Historic Sullivan: A History of Sullivan County, Tennessee With Brief Biographies of the Makers of History

Oliver Taylor's book (just as he wrote it) remains the single most important work on the history of Sullivan County, Tennessee. This reprint has the added value of a name index.

The first nineteen chapters deal with early activities in the Holston Valley, starting with the Cherokee settlements. Taylor records the history of the area with a sympathetic account of the Cherokee's plight. At the same time he tells of the brave frontier men and women and their constant battles with the Indians, recording the hardship of early citizens such as John Donelson and those who made the perilous river voyage with him. He tells of Isaac Shelby and the Wataugans, as they tried to subdue the Holston Valley wilderness, and the unconquerable spirit of those who attempted to start the State of Franklin. His admiration for East Tennessee's early pioneers is evident, and he has scattered biographies of the Sullivan County "Makers of History" throughout the book.

Included in the latter half of this volume are chapters devoted to early industries, the church, agriculture, methods

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The single most important work on the history of Sullivan County, Tennessee, this reprint has the added value of a name index. The first nineteen chapters of the volume deal with early activities in the Holston Valley, starting with the Cherokee settlements. It records the history of the area with a sympathetic account of the Cherokee’s plight while detailing the lives of the brave frontier men and women and their constant battles with the Indians. Also revealed are the hardships of early citizens such as John Donelson and those who made the perilous river voyage with him. It chronicles the story of Isaac Shelby and the Wataugans as they tried to subdue the Holston Valley wilderness, and the unconquerable spirit of those who attempted to start the State of Franklin.

Oliver Taylor spent all of his life as a resident of Sullivan County. He spent most of his life as a professional theatre man working with Appalachian amateurs.