HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF WILKES COUNTY
Published in Wilkesboro, N.C. by John Crouch in 1902
Introduction | County
Formation | Early Settlers | The
Moravians in Wilkes | First County Officers | Benjamin
Cleveland | First Will Probated | General
William Lenoir | Zebulon Baird | First
Church | Early Schools | To
Thumb the Notch | Daniel Boone | King's
Mountain | The Siamese Twins | The
Show Fight | James Henry Spainhour | Col.
W.H.H. Cowles | Rev. George W. Greene | Dr.
Tyre York | Montford Stokes | C.C.
Petty (Col.) | The Cleveland Oak | Rufus
A. Spainhour | Lover's Leap | Courthouses
and Jails | Harry Holland | Agricultural
Possibilities | Fort Hamby | Simmons
Gang Robbers | Stoneman's Raid | Montford
Sidney Stokes | General John Sevier | Charley
Gordon | General James B. Gordon | The
Buzzard Roost | General James Wellborn | Hon.
Anderson Mitchell | Col. Wm. M. Barber | Lee
Carmichael | Col Thomas C. Land | Rev.
W.R. Bradshaw | Newspapers | Lawyers
| Physicians | James Gordon Hackett
| Calvin J. Cowles
INTRODUCTION
Wilkes County has been the scene of many historic occurrences. From the time
that the Moravians first made their appearance within her borders her inhabitants
have boon making history by the wholesale. During the Revolutionary struggle
I dare say there was not another county throughout the colonies that figured
so prominently as Wilkes.
At Kings Mountain the turning point of the Revolution, about one-half the American
forces were from Wilkes. And gallantly they did their country's service until
the enemy's commander, who swore he had found a place "where God Almighty
could not drive him from," lay dead upon the battle field and his forces
either killed or taken prisoners. And when the Tories and Indians needed attention,
"Cleveland's Devil's, as the Tories called them, were always equal to the
occasion, and there always had to be some tamest "cleaning up" on
the part of the Tories and Indians or some of their party would dangle from
a limb.
In the conflict with Mexico Wilkes furnishod a company which did valiant service
in behalf of the American cause, and our illustrious Colonel Sidney Stokes was
so admired by those under his command that a beautiful sword was presented him
as a token of respect and love.
And when it came to the Civil war our record stands without a paralel. Some
men from Wilkes made excellent soldiers in the Union army, but most of the men
of Wilkes took their stand with the Confederacy. Such leaders as Gordon, Stokes,
Barber, Cowles, and others, with their brave subordinates, won the esteem and
love of the whole Confederate army; and their achievements on the battle fields
show the display of such courage and bravery as has never been excelled in the
world's history.
In the recent wars with Spain and the Filipinos Wilkes soldiers have served
with distinction.
It is a lamentable fact that the history of our country has been strangely neglected.
Any of our school teachers and scholars can tell us about the history of Rome
and Greece but few of them know anything of the history of their own county,
not even the formation data. The fair records of her early fame are almost forgotten.
It is the purpose of this little book to gather such as can be obtained of those
records; and give them to the people of the county in a shape that they may
be preserved, and that future generation may know of and share in the glory
of our ancestors. It is more than probable that I have made mistakes in recording
those sketches, but all available information has been obtained, and every statement,
according to my view, is as near correct as could as could be ascertained.
The author does not aspire to be an historian. If in collecting and compiling
and composing this little book, I shall succeed in "rescuing from the dust
of age or the obliterating hand of time" only a few of the names of old
time persons that so charactarized our county in days gone by, my efforts will
not be in vain. It is my desire that the people ow Wilkes County may read the
pages of this book and thereby prompted to increase their patriotism and take
a deeper interest in the history of their own county.
Surely the younger people will take an interest in reading this book If only
the youths of North Carolina and Wilkes County could get a foretaste of our
history, our records would not be hidden in darkness but our history would be
given to the world, that not only ourselves, but all people might know of our
achievements and profits thereby. The young people ought to be encouraged to
emulate the noble record of our worthy ancestors. We are told by Sallust and
Maximus, when looking upon the statues of their illustrious countrymen became
violently agitated. He says, "It could not be the inanimate marble which
possessed this might power. It was the recollection of noble actions which kindles
this generous flame in their bosoms, only to be quenched when they too, by their
achievements and virtues, had acquired equal reputation.
"And by their light
Shall every gallant youth with ardor move
To do brave deeds."
Free from the shackles of parties and sects I have tried to divert myself of
all partialities or prejudices, and present Wilkes County and her sons as Cromwell
would have Lely to paint his portrait: "True, as it is." Nothing has
been omitted from personal views, nor have I neglected to express my views and
opinions of any man or events sketched; in this book because of party affiliations
or sectarian principles. Wilkesboro, NC - December 12, 1901.
Formation
Wilkes County was formed from Surry county in 1777, and was named in honor of
John Wilkes, a distinguished English statesman and member of Parliament. He
was elected by the Ministerial party from Parliament on account of his leberal
political views; and as often was returned by the people. He died in 1797.
The county is situated in the north-western part of North Carolina, and is bounded
on the north by the Blue Ridge, which separates it from Ashe and Alleghany counties;
on the east by Surry and Yadkin counties; on the south by Iredell and Alexander
counties, and on the west by Caldwell and Watauga counties. The larger portion
of the county lies between two great mountain ranges and the Yadkin river flows
between, thus forming a valley of unexcelled fertility and picturesque beauty.
Besides the Yadkin there are Mitchell's, Roaring and Reddies rivers and numerous
large creeks in the county. These rise in the mountains and flow into the Yadkin,
running sometimes through broad and fertile bottom and sometimes leaping over
rocks and breaking through ridges, thus affording immense water power and delightful
scenery.
Wilkesboro, the capital, is a beautiful town of about 800 population, situated
on the south bank of the Yadkin near the center of the county. It was founded
in 1778 by John Parks, John Barton, George Morris and John Witherspoon, who
were appointed by the General Assembly to select a county seat for Wilkes County.
It is about 175 miles north-west of Raleigh.
The commiittee appointed by the General Assembly to survey the dividing line
between Wilkes and Surry made the following report of their work, which is the
first paper recorded in the county records:
Wilkes County Line &c.
"A return of the proceedings of the commissioners who were appointed to
run the dividing line between the counties of Surry and Wilkess to wit: Beginning
on Rowan county line about half a mile below Daniel Rash's at a white oak standing
in the head of a branch of Hunting creek thence north crossing Mulberry Field
road about half a mile below Hamlin's old store house, thence through Solomon
Sparks' plantation, leaving the said Sparks' home in Surry county, thence crossirig
the Brushy mountain at the head of the north fork of Swan creek, then crossing
the adkin river a little below Capt. Parks (and through the lower end of Carrol's
plantation on the north side of said river thence crossing the south side of
said river thence crossing the Big Elkin at the Long Shoals, thence crossing
the south fork of Mitchell's river about half a mile above Bigg's road, thence
crossing the top of the Poiney Knob to the main ridge of mountains about two
miles west of Fisher Peak thence to the Virginia line; being run exactly 26
miles west of Surry court house, agreeable to act of Assembly by:
Robt. Lanier
Henry Speer
Joseph Hendron
Commissioners
From the best information the county of Wilkes origionally embraced all the
territory included in the following boundary lines: Beginnimg at the white oak
mentioned as the starting point in the above report and running west to the
Mississippi river, then north with said river to the Virginia line (now the
Kentucky line), then east with Virginia line to the north-west corner of Surry
County, then south with the Surry county line--as given in the above report--to
the beginning. When the county was formed it included all of the counties of
Ashe, Alleghany Watauga and Mitchell, and a portion of the counties of Iredell,
Alexander, (the line ran a mile or so south of where Taylorsville now stands)
Caldwell, Burke and Yancy, and probably others, and also a large portion of
Tennessee. In what is now Tennessee there was local governments organized within
the borders of Wilkes and later were admitted as counties to the State of Franklin
but until Tennessee was organized Wilkes County was the legal division of all
the territory included in the borders of the county.
Wilkes is not near so large now. She has given up her territory and other counties
have grown out of her. Like a venerable mother she now nestles between the Brushies
and the Blue Ridge with her d.aughters settled around her. We look upon the
meadows of her counties beyond at the Blue Ridge, the broad bottoms of the Yadkin
in Caidwell, and on beyond the Smokies we see a section well developed and prosperous.
Cities have sprung up; railroads have been built, and mines that produce millions
of dollars worth of coal, iron, mica, copper, etc., have been developed. They
are all the offspring of the mother county. We look upon them today and bid
them God speed in their march of progress.
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Early Settlers
One hundred and seventy-five years ago Wilkes.: county had never been trod by
the feet of Anglo-Saxons. All this vast country was inhabited only by savage
Indians and the wild beasts of the forest. How little did the Indian think that
in a short time he would be driven from his model hunting ground by the whites,.
who would clear away the giant trees of the forest and the dense jungles in
the swamps along the banks of the Y adkin and other streams and cultivate the
lands that were the home of the deer, elk, bear, wildcat, fox and other wild
animals.. But the goodly lands of this section were not intended to be always
inhabited by the savages and wild animals. A nobler race of people needed the
territory in which to live and build homes and churches and schools.
Tradition tells us that the swamps along the Yadkin were the scene of many hard
fought battles between different tribes of Indians before the whites made their
appearance in this sectione there is good evidence to sustain this tradition.
Indian war implements, such as arrow flints, tomahawks, etc., have been found
in large numbers since the lands have been cleared. Also many Indian skeletons
have been found. The jungles along the streams furnishea excellent hiding places
for the savages who would conceal themselves and lay in wait for the whites,
and so the swamps were also the scene of many fights between the Indian and
the whites. The freshets in the spring of 1901 unearthed several skeletons;
minie balls were also found after the freshet.
Just when the first white settlers came to what is now Wi1kes county is not
known. As early as l740 the crack of the white man's rifle had brought the timid
deer to the ground and frightened the other animals of the forest. Governor
Rowan wrote that "In the year of l746, I was in the territory from the
Saxaphaw (now Haw river) to the mountains, and there was not above one hundred
fighting men in all that back country." According to the Colonial Records
there were, in l749, only three hundred taxable men in North Carolina west of
Haw river.
About the year of l750 three streams of imigrants began to pour into this section
of the state - one from south-eastern Pennsylvania, one from eastern North Carolina
and one from South Garolina. But most of the settlers coming within the present
borders of Wilkes county came from eastern North Carolina. Among them may be
mentioned the Stokes, Greenes, Mitchells, Wellbornes, Browns, and others. Most
of these were of English descent.
The Moravians were probably the first whites to explore the upper Yadkin valley,
but few, if any, of them became permanent settlers. They came, surveyed some
land, made some exploration and returned to the Moravian Settlements about Salem.
Different motives prompted the first settlers to come here. Some come seeking
relibious freedom which was not accorded them by the provincial government.
Others grasped the opPortunity to come and take up lands, while others came
probable to gratify their desire for a frontier life.
The desire for absolute freedom from British rule was spreading all over the
Colony, and in this section, remote from the seat of the provincial government,
the inhabitants could exercise more freedom than other settlers who were in
closer proximity to the British agents. Thus it was that such men as Col. Cleveland,
Gen. Lenoir, and others were ready to make their mark when the struggle came
on. They cherished the thought of independence and ke pt adding fuel to the
flame.
The early settlers found certainsections clear of tember. The places whore Wilkesboro,
and North Wilkesboro now stand were among these sections. The early settlers
supposed that the Indians had cleared away the timber, but it is my opinion
that the matural state of the land in these sections at that time were barren
of trees. There are certain sections in the western part of the state yet where
trees will not grow. Among them may be mentioned the Elk Gardens on White Top
mountain and several places along the Blue Ridge. There is a small mountain
in Trap hill township called Grassy Knob that used to be barren of trees. Addison
Spencer, in a recent letter, said that, "In the year of l854 my-father
moved from Randolph to Wilkes county and settled on the Elkin near the foot
of the Blue Ridge, between two knobs known as Wellsey and Grassy Knobs, in the
McCann neighborhood. The oldest man in that section at that time was James McCann,
ancestor of the McCann generation. He was then about 80 years old and was one
of the first settlers. I have heard him say that when he was young Grassy Knob
had nothing but grass on it, from which it derived its name and that he had
soon large herds of deer grazing on it. It is now and was forty-five years ago
heavily timbered.
