Smoky Mountain Homeplace 2023.2

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2023 • SMOKY MOUNTAIN HOMEPLACE • 1

2023 Smoky Mountain Homeplace

Making news... making history

A Production Of

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2 • SMOKY MOUNTAIN HOMEPLACE • 2023

THE NEWS

Behind Our History HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

By Eddie Walker

The fall season has arrived and so has the time for The Newport Plain Talk’s annual “Smoky Mountain Homeplace.”

Beginning in 2015 as “A Place Called Home,” this special edition has always focused on the people, places, occurrences, stories and culture that have shaped Cocke County and the surrounding region. This edition has had such local themes as churches, schools, family stories, military, infrastructures, creativity, first responders and even moonshining.

This year our theme is “News Behind Our History.”

A bit of background about the title. In 1961, WBIR Channel 10 began producing a program entitled “History Behind the News” geared for junior high students. It aired at 9 a.m. once a week and was sponsored by the local Metropolitan Education Television Council and subsidized by participating agencies and school systems. Local schools were entering the age of technology! Remember, it had been less than 10 years since Knoxville had even had its own television station.

The commentator of this program was Dr. Ruth Stephens who had been a professor of history at the University of Tennessee from 1926 to 1960. In fact, she was the first woman to obtain a full professorship there. Because of her ability to coordinate history and current events, she was labeled as a “historian and international affairs analyst.” She was an oft-sought speaker for area civic groups, schools and commencement exercises. One year alone, in addition to her teaching duties, she gave 365 speeches.

Dr. Stephens was less than 5-feet tall, but only small in stature. A former student wrote, “Dr. Stephens was neither retiring nor reticent. She approached her subject with the full knowledge that she knew exactly what she was talking about. She had a good sense of humor and could laugh readily, but if she needed it, she had a voice that could cut through cold steel.”

Newport City School was part of METC, and during seventh and eighth grade, my class had the opportunity to watch Dr. Stephens’ programs. Sadly, I must admit, most of us failed to pay close attention to what she said.

Dealing with current events such as presidential decisions, congressional actions, the space program and American foreign relations, she told stories about past events and people and tied together the current and the past. I daresay that today some of those same students would welcome the chance to hear someone like Dr. Stephens annotate the news.

Back to “Smoky Mountain Homeplace,” the theme for this edition will be the reverse of the title of Dr. Stephens’ program. Where she sought to explain how past events related to current times, this edition is designed to show how past news created our local history. It will be based upon past news articles from newspapers across the United States.

Each section will be headed with an appropriate phrase from a song relative to the topic.

Newspapers have been a vital part of the fabric of our country. The Founding Fathers realized a free press was important if people were to remain free. The role of the newspaper to keep the people informed has not changed since the Boston News Leader hit the streets in 1704.

Newspapers are what historians call “primary sources.” They give immediate, first-hand, though possibly prejudicial, accounts from people who

Martha Walker representing the Clifton Club presented Superintendent L.W. Vinson with one of the first TVs for use at Newport Grammar School in 1961.

had direct contact with the events. A “secondary source” comes later and is based upon interpretations from the primary sources. A secondary source could be described as reporting on what “he said he saw/she said she saw” whereas a primary source is “I saw.”

Family lore might have it that grandpa single-handedly captured four robbers who were breaking into his store, where the newspaper account of the event reported that it was a lone thief that was nabbed.

Newspapers have been very important to this country. While reporting the news, they were also platforms for various political parties

news has been available for local folks.

Historically speaking, the problem is that copies of many of the earliest local newspapers no longer exist. The early editors themselves probably realized the importance of maintaining a “morgue,” but somewhere along the way, successors or circumstances differed. In 1911, The Newport Plain Talk plant was destroyed by fire, so the only existent editions prior to that were ones personally saved by the Anderson family at their home. With the exception of the sporadic editions from 1938-1943, local newspaper files are complete back to 1923.

However, other newspaper morgues

Dr. Ruth Stephens

Dr. Tre Berney

and factions, and as such, significant swayers of opinion. They also put a human angle on current events.

Knoxville TV personality Walter Lambert recalled his great-grandfather reading to him aloud from the Knoxville Journal with the certainty that it, the Bible and the Discipline of the Methodist Church alone contained any truths necessary for mankind.

That shows the power of a newspaper!

Since 1878, with only a couple of brief interruptions, Cocke County has had a local newspaper. Since July 1, 1900, there has always been The Newport Plain Talk. At times there were several newspapers publishing simultaneously and proclaiming opposite opinions. Starting as weeklies, sometimes bi-weekly, tri-weekly and even daily (except weekends), local

are more complete, and in the early days before wire services, teletype and computers, newspaper editors subscribed to various newspapers and all of them practiced the system of “cut and copy” for items they felt their specific readers would find informative or interesting. This has been a godsend for our local history, as these other papers published then-current news from Cocke County that otherwise could have been lost.

Microfilming and then more recent digitalization have made older newspapers more accessible to researchers. The actual process of microfilm originated in 1839 with the daguerreotype, but it wasn’t until the 1920s when it was put to commercial use for storing bank records. With the development of the 35mm camera in

the 1930s, preservation of newspapers on microfilm began. Microfilming was also used for overseas mail during World War ll; this was called V-mail.

The storage of printed newspapers takes space, and while it is good to have back issues readily available, the reference use actually is relatively low.

Microfilming solves the problem of storage space, as well as making access quicker and easier for the users. In the 1980s business and governmental agencies began using microfilming for records preservation.

The computer age brought the digitalization process which converts the images from analog form into digital images. The analog form would be the actual paper copy or the microfilm. This uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software which uses pattern matching algorithms to convert images of a text into a machine-readable format. (Disclaimer: This was from research. I do not pretend to totally understand it!)

Digitalized records can be indexed which makes research so much easier.

However, digitalizing old newspapers is not always easy as the printing can be difficult to read, which introduces errors. For instance, due to condition of the printed copy, the “C” in Cocke might have been read by the digital scanner as “L” and thus indexed as “Locke.” There are some free digitalized newspaper sites online and some subscription sites, both current and old.

Speaking of digitalization, kudos go to Dr. Tre Berney, a native of Parrottsville and graduate of Cocke County High School. He is the director of Digitalization and Conservation of Rare and Distinctive Collections at Cornell University Library, Ithaca, New York. He oversees and coordinates the preservation and access programs to prioritize and position the library’s digital collections for future scholarship and humanities programs. Preservation of newspapers is included in this operation.

On the following pages will be local news and vignettes from the past which have been taken from digitalized files of newspapers across the country. They have been grouped into various categories relative to the people and culture here. So, readers enjoy!

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WHAT THE

LAND PROVIDES

…for amber waves of grain…

- KATHARINE LEE BATES

By Eddie Walker

Tennessee was first an agrarian state with its economy primarily based on agriculture with most of its citizens as farmers. The land provided all that was needed to survive, with some extra to use for commercial purposes.

Cocke County has always been a good farming area. It is well-drained by three rivers and numerous smaller streams, has a temperate climate and adequate water sources and its soil is mainly loam and clay. With these resources as a start, the first settlers cleared the land, plowed the fields and planted the crops with the faith that Mother Nature would bring a bountiful harvest. Some years were better than others, but the farmers have always held to the prospect that the next year will be better.

Besides gardens, the first crops were hay, corn, wheat, rye and oats with potatoes, tobacco and soybeans coming later.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Jonesborough [TN] Whig and Independent Journal, Sept. 7, 1842: Wonderful turn out! George

Threshing wheat on the Ottinger farm.

Parrott near Parrottsville in Cocke County raised potatoes this season in a small patch at the average rate upon calculation of 727 bushels to the acre …

Loudon [TN] Free Press, Feb. 28, 1854: The river began to rise on

Sunday … The steamers are making regular trips … We have noticed the arrival of but one Flatboat from Cocke County containing 190 sacks of flour belonging to Seth Lee …

Charleston [SC] Daily Courier, Sept. 9, 1854: Parrottsville, Cocke

Co., Tenn. Sept. 1, 1854: Messrs.

Editors – In compliance with your request of the 26th ult. I will give you what information I am in possession of, though it is limited from the fact that I am not very extremely acquainted with the farming operations of this section. Corn will not be quite as good as common but will be as cheap … Wheat is not very good, but there is enough to do and some to spare; it is dull at 75 cents per bushel, but some farmers are holding in anticipation of higher prices … J.B. Doughty

Wilmington [NC] Daily Dispatch, Nov. 23, 1866: Mr.

Napier, cousin of Lord Napier has just bought a large plantation known as the Smith farm near Newport in Cocke County in East Tennessee for $25,000 cash in gold. He intends prosecuting agriculture on an extensive scale …

Memphis Daily Avalanche, June 18, 1868: “East Tennessee”

… Corn crops, generally, are very backward, owing to the great quantity of rain during the months of April and May. Some farmers have just finished planting. Wheat, in some counties, is very good. Cocke County will yield an abundant crop; the prospect is more flattering than has been for several years. In the fruit crop there is but little anticipated; some apples in the mountains and hills but scarcely any peaches. The peach trees were severely injured by the extreme cold weather…

Knoxville Weekly Chronicle, July 19, 1871: Unless you have

traveled from Leadvale on the French Broad River to Big Creek in Cocke County, you can form no idea of what a beautiful country it is … the bottom lands on the French Broad and Pigeon rivers cannot be excelled by any lands in the world. That is a bold assertion but true. The yield of corn is fabulous, while wheat and oats are produced in the largest quantities. Where corn is

Spreading lime.

the great staple, hogs are sure to be in demand. The two are inseparable…

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Aug. 4, 1871: From Big Pigeon, Cocke

County, we learn wheat is a good crop in comparison with other places. Oats are poor. Corn was looking well until last week. Some of the citizens are selling out to go West. Farmers are selling their wheat rapidly at $1.25 per bushel. Bacon and old corn are dull.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, October 17, 1871: Cocke County

News … Rain on yesterday. Farmers will again resume their seeding and also gathering their corn. Corn is selling slowly at 40 cents per bushel.

The southern portion of Cocke County has fine corn. The northern portion, not half a crop raised. Fine mast of chestnuts …

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, March 25, 1873: Perhaps there is no

county in East Tennessee containing a larger quantity of superior land than in Cocke County. We don’t mean to affirm that there is no poor, rough or mountainous land in the county …

The southern portion, where it touches the range of mountains, alluded to, is quite rough and not valuable scarcely for any purpose. To be sure it might be used for cultivation of fruit and the

raising of sheep … There is likewise some flat lands elsewhere in the county too thin for successful and profitable farming; yet by judicious management might be made available in some form or other. There is much an area of tillable lands in the county that there is no disposition to occupy these lands

on the part of the more enterprising farmers. At present they are managed by men of small means who are content with small earnings.

Morristown Gazette, June 28, See GRAIN | 4

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From GRAIN | 3 1876: Newport, Tenn. June 23, 1876. Dear Editor: I raised last year on 150 square feet of land 4,025 pounds of well-cured hay, and this year 4,440 pounds on the same land, and there was not a pound of anything in it except the hay. It was orchard, timothy, blue grass and clover, mostly timothy.

The orchard grass was from 4 ½ to 5 ½ feet high; the timothy from 4 to 4 ½ feet and the clover from 4 to 4 ½ feet.

If Hamblen can beat this, I want to hear from her. John M. Jones

Charlotte [NC] Democrat, Nov. 15, 1878: Asheville Pioneer. R.B.

