The Pactolus Ironworks was operated successively by Moses Cavitt from
1789 to 1795, by Walter King and Co. from 1795 to 1810, by Elihu and
Elijah Embree from 1811 to 1820, and by Elijah Embree from 1821 10 1830.
Moses Cavitt was the first to operate an ironworks at the site of the
Pactolus Ironworks. He recieved numerous grants from the state of NC
for land in Sullivan Co., some as early as 1782. It is likely that he
settled there by 1789, since deeds of that year note him as a resident
of Sullivan Co. It is especially significant that the dees speak of him
as an "Iron Master," indicating that by this time he was probably
operating an iron furnace or forge.
The tract on which the Ironworks was located was granted to Moses Cavitt
in 1791. It was at the mouth of Kendrick's Creek, on the south fork of
the Holston River.
Little is known of the operation of the ironworks by Moses Cavitt, since
no records other than these deeds have been found. Probably the
operation was not extensive.