| Sources |
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 22 Nov 2010.
Upland Chronicles: Sevierville has had 25 mayors
by CARROLL McMAHAN The Mountain Press
Six mayors are pictured during Sevierville’s 60th anniversary in 1961. Standing in front of stage are, from left, Bert Ketner, J.B. Waters Sr. and Robert S. Howard, all former mayors; Sheriff Fred Pierce, Police Chief Charlie Maples; Robert L. “Bob” Ogle Jr. and J. Reed Wade, both former mayors. Jimmie Temple, mayor at the time, is standing at the microphone. Back row: Dave Watson, Dana Parrott, unidentified guest, Carl Roberts and Bo Roberts.
Charlie Johnson, left, Jimmie Temple, Bryan Atchley and Gary Wade are the four surviving mayors of Sevierville.
Established in 1795, Sevierville is one of the oldest towns in Tennessee. Only six (Rogersville, Dandridge, Knoxville, Greeneville, Blountville and Nashville) are older.
For over a hundred years, Sevierville was incorporated several times and then repealed as the result of the town being divided over the sale of liquor.
Sevierville was finally, and permanently, incorporated on April 11, 1901 with a population of roughly 600. The first election was held on May 2, 1901 and Judge Ambrose Paine was chosen as the city’s first mayor. He held the office for three years.
Paine, a prominent attorney, was appointed by Gov. Tom C. Rye to fill the remainder the term of Circuit Judge Henderson who had died. From that day forward he was known simply as Judge Paine.
Twenty-five men have held Sevierville’s highest office since 1901:
Ambrose M. Paine: 1901-1904
Amos T. Marshall: 1904-1906
W.A. Catlett: 1906-1908
Miles B. “M.B.” McMahan: 1908-1909
William S. Murphy: 1909-1913
Hugh C. Blair, Sr.: 1913-1915
John B. “J.B.” Waters Sr.: 1915-1917
John S. Ballard: 1917-1919
J.L. Thornton: 1919-1921
Bart W. Murphy: 1921-1927
J. Edgar Emert: 1927-1931
Sanders L. Atchley: 1931-1933
Roy C. Marshall: 1933-1937
Bert Ketner: 1937-1945
J. Reed Wade: 1945-1946
Robert S. “Bob” Howard: 1946-1951
Robert L. “Bob” Ogle Jr.: 1951-1952
Ronald J. Ingle: 1952-1959
James A. “Jimmie “Temple: 1959-1963
Roy C. “Rusty” Newman: 1963-1968
Robert S. “Bob” Howard: 1969-1970
Herbert F. Lawson: 1971-1973
J. Clifford “Cliff “Davis: 1973-1977
Gary R. Wade: 1977-1987
Charlie Johnson: 1987-1995
Bryan C. Atchley: 1995-present
Howard was the only mayor to serve two non-consecutive terms (1946-1951 and 1969-1970). During part of his first term, he was also the principal of Sevier County High School.
Another interesting thing about Sevierville’s former mayors is how some were related. For example, Amos T. Marshall was elected in 1904 and was followed 25 years later by his son, Roy Marshall. In a much shorter time frame, William S. Murphy and his brother, Bart W. Murphy, held the office only eight years apart.
Interestingly, Sevierville has elected three sets of fathers-in-law and sons-in-law: Ambrose M. Paine and John B. “J.B.” Waters Sr., Miles B. “M.B.” McMahan and J. Edgar Emert, and John S. Ballard and J. Clifford “Cliff’ Davis.
Gary Wade was the grand-nephew of two previous mayors, Sanders Atchley and Reed Wade.
Although he did not seek the office, Sanders Atchley was elected by write-in votes while he was out of town. Atchley, who was with Sevier County Bank, served for two years.
Both Ogle and Wade were only 29 when elected. Temple was only 30 when he took office.
When Temple was elected in 1959, the population of Sevierville was only 2,890 and the city limits remained between the East and West prongs of the Little Pigeon River and Middle Creek.
In 1960, despite initial opposition by affected residents, the Board of Aldermen annexed Marshall Woods, McMahan Addition, Runyan Addition and Love Addition, almost doubling the area and population.
Just two weeks apart in 1963, two devastating floods prompted Mayor Newman and the Board of Aldermen to seek federal assistance in obtaining an effective flood control system resulting in rerouting the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River and widening of both the East and West prongs.
