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Giles County, Tennessee
Pisgah History - Part II
By W. Thomas Carden
A Giles County TNGenWeb Project
PISGAH HISTORY
By W. Thomas Carden
September 22, 1904
For several years Esquire James PAINE played a conspicuous part in affairs generally, both religiously and materially, in this County. He was an influential citizen, a loyal Methodist, and a fine business man. He acquired good property. His ancestors were of English-Welsh descent, having emigrated from Normandy with William I, (the Conqueror, who was born 1017 and died 1087: he was Duke of Normandy, conquered England, and was made king). This was in the eleventh century. Two of the PAINE ancestry were knighted for bravery on the field of battle. In 1800 James PAINE, M. D., grandfather of James PAINE of this place, who had been educated in London, where he practiced his profession, came to the United States and settled in Massachusetts. After a short residence in New England Dr. PAINE moved south and settled in North Carolina near the town of Oxford. In 1824 James PAINE removed to Giles County, because he believed a new county afforded more promise for his large growing family. His children were honored and respected. I understand that he was a Justice of the Peace in North Carolina and also served in that capacity in this county. He wrote a beautiful hand. He lived where Logan BIRDSONG now resides and the place was known as "Cherry Flat". Near the house under some cedar trees is the old PAINE burying ground where James PAINE and most of his family are interred. The slab-boards are well preserved. The inscription upon the tombstone of James PAINE reads:
"In memory of James PAINE, born in Person County, North Carolina, March 18, 1776. Died 19th August 1840, in full assurance of eternal life, through Jesus Christ. Integrity and consistency of character were blended in him, combined with piety and usefulness".
James PAINE helped build Bethesda and was a regular camper at this place. He was twice married. His first wife was named Mary A. She died November 30, 1815, aged thirty three years, eleven months and eleven days. His second wife was named Elizabeth, who was born February 8, 1791, and died July 18, 1834. Martha W. daughter Of James and Mary A. PAINE, is buried with her parents. She was born May 29, 1807. She was married to W. W. RIVERS January 12, 1831. Her husband, William W. RIVERS, was born November 22, 1803, and died April 2, 1836, and is buried by her side. She married Thomas E. ABERNATHY, June 7, 1838. Her death occurred June 22, 1891. Several descendants live at present in this County.
Mary W., daughter of James and Mary A. PAINE, was born September 26, 1815, died November 3, 1817. Elizabeth M., daughter or James and Mary A. PAINE, and Consort of William R. BROWN, was born June 26, 1802, and died August 10, 1826. Rowena, another daughter, married Colonel Robert DICKSON. She was born December 29, 1818, and died July 29, 1855. Colonel DICKSON is buried by her side. He was born January 10, 1810, and died November 9, 1873. Colonel DICKSON was a prominent planter of near Pulaski.
John H., son of James and Elizabeth PAINE, was born May 26, 1832, and died October 27, 1832. Elizabeth A., daughter of the above couple, was born August 5, 1829, and died December 8, 1829. Elizabeth Mary, another daughter, died February 24, 1835, aged seven months and twenty one days. I notice three children named Elizabeth but they died young. There may have been another of the name who lived to be old. Lucius was born October 5, 1826, and died January 14, 1827. Erasmus S., was born May 1, 1821, and died January 7, 1822. Erskine F., was born January 14, and died August 4, 1828. Caroline C., was born November 3, 1822, and died October 5, 1826. There was a son named James Milton and another named Junius. I have no record of Junius. Milton married Maria D. ABERNATHY and moved to West Tennessee, living in Haywood County. He died during the war. Thomas G. PAINE was a local preacher who went to Texas. The most talented child of James PAINE was Robert. If there are other children I have not learned of them. A detailed chronicle will be given, in the next installment of this history, of Robert PAINE.
Previous mention has been made of Reverend Phillip BRUCE but in connection with the PAINE family data I have found additional items. "He became an itinerant preacher in 1781 when there were only about twenty preachers and less than 10,000 members in America. He is said to have been teaching school in North Carolina when the war of the Revolution occurred. He quit his school, raised a Company of Volunteers, acted gallantly in the great Battle of King's mountain, and became distinguished for his zeal and usefulness as a preacher. He was for many years a Presiding Elder in the Virginia Conference: bore a conspicuous part in forming a the Constitution and policy of the Church, and was regarded by ASBURY and MCKENDREE as a wise and trusty adviser; and, after he had become superannuated he came to Tennessee. This writer new him well, and revered and loved him greatly". Extract from sketch by Bishop PAINE. He baptized, married add buried several of James PAINE's family. He was a great blessing to the community even in his old age. Dr. G. D. TAYLOR was with him at his death. The night before he died he requested 'to be left alone with God" . The next morning at dawn, when the doctor entered his room to inquire into his condition, the feeble but Happy old pilgrim said: "Oh debtor, I am perfectly happy! I have been almost in Heaven all night! Such views of God , of Christ, and Glory!" and thus he died. He ads a colleague and long tried friend of Bishop William MCKENDREE, who mourned his death as a brother. Like MCKENDREE he never married and gave his whole life to God and Methodism. He professed and preached entire sanctification, lived an amplification of it and died a witness.
