Boswell
Family Notes

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A Collection of Information about Our Family Before Us


MEETS DEATH BY DROWNING

Joseph A. Sutherland

of Silver Lake, the Victim - - One of the County's Honored Citizens


It is with regret that we note the unfortunate death of Joseph A. Sutherland, which occurred down the Laurel last Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The circumstances surrounding his death are about as follows: He was returning from a business trip in Virginia to his home at Silver Lake, this county. The heavy rains of Tuesday and Wednesday swelled all the streams and made them dangerous to cross. Mr. Sutherland lost his life in attempting to cross White Top Creek at the Cornett ford. Before he had gone far his horse stumbled and threw him. A couple of fellows were fishing on the opposite side of the creek and saw the accident and heard the unfortunate man cry for help) but instead of rendering assistance themselves the fishermen hurried to inform others of the accident and before assistance arrived the body had washed down the stream quite a distance and was found lodged behind a drift, nothing being visible except the white locks of his head which floated above the surface of the water.

This, indeed, is sad news and will be the cause of genuine sorrow in many homes throughout this entire section of the country, as the deceased had a large circle of friends and was well known by all classes of people. Mr. Sutherland was one of our best farmers and largest stock dealers and had amassed a handsome fortune. He was an honest, plain, frank man, and a consistent Christian, being a valuable member of the M. E. church, however, he was liberal toward the various denominations throughout the county and gave liberal support to laudable undertakings.

The deceased was born in this county August 7, 1841. He credibly filled the positions of Trustee and Sheriff of Johnson county and has also served as Chairman of the county court. He was twice married, his first wife being Mrs. Sarah Wills. To this union was born one child, a son, Clinton, who died from the effects of a burn at the age of nine years. The handsome M. E. church at Silver Lake, known as Clinton's Chapel, was named in memory of this little boy and Mr. Sutherland gave a large amount for the erection of the church. His second wife, who survives him, was Miss Nannie Wright, a sister of James W. and R. F. Wright, of this city. To this union have been born six children --three girls and three boys, all of whom are living.

A very large number of people from the surrounding country assembled at the home of the deceased Saturday morning to attend the funeral service. Owing to the immense throng of people there were no services held at the family residence. It was near noon when the funeral procession formed and followed the remains to Clinton's Chapel, where public service was held. This large building was filled with sympathizing friends and the occasion was very pathetic. Rev. G. S. Bales preached the funeral sermon and he was followed b Rev. J. L. Griffitts and N.R. Wills, who made brief and pointed talks in memory of the deceased, after which the Masonic fraternity took charge of the remains and conveyed them to the family cemetery where with the beautiful and impressive ceremony of the order, all that was mortal of Joseph A. Sutherland was consigned to the tomb and his body gently covered with the clods of the valley.

from The Tomahawk, March 31, 1904

Notes from Goodspeeds' History of Tennessee - Johnson County - 1887

J. A. Sutherland, farmer and stock raiser, was born in this county, August 7, 1841, the son of Joseph and Sarah (King) Sutherland, the former born in Grayson County, VA., July 9, 1788, the son of Alexander, a native of Scotland, who came as a British soldier in the Revolution, and first fought at Bunker Hill. After the war he left the army and settled in Virginia, where be married Margaret Bryant, of Irish descent. She was mother of two sons and seven daughters. Our subject's father first married Susan Robinson, by whom he has six children. She died in North Carolina, and November 16, 1824, he married Sarah, a daughter of John and Nancy (Collet) King. She was born in North Carolina November 10, 1803, and was the mother of three sons and seven daughers. She died August 1, 1874, and the father January 10, 1867. Our subject was reared in the country, and, although beginning life as a poor man, he is now a prosperous farmer. He went to Indiana in 1863 and enlisted in the Federal Army, serving with Sherman on famous march. October 14, 1874, he married Sarah D. Wills. The mother died in in 1886, and their only son in 1887. Our subject is a Mason and a Methodist, and has served sheriff and treasurer of the county.

JOHNSON COUNTY is the extreme eastern county of the State. It is bounded on the north by Virginia and on the east and southeast by North Carolina. The area in acres Is 249,600, or in square miles about 890. It is well watered by springs and streams. The Watauga River forms the dividing line between this county and Carter for a short distance. and receives the principal stream of the former, Roane Creek. The remaining streams of the county are Little Doe River, a tributary of Roane Creek, and Laurel Fork and Beaverdam Creek, which waters enter the Hoiston River. The surface of the county is usually broken. The Iron Mountain traverses it from northeast to southwest, and Stone Mountain marks the boundary of North Carolina. Doe Mountain lies wholly within the county, and extends a distance of about twelve miles. The most fertile lands lie along Little Doe, Roane Creek and the district known as Shady. The mineral resources are exceedingly valuable. This is especially true of iron ore, which exists in extensive beds, and for nearly a hundred years has been worked in a small way.

