SEVIER COUNTY 100 YEARS AGO

By J. A. Sharp

The best source of information about Sevier County of one hundred years ago is the United States Census record of 1850. This census, taken eleven years before the outbreak of the Civil War, revealed many interesting facts about the people and their occupations. It was the first federal census which listed the individual members of families by names, exact ages, and places of birth. Such records are invaluable to local historians and genealogists.

In 1850 Sevier County was fifty‑six years old, having been formed by an act of the territorial assembly in 1794. However, the first "Sevier County" existed for a brief spell about ten years before this date under the State of Franklin, and the first courts were held at Newell's Station on the present Ben Clark farm at Chilhowee Road. Newell's Station also served as the capital of the State of Franklin during the last phase of its life. Here the Tennessee Historical Commission in cooperation with the Tennessee Highway Department has just erected an historic marker.

Most of the original settlers of the County are dead in 1850, and the inhabitants were their children and grandchildren and later settlers. However, from 1815 to 1850 most Sevier County families lost members to the great westward movement of that period. Their descendents may be found in Alabama, Mississippi, West Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas.

It may surprise Sevier County farmers, as it did the writer, to learn that 4417 pounds of rice were produced in the County in 1850. To produce rice flooding of the crop is necessary during at least of the growing season, and this must have presented quite a problem. Not so surprising was the production of 6519 pounds of flax for great‑grandmother's spinning wheel, and 4927 pods of maple sugar to sweeten great‑grandfather's "toddy", or coffee.

Other crops produced in varying quantities: 11,854 bushels of wheat, 64,549 bushels of rye and oats, 375,940 bushels of "Indian Corn", 32,421 bushels of Irish and sweet potatoes, 1987 bushels of peas and beans, 365 bushels of buckwheat, 64,741 pounds of butter and cheese, 8324 pounds of tobacco, 10,655 pounds of wool, and 8221 pounds of beeswax and honey.

The total population of the County in 1850 was 6920, an increase of only 478 since 1840, but the number who left the County during the decade is unknown. This total number included 403 slaves and 67 free Negroes; 639 people, living in the County, were born in other states, and 13 were born in foreign countries. There were 3172 white males and 3278 white females. Large families were common; families ranging from 9 to 16 were plentiful.

Disinterest in public education in the new state west of the Appalachian Mountains was widespread in frontier days, and that Tennessee still neglected education in 1850 was indicated by the small amount of money spent on the public schools of Sevier County. There were 1000 pupils in the County's public schools, but the amount spent for their education was only $1065. Only 60 pupils attended academies, colleges or private schools, and the annual income for such schools was the paltry sum of $233. Therefore, it is small wonder that 1005 Sevier County whites over 20 years of age could not read and write.

The short swift streams of Sevier County furnishes ample water power to operate the numerous mills located on their banks. Each neighborhood had its own mill, and the census records of 1850 listed the following men as millers: John Henry, David Mitchell, Cornelius Thomas, John S. Trotter, George W. Catlett, Daniel Covington, Andrew Barier, Hubbard Carnes, W. B. Palmer, A. W. Bryant, and Benjamin Keener. One of the above operated a mill on the West Fork of Little Pigeon River, and he, Hubbard Carnes, lived near the mill on the farm now owned by W. A. Sharp. His wife was Dicy Robertson, believed to be a daughter of William Robertson, Revolutionary War Veteran from South Carolina and early settler of the Sevier County. She was a sister of Cleson Robertson, grandfather of Judge Ben Robertson; he lived on the East Fork of Little Pigeon. Only one mill wheelwright was listed, and his name was John Hatcher, age 85, born in South Carolina. His wife was Eve Morris, age 79, and she was born in Pennsylvania.

Since the automobile and tractor had not displaced the horse in 1850, the occupation of blacksmith headed the list. The following were listed: John Frame, Hyram Miller, West J. Trotter, 0. P. Jenkins, Harrison Blair, Samuel Hammer, Reuben Webb, Abraham Fox, William Eslinger, Henry Thomas, George Cagle, Guilford Bradly, John Runyons, Joel Hudson, and John Sinclair.

