Knox County TN Archives History - Books .....Under Territorial Government - Chapter V 1900 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com September 3, 2005, 5:15 am Book Title: Standard History Of Knoxville CHAPTER V. UNDER TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT. Establishment of Knox County—Officials Appointed—First Lawyers— County Roads and Buildings—Commercial Growth—Pioneer Merchants—Hostelries—Occupations—Postal Facilities—Army Post— Relations of Citizens and Soldiers. AFTER Governor Blount's decision to fix the seat of the territorial government at Knoxville, and the laying out and sale of lots, the next most important step in its development was the establishment of Knox county, with courts of pleas and quarter sessions to be held at Knoxville. This was done by ordinance oi the governor on June 11, 1792, Charles McClung and James Mabry being designated as commissioners to- run and mark certain boundaries. It brought an array of court officers and lawyers to the young town, either as permanent inhabitants or frequent visitors. Five days after the passage of the act a bench of fifteen justices of the peace, commissioned by the governor, had the oath administered to them by the Hon. David Campbell, one ofi the territorial judges. The other officers were Charles McClung, clerk; Thomas Chapman, register, and Robert Houston, sheriff. The first court, by proclamation of the sheriff, met at the house of John Stone on July 16, 1792. and was attended by the following justices: James White, who was appointed chairman; Samuel Newell, David Craig, and Jeremiah Jack. The lawyers admitted to practice in this primitive court were Luke Bowyer, Alexander Outlaw, Joseph Hamilton, Archibald Roane, Hopkins Lacy, John Rhea, and James Reese, to which list was added some months later the name of John Sevier, Jr. Most ofi these played a conspicuous part in the affairs of state. Alexander Outlaw was a state-maker and a legislator, Joseph Hamilton had an honorable career, Archibald Roane became governor of Tennessee. John Rhea was a member of congress for eighteen years, and James Reese was a member of the second Franklin convention. Some of these enjoyed the best educational advantages of their day. Roane and Hamilton were educated at Liberty Hall, the germ of Washington and Lee University, under William Graham, a Princeton graduate, and Rhea was reputed a graduate of Princeton College. They were likewise the fosterers of education; otherwise the following facts prove that college trusteeships were empty compliments: Roane and Hamilton were simultaneously charter trustees of three colleges. Blount, Greeneville, and Washington, while Rhea was likewise of Washington and Greeneville. The court took immediate steps to make Knoxville accessible to all portions of the county by opening roads and highways, a wise measure which the present generation has sought to improve upon by the construction of thoroughfares that are models. Alexander Cunningham was granted permission to keep a public ferry at his landing opposite Knoxville, and south, across the Holston, roads were laid out leading to Col. Alexander Kelly's mill and to David Craig's on Nine Mile creek, north to the ford of the Clinch river, west to Campbell's station, and east to the mouth of French Broad river.* * Ramsey, 568. The next note in this forward movement might indicate progress or retrogression; it is in the form of a protest demanding a better jail, and emanates from the sheriff. The court accordingly appointed commissioners to contract for the erection of a jail, whose "dimensions were sixteen feet square, the logs to be a foot square, the lower floor to be laid of logs of that size, to be laid double and crosswise, the loft also to be laid with logs, and covered crosswise with oak plank, one and a half inches thick and well spiked down." + Likewise to meet the ends of justice, at the same time, January 26, 1793, the court authorizes the same commissioners to let contract for building a courthouse. Two months before this the governor and territorial judges, Campbell and Anderson, had passed an act authorizing the courts of the several counties to levy taxes for the repairing or building of court-houses, prisons and stocks and for other expenses incurred. The occasion of the act was the removal of the expressed doubt whether the courts of pleas and quarter sessions, acting under the laws of North Carolina, had authority to levy taxes for the purposes named. The tax was not to exceed fifty cents on each poll and seventeen cents on each one hundred acres of land. + Ramsey, 569. Knoxville was now beginning to enjoy a veritable building and commercial growth. Governor Blount built his first cabin on a knoll between the University hill and the river, which was reached from the town by a winding road along the river. Soon afterward he built a more commodious residence on what was later the residence lot of S. B. Boyd, Esq. "The mansion stood near the center of the lot-was finished with some taste, and the grounds were better improved than any other in town."