1836 - 1853

5 January 1842 - Jonesborough Whig, page 1 - Baptist Protracted Meeting

Some two months ago at the request of a Member of the Baptist Church we published the following notice:  "The Baptist denomination will commence a big meeting in the Presbyterian Church in this place, on the Saturday before the third Sabbath in December." After this meeting had progressed four days, our publication day, we published the following notice: "For the last four days and nights our Baptist friends have been holding a religious meeting in the Presbyterian Church in this place, which has been numerously attended and at which there has been considerable excitement.... 

5 January 1842 - Jonesborough Whig, page 3 - Post Script

We stop the press to announce there will be a Temperance Meeting at the Methodist Church on Saturday night week -- the next night at the Presbyterian Church, and so on, including Monday night, The Messrs Rhea's will be present. Let all who are friendly to religion and morals attend. 

2 February 1842 - Jonesborough Whig, page 3 - Subject of Baptism

...No longer than on Sabbath last, as we are informed, there was presented in the Presbyterian Church in this town, the strange anomaly of a Presbyterian lady going up to the sacramental table, while her husband, a Baptist, sat by and wept! Another lady who is a Presbyterian, and whose husband is a Baptist denied herself the privilege rather than go forward and leave her husband behind.  And such cases occur every sacramental meeting in the country, no matter by whom held. An outrage this ought not to be tolerated, and one which we do not intend to tolerate.

2 February 1842 - Jonesborough Whig, page 3 - Religious Intelligence 

A protracted meeting is now going on in the Presbyterian Church in this place, which commenced on Saturday last, at which, thus far, 28 persons have been added to that branch of the Church. The meeting has been conducted under the superintendence of the Rev. Messrs. Cunningham & McLin, and when it will close, it is not known.

16 March 1842 - Jonesborough Whig, page 2 - A Singular Letter

...We continued our meeting in the Presbyterian Church for eight days, and during the whole time the church was crowded with all denominations.  At length the Presbyterians began to fear that we were making inroad into their church, and on Sabbath morning, they indirectly, or rather directly, invited us out of their Church... 

28 June 1843 - The Jonesborough Whig and Independent Journal - The Speaking in Jonesborough

[Four long columns about Tennessee Governor James E. Jones and former Governor (and future President) James K. Polk debating for six hours at the locust grove next to the Presbyterian Church.  Excerpts about the Academy Hill location below.]

A vast concourse of people - the triumph of Jones.  The long looked for 26th of June has come and gone - the much talked of day on which the lean Governor of Tennessee, was to meet the soul of Locofocoism, and the great champion of Western Democracy - aye, meet the invincible Ex-Governor Polk, with the battle-axe of Whiggery, and contend face to face before the sovereigns of the land. Well, they met, and they fought, and a giant like battle it was. Yes, the lions of the two great tribes of Tennessee met - they grappled in our midst - they roared in the locust forest "hard by" the Presbyterian church, for near six long hours together and the freemen of "Old Washington" together with a portion of the citizens of the four or five surrounding counties, including some from North Carolina - respectfully sat in judgement of their efforts - and lo! the day was ours!...  ...The fragrant grove seemed to scatter odours in vain around the Ex-Governor: and the sun high up the hill of Heaven, and rolling his fiery chariot through a cloudless sky, shined but to reveal his wretchedness...  ...A little before 12 o'clock, the vast crowd took up the line of march for the grove headed by two contending orators, who at once entered the stand and commenced "the order of the day".  Ex-Governor Polk led off, as the saying is, and for a time, seemingly in fine style...  ...Gov. Jones next mounted the stand, and after a beautiful and appropriate exordium delivered in a style most strikingly impressive.  

28 June 1843 - The Jonesborough Whig and Independent Journal 

As to the crowd in attendance here, Monday, it is variously estimated - at from two to four thousand.  Of one thing we are not certain, to wit, that we never have seen as large a concourse of people in the town of Jonesborough. And the orators themselves declared the assembly to be the largest they had addressed during the campaign. 

28 June 1843 - The Jonesborough Whig and Independent Journal - Masonic Celebration

The anniversary of the natal day of St. John, was celebrated by the Rhea Lodge, No. 47, in this town, on Saturday last. An address suited to the occasion, and said to have been splendid, was delivered by the Rev. J.M. Kelley. The fraternity formed a procession, headed by a band of music and clad in the habiliments peculiar to their "faith and order" proceeded to the Presbyterian Church...  ...a large concourse of people were in town that day, estimated variously, at eight to ten hundred persons.  

