NEW RIVER AREA OF CAMPBELL, ANDERSON, SCOTT CO TN.
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The New River Area is about 10 miles west of Caryville TN.,
Running down Beech Fork Creek to New River, up and down New River,
from Fork mountain toward Oneida; And from the head of Ligias Fork
Creek to New River.
CARYVILLE TENNESSEE.
Caryville is located about 30 miles south of the Kentucky line, off
I-75; Caryville, in 1866, was named after Judge William Carey of
Virginia. It was first named Wheeler’s Station after H.D. Wheeler,
one of the community’s first merchants. Caryville was a coal mining
town in 1939.
In 1806 Caryville was called Walnut Cove; Later it was called
Wheelers Gap, named after the Wheeler brothers, Thomas, Richard and
Benjamin Wheeler who owned the freight line; It was last named
after Judge William Carey, who owned the Inn which was often
occupied by Civil War Troops moving through the area.
Judge William first was the mailman and clerk in the freight office.
William md Malinda E Wheeler(1813-1892) d/o Thomas Wheeler who owned
the freight office. William and his sons were killed during the
Civil War. Melinda E Carey is buried in the Gray Cemetery at
Knoxville; However she has a stone in the Carey Cemetery. William
and Melinda Carey's daughter, Sue Carey met at Caryville and later
md De Tavernier, Major Fifth US Calvery from Prussia who later
became a Colonel in the Union Army.
CAREY, William 8-6-1806 3-30-1863 (Judge William) Carey Cemetery.
CAREY, M E 5-4-1813 Wife of William Carey Cemetery.
The New River Valley was an isolated spot of Anderson, Scott and
Campbell Co TN. The center of the New River Area is located
approximately 15 miles west, from 1-75 and Lake City TN; Beginning
at head of New River at Fork Mountain and following the New River
Valley down river toward Huntsville.
NEW RIVER POST OFFICES
Ligas P.O. served from the top of Graves Gap Mountain to the mouth
of Ligas Fork Creek where it joins New River and beyond before the
county boundries were changed. Ligias P.O. about 1917 was changed
to Stainville. Ligisa P.O. was served by horsback until about 1917.
High House P. O. Served the Shea TN Area(Beech Fork), Nicks Creek,
Pee Wee(Stoney Fork), Gennetts Camp(Clinchmore) area until about
1913. HighHouse was served by horseback until about 1913.
Highhouse P.O. sit in the old mountain footpath road between smokey
Creek and Shea, located on the opposite side of the river from Shea,
near the top of the ridge.
Podopholine P.O., served from Fork Mt., down river to Cages Crk.
In 1912, Podopholine was at the mouth of Cages Creek where it
runs into New River. Podopholine was served by horseback until
about 1917. Jackson SEIBER served as Postmaster for Podopholine
Post office, 20 May 1902 -28 Oct 1915.
CLINCHMORE TENNESSEE(Gennetts Camp).
Clinchmore is located 13 miles West from junction U. S. 25W, and
Caryville TN.
A small steel railroad was run from Shea, up Beech Fork Creek to
Gennetts Camp(Clinchmore), before or a little after 1900 to carry
out the logs. this old railroad ran beside the creek, lower then
the modern Tennessee Railroad. Telltale signs of it are still
visible up Beech Fork Creek(2003).
The newer Tennessee Railroad was run up the creek and finished
about 1930, from Oneida to Clinchmore.
Gennetts Camp was at lower end of the area of Clinchmore, the end of
the first railroad, which was small steel rails, from Shea, or
Highhouse; Up Beech Fork Creek to Gennets Camp. Gennetts Camp was
named after the Gennett Lumber Co which operated a Sawmill and first
railroad up Beech Fork Creek.
