COCKE COUNTY ORIGINS

ORIGINS

Newport Times

Jan. 10, 1940

John Weaver

Santa Rosa, Texas

COSBY CREEK was named for a man named Cosby, who lived there in the early settlement of than county.

ENGLISH CREEK and English Mountain also got their names from a family by the name of English.

DEL RIO was named by Dr. Frank Robinson who lived there at the time and practiced medicine in that community. A few years after we came to Texas, the MP R.R. gavea an excursion trip to the owners of the short line R.R. to Mexico City. On the return trip the re-entered the U.S. at Brownsville, Tx and spent the night. Knowing - - - sitting in the lobby of the El Ardeen hotel Doctor Robinson told us that in his early life he came to Texas and lived for awhile at Del Rio. - - He suggested the name Del Rio and it was accepted. The name, formerly Big Creek, means of the river.

NOUGH was names for the Goodnough family.

RANKIN was named for Dr. Rankin, who lived there on the hill where Dr. Roadman used to live.

WILSONVILLE was named for Mr. Wilson who kept the inn. It later became the William Fine house, which is still standin there on the old road

INDIAN CAMP CREEK was named because it was the section where the Indians camped and made raids on the early settlers in Cocke Co. an on Pigeon River. My mother told me that when she was a girl, an old lady they called 'Granny Wilhite' told her about being in the Whitson Fort when two boys were killed by the Indians. The Whitson Fort was at the upper McNabb place on Pigeon River, now owned by Walter Cureton. The boys, named O'Dell, had gone across the river to find their cows and were killed and scalped. Their bodies were found there where there is a house at the foot of the hill. Doctor Ramsey, in his annals about Tn tells about these boys being killed. My mother related another story told her by 'Granny'. One night when they were in the fort, the cows that grazed up the river in the section where Denton now is, failed to come in. After is was dark a little while, they heard a cowbell coming down the river, ging-a-ling, ging-a-ling. One of the men got his gun and slipped out and went around and got above the bell that had stopped at the milkin place. They heard a gun fire. The next morning there was a dead Indian there where the concrete springe now is across from the old home place.

BYBEE got its name from the Bybee family.

HARTFORD was names after John Hart, of Parkersburg, W. Va., who was one of the owners of the T&NC railroad in 1901.

The correct name of the voting place is 'INMAN'. The Redwine family lived in that community.

INDIAN CREEK

J.L. Shults

While I was born and raised within a stones throw of the mouth of Indian Camp creek, I never heard tell why it was so named. Just S.E. of the mouth of this creek is a 12-15 acre field that my father owned before the Civil War and it still belongs to the farm.

At the beginning of the war this was covered with timber. The men of this section, who did not go to war, wanted to use the high plateau as a home guard camp. My father was old and objected for fear the secessionists would blame and abuse him because of its use, but they used it anyway. - - It was dotted with stumps and was an excellent view to the lower Cosby section. The Indians apparentyl used this plateau as a camping ground, as my older brother and I would hunt flint that had been worked. Many of the black flints were carved in the shape of spears that they used for arrows. This was a little unhandy to water, yet water could be had by going to the foot of the hill.

CORRECTON

R.H. Jones

Malta, Montana

I see just one mistake in Mr. O'Neils account. He puts C.T. Peterson as a Massachusetts Yankee. He was a straight-out Green Mountain Blue-Bellied Yank from Vermont.--Oscar says he went to Newport in 1876. I landed there in 1869, seven years before him. Knew all the Gormans - Dave, Capt. Tom and many others. Oscar is two years older than myself. If I live to see Jan. 15, 1940, I will be 78.

Perhaps O'Neil and Mr. Jones are right. It seems C.T. Peterson and wife came here from Mass., but he may have originated in Vermont.

SAINT TIDE

Our old friend, C.F. Hughs, dropped in and jokingly remarked that we should not forget about St. Tide. That is the name of the hollow that Charley lives in. He says it was named for Tide Holt, who was a noted local church worker, who lived and died there some 50 years ago. Some local wag called the old man 'Saint Tide' on account of his relegious activities. His old church, which bore his name, was used for a school house before it was torn away. It was known as Possum College. We hope Charley is not playing a joke on us.

