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knoxcotn-digest Tuesday, December 7 1999 Volume 01 : Number 022
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 12:42:43 -0800 From: "Billie R. McNamara" <knox@tngenweb.org> Subject: John H. Crozier's murder This has recently come up in conversation again, so I thought I'd share it here. Hope y'all don't mind it being long. The Croziers were pioneer settlers of Knox County. ============================================================================ ======= “The Battle of Thorn Hill” R. B. Bundren is called variations of rhyming names -- “Blueford,” “Booth,” “Bluff,” “Bluth,” and “Bruce” -- by diverse sources. Most people living today (1997) who knew, or knew of, R. B. Bundren, describe him as a “mean man one of the meanest that ever lived in Grainger County.” The Knoxville Journal newspaper’s account of Bundren’s death describes him as having a “hot temper” and “long considered a bad man.” However, the newspaper reports that Bundren was simultaneously a rich man; charitable; a staunch supporter of education; and progressive, advocating good schools, good roads, and the development of Grainger County and Tennessee. Bundren counted many men of regional and statewide influence among his associates. Robert Love Taylor, a well-known Tennessee Governor who also served in the U.S. House and Senate, was Bundren’s friend and a visitor to his home. John Crozier was an Irish immigrant who migrated to Knoxville and established a large, ennobled, and influential family there before 1800. On 14 August 1846, John Crozier’s grandson, John Harvard, was born. After serving in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, John Harvard Crozier followed his father into the practice of law. However, unlike other members of his family, John H. Crozier did not hold a distinguished position, amass great wealth, or have a strong impact on Knoxville. Instead, John H. Crozier relocated to a new home near Morristown, where he all but abandoned the law in favor of his avocation, mechanical engineering. John H. Crozier held numerous patents, probably the most noteworthy of which was for the “forceful navigation of air.” Before his death, Crozier flew a rudimentary aircraft off the side of Clinch Mountain in Grainger County. Older Grainger County residents convey the legend they heard as children: “Had he lived, Crozier would have beat the Wright Brothers to their fame.” Loved and respected among his family, friends, and colleagues, John H. Crozier died, unexpectedly, just weeks before his fifty-fifth birthday. On 03 July 1901, R. B. Bundren murdered John H. Crozier. This single event set in motion a four-year feud that culminated in a legendary tragedy, remembered by elder Grainger Countians as “The Battle of Thorn Hill.” Apparently, R. B. Bundren owed money to a widow, whose name is not now remembered. The widow sued Bundren, using John H. Crozier as her attorney. Having won a judgment against Bundren, Crozier held a sale of one of Bundren’s assets, some lumber located at Condry. Following the sale, Crozier assisted the purchaser, Will Holland, in measuring and dividing the lumber. R. B. Bundren arrived at the scene and ordered the men to stop. Holland and Bundren argued as Crozier, fearing an incident between the two men, sat quietly on a log. Looking up from his seat, Crozier was surprised to see Bundren aiming a pistol at him. As Bundren fired three shots at him, Crozier attempted to hide among the lumber piles. Bundren fired two shots at Holland and then left the scene. Crozier headed for the Condry post office. Bundren returned to his home, 3½ miles away, and got a Winchester rifle. He started toward Condry’s post office, not realizing Crozier had done likewise. Bundren arrived first. As Crozier approached, Bundren said, “There is Crozier. I will finish him now.” Crozier spoke to Bundren for the first time in the