Orlando Reagan

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 45.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 178.

Notes:

Charles Clemson spent his life in Gatlinburg. He was a blacksmith and farmer.
He and Rebecca lived at first on a farm on Panther Creek, moving to the farm on
the River Road about 1890. Here he had his blacksmith shop. While his father
made the first wagon in the village, Charlie made the first wagon that crossed
the mountain. He and his sons farmed much of what is now the upper part of the
city of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

He was a member of the Baptist Church and led the singing for many years,
finally persuading the folks to choose another leader about a year before his
death.

Rev. Richard Evans married C. C. and Rebecca at the Sugarlands.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1974, p 25.
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 16, 45.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 46.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 145.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 15.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 177, 178.

Charles married Rebecca Ann Bradley 29 Apr 1880, Sugarlands, Sevier County, Tennessee. Rebecca (daughter of Sarah Caroline Bradley) was born 7 Mar 1863, Tow String Creek, Swain County, North Carolina; died 7 Dec 1928, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 16, 45.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 46.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 145.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 15.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 177, 178.

Other Events:

• AFN: 2DDT-XD

Notes:

Daniel moved with his parents to White Oak Flats (Gatlinburg) when he was about four years old. He lived all of his life here or on various other tracts of land in the area.

Listed as Ragan in 1850 Sevier County, Tennessee census as farmer with $1000 property unable to read or write.

An industrious man, Daniel began acquiring land before he married. In theTennessee State Library and Archives there are records of eight entries in his name, dating from 1824 to 1872. The state archivist says this was all purchased land. He is listed in the 1837 tax lists of Sevier County, Tennessee.

An 1859 grant, previously surveyed land, was resurveyed and entered probably because of Gatlin's extensive claim in the area and the Courthouse fire. This 1859 grant was for 600 acres up both sides of the river from Baskins Creek to the Two Mile Branch. In May 1866, he added another 640 acres to this holding. There are also grants for 1,000, 600, and 4,000 acres on Roaring Fork granted in 1839, 1868 and 1872. Most of this land was divided among his children - no will has been found. Daniel moved around and lived on several of his farms - his wife said after his death that she wanted to spend the rest of her years in one spot, she was so tired of moving. She spent her remaining years with her stepdaughter and her husband, Mariah and Thomas H. McCarter.

Daniel was a blacksmith as well as a farmer. Tradition says he built the first wagon in the settlement, making the wheels of one piece of split white oak. His son, Charles C. Reagan, built the first wagon that crossed the Smokies. Although no record has been found to verify it, Daniel probably served as a Justice of Peace. He did keep the community post office. When the settlement officially became Gatlinburg and the post office was established, Daniel and Joel Conner received the contract to carry the mail from Sevierville to Casher's Valley, South Carolina. Daniel's sons, Richard R. and Ephraim Reagan, served as postmaster in the village.

Definitely a Union man but too old to go to service during the Civil War, Daniel served as "muster" officer and drilled the men of the village out in the "Flats". He also served the community as food distributor. Because of his activities and his three oldest sons being in the Union army, he often had to hide out in the mountains to escape the Confederates. The youngest son, Charles C., often told of his father taking him to the woods and showing him the meat and food supplies he had hidden. Daniel didn't think the Rebels would bother the women and children and if he did have to hide out, then Charles must see that food was brought in for the people as it was needed---a big responsibility for a seven year old boy.

A civic minded man, Daniel furnished the meeting house for the village--the five sided building used for the school, church and "voting place". According to one of the land grants, this was located at the "mouth of the lane", now Reagan Lane, near the old River Road. Although he furnished the meeting place for the Baptist Church for many years, Daniel was not found on the membership roll of the church and did not give the land for the present building site, as has been stated by many sources.

Daniel Wesley Reagan did give the land for the oldest part of the White Oak Flats Cemetery (Gatlinburg Cemetery) to the community. This was originally a family plot on the farm of his father, Richard Reagan. The first burial there was a child of Daniel Milsaps, the first school teacher in Gatlinburg.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 6a, 15-16.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 51.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 45.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 37.