Justice and S.P. May of this place have just completed a survey of 71,000 acres in the counties of Madison and Haywood in NC and Cocke County, Tenn. owned by A. Cushing, Esq. who designs introducing a colony from Switzerland. It is represented as being well-adapted to stock raising, for vineyards, fruit culture and honey.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Nov. 14, 1879: According to the Newport

Sentinel, Mr. R.W. Michaux has purchased in that county this season up to the present time 14000 bushels of wheat for the Morristown mills.

Morristown Gazette, Nov. 12, 1879: Newport Reporter. L.L. Fancher of this county brought a beet into town yesterday weighing 10 lbs. and 2 oz. and 24 inches around.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, May 7, 1880: Cocke County Farmers

Convention. A meeting of the farmers of Cocke County was held last Monday, with Col. Wm Jack as chairman and A.J. Thomas, editor of the Newport Sentinel, secretary.

The following list of delegates to the East Tennessee Farmers Convention, which meets in Knoxville, the 11th instant, was selected: 1st district: Rev. J.M.L. Burnett, J.J. Burnett and Charles Stokely; 2nd – Jos. Huff; 3rd – Jas. LaRue, Dr. B.F. Bell, David Susong; 4th - B.W. Talley, Thos. Inman; 5th – J.A. Rorex, Thos. Rorex, Thos. Moore; 6th – Maj. Smith, Col. Langhorne, J.C. Morell, G.I. Thomas; 7th – J.B. Stokely, G.W. Susong, Col. Jack, J.H. Robinson;

8th – W.H. Sheffey, Will Wood, R.A. McNabb; 9th – David Stokely, Wm. Garrell; 10th – Isaac Allen, Mark Lillard; 11th – W.F. Morris, J.C. Murray, Jehu Stokely; 12th – Jos. Campbell, Anderson McMahan, W.B. Harrison; 13th – Reuben Black, Jos. Greene.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, May 12, 1881: East Tennessee Farmer’s

Convention reassembled at Staub’s Opera House yesterday morning …

Rev. J.M.L. Burnett of Cocke County begged permission to warn the farmers against Burmida [sic] grass, which had been advocated. He spoke from experience with it in the far South and admonished them not to touch it.

Knoxville Daily Tribune, July 30, 1882: A citizen one mile north

of Parrottsville, has a cabbage in his garden, of the Flat Dutch variety, four feet and a half in diameter. Newport Sentinel.

Feeding the chickens.

Greeneville Herald, Nov. 15, 1883: Newport Sentinel. Col. J.B.

Stokely had on exhibition at Hale, Burnett and Co.’s establishment Tuesday a sweet potato so large it could not be put into a half bushel. It is a white Texas variety, raised by Col. Stokely’s father, and the largest sweet potato that has been seen in this town.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Sept.

23, 1885: Newport Star Journal.

Our friend Johnny Thomas brought us Monday a fine turnip of six week’s growth and measuring around 10 ¼ inches, grown in Mr. Abe Odell’s patch in Oldtown … It was nice and sweet and Mr. Thomas informed us the seed came from Scotland.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Sept.

29, 1885: Newport Star Journal. Mr. L.W. Hampton of Dutch Bottoms comes to the front with a corn stalk eight inches round. Who can beat it?

Morristown Gazette, Nov. 25, 1885: The tobacco sale at Big Creek

[Del Rio], Cocke County, beginning on Monday last week and continuing several days, is represented as a fair success. Tobacco was on sale from Hamblen, Greene, Sevier and Cocke counties, Tennessee and from different

Two apple pickers are shown tending to the late apple harvest at Carver’s Orchard in Cosby

counties in North Carolina. Buyers were in attendance from Virginia and North Carolina and the process averaged, it is said, rather higher than the other markets for the same grade of tobacco. The highest reached 54 cents per pound, but the average was about 10 to 12.

Memphis Commercial, June 29, 1893: …Wheat is fair, but in

Cocke County it has been considerably damaged by joint worms, which

penetrate the second and joint and extract the sap.

Baptist and Reflector [Nashville], June 30, 1898: I have

the following from eye witnesses: On last Lord’s Day, the “big farmers” of Cocke County, “up and down” French Broad Valley kept their reaping machines busy all day cutting wheat.

An eye witness tells me he counted more than a score of reapers at work on the Sabbath Day …

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6 • SMOKY MOUNTAIN HOMEPLACE • 2023

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EARLY BUSINESS AND COMMERCE …gotta’ make that money… ALICE COOPER

By Eddie Walker

The lifeblood of any community is its business and commerce. This is the process through which goods and services are interchanged with the goals of financial gain or personal satisfaction. Money is the usual medium of exchange, yet in earlier times the barter system was used.

While it is not practiced now, some older citizens may recall when produce was used as payment for goods from a store.

One of Cocke County’s first businessmen was possibly Maj. Peter Fine, who operated a ferry and had a store. A descendant still has the daybook, or ledger, showing various purchases that were made.

The necessity of certain vocations may change, but there will always be a need for venues of business and commerce.

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Raleigh [NC] Star, March 20, 1818: NOTICE. The subscriber has

purchased of Charles Lewen, Esq., that well known TAVERN stand in Newport where he intends keeping a House of public and private ENTERTAINMENT for the accommodation of such as many favour him with their company.

His stables are large and convenient and well supplied with forage; his hostlers attentive and under his own eye; his cellar well stored the best liquors both foreign and domestic; also a choice assortment of groceries for table use; his house servants faithful and attentive, and he assures the public his object will be comfort and satisfaction of his guests. Ladies and Gentlemen visiting the Warm Springs during the summer and fall months, will find Newport an agreeable retreat during their continuance in the neighborhood. Gentlemen also accommodated with some of the best

Merchants and Planters Bank.

newspapers from different parts of the U. States.

W.C. Roadman, Newport [Tennessee], February 17, 1818

Knoxville Register, Nov. 10, 1830: The subscriber has undertaken

to convey the mail in stages from Newport in the county of Cocke, by Sevierville in the county of Sevier, to Maryville in Blount County, Tennessee, and has now in full operation a first rate FOUR HORSE STAGE, fitted up in elegant style for the accommodation of passengers. – Every exertion will be made to render passengers comfortable. The STAGE leaves Newport every Monday morning,

immediately after the arrival of the North Carolina stages, and arrives in Maryville every Tuesday morning, where it intersects the line of stages from Knoxville, Tenn. to Huntsville, Alabama; returns to Maryville the same day of arrival and arrives at Newport on Wednesday evening; meeting the stage from Knoxville, Tenn. to North Carolina. CARY A. JONES

Daily National Intelligence [Washington, DC], May 27, 1831:

… It is believed that our river, the French Broad, can be made navigable to Newport – a village upon its banks, less than 100 miles from the Saluda Gap. Steamboats may not ascend so

high but at that point may be reached by keels. Should your company, therefore, continue to Saluda Gap, that point [Newport] will become a depot for the supply of the western country and will be within a hundred miles of a navigable branch of the Tennessee River …

Knoxville Register, April 9, 1834:

NOTICE. I have the patent rights for Greene, Cocke, Sevier, Jefferson and Washington counties for the TIN BAKERS, which will answer for bread and fowls. Those wishing to prove their utility, can call and get one and try. “There is no better way of proving

See MONEY | 9

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From MONEY | 6 the pudding than chewing the bag.” …

ALSTON BOYD

Cheraw [SC] Gazette, March 7, 1837: We have been furnished

with several pieces of silk grown and manufactured by Miss Easterly of Cocke County in this State. This young lady merits no small share of applause for ingenuity, perseverance and industry in furnishing to the country demonstrative proof of the superior adaptation of East Tennessee to the silk culture … The specimens of silk left with us are, we believe, the produce of the wild mulberry, reeled, spun and woven by Miss Easterly on the implements of common use for cloth of other materials…from Tennessee Farmer

Knoxville Register, Sept. 18, 1839: WAGONS WANTED. We wish

to employ a number of Wagons to haul salt from KING’S WORKS [Saltville, VA] for which we will give sixty cents CASH per bushel, or sixty pounds SALT, at the works for every bushel delivered. We will also sell orders to persons residing west of Hawkins, Greene and Cocke counties … The river has continued so low during the past season, that Salt will necessarily be scarce in this country … BEARDEN AND WHITE

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, March 19, 1872: FOR SALE. Farm

and residence. Price $7,500. About 250 acres of land, one half of which is in cultivation, situated near Newport, in Cocke County, a station on the CCGC Railroad and on Pigeon River. The soil is red mulatto and river bottom and will produce well. There is a fine two-story brick residence containing six rooms on the place and comfortable and convenient outbuildings. This place is so near the station that enough town lots could be sold in a short time to pay for it and have a good farm left. The bottom lands of Pigeon River are as fine as any … [Alexander Smith farm which stretched from City Park area to Clifton Heights]

Morristown Gazette, Dec. 30, 1874: We received last week a most

excellent sack of flour from Messrs.

McMahan & Russell of Newport, Tenn.

We learn that their flour always brings the highest price in the market.

Morristown Gazette, Aug. 11, 1880: From Newport Reporter. We

are pleased to announce the arrival of Mrs. M.J. Leach of Morristown. She has rented the Denton property and being a first-class dressmaker and milliner intends on making Newport her home …

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Nov. 13, 1880: Newport Sentinel. Mr. T.

A. Eckel representing the commission house of Julius Mayer, Knoxville, has

Hill and Connelly Tin Shop.

been in town the past week and has purchased 176,000 pounds of dried apples from our county merchants.

July 10, 1889: At Newport, Tenn.

Atlanta Weekly Constitution, March 29, 1881: The walnut log and

the business houses and citizens were troubled with petty thieves and other lawless acts. The citizens therefore met and organized a protection society and now they are bringing these fellows who have light fingers to justice.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, April 1, 1881: There are thirty-two

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, Jan. 7, 1891: Newport

lumber business in the neighborhood of Newport. Tennessee is very active.

mercantile establishments in Cocke County …

Knoxville Daily Tribune, April 29, 1883: From Eastern Sentinel …

The foundation is being put down for Clark and Robinson’s new hardware house. It is to be a substantial two-story brick building, eighty by twenty-two feet. Mr. [C.S.] Kennedy, the contractor, designs employing sufficient force to complete the work in a few weeks.

Morristown Gazette, June 20, 1883: Newport Sentinel … Both

Bank consolidated with Merchants & Planters Bank. The business will be carried on under the name of Merchants and Planters Bank in the building of the Newport Bank.

Semi-Weekly Interior Journal [Stanford, KY], Feb. 26, 1892: Newport, Tenn. was shaken up by a charge of dynamite placed under a saloon by the temperance people, who had warned the proprietor [J.M. Swann] not to open …

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, through trains stop here for dinner, and Aug. 14, 1892: Notes from Newport

Tribune, May 25, 1894: Mr. W.V.

Fine is developing a new industry in Newport – that of raising opossums. He now has on exhibition in his store an old opossum with her nine young ones.

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, March 11, 1895: Newport, Tenn

… The Unaka Tannery owned by England & Bryant of Philadelphia … is doing a heavy business and scattering a great deal of money through the neighborhood. They turn out about 90 hides per day and employ 35 skilled workmen. During the spring season they will buy about $200,000 worth of tan bark.

Maryville [TN] Times, Oct. 3, 1895: George C. Duncan of this county and Fred Greer of Loudon … have bought a hardware store at Newport and will take charge about the middle of October.

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, Dec. 7, 1895: Messrs. Alf Swann,

the morning train for breakfast. The Mims House receives this patronage and has made splendid arrangements for its accommodation …The culinary department is presided over by the vigilance of the amiable hostess, Mrs. D.A. Mims, and the tables supplied with all luxuries that the market and garden afford…Mr. and Mrs. Mims are born caterers … The Mims House will become as justly famous on this line …

… Our worthy citizens are beginning to open their eyes to the disgraceful scenes enacted on occasion, money and liquor poured like rain and some prominent men in the church abetted the unsavory business…

The Comet [Johnson City], April 5, 1889: Saturday the National

COCKE COUNTY .......and remember...

