Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (11) View all
University of North Carolina Asheville (0) View all
  • Faces of Asheville (0)
  • Forestry in Western North Carolina (0)
  • Grove Park Inn Photograph Collection (0)
  • Isaiah Rice Photograph Collection (0)
  • Morse Family Chimney Rock Park Collection (0)
  • Picturing Asheville and Western North Carolina (0)
  • North Carolina Park Commission (30)
  • Western Carolina University (178)
  • Western Carolina University. Mountain Heritage Center (6)
  • Wilburn, Hiram Coleman, 1880-1967 (17)
  • Allanstand Cottage Industries (0)
  • Appalachian National Park Association (0)
  • Bennett, Kelly, 1890-1974 (0)
  • Berry, Walter (0)
  • Brasstown Carvers (0)
  • Cain, Doreyl Ammons (0)
  • Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943 (0)
  • Cathey, Joseph, 1803-1874 (0)
  • Champion Fibre Company (0)
  • Champion Paper and Fibre Company (0)
  • Cherokee Indian Fair Association (0)
  • Cherokee Language Program (0)
  • Crittenden, Lorraine (0)
  • Crowe, Amanda (0)
  • Edmonston, Thomas Benton, 1842-1907 (0)
  • Ensley, A. L. (Abraham Lincoln), 1865-1948 (0)
  • Fromer, Irving Rhodes, 1913-1994 (0)
  • George Butz (BFS 1907) (0)
  • Goodrich, Frances Louisa (0)
  • Grant, George Alexander, 1891-1964 (0)
  • Heard, Marian Gladys (0)
  • Kephart, Calvin, 1883-1969 (0)
  • Kephart, Horace, 1862-1931 (0)
  • Kephart, Laura, 1862-1954 (0)
  • Laney, Gideon Thomas, 1889-1976 (0)
  • Masa, George, 1881-1933 (0)
  • McElhinney, William Julian, 1896-1953 (0)
  • Niggli, Josephina, 1910-1983 (0)
  • Osborne, Kezia Stradley (0)
  • Owens, Samuel Robert, 1918-1995 (0)
  • Penland Weavers and Potters (0)
  • Rhodes, Judy (0)
  • Roberts, Vivienne (0)
  • Roth, Albert, 1890-1974 (0)
  • Schenck, Carl Alwin, 1868-1955 (0)
  • Sherrill's Photography Studio (0)
  • Smith, Edward Clark (0)
  • Southern Highland Handicraft Guild (0)
  • Southern Highlanders, Inc. (0)
  • Stalcup, Jesse Bryson (0)
  • Stearns, I. K. (0)
  • Thompson, James Edward, 1880-1976 (0)
  • United States. Indian Arts and Crafts Board (0)
  • USFS (0)
  • Vance, Zebulon Baird, 1830-1894 (0)
  • Weaver, Zebulon, 1872-1948 (0)
  • Western Carolina College (0)
  • Western Carolina Teachers College (0)
  • Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892 (0)
  • Williams, Isadora (0)
  • Cataloochee History Project (2)
  • Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual Collection (2)
  • Sara Madison Collection (7)
  • The Reporter, Western Carolina University (119)
  • WCU Gender and Sexuality Oral History Project (14)
  • WCU Oral History Collection - Mountain People, Mountain Lives (12)
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection (59)
  • A.L. Ensley Collection (0)
  • Appalachian Industrial School Records (0)
  • Appalachian National Park Association Records (0)
  • Axley-Meroney Collection (0)
  • Bayard Wootten Photograph Collection (0)
  • Bethel Rural Community Organization Collection (0)
  • Blumer Collection (0)
  • C.W. Slagle Collection (0)
  • Canton Area Historical Museum (0)
  • Carlos C. Campbell Collection (0)
  • Cherokee Studies Collection (0)
  • Daisy Dame Photograph Album (0)
  • Daniel Boone VI Collection (0)
  • Doris Ulmann Photograph Collection (0)
  • Elizabeth H. Lasley Collection (0)
  • Elizabeth Woolworth Szold Fleharty Collection (0)
  • Frank Fry Collection (0)
  • George Masa Collection (0)
  • Gideon Laney Collection (0)
  • Hazel Scarborough Collection (0)
  • Hiram C. Wilburn Papers (0)
  • Historic Photographs Collection (0)
  • Horace Kephart Collection (0)
  • Humbard Collection (0)
  • Hunter and Weaver Families Collection (0)
  • I. D. Blumenthal Collection (0)
  • Isadora Williams Collection (0)
  • Jesse Bryson Stalcup Collection (0)
  • Jim Thompson Collection (0)
  • John B. Battle Collection (0)
  • John C. Campbell Folk School Records (0)
  • John Parris Collection (0)
  • Judaculla Rock project (0)
  • Kelly Bennett Collection (0)
  • Love Family Papers (0)