One of the saddest, desolate looking graveyards anywhere is the one at Mt. Zion. Briars and shrubbery have overgrown the entire grounds. Fences have decayed the monuments and walls are broken and torn down. Ruin is on every hand. In that graveyard is the dust of several who had an active part in the camp meetings at this place. Levi SHERRILL was born September 12, 1776, and died November 15, 1853. Elizabeth SHERRILL was born May 9, 1790,and died September 2, 1857. These were the parents of Reverend John SHERRILL, who served this church for quite a number of years. Good sized trees now grow on their graves.
A.G. BONDS was born February 1, 1806, and died September 18, 1880. Elizabeth BONDS was born February 15, 1815, and died June 23, 1877. Sarah G. COOKE was born February 1794, and died October 1880.
Joseph MCCOY was born November 13, 1799, and died April 16, 1862. Mary C. WILLIAMSON was born January 7, 1786, and died February 21, 1856.
Jane Blair MCCOY was born October 17, 1805, and died April 14, 1889. Daniel LEATHERMAN was born December 15, 1772, and died December 21, 1862. Nancy LEATHERMAN, his wife, was born January 24, 1775, and died September 24, 1839. Mrs. William BALLENTINE, of Pulaski, is a grand daughter of this pair, being a daughter of Charles LEATHERMAN. N. J. BASS owns a clock his father bought at the sale of Daniel LEATHERMAN, which keeps good time. It cost sixty cents at the sale. David LEATHERMAN, another son of Daniel, was appointed counsel to one of the South American Republics by President Andrew JOHNSON. (To be continued).
PISGAH HISTORY
By W. Thomas Carden
September 29, 1904
Biographical Sketch of Bishop Robert PAINE
Robert PAINE, son of James and Mary A. PAINE, was born in Person County, North Carolina, November 12, 1799, and came to Giles County, with his parents in 1814. He secured the best education the neighborhood schools could bestow. Possessing a remarkably precocious mind, by diligence and application, he attained a polish and refinement rarely accomplished by one under similar handicaps and environs. The late Dr. W. P. HARRISON, a scholar of wide repute, said among other things in speaking of him: "Among those men who became the chief factors in the sum of intellectual progress in the nineteenth century, no name stands higher than that of Robert PAINE". He attended a private school near Culleoka and boarded with a Dr. RUTLEDGE. Some of his classmates procured some of Voltaire's works on infidelity and PAINE began reading one of the volumes and became absorbed in its contents. The sophistry and well deducted reasoning of the book appealed to his imagination and tender mind as a pabulum to satiate the innermost yearnings of the aching void in every rational breast. Dr. RUTLEDGE, who was a devout Christian, in passing through the room one day, saw PAINE reading the nefarious writing; without saying a word the good doctor took the book from his hands and laid it upon the coals. Bishop PAINE often spoke of this incident and ever was grateful that he never finished the book. He taught school for awhile at Bethany, now Bryson.
In 1817 he was converted at the campmeetinq at this place under a large Poplar Tree on the west side of the hill, and joined the Methodist Church. Some say that he was converted at a cottage prayer-meeting held in the neighborhood. Reverend Thomas L. DOUGLASS was the presiding elder of the Nashville District and was at this place in the campmeeting, PAINE's conversion was under his ministry. His conversion was bright and his call to preach clear. At Franklin in 1817 (October 30-November 8) he attended the Tennessee Annual Conference and was the colleague of Miles HARPER, with T. L. DOUGLASS as presiding elder. He was timid and felt the cross so heavy, that he was sorely tempted to quit. However, perseverance and consecration bore him up and he was tided over the treacherous shoals. October 1, 1818, he was admitted on trial into the Tennessee Conference, at Nashville, Bishops MCKENDREE and George presiding. It was then and there his acquaintance began with Bishop MCKENDREE.
