Grand Army of the Republic Badge

These remnants were once part of a badge that belonged to a Union veteran. After the Civil War, veterans on both sides wanted a way to keep in touch with old comrades and relive the glory of their service. Union veterans formed the Grand Army of the Republic, which was similar to the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars. Membership reached its peak in 1890 with over 400,000 members around the United States. Local chapters were named after Union soldiers from that area that were killed in action. The Scott County chapter was named after John Newport, a Union captain who was killed in Virginia. The photograph shows Philip Low(e) wearing a badge similar to the fragments displayed at the museum. Low(e) served in the Second East Tennessee Infantry.

Bonus fact: Julia Marcum, who was featured a couple of weeks ago, was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. The organization was only open to Union veterans but an exception was made for her based on her service. The organization provided her with a military funeral.

These remnants were part of a Grand Army of the Republic badge that belonged to the local GAR chapter named after Captain John Newport.

Philip Low(e) is shown wearing a John Newport GAR Post badge. Low(e) served in the 2nd Tennessee Infantry for the Union army and was a member of the John Newport GAR post.

Information provided by Scott County in the Civil War by Paul Roy and the Library of Congress.  Photograph 1 courtesy of the author, photograph 2 courtesy of the descendants of Philip Lowe.

"Soldier's Sacrifice" Edson Lafayette Toomey

Today marks one hundred years since Edson Lafayette Toomey died for his country in the First World War.

Toomey was born in Scott County to lumberman John Samuel Toomey and Elizabeth Phillips Toomey on February 8, 1896. His draft card states that he was a farmer at the time he entered the service and had been a private in military school.  He was described as being of medium height, medium build, having gray eyes, and blond hair.  At the time of his death, he was a Private 1st Class in the 26th Infantry, 1st Division. Toomey was killed on duty in France on July 19, 1918. He was 22 years old.

Edson Toomey's body was not returned to the United States and was buried in the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in France. The cemetery is 36.5 acres and contains 6,012 American dead. For more information on the cemetery check out their website here. http://www.abmc.gov/cemeter…/…/oise-aisne-american-cemetery…

Edson L. Toomey's draft card

Information and photograph taken from Edson L. Toomey's FindAGrave Profile and his WWI draft card courtesy of East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association. 

"Soldier's Sacrifice" Robert M. Hughett

Today the museum would like to recognize another one of Scott County's WWI soldiers who sacrificed their life one hundred years ago.

Biographical information on Hughett is scarce. Robert M. Hughett was born in February of 1898 to William and Martha Hughett. According to his tombstone, he served as a private with the 16th infantry 1st Division and died on July 18, 1918. He was only 19 years old.

Robert M. Hughett is buried in Knoxville National Cemetery in plot B-17, 3678.

If you have any information regarding Robert Hughett or other Scott County WWI soldiers who gave their lives, please contact the Museum of Scott County Facebook page.

Information and photograph taken from Robert M. Hughett's FindAGrave profile

Moonshine Still

This artifact of the week tells a story of Scott County's checkered past. Distillation of alcohol was brought to Appalachia by Scots-Irish settlers and was practiced through the Civil War period. Farmers were able to take left over corn and convert it into an easy to transport commodity. The making of alcohol by the light of the moon, from where the name moonshine comes from, reached its peak between 1920 and 1933 during prohibition. While moonshine often gets a bad wrap, it was often a main ingredient in home made medicine. 

Jerome Boyatt, of the No Business community, stands in front of a moonshine still. Note the copper coil making up the condenser.

 Information taken from Smokehouse Ham, Spoonbread, and Scuppernong Wine by Earl Dabney.  The second photograph is courtesy of Findagrave.com

"Soldier's Sacrifice" Alvin C. York

Instead of doing the regular Artifact Of The Week, this week will be another segment of Soldier's Sacrifice. Soldier's Sacrifice commemorates Scott County's role in World War One which was being waged one hundred years ago this year.

