very interesting Betty ----- Original Message ----- From: <bobwonda@hiwaay.net> To: <alblount@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 7:11 PM Subject: [ALBLOUNT] Davy Crockett Almost Died Near Blount County > Note: Near the springs a few years ago, someone nailed a board high on a > tree a hand lettered sign which read Blount Springs, "a place of beauty and > peace." The phrase in quotes was allegedly attributed to Davy Crockett in > 1813. Certainly, Crockett passed through the area, but what most folks > don't know is he came close to dying near or in what would be in a few > short years the County of Blount. > > Mary Gordon Duffee, in the 1 Oct 1891 issue of The Blount County News in a > series of articles called "Sketches of Blount County," quoted Crockett's > own writing describing his experience. He first came through the area as a > part of General Coffee's army during the Creek Indian War and later > returned on his own through Old Blount toward Tuscaloosa. > > Duffee writes: "Amongst the forces of General Coffee, who marched though > our county, was the immortal hero of the Alamo, Colonel David Crockett, and > he furnishes the following characteristic account in his Life, written by > himself. "We pushed on through a wilderness of as fine country as God's > sun ever shone on, 'till we got to what was called Black Warrior Town, > which stood near the very spot where Tuskaloosa now stands. This was in > October, 1813. This Indian town was a large one, but when we arrived we > found the Indians had all left it. There was a large field of corn > standing out, and a pretty good supply in some cribs. There was also a > quantity of dried beans, which were very acceptable to us, and without > delay we secured them, as well as the corn, and then burned the town to > ashes, after which we left the place." After peace, in 1815, Crockett > again visited Tuskaloosa, passing through this county, via Ditto's Landing > on the Tennessee, and Bear Meat Cabin, now Blountsville, thence down the > only main road then located, via Elyton. Of this visit (on page 128) he > says: "We passed through a large, rich valley where several other families > had settled, and continued our course 'till we came near the place where > Tuskaloosa now stands. Here we camped as there were no other inhabitants, > and hobbled out our horses for the night. About two hours before day we > heard the bells of our horses going back the way we had come; they had > started to leave us. At day light I stared in pursuit of them on foot, > carrying my rifle, which was a very heavy one. I went ahead all day, > wading through creeks and swamps, and climbing mountains, but could not > overtake the horses. I gave up the pursuit at last, and, from the best > calculation I could make, had walked over fifty miles. Next day I returned > on my track, 'till mid-day, when I became sick, and could go no further, > and laid down in the wilderness. Some Indians came along, and they signed > to me that I would die and be buried-a thing that I was confoundedly afraid > of myself. I asked how far to any house. They made me understand it was a > mile and a half. I got up to go, but when I rose, I reeled like a cow with > the "blind staggers," or a fellow who had taken too many horns. One Indian > proposed to carry my gun. I gave him half a dollar, and accepted his > offer. We got to the house, by which time I was pretty far gone. I was > kindly received and put to bed. I knew but little that was going on for > about two weeks, when I began to mend from the treatment of the woman. She > was the wife of Jeremiah Jones, and she thought I would die anyhow, if she > didn't do something, so she gave me a whole bottle of 'Batemans' Draps,' > and it threw me into a sweat, and I absolutely got well." Col. Crockett > was so well pleased with the fertile region extending through Murphree's > Valley, that he seriously through of locating there, and becoming a citizen > of Alabama. On his return to Tennessee, other duties engaged his attention > and fate ordained that his heroic spirit should take its flight amid the > carnage of the Alamo, in defence of Texas Independence." > > Notes: Jeremiah Jones was one of the earliest settlers of what was then > known as Jones Valley. This Jones Valley stretched from the upper reaches > of what is commonly referred to as Murphree's Valley to South of present > day Birmingham. It was to Jones' wife and a bottle of Bateman's Draps, > Crockett attributes his recovery. > > The long passage quoted above, Duffee had already published almost verbatim > in the Birmingham Weekly Iron Age in a series of articles she submitted to > her friend, editor Charles Hayes. These articles were published between > 1885 and 1887. These articles were collected in a book called "Sketches of > Alabama" edited by Brown and Nabers and published by the University of > Alabama Press in 1970. On page 53 of this work, Duffee continues the > narrative: > > "After his recovery Colonel Crockett and his party journeyed through Stony > Lonesome. From Elyton they went along the Huntsville Road as far as Mt. > Pinson and crossed the river at Cook's Ferry. Soon they arrive at the > sulphur springs to rest a few days as the guests of Luther Morgan, whose > establishment consisted of a wigwam covered with bark near two large birch > trees, to one of which a large pet bear was chained. Crockett returned to > Tennessee via Bear Meat Cabin and Huntsville." > > Brown and Nabers believe Morgan's wigwam was situated at present day Blount > Springs. Of course, Blount Countians point with pride to the recouperative > powers of the famous Springs as equal if not surpassing that of Bateman's > Draps. Crockett, no doubt, benefitted from both. It is fervently hoped, > however, the bear Crockett of legend killed in a tree wasn't the one > chained at Blount Springs. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ALBLOUNT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.9/458 - Release Date: 9/27/2006 > >