Editor

Jan. 17, 1940

H.H. Gouchenour

- - - 'BRIAR THICKET' was given by John Lovell who ran a retail store in Bybee. A revenue officer by the name of George Larkin, in 1885, had warrats for some people who lived in that section. When he approached John for information as to where they lived he replied, 'If there is anybody doing that kind of business down here, you will most likely find them in Briar Thicket".

Now as to Ravens Branch: Chief Raven, not Black or Red, was known to be a cruel blood-thirsty Indian, dreaded by early settlers, and warned to be very careful when they approached Ravens Creek. - - - -

The origin of Reidville: This place got its name from David Reid, who came to Newport in 1875, the same year his mother moved from the old Roadman place. - - -

Jan. 31, 1940

Edmund C. Burnett

BIG CREEK - - It was all in the month of Dec., 1865 that I took up my residence by the creek called Big, precisely perninst where the two creeks of the name unite their waters, and about one-quarter mile distant that later would become a railroad station. Since this is just amongst ourselves, I don;t mind telling you that I approximately thirteen months old. --- The nearest post office was Parrottsville. The earliest letter in my posession in which Big Creek is used as an address is dated May 20, 1870, written to my mother by D.M. Hugg of Camden Point, Missouri. I think she was the wife of 'Uncle Bob' Huff. The next letter is dated August 1, 1870 and is from my father to Dr. E.A. Mc Garity, his brother-in-law at Cuthbert, Georgia. -----

The late [and often late] William Franks sometimes called 'Old Bill' told me he had seen a deed in which the French Broad river had been called 'John French's Broad River'

Newport Times

Jan. 20, 1940

COSBY

Two versions of its name have been found to exist in the minds of our people. One is that it was named for Dr. James Cozby, one of the most daring and fearless Indian fighters of his day and probably one of the only doctors who visited this section. He lived between our town and Knoxville. He is said to have been a most exceptional man, highly intelligent, quick-spoken and fleet of foot. He was a bosom friend of John Sevier, who often worshipped with him at his home in Sevier Co. Cozby, more than any other, was responsible for the release of John Sevier from the treason trial to which he was subjected at Morganton, N.C. He seemed always to know what to do and had the courage of his convictions. The story of how he saved his family from death by the indians is a thrilling one.

Ruth W. O'Dell

Cosby Creek got its name from Colonel Cosby, a Revolutionary colonel, who claimed government land and settled wher the Allens settled.

J.W.D. Stokely

[Very well now, where does Mr. Stokely get his authority and where does Mrs. O'Dell get hers? They do not quite agree. --- Editor.

Nough

Charles Goodnough owned a mill at Slabtown. Government officials were seeking a name for a post office at that place, and it was named in honor of him, by leaving off the first syllable, Good. Mr. Goodnough's parents and others had located in the Big Creek section and were engaged in the sawmill business.

J.W.D. Stokely

Nough got its name by accident by what is known as cacography. It was to have been names for Charles Goodnough but the scribe writing the name wrote it in two words instead of one.

Ruth W. O'Dell

Last week in your paper, I noticed questions as to how different places got their names, among them Nough.

I can tell you how Nough is Nough. Brad Stokely came to Slabtown not so long after my father bought the old mill and moved there. Brad opened a store there and, as the place grew, they asked for a post office.

The request was granted. They sent in a list of names. All were turned down, because there were other post offices in the state of the same name. On second request, my father sent in our family name. He split the name into Good and Nough, and out of the ten names suggested, Nough was selected

Slade Goodnough

DEL RIO

Del Rio was originally called Big Creek, but because of so many other Big Creeks, and particularly, Big Creek in Haywood Co., N.C., Swan Burnett and other government officials named it Del Rio, which means River Bank

J.W.D. Stokely

Del Rio is the Spanish for 'by the river'. This villiage was fire know as Big Creek, but when the railroad came through, there was so much confussion with shipments due to Big Creek, N.C., the railroad officials asked the citizens to suggest a name they would like for the station. The name was suggested by Frank P. Robinson, then a clerk at the Swan L. Burnett store.

