The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-03-01
TENNESSEE ROMANCE.
History Of the Old Houss With Four
Ohimneys
A Kobe Fortune Lost The Owner OF Fine
Property Sinks {, . Laborsr's Life and his
Frssnd Marries His Divorced Wife

region rlcn In cont ana iron, heavily
timbercd. posssesslng some fine farm-
ing aud grazing lands and noted for
It's beautiful streams and picturesque
scenery.
ride OF many miles along the old
stage road leading from Nashville To
Knoxville Indicated that Ia ante bel
lum days, before the railroads were
built this section enjoyed a high de-
gree OF prosperity and wealth. All
along the route may be seen the old
time characteristic southern mansions
two stories high. portico In front.
wide hall and massive chimney ut
each end and invariably on the out
side.
But these pretentious IN lnsions are
falling into decay. Moss-grown.
weather-stained aud dilapidated. they
ara mute mementoes OF the hopes and
ambitions of their builders long since
laid 10 rest aud generally la the gar
den adjoining the dwelling. where the
grayestoncs are nearly hidden from
view by weeds and brambles. Some
times these graves are marked by
costly monument. as imposing ms those
u
with an iron railing. In one place the
shaft had tumbled from the pedestal
and no loving hand replaced IL. III
though the descendants OF the one thus
honored lived close by the old home
Having occasion TO inquire the way
several times IL was soon discovered
that nearly ali roads led 10 one par
tlcular house. which seemed 10 be
L.. Al. A Ia
was. therefore. concluded that this
particular mansion must have been
occupied by "A patriarch with history,
ana the place was Apo cached with
curiosity. Entering the beautiful
valley. surrounded by wooded hills.
the stately rcsiderce OF Colonel ------
came la view and give the tourist "a
genuine surprise. for IL wts greater
and more imposing than anything
heretofore seen along the route In the
way OF architecture.
In Kentucky 1t is said that when
man has chimney az each end Of tho
house he is "A major, hut in Tennessee
IL seems that the rank OF colonel Is in-
dicated by four chimneys, for here was
mansion nearly twice as large as
those before noted, with IA double por-
tico In front and four massive chin
neys, nil on the outside. This great
mansion had been built in the days Of
the stage coach. and as the owner had
kept the stage station, an important
function in those days, he h builded
In a manner commensurate with his
importance.
Up the beautiful valley, through
which flowed noisy and seemingly
querulous brook. were some five or SIX
hundred acres In cultivation. or land
that had been In cultivation. now
mostly In pasture or occupied by hriars
and broom sedge There was not much
stock 10 be seen, though the surround
ings were those OF an ideal stock farm.
SO far as natural advantages arc CON
cerned. The road led around the base
OF high buif and forty or ilfty feet
above and running parallel with the
road was AN old omhankment, giving
the impression that some time Ia the
long ago nn attempt d been made TO
construct u roadway along this precip-
itous hillside.
A sharp turn IN the road dispelled
the Illusion, for 10 revealed u bridge
over mill race and below was an old
mill with IA ponderons overshot water
wheel, presenting a picture That
would entrance nm artist or poet. The
mill was green with the moss OF fifty
summers Here had been ground the
corn 10 feed hundred slaves and the
mill race had been dug TO lead down
tie water from nevcr-failing spring
high up In the ravine. Thinking that
some romance must attach 20 such I'M
teresting surroundings, inquiry was
made OF AN old resident who related
the following story OF the house OF
four chimneys
During the war with the Cherokee
Indians General Jackson's command
was for time eucamped on the Ten
nessee river not far from this place.
Along with the army rs kind OF camp
follower came young man by the
name OF Eskridge and his wife. He
bought piece OF land and remained
hero when the army moved away
Being industrious and frugal he rapid
ly accumulated property and soon had
large plantation. we'll stocked He
Il was who built the house OF four
chimneys and the mill with the over
shot wheel.
He seemed TO possess mania for
buying land and. at the time OF his
death. few years previous 10 tho
war owned all the land for nine NILES
up and down the Tennessee river aud
far buck Ia tho interior. lie died
chldlsss and left his large estate 10 u
nephew, whom he h d raised. When
the nephew cano into possession he
Was accounted the richest man in
Roane county. but he was IMMERSED
in the ways OF the world and lacking
| in htsiness capncity.