The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1900-02-08
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
From the Earliest Settlement up to the
Present Time.

The Cumberland County Again-GoR-
ernment of the Notables Social Af-
fairs - Expedition Into the Indian
Country-Spanish Intrigues-Popu-
lation in 1900.
We return now for further notice of
the settlements on the Cumberland un-
der James Robertson.
Soon after reaching his new home
Robertson aud others had seen the ne
cossity of form of government, and
they made compact similar, it is
thought, to the Watauga compact, 1t
was signed by 95G persons, Instead of
a committee of thirteen, however, it
proved twelve, and they are referred to
as judges, triers or general arbitrators.
The subcommittee of five do not ap-
pear to have been retained, either, for
the judges or triers were declared to
have the proper jurisdiction for the re-
covery of debt or damage, provided the
cause of action had arisen among the
settlers when they were beyond the
limits of government. The judges had
criminal jurisdiction, but were forbid
den to proceed with execution so far as
to affect life or member, in which case
the offender was to be sent under guard
to the place where the oifense was COM
mitted or to place where legal trial
could be had-perhaps in the older sec
tion of North Carolina. The members
we're elected by the various parts. The
articles were signed at Nash 5oro, May
10, 1880, that place being the center of
population.
This government of Notables was al
lowed to "rest in its machinery" dur
ing the trying years of 17Sl-82, but on
January z, 1888, it was revived. The
growth of the settlements now became
rapid. James Robertson was elected a
member of the General Assembly of
North Carolina, and had the Cumber-
and section formed into the county of
Davidson. A Court of Pleas and Quar-
Ter Sessions was established, as in the
east, while land Office was opened.
log courthouse was built, and Jail
as we'll.
In 1884, Nashville succeeded Nash
boro. A year latter Superior Court
Of law aud equity was to I've held in the
county and still later the General AS
sembly erected Sumner county out of a
part of Davidson, and military guard
of 200 men were directed to be enlisted
for the protection of the inhabitants.
Crude corn mills were built, whisky
vas distilled aud the salt industry was
encouraged. School teachers, lawyers
and preachers began to arrive, and the
progress of the settlements was re-
markable after 1888. No part was tax
en- in the effort to establish the State of
Franklin.
But the hatred of the Indians in
creased as the settlers prospered. Their
depredations brought on the Cold Wa
ter expedition by the Cumberland set
tiers in the fall of 1887, Certain out
RACES were traced to the Indians living
near the Mussel Shoals in the Teunes-
see river, and Robertson with 1870 men
guided by two friendly Chickasaws,
resolved to invade their retreat. In
addition to this force, some boats cen
tanning provisions were sent around
under the command of David Hay.
The Indian stronghold lay near q
large spring where the town of Tus-
oumbia, Alabama, now stands. The
inhabitants of the village were mostly
Creeks, and desperate gang. The
attack was made early in the morning.
The surprised inhabitants fed toward
the river to get in their boats, but were
Intercepted and slaughtered. Twenty
six Indians were killed in the boats OF
drowned. Three French traders and O
white woman were also killed and one
or two Indian women captured.
Living in continual apprehension,
the settlers yet had some enjoyment.
There we're log-rollings, house-rais-
ings, ,foot-racings and social gatherings.
The backwoods fiddlers were found in
each settlement; there were occasional
marriages; there was the excitement Of
the bear and buffalo hunt; and it is
said on the authority Of Haywood, the
father of Tennessee history, that pio.
neers, believing in spooks, had theil
interesting stories to tell of adven
lures as exciting as those of Tan
O'Shanter as he cantered homewarC
from Ayr.
In November, 1888, the new county
of Tennessee was made, its seat to bt
at Clarksville; and when it, Davidson
and Sumner counties were erected intC
a now district for holding the Superio,
Court, james Robertson suggested t.
the General Assembly of North Caro-
lima, of which he was member, tina
the district be named Nero.
| And this brings us to the so-callet
Spanish intrigues in which John Sevie
How is This?
We offer One Hundred Dollars Reward 70