Independent Scott County (Knoxville, White House, Oneida: lawyer, house, construction)

[JMT]

As many people know, East Tennessee was predominantly pro-Union during the Civil War and is one reason the area is largely Republican today.

But I found some information about Scott County which I think is interesting and just wanted to share.

Scott County is a very rural county between Knoxville and Kentucky on the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau. Its county seat is Huntsville, its largest town is Oneida, and its most famous resident is undoubtedly Howard Baker.

Howard Baker was the first Republican senator from Tennessee since Reconstruction, served as Senate Majority Leader, was White House Chief of Staff under Ronald Reagan, and was the US Ambassador to Japan. Richard Nixon offered Howard Baker a seat on the US Supreme Court. Baker declined, and it was instead given to William Rehnquist. Baker eventually went on to be the ranking Republican on the committee investigating Nixon's involvement in the Watergate scandal.

At any rate, back to Scott County.

When the rest of Tennessee voted to secede from the Union, Scott County voted to secede from Tennessee, calling themselves "The Free and Independent State of Scott." Tennessee's Secretary of State refused and instead sent troops to march on Huntsville.

Of the 560 Scott County men who volunteered to serve in the Civil War, 541 fought for the Union and 19 for the Confederacy.

During World War 1 Scott County declared war on Germany and, so far, has never made peace.

In the 1980s Scott County officially petitioned to become part of Tennessee again, and the Tennessee Legislature accepted its readmission.

(Side note: that same area of the Cumberland Plateau produced another country lawyer who went on to do prominent things in national and international politics. Cordell Hull, born in a log cabin in Pickett County, was a Democrat and became FDR's Secretary of State. Hull became known as the "father of the United Nations."

World War 1 hero Alvin York was also from that area of the Plateau.)

So, say what you will about Tennessee "hillbillies and rednecks," but reading up on the spirit of rugged individualism and the passion for freedom exhibited by the people of Scott County makes me proud to be living around such "hillbillies and rednecks."

pic found at Google Images

[rlrm777]

(Side note: that same area of the Cumberland Plateau produced another country lawyer who went on to do prominent things in national and international politics. Cordell Hull, born in a log cabin in Pickett County, was a Democrat and became FDR's Secretary of State. Hull became known as the "father of the United Nations."





I was on the USS Hull in the 60's during Vietnam.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by rlrm777

(Side note: that same area of the Cumberland Plateau produced another country lawyer who went on to do prominent things in national and international politics. Cordell Hull, born in a log cabin in Pickett County, was a Democrat and became FDR's Secretary of State. Hull became known as the "father of the United Nations."





I was on the USS Hull in the 60's during Vietnam.

How cool! Did you know about the history of Cordell Hull? Have you been up to see his birthplace in Pickett County?

[Pam& Bill]

JMT,
Thanks for sharing this, loved it! Tried to rep you for it but you know how my problems go with reps lately.
Pam