Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-09-06
A Week In The Rural Districts.
I MoM1NNvILLE, Aug. 81, Is


thing of romance connected with it; but
when il comes to the reality, 1t loses much
of its romantic aspect. 1t is all very well,
after having enjoyed the plenty of one ia
BILE, to take up one ofthese fancy sketches,
and admire the adventurous spirit of the
writer; but when ii comes to riding seven
miles among the mountains without being
favored with the sight. of human habita-
ton or human being, and having "an
aching void Within" which nothing but
dinner can fill, it is very different thing.
We speak from experience, having tried it
within ten days past.
Leaving the pleasant and prosperous
town of McMinnville, we travelled in the
old primitive style TO Sparta, distance of
twenty-six miles. The road passes through
an interesting country, and rich one.
Quite q number of Northern people have
settled in Warren county, (of which Nc
Minnville is the county site,) since the
war, and by their experience and enter
prise as farmers are doing very much to
The inevitable large and well adapted
barns on many of the farms attest the pres
ence of the Pennsylvania farmers, prov
erbial everywhere for their sound, good
Judgment in such matters.
Sparta is situated in White county, and
is one of the oldest towns in Middle Ten
nessee. Although situated in one of the
it has hardly increased a score in popula-
ton in so many years. The people are
now excited over the fair prospect for the
extension of the McMinnville and Man
chester road to that place, which they ex-
pect to take place by the first of January
1878. When this is done Sparta will become
one of the most desirable communities for
business, in the State The people at pres
ent are waiting and hoping as they have
done for years, for something of this kind
to turn up. Politically speaking, a large
number of them are bourbnos of the strict
est sort. At Sparta the stage coach stops
and we procured q horse.
The road to Livingston passes through
Putnam and Jackson counties, and is as
good country as need be. 1t is level,
well watered and very fertile. Thousands
of acres of the very finest land lie I'M
improved The distance is thirty-nine
miles, and though the readers of the
CHRONICLE may not be interested to
know it, we were made the subject of a
most drenching rain for near twenty miles.
1t was very wet. Cookville, the county
site of Putnam, is eighteen miles from
life 'f' n
Livingston, in Overton county, we found
to be small town surrounded by good
country. Crops in that locality look bet
than in many portions of East Tennes-
men in that vicinity who manifest an in
terest in building up their beautiful county.
From Livingston to jamestown, twenty
eight miles, the road for more than twenty
miles is right among the mountains. The
traveller aseends and descends throughout
the long tedious day, going up elevations
ranging from forty-fiye to ninety degrees.
some of them extend mile and half
others less. We reached Jamestown late
IN the evening, and partook of the
substantial repast provided by our
host with hearty good will. We
were about worn out a. was our
horse. The next day we passed over the
famous table lands of the Cumberland
range, SO miles to Crossville. The road is
one of the most lonely we have ever trav-
eled. The houses are ranged along at
from five to seven miles apart, and the
herds of fine cattle with their hundreds of
tinkling bells is all that breaks the mono
tony of the seen 1t is very fine graz
ing country. The grass stands thick
much of it three feet high, and seems to he
very luXuriant. Cattle thrive amazingly
with very little attention. In the
neighbOrhood of Crossville, a number of
Northern gentlemen have settled, and by
their enterprise are making the wilderness
to assume the aspect of life and BUSH
ness. Here we stopped over night.
Our host, Mr. Gibson, brought in
two fine, fat, fresh venison hams, which,
properly prepared for use, we were in
condition TO Thoroughly appreciate. Next
day wepassed overthe old stage road lead
ing from Knoxville to Nashville, and in
the evening found ourselves in comforta-
BILE quarters back in Sparta Next NOR
ming we greeted with feelings of pleasure
the old stage coach, for with horseback
ride OF one hundred and thirty-tive miles
over rough mountain roads we were begin
ing TO get heartily tired. We returned to
BlcMlnnville, stopping by the way and
spending an hour at Rock Island with the
old veteran, Gen. John b. Rodgers. We
had but little time to spare, but thought
there would be something of irreverence
in passing by one of Old Hickory's
comrades without taking him by the
hand. Under a cool shady bower
we spent pleasant hour, hearing
him recount events of the past He is one
of the very few left who participated i'm
Iienerh Jaekson's campaigns. Though old,
he has yet much Of the vivacity of youth,
and when he speaks of the past, patriotic
emotions cause his eye to sparkle with the
fires of other days. He pointed out to us
on his premises an old house in which
Gen. Jackson held court fifty-eight years
state of preservation. Time pressed us
and We bid the general nasty adieu, arri-
wing at McMinnyille late in the evening,
TO partake of splendid supper with Mrs.
Reid, who knows just how to keep hotel.
And here ends our chapter.
The late rains have improved the appear
anee OF crops wherever we have been, and
though the harvest may not be bountiful,
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