entire episode: “Don’t shoot. You have the advantage. I am not armed.” Bundren’s reply was two rounds of rifle fire into Crozier’s body. R. B. Bundren was sentenced to life imprisonment; however, he was pardoned after serving only about 10 years. During the altercation at the lumber yard in Condry, Bundren fired two shots at Will Holland. Holland ran into the woods, found his horse, and escaped. Local legend holds that, upon being convicted and sent to prison, R. B. Bundren gave instructions to his son, also named Will, to “finish off” Will Holland. Will Holland had understandably bitter feelings toward the Bundrens after having been shot at by R. B. at the lumber sale. The Holland-Bundren feud lasted four years, almost to the day. In June, 1905, the entire Thorn Hill community was “in a fever of excitement,” fearing something was about to happen. On Sunday, 11 June, the men began drinking and vowing hatred for each other. Family members begged the Holland brothers not to go to their shop the next day. The climax came about one o’clock p.m. on Monday, 12 June 1905, at a blacksmith shop owned by brothers John and Will Holland in Thorn Hill. Herbert Jones, one of Grainger County’s noted historians, recalls hearing the story that Will Bundren and his hired hand, Clint Walker, began “riding hard, hollering, and shooting into the air” several miles away from the blacksmith shop. A newspaper account reports that Bundren and Walker began “drinking and shooting frequently along the road” on their way to Idol earlier Monday morning. Area residents were drawn to the Hollands’ blacksmith shop by all the gun shots and commotion. On arriving at Thorn Hill, Bundren and Walker apparently shot into the Hollands’ shop before entering it. Only a few words were said before all four men began firing. Bundren and Walker ran out of the shop and crossed the creek, where they turned and renewed their fire on the Hollands. The Hollands ran out of their shop and continued shooting. Apparently, only one eye-witness observed the entire tragedy on the scene. He said the Hollands used Winchester rifles, which they kept in their shop, while Bundren and Walker used .38 and .45 calibre pistols. Local accounts say fifty rounds were fired. The newspaper reports that the actual number of shots fired was not determined, but the men kept up “a perfect volley” until the Hollands fell dead, almost simultaneously, near their shop. Across the creek, Walker received a bullet in the jaw and one that tore through his body. Walker fell, but he did not die immediately. The newspaper reports that, because Walker’s wounds would not permit him to be moved, he lay in the blacksmith shop for hours until his death. One of the Holland brothers’ sisters wanted to shoot Walker “to put him out of his misery,” but no one would do it. The newspaper did not follow up on Walker’s death or report on his family. This is likely because Walker was “colored,” and such lack of detail on black citizens was standard for most newspapers at the turn of the 20th Century. After the Hollands and Walker fell, Will Bundren mounted his horse and rode about 30 yards to a house, where he dismounted and died about an hour later. Local reports at the time were that Bundren was “literally shot to pieces.” Will Holland, age 35, was a deputy sheriff. John Holland was about 25 and recently pardoned from the penitentiary, where he had been sentenced to fifteen years’ imprisonment for killing Bud Haynes. John Holland went to Virginia, where he married and started a family, using the name "Pink" Collins. No one in Grainger County knew of his other life. The Hollands were their parents’ only sons. The newspaper report states “there are none to continue the bloody feud.” Tragedy followed R. B. Bundren even further. By 1918, Bundren had been pardoned for murdering John H. Crozier. He had returned to Grainger County and married Mrs. Kate