"History of White County", Chapter V

History of White County is a 1935 book by Reverend Monroe Seals.
==CHAPTER V== 
===Biographies===
In this chapter the purpose is to give a brief biographical sketch of some of
the men who have gone on to their reward, but who have helped in making the
history of the County. The first is that of John White who has already been
mentioned in the story of Pioneer days. He was born March 1, 1751. He was the
first settler of White County and the County was named for him, though some
historians say that the County was named after Hugh Lawson White. The house
which John White built has been remodeled but is still in use. It is now owned
by Luther Moss. White was a Veteran of the Revolutionary War, having played his
fife in the battle of Germantown, Brandywine, and Stony Point. He settled first
as a squatter and did not prove his claim until 1807. For the last fifty years
of his life he drew a pension from the government. He died October 12, 1846, and
his grave is on the Monroe Passon's place in Hickory Valley.
Woodson P. White was born in 1783. He was the son of John White and came here
with his father from Virginia when he was six years old. He represented White
County in the State Legislature from 1823 to 1827, his long service in the
Legislature being a proof of his popularity in the County. He was the first to
serve over two years. He died in 1829, and was buried by his wife, Nancy, who
died in 1821. His daughter, Elizabeth, became the wife of William Young and is
buried in the Sparta cemetery.
John Knowles was born in Belfast, Ireland, and was a prominent leader in the
Irish rebellion. The rebellion was crushed by the English Army and the British
decided to execute the leaders of the rebellion. While Knowles and his sister
were upstairs they saw the British coming to take him to execution. His sister
let him down from this upper story by bed sheets and he escaped, going to
Virginia. He never saw his sister again. He married in Virginia, had three sons,
and probably some daughters, before he came to White County. He gave each of his
sons a farm. E. Y. Knowles now owns sixty acres of the old John Knowles tract.
One of his daughters married Archibald McDaniel, a Revolutionary War veteran.
When our County was organized in 1807, John Knowles, and not William Phillips as
has frequnetly been state, was the first sheriff of the new County.
Black Fox was a Cherokee chief of the first rank, unlike Calfkiller and
Nettlecarrier who were only tribal chiefs. The first settlers called one of the
chief trails the Black Fox Trail after this chief. Black Fox had his hunting
ground in the Southern end of what is now White County. His hunting camp was
located on Lost Creek. On January 7, 1806, Black Fox was instrumental in having
his nation cede seven thousand square miles of land to the government. In 1807
Black Fox and his chiefs were given permission to hunt in their old territory
"until, through settlement, it might become improper." The government granted an
annuity for life of one hundred dollars to Black Fox.
Barlow Fisk, a cousin of the celebrated Moses Fisk who established in Overton
County the first female academy South of the Ohio River, came from
Massachusetts. He and his brother, Madison Fisk, settled in White County.
Madison Fisk was instrumental in establishing the first Masonic Lodge in Sparta.
Madison Fisk owned the land where the Rock House is until 1839, having bought it
at a sheriff's sale in 1824. Barlow Fisk bought the property from Dr. Fisk in
1839, two years after Jackson ceased to be President. According to Milton Fisk,
son of Barlow Fisk, the Rock House was built and the Fisk family moved into it
when Milton was about eight years old. Now Milton was born in 1836. If this be
true, then the tradition that Jackson stopped there each time he was on his way
to be inaugurated for President, is incorrect. Milton Fisk's declaration would
place the building of the Rock House about 1844. Barlow Fisk had the reputation
of being the greatest deer hunter in the County. When the snow fell, he would
take a slow tracking dog and as he would kill a deer he would disembowel it and
hang it up, going on with the hunt. After he had killed as many as he wanted he
would get a horse and sled and haul them home.
Sam Denton was the builder of the Rock House. He had formerly lived in New
Orleans, was living in New Orleans when the battle of New Orleans was fought. He
was a cotton merchant there. He furnished the cotton bales for the famous cotton
wall behind which Jackson's men fought. Denton came to Jackson and said, "Mr.
Jackson, we do not know how the battle will go, so I will appreciate it if you
will give a showing for this cotton." Jackson replied, "If you want a showing
for your cotton, by the Eternal take a musket and defend it." Denton did so.
After Denton came to White County he was in a land company at Bon Air which held
several thousand acres of land.
The Goodwin family. David Goodwin came from South Carolina in 1808 and settled
near the duck pond at the Luther England place. His son, John T. Goodwin, was
recognized as being the best carpenter in White County. David Goodwin held the
office in this County which superintended the slaves, seeing that they had
plenty to eat and had fair treatment. Once he went to one of the largest slave
holders in the County and found that the slaves were underfed. He found, too,
that the smokehouse was full of meat. Being refused the key, he took an ax,
broke open the smokehouse door, and told the negroes to take meat and cook it,
which they did. He died in 1838. John T. Goodwin who was born in 1795 and died
in 1875 was a Two-Seed Baptist, they being very numeorus in the County in his day.
John Yates was a Methodist preacher and lived in Hickory Valley. He killed his
horse with his pocket knife under a poplar, later known as the white leaf
poplar, which could be distinguished for miles. No one knew why he killed the
horse, but many people of that day believed that the tragic death of the horse
under the tree had something to do with the tree turning white. Mr. Yates was
noted in several ways. He married and had thirty-three children, more than one
figuring in White County history. A number of his descendents have been
prominent in White County affairs. Yates preached in many parts of the County.
One of his preaching places was out on Cumberland Mountain seven miles from his
home. He always rode a steer to this appointment. Like most of the early
ministers, the last five minutes of his sermon was a studied and practised
conclusion about Gabriel blowing his trumpet. Ministers vied with each other in
that day as to which would have the most eloquent and effective piece of
oratory. Yates was endowed with a wonderful voice, so when Yates would reach the
mountain top on the way to his appointment, he would practise on that part of
his sermon that had to do with Gabriel blowing his trumpet. One fine Sunday
morning while practicing thus, a man with a gun came out of the bushes and
proceeded to curse the minister, saying, "I came out here to kill a deer this
morning for necessary meat for my family, while you come along bellowing like
the Bull of Basham until you've scared every deer off the top of the mountain."
Yates lived to be ninety-six years old.
