The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1902-02-27
THE GRAVE OF JACOB BROWN.
Interesting Facts Regarding the Intrepid
Pioneer Related Misstate-
ments Corrected.

ments Corrected.
Mr., j, Fain Anderson, of Washington
college, has requested your correspond
ent to correct some historical errors in
Mr. H. f. Beaumont's article on Jacob
Browns grave. Mr.. Anderson's wife
is descendant of Jacob Brown, and he
is therefore well posted in regard to
history Of this brave old pioneer.
Jacob Brown was accidentally killed
while bear hunting and his remains
were brought home and buried near
his own house-on q little knoll just
across the road from where Esquire
Bon Swingle now lives. The Tyler
farm, once the home of Col. John Sc
vier, is some four miles down the river
from the Brown place. Jacob Brown
was, therefore, not buried anywhere
near the home Of John Sewer, but four
miles up the river from the home of
Tennessees first governor. 1t is not
claimed that Jacob Browns grave was
the first grave ever made by the hand
OF man in what is now Tennessee, but
it was no doubt the first grave marked
by lettered tombstone in this section.
Another mistake is in regard to date,
etc. In speaking of Jonesboro, Mr..
Beaumont says: 'In it the closing
scenes Of that short lived state of
Franklin transpired when its history
terminated March 81, 1885,"
The Estate of Franklin" had its be-
ginning with convention held at
Jonesboro. August 93, 1884. John Se-
vier was made governor and Jonesboro
was chosen as the first capital, but later
on Greeneville was made the capital
and SO continued until the state went
down in defeat in little battle between
the adherents of Sewer and Upton at
the Upton place-a few miles out from
where Johnson City now stands-in the
last day of February, 1888.
From this time on Sewer did not ex-
ercise the functions of governor. He
fled or went down to Sewer county,
where he took part in the Indian war,
growing out of the murder of the Kirk
famil y by "Slim Tom, near Knoxville,
in May, 1888. After fighting this wal
to successful finish, Sewer came back
to this Section-his home was then in
Greene conNty-and along in October
rode into Jonesboro one day while Col,
John Upton and General" Martin
were "holding council of officers
here. ~=-....... .
Andrew Jackson had come from Nortl
Carolina to Jonesboro in the spring ol
1888, and was at the time boarding will
Leroy Taylor, two miles west of this
place. There is every reason to sup
pose that Andrew Jackson was here
that day, and in all probability it wal
here in Jonesboro on that day that Sc
vier and Jackson first met and becam,
acquainted.
Late in the afternoon John Sevie
left town and rode out to the Widow
Browns on Cherokee-Mrs Brown wa
the widow of Jacob Brown, above men
Homeland there stayed all night.
No attempt had been made by tn
Upton party to arrest Sewer here dur
ing the day, but that night Col. Tiptol
gathered posse of men and went il
pursuit of the erstwhile governor AM
came up with him at the Widow Brown
next morning at daylight. Sewer wa
then and there arrested and brough
back to Jonesboro and put in jail, the
was taken under a guard to Morganton
, N. c., for trial.
History gives the story of his rescue
. his return to his home in Greene couI
! ty and his subsequent election as
state senator from that county to th
v North Carolina legislature, his electio
a to congress in 1890 and his after caree
as warrior, first governor of Tennessee
etc.
There is every reason to believe thu
I John Sewer and Jacob Brown wei
I. great friends. The fact that Sevit
, went out and stayed all night at I'll
a home of Jacob Browns widow the nigl
9 before his arrest, is one evidence of
q Then in after years Byrd Brown, Jacc
! Browns youngest son, married gran,
+ daughter of John Sevier--a daughter
2 his son John, or "Jack," as he WI
y y called over on Chuckey river.
Jacob Brown was colonel aud
prominent man and large bondholde
There is tradition that an Indii
r chief came to him one day aud 50
D. that the Great Spirit had told him
10 ask Col. Jacob Brown for his regimen
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