Hamblen County, Tennessee
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

See Also Tennessee Land Records, Marriage Records, Court, Tax & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

Hamblen County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1870 and Probate Records from 1870 and is located at Courthouse, 511 W. 2nd North St, Morristown, TN 37814; Telephone:

The County Clerk maintains Marriage & Divorce records. It also has jurisdiction over probate cases. Wills, administrations, and all other records pertaining to probate are recorded in the respective county clerk's office. If the will or administration was contested, the records of these actions may be filed in the circuit court or chancery court.

Hamblen County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1870 and is located at Courthouse, 511 W. 2nd North St, Morristown, TN 37814; Telephone: (423) 586-1993.

The Register of Deeds office has land records beginning with county organization, land records are available from the register of deeds at the Hamblen county courthouse. Land and property records include transfer of real estate or personal property, mortgages, leases, surveys, and entries

Hamblen County Clerk of Circuit Court has Court Records from 1870 and is located at Courthouse, 511 W. 2nd North St, Morristown, TN 37814; Telephone: (423) 586-5640.

Circuit Court Clerks serve an important role in the operation of the court system in Tennessee. Chancery courts have jurisdiction over property disputes, and circuit courts oversee criminal cases, divorces, and adoptions. Early courts included courts of common pleas and quarter sessions.

Below is a list of online resources for Hamblen County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Hamblen County Court Records by clicking the link below:

• Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
• Hamblen County, Tennessee Court Books at Amazon.com
• Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
• Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
• Search Land Patents at Gov-Records.com
• Search Property Records at Gov-Records.com
• Index to Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912
• Tennessee Marriage and Bible Records
• Tennessee Marriages to 1825
• Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002
• Tennessee Marriages, 1851-1900

See Also Vital Records in Tennessee

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Contact the Hamblen County Clerk For County Marriage Divorce Records (See Hamblen County Court Records for Address and Phone number) in the county where Certificate was granted.

Tennessee State Vital Records, is located at Central Services Building, 1st Floor, 421 5th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee 37243; Phone (615) 741-1763, FAX (615) 741-9860. The Tennessee Office of Vital Records registers and maintains the original certificates of births, deaths, marriages and divorces that occur in Tennessee. They have the following records:

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• Birth Certificates: Records are available beginning with January 1914, for Nashville since June 1881, for Knoxville since July 1881, and for Chattanooga since January 1882. Records of some births that occurred in the major cities from 1881-1913 are also available. A certified photocopy of the original record may be obtained at a fee of $12.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time. For persons born from 1949 to the present, a certified copy produced by computer is also available at a fee of $7.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates. For Earlier Records See Tennessee State Library and Archives Below.
• Death Certificates: Death records are available for the past 50 years (1957). The fee is $7.00 per certified copy. The cause of death is not normally included on a certified copy unless specifically requested and then is available only to certain family members or legal representatives. You can download an application online for Death Certificates. For Earlier Records See Tennessee State Library and Archives Below. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
• Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage and divorce records are available for the past 50 years at a fee of $12.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time. You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificate. For Earlier Records See Tennessee State Library and Archives Below.
• Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

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Make certified checks and money orders should be made payable to "Tennessee Vital Records". Credit Cards may be uses by using VitalChek services. Please do not send cash or checks. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service. Mail all Applications to: Tennessee State Vital Records, Central Services Building, 1st Floor, 421 5th Avenue North, Nashville, TN, 37243.

Tennessee State Library and Archives have the following records:

• Birth Records & "Delayed" Birth Certificates: Tennessee began keeping birth records statewide in 1908. TSLA has statewide birth records for the years 1908-1912. To find a birth record, we need the following information: name of child, date of birth or approximate date of birth, county of birth (if known) and names of parents (if known). The larger cities in Tennessee did keep earlier birth records: Nashville (beginning in 1881); Knoxville (beginning in 1881); Chattanooga (beginning in 1879); and Memphis (beginning in 1874). Only the early Nashville birth records are indexed. For birth records after 1912 or for "delayed" birth certificates filed for persons born after 1903, contact the Office of Vital Records above.
  TSLA also has "delayed" birth certificates for persons born 1869 - 1903. These delayed certificates were filed at the request of the individual or that person's representative for legal reasons. To locate a delayed birth certificate, we need the following information: name of child, date of birth or approximate date of birth, county of birth (if known) and names of parents (if known). E-mail TSLA and they can check thier index to the "delayed" birth records for a specified name. Please specify that you are requesting a "delayed" birth certificate.
  