There were. nineteen in the class with Bishop PAINE, to wit: Joshua BOUCHER, Jr., John BROOKS, Samuel B. HARWELL, Obediah FREEMAN, Samuel D. SANSOM, Anckil RICHARDSON, Hartwell H. BROWN, Sterling C. BROWN, George LOCKE, Thomas MADDIN, Robert HOOPER, Daniel ADAMS, Abraham STILL, Lewis S. MARSHALL, George BROWN and a Mr. KESTERSON. I.do not learn the names of the others. Several of this class became distinguished. HARWELL, the BROWN brothers and PAINE, came from this section. Some of them afterwards rode this circuit. Robert PAINE's first charge was, the Flint River work, Tennessee District, under Thomas D. PORTER, presiding elder. In 1819 he was sent to Tuscaloosa, in the Tennessee River District under the same presiding elder. The country around Tuscaloosa was a wilderness at that time and PAINE was a missionary. He was sent to Murfreesboro and Shelbyville in 1820-21. In 1822, he was at Franklin and Lebanon: 1823, he succeeded Lewis Garrett on the Forked Deer District. He was preacher in charge of Nashville Town in 1824 and 1825. In 1824 he was assistant secretary of the Conference. He was a member of every General Conference from 1824 to 1844, at which session the Church was provisionally divided. In March 1824 he rode to Baltimore, the seat of the General Conference, in company with Bishop MCKENDREE, who traveled in a barouche owing to his frail health, Thomas L. DOUGLASS, and wife and a servant named Aaron. They went up the Cumberland River, recrossed that stream at mouth of Caney Fork, where Carthage is now located (which place the writer is fully acquainted with) and struck an old trail for the Cumberland Mountains. They crossed over the mountains, crossed Clinch River, proceeded through Knoxville to Strawberry Plains, and near Jonesboro encountered the Allegheny Mountains, which they crossed and passed over the Yadkin River to Wilkesboro, North Carolina, to Huntsville, on to Salem, old Guilford Court House and to Petersburg, finally, reaching Baltimore the 28th of April. In 1826-27-28 to 29 Robert PAINE was the presiding elder of the Nashville District. This was his last pastoral work. In 1829 he was appointed superintendent of a college and lived at Tuscumbia, Alabama. LaGrange College, of which he was President seventeen years, was in Franklin County, Alabama. When he took charge, it was a young school with no endowment. Under PAINE's skillful management it soon became a very popular educational institution, and many claim it as their alma mater. In 1844 he was chairman of the committee who reported the "Plan of Separation". He transferred to the Louisville Conference in 1845.
The General Conference for 1846 met in May of that year, at Petersburg, Virginia. It was the first quadrennial session of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and attracted widespread attention. William CAPERS, D. D. and Robert PAINE, D. D., were elected to the episcopy. Several years prior to his election as Bishop the Degree of Doctor of Divinity had been conferred on him. He was ordained by Bishops SOULE and ANDREW. At LaGrange he was assisted in the college work by Professor SIMMES, Professor ELLISON, of South Carolina, Professors TUTWILER and BARBOUR, of Virginia and Professor ELLIOTT, a graduate of Augusta College. He was succeeded by Dr. WADSWORTH and Professor HARDY. LaGrange College was burned during the war. The General Conference held at Columbus, Georgia, May 1854, requested Bishop PAINE to write the biography of Bishop William MCKENDREE. Bishop PAINE was intimately associated with Bishop MCKENDREE for many years: he traveled thousands of miles with him, frequently heard him preach, assisted him in the preparation of his addresses to the General Conference and Annual Conference, and other important papers, in fact he was MCKENDREE's traveling companion and amanuensis for several months at a time. PAINE was familiar with MCKENDREE's views of the constitution and policy of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and gave them his cordial endorsement. He was, though comparatively young, the particular confidential friend of the Bishop and entertained for him a most devoted affection and veneration and cherished for his memory the most profound regard as a son in the Gospel. By short stages these two passed through Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia, over several battlefields of the Revolution: visiting the vicinity of Mt. Vernon: talking occasionally about MCKENDREE's recollection of WASHINGTON and the war of Independence: sitting together in WASHINGTON'S family pew, which had the initials of his name still upon its door. In 1828 while he was presiding elder of the Nashville District Bishop MCKENDREE preached for him, September 7, at 11 o'clock, at DOUGLASS's campmeeting, to 6,000 people. That year Bishop MCKENDREE visited at this place with Robert PAINE. In 1829 PAINE presided at the session of Tennessee Conference held at Huntsville, Alabama, until Bishop R. R. ROBERTS arrived. November 6, 1833, at the session held at Pulaski, MCKENDREE was too feeble to attend to his duties. T. L. DOUGLASS presided and Lewis GARRETT and Robert PAINE did the cabinet work. In 1847-48-51-54-67-69 Bishop PAINE wielded the gavel over the deliberations of the Tennessee Conference, Bishop PAINE was distinctly a Tennessee Bishop.
In appearance Bishop PAINE was a splendid looking man, robust, stalwart, with a patrician face and Roman Senator-like head. He had all the courtly graces of a Christian Knight. None knew better than he how to wield the sword of the Spirit in defense of his most Holy Faith. The whole congregation moved as one at his preaching. The greatest effort of his life was the funeral sermon of Reverend Lorenzo D. OVERALL by request of the dead preacher, at Lebanon, November 1854, before the conference body, from the text: "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, etc". In the fall of 1846 Bishop PAINE moved to Aberdeen, Mississippi, where he lived until his death, October 19, 1882. For some time before his death he was the senior living bishop in the Southern Methodist Church.
His wife died at Aberdeen January 3, 1904. The following children at the' Bishop's death survived him, viz; Mrs. J. H. SCRUGGS, Mrs. S. F. HAMILTON, Dr. William M. PAINE and George C. PAINE, Attorney and Counselor at Law.
PISGAH HISTORY
By W. Thomas Carden
October 6, 1904
Interesting Account of Early Church and Schools.