The Lewis Family. There were four Lewis brothers, Tom, Ben, Elijah, and
William who together with their father came to Hickory Valley in 1798 from South
Carolina. Benjamin, William, and Elijah had made a trip to Tennessee before
this, having gone to Nashville. They had hired an Indian guide in East Tennessee
and on the way to Nashville had spent one night at the head of Cane Creek. Here
the Indians showed them a lead mine from which they took all the lead they
needed, but they were never able again to find the mine. On their return to
South Carolina they went through Hickory Valley. Upon reaching South Carolina
they received grants for land and returned to Hickory Valley with their father
and little brother to settle. William Lewis settled the lands now known as the
Roane County Wallace land, building his house where the Wilson boys now live.
William later traded this land for the land where James Hasten now lives and
spent the remainder of his days there. William Lewis was a Major in the
Revolutionary Army, having been with Washington at Valley Forge. Elijah settled
in the upper end of Hickory Valley on the land now known as the James Wallace
place. Benjamin Lewis settled near the center of the valley at a big spring by
the side of an Indian trail. This old place is now owned by Granville Rogers.
Major William Lewis, father of the Lewis boys settled the lands now known as the
Hiram Miller place. He willed this land to his youngest son, Thomas. With the
Lewises came two Mitchell brothers, John and William, and their sister. Benjamin
Lewis married this Mitchell girl. They had six children, three boys and three
girls. The boys were named Mitchell, Harvey, and John, the girls were named
Leah, who married William Bryan, Patsy married James Gracy (her descendents are
the Graceys, Warrens, Rogers, Hayes, and Mayes), Betty married Joseph Simmons.
This Benjamin Lewis was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was with Jackson at New
Orleans.
Jacob Cole died at the age of thirty-seven, but he left an impress upon the
religious life of the County. His descendants of note were William, his son, a
large farmer and stock raiser, William's son, Joe, a successful farmer and stock
raiser. Jacob's brother, Josiah, was the champion at the shooting matches in the
early days.
Thomas K. Harris was made a general in 1814. In 1816 he fought a duel with
General John W. Simpson. The duel was fought near the Shell's Ford and Harris
was killed. The duel is said to have been caused by things Harris had said about
Simpson. Harris had been in Congress from the Fourth District and had returned
to his old home in Sparta and was making the race against Simpson.
John W. Simpson was a Revolutionary veteran and founder of one of the best
families in this County. The Simpson family are related to the Young family.
William Little came to this County from Scotland about 1800. He was the
representative of a New York land company and bought land for his company all
over the mountain section, paying for the land one bit an acre. He went to New
York to meet his brother, Rev. Thomas Little, a minister of the Church of
Scotland, who was coming to. join William in White County. When he reached New
York, he found that Thomas had already landed and had bought a team and started
for White County. William died a few days later, never seeing his brother.
Thomas Little brought along with him from Scotland his seventeen-year-old son,
Brice. They spent their first night in this County on a hill west of the Billy
Passons place in Hickory Valley. They went on then to Blue Spring Cove. There
were then only three or four houses with a small patch of cleared land around
each house at Blue Spring. He organized the church there and was its pastor
until his death. He built his home in 1823 which is still standing.
Zecheriah Anderson was born in 1790, and died in 1867. He was a
Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Baptist preacher. He was a substantial farmer and stock
raiser. Several of his descendents have been prominent in the County.
Willam Matlock was born in Buncombe County, North Carolina in 1798. He first
came to Carter County, Tennessee, and from there to White County in 1820. He
served in the War of 1812 as a member of Captain Jesse Cole's company, First
Regiment East Tennessee Volunteers. He was a noted slave trader. He built the
house now owned by Frank Turner near O'Conner. He was a man of great size and
strength. He married Susan Manafee in White County in 1844. He accumulated great
wealth. At one time he brought his money to Sparta for deposit in the bank and
offered anyone the money who would lift the sack in which the money was brought.
He died in Georgia in 1864.
Colonel Stephen H. Coims, was born October 22, 1815. He came to Tennessee from
Indianapolis, Indiana, and settled in White County several years before the
Civil War. During the Civil War he was the commander of a battalion raised in
White County, Confederate troops. He was wounded at the battle of Fort Donelson.
Coims surrendered February 16, 1862. Colonel Coims was limited in his literary
qualifications but he had a winning personality and no one at the Sparta bar in
his time was more skillful in the selection and manipulation of evidence. His
home was on the corner where C. G-. Stacy now lives and his office was where the
Carson Meat Market now is. He never had any children of his own, but he reared a
niece who married the late Judge W. F. Story. His old sword is now in the
possession of the Story family. His wounds never healed and in the last years of
his life caused him a great deal of trouble. He committed suicide at a home a
short way west of Crossville, December 18, 1874.
The Hudgens Family. Three Hudgens brothers and a sister came from England. One
of the brothers settled in North Carolina, one went West, and the others settled
in White County, becoming the ancestor of the Hudgens family of this County. The
sister married Daniel Boone's father and became the mother of Daniel Boone.
Daniel Clark was perhaps the greatest man in early White County from the point
of view of the economic development of the County. At one time he paid more tax
than any other one man in the County. Daniel Clark was the father of WamOn Clark
who was the father of the brilliant lawyer, Mark Clark, who committed suicide at
Manchester. Daniel Clark married Monie Hembree. He owned two thousand acres of
land north of the present Clark Mill on which he had thirty negro families. When
these negroes were not busy on the plantation he had them working on contract
jobs. He had the contract to rock the public square of Sparta which was done
with slave labor. He had a mill race dug, diverting the waters from Town Creek
to run a furniture factory which was located a few yards from the present Clark
Mill. He manufactured all kinds of furniture used in that day, including
coffins, which sold for two dollars and a half each. He had also on his
plantation a mill. He also built the old factory in 1842, which he sold to
William Glenn who in turn sold it to Tom Snodgrass, Bill Sims and Perry Sims,
who sold it to Pennington who converted it into a woolen mill. The factory cost
twenty thousand dollars to build. In personal appearance he was tall, had broad
shoulders, and was handsome. He ran a brick kiln and made the brick which went
into his brick home. Daniel Clark was perhaps the largest slave trader in this
section of the State. He died in 1879.