Garment Cutter School held a graduating class session … About six weeks since this admirable system was introduced here and now schools at Newport, Parrottsville, Driskill, Rankins, Wilton Springs, Sweetwater [Edwina], with fine prospects for one at Del Rio … Newport Citizen

The Maryville [TN] Times,

Jonesborough [TN] Herald and

Hugh Taylor and J.A. Susong under the firm name Newport Packing Company commenced killing hogs last Tuesday.

The firm will kill between 500 and 1,000 hogs, using the tobacco house as a storeroom for their meat. Newport News

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EDUCATION MATTERS …School days,

school days, dear old golden rule days… WILL D. COBB

By Eddie Walker

Learning starts shortly after birth as individuals begin adjusting to their environment. Learning can be a lifelong process. Education begins a bit later with the introduction of the alphabet and the numerals and all of their functions. This has usually been accomplished in the school setting being overseen by a teacher.

First it was the Church that undertook the responsibility of educating the children and young people. Later that was assumed by governmental agencies. Public education really didn’t come to Tennessee until after the passage of an act in 1806 which specified that a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of public lands was designated for education.

This was how Anderson Academy, Cocke County’s first public school, evolved. It was hoped there could be a school every 36 square miles. However, it was not until after the Civil War that public education became a priority.

citizens of Cocke County praying for the establishment of a common school system.

Morristown Gazette, June 17, 1874: … yesterday, the Newport School closed. The principal part of the day was taken up examining the different classes – which spoke well of the progress and proficiency of the pupils and the thorough competency and efficiency of Professor W.R. Manard. At night the young gentlemen delivered declamations and the young ladies read compositions. The school spectators were addressed by John B. Stokely …

This school has been conducted for the past four years by Professor Manard …

National Union and American [Nashville], Sept. 8, 1874: Newport, in Cocke County, will soon have a new and commodious Masonic Hall and schoolhouse.

Morristown Gazette, June 30, 1875: The

Masonic Lodge at Clifton, Cocke County, assisted by the lodges from adjoining counties, celebrated St. John’s Day by dedicating their new and capacious Hall Newport educators James H. and M .Green Walker. … This stands just in rear of the central portion HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH of town, upon a lofty eminence, Knoxville Register, July 27, 1831: commanding a full view of the village and some distance up and down The trustees of Anderson Academy, the Pigeon river. It is a fit place for Cocke County, wish to employ a such a building … it is sixty by forty competent teacher to take charge of feet and two stories high; the lower the said academy. Terms will be made known on application to John Stuart or story a school room and the upper the Masonic Hall … We have in the Wm. C. Roadman. same connection a spacious Hall for The National Union [Nashville], school purposes almost completed and Jan. 31, 1848: Tennessee Legislature suitable to the educational wants of this … A bill to section … It authorize is due to the the trustees ladies of the of Anderson community Academy in to say that Cocke County they gave us to remove the seats for the academy the school to Newport. room … We [It was first now have a located one building of mile west of which any the town.] community might be Knoxville proud. It Weekly cost us Masonic Hall, Newport’s first school building, erected 1874.

Chronicle, some $3,600 … Hitherto July 19, 1871: our school has been taught in the LETTER FROM FRENCH BROAD Presbyterian Church…

VALLEY … One thing I think this great country is deficient in, and that Morristown Gazette, Sept. 26, is in educational facilities. I do not 1877: We are pleased to learn that Prof. think she is paying sufficient attention George T. Russell, Principal of Newport to the matter. I know she is not. While Masonic Academy, Newport, Tenn. is she is advancing in material wealth, meeting flattering encouragement in she should not ignore the education the progress of his school. At this time of her children. Wealth should not be put above intelligence … I am first, last he has enrolled sixty-four scholars with prospects of a larger increase. Prof. R. and all the time in favor of diffusing is a practical and thorough educator, the benefits of a liberal education … a disciplinarian of ability and energy, Children may grow up wealthy … but having made the art of teaching a what is their wealth worth to them if special study … they are stupid and uneducated? The time is now when ignorant wealth Morristown Gazette, Nov. 14, cannot “pass muster” as it used to 1877: We were pleased to see on our do. There is now a more rigid test of streets … the genial countenance of our manhood, and woe be the young men young Christian friend, Mr. George R. and women who cannot pass this test.

Stuart … now one of the principals of

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Dec. 4, 1872: All that Cocke County

wants is to make it the garden spot of the earth is a liberal system of public education and a better system of public roads. This would bring double the present population within her borders within a very few years.

Nashville Union and American, Jan. 15, 1873: Tennessee Legislature, January 14, House of Representatives … Mr. [Alexander] Regon [sic] presented a petition from a number of

the High School at Parrottsville, Tenn.

His school is one of the largest in this section, numbering upwards of 150 scholars.

Morristown Gazette, Oct. 23, 1878: … I came down the railroad

to Bridgeport and took the dirt road leading to W.F. Morris’… which is situated directly on French Broad River, nearly three miles from Old Newport.

Near his house, I found a brand new framed school-house 24x40 feet, well built and conveniently arranged. It

Students at the Wilton Springs School.

was the work of mine host, James C. Murray, Thomas Odell and others. It is a public school house, and John Clark is teaching school in it. It goes by the name of Rock Hill Academy.

Knoxville Chronicle, May 6, 1881: The first normal school of Cocke County will open June 20th under the supervision of Rev. D.F. Smith and Mr. Lucian Smith, as we learn from the Newport Sentinel. [A normal school was for teacher training.]

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, July 29, 1881: The Board of Trustees of

New Port High School, composed of the following gentlemen: Maj. William McSween, Chairman, J.M. Hale, J.B. Stokely, W.R. Smith and Dr. O.M. Lewis, convened at this place Sat. the 23rd and re-elected Rev. D.F. Smith, Principal, and Miss Mollie Morris of Rankin’s, assistant, to take charge and conduct the school for the ensuing year.

Rugby [TN] Gazette and East Tennessee News, April 14, 1883: Cocke County spends every year $25,000 for whiskey and $4,000 for education.

Morristown Gazette, Aug. 26, 1885: The new school building on

the hill near B.D. Jones’ woodlands is 20x40, one story structure and nearly completed. Newport Star Journal.

[Newport’s first black school]

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, May 14, 1887: The Newport High

School and [N.E.W.] Stokely’s select school are making all things ready for interesting commencement exercises.

The schools are both well attended, and it speaks well of Newport. We formerly had but one school and it was anything but a preposterous condition. After the organization of the second one, both schools, through emulation of each other, improved rapidly …

teachers, 102 students.

Knoxville Daily Journal and Tribune, Feb. 24, 1895: Newport

… there is one thing it lacketh. There is probably not another town of its size and enterprise and wealth in the United States which is supplied with school accommodations so utterly inadequate to its people. The teachers are there – the Walker brothers are competent and faithful. The students are there – plenty of them: bright-eyed and neatly dressed and well-behaved. But the miserable old hulk which serves as a school building where 350 pupils are packed together like sardines is a reflection upon the enterprise of the town …

Let Newport invest twelve or fifteen thousand dollars in a good school building and from the mountains and ridges around will come two hundred boarding pupils who will spend their money in town. Even with such accommodations as are now offered, more than fifty boarding pupils have been enrolled in the present session …

Knoxville Daily Journal and Tribune, July 24, 1895: The best

stroke of business policy yet adopted for Newport was the bonding of the town for $8,000 to be used in erecting a handsome school building which is to be done at once using the modern architecture for the building and improved interior furniture …

Knoxville Daily Journal and Tribune, Feb. 16, 1896: R.P. Driskill,

principal of the Parrottsville school, was in town today. Prof. Driskill graduated from Emory and Henry College in the class of 1886 and is as genial a good fellow and one of the best educators of the state.

Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga Republican, March Oct. 17, 1898: Newport: the public 27, 1891: Newport, Tennessee … A schools will open Nov. 3rd as it is public school is open ten months in the year and a private school for girls gives the community the reputation of already being an educational center …

Southwestern Christian Advocate [New Orleans], July 23, 1891: Educational work by the

Methodist Episcopal Church among the people in the South … Parrottsville Academy, Parrottsville, Tennessee: 4

hoped the new building will be ready by that time.

Knoxville Sentinel, October 26, 1899: The Newport Graded School has recently had a new bell placed in it, which is much appreciated by those attending this school. It weighs over 500 pounds and has a clear tone. [The bell is displayed at the school.]

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IT DEPENDS ON YOUR VIEW ...Do you see what I see?... NOEL REGNEY

By Eddie Walker

As a resident, have you ever wondered about or maybe you have heard how strangers have viewed your hometown? They, of course, have looked at it differently than do those who have been there for a time and have seen it day after day. A stranger knows nothing of its beginnings, its history or its people. Any place has its positives and negatives, yet the panorama of a community reveals none of those. The stranger only knows what he sees.

The travel routes, primitive though they have been at times, have brought wayfarers through Cocke County – presidents, soldiers, preachers, salesmen, hobos, migrants - and occasionally the opinions of what they have seen have been shared. What they wrote was both good and bad, but it is how it appeared to them. Read on to learn some of their observations.

Knoxville Weekly Chronicle, July 19, 1871: LETTER FROM

FRENCH BROAD VALLEY … Clifton should be the county seat of Cocke, and why she was not is one of the intricate questions I can’t solve … She had a hard struggle for it but failed. Newport won the day. I shall not essay to describe Newport. It needs none. It has gone to seed long ago. The moles, bats, owls and vermin have driven out the population and now have possession of the village once made pleasant by the Roadmans, the Pulliams, the Smiths, the McSwains [McSween], and some others. Judge Randolph is almost a solitary occupant

[woods]. In one of these shrubs is show, concealed by the foliage, the place where the family hid Dr. Bell’s home in Parrottsville. their little store of silver from the Morristown Gazette, Aug. 6, “jayhawkers” during the war. We were 1879: We made an early drive for ravenously hungry, when at noon we Parrottsville, and on our way passed were called to a dinner in keeping over the Natural Bridge, in Cocke with the house – plain, palatable and County. We found it worthy of notice, plentiful … At two o’clock the stage rattled to the door and we started off in for its natural beauty … The shape of grand style with the children inside and this wonderful bridge is in the shape the “grown folks” on top. I confess I left of a baker’s oven, and is some fifty feet wide, thirty-five feet high and twenty Wolf Creek with a tiny pang of regret. long. We rested and refreshed ourselves in Parrottsville, a small but pretty little town…

Nashville Daily American, Sept. 14, 1880: … Newport, a county seat, is a place of considerable life and enterprise. A fine new bridge has been built across the river at this point. There are two hotels, with their rival “solicitors,” boarding the train, a number of stores and offices, two newspaper publishing establishments, and a general appearance of thrift and enterprise … No untenanted houses, a large number of new buildings and buildings in progress, indicating … an increasing population.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

May 1811: Information from the

diary of Dr. William McLean was published in the Charlotte Observer, July 8, 1934. McLean was traveling from Belmont, NC to inspect land in Middle Tennessee which he had received for his services as an American surgeon at the Battle of King’s Mountain. Ferrying the French Broad a mile and a quarter below Warm Springs … they stopped at Mr. Wall’s for breakfast. Nine miles further down they ferried the river at Fine’s Ferry, which is opposite Newport, the village of Cocke County. A mile from Newport on the Big Pigeon at Mr. [William] Garret’s place they found a cotton baling manufactory equipped with machinery … Of their stop at Garret’s place, Dr. McLean said he met with Col. Thomas Gray, an old mountaineer, who informed me that he was 70 years old, yet firm, active and full of vivacity. From thence piloted two miles by a Mr. [Samuel] Haskins whose name is tattooed on his arm. Five miles further on at Mr. McClanahan’s they forded the Big Pigeon which is about 150 feet wide …

Highland Messenger [Asheville, NC], October 7, 1842: Newport,

Tenn. Oct. 3. Mr. Roberts – If it be true, as often quoted that “distance lends enchantment to the view,” this village should always be seen from a distance.