When Blue Ridge Lumber Company ceased operations at what was later
to be Clinchmore, Andrew and Nat Gennett bought its mills; Repairs
were made on the lower mill at Gennett's Camp. Small gauge steel
was laid from the mill up Round Rock Creek. Mart Newport was
section foreman in charge of laying steel, building log bridges,
and maintaining the railroad bed. Steel was also laid up the Billy
Tackett branch to a point where logs were brought down the mountain
on wire cables.
The company owned a large steam railroad engine and a smaller engine,
used to pull the logging flat cars up and down the creek. A T-Model
Ford truck with rail wheels was used also. Gennetts camp had several
houses built by Richard Newport.
The company issued scrip, which could be spent only at the commissary.
Virgil Murley was store manager at that time. Ice was shipped in by
rail, and stored in a small building, which had a thick sawdust floor
and walls.
Joe Cross was the superintendent and also ran the boarding house.
Roy Asbury, who rode through the mountains on horseback, delivered
mail. Doc Hatfield provided for the camp's medical needs, and Jessie
Cook had his own barber shop. Many of the company's employees at the
Montgomery Mill followed it to its new location below Clinchmore.
John Finley moved his family from a town near Crossville to work at
Nicks Creek, Montgomery, and later to Gennett's Camp below Clinchmore,
Tennessee. John Finley is buried in Beech Fork Cemetery. The little
hill between Clinchmore and Jennettes Camp was called John Finley
hill for years.
The name of some of the other employees are: John Stone, Lester
Finley, Earl Washam, Charlie Phillips, Hus Marcum, Ed Younce, Homer
Warren, Harley Steward, Parnick Byrd, Tom Gibson, Jap Butler, Jake
Kennedy, Bart Marlow, Powell Marlow, Roy Jones, Levi Anderson,
Gurley Young, Jess Harmon, Aaron Phillips, Johnny Wilson, and
Jessie McKamey. Jake Kennedy, Bart Marlow, Powell Marlow, and
Jessie McKamey are buried in Beech Fork Cemetery.
About 1930 Gennet Lumber Company shut down its mill at the beginning
of the Depression, the mill, shop equipment, and two railroad engines
were sold for scrap metal.
Blue Ridge Lumber Company logged in the head of Stoney Creek. It sold
out to Gennett Lumber Company.
Ralph Welch was a contractor who cut timber and operated a bandmill
for Davison Lumber Company. The site of the operation between
Clinchmore and Beechfork (Shea, Tennessee), today is known as
Welch's Camp.
According to legend Ralph Welch had several teams of large horses with
large feet, which got into the Beech Fork Cemetery, at Welchs Camp and
done a lot of damage, it was never restored to its proper condition.
Lucien Baird was one individual who played a very important part in
the New River Lumber Industry. He came from Penfield, Pennsylvania
in 1884 to look after the interests of persons who had invested in the
land and timber in Scott, Campbell and Anderson counties. For several
years, into the early 1900's, his name appeared on old deeds and county
tax records as if he were the sole owner. Lucian signed his name; L
Bird. He seldom used his first name, he often traded a rifle for a
tract of land. He would travel over the walking paths and sled roads
of the mountains, and would stay all night in the homes of different
people. The bulk of the holdings were later sold to the New River
Lumber Co., at Norma.
Clinchmore Mining Company, opened in 1929 and started a settlement,
after a three mile railroad was cut up the Beech Fork Creek Valley, in
the late 1920's, from Shea and ended at Clinchmore. This was a short
spur line off of the Tennessee Railroad between Oneida and Fork Mtn.
Coal mining and Timber was the industry. It had a grade school and two
churchs, a Baptist, and a Penticostal; A General Store and Post Office.
Also a gravelled automobile road, from Beech Fork RD., which ended at
Clinchmore.
Moad Burress was elected as Constable Sheriff to keep the peace in the
area. Moad lived in Clinchmore; Moad is buried in Riverview Cemetery,
Smokey Jct. Moad died of Diabetis, he had a couple of leg operations
before his death. Moad and Hauk Lowe mosly traveled together in an old
Army Jeep, raiding for moonshine stills, and would arrest drunkards
wherever they found them, and haul them off to the Jacksboro Jail.
