Knox County TN Archives History - Books .....Life Of The People - Chapter VIII 1900
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Book Title: Standard History Of Knoxville
CHAPTER VIII.
LIFE OF THE PEOPLE.
PopulationInterest in EducationEarly TeachersSamuel Cornik His SchoolBlount
CollegePresbyterian Church Organized Printing PressLiterary
EffortBooksPhysiciansAmusements Darker PhasesStrong Elements of Character.
THE early history of Knoxville is, for the most part, the history of Indian
hostilities and governmental beginnings. Having followed as minutely as the
sources permit its military and political history, it remains to look at that
side of the people's life which indicates most accurately the present status and
determines most largely the future. This involves their interest in education,
religion and literature, their social intercourse and their mode of life.
One has but to note the constituent elements of a population to determine its
interest in matters of education. Knox county, like the remainder of East
Tennessee, having been settled largely by Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, who
fostered education along with religion, the school house sprang up by the side
of the house of worship, and the rudiments of knowledge were, inculcated with
the principles of religion. At the outset the interests of education suffered
materially from the fact that communities were sparsely settled, from the
dangers of Indian attacks, from the necessities imposed by pioneer life when the
boys had to hew down the forests and till the soil, and the girls attend to the
spinning wheel, loom and other domestic duties. "Go to school half the year and
work the other half," was the rule governing school attendance. The character of
instruction was as a rule quite indifferent. Some of the teachers were of the
itinerant class with no thought of permanency, some intemperate and ill-humored,
who chastised unmercifully and injudiciously, while others were devoted to their
work and spent their lives in the cause. Governor John Reynolds of Illinois, who
spent his early childhood in the vicinity of Knoxville prior to the removal of
his family to that state, has left this testimony to the types of teachers and
methods of instruction then employed: "I was sent to school at a tender age. My
first teacher was a cross, ill-natured Irishman, as unsuitable a character as
can be well imagined to have the charge of a young and diffident child. I was
often severely chastised, though I had not intentionally committed any fault.
The scholars soon learned to detest him and learned little else. The unjust
severity with which I was treated made the very name of school odious to me. My
next teacher was a just and kind-hearted man, who was much esteemed by his
pupils. Under his tuition I became fond of going to school, and improved
rapidly. I attended these schools in 1794-95."*
*Life and Times of Governor John Reynolds, 12, 13. Governor Reynolds returned
in 1810 to Knox county to pursue his studies under the Rev. Isaac Anderson at
old Union academy, on the present Washington pike, where he was a schoolmate of
Sam Houston.
As far as the record goes, the two earliest known instructors in or around
Knoxville were the Rev. Samuel Carrick and Governor Archibald Roane, and the
first pupil Hugh Lawson White, distinguished names in the annals of the state +
The Memoir states that when young White was fifteen years of age, in 1788, he
was studying the ancient languages under the tutorage of these teachers, Samuel
Carrick being a young Presbyterian minister and Archibald Roane a young
barrister. The pioneer teacher of Knoxville then was the Rev. Samuel Carrick,
who settled in the vicinity of the place in 1791. Mr. Carrick had visited this
portion of the country in 1787, and it is maintained by some that he became a
resident within the present limits of Knox county the next year. However, his
dismissal from Hanover to Abingdon Presbytery, and his resignation of the
trusteeship of Liberty Hall academy in 1791 fix this year as that of the
removal.# He took charge of Leb-
anon church in the Fork and taught in connection with his pastorate. His home
was fixed on a farm four miles northeast of Knoxville, at the west end of the
present county bridge over Holston river. Here, in December, 1792, he planned an
institution of large scope and pretensions. It was to be opened on January 1,
1793, at his "seat" and under his direction, wherein should be given a
"competent introduction to Latin and Greek languages, attention being
particularly given to grammatical construction, pronunciation, the design and
connection of each author; the English language grammatically, applying the
rules in reading, parsing, correcting and composing; the liberal arts and
sciences, viz., geography, logic, natural and moral philosophy, astronomy and
rhetoric. The seminary will open two sessions in the year, continuing five
months each. The terms will be $7.00 per scholar for each session, paid at
entering. Beginners in Latin will be admitted at the beginning of the session
only, which will be the first of January and the first of July annually." *
+ Nancy Scott. Memoir of Hugh Lawson White. 9.
# Dr. James Park, Address upon the Centennial Anniversary, of the First
Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, 12; General Catalogue of Washington and Lee
University, 37.
* Knoxville Gazette, December 1, 1792.
The next and the most important and far-reaching step in the educational
beginnings of Knoxville was the already mentioned establishment of Blount
college, now University of Tennessee. * The first president was the Rev. Samuel
Carrick.
* For full particulars of the history of this institution see Moses White.
Early History of the University of Tennessee; T. C. Karns. History of the
University of Tennessee in Merriam's Higher Education in Tennessee: Edward T.