Of the inhabitants, I say nothing – more than perhaps a kinder worthier people so far as I have had the opportunity to know would be hard to find; but the location and the general appearance of the village is, I believe, a little the worst I have ever seen … I have almost tortured my brain to find something to like, a probable reason that could have induced persons to locate some county sites [seats] where they are found.

Yesterday being the Sabbath, I rested here, and in the morning and afternoon attended church, where I saw a large, attentive and very orderly congregation …

The North Carolinian [Fayetteville], March 15, 1845: …

Cocke County, Tennessee, Jan. 12. I visited Newport yesterday. It is a small place of little note, but a few stores and a few citizens…

From the War of Rebellion, the following report, dated Jan. 5, 1864, was issued by the Office of US Provost Marshal General in Knoxville: Rev. Mr. Sneed, further questioned says he knows of no ford or ferry above Dandridge, until you get to Newport.

At that place there is a good ferry and ford, which is easily passed by a cavalry; a good bottom of small rocks; the banks are very good; it is as good a ford as he knows in the country; only one boat is there and that a large and good one.

Seven miles above Newport at Stephen Hough’s [Huff] there is another good ford. No ferry boat there. The road that crosses the ford intersects with the Warm Springs Road … the bottom of the ford equally as good as that of ford at Newport. The banks of the ford are graded. The road leading from Newport and Parrottsville in the direction of North Carolina is very good.

Raleigh [NC] News and Observer, Aug. 23, 1883: … At Downtown Newport looking east from McMahan Avenue.

of the place and his only neighbors are the freedmen. I understand they have to go about a mile to get something to eat … Clifton, about one mile and a half distant on the railroad, is a beautiful little town. It is handsomely located and is growing. There are a number of neat and well-built residences, and altogether it is a nice place. One thing that it can boast of is a well-kept hotel.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, July 22, 1871: Here is Gorman’s, alias

Clifton, alias Newport – now that the former Newport has become the “Old Port.” A thriving town a mile long and a hundred yards wide, is Clifton.

It is situated on the Big Pigeon River and will some day, not distant, be the county seat of Cocke County and then it will be a wealthy place, for Cocke has more ready money in it than any other county in East Tennessee … Dashing up the French Broad – “Bridgeport,” says the brakeman … nothing but a depot – yes there is a brand new iron bridge, worth $3,000. Who built it? Huff and Co … Seven miles to Big Creek, alias Shingleburg, which is a clump of houses in the midst of one of the most beautiful coves in all the mountains. Big Creek is full of Burnetts, Huffs and Stokelys … who ever saw as much white pine?...

Morristown Gazette, Sept. 18, 1878: At Rankin’s Depot a snug little

farm … is owned by Mr. [R.K.] Brown.

Dr. J. Rankin, who owns the adjoining farm, gave the name to the Depot.

J.H. Carson is the PM and he and Mr. Carry on the mercantile business. Near the Depot the Methodists have lately erected a very neat chapel … There are six good-sized windows to the house.

It is neatly painted and stands on an outstanding eminence…

Morristown Gazette, Dec. 10, 1873: Clifton, more nearly resembles a

New England or Western town than any place I know, in suddenness of growth and present appearances of thrift and in one wide street.

Galveston Daily News, July 12, 1877: At Wolf Creek was the dinner

station; there leaving the cars and bidding good-bye to the railroad for the summer, we crossed a rustic bridge … came to an old-fashioned country house. It looked so deliciously cool and clean, far removed from the dust and heat of travel … The house was low and broad with queer little windows blinking at us from the roof … At the back door was a garden, quaint and prim, with clean swept walks and fanciful beds ornamented with box

See VIEW | 15

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Morristown Gazette, Oct. 8, 1873: The beautiful and flourishing

town of Clifton, the county seat of Cocke County, is rapidly building up with substantial and attractive business houses. The amount of business transacted at this point is an evidence of the richness of the section, and the thrift of its merchants and farmers. All seemed buoyant and filled with visions of still greater importance to the outside world when their projected [rail] road is completed.

Newport, Tenn., the attraction of the mountains and streams lost in the distance … then the eyes rest upon the most beautiful farming country it has been my good fortune to see. This belt of country looks as fertile and verdant as a garden extends to Knoxville. The farms are in a high state of cultivation and laid off in squares and sections.

This is a fine stock raising section, the principal farm product being hay. If we did not have good authority, I should say here rested the Garden of Eden and

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Matthew Woody Owner

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Thank you again for trusting Owner Matthew Woody and Office Manager Lisa Coggins with your memorial needs. You will always receive friendly, helpful service.

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KEEPING UP APPEARANCES ...I’m workin’ on a building... BILL MONROE

By Eddie Walker

Civic improvements are those things that enhance the appearance of a community or improve the quality of life of the citizens. Such projects, usually public but sometimes private, often require changes within the community and often disrupt, albeit temporarily, its motions and movements. However, the end justifies the means. After the mess and disorder are over, the finished project will likely be good. When a customer complained about the inconvenience when the city was recently upgrading the sewer system, a businesswoman countered with its necessity, “You have to break the eggs to have an omelet!”

No doubt, many civic improvements have met with opposition at first, but many of the complainers have probably later enjoyed the results.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Knoxville Register, June 23, 1818: Carpenters and Bricklayers.

Proposals will be received until Tuesday the 14th of July next for the building of a Court House in New Port, Cocke County, of the following dimensions, to wit: - 42 feet long by 26 feet wide, 21 feet pitch, groundwork of stone – a more particular description of the building will be given at the time of the letting it out, which will be on the above named day. Part of the money will be paid in advance, and the balance in convenient payments.

Bond with approved security will be required of the undertaker for faithful performance of the work, and as speedy as practicable. Done by the order of the Commissioners. Wm C. Roadman, C’lk. Newport, June 23.

Knoxville Register, March 4, 1835: Notice to Bridge Builders. I

wish to build a BRIDGE near my ferry landing, on French Broad, at Newport, and invite proposals from such as are willing to undertake,

until 12th March next. The river is by accurate measurement 127 yards wide – good solid bottom, and timber very convenient. Commissioners are also appointed for the building of a Bridge across Pidgeon[sic] river and funds at command. WM. C. ROADMAN Newport, Tenn. Feb. 25, 1835.

Knoxville Post, Feb. 7, 1844:

First Session of the 25th General Assembly, up to January 19th: … An act to provide for viewing and laying off an alteration of the road leading from Newport in the county of Cocke, to Sevierville in the county of Sevier.

This act appoints A.E. Smith, John Gorman, Jr. and Wm. K. Lewis of the county of Cocke, Joseph Hill, James Webb and John Dickey of the county of Jefferson, J.P.H. Porter, John Walker, Lemuel Bogart, George Fox, and John Bird of the county of Sevier, Commissioners to mark and lay off alterations in said road …

Nashville Union and American, Feb. 22, 1854: Tennessee Legislature, Monday, Feb. 20 ….

The bill appropriating $5000 for improvement of French Broad River: Mr. [W.F.] Morris of Cocke County offered an amendment giving $6000 to improve the French Broad between Newport and Nolichucky; which was adopted.

Western Democrat [Charlotte, NC], Feb, 2, 1858: From the Asheville Spectator. French Broad Road – We learn that Cocke Co., Tenn.. has voted against subscribing $50,000 to the stock of the Railroad between this place and Morristown.

Notwithstanding this discouraging fact the Directors have had a meeting and resolved to go on and locate the road from Paint Rock to this place and place it under contract, it being their firm belief that the necessary $50,000 will eventually be subscribed by individuals …

The first brick sidewalk was laid in front of these buildings in 1889.

Nashville Union and American, Sept. 8, 1874: Newport in Cocke County will soon have a new Masonic Hall and schoolhouse.

Morristown Gazette, Dec. 29, 1875: COCKE COUNTY NEWS …

The ditching is commenced to drain off the water and sediment of our town, and plows, shovels, axes, etc. are being used in building pavements and sidewalks.

Morristown Gazette, June 13, 1877: Cocke County can now boast

of having the best iron cage in East Tennessee. I purchased said cage … by the order of our County Court. Said cage is 7x8, 6 ½ feet deep, openings two inches each way, bars two inches wide and half an inch thick, doors 18 inches by 30, with a first-class lock thereto. Said cage was put up in our jail for 578 … C.F. Boyer, She’ff

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, April 12, 1879: … We learn from Mr.

[Andrew] Thomas … that the work of building a new railroad bridge over Pigeon River, just above Newport, on the Buncombe [rail] road commenced Thursday under the supervision of Mr.

John Anderson. The old bridge gave way and the trains stopped coming several days since.

Morristown Gazette, May 10, 1882: The ET and VA Railroad was

finished to the North Carolina line last week. Maj. McCalla invited us residents to Wolf Creek to ride over his road and extend the trip to Warm Springs.

Plateau Gazette and East Tennessee News [Rugby, TN], April 17, 1884: A new iron bridge

is to be built across the French Broad River at Newport [Oldtown], Cocke County.

Morristown Gazette, April 15, 1885: The contract for the building

of a new courthouse at Newport, Cocke County, has been let to J.H. Randolph for $10,025. The work will be commenced at once and is said to be completed by January 1886.

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, June 6, 1888: Newport News:

Newport is … progressing gradually and steadily. The painting, repairing and building that is going on now on all sides will render our town more worthy of the reputation she has acquired of being the second prettiest town in East Tennessee – Cleveland first … Judge J.H. Randolph is making all things ready to tear away his old flouring mill and fill its place with a modern roller-process mill. The site now occupied by the large frame building of Jones Bros. & Co. will soon be occupied by an imposing brick business house facing Main Street.

Morristown Gazette, November 7, 1888: From Newport Citizen. The foundation for the bank building was put in last week and brick work was begun …

Newport Citizen, March 21, 1889: We neglected to note in our

last issue that a good brick pavement with some stone curbing had been put down in front of Dr. [W.G.] Snoddy’s drug store, Susong’s new brick store This 1909 postcard shows the railroad bridge in Eastport with the original highway bridge in the distance. That bridge preceded the present J.W. Fisher Bridge.

Thanks Again, Cocke County!

See APPEARANCES | 21

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2023 • SMOKY MOUNTAIN HOMEPLACE • 15

A READY SUPPLY …We will fight our country’s battles… USMC

By Eddie Walker

Cocke details the requirements … The major general of the first division has been ordered to have immediately in the field 2,500 of the militia of his division armed and equipped as the law directs … which detachment will be taken from the respective counties in the following proportions …

From the county of Carter 90; of Washington 220; of Greene 240; of Sullivan 180; of Hawkins 200; of Grainger 170; of Claiborne 120; of Jefferson 180; of Cocke 120; of Sevier 100 … The detachment from the counties of Carter, Washington, Greene and Cocke Brig. Gen. J.T. Shields resisted the conscription will rendezvous at the big bend act. of Nolachucky [sic] river in Jefferson County [south of the intersection of I-81 and Hwy. 160] … The commanding officers of the regiments will use all possible exertions in complying with the above orders.

