Sale Creek
Is on the Cincinnati Southern Railway. The Welsh Company came here in 1867, and leased the coal mine of Lusk, Pearl & Co.; commenced mining coal and carried the coal on a tram railroad to Sale Creek, a distance of one and a half miles, where it was loaded into flatboats until 1875, when work was suspended, and a railway graded from the mines to connect with the Cincinnati Southern Railway. When this railway was built the place had about 300 inhabitants. The first store was started here in 1868 by Peter Bolton, who sold out in 1875 to the Welsh Company. A blacksmith shop was opened herein 1868. G. W. Branham started a store in 1877 and is still keeping it. The school has been in operation here since 1850, when it was known as the Masonic Academy, the building having been erected by the Masonic Lodge aided by private subscription. The first teacher here was J. N. Aiken.
The present board consists of Dr. V. J. Kennedy, Peter Bolton and Joseph Me Reynolds. The upper story of the present schoolhouse was put on in 1885, during which year the school was graded. There are five religious denominations here: the Presbyterian, Cumberland Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist Episcopal South.
Coke ovens were built here in 1882, which now turn out about three carloads of coke per day, the amount of coal mined being about 100 tons per day. The first coal mined here was in 1845, by Robert Jack on his own farm.
The postmasters at Sale Creek have been Thomas Coulter, appointed October 26, 1841; John R. Hickman, April 16, 1855; Thomas Coulter, February 19, 1856; Abel A. Pearson, March 18, 1856; Gideon T. Morgan, January 10, 1866; John R. Hickman, March 19, 1866; Peter Bolton, January 11, 1871; William B. Bolton, December 29, 1882, and Jacob a. N. Patterson, April 2. 1886.
Saint Elmo or St. Elmo
Abraham Malone Johnson was born in Gainesville, Georgia in 1830. At a young age he became an apprentice tanner which would lead to his first venture into the business world. Young Johnson was a restless man with dreams so, at the age of seventeen he left home. By 1851 he had arrived in Chattanooga where he and his brother-in-law John P. Bryson started a tanning business. About two years later Johnson became a Post Office route agent for the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. It was at this time that he met Thankful Anderson Whiteside. Thankful was the daughter of Col. James A. Whiteside, one of Chattanooga’s founders and leading citizens. Whiteside didn’t find Johnson suitable for his daughter Thankful.
Thankful had become engaged to a law student from Shelbyville, Tennessee who was working for Col. Whiteside as a law clerk. Col. Whiteside was pleased with her engagement as Col. Whiteside was himself a lawyer. Whiteside’s pleasure soon turned to anger when in November 1857 just two days before her wedding, Thankful eloped with A.M. Johnson. Johnson had borrowed fifty dollars from Frances Walker where he and Thankful could get married. Whiteside didn’t speak to Thankful for more than a year until he learned that Johnson had given birth to twins. Col. Whiteside sent a servant to help with the children and Whiteside and Thankful were able to settle their differences before his death in 1861. Many years later A.M. and Thankful’s daughter Anna Johnson eloped with Jack Betts just two days before she was to marry someone else.
Soon after their marriage Johnson became the superintendent of the Will Valley Railroad. During the Civil War he operated several railroads in Georgia serving under the Confederate Government receiving the honorary title of Colonial. During the war as a railroad operator Col. Johnson was able to keep his family safe moving the family by railway from city to city staying clear of battle sites. The Johnson’s had seven children together. Their names were Mary Thankful (minnie) and Anderson Malone who were twins. Other children were James Whiteside Johnson who married Sue Cleage, Frances Amanda who married Douglas Everett, Helen who married Robert Nielsen Phillips, Anna Miranda who married John Betts and Ephraim Foster.
Anderson Malone Johnson got into a fight over a woman which resulted in a friend being cut in the neck. The man claimed it was accidental but, he died of infection two weeks later. Rumors went around that Anderson was to be charged in the man’s death so, he fled the country. He became a drifter sometimes showing up at his father’s house. The last anyone heard of him he was in Denver, Colorado in 1879
After the war the Johnson family returned to Chattanooga to find their home and belongings had been destroyed. Johnson set out to rebuild his Chattanooga home located on Boyce St. Around that time Johnson purchased from the Union Army the water company that the Army had built. Col. Johnson changed the name and founded the Lookout Water Works and served as its president for seventeen years. The Lookout water company Col. Johnson founded was located at 274 Market St. from 1876 - 1882 then moved to 10th St and became the City Water Co. which is now the Tennessee-American Water Co.