The cemetery at this place is a large burying ground. For miles around the dead are brought to this place and laid away. A child of a man named GRIMES was the first one buried here. The next burial was of Mrs. GRIFFIN, who died at a campmeeting service. It is said that there are no preachers buried here. A man named CROSS, who was surly and irritable, it is related, was buried cross-wise, because he was cross by name, nature and practice. This graveyard is unfenced and in a dilapidated condition. Stock runs over it and school children play with part of the tablets. Some of the lots are overgrown with weeds and briars. Some of the enclosures are torn down, many graves are unmarked. Some graves are covered with long flat slabs, which have the inscriptions engraved thereon. Many inscriptions have been effaced by the elements. The name of the disease that caused death , with the length of illness, is stated on some of the Tombstones. In early times coffins were made by some carpenter in the vicinity and usually cost $1.50 apiece, the price for the man's work. A winding sheet and veil were the furnishings for the corpse. In 1854 there was an epidemic of dysentery, called brown flux, which killed people by the score, ofttimes almost exterminating large families. At one time there were fifteen graves before it rained. The BULL family was nearly all taken by this grievous malady.
Thomas J. ("Dip") WESTMORELAND, second son of Laban A. and Nancy WESTMORELAND, was born December 4, 1830, and assassinated in Lawrenceburg, November 9, 1858. He was killed by Lewis KIRK, who was one of Forrest's Scouts in the Civil War, and was himself killed by the Federals and buried near Esquire George DISMUKES' house.† In 1903 his body was exhumed and carried to Lynnville. A large marble stone marks the resting place of Westmoreland. It was erected by G. W. WOODRING of Pulaski. Dr. Monroe F. ("White") WESTMORELAND was an assistant surgeon in Hume FIELD'S Company, First Tennessee Regiment. He was wounded at Romney, West Virginia, and died during the campaign in that State.
Tom BUTLER, Sam TUCKER, Sr., and Mit WOODWARD, belonged to Wheeler's Cavalry. They are buried in this graveyard. Esquire W. F. SIMPSON, a member of the of the Third Tennessee Regiment, James H. BRIGGS, of the 32nd Tennessee and Harbard YOUNG of the same Regiment are buried here.
Laban A. WESTMORELAND was born February 22, 1809, and died October 27, 1860. He was a noted character in this section, being a trader and merchant. He lived where Drs. LANCASTER now reside. He went from this place to Bunker Hill where he sold goods for twelve or fifteen years. His mind became aberrant in his closing days. He moved to Mississippi but came back and died on the Giles REYNOLDS Farm.
Robert TUCKER was born in 1800 and died October 10, 1865. He is buried here. Mary DUNIVANT, wife of Peter DUNIVANT, was born December 1, 1800, and died May 8, 1858. Many others are buried here, but, as mention will be made of them in other connections, notice will not here be made.
The old church, which was situated immediately behind the present house, was sold to R. M. SMITH, together with one acre and forty four poles of land, July 28, 1868. The lot was surveyed by R. P. YANCEY, County Surveyor, June 25, 1868. Mr. SMITH paid $300 consideration. The old house was moved about 100 yards further back, where it now stands. It was used two or three years as a carpenter shop and undertaking establishment. Later it was a shed, storehouse and saloon. It has been used for school purposes. It is now a storehouse, occupied by TARPLEY & COGGIN. A Masonic Hall was added to it by raising it another story. Bradshaw Lodge Number 256, F. A. M., occupy this hall and have a flourishing organization. On one side are stock scales. Two graves are under the house.
September 14, 1867, a subscription was started for the purpose of erecting a new church building. William O. LOYD, Sterling ABERNATHY and Alfred HOUZE were the building committee. L. B. MARKS, Sterling ABERNATHY, William G. LOYD, Felix T. ABERNATHY, Wesley HARWELL, Harbard L. HARWELL, Reverend Stith M. HARWELL, Elihu MCDONALD, Nicholas GRUBBS and William WEBB were the trustees. James M. EDWARDS and William C. HOLLIS were the contractors. Dr. William E. LANCASTER and G. A. HOPKINS were sureties. Professor S. A. R. sWAN drew the plans of the house. The house is sixty feet long by forty feet wide. It was covered with yellow poplar shingles nineteen inches long and four inches wide. The house was to be finished by April 15, 1868. Work began November 5, 1867. June 5, 1868, $1,250 was paid the contractors for the framing. William R. SMITH and Felix T. ABERNATHY took the contract to floor the church October 27, 1868, for $158, to be finished December 25, 1868. H. E. FINN was given the contract to plaster the house, March 22, 1869, to be finished May 15, 1869 at 50¢ per square yard. $1,633 was paid on the first subscription, $262 was paid on the second, $194 on the third, $125 on the fourth. The sale of the old church and land amounted to $300. Total, $2,524. The church, however, cost $3,000 or more. Among the largest contributors were Dr. W. E. LANCASTER, $50: J. L. Barnes, $60: H. L. HARWELL, $96.29: James H. MCCORMICK, $50: Mrs. A. E. ABERNATHY, $50: Sterling ABERNATHY, $77: Wesley HARWELL, $100: Elihu MCDONALD, $95: T. L. BIRDSONG, $50: R. M. SMITH, $50: William H. OLIVER, $50: William G. LOYD, $50: Thomas G. PAINE, $105.05: and David T. REYNOLDS, $50. Several of these supplemented their donations with work, material, and boarding the workmen. The first sermon delivered in the new church was preached one Thursday in September, 1869, by Reverend Thomas P. BROWN. The following Sunday the church was dedicated.
