not be adequate to the risk and danger that is to be encountered, and the pe- ple here will not venture to so dangerous a place with a few.
Your Honour will be pleased to be further informed, and, through you, the different branches of your government, that no unfair adra- tage will be taken from this quarter; no surveying will be attemptel until a force sufficient can be had, and timely notice given to those who may intend to move down. The people in this quarter wish to po- ceed in the fall, but will wait your advice on this subject. Your Ho- our may rest assured that I shall, with pleasure, facilitate everything i my power that may tend to the welfare of this businees.
Gov. Telfair, replying to Sevier's letter of May 14, is- formed him, Aug. 27, 1786, that the Legislature of Georgia had postponed the consideration of the Tennessee Land District ; that the Creek Indians had been committing mur- ders and depredations on the frontier of Georgia ; that com- missioners had been appointed to negotiate terms of a peace, in failure of which, the state would, at once, carry on vigor. ous hostile operations against that tribe. It had been sug- gested, continued Gov. Telfair, that the State of Franklin intended to march a body of men against the Creeks. "I. flatter myself it will be greatly to the success of both armies to begin their movements at one and the same time, should it become necessary. The first of November I sng- gest as the time for marching. On this subject I have to solicit your immediate answer and determination." He also informs Gov. Sevier that Robert Dixon and Stephen Jett, Esquires, were appointed Commissioners on the part of Georgia, to confer with him on that subject.
Not long after the date of this letter, to wit, Aug. 26, 1786, Governor Houston, of Georgia, commissioned Governor Sevier, Brigadier-General for the District of Tennessee. This brigade was formed for the defence of Georgia, and for repelling any hostile invasion.
Governor Sevier was not unwilling to accept this evidence of the confidence and friendship of the Governor and people of Georgia. He was sensible of the opposition Franklin
381
EMBASSY OF MAJOR ELHOLM.
had encountered, and the growing discontent and difficulty yet to be encountered from some in the new state, and from the government of North-Carolina. His Cherokee neigh- bours, and their allies, the Creeks, were ready, at any mo- ment, to take advantage of the necessities of the infant government, and to involve it in a general war. He took the precaution, therefore, to assure himself of the good feel- ing and co-operation of the Georgians, and to identify that people with his own in the common cause of self-defence and self-protection. With many of their leading men he had become acquainted, in his several campaigns to the South, during the Revolutionary war. Some of them were at his side on King's Mountain, and other battle grounds of that struggle. Some of them, at its close, had followed him to the West, and adhered to his fortunes in every vicissitude. The countrymen of Clarke, and Pickens, and Matthews, all knew his gallantry and were his steadfast friends. Of these, no one appreciated Governor Sevier more highly than a foreigner, Cæsar Augustus George Elholm. He was a Frenchman or Polander, a member of Pulaski's Legion, and a German was with that brave leader at the siege of Savannah. A feat performed, in part, by him, once considered fabulous, but recently authenticated by I. K. Tefft, Esq., of Savannah, . is here given in the words of that learned antiquarian and accurate historian :
" While the allied army was engaged before Savannah, and while the siege was pending, Col. John White, of the Georgia line, conceived and executed an extraordinary enterprise.
" Captain French, with one hundred and eleven British regulars, had taken post on the Ogechee River, about twenty-five miles from Savannah. At the same place lay five British vessels, of which four Were armed, the largest mounting fourteen guns and the smallest four. Col. White having with him only Captain Caesar Augustus George holm, a sergeant and three men, on the night of the Ist of October, 779, approached the encampment of French, kindled many fires, Which were discernible at the British station, exhibiting from the man- Joar of arranging them the plan of a camp. To this stratagem he added another. He and his comrades, imitating the manner of the taff, rode with haste in various directions, giving orders in a loud voice. - French became satisfied that a large body of the enemy were upon him, od on being summoned by White he surrendered his detachment, the Crews of the five vessels, forty in number, and one hundred and thirty
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