Among the earliest settlers of the western portion
of Knox County - now known as the Farragut Community -- were Matthew Russell,
Robert Love, Abram Low and Joseph Rodgers, who in
the latter part of the eighteenth century (about 1783-1790) migrated
into the "Western Country" as the land now comprising the
state of Tennessee was then called.
This land at that time was a vast wilderness of
stately forest trees, thru which the majestic Tennessee River (then
called Holston River) wandered, leaving on its banks rich alluvial
soils, which were as yet uncultivated, as the Cherokee Indians, the
previous inhabitants of the region prior to that time, cared little
for agriculture, preferring to obtain their living from the abundant
wild game in this "Happy Hunting Ground" and from the
inexhaustible supply of fish in the rivers.
These four pioneer families lived on adjacent farms and later were
more closely allied thru the inter-marriage of their descendants.
Matthew Russell, son of Andrew and Elizabeth Mitchell Russell,
was born in Augusta County, Virginia in 1760. After the close of the
Revolutionary War, in which he served, he removed to the "Western
Country" and purchased a tract of land on the Tennessee river,
three miles east of the present town of Concord, on which he located
his home. Later he bought two additional tracts, the entire area
comprising something over 500 acres.
The deed to the first tract made in 1787, was executed by Stockley
Donelson and Jas. King, agents for the State of North Carolina, which
claimed ownership of this land at that time. The second deed was made
in 1795, also by Stockley Donelson, as agent for "The Territory
South of the Ohio River." The third deed was made in 1809 by John
Martin, a resident of the County of Knox, and State of
Tennessee. These deeds are yet in the possession of some of Matthew
Russell's descendants.
This tract of land known as the "Horse Shoe Bend" was a
possession of Matthew Russell and his direct descendants for more than
125 years; first, of his son, William Russell; second,, of his
grand-son, Samuel Love Russell, William Russell's son; and third, by
the heirs of Samuel Love Russell, who sold it in 1913. The farm has
been sub-divided into two tracts which are now owned by Mr. R. Y. Chandler
and Mr. George Davis, respectively.
Matthew Russell's wife, Jane Henderson,
was the daughter of John and Isabella (Houston) Henderson, and
was a second cousin of Gen. Sam Houston. Matthew and Jane Russell
reared a large family, and their descendants have been numerous and
prominent in this section for the past century and a half. A number of
the third, fourth and fifth generations are now residents of Farragut
Community, among whom are the children and grandchildren of the
late Esq. Matthew L. Russell, Mr. C. W. Russell and
children, Mr. A. M. Russell and children, Mrs. S. A. McNutt,
Misses Lizzie and Jean Russell, Messrs. Abram and Matt Galbraith,
their children and grand-children, Miss Eliza Galbraith,
Messrs. Chas., Fred and Spencer Smith and children, Mrs. Robert
Bacon and sons.
Robert Love (1754-1825) was the son of Joseph and Mary Love.
He is thought to have been born in Augusta County, Virginia, and
to have migrated to Tennessee along with the Russells and other
pioneers.
He is supposed to have been the Robert Love mentioned in
Ramsey's "Annual of Tennessee," who in 1783, in company with
Capt. James White, founder of Knoxville, and Col. F.A. Ramsey,
father of the historian, explored a large section of country in East
Tennessee, including what later became became Knox County, with
a view to settlement.
He located his home on a tract of land about fourteen miles south-west
of Knoxville and about one and one-half miles north-east of Campbell
Station, on the Kingston Stage-Coach Road, now the "Dixie
Highway," and there established the village of "Loville"
- later changed to "Lovill," where it is thought he spent
the remainder of his life, and on which tract of land he is said to
have been buried.
Robert Love's wife was Jean or Jane Roane, a relative of
Archibald Roane, second Governor of Tennessee, who is buried in Pleas
and Forest Cemetery, and to whose memory a beautiful monument
was erected by the State of Tennessee. His home was not far distant
from Robert Love's, being in Grassy Valley.
Most of the descendants of Robert and Jean Roane Love have removed to
other places of residence, a few of the descendants of his grandson,
Samuel Love Russell, son of William and Jane Love Russell still reside
here, and most of the residents of Hardin Valley - the Hardins,
Gallahers, Walkers, Jones, Steeles and
others are descendants of Robert and Jean Roane Love's daughter, Sarah
Love, who married James Montgomery.