  • Major Wiley Parris Civil War Letters (0)
  • Map Collection (0)
  • McFee-Misemer Civil War Letters (0)
  • Mountain Heritage Center Collection (0)
  • Norburn - Robertson - Thomson Families Collection (0)
  • Pauline Hood Collection (0)
  • Pre-Guild Collection (0)
  • R.A. Romanes Collection (0)
  • Rosser H. Taylor Collection (0)
  • Samuel Robert Owens Collection (0)
  • Sherrill Studio Photo Collection (0)
  • Smoky Mountains Hiking Club Collection (0)
  • Stories of Mountain Folk - Radio Programs (0)
  • Venoy and Elizabeth Reed Collection (0)
  • WCU Mountain Heritage Center Oral Histories (0)
  • Western North Carolina Tomorrow Black Oral History Project (0)
  • William Williams Stringfield Collection (0)
  • Zebulon Weaver Collection (0)

Cataloochee tract 233: W. B. Bennett

  • wcu_great_smoky_mtns-8226.jpg
3 / 13
Item
  • www.NewportPlainTalk.com THE NEWPORT PLAIN TALK, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3,2008 • PAGE 19 Young Bennett called Catalooche home Information and pictures supplied by Roger Ford The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Archives and numerous other sources reveal a fascinating history of the Bennett family who were indisputably among the first pioneering white settlers of the Cataloochee Valley. Today Cataloochee is considered by many to be the most historically important area of the Great Smoky Mountains international biosphere reserve. Though many people have made wonderful contributions toward the preservation of Cataloochee Valley's history, Ford found additional successes researching his Bennett family history from interviews with longtime Cataloochee Park Ranger Mark Hannah. "My search for Bennett family history began when my father Parker Ford, Jr. began telling me about his grandfather, Archibald LaFayette "Arch" Bennett, Jr., who was born in June 1873 in Cataloochee Valley in Haywood County, NC," said Ford. "While my father told me many stories about his grandfather Bennett, his knowledge of Archibald Bennett's ancestry was somewhat limited," he added. "My father told me that his grandfather would walk several times each year from his home in Hartford, in Cocke County, Tennessee, over Mount Sterling Gap and down into Cataloochee to visit with the Bennetts, Nolands, and Palmers, all of whom were his kinfolk." Ford said that as he searched for more details about his Grandfather Bennett, local people would say, "Ranger Mark Hannah...he's the one you want to see." "I became determined to see him and gave him a telephone call," Ford continued. "He was in his 90s by then, retired from Park service." After Ford introduced himself as a Bennett family member from Hartford, Hannah replied, "Oh, yes! We are related. I would be glad to help you." Hannah told Ford, "My mother knew your Archibald Bennett and also knew about his father, Manson Turner Bennett, who married Laura Sarah Noland." "He even told me that Manson Turner Bennett's father was Young Bennett, one of Cataloochee's first settlers," Ford added. Eventually Ford met with Hannah and his wife, visiting them in their Maggie Valley, NC home. "On three separate occasions, Mark went with me to Cataloochee Valley to show me and tell me about my Bennett ancestors," Ford said. "My father got so interested in this new knowledge that he went with us to Cataloochee Valley." In the 1830s, the beautiful Cataloochee Valley was opened to development The terms of purchase specified that the land must be settled, so, said Ford, "The call went out to families willing to "prove" (improve) the land. The Caldwells, Bennetts, Nolands, Palmers, Hannahs, Groomses, Woodys, and Messers were among those answering the call. "They came to make this wilderness into "a place called home," said Ford. James Colwell (Caldwell), his son Levi Colwell, and Young Bennett builtthe-first log cabins in the Cataloochee Valley. These two cabins were located about three hundred yards beyond the present-day Caldwell barn, which sits on the edge of the road near the middle of the big field