The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-08-25
A TRIP TO
THE GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN.
BY JOHN MURPHEY.

To the Editor OF the Morristown Gsxet4et
At 8 40 o'clock, a. M. August IL
1875, our party, consisting OF Cassi
mer Faulk, Stuttgart Conservatory
Professor of Music, Martha Wash
ington College, Va, Capt Kemp
Murphey, Fl. P. Murphey and myself
being well supplied with blankets
overcoats, umbrellas, basket OF pro
vision, etc., left Taylorsville, the
county site of johnson county, Ten.
nessee, in one of Studebaker Bros.
best make of Jerseys, drawn by a
| splendid span of mules, travelling
South, first passing between the Doe
mountain on our right and the Forge
mountain on our left, for two miles
here we pass Shown's x Roads. and
around the base of Morefeld noun
tain, lying on our left, one and half
miles, overlooking the finest bottom
lands in this county. Meantime
crossing Forge creek and on to the
South Fork of Roan's creek, travel.
ing up the same, over a very rough,
rocky, but well-graded road, fringed
on either side by the wild feathery
fern, and other wild growth, through
dense forests of spruce and white
pine of immense size and heighth.
interspersed with the linn, the birch,
the poplar, etc, with a very dense
underground of laurel, ivy. swamp
dogwood, etc, distance of Z miles,
when the country, which is near the
| top Of the Stone mountain, began to
open out and some excellent grass
farms are to be seen on either side
of our road. We passed the last
limestone just at the time we started
up the creek. Then came the usual
sandstone formation, and as we ap-
preached the top OF the mountain the
Using glass or mica and quartz could
be seen all along the road Here in
this settlement the pine forests
through which we had been travelling
for several miles, gave place to the
sugar tree, oak. poplar, walnut, but
ternut, etc, the soil being a rich loan,
producing corn, wheat, oats and tim
othy in abundance.
At 12I p. m. we halt en- the Ten.
nessee side of the State line, dis
mount and partake of substantial
lunch, after which we pass the State
line at l 40. p. M, on to Cove creek,
a tributary of the Watauga river,
down which we travelled about eight
miles, over n very rough and narrow
road, filed with loose rocks in many
places, passing now and then a good
substantial log meeting house and
some very good frame dwelling hous-
es, and one stone house, McBride's.
The valleys along this creek are very
narrow, the mountains and hills shut
ting in close to the creek. The soil
is rich, even to the tops of the noun
tains, and on all sides, and especial
ly adapted to the raising of timothy.
All along our journey, on the North
Carolina side of the mountain, hay
making was going on, between the
showers. A fine country for raising
cattle, sheep. horses and mules, but
the people raise cattle and sheep
mostly. All the stock we see is in
fine condition. The timber along
this creek is the same as last describ-
ed, with the addition of the buckeye.
But little indications of minerals are
to be seen. A sandstone formation,
interpreted with different varieties
Of quartz. At Mr.. Moss's, about
miles from the mouth Of the creek.
we changed our direction, leaving
the creek and passing over high
and rugged ridge and the worst road
yet, to the Watauga river, which we
found to be quite muddy and little
swollen. Up this we travelled east
two miles, to Henry Taylor's, where
we halted for the night. He is well
situated. Has large fine river bot
tom farm, good house, store house,
out houses, etc, and we'll fixed for
entertaining the weary traveller and
we can truthfully say that he is
we'll informed gentleman, and his es-
timable lady and himself know how
to entertain their guests in manner
that is sure TO induce them to call
again should opportunity offer. At
this place the bottom lands along the
Watauga spread out about half
mile in width, surrounded by high
hills, which are covered by splendid
timber, some being the white pine.
Here they haye a post Office. called
Valley Crucis, also good Methodist
Church, and short distance up the
Valley creek, which empties into the
river at this place. can be seen the
remains of an old College, erected
by Bishop Ives, 80 or 40 years ago.
It is So miles from this place to Lee
noir, south, Is miles, west, to the
Cranberry iron works, z miles, north
cast to Boon the county site of this
(Watauga) county, 5 miles south to
Hanging Rock mountain, aud Is
miles south to the Grandfather
mountain. No iron ore in this vicin-
ity.
3th.-All up at o'clock. after a
good nights rest. and ell feeling
much refreshed; very cloudy; thun-
dering and lightning breakfasted at
o'clock, on biscuit, bacon, chicken,
poached eggs, butter, honey, coffee, |
milk, etc. BY this time the clouds
began 10 disappear. and bid fair for
n clear day. or we move at u
o'clock in fine glee up the right bank
of the Watauga, our direction being |
east; splendid road, but warm; the
water being OF dark color. the trout
abonnding But little bottom lands
after leaving Taylor's; making hay