The Cherokee Indians were ci,uite numerous in those days, and where North Wilkesboro
now stands seemed to be their capital village. Here the Indians held their annual
corn dance, which was their festival of harvest. There they reeled and frenzied
and made merry for days and weeks. In the bottoms along Yadkin and Reddies rivers,
which wore then heavily timbered with stately cedars, were hundreds of Indian
wigwams.
On the hill where Gus Finley lived and died was erected by early settlers a
kind of fort known as the "Black House." Here the whites were attacked
by the Indians, would flee for refuge. They could spy the approaching enemy
in every direction and bring him down with their deadly rifles before he could
get close enough to do any injury to the whites. This house, or fort, seems
to have been burnt by the Indians, but another was built on the same spot. The
last one was called the "Red House." How long the "Red House"
stood or how it was destroyed-is not known. But it is probable that before it
was destroyed the savages had been driven from the Valley of the Yadkin and
it was not longer needed as a fort for protection from the attacks of the Indians.
The early settlers had to go nearly two hundred miles to Cross Creek to get
salt, sugar, iron and other necessities that they could not produce here. The
women of those days were more industrious than the bontons of the elite of society
that we have with us today pretending to be wives and mothers. They would work
in the fields all day, and at night they had the cotton to seed, flax to spin,
carding, weaving, knitting and many other things to do. The meals had to be
prepared too but it required only a short time to do that; the principal articles
of food were and hominy, and such other articles as could be produced on the
plantation. Coffee and tea were rarities. Tea made from spicewood twigs, sassafrass
roots and sage leaves and "coffee" made of parched corn or rye was
commonly used.
In the spring of the year all the stock was belled and turned loose in the woods
to shift for themselves. Trought were hewn in logs were the stock was salted
about twice a week. These troughs were called "salt licks." In those
days there was a kind of wild pea vine that grew abundantly in the woods and
the stock would graze upon these pea vines and do well until cold weather. These
wild pea vines ceased to grow about 50 years ago.
There is quite a contrast in society then and now. In other days the dwellings
usually consisted of two log houses--the kitchen and the Big House, and occasionally
the "Big House" had "up stairs." The "Big House"
was the parlor, sitting room and bed room combined. There was neither organ
nor piano, but the fiddle, banjo, flute and fife were the musical instruments
in those days. Courting was carried on in those days, you bet, but, but the
bontons of today wouldn't have recognizod the style in those days. There were
no drives in costly vehicles nor expenaive bridal tours. When the distance to
be traveled was too far to walk they rode on horseback. Bride and groom or beau
and sweetheart would both ride the same horse and hie away over the rough roads
as merrily as the mated sparrows fly about their nests. The courting at home
was done in the "big house" in the corner by the fire while the old
folks were in bed and pretondedly asleep in the backend of the room. Corn shuckings,
quiltings, etc., were gret social events. At night after the work was complete,
the neighborhood fiddler came in and the fun began. Until an hour or two before
day both old and young, male and female, would dance and skip and play keeping
step with the rausic all the while. Every body believed in helping his neighbors
do their work and in turn his neighbors would help him. The whole community
would engage in shucking corn, etc. and keep moving about until every man's
work was done, keeping up the frolicks every night. When a man killed a hog
or a yearling he would divide with his neighbors who would repay when butchering
day came with them.
The principal sports among the men were hunting and horse racing, and in later
years, mustering. In those days, there was no tax on grog as they called it,
and from all information it was freely used.
It is peculiarly interesting to study the habits and customs of our fore fathers
who first inhabited their country; think of them chasing the deer, elk, bear
and other game; their conflicts with the Indians; the everyday association with
such pioneers as Daniel Boone and Benjamin Cleveland. But the frontier life
is a thing of the past; the pioneers have long since passed away, and all that
is left is the county which they founded and nurtured in its infancy. Let us
honor them by keeping the record of our county spotless and clean.
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The Moravians in Wilkes
Lord Granville was one of the eight Lords Proprietors of North Carolina. Ho
did not sell his interest in the lands of North Carolina back to the King of
England as did the other seven Lords Proprietors. In l752 he granted ten thousand
acres--8773 acres-- within the present border of Wilkes. Two surveyors were
made, known as the upper and lower Moravian surveys. The lower survey included
the site of Wilkesboro and extended down the river to the Blair's island, and
up the river a mile above North Wilkesboro crossing the river ana running on
the north side then again crossing the river between the Hackett and Stokes
farm, leavin the latter cut of the survey. The line crossed the Wilkesboro and
Moravian Fall roads near where R.C. Lowe now lives, and ran out near Oakwoods
and back to the beginning. The upper survey included the sections about Morvian
Falls and Goshen. The exact lines of either survey can not now be located.
It is said that the Moravians intended to include in their survey the bottons
on the north side of the Yadkin about where North Wilkesboro now stands, but
when the surveyors came to the heights on the south side of the river and looked
over and saw so many smokes rising from Indian wigwams they concluded it would
be best to leave the savages unmolested so they went a mile further up the river
before crossing.
It is said that the Moravians were in search of potter's clay, and failing to
find it in desired quanities they failed to pay Lord Granville.for the land.
Lord Granville afterwards sold the lands of the Moravians had surveyed to a
man in Ireland named Cassart. His son, Christian Cassart, sold the lands, by
power of attorney, to Hugh Montgomery of Salisbury. Montgomery made a deed of
trust to James Kerr, David Nesbit and John Brown, who were to divide the lands
to his daughtors, Rachel and Rebecca. Rachel married Gov. Montford Stokes and
Rebecca married General James Wellborn.
First County Officers
Wilkes county was formed in 1777, but it was not organized until in the spring
of the next yeare Following this is a list of the first county officers, who
took charge of the affairs of the new county on the 2nd day of March, 1778:
Sheriff Richard A11en
Treasurer, Richard Allen.
Entry Taker, Benjamin Herndon.
Surveyor, Joe Hendron.
Register, John Brown.
Ranger, John Brown.
Coronor, Charley Gordon.
Clerk County Court, William Lenoir.
Representatives, Benjamin Cleveland and Elisha Isaacs.
Benjamin Cleveland Ancestry
A story has it that a beauty in the time of Charles the First named Elizabeth
Cleveland, a daughter of an officer of ithe palace of Hampton Court, attracted
the attention of her sovereign, and an amount was the result. When Oliver Cromwell
became the rising star of the empire the same charms won his sympathies, and
a son was born unto them. The mother retired from public gaze and subsequently
married a man named Bridges. When this illigitimate son grew up he took his
mother's name and was the reputed author of a book "The Life and Adventures
of Mr. Cromwell, Natural Son of Oliver Cromwell," published after his death
by consont of his son, first in 1731, a second edition, with a French translation
in l741, and yet another edition in 1760.
Whether or not Benjamin Cleveland descended from this man and from Oliver Cromwell
is a matter of conjecture. But whether or not the story is a romance or records
a series of facts it is nevertheless true that Colonel Cleveland had a copy
of the book and claimed in this way to have descenddd from th Illustrious Oliver
Cromwell. Others of the Cleveland family made the same claim.
The Clevelands derive their name from a tract of country in the north Riding
of Yorkshire England, still called Cleveland.
John Cleveland was one of the early migrants to Virginia. He settled on the
since famous Bull Run, and his occupation was that of horse joiner. His son,
Benjamin Cleveland, the subject of this sketch was born there on the 26th day
of May, 1738; and while yet very young his father moved some sixty miles to
the south-west, located in a border settlement on Blue Run, some six or eight
miles above its junction with the Rapidan near the line of Albemarle.
Boyhood
When little Benjamin was about twelve years old, some drunken rowdie came to
Cleveland's home one day when both parents were away from home. The rowdies
commencd throwing the steels in the fire when little Ben snatched his father's
rifle from the racks and simply said, "gentlemen -do not you see this?"
They saw the gun and the determined attitude of the youth, which led them to
think discretion the better part of valor, when one of the party said to his
follows: "we'd better be off; we don't know what this excited child might
do." So little Ben's conduct caused the rowdies to leave.
Young Cleveland did not "fancy" farm life, but like Daniel Boone,
he preferred a dog and gun and the forest. He spent much of his time from early
youth in the wilderness, securing pelts and furs which found a market. Firehunting
at that day was a very common and popular mode of entrapping the deer in warm
weather, when they repaired to certain localities at night in shallow streams,
where they could find food suiting their taste. The torch lights of the hunters
would so dazzle the attetion of the deer that he would stand in amazement watching
the strange light, while the hunter had only to blaze away at its glaring eyes
and bring it down.
There was an old Dutchman in that region who had a good stand for fire hunting,
and young Cleveland wanted it himself, One day he peeled some bark off a tree
and placed it ing the water to resemble a deer. At night he concealed himself
nearby where he could watch operations. In due time the Dutchman made his appearance--fired
upon the supposed deer without bringing him down; he repeated his shot -but
still the deer remained unmoved, The Dutchman became alarmed and exclaimed,
"It's do duv-vil," and at once abandoned that hunting ground. Young
Cleveland chuckled not a little over the success of his stratagem.
Cleveland Marries
At length young Cleveland married Miss Mary Graves, in Orange county whose father
was quite wealthy. But his marriage did not reform his wild and reckless habits.
He still loved gaming, horse-racing, and the wild frolicking common in frontier
life. In company with Joseph Martin afterwoods General Martin--he put in a field
of wheat on Pig river, about the year 1767, where he settled some four years
before; but they were to indolent to fence it properly. When harvest time came
there was something of a crop. As was the custom of that time they invited their
friends to join them in cutting the grain; for which occasion some liquor and
a fiddler were proveded, and a good time was necessary before entering upon
the work, which ended in a debauch, and the grain was never harvested.
Tradition tells us that Cleveland took an active part in the French and Indian
wars, but the facts are lost to history. No doubt he was initiated into the
military service in that border conflict which proved a training school for
his Revolutionary career.
Cleveland Moves To Wilkes
In order to break away from reckless habits and old associates, Cleveland, about
1769, removed, with his father-in-law and family, to North Carolina and settled
on the waters of Roaring River, then in Rowan, later in Surry, and a few years
later Wilkes county. Here Cleveland raised stock and devoted much of his time
to hunting, Some time later he located or the noted tract on the north bank
of the Yadkin, near Ronda, where Dr. James Hickerson now resides, known as the
"Round About," taking its name from the horse-shoe shape of the land,
nearly surrounded by the river.
Cleveland's Kentucky Experience
Daniel Boone, on one of his visits from Kentucky, have such charming description
of the "Dark and Bloody Ground" -- that land of cane and pea vines,
abounding with deer and buffaloes - its wild charm, its rich soil and its teeming
game- that Cleveland could not resist the temptation. -- In the summer of about
1772, in company with Jesse Walton, Jesse Bond, Edward Rice and William Hightower,
he set out to visit the hunting grounds of Kentucky. Whon they had safely passed
Cumberland Gap, and entered upon the borders of the famous Kentucky, with cheerful
hopes and glowing prospects, they were unexpectedly met and plundered by a band
of Cherokees, who relieved them of their guns, horses, peltry, and all that
they possessed even to their hats and shoes. An old sorry shot gun was given
in turn; with two loads of powder and shot, when they were threateningly ordered
to leave the Indian hunting grounds. There was nothing else they could do. On
their way home they kept their ammunition as long as possible; with one load
they killed a small deer - the other was spent with effect. They were so fortunate
as to catch a broken-winged wild goose, and at last had to kill their faithful
little hunting dog. In after years Cleveland said that this dog, owing to the
circumstances, was the sweetest meat he ever ate. With this scanty supply, and
a few berries, they managed to hold out till they reached the settlements, but
in a nearly famished condition.
Several months afterwards Cleveland, with a party of chosen men wended his way
to the Cherokee towns, determined to recover the horses that had been taken
from him and his associates. Cleveland applied to a noted Cherokee chief, known
as Big Bear, who told him that the Indians who had his horsos would be likely
to kill him as soon as they should learn the object of his visit. Big Bear sent
an escort with Cleveland to several towns to aid him in recovering his property.