Americans have always recognized the importance of a strong military. The Constitution gives the Federal government the power to establish and to govern the militia and the navy. The militia was the forerunner of today’s National Guard. Until the Civil War, militia forces were larger than the standing military.

Each Tennessee county was required to have an organized militia. With the destruction of early local records, not much is known about Cocke County’s militia. There are a few records which prove its existence. The scheduled drills were called musters, and still today the name “Musterfield Road” in Newport commemorates the spot where the musters were held.

Knoxville Register, Aug. Tennessee, The Volunteer 14, 1821: At the court martial of State, has always had a readyBrigadier Gen. James Bradford supply of soldiers. The nickname at the bend of Nolichucky, came from the large number Jefferson by the 2nd Brigade of militiamen who made of the Tennessee militia, it was themselves available during the alleged that Bradford was guilty of War of 1812. Whenever there ungentlemanly conduct at sundry has been a military need, Cocke times and assuming command Countians have readily stepped of the brigade without authority, forward to take their part, Thomas Christian was killed by bushwhackers. in one instance of receiving the supported by the folks back resignations of Col. Alexander home.

Smith and Major [James] Jennings of Cocke HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH County and ordering elections to be held to fill those vacancies … General Bradford after mature Wilson’s Knoxville Gazette, June 29, 1812: deliberation of the pleas, evidence and defense Maj. Gen. A. Jackson, 2nd Division, Tennessee thereof was found not guilty on all charges.

Militia. I have written a letter similar to the foregoing to Maj. Gen John Cocke, of the first Springfield [MO] Weekly Advertiser, division of the militia, and entertain no doubt but July 19, 1845: A Tennessean – a full six feeter – that thousands of volunteers will make a tender presented himself to the sergeant at the recruiting from each division – nothing can be more laudable quarters, Old Levee Street, yesterday and offered than a tender of service to the government of our his services to Uncle Sam for the next four years. choice except the rendering [of] such.

The sergeant rejoiced to meet with such excellent Wilson’s Knoxville Gazette, Oct. 4, 1813: material for a dragoon … he added “It speaks for In a letter to the Militia of East Tennessee, John the patriotism for such young men as you are, to

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see them come in at a time when we are threatened with war from two opposite quarters, and enroll themselves in the standing army of the country.

“Hold on, Stranger, said the Tennessean. “Did you say standin’ army?”

“Certainly I did,” said the sergeant, “and what more honorable service is there?”

“Honorable, Hell!” said the Tennessean. “Do you think I came all the way from Cocke County to jine your stay-at-home, standin’ army? No! Tell me where I can find a marchin’ army – an army marchin’ to the Halls of Montezuma as Uncle Sam used to say or a fightin’ army. I thar certain. Damn your standin’ armies. Thar no ‘count and I’ll jine none of them. Good bye, Stranger.” Saying this, the Tennessean loped.

Memphis Daily Appeal, Nov. 29, 1861: We learn that a cavalry company, commanded by Capt.

Gorman has arrived in Knoxville. It was recruited in Cocke County.

Tri-Weekly Courier [Rome,GA], Dec. 7, 1861: Our Artillery Correspondence. Greenville

[sic], Tenn. November 30, 1861. Dear Courier …

On Thursday morning another expedition was started after a band of Lincolnites who reported as threatening to destroy the town of Parrottsville in Cocke County. A detachment of twenty-six men, under the command of our captain, being mounted were sent in advance of the Infantry, but the cowardly tories fled at our approach … having never yet dared to make a stand against us…

Weekly Raleigh [NC] Register, Dec. 17, 1861:

A terrible state of affairs exists in the border counties

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Knoxville Daily Journal and Tribune, Nov. 22, 1890: No place

in East Tennessee has more natural advantages than has Newport, surrounded as it is by one of the richest agricultural districts in this section of the state; a fine river of pure spring water affording water power of 1000 horsepower … The town stands in the gateway between Tennessee and North Carolina with the advantage of two routes, the French Broad and the Big Pigeon, each passing through the Unakas. We should not omit the magnificent scenery that surrounds Newport. Nature spared no pains in the grand cliffs along the clear winding river …

Morristown Gazette, July 23, 1895: We spent Thursday night at

Parrottsville. Now there is nothing particularly striking about this town or its people, unless it is the age or the finished condition of the town. It was here, I believe, where the Rev George R. Stuart, now evangelist … made his debut as a school teacher … and laid off in squares and sections. This is a fine stock raising section, the principal farm

product being hay. If we did not have good authority, I should say here rested the Garden of Eden and yet retains many of its attractions.

Knoxville Daily Journal and Tribune, Nov. 22, 1890: No place

in East Tennessee has more natural advantages than has Newport, surrounded as it is by one of the richest agricultural districts in this section of the state; a fine river of pure spring water affording water power of 1000 horsepower … The town stands in the gateway between Tennessee and North Carolina with the advantage of two routes, the French Broad and the Big Pigeon, each passing through the Unakas. We should not omit the magnificent scenery that surrounds Newport. Nature spared no pains in the grand cliffs along the clear winding river …

Morristown Gazette, July 23, 1895: We spent Thursday night at

Parrottsville. Now there is nothing particularly striking about this town or its people, unless it is the age or the finished condition of the town. It was here, I believe, where the Rev George R. Stuart, now evangelist … made his debut as a school teacher …

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PEOPLE WILL BE PEOPLE

...Livin’ day to day, there’s no easy way... DOLLY PARTON

By Eddie Walker

People are people, always have been, always will be. Human behavior has pretty much been the same all through history. Those notable characteristics behind conduct – tolerance, charity, chivalry, ambition, self-lessness, honesty, integrity, courage and charisma have influenced behavior, just as have some of the less notable ones – greed, selfishness, cruelty, arrogance, dishonesty, intemperance, manipulation and laziness. We see them today.

The variations of characteristics, good and bad, are what has made the world what it is. If all behavior was identical, what an inanimate and dull world it would be. Fortunately, these traits influence behavior which creates situations. It is the bad situations, however, that seem to make the news most often.

Cocke County has had its share of human-generated news over the years.

Polly Harned faced death without fear.

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Raleigh [NC] Minerva, Feb. 7, 1812: VOLCANO. A letter from the

westward received in town asserts that a volcano has burst forth in the Buncombe mountains, either in this state or Tennessee, which throws up stones, lava and ashes. The light is said to be discernable at a considerable distance…

A long letter signed by John Clarke Edwards told of the above incident which he said had occurred on January 16. Richmond’s Virginia Argus published the letter on Feb. 10, 1812. Several later newspapers refuted the story and said no one by that name lived in that area. The refutes were such as the following:

Savannah (GA) Evening Ledger, Feb. 20, 1812: Two

gentlemen, now in the city, who left Tennessee on the 4th inst. And traveled across the mountains by Buncomb [sic] court house along the French Broad River positively assert that no volcano as related in the narrative of Mr. Edwards, has made its appearance in that quarter.

Such a report prevailed, but it was greatly discredited. No land has been overblown, nor had any damage been done by the “supposed” volcano. The above gentlemen live thirty-four miles from the warm springs and twentynine miles from the Painted rock. [It would seem that this has not been the only time in history that there has been “fake news.”]

Indiana [Indianapolis] Democrat, July 18, 1838: On

the 3rd instant, Arthur Davis of Cocke County, Tennessee, in a fit of drunkenness, shot his wife who instantly expired. Davis was upwards of seventy years and his wife was young with a child about seven months.

Broncho Bill was born in Cocke County.

Idaho World [Idaho City, ID], May 23, 1872: There dwelt among

the hills of Cocke County, Tennessee, some years since, a man named Watts, a “hard-shell” preacher, who was also a doctor. He was thus enabled to minister to bodily ailments while offering consolations of religion to the sin-sick soul. In order to renew his own spiritual strength, he sometimes found it necessary to imbibe a little spirituous liquor, and on one occasion, have drawn much consolation and vigor from the bottle which he carried in his pocket, he ascended the pulpit and held forth in his customary, hard-shell style. He grew very vehement, and in making a sweeping gesture unfortunately broke his bottle, scattering the fluid all around. Stopping short in the midst of an eloquent passage, he exclaimed, “There, brethren, goes some poor woman’s medicine,” and then he resumed his thread.

Methodist Advocate [Atlanta], April 3, 1872: Polly Harned, consort

of David Harned, was born April 9, 1798 and died at her residence on Oven Creek, near Parrottsville, Cocke County, Tenn., January 2, 1872 …

The writer visited her during her last affliction … To the question, “Do you enjoy religion so near death?” she unhesitatingly replied, “O yes, my trust is in my Heavenly Father, whom I have served and

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trusted long. How dare I meet death without the necessary preparation.” … Surrounded by several intimate friends, dear children and her aged companion, she passed away in peace without a struggle…

Morristown Gazette, July 28, 1875: Mr. Jeptha Wood, a

worthy and respectable citizen of the neighborhood of Rankin’s Depot, came near losing his life by drowning a few days since. He was engaged with a number of his neighbors in drawing a fishing seine at the mouth of Clay Creek, when he got beyond his depth, and but for the assistance of his comrades would have perished in the water.

Morristown Gazette, Nov. 14, 1877: One day last week while Sheriff Boyer, of Cocke County, was working at the jail with prisoners, one of them mistook an opportunity to abscond, and starting on a “home run” told the sheriff to shoot if he liked. The sheriff did as requested but failed to bring down his man, whom he chased awhile, was then lost sight of.

When dogs were put on his trail, the truant was “treed” and insinuatingly coaxed to return to the loving fold.

[Dandridge Watchman]

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Sept. 12, 1879: Newport Reporter.

It is strange to say, but yet it true, Mr. A[ndrew] Ramsey, the wealthiest man

Jeptha Wood almost drowned while fishing.

in Cocke County, and far advanced in years, does not know the English alphabet, but yet he has mechanically learned to sign his own name with a pen, which is as legible as the average hand.

Knoxville Weekly Whig and Chronicle, Aug. 3, 1881: The

Newport Sentinel has found a person, Mrs. Kim [Kiz] Woody, living in the mountains of Cocke County near Big Creek [Del Rio], who does not know her exact age, but gives it a something over 105 years. She is in good health and remarkably lively and sprightly for one of her years. Her hearing and vision are somewhat impaired, but she might readily pass for a matron of 65 or 70. We hear of another centurion, Mrs. Peggy [Sane], living with John Gregg in the 13th district of Cocke County. Her age is recorded in the old family bible, now in possession of her son, John Sane, living in Blount County … and shows her to be over 100 years of age. She is in feeble health and cannot last much longer.

See PEOPLE | 21

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2023 • SMOKY MOUNTAIN HOMEPLACE • 17

RELIGIOUS LIFE IN THE BIBLE BELT ...My hope is built on nothing less... ROBERT CRITCHLEY

Holston Christian Cocke County lies within the Bible Belt, which is basically the southeastern Advocate United States. In this area the role of [Knoxville], the church of various denominations is March 22, 1853:

By Eddie Walker

of greater importance to the people and the culture than in other parts of the country. Church attendance is typically higher. Church buildings dominate the landscape.

This influence has been in Cocke County since the establishment of the first church, Big Pigeon Primitive Baptist, in 1787. Soon the Methodists followed, a bit later the Presbyterians and Lutherans, then the others creating a diversity of spiritual options for the people. Today the influence continues with numerous denominations and churches. There’s been something for everyone.

