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.