Blount County TNGenWeb

Chapter One

Blount County was organized in the year 1795 while, what is known now as the State of Tennessee was under a Territorial form of Government, with William Blount as Governor, and was called The Territory Southwest of the Ohio River; and Blount was the eighth county in line after the territory was formed. It was sometime between the beginning of the year 1795 and the first of the nineteenth century that Robert and John Gillespie and Samuel Saffell entered a boundary of land at the junction of Lackey’s Creek with the Holston River on the north side of the county, adjoining Knox County, which was organized in 1792 (Blount County was cut off Knox County). The Knox County line comes to the low water mark of the river on it’s south bank and Blount County has her jurisdiction over the waters of the Tennessee River. We. have no means of knowing just how much land the Gillespie’s and Saffell’s entered, but the dividing line between the two entries was the meadows of Lackey’s Creek. The first street or road to the river was cut through the timber on the Saffell land and is the street that now runs in front of the Methodist Church and in a northwest direction from Church Street to a point on Lackey’s Creek, north of where John Jeffries now lives, westward to the river. This road was cut by the Gillespie Bros., so that they could haul the output of their iron works to where it could be loaded on flatboats and taken to the lower river country and sold to merchants and farmers along the river. The Gillespie iron works were on Lackey’s Creek at the point where Cox’s mill dam now is; and the public road to Maryville was a part of and ran over this dam. The iron ore used by the Gillespie’s was obtained on the Ambrose Cox farm, about three miles west of the works and from a mine up near Little River, somewhere near Russell’s Ford and was hauled in wagons to the works.

As there was no stone coal available in those days, it was smelted by the use of charcoal iron. It was made ready for shipment by hammering it out in large bars. These ironworks were run for several years, but owing to the fact that the ore had to be hauled so far in wagons and that competition became so acute from iron works in the upper part of the State., who were able to produce iron cheaper that could the Gillespie Bros., they closed the work down, sold out their land and moved to other parts.

The valley just back of the hill was called, in olden days, “Tar Kiln Valley”. It was in this valley that the Gillespie Bros., burned the charcoal to use at their iron works, and here it was that the settlers got their tar to use on their wagons. In those days tar was the only lubricant used on the old homemade wagons, and every wagon carried a tar bucket on it’s coupling pole. Oxen were used almost exclusively to pull the wagons and to do all the heavy work, such as hauling logs, lumber, and doing the heavy breaking up of the soil.

Now the reader should bear in mind that this entire country, was at that time covered with a virgin forest. The writer remembers well where woods and groves stood, now are cultivated fields. The town site of Louisville had to be cut out of this dense forest. The fields had to be cleared, roads made, and dwelling lots laid off; and our forefathers had no easy job getting things ready for the coming generations. One of the first roads cut through the forest was the one to the settlement of Maryville. This road was near the lines of the present road to Maryville via Cox’s mill, and Dr. Madison Cox’s farm, and from Louisville west to the north of the Samuel Saffell house (now owned by Williston N. Cox) and across through the woods in the direction of Lowe’s Ferry and on to a junction at Campbell’s Station two miles northwest of Concord, with the stage road from the upper settlements to the settlements at Nashville on the Cumberland River. In about the year 1800 three brothers–John (Jack), Nathaniel H., and Ambrose Cox and two sisters–Nancy Cox and Elizabeth Saffell settled in and near Louisville. John Cox obtained land on the Maryville road and built a house where Nathan Coker now lives; and the old house is still standing and in very good repair. Ambrose Cox entered the land now owned by the Jenkins family, but later traded it for the land where John B. Cox (a grandson) now resides. Nathaniel H. Cox went into the goods business and built a dwelling and storehouse on the lot now owned by R. J. Parsons; the old store building has only recently been torn away and Mr. Parsons is living in the N. H. Cox dwelling house. This house was during the stagecoach days a regular stopping place for the stagecoach and persons travelling by private conveyances were also entertained at this Wayside Inn. Nancy Cox built a house opposite and across the street from the N. H. Cox residence and lived there alone for many years.