  There is a $20 fee to search for a birth record. If the record is found, they will mail a copy to you. If the record is not found, you will be notified by mail. The $20 fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312. [GO TO FORMS PAGE].
  
  
• Death Records: Tennessee began keeping death records statewide in 1908. TSLA has statewide death records for the years 1908-1912 and 1914-1955. To find a death record, we need the following information: name of individual, date of death (or three year range to search), county of death (if known) and name of spouse (if known). Please keep in mind that some deaths were not recorded, due to poor record-keeping by local officials. For death records from 1956 to the present, contact the Office of Vital Records above.
  The larger cities in Tennessee did keep earlier death records: Nashville (beginning in 1874); Knoxville (beginning in 1881); Chattanooga (beginning in 1872); and Memphis (beginning in 1848). Only the early Nashville and Memphis death records are indexed. TSLA can search the unindexed records for one year only; you must provide us with the name of individual, date of death, the city, and the name of the spouse (if known).
  There is a $20 fee to search for a death record. If the record is found, they will mail a copy to you. If the record is not found, you will be notified by mail. The $20 fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312. [GO TO FORMS PAGE]

Below is a list of online resources for Hamblen County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Hamblen County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

• Vital Records from Archives.com: Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
• VitalChek Express Certificate Service. - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
• Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
• Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
• Index to Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912
• Tennessee Marriage and Bible Records
• Tennessee Marriages to 1825
• Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002
• Tennessee Marriages, 1851-1900
• Hamblen County, Tennessee Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
• Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Tennessee

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Hamblen County, Tennessee are 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Hamblen County, Tennessee are Industry and Agriculture Schedules available for the years 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1880.

Below is a list of online resources for Hamblen County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Hamblen County Census Records by clicking the link below:

• Census Records at Archives.com
• Hamblen County, Tennessee Census Books at Amazon.com
• Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Tennessee and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Tennessee showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Tennessee showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here

Below is a list of online resources for Hamblen County Maps. Email us with websites containing Hamblen County Maps by clicking the link below:

• Hamblen County, Tennessee Map Books at Amazon.com
• Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.

See Also Military Records in Tennessee

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Hamblen County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Hamblen County Military Records by clicking the link below:

• Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication NARA publication M881. Compiled service records of soldiers who served in the American Army during the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783.
• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
• Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Tennessee (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from Tennessee units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier.
• Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67 from the State of Tennessee (The National Archives): NARA M1003. View, Print Copy & Save Original Applications for pardon submitted to President Andrew Johnson, 1865-67, by former Confederates excluded from earlier amnesty proclamations.
• Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Tennessee (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
• Southern Claims Commission from the State of Tennessee (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
• Hamblen County, Tennessee Military Books at Amazon.com
• Tennessee Society Daughters of the American Revolution
• Tennessee Society Sons of the Revolution
• Tennessee Civil War Regimental Histories
• Tennessee, Civil War Confederate Pension Applications Index
• Military - The men and women called to serve their country in military duty are a source of pride to their families and to their nation. Now, with databases containing more than 16 million names and thousands of government records available to search, researching your veteran ancestors has become easier than ever before.

See Also Research In Tax Records

Tennessee tax lists can be used to locate families, document historic properties and study community history. Early tax lists generally include all white males over 21 and indicate whether they owned land or slaves. They usually do not provide other personal information.

The tax lists enumerated for Hamblen County for the years: 1877, 1879-1882, 1886-1889, 1891-1895 ; are available on microfilm at the Tennessee State Library and Archives. They are generally filed with each county's records, but some early lists are in a separate collection. To order a search of the records by mail, follow this link [EMAIL]

The 1796 Constitution levied taxes on “every freeman of the age of twenty-one years and upward possessing a freehold in the county wherein he may vote, and being an inhabitant of this State, and every freeman being an inhabitant of any one county in the State six months immediately preceding the day of the election, shall be entitled to vote....”

Many early surviving tax records were published in an effort to replace the missing federal censuses. Original extant tax records are preserved in the respective county courthouse as well as in the Tennessee State Library and Archives, where a card index exists for tax records in its collection pre-dating 1835, arranged by county, date, and district.

