On November 16, 1855, the Tennessee Legislature passed an act
entitled:
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THIS STATE:
It read in part as follows:
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“Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Tennessee, That a new county is hereby established by the name of Cumberland: beginning at Jack Officer’s in Putnam County, running thence a south direction to the thirteen mile tree, on the turnpike road leading from Sparta, in White County, to Kingston, in Roane County; thence continuing in the same direction, to the Bledsoe County line, by the way of the Tarken Ford on the Caney Fork river, and so as to include the place where George Thomas lives, in the new county; thence running eastwardly to Hiram Stone’s thence, to Tollett’s mill on the head of the Sequatchee Valley; Thence to Thompson’s mill, on the stock road in Rhea County; thence to C.G. Gibson‘s; thence northwardly to the Turnpike road before mentioned, leading from Sparta, to Kingston, at where the same crosses Mammy’s Creek; thence to the head of Island Creek on the Crab Orchard Mountain; thence, to the Davis’ bridge on Daddy’s Creek; thence to Davis’ ford, on Obed’s River with its meanderings, to the mouth of Otter Creek; thence, to the mouth of Wolf Den Branch at Clear Creek; thence up Clear Creek, including T. Tabor’s place, and to the Emory Road west of Brice’s Creek, and east of Lee Taylor’s Stand; thence, with said road to the beginning; including portions of White, Rhea, Bledsoe, Morgan, Fentress, and Putnam Counties.
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Section 3. Be it enacted, that for the due administration of Justice, the different courts to be held in said County of Cumberland, shall be holden at the house of James Scott, of Crossville, until the seat of Justice for said county shall be located, and a suitable house erected for the purpose of holding the courts in;…
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Section 10. Be it enacted that Thomas Frasier, of Bledsoe County, David Snodgrass, of White County, and Isaac Van Winkle, of Morgan County, Daniel Clark, of White County, and John Johnson, of Putnam, are hereby appointed commissioners to locate the seat of justice in said county of Cumberland…
After the battle of Kings Mountain, settlers in North Carolina, Virginia, eastern Tennessee and other areas began to move westward to find more productive lands. The Indians had already made trails that crossed many parts of Cumberland County. Later roads such as Avery Trace, the Walton Road, Kentucky Stock Road, Emory Road, Burke Road, Post and Mail Road, Gordon Road, and the Old Rose Road were made and used by early settlers crossing the Cumberland Plateau.
A historical marker on U.S. Highway 70 east of Crab Orchard indicates Thomas “Big Foot” Spencer first visited the area in 1776. In the spring of 1778 he became the first Caucasian to clear land, build a cabin, and grow corn in the area. He was killed by Indians near Crab Orchard in 1794.
A historical marker located within the city limits of Crab Orchard indicates a battle was fought between frontiersman under Lt. McClellan and Creek Indians on August 13, 1794. A famous camping place on the road, the Crab Orchard Tavern, stood on the hill 200 yards northwest from 1802 to 1925.
Some of the earliest settlements in Cumberland County were in Crab Orchard, at Grassy Cove and at the head of the Sequatchie Valley. Some of the earliest settlers included the Ford’s, Loden’s, Bristow’s, DeRossett’s, the McClendon’s, the Gibson’s, the Greenberry Wilson family, the Tollett’s, Parham’s, Oxsheer’s, Davenport’s, Dawson’s, Redwine’s, Hinch’s, Selby’s, Ormes’, Sherrill’s, Burke’s, and Webb families.