Daniel married Sarah "Sally" Whaley 20 Jun 1844, Sevier County, Tennessee. Sarah (daughter of Middleton Whaley and Rebecca Ogle) was born 25 Jan 1819, Tennessee; died 5 Dec 1901; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: BQLJ-XQ

Notes:

Listed in 1850 Sevier County, Tennessee census able to read and write.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 51.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 45.
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 June 1983, p 62.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 37.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/sevier/census/1850/pg0396a.txt

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 17.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 141, 145-146.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 15.

Other Events:

• AFN: BQLJ-VD

Notes:

The eldest son of Timothy and Elizabeth Reagan, Richard was born in Maryland or Virginia. He moved with his parents to Virginia, North Carolina, and then to Sevier County, Tennessee. Here he married circa 1796, Julia Ann Shults. Richard Reagan was one of the early settlers in the Emert's Cove, moving either with or very soon after Frederick Emert settled there circa 1800. They moved from there to White Oak Flats (now Gatlinburg) circa 1806.

It has been often stated that Richard's son, Daniel Wesley Reagan, was the first white child born in White Oak Flats but this seems to be an error. A granddaughter said that Daniel Wesley was about four years old when the family moved to the Mill Creek site in White Oak Flats. The land records indicate this to be correct. Daniel Wesley was born in 1802 in Emert's Cove area and this makes the date of the family settling in White Oaks about 1806.

Most of Richard's adult life was spent in Sevier County, Tennessee and since the early records of the county have been lost only a few official records for him have been found. There are four land grant records in the Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee. The first of these four land grants, dated 1808 reads:

"...being in the county of Sevier and District South of French Broad and Holston on the East fork of Little Pigeon.... corner to Frederick Emmett....running with meanders of said river.... Then with the land of John Roberts on said river bank."

Richard paid 12 1/2 cents per acre for this land and although by the date of this grant it is known he had moved to the Mill Creek site in White Oaks, he retained this land and made the final payment in 1819.

The second grant in 1813 is for ten acres, part of an entry that had been assigned to Robert Wear. This was "in the county of Sevier in the White Oak Flats." This land ran up the river, crossed the same, and joined other lands of Richard Reagan, which indicates earlier land entries that have been lost.

The third land grant in 1813 was for fifty acres "...in the county aforesaid in the White Oak Flats on Stoney Creek..." From courses and directions in this grant, Stoney Creek must have been the name used for Mill Creek in the earlier days. It is now called LeConte Creek. The first is a very appropriate name.

The fourth land grant in 1828 reads: "...containing twenty-five acres, lying in the County aforesaid, on Mill Creek in the White Oak Flats." This land joined the land of Isaac Ogle, and Daniel W. Reagan as well as Richard's own lands.

In 1837 Daniel Wesley Reagan, Richard's son, had a grant surveyed for the purpose of joining the lands surveyed in Richard Reagan's name. It is apparent from this record that several of Richard's early records are missing. This grant for 100 acres included a narrow strip of land on both sides of the river from Mill Creek to Baskins Creek. (The grant is in a very legible handwriting and it is spelled BASKINS) At a line running along the upper side of the cemetery from Baskins Creek to "the lane" (Reagan Drive now) his land joined Thomas J. Ogle. From the lane to a point near Mill Creek, he joined lands of William and Isaac Ogle. Their land included what was once called the Airport Field.

Here on this farm in the heart of Gatlinburg, Richard's grandson, John H. Reagan, of Texas fame, was born in 1818. In the letter to his children written in 1865 while he was imprisoned after the Civil War, he said that his grandfather, Richard Reagan was of "....medium stature and good appearance, a very religious man, and member of the Methodist Episcopal church from his youth until his death...." He also said that Richard "owned the neighborhood mill and blacksmith shop; was justice of the peace for his precinct...." Richard was the class leader of the Methodist Society which met in his home before there was a meeting house built. He also kept the post office for the community. His grandson might have been writing his epithet when he said of Richard, "He was an upright good man....a contented and happy man, whose faith was in God and whose hope was in Heaven.."

Family records say that Richard died of a fractured skull in 1829. A family story handed down through the generations tells that "Richard Reagan died when as he was taking his horses from pasture to the barn, a limb flew off a beech tree and struck him in the head." Another family story tells the same thing at the same time - "A few days before the accident, a bird flew into the porch where he was sitting, smoking his pipe, and lit on his head. He sprang from his chair, declaring it was his 'death sign' and was greatly disturbed. Whether or not it was a warning, he thought it was. The accident happened and he died a few days after that."

