Major Charles Sevier , 1778 – 1855
In the late 90’s I was working on a speech for a gentleman about the Huguenots of Virginia. In doing the research I fell down a rabbit hole where I discovered the first Governor of Tennessee had roots in this group. I finished the assignment and went back to research the Sevier family.
I discovered so much I thought I would focus on Major Charles Sevier who was an amazing gentleman of Madison Co.
Here is a bit of history
In October 1780, the battle of King’s Mountain was fought, and we find in history that John and Robert Sevier were officers in this bloody battle, and that Capt. Robert Sevier was slain. This Capt. Robert Sevier was the father of Major Charles Sevier
May 1912
John Sevier, brother of Capt. Robert Sevier, was chosen as the first governor of Tennessee. After the death of his brother, Robert, he took his son, Charles, away and put him to work with a hatter at Greenville. Young Charles did not like his job and went to live his mother’s brother, Charles Robertson, Jr., who was a farmer. About the year 1802, Mr. Charles Sevier married Miss Elizabeth Witt, and soon afterwards moved to Overton County. Charles Sevier and his wife had fourteen children .
When West Tennessee was opened up, young Charles Sevier, with his wife, moved to Madison county and entered or bought a farm four or five miles southwest of the present city of Jackson. ( some say his land was a grant others said he purchased the land)
During the war of 1812, Charles Sevier served in the West Tennessee regiment and was in the battle of New Orleans. General Jackson promoted him, with seven others, for gallant service in the battle. Major Charles Sevier was a very large man and of wonderful constitution. He was the political leader of the democratic party of Madison county as long as he resided in the county. His enthusiasm was so great for James K. Polk, for president that on the day of the election in 1844, he rode a white bull into Jackson striped with Polk berry juice from head to tail. Major Sevier, while he was an active partisan in politics, was never a candidate for office. He was a prosperous farmer and preferred farming to political office.
Among the early settlers of West Tennessee, there was quite a spirit prevailing to be known as a “bully.” In those days no weapons were used and frequent fist fights occurred. While Major Sevier was not a quarrelsome man, when he was aroused, he was a perfect Hercules in strength, and his name was not only confined to Madison, and adjoining counties, for it is said that a “bully” from Kentucky who had heard of Major Sevier concluded he would visit Madison county and test the strength and nerve of Major Sevier. The party arrived in Jackson and was told that Sevier lived a few miles south of Jackson. The Kentucky fighter proceeded to the farm of Major Sevier and met him in the road as he was loading some wood. After telling Major Sevier what the object of his visit to Madison county was, Major Sevier told him to alight and hitch his horse. While the Kentuckian was hitching his horse, he looked around and saw Major Sevier lift the hind end of the loaded wagon and place it out of the road as if it was a toy wagon. No sooner than the “bully” from Kentucky saw him toss this wagon from the road like a toy he jumped into his saddle, and with lashing and spurs, was soon out of sight, cutting air with the swiftness of lightning, and I dare say he didn’t stop until he got to his “Old Kentucky Home.” How true this story is I cannot say, but it is tradition that is handed down.
Major Sevier in Madison County until 1854, when he decided to go to Texas. The long trip in private conveyance so told on his strength that he and his wife did not live long to enjoy their new home. They died within a few weeks of each other during the fall of 1855 at the residence of their son, Valentine Sevier, near Milford, Ellis County, Texas.
(At lot of this information is from an article based on a biography published in the Jackson Sun 1912 by Capt. T. M. Gates)
In the late 90’s I was working on a speech for a gentleman about the Huguenots of Virginia. In doing the research I fell down a rabbit hole where I discovered the first Governor of Tennessee had roots in this group. I finished the assignment and went back to research the Sevier family.
I discovered so much I thought I would focus on Major Charles Sevier who was an amazing gentleman of Madison Co.
Here is a bit of history
In October 1780, the battle of King’s Mountain was fought, and we find in history that John and Robert Sevier were officers in this bloody battle, and that Capt. Robert Sevier was slain. This Capt. Robert Sevier was the father of Major Charles Sevier
May 1912
John Sevier, brother of Capt. Robert Sevier, was chosen as the first governor of Tennessee. After the death of his brother, Robert, he took his son, Charles, away and put him to work with a hatter at Greenville. Young Charles did not like his job and went to live his mother’s brother, Charles Robertson, Jr., who was a farmer. About the year 1802, Mr. Charles Sevier married Miss Elizabeth Witt, and soon afterwards moved to Overton County. Charles Sevier and his wife had fourteen children .
When West Tennessee was opened up, young Charles Sevier, with his wife, moved to Madison county and entered or bought a farm four or five miles southwest of the present city of Jackson. ( some say his land was a grant others said he purchased the land)
During the war of 1812, Charles Sevier served in the West Tennessee regiment and was in the battle of New Orleans. General Jackson promoted him, with seven others, for gallant service in the battle. Major Charles Sevier was a very large man and of wonderful constitution. He was the political leader of the democratic party of Madison county as long as he resided in the county. His enthusiasm was so great for James K. Polk, for president that on the day of the election in 1844, he rode a white bull into Jackson striped with Polk berry juice from head to tail. Major Sevier, while he was an active partisan in politics, was never a candidate for office. He was a prosperous farmer and preferred farming to political office.
Among the early settlers of West Tennessee, there was quite a spirit prevailing to be known as a “bully.” In those days no weapons were used and frequent fist fights occurred. While Major Sevier was not a quarrelsome man, when he was aroused, he was a perfect Hercules in strength, and his name was not only confined to Madison, and adjoining counties, for it is said that a “bully” from Kentucky who had heard of Major Sevier concluded he would visit Madison county and test the strength and nerve of Major Sevier. The party arrived in Jackson and was told that Sevier lived a few miles south of Jackson. The Kentucky fighter proceeded to the farm of Major Sevier and met him in the road as he was loading some wood. After telling Major Sevier what the object of his visit to Madison county was, Major Sevier told him to alight and hitch his horse. While the Kentuckian was hitching his horse, he looked around and saw Major Sevier lift the hind end of the loaded wagon and place it out of the road as if it was a toy wagon. No sooner than the “bully” from Kentucky saw him toss this wagon from the road like a toy he jumped into his saddle, and with lashing and spurs, was soon out of sight, cutting air with the swiftness of lightning, and I dare say he didn’t stop until he got to his “Old Kentucky Home.” How true this story is I cannot say, but it is tradition that is handed down.
Major Sevier in Madison County until 1854, when he decided to go to Texas. The long trip in private conveyance so told on his strength that he and his wife did not live long to enjoy their new home. They died within a few weeks of each other during the fall of 1855 at the residence of their son, Valentine Sevier, near Milford, Ellis County, Texas.
(At lot of this information is from an article based on a biography published in the Jackson Sun 1912 by Capt. T. M. Gates)
HistoryandstoriesoftheHatchieRiver 