A highly respected but eccentric character close after the arrival of the Cox’s, came the Henry’s, Warren’s, George’s, Wallace’s, Jeffries’, Whittenberg’s, Burum’s, Gilbert’s, and many others as the years went by. We will endeavor, as this work proceeds, to take up these old families and as far as possible, give a genealogy of them, for a generation or two, for we think this will be necessary to have to make the work as complete as possible.

Samuel Saffell was born in 1777 and died 1850. His wife, Elizabeth (a sister of N. H. Ambrose, and Jack Cox) was born in 1783 and died 1861. His original entry of land contained as near as can be estimated,. about one section or 640 acres, but this later on was divided up among his children and some of it sold. Saffell built his home near a large spring on his land and on the main stage road that was then being cut through the timber. Williston M. Cox’s home now stands on the site of the original Samuel Saffell home. He had five sons–L. B., H. C. C. P., Fletcher, and Hale. Fletcher Saffell moved to Sevier County; Hale Saffell moved to Morgan County; and in 1867 Laerner B. Saffell moved to California, going by ship from New York around Cape Horn; Henry C., and C. P. Saffell lived and died in Louisville and on a part of their father’s original entry.

There are many people living in Louisville, today, who remember Henry and Paley Saffell, H. C. Saffell owned a large warehouse on the wharf and did a fine business for many years before and after the Civil War. We will tell more about the business when the Steamboat Period is reached. C. P. Saffell owned and operated the ferry and about thirty years ago inaugurated the first wire ferry at this place. He called his boat “The Flying Cloud”.

In that period of time prior to the advent of the steamboat, it was a serious problem of getting the necessities in this, then, far western country. All merchandise had to be hauled in wagons from Baltimore, Maryland, at a cost of from five to seven dollars for one hundred pounds, and large wagon trains were dispatched once a year to Baltimore for this purpose. They were under heavy guard as robbers and Indians were still giving trouble to the new settlers. Later on this hauling was done from and to Winchester, Virginia, the terminus of the Baltimore and Harper’s Ferry Rail road. As before stated, Nathaniel H. Cox was the first merchant. He had eight children–three sons and five daughters. His sons were H. T., Williston, and J. L. His daughters were–Magnolia, Hester, Lenora, Cordelia, and Tennessee. J Nathaniel H. Cox was born 1780 and died 1837. His wife, Elizabeth, was born 1796 and died 1880. During her old days, in talking of old times, she said when they first moved to Louisville there were only two other houses here, one a blacksmith shop and a hut occupied by Indians. Before proceeding, the writer wishes to pause and offer tribute to the memory of this most estimable old lady. After the death of her first husband, N. H. Cox, she married Dr. G. H. Chaffin, a physician who came here from North Carolina to practice his profession. “Aunt Betsy Chaffin”, as she was familiarly called loved, and was loved by all who knew her.

Ambrose Cox was born 1789 and died 1836. His wife Mary Cox was born 1794 and died 1855. The death of Ambrose Cox was caused by a heavy timber falling on him and breaking a leg, from which he never recovered. This occurred on the farm of Dr. Issac Wright at a barn raising. James A. Cox, a grandson, now owns and lives on the old Dr. Issac Wright farm. Ambrose and Mary Cox had nine children–five sons and four daughters. His sons were Samuel T., Henry, John B., Cyrus S., and James B. His daughters were Elizabeth, Ursule, Martha Jane and Sarah. Ambrose Cox bore an irreroachable character. Mary Cox, the wife of Ambrose Cox,’was a daughter of James Ray, who was born in 1741 and died in 1836, age ninety-five years. He, with most of the Ambrose Cox family, are buried at Middle settlement.

John Cox (Jack) and wife, Susan, had two sons, Henry Madison and James K.; and one daughter–Nancy. Most of the older people living around Louisville went to school to James K. Cox. He was one of the real old time instructors. He used the old Blue Back Spelling book, Davis Arithmetic, and the Smith Crammer. He was a college graduate and was very thorough in his method of teaching.

Dr. Madison Cox spent many years as a practicing physician, and finally retired to his large farm on the Maryville road, and lived there until his death.