Quillen. In late November, 1918, the Bundrens began arguing about the best time to kill hogs. He believed it was cold enough; she wanted to wait. R. B. prevailed. Their argument renewed when Kate gave some of the meat to neighbors. R. B. slapped his wife and her married daughter, Mrs. Parkey. Following this altercation, Kate Bundren left Washburn, went to Knoxville, and retained an attorney to institute divorce proceedings and attach all or part of her husband’s property. As seen from the lumber incident, attaching R. B. Bundren’s assets usually ended fatally. On 23 November, Kate Bundren returned to Washburn and went to her home, presumably to pick up her belongings. She met R. B. there, and their argument ended with R. B. Bundren’s shooting his wife with a Winchester rifle. Some accounts say that Kate ran into the yard, shouting for her son’s assistance, after she was shot. A few minutes later, Kate’s teenage son, Monroe Quillen, ran into the house, firing a pistol, while R. B. Bundren returned the fire. Other accounts say that all three were involved in the tragic quarrel; R. B., who was shooting at Quillen, accidentally shot Kate. Quillen was arrested, but Squire Dave Idol, the local Justice of the Peace, dismissed the charges against Quillen. Legend says that Bundren’s sons tried later to poison Monroe Quillen. The Battle of Thorn Hill may not have been a great military campaign, but it was an exciting event in the history of Grainger County “north of the mountain.” Because of the sad state into which Grainger County’s historic public records have fallen, full, contemporaneous details of the “battle” and the events leading up to it may have been lost. This writer has relied upon reports in the Knoxville Journal and memories of elder Grainger Countians to prepare this essay.
Written by: Billie R. McNamara from newspaper articles, scrapbook clippings, and interviews. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 13:56:59 -0800 From: "Billie R. McNamara" <knox@tngenweb.org> Subject: A double handful of Knox County burials Robert McGinnis, who is hands-down the most-knowledgeable person I know when it comes to Knox County cemeteries (and the county's history in general), has personally transcribed nearly a half-million tombstones in Knox County. He's made a small segment of those transcriptions available on-line. It's the Old Seceder Presbyterian Church Cemetery, located in East Knox County. I know that several of you will find your surnames in the list. ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/knox/cemeteries/oldsalem.txt
Old Salem Cemetery O 325 Located on Wayland Road near intersection with Thorngrove Pike. The cemetery was established as part of Old Salem Seceder Presbyterian Church in about 1850. The oldest burial here dates to April 1856 and the plot is still in use today. Copied by Robert McGinnis in June 1981. Hugh K Campbell April 1 1883 - April 4 1967 Annie K Campbell September 20 1864 - August 16 1947 Estelle (Pierce) wife of Lloyd R Campbell married November 25 1915, August 18 1898 - August 18 1964 Lloyd R Campbell April 21 1895 - December 7 1972 Mildred Campbell December 25 1916 - February 6 1977 James M Spruiell Jr. 1924 - 1977 Veteran World War II John T Blake January 23 1833 - January 23 1914 Martha E (Cobb) wife of John T Blake married January 29 1861, March 5 1845 - - May 25 1925 Dellie daughter of John T & Martha E Blake June 12 1875 - January 22 1927 Samuel A son of John T & Martha E Blake February 28 1862 - August 30 1931 Mary A (Hodges) wife of Samuel A Blake November 29 1860 - February 1 1926 James M son of Felix & Susan Wayland May 19 1857 - October 24 1929 Mary Isabelle (Kennedy) wife of James M Wayland married November 7 1876, January 7 1852 - May 24 1920 Susa A wife of Felix Grundy Wayland October 6 1827 - January 12 1913 Felix Grundy Wayland March 4 1829 - May 1 1907 Lonia daughter of James & Mary Wayland wife