Blount County TN Archives News.....News Articles December 4, 1878
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Glenn Teffeteller glennt@icx.net August 19, 2005, 1:19 pm

MARYVILLE INDEX December 4, 1878
Wednesday, December 4, 1878



John Ross died on the 23rd ult., on Nine Mile Creek. The deceased, we learn,

was a good member of the church.



A boot-blacking match Saturday night before last between Tom McLin and Will

Toole resulted in the latter’s favor, though it was agreed that Tom put on the

most “scientific licks.”



Mr. Joe Alexander, near Cloyd’s Creek, in Loudon Co., is said to own the

largest hog in that county. It is three years old, 6 feet 3 inches long, 3

feet 4 inches high, and weighs 1,100 lbs. gross. That is a good sized pig.



Married On Horseback---We learn from A.R. James, Esq., that a novel marriage

took place at Shady Grove Church last Sabbath. The parties arrived just as the

congregation were dispersing, and called for the minister, Rev. G.W. Butler,

who united them while on horseback, and sent them on their way rejoicing. The

parties were Mr. W.T. Vanhook amd Miss. Dorcas Miser.



Among our new citizens is Mr. Robert N. Jesper, a gentleman originally from

England, but who has resided in Australia, California and also in Alabama. Mr.

Jesper is just completing a neat, new frame house on the McGhee ferry road,

about 2 miles from town, having purchased a farm there. Things about him look

like enterprise, intelligence and taste, and we trust he will find a residence

here pleasant and satisfactory.



A Fight---H.L. Cansler and John Oliver worked each other into a passion last

evening, to the extent of having a set-to. The case came before Squire Garner,

who taxed Mr. Cansler $12 for thus indulging his combativeness.