In 1878 Chattanooga experienced a Yellow Fever Epidemic that caused residents to leave for safer conditions in the mountains to avoid the disease. Seeing the demand for property away from Chattanooga, Johnson began subdividing the land that Mrs. Johnson had inherited from her father Col. Whiteside’s estate. In the beginning the Johnson’s picked whom they wanted to sell lots to and he refused to sell more than one lot to any one buyer.
In 1885 Charles Cravens Anderson the Grandson of Robert Cravens was exploring caves beneath his grandfather's property when he discovered what became known as Mystery Falls. At the base of the falls, he found a stream and determined that the water could be used in what would soon be ST Elmo. In 1886 Anderson started a stock company to carry out the project. The company drilled shafts so the water could be piped to ST Elmo. Sometime in 1887 the water began being pumped out at a rate of 975 gallons per minute. Charles Cravens Anderson leased the spring to Col. Johnson’s Lookout Water Co. for a fee of fifteen dollars a day. By 1911 the Mystery Falls spring located near Old Wauhatchie was closed and stopped supplying water to the area.
Originally the community was rather small consisting of what is now the business district. Johnson began purchasing additional land south of his farm. The Johnson’s were living in their summer home, a farm he called "Eastside" because it was located on the east side of Lookout Mountain. The site of their farmhouse was located where the Incline Railway’s parking lot is today. Elisha Kirklin’s property joined Johnson’s property on the north and Robert Cravens’ property joined on the west. Kirklin’s property was often confused as being Col. Johnson’s property. Sometime around 1886 Col. Johnson began construction on a new house for his family while watching his new community quickly grow. Soon Col. Johnson needed to purchase more land so his community could continue to expand.
In 1888 the Johnson family moved into their new home located at the present-day Alabama Avenue. The house was a beautiful mansion with ten rooms, a tower, tower room, full attic, full basement and a wine cellar. Their home had a slate roof, hand carved cherry woodwork in some rooms and golden oak in other rooms. Johnson had stained glass installed in his library, dining room and front hall. The home was also equipped with a tin tub and Chattanooga’s first furnace. Johnson referred to his home as "the house" and it became the center piece of the community. Col. Johnson named his new community after the book "ST Elmo" written by Augusta Evans. Evans was a personal friend of Thankful Johnson and had visited the Johnson’s often. The well-known author wrote the book while visiting Lookout Mountain. She felt that the valley below reminded her of ST Elmo Castle in Naples, Italy. Evans included the things she saw at the foot of the mountain such as the spring and blacksmith shop into her story. Johnson later said that he chose ST Elmo as the name of his community because he owned the land, spring, buildings and roads described in Evans’ book.
After moving into the new house Col. Johnson had his farmhouse dismantled and relocated where it remains today. The location is 4403 Alabama Avenue, the house is the oldest structure in ST Elmo although, the old farmhouse has seen some alterations and may not look like it did when Johnson lived in it, it is the house where ST Elmo was conceived.
A.M. Johnson believed in education and that neighbors should be involved in their community. He founded the ST Elmo Book Club in which he was the only male member. The idea was for neighbors to meet and swap books with each other. The book club also served as a way for neighbors to socialize. Col. Johnson was instrumental in helping to establish the Missionary Ridge Chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Johnson also help start the ST Elmo Bank and Trust and Forest Hills Cemetery. Johnson also founded Lookout Rolling Mill Company and served as president until 1887. ST Elmo’s founder donated land at the corner of W47th St. and Alabama Ave. where a small wood frame school was built.
In 1892 Johnson and some of his neighbors met at his home to discuss starting a Sunday School Class in ST Elmo. At the time going to church was a real task as horse and buggy was the only means of travel to Chattanooga. The long ride made attending church not so important to some. Col. Johnson felt that children should be thought about their faith. Then in October 1893 the Guild of ST Elmo held its first class. The location for the class was the second floor of the Music Hall which was located at the corner of W45th St. and ST Elmo Avenue. The Guild rented the hall for three dollars a month. Col. Johnson served as the Guild’s president and as secretary. Later the Guild took over the first floor as well and turned it into a chapel complete with an organ and alter. The Episcopal Church remained here until 1904.