of James H Neubert married December 20 1894, September 6 1877 - January 3 1964 James H Neubert November 27 1867 - April 1 1915 Callie F Wayland 1893 - July 21 1933 Kathy Jean Kennedy Died December 9 1954 Aged 2 Years, 6 Months & 20 Days William M Maples November 11 1850 - April 1 1921 Nancy K (Merriman) wife of William M Maples married April 15 1874, June 21 1859 - no death date inscribed Samuel B Maples February 7 1876 - March 5 1890 Johnnie Maples April 27 1880 - March 5 1890 Nora Dunlap January 11 1894 - June 2 1896 Wm E Dunlap married Sarah S (Baker) on June 24 1876, Died October 18 1901 Harmon Dunlap July 2 1896 - January 11 1897 Roma Dunlap October 13 1892 - March 22 1897 William A Dunlap February 5 1880 - (no death date inscribed) Mary J (Swaggerty) wife of William A Dunlap married July 12 1902, October 4 1877 - December 22 1954 Lindsay Dunlap August 13 1905 - October 2 1905 Harriett (Johnson) wife of Lindsay F Dunlap married December 29 1891, July 17 1871 - January 2 1957 Lindsay F Dunlap April 11 1862 - September 14 1927 Adam W Dunlap October 19 1898 - February 3 1956 Hermon W son of F P & Belle Elmore August 7 - November 7 1906 Hilford M Merriman June 13 1893 - January 9 1973 Veteran World War I Mary (Julian) wife of Hilford M Merriman October 30 1901 - February 3 1960 Carol June infant daughter of J C & Jessie McCarty Born & Died June 18 1935 Dona Pickel Died February 20 1971 J A Pickel Died February 10 1938 Dennie Leek Pickel January 27 1917 - November 10 1976 John Homer Pierce May 20 1898 - September 30 1904 Eva (Griffin) wife of Fernando C Pierce married September 24 1893, February 12 1875 - January 18 1900 Effa W (Kennedy) wife of Homer H Wills married February 4 1906, September 14 1880 - May 6 1933 Martha L daughter of Aaron Armstrong, wife of William H Kennedy married September 26 1861, July 14 1844 - July 19 1912 William H Kennedy September 1 1838 - April 29 1920 Molinas C Kennedy March 19 1872 - April 19 1915 Bruce E Griffin February 27 1882 - January 25 1952 Marie Jane wife of J M Griffin November 29 1843 - January 18 1905 J M Griffin May 23 1838 - August 16 1907 Charley L Griffin July 29 1884 - October 5 1905 Linnie Z (Merriman) wife of Maurice R Kennedy September 2 1892 - March 10 1952 Maurice R Kennedy September 26 1887 - March 29 1961 Veteran World War I Opal R Huffaker August 20 1907 - November 1 1941 Eliza J (Nail) wife of William M Kennedy married August 12 1880, January 11 1861 - August 11 1908 William M Kennedy January 21 1859 - March 17 1931 Enoch B Kennedy 1906 - 1977 Glenn A Kennedy March 17 1938 - November 11 1939 Charles E Kennedy November 11 1936 - April 14 1937 Thomas E Hubbs July 18 1907 - November 22 1933 Lois J wife of Harley E Sliger February 2 1907 - May 4 1976 Harley E Sliger April 7 1905 - March 26 1961 Adelia Dupre (Kennedy) wife of Rowe M Jollay married May 26 1896, September 13 1874 - January 29 1954 Rowe M Jollay November 1 1873 - August 20 1920 H R Kennedy July 25 1849 - January 13 1910 Belle (Merriman) wife of H R Kennedy married August 4 1873, April 13 1850 - - August 5 1917 S W Kennedy Jr January 3 1878 - April 11 1926 Lula E daughter of H R & S I Kennedy November 5 1879 - May 17 1899 Walter M Kennedy May 26 1874 - June 2 1936 Mollie D (Golloway) wife of Walter M Kennedy married June 8 1899, October 26 1878 - July 29 1907 Lula M Kennedy November 1 1889 - February 13 1970 Robert Allen Wayland September 27 1905 - July 11 1908 Infant Wayland (no dates) Infant son of R P & M E Wayland Born & Died April 7 1892 Magnolia E (Kennedy) wife of Robert P Wayland married March 15 1889, December 19 1869 - March 13 1899 Chlo May Wayland May 16 1893 - March 22 1909 Hannah (Kennedy) wife of Sam Vance married December 31 1905, July 20 1878 - February 26 1927 Sam Vance July 13 1871 - July 23 1935 Frank daughter of S W & M E Kennedy June 14 1880 - May 18 1895 Ruth (Blake) wife of Chad P Kennedy married December 22 1898, June 