He succeeded without much difficulty except in the last place. The Indian having
the horse showed fight, raised his tomahawk and Cleveland cocked his rifle,
when his friendly escort interrepted, and saved his red brother from a fatal
shot by throwing him to the ground, but not before he had hurled his battle-axe
at his antagnoist, which did no harm than cutting away the bosom of Cleveland's
hunting shirt. Then Cleveland, at the instance of the Indian guide, mounted
the horse which was a hand and was riding away when the enraged Indian fired
at him wounding the horse in triumph.
Some Hunting Experiences
Reuben Stringer was a noted woodsman of the upper Yadkin Valley, and was often
Cleveland's associate in his hunting adventures. They took an elk hunt together
in the month of August, when these animals were in their prime. The elks were
large and very wild, and gradually retired before the advancing settlements.
A few years before the Revolutionary war they were yet to be found at the foot
of the Mountain ranges on the head waters of New river. Pursuing a wounded elk,
Cleveland attempting to intercept him at a rocky point of the river, where he
expected the elk to cross the stream, found himself surrounded by a large number
of rattlesnakes, coiled, hissing, and fearfully sounding their alarm rattles
on every hand. From this dangerous dilemma his only deliverance seemed to be
an instaneous plunge into the river, which he made without a moment's hesitation,
and thus probably escaped a horrible death.
One day while Stringer was busy in preparing a fire to cook some of their wild
meat for a repast, Cleveland spread his blanket on the grourd under a large
oak and lay down to rest himself and soon fell asleep. In a few moments he suddenly
awoke in a startled condition-why, he couldn't tell-and casting his eyes into
the treetops above, he saw a large limb directly over him, nearly broken off,
hanging only by a slight splinter to the parent tree. He said to his companion,
pointing at the limb, "Look Reubin, and see what an ugly thing we have
camped under" "It has, indeed, an ugly appearance," replied Reubin,
"but since it has apparently hung a great while in that condition, it may
likely do so a good while longer. "Ah," said Cleveland, "As it
has hung there there ia a time for it to come down, and I will not be in the
way of danger," and gathered up his blanket to spread it in a safer place.
As he was passing the fire he heard a crack above the splinter had broken and
the limb came tumbling down directly upon the ground where Cleveland but a few
moments before had lain. They pulled the limb and found that its prongs had
penetrated into the earth to the depth of fourteen inches. Stringer congratulated
his comrade on his fortunate awaking and removal, he added, "in one minute.
more, you would have been inevitably killed." "Ah Reubin" said
Cleveland, "I always told you that no man would die till his appointed
time; and when it comes there can be no possible escape."
His War Record Begins
In l775, when Cleveland's neighbors and friends had occasion to go to Cross
Creek to sell their surplus products and buy salt, iron, sugar and other necessaries,
they wore compelled, before they were permitted to buy or sell, to take the
oath of allegiance to the King. When Cleveland heard of those tyrannical acts,
and attempts to forestall the politics of the people, he swore roundly that
he would like nothing better than to dislodge those Scotch scoundrels at Cross
creek. Soon an opportunity was given him. In February 1776, the Highland Tories
of that locality raised the British standard, when Capitan Cleveland marched
down from the mountains with a party of volunteer rif lemen; and traditition
has it that he reached the front in time to share in the fight and in the suppression
of the revolt. He scoured the country in the region of Wake Forest, captured
several outlaws, some of whom he hung to trees in the woods, one of whom was
Capt. Jackson, who was executed within half a mile of Ransom Southerland's homestead,
whose house and merchandise Jackson had caused to be laid in ashes a few days
after the battle of Moore's Crook Bridge. "I don't recollect," said
Colonel Southerland in the University Magazine for September 1854, "af
ter Cleveland had done with them, to have heard much more of those wretches
during the war."
First Senator From Wilkes
When the British invaded Georgia in 1778 Colonel Cleveland and his regiment
from Western N.C. served with distinction under General Rutherford. Returning
from this service, in 1779, he was chosen to represent Wilkes county in tho
State Senate, being the first senator from the county. The year previous he
and Elisha Issacs were chosen to represent the county in the House of Representatives,
or House of Commons,. as it was then called, as the first representatives of
the county. In 1780 Col. Cleveland marched with his regiment against the Tories
assembled at Ramsour's Mill, but reached that place too late for service as
Colonel Bryan's band was chasing them from the state. He also scoured the New
River settlements, checking the Tory uprising in that section, capturing and
hanging some of their notorious leaders and outlaws.
Cleveland at King's Mountain
Then his King's mountain campaign-the crowning achievement of his life-the wounding
of his Brother Larkin Cleveland, while on the way near Lovelady Shoals, near
the Catawba river; and then hurrying to "grapple with. the indomitable
Ferguson." The great service of Cleveland at this fight will be given in
another chapter under the heading, "Battle of King's Mountain." Col.
Cleveland had assigned to him one of Ferguson's war horses which lived to an
uncommon old age; he also carried home with him a snare-drum which he kept as
long as he lived, pointing to it with pride as a trophy of King's Mountain.
Trouble for the Tories
James Coyle and John Brown, two notorious Tory plunderers, passed through Lincoln
county and robbed the house of Major George Wilfong of everything they could
carry away and then made ofi' with a couple of his horses, using the clothesline
for halters. Major Wilfong with a party following the culprits, overtaking them
near Wilkesboro, recovering the horses, but the ruffians made good their escape.
Major Wilfong left the halters made of his clothesline with Cleveland, with
which to hang the rescals, should they ever be captured. Not long after, as
they were returning to Ninety Six, they were captured by some of Cleveland's
scouts and brought to Wilkesboro and Col. Cleveland had them hung with Wilfong's
clothes line on the oak tree that is yet standing just north of the court house
in Wi1kesboro.
Captured by Tories -His Timely Rescue
On the south fork of New river in the extreme southwestern portion of Ashe county
(formerly a part of Wilkes) with a large boundary of land that was clear of
timber and heavily set in grass. These lands-called the "Old Fields,"
and known by that name to this day-belonged to Col. Cleveland, and served as
a grazing place for his stock in peaceful days.
In 1781, having occasion to visit his New River plantation, Colonel Cleveland
rode there accompanied only by a negro servant, arriving at Jesse Duncan's,
his tenant, on Saturday the l4th day of April. Unfortunately for the Colonel,
Captain William Riddle, a noted Tory leader, son of Loyalist Riddle, of Surry
county, was approaching from the Virginia border with Captain Ross, a Whig captive.,
together with his servant, now enroute for Ninety Six, where, it sems, the British
paid a reward for Whig prisoners. Riddle, with his party of six or eight men,
old Whig and an associate of Daniel Boone, who was just recovering from a spell
of fever. The Tory Captain, probably from Curbirth's residence regarding solicited
information, shamefully abused him and placed him under guard.
Descending the river to the upper end of the Old Fields where Joseph and Timothy
Perkins lived-about a mile above Duncan's-both of whom were absent in Tory service,
Riddle learned from their women that Cleveland was but a short distance away,
at Duncan's with only his servant. Duncan and one or two or three of Callaway
family there. Every Tory in the country knew full well that Cleveland was probably
their worse enemy; how prominently he had figured at King's Mountain, and had
given his influences for the Tory executions at Bickerstaff's and caused the
summary hnanging of Coyle and Brown at Wilkesboro, Riddle thought that such
a prisoner would be a valuable prize to offer to his British at Ninety Six,
or it weeld be a crowning honor to the Tory cause to rid the county of probably
their worst enemy.
The prospect was too tempting and he at once set about to capture Cleveland.
His force was too small to run any great risk, so he concluded to resort to
strategy. He resolved to steal Cleveland's horse in the quite of the night,
judging that the Colonel would follow their trail the next morning, supposing
they had strayed off, when he would ambush him at some suitable place, and thus
take "Old Round About," as he was called, unawares and at a disadvantage.
The horses were taken at night and a laurel thicket, just above Perkins' house,
selected as a fitting place to waylay their expected pursuers. During Saturday,
Richard Callaway and his brother-in-law, John Shirley, went down from the neighboring
residence of Thomas Callaway to Duncan's to see Col. Cleveland, and appear to
have remained there over night.
Discovering that the horses were missing on Sunday morning, immediately pursuit
was made. Having a pair of pistols, Colonel Cleveland retained one of them,
handing the other to Duncan, while Callaway and Shirley were unarmed. Reaching
the Perkins place, one of the Perkins women, knowing of the ambush, secretly
desired to save the Colonel from his impending fate; so she detained him as
long as she could by conversation evidently fearing personal consequences should
she divulge the scheme of his enemies to entrap him. His three associates kept
on with Cleveland some little distance behind, Mrs. Perkins still following
and retarding him by her inquiries. As those in advance crossed the fence which
adjoined the thicket, the Tories fired from their place of concealment, one
aiming at Cleveland, who, though some distance in the rear, was yet within range
of their guns. But they generally shot wild only one shot, that of Zachariah
Wells, who aimed at Callaway, proving effectual, breaking his thigh, when he
fell helpless by the fence, and was left for dead. Duncan and Shirley, escaped.
Cleveland from his great weight-fully three hundred pounds knew ho could not
run any great distance, and would only be too prominent a mark for Tory bullets
dodged into the house with several Tories at his heels. Now flourishing his
pistol rapidly from one to another, they pledged to spare his life and accord
his good treatment if he would quietly surrender, which he did.
Wells by this time having reloaded his rifle, made his appearance on the scene,
swearing that he would kill Cleveland; and aiming his gun, the Colonel instantly
seized Abigail Walters, who was present, and by dint of his great strength,
and under a high state of exicitement dextrously handled her as a puppet, keeping
her between him and his would-be assassin. Wells seemed vexed at this turn in
the affair, and hurled his imprecations on the poor woman, threatening if she
did not get out of the way that he would blow her through as well. Cleveland
got his eye on Captain Riddle, whom he knew, or judged by his appearance to
be the leader, appealed to him if such treatment was not contrary to the stipulations
of his surrender. Riddle promptly replied that it was and ordered Wells to desist
from his murderous intent, saying they would take Cleveland to Ninety-Six and
make money out of his capture. The terrified woman, who had been made an unwilling
battery, was now released from Cleveland's grasp from a vice; and the whole
party with their prisoners and his servant wore speedily mounted and hurried
up New River. This stream, so near its source, was quite shallow, and the Tories
traveled mostly in its bed to avoid being tracked, in case of pursuit.
After Riddle and his party had called at Curbirth's on their way down the river,
young Daniel Curbirth and a youth named Walters, who were absent at the time
returned, and encouraged by Mrs. Curbirth, they resolved to take their guns,
select a good spot, and Ambuscade Riddle on his return, and perhaps rescue whatever
prisoners he might have. But on the return of the Tory party the next day, they
made so much noise and gave so many military commands, that led the youthful
ambuscaders to conclude that the Tories had received reinforcbments, and that
it would be rashness for two single-handed youths to undertake to cope with
numbers so unequal. So Riddle and his party reached undistrubed and ordered
dinner for himself, men, and prisoners. Riddle abused and even kicked one of
the Curbirth's girls who did not willfully aid in preparing the dinner. After
dinner they proceeded up New River, mostly along its bed, until they came to
the mouth of Elk creek, up which they made their way in the same manner, Col.
Cleveland managed to break off overhanging twigs and drop them in the water
to float down as a guide to his friends, who he knew would make early pursuit.
From the head of the south fork of Elk they ascended up the mountain to what
has since been known as Riddle Knob, in what is now Watauga and about 14 miles
from Old Fields where he was captured; here they camped for the nights. Early
on the morning of Cleveland's capture Joseph Calloway and his brother-in-law,
Berry Toney, wanting to see Cleveland on business, called at Duncan's and learned
of the missing horses and the search for them; and at that moment they heard
the report of the firing at the upper end of the plantation and hastened in
that direction, soon meeting Duncan and Shirley in rapid flight, who could only
tell that Richard Callaway had fallen and that Cleveland was either killed or
taken. It was at once agreed that Duncan, Shirley and Toney should notify the
people of the scattered settlements to meet that afternoon at Old Field while
Joseph Callaway should go to his father's close by, mount his horse and hasten
to Captain Robert Cleveland's on Lewis Fork, a dozen miles distance. His brother,
William Callaway started up the river and soon came across Samuel McQueen and
Benjamin Greer, who readily joined him and all being good wooksmen, they fellowe-d
the Tory trail as best they could, till night overtook them some distance above
the mouth of Elk Creek and about ten miles from Old Fields, William Callaway
suggested that he and McQueen would remain there while Greer should return to
pilot up whatever men may havegathered to engage in the pursuit of the Tories.
