Goodspeed's History of Greene Co --1887

Goodspeed's Biographies of some Greene County citizens

The subject of education early engaged the attention of the people of Greene County, and Greeneville College, the first college in the State, was incorporated in 1794. The trustees were Hezekiah Balch, Samuel Doak, James Balch, Samuel Carrick, Robert Henderson, Gideon Blackburn, Archibald Roane, Joseph Hamilton, William Cocke, Daniel Kennedy, Landon Carter, Joseph Hardin, Sr., John Rhea and John Sevier. Hezekiah Balch was chosen president, and Robert Henderson, vice-president. The first meeting of the trustees was held at the house of James Stinson and February 18, 1795. Robert Henderson, James Balch, Joseph Hamilton and John Rhea were appointed to prepare a memorial to the President and Congress of the United States, soliciting assistance for the college. This Mr. Balch offered to present. He soon after started upon a trip to Philadelphia and the Eastern States, and, upon his return, reported that had collected and brought a large number of books, and received $1,352 in cash donations and $350 of subscriptions.

It was then decided to erect a frame building 60x30 feet, two stories high. Messrs. Balch, Hardin, Kennedy and Henderson were appointed to fix upon a site for the building in the neighborhood of Mr. Balch's plantation about three and one-half miles from Greeneville. It was also resolved "that the board propose a lottery for the purpose of increasing the funds sufficiently for building the above house, the sum to be $1,000, and Gov. Sevier, John Rhea and Joseph Hamilton be a committee to prepare a scheme." Whether this resolution was carried into effect is not known. In August, 1796, the trustees held another meeting, at which time Mr. Balch offered to donate 150 acres to the college, but the conditions upon which he proposed to make the donation were such that the trustees refused it. The plan for a building, presented at the previous meeting, was found to be too expensive, and it was decided to erect a house 32x26 feet, two stories high, "with a stock of chimnies at each end."

From this time until March 8, 1800, if any meetings were held, the minutes have been lost; at the latter date Rev. Charles Coffin was elected vice-president to succeed Rev. Mr. Henderson, and was commissioned to go to the Northern and Eastern States to solicit subscriptions. The college building had not yet been completed, and there is no evidence that the school had been put into operation. On July 1, 1803, the president was authorized to have the schoolroom glazed, and made comfortable for the accommodation of pupils, and this was probably about the date at which the college was opened. The first mention of any graduate was in 1808, when Hugh Brown received the degree of A. B.

After four years of labor, soliciting donations for the college, Mr. Coffin returned in 1805, and reported that he had secured about $14,000, of which $8,855.96 came from the "other side of the mountains." These funds placed the college upon a firmer foundation, and it at once entered upon a prosperous career. In 1810 Mr. Balch died, and was succeeded by Mr. Coffin, who continued at the head of the institution until 1827, when he accepted the presidency of East Tennessee College. His successor was Henry Hoss, for a short time as president pro tem., and in 1838 Rev. James McLin succeeded him. It was then decided to remove to Greeneville, and a committee was appointed to superintend the erection of a building at that place. This building was completed in 1841 upon a lot in the northeast part of town, donated by Valentine Sevier. From some cause, however, the college failed to prosper, and after three or four changes in presidents, among whom were Samuel Matthews, Charles A. Van Vleck, and J. J. Fleming, the college was suspended. In 1854 Rev. William B. Rankin, then principal of Rhea Academy, was elected, and so continued until the suspension of the schools by the war.

In 1818 Dr. Samuel Doak, who had formerly been president of Washington College, came to Greene County and established a school known as Tusculum Academy. It soon became known as an excellent institution, and in 1842, under the management of Rev. Samuel W. Doak, who had succeeded his father, it was incorporated, with the following board of trustees: Samuel W. Doak, president; John McGaughey, John Moore, James Broyles, Alexander Williams, Andrew Johnson, William Crawford, R. J. McKinney, Thomas D. Arnold, William West, John Blair, Silas Dobson, Jeremiah Moore, Joseph Henderson, William Robinson, James Robinson, R. M. Woods, Rev. Isaac Braughan, F. A. McCorcle, William Denney, Henry Earnest, Robert Rankin, William M. Lowry, James Hale and John Jones. About 1845 five acres of land were donated by Mr. Doak, and the two-story brick building, which is still occupied, was erected upon it. Previous to that time a small house, still standing just back of the Doak mansion, had been occupied by the academy for several years. Mr. Doak continued as president until his death, about the close of the war.