on Big Cataloochee. "It was said that the cabins were built close to gether and that each one had a small window facing the other for the purpose of looking into each cabin," said Ford. After news of the first settlers' successes, others followed those pioneers to the fertile valley. George Palmer, Sr. and William Reddy Noland soon established their homesteads. Levi Belses Colwell (born 14 October 1814 in Madison County, NC, a son of James Colwell, met and later married Mary Ann Naillon (born 27 May 1817), a daughter of Patrick Naillon, when a cattle drive came through the mountains. Levi and Mary Ann Colwell raised 12 children. They lived near and were very close friends to Young Bennett and his wife, Allie Elvira Mease. Young and Allie (Mease) Bennett had-at least 10 children. Their son, Creighton Bennett married Levi and Mary Ann Colwell's daughter Louisa Matilda Colwell. Young Bennett was born 9 March 1812 in Georgia, near its boundary with South Carolina. He died ca. 1894 in Jackson County, NC. Young Bennett was a son of Hardiman "Doc" Bennett, born ca. 1775 in Virginia, and Permilla Young, born ca. 1797 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. Permilla was the daughter of William Young and Mary Bryson, who were among the first settlers of Buncombe County, NC. Mary (Bryson) Bennett's family is remembered today by the North Carolina town of Bryson City. Both Hardiman and Young Bennett were said to be skilled herb doctors, and both were called "Doc." By the mid-to-late 1850s, Young Bennett had become an official Trustee and stockholder of the famous Cataloochee Valley turnpike and performed much of the hard labor it took to make this turnpike a reality. The "turnpike" was actually a winding mountain road, but a very important thoroughfare. It was one of the few good routes to take when crossing from Western, NC into Tennessee. Young Bennett's good friend, Benjamin Parker Hopkins, was the Tennessee toll gate keeper. Before Civil War's brutality arrived in Cataloochee Valley, Young Bennett had built his new home at the junction of Mount Sterling Road. Here he collected toll fees from people using the pike. In 1858, Young Bennett, his son Jasper Newton Bennett, George Palmer and Levi Colwell (Caldwell) were all trustees for the Big Cataloochee Methodist Church. The names of these four men appear together as committeemen for the school as well as church trustees. Harford resident Roger Ford stands near the path to the Palmer Cemetery in Cataloochee. TAKE!. PRIDE IN United States Department of the Interior America NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Great Sniokv Mountains National Park 107 Park Headquarters Road Gatlinburg. Tennessee :i7738 29 September 1998 Roger Ford 3481 Grassy Fork Road Hartford. TN 37753 Dear Mr. Ford. This is to confirm your donation of a copy of and negative of a historic photograph of Laura Sarah Noland Bennett. For Great Smoky Mountains National Park to be able to accept the donation of this photograph and accession it into the Park's historic photo collection for use in exhibits, publications, etc.. you need to sign the enclosed standard Deed of Gift form. Before signing the Deed of Gift form, make sure vou read and understand the conditions required for the Park to be able to accept donation of the photograph. In signing the Deed of Gift form you are unconditionally donating the copy of the photograph for unrestricted use by the National Park Service. In signing the form your are also stating that the photo is your property, free and clear, to dispose of in any manner. If you do not agree to unrestricted use of the photo by the National Park Service or can not guarantee that the photo is yours to dispose of as you see fit, the National Park Service can not accept donation of the photo. If you do not agree to these conditions, please return the Deed of Gift form unsigned and the photo and negative will be returned to vou. If you do agree to these conditions, please sign the Deed of Gift form where indicated