Hamblen County was formed in 1870 from parts of Graingier, Greene and Jefferson Counties. After much controversy, the county was named in honor of Hezekiah Hamblen (1775-1854), early settler, landowner, attorney and member of the Hawkins County circuit and county courts for many years. 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.
Newspapers were published in Morristown and Whitesburg. Scattered early issues are available from 1881, and a complete run begins in 1966. See Extended History for More information.
PLEASE READ!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact 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:
(423) 586-9112 . 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 hasLand 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.
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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:
Tennessee Immigration & Emigration Records - Immigration records help the family historian to understand the movements of their ancestry as they relocated to different parts of the world.
Click Here to Search Tennessee Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.
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:
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. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE. 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. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE. 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. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE. For Earlier Records See Tennessee
State Library and Archives Below.
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 theOffice 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:
Click Here to Search Tennessee Voter Lists & Census Records! - 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 availible 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:
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:
Click Here to Search Tennessee Military Records! - 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. A list of Wars fought on American.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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
Tennessee Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
Click Here to Search Tennessee Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. 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.
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. .
As with cemetery records, the DAR has collected church records
for Tennessee, available at the DAR Library in Washington, D.C.,
and through the FHL.
Many compilations of church records have been compiled and/or
published for the state. The Tennessee
State Library and Archives has records of over one hundred churches that pre-date 1900.
There is a online Tennessee Marriage and Bible Records which contains over 25,000 records for the state of Tennessee for the years approximately 1720-1890. This includes marriages, births, deaths, and wills, etc., has been obtained from family bibles, church, court, and county records.
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:
Click Here to Search Tennessee Family Tree Records! - 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:
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.
Tennessee Family & Local History Records - The Family & Local Histories Collection lets you read journals, memoirs, and other first-hand historical narratives right on your computer. Gathered from some of the world's finest libraries, these materials may provide hard-to-find town, county, and state information; tax records and wills; military, church, and court records; as well as photographs, stories, and maps.
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.
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