Moad an Hauk were often shot at by snipers; On one occasion, near
Welchs Camp, Under sniper fire, Moad was hit, a bullet cut his gun
belt in two pieces; Neither Hauk or Moad were hurt, the snipers were
never known.
SEE, DUNCAN, BENJAMIN-(9b9b) Moad Burress.
Clinchmore Coal Company, Scrip Coins was given to the workers and used
for money and exchanged for cash in the Clinchmore General Store.
Clinchmore Coal Scrip was Coins of, 1.00, .50, .25, .10, .05, and .01.
Clinchmore Coal Co was closed down about 1950. The coal was then
removed by coal stripping, leaving ugly and dangerous highwalls
around the mountains.
A heavy rainstorm cloudburst swept the area in July of 1965, completely
removing Clinchmore off the map, drowning several people. The only
building left standing was the Baptist Church, and only building
remaining today 2003.
SHEA TENNESSEE
Shea, is in Campbell County about 16 miles from Caryville Tennessee.
Located at the point where Beech Fork Creek enters into New River.
Beech Fork Creek was named after giant Beech Trees growing there.
Shea was always called Beech Fork, even after it was renamed, evidently
most people could not accept the name Shea. About 1913, Beech Fork
was renamed Shea, after the Shea brothers Logging Company.
The first settlers came in around 1800 from North Carolina; According
to legend, the first settler at Beech Fork was a Ward, and he lived in
a huge hollow Beech Tree large enough for a house.
According to land deeds and documents, Benjamin Ward JR(1775-1836)
and wife Catherine Harmon Ward came from Valle Crucis NC, after
1820, and settled at Beech Fork about 1830.
Benjamin Ward sold his property at Beech Fork to his daughter and son
in law; Drewry and Selah Ward Carroll, in 1835.
BENJAMIN WARD JR TO DREWRY CARROLL(8 JULY 1835).DEED.
According to legend, Michael Ward and his son John came back from
the Civil War with horses loaded down with goods and opened a store
at Beech Fork(Shea).
Michael Ward and son John, of Beech Fork.
Around 1860 the post office at Shea was Highhouse, the mail was
carried from Oliver Springs and Caryville on horseback.
Highhouse P.O. was located up the side of the mountain on the west
side of New River, at Beech Fork Creek. The post office was in
the old horse and footpath trail across the Bootjack mountain, from
Smokey Jct., to Shea. The mail route from Oliver Springs included
post offices, namely, PODOPHOLINE, TIP, LIGIAS, in Anderson County
TN; And HIGHHOUSE in Campbell CO TN. Also to Smokey Creek,
Smokey JCT., in Scott Co TN.
High House P. O. served the Beech Fork(Shea), Nicks Creek, Stony
Fork, Pee Wee and Clinchmore Area.
The Shea brothers were contract timber cutters for several years for
the New River Lumber Company, Shea, Tennessee (Beechfork) was renamed
for the Shea brothers. They cut and logged timber for Beechfork
Timber Company, which was owned by M.C. Bricker of Chicago, Illinois.
Beechfork Timber Company was later owned by Andrew and Nat Gennett.
The Shea Brothers also operated the bandmill at Blue Ridge Lumber
Company.
Large groups of men were hired to form the labor crews to cut the railroad
bed up the new river valley, from Oneida, working with picks and shovels.
Horses were used to pull a large scoop, also the company had a large shovel,
operated by steam, that ran on caterpiller tracks.
The railroad was cut to follow close Beech Fork Creek, and New River,
which flows downward toward Oneida; Several people have stated that
the railroad bed is so perfectly level, that a coal car can start rolling
at Clinchmore and roll almost all the way to oneida.