and return the top copy in the addressed, stamped envelope provided. Keep the donor copy for your personal records Thank you for your interest in the Park and your willingness to share this photograph with the Park. Sincerely. ^"*Hm^ Young Bennett served several terms as Justice of the Peace. For a time, Young was postmaster at Cataloochee and the post office was in his home. Hannah told Ford, "As you leave the junction where Young Bennett built his second home, going in the direction to Mount Sterling, the second branch you cross over is called Bennett Branch." Young Bennett and some diggers climbed high of the mountain up Bennett Branch to dig a ditch from the branch around the hill and divert the water into the almost dry branch near the Bennett home so that Young and his family wouldn't have to walk far for water. The 1860s brought dramatic changes to Young Bennett and his family. At the onset of the war, Young Bennett had six sons who enlisted in the Confederate cause. Three would die in conflict. Near the last days of the war, Federal Ranger Col. George Kirk of Tennessee, who had once fought for the South, marched his company down the Cataloochee turnpike. Kirk and his men were stalled shortly near the gap of Mount Sterling. Kirk and his men were installed near the gap by Captain Albert Teague's home guard. John T. Ford, Jr. of Grassy Fork was a member of the home guard and later described how outnumbered his men were. As Kirk and his men marched down the recently finished turnpike toward Cataloochee, the first home they came to was that of Young Bennett. His wife, Allie Elvira, fled down into the valley to warn her neighbors to hide their food and belongings. Meanwhile some of Kirk's troops forced their way into the Bennett- home and set up a station while others searched the area. The story was later told that Levi Colwell and his son Hiram were captured and brought to the Bennett home. Some Union soldiers tied them to the porch posts, then went inside Young's house to play cards. Hiram Colwell broke loose of his bonds and then freed his father. Hiram was young and managed to escape, but Levi was recaptured. Kirk ordered Young Bennett's house burned. Young and Allie's daughter, Sophronia, was home at the time. Some of the Union soldiers laughed as they watched Sophronia whip the first man who tried to set fire to her home. Eventually the blaze caught and burned the house to the ground. A few rocks from the old fireplace can still be seen today. Young Bennett declared bankruptcy in 1870. Young Bennett and Alie Elvira Mease married 10 March 1832. She was born 1 September 1811 and died ca. 1891 in Haywood County. She was the daughter of Mathias Mease (born ca. 1760/65) and Fannie M. Yount (born ca. 1777), a daughter of John Peter Young, a Revolutionary War soldier, and Maria Barbara Shook. The children of Young Bennett and Allie "Alice" Elvira Mease: 1) Jasper Newton Bennett (born 25 December 1832) in East Fork, Haywood County, NC, who married Jalie E. Gillett on 19 January 1854. He served in the 62nd Infantry regiment of the North Carolina Confederate Army and was captured at Cumberland Gap, TN and later sent to Camp Douglas, Illinois. 2) Archibald Lafayette Bennett (born 24 December 1834) in East Fork, Haywood County, who married Elizabeth Angeline Rogers (born 9 August 1836), a daughter of Matthew Nathan Rogers and Elizabeth Garrett Lusk. Archibald died of wounds he received at the Battle of Murfreesboro. He served in the 62nd Infantry regiment of the NC Confederate Army. 3) Creighton Maury Bennett (born 23 June 1836) in Cataloochee , NC, died in 1878 in Haywood County, NC. He also served in the 62nd Infant and was captured at Cumberland Gap, TN, then sent to Camp Douglas, Illinois. He married Louisa Matilda Caldwell on 5 June 1856. Louisa was born 12 August 1837 at Cataloochee, a daughter of Levi and Mary Ann (Naillon) Colwell and died 17 March 1896. 