Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-05-26
MEMORIES OF THE PAST
"reminiscences of Some Famous
Tennesseans.
The Oldest County and the Oldest
Town in Tennessee.

Soou olu county OF washington Is not
only the Oldest county in the State, but
a county full of historic interest; and
it is believed to be well authenticated,
historical fact that it was the first
county in the United States named in
honor of George Washington named
soon after Braddocks defeat.
Within the bounds of this ancient
county occurred many of the stirring
scenes and incidents relating to the
history OF the States of Franklin and
Tennessee over hundred years ago.
Jonesboro, the county seat of Washing
ton County, is the oldest town in Ten
nessee, and was the proud capital of
vhe little but ambitious State of Frank
lin during its brief and stormy life.
In 1884 the convention met here in
Jonesboro and organized the State of
Franklin. Out on the banks of the
Nolachucky the old fashioned house,
with its great stone chimney, where
Gov. John Sewer once lived, is still
standing and on the south side of the
river is tract of $40 acres of land, once
the property of Sewer, but now owned
by the heirs of Gen. A. E. jackson.
This land was entered by John Sewer,
and afterward sold to Gen. Jackson's
father, only changing hands about
twice in a century. In this county Sc
vier gathered many of the volunteers
who went with him to fight the Battle
of Kings Mountain, and it is well
authenticated tradition that GAM or
young, one of Sewers riflemen from
this county, was the soldier who killed
Col. Patrick Ferguson, the British COM
mander at Kings Mountain, thereby
ending the battle without further loss
OF life, and giving the Americans
glorious victory.
On high hill on the banks of the
Nollachucky, and some distance up the
river from the old Sewer homestead,
are two unmarked, uncared for graves
the graves of old man Sherrell and
wife, the parents of Katy Sherrell, the
maiden that history says, when fleeing
from the Indians, leaped over the pali-
sades of the fort and fell into the arms
of John Sewer, her future husband.
A short distance out from johnson
City is the old Upton house, the home
of Sewers arch enemy, John Upton.
At this place the adherents of Sewer
and Upton fought what to them was a
great battle, but in this day and time
would hardly be regarded as a skir-
mish. Among Sewers party was An
drew Hannah, from near Washington
College; and, as it was rainy day, his
powder got wet and his old flintlock
piece would not fire, so he ran, and
Upton S men got his horse. Next day
he sent his neighbor, Alex. Mathes, to
tell Upton that he didn't "fre a gun"
in the battle, and Upton gave him his
horse. Hannah afterwards became
member of the Legislature from this
county.
Some seven or eight miles from this
place out on Boone's Creek, is the his
toric Boone Tree, beech tree, on
which the great pioneer and Indian
fighter carved in rude letters: I'D. Boone
cilled Bar on tree 1885," and down on
this creek which bears his name tradi-
tion points out the falls where Boone
once hid himself from the Indians.
Eight miles southwest of this place is
Washington College, the first institu-
ton of learning founded in the Missis-
sippi Valley, founded about 1850 by
Rev. Samuel Doak, who was educated
by Rev John Witherspoon, one of the
signers of the Declaration of Independ-
ence. Mr.. Doak himself was also
patriot, and went with Sewers army
on its way to Kings Mountain as far
as Elizabethton and there dismissed
them with the scriptural benediction:
THE sword of the Lord and of Gideon"
In after years "Old Hickory" then
known as Judge Jackson, came here to
hold court; and on the hill side, south
of our present court house, tradition
says, is the spot where he arrested the
desperate Bean. Of course no monu-
ment marks the exact spot; but as a
recorded historical fact, it is one of the
many incidents in Jackson 3 life, show
ing what brave and determined man
he was, and also the wonderful power
of the human eye, for Bean afterwards
said the reason why he surrendered to
jackson was that "he saw shoot in his
eye." Old Hickory was also as popular
in this county as he was brave, for in
1882, his last race for President, he re-
ceived every vote polled in the county
except three. In 1886 Jackson spent a
day here at the Jonesboro Inn, and re-
ceived quite an ovation, and his old
friends and admirers came in by hun
dreds to shake hands with him. Itwas
on this occasion that he was accom-
panied by the polished and courtly fox
of Kinderhook-Van Buren,, then a
candidate for jackson 3 old shoes. which
he got that year, but lost four years
| later in the preat hard cider loo IN h;y,