Published by The History Press
Charleston, SC
www.historypress.net
Copyright 2016 by Shane S. Simmons
All rights reserved
First published 2016
e-book edition 2016
ISBN 978.1.43965.731.7
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016934537
print edition ISBN 978.1.46713.638.9
Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
To Kealey, Sean and Will with all my love.
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I learned during this endeavor that writing a book is by no means a solo project; it cant happen without the support, sacrifice and patience of many other people. I could write a whole chapter about all the ways in which my wonderful wife, Kealey Bundren Simmons, has helped support my writing. I cant say a big enough thank-you to her for the help and understanding she gave in making this book happen.
I also want to thank my children, Sean and Will (Joey) Simmons, for being my constant motivation and inspiration to keep pushing through to the finish. They were drafted into making some of the investigative trips with me with little complaint (provided there was sufficient Wi-Fi reception).
I would be remiss to not acknowledge the contribution of my wifes pet dog, Runner, who was my constant (though not always welcome) sidekick throughout the processshould technology advance to the point where dogs can read, she will be very appreciative of the mention.
I also want to thank my parents, Bill and Linda Simmons, and brothers, Billy and Ben, for helping to spark my interest in history as a child. Memories of growing up in the small community of Doran, just outside Richlands, planted the seed of appreciation for roots and the importance of documenting the disappearing Appalachian culture in which I was raised.
I want to use this opportunity to show appreciation to my brother in Appalachian history, Jason Barton. The encouragement, feedback and response from supporters of The Appalachian Project (TAP) have really inspired this effort. Your interest in learning more about our culture and heritage has been a major motivator in undertaking this challenge.
I also want to say a big thank-you to some people who probably have no idea how much they helped to make this book possible. First, I want to thank Travis Lowe for his sound advice of not overthinking and trying too hard to be perfectdont make excuses and procrastinate; just do it. I also want to thank Rena McCoy OQuinn for giving me the recipe to make it happen with a manageable plan to pace myselfa small gesture that was a big help, as it gave me me a workable plan of action. Finally, I want to thank Amy Pennington Brudnicki for giving sound feedback, encouragement and advice on my writing efforts. As is always the case, I know I am overlooking some people who have contributed to this book. I hope you will know it is an oversight of the head and not the heart.
INTRODUCTION
East Tennessee is chock full of legends and folklore, dating back centuries to the days when Native Americans roamed the area. Many of these tales, traditions and customs from the Native Americans have fused with the heavy Scotch-Irish influence of the early white settlers to form a most unique history. The writing of this book was a massive undertaking, as there are mounds of information about the area and it is quite difficult to narrow it all down to do the stories justice. Most of the stories have been handed down for generations, as many families in the area go back for centuries.
Storytelling is a very popular pastime in East Tennessee, as evidenced by the wildly popular International Storytelling Center and its annual National Storytelling Festival, held the first weekend of every October, which routinely draws a crowd in excess of ten thousand people to the town of Jonesborough. Much of the storytelling talent developed from the rural nature of life in the mountains, where other entertainment isnt readily available. Storytelling and music became staples of entertainment at parties and family get-togethers, where a roaring good yarn could suck in the attention of the entire crowd. Many of the tall tales and legends were told in this manner, which is why there have been more than a few embellishments added to the stories. The old adage dont let the truth get in the way of a good story is very applicable in this case.
In researching this book, I was surprised how many of the tales and legends were at least partially based on the truth. Battles between settlers and Native Americans, frontier exploration, tragic accidents and curiosities of nature have combined to make the mountains of East Tennessee fertile ground for legends and lore. I attempted to pick the best of these stories from the various counties in the area for this booka difficult chore indeed. Like what seems to always happen with a greatest hits album by your favorite musician, I am sure that some folks will like one of the best stories that isnt included here.
My hope is not to have included each and every great legend from the area, as that would be quite impossible in one volume, but to have included stories that will spark curiosity in others to learn more about the area I now call home. I went into writing this book thinking that I was familiar with pretty much every story worth knowing about East Tennessee; however, once I finished the book, I realized how truly little I knew beforehand. I come away with an even deeper respect for the history and people of East Tennessee than I already possessed.
It was also a great revelation to discover how many museums, libraries and landmarks still exist to visit in person to soak up some of the rich history. I would encourage anyone to blaze his or her own trail in search of history, as most of the sites are very affordable and many are free. I hope this book will show that the stories, legends and lore of East Tennessee are well worth retelling to future generations.
PART I
LEGENDARY PEOPLE OF EAST TENNESSEE
DAVY CROCKETT
There are legends and then theres Davy Crockett, a frontier folk hero with a rsum so extensive it would be difficult to fit into a series of books. Crocketts life was cut short at the relatively young age of forty-nine before he could add even more chapters to his already impressive life story. One of the reasons Davy Crockett is so well remembered is due to his own talent as a storyteller, as he could spin a captivating tale of his exploits that left listeners spellbound and in awe of his experiences. He also participated in writing multiple autobiographies of his life, with accompanying embellishments of his many frontier exploits. Crockett once wrote that he had killed 105 bears during a single hunting season, which is just one example of some of the questionable claims in his writings. He doubtlessly led a fascinating, action-filled life, and hed likely have been the first person to tell you so. Several popular quotes have been attributed to him that have added to his lore:
