Reagan

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 141, 237.

Notes:

Alfred Reagan was a farmer, miller, storekeeper, blacksmith, gunsmith, carpenter, and one-time lay preacher, and he was a man with above average ability in all these.

Alfred and Martha Ann had a farm on Roaring Fork creek. Their homeplace is being preserved on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail by the National Park Service.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 31, 54, 61, 62.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 137, 141, 210, 236, 237.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 42, 127, 170.

Alfred married Martha Ann Bales 6 Apr 1879, Sevier County, Tennessee. Martha (daughter of Caleb Bales and Elizabeth Margaret Reagan) was born 1 Dec 1864, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 18 Dec 1929, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried 18 Dec 1929, Bales Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Census: 31 Aug 1870, District 14, Sevier County, Tennessee

Notes:

Alfred and Martha Ann had a farm on Roaring Fork. Their homeplace is being preserved on the Roaring Fork Motor Trail by the National Park Service.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 31, 54, 61, 62.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 137, 141, 210, 236, 237.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 42, 108, 127, 170.

Notes:

David died at Gallatin, Tennessee on 20 June 1864, while serving with the Union Army during the Civil War.

David L. was a farmer and for a period of time in the 1830's served as clerk of the White Oak Flats Baptist Church in Gatlinburg. He became a member of the church at the March 1833 meeting "by experience."

During the Civil War, David served with the Union under Captain William J. Trotter in the 9th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry, Company H, commanded by Colonel Joseph Parsons. The company was organized at Sevierville and David L. enlisted, 1 October 1836, for three years. He was mustered in at Knoxville, 28 October 1863. His death which occurred at Gallatin, Tennessee was probably due to typhoid fever.

An affidavit filed with his wifes pension claim states that they were married about the 1st of July 1833 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee by William Trentham, Justice of Peace.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans",Donald B. Reagan, 1978, 6a, 54.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 141.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 51.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 37, 209.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 259.

David married Jane "Jennie" Ogle Abt 1 Jul 1833, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. Jane (daughter of William "Black Bill" Ogle and Nancy Bohanon) was born 1818, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 3 Sep 1879; was buried Bales Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

An affidavit filed with her pension claim states that she was married about the 1st of July 1833 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee by William Trentham, Justice of Peace. Jane is on the 1837 membership roll of the White Oak Flats Baptist Church.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 6a, 54.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 141.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 51.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 37, 209, 210.

Other Events:

• AFN: BQLK-BR
• Census: 31 Aug 1870, District 14, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1900, District 11, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1910, District 11, Sevier County, Tennessee

Notes:

Caleb came to Gatlinburg from the 10th district of the county, first appearing in the census record of 1860 when he was in the household of Jacob Houser. He went to visit his folks in the 10th district of Sevier County where he died and was buried.

There is an Bales infant born 6 February 1831 died 19 February ?? in Bales Cemetery listed as son of J.W. and M. L. This infant may have been Caleb's brother thus making his parents J. W. and M. L. Bales.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 16, 31, 59, 61.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 137.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 42, 88.

Caleb married Elizabeth Margaret Reagan 16 Apr 1861. Elizabeth (daughter of Daniel Wesley Reagan and Nancy Ogle) was born 8 Jun 1837, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 28 Mar 1912; was buried Bales Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 2DDT-DR
• Census: 1850, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 31 Aug 1870, District 14, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1900, District 11, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1910, District 11, Sevier County, Tennessee

Notes:

Lived on Roaring Fork after her marriage.

Notes:

Aaron Ownby, JP performed Elizabeth and Caleb's wedding.

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:

William came with his mother and the family to Sevier County, Tennessee as early as 1805, soon after the death of his father.

From RECORD OF COMMISSIONS OF OFFICERS IN THE TENNESSEE MILITIA 1796-1811, compiled by Mrs. John Trotwood Moore, William Ogle was commissioned as a Lieutenant of the 11th Regiment of Sevier County, Tennessee on 14 Februeary 1811 by the governor of the State of Tennessee.

William Ogle was one of the first settlers in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. No land records prior to 1824 were found for William Ogle, but it is shown by Richard Reagan's early grants that William Ogle and his brother, Isaac Ogle, entered land adjoining the Richard Reagan's land on Mill Creek. This ran from Mill Creek upward to the area below the Cherokee Orchard, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As his sons and daughters became of age, he gave them these lands. He moved to the Sugarlands area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

William Ogle is listed on the 1837 Tax List of Sevier County, Tennessee.

He and Nancy were members of the White Oak Flats Baptist Church.

William Ogle was appointed as one of nine commissioners of the Sevier County Turnpike Company in 1841. It was "for the purpose of receiving subscription to the amount of twenty five thousand dollars to be applied to the purpose of making a turnpike road from the northern termination of the Smoky Mountain Turnpike road in Sevier County, Tennessee to some point on the most practical leading routes."

William Ogle and his family appeared in the 1830 through 1850 Federal Census of Sevier County, Tennessee.

An affidavit found in the Sevier County Courthouse, by R. R. Reagan and Mark Roberts, states that William Ogle left a will but that it was destroyed in the courthouse fire of 1856. The affidavit stated that his wife, Nancy be supported and have the use of both real and personal property during her lifetime. At her death, the lands "should be equally divided between his sons, James, Henry, and William Ogle; personal property is to be equally divided between all his sons and daughters with the exception of Thomas I. Ogle, husband of his daughter, Sarah Ogle of twelve and half dollars which was to be deducted from his and her share."

In the GUARDIANS, EXECUTORS and ADMINISTRATORS Settlement Book for Sevier County, Tennessee, there is a record for the estate of William Ogle. This gives a list of the living heirs of William Ogle. Quoted from the aforesaid book, "the above statement shows that there is in the hand of the Executor, the sum of $88.06/100 dollars to be divided among eleven heirs, to wit, William, James, Henry, & Thomas Ogle, Robert Conner & wife Milly, Samuel Watson & wife Martha, David Reagan & wife Jane, the heirs of Joseph Anderson & wife Mary, John Huskey and wife Elizabeth, the heirs of Aaron Ogle, and the heirs of David Watson & wife Rachel. So that Thomas Ogle may receive eleven & 25/100 dollars less than either of the other heirs.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 140, 262-263.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 141.

William married Nancy Bohanon Abt 1810, Sevier County, Tennessee. Nancy (daughter of Henry Bohanon and Amillia Shotwell) was born 1795, Virginia; died 3 Jun 1869; was buried Cole Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Nancy was living with a son, William (Ned) Ogle in 1860. It is said that she was buried with her husband in a very old cemetery near Huskey Gap in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This must be the Cole Cemetery.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 140, 262-263.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 139, 141.

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 Nancy Ogle 30 Jan 1830, Sevier County, Tennessee. Nancy (daughter of Thomas J. Ogle and Sophia Bosley) was born 24 Aug 1810, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 18 Feb 1844, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 2DDT-ZK

Notes:

Listed in the 1830 and 1840 Federal Census of Sevier County, Tennessee.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 6a, 16, 167.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 51.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 37.