The first settlement in Johnson County is said to have been made about 1770, on Roane Creek, near its confluence with the Watauga, by a man named Honeycut. Other settlements were made soon after farther up Roane Creek, and on Little Doe and the Laurel. Shady was also settled at a comparatively early day, Among the pioneers who had found homes in the territory now embraced in Johnson County prior to 1778, were Joseph Hoskins, George and Samuel Heatherby, Thomas, John and Charles Asher, Richard and Benjamin Wilson, John and Henry Grimes, Joseph Gentry, John, Jesse and Josiah Hoskins and John Higgins. At that time the entire population of this section did not exceed 150. Among those who came during the next twenty years and located in Little Doe were Jacob Perkins, George Brown, George Crosswhite, Ed. Polly, Joseph Timpkins; and David Stout. Jacob Perkins died about 1820, leaving five sons: Joseph, Joshua, Amos, Jacob and John. The others all have a number of descendants in the county. Of the settlers on Roane Creek, duriug the period from 1778 to 1798 may be mentioned, Leonard Shown, John Barry, John Vaught, David Wagner, Jacob and Michael Slimp. Vaught bad a mill and "still-house" which he left to his son, Joseph Vaught. Shown located at the cross roads, which has long borne his name. David Wagner lived east of Shown's Cross Roads. He was the father of Mathew, David H., Jacob and John Wagner, At a very early day Nathaniel Taylor erected iron works on Roane Creek, He afterward transferred them to his son, James P. Taylor, who sold them to David Wagner.

The town now has a population of about 400. In 1885 its name was changed from Taylorsville to Mountain City, which from its location as one of the highest valleys of Tennessee is very appropriate. The business of the town is now conducted by the following persons: A. A. Murphy's son, James S. Mitchell, C. C. Yarbrough, general merchandise, and H. S. McDade druggist. The first named is also the proprietor of a tannery.

The leading newspaper of the county is the Tennessee Tomahawk edited and published by W. H. Keys. It was established as the Taylorsville Reporter and received present name after the change in the name of the town. The Mountain City News is a small two-column folio which was recently established by C. C. Yarbrough.

From the organization of the county to the present time the officers have been as follows: County Clerks - R. C. White, 1836-40; A. Bradfute, 1840-44; A. T. Wilson l844-48; A. Bradfute; 1848-52; H. L. Wilson, 1852-60; Calloway Elrod, 1860-62; Frederick Slimp. 1862-64; John K. Hughes, 1864-65; H. E. Berry, 1865-70; Richard H. Butler, 1870-78; John A. Eggers, 1878-82; H. E Berry, 1882.

Clerks of the Circuit Court-A. D. Smith, l836-56; James W. Wright, 1856-60; Frederick Slimp, 1865-70; R. E. Berry. 1870-78; W. P. Sharp,1878-82; E. F. Johnson, 1882.

Clerks and Masters-A. D. Smith, 1856-80; Green Moore, 1860-; Thomas S. Smythe, 1866-68; J. H. Smith, 1868-73; H. A. Donnelly, 1873.

Registers-David H. Wagner, 1836-40; Alfred T.Wilson, 1840-44; Joseph Slimp, 1844-46; A. Bradfute, l846-50 M. S. Dickson, 1850-54; William Smithpeter, 1855-56; Daniel Slimp, 1858-64; A. C. McEwen, 1864-85; David Slimp, 1865-70; Francis M. Chappell, 1870.

Sheriffs-Reuben White, 1886-40; Calvin J. Moore, 184244; Isaac W. McQueen, 1844-50; James W. Wright, 1850-56; Samuel E. McQueen, 1856-60; R. L. Wilson, 1860-64; - Wilson, 1864-65; H. A. Donnelly, 1865-66; 1. F. Shown, 1866-72; Joseph A. Sutherland, 1872-74; I. F. Shown, 1874-76; E. F. Johnson, 1876-82; M. L. Moreland, l882-86; M. L.Moreland, 1886.

Trustees-M. M. Wagner, 1836-52; E. L. Dugger, 1852-54; James D. Donnelly, 1854-58; Benjamin W. Jenkins, 1858-62; R. A. Donnelly, 1862-64; S. E. McQueen, 1864-65; John M. Roberts. 1865- 66; Samuel Howard, 1866-68; H. H. Donnelly, 1868-70; Joseph A.Sutherland, 1870-72; C. A. Shown, 1872-74; N. T. Wagner, 1874-76; J. C. Donnelly, 1876-78; H. L. Wilson, 1878-82; James S. Laws, 1882-84; W. L. Johnson, 1884.


CLINTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Mountain City, Tennessee


Clinton Presbyterian Church has a very interesting historical background dating back to the early 1800's when people from the community were worshiping in a small log church, which had served as a Methodist Church since 1833. The first Methodist Church in Johnson County was organized in a barn on the Lewis Wills Farm not far from the present location of the Presbyterian Church. This log church was called the “Meeting House" and located on "Camp Ground Hill," where the old time camp meetings were held.

Clinton Presbyterian Church Mr. Joseph A. Sutherland was a man of wealth and a great Christian leader. Mr. Sutherland's 10 year old son, Clinton, was a victim of a tragic accident while helping his father and other farm hands round-up cattle on a mountain range. Clinton had gun powder and matches in his pocket when he fell and the powder and matches ignited and burned him to death. This unusual accident brought grief to the whole community. A picture hangs in our Church of this little boy whose death took place May 1, 1887.

After Clinton's death, Mr. Sutherland gave a beautiful site for a church and was instrumental in building a large, white frame Methodist church in memory of Clinton. It has been told that Mr. Sutherland paid one of his farm hands a monthly salary to be on time every Sunday morning to ring the loud-sounding bell to let people know they should be getting ready for the worship service. This bell survived the great fire on Easter Sunday in 1924 when the church burned. We use this large bell every Sunday morning when the beautiful tone can be heard up and down the valleys and over the country-side calling people to come worship with us in the year of 1988.

During the early years, the horse and buggies were used. The parking lot had "hitching posts" and "upping blocks'' or stiles. Women who rode their horses to church used the "stiles" for getting on and off their horses.

During the early 1900's, Rev. G. W. Paul and Rev. George Bales were Ministers. Rev. D. I. Howell served as Pastor when the church burned that Easter Morning. Rev. Howell went to work immediately to build the rock church, which was dedicated in the summer of 1925. The rocks for the church were gathered from nearby farms and are so unusual and beautiful. The masonry work was done by Mr. Dan Lundy, a fine Christian leader and a native of a nearby community.

After a long and useful history, things began to change. The good Christian leaders finished their work here and passed on to their much deserved reward. Most of the young people left these big farms and moved into towns, searching for easier labor and better pay, this taking place during the 1930's and early 1940's. The church closed and remained closed for several years.

In the early 1940's, Holston Presbytery appointed a commission to organize the Mountain City Presbyterian Church. One of the members of the commission was the Rev. Dan Graham. On October 31, 1943, a meeting was held at Mountain City, Tennessee, and the congregation was declared duly organized as a Church of the Presbyterian Church U. S.

Rev. Dan Graham continued Minister of the Mountain City Presbyterian Church. During the summer of 1 946, James Abe Aldridge, a Student Pastor, came to Mountain City to assist Rev. Graham. Seeing a need for a church in the Silver Lake Community, Rev. Graham and Rev. Aldridge talked with. Mrs. Willie Mac Sutherland Rambo, and plans were made for Clinton Chapel to be a church again, this time Presbyterian. On July 19, 1947, dedication services were held for the Mountain City Presbyterian Church and Clinton Chapel Presbyterian Church. In 1959, Clinton Presbyterian Church was organized by the Presbytery as a separate congregation. Both churches continue to be served by the same pastor.

During the ministry of J. Edsel Farthing, four Sunday School rooms were added, most of the work being done by dedicated members of the church. Native stone was gathered from the fields for outside construction.

In the summer of 1975, by the generosity of Nat Wills, Jr., we installed a water line from Silver Lake and added a bathroom. The same year, a new parking lot was landscaped and graveled, this land being deeded to us by Mrs. Willie Mac Sutherland Rambo and J. D. Sutherland. During the summer of 1982, the church was carpeted and extensive work done in the sanctuary.

In 1986, a new roof was put on the sanctuary and a picnic shelter built. In 1987, Miss Mary Gentry, who was 94 years old when she died, le& Clinton Church several thousand dollars. We have used part of this money to buy amber cushions for the old oak pews in memory of her. Over 60 years ago, when the white frame church burned and the stone one built, Miss Mary donated one of the lovely, old, stained glass windows. From 1988 to 1990, the Church was a beneficiary in the will of the late Blake Merson, Bethesda, Maryland. Part of this was used to build a fellowship hall addition to the church in 1992.

This Church is one of the most beautiful in the County. The large cathedral ceilings, elevated floor in the sanctuary, elegant amber glass windows and old oak pews add the grandeur of this old historical country church.

Presbyterian Ministers who have served Clinton Presbyterian Church:


Very often, people from far and near stop by to see our beautiful stone church, which is nestled against the lovely mountains, and gracing our front lawn are two large maple trees. We are proud of our country church, and it is near to the heart of all of us who come here to worship, as it must have been to those who have gone before.

Maxine L. Walsh

November 1988
with update, 1992


Respectfully compiled by
Richard Boswell
Email to : Boswell Farms

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This page last revised March 19, 2006