Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-12-24
EARLY HISTORY OF TOBACCO ~
THE CLARKSvlLEE DIS
TRICT.

WANeS SOAAN AAtAC oAhSC III ttC W coA
ern Tobacco Journal, in regard tC
the early history of tobacco culture
here in the Clark sville region,
quote:
"The first extensive experiments
that were ever made in tobacco
culture IN the Clarksville region
were made near this place by emf
grants from Virginia and North
Carolina. AS stated in a previous
article In the Journal, this section
was peopled by emigrants from
Virginia and North Carolina.
Nearly every settler cultivated to-
tobacco, but on very small scale,
many only making enough fOI
home use. The parties alluded "a
from Virginia and North Carolina
were the first to engage in the
cultivation Of the weed on an ex-
tensive scale. People had tobacco in
patches, but they had fields Of it.
They settled on lands On the north
side of Red river, but their lands
not proving sufficiently fertile to
make the business remunerative,
they broke up and moved to within
six or eight miles of Clarksville,
where their experiment appears to
have been success. What gigan-
tic proportions the cultivation OF to-
bacco has assumed since then In this
/ Western countryp'
The experiments alluded TO on
the "north eide OF Rcd river" were
made within mile of this place.
The lands, after the pioneers moved
away, 'lay out" for more than half
century, but were reclaimed ten
or twelve years ago. 1t lies near
the river. All the early settlers
had hankering for water courses.
In the old States where they came
from-particularly In North Caroli-
na-alI the best land lies near the
water courses, and the early settlers
thought the same OF this country.
That was early in the beginning Of
the present century. The settler,
most extensively engaged In tobac-
co culture, after leaving this local
ity, moved to what is now called
the Stephen Ligon neighborhood,
and settled on the fertile lands
there, where ne again planted ex-
tensIvely, and was successful. His
failure here appears not to have dis
cOuraged him, but remember he
was a revolutionary soldier and
lived during a period that "tried
mems souls" and was not to be
calked by trifles. Others from the
old States, hearing Of the success Of
tobacco culture here in this Western
country, came out and engaged la
the business. Little by little the
business grew. At that time the
fertile lands on the james river, in
Virginia, were being cultivated in
the "weed." The river lands pro-
duced a rich, heavy tobacco that
was in great demand across the big
waters. 1t was soon found that our
rich, virgin soil produced a leaf
superior 10 IL in body and weight,
and the Virginia tobacco was des-
tined to be outstrlpped by its West
ern rival. Soil was cheap and many
came from the old States to engage
in tobacco culture. The business
continued to grow. New Orleans
was the nearest market. AN the
tobacco raised In this part of Mont
gomery county 'and all that was
raised In Robertson county, was
priced and sent to New Orleans in
"flat bottom" boats. There were
no buyers in the country, as now, to
button-hole farmers. The farmer
priced his tobacco, and paid the
owner of the boat so much per hid.
to deliver IL In New Orleans. Two
enterprising spirits ventured to
make purchases. They carried the
tobacco to New Orleans In ''fat bot
tom" boats made at this place. The
price OF tobacco suddenly declined
the very bottom fell out-and the
venture "busted" 'em. IL was then
rated a hazardous business, and mo-
body would buy this side Of the
Crescent City.
Many boats were built at this
place, and furnished employment
for a great many workmen. The
boats were built, then launched,
and the first "high risep loaded and
the trip safely made down Rel
river and into the Cumberland.
Many of the hands employed 10
steer the boats would walk back
from New Orleans. The fame cf
"Clarksville tobacco" spread abroad
1t crossed the big waters, where
there was a demand for Il paiEcu-
larly among the vigorous Ge'man
people. Its production steadily In
creased, end 1t soon exeelled the
carrying capacity of "flat botsomp
boats. Soon a home market was
established in ClarksvIlle by Messrs.
Beaumont, McKage, Proudfit and
Stewart, who came from England,
Ireland and Scotland. They bought
loose exclusively, and established
large stemming houses. Alta later
period Mr.. II. Dunlap settled In
Clarksville and engaged extensively
in the purchase of loose tobacco, and
soon vast establishments sprang up.
At still later period soms one con-
ceived the idea Of establishing auc-
tion sales OF tobacco and largo
ware houses soon sprung up for the
storage and sale of priced tobacco,
and thus was founded what many
now consider the best tobacco mar
ket In this whole Western country.
What gigantic proportions the cul-
tivation and production OF tobacco
has assumed within the recollection
Of the "oldest inhabItant.n
W.L.P.
Port Royal, dec. 20, 1881.
The advertisement Of Ike III.
Shelby of Clarksville, Tenn, Is In
this issue. Mr.. Shelby Is ono OF the
most competent as well as the old
eat fohaccO and commission mar