Genealogy Trails
Polk County
The Knoxville Journal
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1890-02-03 Chattanooga, February 2,-News reaches the city of a romantic elopement, with an unhappy ending, in Polk County, Tennessee, yesterday. A young farmer named Stancel stole the twelve year-old daughter of a planter named McCash. The eloping pair went to Cleveland and were married last night by Squire Harry Parke. This morning they took the track and walked as far as Red Clay, GA., twelve miles. They were just beginning to feel safe from pursuit, when the irate father of the girl put in appearance, having come by rail from Cleveland where he had traced the fugitives. An animated triangular quarrel took place, but might triumphed and the old man took the girl under his arm and went back home, the disconsolate groom following at a safe distance. He had bought tickets to Dalton GA., and was to have taken the train his father-in-law went down on.
1893-09-29 A lot of people inspected a still received by Collector Essary yesterday, which Deputy Chas. Taylor had recently captured on a raid in Polk County. It was wonderfully and fearfully made, an original and ingenious concern, and primitive in style, but got there just the same. The main part was cylindrical in form, the main body being of copper probably taken from a still which raiders at some time had thought they had destroyed. The ends of the cylinder were of wood. In the top end a hole had been cut in which was inserted an inverted wooden butter churn. In the top of this was attached the arm which led off into the worm. Not much more that a pint of liquor could be made from a run in it. The collector will add it to a museum of moonshine curiosities he is collecting.
1893-10-18 "Made on Booze Makers in Polk County" The largest raid made upon the moonshiners of East Tennessee in the last four years, was made yesterday morning about daybreak near Servida in Polk County. Chief Raiding Deputy Taylor left here Friday for Cleveland, where he was joined by Deputy collector Thaxton, and Deputy Marshal McDonald and together the trip drove across the country to a place at the foot of the mountain, where they tied their horses, and proceeded on foot of the mountain, a distance of about three miles, when they came into hearing distance of the still house. After scouring around the vicinity for the best approach to the place, they finally walked in upon their game, and gave them a surprise. The house in which the still was located, was in in a remote cabin of two rooms, with a door and two windows. An officer was stationed at each window, and Capt. Travor entered the door, accompanied by one of his posse, named Bean, who had accompanied the party, and found two men. William D. Jenkins and N. G. Sutton, hard at work repairing he works and preparing for a big run. At the time the officers entered the place, the two men were engaged in putting up new singlings. No whiskey could be found around the place, as the two men captured are the keenest known to be engaged in that business, and the hiding place of their whiskies could not be found, and they refused to tell its hiding place. But the officers know that they have a large quantity hidden somewhere in the mountains. The officers cut up the still, cap and worm, and all the material around the building. The The prisoners were taken to Benton, where they were jailed. This is considered by the officers as the best capture made during their term of office. Mr. Taylor returned to the city last sight on the Marietta train. This gentleman is considered one of the best raiders ever in the service, and during his term of office, has cut up 120 larger still, and a number of smaller ones.
1893-12-16 Fine Still in Polk County Ruined by Revenue Officers Deputy Collector James T. Taylor, one of the youngest men in the revenue service, came in last evening from a successful raid in Polk County. His home is in Morgan County. Last Wednesday he went to Athens where he seized a barrel of wild cat goods. Here he was joined by Deputy Marshals, Zeke Dunn and Jim Goudly and they rode to a point seven miles beyond the Hiwassee, in Polk County, where they found one of the finest stills in the state. The equipments were so fine that hey at first feared they had made a mistake and tacked a registered still. This still is owned and operated by the notorious Jim Kirkland and two brothers, and it is said that they have been operating a still in this same house for fifteen years. As usual, they were not about, but the officers destroyed their beautiful plant, consisting of cap and still, 1,080 gallons of beer, sixty gallons of singling, two barrels of liquor and twelve tubs, six of which were full of mash. 1894-09-29 Wednesday night about 11:30 o'clock fire was discovered in the upper story of the court house at Benton, Polk County. A few of the records of the county court was saved and a few of the chancery court records, but not one of those in the registrar's office were touched, which fact is very calamitous as there being so few of them, if taken in time, they could have been saved, thereby preserving the most important records of the county. Fully thirty minutes elapsed from the time a portion of the crowd arrived until the gable ends of the structure fell in. Most of the records could have been preserved had this fact been known, for the crowd, looked for the walls to collapse much sooner than they did. The fire was thought by some to be incendiary, but this is only conjecture, and the cause for the fire will, perhaps never be known. The night was still, but little air was stirring. This was fortunate, for had the wind been high, nothing could have saved the buildings around the square. This unfortunate affair is a great calamity to the people of Polk County, more so on account of the destruction of the records that that of the court house.