Schools were taught in the old church for a long time. The earliest schools I can learn anything definite of were in the early 40's. Text books were scarce in those days. Anything and everything printed were used. Peter Parley's History, Webster's "Blue Back" speller, Pike's Arithmetic, Olney's Geography, and Kirkum's Grammar were the principal studies. Pounds, shillings and pence were the monetary denominations used in the arithmetics. Chicago was on the map as Fort Dearborn. Kansas City, Minneapolis, and other large cities of the present West and Northwest were not mentioned in the geographies. Lessons were studied in an audible tone and the house was filled with a hum and jargon which could often be heard for quite a distance. Should anyone of today, unacquainted with the custom of those times, hear and see a school conducted as in those times he would think he was in bedlam. In the summertime the larger and trustworthy pupils were allowed the privilege of sitting beneath a shade tree hard by to prepare lessons. Sometimes an urchin would perch on the limbs. "Bull Pen", Tag, Base, Jumping the Rope and "Shinny" were favorite games. Woe be to the passerby who dared taunt the scholars by giving the opprobrious epithet of "School Butter" (a corruption of school better). Both teacher and pupils would pursue the offender and inflict severe punishment which generally consisted of ducking the party in the creek. The most important branch of the curriculum was the one employed in corporal chastisement. I am inclined to believe that much of the sturdihood of our older men is due to the many flagellations they received at school. A plank stuck in a crack of the wall sufficed for an ample writing desk. Goose quills were fashioned by the teacher into writing pens. It was in the 50's before steel pens were introduced. Puncheon seat made of Chestnut logs, with peg legs and no backs, were the desks. Forked sticks were fastened to the walls and used as hat and dinner racks. The letter Z was called izzard, then spelled and pronounced thus; I-zzard, iz, izzard-a-r-d, zard, izzard. Afterwards it was changed to zed and then to Z. Friday afternoons spectators were present and spelling bees and declaiming and reciting were indulged in for their entertainment and the edification of the school. "Mary had a little lamb", (spoken generally by a girl) and "The boy Stood on the Burning Deck" (-sung by a lusty lunged male with a strident voice) were prime favorites. Now and then some of the older boys would "Bury Caesar" or "Fed Upon the Gramplan Hills" or "Sink or Swim" and the older girls would read an essay entitled "Spring" or "the Beautiful Snow". The last day of the school the big boys would "turn the teacher out" and demand a "treat". He generally complied and passed around ginger-cakes and apples. Miss Adeline LESTER was the teacher at this place, 1846. She married a preacher named SUMNER. He died and she married a man named HUDSON. Wiley WILLEFORD taught in 1848-49. Miss Anna GREEN, daughter of Reverend Colman GREEN, was one of the teachers here long ago. There were a Professor MCINTYRE; Professor YANCEY, father of W. J. YANCEY of Pulaski; Captain E. W. HOLT; F. A. DICKERSON, a graduate of Yale; S. A. R. SWAN and a Professor SCALES.
In the early 70's considerable animosity was engendered on account of school matters. Factions were arrayed against each other. One night Professor SCALES was fired upon by unknown parties and an old hearse was left at his gate. Grog shops were plentiful in this section, several were on the hill. Rowdyism was rampant. This was the roughest epoch of Pisgah's History. In those times young boys in the summertime went in their shirt-tails to school. The home-spun jacket and blue jeans and cotton-cloth suits were good enough for everyone. Pride and vanity did not figure as they do in these modern days. During the early days of the War Marion BASS got hold of an old drum. The school boys and the young men of the community drilled themselves at recess and play-time in military tactics and manoeuvres. They became rather proficient and received the compliments of their pedagogue. The men were preparing for actual hostilities and the martial strains and practice inflamed many a youthful heart to enlist and many a mother's joy went to war - some never returned - some passed through unscathed - some were wounded and came home to be nursed back to health - all realizing the reality of battle was horrible, instead of being as they had anticipated.
PISGAH HISTORY
By W. Thomas Carden
October 13, 1904
There was a grist mill on Buchanan Creek for several years, near where Bascom SMITH now lives. It was operated by W. J. ABERNATHY. There was another mill on the Creek below J. H. OLIVER's and another on the farm now owned by O. E. SMITH. Traces of these industries are almost extinct. In the early days several distilleries were maintained in this neighborhood. G. W. OLIVER owned one of these plants. His son, W. H. OLIVER.succeeded him in the business. John H. OLIVER, a son, has a receipt of his father's for a large quantity of whiskey, which sold for 15 cents per gallon.
There were no post offices from Bradshaw to Pulaski as late as 1840. Mail was carried from Pulaski to Fayetteville. The office at Pisgah was granted in 1859 and discontinued a few years since, when Rural Free Delivery was introduced in these parts. In the early days newspapers were very small in size, containing only two sheets. There were no stock scales in these parts. Weighing was done on balances. Two pair of britchings were used to hold hogs to ascertain their weight. Trading was a lucrative business. Several were engaged in this profession. large droves of hogs were carried annually from this section to Montgomery. As many as 1,200 head were in one drove. In the autumn and early winter was the time devoted to hogs. In the summer mules were bought and carried south.