It is not widely known that Col. A.M. Johnson was a music lover and a talented musician as well. Johnson played many different instruments such as the piano, violin, clarinet and mandolin. He collected many instruments in his lifetime and Johnson played in the Chattanooga Silver Cornet Band. In his will Johnson left an instrument to each of his children as well as money and property. Shortly before his death Col. Johnson had secured the rights for a Coca Cola franchise in Chicago, Illinois but, died before he could develop the company. Oddly enough after his death two of Johnson’s family members tried to develop the franchise and both died before they could.
Sadly Col. A.M. Johnson died in 1903 but, his sense of helping and giving of himself to his community continued even in death. In his will Col. Johnson left the property across the street from his house to be used to build an Episcopal church in honor of his wife. Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church formally opened in May 1907. Johnson also left property to build a new elementary school for ST Elmo. Thankful Whiteside Johnson suffered for many years from an unknown aliment brought on by the years of hardship she endured during the Civil War, Yellow Fever Epidemic and childbirth. On January 28, 1890 Thankful passed away and was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery
written and submitted by Jeffrey C. Webb mysaintelmo.com
St. Elmo Churches (Old)
Baptist, Missionary
St. Elmo Church, 1866--. 4500 St. Elmo Avenue. Members and Deaths, 2 vols., in custody of Alonzo P Stephenson, Clerk, 4303 Michigan Avenue. Register: (1926--.)
South St. Elmo Church, 1934--. Fifty-sixth Street and Tennessee Avenue. Baptisms, Members, and Deaths (in Church Minutes, 1934--, 1 vol.) in custody of William Cant, Clerk, 5610 Tennessee Avenue. Register: (1934--.)
Baptist, Missionary (Col.)
St. Elmo Church, 1890--. 810 West Thirty-seventh Street. Baptisms, Members, and Deaths (in Church Minutes, 1936--, 3 vols.) in custody of Haywood White, 1712 East Third Street. Register: (1936--.)
St. James Church, 1932--. 130 West Forty-fifth Street. Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths (in Church Minutes, 1935--, 3 vols.) in custody of Rev. John Henry Sparks, 56 West Twenty-fourth Street. Register: (1935--.)
Baptist, Primitive (Col.)
St. Cephas Church, 1918--. 3411 George Street. Baptisms, Marriages, Members, and Deaths (in Church Minutes, 1927-31, 1935--, 3 vols.) in custody of Rev. E D Thomas, 2436 Fort Street. Register: (1927-31, 1935--.)
Church of Christ
St. Elmo Church, 1913--. Forty-eighth Street and St. Elmo Avenue. Members, 1 file box, in custody of Elder D D Woody, 4711 St. Elmo Avenue. Register: (1923--.)
Methodist
St. Elmo Church, 1883--. 4624 St. Elmo Avenue. Baptisms, Members, and Deaths, 1 vol., in custody of Mrs. Lundy E Beatey, 4310 St. Elmo Avenue. Register: (1921--.)
African Methodist Episcopal Zion
Patten Memorial Church, 1886--. 3817 Church Street. Baptisms, Members, and Deaths (in Church Minutes, 1923--, 3 vols.) in custody of Rev. J S Davenport, 1726 West Thirty-ninth Street. Register: (1923--.)
Presbyterian, US
Brick Store Mission, 1930--. 3405 St. Elmo Avenue. Baptisms and Members, 1 vol., in custody of Miss Mildred Collins, Secretary, Lookout Mountain Church, 3405 St. Elmo Avenue. Register: (1930--.)
St. Elmo Church, 1889--. 4400 St. Elmo Avenue. Members and Deaths, 3 vols., in custody of Arthur J Hitchcock, Clerk, 4612 Florida Avenue. Register: (1904--.)
Protestant Episcopal
Thankful Memorial Church, 1905--. Alabama Avenue and Thankful Place. Baptisms, Marriages, Members, and Deaths, 1 vol., in custody of Rev. Thomas P Simpson, 1607 West Forty-third Street. Register: (1905--.)
Snow Hill
proper centered on Mahan Gap Road between its two intersections with Snow Hill Road. The name eventually spread to Greenwood, Providence, and Crossroads, and most nowadays consider it part of Greater Ooltewah.