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Knoxville Enquirer, Aug. 18, 1825: Camp meeting at Sulphur

Springs, Jefferson County, commences the 18tg of August … District Conference at Clear Creek, Cocke County, 27th of September …

Jonesborough [TN] Whig and Independent Journal, July 5, 1843: Methodist Camp Meetings for Greenville [sic] District: Sevierville – Logan Chapel, August 25th, Middle Creek, September 8th; Dandridge - Shady Grove, September 15th; Newport - Pine Chapel, August 18th, Parrottsville, September 22nd.

Holston Christian Advocate [Knoxville], Nov. 23, 1852: Rev. J.H. Bruner (Newport circuit) writing under the date of November 15th says, “We have just closed a meeting at Fulton’s Chapel at which twenty persons joined the church on probation. We are led to hope from the prospects before us, that we shall have a good time here this year.”

Perhaps it would be interesting to many of your readers to learn first the Baptists have challenged the Rev. J.H. Bruner, of the Newport circuit, to meet them in debate, at Clay Creek, near the mouth of Chuckey, on the first Thursday and Friday of May next.

They charge: 1st – The Methodist Episcopal Church is a clerical Clay Creek Church was destroyed by fire in 1955. association of purely human had a large congregation. There were invention and is both unscriptural and several mourners – ten or a dozen – anti-republican; 2nd – That pouring and several joined the church… upon or sprinkling with water is not a scriptural mode of baptism; 3rd – Methodist Advocate [Atlanta], That infant baptism is unscriptural.

Oct. 6, 1869: On Parrottsville circuit, Elder C.C. Tipton is understood to be at Bruner’s Grove, brother Harrison, their [Baptist] champion. Mr. Bruner the supply on the circuit, had a revival has accepted the challenge and will some weeks ago, at which nine or ten be present to defend the doctrines of professed religion. He more recently Methodism. had a revival at Union Meeting Examiner and Chronicle [New House; several professed religion.

York, NY], Jan. 25, 1854: We find We commenced the fourth quarterly in the Carolina Baptist an account of a meeting for that circuit for this year revival at Point Pleasant Church, Cocke last Saturday, and the meeting is still County [Tenn.] and the baptism of in progress. I left yesterday. There twenty-two persons. had been about a dozen conversions, upward of twenty joined the church.

Methodist Advocate [Atlanta], On Thursday night there were upward April 7, 1869: Morristown District, of twenty mourners at the altar of Holston Conference … I have held several quarterly meetings, all of which prayer. Such crowds attended that we had to worship in the grove, especially were good meetings. I held one at Clifton for the colored brethren. We at night.

Knoxville Chronicle, July 24, 1873: Mr. A. Haws has just finished the canvas of Cocke County, as colporteur for the Knoxville Bible Society. Three hundred families were found destitute of the Scriptures.

Morristown Gazette, Sept.

24, 1873: Rankin’s Depot. It was my

pleasure to be at a Sabbath School picnic on the 22nd of August at Hudson’s School House. It was the most complete success I have ever witnessed in the way of a Sabbath School picnic … to my astonishment there was from 600 to 700 persons and a table 100 feet long, loaded with everything that was good to eat, and baskets full stacked underneath … There were three schools present: Liberty Hill and Rorex Chapel being the visitors … I understand that this [Sabbath] school

See RELIGION | 18

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From RELIGION | 17 has not been organized only 5 or 6 months under the superintendency of Mr. Calvin M. Hudson…

Morristown Gazette, Feb. 25, 1874: A correspondent of the Nashville

Advocate, writing from Cocke County, says that the Rev. Thomas Smith, of the Baptist Church, who lives at Parrottsville, in Cocke County, is one hundred and one years old. He still preaches and rides horseback to his appointments. He was the pastor of one Church forty-four years [Slate Creek]; remembers the battle of Brandywine; quotes scripture rapidly; memory unimpaired; never misses a meal on account of sickness; never took but three doses of medicine; was always temperate; enjoys good health; eats heartily and reads without glasses and never did use them.

He is probably the oldest preacher in America.

The Tennessean [Nashville], Jan. 11, 1876: The Rev. J.P. Gammon, a young minister of much promise, who was formerly pastor of Third Presbyterian Church at Knoxville, has taken charge of the church at Newport, Cocke County.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, May 11, 1879: Cocke County

North Carolina Citizen [Asheville], July 31, 1879: Newport (Tenn.) Reporter complains that its local ministry do not hold prayer meetings. (We will guarantee if the editors and citizens will attend, the preachers will do their duty. It is a hopeful sign for that paper, however.)

Wilmington [NC] Post, Sept.

21, 1879: Newport, Tenn. Mr. Martin

Frazier, of this county, eighty-seven years old, made a confession of religion a few days since and was baptized near Pleasant Grove church. Although one of the oldest citizens of Cocke County, he received 25 cents more per day in the harvest field this summer than other laborers.

Chattanooga Daily Times, Feb. 29, 1880: Newport

Reporter: There have been in the past two weeks about 256 professions of religion, resulting from several revival meetings, which have been progressing in the county.

Memphis Daily Appeal, Dec. 16, 1881:

Two Mormon missionaries have been in Newport, Rev. James B. Cogdill served Cocke County, for several churches in the Del Rio and days drumming up Grassy Fork area. converts.

Republican Chronicle [Knoxville], Nov. 21, 1883: We understand

the Baptist people of this county have inaugurated a movement to erect an appropriate monument over the grave of Rev. Joseph Manning. Newport Sentinel

Our Church Paper [New Market, VA], Sept.

A.J. Fox was first pastor of Salem 4, 1884: Letter from Salem.

Lutheran Church.

had her first Sunday School convention… at Newport on the 2nd inst., 19 [Sunday] schools represented. The convention was called to order by Mr. G.W. Pickel … The Convention lasted two days and was an interesting and profitable session … It was decided to have the next meeting at Parrottsville same time next year.

Rev. J.B. Fox lives at Caney Branch [TN] as near the centre of the pastorate as he can get. He is succeeding quite well … He is about building a parsonage which when completed will be the second in the Holston [Lutheran] Synod. He proposes to build a church at Parrottsville … Of the six congregations Salem Church is

On April 24, 1884, today’s Deep Gap Baptist Church in Del Rio was organized in a building known as ‘Bible’s Chapel,’ located a short distance from today’s structure next to Reece Hollow Road.

the largest. It was organized about forty years ago by Rev. A.J. Fox from a colony from St. James …

will be erected on the lot which is to be bought before the close of the present summer.

Knoxville Daily Journal and Tribune, Sept. 24, 1892: Newport

Knoxville Sentinel, July 10, 1897: Plans are being prepared

Notes: The colored people are completing a handsome church in West End.

Chattanooga Daily Times, Oct. 29, 1893: The new M.E. Church was

dedicated Sunday, the 22nd by Revs.

T.C. Warner of Knoxville, Presiding Elder Rule and T.B. Russell, the present pastor. A church debt of $650 was raised by the audience numbering 500.

Baptist and Reflector [Nashville], April 11, 1895: We

enjoyed very much a visit to Newport, East Tennessee last Sunday … The Baptist Church is the strongest in town, both numerically and financially … We were glad to meet Bro. Charles Brown who preaches to several churches in the country around Newport. He refuses to be called a pastor but says he is simply a circuit rider.

Knoxville Sentinel, May 24, 1897: The morning collection at St.

John’s [Episcopal Church] is to be devoted to the purchase of a lot at Newport, Tenn. where Bishop Gailor organized a church last week. A missionary has already been designated for the new parish, and a chapel which

for a $2,500 Presbyterian Church at Newport.

Baptist and Reflector [Nashville], Sept. 23, 1897: I have just returned from Deep Gap Church in Cocke County, where we had one week of meeting. The Lord greatly blessed us and fifteen persons professed faith in Christ as their personal savior. I baptized five last Sunday and five others were approved for baptism. The church is much revived …

Knoxville Sentinel, May 25, 1899: Newport is to have a new church which will replace the Woodlawn Avenue M.E. Church, which was blown down by a windstorm last year.

Baptist and Reflector [Nashville], Dec. 28, 1899: Grassy

Fork is as Baptist as it is unanimously Republican. The Baptist Church, Mt. Zion, is 300 strong. Elder James B. Cogdill has received from the church 26 annual calls to be pastor. He has baptized for the church some 300 candidates for membership. He is a tower of strength to the Baptists of this mountain country. He is the pastor of six churches.

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NEWPORT VS. CLIFTON:

THE CONTENTIOUS COUNTY SEAT BATTLE ...We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse... MERLE HAGGARD

By Eddie Walker

Nashville Union and American,

Cocke County was established in 1797.

April 26, 1866: House of John Gilliland, Jr. donated 50 acres for a Representatives, April 25, 1866 … county seat on the French Broad River Petitions: By Mr. [Wilson] Duggan: in 1799. It has been said that locating From citizens of Cocke County praying the county seat there was controversial that the county seat be removed from from the beginning. However, Senator Newport to Gorman’s. Referred to McKellar later wrote that Cocke County Committee on County Lines. was aptly named for William Cocke himself had been a Knoxville Daily contentious individual Chronicle, Jan. 10, and the people there 1871: Cocke County likewise rarely agree.

Matters … The exciting After the railroad came question was the to the village of Clifton location of the county on the Pigeon River site, some of them in 1867, the struggle contending for Newport, over the location of the some for Parrottsville county seat intensified. and still others for It took legislative Gorman’s Depot or acts, litigation and Clifton. This matter has referendums before the been in a muddle for issue was finally settled some time past. While in 1884. Clifton became Judge J.H. Randolph was the Judge Swann was Circuit Newport and the original contractor for the 1885 courthouse Judge, he made an order which burned in 1930.

Newport became upon the county to have Oldtown. a new jail built. The HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH county levied the tax. Parties in favor of Clifton had the legislature extend Nashville Union and American, the corporate limits something over a March 10, 1860: House of mile, so as to embrace the place, and the Representatives, March 8, 1860, commissioners located the jail there … afternoon session … Mr. [T.S.] Gorman This, it was thought, would settle the by leave introduced a bill #562 to question as to where the court house change the county site of Cocke County would be, but it didn’t. On Monday of from Newport to Odell’s [Bridgeport] last week the County Court undertook which was passed the first time without to settle this vexed question … After objection … two days of excitement, pleading, Nashville Patriot, March 20, 1860: consulting and entreating, they were no Tennessee Legislature, Mon. March nearer a conclusion than when they first 19 … Bill providing the removal of commenced. the county seat of Cocke County from Knoxville Daily Chronicle, April 2, Newport to Unaka; passed third reading … [The Civil War probably interrupted 1871: Cocke County News … For some any concern over this issue.] time past there has been considerable

This picture of the Cocke County Courthouse was published in the Knoxville Sentinel in 1896.

jealousy between the citizens of Clifton and Newport, as regarded their merits for the seat of county government. The latter, greatly improved of late, and a new jail nearly completed, which of course, the Newporters wished to reap the benefit of. The Cliftonites, however, insisted on their superior location, and offered to build a new jail, if the county seat was moved, and suggested

that the edifice now being built for that purpose in the rival burg be used as an eleemocinary [eleemosynary] institution. Things still went wrong, and to pacify all parties, the Legislature granted a charter incorporating Clifton and Newport and a considerable area of territory … The pacific attempt of the Legislature was a failure and the

See BATTLE | 23

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From PEOPLE | 16 Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Dec. 8, 1882: Two families, Clark and Cates, of the 13th district of Cocke County, are engaged in a lawsuit over a flock of three geese, and before it is ended it will cost the parties concerned over one hundred dollars.

[Newport Sentinel]

Herald and Tribune [Jonesborough, TN], Nov. 1, 1883: There is a boy living near

Newport, Tenn. who is only 11 years old and is said to weigh 227 pounds.

