Area History

The first settlers moved into the Sequatchie Valley, then Roane County, around 1805, soon after the first treaty was signed with the native people. Some of these early settlers were Wilson, Oxsheer, Tollett, Standefer, Griffith and Anderson. Louise Maxwell Anderson is believed to be the first white child born in Sequatchie Valley in September 1806.

The oldest county in Sequatchie Valley, Bledsoe was named for a member of the prominent Bledsoe family of Sumner County. The most likely candidate for this honor is Anthony Bledsoe, a practical surveyor and Revolutionary war patriot.

Bledsoe became a county in 1807, during James Sevier's last term as governor. James Standefer and John Tollett were appointed in 1811 to select a place for the county seat. Alexander Coulter donated forty acres "to erect the town of Madison."
Much of the land acquired by early settlers was a result of laws passed by the Tennessee State Legislature 1806-1809 which allowed a settler to claim the land he was living on as well as other unclaimed lands. Some of these early claimants were John Billingsley, John Hankins and John Narramore.

Sometime between 1816 and 1818 the county seat was moved to Pikeville.

Bledsoe County was and is comprised of many small communities often bearing the name of a church, store, or post office. These are very often family names. In 1832 Matthew Rhea listed four place names on his map: Pikeville, Big Springs, Madison and Rainey. In 1836, by an act of the Tennessee State Assembly, Bledsoe County was divided into 10 Civil Districts. The gentlemen responsible for the districting were Isaac Stephens, Samuel McReynolds and Samuel L. Story. In 1856 the Northern part of Bledsoe County became part of Cumberland County and in 1858 portions of Southern Bledsoe County were given up to Sequatchie County.

BLEDSOE COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR
This time period created much confusion and dissension among the citizens. Bledsoe County voted against withdrawal from the Union and while the state itself voted for secession, much of the eastern part of Tennessee remained loyal to the Union.

Despite the fact that Bledsoe voted against secession, several Confederate companies were organized. The Tulloss Rangers were organized by John Bridgeman in July 1861 and named to honor James A. Tulloss of Pikeville for his contributions to the company. In August, 1861, Weatherston S. Greer also organized a company with men from Bledsoe, Rhea and Roane Counties. Other Confederate units were organized by William J. Hill, Alexander H. Roberson and Oliver P. Schoolfield.
Most of the Bledsoe men who joined the Union forces enlisted in upper east Tennessee, Huntsville, Athens and at Camp Dick Robinson in Kentucky.
During the Civil War the men of Bledsoe County were found fighting for both Confederate and Union units. While no complete list of participants exists, a partial list of Civil War soldiers from Bledsoe county is included here.

BLEDSOE COUNTY TODAY
Located 50 miles north of Chattanooga in the southeast part of Tennessee, Bledsoe is a small rural community of 404 square miles. It is bordered by Cumberland County on the North, Rhea and Hamilton Counties on the East, Sequatchie County on the South and by Vanburen County on the West. Pikeville, the county seat, is located in the central part of the county on the Sequatchie River and has a population of about 2500. For more information about modern day Bledsoe County, see FAQs.

CIVIL DISTRICTS
In 1836, the Tennessee State Legislature appointed 3 citizens of Bledsoe County to "lay off the county into districts for the purpose of electing Justices of the Peace and Constables." Isaac Stephens, Samuel McReynolds and Samuel L. Story divided the county into 10 districts, each with a designated voting place, the northern most being District 1 and the southernmost being District 10.

It is important to note that in 1856 Cumberland County was created and took Civil Districts 1, 2, and 3 as part of its territory and in the same year the State Legislature detached the 10th district along with the 1st and 2nd districts of Marion County to become part of Sequatchie County.

TOPOGRAPHY AND MIGRATION PATTERNS OF BLEDSOE COUNTY
Bledsoe is divided into three distinct areas by nature...the Cumberland Plateau, Walden's Ridge and the Sequatchie Valley.

The Cumberland plateau was named for the Duke of Cumberland by Dr. Thomas Walker, a Virginian. Sequatchie/Sequachee is of Cherokee origin and means "hog trough" or possibly opossum. There are two stories of the naming of Walden's Ridge. One story supposes it is named for a hunter, John Walling who died there; the other suggests it was named for Elisha Walden.

Many early settlers were farmers. The rich fertile land around the Sequatchie River provided the perfect environment for the corn crops which were the mainstay of the settlers.

MIGRATION
Most early settlers in Bledsoe county came from eastern seaboard states (North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina ) or the counties of upper east Tennessee namely, Roane, Grainger, Anderson and Knox. Expansion was rapid in the early days of the county. More than 3000 people immigrated in the 5 year period between 1805 and 1810.
 

Bledsoe County
Created 1807 from Roane County and Indian lands; named in honor of Anthony Bledsoe (1733-1788), colonial and Revolutionary War soldier from Virginia, surveyor, Tennessee militia colonel and early settler of Sumner County who was killed by Indians.

Bledsoe (BLED-so), county ( 404 sq mi/1,046 sq km; 1990 pop. 9,669), central Tenn.; Pikeville; 35°36'N 85°13'W. On Cumberland Plateau, here cut by fertile Sequatchie R. valley. Fall Creek Falls (256 ft/78 m), highest waterfall in E U.S., is here. Timber; dairying; livestock raising; tomatoes, fruit. Coal mining. Formed 1807.  

Sequatchie County
Created 1857 from Hamilton, Marion and Warren counties, the name linked with a Cherokee word “sequachee,” probably meaning “opossum, he grins or runs,” also the name of a Cherokee chief for whom the Sequatchie Valley is named. Named in honor of the valley in which the county lies. This, in turn, was reportedly named for the Cherokee chief who journeyed to Charleston, South Carolina, in the first half of the 18th Century to sign a treaty with the Colonial government.

Dunlap , city (1990 pop. 3,731), Sequatchie co., E Tenn., on Sequatchie R., and 23 mi/37 km N of Chattanooga; 35°23'N 85°23'W. In fertile agr., livestock, timber, coal-mining region; mfg. (wood prods., small engines, zippers, parachutes).