According to legend the new modern railroad was extended very slowly
over a period of several years from Oneida TN., into the New River
section of Campbell and Anderson counties. It reached Beechfork Creek
at Shea about 1912, and on to Fork Mountain, about 1917 it was
finished; Closing down all the old post offices with mounted mailmen.
Shea Brothers located a logging camp there in 1913. SHEA post office
was opened in 1913, named after James T. Shea, postmaster. The mail
coming in from Oneida by rail.
According to legend the last mounted mailman was Finn Ward. and the
last Postmaster at Highhouse was Samp McGhee.
Tennessee RR Crew 1913.
After 1917 all of the old post offices were closed and new ones
opened up, with the mail being carried in by the mail bus from
Oneida.
The Mailbus was a passenger carrying coach which ran on the railroad,
powered by diesel fuel, or gas. The trains operated by steam.
The Post Offices south on the railroad line, up New River, were;
Stainville, Charleys Branch, Rosedale, Devonia, and Fork Mountain.
The Post offices north of Shea, going down river toward Oneida; Some
were; Smokey Junction, Norma,Winona, Huntsville, Helenwood.
The railroad tracks coming from Clinchmore at Shea were built in a
y shape with the top of the y connecting to the railroad going to
Oneida and Fork mountain, making the top of the y a diamond shape,
so the large steam locomotives could turn around. A huge water tank
was also installed for the steam locomotives. Two long side tracks
were installed for empty coal cars, and coaches for the workers to eat
and sleep in.
Robert Paris Ward(1906-1963) as a teenager, worked as a cook in one
of the coaches set up to cook in. Paris retired from the railroad in
the late 1950's. Paris is buried in Beech Fork Cemetery.
In the 1930's, 40's and 50's, Shea was a busy place, it had two
general stores, Of which one contained a Post Office, a church and
school house(Marlow School), a railroad depot, and section crew
house, a flagging station for the Locomotives and mailbus, which
were flagged onto a side track for other trains to pass. The labor
crews also stored their tools and worked from here.
The railroad depot station was operated by Fred and Armeldia Lawson,
Fred was section crew forman. Fred and Armeldia are buried in Beech
Fork Cemetery. Melt Byrge later became the section crew forman.
The Post Office and store was operated by WM(Billy) and Ironia
Adkins at one time. Billy Adkins sold out to Rans and Tinsie Kennedy
and moved to Clinton. Rans and Tinsie sold out to Aubry Mcghee, the
store was then operated by Bessie and Caleb McGhee.
In 1918, Southern Lumber Company of Nashville owned a Bandmill and
a Barrell Stave Mill at Nicks Creek, Tennessee. Mr. Mackelane was
superintendent. The mill was later moved to Montgomery, Tennessee,
between Smoky Junction and Norma.
Andrew and Nat Gennett from North Carolina bought out Southern Lumber
Company's Bandmill on Smoky Creek and a Circlemill at Bull Creek.
Bill Berry was superintendent at the Montgomery Mill; His son,
Charley Berry, was the bookkeeper; Two other sons, Wade and Dude,
were employees. Other employees were Earl Washam, Sherman Phillips,
Doffes Wright, Fred Hembree, Wiley Carroll, Bob Daugherty, Isaac
Duncan, and Fielden Newport. Fieldon Newport is buried in Beech Fork
Cemetery.
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The New River Area is about 10 miles west of Caryville TN., Running down Beech Fork Creek to New River, up and down New River, from Fork mountain toward Oneida; And from the head of Ligias Fork Creek to New River.
The New River Valley was an isolated spot of Anderson, Scott and Campbell Co TN. The center of the New River Area is located approximately 15 miles west, from 1-75 and Lake City TN; Beginning at head of New River at Fork Mountain and following the New River Valley down river toward Huntsville.
NEW RIVER POST OFFICES Ligas P.O. served from the top of Graves Gap Mountain to the mouth of Ligas Fork Creek where it joins New River and beyond before the county boundries were changed. Ligias P.O. about 1917 was changed to Stainville. Ligisa P.O. was served by horsback until about 1917.