DeWitt Croly (Crawley) was a teacher, later he became absorbed with religion.
He would leave his school and go into the woods and pray a half a day at a time.
He was considered the best bookkeeper in the County and was often in demand to
straighten out the tangles in other men's bookkeeping. He ran the first nursery
in this County in 1786. For a while he ran a school for the benefit of the
children of the owners of the factory in the factory dining-room. When he was
seventy-three years old he married a girl aged eleven but soon left her and went
to Texas where he died twenty years later.
Thomas Hill was a veteran of the Revolution who came early to this County. It
is said that he came with the Snodgrass family. His son, Abner, was the first
minister of the Church of Christ in this County.
Rev. James Hickey was a veteran of the Revolution and came here from Mexico
where he had been a missionary of the Baptist Church. A number of his
descendants have been Baptist ministers in this section. He was buried in the
old Giles Elrod cemetery.
Dr. Sam Young was one among the first doctors in this County. Married a sister
of Dave Snodgrass. He taught Dr. Tom Snodgrass medicine.
William B. Hall was born in 1815, died 1846. He was a doctor in White County
and is buried in the old Sparta cemetery.
Andrew Robinson was ruptured so that he could not do manual labor. He became a
student and a scholar. Rev. John L. Dillard, the greatest theologian in the
early Cumberland Presbyterian Church, always submitted the manuscripts of his
books to Mr. Robinson for his criticism before publishing them.
Sam Parker of Hickory Valley during the second half of the last century was
one of the leading men of the County. He was distinguished in appearance and
made an impression on everyone he met. Although limited in education he was a
clear thinker and could hold his own with the best men of his time. He was a
natural born leader. In 1851 he represented this County in the State
Legislature. Later he made an unsuccessful race for Governor. His son, Sam Arter
Parker, was postmaster at Sparta for eight years. Sam Parker, son of Sam Arter
Parker, was postmaster in Sparta for sixteen years.
Eli Sims was born in Ireland and married a Miss Townsend there. He came first
to Virginia and then to White County bringing along with him his father-in-law,
Bob Townsend, who lived with him. Mr. Sims built a brick house which is thought
by some to be the first brick house built in this County. He fastened the
shingles on with hickory pegs. He owned and operated what is claimed to be the
first cotton gin in White County. He was also a teacher, L. D. Snodgrass being
one of his pupils. He was trustee of White County for four years. Pour of his
descendents have held the office of County Court Clerk, the present incumbent
being one of them.
Sod Harrison was born about 1800 and lived to be eighty years old. Although
illiterate, being neither able to read nor figure, he was the greatest mechanic
this County ever produced. He was the master mechanic in the construction of
most of the mills, wooden horse powers, gins, and other machinery built in the
County in his day. Men wanting a first class job always sent for Sod Harrison.
His series of wooden cog wheels always worked.
Ambrose Davis was the only cave man in this County. Mr. Davis came from one of
the first families of the County. He was an excellent carpenter. He had trouble
with his family and became insane, though he was harmless. From remarks he made
it was surmised that while crazed he had killed his ex-wife and the man living
with her. Davis lived in a cave north of John Coles' place, eating roasting
ears, meat from coons, possums and such other animals as he could catch for
their fur. He said that his favorite dish was black snake soup, and that skunk
meat was among the finest; if carefully skinned. He made more bread trays,
trenchers, and wooden spoons than anyone else in the County. His work was
perfect long after he became deranged. In his mental state he did not know the
value of money and he sold bread trays worth two dollars and a half at that time
for twenty-five cents.
Eli Robinson was the son of James Robinson who died in a burning house at one
hundred and four years old. Robinson made hundreds of tombstones in this County
and shipped many outside. His factory which was near the Rock House where he
lived burned with great loss and he moved to Chattanooga. His son James Robinson
is the owner of the Chattanooga Marble Works and has been marvelously
successful. John Walker, son-in-law of Eli Robinson worked with his
father-in-law in making tombstones at the Rock House. Later he, too, went to
Chattanooga where he practiced medicine and fortune-telling. He became very
popular, amassing considerable wealth. He died about ten years ago.
J. W. Scott received his education at Doyle College and had many friends in
this County. He went to Chattanooga where he practiced law. He was a brilliant
man, kind, generous, sociable, a good mixer, but he was easily discouraged and
had habits that worked against success. He was found dead in a hut he owned a
few miles out of Chattanooga. It is believed by some of his kin that he was
murdered by a rival bootlegger. He had a half-brother, Jonathan Scott, who was
killed east of Sparta in a skirmish of three Confederates against nine Federals.
Jonathan Scott came to White County in 1808. He settled at what is now known
as the Sam Scott place. He had three sons, Sam, Jim and William, the latter
moving to Illinois and dying without male issue. Sam had twelve sons and one
daughter, one of whom is Quill Scott, a reform member of the County Court.
George Ogden. Another builder of White County was George Ogden who came here
from Wilksbarre, Pennsylvania. In 1831 he constructed an over shot water wheel
and built the first carding machine in the County, and perhaps the first in the
State.
Vardrey Camp came to Camp's gulch in what is now Van Buren County. His two
sons were Jasper and Newton. Jasper was a school teacher for years and then
owner of a large farm. He moved to Texas. Newton was the father of Dr. James
Camp and Judge Harry Camp.
Harvey Doyle was born in 1730. He came here from South Carolina. He married
Ola Fryer and thus came into possession of several thousand acres of land at
Doyle. His sons were Merrell, owner of the place now called the Walter Wallace
place, John, Simon, Henry and Joe. Some of these sons went to California and
made large fortunes.
Dr. M. Y. Brocket was a Presbyterian minister, a very sympathetic doctor, and
a good man.
Dr. Thomas Mayo Bosson was born 1786. He came to this County from Roxbury,
Massachusetts. He was a noted physician in the early days of the County. He is a
relative of the celebrated Mayo Brothers. He died in 1850.
Dr. C. S. Rascoe was born in 1834 and had a career of usefulness. He was a
successful school teacher, a good doctor, and an active temperance worker. His
varied activities gave him a remarkable influence in White County. The later
years of his life were spent at Doyle. He died in 1905.