Original tax schedules for most Tennessee counties for 1836 through 1839 are available at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

The 1891 tax lists of male inhabitant voters in each county were recently found. Available on microfilm at the Tennessee State Library and Archives, these nine reels are arranged alphabetically within each district in each county. Tax records from trustees office in counties are available on microfilm as well.

Below is a list of online resources for Hamblen County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Hamblen County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

• Hamblen County, Tennessee Tax Books at Amazon.com

See Also Other Tennessee Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Hamblen County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Hamblen County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

• Hamblen County Archives, Room 102, Courthouse, 511 W. 2nd Street, Morristown , TN 37814-1530; Phone: (423) 586-1961
• Hamblen County Genealogical & Historical Society, P.O. Box 1213, Morristown 37816
• Morristown Hamblen County Public Library, 417 West Main Street, Morristown, TN 37814 423-586-6410
  
• Tennessee State Library and Archives, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243-0312; Phone: (615) 741-2764, Fax (615) 741-6471
• Tennessee Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 3343, 9114 Davies Plantation Rd, Brunswick, TN 38014, (901) 381-1447; [EMAIL]
• Tennessee Historical Society, 300 Capital Boulevard, Nashville 37243
• Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
• Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Tennessee

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Hamblen County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Hamblen County Tombstone Transcription Project. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches and cemeteries free for viewing or download here.

Although few histories for Tennessee churches have been published, there are church records for almost every county in the state. Baptist, Presbyterian, and Methodist were the principal religions of early settlers in the state, and documents from these groups make up the largest number of records available. Other representative religions include Lutheran, Church of Christ, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and Jewish. Most early Tennessee churches only kept minutes and membership records. Church records could, however, include records of baptism, marriage, burial, membership, or removal, but it is rare to find all or several of these categories maintained by one church.

A large collection of transcripts of Tennessee cemetery records has been compiled by members of chapters of the DAR. Records collection available at the Tennessee State Library and Archives and through the FHL. The state library and archives has notebooks containing listings of cemetery records.

County genealogical and historical societies and local citizens have collected, compiled, and published numerous volumes of cemetery records.

Below is a list of online resources for Hamblen County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Hamblen County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

• Cemetery Records at Archives.com
• Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers throughout the world.
• Obituary Records at Archives.com
• America's Obituaries (1977 to current) at Genealogybank.com - Obituaries contain helpful information such as names, dates, places of birth, death, marriage and family information. Over 28 million obituaries make this the most complete collection from the 20th and 21st centuries - includes over 1,100 U.S. newspapers. New content added daily!
• Hamblen County, Tennessee Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
• Hamblen County, Tennessee Church Books at Amazon.com

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Hamblen County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Hamblen County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

• Search for Local Tennessee Researchers or Earn Money by becoming a Local Tennessee Researcher!
• Hamblen County, Tennessee Family Books at Amazon.com
• Search 60 Years Of Everton Data : For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons.
• Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
• Sites on USGenweb: [ Hamblen County ] [ Tennessee ] [ Main Page ]
• [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
• Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
• Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
• The Tennessee Family Group Sheet Project
• Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
• Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
• Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
• The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture

 

The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture © Tennessee Historical Society

The third smallest in area among the ninety-five Tennessee counties, Hamblen County is located between the Holston and the Nolichucky Rivers in a fertile, well-watered valley sheltered from the north winds by Clinch Mountain and from southern storms by the Smoky Mountains.

Hamblen County was formed in 1870 from parts of Jefferson, Grainger, and Hawkins Counties. After much controversy, the county was named for Hezekiah Hamblen, a lawyer in Hawkins County. Morristown, which was incorporated in 1855, was named county seat, but it would be four years before a county courthouse was constructed. This building, designed by architect A. C. Bruce, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Cherokees, Chickasaws, Creeks, and Shawnees roamed the East Tennessee hills and valleys in the days before settlement began in what would become Hamblen County. In 1783 Robert McFarland and Alexander Outlaw migrated from Virginia to claim land grants on the "Bend of Chucky." Gideon Morris and his brothers, Daniel and Absalom, were the next settlers, and they took land grants within the present city limits of Morristown, providing the community with its name. More settlers arrived when a road connecting the stage routes from Abingdon, Virginia, and Knoxville was constructed in 1792. William Chaney, Thomas Daggett, Richard Thomas, and John Crockett were among those who lived along the road. By 1800 several communities had been established, including Russellville, Whitesburg, Springvale, and Panther Springs.