* Like the courthouse of modern days at the small county seat, his office became the center around which clustered the business houses of the place. Merchants advertised their stores with reference to their proximity to the governor's office, which stood just to the side of his residence on State street, not far from the corner of State and Front streets. * Ramsey, 560. The pioneer merchants were Nathaniel and Samuel Cowan and Hugh Dunlap, the latter occupying one of the government "shanties" erected at the time of holding the treaty of Holston, the former being on the corner of State and Front streets, opposite Chisholm's tavern. These were speedily followed by others, as the wave of migration moved westward and Governor Blount s capital became more of an assured fact. Some of them, from the upper towns, Jonesboro and Rogersville, retained at these places their interests before committing themselves fully at Knoxville. James Miller, while merchandising at Rogersville, advertised to open store at John Adairs in Grassy Valley, but two weeks later decided to open at Knoxville on June 1, 1792.* Miller was an enterprising man, having made the first attempts to raise silkworms in the territory and, as a merchant, anticipating the wholesale trade by advertising that he would make a "great allowance to those who buy and sell again." Nathaniel and Samuel Cowan continued their business at Jonesboro. The next merchants to arrive, if the order of their advertisements in the Gazette indicate priority, were S. Duncan and Co., in December, 1792; John Sommerville and Co. in February, 1793, and Titus Ogden in February. 1793. Charles McClung in December, 1792, offers "first-rate powder for sale at house which Col. White formerly lived in near Knoxville. $1.00 per lb.. for which good merchantable corn will be received at 1-3 of a dollar per bushel, delivered at my house."+ * Knoxville Gazette, May 19 and June 2. 1792. + Knoxville Gazette, December I, 1/92. Some of the advertisements in the Gazette forcibly remind one of modern methods. S. Duncan and Co. give notice that they are going to leave Knoxville and, therefore, offer liberal inducements to customers. Six months afterwards they are advertising new stock. J. Sommerville and Co. have a display advertisement filling two columns, ending it, however, with notice that no credit will be allowed. Other merchants of the territorial epoch were James Ore, Samuel Miller, associated with James Miller, and King and Crazier. Soon after beginning business Titus Ogden died, lamented as a useful and exemplary citizen. As witness from the state of North Carolina he had been present at the Holston treaty in 1791, and was paymaster of troops and of Indian annuities. Goods were bought in the markets of Philadelphia and Baltimore and, brought overland, involved time, labor and expense. Hugh Dunlap, in the letter already mentioned, says: "I left Philadelphia with my goods in December, 1791, and did not reach Knoxville until about the 1st of February. 1792." At the outset the taverns begin to do a thriving business, as many as four houses of entertainment being" advertised by John Chisholm, Alexander Carmichael, John Wood, and Peter McNamee. Other occupations also receive encouragement, inasmuch as jewelers, tanners, tailors and the butcher acquaint the public with their willingness to serve them, while well-diggers and tanners are advertised for and promised "good encouragement." With increasing business and population there came a demand for postal facilities. In the early part of 1792 a rumor was current that a continental post would run between Richmond and Knoxville beginning on June 1st the same year.