4) George Washington "Wash" Bennett (born 6 November 1839) died 1 August 1919 in Haywood County, NC. He was captured at the Battle of Chick- amauga and also at the Battle of Murfreesboro. He married 1) Elizabeth Hardin, who died 28 August 1864, and 2) Emaline Ruth Rogers (born 22 September 1842) near Fine's Creek, NC Emaline died 15 July 1901 and was a daughter of Matthew Na- Young Bennett's second home stood on this spot. During the Civil War, Kirk's Raiders burned it to the ground. than Rogers and EHzabeth Garrett Lusk. 5) Sylvanus Crisenberry Bennett (born 24 August 1841) in Cataloochee, died 19 September 1863 during the Battle of Chickamauga. He married Nancy "Pudd" Green (born 1838 in Cocke County), who died 1915 in Cocke County. She was the daughter of William Green and Sarah "Sally" McMahan, a daughter of Eli McMahan. Following Bennett's death, Nancy married 2) John Grooms. 6) Sophronia Elvira Bennett (born 8 December 1843) in Cataloochee, died before 1910. She married 5 September 1867 to James Marion Rice (born 5 January 1842), died 24 Sept. 1913 in Towns County, GA. He was the son of Jeremiah D. Rice and Sarah Moody, both of Greenville County, SC. 7) Young Amanuel "Man" Bennett (born 27 January 1846) in Cataloochee, died 8 November 1939 in Fries, Grayson County, VA. "Man" Bennett was captured twice during the Civil War, and was sent first to Camp Case, Ohio, then to Point Lookout, Maryland where he remained until the end of the war. He married Martha Jane Rogers on 30 December 1868 in Clyde, NC. Martha was born 9 March 1845 and died 2 January 1900 in Pacolet, SC, a daughter of Matthew Nathan Rogers and Elizabeth Garrett Lusk. He married 2) Alice Victoria Mabe Cole on 10 December 1905. She was born in 1874 in Alleghany County and died 6 July 1966. 8) Manson Turner Bennett (born 7 August 1849) in Cataloochee, died in 1890 in Little Catalooche, NC. According to Mark Hannah's mother, Manson Turner Bennett tried unsuccessfully to reclaim the toll road. However, he would often walk this road to help people if their wagons became stuck. On the Cove Mountain side, there was a deep horseshoe turn, and Turner Bennett would break the ice in the winter so the wagons could cross. Today this place in the road is still called the Bennett Turn.On 10 June 1869, Manson Turner Bennett married Laura Sarah Noland (born 1850) in Cataloochee She died during the winter of 1910 and was buried in Little Cataloochee Church graveyard. She was a daughter of Allen Noland and Mary Ann "Polly" Palmer. Allen Noland also died during the Civil War at the gap of "Mount Sterling as Re made his way home toward the war's end. He was a son of William Reddy Noland for whom Noland Mountain takes its name.Laura Sarah Noland was living with her uncle, George LaFayette Palmer, in the Palmer House when she married Manson Turner Bennett.Manson Turner Bennett and Laura Sarah (Noland) Bennett's son was Archibald LaFayette "Arch" Bennett, born in June 1873, and died in 1918. He is buried- in the Johnson Graveyard just off Black's Mountain Road in Hartford. On 23 March 1885 he married Mary Sisk. 9) Mary Louisa Bennett (born 25 July 1854) in Cataloochee, married James Anderson Williamson (born August, 1855), who died in Jackson County, NC. He was the son of William Williamson and Susan A. Rathbone. 10) Henry P. Bennett (born ca. 1857) - no further knowledge Today many Bennett descendants remain in the Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee areas. Countless others have located around the world. Yet all proudly relate to their heritage of the beautiful Cataloochee Valley. ■ Ranger Mark Hannah helped record the history of the Young Bennett family. Jasper Newton Bennett and his wife, the former Jalie Gillett. Laura Sarah (Noland) Bennett The Levi Colwell barn stands near the sites of the cabins of Levi Colwell and Young Bennett The homes stood close together. At one time, the wives of Colwell and Bennett looked out the windows of their homes and saw panthers on the roof of the opposite dwelling. Tom Robbins Park Ranger IMMM Manson Turner Bennett Gravemarker honoring Young and Allie (Meece) Bennett
Object