He will be exhibited at the World’s Fair in New Orleans next year.

Milwaukee [WI] Sentinel, Nov. 9, 1883: John H. Steel was born in Cocke County, Tenn. in 1800, and Job Hampton, an old citizen of Moniteau, was born in the same county in 1801. They were raised as boys together and mustered together in the mountains of East Tennessee.

Mr. Hampton came to Missouri

about 1830 and Steel in 1834. Last Saturday the two old gentlemen met in Mr. Burkhardt’s store in California [MO] – the first time in 65 years.

They had an interesting talk over old times, referring to Kit Bullard’s mill and French Broad River. Mr. Steel told of a severe fisticuff that he had with Andy Johnson in his tailor shop.

Andy made him a suit of clothes and they didn’t fit; they fell out over it and had a severe struggle in the shop before they were separated. [Missouri Republican]

Big Sandy News [Louisa, KY], Jan. 19, 1888: A juryman was arrested recently at Newport, Tenn. for robbing the pockets of his fellow jurymen while out making up a verdict.

Galveston [TX] Daily News, Aug. 29, 1893: Sulphur Springs,

TX: The old gentleman who fell from the Cotton Belt train and was killed was named Martin Kilgore. He lived seven miles from Newport, Tenn. and

2023 • SMOKY MOUNTAIN HOMEPLACE • 21

was on his way to Hutto, Williamson County where three of his sons live.

He has one son and three daughters in Tennessee. His son J.W. of Hutto is here today. The three sons who live in Williamson County were at Hutto waiting for their father to arrive on the evening train when the operator received a message telling of the accident and describing the old gentleman, whom they believed to be their father. Mr. Kilgore is satisfied from the description given that the deceased was their father but has not decided whether he will take the body up. It was buried this afternoon by the railroad company.

letters at the post office, mailing them at the train instead. When they had no stamps, they gave the railroad postal clerk the money. Uncle Sam heard about the racket and ordered postal clerks to close the door and fasten the mailbox when passing the station.

Daily Nonpariel [Council Bluffs, IA], Aug. 19, 1899: During

the first years of the career of Buffalo Bill Cody, he had one in his theatrical companies a westerner named Broncho Bill. There were Indians in the troupe, and a certain missionary had joined the aggregation to look after the morals of the Indians.

Thinking that Broncho Bill would bear a little looking after also, the good man secured a seat by his side at the dinner table and remarked pleasantly, “This is Broncho Bill, is it not?” Yaas. “Where were you born?”

Near Kit Bullard’s mill on Big Pigeon.

“Religious parents, I suppose?” Yaas.

“What was your denomination?” My what? “Your denomination.”

O-ahyaas. Smith and Wesson.

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, March 26, 1896: At Rankin, Tenn.,

a little station in Cocke County the people are said to be having a good deal of fun on account of an attempt on some of the citizens to boycott the postmaster, Mr. [Gideon B.] Helms.

A country postmaster gets two cents for every stamp that he cancels and these people have refused to mail their

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH From SUPPLY | 15 of Tennessee. A fight occurred last week at Parrottsville, Cocke County, about fifty miles from this place, in which Capt. Gorman and two privates of the Confederate cavalry were killed. A messenger reached this place day before yesterday, from the commanding officer at Greeneville, Tenn., urgently requesting that a force be immediately dispatched in the adjoining county of Madison, to intercept some two or three hundred Tennessee and North Carolina tories, who had fled before the southern troops and taken refuge in the mountains of Madison County. About 1000 tories, the messenger informed us were at Newport in Cocke County, armed and organized. Col. R.B. Vance’s regiment had been ordered to disperse them and would, it was supposed, reach Newport last Tuesday.

Nothing definite has been heard since.

[Asheville News]

Southern Confederacy [Atlanta, GA], March 9, 1862:

Patriotism What Is. While there are so many examples of perfidy to blacken the name of East Tennessee, there is much redeeming virtue in a few instances of patriotism to be found among the people. In Cocke County, heretofore a strong Union county, there lives old William Harper, near 70 years of age. When the first call for volunteers was made, he mustered seven sons [George, Thomas, Mack, William, John, Isaac, Garland] into

the ranks of the Southern army and proposed to go himself, but he was rejected on account of his age.

Sometime afterwards one of his sons died in camp at Bowling Green, and the old hero stepped out again upon his trembling limbs and demanded that he be received in his place, but he was again refused. There are seven brothers by the name of Rains [sons of Joel Raines: Isaac, James, Joel, Jr., Hiram, Alfred, Gilbert, John] in the Southern army from the same county.

In Cocke County if there were more such families she would be set down as a game Cocke! [ Greeneville Banner, Feb. 26, 1862]

Memphis Daily Appeal, Dec. 22, 1862: We find the following

in the Knoxville Register of the 6th.

We can scarcely credit it, as we do not believe there were two thousand persons in Cocke County capable of bearing arms. The total voting population of the county in June 1861 was only 1,703, of which 518 voted for separation and many of them are now in the Confederate army.

It is rumored that the militia Brigadier General [John T.] Shields has organized an armed force, said to be 2,000 strong, in Cocke County, to resist the enforcement of the conscript act. Col. Thomas, of the Confederate service, was sent here, so it is rumored on the streets, for additional troops, in order that he may enforce the law and disperse Shields’ bands of tories. We believe the story an exaggeration.

Daily Morning News [Savannah, GA], Sept. 28, 1863:

Jan. 28, 1864: The Asheville News

We learn that the bushwhackers in East Tennessee have brutally murdered James Hurley and son [Daniel W.], Thomas Christian, W. Garner, Jno. Leatherwood and Col. William Jack of Cocke County and James Evans of Jefferson County.

[Knoxville Register] [Col. Jack was not killed; James Evans died December 1864.]

Hillsborough [NC] Recorder, Jan. 13, 1864: Last Thursday the

24th says the Asheville News of the 31st December, Gen. [Robert B.] Vance had a brush with some three hundred tories at the head of Cosby Creek, Cocke County, Tennessee, some forty-five or fifty miles from this place. The enemy were strongly posted, but after a few rounds, our men charged them and they fled, leaving three dead, three wounded, all their camp equipage, a number of horses and three guns behind. Gen. Vance captured six or eight of the gang.

Memphis Daily Appeal, Jan. 14, 1864: It is expected that Longstreet’s

forces will winter in their present position. His headquarters are at Russellville, and the lines of his cavalry extend to Morristown and Mossy Creek. It is said the army will be able to get sufficient forage in the valley of the Chucky and Fred Broad Rivers.

Fayetteville [NC] Observer,

has the following about the capture of Brig. Gen. [Robert B.] Vance. Some days since Gen. Vance, with part of Henry’s battalion and a few men from Thomas’ Legion started toward Sevierville. At Gatlinsburg, he left his artillery and all his men, but about 100, dashed into Sevierville, and captured a Yankee train of seventeen wagons, with the teamsters and wagon masters. Six hundred Yankee cavalry were encamped six miles below town, to whom information of course was promptly communicated of what Gen. Vance had done.

In the meantime, Gen. V pushed off towards Cosby with his prize, stopping at Shults’ Mill about an hour, having sent a courier ordering the men at Gatlinsburg to meet him there.

This they failed to do, stating that the route was impractical for artillery. At the end of about an hour, and while Gen. Vance’s men were entirely off their guard, the Yankees swept down upon them, taking them completely by surprise. A running fight ensued, our men scattering in every direction and making a stand whenever a few of them could get together. Gen. Vance rallied a little squad and after an ineffectual resistance, against overwhelming numbers was captured with his Inspector General, Capt.

Lucius H. Smith and about thirty others … The Yankees recaptured their wagons and also one ambulance and about fifty horses from Gen. Vance’s command.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH From APPEARANCES | 14 and the Newport Bank. We hope to see this work in progress until there is a continuous sidewalk from the courthouse to the Philadelphia store.

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, Feb. 10, 1891: Newport News …

Several miles of new streets are being laid out, graded and macadamized, and a new railroad is being surveyed …

Knoxville Daily Tribune, Feb. 22, 1891: Newport has just been

incorporated as a municipality by an act of the legislature … public improvements are to be made and sustained, streets and sidewalks are to be built and many other things that can only be done by municipal authority demand attention.

Morristown Gazette, Feb. 25, 1891: We learn from the Newport

News that a corporation for the erection of an electric light plant for the purpose of lighting Newport was effected on Tuesday of last week …

Work will commence at once upon this plant. Messrs. Briggs expect to have it in operation for street purposes early in April.

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, March 1, 1891: Newport was a few years ago the headquarters of the Scottish Land and Timber Company

… Mr. Alex A. Arthur, who is now at the head of Middlesborough affairs, was then the manager of operations, and he has frequently said that had his company supported him in his ideas and effort, Newport today would be the leading young city in the South …

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, June 15, 1891: Woodlawn Avenue is being opened and graded. This is the most important street of any connecting the western portion of the town, and the move will greatly enhance the convenience of the citizens and their property also.

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, Nov. 16, 1891: J.P. Headerick

[Hedrick] with a heavy force is engaged in grading Academy Street [Mims Avenue]. This stroke of the city fathers is a wise and sturdy one. It cuts in twain the backwoods time and the modern … Shugart is now working on the concrete pavement [sidewalk] on the south side of Main Street and extending from the Jones corner to the courthouse square.

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, Feb. 4, 1893: Capt. Hedrick has

begun clearing away the river banks preparatory to erection of the piers for the new bridge over the Pigeon. This thoroughfare will be a handsome thing for Cocke County …

Morristown Gazette, June

14, 1893: No improvements for

it was lost.

Newport. At an election held in Newport, Cocke County, June 3rd, for the purpose of determining whether that town would issue $30,000 in improvement [bonds], the proposition was rejected. 190 votes were polled, 98 for and 90 against. As a ¾ majority was necessary to carry the proposition,

The Comet [Johnson City, TN], Nov. 19, 1896: Newport is to be lighted with electricity.

Chattanooga Daily Times, Feb. 28, 1897: Newport: A telephone exchange is promised as a reality in the next thirty days.

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WEATHER’S PERILS

...Keep me safe ‘til the storm passes by... MOSIE LISTER

By Eddie Walker

Weather is a part of life. It affects schedules, health and overall comfort.

While its effects might be eased somewhat, weather cannot be avoided.

We just have to endure. The weather in East Tennessee can be fickle.

Newcomers and visitors are told, “Just wait. It’ll change in thirty minutes!”

Extreme weather events have been making the news for a long time.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Nashville Daily Patriot, Oct. 5, 1861: Unprecedented Freshet. We

learn that in the French Broad with the Chucky and all its other tributaries, the rise was most sudden and unexpected.

Many mills and bridges must have been washed away or materially injured, and a most serious disaster has been experienced by farmers working bottom lands – some estimate their loss as high as one-fourth of the corn and the entire crop of pumpkins. The river was covered with them for two days.

Weekly Alta [San Francisco, CA], April 20, 1867: Knoxville, Tenn …. March 20th: Communication with most of the counties in East Tennessee is still suspended. The details of losses by the flood confirm my estimate that East Tennessee is damaged over two million dollars. Blount, Cocke, Roane and Sevier Counties all lose heavily … The loss of stock of all kinds is unprecedented heavy …

This 1979 photo from The Newport Plain Talk shows damage from a windstorm.

Memphis Daily Appeal, March 3, 1875: …. Monday’s hard rain

throughout East Tennessee has again flooded all the smaller streams, and further damage is threatened. At least two-thirds of the mills in the country have been swept away; barns, fences and large quantities of grain have been destroyed. Judge Randolph in Cocke County estimated the loss in that country at 200 hundred thousand dollars. It has been a sad loss to East Tennessee and will amount to over a million dollars.

