Letters from the Alleghany Mountains By Charles Lanman

Charles Lanman's account of his visits to the southern Appalachian mountains in the late 1840's was published in 1849 in the book entitled "Letters from the Alleghany Mountains". The description of his visit to Roan Mountain begins on page 147 and includes a discussion of the Catawba Indians tradition concerning the reasons for the Balds of Roan Mountain.

(Photo from the Cloudland Trail Overlook on Roan Mountain by "Roland Jenkins")

History of the Term "Carpetbagger"

In their book, Notable Men of Tennessee, which was published in 1912, Oliver Perry Temple and Mary Boyce Temple credit Carter County native Andrew J Fletcher with the origin of the term "carpetbaggers" or "carpet bag government". After the Civil War, Andrew J Fletcher served as the Secretary of State under Governor William G. Brownlow (who resided in Carter County at one time).

An excerpt from page 146 of the book:

...Governor Brownlow was disabled from speaking by the partial loss of voice. It therefore fell to the lot of his Secretary of State, Fletcher, to defend the administration, in shaping the policy of which he had had much influence. He made but a single speech: that was sufficient.

The speech of Mr. Fletcher created a sensation throughout the State. I read it on its first appearance, and have recently reread it. The second reading has confirmed my first opinion— that it is a complete and masterly vindication of the State Government under Governor Brownlow, as the conditions then existed. It was bold in utterance, perspicuous in statement, skillful in argument, thorough in detail, caustic in condemnation, and withal, even-tempered, as of one who spoke from a consciousness of right, fortified by an irrefutable array of facts. It is the best defense of Brownlow's administration ever made, and the only one needed. The flood of misstatement and falsehood which was pouring in rapid currents over the State was dissipated by the clear and lucid statement of facts taken from the records.

Mr. Fletcher was one of the first, if not the very first, in the State to denounce the hordes of greedy office-seekers who came from the North in the rear of the army in the closing days of the War. He was ready to welcome the genuine settler,sbut for the adventurer who came to prey on the people of the South he had an undisguised contempt and hatred. In, a speech in Nashville he had the boldness to use an expression that has since become national, in reference to this class of men. He said:

"No one more gladly welcomes the Northern man who comes in all sincerity to make a home here, and to become one of our people, than I, but for the adventurer and the office-seeker who comes among us with one dirty shirt and a pair of dirty socks, in an old rusty carpet bag, and before his washing is done becomes a candidate for office, I have no welcome."

This was the origin of the term "carpet bag," and out of it grew the well known term "carpet-bag government."

For more information on the term see the Wikipedia entry for "carpetbagger".

Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture

The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture website is a joint project of the Tennessee Historical Society and the University of Tennessee. It contains over 1500 fully searchable entries along with photos and videos. It is an excellent source for general information on the history of Tennessee. There are many entries related to Carter County.

The Savage by Piomingo (John Robinson)

After completing his education at Samuel Doak's Washington College around the year 1800, John Robinson moved to Carter County where he resided with Colonel John Carter. During a public meeting a fight broke out and in the course of defending John Carter, John Robinson stabbed and killed a man by the name of Musgrove. John Carter and his friends convinced Robinson to leave the area for his safety.

It was during this time, while in Philadelphia, that Robinson wrote The Savage, which was published in 1810. The work was described in 1873 as "A book of ethical essays, the author of which attempted a series of papers illustrative of American character after the manner of the celebrated British essayists".

A letter published in The American Historical Record in 1874 provides the background on John Robinson's life. The letter begins on page 466.

Four Years in Secessia by Junius Henri Browne

Junius Henri Browne was a civil war correspondent for the the New York Tribune and later worked for the New York Times. His book, Four Years in Secessia (published in 1865), details his experiences as a correspondent. His account of time spent in Carter County begins on page 399. He devotes an entire chapter to the legendary Daniel Ellis beginning on page 409.

Geneaological Records at Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com provides many records of interest to those seeking geneaological information. Examples of items available are census records from 1840 to 1930, marriage records from 1780 to 2002, the Index to the Civil War Pension Applications, World War I and World War II draft registration cards just to name a few. Images of the original records are available in most cases and have also been transcribed making them searchable. The site does require a paid membership for most records, but it is well worth price. Many members have loaded their family tree to the site allowing people to connect with others researching the same families.

Death Certificate Abstracts

Eddie Nikazy has published several books that summarize information found in the death certificates for certain time periods. Death Certificates become public record 50 years after the death of the individual. The following books are available on a limited-preview basis on Google Books:

Carter County Tennessee Death Record Abstracts 1926-1934

Unicoi County Tennessee Death Record Abstracts 1908-1936

Abstracts of Death Records for Johnson County Tennessee 1908-1941

Microfilmed images of the original death certificates can be found at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Lost Heritage: The People of Old Butler, Tennessee and the Watauga Valley

In 1998, The Overmountain Press published Lost Heritage, written by Russ Calhoun, which documented the TVA records that were made prior to the construction of the Watauga Dam. The records included interviews with residents living in the area. This book is especially useful for those who are searching for geneaological information. The book is available on Google Books on a limited-preview basis, meaning not all pages are available for viewing. Check online book retailers or your local library for the full version.

(Photo of Watauga Lake by "Roland Jenkins")

Elements of Useful Knowledge Vol II. by Noah Webster

A short reference to the Watauga Settlement was made by Noah Webster in his book Elements of Useful Knowledge Vol II., which was published in 1808. The section on Tennessee begins on page 182, with the reference to the Watauga Settlement occurring on page 183.

Knoxville Car Wheel Company - Iron Ore Mine on Stoney Creek

The Knoxville-based Knoxville Car Wheel Company was created in 1873. The company purchased 30,000 acres of land in Carter County to mine iron ore. Multiple sources indicate that from the iron ore in Carter County, the company manufactured the finest train car wheels in the country. The 1880 census for Carter County shows that several men in the Sadie community were employed by the Knoxville Car Wheel Company.

Standard History of Knoxville by William Rule, George Frederick Mellen, John Wooldridge. Published in 1900. See page 198.

Journal of the United States Association of Charcoal Iron Workers. Published in 1886. See page 223.

Iron and Coal of Tennessee by Joseph Killebrew. Published in 1881. See discussion of Carter County beginning on page 9.

Life Pictures by Robert Love Taylor

Life Pictures, a collection of lectures and public addresses by Robert Love Taylor who was a Governor and U.S. Senator from Carter County was published in 1907. Taylor was known for his oratory skills. One of his most famous speeches was delivered on the opening day of the Tennessee Centennial in Nashville on May 1, 1897. The speech begins on page 102.

The Wikipedia entry for Robert Love Taylor can be found here.

Watauga Old Fields

Nat E. Hyder's paper on the history of the Watauga Old Fields was published in The American Historical Magazine in 1903. The section on the Old Fields begins on page 253.

The Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century

One of the oldest and most interesting books is James Ramsey's The Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century, which was published in 1853. A detailed account of the Watauga Settlement begins on page 92.