8 1877 - - February 16 1900 Dr Chalmers P Kennedy August 22 1873 - February 17 1907 Dr S W Kennedy September 9 1844 - January 10 1923 Mary E (Plumlee) wife of Dr S W Kennedy married September 10 1868, November 22 1849 - April 26 1898 John Blake son of R T & M J Kennedy September 3 1887 - October 20 1898 Infant son of G R & L L Kennedy Born & Died July 24 1916 Robert J Kennedy October 20 1856 - December 28 1937 Jennie (Blake) wife of Robert J Kennedy married July 15 1880, October 22 1864 - October 7 1938 John W B Kennedy July 21 1830 - April 9 1883 Samuel Kennedy January 10 1804 - January 7 1889 Mary Ann wife of Samuel Kennedy October 8 1808 - July 13 1870 Adam W son of Samuel & Mary Ann Kennedy January 28 1842 - May 20 1865 Andrew J son of Samuel & Mary Ann Kennedy April 10 - April 19 1856 Esther E Blake September 11 1812 - January 23 1870 Urites son of S B & N E Kennedy August 1 1869 - January 25 1870 Samuel B Kennedy September 23 1832 - December 10 1910 Nancy E (Blake) wife of Samuel B Kennedy married May 25 1861, January 2 1840 - July 23 1921 Wm Minnis Kennedy May 29 1862 - January 25 1933 Addie H (Douglass) wife of Wm Minnis Kennedy married November 15 1893, July 31 1856 - December 29 1925 Eddie M Kennedy July 22 1881 - September 29 1882 Mary A daughter of James & Martha J Kennedy September 8 1848 - July 20 1858 Samuel A son of James & Martha J Kennedy Died October 19 1865 Aged 11 Years, 3 Months & 23 Days Martha E daughter of James & Martha J Kennedy Died November 2 1869 Aged 1 Year, 1 Month & 28 Days Moses A son of James & Martha J Kennedy May 17 1852 - July 9 1877 James Kennedy September 9 1820 - November 3 1881 Martha J (Armstrong) wife of James Kennedy married September 4 1847, July 16 1826 - April 21 1896 Egbert K son of W & M I Davis May 11 1873 - June 9 1874 Mary E Armstrong January 31 1860 - December 29 1863 John M Kennedy April 20 1862 - November 25 1886 Nancy C (Keener) married 1st to John M Kennedy on May 18 1882, wife of Wiley Barton Bowman married September 1 1896, April 5 1861 - February 16 1930 Wiley Barton Bowman February 4 1859 - April 16 1913 Wm L Goddard September 27 1822 - August 14 1894 Lucy Ann (Armstrong) wife of Wm L Goddard married January 6 1846, December 21 1829 - January 13 1893 Margaret T (Campbell) wife of Joseph L Keener married February 9 1879, December 26 1839 - July 24 1909 Miles O Wood June 29 1874 - December 27 1925 W H Long December 24 1889 - June 28 1917 Rutha Lula daughter of C D & A M Kennedy Died March 4 1904 Aged 3 Years, 3 Months & 14 Days James W Palmer September 18 1937 - June 18 1977 Davis Kennedy January 7 1870 - October 13 1949 Alice (Pierce) wife of Davis Kennedy married June 16 1898, May 12 1872 - (no death date inscribed) Carroll Kennedy October 30 1898 - October 28 1952 Joseph B Bowman November 5 1914 - January 8 1915 Chandler W Bowman August 7 1892 - March 23 1939 Blanche {Wyrick} Bowman 1886 - 1970 John W Wyrick August 7 1877 - March 24 1961 Spanish American War Veteran Mildred R wife of Raymond C Holbert January 6 1914 - (no death date inscribed) Raymond C Holbert January 6 1914 - July 25 1971 John W Bell October 9 1872 - October 11 1894 Amelia I Bell March 9 1854 - September 8 1908 Luiza Ann wife of W P Pierce March 20 1842 - October 27 1896 W P Pierce October 20 1834 - December 24 1904 Alexander Roscoe son of James S & Harriett E Kennedy September 4 1875 - December 28 1892 Harriett E (Vance) wife of James S Kennedy married April 25 1873, August 3 1854 - June 12 1906 James S Kennedy May 11 1850 - September 11 1932 James Ina (Kennedy) wife of Rush S Miller March 18 1883 - October 10 1950 Rush S Miller August 31 1877 - March 18 1950 Edna (Miller) Spruiell January 31 1908 - February 21 1956 J Morris Sprueill July 20 1882 - May 20 1939 Worthie (Moore) wife of J Morris Sprueill September 14 1885 - May 6 1961 ------------------------------ End of knoxcotn-digest V1 #22 ***************************** |