Notes copied from a paper lent by Albyne Gowen Blythe, wife
of Rees Blythe, Fullerton, California. Rees is a grandson of
James Blythe, brother of my grandfather, Joseph Blythe.
Albyne’s brother, Tom Gowen, had the complete group of notes
duplicated for Albyne. I have copied only those parts applying
to the Crocketts and the Blythes and a few excerpts which
reflect the early times. What a memory for people he had!

Ruth Blythe Walker Genealogy (circa 1964)
____________________________________________________

Notes and reminiscences from
Uncle William Floyd given to
Charles E. Gowen in the
summer of 1904 in his 84th year

We begin with this old pioneer whose name will add historic
interest to the following sketches. We are reminded that
Crockett once lived on the east proxy of Mulberry about one and
one half miles from County Line, Moore County, Tennessee.
There is some dispute as to the exact location of the Crockett
cabin, some claiming that it was on the Amos Gore farm, where
Jim Bird now lives – but what gave use to this opinion is that
‘Billie’ Crockett (David’s brother) once lived there – while
David lived further down the branch near the present home of
Jim Brown. My grandfather, James B. Gowan, pointed out the
exact location of the cabin to Uncle William, and to his best
recollection, it stood near the Brown place and on the same side
of the road. This is now the most authentic account that can be
had. Gowan and Crockett were companions and neighbors and
with their dogs and rifles had visited frequently. Crockett was a
guest at the house where Bill Mullins now lives – has slacked a
hunter’s thirst at the Cave Spring while old Betsy, his trusty
rifle, was quietly resting against the old beech tree.

Gowen sees him on one occasion after he had married his
second wife and joked him about his new wife who had about
$800 in cash. David said this will be mighty good sass (sauce)
to carry along with us. It is said that Crockett cleared a field on
a parcel of land on the farm now owned by George Gowan in the
24th district of Bedford County, Tennessee. It was here,
wrestling with the sassafras that adorn the summit of Hungry
Hill that the brawn and bravery was developed that afterward
made him famous as a soldier as well as a hunter and backwoods
statesman. So here in the jungles of the forest living with his
first wife, the faithful one who crossed the mountains of East
Tennessee with him, that this old pioneer no doubt spent his
happiest days. He says himself that his reputation as a hunter
was made on Mulberry. He tells Gowen where he once killed a
panther. He was drinking from the fine spring on the south side
of Mansford on Elk River, the panther sprang on him. He killed
him with his Bowie knife. Crockett was killed March 6, 1836 at
the Alamo, Texas.”
____________________________________________________

Albyne’s brother, Tom Gowen, related a story that had been
handed down in their family. The Gowen family farm near
Lynchburg, Tennessee, had once belonged to David Crockett
who traded it about 140 acres, to Gowen (James B. Gowen) for a
black horse one time when he desperately needed a horse for a
proposed trip. Albyne Gowen Blythe was born in the log cabin
on that farm.

Ruth
Blythe Walker Genealogy(circa 1964)
____________________________________________________

Following is the balance of The Gowen Papers. It has been
included as many of the names mentioned in the recollections
were neighbors, acquaintances, and in some instances, relatives
of Blythe family members. Their names appear in many early
Blythe documents in Lincoln County, Tennessee. The Gowen
Papers additionally provide a glimpse into the lives of our
pioneer ancestors. A copy of Uncle William Floyd’s Notes was
given to me by Daphana Hill, who I met while visiting
Lynchburg TN and a descendant of the Gore and Edens families
mentioned by William Floyd. Thomas Blythe Jr’s two youngest
daughters, Polly and Paulina, married brothers Benjamin M. and
John Edens, Daphana’s kin.