Sanford, Blount College and the University of Tennessee.
The first and only church organization prior to 1796 was the First
Presbyterian church, organized in or before 1793. The Rev. Samuel Carrick, as
mentioned, in February, 1794, delivered before the territorial legislature a
discourse which was subsequently published and advertised as preached by the
"pastor of the church in Knoxville."* The congregation worshiped either in the
court house or in the barracks, as they continued to do for some years. The
original bench of elders was composed of James White, John Adair and George
McNutt. + The foundation of this congregation, built upon a quickened conscience
and an unswerving faith, has left its enduring impress upon the community.
* Gazette, April 10. 1794.
+ Dr. James Park. Centennial Address. 17.
The presence of the printing press encouraged immediately literary effort and
production. Published discourses by the Revs. Samuel Carrick and Hezekiah Balch
were announced for sale in the columns of the Gazette. The controversial spirit,
so characteristic of the people at a later stage of their history when political
and religious divisions arose, manifested itself at the outset. Correspondents
signing their names "Trenck," "The Reviewers" and "Amicus,"
fulminated their
views through Roulstone's bi-monthly organ and sparred at each other with
incisive pen. The first effort or attempt at anything of a permanent nature and
value was put forth by William Tatham, who first appears upon the stage of
Tennessee history as one of the commissioners of the Watauga Association and the
clerk of the court or committee of five. Later he was associated with Spruce
McCay and William R. Davie, Esquires, in the land warrant business. He is best
known by his famous "Fiat justitia" promulgationa protest against the selfish
policy of Joseph Hamilton, James Reese, Archibald Roane, Hopkins Lacy and S.
Mitchell, lawyers constituting the Knoxville bar, who advertise that they will
enter into no suit unless paid therefor in advance.* Influenced by his interest
in the welfare of the southwestern country whose cause he had early espoused.
anxious to remove all impressions prejudicial to the truthful history and real
status thereof, and wishing to introduce strangers to a knowledge or better
conception through maps and correct accounts, he proposed to write the history
of its rise and progress from the first settlement or lease from the Indians and
to illustrate it by maps. Making Knoxville his headquarters, he eagerly sought
all data in the way of history and geography. + The arrival of Col. Tatham was
heralded by Roulstone with his accustomed enterprise and enthusiasm. The editor
said: "Col. Tatham, we are happy to say, has arrived with a large amount of
geographical materials and fixed his office in this town. This gentleman has
been at considerable pains and expense to perfect a map of the southern states,
which is now far advanced, and will be shortly completed. This work is fully
descriptive of the country, and very neatly executed. Col. Tatham has also
engaged, under the patronage of his excellency Governor Blount, to bring forward
a map of the rising territory, for which purpose he is about surveying the
rivers, roads, etc.
* Gazette. March 23, 1793.
+ Gazette, November 3, 1793.
"We need not inform our fellow-citizens how much their prosperity will be
enhanced by this careful work. It is therefore hoped that those who possess
partial surveys or drawings of any part of the country will furnish them for the
use of this undertaking, and that the respective surveyors and others, who
possess personal information, will cheerfully contribute their aid."* If
anything ever came of this highly commended venture, the muse of history has
thrown the mantle of oblivion over it.
* Gazette. March 23. 1793.
The tastes of the reading public are best indicated by the advertisements
appearing from time to time in the Gazette. Samuel and Nathaniel Cowan offer for
sale the following: Hervey's Meditations, Wilson's works, Marshall's works.
Bibles, Testaments, spelling books, hymn books, primers. Philadelphia Harmony,
Buchan's Family Physician, Titus Ogden advertised at his store on State street
copies of Iredell's Revisal of the Laws of North Carolina and Martin's Justice.
Roulstone & Co. offer for sale Toplady's Translation of Zanchi on Predestination.
No community is complete in equipment that does not have its physicians for
the body as well as for the soul. Dr. James Cozby was the pioneer doctor of the
vicinity of Knoxville, administering antidotes against disease and performing
operations of surgery. About the middle of May, 1794, Dr. Thomas McCombs tenders
his professional services to the people of Knoxville, bespeaking a share of
their patronage and basing his claims upon the long studies and careful training
he had enjoyed in the Atlantic states under eminent practitioners, and upon
fidelity to his profession. He proposes to keep on hand a large assortment and
supply of genuine medicine, as if there were adulterated medicines in those good
old days.* In the summer of the same year Dr. Robert Johnston advertises, and
only a few months afterwards calls for a settlement of bills and accounts.
* Knoxville Gazette. May 8. 1794.
With the seriousness and earnestness crowded into their lives, the first
settlers were not without the means and occasions of amusement. Corn huskings,
house raisings, log rollings, quiltings and dances made up largely the sports of
the country people, while balls, receptions,. Fourth of July celebrations and
school exhibitions furnished those of the town. Mary Grainger Blount, the
accomplished wife of the governor, was in all these the center of attraction,
and her entertainments were the models after which others were patterned. The
gay uniforms of young officers, the rich silks of young maidens, the flare of
multitudinous lights from candelabra, and the soul-stirring music of fife,
bugle, drum and violin throw a glamour of romance over the scene.