John Marlow was with Jackson in the battle of New Orleans. He was a widely
known maker and seller of maple sugar. Some of his customers were merchants of
Nashville.
Charlie Richards was an electrician and had charge of the electric light plant
of Hope, Arkansas.
E. Hatch was our first Christian Scientist having written a book on the
subject. He bought the Mitchell Mill property during the time of its very worst
period. He erected a paper mill and made paper pulp while experimenting with it.
He moved the pulp mill to Sparta in 1885 and erected a building but did not have
the funds to complete the installation of the plant. He sold his property and
moved away from here and soon died of heart trouble.
Adam Huntsman was a member of the first Masonic Lodge at Sparta and
represented this County in the State Legislature four years, afterwards serving
as a State Senator. He married a daughter of Judge William Quarles. He came into
national porminence when he defeated David Crockett for Congress, Crockett going
to Texas after his defeat. Huntsman moved to Alabama and was elected first to
Congress and later to the United States Senate.
Columbus Marchbanks was born in Putnam County but most of his life was spent
at Sparta. He was a splendid lawyer and one of the finest orators in the State.
He represented White County in the State Legislature and made an unsuccessful
race for Attorney-General against William Cullom and others. His lecturer, "A
Harp of a Thousand Strings," was a gem and made him nationally known.
Judge M. D. Smallman of Warren County was born and reared at Onward Station.
He taught school in the southern part of White County for two years.
Hon. Sam Turney was an unique character. He was one of the most successful
lawyers ever at the Sparta Bar. He was original but very eccentric. He used to
sit at a hotel and cut his own hair. When remonstrated with, he replied, "I
guess I know the shape of my own head." There were no records of warrants and
indictments kept in those days, Turney would eat the warrants, thus freeing his
client. Once a counterfeiter was up for trial, Turney was his lawyer. Turney
asked to see the five dollar bill presented in evidence. Talking and wrapping
the bill around his finger he found a chance to put the bill into his mouth and
at the same time took a good bill out of his vest pocket and substituted it for
the counterfeit. Then he requested the Judge to send three men to the bank to
see if it would pass. It did and his client went free. He won national fame for
planning the escapade which prevented our State from having a United States
Senator for two years. He and the actors with him became known as The Immortal
Thirteen. Toward the end of his life he was baptized and became a Christian
preacher. Great crowds came to the services whenever it was announced that he
would preach. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and when he died in Sparta in
1862, he was buried by a Convoy of Federal soldiers.
H. L. Turney, brother of Sam Turney was born at the old Turney home a little
west of Sparta. When he became a man he left White County and became a
Congressman. He was the father of Peter Turney, one time Governor of Tennessee.
Major Nathaniel Evans was one of the early settlers of White County. He was
the officer on whom John Sevier depended most to carry out his commands in the
Battle of King's Mountain.
General G. G. Dibrell, statesman, soldier, orator, man of affairs, one of the
builders of White County had a remarkable career. He spent ten years as a member
of Congress. He was president of the Southwestern Railroad in 1869; he was part
of the organization of the leading coal company of White County; made an
unsuccessful effort to be Governor. He was on the staff of General Nathan
Bedford Forrest, and was the one Forrest trusted more than any other to carry
out his orders. His military exploits are recorded in Dr. Wyatt's Life of Nathan
B. Forrest.
Frank Dibrell, son of General Dibrell, held a number of offices, among them
that of Comptroller of Tennessee. Another son, Will Dibrell, was in one of the
largest wholesale shoe stores in the south at Nashville. James, another of the
General's sons was high sheriff of White County. Another son, Jeff, was
superintendent of the Bon Air Corporation. Another son, Stanton, was agent at
the Sparta depot for many years.
Fred G. Mitchell, son of Thomas Mitchell, was twice representative of this
County, having defeated one of our ablest men. He was noted for his geniality.
He was appointed Convict Inspector which office he held two or three months
before his untimely death.
J. D. Goff, descended from Judge Goff of Hadley, Massachusetts held office in
this County for forty-five years. He was Justice of the Peace, County Court
Clerk, and County Judge. He was once defeated by Judge George H. Hudson but died
in office.
William Passons was born about 1823 and died in his ninety-third year. He was
the father of hi^h sheriff Monroe Passons, whose son, Thomas, is now an
efficient teacher in Cookeville Tennessee Polytechnic Institute. Another
grandson of William Passons is the popular and efficient principal of the Sparta
City School, Arlis. Bill Passons, son of William Passons, was for years
policeman of Sparta. Major Passons, son of William Passons, was one of White
County's strong men. He could lift the gear wheel of a horse power, a weight of
five hundred pounds, above the pinion. Dalton Davis, grandson of William Passons
is now the City Marshal of Sparta.
Edward Rotan was born at Sparta in 1844. He had a notable career as a
Confederate soldier. He fought at Missionary Ridge and Chicamauga and was
wounded at the Battle of Perryville. After the war he taught school three years,
marrying one of Ms teachers. During his business career he was a bank president
and at different times president of two railroads. He headed the street car
interprise of Waco, Texas, where he had gone in 1886. He became a
multi-millionaire and died in 1932.
Charles T. Hasten was born in what is now Van Buren County in 1847 and came to
Hickory Valley in 1883. He was a farmer and a large stock raiser. He would often
send as many as a hundred head of cattle out on Cumberland mountain to graze
during the summer. He bought one of the first reapers in White County in 1883,
and in the same year he erected one of the first woven wire fences in the
County. He bought and sold cattle, hogs and sheep. For several years he was a
member of the County Court. Mr. Haston was chairman of the convention that
nominated Buchanan for Governor. This was a very noisy convention. A wrangle
started, whereupon Mr. Haston with a voice that could easily be heard above the
noise of the wrangle said, "Boys, boys, stop that wrangling or the chair won't
sit any longer." This brought down the house. Buchanan was immediately nominated.
Van Haston, brother of C. T. Haston, ran a fine farm in Western Hickory Valley
and raised fine stock. He was a factor in the development of that part of the
County but was not as active in the affairs of the County as was his brother,
though Van Haston was once County Surveyor. Dick Haston, another brother was
also a useful citizen and large land owner and stock raiser. All these were
descended from David Haston.
