Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-10-03
JONEsBORO' CENTENNIAL.


celebrate the centennial of the
oldest town in the State. One hum
dred years ago Jonesboro' was laid
out. John Wood, Jesse Walton,
George Russell, Jonas Stewart and
Benjamin Clark were appointed
commissioners to lay out and direct
the buildings. Washington county
was laid off in Nov, 17T7, by the
authority of North Carolina. 1t
embraced about the same territory
as is now included in the State of
Tennessee.
Jonesboro' was named in honor
of Willie Jones, of Halifax, North
Carolina, of whom history gives the
following account: Willie Jones
was distinguished as firm and de-
termined friend Of the country in
her struggles for freedom. He was
virtually Governor of North Caro-
lima during the interregnun be-
tween the abdication Of Gov. Mar
tin, the last Of the royal Governors,
and the ascension Of Gov. Caswell.
He was a member Of the Conti>
mental Congress, which met in Phil
adelphia in 1880.
From 1859 to 1777, We must
look to the history of the Watauga
Association for an account Of the
early settlement Of the country.
In 1850, we find that the celebrated
pioneer hunter, Daniel Boon, made
his appearance on the Watauga and
| its tributaries. About this time he
was chasing the wild game over the
hills where now the Industrious
farmer reaps his abundant harvests.
The celebrated beech tree on Boon's
Creek bears this old and envious in
scription sd. Boone cilled A Bar
on Tree in the year 1850" One
hundred and nineteen years ago the
tread of the white man fell upon the
ear of the Red man, who fshed
along the streams and roamed over
the beautiful hills of upper East
| Tennessee. .---
The State of Frankland was
created in 1884. Five delegates
from each of the several counties
met in convention in Jonesboro' on
the 14th Of Decem Der and adopted a
Constitution. John Sewer was made
President of that Convention. This
same body met in Greeneville in
1885 and ratified the Constitution
Langdon Carter became speaker Of
the Senate and William Cage
Speaker of the House, and Johr
Sewer was made Governor o.
FARMLAND. The name was giver
} in honor of Benjamin Franklin
the patriot and statesman. Tht
|
history of FARMLAND is as Interest,"
, ing as fairy tale of the older
8 time. We love to dwell upon it
g are proud of it, and glory
3 in the illustrious deeds tina
l adorn SO splendidly the historic
! name of FARMLAND, whose capital
r nestled away among the hills, wa
q Jonesboro', the quaint, old town o
: century's growth.
= Rev. Samuel Doak, the pionee
: of learning in the West, had alread,
Q established a school near the pres
u ent site of Washington College. L
7, 1885 Mortier Academy was organ
d lied, and named in honor of Alex
# ander Mortier, Governor of Mort
e Carolina. Washington Colleg
= grew out Of this institution
y The first Legislature that me
it in the State of Tennessee char
> tered it. In Washington count
d was established the first classic;
t. school west of the Alleghanie'
IT The name and fame of Doak haV
1T given an additional luster to tn
II history of the times in which b
- lived. Ever since his day th
d schoolmaster has been abroad in tn
e. land.
y The Centennial calls up man
N "reminiscences of the past. III
s memory of the Jacksons, Sewer
o. Tiptons, Carriers, Doaks, McLir
~ and nfhAr ~, =, :, -, - - !,