Near Gladdice in Jackson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Sampson Williams

1762-1841

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 18, 2018

1. Sampson Williams Marker

Inscription. Sampson Williams is regarded as the founding father of Jackson County and is considered its first citizen. In a 1789 engagement with the Indians in the Cumberland settlement, Andrew Jackson was under Captain Williams' command. Later, he and Jackson became close friends. Williams was appointed sheriff of Davidson County on December 15, 1790. He operated a ferry at the crossing of the Cumberland. A commander of Fort Blount in late 1793, he served as state senator, built early roads, and established at least two schools.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2D 38.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #07 Andrew Jackson, and the Tennessee Historical Commission series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is December 15, 1790.

Location. 36° 20.733′ N, 85° 48.5′ W. Marker is near Gladdice, Tennessee, in Jackson County. It is at the intersection of Gladdice Highway (Tennessee Route 85) and Smith Bend Lane, on the right when traveling east on Gladdice Highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 122 Smith Bend Ln, Gainesboro TN 38562, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee

and in the Highland Rim.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Civil War in Granville (approx. 5.1 miles away); Granville, Tennessee (approx. 5.1 miles away); T.B. Sutton General Store (approx. 5.2 miles away); Carverdale Farms (approx. 5.2 miles away); Gibbs Crossroads (approx. 8.3 miles away); Orion Clemens (approx. 8.3 miles away); Michaux's Discovery (approx. 8.3 miles away); Alvan Cullen Gillem (approx. 8.3 miles away).

Also see . . . Sampson Williams Historic Marker Restored. (Submitted on July 17, 2024, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Sampson Williams Marker is missing. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Vonda Dixon

2. Sampson Williams Marker is missing.

The post it was mounted on is still there but the marker is gone. Presumably highway road cutters knocked it over but it is not on the ground by it.

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 18, 2018

3. Sampson Williams Marker

Looking east.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 11, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 835 times since then and 74 times this year. Last updated on October 11, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1. submitted on December 11, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 2. submitted on June 28, 2022, by Vonda Dixon of Pleasant Shade, Tennessee. 3. submitted on December 11, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of marker since its' repair. • Can you help?