John A. Catron was a Virginian who came first to Overton County then to Sparta
where he studied law under General George W. Gibbs. After remaining in Sparta a
few years he returned to Overton County and became Judge of the Court of
Appeals. He was appointed a Federal Judge by Andrew Jackson. Tradition says that
Mrs. Catron went in person to see Jackson telling him what she desired. Jackson
was alone in his room smoking his cob pipe. "When she had finished her plea,
Jackson replied, "By the Eternal, he shall have it." Catron held Court in Sparta
in 1834.
General George W. Gibbs was one of Sparta's leading lawyers in the early days.
He was a man of large affairs, and founder of the bank. He went to West
Tennessee and founded Union City.
The Lincolns. Jesse Lincoln, a cousin of the president, was in the dry goods
business in Sparta for about thirty years. Another Jesse Lincoln, a nephew of
the president, came to White County for his health. He died at Clark Town and
was brought to Sparta and was buried in the old cemetery.
Jesse Everett Hickman was born near Cherry Creek October 22, 1805, died at his
home near the church he loved so well, December 26, 1888. Some idea of his
virility can be gained if one considers that he was active up until a few weeks
of his death. He had just left the home of James Sims and was going down the
steep hill toward the creek in a buggy when the harness broke. The horse became
frightened and the old minister was thrown out and badly hurt. He was taken to
the home of Mr. Sims and there cared for until he could be moved to his own
home. He was hoping to be back in his pulpit again soon when the end came rather
suddenly. But there he was eighty-three years old, and still carrying on the
work as many a young man would find too tiresome, for that road is still one of
the roughest in the County.
Twenty years ago all the old people had stories to tell of Hickman that made
the man a real person to the listener. Nearly all these old people are now dead
and he is for this generation only a name. No one seems to have known anything
of his early life, of his training, of his education. Tradition has it that he
was educated at Princeton. Of that I have never been able to learn the truth. It
is very unlikely. Still, that he was a man of sound training is proved by the
ease with which he wrote. All that I have seen of his writings pointed to the
fact that he was well trained. His writing was clear and easy to read,
mechanically correct. He had a diction remarkable for its force and clearness.
How a man could have acquired such ability in the wilderness of that day has
often puzzled me, unless it is true that he went East for his education. The
same easy manner one finds in his writing must have been in his life as well. It
has been said of him that he was equally at home in the city mansion and in the
mountain hut with dirt for a floor. He was the friend of such scholars as J. L.
Dillard and yet so far as I have ever heard he never engaged in literary
pursuits. He spent too much time in the saddle for that, for he was preaching
everywhere over the mountain country continually. It is said that he organized
more churches in this section than any other man who ever lived here, forty-two
churches being organized by him. He did an almost unbelievable amount of
evangelistic work. Indeed, so it is said, he was released once for a period of
two years for general evangelistic work. Turning over the main part of his work
to a young assistant, he held evangelistic campaigns in such cities as Nashville
and Louisville. 
But the thing that has amazed me about him is the vigor with which he carried
on his work as a pastor. He seems to have been all the time visiting in homes,
holding prayer services, and making himself felt in the lives of the people.
Hickman was ahead of his day in many matters of church work. Back in the
forties he became convinced that pioneer days were over and that the church
ought to budget its affairs. Once determined on this course he had courage to
carry it through, though it split his church. He and six of his Elders favored
the plan, three Elders opposed. The vote in the congregation on the plan to
adopt a definite financial policy was taken in the afternoon of the opening day
of the annual revival. The plan carried by a big majority. But one of the Elders
who opposed the plan called a meeting at his house that night and another church
was organized. This church on Cherry Creek has ever since been called the "Lower
Church" because a little log church for the new congregation was built about a
mile down the valley from Hickman's church, which has ever since been known as
the "Upper Church." But the significant thing is that at a time when a definite
financial plan of church administration was not in force even in many city
churches Hickman set up such a plan in Ms church on Cherry Creek. A very unique
system of every member canvass was set up. An all day meeting was called with a
roll call of the members of the church. Each member responded to the roll call
with his pledge for the year.
Hickman lies buried in a neglected private cemetery a little way from the old
middle ford of Cherry Creek. A simple slab marks his resting place.
Rev. James Lansden was a prominent Cumberland Presbyterian minister in the
early days of that movement in this County. Two of his sons were Rev. John
Lansden and Dr. Hugh Lansden, the latter being the father of the late Judge D.
L. Lansden.
Alexander Goodwin was one of the first merchants of White County. He also ran
a tannery West of the present Mount Carmel and later one at Baker's Cross Roads.
His sons, John and James, were merchants at Baker's Cross Roads, as is his
grandson Sam Goodwin. John Goodwin established and ran for over forty years a
Swiss pottery.
Perry Officer was a man of large affairs, a farmer, stock raiser, and buyer.
He brought many thousands of dollars into the County by his trading. He owned
large tracts of land. He was the engineer for the pikes that were built in 1887.
At his death he was worth probably half a million dollars.
Frank Coatney was the most noted raider of wild cat stills we ever had in
White County. He served many years as a revenue officer. In one year while there
were saloons in Sparta he cut up more stills than were captured during the whole
thirteen year period of prohibition.
Tandy Lewis was a teacher, president of the County School Board, sheriff,
Representative in the State Legislature, County surveyor, and farmer.
Champ Ferguson was a noted Confederate raider who during the Civil War used
White County as a base for his operations. Much that has been written about him
is terribly inaccurate. It has generally been supposed that he was born in White
County. From the modest tombstone I copied the following: "Captain C. Ferguson
was born November 29, 1821, in Clinton, Kentucky, married Martha Owen July
5,1848. Died October 20, 1865."
Ferguson was a Kentucky mountaineer of Scotch ancestry, who moved to Fentress
County, Tennessee, and at the outbreak of the Civil War he was well-to-do and as
refined as any of the mountain men of his time. He bore the reputation of being
a perfect gentleman in his dealings with his fellow-men. He moved to White
County to escape the persecutions of the "bushwhackers" favorable to the
Federals. He soon entered the Confederate service and was made Captain and wore
the regulation uniform. It has been said that he was such a cut-throat that the
Confederate army would not let him join it. But he was invited by Nathan B.
