Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-10-15
FROM UPPER EAST TENNESSEE.
Fhe Home of Hon. II. II. ButIer-.-Johnson
County.1-Its SOIL and Climate.
TANLoRsvILLE, Oct. G, 1873.

Ehe Home of Hon. II. II. ButIer-..Johuson
County.i-Its SOIL and Climate.
TAYLoRsvILLE, Oct. G, 1878.
Taylorsville Is q mountain town and is
the capital of Johnson county. 1t is
beautiful place, high and healthy, and the
best summer resort in all the country,
Were | in search of health would GER
tainly go to Taylorsville. There the air is
perfectly pure, and the water unsurpassed,
1t is desirable place any way you take it.
The citizens are hospitable, intelligent and
refined. There is school here that would
do ereditto your city, or any other city.
Nearly two hundred pupils are being edu-
Gated by competent teachers. The social
, element is admirable. The country con-
tiguous is rich and productive, and the
population industrious and wealthy. The
buildings are tastifully constructed, and
some of them very fine and costly. Hon.
R. r. Butler has magnificent residence,
but few finer in the State. He has dis
played remarkably good taste in its con-
struction.
Speaking of Judge Butler. reminds me
that l was intimately acquainted with
him in early life. 1 knew him when he
was so poor that he was not able to buy
decent clothes. He was brought up in a
tailors shop, had to make the fires,
black boots, sweep out the shop,
heat the smoothing irons and do all sorts
of drudgery. He afterwards learned the
taiIor's trade and made irst-rate work.
man. AT an early day he made his way to
this place, where he has been ever since,
and was not worth dollar when he reach
ed it. What wonderful change has been
wrought in his circumstances since that
unpropitiOus period! He is now a wealthy
man, worth his thousands of dollars and
still accommodating. He has always been
sober, frugal, honest and industrious. He
had natural ability of high order, as is
evidenced by the enviable position he now
occupies. He studied law, went to the
General Assembly of Tennessee ord after
wards to Congress where he is now. His
last contest was with Col. w. j. Carter, q
gentleman of considerable ability and of
irreproachable character. He distanced
him in the struggle, beating him over fiji
teen hundred votes. He fought against
wind and tide. No man ever con fronted
stronger and more bitter opposition.
But he was equal to the emergency, and
came out of the contest master of the sit
uatiCn. He is tough customer to handle,
and those who may attempt 1t in the flu
ture will find this out. He is immensely
popular throughot his district, and stands
nigh at home. Here where he has spent
the prime and vigor of his manhood, he is
highly respected His nature is warm and
genial, and he will 60 to any extent to
aid and accommodate friend. And let
me tell you that he is to-day infinitely a
better man than many of his calumnia-
tors.
was perfectly delighted with johnson
county. 1t is a great county, great in her
mineral resources, great in the fertility of
her soil and great in the noble population
within her borders. A more hospitable
people never breathed the breath of life.
rl,afr ora TO a
meet with generous welcome and recep-
tion. L speak understandingly on this
subject. My own reception was cordial,
and my recollectons of the place and peo-
pie will always constitute green spot in
my future career. / was the guest of Il.
s. Smith, Esq, where / Jared sumptuous.
ly. He has a lovely home and is sur
rounded by an amiable and intelligent FAM
lily. Mr.. Smith is a fine specimen of the
true gentleman, is intelligent, dignified
and generous.
l had gone to johnson county in the in
'terest of agriculture, and had an appoint
ment to address the farmers on the 9th of
this month. There was large gathering,
and, L will add, an enthusiastic one.
/ was astonished to find the farmers so
thoroughly aroused. They are far ahead
of many of the counties that boast of their
privileges. They are progressive men,
pushing ahead with their work, and build
have an excellent farming region, and one
of the best grass sections we have. They
are turning their attention to grazing, and
raise for the markets fine cattle, mules and
sheep. There is one interest they are neg
iecting-that of cultivating the cranberry,
which grows to perfection in this country.
1t is indigenous to this region, and thous-
ands of dollars could be made at a nomi-
nal cost by cultivating it. The berry is
large and lustious, though in its wild state
An enterprising man could take hold of
this interest and make fortune.
From Taylorsville / made my way to
Abingdon, Va. travelling through large
portion of Washington county. The Vir-
ginians are ''sOme" on "6rdg," but fail
are in their "conle oW.n / have not found,
anywhere, deader farmers than those of
Washington county, and was told there
was not, perhaps, II farmers club in the
State They live ON their ancestral blood!
ALoNZo DANTE.