The following is a newspaper article written in 1915 by W.R. Clack. I think it is self evident as to why he was writing it. As the article is so long, I will send this part now and the latter half in another email. The next part covers the pigeons, the furnace at Eagle Furnace, log rolling, corn husking, etc. I only wish those old newspapers still existed so we could read what the other old timers had to say. Another Oldtimer Interesting Reminiscences of Other Days in Rhea Editor, Rhea County News, I was pleased to notice in a late issue of your valuable paper, a call to the old residents of your county to write up some facts of their early days and to give their ages and length of time a resident of Rhea County. In response to the call, I will say my "hat is in the ring" as a contestant for the prizes offered. I don't claim to be the oldest, neither am I a kid (if you will allow the slang phrase). I was born in Rhea County, Tennessee, February 4, 1839, and have resided continuously in this county for seventy-six (76) years. I first say light in the Leuty Bend, below Pinhook Ferry on the Tennessee River. My father (Micajah Clack) lived on a farm in the Leuty Bend, for about four years, and then rented the Farley Brady farm and ferry (now McElwee's) for a term of four years and took charge of it January 1, 1842. The ferry was well equipped for service for that day, and was on the main stock road leading from Middle Tennessee and Kentucky to the cotton fields in the state of Georgia, where thousands of head of stock were driven annually, consisting chiefly of horses, mules, fat hogs and sheep. Stands were established all along the route about a day's journey apart, where they could lot and feed their animals and spend the night. The drovers were royally cared for also at those stands. W.S. Greer kept a stand in Grassy Cove, Cumberland County. John and James Robinson kept one near Lorraine, this county, and Jerry Chapman one in Meigs County, a half-mile south of said ferry. Those men were full-handed, owning large tracts of fertile lands, and every way well prepared to take care of, in royal style, all who chanced to come their way. Occasionally the droves arrived too late to cross the river to the Chapman stand before night, and my father always took them in. One time it fell to his lot to care for a few hundred head of hogs and a dozen or more of very hungry men, who had formerly entered into a conspiracy to eat out every tavern on the route. Mother was a good cook, and always believed in having a plenty and some to spare. So she had considered the sharp appetite of those sturdy hog drivers , and had an abundance cooked. After they were filled to the neck the foreman said: "Boys, you had better quit; we can't eat out the Clack tavern." But said he, "This is the first time we have failed to clean up the table since we left old Kentucky." Those days were blessed with peace and plenty, and everybody appeared contented. The river and its tributaries contained an abundance of the finny tribes, and the forests were well stocked with wild game - deer, turkey, quail, squirrels, etc. The black bear and wildcat could be found on Walden's Ridge. Occasionally old Bruin would stealthily descend from the mountain into the valleys in search of prey and carry off a sheep or pig. This county was also infested by the wolf and the red fox to the detriment of the sheep and chicken industry. (end of part 1) Edna Clack