By night-fall Captain Robert Cleveland and twenty or thirty others, good and
tried men, who had served under Col. Cleveland, had gathered at Old Fields,
determined to rescue their old commander at every hazzard-- even though they
had to follow the Tory party to the gates of Ninety-Six. Greer made his appearance
in good time and at once they were on the trail of the enemy. They reached William
Callaway and McQueen a while before day; and as soon as light began to appear
John Baker joined Callaway and McQueen to lead the advance as spies. A little
after sunrise, having proceeded four miles, they discovered indications of the
enemy's camp on the mountain, but little arrangement was made for the attack;
nine men only were in readiness--the others seem to have been some distance
behind. Only four or five of these wore ordered to fire on the enemy, the others
reserving their shots for a second volley, or any emergency that might happen
of these was William Callaway.
Part of the Tories had already breakfast, while others were engaged preparing
their morning meal, Cleveland was seated on a large log while Riddle had Cleveland's
own--pistol at him, also Zachariah Wells had his pistol pointed at Cleveland,
forcing him to write out passes for the several members of Riddle's party certifying
that each was a good Whig--to be used when in tight places, to help out of difficulty
by asserting that they were patriots of the truest types. Cleveland's commendations
passed unquestioned along the borders of Virginia and the Carolinas. But the
Colones had a strong suspicion that, since his captors were in such haste for
the passports, as soon as they were out of-his hands his days would be numbered;
and thus, naturally but a poor penman, he purposely retarded his task as much
as possible, hoping to gain time for the expected relief, apologizing for his
blunders and renewing his unwilling efforts. Several of the Tory party were
now saddling their horses for an early start, and Cleveland wa-s receiving threats
if ho did net hurry up the last passport.
Just at this moment the relief party was silently creeping up; and the next
moment several guns were fired and the Whigs rushed up, uttering their loudest
yells. Col. Cleveland, comprehending the situation, tumbled off behind the log,
lest his friends might accidently shoot him, and exclaiming at the top of his
thundering voice, "Hurrah for Brother Bob! That's right, give 'em hell.'"
Wells alone was shot as he was scampering away by William Callaway in hot pursuit,
and supposed to be mortally wounded; he was left to his fate. The rest fled
with the aid of their fresh horses, or such as the could secure at the moment,
Riddle and his wife among the number. Cleveland's servant, a pack-horse for
Tory plunder, was overjoyed at his sudden liberation. Cleveland and, Ross were
thus fortunately rescued; and having gained their purpose the happy whigs retainad
to their several homes. William Callaway was especially elated that he had shot
Wells who had so badly wounded his brother, Richard Callaway, at the skirmish
at Old Fields the morning before.
Riddle Captured and Hung
A short time after this occurance, Captain Riddle ventured to make a night raid
into the Yadkin Valley, where, on King's Creek, several miles above Wilkesboro,
they surrounded the house where two of Cleveland's noted soldiers, David and
John Witherspoon, resided with their parents. The two were taken prisoners and
carried to the Tory camp on Watauga river, where both were sentenced to be shot--blindfolded,
and men detailed to do tha fatal work. It was then proposed, if they would take
the oath of allegiance to the King, return to their home and speedily return
with a certain noble animal belonging to David Witherspoon, known as the O'Neal
mare, and join the Tory band, their lives would be spared. They gladly accepted
the proposition-with such hesitation as they thought best to make.. As soon
as they reached home David Witherspoon mounted his fleet-footed mare and hastened
to Col. Ben Herndon's several miles down the river, who quickly raised a party
and piloted by the Witherspoons, they soon reached the Tory camp, taking it
by surprise, capturing three and killing and dispersing others. The young Witherspoons
fulfilled their promise of speedily returning to the Tory camp bringing the
O'Neal mare, but under somewhat different circumstances from what the Tories
expected. The prisioners were Captain Riddle and two of his associates named
Reeves and Goss. They were brought to Wilkesboro and tried by court martial
and sentenced to be hung. But in order to gain favor with the Whigs or get them
in a condition so that they might escape Riddle treated them freely to whiskey.
Col. Cleveland informed him that it was use less to be wasting his whiskey as
he would be hung directly after breakfast. The three Tories were accordingly
hung on the notorious oak that is yet standing in Wilkesboro. Mrs Riddle, wife
of the Tory leader, was present, and witnessed the execution of her husband
and his comrades.
How The Tories Hated Him
Col. Cleveland was the Tories' worst enemy in this section. He was determined
to break up the Tory bands that infested the frontier. Cloveland and his regiment.
were known far and near for their courage. They were known among the Whigs as
Cleveland's Heroes, or Cleveland's Bull Dogs, while the Tories demominated them
"Cleveland1s Devils." Cleveland himself rated each of his well tried
followers as equal to five soldiers.
It was not long until one of Cleveland's men captured Zachariah Wel1s who had
not yet recovered from the wounds received at Riddle Knob. He was taken to High's
bottom about a mile below Cleveland's Round About residence. Here James Gwyn,
a youth of thirteen, with a colored boy, was at work in the field, when Cleveland,
who had joined those having the prisoner in charge, took the plow-lines from
the horse with which to hang Wells, to a tree on the river bank. Young Gwyn,
who knew nothing of the stern realities of war, was shocked at the thought of
so summary an execution. Being well acquainted with Col. Cleveland he begged
him not to hang the poor fellow, who looked so pitiful and was suffering from
his former wound. This excited the Colonel's sympaties, and he said, "Jimmie,
my son, he is a bad man; we must hang all such dangerous Tories, and get them
out of their misery." Captain Robert Cleveland who at present was cursing
the wincing Tory at a vigorous rate. With tears coming down his cheeks, the
Colonel adjusted the rope, regretting the necessity for hanging the trembling
culprit--remembering very well the rough treatment he had received at the hands
of Wells at the Perkins place at the Old Fields; and firmly C nvined that the
lives of the patriots of the Yadkin Valley would be safer,.and their slumber
all the more peaceful, when their suffering country was rid of all such vile
desperadoes. Wells soon dangled from a convenient tree and his remains were
buried in the sand on the bank of the river.
Other Tories See Trouble
Many other Tories fell into the hands of Cleveland's brave troopers and summary
punishment was meted out to them in Cleveland's usual way. Once a Tory leader
named Tate and eight others were captured and Cleveland and his men had them
near old Richmond, in Surry county. When Cleveland was about to execute the
leader, Colonel William Shepherd protested against such summary justice. "Why,"
said Cleveland, "Tate confessed that he has frequently laid in wait to
kill you." "Is that so?" inquired Shepherd, turning to the Tory
captain. Tate confessed, and Shepherd yielded to Cleveland's plan and soon Tatc
dangled from a limb. Tate's associates suffered only imprisonment ~s other prisonors
of war.
On another occasion Col. Cleveland visited Col. Shepherd at Richmond where ho
had two notorious horse-thieves in prison. Cleveland insisted on swinging them
to the nearest tree lest they should make their escape and yet further endanger
the community--at least one of them, whose crimes rendored him particularly
obnoxious to the people. One end of a rope was fastened to his neck when he
was mounted on a log and the other end tied to a limb; t:i'en the log rolled
from under him and he dangled from a limb in plain view of the prison. The other
culprits was shown his comrade swinging from the limb and he was given his choice,to
take his place beside him or cut off both his own ears and leave the country
forever. The Tory knew it would not do to meddle with old Round About, so he
called for a knife. He was handed a case knife, and after whetting it on a brick
he gritted his teeth and sawed off both his ears. He was then liberated and
he loft with the blood streaming down both cheeks and was never heard of afterwards.
"I'll Show You Prepetual Motion"
John Doss was the faithful overseer of Col. Cleveland's plantation while the
Colonel was absent from home during the Tory troubles in 1780-81, Bill Harrison,
a noted 1eader in this region, with the aid of his followers, not only stole
Cleveland's stock and destroyed his property, but arrested his his overseer,
took him to a hill-side, placed him on a log, fastened one end of a grape vine
around his neck and the other end was fastened to the prong of a drooping dogwood;
then one of the party went up the hill so as to gain sufficient propelling power,
then rushed down headlong, butting Doss off the log into eternity. It was not
long until Harrison was caught and brought to Cleveland's home. Accompanied
by his servant Bill and one or two others Cleveland led Harrison to the same
dogwood on which he had hung poor Doss. "I hope you are not going to hang
me, Colonel," muttered the trembling wretch. "Why no?" "Because,"
said the Tory, "you know I am a useful man in the neighborhood--am a good
mechanic--have worked for you in peaceful days, and cannot well be spared; besides
I have invented prepetual motion and if I am now suddenly cut off, the world
will loose the benefit of my discovery. I, too, have heard you curse Fanning
and other Loyalists leaders for putting prisoners to death-where are your principles--where
is your conscience?" "Where is my conscience," retorted C1eveland;
"where are my horses and cattle you have stolen; my barn fences you have.
wantonly burned--and where is poor Jack Doss?" "Fore God I will do
this deed and justify myself boore high Heaven and my country'. Run up
the hill, Bill and but him off the log--I'll show him perpetual motion."
The Boys Hang A Tory
On one occasion when Col. Cleveland was away from home, a Tory horse thief was
captured and brought and turned ovbr to Cleveland's sons, to await their father's
return. The Colonel, not returning as soon as expected, and fearing if they
sheuld undertake to keep the prisoner over night he might escape or give them
trouble, they appealed to their mother what was best to do under the circumstances.
Mrs. C1eveland said to the boys, "What.would your father do in such a case?"
The boy. promptly replied, "Hang him." "Well then,"said
the old lady, "You must hang him," and the thief was accordingly hung
at the gate.
Cleveland's Generosity
The reader must not suppose that Col. Cleveland always deemed it best policy
to resort to the severest treatment of Tory thieves brought before him. He was
a keen judge of human nature and lost no opportunity nor spared no pains in
reforming those who would reform. Once he had a pretty hard case to deal with,
"Waste no time, swing him off quick,"said Cleveland. "You need'nt
be in such a D--d hurry about it." cooly retorted the condemned man. Cleveland,
who was toddling along behind was so pleased with the cool retort that he told
the boys to let him go. The Tory, touched with sudden generosity, turned to
Cleveland and said: "Well old fellow, you've conquered me; I'll ever fight
on your side," and proved it and himself one of Cleveland's sturdy followers.
On another occasion he met an old whig who had been led astray by the Tories
and addressed him in this style: "Well Bob, I reckon you are returning
from a Tory trip, are you not?" "Yes, Colonel, I am." "Well.
continued the Colonel, "I expect when you become rested you will take another
jaunt with them, eh?" "No, Colonel, if I ever go with them again I'll
give you leave to make a button of my head for a haltor." "Well, Bob,
that shall be the bargain." So he gave Bob a stiff drink of grog, in accordance
with the fashion of the tines, and a hearty dinner, and started him off home
rejoicing on his way and declaring that, after all, old Round About had a warmer
heart and a kindlier way with him than any Tory leader he had ever met, and
ever.after Bob proved himself as true a Whig almost as the Colonel himself.
Besides trying to put down Tory influence the Colonel endeavored to make good
citizens as well. Eleven miles above Wilkesboro on the south bank of the Yadkin
lived one Bishop, one of a class who tried to shirk the responsibilitios of
the war, and was wanting in patriotism and energy of character. At heart he
was thought to be a Tory. Passing Bishop's on one of his excursions, Cleveland
observed that his corn, from neglect, presented a very sorry appearance. He
called Bishop out and asked if he had been sick. He. said that he had not. "Have
you been fighting for your country then?" "No," said the neutral,
"I have not been fighting en either side." "In times like these,"
remarked Cleveland, "men who are not fighting, and are able to work, must
not be allowed to have their crops as fould as yours." The indolent man
had to "Thumb the Notch" and receive the lashes as a penalty for his
negligence. It is not necessary to say that Bishop's corn was, from that time
on, in as good condition as any man's in. the country.
His Last Military Service
Cleveland was "all things to all people." His love for the American
cause was unbounded. His numerous friends loved and admired him for his bold
and fearless simplicity, while his ~nemies hated him for the same reason that
his friends loved him.
But the war was now rapidly drawing to a close. In the autumn of 1781, Col.