Politics, in those days, were at the boiling point. The Whigs and Democrats were very bitter toward each other. Ofttimes they were so hostile that they ran amuck. "Fist and skull" encounters were the common methods of settling their differences. The Democrats would have barbecues during political campaigns, and some of their prominent speakers would hurl all sorts of anathemas and vituperation at the Whigs. In turn the Whigs would try to out-do the Democrats, and thus the fires were kept burning. The Democrats would not attend the demonstrations of the Whigs, saying if they had a yellow dog that attended a Whig meeting they would kill it. Captain HOLT had a negro called "Blue John", whom he had purchased from Daniel LEATHERMAN. This colored gentleman one day in 1856 hallowed for FREMONT, and it so angered HOLT so much that he whipped the negro until blood ran down to his heels. Sterling ABERNATHY was a strong Whig. The leader of that party in this vicinity was William (better known as Jerry) AYMETT, who was very witty. It was said of the Democrats during one of the campaigns that they were looking up to their leaders. Thereupon Mr. AYMETT remarked that they were so low down that they could not look any other way.
In the original Twentieth Civil District have lived three men who afterwards became governors of Tennessee. They were Neil S. and John C. BROWN and Isham G. HARRIS. The BROWNS were Whigs and were born and reared in this District. Three of their sisters married preachers. One married Reverend James STEVENSON. Another married a Presbyterian preacher named MCMILLIAN, who was a Chaplin in the Confederate Army. Isham G. HARRIS was born at Winchester and came to this County when a young man and lived awhile with his brother, James T. HARRIS, who lived on Bradshaw Creek. James T. HARRIS was a lieutenant colonel in the Confederate Army. At the Battle of Shiloh, General A. S. JOHNSTON fell mortally wounded and died in the arms of Isham G. HARRIS.
Pink HARRIS, a son of James T., rode up during this scene and said: "Uncle Isham, Father has just been killed". Isham G. HARRIS, in speaking of this sad incident to Dr. Jesse MAYES, of this place, afterward said, "I learned just there, there was a wide difference between war on paper and war on the field."
During the war this country suffered greatly. The quota of soldiers from the grand old Volunteer State had many of the flower of manhood from these parts. Those who were left at home - old men, women and children - had many obstacles and deprivations to contend with. The soldiers of both Armies depreciated this section considerably. W. T. SHERMAN'S Army marched through this place on its way from Memphis to Chattanooga. They camped on Bradshaw Creek several days. They foraged the surrounding country and destroyed a good deal of property. MILROY'S Cavalry passed through Pisgah one night. James RIVERS and Lewis KIRK, two of FORREST'S Scouts, stood near the present parsonage, and watched them. After they passed KIRK went to the graveyard to see T. J. WESTMORELAND'S grave. He had killed WESTMORELAND. A year after this he was killed.
During the war people used roasted wheat and sweet potatoes for coffee. Hitherto prosperous neighborhoods, during these dark days, the ravages of war times turned into dreary wastes and desolate ruins. Happy homes were bowed in grief. Robust manhood was stooped and maimed by exposure and bullets. Stock was gone, fences torn away, and farms over-run. During the reconstruction period the people were seriously handicapped in every way.
The oldest houses in this vicinity are the LUCY Place, the HOUZE residence, a house on G. W. ELDER'S place, and the house owned by Henry BUTLER.
OLIVER, LANCASTER, and ABERNATHY were merchants at this place several years ago. Captain E. W. HOLT also sold goods here. R. M. SMITH sold goods here for sometime. His sons, the firm of SMITH Brothers, succeeded him. W. H. LANCASTER has been in the mercantile business several years. He was burned out twice. He and TARPLEY and COGGIN are the only two stores here at present.
Joshua JAMES was a blacksmith at this place. He moved away in 1837.
Dr. W. E. LANCASTER, Dr. Jesse MAYES, Dr. GRANT, Dr. NELSON, Dr. WILSON, and Dr. CARTER were the physicians at this place for the last fifty years. A sketch of Dr. LANCASTER will be given later. Dr. Jesse MAYES was a self-made, practical man of fine intellect. He practiced medicine for about forty years. He is well remembered to this day by a host of friends. Dr. GRANT was a son-in-law of Dr. MAYES. He located in Nashville and at present is in the old soldier's home in that city. Drs. A. J. and G. W. LANCASTER, sons of Dr. W. E. LANCASTER, and Dr. R. E. AYMETT are the doctors here now. They were reared at this place. Cupping and bleeding and the use of "yerbs and roots" were in vogue here for years, as also these customs prevailed elsewhere.