The book you mentioned, "Sketches of Alabama" is full of descriptions of early settlers in Jefferson and Blount Counties. I found information about my Aaron Taylor, his brother, Jesse and some of their cousins in it. There is a copy of it at the Birmingham Public Library. It has an index. Melba Clark ----- Original Message ----- > From: <bobwonda@hiwaay.net> > To: <alblount@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 7:11 PM > Subject: [ALBLOUNT] Davy Crockett Almost Died Near Blount County > > >> Note: Near the springs a few years ago, someone nailed a board high on a >> tree a hand lettered sign which read Blount Springs, "a place of beauty > and >> peace." The phrase in quotes was allegedly attributed to Davy Crockett >> in >> 1813. Certainly, Crockett passed through the area, but what most folks >> don't know is he came close to dying near or in what would be in a few >> short years the County of Blount. >> >> Mary Gordon Duffee, in the 1 Oct 1891 issue of The Blount County News in >> a >> series of articles called "Sketches of Blount County," quoted Crockett's >> own writing describing his experience. He first came through the area as > a >> part of General Coffee's army during the Creek Indian War and later >> returned on his own through Old Blount toward Tuscaloosa. >> >> Duffee writes: "Amongst the forces of General Coffee, who marched though >> our county, was the immortal hero of the Alamo, Colonel David Crockett, > and >> he furnishes the following characteristic account in his Life, written by >> himself. "We pushed on through a wilderness of as fine country as God's >> sun ever shone on, 'till we got to what was called Black Warrior Town, >> which stood near the very spot where Tuskaloosa now stands. This was in >> October, 1813. This Indian town was a large one, but when we arrived we >> found the Indians had all left it. There was a large field of corn >> standing out, and a pretty good supply in some cribs. There was also a >> quantity of dried beans, which were very acceptable to us, and without >> delay we secured them, as well as the corn, and then burned the town to >> ashes, after which we left the place." After peace, in 1815, Crockett >> again visited Tuskaloosa, passing through this county, via Ditto's >> Landing >> on the Tennessee, and Bear Meat Cabin, now Blountsville, thence down the >> only main road then located, via Elyton. Of this visit (on page 128) he >> says: "We passed through a large, rich valley where several other > families >> had settled, and continued our course 'till we came near the place where >> Tuskaloosa now stands. Here we camped as there were no other >> inhabitants, >> and hobbled out our horses for the night. About two hours before day we >> heard the bells of our horses going back the way we had come; they had >> started to leave us. At day light I stared in pursuit of them on foot, >> carrying my rifle, which was a very heavy one. I went ahead all day, >> wading through creeks and swamps, and climbing mountains, but could not >> overtake the horses. I gave up the pursuit at last, and, from the best >> calculation I could make, had walked over fifty miles. Next day I > returned >> on my track, 'till mid-day, when I became sick, and could go no further, >> and laid down in the wilderness. Some Indians came along, and they >> signed >> to me that I would die and be buried-a thing that I was confoundedly > afraid >> of myself. I asked how far to any house. They made me understand it was > a >> mile and a half. I got up to go, but when I rose, I reeled like a cow > with >> the "blind staggers," or a fellow who had taken too many horns. One > Indian >> proposed to carry my gun. I gave him half a dollar, and accepted his >> offer. We got to the house, by which time I was pretty far gone. I was >> kindly received and put to bed. I knew but little that was going on for >> about two weeks, when I began to mend from the treatment of the woman. > She >> was the wife of Jeremiah Jones, and she thought I would die anyhow, if >> she >> didn't do something, so she gave me a whole bottle of 'Batemans' Draps,' >> and it threw me into a sweat, and I absolutely got well." Col. Crockett >> was so well pleased with the fertile region extending through Murphree's >> Valley, that he seriously through of locating there, and becoming a > citizen >> of Alabama. On his return to Tennessee, other duties engaged his > attention >> and fate ordained that his heroic spirit should take its flight amid the >> carnage of the Alamo, in defence of Texas Independence." >> >> Notes: Jeremiah Jones was one of the earliest settlers of what was then >> known as Jones Valley. This Jones Valley stretched from the upper >> reaches >> of what is commonly referred to as Murphree's Valley to South of present >> day Birmingham. It was to Jones' wife and a bottle of Bateman's Draps, >> Crockett attributes his recovery. >> >> The long passage quoted above, Duffee had already published almost > verbatim >> in the Birmingham Weekly Iron Age in a series of articles she submitted >> to >> her friend, editor Charles Hayes. These articles were published between >> 1885 and 1887. These articles were collected in a book called "Sketches > of >> Alabama" edited by Brown and Nabers and published by the University of >> Alabama Press in 1970. On page 53 of this work, Duffee continues the >> narrative: >> >> "After his recovery Colonel Crockett and his party journeyed through >> Stony >> Lonesome. From Elyton they went along the Huntsville Road as far as Mt. >> Pinson and crossed the river at Cook's Ferry. Soon they arrive at the >> sulphur springs to rest a few days as the guests of Luther Morgan, whose >> establishment consisted of a wigwam covered with bark near two large >> birch >> trees, to one of which a large pet bear was chained. Crockett returned >> to >> Tennessee via Bear Meat Cabin and Huntsville." >> >> Brown and Nabers believe Morgan's wigwam was situated at present day > Blount >> Springs. Of course, Blount Countians point with pride to the > recouperative >> powers of the famous Springs as equal if not surpassing that of Bateman's >> Draps. Crockett, no doubt, benefitted from both. It is fervently hoped, >> however, the bear Crockett of legend killed in a tree wasn't the one >> chained at Blount Springs.