Forrest himself to enlist. When General Wheeler came through Sparta, Ferguson
accompanied him as far as Liberty and was in the skirmish at Doweltown. He was
cruel, it is true, and often killed his prisoners, sometimes running them
through with the sword after shooting them. The charge on which he was tried by
the Federals was that he had killed a wounded Lieutenant in a Virginia hospital.
No Confederate ever defended Ferguson's cruelty. But it is a fact that cannot be
denied that he had great provocation for some of his terrible deeds.
He did not want to go to war but realizing that he must decide, he went to a
cave to make up his mind. When he returned home, he found that sixteen of Tinker
Dave Beatty's men, headed by Lieutenant Smith, whom he afterwards killed in a
Virginia hospital, had come to his house in his absence and had compelled Ms
wife and daughter, Ann, to undress and march three times around the house naked.
Before his death he killed everyone of the sixteen. For his little boy, three
years old, he bought a little Confederate flag. The little fellow was out on the
porch waving his flag when some Federal Soldiers came by. A volley of shots rang
out and the little boy lay dead in his own blood, pierced by many bullets. Such
deeds made Ferguson desperate and he became a national problem. Sometimes his
band would dwindle to no more than a dozen men; sometimes he would have four or
five hundred that carried death and destruction where they went. But most of his
horrible deeds were in revenge. It was difficult for a man to wrong him and not
pay the supreme penalty.
He was finally captured by the Federals and brought to trial. He was promised
that he would be treated as any other Confederate soldier, but this promise was
only a scrap of paper. He was condemned to be hanged. His wife and daughter were
near him when sentence was pronounced. He was allowed to talk with them before
he was led away. Not a tear was shed. As he turned to go his wife said, "Champ,
die with your head up." To which he replied, "I will."
He was burled in the France cemetery. His daughter, who was a beautiful girl,
became the wife of George Metcalf.
John. B. Rogers. The father of John B. Rogers came from Virginia to Warren
County in 1812. John went North and became the friend of Abraham Lincoln. He
courted unsuccessfully Elodie Todd, sister of the wife of Lincoln. He was a
staff officer of Andrew Jackson in the Seminole War in 1818 and helped arrest
Arbuthnot and Ambrister, the latter being taken off of a ship near the mouth of
the Suwanee River commanded by Captain Louis. Louis sought to destroy some
papers of great importance to Jackson. Rogers personally captured these papers
and received the thanks of Jackson. Just before Ambrister was shot, he handed
his sash to General Rogers, saying, "As a token of regard for your kindness."
This sash was taken from Roger's home and destroyed by Confederates during the
Civil War.
In 1823 Rogers was made adjutant to General Smartt of McMinnville. In 1825
when Lafayette visited Tennessee, Rogers commanded Lafayett's escort and the
great Frenchman being lame, he leaned on Rogers. A conversation revealed the
fact that Roger's father fought under Lafayette in the Revolutionary War. In
1823, at Jackson's request, Rogers was unanimously elected Attorney-General of
the State, even Polk, Grundy, and Crockett voting for him. In the Texas War
Rogers was elected a Brigadier General with the brevet of Major General.
He married Louisa Clark and for a while practiced law at Sparta. In 1840 he
founded the first summer resort in the South at Bon Air Springs. It has been
thought by some that this hotel was founded by Christopher Hoffman, but the old
register indicates clearly that Rogers was the owner at the founding. Rogers
sold it in 1855 to Constant Lake, David Williams, and Kimball Porter, who held
it until it was destroyed by Scott's Confederate Cavalry. His wife died in 1851
and was buried at Rock Island where he was then living.
In 1860 he was a Lincoln Elector and a Union sympathiser throughout the war.
Five times he was robbed by the Confederates and forced to flee from home for
personal safety. All of his movable property was carried away, the damage being,
probably more than one hundred thousand dollars. His property at Rock Island was
destroyed and the grave of his first wife mutilated. Among those arrested was a
stonecutter who was released on condition that he would erect a slab over the
grave with this inscription: "Here lies Mrs. John B. Rogers, the friend of
Abraham Lincoln." This was done, and the card bearing this inscription is in the
possession of Captain W. E. McElwee of Rockwood, Tennessee.
In 1867 he was elected a member of the State Senate from this district. Later
he was elected to Congress. He has been given the credit of starting the boom of
Grant for President. At the time of his death in 1873 he had become wealthy
again. He was buried in the old cemetery at Bon Air. About fifteen years later
his daughter, who had married a Federal Colonel named Jarvis, whom she met while
the Federals were stationed at Rock Island, and his second wife, the wealthy
widow Collins of New York, whom' he had married in 1853, had his first wife
removed to Bon Air. Later the second wife was also buried there. A nice monument
marks their graves.
Benton McMillin, lawyer, statesman, orator, Governor of Tennessee, for twenty
years, a member of Congress, diplomat, is too well known to need any extended
notice here, but it is not so well known that he once lived in Sparta. He was
born in Kentucky but came here when he was a young man. He studied law in the
office of E. L. Gardenhire and began the practice of law in Sparta. He moved to
Celina in 1871 and was elected to the Legislature, then appointed Circuit Judge,
then elected to that position, then to Congress, then Governor. He died in 1932.
Captain Hawthorne C. Gray is of interest here because of his tragic death near
Doyle in 1927. Gray started from Belleville, Illinois, to try to break the
world's record for height in a balloon. Some boys going after the cows late in
the afternoon saw a balloon in a tree top with the rope dragging the ground. The
balloonist was found in the basket of the balloon, head and shoulders doubled
forward showing that he had been dead for some time. The instruments showed that
the balloon had reached the greatest height ever recorded up to that time but
Gray lost the record of the highest ascent, since it was certain he was dead
before his balloon reached its highest. The body was taken to H. B. Hunter's
undertaking parlors. Representatives of the Navy Department and Gray's wife came
and along with them reporters who tried to throw off on the South and Sparta.
But the sensible Mrs. Gray put a quietus on such conduct, for she spoke in the
highest terms of the care her husband's body had received.
John M. Welch, lawyer of the County School Board, developer of White County.