Martin ZIMMERMAN was a tailor at this place for some time. He left Pisgah in 1842 and moved to near Rogersville, Alabama. He had three sons. Joe, the oldest, was wounded at Antietam, Virginia, having an eye shot out. He died in Texas two years ago. John died in prison at Fort Delaware. He was captured at Vicksburg. George died in Mississippi. A daughter died of Yellow Fever at Florence, Alabama, about ten years ago. ZIMMERMAN lived where Dr. LANCASTER now lives.
Miss BIRDWELL married John MCCORMACK, Sr, one of the first settlers. At his death she married Josiah PHELPS. She died in Texas in 1900, aged 89 years. Six children were born of the first union - five girls and one boy. Eliza married Milton MARKS. Mary married Lee ABERNATHY. Marella married Alfred ROWE. Emily married William HOUZE. Patsy married Joel dYER. John was the boy's name. He lives on Buchanan Creek, near this place, and is widely known as "Marse John". He was born in 1830. In 1859 he was street overseer and Town CONSTABLE of Pulaski. He was a slave overseer for years. Of the second marriage are the following children: Xantippe, who married Doc WRIGHT; Julia, who was the first wife of Alex LOYD; Parthenia, who died in early life; Thomas Benton PHELPS, who went to Texas, and Napoleon B. PHELPS, who is dead. Mrs. PHELPS crossed Elk River in an ox cart in 1809, on her way from North Carolina to this place. The most of her children are now dead. Their offspring are scattered in all parts of the United States.
PISGAH HISTORY
By W. Thomas Carden
October 20, 1904
Interesting Facts Regarding Pioneer Families.
Peter RANDOLPH, a wag, lived in the hollow near Pisgah, which is known today as "RANDOLPH Hollow". He was the son of James RANDOLPH, who came from Virginia. There was a large family of them. The old man was a staunch Presbyterian and well read. Peter had no education but for keen wit he was hard to excel. He was a renter. He boasted that he always went on the sure plan. Some worked for a third and some for a fourth but he worked for the nonth, and as good a lawyer as John T. ALLEN could not euchre him out of dues. He had two sons who were killed while serving in the Army. They were named Carson and "Toad" and belonged to Captain ARROWSMITH'S Company, 32nd Tennessee. Carson was killed at Chickamauga.
Reverend David CROOK was a native of Virginia. He was a noted Baptist preacher, belonging to the "Hardshell" division. He was a surveyor and had a splendid education. He was a great nurse and ministered untiringly at the bedside of all who were sick or afflicted. He preached far and near. Major Early BENSON and Larkin CARDIN were prominent members of his church on Indian Creek. Mr. CROOK preached long sermons and would finish his discourse if all of the congregation left. It is told of him that at one time at Indian Creek he preached so long the crowd grew weary and all left except "Uncle Billy" TENNERY who was asleep. When he awoke the preacher was still orating. "Uncle Billy" arose and walked out, remarking at the door, "Brother CROOK, when you get through, shut the door". Reverend CROOK was a remarkable man in his day and time and was beloved by all. I regret that I have not secured more information of him. He had a large family. Two sons were in the Mexican War. His youngest son was killed in the late War at Pensacola, Florida. He was the grandfather of Press, Pat and Lonzo BASS. He died in 1857.
William GRUBBS, son of Nicholas GRUBBS, belonged to the Third Tennessee Regiment, Company "A". He came home during the War and died.
Jessie MONTGOMERY, a blacksmith and wood workman, lived on the hill for some time and moved to where his son, W. M. MONTGOMERY, now lives and died there. He had seven children, to wit: Mrs. Torn HARWELL, Mrs. J. C. YOUNG, Mrs. T. E. YOUNG, living, and Sterling, Virginia and Sallie, dead. He died in 1875, aged 56 years.
Nathan BASS, an early settler, was born in Virginia, May 7, 1779. He married Martha BEATY, January 31, 1806. Eleven children - eight boys and three girls were born to this couple. He died October 1860. Martha BASS, his wife, was born June 9, 1787, and died July 22, 1860. Stephen Hiram BASS, the oldest child, was born December 20, 1806, and died November 21, 1860. He was made General over Militia. Nancy E., was born January 10, 1808. She married David GEORGE. She died April 5, 1888. John was born March 1, 1810. When a young man he fell out of a wild Cherry Tree and broke his back. It is supposed the cherries intoxicated him. He lived for forty years in the bed. He never married and lived in the house where Allen PITTS now resides. He died April 19, 1860. William B. was born April 9, 1811, and died May 14, 1811. Hiram was born April 26, 1812, and died December 25, 1863, in Mississippi. Annabella was born February 4, 1814. She married Colston ABERNATHY. She died in 1886. Benjamin B. was born January 15, 1816, and died October 20, 1876. Farington was born December 28, 1818, and died June 7, 1864. Gilbert W. was born September 28, 1823, and died of Smallpox March 2, 1864. Martha J. J. was born August 1828, and died February 17, 1835. Jacob Miller was born September 23, 1835, and is still living at Bunker Hill, in fairly good health. James died January 20, 1900, aged 79 years. Gilbert Washington BASS and Mary Eliza WILLIAMS were married December 21, 1842. She was born November 26, 1821, and died April 25, 1892. The following are their children. Nancy was born December 23, 1843, and died August 23, 1844. Francis Marion was born October 6, 1843. He married and has a large family and lives at Bunker Hill. He married a daughter of Alfred HOUZE. Lucinda Lauretta married James HAMLETT and lives between this place and Pulaski. Thomas Franklin lives near here. Logan Green dies in infancy. Nathan James (Buddy) lives near here. Caroline Farington died January 15, 1892. Jacob Miller, Jr., died November 7, 1898.