Dr. Fred Phillips was born in Scott County in 1882. After service in the Spanish American War, he graduated from dental school in 1911 and opened a successful practice in Oneida. During WWI he became a registrar helping to enlist men for the service from this area. It was while serving in this role that he had one of his most memorable experiences. He stated:

"The young men going into military service from our area used to come to Oneida, spend the night, and take a fast train out the next day to army camp. There was one, from near-by Fentress County, whom I particularly remember because he was tall, redheaded and carried a Bible under his arm. The next afternoon all of the boys were at the train depot ready to catch the train and again I noticed this tall, red-headed fellow. He was on the platform but off to himself, and he still carried that Bible under his arm. As I was to learn later, that man was Alvin C. York, the conscientious objector who was later to return as America's most decorated hero of World War One."

This information was taken from Dr. Fred Phillips obituary.

Bonus fact: Sergeant York also recorded his overnight stay in Oneida in his wartime diary on November 15, 1917. He stated, "I went to Oneida, Tennessee and stayed there at the hotel until about 2 A.M. next morning when I entrained for Atlanta, Georgia."

Photograph courtesy of Tennessee State Library and Archives

Bee Gum Made From Hollow Tree

This interesting item often causes visitors to ask, "What is it?" This section of hollow tree was put together to serve as a beehive for Appalachian farmers. The ever resourceful farmers would take sections of the black gum tree, which grows hollow, and would use them as hives for their honeybees. They were called bee gums because the black gum tree was often used. Crossed sticks were added in the center to serve as a support for the bees to build their honeycomb on. Small v-shaped notches provided a doorway for the bees and a plank lid, weighed down with rocks, was added to the top. These bee hives are sometimes visible in pictures of old homesteads. Honey was an important food item for families in the past and beeswax extracted from honeycomb was sold to stores to provide cash income.

For more information on honeybees, honey, and bee gums check out Foxfire 2, which is a volume featured in the popular Foxfire Book series. It can be purchased on Amazon.

This is a bee gum made by a farmer as a hive for honeybees. Notice the v-shaped notches on the bottom that served as a doorway for the honeybees.

This photograph shows what a completed bee gum looked like. Notice the sticks that protrude from the side, which served as supports for the bees to build honeycomb on. The photograph was featured in "Foxfire 2" by the Rabun County, Georgia high school class. — at The Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center.

Inside of the bee gum. One of the cross beams has broken in half and notice the remnants of honeycomb on the walls of the gum.

This photograph shows what a modern bee gum looks like. Compare this to the photograph of the bee gum featured earlier.

 

 

 Information and one photograph taken from Foxfire 2 published by the Rabun County High School.

Julia Marcum Spinning Wheel

Julia Marcum, daughter of Hiram and Permelia Marcum, was sixteen years old when the Civil War came to the remote mountains of Scott County. Her father, who made this spinning wheel, was a noted Unionist and he often had to hide to keep from being killed by roving Confederate soldiers. On September 7, 1861 a band of Confederate soldiers came to her house searching for her father. One soldier followed Julia's sister Didama upstairs as she went to get a candle for the family. Julia and her sister Minerva grabbed two axes and began to battle the soldier. Julia was wounded in the scrape when the soldier fired at her and shot her finger off, then stabbing her in the eye with his bayonet. Hiram Marcum heard the struggle and then came and shot the soldier. Julia became a schoolteacher and later in life petitioned Congress for a pension, which was granted to her by a special act in 1885. She died in 1935 at the age of 91. This spinning wheel was built by Hiram Marcum and was in the house when Julia battled the Confederate soldier in 1861. It has been passed down through the family and is on loan to the museum. 

Want to read Julia's story in her own words? Click the URL to be taken to a type written copy in the possession in the Kentucky Historical Society. http://www.kyhistory.com/…/com…/collection/MS/id/10118/rec/2 

Information and photographs courtesy of Kentucky Historical Society collection SC 207 and SC 208.  Additional information provided by owners of artifact.

This spinning wheel was made by Hiram Marcum, who was a Union sympathizer in Scott County. His daughters Julia and Minerva battled a Confederate soldier in 1861.

Julia Marcum when she was twenty years old. She was blinded in her right eye by the bayonet of a Confederate soldier who came to her house when she was sixteen. She and her father killed the soldier. — at Kentucky Historical Society.

Julia Marcum late in her life. She received a pension for her efforts to protect her family during the Civil War by Congress in 1888. — at Kentucky Historical Society.