High House P. O. Served the Shea TN Area(Beech Fork), Nicks Creek, Pee Wee(Stoney Fork), Gennetts Camp(Clinchmore) area until about 1913. HighHouse was served by horseback until about 1913. Highhouse P.O. sit in the old mountain footpath road between smokey Creek and Shea, located on the opposite side of the river from Shea, near the top of the ridge.
Gennetts Camp was at lower end of the area of Clinchmore, the end of the first railroad, which was small steel rails, from Shea, or Highhouse; Up Beech Fork Creek to Gennets Camp. Gennetts Camp was named after the Gennett Lumber Co which operated a Sawmill and first railroad up Beech Fork Creek.
Clinchmore Mining Company, opened in 1929 and started a settlement, after a three mile railroad was cut up the Beech Fork Creek Valley, in the late 1920's, from Shea and ended at Clinchmore. This was a short spur line off of the Tennessee Railroad between Oneida and Fork Mtn. Coal mining and Timber was the industry. It had a grade school and two churchs, a Baptist, and a Penticostal; A General Store and Post Office. Also a gravelled automobile road, from Beech Fork RD., which ended at Clinchmore. Moad Burress was elected as Constable Sheriff to keep the peace in the area. Moad lived in Clinchmore; Moad is buried in Riverview Cemetery, Smokey Jct. Moad died of Diabetis, he had a couple of leg operations before his death. Moad and Hauk Lowe mosly traveled together in an old Army Jeep, raiding for moonshine stills, and would arrest drunkards wherever they found them, and haul them off to the Jacksboro Jail. Moad an Hauk were often shot at by snipers; On one occasion, near Welchs Camp, Under sniper fire, Moad was hit, a bullet cut his gun belt in two pieces; Neither Hauk or Moad were hurt, the snipers were never known.
SEE, DUNCAN, BENJAMIN-(9b9b) Moad Burress. Clinchmore Coal Company, Scrip Coins was given to the workers and used for money and exchanged for cash in the Clinchmore General Store. Clinchmore Coal Scrip was Coins of, 1.00, .50, .25, .10, .05, and .01.
Clinchmore Coal Co was closed down about 1950. The coal was then removed by coal stripping, leaving ugly and dangerous highwalls around the mountains. A heavy rainstorm cloudburst swept the area in July of 1965, completely removing Clinchmore off the map, drowning several people. The only building left standing was the Baptist Church, and only building remaining today 2003.
SHEA TENNESSEE Shea, is in Campbell County about 16 miles from Caryville Tennessee. Located at the point where Beech Fork Creek enters into New River. Beech Fork Creek was named after giant Beech Trees growing there. Shea was always called Beech Fork, even after it was renamed, evidently most people could not accept the name Shea. About 1913, Beech Fork was renamed Shea, after the Shea brothers Logging Company. The first settlers came in around 1800 from North Carolina; According to legend, the first settler at Beech Fork was a Ward, and he lived in a huge hollow Beech Tree large enough for a house. According to land deeds and documents, Benjamin Ward JR(1775-1836) and wife Catherine Harmon Ward came from Valle Crucis NC, after 1820, and settled at Beech Fork about 1830. Benjamin Ward sold his property at Beech Fork to his daughter and son in law; Drewry and Selah Ward Carroll, in 1835. BENJAMIN WARD JR TO DREWRY CARROLL(8 JULY 1835).DEED. According to legend, Michael Ward and his son John came back from the Civil War with horses loaded down with goods and opened a store at Beech Fork(Shea). Michael Ward and son John, of Beech Fork. Around 1860 the post office at Shea was Highhouse, the mail was carried from Oliver Springs and Caryville on horseback. Highhouse P.O. was located up the side of the mountain on the west side of New River, at Beech Fork Creek. The post office was in the old horse and footpath trail across the Bootjack mountain, from Smokey Jct., to Shea. The mail route from Oliver Springs included post offices, namely, PODOPHOLINE, TIP, LIGIAS, in Anderson County TN; And HIGHHOUSE in Campbell CO TN. Also to Smokey Creek, Smokey JCT., in Scott Co TN. High House P. O. served the Beech Fork(Shea), Nicks Creek, Stony Fork, Pee Wee and Clinchmore Area. The Shea brothers were contract timber cutters for several years for the New River Lumber Company, Shea, Tennessee (Beechfork) was renamed for the Shea brothers. They cut and logged timber for Beechfork Timber Company, which was owned by M.C. Bricker of Chicago, Illinois. Beechfork Timber Company was later owned by Andrew and Nat Gennett. The Shea Brothers also operated the bandmill at Blue Ridge Lumber Company.
