Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-09-12
HONOR THE PIONEERS.
Tennesseans Should Organize for
Preserving Their History.
A Feature of the Celebration That De-
scendentS Of Noble Men and WO-
men ShOniI N0t NEGLECT


When we look around and see the
wonderful advance our State has made,
intertwined in the laurels of its fame
are the faces and memories of its pio
neer heroes. 1t is but just and right
that we honor as well as remember the
work of these hero pioneers They
were sturdy men of courage and nerve,
who cut the cane and felled the forests,
who built the log cabins, the log
churches and the log school houses,
and blazed the way to our present con-
dition of prosperity and respectability
as State.
The Tennessee Centennial has made
this q marked feature OF its program,
and to the living descendents of that
band, whose noble deeds and daring
high blend with the notes of victory"
an earnest appeal is made to aid in
every way possible this grand feature
of the centennial event.
One echo from the bugle of fame as
it sounds the revielle of the past should
stir hundreds of hearts, in which flow
the blood of Robertson, to whose name
is added father of Tennessee, of the
two branches of the Campbell family,
one of which is represented by Gen.
Campbell, who fought at the battle of
Kings Mountain; of the SEWERS, the
Crocketts, the McLins, the Carriers,
Blount, Smith, Bledsoe and Manskers,
of Jack Bean, the great Indian fighter,
whose name heads the list of children
born in Tennessee, of the Gordons,
Herndons, Haywoods and Craigheads;
of the Shelbys, Daniel Boone and Cal
loway; of the Spencers, one of whom,
named Thomas Sharpe, lived in hol-
low tree near Bledsoe's Lick, and made
crop; of the Walkers, Donaldsons,
Taylors, Rutledges, Maurys, Bedfords,
and host of others, equally promi-
hent on the pages of Tennessee's early
history and fame. There is scarcely a
county in the State whose name does
not suggest the name of one of it's
heroes and its martyrs.
Would it not be well for the repre-
sentatives of the various names sug-
gested, as well as many others equally
meritorious, to organize clans, or other
organizations, to see that they and
their worthy ancestry were properly
mentioned and represented; and in the
iterim, give us through the public
press such names, events and data as
would he of interest and instruction,
and thereby assist in building up and
preserving State history, matter SO
sadly neglected by us. School chill
dren in Tennessee know more of the
history of Massachusetts than they do
of their own State, and this is no re-
Election upon Massachusetts, but to
her credit, and rather to our shame
that we have neglected so important
and so patriotic labor.
Let each and every descendent of
these noble men and women and of
other grand families awaken to a Just
sense of the pride and importance of
this feature of our Centennial.
l would suggest the advice given by
my friend George Whitaker, of Maury
County, to his boys. George was a
stirring farmer, and each day in the
season of labor, as the dinner horn
sounded summons to the toilers to
the family board, they would, after a
splash in the clear, cool water, assem-
BILE on the trout porch for breathing
spell, and he would say: Now, boys,
while we are resting and waiting for
dinner let's work the garden"
While we are waiting for the great
festive event let's work the garden.
Any data, names or events connected
with our State history, and its found
els and builders, in the possession~of
the people should be furnished through
the press or by mail to the Secretary.
Each could thus assist in making this
matter feature of especial interest.
We hope that each will feel personal
interest and pride and the press of the
State give publicity and emphasis to
the movement. Any communication
to the Secretary will receive prompt
and graceful attention.
JOSEPH II. DEW,
Secretary Pro Tem., Tennessee Gen.
tennial. I