Marie Andrews Cilluffo, 1997

James B. Gowan was born in Bedford County, Virginia,
November 22, 1785 near the town of Lynchburg, Virginia and
settled in Bedford County, Tennessee near the town of
Lynchburg, Tennessee. He often related this coincidence. His
father, William Gowen was killed with an axe by a crazy man.
His mother’s maiden name was Burns hence James Burns
Gowan. She was of Scotch decent and was related to Robert
Burns the Scottish poet. His father married a second time but
wife’s name is not known. Three children were born by this
second wife. Two boys & one girl – Jeremiah, Sanford L. and
Julia. We may have relatives from this source somewhere also
of Irish decent. Grandfather would joke his children about their
Irish when they got their ‘dander up’. Only two of first children,
James B. and William, who were left orphans, James B. at the
age of three and William younger. Both bound out to an uncle
Burns. Grandfather was set free at 16 years of age – split rails to
pay for a pony – when paid for it died. He suffered many
hardships and privations. Dr. William Gowen, his brother,
settled near Woodbury, Cannon County, married Elizabeth
Moore, a splendid woman – raised large family, among which
were Dr. Ike and Jim Gowen of Nashville, Tennessee.

Grandfather first settled in Williamson County on Harpeth River
where he married Ann Price on February 23, 1808. Prior to his
marriage, he kept bach. with his would to be brother in law
George Price. Came to Bedford County the following year –
killed a deer near the present site of the Courthouse at
Shelbyville, Tennessee. Settled at the old place in 1809. The
chimney mound now in yard, making the site of one of the first
log huts erected at the head waters of Mulberry. The house in
which his youngest daughter now lives was raised July 4, 1815.
Oldest child Bettie born in Williamson County. Children as
follows – Elizabeth, married Daniel Brown; Harriet, married
Emziah Anthony; Mathew, married Edens first, second time
Widow Mullins; Sallie, married William Floyd; William P.,
married Isabell Emry first, second time Sidney Floyd; Thomas,
married a Thomas. Last wife of grandfather Gowen was Lucy
Emry. Large family of last children as follows: Annie, married
William McKilroy; Tillie, married James Morrow; Tempy,
married James K. Floyd; Fannie, married Tom Clark; Laura,
married Bill Mullins; James, married Millie Mitchell; Joe,
married Fanny Hutson. A son and Bennie both died single.

Mathew Price and wife – my great grandparents came from
South Carolina and settled in Williamson County on the Harpeth
River. Note that here is where grandfather met his first wife
Ann Price. Later said Price settled at the big spring about one
half mile north of County Line, Tennessee. He and his wife
were noted for their kindness and hospitality. Wife’s maiden
name Elizabeth Eskridge. She was very smart and industrious.
Both buried in old Price graveyard. He died suddenly, had been
tying fodder before breakfast in a little field below ‘Cooper
Shop’, came in, fell across bed and died instantly. Prices as a
rule were very smooth, conservative, easy going folks. John
Price, one son was old Baptist preacher ‘Big gun’. John, like his
mother full of vim and energy – once owned the Green farm
below County Line – married a Coffee, moved to ‘Western
District’ west Tennessee. Got sick, started to nearest doctor at
Memphis and died on road. George Price, another son married
Felney Hodge, lived and died where Parsons Ervin now lives.
Was an awful sufferer with gravel in bladder and died from
operation. Sallie married a widower, Tom Roundtree whose
first wife was a Gilbreath. Preacher Tom Shaw was Tom
Roundtree’s grandson, his mother being a daughter of Roundtree
by this first wife Gilbreath.

First Shaw known was Thomas Shaw, father of this preacher
Shaw. Aunt Sallie Roundtree had three children – Pollie, Ann
and William always called ‘Buck’. Pollie married Jim Berry,
Ann married first, Mulford Dean and second time Ben Berry.
Jim and Ben Barry were brothers and were among the first
Berrys. Buck married a Mayfield Ann had three children by
Berry – one girl who married John Bennett of Nashville. John
Price’s boys, George and Mathew, were killed at Corinth,
Mississippi.

Ben Driver was first Driver to come to Tennessee. He was the
father of Noel Driver and grandfather of Thomas Driver. He
came from North Carolina and first settled near Beech Grove
afterward lived in ‘Screamsville’ where Tom now lives. His
wife peddled on brooms, soap and other articles. She was an
Avon and was of Cherokee decent.

