Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-31
Local Matters-The Town we Live In
Its First SetIiement.

ia. Inc Winter OF 1If9-oO Is record
ed as having been one of the coolest ever
felt since the settlement of North America
1t was in this winter that the first per-
manent settlement and improvement began
on the Cumberland river The country had
been visited and partially explored by a
few daring hunters, at various times during
the eight or ten previous years.
The principal Sulphur and Salt Springs
in Tennessee and Kentucky had been visit
ed there were well-trodden paths to and
from each and all of these, through the wild
forests and dense cane. brakes, made by the
numerous herds Of deer and buffalo, which
had occupied, from time immemorial, the
immense forest extending from the Ten
nessee to the Ohio river The few pio-
neers and hunters reported to their friends
the richness and beauty of this then extern
sive wilderness and preparations began to
be made by goody number Of families
who had for some years been settled, or had
recently assembled, on the Holston or in
the Watauga settlement, in East Tennes-
see, to emigrate to the Cumberland valley.
While one party started 10y land to make
most circuitous, tedious and hazardous
Journey across the mountain, on the trace
TO Kentucky, and around by stations on
Green and Barren rivers, and were rein
forced by few emigrantS from Western
Virginia and Pennsylvania-another party
set sail upon the HostOn, to descend that
and the Tennessee rivers, and to ascend
the Ohio and Cumberland to the same
point of destination: the Great French
Lick" or "The Bluffs" These .Ye yagers
had a more circuitous, perilous and labo-
rious excursion tran the emigrants by land.
Thesiand route was passed without con-
sstict with the savages, without loss of prop
erty or life, and with numbers increased ::
but the party in boats were attacked by
the Indians, and some were kiIled-some
wounded boat upset in the suck or
whirl of the Tennessee and goods and fur
niture lost some articles were thrown
overheard to tighten other boats-and af-
ter arriving at the junction of the Tennes-
see and Ohio rivers, portion of the COM
pany determined to descend the Mississippi
to Natchez, and another party proceeded
to the Kaskaskia and other settlements on
the Illinois.
The emigrants by land were under the
acknowledged lead of Capt. James Robert
son, and reached the river on the east side.
opposite the Bluff or mouth of the Sulphur
Spring Branch, about the last Of January.
1879. The river route was chosen as less
tedious for women and children. the wife
of Capt. Robertson, and the wives and chill
dren OF Others, were placed in the boats.
and that party was under the good care
and direction Of John Donaldson. These
reached the Bluffs on Monday, oath April,
1880, after great toll and suffering. ard
almost starvation.
There was yet another party which came
through Kentucky under the lead of Mr..
Eaton, (or Heaton,) who settled on the
east side of the Cumberland, mile below
the Bluffs.
Isaac Bledsoe and Casper Mansker had
erected small defences, and cleared and
planted each small piece of ground in
LIS, at the two Sulphur Springs which
have been well known by their names: and
at as early day, if not in advance of the
arrival of the Robertson and Donaldson
parties, these early pioneers had introduced
emigrants and prepared for permanent res
licences. They made selections of good wa.
ter and rich lands.
The FIRST field cultivated and the first
substantial tenement occupied in Middle
Tennessee, were at Bledsoe's Lick. The
field was small, but the house was large; it
was a longer time in being built than the
Temple of Solomon, and yet with less pa
rade aud even with less noise. Here there
was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool
OF iron heard, while it was in baldiRg.' 1t
rose up, stately and firm, TO endure the
storms of ages-grand and high ii lowered
towards the heavens, aud spread itself to-
wards the various points Of the compass,
more grandly than green bay tree or
cedar Of LsSanon--its magnificent entab-
lature with architrave aad ornamental
frieze, giving it finish that no skill of man
could equal Here was house not made
with hands, lodge in vast wilderness
and its wide spreading Foundation, the roofs
OF that old Syo1mOre, may yet be discover
cd not far from the Spring. When it fell,
great was the fall thereof"
l767. A few rowing Frenchmen had
visited the present site Of our city ia 1901,
aud erected their cabin upon an artificial
mound-some traces Of which may stisl be
found on the north side and near the mouth
Of the Sulphur Spring braBch-and here
had been engaged in killing buffalo and ira
ding with the few Indians who roamed these
forests and open highlands. OF these earls
traders, two or three remained and identi.
6ed themselves with the settlers Of 1850.
Secret agents and refugees from France
were here at q iatar neriod See nsfa