An account of the Fourth of July celebration in 1793 has been left, which
offers a pleasing view of the festivities indulged in on that occasion. At two
o'clock in the afternoon the federal troops under the command of Capt. Rickard
paraded before the public and fired the federal salute. The handsome appearance
of the company and the thorough execution of the evolutions made a great
impression. At four o'clock the citizens of the town partook of an elegant
banquet, after which toasts were drunk as follows :
1. The day. 2. The illustrious chief magistrate of the United States. 3. The
Honorable Secretary of State. 4. The Honorable Secretary of War. 5. The
Honorable Secretary of the Treasury. 6. The Honorable Judges of the Supreme
Court of the United States. 7. His Excellency William Blount. 8. The Honorable
Secretary Smith. 9. The Honorable Judges of the Southwest Territory. 10. The
Ministers of Spain and America, who have opened up the navigation of the
Mississippi. 11. Gen. Wayne awd his Army. 12. Piamingo and the Chickasaw Nation.
13. May the wisdom and humanity of the General Government soon put an end to the
distresses of our fellow-citizens of the frontier. 14. The virtuous but
unfortunate LaFayette, may he be restored to freedom and America, 15. The
friends of freedom, who are this day assembled to celebrate the glorious epoch
of our liberty. "In the evening Mr. Rickard's company were under arms; they were
drawn up in a grove near the encampment, where they fired a feu de joie, which,
from the darkness of the evening and the judicious manner in which the company
was disposed, produced a most pleasing effect; after which there was a display
of fireworks, from an elegant colonnade in front of Mr. Rickard's marque."*
*Knoxville Gazette. July 13, 1793.
Another favorite source of amusement was the exhibition given by the students,
boys and girls, of Blount college. It must be recalled that this was long before
the era of stump speaking and political campaigning, so that every gathering of
the kind was a strong social bond and provided an excellent opportunity for
social intercourse. An open space, in the rear of the barracks and included in
its grounds, was the scene of festivities. From a platform, whose sounding board
was one side of the building, the youthful declaimers, orators and composers,
presented in formal phrase to the audience by Mr. Carrick, poured forth upon
waiting ears rhythmic melodies, stirring eloquence, descriptive effusions and
moral essays. The interspersing of booming cannon and martial music added to the
enthusiasm of the occasion. + To appear creditably before his hearers was the
crowning ambition of the young participant, while their applause and
commendation made him the hero of the hour, the pride of his home, and the joy
of his master.
+ Dr. Humes. Semi-Centennial Address. 60.
It would be misleading to leave the impression that there were no darker sides
or pictures to this pioneer life. That there were miscreants and stirrers-up of
strife, brawls and dissensions goes without sayving. Some of these were
inexcusable, some ludicrous. Like John Overton, founder of Memphis, James White
was troubled with depredations upon his timber lands, and repeatedly warned the
culprits with threats of prosecution. The following incident shows that
advantage was taken sometimes when least expected, and that the dissentients
aired their grievances through the public print. Capt. Parmenas Taylor, one of
the legislative council, returning from a campaign with John Sevier, left his
horse, suffering from foot evil, at the home of his friend, Capt. A. Bird. There
the animal was left from October, 1793, to April following, when a board bill
was presented to Taylor for $80, though the horse was valued at $100. Upon
protest Bird abated $50. whereupon Taylor "submitted a statement to the candid
public to judge of the righteousness of the charge."*
*Gazette. May 8, 1794.
The murderous career of the Harpes, who plied their bloody vocation towards
the end of the period under survey, forms as dark a picture as the annals of
demoniacal fury and bloodthirsty malice unfold.
Glancing back over the trend of events from the beginnings of Knoxville to the
time of Tennessee's admission to the Union, its growth and development, it will
be seen, depended upon those factors which lie at the basis of national wealth
and prosperitya sturdy manhood and a courageous womanhood, flinching not in the
presence of dangers and obstacles, but keeping in view one undeviating purpose,
the redemption of the soil from barbarism and the dedication of effort to the
upbuilding of a strong and enduring social fabric.
Additional Comments:
From:
STANDARD HISTORY
OF
KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE
WITH FULL OUTLINE OF THE NATURAL ADVANTAGES, EARLY SETTLEMENT, TERRITORIAL
GOVERNMENT, INDIAN TROUBLES, AND GENERAL AND PARTICULAR HISTORY OF THE CITY DOWN
TO THE PRESENT TIME
EDITED BY
WILLIAM RULE
GEORGE F. MELLEN, PH. D., AND J. WOOLDRIDGE COLLABORATORS
PUBLISHED BY
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO 1900
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