Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1915-05-12
OLD RESIDENT LETTER
Mrs. ZiIpha FLYNN Has Lived In This
County 85 Years.

Lantana, Tenn, May II, 1916
Editor Chronicle:
In compliance with recen
lrequest in the Chronicle l send you tn
following article. The subject of thl
sketch. Zilpha Flynn, was the daugh
ter of john and Sarah Wyatt and wa
born in BuncuHb county. North Caro-
lima. July 7th, 1926, and is therefore 81
years of age. In 1926 her parents
emigrated from North Carolina. t.
Tennessee and settled in what Is now
Melgs county, then the Cherokee pur
chase.
| In 1880 they moved to Crossville,
then city of two families, namely.
William Gibson and John Narramore.
Mrs. Flynn. then being five years old,
has lived in this county ever since, has
never been out of the county except
four times in her life. making her resi-
dence here 85 years July z.
In 1888 her parents moved to the
farm now owned by Riley Wyatt and
lived there until she was twenty years
of age, when she met and married r.
L. Flynn. q native mountaineer. Mrs.
Flynn and her husband settled seven
niles north Of her old home, and has
lived there ever since, until the death
of Mr.. Flynn. which occurred nine
years ago
10 this union there were born nine
children. thirty four grandchildren.
forty seven great grandchildren and
five great, great grand children.
Since the death of Mr.. Flynn she
has continued to live with her youngest
son at the old FLYNN homestead.
Mr.. Flynn was a man of great
strength. tall and slender and was a
noted hunter and at the me of his
marriage aside trou srnall sop cu,-
tivated in the summer and a'few head
Of stock, lived chiefly by his gun. as
game at that time was plentiful in this
country.
Mrs. Flynn, having lived in this
country ever since. has seen all the
progress of the country, from the shop
made hoe and bull-tongue plow, which
cultivated few acres, to the modern
farm machinery which cultivates our
nice farms. She has seen the change
in society from almost semi.savage
state to the good society which we now
enjoy. From the log meeting house,
without any floor, which was used also
for school purposes. to the splendid
church and school buildings which we
now have, and as she with her husband.
lived through the civil war, of course
Dhe has witnessed many sad ana solemn
scenes.
MIR. Flynn took an active part as
pilot and scout, for the Union army,
through the mountains of East Tennes-
zee and experienced many narrow es-
capes from death. He was known |
throughout the mountain country as
the "Red Fox" on account of his skill |
10 a woodsman and his ability to dodge |
The enemy. On one occasion he was |
dispatch from Col. Palmer.
If the 11th Ohio regiment. who was
Itationed at Cedar Grove. in SeQuatchie
vaIley, to Col. Stokes. of the 5th Ten
aessee cavalry. who was stationed at
Sparta, Tennessee. On account of the |
,erilous nature Of the errand, Col.
Palmer proposed to furnish him m es-
,ort. but Flynn, knowing the mountain
country and the location of his destina-
ion, refused the escort and started out
N foot with the message in his pocket.
He made the long journey without
Incident until he was within few
niles Of Sparta and thinking he was
Iafely inside of Col. Stokes OUTPOST,
EFT the woods and took the main road
or Sparta, but had proceeded but q
hort distance when he met squad OF
ebe! guerillas squarely in the road.
1t the point where they met, was on a
teep mountalnside at sharp curve in
he road. To his left was the steep
nountainside, to his right was strip
# woods about 4O yards wide, beyond
which was large corn-field surround
ID by heavy staked and ridered fence.
The field was filled with dry stalks, as
{ was late fall. When he saw that he
vas surrounded by the enemy, he knew
hat his life depended only on quick
hought. and if possible. quicker move
nent. Az they questioned him con-