Most sources say that Richard and Julia Ann Reagan had three sons and four daughters - it is possible there were others. One is thought to have been a son, Aaron Reagan, and a daughter named Barbara who died as a young girl. The other two daughters are unknown.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 2a, 5-6.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 6, 51.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 31-44.

Richard married Julia Ann Shults 1796, Sevier County, Tennessee. Julia (daughter of Johan Martin "Martin" Shults and Juliana Stentz) was born 1775, Tryon County, North Carolina; died 23 Apr 1845, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: BQLJ-WK

Notes:

Julia Ann Shultz came with her mother, Juliana Shultz, and her brothers and sisters to Sevier County, Tennessee circa 1794/1795 from Sullivan County, Tennessee.

It is said that Julia Ann used a German Bible and hymn book and spoke German as easily as she did English.

Julia Ann was living with her son, Daniel Wesley, at the time of her death. It was thought that she had recovered from a spring cold but when she didn't arise as usual on the morning of April 23, 1845, the family found that she had passed away in her sleep.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 2a, 6.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 6, 51.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 407.

Notes:

Family traditions say Middleton Whaley, his two brothers, William M. and John, and a sister, Delania, came to Sevier County, Tennessee from South Carolina.

Record of Middleton Whaley's military service in the War of 1812 was found in the National Archives, Washington, D.C. Middleton Whaley served as substitute for William Boman, 1 October 1814 to 31 December 1814, in Captain Andrew Lawson's Company in 3rd Regiment of Tennessee Militia, commanded by Colonel William Johnson. Later in the same company, he enlisted as a private on 20
September 1814 at Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee and was discharged on 3 May 1815. No bounty land grants or pension records were found in the National Archives.

In December 1817 when the White Oak Flats Baptist Church was formed as an arm of the Sevierville church, Middleton Whaley was listed as a charter member.

Middleton and Rebecca are listed in Sevier County Census 1830 to 1870. In the 1840 census is listed 1 male 20-30, 1 male 40-50, 2 females 20-30, 1 female 50-60.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 45.
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 June 1983, p 62.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 229.

Middleton married Rebecca Ogle Abt 1818, Sevier County, Tennessee. Rebecca (daughter of William "Billy" Ogle and Martha Jane Huskey) was born 1782, North Carolina; died Abt 1870/1880; was buried P. A. Proffitt Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

According to the 1850 Federal Census of Sevier County, Tenn., Rebecca listed North Carolina as her birthplace.

Rebecca was already married to James McCarter by 1803 as indicated by the will of her father, William Ogle. Rebecca was willed "a cow and calf, bed and furniture, pot and some other furniture. Also I give unto my beloved grandson William McCarter a young sow."

Rebecca and James McCarter came from Edgefield District, South Carolina to settle the Cartertown section and owned most of it at one time. They did not take part in the settlement of White Oak Flats.

Rebecca and her second husband Middleton are listed in Sevier County Census 1830 to 1860.

Rebeccaa and Midleton were charter members of White Oak Flats Baptist Church.
----------
Reference
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 153.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 45.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 62.
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 June 1983, p 62.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 229.

Notes:

James Holland Bradley and his second wife Martha were listed in the 1830 and
1840 Federal Census of Rutherford County, North Carolina.

On July 1843, James Holland Bradley bought 50 acres of land from John Watson of
Sevier County, State of Tennessee for $75.00. This land was located "in the
County of Haywood on the waters of Oconaluftee River, West Fork on a branch
formerly called Davidrum Branch..." This land is now part of Great Smoky
Mountains National Park.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 17.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 106, 138, 141.

James — Martha Grant. Martha was born 25 Jul 1805, North Carolina; died 27 Feb 1879, Tow String Creek, Swain County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Martha Grant Bradley, widow of James Holland Bradley, was listed in the 1850
Federal Census of Haywood County, North Carolina; and in the 1860 and 1870
Federal Census of Jackson County, North Carolina.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 17.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 138, 141.