John Hodge was first Hodge. He was father in law to George
Price also grandfather of Millie Gowen. John Watson and wife
came from Union District, South Carolina. His first wife’s
name not known. There were two children, boy named Dave,
girl married a Dodds. Second wife a Whitmore. Children by
last wife as follows – Joe, Sallie, Sidney, Bettie, Jim, Watt, Tim,
Miles Bobo, and Mathew. Joe married a Jones, Sallie married
Elija Floyd, Sidney married Kin Pearson, Bettie first married a
Tilly, second a Pichard, Jim married a Brown, Watt married a
Jones, sister of Joe’s wife, Bobo not known, Tim married a
Stewart, Mathew married a Smith (‘Aunt Becky’).

John Watson first settled at Jim Parrar’s place and his boys Joe
and Watt had blacksmith shop opposite the site of the present
one. Lived again on hill above Elipleus Hix’s – the log wall in
which grandmother Floyd was married is now in Jeff Stephens
yard. He was a cripple and wore a thick soled shoe. His
grandson Kin Pearson now has his shoe. Sallie was our
grandmother. Bettie was connected with the ‘Dean episode’.
Miles Bobo went to Mississippi to oversee negroes and a negro
killed him. Tim married in Trigue County, Kentucky and died
in prison. Rock Island, Illinois. Watt died in house in Jim
Floyd’s field. Jim died, left wife and two children – Kim and
Marion. His father-in-law, Heskiah Brown took children to
Arkansas. [NOTE: Thomas Blythe Jr’s eldest daughter,
Elizabeth, was married to Hezekiah Brown, one of their
daughters being the wife of Jim Watson.]

My grandmother, Sallie Floyd, was eight years old when she
came to this state, walked most of the way from South Carolina.
Camped with Indians and learned much of their dialect which
she has repeated to me when I was a child. She was a
remarkably strong woman mentally and physically, was a great
reader and took interest in current events even in her old age.
She died at the advanced age of 92 years. Bobo was born in a
house at Rossville near Chattanooga where they were camping
enrout to Tennessee. The Watson’s perhaps were of Irish
decent.

David Floyd and wife, my great grandparents came from Union
District, South Carolina, settled at what is now known as the
Boyer’s place about one mile south of Flat Creek, Bedford
County, Tennessee. Wife was a Norman, a sister to Edward
Gore’s wife. Hence the Gore relatives raised a large family –
died on the same day and were buried in one grave at Flatcreek.
Children as follows – Johnathon, George, David Enoch, Elijah,
Hosea, Holcum, Peggy, Pricilla, and Jane. Johnathon married a
Finney – 5 children names as follows: David, James, Spencer
B., Pollie and Pricilla. Spencer B. Floyd was Col. of yankee
regiment stationed at Memphis. He was a smart man. Uncle
William has letters written by him to grandfather Floyd.
Johnathon went to Illinois 70 years ago. This is the stock of
Floyds in the north. George married a Cox, sister to Thomas
Cox, moved to Tippah County, Mississippi 70 years ago. His
children as follows: John, Thomas and David. His son Tom
came back to see kinfolks when grown young man, was fine
looking and very jolly. David married a Reagor, daughter of
Anthony Reagor and sister of Abram and John Reagor. Lived
about Jess Coleman’s at Jim K. place. Raised large family of
children – Sam, Anthony, Allen, Jim K., Becky, Katie, Mary,
Peggy and Jane. Note how old names are handed down.