Ruth W. O'Dell

BYBEE

Bybee was long known as Lickskillet, but when the Federal government decided to place it on the map with a post office, Milton Bybee, the father of a very fine family, none of whom live in Cocke Co. at present. Most of them have died. They were W.W., Walter, James, Milton and Lena

Ruth W. O'Dell

Bybee was originally Lickskillet and was named for the father of William Bybee, a resident of Newport and the first person buried in Union Cemetery. He was a saddle maker and at one time represented Cocke Co. in the Legislature. His brothers were Tip and D.O.

J.W.D. Stokely

Well, well, these amatiur historians did get balled up on Bybee - - right on the main point but badly confused as to details.

Correct - the name came from the Bibee family. The post office authorities gave it the wrong spelling.

No - it was not named for Milton Bibee, nor was he the father of all the folks above named. The editor has some personal knowledge of the family and has asked Squire O'Neil and others for facts.

There were three brothers; Tip, William W., and D.O. William W. was the father of Milton, Walter, James and Lena Bibee. Wm W. did not go to the legislature. He ran on the Republican ticket in 1885 and was defeated by W.J. McSween.

Tip Bibee lived at Lickskillet and it is our understandin that the post office was named for him. We have not seen anybody who knows the family any further back than these three brothers. Old Man Beaver might as he is the oldest man we know in that county.

RAVENS BRANCH

Ravens Branch was so named because of a great tragedy that one occured in the gap of the mountain later know as Ravens Mountain, which gap is between Chestnut and Ravens Mountain. Black Raven, and Indian brave, was killed there and his body was buried in, or near, the headwaters of Ravens Branch

Ruth W. O'Dell

Ravens Branch and Rabens mountain were named for an old Indian Chief who was know as Chief Raven. He frequently came from the Cherokee Nation and fished in the French Broad. He often came through the gap and it was called Ravens Gap. Water divides on this mountain. One of the streams runs West and empties into Lamb's Fork: the other runs East and empties into Laurel Fork of Big Creek. The gulf was named Lamb's Gulf. Raven and his followers always passed that way.

J.W.D. Stokely

All right, was it called after Chief Raven merely because he frequently passed that way or was he killed there? Editor

Read Hill

Gained its name in this way. W.M. [Marve] Stokely was post master at Del Rio. He went up into the old 15th district with a post office official to establish an office there. He and Jack Click and the government man agreed to name the office Red Hill, on account of a big, naked red hill nearby but the post office accidentally got the name Read instead of Red.

J.W.D. Stokely

Read Hill and Sand Hill are one and the same. It is said it was named for an early settler.

Ruth W. O'Dell

Think Mr. Stokely is right about this one. He seems to have it first-hand from Marve Stokely and we have never heard of a Read living in this area. Editor

HARTFORD

Hartford was first known as Dryce, but when the T.&N.C. built through that section, a man named Hart was very instrumental in getting the company to build the r.r. through Dryce. The people were so grateful - - they named the village for him.He in turn desired the people of that section to share the name, [and there were more Fords than any other] he suggested the place be called Hartford.

P.T. Bauman, superintendant of the r.r. says that the station was named Hartford after J.B. Hart, the r.r.'s general manager, a West Virginian. Editor

INMAN

I do not know for whom the precinct was named, but the oldest member any one remembers was Esquire John Inman who had a store in this locality. The Inmans were great land owners in England and America. The first three to come were Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego and these names continue in the family.

The Redwine family did not come to Cocke Co. until after the Civil War. They lived in Lee Co., Va, where the Rev. James Redwine was a circuit rider. He took his sons: Elihu, Creed, Kane, Robert and Joseph and went into the Union Army, at Bloomington, Illinois, where he became a chaplain. One of the boys was killed in the war. The others came with their father to Cocke County. Perhaps Elihu S. Redwine was the best known of all of them in this county.

