The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1906-05-17
The Matanga Settlement.

Imagine one sitting on some Appa-
lachian peak overlooking the "Watauga
Settlements One hundred and thirty
years ago, he would have seen vastness
and solitude. Today he sees the homes
of happy and prosperous people, Near
to the place where John Robertson 3
little log cabin first stood, there is now
the town of ElZabethton, the county
seat of Garter county, Tenn, place of
some $500 inhabitants. 1t lies at the
junction of the Watauga and Doer rivers,
offers an abundant supply of power to
the manufacturer, and is served by two
railroads-the Virginia and Southwest
ern, connecting it with Bristol, Ten.
nessee- Virginia; and the East Tennes-
see and Western North Carolina, con-
Meeting it with Johnson City, ten miles
distant, at the junction of the last nam
ed road with the Southern railway,
twenty-five miles south of Bristol.
Eight miles to the westward of Johnson
City is Jonesborc, the county seat of
Washington county, and the oldest
town in the state 1t was here that the
pioneers met to consult, to determine
and execute the laws, to swap horses,
do their shopping, play their games,
drink their modicums of liquor, prac-
tice target shooting, and, occasionally,
witness or take part in a fitsicuff. 1t
was here that Judge Andrew Jackson
ordered the sheriff to bring William
Bean before the bar of the court, di-
recting him to summon the necessary
assistance. Thereupon the sheriff sum-
moned His Honor, and His Honor,
without more ado, descending from the
bench and throwing off his coat, rushed
out of the courthouse, seized upon the
said Bean, hailed him before the bar OF
justice; and, resuming his coat and iu-
dicial functions, vindicating the majes.
ty of the law by proceeding with the
trial of said culprit. 1t was not very
far from Jonesboro that "Parson" Sam
uel Doak founded the first school il
tennessee, which school, from a pool
little log cabin, has grown into Wash
ipgton College and become an honol
and blessing to the cause of education
Not very far from this spot, on the No
lachucky river, was located the log cab
in of John Sewer, "Nolachucky Jack,
as he was called by the Cherokees
where he lived with his "Bonnie Kate
and kept open house like backwood
prince. Kate Sheriff. was O tall, lith
and handsome girl-a good sample o
an athletic young woman. A ''surpris
party" of Indians found her, with som
other white women, outside Of For
Lee, on the Watauga. The other wo
men were closer in and made a straig b
run for the gate, but the Indians go
between Kate and the entrance. He
fate seemed to be sealed, but she rush
ed for one of the sides, while Sewer
rife brought down the Indian neares
to her. 1t was race for life, but sh
reached the fort ahead of the Indians
The stockade was some eight feet high
but, springing from the ground, sh
caught the top, drew herself up ant
rolled over into Sewers ready arms
History does not record their emotions
but tells that "Nolachucky Jack" said
Bonnie Kate" and "Thou'rt fin
girl for a foot race, lassie, and som
other foolish things. The affair culmi
mated at his home on the Nolachucky
where Parson Doak tied the knot, whe
two oxen were roasted whole, when tn
old time fiddlers" played at the :" il
fair, and when there was feasting an
dancing in "The Settlements
BOONE KILLED THE BAR
Some eight miles from johnson Cit!
on Boone's creek, stands the famol
beech tree on which is cut:
....s...ss.s ssss.s ''''''s
u Room CjllAd A BAR in