Hawkins County, Tennessee Local History Historic Places transcribed by, Dianna Gilbert GOV. McMINN'S HOME Near here was the site of "New Market," home of Joseph McMinn, Revolutionary veteran, Governor of Tennessee, 1815-1821, and Indian agent for the Cherokee from 1823 to his death near Calhoun, on Hiwassee River, in 1824. He is buried there. First Settlers About 1 1/2 miles west and north of here, in Carter's Valley, Joseph Kinkead and John Long, first known pioneers to what later became Hawkins County, settled in 1769 - 70. The valley is named for Col. John Carter, who first settled here and later became a prominent member of the Watauga Settlement. Patterson's Mill On the site of this mill Robert Patterson built a fort about 1775, shortly thereafter a mill. It was one of the two stations at which the settlers took refuge during the Cherokee raid under The Raven in 1776. Carter's Store One mile west is the site of the store established by John Carter and William Parker. This store was pillaged in the Shawnee raid in 1774: at the Sycamore Shoals Treaty in 1775, the proprietors were awarded the whole Carter's Valley as reparation. Rice's Mill On the site of this mill, Henry Rice built and fortified a mill in 1775. Here, in 1776, the settlers took refuge from warring Cherokee. In April, 1777, Capt. James Robertsonand eight other pioneers had a fight with 30 or 40 Cherokee near here, in which Fredrick Calvatt was scalped. New Providence Church One-half mile west is this Presbyterian Church, established in Carter's Valley in 1780 by Rev. Charles Cummings and Rev. Samuel Doak. It was moved to its present location in 1815. A cemetery is at the old site. Great Indian War Path From here north to Virginia boundary at Bristol, the highway follows this ancient adn important Indian trail. South of here the War Path was east of the highway, crossing the Holston at Dodson's Ford. Mitchell's Hollow About two miles southeast, about 1780, young Joab Mitchell, who had successfully made the trip to the North Fork of the Holston bringing salt for the besieged garrison at Big Creek Fort, was ambushed and mortally wounded by Indians. Beating then off, he galloped his horse to the fort, where he died. Thomas Gibbons Born in Surry (now Sussex) Co., Virginia, in 1734, he settled hee in 1778, having been forcibly ejected from a homestead about 12 miles east by one Robert Young. The courts of Spencer Co., State of Franklin, met in his house 1785 - 87. On June 4, 1787, the first county court of Hawkins Co., North Carolina, met here. Gibbons died in 1811. Michael Looney 7.9 miles north was the homestead of this pioneer, veteran of Lord Dunmore's War and of the Revolution, originally from Botetourt County, Va. Among his descendants were Joseph Emerson Brown, governor of Georgia during the Civil War, and his son, Joseph Mackay Brown, also a governor. Looney is buried in the family cemetery. Big Creek Skirmish - Nov. 6, 1863 4 miles southeast, to the north of Big Creek, the Confederate cavalry brigades of Gen. Sam Jones, coming from Rogersville, and of Col. Henry Giltner, coming from Surgoinsville, caught between then the 2nd Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Federal) and a detachment of the 7th Ohio Cavalry, and captured the whole force. Amis House About 1 1/2 miles south is the stone house built by Thomas Amis between 1781 and 1783. He was Captain and Commissary of North Carolina troops in the Revolution; an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati, and legislator. He established here a distillery, forge, store and tavern, at which many notables stopped. CHISHOLM'S FORD 3 1/2 miles southeast was Chisholm's Ford of Holston River. It was named for Elijah Chisholm, 1744 - 1818, Revolutionary veteran and pioneer in both east and middle Tennessee. He died and is buried in White County, about 200 miles southwest. James Robertson 3 1/2 miles southeast, on the south side of Big Creek, "The Father of Middle Tennessee," then a captain, lived in 1777 and 1778. A fort here was garrisoned during the Indian troubles. From there in 1779, Col. Evan Shelby embarked 300 men in canoes and went down river to attack the Chickamauga towns near the present site of Chattanooga. Alexander Peter Stewart Born here, Oct. 2, 1821; graduate USMA, 1842; resigned 1845, and a professor Cumberland U., and U. of Nashville until 1861. Appointed major, CSA, quickly advanced to brigadier general; successfully to corps command, Army of Tenn., and twice wounded. Chancellor, U. of Mississippi, 1874-1886, and a commissioner for creation of Chickamauga Military Park. He died in Biloxi, Miss., Aug. 30, 1908, and is buried in St. Louis. ROGERS CEMETERY Many of the early settlers of Hawkins County are buried in this cemetery, 170 yards south, including Joseph Rogers, the founder of Rogersville, and his descendants. The grandparents of David Crockett who were massacred by the Indians are also interred here. HEZEKIAH HAMBLEN One-half mile west is buried this pioneer, born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, in 1775. Arriving in 1788, he later became a surveyor and was also a prominent, magistrate. Hamblen County is named for him. He died in 1855. Indian Boundary This is the Cloud's Creek. A line running from its mouth to Cumberland Gap was the boundary between while settlement and Indian territory under the Treaty of Long Island, 1777. The treaty expired in 1792. Mulberry Grove About 2 1/2 miles south, now under water, William Cocke had his plantation. A veteran of the Revolution and the War of 1812, he served in the legislatures of Virginia, North Carolina, Franklin, Transylvania, Territory South of the River Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi. He was U.S. Senator from Tennessee 1796 - 1805.