Becky married Jim Farrar, Uncle William was best man at Jim
Farrar wedding. Stood up with bride’s cousin Mayrie Reagor’s
daughter. The one that married a Diviggins and went crazy.
Uncle David objected to his girl’s marriage to Jim Farrar. Jess
Coleman married 2 of the girls, he first married Mary then Jane.
Enoch married a Shook. Enoch was a M. Preacher also a very
fine cabinet maker and mechanic. Went to Jackson, Mississippi
70 years ago. Names of some of his children – Calvin, Alvy,
William, Milton (for his great grandmother’s maiden name),
Loniza, etc. Elijah married Sallie Watson and raised a large
family near Flat Creek, Tennessee. Hosea married a Couser,
sister to John Couser (Aunt Betsy’s husband). Old John Couser,
the first known Couser, was their father. Hosea was killed by
yankee who shot at random near Fayetteville, Tennessee, was a
good, gentle, harmless man. Names of some of his children –
John, Elijah, Jim, David, etc. Jim killed at Perryville, Kentucky.
David married and had several girls, one married a Sanders, one
a Cole. Peggy married Jim Beavers. She is buried on Cane
Creek. Note how the Beavers kinship comes in by our great
aunt’s marriage. Pricilla married John Davis. Jane married
Norman Kinney, brothers no doubt to Uncle Johnathon’s wife.
Uncle Johnathon, George and David in battle of New Orleans –
one of them wounded on December 14, which was decisive
battle.

Billie Pearson was first of that family to come to Tennessee.
Born in South Carolina in 1763, died at W. P. Bobo place and
was buried under “rock box” grave in Bobo’s lot. He first
settled at Jim Farrar place. His wife’s maiden name was Jacks,
he was a soldier in the Revolution war and was accused of being
a tory. When he died, search [missing section]

Bobo – Elija and Elisha Bobo, twin brothers were founders of
this heterogeneous race in these ‘diggins’. They came from
South Carolina. The origin of the name was in this way. A
baby boy was found in an old stable in the rack which was made
of bows, hence Bo-bo. Aunt Ellen Bobo’s maiden name was
Raines, daughter of Bayley Raines.

Jess Coleman and brothers first known Coleman’s. 6 or 7
brothers all their names begin with J – Jess, Joshua, etc.

Two old Beardens, Billie and Eli. Billie was Finis father. Eli
was Willis and Winn’s father. I have it now from Jim Bearden
that John Bearden (Billie’s and Eli’s father) came to this county
and is buried at Flat Creek. He was a revolutionary soldier and
many years ago the government sent some parties to locate his
grave in order to erect a monument, but his grave could not be
found.

First Enochs – Isaac Enochs, Uncle Davy’s father, had a brother
named John.

First Edens, Samuel and Alec. Samuel’s wife a Franks, Uncle
Jack’s parents. Alec’s wife a Walker.

First Bedford was Billie Bedford, very dark complexioned. Ben
Bedford father, married a Dance.

First Ray – Hesekiah Ray sons, Jason, Solomon, and Jabel by
first wife – second wife a Jones, her children Mannel and
Marion, Jason’s wife. Aunt Linnie Smith had a brother who was
Mormon preacher. Solomon’s wife a Clay, father of John C.
Ray.

First Reagor, Anthony Reagor, wife a Shook. It is said that all
Reagors were killed in the Indian massacres except one little
boy. This Anthony Reagor who came to Tennessee from North
Carolina and were of German descent.

Sallie Skidmore, Sallie Rambo, and Piggie Heivlin were the old
‘witches’ whom the Reagors and others so much feared. They
verily believed in their power to ‘HooDoo’ and bewitch. But to
make a picture of the ‘Witch’ and shoot it with a silver bullet,
they believed would break the spell. This Abram Reagor once
did to ‘set right’ the deformed twins Isaac and Jacob. Uncle
Tommie Dean performed the same ‘feat’ when a thief had stolen
his horse. So the old Salem ‘witchcraft’ creeps down the
centuries.

First Stegal was Obediah – wife a Hodge. First Holt – Jack Holt
– wife a Byrom, Esq. Jim Holt’s mother, 2nd wife a Raney.
Uncle Jimmie Stone one of the first Stones, wife a Woosley,
Uncle John Woosley’s sister. Aunt Peggy was noted for good
‘hoss’ sense. He had brother – Stone who settled in Cannon
County.

