Below is a description of James County taken from the Handbook of Tennessee in 1882;
pages 95-96. It was prepared by A. W. Hawkins, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Statistics, Mines and Immigration.
James County
"County Seat, Ooltewah, with 263 inhabitants. Other towns are, Birchwood and Harrison. The Tennessee River separates James from Hamilton county. Other streams are Wolftaver, Long Savannah, Grasshopper and Gunstock. Water power, good; timber good; oak, pine, poplar, hickory, walnut, etc.
The surface of the country is broken and irregular, with considerable valleys of fine airable land. The minerals are coal, iron and lead; the two former of which are mined to a considerable extent, giving employment to about 100 hands. Ther iron ore is the fossiliferous red hematite and exists in large quantities. The coal is of good quality. The agriculture products are corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, hay, tobacco sorghum, potatoes, peanuts, etc. There are two high schools at Ooltewah and one at Harrison. The churches are Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian.
There are thirteen manufacturing establishments in the county, with a capital of $100,00.
The taxes on $100: for schools, 20 cents; roads, 10 cents; county purposes, 35 cents."
It has some very interesting facts.
- Gunstock Stream...I need to find this and tell you about it.
- What does the 1880 census say about how many inhabitants lived in Ooltewah? The United States Census for Ooltewah for 1880 show 263 residents. You can read all about here and then again here.
- Let's find out about the churches and high school.
- 13 manufacturing establishments in the county... What were they?
- In 1882, taxes were 65 cents on every $100.We will get into the taxes at a later date.