Cloveland performed his last military service-a three month tour of duty on
the waters of the Little Peedee, in the south-eastern part of the State, under
General Rutherford. At this time the British Colonel Craig was confined to Wilmington,
while Fanning and other Tory leaders were yet scouring the country, and needed
such a force as the mountaineers to successfully cope with them, Cleveland's
men routed severalof these scattered Tory detachments before returning home.
Moves To South Carolina
At the close of the war Col. Cleveland lost his fine Round About plantation
on the Yadkin by a better title, when he turned his attenion to the region of
the Tugalo, on the western boarder of South Carolina. In 1784 he selected a
plantation in the Tugalo valley and moved there the following year. Quite a
number of his kinsmen followed him and became came his neighbors in the newly
settled valley of Tugalo.
In l785 the Cherokee Indians were. yet trouble some. They stole some of Cleveland's
stock and carried it to the Indian village. Cleveland buck1ed on hIs hunting
knife and wont in person to the Indian town and told them that unless his stock
was promply returned they would pay the penalty--the last one of them--with
their lives. The Indians were greatly surprised at his enormous size, and judged
that it would take a hundrad warriors to cope with him single-handed. The stock
was promptly restored.
Hangs Another Horse Thief
Col. Cleveland did not lose his hatred for the Tories in his new home. Henry
Dinkins, a Tory of the Revolution, who had taken refuge among the Cherokees,
became a notorious horse-thief. Cleveland learned of their approach in the Tugalo
valley and he snatched up his rifle and waylaid their trail and captured Dinkins
and two negroes associated with him. Dinkins was promptly hung on the spot.
So notorious was Dinkins' reputation for evil that the whole country was overjoyed
at his sudden execution without waiting to consider whether or not the mode
of his exit was in accordance with the niceties of the law.
His Last Days and Death
Col. Cleveland held positions of trust and honor in his new home, but he loved
quiet home.life best and spent most of his time about his plantation. He continued
to increase in weight until he weighed the enormous sum of four hundred snd
fifty pounds.
For several summers preceding his death ho suffered with dropsy in his lower
limbs, and during the last year of his life his excessive fat considorably decreased,
and he, at last died while sitting at breakfast, in October, 1806, in the sixty-ninth
year of his age. His wife died about six years previous. Ho loft two sons and
a daughtor, whose descendants are numerous and resspectable. Our county man,
Esq. R. M. Staley is a great-grand-son of Col. Cloveland. Wilkes county has
no better citizon and no man a better neighbor than Esq. Staley.
With hardly an education and little improvemnts in later life, Col. Cleveland,
with a vigorous intellect, exerted a commanding influence among the frontier
people; and though despotic in his nature and severe on the Tories, his patriotic
activitity did much to preserve the western portion of North Carolina from British
and Tory ascondency. North Carolina deservedly commorated his services by naming
Cleveland county for him.
The remains of this noble hero sleep in the family burial groun in the valley
of the Tugalo. No monument-no tombstone-no inscription marks his silent resting
place. The spot is marked by several pines that have grown up since his interment-one
of thorn, it is said, shoots its tall spire from his grave. There he lies in
a sister State with not even a gravestone to mark his resting place, where scattered
bands of Cherokees may look upon the pine that rises out of his grave and wonder
among themselves, "Is this the goal of ambition-this the climax of glory?"
How strange are the ways of men!
Return to top
THE FIRST WILL PROBATED
The first will probated in Wilkes county was probated and recorded in the year
l778, at the December term of the county court. In the early history of the
county wills wore only probated during the session of the County Court and not
before the Clerk at any time convenient as in now the case.
This will, first on record in the county, starts off like this:
"The Last Will and Testament of John Witherspoon, Dec'd. Dec. Term, 1778.
"Novomber the first in the year of our Lord Christ, 1778. In the name of
God, Ame, I John Witherspoon, and of Wilkes County, being weak in body but sound
of memory, blessed be God, do this day and in the year of our Lord make and
publish this my last will and testament in the following manner, that is to
say, first I appoint, _____", etc.
The subscribing witnesses are Thomas Harbin, Alexander Holton and Jno, Robinson.
GENERAL WILLIAM LENOIR
The subject of this sketch was one of the early pioneers of this section. He
did much in building the county of Wilkes and the establishment of law and government
in this section of the State . The name of William Lenoir appears oftonor in
early records of our country than the name of any other person. His life, character
and services are recorded in such an able and familiar manner in an extract
from the "Raleigh Register:" of June 22, 1839, that we give the article
here:
This venerable patriot and soldier died at his residence at Fort Defiance, in
Wilkes county, on Monday, the 6th of May, 1839, aged eighty-eight years. Perhaps
no individual new remains in the state of North Carolina who bore a more distinguished
part during our Revolutionary struggle, or who was more closely identified with
the early history of our government than the venerable nam whose history and
public services it is our purpose to sketch.
General Lenoir was born in Brunswick county, Va., on the 20th of May l75l, and
was descended from poor but respectable French ancestry. He was the youngest
of ten children. When about eight years old his father removed to Tar River,
near Tarboro, where he resided until his death which happened shortly after.
The opportunities of obtaining even an ordinary English education that day were
extremely limited, and General Lenoir received no other than such as his own
personal exerperince permitted him to acquire after his father's death. When
about 20 years of age he was married to Ann Ballard of Halifax, N.C., a lady
poessessing in an eminent degree those domestic and heroic virtues which qualified
her for sustaining the privations and hardships of a frontier life, which it
was her destiny afterwards to encounter.
In March, l775 General Lenior removed with his family to the county of Wilkes
(then a portion of Surry), and settled near the place where the village of Wilkesboro
now stands. Previous to his leaving Halifax, however, he signed what was then
familiarly called, "The Association Paper," which contained a declaration
of thd sentiments of the people of the colonies in r.gard to the relations existing
between them and the crown of Great Britain, and which their scattared condition
ren dered it necessary to circulate for signatures in order to ascertain the
wishes and determination of the people. Soon after his removal to Surry he was
appointed a member of the Committee of Safety for that county and continued
to discharge his duties as such, and as clerk to the Committee until their authority
was superseded by the adoption of the Constitution of the State. On the commencement
of hostilities with Great Britain, General Lenoir very early took a decided
and active part. It is well known to all those acquainted with the history of
the times that about the beginning of the war of the Revolution the Cherokee
Indians were exceedingly annoying and troublesome to the white settlements in
the Western part of North Carolina. The Whigs therefore in that section of the
country were obliged at the very outset to be constantly on the alert--they
were frequently called on to march at a moment's warning, in small detachments,
in pursuit of marauding bands of Indians, in the hope of chastising them for
depredations committed on the settlements-they were also compelled to keep up
scouting and ranging parties, and to station guards at the most accessible passes
in the mountains. In this service General Lonior bore a conspicuous part, which
was continued until the celebrated expedition of Gen. Rutherford and Gem. Williamson
in 1776, put an end to the difficulties with the Cherokees. In this expedition
General Lenoir served as a lieutenant under the distinguished Ccl. Cleveland,
who as then a captain, and frequently has he been heard to recount the many
hardships and suffering which they had to undergo. They were of ton entirely
destitute of provisions-there was not a tent of any kind in the whole army-very
few blankets and these only such as could be spared from their houses for the
occasion, and their clothing consisted principally of rude cloth made from hemp,
tow, and wild nettle bark-and as a sample of the uniform worn by the General
officers, it may be mentioned that General Rutherford's consisted of a tow hunting
shirt dyed black and trimmed with white fringe. From the termination of this
campaign until the one projected against the British and Tories under Major
Ferguson, Gen. Lenoir was almost constantly engaged in capturing and suppressing
the. Tories, who, at that time, were assuming great confidence and exhibiting
much boldness. Indeed, such was the character of the times that the Whigs considered
themselves, their families and property in continual and imminent danger. No
man ventured from his housr witheut his rifle, and no one unless his character
was well known, was permitted to travel without undergoing the strictest examination.
Gen. Lenoir has frequently been heard to say that owing to this perilous situation
he has often been compelled on retiring at night, to place his rifle on one
side of him in bed while his wife occupied the other.
In the expedition to King's Mountain he hold the position of captain Col. Cleveland's
regiment, but on ascertaining that it would be impossible fer the footmen to
reach the desired point in time, it was determined by a council of officers
that all who had horses or could procure them should advance forthwith.
Accordingly Gem. Lenoir and his company officers volunteered their services
as privates, and proceeded with the horsemen by a severe forced march to the
scene of action. In the brilliant achievement on King's Mountain he was wounded
severely-in the arm, and also in the side-and a third ball passed throught his
hair just above where it was tied. He was also at the defeat of the celebrated
Tory, Col. Pyles near Haw River, and in this engagement had his horse shot and
his sword broken, He also raised a company and marched toward the Dan River,
with the hope of joining Gen. Greene, previous to the battle of Guilford, but
was unable to effect a junction in time. Many other services of a minor character
were performed by him, which it would be tedious to enumerate.
In the militia of the State he was also an active and efficient officer, having
passed through different grades from that of an Orderly Sergeant to a Major-General
in which latter of office he served for about eighteen years.
In a civil capacity also General Lenoir discharged many high and responsible
duties. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace by the convention which met
to form the State Constitution, and was appointed by the first General Assembly
which met under its authority. He continued to discharge the duties of this
office until he died with the exception of a temporary suspension of about two
years, whilst he acted as Clerk of County Court of Wilkes. It is therefore more
than probable that at the time he died he was the oldest magistrate in the State,
or perhaps in the United States. He also filled at different periods the various
offices of Register, Surveyor, Commissioner of Affidavits, Chairman of County
Court, and Clerk of Superior Court for the county of Wilkes. He was one of the
original trustee of the University of NC., and was the first president of the
Board. He served many years in both branches of the State Legislature, embracing
nearly the whole period of our early legislative history, and during the last
five years of his service in the Senate was unamimously chosen Speaker of that
body. It was also remarked that he p rformed the duties of that important station
with as much general satisfaction, probably, as was ever given by the presiding
officer of any deliberate assembly. He was for several years elected a member
of the council of State, and when convened, was chosen President of the Board.
He was also a member of both the State Convention which met for the purpose
of considering the Constitution of the United States; and in the discussions
of those bodies he took an jealousy the rights of the States. Owing to the difficulties
which existed among the States in the adoption of the Federal Constitution,
as opinion prevailed that another General Convention would be called to revised
and amend it. The Convention of North Carolina, acting upon this supposition,
proceeded to elect five delegates to represent the State in the proposed General
Convention, of which number General Lenoir was one. It is also in honor of him
that the respectable county of Lenoir bears its name.
These, together with many other services of a minor character, though important
in themselves, or in futherance of the due execution of the law, constitute
the sum of that portion of the public burdens which have been borne by this
venerable man, for many of which he declined to receive any compensation. Those
who knew Gen. Lenoir will readily concur in the opinion that it is questionable
whether any man ever performed a public duty with a more punctilious regard
to the promotion of the public welfare or in more strict accordance with the
requirements of the authority under which he acted.
For the last several years of his life ho devoted much of his time to reading
and reflection on public affairs, and manifested great concern and expressed
much apprehension lost from the signs of the times, our inestimable government,
which cost so much blood and treasure, hardship and suffering, was destined,
at no distant period, to share the fate of the republics of other days. Indeed,
so great were his fears on this subject that it was a source of real disquietude
and unhappiness to him.
In private life Gen. Lenoir was no less distinguished for his moral worth and
generous hospitality than in public life for his unbending integrity, firmness
and patriotism. His mansion was open at all times, not only to a large and extensive
circle of friends and acquaintances, but to the stranger and traveler. Although
he lived for many years upon a public highway and received and entertained all
persons who chose to call upon him, he was never known in a single instance
to make a charge or receive compensation for accomodations thus furnished.
In his manners and habits of life he was plain and unostentatious. Steadily
acting himself upon principles of temperance and frugality in all things he
endeavored both by example and precept to inculcate similar principles upon
others. To the poor he was kind and charitable and by his will made liberal
provisions for those of his own neighborhood. He had long enjoyed almost uninterrupted
health while he was careful to preserve by moderate but almost constant exercise
either on horseback or in his workshop, of which he was very fond. As evidence
of his physical ability, it may be mentioned that he attended the Superior Court
of Ashe county, a distance of more than 100 miles from his residence, traveling
the whole distance on horseback, and crossing the Blue Ridge, and also attended
the court of his own county, a distance of 214 miles not more than three weeks
before his death. During his last illness he suffered much pain, and often expressed
a desire that the Supreme Disposer of all things would terminate his sufferings.