At that time both Greeneville and Tusculum Colleges were in a somewhat demoralized condition, and it was decided to consolidate the two institutions under the name of Greeneville and Tusculum College. This was accomplished in 1868, and Dr. W. S. Doak became president. He continued at the head of the college until his death in 1882, although the year previous he was elected State superintendent of public instruction. In 1883 Rev. Jere Moore, the present president, was elected. During the past year one of the finest college buildings in the State has been erected at a cost of about $14,000, the greater portion of which was donated by the widow of the late Cyrus W. McCormick, of Chicago. The present faculty is as follows: Rev. Jere Moore, A. M., president and professor of mental and moral science; L. C. Haynes, A. M., professor of mathematics and physical science; T. S. Rankin, P. S., professor of natural science and English literature; Rev. W. C. Clemens, A. B., professor of Greek; Rev. S. A Coile, A. M. Vice-president and professor of Latin; Eduard Lindemann, professor of music and modern languages.

The first schools in Greeneville, as now remembered, were taught in a log house standing near where Rhea Academy is, and in the Presbyterian Church. The latter was a boy's school, and was taught for four or five years by Joseph Brown. The former was doubtless the original Rhea Academy, and was opened about 1812. The lot was donated by John Rhea in 1811, and it is said that he also furnished a large part of the funds for the erection of the building. The present academy was built about 1825, and about 1840 the building for the female department was erected upon the lot given by John Dickson.

The date of the organization of the first church in Greeneville has not been settled beyond dispute, but it is believed that the first preaching was done by Rev. Samuel Doak in 1780, and that the church was organized about three years later by Rev. Hezekiah Balch, who became the first pastor. The elders were Anthony Moore, Maj. Temple and Joseph Hardin. The first exercises were said to have been held under a clump of trees near the Big Spring. In 1792 James Galbraith, for $10, deeded three acres and four poles of land, near the head of Richland Creek, to Anthony Moore, Alexander Galbraith, Maj. Temple, John Reese, John Carson, Nicholas Hays, Thomas Russell, David Russell, David McGill and Jeremiah Smith, elders of Mount Bethel Church. Whether any house had been erected before this time is not known, but it is probably that a log building had been used. The earliest church of which there is any certain knowledge was a frame house which stood on what is now a vacant lot adjoining the old cemetery on the north side. The congregations which assembled here were very large, embracing the greater part of the people for ten miles around.

In 1796, after the return of Dr. Balch from his trip to New England, mentioned in connection with Greeneville College, he began to expound the Hopkinsian doctrines, and affirmed his belief in them. This produced a schism in the church, and after a long contest before Presbyterian Synod and general assembly the faction apposing Dr. Balch withdrew and was organized into a separate congregation with Rev. James Witherspoon as pastor, under the old name of Mount Bethel. They erected a log church, near where Spencer & Brown's factory now is, and there continued to worship until 1815, when they removed to a point one mile east of town, where the present substantial brick church now stands. The early ministers of this congregation were as follows: James Witherspoon, 1798-1807; John W. Doak, 1807-09; James Balch, 1809-12; S. W. Doak, 1813-44; and S. W. Wyly.

The Balch faction of the old Mount Bethel congregation adopted the name of Harmony Church, and Mr. Balch continued as pastor until his death. In 1805, Rev. Charles Coffin began preaching to the congregation one third of his time, and from 1808 to 1820 he divided his time between Greeneville and Jonesboro. In the latter year, he was succeeded at Greeneville by Christopher Bradshaw, who preached alternately at Harmony and Timber Ridge until 1827. His successor was Dr. F. A. McCorkle, who had been engaged in the practice of medicine for about ten years. he continued the practice of his profession and also remained pastor of these churches until 1855, when he was succeeded at Greeneville by Rev. Ira Morey, the principal of the female academy. He continued about twenty months, and was succeeded by Rev. E. T. Brantley, who preached to the congregation from 1857 to 1860. Dr. McCorkle then filled the pulpit until the beginning of the war. In 1865 the elders of the church were Samuel Milligan, Joseph R. Brown, J. A. Galbraith, Dr. E. M. Shiffey and Robert McKee. Rev. J. W. Elliott was received as stated supply, continuing until 1867. His successors have been S. V. McCorkle, W. C. Harding, John E. Alexander and Samuel A. Coile. In 1848 the old house of worship was abandoned, and the present commodious structure on Main Street was built on a lot donated by Robert J. McKinney. In 1833 a camp-ground was established on a hill one mile west of Greeneville, and camp-meetings were held there annually for several years. The name Harmony was borne by this church until 1840, when it was changed to Greeneville.