Ruth W. O'Dell

Inman is the right name for the voting place. John and Murray Inman had a store at Inman. Redwines

was a school location and gained its name from the Redwine family

J.W.D. Stokely

It is no trouble to remember older Inmans than John and Murray. Hundreds of older people remember Shade [Shadrack] and George W. Inman - - both lived to be very old men and were quite prominent citizens in the Knobs. They were aged men when John and Murray were young. Mrs. O'Dells story of the Redwines is very informative. Editor

FRENCH BROAD RIVER

The origin of the name is another instance where the beautiful Indian name was changed. The river was known to the Cherokee and the Agiqua River, meanin Broad River. The French claimed the stream because it was then, and now, a tributary of the Tennessee River which flowed into the Ohio. They added French which it remains today.

Ruth W. O'Dell

The French claimed the territory in which the Agiqua River ran. The head of the Aguqua was a spring know as French Spring. Running in the other direction through South Carolina was the Broad River. Hunting parties familiar with the French claim, and knowing the name Broad River, formed the habit of calling it the French Broad. There was the Broad running one way and the French Broad running the other.

J.W.D. Stokely

GRASSY FORK

Grassy Fork of Lambs Fork of Big Creek received its name when the old 13th district was formed frome the 1st district. At the point, where Grassy Fork connects with Lambs

Fork of Big Creek, was about the center of the district. The land at this place was level and grassy, and therefore the voting ground was established and so called. Some of the principal families of the precinct were as follows: Ford, Rains, Black, Teague, Rollins, Green, Smith.

J.W.D. Stokely

Grassy Fork acquired its name by its own [micro unreadable] growing luzurious grass along Fords Creek. It is a valley of much beauty and has always been know as Grassy Fork. There is also a Grassy Fork Creek that empties into Ford Creek at the Mt. Zion Church. Ford Creek empties into Big Creek at the Charlie Freeman home.

Ruth W. O'Dell

FUGATE SIDING

Another place, not mentioned in history, was settled by John Stokely the 1st. on the S. bank of the French Broad River. Across from this entry a man by the name of Bileston had entered a small tract and built a log cabin. Being near the finest fishing place on the river, the Indians decided to tear his cabin down and camped near the house one night with this purpose. Soon after day-break, Bileston made a noise in his house and the Indian chief raised his head. Bilston shot him from his porthole, striking the chief in the forehead and killing him instantly. The Indians made one slight attack on the house, but the barricades held. They then picked up their chief and placed him upon a pony and left. Soon after, Bileston sold his holdings to Evan Fugate, who later became a son-in-law of John Stokely, who lived and died just across the river from the farm of the late F.S. Huff, near Wolf Creek

J.W.D. Stokely

Perhaps Mr. Stokely can tell us, one of these days, who Jehu Stokely the 1st was, and where he came from and when he came to Cocke county. We have considerable material in hand, which we will use later. Editor

CORRECTION

Dear Mr. Campbell:

Uncle Oscar gave Mrs. J.A. Barrow as the daughter of Gen. Alexander Smith. In fact, she was the daughter of Maj. W.R. Smith and the sister of DeWitt, Lute, and Will Smilth. She was a niece of Mrs. A.W. Rhea and Mrs. W.W. Langhorne. She was the great grand-daughter of Gen. Alexander Evans Smith. She is still living in Abingdon, Va. Jennie Jones Smith

Well, that is all before the Editors recollection. We have always heard about those old Smiths who owned all this section of country up and down the Pigeon and French Broad. Wonder if Mrs. O'Dell ever dug up the history of those familys? Editor

Jan. 17, 1940

H.H. Gouchenour

The origin of Reidville: This place got its name from David Reid, who came to Newport in 1875, the same year his mother moved from the old Roadman place. - - -

Jan. 31, 1940

Edmund C. Burnett

The late [and often late] William Franks sometimes called 'Old Bill' told me he had seen a deed in which the French Broad river had been called 'John French's Broad River'