He often said "Death had no terrors for him-he did not fear to die."
His remains were interred in the family burying-ground, which occupies the spot
where Fort Defiance was erected during the Revolutionary war.
ZEBULON BAIRD Grandfather of Zebulon B. Vance
Zebulon Baird Vance's grandfather, Zebulon Baird, was a native of Wilkes County.
It was after this Wilkes county ancestor that the noted General, Governor, Senator
and Statesman was named. Notwithstanding the fact that he lived nearly a century
ago and is very little known at his day, Zebulon Baird would be counted as one
of the great men of Wilkes County for the reason that he was the grandfather
of the most beloved man that ever lived in North Carolina.
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FIRST CHURCH IN COUNTY
Surry county was formed in 1770 from Rowan county, which, until this date, comprehended
a large portion of Western North Carolina from beyond the Yadkin to the Mississippi
river, including all the upper valley of the Yadkin to the Virginia line. In
l770 Surry was a frontier county. The Mulberry Field Meeting House was the only
church in the entire county. This church, or meeting house as it was called,
was situated where the town of Wilkesboro now stands. Some of our oldest citizens
think this church stood about where the Chronicle building now stands, or probably
a few yards further south. It was a Baptist church and the first to be built
in the county.
It required no little zeal and Christian energy to prompt our early settlers
to expose themselves to great danger and hardship to come to this church, traveling
scores of miles through dense forests and jungles and over the rudest kinds
of roads, knowing that an attack of the treacherous Indians to the take their
lives was probable at any moment. But is was a gracious privilege to those sturdy
Christians to be permitted to worship God according to their own will and as
their own conscience directed, even though they did so at the peril of their
lives. They knew what it was to be deprived of that previlege by tyrannical
rules and laws, and from such oppressions they had fled to this country, and
erected Mulberry Fields Meeting House, where they might worship when and in
whatever manner they saw fit. The Holy Spirit of Almighty God must have directed
them and stayed the tomahawk and arrow in the hands of the treacherous enemy.
I admire such faith and zeal, and it is no wonder that these faithful, sturdy,
reign and tyrannts can not live. We cannot too much appreciate the perseverance
and patriotism of our ancestors who came to Wilkes to build homes and plant
civilization for us.
Early Schools
Until 1839 there were no public schools in North Carolina; and for several years
after that date the system of public schools did not reach all the people in
all sections of the State. In the early history of the county the opportunity
of obtaining an education was scant. There were only two or more private schools,
with school houses made of logs, sticks and mud, scattered about over the county.
The following account of some of our early schools is taken from the report
on Education by the State Superintendnet of Public Instruction for 1898:
"Incorporated Schools--Philomathian Academy, chartered 1804; Wilkesboro
Academy, chartered 1810, and again in 1819.
"At a very early period in this centruy there was a notable 'Grammar School'
with John Harrison as principal. It was described as 'ten miles below the court
house.' Latin and Greek were offered. The tuition was $10 for ten months, and
board could be had at $25 per year.
"The only teacher of the Wilkesboro Academy whose name I have been able
to discover is that of Rev. Peter McMillan, whose tuition was fifty percent
higher than Mr. Harrison's and the board from 75 to 100 percent higher."
"TO THUMB THE NOTCH"
Revolutionary times wore indeed trying to the settlers along the frontier. Both
Indians and Tories gave much trouble. The way in which punishment was inflictod
in those days was severe and effective. The following account of the punishment
of Shade Laws will give the reader some idea of the character of those times:"The
depredations of the Tories were so frequent and their conduct so savage that
summary punishment was demanded by the exigencies of the times. This Cleveland
inflicted without ceremony. General Lenoir relates a circumstances that ocourred
at the Mulberry Meeting House. While there an some public occasion, the rumor
that mischief was going on by the Tories. Lenoir went to his horse tied at some
distance from the house, and as he approached a man ran off from the opposite
side of the house. Lenoir hailed him but he did not stop; he pursued him and
found that he had stolen one of the stirrups off his saddle carried the pilferer
to Col. Cleveland, who ordered him to place his two thumbs in a notch for that
purpose in an arbor fork and hold them there while he ordered him to receivo
fifteen lashes. This was his peculiar manner of inflicting the law and gave
origin to the phrase "to thumb to notch." The punishment on the offender
above named was well inflicted by Captain John Beverly whose ardor did not stop
at the ordered number. After the fifteen had been given, Col. Herndon drew his
sword and struck Beverly. Captain Beverly drew also and they had a tilt which,
but for friends, would have terminated fatally."
The tree in which the notches were cut was still standing in 1850. Wheeler in
his history of North Carolina, says, "There is a tree in Wilkes county
which bears the name of "Shade Laws Oak" on which the notched thumbed
by said Laws under the sentence of Cleveland, are distinctly visible."
The tree stood about half a mile west of the Village of Moravian Falls on the
top of the hill just above the Old Shiloh church. The tree was cut down several
years ago by some one who, probably from personal reasons, wanted the tree destroyed.
The stump is still visible.
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone was not a native of Wilkes, but it was here he spent a portion
of his life, and here it was that he was trained in our forests for the life
he afterwards lived. His name is loved and cherished all over the country but
nowhere more than in Wilkes county. His history is a part of the county's and
it would be an injustice. not to give a sketch of this pioneer in this book.
The sketch following is from the pen of John H. Wheeler and is the best short
sketch of Boone I have ever seen:
Daniel Boone was born in l746 in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, near Bristol, about
twenty miles from Philadelphia. When he was but a child, his father emigrated
to North Carolina, and settled in one of the valleys of the Yadkin. Here Boone
was reared and here he married Miss Bryan.
In May, 1769, Boone informs us himself, "accompanied by John Findley, John
Stuart, Joseph Holden, James Nonay and William Cool," left his home and
quiet joys for the "dark and bloody ground" of Kentucky. Then inhabited
only by wild animals and savages. But in the boundless forests he seemed to
be in his appropriate sphere. Here he pursued the deer, buffalo and wild beasts.
After a hard day's hunt, as Boone and Stuart were returning to their camp, they
were seized by a horde of savages who made them prisoners; that night they escaped,
but what was their surprise when they came to their camp and found their comrades
were gone, either prisoners or murdered, for the camp was deserted. But the
spirit of Boone knew no despair. He called all the resources into action, husbanded
his game and ammunition, and prepared to return to North Carolina. At this time
Boone's brother, fired by the same ardor for wild excitement, came out to their
camp with one companion. This infused fresh joys and new hopes. But soon after
Stuart fell in a foray with the Indians, no persuasions could induce their companion
to remain, and he left Boone and his brother alone in the vast wilderness. They
erected a house to protect them, and supplied plentifully with game, they passed
the winter in comfort. But their ammunition and salt becoming scant, the brother
of Boone return for a supply, and Daniel Boone was left alone in the wild forests
of Kentucky. This voluntary exile was not unpleasant to his temper. In his journal
he assures us that his mind was filled with admiration of the boundless beauties
of nature. The magnificent forest was clothing itself in the rich attire of
spring, the gergeous flowers wore unfolding their glories to his eye alone,
the wild deer and buffalo were not fearful of his presence.
He continued in these solitary quarters until the 27th of July when his brother
returned loaded with ammunition and salt, to them more precious than the mines
of California. They made an expedition to the Cumberland river, naming the rivers
they passed, and making such observations as might be of future use.
In March, 1771 they returned to North Carolina. He was so charmed with the rich
soil, the bountiful productions of nature, and the abundant game that he sold
his farm on the Yadkin, and by his representation, five families and his own
set out for their return to Kentucky, on the 25th day of September, 1773. As
they passed Powell's valley then one hundred and fifty miles from the settled
parts of Virginia, forty hardy sons of the forest joined them. They pursued
their journey until the 10th day of October, when they were furiously attacked
by a large body of Indians. By their skill, unflinching courage and resoultion,
the superior force of the savages was beaten off, but Boone's party lost six
men killed and one wounded. Among the killed was Boone's oldest son, a youth
of much promise and daring.
This repulse forced them to retreat to the settlement on Clinch river. Hero
he remanod with his family until the 6th of June, l774 when the Governor of
Virginia (Dunmore) engaged him and an adventured by the name of Starer to conduct
a party of surveyors to the falls of the Ohio, near eight hundred miles; this
he performed on foot in sixty-two days. On his return Dunmore gave him the command
of the garrisons on the frontier, which he maintained during the war at this
period against the Shawnee Indians.
In March, l775, he attended at the request of Judge Richard Henderson, a council
of the Cherokees, by which they ceded their lands south of the Kentucky river.
In April he erected a fort a the spot where the town of Boonsboro now stands.
The Indians wore very much dissatisfied at the erection of this fort. After
it was finished he returned in June for his family on Clinch river. Mrs. Boone
and her daughter were the first white women that ever stood on the banks of
the Kentucky river.
In December the Indians made a funious assault on this fort by which Boone lost
one man killed and another wounded; but the Indians were repulsed with great
sluughter. This defeat was so severe that the Indians treacherously appeared
reconciled and seemed to give up all ideas of assaulting the fort or molesting
the whites. This caused the inhabitants of the fort to be less guarded, and
they made visits and excursions into the forests around. On the 14th day of
July 1776-just seven from their last attack--as three young ladies, two daughters
of Col. Caloway and the third of Col. Boone were leisurely strolling in the
woods they were pursued by the Indians and caught before they could reach the
gates of the fort. At this moment Boone was off hunting, but when he returned,
without any aid he followed alone the tracks of the Indians. He knew that if
he waited to collect a force the cunning robbers would be entirely beyond pursuit.
With a sagacicty peculiar to hunters, he followed their trai1 without the least
deviation, while the girls had the presence of mind to snap off twigs from time
to time as they passed through the shrubbery in their route. At last he came
in sight of them, and by the aid of his unerring rifle, killed two of the Indians
and recovered the young ladies, and reached the fort in safety.
The crafty foe now made open war. On the l5th of April, 1777, the united tribes
made an attack on the fort, but it was unsuccessful.
In July twenty-five men arrived from North Carolina, and in August Captain Bowman,
with one hundred men, arrived from Virginia. By this powerful reinforcement
they no longer dreaded the savages, but rallied and made attacks on the Indians
and drove them from the vicinity.
On the first of January, 1778, Col. Boone with thirty men commenced making salt
for the first time in that region at the Blue Licks, or Licking river, and he
made enough of this essential of life for a civilized inhabitants of the infant
community.
On the 7th of February as Col. Boone was hunting alone, he was surprised by
one hundred Indians and two Frenchmen. They took him prisoner. He learned then
that a famous attack was to be made by a strong force on Boonesboro. He captitulated
for the fort, knowing its weak state, as it had only twenty-seven men, the rest
had gone with salt into the settlements of Virginia.
The Indians, according to their treaty, carried their prisoners to old Chili
Cothe, the principal town of the Miami, where they arrived on the 18th of Feb.
and according to their terms, the Indians him kindly.
In March they carried Boone to Detroit to offer him for ransom to the Governor;
but on the route the Indians became so much attached to him that they refused
to part with him; and after leaving at Detroit the other prisoners, they returned
with Boone to Chili Cothe. He was adopted as one of the tribe and pretended
to be very fond of his new father and mother, and take great interest in their
sports and his plan of escape was hurried by an alarming circumstances; while
meditating upon it he was astonished to see an assemblage of four hundred warriors
at Chili Cothe. An attack on Boonesboro was planned.
On the 16th of June he escaped and reached Boonesboro on the 20th a distance
of one hundred and sixty miles, during which he ate but one meal. He found the
fort in bad condition and set all hands a repair it. The Indians, finding that
he had escaped, postponed the attack.
On the 1st of August with nineteen men, Boone set out to attack an Indian town
called Paint Creek, on the Sciota. Within four miles of the fort they met forty
Indians on their way to attack them. A desperate fight ensues, in which Boone
conquered, without the loss of a man.
On the 8th of August the largest force that they ever had appear before Boonosboro
orders it to surrender. The assailants were four hundred and forty-four Indians
and eleven Frenchmen, command by Capt. Duquesne. Boone requested a parley of
three days during which he made every preparation for an active and vigorous
defense.