Panther Springs boasted a store, a church, and an academy in addition to several residences. The ever-flowing spring, with its vast volume of water, continues to be an object of interest. Panther Creek State Park, encompassing two thousand acres, is located on this historic spot. Nearby Cherokee Lake, created by the Tennessee Valley Authority's Cherokee Dam, provides additional opportunities for outdoor activities.

Russellville, another early settlement, is rich in colorful history and, at one time, was larger than Morristown. The famous Boone Trace and Buffalo Trail of the Indians, running from Kentucky through Tennessee to North Carolina, passed through Russellville. Colonel James Roddye built the first home in Russellville soon after his return from the Revolutionary War battle of Kings Mountain. By the late 1850s, the town boasted a drugstore, a railroad station, a theater, and an academy.

The first industry in the county was Shields' Paper Mill, located at Marshalls Ferry on the Holston River. The mill operated from 1825 to 1861 and produced a fine paper from rags, lint, and wheat straw. Two books were printed there. Other early businesses included the Morristown Manufacturing Company and J. F. Goodson Coffee Company (maker of JFG Coffee), which now operates from Knoxville. In the first half of the twentieth century, textile mills and furniture companies dominated local industry.

A number of Hamblen County residents have made their mark on Tennessee history. Davy Crockett, the son of John Crockett, lived in Hamblen County until shortly after his marriage to Polly Finley. He later served as a member of the Tennessee State Legislature and as a representative in the U.S. Congress. His colorful personality and heroic death at the Alamo in 1836 made him a legend. DeWitt Senter served as governor of Tennessee, 1869-71. U.S. Senator Joseph Anderson lived at Lowland from 1797 to 1815 and became comptroller of the U.S. Treasury after eleven years in the Senate. Helen Topping Miller, noted author, lived at Arrow Hill until her death in 1960. Herbert Sanford Walters served in the U.S. Senate and was chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee and a member of the National Democratic Committee. Z. Buda, Mayor of Morristown, 1972-78, was noted for his efforts to keep taxes low and for his fight to prevent the construction of a regional prison in the city. He remains the largest donor to Walters State Community College (WSCC), having established several scholarships for needy students. Two residents of Hamblen County, Alvin Ward and Edward R. Talley, received the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War I.

Agriculture continues to be an important factor in the county's economy. The fertile farms produce beef, dairy products, and vegetables. Tobacco annually boosts the economy with revenues in excess of five million dollars. A two-century farm on Leeper's Ferry Road known as the Lewis and Lucinda Leeper Farm originated from a two-hundred-acre land grant of August 1780 awarded to Captain Thomas Jarnagin for services in the Revolutionary War.

Hamblen's recent economic development has been phenomenal. Two large industrial parks (East and West) house a variety of businesses. According to 1999 figures, the six largest industrial employers in the county belong either to the automotive parts industry (two companies, 2000 employees) or the furniture products industry (four companies, over 2900 employees).

Hamblen County's citizens enjoy a wide variety of social and cultural advantages. The county's school system is widely recognized for its excellence. In 1881 the Methodist Episcopal Church established Morristown College, a historic African American school. In the late twentieth century, it became a branch of Knoxville College before closing its doors. Walters State Community College, named for Herbert S. Walters, offers continuing educational opportunities to students throughout the region. Twenty-five religious denominations maintain churches in the county. Many fraternal and civic clubs, as well as a Theater Guild, offer service and recreational activities for residents. The Hamblen County Chapter, Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities, has made the reproduction of the Crockett Tavern an international attraction. Rose Center (1892), the oldest school in Morristown, was restored as a civic center and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. "Mountain Makin's," a local festival, is held there annually. The county's population was 58,128 in 2000.