First Hix – Billie Hix, who cut his throat with a shoe knife at
John Frost’s place, first wife not known, second wife a Collins.
Buck Hix’s mother Womble, Billie Hix’s father was brother to
old Billie. Dr. Newton married Betsy Hix. His brother ‘Nick’
Newton married Sallie Hix.

First Hurstz – Billie and Jim. Billie’s wife a Beard was Uncle
Jack’s father. Jim was Berryman’s father. Berryman married
Kalie Campbel.

First Baxter was James Baxter (Barlow’s father). His wife a
Guthery.

First Farrars – John and Jordon. John married a Harris and was
Jim Farrar’s father. His wife was first cousin to Isham G.
Harris. Jordon married a Hawkins. Father of Joe Farrar came
from North Carolina.

First Blythe was Uncle Tommy, Hoel’s father, Ace Blythe’s
grandfather. Hoel’s first wife was a Smith and second wife a
Jones. First wife was the mother of Ace Blythe.

First Frost – Ebenezor Frost (was Elder John Frost’s father)
came from North Carolina and married the Widow Clary whose
maiden name was Wright. Hence the Wright in the Frost
family. She was married 4 times, had 2 children by Clary
husband, one of these girls married Billie Little, father of Elder
T. C. Little. Hence Bro. John Frost was Bro. T. C. Little’s half
uncle. Ebenezar Frost left in 1837 in a 4 horse wagon when
Indians were being driven back and never returned.
Billie Gipson and brother George were only Gipson’s known
here.

Old Granny Wiseman who lived to be over 100 year old and
whose remains rest at the Gowen graveyard was a Merril.
Husband died in North Carolina. Two children by her husband –
Isaac and Nancy. Isaac Wiseman once lived here but moved to
Illinois. Nancy married Noel Driver. She had 3 illegitimate
children, Sterling whose father was Cornelius Smith, Billie
whose father was Walker Wiliams and Peggy whose father was
Hesekiah Ervin who left the country. First Ervin was the
Hesekiah, wife a Simmons. Hence the ‘S’ in Parson J. S.
Ervin’s name who was a grandson.

First Ward was Noah Ward, wife’s name not known but she was
a fiddler. Had a son named Noah who married an Ann Brown.

First Gore was Edward Gore, wife a Norman, a sister to our
great grandfather Floyd’s wife. This is where the Gore relation
comes in. His sons were Thomas, Amos and John. John went to
Talladego, Alabama. Amos and Thomas raised large families
here. Thomas married a Shoffner. Amos married a Couser.
This is where that stock of Gores get the mark of heavy
eyebrows, which render them so unlike Uncle Tom’s family.
Gets this distinguishing feature from Couser side.

First Boardway was Uncle Lemual – wife a Boon, sister to Billie
Boon. First Boon, Billie Boon, wife a Howard. Hence the
Howard in Boon family. She was a sister to old Joe Parker’s
wife. This is where the Parkers and Boon relation comes in.
Said Boon was lineal in descendant of Daniel Boon.

First Evans was Billie Evans (Uncle Wesley’s father) wife a
Woosley. First McKelveys – Noah, Sam, Joe and William.
Emziah and Hosea Anthony came from North Carolina were
illegitimate. Their mother lived to be very old with Emziah.

Pylants not known any further back than Jackson and brothers.”

Miscellany

Mag’s grandmother ‘Alkins’ once lived here on this place.
Entered this land. Sam Anders her son-in-law lived here with
her and perhaps dug the well. Bros. Shaw married Sam Anders
stepdaughter, his wife’s daughters by first husband Landers.
This is why Bros. Shaw and Mrs. Holt are related. Aunt Bettie
Brown was exact age of Andrew Jackson born December 29,
1808. Bedford County court used to convene in an old log
house on hill above Lifis Hix’s place. The court house used to
be situated near Uncle William Stone’s. Here Thomas H.
Benton, afterwards great senator from Missouri, and Felix
Grundy practiced law. Benton wrote a book ‘Thirty years in
Congress’ which was then a standard work on political history.

