History of Sullivan County Tennessee United States of America

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Sullivan County, the second county formed in Tennessee, was created by the State of North Carolina in 1779, after a survey had shown that it was in this state and not in Virginia as had theretofore been thought. It was named for Gen. John Sullivan. With the exception of a small strip, Sullivan County was not, therefore, a part of Washington District when this district was created, but at that time was claimed by Virginia and was recognized as a part of that state.

Among the early settlers were John Rhea, Gen. Geo. Rutledge, who commanded a company at King's Mountain, Gen. Geo. Maxwell, Col. David Looney and Richard Netherland, the Kings, Thomases, Dulaneys, Delaneys, Rutledges, Massengills, Snodgrasses, Snapps, Taylors, Senekers, Coxes, Bachmans, Bushongs, Andersons, Easeys, Cowans, Pyles, Bookers, Akards, Odells, Fains, Gaineses, Rollers, and Crosses.

The claim is made by the people of Sullivan that the first permanent settlements in what is now Tennessee were made by John and Thomas Sharpe in 1765, who located in the Holston Valley and soon thereafter Joseph Martin, who had been with Dr. Thomas Walker on his early pathfinding expedition, made his home near Kingsport, and that Thomas Henderson, John Womack, and the father of David Crockett came soon afterward.

In 1771, Evan and Isaac Shelby came, built a fort and opened a general store where the City of Bristol now stands, partly in Virginia, partly in Tennessee.

Near the present site of Kingsport was Fort Patrick Henry, named, of course, for the American patriot and orator, who was governor of Virginia at the time. From this fort John Donelson and his fellow argonauts sailed on their long and perilous journey down the Tennessee on December 22, 1779. Near here, too, was fought the Battle of Island Flats, on July 20, 1776, against the Cherokee Indians under Chief Dragging Canoe, in which the Indians were routed with severe loss. In this battle distinction was won by Capt. James Shelby, Lieut. Robt. Davis, Robert Edmiston, John Morrison and Isaac Shelby. The last named, a volunteer, without authority gave an order which was obeyed, and was the means of gaining the victory.

Early educational institutions were King's College at Bristol; Jefferson Academy and the Masonic Institute at Blountville. Dr. J. D. Tadlock was for many years the learned and beloved president of King's College. Among other leading educators may be mentioned: George Wilhelm, Archimedes Davis, J. H. Catron, Dr. A. J. Brown, Rev. T. F. Summers, Rev. John King, Rev. W. B. Gale, J. H. Seneker, Wm. Daily, and James Snapp.

Among the brilliant legal lights should be given the following: Wm. Blount, Wm. Cocke, John Netherland, Matt Haynes, Wm. Deaderick, C. J. St. John, and John Fain.

Statistics of Sullivan County: Population, 1920, 36,259. Assessed valuation of taxable property, 1921, $25,577,079. Area, 410 square miles. Number of farms, 3,314. Railway mileage, 51. Drained by the Holston river and the head waters of the Tennessee river. Fine forests of timber. Soil is fertile. Fine deposits of iron ore, and limestone. Staple products are fruits, wheat, corn, oats, grasses, live stock, poultry, eggs and butter. Blountville, the county seat, is nine miles southwest of Bristol and has a population of about 400, and it has good schools and churches, bank and flourishing business establishments. Bristol is in the center of a territory rich in mineral deposits. The Tennessee section of the city has a population of 8,047 and is 131 miles from Knoxville. It is an up-to-date city with all modern conveniences. Five railroads enter the city, including the Southern, and the Norfolk & Western. Bristol has large lumber interests, a large tannery, and a large number of manufacturing establishments. A large iron furnace is located here. The city has daily and weekly newspapers, fine schools and churches, and good hotels and mercantile establishments. Kingsport, with a population of 5,692, is a new industrial town in Sullivan County. It is only a few years old, and before and during the World war it employed several thousand in the various industries, which include a dye plant, cement plant, brick making plant, a printing plant, and several other industries. During the war some of the plants were used in the manufacture of munitions. Some of the plants are now closed down. Scholastic population of county, 11,463; high schools, 6; elementary schools, 77.

From: Moore, John Trotwood. Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923. Vol. 1. Chicago, IL, USA: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1923.

History of Sullivan County Tennessee

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