The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1887

HAMBLEN COUNTY is a small county lying along the left bank of the Holston River, and divided into two almost equal parts by the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railroad. It was formed from fractions of Jefferson, Grainger and Hawkins Counties. The first settlement in this territory was made in 1783 by Robert McFarland and Alexander Outlaw, both of whom located at the "bend of Chucky". Shortly after, Gideon, Daniel and Absalom Morris settled in the vicinity of where Morristown now is. They were brothers and had been among the first settlers on the Watauga. Gideon Morris had three sons; John, Gideon and Shadrach, all of whom after marriage remained In the neighborhood of the old homestead. John lived south of the present town in a house still occupied by one of his descendants and Gideon west of town on what is now known as the Hobb's place, while Shadrach, who subsequently removed to Indiana, located on the site of Rheatown. In 1792-93 a road was laid out through what is now Hamblen County, and extended to the western limits of Jefferson County, where it was met by the road from Knoxville. This road afterward formed the line between the counties of Jefferson and Grainger, and became a section of the great stage route from Knoxville to Abingdon, VA. It was along this road that most of the early settlers located. Beginning at Morristown and going eastward was William Chaney, who lived on the lot now occupied by Joseph Brown's residence; Thomas Daggett, a little less than a mile beyond, and Phelps Read, about two miles east Morristown. In the neighborhood of Read were John Crockett, Richard Thompson and Isaac Martin. Still farther to the east were Isaac Barton, Joseph Shannon and James McGhee. In the vicinity of Russellville and Whitesburg were Samuel Riggs, James Roddye, Caleb Witt, William Pulliam, William B. Roddye and Jesse Hoskins. Daniel Taylor located on the Holston River at Marshall’s Ferry. Sherrod Mayes and James Shields also lived on the Holston. John Evans was one of the first to locate on Panther Creek. Jesse Cheek settled at what is known as Cheek's Cross Roads, where he carried on a store for many years. A store was also opened there some time prior to 1810 by Deaderick & Wendell. About 1835 P. B. Anderson and James W. Deaderick, ex-chief Justice of Tennessee, and G. A. & G. H. Cheek were engaged in business at the same place during the thirties. An early settler just southwest of Morristown was Clisbie Riggs, who ran a still-house, while about three miles northwest were the Noes, David and John.

Of the pioneers of the county, the one in whom the greatest interest centers is David Crockett, the son of John Crockett, but as a sketch of his life appears in another chapter of this work it will not be repeated here. When a lad he came to the county with his father's family, and remained until two or three years after his marriage. The records of Jefferson County show that on October 21, 1805, he was licensed to wed Margaret Elder, and that on August 12, 1806, he received a license to marry Polly Findlay. The first named lady, for reasons not now known, refused to proceed with the marriage after all of the preliminaries had been arranged. Polly Findlay was the daughter of a respectable farmer residing In the vicinity of what has since been known as Findlay's Gap.

James and William Roddye, mentioned above, were both prominent citizens. The former was a member of the convention which formed the constitution of the State of Franklin, and after the fall of the Franklin government, was a representative to the Legislature of North Carolina. Upon the organization of Jefferson County he was elected register, and in 1797 became a member of the State Senate. William Roddye was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1796 from Jefferson County.

Caleb Witt and Isaac Barton were among the earliest of the pioneer Baptist preachers of East Tennessee. Some time prior to 1794 they organized Bent Creek Church, near Whitesburg. In that year it had a membership of fifty-one, and was represented in the Holston Association by James Roddye, Isaac Barton and Caleb Witt. In 1804 the church known as Bethel South, now the Morristown Baptist Church, was organized by Isaac Barton. The first Methodist Church in the county was probably organized at "Read's Meeting-House," near Phelps Read's. About 1815 a campground called Sulphur Spring was established four miles south of Morristown. Among the original campers were Solomon Wyatt, Francis Daniel, Sherrod Mayes, Benjamin McCarty and Joseph Daniel, with their families. In 1825 a Methodist Church was built at Russellville, which was then just beginning to assume the importance of a village. Among the members were Clisbie Austin, Paul Potter, Henry Stewart, William Pulliam, Jacob Frizzle, Hugh Cain and John Miller. A log house was at first erected, and was used until a short time prior to the civil war, when it was replaced by a brick. In 1832 the Presbyterians organized a church known as Bethesda, a short distance west of Russellville.

For several years Russellville remained the only village in the territory now embraced in Hamblen County. Sometime about 1830 a paper-mill, of extensive proportions for that day, was put into operation by Samuel and Milton Shields, about three miles north-east of Morristown. It, with a store or two, was carried on there for several years.

