Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-10-10
PIONEER WILLIAM BEAN.
Boone's Friend and Companion in
Settling Tennessee.
An Interesting Sketch Of the Early Days
Of Tennessee How Bean Killed
Indians..IIis Descendants.


In writing the history OF this upper
East Tennessee country, historians have
usually begun by stating that in the
year 1860 Capt. VIM. Bean came from
Pittsylvania County, Va, and built a
cabin on the banks, and near where
Boone's Greek empties into the w atauga
river. But as to the exact spot where
Capt. Bean made the first settlement,
written history seems to leave the reader
in much doubt 1t is very generally
accepted and we'll authenticated fact
among the old citizens living in that
immediate neighborhood that Capt.
Bean first settled on the farm now
owned by Valentine Devault, on the
north side of the Watauga river, and
about one mile above the mouth OF
Boone's Creek. His cabin, or little fort,
stood very near where Mr.. Devault's
house now stands; and on this side of
the river are high, precipitous cliffs. 1t
is said that the Indians used to come
from down about the Nola Chucky
river, following the old trial that ran
near this place--and remains of which
can be seen even to this day-up to the
Watauga river, and would secrete
themselves on the high cliff opposite
Beans cabin and watch for chance
to shoot at some Of them when they
came out. One day as one of the girls
was going to the spring an Indian,
lying high up on tho opposite cliff,
picked her off with his long range rifle.
Bean determined to have revenge, and
so going down the river to the shoal he
waded over and getting ahead of the
Indians, lay in ambush by the side of
their trail; and when they come in
sight, marching in single file, he fired
at the foremost warrior and killed him.
The Indians gathered. up their dead
brother and continued their march to-
wards the Nola Chucky. Bean ran off
to one side, and as he ran, loaded his
gun and then came in ahead and killed
another heap good Indian" They
picked up this dead one and moved for.
ward. Bean ran in ahead of them
again, and getting good chance, fired
and this time killed two at one shot.
Four dead out of band Of perhaps
eight 80 demoralized the remaining In
dians that they broke and fed, leaving
the dead to bury the dead.
On another occasion some of the boys
told Bean that they had heard turkey
gobbler over on the cliff and asked II
they might 20 over and shoot itp He
told them no; that if they went over
there they would never get back alive.
Bean himself went down the river and
crossing over at the shoals, came up on
this side, and guided by the peculiar
"gobble" of the turkey, he slipped up
towards the cliff with the stealthiness
of cat, and there behind log lay,
not turkey gobbler, but great big
greasy Indian hidden behind log and
with his bead like eyes fixed on the lit
tie fort across the Watauga, watching
for some one to come out so that hi
could shoot him. Bean put an extri
charge of powder in his rifle and tool
a good dose himself to steady his nerve
fred with deliberate aim, and ther,
was one more good Indian" gone. 81
then cut off the warriors head and tool
it back over the river to the boys, tell
ing them, there is your wild turkey!
Bean afterwards moved over on thi
side of the river, and built house nea
Boone's Creek. He built double cabir
entered by a single door, and under tn
floor of the room containing the doc
he had very deep cellar; so when th
Indians were around he could remov
the puncheon floor, and when the
came rushing in at that one door the
would tumble down into that deep eel
lar. Then his wife and boys woul
shoot them, or he himself would stan
on the edge and knock them in th
head. Andisit said the old man used I
laugh and tell what fun 1t was to brea
their heads while they were hoppin
around in the cellar like 80 many raj
caught in tub.
Capt. Bean did good service here fo
, a number Of years, fighting Indians an
Kidding the country of tories. The
feeling, perhaps, that he was getting To
much crowded, he moved on down I'll
country and founded Beans Station.
| His son, Russell Bean, who 1t will /
!. remembered history mentions as th
first white child born in what Is no
Tennessee, remained a citizen of th
. county where, latter on, he further in
mortalized himself by resisting arres
! which leads on to the sheriff summon
/. ing his honor, Judge Andrew Jackson
himself to get down off the bench an
go out and take Russell. jackson wer
and took him right here on the hi
side, south Of our court house. Aft
Russell Bean became an old man an