In 1843 a Cumberland Presbyterian congregation was organized by Rev. Isaac. S. Bonham, with Thomas Lane, Lewis S. Self, Thomas Davis and two or three others as elders. The membership was small, but they succeeded in erecting a small frame house in the southwest part of the town, where they continued to worship until 1860. In that year, under the ministry of Rev. John P. Holt, the present large brick building at the corner of Church and Main Streets was begun, but was not completed until after the close of the war. The present membership of the church is about 100.

The first Methodist Church in Greeneville was built in 1821, and was known as Mount Moriah. it stood fronting on Irish Street, upon a lot back of where Mr. Blackstone McDaniel now lives. The trustees at that time were William Goodman, William Carter, Elza Bridewell, John Whittenburg, Peter Whittenburg, Richard M. Woods, William A. Hankins, Isaiah Harrison and Stephen Brooks. Afterward the congregation removed to a frame house, which had been erected at the southwest end of Main Street. This building was destroyed by fire and was replaced by the present brick structure, which is now occupied by the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

After the close of the war a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized, and for about nine years occupied the old building erected before the war. The were then dispossessed of this property through legal process by the Methodist Episcopal Church South. They then worshipped in the courthouse until they completed their present handsome church edifice in 1875.

About 1843 an Episcopal Church was organized and a house of worship erected. Among the first members were Gen. T. D. Arnold and wife, Mordecai Lincoln and wife, Mrs. John Dickson, Mrs. Matilda Martin, Mrs. Catherine Williams, Miss Mary Lincoln and Loyd Tillman. The first minister was Dr. McCabe, his successors were Dr. Goode, A. M. Royce and W. W. Cahagan. The congregation was never a large one and, owing to deaths and removals, it has been still further decreased, and for several years no regular services have been held.

In 1874 a Baptist Church was erected and a small congregation organized, but owing to internal dessensions, it did not prosper, and the building was finally sold for debt. It was purchased by O. B. Headrick, a member of the church and still remains his property.

The first newspaper published at Greeneville was the Genius of Universal Emancipation, a small monthly paper devoted exclusively to the cause of the abolition of slavery. It was established at Mount Pleasant, Ohio, in July 1821, but was soon removed to Greeneville, the tenth number having been issued from the latter place. The editor was Benjamin Lunday, a Quaker, who, after four or five years, removed to Philadelphia. During his stay in Greeneville he also published a weekly paper, the Economist and Political Recorder. The successor of Lundy was Thomas Hoge, but the name of his paper could not be ascertained. In 1844, the Greeneville Miscellany was published by Charles P. Byers, and in 1849 the Greeneville Spy was established. The first editors and managers were Charles Johnson and J. B. R. Lyon. With the exception of about two years its publication, under several successive managers, was continued until the war. In the fall of 1858 the Greeneville Democrat was established by H. G. Robertson. The next year the name was changed to the Greeneville Banner. It was a radical Southern Right paper, which he continued to issue until the occupation of the town by the Federals, in 1863. For the last few weeks it was issued as a small tri-weekly. During the fifties, also, a religious paper known as the American Presbyterian was published by J. Dobson. In 1865 J. B. R. Lyon established the New Era which he continued under that name until 1886, when he changed it to the Republican. Early in the seventies two papers, the Sentinel and the Reporter, were established, the latter by the evangelist, Samuel W. Small. The two were soon consolidated and published for a time as the Sentinel and Reporter.

In May, 1879, J. Lyon issued the first number of the Greeneville Democrat, which he has since continued, and which has been an almost phenomenal success. It has reached a circulation of over 1,900 copies, and yet almost the entire work of the office has been done by Mr. Lyon. It is safe to say that no other weekly paper in the State outside of the cities, has an equally large circulation. Several other papers of short duration have also been published from time to time. Among those were the Herald, National Union, Intelligencer and Bulletin.

Greeneville, during the past few years, has increased rapidly in both populations and wealth. Since the introduction of tobacco raising into the county it has become an important market for this crop, and the manufacture and shipment of tobacco is now one of the leading industries. The firms engaged in its manufacture are the East Tennessee Manufacturing Company, the Greeneville Manufacturing Company and Howard & Alexander. The other manufacturers of the town are Brown & Mosier, handle and spoke factory, Lamon Bros., wagon factory; Spencer & Brown, drugs and medicines; Stephen Bros., woolen-mill, and R. Snapp and J. R. Brown, tanneries. The commercial interests are represented as follows: W. H. Williams, William Lane, David R. Britton, M. P. Reeves, George P. Park & Co., W. R. Brown, J. R. Brown and Trim & Hardin, dry goods and groceries; Boyd & Park and Isaac O'Harrell, drugs; W. C. Willis, hardware; W. G. Gass, queenware; R. Snapp, W. B. Taylor and L. W. Tipton, groceries; J. M. Sanders and Mercer & Co., furniture, and R. Snapp and J. R. Brown, saddlery and harness. The Bank of Greeneville was established in 1887 by Judge Hacker & Bro. and John Brobson.