Nancy Cox married a Singleton; after his death, Henry M. Burum. They lived just east of the town in a large old style brick house that was destroyed by fire not so many years ago. Nancy Burum enjoyed the love and respect of the entire community. She had three sons and two daughters. Her sons were, John I., Henry M., and Ote. Her daughters were, Susan and Nannie. There are only two of the Burum family living today, Henry M., and Nannie Burum Wright.

Before passing to other subjects would like to say to the descendants of Nathaniel, Jack, and Ambrose Cox, that you may well be proud of the reputation that your ancestors leave. They were not only good energetic business men, but their general character was above reproach. Soon after the coming of three Cox brothers, John F., and James

Henry came to Louisville for the purpose of embarking in the merchandise business. They built a two story building on the Main Street; used the lower part for their store and lived up stairs. This building is still standing and is about one hundred years old. Miss Kitty Cox now owns and resides in this old landmark. The Henry Bros., continued their business at this stand for several years. Finally, they sold their property to H. T. Cox and built another residence and store on River Street and operated at that stand for a number of years. They sold their property and store to H. Foster and John F. Henry moved to Knox County, a few miles above Knoxville. While living in Knox County he was elected to the State Senate and became Speaker of that body. He again moved to Blount County and built a fine residence on his farm about two and one half miles up the river from Louisville. He again was elected to the Legislature, this time to the Lower House. The lot on River Street where Henry Bros., built their residence and store house, now belongs to John L. Harper. All of the original buildings were destroyed by fire, a number of years ago.

The writer was personally acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. John F’. Henry and their daughter, the mother of the Rev. A. N. Jackson, but hasn’t words in his command to express to the.reader the many virtues of these grand old people of other days. The same can be said of a large number of these grand old pioneers that built the foundation of our town.

Now before this chapter is closed it will be best to tell something of these old time settlers who lived here in “Ante-Bellum” days. This will be a little hard to equalize because we have date at hand for some families, while for others we will have to give such information as we can remember.

Barton L. Warren was born 1800 and died 1892. In addition to being a farmer, he operated a tan yard near his home, east of town. Mr. Onks now owns a part of the Barton Warren farm and the homeplace. The large brick house was built in 1848. We know very little about his success in the tanning business but he was a good farmer and an all around good citizen. I have no information regarding the wife of B. L. Warren, but they have a large family of children. The writer was well acquainted with three of them–M. B. (Benton), James S., and Octavia. Benton Warren married Euphemia Mead and they have four children living. James S. married Georgia Gaddis but we have no data as to their family.

Henry T. Cox married Lucy A, Nance and there was born to them five daughters and two sons that the written was and is personally acquainted with. Two of his daughters are still living. Again the writer will pause to offer tribute to a fine character -Lucy A. Cox, the wife of H. T. Cox. She was a remarkable woman, kind, gentle, and sympathetic, everybody’s friend.

The Jeffries family is another one of the old time families. Thorton Jeffries was born 1795 and died 1845. His wife, Ann G. Jeffries was born 1803 and died 1866. They had four sons, Martin, William, Marcus, and James. The writer has no information concerning any other member of the old family, excepting one daughter, Jeanette who married John Giddeon. But there is a large number of descendants of Thornton and Ann Jeffries living to commemorate their memory.

Williston M. Cox, son of N. H. Cox, married Mary Jane King and there were born to this union two sons. King and Richard L. King Cox died while a boy. There were four daughters, Annabel, Carrie, Eliza, and Fannie. Williston Cox bore an irreproachable character and had the respect and esteem of the entire community. During the Civil War he was foully murdered by a young man whom he took to be his friend. Williston Coxhad a number of descendants who respected and revered his memory. R. L. Cox, of our town, is a son of Williston Cox, deceased, and living now on his farm just north of Louisville.

The writer would be glad to take up and dwell upon the memory of old pre-war families that have not yet been mentioned, but his information concerning them is so meager that it would be almost an impossible task, but in Chapter 3, which begins at the incorporation of the town in 1851, the names of a large number of them will be called up as they appear in the record of the Town Council of that date and more will be told of the business affairs of those by gone days.