First man buried at Flat Creek was named Reynolds, lived near
Jim Floyds – hauled him out through lane on an ox slide. Uncle
William Floyd voted his first ticket in 1844 for Henry Clay – a
whig. He has heard the following ‘big guns’ speak – Andrew
Johnson 1855 at big barbecue Flat Creek. James K. Poke 1860
at Shelbyville, John Bil, whig – Bayly Payton – Isham G. Harris –
Neal S. Brown, whig – Aaron U. Brown – Dem. – Bill Polk –
‘Lean Jimmie’ Jones – Gus Henry the ‘Eagle Orator’ and
Meredith P. Gentry who lived in Bedford County on Sugar
creek. It was said of him that his limbs ‘might get drunk but his
head was clear’. Whiskey got him as it did William T. Haskell.
Both silver tongued orators. Haskell perhaps did more for
temperance in those days by his powerful speeches than anyone
and his friends tried hard to save him from the demon drink. He
made temperance speeches all over the state. Jim Gowen has a
saddle on which his father swam Tennessee river while serving
under Andrew Jackson. Joe Gowen has a wash pot which was
purchased by his father in Nashville when there was only one
store there. Tillie Morrow has a chest which was presented to
him by a Cabinet maker in Williamson County for recovering
his stolen horse from the Indians.

Grandfather killed an Indian while serving under Andrew
Jackson. While it was done in self defense, he always regretted
it. He was behind a tree, the indian hit the tree and filled his
eyes with bark, then is when he shot him. He was a great hunter
and fisherman and kept up said sport even in old age. He killed
a bear near Lynchburg and another on Joe Gowen’s place near
the spring. He as one year older than David Crockett – Crockett
born on Nollichuky River East Tennessee – August 17, 1785,
died May 14, 1880 age 94 years 5 months and 25 days. He
swapped old Nat Berry colored for Ishmael and got $300 boot.
Did this to get Ishmael and Rachel his wife together. Ishmael
taught Jim Gowan to work. Very sleepy old darkey, go to sleep
sitting at table or anywhere out in the field and dream the ‘hants’
were after him. ‘Hants after me Jimmie cut em loose – cut em
loose’ at which request Jimmie scraped around with his knife
which set the old darkey right. Ishmael buried at County Line,
Rachel at Flat Creek. She lived to be very old – five children –
John, Jane, Ben, Dan and Dice. Grandfather Floyd was one
eyed, but hardly noticeable. Grandmother Floyd’s father – John
Watson was crippled by a fall near Ray’s Mill. She many years
afterwards was crippled by a fall at the same place. John
Watson and wife buried at Pearson graveyard on Motlow place.
Wat Watson’s wife was daughter of the Jones who lived at Jesse
Coleman’s place. Joe Watson’s wife I think of same family –
often heard grandmother speak of those Jones.

Shelbyville’s first merchant was James Deery and his goods
were brought from Philadelphia and Baltimore on pack horses
and mules. Originally, Bedford County had 25 civil districts but
when Marshal County was formed, 6 districts. John Adkinson,
Barclay Martin, Howell Dawdy, John Lane, Daniel McKissick,
William Woods, Benjamin Bradford, were the commissioners
who located the town of Shelbyville and laid off town lots.
Shelbyville still has a Lane, Martin, Adkinson and Dawdy
streets. First Courthouse in Shelbyville was put up in 1810. It
was a small frame structure and stood on the northwest corner of
the public square. It was burned and in a few years a brick
courthouse was built in the center of the public square. This was
destroyed by the great tornado of 1830. Then another brick
house was built on the same site. This was burned in 1863 while
occupied by confederate troops. Next was built our present
magnificent court the best one in the state, cost $125,000. This
magnificent building was burned by a drunken mob December
19, 1934 in an effort to take a negro prisoner from officers and
was rebuilt the following year 1935 costing $170,000.

George W. Floyd, soldier in Spanish American war, died at
Majayjay, Philippine Islands and was later brought back and
buried at Flat Creek in the graveyard. The above record was
taken from C. G. Gowen’s notebook.