Shelbyville Gazette - Sunday, August 24, 1947 Horse Mountain is Colorful Center of Bedford History By Mrs. T.E. Fisher The Gazette takes pleasure in presenting another historical article on Bedford County by Mrs. T.E. Fisher, who recently entertained readers with her :History of Skull Camp Bridge." In 1776, when the territory of Franklin was made the State of Tennessee, we are told that the people came flocking into Knoxville in covered wagons and on horseback as rapidly as they could travel over uncompassed roads, anxious to get in on the ground floor of the new state. They made it difficult however for the small village, for at that time, Knoxville had only one street and a limited supply of food. The pioneers came principally from Virginia and North Carolina. The Revolutionary War was fought and won. All were happy. These fine brave men had been awarded land grants of thousands and thousands of acres of land in Kentucky and Tennessee, for their services in routing the Red Coats and freeing us from tyranny and the threats of Major Patrick Ferguson at the Kings Mountain, where he lies beneath a huge pile of rocks thrown at his grave as if they were chasing a vicious dog. The strong brave men who founded Tennessee had already laid the foundation for the building of America, the greatest nation in the world, the one which all other nations look up to. They admire her thrift, respect her Democracy and fear her strength and strategy. On the northwest side of the state, following the Cumberland River was a dense wilderness of virgin timber and canebrake. All boats coming up the Ohio River brought passengers to Kentucky, all up the Cumberland River came to Tennessee, stopped at (French Lick) Nashville. From there they branched out into the wilderness seeking their portion of land. Many carried axes and chopped out a road. They seemed to drift toward Horse Mountain. Its height gave them vantage in location the richer lands by the growth of the timber and cane. Many risked all, brought their families along. They would camp on this hill until they could build a cabin. Many of the pioneers lost their lives traveling the Indian trails but these brave men and women, with iron wills and dauntless courage had a purpose, that purpose was to conquer the wilderness, "rule or die", care a civilization second to none, establish homes, schools and churches suitable to rear their families and make Tennessee an outstanding state, to add her bit toward developing America. Men with executive ability, character and understanding like James Robertson, John Sevier, Sam Houston, Andrew Jackson and countless others planted their feet as firmly on Horse Mountain as did the Pilgrim fathers of Plymouth Rock. Why was this hill called Horse Mountain? Many legends have been handed down. None worth repeating, fantastic and unreasonable. The most plausible story was told to the writer by the late Mr. Will Arnold, a native Bedford Countian. He said his great grand father and mother came to Tennessee from North Carolina in early days in a covered wagon drawn by horses. Mr. And Mrs. Elijah Arnold camped on this hill. After a few nights, Mr. Arnold decided not to tether his horses but to let them graze at will. To his consternation the following morning his horses were gone. He realized at once what had happened. A deep friendship existed between these pioneers, a bond of the fellowship. They assured Mr. Arnold that they would protect his family to the best of their ability while he was gone after his horses. A walk to North Carolina over Indian trails with the county infested with hostile Indians and ferocious animals could not be called a pleasure trip. Mr. Arnold waded shallow streams and swam the swollen ones. When at last he reached his old home, footsore and weary, he found his horses will and contented. It is said that it took him six weeks to make the trip. On is return to his family he found that several new families had arrived during his absence. When they heard the story of the "prodigals" they thought it a great joke and began calling this hill "Horse Mountain". Mr. Arnold also told a most interesting story about his great grandmother. As time went on, the pioneers erected a log room for a place of worship, which later became a Methodist Camp Ground, where camp meetings were conducted by different ministers each summers, lasting six weeks. Services were held each day with dinner on the ground. Mrs. Elijah Arnold made a profession of the religion, but refused to be baptized until she could return to North Carolina and be immersed in a certain creek by a certain minister. This she promptly attended to, after their return they bought one hundred and fifty acres of land at fifty cents per acre. They reared a large family and their descendants are legion. Many historic traditions are associated with this old hill. Lieutenant William McGuire settled in Bedford County soon after the Revolutionary War, about two or three miles northwest of Wartrace. The location of his old home must have been about two miles of Horse Mountain, believed to be owned by the John Pruitt heirs. There is a family tradition that the wife of William McGuire was one of the courageous women who helped mold bullets and joined in the fight at the Saratoga, New York, where she and her husband were captured and carried prisoners into Canada. While being held there, their second son, Thomas, was born. It is not known definitely whether they escaped or were released. However while trying to make their home, they were forced to stop in a cemetery and lie between graves to avoid being seen. The mother place the tiny baby inside her clothing, buttoned her coat over it, to save it from freezing. The older child froze to death. The father and mother scooped out a shallow grave and with broken hearts, they had to leave his body there. Thomas McGuire (the little baby) came to Tennessee with his father when a small boy. He was the father of Susan McGuire, who married Don Shriver, son of Abraham Shiver who lived and died at the northern base of Horse Mountain. He operated one of the first nurseries in this section of Tennessee. It is said that the first fruit trees planted in Bedford County and most of this section of the county were propagated by Thomas McGuire. His nursery covered a large portion of the northern side of the hill. The home built by Don Shriver on this same tract of land, still stands in a good state of preservation. It is now owned by Mrs. George Bragg. William McGuire sleeps in the grave of a hero on Horse Mountain. A few years ago his grave was marked by one of the D.A.R. chapters of Nashville. During the war between the state, the Federal and Confederate Armies had signal stations at different times on this hill where they wig-wagged messages to their armies many miles away. Today two church building, a Methodist and a Christian, stand and are used occasionally. There is a fairly well kept cemetery near the churches. The Cabins are all gone. The spring is almost hidden from the road by two log spring houses now used by private owners. This wonderful fountain of water was a godsend to the early settlers of Middle Tennessee, where the red men and pioneers have slaked their thirst alike.