1895-04-09 "Four Noted Polk County Moonshiners in the Toils Again" Deputy Collectors Taylor and Thaxton came in yesterday from a successful moonshine raid in Polk County near the Georgia line. They arrested four well-known old offenders, who have promised time and again never to do so, but they were caught in the act again. Their names are William, Jim and Abe Green, and William Milsap. They were so suddenly surprised that no resistence was ventured and their still was destroyed 1895-12-11 Two Old-timers from Colorado Secure Options on Lands and Say They Have Struck it Rich. Lookout now, this is another gold discovery story. It isn't of that kind that M. R. Grace set reporters on fire with a year ago, about a female descendant of an old Cherokee Chief long since garnered into the happy hunting grounds, opening up mounds in Union for a $500,000 treasure. No old Indian tale goes with this one at all. Last Thursday night two gentlemen arrived in the city from Cripple Creek, Colorado, and registered at the Areade as "Thornburg and Frost, Cripple Creek, Colorado." They remained in the city over the next day, and Saturday they went down over the M. & N. G. Last evening Mr. G. F. Frost, one of the number returned to the city and again put up at the Areade. From him a reporter learned that he and his partner Mr. Thornburg, are now interested in the gold mining business in the famed Cripple Creek district of Colorado. Some time ago they obtained information which led them to believe that gold in paying quantities was lying about in the mountains near Reliance Post office in Polk county. Last summer they sent two trusted prospectors, or agents into that locality and secured some forty samples of ore which they carried back to Cripple Creek and were thoroughly tested by their assayist. The assay was very satisfactory indeed, though the reporter did not ascertain what the assay would go per ton etc. However, they sent their agents back and secured options on all the land they could secure where these ores were procured and now they have come themselves to superintend the development of their property. Mr. Frost is in the city and will today look after supplies and material with which to set men at work and the prospects are that a stamp mill will be sound. The reader now knows as much as anybody about this matter except Messrs Frost and Thornburg. They are solid looking men and have the air of men who know their business and do not care to have any fuss made about it. Of course these gold finds only have to be stated to excite mirth, among some people, for gold excitements have been here before, and nothing came to them. At the same time mineralogists tell us there is gold in our mountains and lots of it, but in such refractory combinations as to require expensive outlays to work it out in paying quantities. There are some gold mines in Georgia and North Carolina doing good business and gold was worked out of the Big Smokies over 100 years ago. Furthermore, mineralogists have told repeatedly that Polk County was rick in gold. That it is rick in copper and iron, the public knows very well and the biggest copper producing plant in the south is in operation in that county. It may be that these strangers in our midst, men who have been in gold mining business for many years, know what they have got bet than those who will treat the affair as a huge joke. Come to remember, when the English syndicate and the Pittsburg syndicate commenced operation in Polk County, wise acres smiled as they probably now smile at a rich new gold discovery.
1896-03-25 Raiding Deputy James Allison, of the department of internal revenue, made a raid of considerable consequence in Polk County last Sunday morning. Mr. Allison was accompanied by Deputy Marshal W. C. Biggs and the following men as a posse: Pierson Thomas, J. N. Moore, Charles Ross and B. E. Biggs. The party left Wetmore a station on the Marietta and North Georgia road Saturday afternoon and proceeded into the wilds of Polk County, reaching their destination about two o'clock Sunday morning. The location of the booze joint was soon ascertained and they found it without any difficulty. From the appearance of the still house, the operators had evidently gotten wind of the officers coming, for nothing was to be found save seven large tubs of mash and beer, which were ready to be distilled, and which would have made about 800 gallons of whiskey. This was all thrown away and the tubs and other vessels destroyed by the officers. They then set about to find the still. The boys who were the sons of John Boring, the alleged operator of the still were captured and upon being handcuffed and under the threat of arrest one of the boys gave the snap away, and told where the still could be found. Acting upon his advice Deputy Allison soon found the still, and , as is required by law, cut it into fragments, thereby preventing its use at any future time. The task having been accomplished the officers and party returned to their homes, Mr. Allison reaching the city early yesterday morning. This still has been in operation over two years and all previous efforts to capture it have proven futile. The operators have also evaded the clutches of the law, notwithstanding the fact that John Boring is known to be the leader of the gang. 1896-08-06 Horatie, Ark. Aug. 5,- About thirty negroes who went into Polk County to work on the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf railway last week were run out by citizens in the county today. Today another carload of negroes arrived were en-route to Polk County and was met by armed guards under authority of the sheriffs of several counties, who will escort the negroes to the Polk County line where the sheriff of that county will give protection to the laborers. Trouble is expected before they reach Polk County. The citizens say they have no negroes there, nor will they permit them to come and work on the railroad. The contractors are equally as determined to use the negro labor as it is the best they can do.
1896-10-31 Polk County Citizens Raids an Illicit Still. Information was received by the revenue officers yesterday morning, stating that another big moonshine still had been located in Polk County. A second telegram from S. M. Reis, of Isabella, stated that he had raided the still and captured two moonshiners and four kegs of illicit whiskey. Reis asked directions as to what disposition he should make of his find. Collector Essary wired him to deliver the men to Deputy Marshal Biggs, at Benton, and to ship the whiskey to Knoxville. The attention of the officers has been drawn to Polk County for several weeks past, and it is evident that considerale "moonshining" is going on in that section. The officers have, however been very successful in their raids, and are bringing many offenders to justice.
1896-11-21 "Revenue Officers Called to Polk County" The United States revenue officials received notice yesterday that another big moonshine distillery was in full blast in Polk County. Raiding Deputy Charles Taylor left yesterday afternoon for Cleveland, where he was joined by Deputy Thaxton of Chattanooga. The two proceeded to Polk County to make the raid on the sell. It is understood that this is one of the largest stills ever known to have been operated in that section. The names of the parties running the still have not yet been ascertained by the local officials. It is expected that the raiders will be able to report the result of their trip no later that tonight. The revenue authorities have had considerable trouble of late with moonshiners in Polk County. A number of raids and arrests have been made, but even then the traffic continues. It is safe to say that Polk County will be well represented at the next term of court.
1896-11-24 Raiding Deputy Charles Taylor, of the Internal Revenue Department returned yesterday from a raid in Polk County. He left here the latter part of last week, and made the raid Saturday night. The still captured belonged to Lucinda Ledford and was of fifty gallons capacity. The still was destroyed. The woman was not arrested, however, as she pledged her appearance at the federal court in March. She was before Judge Key about seven years ago, on the charge of "moonshining." She served a sentence of eighteen months for this offense, and has never been in the court since that time. |