He pulled walnut stumps and sold them bringing many thousands of dollars into
the County that otherwise would have been wasted. He was for a long time
President of the Cumberland Lumber Company which was for a long time one of the
big lumber companies of this section. He built a number of fine houses in
Sparta. He was twice President of the School Board. At the time of his death in
1934 his home was in Chattanooga, though he still maintained a summer home at
Clarktown.
William Turner was born in 1839 of English and Dutch descent. He was a
Confederate soldier, farmer and stock raiser. He served two years as Trustee of
the County. His son, Frank, now Town Clerk, is very popular as seen from the
fact that he held the office of County Court Clerk for sixteen years.
Colonel Jarred Ward was born in Ohio in 1844. He was a Federal soldier. He
introduced the first sawmill in White County in 1866, and ran for a number of
years, a, very successful lumber business. His two children were Norman and
Bessie, the latter marrying Judge F. T. Fancher.
Oliver Young. Oliver's father was a pioneer of Sumner County then moved to
Jackson County and was a sheriff there for fourteen years and twice a member of
the State Legislature. Oliver came to this County in 1870 and was a useful and
influential citizen. One daughter married Honorable L. D. Hill, another married
a brilliant lawyer, Honorable Eph Story, and a son, Dr. W. B. Young, is one of
the most important factors in the development of White County.
Eldridge Sullivan was for many years a physician at Cherry Creek and Spring
Hill. His son, Bayard Sullivan, is a physician at the Veterans Hospital at
Livermore, California. Dr. Bayard Sullivan has traveled in the Near East and is
a lecturer of splendid ability. Dr. Eldridge Sullivan's daughter is the wife of
Thomas Mayberry.
Rev. Howard Sutton was born in 1852, and died in 1905. He was a minister of
the Church of Christ and perhaps the most popular minister that church ever
produced in this County. He was as popular outside his own church as in it. All
denominations respected him. He was educated at Spencer and taught for a while
at Cumberland University. He did a great deal of evangelistic work. His memory
is cherished by many of the older generation.
Major Gooch Smith ran a tan yard up the river from Cave. He had many business
enterprises. He was a large farm owner and cattle raiser. He was a lawyer of
ability and had a large part in the development of the County. He was a major in
the Confederate army. His son, William, was a judge renowned in the law. Another
son, L. D. Smith, died as the Attorney-General of the State. His daughter,
Marcus S. Eagle, has written a lovely volume of poems, some of them of rare beauty.
Crockett Lawson was a famous Indian fighter on the Western frontier.
J. E. P. Fancher owned a great estate on Taylors Creek and Falling Water. He
was in his day the greatest apiarist in Tennessee. He owned a mill and a store
and was a cattle breeder. He introduced Jersey cattle into White County.
J. S. Hogg was born on Gum Spring Mountain in 1851. The family were very poor
and he picked up such education as he could get here and there. Soon after
reaching manhood he went to Texas and began the practice of law. In 1886 he was
elected State's attorney and the next year he was elected Governor of Texas,
winning his election on a platform to regulate the railroads and the express
company. He thus was the father of the railroad commission. While he was
Governor of Texas a White County boy who had gone to Texas was caught in the
crime wave there and sent to the penitentary. Thomas Walling, who knew Hogg well
when he lived in this County, and after whom the village of Walling was named,
wrote to Governor Hogg imporing him to pardon the boy. Hogg wrote in reply that,
he did not know anyone for whom it would please him more to do a favor than
Thomas Walling, but Texas was full of crime and said he, "I am determined to
stamp it out, I am sorry I can not turn the boy out."
James W. Throckmorton was born on the farm now known as the Story farm near
Sparta, 1825. His mother was a daughter of Dave Snodgrass. The family moved to
Texas when James was sixteen years old. He became the best parliamentarian in
Texas. In the convention of 1861, he was one of seven who voted against
secession. Later he joined the Confederate army and made a brave soldier.
John H. Potter was born in DeKalb County but came to Sparta in early manhood
and married a daughter of Daniel Young. During the long years of his life in
this County he was identified with practically every progressive movement in the
County. He, more than any one else, made possible the organization of the County
Fair in 1914 and he was keenly interested in it as long as he lived. He did much
for the encouragement of agriculture in the County and was himself the owner of
much farm land. He was one of the organizers of the Civitan Club at Sparta. At
the time of his death in 1933 he was President of the Sparta branch of the
Commerce-Union Bank.
Honorable Wainwright Shockley was a lawyer at the Sparta bar, but did but
little practice outside of his own affairs.
Joel Barnes came here from Cookeville as Principal of White County High School
for seven years. He had been elected President of the State Teachers'
Association just a few days before he was killed in an automobile accident in
Florida.
David Crockett Crook, a brother of the late Calvin Crook, was a Colonel in the
Confederate Army and a Methodist preacher. A monument to him stands at Oglethorpe.
Joe Brown, father of Honorable Foster V. Brown, was a merchant in Hickory Valley.
Rev. Tom Kittrell was a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher who served churches
at practically no salary in this section. He was born and reared at Old Zion.
Rev. Riley Green established many Baptist Churches in this section of Tennessee.
Rev. W. P. Smith, a teacher at Cumberland Institute, and a Cumberland
Presbyterian minister, was the best mathematician in White County in his day.
Judge W. F. Story was descended from titled English gentry. Judge Story was a
lawyer of fine ability and was our first County Judge. He represented White
County also in the State Legislature.
William and Thomas Bosson, brothers, came to White County from Massachusetts.
Both Served in the Federal army. William was a State Senator and a member of the
last Constitutional Convention.
James O'Dell was a Federal soldier who distinguished himself for bravery on
the battlefield. He was an uncle of the writer.
Marshall Cowden, son of Dr. John Cowden, was one among the first graduates of
White County High School. He died at Bon Air where for many years he had been
principal of the school. He had been a member of the County Court and Chairman
of the County School Board.
Nattie Austin, distiller and merchant, could do sums in partial payments in
his head, though he could neither read nor write.
James Mooneyham in the early days was a gunmaker of more than local fame. He
also made and sold musical instruments.
William Musgrove and Nathan Steakley were the first tailors in White County.
Rev. Nathan Owen, who got his education after he reached manhood, became a
very eloquent preacher.
Steve Hickman was known far and wide for his many eccentric ways. He owed Dr.