During the War of the Rebellion, Snow’s Scouts, Confederate Bushwackers led by former Sheriff of Hamilton County William Snow, had their base here at Snow’s home, which was surrounded by an earthen redoubt with walls so thick it withstood Federal bombardment. I’ve dubbed it Fort Snow. The former sheriff and his men were, according to legend, either killed or run off by former Union soldier and postbellum desperado Joe Richey.
The post office of Snow Hill operated 1850-1866; after the Civil War, it operated as Loyalty 1866-1872.
Snow Hill’s riverport was Blue Springs Landing
Snow Hill School originally stood on the northern branch of the eponymous road. Founded under James County, it later absorbed Blue Springs, Crossroads, and Priddy Schools in James County and survived reintegration of the county into Hamilton County and operates today as Snow Hill Elementary
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Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee
Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, located north of Chattanooga on Highway 27, is a rapidly growing area of Hamilton County. Up until 1969, Soddy-Daisy was known as two separate communities, Daisy, Tennessee to the south and Soddy, Tennessee to the north.
Daisy, Tennessee was the site of Poe's Tavern, where the first courts of Hamilton County were held. Hasten Poe, a veteran of the war of 1812, erected the tavern. It stood at the intersection of two heavily traveled highways and was a noted stopping place. The tavern was torn down about 1915.
Soddy, Tennessee takes its name from Soddy Creek which runs through the community. It is a corruption of the Cherokee word "Sauta" which is a form of Echota. Rev. Able Pearson organized the Mt. Bethel Presbyterian Church there in 1828 that helped establish the community. Col. William Clift, a large landowner and Hamilton County's first millionaire, was a pioneer citizen of this area and built his residence there in 1825.
Soddy is situated on the Cincinnati Southern Railway; the station here being named Rathburn in honor of W. P. Rathburn. The place was very small until the Soddy Coal Company commenced mining coal here in 1867. Some coal had been mined here previously by Col. William Clift and Maj. R. C. McKee, the former having settled on Soddy Creek two miles east of the present post office, in 1826. After the starting of the coal mine the town began to grow. The Soddy Coal Company built the first houses, and opened the first stores, and there was also one small grocery and a drug store, besides those owned by the company. The Soddy Company consisting of about fifteen Welshmen made an assignment in 1874, and most of the stock purchased by J. T. Williams, J. W. Clift, A. Lloyd and M. H. Clift, a portion of it remaining in the hands of Lewis. This company now employs about 500 men, and mine about 150,000 tons of coal each year. They commenced making coke in 1881, and now make about 36,000 tons per year. Besides good common schools, Soddy has a graded school in which Latin and the higher English branches are taught. Of this school P. A. Wall is the principal, and Mary McDonald assistant. The post office of Soddy was established in 1829, and William Clift appointed postmaster December 15 of that year. It was discontinued December 3, 1845. On April 10, 18501 it was re-established, John M. Watson being on that day appointed postmaster. His successors have been George Card, appointed September 13, 1867; Edward S. Card, September 6, 1869; William H. Card, November 27, 1874; J. T. Lloyd, January 17, 1882, and Abraham Lloyd, February 6, 1882.
Daisy is situated on the Cincinnati Southern Railway. The place was named after Daisy Parks, a daughter of Thomas Parks, vice-president of the Tabler-Cleudup Coal & Coke Company. The Daisy Coal Company was organized April 16, 1881, the first members being Thomas Parks, J. T. Wilder, Maj. Dodan, R. M. Barton and L. B. Headrick. This company continued on as such until July, 1885, when the Tabler- Cleudup Company was organized with Maj. J. H. Tabler, president; Thomas Parks, vice-president, and D. G. Cleudup, treasurer. The capital stock of this company is $400,000. The average output of coal is about 50,000 tons and of coke, which they commenced making in November 1885, about 10,000 tons per annum. They employ about 150 men, own 7,000 acres of land with four veins of coal from three and one-half to seven feet thick. This company opened the first store in the place in 1883, in addition to which there are now two small stores, one started by Puckett & Roe in 1884, the other by J. T. Jones in 1886. The town of Daisy contains two churches, Poe Springs Academy and about 600 inhabitants. A post office was established here, named Poe's Crossroads, June 30, 1846, with Samuel P. Poe, postmaster. It was discontinued October 21, 1847. Daisy post office was established December 12, 1883, with Robert Maddox, postmaster, still retaining the position.
Goodspeed's History of Tennessee 1887