* This, it seems, did not materialize, as later, in October, John Chisholm advertised in the Gazette that he would establish for the sum of $250.00 a postal service to include Jonesboro and Abingdon, Virginia, and to return by Sullivan courthouse and Rogersville to Knoxville, making the circuit in twenty-one days. This scheme must have fallen through, for in November of the same year Roulstone and Co., of the Gazette advertise a post from their printing office every other week, to leave the next morning after publication of the paper and to make all the county towns in Washington District and Abingdon, Virginia. Again, there are proposals advertised to carry mails between Knoxville and Abingdon once in two weeks. These efforts show the urgent necessity of a regular mail service. Accordingly, in 1795 the national government gave Knoxville a bi-monthly mail, with George Roulstone as postmaster, which relieved somewhat the pressing necessity for an improved service. By Knoxville came all mail for the West and much for the East. Hitherto letters and papers had been committed to the care of travelers and emigrants, who upon arrival opened their wallets and distributed their charge to eager crowds, always glad to confer such favors gratuitously. Important government correspondence was conveyed by volunteer expresses, who received as pay for their services about $1.00 per day. * Knoxville Gazette, February 25, 1792. Knoxville then, as she aspires to be now, was an army post, which meant much to the life and business of the town. Though John Adair's house had first been named as a depot of supplies, later it was found better to make Knoxville the place for the rendezvous of troops and the depository of arms and supplies. In 1793 Capt. Carr with a company of United States troops came and began the erection of a barracks for his men, which occupied the site of the present courthouse. This building extended from Main street towards the river, and was a two-story structure, the upper story projecting two feet on every side beyond the lower as a means of defense. Portholes on every side and even in the floor of the upper story added to the completeness of the defense, while the felling of trees within gunshot prevented the approach of an assailant.* The Gazette + mentions with genuine pride the arrival of William Rickard's troops from Salisbury, North Carolina, who, after a long and tedious march, entered the town with a movement bespeaking the order and discipline of war-worn veterans. The columns of the paper for almost a twelve-month, with each issue, bear the name of Commander Rickard, either advertising for deserters, clashing with the merchants of the town, officiating on the Fourth of July celebration, or giving notice forbidding the citizens from having anything to do with his soldiers without written orders. Hugh Dunlap says in the letter hereinbefore quoted that Carr was arrested by his lieutenant, Rickard, for drunkenness a few months after their arrival, and resigned his office through chagrin at the efforts of his subordinate officer to supplant him. Daniel Smith, the territorial secretary, writing to the Secretary of War, July 19, 1793, mentions a Capt. Kerr, in command of regulars, to whose care he intended to entrust a number of families removing to the Cumberland country.# It is evident that in the dim past of Knoxville the soldier was sometimes an element of disorder and confusion. Nathaniel and Samuel Cowan advertise that they will expect captains of militia as security for goods sold to the soldiers, to pay if the soldiers do not discharge their obligations.** On the other hand Rickard publishes this notice: ++ "I do once more forbid the inhabitants of this town and vicinity from having any dealings with the soldiers of my company, without permission in writing from the commanding officer, as they not only involve themselves in difficulty thereby, but also injure the public service. I have been informed that some persons in the country have purchased articles of the soldiers, such as part of their regimentals, public axes, etc. Purchasers are invited to bring all such soldiers to headquarters. "WILLIAM RICKARD, Commanding Officer, "12th Company, 3rd Sub-Legion. "Camp New Boston, near Knoxville." * Dr. Humes, Semi-Centennial Address. 59: Goodspeed. History of Tennessee, 840. + March 9, 1793. # American State Papers. Indian Affairs, Vol. IV. 464. ** Knoxvile Gazette, May 4. 1793. ++ Gazette, January 2, 1794. Additional Comments: From: STANDARD HISTORY OF KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE WITH FULL OUTLINE OF THE NATURAL ADVANTAGES, EARLY SETTLEMENT, TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT, INDIAN TROUBLES, AND GENERAL AND PARTICULAR HISTORY OF THE CITY DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME EDITED BY WILLIAM RULE GEORGE F. MELLEN, PH. D., AND J. WOOLDRIDGE COLLABORATORS PUBLISHED BY THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/knox/history/1900/standard/underter3nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/tnfiles/ File size: 14.1 Kb