About 1820 Martin Stubblefield, one of the early settlers of Grainger County, near the old County Line Church, removed to Morristown and built a house near where the depot now is and where he continued to reside until his death. He had several daughters, one of whom married Henry Countz, and another, William Chaney, Jr. Although from the first settlement of the county, the neighborhood was known as Morristown, it was not until 1833 that a post office was established there. At the same time a store was opened by John M. Coffin in the house now occupied by A. H. Gregg as a residence. At a little later date Jehu Morris began business on the opposite side of the street in a building standing upon the lot where D. Pence & Co's. store now is. These merchants were succeeded by Drury Morris & Co., and Read & Noe, afterward Cocke, Read & Co. During the decade preceding the civil war the village developed into a town, and was incorporated. Its growth was greatly promoted by the building of the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad, which was chartered in 1852 and completed In 1858, the last spike having been driven on May 14 of that year. In 1856 or 1857 the construction of the Cincinnati, Cumberland Gap & Charleston Railroad was begun, but no part of it was completed until 1867.

Among the merchants of Morristown from 1855 to 1862, besides these mentioned were J. M. Mims, J. W. Nicodemus, M. Carriger & Bros., Sawyers & Jackson, and J. W. Clyne. During this period a large steam flouring-mill was erected by a stock company composed of several of the leading business men. A steam saw mill and a machine shop were also put into operation.

In 1857 a newspaper, the American Statesman, published by F. M. Wylie and H.C. Craig, was removed to Morristown from Dandridge. They continued its publication about one year. Mr. Wylie then procured the services of Rev. W. C. Graves, as the editor of a paper known as the Religious Intelligencer; it was devoted mainly to religious subjects, but contained a secular department. The first number appeared April 16,1858. Soon after Mr. Wylie was succeeded by W. E. M. Neal and J, De M. Roberts, as publishers, but no change was made in the editorial management. In the early part of 1861 the name was changed to the Holston Intelligencer, and so continued until its suspension the following June. The first school of importance in Morristown was opened about 1850 in the building now occupied by the girl's high school. Among the first teachers were S.D. Miles, John Portrum, Prof. Hodges and John N. Southern.

Since the close of the war Morristown has grown steadily In population and wealth. During the past two or three years the growth has been remarkably rapid, the population having very nearly doubled in that time. The first firms to resume business after the close of hostilities in 1865 were Waggoner & Bewley and Capt. James A.' Bird. Among others who succeeded were P. Smith & Co., W. T. Gill, Brown & Noe and Morris, Kidwell & Co The mercantile interests of the present time are represented by G. B. McCrary & Co., J. N. Hilt & Co., D. Pence & Co., Marsh, McCord & Co., Brown & Stubblefield, Goodson & Legg, Van Hess & Bro., Craig Holley & Craig and S. B. McCrary, general merchandise; W. M. Wilmeth, Allen Davis & Co., C. C. Johnson & Sons, Henry Sanders and W. W. Williams, groceries; Carriger, Roberts & Co. and J. S. Davis, drugs; G E. Spence, hardware; W. T. Rippetoe and A. M. Sanders, stoves and tinware; A. H. Gregg, agricultural implements, and J. N. Shipley saddle and harness.

The manufactories consist of a large steam flouring mill with a capacity of 100 barrels per day, owned and run by G. B. McCrary and R. L. Gaut; a sash, door and blind factory, operated by H. Loop, and a carriage factory conducted by H. L. Witt. A stove foundry is in the process of erection (?) stock company. The town also contains two banks. Lookout Bank, with a capital stock of $50,000, was organized on May 4, 1874, with G. T. Magee as president and John Murphey, cashier. The present president is Judge James G. Rose. In 1885 the First National Bank of Morristown was organized, with a capital stock of $50,000. It is one of the best banking institutions in East Tennessee, being ably and carefully managed. The officers are Maj. G. W. Folsom, president, and G. S. Crouch. cashier.

The first newspaper published at Morristown after the war, was the Morristown Gazette, established by W. W. Neal in 1866. In October of the following year he sold It to L. P. & G. E. Speck, who continued its publication until September, 1873, when it was purchased by the present editor and proprietor, John E. Helms. It is ably edited, and ranks among the best weekly papers In the State. In 1883, the Tennessee Pilot, a Republican paper, was established by C. H. Darlington, who has since successfully continued its publication. On January 11, 1887, the first number of the Semi-weekly Democrat appeared. It is edited and published by -----Jones and -----Hill, and is constantly growing in popularity. Several other papers, among which were the Baptist Reflector and the Holston Methodist have been published at Morristown, but none have continued but for a short time.