Morristown Gazette, June 21, 1876: In consequence of the heavy

rains last week, the French Broad and Pigeon rivers were so swollen that the railroad track in the vicinity of Rankin’s Depot on the Cincinnati, Cumberland Gap and Charleston Railroad was entirely submerged, causing the trains that left here Saturday to return from that point,…

In this 2018 file photo, the downtown Newport Riverwalk, located behind Newport City Hall, is partially submerged due to flood waters.

Morristown Gazette, Jan. 22, 1879: … The dam of the Newport Mills was so much injured by the ice and the high water that it will be impossible to run the mill until the damages are repaired…

Morristown Gazette, Oct. 29, 1879: A very heavy rain fell

throughout East Tennessee and Western North Carolina last Friday night. The rivers rose very rapidly and done considerable damages along their banks. The residence belonging to Mr. Covington, two miles below Newport, was destroyed and partly washed away.

The family is now residing in a plank shed. The dam of Newport Mills was considerably damaged. 60 or 70 feet was washed out in the middle of the river, a considerable loss to Mr. D.B. McMahan. Newport Reporter

Morristown Gazette, Dec. 24, 1879: Newport Reporter. On the

evening of the 11th inst. at 6 o’clock, a heavy shock from an earthquake was felt by the citizens of Newport, Old Newport and Eastport. The shock was so great as to cause considerable clattering of queensware [crockery] in the stores, and windows clattered frightfully in the houses and many families were considerably frightened.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Jan. 7, 1881: The Sevier and Cocke

County mail riders crossed on the ice at Dandridge last Friday and Saturday says the Watchman.

Chattanooga Daily Times,

Pigeon River flood 1902 at the tannery.

June 9, 1882: Newport (Tenn.)

Sentinel says snow in the neighboring mountains was a novel, chilling sight seen from that place Monday.

Morristown Gazette, April 2, 1884: The most terrific wind, rain

and hail storm visited this place, within the recollection of the oldest inhabitants came Tuesday evening, 25th inst … In Cocke County the damage is estimated at $15,000, the most serious individual loss was that of William Swaggerty, whose beautiful and attractive residence and capacious

barn one mile south of Newport were completely wrecked …

Herald and Tribune [Jonesborough, TN], Jan. 28, 1886: Ice is banked ten feet high on

the French Broad and has damaged the dam at Newport quite seriously. The Scottish Company has lost many logs which have been torn loose and swept away.

Clarksville [TN] Weekly Chronicle, Dec. 11, 1886: …

Twenty inches of snow and the river frozen over at Newport, Tenn...

Knoxville Journal, April 14, 1888: A thirteen year old daughter

of Thomas Suttle, near Parrottsville, is missing. The last seen of her she started on an errand which took her across Clear Creek. This was Monday when the creek was much swollen by heavy rains and it is supposed that she fell from the foot log and was drowned.

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, Feb. 10, 1881: Newport News …

Rain, rain, rain – that has been the program here today from “early morn

See WEATHER | 23

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From WEATHER | 22 to dewy eve.” The Pigeon River is on a boom …

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, April 5, 1891: Newport News …

A heavy snowstorm is raging at this writing…

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, May 17, 1891: Newport News …

A protracted drought of nearly four weeks’ continuance was broken up yesterday by copious showers, much to the delight of our farmers and truck growers. The rain is reviving the recently frosted vegetation and apparent damage is subsiding.

Columbia [TN] Herald and Mail, Nov. 4, 1892: Reports from Cocke County say that forest fires are still raging there and doing much damage.

They have been building for seven weeks.

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, Jan. 19, 1893: Notes from Newport.

Capt. Hedrick has a large force at work getting ice out of the Pigeon River. The stream is frozen to the thickness of eight inches from shore to shore. The Captain will store away about three tons. A drummer …undertook to walk across the French Broad River on the ice this morning; at an air hole he went through to the bottom. He is in critical condition. The thermometer went 10 degrees below zero this a.m. at seven o’clock.

Memphis Commercial Appeal, April 25, 1895: A killing frost

occurred in Cocke County on the 15th which killed some plums, peaches and cherries, but there will be a large yield if no more frost.

Grammar School Hill under snow around 1910.

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, July 5, 1895: Newport News …

We had quite an electrical storm on the 2nd instant in which Mrs. John Whipple was severely shocked by the lightning striking near her. She was at first thought to be seriously injured but under the skillful treatment of Dr. Snoddy, she soon revived and is now out of danger.

Knoxville Journal and Tribune, June 10, 1896: Newport, Tenn. A disastrous wind storm passed through Carson Springs, six miles from this place about eleven o’clock today, blowing down trees and sweeping everything in its way. The public road is blockaded one half mile below the

springs, and it will take several days to clear it out. The telephone line had just been completed about five minutes at the springs but the wire and poles were buried under the large timber.

Chattanooga Daily Times, June 12, 1896: Parrottsville, Tenn. On Tuesday afternoon our section was visited by a tornado or wind storm, doing great damage to property but so far as can be ascertained no lives have been lost. The path of the storm, so far as has been learned, started on the southeast of Bridgeport, crossing French Broad, uprooting giant elms and oaks on the island, and on the north side of French Broad struck a large two-story frame home of David

Brooks., completely demolishing it, carrying the upper story to parts unknown … The storm then passed over Neddy’s Mountain, leaving nothing intact in its path … The storm then passed up Long Creek, unroofing another house, devastating corn fields and disappeared over the brow of Yellow Springs mountain.

The Comet [Johnson City, TN], Jan. 7, 1897: In Jefferson County

is English Mountain in which there is a blowing cave. This cave has never been thoroughly explored. The Indians used to say that “every four minutes the spirit of the cave breathed and his breath blew out the torches.” A strong current of air does pass out at intervals of about four minutes.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH From BATTLE | 20 rivalry between the Newporters and Cliftonites culminated in active hostilities a few days ago, in which several parties were considerably banged up. The cause belli of course was the old rivalry, but it is said that a vendor of fighting whiskey was in the neighborhood with samples and was responsible for for this “tale of two cities.”

Nashville Union and American, Dec. 29, 1871: An Act to fix the place of holding the different courts of Cocke County … Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That the various courts of Cocke County in said state, shall be hereafter held at Newport Depot, otherwise called Clifton, in any house that may be provided for the purpose of holding said courts, and each of the said courts at the text term thereof, after the passage of this act, shall meet and adjourn from the dilapidated Courthouse in Newport, to the said house that may be provided in said Newport Depot …

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Feb. 7, 1872: Cocke County News … On today we had two County Courts be held in this county. According to a recent act of the Tennessee Legislature, courts were ordered to be held at Newport Depot.

In pursuance of that order, the County Court adjourned at Old Newport on the first Monday in January to meet at Newport Depot on the first Monday in February. According to the order, the Clerk, Sheriff and two of the quorums were on hand at the hour of calling the Court. Court having opened in the usual way, they proceeded to business, appointing a Chairman pro-tem and one for the quorum. At about 12 o’clock the following order was received from Old Town: Mr. P.W. Anderson. Sir: You are hereby notified to return the records of the County Court forthwith and also come and proceed to business. Cornelius

The brick building was the 1829 Cocke County Courthouse. The log structure was the jail and possibly the first courthouse.

Smelcer, Chairman.

The clerk not being willing to rebel against an act of the Tennessee Legislature, and also an order from the County Court of a month ago, was like the boy’s mule “he didn’t go hardly any.” As a consequence of his stubbornness the Chairman being without record or a clerk, proceeded to business, appointing a clerk pro-tem and two for a quorum. Owing to the lateness of the hour, being wholly unacquainted with keeping a record, J.C. LaRue was called in as an assistant, he having heretofore been sort of a clerk. Their proceedings are not yet fully known, but doubtless, they are spicy. There was an ex-Justice present and one ex-Chaplain, who when reading the Bible, calls upon his wife to spell the words, who it is thought, closed the concern … by a lusty prayer.

Nashville Union and American, Sept. 8, 1874:

The proposition to remove the county seat of Cocke County from Newport to J.C. Murphy’s [Murray] was voted on the 6th inst. There were 923 for removal and 570 against. Two thirds not voting in favor of removal, the proposition failed.

Knoxville Weekly Chronicle, Feb. 3, 1875:

Cocke County Items. A Cocke County correspondent … says that the claims in dispute between the towns of Newport and Clifton as to which of these places should be the county seat … but for the last four years, the Courts have been held at

Clifton, which is a young and growing town, two miles distant from Newport and situated on Pigeon River and Cincinnati and Cumberland Gap Railroad.

At the last term of the County Court, this honorable body decided the question finally, at least for the present, by removing the county seat to Newport. Our correspondent intimates that this move does not meet with general approval of the people.

Morristown Gazette, Jan. 3, 1877: We learn that

on last Saturday morning the courthouse at Newport in Cocke County was destroyed by fire, burning up all the records and papers. The building was a wooden one and had been in time used as a storehouse. The fire was caused by accident. It will prove a severe loss to that county and will require labor and time to adjust matters attaching to the missing documents.

Morristown Gazette, Oct. 16, 1878: Newport …

Arrived last night and learned that the county court adjourned last evening. They voted to continue the use of the house the circuit and other courts have occupied the past year …

The place for the permanent establishment of the county seat has been in controversy among the sovereigns for the past fifty years. The matter is in the courts, where it has been for long years…

Morristown Gazette, Feb. 19, 1879: The question

The present Cocke County Courthouse opened in March of 1931, less than a year after fire heavily damaged its predecessor

of the removal of the court house from Newport, that has so long vexed the people of Cocke County, was decided last week by Judge Rose, who held that the new building should be put up in Bridgeport … The opponents of the new location are not inclined to believe that the change will be made … As a sort of compromise…how would it do to build a new court house on wheels …

Knoxville Dail Chronicle, Nov 7, 1879: A decision was

rendered in the Supreme Court yesterday in the cause of Cocke County, involving the question of changing the location of the county seat from Newport to Murray’s. The decision is the dismissing of a mandamus, and in effect declares an election which was held and decided on the change of location, void.

This leaves the case just as it was without any advantage to either side.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Nov. 26, 1881: Cocke County

people regarding the selection of a new site for the new court house. The election for this purpose will be held on Saturday, May 19.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, June 9, 1883: The returns

of the recent election in Cocke County…show the following results: 519 votes cast “for removal,” 81 votes were cast “for no removal” … The 4th ,5th and 11th districts held no election.

The election was a huge failure.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, April 12, 1884: The court rescinded the order made at its January term for the sheriff to hold an election to ascertain whether or not the people desire the removal of the court house and in lieu of which made an order for the sheriff to hold an election to locate the court house, etc. on the 7th day of August next. The places to be voted on are old Newport and Newport Depot.

held an election Saturday 19th inst. to determine the will of the people with reference to the removal of the county site to Newport from Old Town. The Sentinel counts up only 1,007 votes cast – all for removal, but it requires 1,400 to carry, hence it will fail.

Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Aug. 10, 1884: Cocke County

Knoxville Republican Chronicle, April 18, 1883:

for the building of a new courthouse at Newport, Cocke County, has been let to J.H. Randolph for $10,025. The work will be commenced at once and is to be completed by January 1886.

The Cocke County Court has by unanimous vote ordered the sheriff to open and hold an election for the purpose of ascertaining the will of the

… The removal of the county seat to Newport Depot carried, receiving 1,527 votes, with one district yet to hear from.

Morristown Gazette, April 15, 1885: The contract

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