On the 9th Boone informs the French commander that "he would defend the
fort as long as a man could raise a rifle."
The wily Frenchman, knowing the prowess of his oppoent, seeks to effect by stratagem
what he dares not attempt by arms. A treaty is agreed to. Boone with the required
number go forth to sign the document. He is informed, after signing, that it
was an Indian custom from time immemorial for two Indians to shake the hands
of one white man. This he reluctantly consented to, and the moment the savages
took hold of each white man they endeavored to hold him fast. Boone feels the
sinewy grasp of two athletic Indians, and his companions are betrayed into a
like perilous condition. Now arose the mighty struggle for liberty and for life.
"Now gallant Boone now hold thy own,
No Maiden arm is round thee thrown;
That desperate grasp thy frame would feel
Through bars of brass and triple steel."
Fortunate favors at this moment of peril her gallant son; the knife of of Boone
finds a bloody sheath in one of his opponents; the other is thrown down, and
Boone and his men escape to the fort.
His name can never die. The memory of this chilairic exploit, and the name of
Boone will live as long as the Kentucky river rolls its troubled tribute to
the "Great Father Waters;" and when the marble in our National Capitol,
which corimemorates this deed, shall have crumbled to its original elements.
The Indians, after an unsuccessful attack, raise the seige, after a loss of
several killed and wounded.
During the absence of Col. Boone in captivity among the Shawnees, his wife,
thinking her husband was killed, returnbd with her family to her father's on
the Yadkin North Carolina. Boone came to North Carolina after them.
He returned with them in about two years to Boonesboro, during which time many
battles had been lost and won.
As he and his brother were returning from the Salt Licks, they were attacked
by the Indians, his brother w~s killed by a shot from the Indians. Boone was
not hurt and only escaped by rapid flight, killing the dog the Indians had sent
on his trail.
Such was the life Boone led until the defeat of the Indians by Wayne (1792)
introduced peace and quiet in this dark and country.
Between this time and the time (1792) the now territory came into the Union,
Virginia had enacted so many laws, which Boone in the simplicity of his nature
had failed to comply with, or his business was done so loosely, that the very
land he had bought and paid for, in the sacrifices of himself and the blood
of his son and his brother was wrested from him. How sad a commentary upon human
nature. How mournfully true the Latin adage, "home hom mi lupus" (man
is a wolf to man). In 1798 he shoulders his rifle and goes to the wilds of Missouri.
Here was a country as wild and unclaimed as his heart desired. The republic
was that of the forest, and the rifle and the hunter; and Boone was commander-in-chief.
He never sighed for what was lost. He said Kentucky was too crowded, he wanted
more elbow-room. Here he lived until 1813, when he lost his wife; the faithful
companion of all his trials and troubles exchanged this for a brighter world.
This was the severest blow Boone received. He left Missouri and come his son,
Major Nathan Boone, where he lived, employing his leisure with his favorite
rifle and trapping beavers until 1818 when he calmly and resignedly breathed
his last, in the eighty-fourth year of his age surrounded by affection and love.
It was stated in the papers at the time of his death that he was found dead
at a stand, watching for a deer with his rifle sprung and raised ready to fire.
In the Indian idea he had gone to hunting ground of the warrior alone, where
his spirit would be happy when the stars would cease to give their light.
The Character of Boone is so peculiar that it marks the age in which he lived;
and his name has been celebrated in the verses of the immortal Byron:
OF ALL MEN
Who pass for in life and death most lucky,
Of the great names which~in our faces stare.
Is Daniel Boone, backswoodsman of Kentucky.
Crime came not near him-she is not the child
Of solitude. Health shrank not from him, for
Her home is in the rarely trodden wild.
And tall and strong and swift on foot were they,
Beyond the dwarfing city's pale abortions,
Because their thoughts had never been the prey
Of care or gain: the green woods were their portion;
No sinking spirits told them they grew gray,
No fashions made them apes of her distortions;
Simple they were, not savage; and their rifles,
Though very true, were not yet used for trifles.
Motion was their days, rest in their slumbers,
And cheerfulness the handmaid of their toils;
Nor yet too many, nor too few their numbers;
Corruption could not make their hearts her soil;
The last which stings, the splendor which encumbers,
With the tree foresters divide no spoil;
Serene, not sullen, even the solitudes
Of this unsighing people of the weeds.
Don Juan, Canto VII, LVI
In North Carolina was Boone reared. Here his youthful days were spent; and here
that bold spirit was trained, which so fearlessly encountered the perils through
which he passed in after life. His fame is a part of her property, and she has
inscribed his name on a town (Boone) in the region where his youth was spent.
I am indebted to a sketch in the National Portrait Gallery, by W.A.C., for the
leading facts and dates in the life of Boone.
It was on a farm near Holman's ford that Boone's early life was spent. There
are objects still existing in that locality which were associated with him in
his hunting expeditions and travels. There are trees standing to this day bearing
marks which indicate that at or near the spot Daniel Boone killed a bear. Boone's
Gap in the Brushy mountains, near Boomer, is so called because it was in Boone's
route across the mountain on his hunting expeditions. A short distance from
this gap, on a tributary of Warrior creek, is a beautiful water--fall which
owes its name--Boone's Falls--to this great hunter.
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KING'S MOUNTAIN
The battle of King's Mountain is very closely connected with the history of
Wilkes County. Nearly or probably mere than, half the American soldiers, engaged
in this famous battle for freedom of the American people were from Wilkes county,
as her boundary lines were at that time. Wilkes furnished three distinguished
leaders for this battle-Col. Benjamin J. Cleveland, Col. John Sevier and General
Isaac Shelby. The forces - assembled at Watauga, in Wilkes county (now in Carter
county, Tenn.) and decided to attack the British forces under Major Ferguson.
At that time the Western part of North Carolina was a strong-hold for the Tories
and many of the men in the British ranks at King's Mountain were Tories.
Following is a circular letter issued by Major Ferguson to the Tories just seven
days before the battle of King's Mountain:
Donard's Ford, Tryon Co.
Oct. 1, 1780
Gentlemen: Unless you wish to be sut up by an inundation of barbarian, who have
begun by murdering the unarmed son before the aged father, and afterwards lopped
off his arms, and who by their shocking cruelty and irregularities, give the
best proof of their cowardice and want of discip1ine; I say if you wish to be
pinioned, robbed and murdered, and to see your wives and daughters, in four
days, abused by the dregs of mankind--in short, if you wish desire to live and
bear the name of men, grasp your arms in a moment and run to camp.
The backwater men have crossed the mountains; McDowel1, Hampton, Shelby and
Cleveland are at their head, so that you will have to depend upon. If you choose
to be p--d upon for ever and ever by a set of mongrels, say so at once, and
let your women turn their backs upon you and look out for real men to protect
them.
Pat Ferguson
Maj. 71st Regiment
Ferguson was expecting an attack from the Americans and directed a letter to
Lord Cornwall at Charlotte, soliciting aid. At this time Ferguson and his divison
of the army were at Gilbert town, from place he began his march to King's Mountain.
He camped the first night at Cowpens (soon to become famous for the success
of our aims over Tarleton, Jan, 17, 1781). On the 5th of Oct. he crossed Broad
river at Deep Ferry and marched sixteen miles; on the 6th he marched up the
ridge road, until he came to a right hand fork across King's creek and through
a gap towards Yorkville, about l4 miles; and on the summit of King's Mountain
he encamped. Here he declared was "a place where God Almighty could not
drive him from."
About 3 o'clock on tha 7th of Oct. 1789, after being in the saddle for 30 hours,
without rest, and drenched by a heavy rain, the fearless Americans approached
King's Mountain.
This mountain is in Cleveland county, on the borders of North and South Carolina;
it extends East and West and on the summit is a plateau about five hundred yards
long and sixty or seventy broad. On the sumit was Ferguson posted. The Americans
divided into three wings, The right wing under the command of McDowell, Sevier,
and Winston; Campbell and Shelby commanded the center, while the left wing was
under the command of Cleveland and Williams. The plan of battle was to surround
the mountain and attack each side simultaneously. The center commenced the attack
and marched boldly up the mountain. The battle here was fierce, furious and
bloody. The center gave way, but rallied and rinferced by Campbell's regiment,
returned to the charge. Towards the latter part of the action the enemy made
a furious onset from the eastern summit and drove the Americans to the foot;
there they rallied and in close column returned to the attack and in turn drove
the enemy before them to the western end, where Cleveland and Williams had been
contending with another part of their line, Campbell now reached the summit
and poured in on the on my a deadly fire. The brave Ferguson, like a lion at
bay, turned on these new adversaries and advanced with fixed bayonet. They gave
way for the moment, and rallied under their gallant leaders to the attack. "The
whole mountain was vocered with smoke and seemed to thunder." Attacked
on all sides, the circle becoming less and less, Ferguson in a desperate move
endeavored to break through the American lines and was shot dead in the attempt.
This decided the day. The British flag was lowered, and a white flag raised
for quarters.
One hundred and fifty of the enemy, including their commander, lay dead on the
field, 810 wounded and prisoners. 1500 stands of arms and the American authority
restored, were the fruits of this victory.
This was the turning point of the fortunes of America. This decisive blow prostrated
the British power for the time, vanquished the Tory influence, and encouraged
the hopes of the patriots.
Lord Corwallis left Charlotte and fell back to Winnsboro, desiring any proximity
to such fearless men unsafe for the main army, nor did he advance until reinforced
by General Leslie with troops from north.
The total loss on the American side was 28 killed and 60 wounded.
THE SIAMESE TWINS
The ce1ebrated Siamese Twins, Chang and Eng after traveling all the world and
seeing the advantages and disadvantages of every country, chosee the quiet of
glens of Wilkes as the loveliest spot retirement and repose.
They were born in May, 1811, at Maklong, Siam, and died in Wilkes county, near
Hays postoffice, about the year 1880.
In 1829 they left their country for America, and since they have traveled over
the whole of this continent, England, France, and other countries, exciting
the admiration of the crowd, and the investigations of the scientific Sir Ashley
Cooper, of London, Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell of New York, and others, who have
reported upon this singular phenomemon in the natural world.
They were united together as one by an ensiform cartilage from the side. The
blood vessels and nerves of each communicated. There seemed to be a perfect
sympathy, for when one was sick so was the other. They went to sleep at the
same moment, and woke at the same. Both died the same day, only a few moments
intervening between their deaths.
A time or two was appointed to seperate the twins but the scientific doctors
decided that such an operation would terminate their lives.
They were wealthy, well settled, and both happily married and had interesting
families around them. They married twin sisters named Yates, late of this county.
Ex-County Commissioner, Robert Yates, who lives near Boomer is a nephew of the
wives of the Siamese Twins. Several of their descendants yet live in Surry county
and they have adopted the name Bunker as their surname. The house now owned
and occupied by Ambros Wiles was built by the Siamese Twins, and they lived
and died there.
They differed widely in appearance, character and strength. One was sober and
patient; the other intemperate and irritable. It is said that they frequently
fell out--generally about their movements- when they should or should not go
somewhere-and sometimes fought like dogs. In 1870 Chang was stricken with paralysis
from which he died a few years later. In a short time-probably about 30 minutes-Eng
followed him to the great beyond. They were the most interesting persons that
ever lived in the county. In the natural history of the world there is not another
case like them.
Return to top
THE SHOW FIGHT
Between the years of 1855 and 1860, in Wilkesboro, occurred one of the most
remarkable fights in the history of the county. Robinson's show had pitched
their tents in the vale on the north side opposite the place where the new Methodist
church now stands. The show people had a stand where they sold candy, lemenade,
etc. It was at this stand that the trouble arose. George Johnson went up to
the stand to buy seme candy; the showmen wanted to charge him about three times
the usual price in the stores at that time, when finally Johnson told him to
take the candy and go to h--l with it. This insulted the showman who in turn
insulted Johnson, who was something of a fighter he at once began to fight.
The showman's partner came to his aid armed with sticks, single trees and such
other weapons as they get their hands on. Johnson' s friends came to his aid
about as fast as the showmen to the aid of their comrade. A desperate battle
followed.
Among Johnson's friends who engaged in the fight may be mentioned the following:
Ellis Anderson, Andy Porter, "Bill" Transou, Wesley Nicolls, Peter
Johnson, Jones Transou, and others.