Large groups of men were hired to form the labor crews to cut the railroad bed up the new river valley, from Oneida, working with picks and shovels. Horses were used to pull a large scoop, also the company had a large shovel, operated by steam, that ran on caterpiller tracks. The railroad was cut to follow close Beech Fork Creek, and New River, which flows downward toward Oneida; Several people have stated that the railroad bed is so perfectly level, that a coal car can start rolling at Clinchmore and roll almost all the way to oneida. According to legend the new modern railroad was extended very slowly over a period of several years from Oneida TN., into the New River section of Campbell and Anderson counties. It reached Beechfork Creek at Shea about 1912, and on to Fork Mountain, about 1917 it was finished; Closing down all the old post offices with mounted mailmen. Shea Brothers located a logging camp there in 1913. SHEA post office was opened in 1913, named after James T. Shea, postmaster. The mail coming in from Oneida by rail. According to legend the last mounted mailman was Finn Ward. and the last Postmaster at Highhouse was Samp McGhee. Tennessee RR Crew 1913.
After 1917 all of the old post offices were closed and new ones opened up, with the mail being carried in by the mail bus from Oneida. The Mailbus was a passenger carrying coach which ran on the railroad, powered by diesel fuel, or gas. The trains operated by steam. The Post Offices south on the railroad line, up New River, were; Stainville, Charleys Branch, Rosedale, Devonia, and Fork Mountain. The Post offices north of Shea, going down river toward Oneida; Some were; Smokey Junction, Norma,Winona, Huntsville, Helenwood.
In the 1930's, 40's and 50's, Shea was a busy place, it had two general stores, Of which one contained a Post Office, a church and school house(Marlow School), a railroad depot, and section crew house, a flagging station for the Locomotives and mailbus, which were flagged onto a side track for other trains to pass. The labor crews also stored their tools and worked from here.
The railroad depot station was operated by Fred and Armeldia Lawson, Fred was section crew forman. Fred and Armeldia are buried in Beech Fork Cemetery. Melt Byrge later became the section crew forman. The Post Office and store was operated by WM(Billy) and Ironia Adkins at one time. Billy Adkins sold out to Rans and Tinsie Kennedy and moved to Clinton. Rans and Tinsie sold out to Aubry Mcghee, the store was then operated by Bessie and Caleb McGhee.
In 1918, Southern Lumber Company of Nashville owned a Bandmill and a Barrell Stave Mill at Nicks Creek, Tennessee. Mr. Mackelane was superintendent. The mill was later moved to Montgomery, Tennessee, between Smoky Junction and Norma. Andrew and Nat Gennett from North Carolina bought out Southern Lumber Company's Bandmill on Smoky Creek and a Circlemill at Bull Creek. Bill Berry was superintendent at the Montgomery Mill; His son, Charley Berry, was the bookkeeper; Two other sons, Wade and Dude, were employees. Other employees were Earl Washam, Sherman Phillips, Doffes Wright, Fred Hembree, Wiley Carroll, Bob Daugherty, Isaac Duncan, and Fielden Newport. Fieldon Newport is buried in Beech Fork Cemetery. BACK TO TOP