Sevierville did not have a city hall until Lawson’s term in the early 1970s when the old McNelly-Whaley Ford building was converted into a combination City Hall and police station.
Previously, Board of Aldermen meetings had been held in numerous locations.
Davis was instrumental in the development of Sevierville City Park and securing the right of way for Forks of the River Parkway.
The Sevierville Community Center was among the accomplishments during Wade’s administration.
City Hall moved to the old Sevierville Water Department while Johnson was in office.
Although most candidates’ party affiliations have been known, individuals campaigning for mayor have not run on political tickets. Since the position paid little or nothing, it is evident the 25 gentlemen who have served as mayor have done so out of love for their hometown, its history and its heritage.
Current Mayor Bryan Atchley has held the office for the past 15 years, which is longer than any of his predecessors. At the moment, Atchley has one more year left in his current term.
Unparalleled growth continues under Atchley. Today Sevierville has a Municipal Complex which includes the Community Center, City Hall, Police Station, Civic Center and Chamber of Commerce. These facilities, along with countless others throughout the city, are testaments to Mayor Atchley and the 24 individuals who preceded him, all of whom have helped shape Sevierville into what it is today and what it will hopefully be tomorrow.
— Carroll McMahan is the special projects facilitator for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce. The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the heritage and past of Sevier County. If you suggestions for future topics, would like to submit a column or have comments; please contact McMahan at 453-6411 or e-mail to cmcmahan@scoc.org; or Ron Rader at 604-9161 or e-mail to ron@ronraderproperties.com.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 27 May 2012.
Upland Chronicles: Ambrose Paine served as judge, Sevierville's first mayor
Judge Ambrose M. Paine serves as the first mayor of Sevierville.
Judge Ambrose Paine (center) with his son Tom (left) and his father S.F. Paine.
By CARROLL McMAHAN
In 1916 Gov. Thomas C. Rye appointed attorney Ambrose M. Paine of Sevierville to fill the vacancy created by the death of Judge G. Mack Henderson.
Paine served as judge of the second judicial court with diligence and dignity. He did not seek election when the term ended since he was a Democrat in a predominantly Republican circuit. However from that time forth, he was known as Judge Paine.
Ambrose Miller Paine was born July 24, 1866, in Madison County, N.C. He was the oldest son of the Rev. Smith Ferguson Paine, who was a soldier in the Confederate Army. His mother was Mary Emily McIntire Paine.
Due to the difficult times following the Civil War, he worked hard to receive an education going to whatever public schools were available. In 1886, the Paine family moved to Sevier County where his father founded Smoky Mountain Academy.
After moving to Sevier County, Paine continued his education at Chilhowee Institute and Murphy College. In March 1895 he was admitted to the bar. Considering his legal education insufficient, he enrolled in the University of Tennessee College of Law and received his law degree in 1901, taking a two-year course in one year.
He married Susan “Susie” E. Watson, a daughter of David Corn Watson and Mary “Polly” Williams Watson. They had three children: Myrtle (who married J.B. Waters Sr.), Thomas C. Paine and Earl W. “Cap’ Paine.
Shortly before Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Paine took a train trip there. He expected property values to escalate in the territory once statehood was established, so he bought a section of land for an investment. A year later he returned, sold his property near Tulsa and purchased property near Red Bird. He later lamented, “This was one damn big mistake.”
On May 2, 1901, Ambrose Paine was elected first mayor of Sevierville. The first Board of Aldermen included Dr. A.J. Isham, James J. Loveday, Dr. Ashley W. Trotter, J. A. Cox and William Augustus Bowers. C.W. Fox was elected city recorder and Samuel F. Rogers was the first marshal.
The newly formed council enacted 20 ordinances during the first month in office. Paine chose not to seek another term in 1905. He was succeeded in office by Amos T. Marshall.
Beginning in 1901, Paine was a law partner with James Royal Penland until Penland moved his practice to Knoxville. Their office was located on Main Street, just right of Penland’s home (which is today part of Atchley Funeral Home.)
Paine was one of the organizers of Sevier County Bank in 1909 and one of three board members who served on the building committee for the bank’s first building, which opened on Cross Street (now Court Avenue) in 1910.
Sevier County Bank rented office space on the second and third floors. An attorney and dentist had offices on the third floor while Paine, who served as the bank’s attorney, had an office on the second floor.