A Trip To The Coves---On the 15th of November, I equipped myself for the

purpose of studying the geology of the “Coves” in Blount County, and set out

on a trip of pleasure that I had promised myself for many years but until now

was unable to enjoy. Following the Sevierville Road from Maryville to Crooked

Creek and to Little River, I found the dolomite soil everywhere prevailing,

except where it was covered by alluvium in the creek or river bottoms. This

dolomite soil covers by far the greater part of the East Tennessee valley, and

is characterized by its red color, the chert or flint gravel on its surface,

its readiness to wash into gullies, and its being so well adapted to the

growth of yellow pine (pinus taeda), persimmon and sassafras sprouts. Coming

to the crystal waters of Little River with its pebbly bed and numerous finny

inhabitants, we dismounted and proceeded to examine some specimens of our

favorite study, the fresh water shells or strepomatidae, more commonly known

as “periwinkle.” What makes this study so interesting here, is the great

number and variety of these beautiful little creatures with which the rivers

and small streams of East Tennessee abound. We enjoyed riding along the smooth

sandy road on the banks of the river, and listening to the ever varied and

ceaseless strains of music made by the littl••••llows in their journey to the

far off sea. Coming near Henry’s Mill, we noticed that the rocks, which dipped

at an angle of 65 degrees to the southeast, now suddenly changed to a vertical

position, and the dolomite gave way to the marble. Here were the unmistakable

evidence of a break in the earth’s crust, known as a “fault” in geology,

forming those red knobs along the base of the Chilhowee. The rough marble in

these red knobs contains innumerable small shells, composed principally of

phosphate and carbonate of lime, which by the constant rains is set free and

made to fertilize the soil. Here the sedge will more readily give way to the

more domestic grasses, while the greatest variety of timber found in any soil

is found in this formation. It is the favorite soil of the buckeye, cucumber

tree, butternut and poplar, and will produce nearly every other kind. We found

forty-seven different sorts of trees on this soil on one farm. Passing up the

stream we soon came to the well known Chilhowee shale and sandstone, but we

were tempted to dismount about every quarter of a mile and inspect the

denizens of the river, and were well rewarded by several new and beautiful

specimens. After passing through the Chilhowee Mountain, we entered  Miller’s

Cove, a little valley formed by the breaking of the earth’s crust and letting

down all the formations, and the subsequent washing away by the streams,

everything down to the dolomite, which may be seen in huge masses above what

is called “the dangerous ford”; some of which forms beautiful agate. Leaving

Miller’s Cove, we again wind along the banks of the river, which in its effort

to break through the opposing mountain, turns toward every point of the

compass. The scenery between Miller’s Cove and Tuckaleechee is rugged and

romantic. Leaving this, you suddenly come in sight of a very respectable

valley, twelve miles long and from one to three miles wide, lying at the base

of the old “Smoky” and Thunder Head, like some giant guardian, watching over

the protégé at its feet. Beautiful “bottoms” of the richest soil lie along the

banks of the river, while the upland is naturally good, being improved by a

very pure kind of limestone. As night was coming on, we accepted the generous

hospitality of Col. Tipton, and enjoyed the kindness of his estimable wife and

the society of his two talented daughters. At night we joined the people of

this place in worship at the chapel nearby and on the next day, being Sabbath,

we tried to preach to the people both morning and night and also address the

children in the Sabbath School. Here we met some of our old friends, among

whom was Dr. Gillespy. On the following morning, in company with Col. Tipton,

we set out in a further inspection of this Cove, and on our way “took in” the

schools of Mr. Waters and Rev. J. Brickey, and were delighted with the

intelligent faces of the pupils and the interest manifested by the people in

building good schools. Mr. Brickey is a successful teacher and deservedly

popular as such. Leaving Tuckaleechee, we set out on an eight mile journey

across the mountain into Cades Cove. Going up the side of the mountain we

found all the rocks limestone to the very top, making the soil exceedingly

rich and the growth of timber and shrubbery luxuriant. Here may be seen many

interesting facts to the geologist, which we will not stop to describe. After

reaching the top of the first mountain, the road winds around peaks and

through dells watered by purling streams. There is nothing so remarkable along

this route as the old shafts sunk by Mr. Cresswell, who afterward discovered

the Ducktown Copper Mines. What is remarkable hereis, that instead of being

guided by the light of science, this gentleman should allow himself to be

guided by a magic wand, and dig for silver into a formation which is as

innocent of that metal as in an ordinary mush pot. Having passed over this

rugged part of our journey, we came in sight of that lovely little valley

called Cades Cove, six miles in length and from one to two miles wide, and

watered by Abraham’s Creek. There is no finer land in the county than in this

Cove, nor any section better adapted to stock raising. Here the apple and the

peach reach a high degree of perfection and seldom fail. Here also we found

the peculiar limestone discovered in Tuckaleechee. From this Cove we wended

our way homeward, over what is called the “flat of the mountain,” lying

between the Coves and Chilhowee. This flat is an elevated plateau, very

irregular, and covers about seventy-five square miles of surface. There are

numerous little streams between steep hills, making it an excellent pasture

for sheep, as there is considerable grass here in summer. In the highest

streams I found the beautiful little shellfish  goniobasisaterina; that in

their slow pace seemed to have crawled all the way up from Abram’s Creek.

Although the season for the botanist was over, yet I was much surprised to

find in several places some flowers resembling the lythraceae in full bloom,

while all around had yielded to the destroying hand of frost.                 

S.Z. Sharp Wednesday, December 11, 1878



We learn that a child of Mr. John Sparks, near Clover Hill, died on Monday

last.



The snow of yesterday, three or four inches deep, delighted the small boys

with sleds.



Dr. F. Donaldson amd Mr. Loyd R. Welsh, Chief of the Cherokees in North

Carolina, were in town Monday last, and called in at this office.



Joe Anderson, the saloon keeper, left last Wednesday for Texas, without even

telling the people of Maryville goodbye. It is supposed that he feared the

next Circuit Court, as it is probable indictments would have been found

against him. Hence, his hasty departure, leaving behind him only empty casks

and a number of little bills against some of our rapid youth. While it is a

cause of rejoicing to all good citizens that his saloon is closed and no

longer disgraces our town, many who knew him when he was a bright and

promising boy, will feel a pang of sorrow when they think of his departure. Of

a good family, of fine personal appearance and blessed with good health, he

has allowed evil companions and strong drink to drag him down until he has

become a bloated rum-seller, obliged to flee to escape the penalty of the law.

His case is a sad warning to the young man who takes his first glass.





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