Abram Low, born 1764, whose parents, John and Susanna Low, are
thought to have been born in England and emigrated to America (date
unknown) was a native of Shenandoah County, Virginia, but after his
marriage, in 1791, to Mary Martin, daughter of George and
Pheobe Martin, of Guilford County, North Carolina, he removed to this
section of country and settled on a tract of land on the Tennessee
River, adjoining, on the north, the homestead of Matthew Russell, and
there built his home and established Low's Ferry, by which title the
place is still known.
Abram and Mary Martin Low reared to maturity a family of eleven
children, who were socially prominent and married among the best
families of their acquaintance. The Low homestead was noted for its
hospitality, which was bestowed alike on rich and poor, and thru
obeying the scriptural injunction to "be careful to entertain
strangers," they were honored by sometimes having the privilege
of entertaining notables, if not "angels."
It is a well-known fact that Low's Ferry was the birth place of
Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, for whom Farragut School and
Farragut Community were named, and the erection on the spot of a
beautiful marker to his memory, several years since, settled forever
any controversy over the matter. Low's Ferry was Farragut's
birthplace, and Campbell Station his postoffice [sic].
Another interesting incident in connection with the Low, family was
that at one time in the year 1853 or 1854, they had for their guest
(while seriously ill) a distinguished visitor, from England, Mr.
Edward Forster, member of Parliament, and a Minister of the Friends
Church.
Mr. Forster was tenderly cared for by the Lows until he passed away.
His body was then taken to Friendsville and by sorrowing friends to
whom he had but recently preached. About twenty years later, a son of
Mr. Forster came over from England to visit his father's grave and to
express his gratitude to the Low family for their kindness to his
father.
Samuel D. Low, youngest child of Abram and Mary Martin Low, known as
"Gen. Low," the title having been given him at the Annual
"Musters," in which he was a Commanding Officer, and his
wife, Amanda Matlock Low, succeeded to the ancestral homestead
after the deaths of Abram Low and his wife, and lived there until
after the death of the former - about 1886 - after which the widow and
her youngest son, Asa Low, removed to Texas and joined the four older
who had preceded them. None of the descendants of Gen. S. D. W. Low
and wife now live in this community, but a few of the descendants of
the other children of Abram and Mary Martin Low reside here. The late
Mr. W. C. Hackney was a descendant, and his daughter, Mrs.
Charlie Boring, and her children, are descendants of Abram
Low's daughter, Rebecca Low, who married Whitehall Craig. Mr.
W. A. Doughty, a former resident, but now of Knoxville, from
whom the land for the location of Farragut School was purchased, is
also a descendant of Rebecca Low Craig and Whitehall Craig.
Mr. S. A. Rodgers, whose beautiful home is on the Dixie
Highway, a few miles above Farragut School, is a great-grandson, and
Misses Lizzie and Jean Russell, who live in Concord, are
great-grand-daughters of Abram and Mary Martin Low, thru their
daughter, Mahola Low, who married William Rodgers. Other
descendants of the fifth and sixth generations, who live in this
community, are Mrs. Fred Hobbs and her children, Roy and Ruth
Hobbs, pupils in Farragut School. The Low homestead is now owned by
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Griffitts.
Joseph Rodgers (1765-1833) was the son of Rev. John Rodgers, D.
D., whose parents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Baxter) Rodgers,
emigrated to America from Ireland in 1726 settling first in Boston,
later removing to Philadelphia.
Joseph Rodgers married about 1784, Elizabeth Donaldson,
daughter of William Donaldson, whose father, William Donaldson I, was
a native of Scotland, and emigrated to America in 1716. She was also a
cousin of Rachel Donelson, daughter of Col. John Donelson, and
the wife of President Andrew Jackson.
Joseph Rodgers and wife moved to Knox County, and purchased, in 1797 a
large tract of land on the Tennessee River, one mile east of Concord,
and adjoining Matthew Russell's land on the south. This land is at
present owned by the family of the late Mr. D. C. Kinser.
Joseph Rodgers served in the Revolutionary War, also in the War of
1812. He was stationed at Mobile during the seige [sic] of New
Orleans.
William Rodgers, second son of Joseph and Elizabeth Donaldson Rodgers
who married Mahala Low, daughter of Abram and Mary Martin Low, reared
a large family and lived the whole of his useful life in this
community. He was a man of large means, and a leader in church and
civic affairs. He left many descendants in this and other states. He
was the father of Judge S. A. Rodgers, of Loudon, Tennessee, Joseph N.
Rodgers and Mrs. Amanda Rodgers Russell, wife of Samuel Love Russell,
of Concord, Tennessee. All of these are now deceased, but a few of
their descendants still live in this community.
-Jean Russell
Read
about David Campbell and Campbell's Station