Of the villages of Greene County Rheatown is doubtless the oldest. It is situated on what was the old stage route, and at one time was a thriving business point. It was made a postoffice in 1823, and named in honor of John Rhea. Among the early residents of the village were James Allen, a merchant, who was succeeded by Joseph & Nicholas Earnest, Joseph Whinnery, a hatter; William Aiken, a tanner; Thomas & William Handley, tailors; John Mathes, a cabinet-maker, and John Wright, who ran a saw and gristmill. Some time in the twenties a Methodist Church was built at the upper end of the town, and about 1845 a new frame building was erected just above the old one. About 1850 the Presbyterians organized a church and built a house. Since the war the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South have erected a new church edifice. In 1872 an academy was built by Nolachucky Lodge, No. 323, F. & A. M., and since that time a very excellent school has been maintained there.

The other villages of importance are Mosheim and Fullens, both stations on the railroad. The latter place was established upon land owned by James Fullen. It has a population of about 100, and is the seat of Warren College, an institution established by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1883. Mosheim was formerly known as Blue Springs, under which name it was known until about 1870. It is the seat of Mosheim College, established under the auspices of the Lutheran Church. It also has a large flouring-mill, owned by Reuben Roder, a general store, by D. R. Gass & Co., and a drug store, by J. A. Banghard. Warrensburg, situated in the Fourth Civil District, is the oldest village in the county, and at one time was a place of no little importance. The site was entered during the first settlement of the county by Robert Warren, from whom it took its name. The business of the village now consists of two general stores owned by J. C. Maloney and R. J. Kidwell, and a drug store conducted by Marion Maloney.

The following have been the officers of Greene County since its organization, so far as obtainable.

Clerks of the county court: Daniel Kennedy 1783-1802; Valentine Sevier, 1802-10; Andrew Patterson, 1810-34; Merryman Payne, 1834-36; George W. Foute, 1836-52; E. W. Headrick, 1852-68; V. S. Maloney, 1868-82; W. H. Piper, 1882.

Clerks of the circuit court: Valentine Sevier 1810-54; William West; 1854-56; M. L. Patterson, 1856-62; William West 1862-65; D. R. Britton, 1865-86; J. B. Walker, 1886.

Clerks and masters: George T. Gillespie, 1825-36; Merryman Payne, 1836-43; David Sevier, 1843-70; Henry A. Wilde, 1870-76; A. W. Walker, 1876-80; W. A. Allen 1880-86; J. K. P_____, 1886.

Sheriffs: James Wilson, 1783-85; James Houston, 1785-86; John Tadlock, 1786-87; James Richardson, 1787-92; William L. Lovely, 1792-94; George Conway 1794-1800; John Newman, 1800-02; Christopher Conway, 1802-04; James Patterson, 1804-06; Andrew Patterson, 1806-08; James Patterson, 1808-10; Daniel Guin, 1810-12; James Patterson, 1812-14; Daniel Guin, 1814-18; Hugh Carter 1818-24; Alfred Hunter; 1824-26; Richard M. Woods 1826-40; James Britton, 1840-46; Loyd Bullen, 1846-50; D. R. Johnson, 1850-54; James Jones, 1854-60, James G. Reeves, 1860-66; A. W. Walker, 1866-74; William S. White, 1874-78; A. J. Frazier, 1878-84; W. I. Dodd, 1884-86; A. J. Stephens, 1886.

Trustees: Thomas Doan, 1796-1804; James Shields, 1804-18; Joseph Brown, 1818-20; W. K. Vance, 1820-34; James R. Isbell, 1834-36; Richard West, 1836-44, William West, 1844-52; A. R. Anderson, 1852-58; Elbert F. Mercer, 1856-48; James W. Cloyd, 1868-74; Charles O. Park, 1874-82; J. R. Hughes, 1882-84;J. A. Rader, 1884-86; J. W. McDaniel, 1886.

Registers: Richard Woods 1783-84; Robert Carr, 1785-87; John Hardin, 1787-89; John Stone, 1789-94; James Stinson, 1794-96; James Dunwoody, 1796-98; James Stinson, 1798-1806; George Brown 1806-36; Silas E. Burnett, 1836-42; Thomas Lane 1842-74; T. R. McCollum, 1874-78; J. W. Bower 1878-84; O. T. French, 1886.

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Goodspeed's Biographies of some Greene County citizens

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