Paine was over 6 feet tall, and had excellent posture. He wore a navy blue single-breasted serge suit, white shirt and a bow tie. His black Stetson had no crease in the crown. He had a thick mustache.
He drove a four-door black Buick. The bank had a back stairway he used to get to his office on the second floor.
For many years, Ethel Tinsley Chandler was his secretary. Daily she went to the courthouse where she checked the Register of Deeds office and listed property transfers, deeds of trust and other documents she felt Judge Paine should know about.
Mrs. Chandler also checked the Circuit and Chancery Clerk’s offices for lawsuits that had been filed. At the jail, she checked for arrests or any reported crimes. Upon returning to the office, she reported the information she had gathered to Judge Paine.
A loyal Democrat, Paine supported Gordon Browning for governor and was awarded the honorary title of Tennessee Colonel. He was also a good friend of the powerful Sen. Kenneth McKeller.
In 1945 Judge Paine traveled with his family to Washington to attend the wedding of his granddaughter, Mary Louise Waters, and R.B. “Pete” Hailey. McKellar, who was president pro tem of the Senate, sent the vice president’s car for Paine’s use. However he was peeved at McKellar over something and refused to ride in the car.
Paine died on Sept. 20, 1947, at age 81. At the time, he was president of Sevier County Bank. E.O. Eckle, a close friend and editor of the Sevier County Republican, described him as one of the most colorful and prominent of Sevier County citizens.
In a resolution of the Sevier County Bar Association, he was given credit for promoting education and roads in the county. “The highway from Sevierville through Gatlinburg and into North Carolina was brought about by the efforts of Judge Paine,” the resolution stated.
Judge Paine left an indelible mark on the citizens of Sevierville and Sevier County.
— Carroll McMahan is the special projects facilitator for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce. The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the heritage and past of Sevier County. If you have suggestions for future topics, would like to submit a column or have comments, please contact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411 or email to cmcmahan@scoc.org; or Ron Rader at 604-9161 or email to ron@ronraderproperties.com.
- [S112] Census, 1880.
Name: Amber Pain
Residence: Spring Creek, Madison, North Carolina
Birthdate: 1866
Birthplace: North Carolina, United States
Relationship to Head: Son
Spouse's Name:
Spouse's Birthplace:
Father's Name: Smith F. Pain
Father's Birthplace: North Carolina, United States
Mother's Name: Mollie Pain
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina, United States
Race or Color (Expanded): White
Ethnicity (Standardized): American
Gender: Male
Martial Status: Single
Age (Expanded): 14 years
Occupation: Farm Laborer
NARA Film Number: T9-0971
Page: 127
Page Character: D
Entry Number: 5925
Film number: 1254971
Household Gender Age
Parent Smith F. Pain M 44
Parent Mollie Pain F 35
Amber Pain M 14
Newton Pain M 12
Lilly Pain F 8
Charles W. Pain M 5
Mary V. Pain F 2
- [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 20 Sep 1947.
Paine, A. M. July 24, 1866 N.C. Sept 20, 1947
Spouse: Susie E.
Father: Paine, S.F. N.C.
Mother: Mc Intyre, Mary N.C.
Sons: Tom C.
Daughters: Mrs. Myrtle Waters
Cemetery: Shiloh
Brothers: C.W., I.N., D.F.
Sisters: Mrs. Lillie Clark, Mrs. Mary Branson, Mrs. Geneva Brown
- [S87] Death Certificate.
Name: Ambrose M. Paine
Event: Death
Event Date: 20 Sep 1947
Event Place: Sevierville, Sevier, Tennessee
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Race or Color: White
Age: 81
Estimated Birth Year:
Birth Date: 24 Jul 1866
Birthplace: N. C.
Spouse: Susie E. Paine
Father: S. F. Paine
Father's Birthplace: N. C.
Mother: Mary Mcintyre
Mother's Birthplace: N. C.
Occupation: Lawyer
Street Address:
Residence: Sevierville, Tenn.
Cemetery: Shiloh
Burial Place: Sevier Co.
Burial Date: 21 Sep 1947
Informant:
Additional Relatives:
Digital Folder Number: 4184927
Image Number: 464
Film Number: 2137387
Volume/Page/Certificate Number: cn 20416
- [S34] In the Shadow of the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Historical Society, (1993), 364.
|
Search | Advanced Search
1866 - 1947 (81 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
= Link to Google Maps