Such weapons were used as were most convenient and several on each side were
badly hurt, but no one killed.
Sheriff Staley was informed of the fight and he soon had the participators under
arrest and under guard. After the showmen who had engaged in the fight had been
released, a party who were absent with the horses during the fight, came up.
They were attacked by the Wilkes party, who by this time had procured sticks,
axes, and other deadly weapons, and were prepared to do some fatal execution.
The showmen told them they knew nothing of the trouble and were not concerned
with it, but the enraged citizens were not disposed to hear them. About that
time Sheriff Staley appeared on the scene and informed the citizens that the
showmen who had engaged in the fight were under under arrest; then the citizens
calmed down and another bloody fight was averted.
The showmen under arrest were marched to the court house and a preliminary trial
was held before Dr. R.F.Hackett, who was a Justice of the Peace at that time.
The trial lasted until about midnight when the whole party was bound to court.
The showmen did not want to go to jail and the jail was not sufficient to hold
them, so they were kept in the courthouse, under guard, until morning when,
after the showmen had paid him $500, Gen. James B. Gordon stood surety for their
apperarance at court, They never appeared and finally the case was dismissed
upon payment of the cost by Gordon. The cost in the amounted to about $130,
so Gordon cleared about $370 in the transaction.
After the ones engaged in the fight were arrested the the show proceeded and
a large crowd witnessed the exhibit.
JAMES HENRY SPAINHOUR - By Frank B. Hendron
James Henry Spainhour was born in Burke county in 1835 and came to Wilkes county
in 1858. New Hope Academy in Lewis Fork township, had just been completed and
was in quest of a principal. Maj. Jas. H. Foote recommended Mr. Spainhour to
the position and he was e1ected. He remained in this position until the outbreaking
of the war, when he enlisted in Company B, Capt. Stokes., which company was
attached to First Regiment N.C. Volunteers. Mr. Spainhour being a licensed minister
of the Baptist church, was appointed Chaplin of this Regiment in which capacity
he served until his death at Fredericksburg, on the 17th day of October, 1861.
It was under Prof. Spainhour's principalship, that New Hope Academy enjoyed
its brief period of ascendency among the schools of this county and had its.
career not been cut short by the war it would doubtless become one of the 1eading
instituations in the western part of the state. It was located in what was justly
considered at that time the most progressive community in the county. The Academy
was burned during the war and after that unhappy struggle still-houses took
its place and the community long suffered from their blighting influence. Recently,
however, the Acadamy has been rebuilt and the community, which contained some
of the best people in the county, is regaining some of its old time activity
and progress.
The late Maj. H. Bingham, as well as many of the leading citizens of this county,
of the older class received their education of New Hope Academy.
COL. W. H. H. COWLES
(For the loading facts in this sketch the author is indebted to Jerome Dowd1s
sketch of Col. Cowles in "Sketches of Prominent Living North Carolinians,"
and to the sketch by W. W. Barber, which in "The Wilkesboro Chronicle"
Jan. 8, 1902.)
Colonel Cowles, subject of this sketch, was born Hamptonville, Yadkin county,
April 22, l840 and spent his youth in his father's store and on his farm. He
attended the common schools and academies of his county. He was fond of outdoor
exercise and delighted in hunting.
In 1861 he volunteered as a private in a cavalry company formed by T. N. Crumpler,
but upon the organization of the company he was elected First Lieutenant. Much
caution was used in se the company; every member was strong and soldierly.
In the latter part of 1861 Col. Cowles company marched to Centerville, then
the seat of the war, where the First N. C. Cava1ry became a part of the First
Cavalry Regiment of the Confederate army, and was connected with the Armyof
Northern Virginia until the surrennder. Cowles was promoted to Major and later
to Colonel of his Regiment. His dashing bravery and courage won the admiration
of his superior officer so much that in the First Maryland raid he was put in
command of the extreme advance guard of the cavalry by stewart. On return he
was placed in command of the extreme rear guard.
At Auburn, where Col. Thomas Ruffin fell, Cowles rallied the the men and continued
the charge. At Brandy Station he led the charge that drove the 10th New York
Cavalry out of line and to the rear. Hefollowed them up for several miles toward
Kelly's Ford, capturing Maj. Forbes, Maj. Gregg's commissary and Wm. Buckly,
private correspondent though at the' end of the charge he was entirely within
the enemy's lines. In the beginning of the charge, Preston Hampton, son of Wade
Hampton, joined Cowles for a short distance but his horse was shot from under
him and when he had obtained another horse he found that his squadron had passed
ahead and that Gregg's entire column was moving down the road in the direction
that Cowles had just gone. As Hampton could not rejoin the squadron, he returned
to the Confederate lines and reported that Cowles was surely captured.
When Cowles attempted to retrace his steps he was met by a Confederate coming
at full speed with the news that a large body of Federal Cavalry were in the
road a short distance off, coming in that direction. Cowles passed with his
men and prisoners through the field and across a deep stream where there was
no ford; he crossed safely and just in time to witness the advance of General
Gregg's column at the point in the road where Cowles had left.
At the beginning on the battle Mine Run General Ewell was in need of a competent
officer to take command of the skirmish line in his front and requested General
Stuart to suggest the man. General Stuart detailed Captain Cowlos for the duty
and directed him to take in addition cavalry he would find with General Ewell
one hundred picked men, which he did, quickly joining General Early. He went
to the front and established his skirmish line and next morning met the enemy's
adv~ gallantly checking its movements every inch of the way to the Confederate
main lines, In this engagenemt he redeived his first wound by a mine ball through
the body. His wound was thought to be fata1but the following spring he rejoined
his command in time to take part in the first of that memorable campaign of
l864, and was in command of the right wing of General Gordon's forces at Brook
church near Richmond, where Gordon fell. He continued in active service until
the 31st of March, 1865, when, in leading a desperate assault on the right of
the enemy near Petersburg, and after his horse was shot leaving him on foot
and knee deep in water he was shot in the head. Those who saw him thought he
was killed and he was left unconscious to fall into the hand of the enemy. He
was taken to.the hospital where he heard the news of the surrender of Lee. It
happened that he met there an officer of his own name and probably his kinsman,
Maj. Cowles, of Federal army, who promised him the best treatment and who allowed
number of his friends to go home on parole. Colonel Cowels took the boat for
Norfolk under guard. At Norfolk he was imprisoned for a day then he left for
New Bern. He was badly treated on the vessal and he came near being thrown overboard.
At New Bern, by the aid of a friend, he managed to get across the Federal lines.
He went to Raleigh, then to Sa1isbury with Thad Coleman. They reached Third
creek in private conveyance and attempted to walk the rest of the way to Statesville,
but it was too much for men who apparently wore nearer their graves than their
homes. When within three miles of Statesville, Col. Cowles offered a farmer
$3.00 in greenback and $20.00 in Confederate money to take them to Statesville,
and aftor much persuasion prevailed upon the farmer to comply. Cowles finally
reached Wilkosboro.
At the close of the war he came home poor, and in suffering intensely from the
wounds received March 31st, 1865. As soon as health would permit ho began the
study of law under Judge Pearson, his roommate being Hon. Charles Price of Salisbury.
After obtaining license in 1868 he located in Wilkesboro and immediately entered
into a lucrative and successful law practice. This was during the dark days
of North Carolina, and he had stood by his State in time of peril and war so
in the great political battles in 1868 and 1870 he did not shrink duty or responsibility,
but entered actively into tho campaign and did good work for his party. In 1872
he was elected Reading Clerk of the State Senate. In 1874 he was elected Solicitor
of the 10th Judicial district, which office he held till 1879, and was an able
and fearless prosecuting officer.
In 1882, he was nominated by the Democrats for the Legislaure, and although
he was defeated, he made a campaign that won a great reputation for him.
In 1884 Colonel Cowles was nominated for Congress and was elected by an handsome
majority. He entered his duties as Congressman March 4, 1885, the same day President
Cleveland was first inducted into office. He was re-elected in 1886, 1888 and
1890, and voluntarily withdrew in 1892 before any county conventions were held.
He represented his district with fidelity and credit during the 8 years in Congress,
always glad to attend to any business for any of his constituents, and was noted
in Washington for his interest in and fidelity to his constituents.
As a commander he ranked among the best in the state, and during the four canvasses
he made for Congress he made many able and interesting speeches.
After his retirement from Congress he devoted himself to farming and was one
of the best farmers in the county.
Colonel Cowles was twice married, first in 1870 to Miss Cora Worth of Ashe county.
She died in 1877. By that marriage two children survive-Carrie Lizzie who married
T. B. Fineloy and Cora who married J. A. Gaither of Newton. In 1883 Col. Cowles
married Miss Lura Best of Newton, who survives him with six children.
On the 30th day of Dec. 1901, with scarcely any warning, death claimed him as
a victim. He was taken with pneumonia on Saturday and died on the following
Monday. He was buried in the Wilkesboro cemetery.
REV. GEORGE W. GREENE - By Frank B. Hendren
The subject of this sketch was born in Watauga county. He come to Wilkes and
took charge of Moravian Falls Academy upon its completion about the year of
1877, and remained there for about 15 years. Under his principalship the school
enjoyed a high degree of popularity, becoming the leading school in all this
section. Many of the officials and leading business men of the county received
their education under the tuition of Prof. Greene. It is to be doubted if any
other man ever gave a greater impetus to the educational progress of the county.
He is a ripe scholar and a man of unsullied honor. He is at present a missionary
of the Baptist church to China.
DR. TYRE YORK
Dr. Tyre York, son of Mike York, was born at Rockford, Surry county, in 1836.
He was educated in the common schools of his county. He studied medicine at
the Charleston Medical College, from which institution he is a graduate.
He was married to Eliza Crumpler, of Surry county, daughter of Thomas Crumpler
and sister of the famous T. N. Crumpler. By this union was born three children-all
girls. The oldest married Hilliary Cockerham; the next married H. F. Bryan,
and the third married Benjamin Taylor, of Alleghany county.
About 1859 Dr. York located in the Traphill section where he practiced his profession
and tended his farm. When the Civil War broke out, he being a physician, was
exempt from military service. He was very friendly to those who chose to conceal
themselves in the mountains and caves rather than enter the army, and he would
go to their dens to give them medical attention in the time of affliction. Many
a poor soul was kept out of the army by his certificates of unsound health.
Immediately after the war Dr. York sold his property at Traphill and started
for the State of Arkansas to make his future home. He and his wife and children
started on the long journey many days of weary traveling they reached the Mississippi
river. There they camped on the bank of the "Father of Waters." In
the morning after their arrival Mrs. York began washing some clothes that had
been soiled during the journey and the Doctor stated for a day's tour in Arkansas
where they intended to make their future home. In the evening the Doctor returned;
Mrs. York had finished her washing and the clothes were hanging out to dry.
The Doctor had seen enough of Arkansas and was satisfied that Wilkes was the
best place to live, and without waiting for the clothes to dry, he pulled up
his tent and started back to Wilkes.
After he returned from his Arkansas trip he purchased a farm a mile and a half
from Traphill and here he lived since, except what time he was in the Legislature
and Congress.
York has always taken a lively interest in politics, and in 1870 he was elected
to the Legislature. He was again elected to the same position in 1887. He was
elected to the State Senate in 1879 and Republican candidate for governor and
made a brilliant campaign but was defeated by Alferd L. Scales, the Democratic
candidate. In 1882 he was elected to Congress an independent. In 1896 he was
elected as Presidential Elector for the 6th NC district.
Dr. York is remarkable for his wit and he did not withhold his jokes in his
campaign speeches. He always attracted the crowd and his jokes told in his own
original and familiar way, always brought "side-splitting laughter."
Public speakers, and especially politicians often reiterate his jokes, and it
is only necessary to say that they are Doctor York's to assure closest attention.
After Dr. York was elected to Congress and was making arrangements to start
to the National capital he included among his vesture a pair of hip boots made
by a first class country boot and shoe maker. This is told to show the Doctor
in his simplicity, representing his constituents as they were.
Dr. York was the owner of a mule that was alnost as celebrated as the Doctor
himself. The mule was known as "General Jackson." York rode "General
Jackson" on his campaign tours, and they were the subjects of much comment
both among the people and in the newspaper. The newspapers sometimes had cartoons