The oldest church organization in Morristown is the Baptist, it being a successor of the old Bethel South. The new house of worship was erected in 1868, the prime movers in the work being Drury Morris and Curtis Eames. In 1860 the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South began the erection of their present church, which, however, was not completed until after the close of the war. In 1870 the Presbyterians erected a large and commodious brick church. This was accomplished largely through the efforts of Rev. W. H. Smith, who has since remained the honored pastor of the church. Recently the members of the Lutheran and of the Methodist Episcopal Church edifices have each erected a commodious church edifice.

The act creating a new county to be named Hamblen in honor of Hezekiah Hamblen, of Hawkins County, was passed May 31, 1870, and William Courtney, W. S. Reese, W. C. Witt, and James C. Davis, of Jefferson County, and John C. Tate, C. J. Burnett and Rufus E. Rice of Grainger County, were appointed to organize the county. At the regular election in August, the county officers were elected, and on the 3d of October, 1870, the county court was organized in an old store house in Morristown. The justices present were Samuel P. Hixon, L. D. Milligan, L. F. Leiper, C. L. Gregory, George McFarland, R. M. Hamblen, A. J. Donelson, Alexander Williams, Jonathan Noe, G. W. Carmichael, C. J. Burnett, D. S. Noe, R. P. Sharp, William Felknor, S. M. Heath, James Hale, William B. Ninnie, S. J. Couch, I. P. Haun and Samuel Smith. L. F. Leiper was chosen chairman. No county buildings were erected until 1874, when a handsome and substantial brick courthouse was built at a cost of $21,750. The commissioners appointed to superintend its erection were R. M. Barton, J. C. Tate, J. C. Hodges, John Murphey and Joseph Eckle. In 1877 a jail was completed at a cost of about $3,000, and in 1886 a farm of over 100 acres, located In the Fifth Civil District, was purchased for a poor-asylum, but, notwithstanding these heavy expenditures, the county is entirely free from debt.

The officers of the county since Its organization have been as follows:

Clerks of the county court-James Leftwich, 1870-72; D. W. C. Davis, 1872-78; H. Williams, 1878.

Clerks of the circuit court-T. C. Cain, 1870-78; George S. Crouch, 1878-86; Leon B. Smith, 1886-.

Sherriffs-G. H. Boyd, 1870-76; George Livingston, 1876-78; Harvey L, ------1878-80; W. H. Mays, 1880-86; J. F. Hays, 1886-.

Trustees-Joseph Brown, 1870-72; D. M. P. Newell, 1872-73; J. E. Thompson, 1873-86; John H. Trent, 1886-.

Registers-L. B. Smith, 1870-74 P. T. Moser, 1874-76; S. B. Noe, 1876-78; W. H. Parker, 1878-82; John W. Morgan, 1882-86; C. H. Robertson. 1886.

• 1880 Census, Hamblen County, Tennessee (Sistler, 1993)
• Bent Creek Cemetery Inscriptions (Lane, 1970)
• Bethesda Cemetery (1985)
• Cemeteries of Hamblen County, Tennessee [3 vols.] (Hamblen County Genealogical Society, 1989-)
• Cheek's Cross Roads, Tennessee, Store Journal 1802-1807 (Blomquist, 2001)
• Cherokee Reservoir Grave Removals by T.V.A. (Douthat, 2003)
• Hamblen County, Tennessee Marriage Books 1-5, 1870-1888 (Douthat, 1984)
• Hamblen County Tennessee Marriage Records vol. I 1870-1873 (WPA, 1938)
• Hamblen County Tennessee Marriage Records vol. 2 1873-1876 [and vol. 3 1877-1882] (WPA, 193?)
• Hamblen County Tennessee Tombstone Records (WPA, 1938)
• Hamblen County, Tennessee, Vital Statistics, 1914 Through 1925 (Wiefering, 1993)
• Minutes of Cincinnati, Cumberland Gap & Charleston Railroad, 1854-1860 (WPA, 1938)
• Records of Hamblen County Tennessee : Record Books A, B, & C Westminister & St. Paul's Prebysterian [sic] Churches 1818-1875 (WPA, 1937)
• Tennessee Records of Hamblen County : Bent Creek Church Minutes, 1785-1844 (WPA, 1938)
• Tennessee, Records of Hamblen County : Bible & Family Records (WPA, 1938)
• Tennessee Records of Hamblen County : Diary of Kate Livingston, 1859-1868 (WPA, 1938)
• Tombstone Inscriptions from Bent Creek Cemetery (established 1810) Whitesburg (Hamblen County) Tennessee (Lane, 1960)