Tennessee Early History Monument

Tennessee Early History Monument. . , (Side one), Colonial Period, The first men of the English speaking race to tread the soil of Tennessee, James Needham and Gabriel Arthur, passed this site in June, 1673. They followed a great buffalo trail. Crossing the Alleghenies through a low gap, they followed the Watauga River until they reached Buffalo Creek, then up that creek the trail led toward the base of Buffalo Mountain and the waters of the Nolachucky, then to the Indian towns on Little Tennessee River. They were sent out to seek a trade with the Cherokee Indians by Col. Abraham Wood from his trading post (site of present Petersburg, Va.). Needham returned to report to Wood, then began a second journey to the west, but was killed by an Indian guide. Col. Wood wrote of him to a representative of an English nobleman “soe died this heroic Englishman whose fame shall never die if my penn were able to eternize it.”, In this spirit this monument was erected, 1946, the Sesquicentennial year of Tennessee’s statehood., Daniel Boone in the 1760’s, followed the same buffalo trail, and passed this site. Near the bold spring on the premises he erected a rude hunting camp, then passed around Buffalo Mountain and hunted on a nearby creek which ever afterward bore his name - Boone’s Creek - a favorite hunting ground. It was at its mouth that Boone’s friend, Wm. Beam established the first permanent white settlement in Tennessee 1768-9. Contributed to by the National Society of Colonial Dames in Tennessee., (Side two), Period of 1791-1815, Jacob Tipton, son of Col. John, at the head of a company, raised in this vicinity, as a part of the Battalion of Major Matthew Rhea, marched under call of Brig. Gen. John Sevier from near this place through Cumberland Gap, across the Ohio on to the western Ohio country, and fought at St. Clair’s defeat, 1791, against the Indians of the Northwest Territory., Capt. Tipton in a gallant counterattack was killed, as were many of his officers and men., Tipton County in West Tennessee proudly bears the name of the brave Captain., John Tipton, Jr. a younger brother, was under General Jackson in the battle of New Orleans, 1815. Later he was a Colonel of Militia and served in several sessions of the Tennessee Legislatures. When in that body in 1829 as State Senator, he was elected Speaker (Potential Governor)., He died early in the session: was given a State Funeral and buried in the Old City Cemetery, Nashville. The state erected a monument at his grave., His home at the time was in the residence on this site.