Fane of Cherry Creek a doctor's bill. He asked the doctor if he might pay the
bill in dried fruit and being told that he might, he and his wife and eight
children took a few dried apples wrapped in a handkerchief and went to Dr.
Fane's on Saturday night to stay until Sunday afternoon. He repeated this until
the doctor told him the bill was paid.
Sam Clenny, aged fifteen, was the first to carry the mails over the mountain
east from Sparta.
Thomas Easteland was the largest landholder in White County in his day. He is
buried on Dumpling Knob together with a hunter who along with him discovered it
while hunting. His wife is buried at Bon Air Springs.
Gus Geer was a splendid young lawyer who at his death was chief of the Federal
Government's Revenue Department. He died in 1918.
Dr. Henry Smith in the old days was known as the "maker of doctors," having
taught so many young men medicine.
Dr. Wesley H. Peek went to Chicago and gained a great reputation as a doctor.
He became a millionaire.
Captain Sam Johnson distinguished himself in the Confederate army. He was a
successful farmer and stockman.
John Lowry would have been Governor of Teaxs but for the failure of his health.
John Mitchell was the oldest Confederate veteran holding office in the State
at the time of his death. He had been for many years Register of White County.
Rev. Harve Jarvis was born and reared near Mount Gilead, He was for years a
Presiding Elder of the Southern Methodist Church.
Rev. R. L. Jarvis was born and reared at Mount Gilead. He was a celebrated
Presbyterian minister and was for many years John Wannamaker's pastor in the
famous Bethany Temple in Philadelphia.
Baalam Oakes was a well-known Presbyterian preacher and was famous as a singer.
Shepherd Coots was the most famous violinist Tennessee ever produced.
Jack Scott was famous as a violinist. He owned a Cremona which at his death
sold for ten dollars. It is now in a famous symphony orchestra and is valued at
many thousands of dollars.
A man named Acuff made the first bed springs used in White County.
Newt Cameron was a tanner, teacher, banker. He went to Texas and became a
millionaire.
Ben Gist was the largest land owner in White County in 1880.
Thomas Storm was the largest individual land owner White County ever had. At
one time he owned forty-four thousand, one hundred and sixty acres in this County.
Martin White distinguished himself as a teacher both in Tennessee and in Teaxs.
William Cambron was noted in a number of States as a Baptist preacher.
Joe McBride was famous all over the nation as a saddle maker.
Howard Parley was also known in most of the States through his fine saddles.
R. P. Baker, founder of the White County Favorite, ran a newspaper in Sparta
for thirty-five years.
Miss Ella Snodgrass was County Superintendent of White County for a number of
years. She was known as the best County Superintendent in the State in her day.
In her administration the White County High School was established, largely due
to her efforts.
B. G. Seals was the best blacksmith in the County in his day. He could weld an
eight-inch drill.
Hugh Lowery was a fearless revenue officer. He was killed in trying to make an
arrest. A monument to his memory stands at the Hugh Lowery Spring.
W. H. Burbury was known as the best gardner in White County in his day. He was
the director of the Sparta Band.
John A. Blackburn is still referred to as the best farmer White County ever had.
W. P. Steakley while a policeman at Bon Air made three thousand arrests. He
was ambushed nine times.
Jule and Rob Gist each made over a million dollars in the cattle business in
Texas.
T. A. Carden was a celebrated Methodist preacher in this section. He was noted
for his sarcasm. He founded a church in Spencer.
J. T. Anderson was a banker in Sparta. He was one of the organizers of the
telephone system in this section and had a large part in this County's development.
Joe Snodgrass in 1840 established the first drug store in Sparta.
C. G. Broyles was the first dentist in Sparta. He began his practice about
1876. A man named McFolin began the practice of dentistry about the same time.
The honor of being the first dentist is claimed for both.
C. H. Thoman was born in Canada but came to Sparta in early manhood. He ran a
tailor shop until his death. He has tailored clothing for the Secretary of State.
The most widely known Baptist preacher in White County in the days following
the Civil War was William White.
Jim Green went West from White County in early manhood and became very wealthy
as a cattleman.
William Dinges was a popular Cumberland Presbyterian preacher in the days
following the war. He was at one time County Court Clerk.
Dave Dinges, brother of William, was a banker, and the father of Mrs. Grafton
Green, whose husband became Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
W. H. Witt, J. P. Murray, and E. L. Gardenhire were White Countians who served
in the Confederate Congress.
J. L. Quarles was a Confederate Scout. He began business as a general merchant
in Sparta and continued until his death last year, having been in business
longer than any other man who ever lived in Sparta. He was a prohibitionist in
the days when it was very unpopular to be a prohibitionist, which gives an
indication of how firm he was in his convictions.
===Notables Connected With Our History===
David Crockett lived in Fentress County which was then a part of White County
in 1817. He was defeated for Congress by Adam Huntsman and went to West
Tennessee and afterwards to Texas, where he was killed at the Alamo.
Andrew Jackson, used to stop at Glenn Hotel in Sparta. He often attended
church here. Jackson stayed at least two nights at the old Fisk Inn at Bon Air
Springs. He registered there on July 19, 1843.
James K. Polk registered at the old Fisk Inn on August 14, 1842, and Felix
Grundy on July 19, 1844.
Rev. James Luna, a White Countian, founded a church, "The Baptist Church of
Christ as Founded on the Bible." At the height of its influence the denomination
had sixteen churches.
Many notable men have visited Sparta. James Whitcomb Riley spent a month once
at the Rhea House on his vacation, during which time he wrote some of his most
famous poems. Will Allen Dromgoole once spent her vacation in White County.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, son of President Theodore Roosevelt, spoke a few
minutes at the Courthouse in Sparta during the Smith-Hoover campaign.
===White County in Literature===
Mrs. Murfree stayed in White County while she was writing "Drifting Down Lost
Creek" and another book about Pine Mountain. Opie Reed stayed at the Rhea House
in Sparta while he was writing the two novels "The Waters of Caney Fork," and
"The Jucklins." A Philadelphia authoress wrote about Sparta and the Pygmies
buried here and referred to the Honorable E. Story as Ephriam Fable.
Category:"History of White County"
Category:Texts