The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-12-03
DA VID CROCKETT.
A LETTER FROM ONE OF HIS
Old NEIGHBOURS.
CULLAsAUA, Macon co., N. O.,
90 1901

November %, 1884.
! To the Editor otths Morristown Gazette:
| Some weeks ago saw in the
Knoxville Chronicle an enquiry for
the purpose of gaining knowledge
of the history of the celebrated
DaUy Crockett / first knew him
when was child, then when a
boy, then when a youth perhaps Is
years old, then saw him when a
man of 20 years.
Crockett was poor man when
first l saw him. He was then a
married man, lived E of mile of
my father, in Findley's Gap. in
Jefferson county, Bays mountain,
Tenn. This gap is on the road
leading from. Messy Creek to month
of Chucl6y, and is in the line. of
ridges that spans the Honeycutt
alleysthat runs near to Morristewn.
Ny first recollection of Crockett,
was when boy, of some 6 or S
years cid. He then was making
rails for my father. l went to him
where he had cut very large vel
low pine tree. He frequently call
ed on me to hand him the wedge or
glut, whichever he wanted. This
ends my boy recollection of Crock
EFT. This period was near the time
of the war of 1912 with Great Bri-
tain. Crockett, about this time.
moved to what was then called the
Western District, or Fork-a Deer
country, in Tennessee. His wife's
name was Mary Findley. When he
lett the country he was poor, and
left debt of one dollar to my father.
He was absent several years till
saw him again. One morning was
standing in the door next the main
road; looked down the road to-
wards Messy Creek and saw a fine
Looking man riding in front of q
large drove of horses, He rode OBJ
posite me and stopped and asked
me if my mother was in the house.
[ answered she was. "TelI her to
come to the door" I did SO, and
when she appeared he said, "How
do you do, Mrs. Jacobs ?" Nv
mother, "Sir, you have the advan-
tage eff me. ''es4''I am Davy Crock
EFT, !" responded he. els that YOU
Davy,", said my mother. aY es, y
said Crockett, "this is Davy Crock
EFT" Then general shaking of
hands took place, an enquiry of the
health of families, etc. Just at this
moment his horses came rushing up
and were like to get ahead of him. |
He thrust his hand into his pocket
and pulled out a silver dollar and
said, "Here, madam, is a dollar I
owed your husband, John Jacobs, |
when | left the country" Ny faith
er had died in the meantime. Nv
mother said, "Davy, l don't want
it, ~"I owed it, said he, "and you
have got to take it." Ny mother
then took the dollar, and Davy
Crockett rode. on to South Carolina
to sell his horses: This ends nv
second short acquaintance with this /
noted man. Someio several wears
and Crockett had made his
way to the Congress of the United
States. James Blackburn had a
corn shucking in my neighborhood.
There We're many hands around the
heap. We saw a fine gentleman
.iding towards the. house. He
afightea and went into the house
made himself known, passed the
usual eomplim then came down
% the man. around the heap of corn,
gave a genera shaking of hands
With all the citizens, then turned up +
he cuffs of his fine broad cloth and
vent to shocking corn like the other
lands. He worked on till dinner !
vas announced, then eat his dinner
nd leftsfor his home. This was
he last sight [ ever had of this !
man. | shall here give
'ou a description of Davy Crockett.
lie was about 6 feet high, weighed 4
wo hundred pounds, had no sur
'lus flesh, broad shouldered, stood
rect, was a man of great physical
trength, sf fine appearance, cheeks
lantled with rosy hue, eyes viva
ieus, and in form had no superior. ;
N. R,-The writer studied wheth-
r to write or not, after serious and
lose thinking. 1 could find no one
/ all that part CT your country that
ad any recollection of Davy Crock
tt but myself. This prompted me
} write. | am now near entering
ito my 80th year. | never knew
here Crockett was born. 1sil 2
% Very respectfully,
JOHN Z. JACOBS.