Only two persons gave their occupation as school teachers. They were: Daniel F. Jeanway and Lavator Wear. The latter was a son of John Wear and Susannah Mullendore. In 1850 he was 29 years old, and lived in the home of his uncle, John Mullendore, who lived where R. L. Marshall lives today.

Six men gave "physician" as their occupation. They were: James Perry, William McNutt, J. M. Hammer, Robert H. Hodsden, James Runyons, and Ruel Birdwell. James Runyons, age 24, lived with his parents, Aaron Runyons and Esther Porter. It is said that he later moved to Arkansas. Ruel Birdwell, age 32, lived in the home of John Cannon, age 72; the latter was born in Virginia and lived near the mouth of Little Pigeon. Dr. Hodsden was a well known physician and lived in the Harrisburg community. His wife was Mary (Brabson) Shields. Dr. Hammer was also well known. His wife was Eliza Thomas, daughter of Henry Thomas and Sarah Porter.

Litigation in the courts of Sevier County must have been much less voluminous than today because only 3 lawyers were recorded in the census records. They were: Wilson Duggan, John S. McNutt,, and George McCown. The latter lived in the home of Mitchell W. McCown , his brother. He was the son of George McCown and Mary Porter, and served as Colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. In the Mexican War he was captain of a volunteer company of Sevier County men. He later moved to Arkansas where he became a circuit judge.

Various other occupations were given to the census taker. The following were Baptist preachers: Johnson Adams, Andrew Connatser, Eli Roberts, Sam Pate, Robert Atchley, William Ellis, William M. Burnett, and William Hodges. Only two Methodist preachers were found: Ashley Wynn and James N. S. Huffacker. At least one other, James Cummings, lived in Sevier County. His home was on Walden's Creek where Manker Inman lives today. The following were wagon makers: James Ridings, Nathan Reed, Charles Reed, William Reed, George Findley, and John Sand. The carpenters were M. W. Porter, Aaron Shamblin, Jordon Houk, John Lanning, Anderson Bowers, John Tedford, and Melger Graham.

"Saddlers" were: P. C. Rawlings and M. A. Rawlings. The latter was the grandfather of Mr. Kenneth Rawlings, prominent Sevierville business man. Anderson Woods was the lone "Hatter" and Cunord Lawson was the lone "Cooper". The merchants were: William H. Cannon.Jr., James McNelly, Henry A. Whaley, John T. Havis, and Radford Gatlin. Gatlinburg was named for the latter, but it is not known where his store was located. Three Catlett brothers gave "Horse Trader" as their occupations; their names were: William, Henry, and James. The "Shoe and Bootmakers" were: George King, James Perry, Geo. Creswell, and James White. One "Chairmaker", John F. Robbison, was found.

In spite of the fact that modern medical science, which has so greatly lengthened human life in our own time, was in its infancy in 1850, Sevier County had a number of old persons. Edward Loveday, age 90, was born in Maryland. Henry Butler, Sr., age 89, was born in Maryland. He was probably an ancestor of State Senator Henry Butler, who has just completed his second term in the Tennessee Senate. William C. Cagle, age 96, was born in North Carolina, and his wife, Mary, age 91, was born in North Carolina. Martin Houk, age 83, was born in Virginia. Lydia Atchley, age 88, and born in Virginia, was living with Isaac Atchley, probably her son. Sabra Shields, age 80, lived with her son, Meady Shields. She was the widow of Robert Shields, whose father also named Robert, settled in the upper Middle Creek section in 1784. Here he erected Shields Fort which served as a place of protection for the early pioneers when the Indians attacked. William Williams, age 81, was born in Virginia. The birthplace of Sarah Wilkenson, age 82, and Hannah Breeden, age 5, were not given; neither was it given for George Rennau, age 80. Barbary Howard, age 83, and Martha Hurd, age 82, were born in Virginia. Sarah Materd, age 82, was born in N.C. and lived in the home of James Ferguson.