Thomas WILLIAMS, father of Gilbert Bass's, was born April 15, 1796, and died in Lincoln County, January 26, 1833. He married Nancy MCMULLIN. She was born December 5, 1797, and died at the Gilbert BASS home in 1864. Their children were James Wright WILLIAMS who was born December 23, 1817; Minerva Jane, who was born December 16, 1819: F. Marion, who was born July 4, 1823: M. E., who was born November 21, 1821: Pittman PERRY, who was born in 1825: Caroline E. born April 6, 1827, married a Mr. Adkins and moved to Limestone county, Alabama, where she is now living. Green HARRISON born May 23, 1829, and died in 1903; S. D., born May 15, 1831 and died in infancy.
James BASS was the father of the present constable, Augustus BASS, Woodlee, and Burks. T. F. BASS has a nickle-plated knee-buckle which his grandfather, Nathan, wore when married. N. J. BASS has several caps which were worn a great deal before the war. Several of the specimens were made about 1830 and 1840. They were hand sewed and at first glance could not tell it from machine work. The caps worn on Sundays were of better material than those worn through the week.
Allen PITTS, father of Mrs. Sarah Ann NEAL, owned a Hemp Factory and lived where W. C. MASON now lives. Annals was the oldest son. Matthias a few years ago had a cancer on his face which was eating into one of his eyes. Through a fit of despondency he borrowed a gun from Dr. R. E. AYMETT, stating he wished to kill some squirrels, and shot himself. His son, George W., was sheriff of this County for two terms. He was a lieutenant in Field's Old Company, First Tennessee Regiment, and was killed at Perryville by grapeshot. Henry, oldest son of Allen PITTS, was in three wars - Florida, Mexican and Civil. He and Calvin Miles, of Lincoln County, are mentioned in one of the histories, as the only privates in the Buena Vista Engagement, who received notice for bravery. They dashed through the enemy's lines under a solid stream of bullets, in a Cavalry Charge and captured a Mexican officer and miraculously escaped. One Sunday he wanted to go to Church but could not find one of his boots. Not to be thwarted he blacked his foot and went to Sharon and enjoyed the service as much as if he had worn the finest boot on the foot. He was killed in Texas three years ago by a chimney failing on him. The PITTS' were unexceptionally brave men. Charles PITTS, brother of Allen PITTS, was born June 2, 1802. He had two sons in the War, Jack and Houston, members of the Third Tennessee. Jack would often stand upon the breastworks and wave his hat at the enemy. He died near the close of the war while in the Georgia Campaign by eating toadstools, mistaking them for mushrooms. Charles PITTS was a very active man. He was so restless and impatient that he threw all the corn he gathered at the negroes to make them keep busy. He gave Dr LANCASTER a stipulated sum per year to do his practice. It is said that once he sent for the doctor and when Dr. LANCASTER came Mr. PITTS was in the field at work. The doctor asked him how he was. He replied, "if you want to talk to me you will have to walk with me. I am too busy to stop". Probably he was taking the spell of sickness that killed him. Will RANDOLPH was his overseer. Among his negroes were two, named GREEN and PINK, respectively. One day RANDOLPH was whipping Green on some pretext. Mr. PITTS called him to whip Pink too, for if he did not need it then he would need it later, and they might not have time to give it to him. He died September 2, 1854, and was buried at this place in a metallic coffin. I think it was the first coffin of that kind ever seen at this place. It was the shape of a man and was copper lined and was very heavy. It is said to have looked very frightful. He left a large family. Houston died since the war, at Fayetteville. Allen, the youngest child, lives near this place at present. Billy died of Scarlet Fever. Celestia is single and lives with her brother. "Babe" married "Doc" NEWTON and lives in Lawrence County. Isabella married John WILSON.
Colonel E. W. COLE spent his boyhood days around Pisgah. I cannot at this time get a sketch of him from his family. His mother was a widow and they were in destitute circumstances. He and the late Joseph CHILDERS were boys together. Mr. COLE worked in the Hemp Factory at Allen PITTS. His family moved near Pulaski. Mr. COLE pulled fodder off of Fort Hill when a boy at twenty five cents a day and thought he was getting rich. He left Giles County in 1845 for Nashville, riding, some say, an old blind horse. He secured employment and "stuck to his job" and made a noted financier and philanthropist. He died suddenly in New York City a few years ago. Mrs. W. F. SIMPSON, who lives a few miles west of Pulaski, is his sister. A Mrs. GAINES, a niece, lived in this section awhile. Although in valetudinarian state of health - having a spinal affection - she was very industrious. She made fine boots and her fame spread. She received frequent orders from Philadelphia.
Continued - Part III