23 July 1843 - The Jonesborough Whig and Independent Journal - Another Falsehood

It is now urged in the North part of this county, that Col. Aiken is a Roman Catholic. This is done to offset Johnson's infidelity. This is a poor story.  Col. Aiken is a member of the Presbyterian Church in this town, and a zealous opposer of the dogmas of Romanism. Try some other story boys!!! 

24 July 1844 - The Jonesborough Whig and Independent Journal - More Speaking

Cen Bartow, Luke Lea Esq., and Senator Jarnigan, are all three expected here on Saturday next. For the accommodation of the Ladies, they will speak in the Grove at the Presbyterian Church.

25 September 1844 - The Jonesborough Whig and Independent Journal - Washington College Again

...Is it more wicked in the sight of God for an Old School Presbyterian Elder at Washington College to be a member of a Clay Club, and an ardent Whig than it is a New School Presbyterian Elder in Jonesborough to be attached to a Locofoco Association, and meet after night regularly and tell lies on Whigs and concoct devilment for other dirty tools to put in operation? Is it worse in the eyes of high heaven for an Old School trustee at this College to make a political Whig speech than it is for a New School trustee of the Jonesborough Academy to make a Locofoco speech, and to furnish liquor and sugar to treat with an election?

The honest truth is that this attack upon Washington College in a paper controlled by Locofoco members of the Church here, is offspring of political malice and religious bigotry, which caused the Academy in this town to open its session last week with some twenty students! Aye a species of malice and bigotry when acted out by such men as control the Literary Institutions in this town will damn any Institution on Earth.  We allude not to the teachers, but others, Locofocos at that! ...  

8 July 1846 - The Jonesborough Whig and Independent Journal - The Fourth of July

On Saturday last, we witnessed as did our citizens everywhere, the 70th anniversary of American Independence. When our National Independence was declared, we numbered about three millions; we are now swelled to over twenty millions; and in every other respect our growth has been equally luxuriant. The day was celebrated in our town by the delivery of speeches and a Dinner at the Female Academy - by a meeting of the friends of Temperance at the Presbyterian Church - and last, though not least, by a drill master of Capt. Bayless' Invincibles, in uniform, armed, and equipped, making altogether, a display worthy of themselves and the occasion.    The fine appearance of the company - the dexterity with which they performed the various evolutions required - their bands of music, and the national airs stuck up - were well calculated to instill into the minds both of the company and spectators present, the highest respect for the great achievements of our ancestors - for their memories - and a devotion to liberty - and teaching them to despise the yoke of a tyrant. 

4 October 1848 - The Jonesborough Whig and Independent Journal - Deaths

Died in this town on Sabbath night last after a painful and protracted illness of several months, Mrs. Mitchell, a widow lady and sister of the Messrs. Blairs.  Mrs. Mitchell was a consistent and pious member of the Presbyterian Church and died perfectly resigned to the will of her Maker. We are not in the possession of any particulars that would enable this notice in further detail, her sickness and death, further than this we have always heard of her highly spoken of, and all parties regarded her as a good woman.

10 January 1849 - The Jonesborough Whig and Independent Journal - Our New Churches

There are three new and beautiful houses of worship being built in this town at present, one by the Presbyterians, one by the Methodists, and the other by the Baptists. These edifice are all very large, 2-story, built of brick, on the main street, with fine fronts, and towering steeples when completed. The first story (or basement) of the first two are both completed, and used for Devine service regularly. These rooms and neat, and comfortable, and warmed by stoves so as to bid defiance to the coldest weather we have ever experience in the country. When completed, which will be in the course of the coming summer, these will be the most neat, beautiful, and comfortable houses of worship in East Tennessee. The three buildings will present a fine appearance and prove quite and ornament to the town. The whole expense of these buildings, including the lots, will amount to something like ten thousand dollars.

19 February 1853 - Loudon Free Press, page 4 - Schools in Jonesborough

We have heretofore published that the Odd Fellow's Lodge of this place had taken under its charge the Jonesboro' Female Academy, situated on Mt. Fairshade to the west, and that the Masonic Lodge had taken into their hands the supervision of "Martin Academy" situated to the south of town. 

We presume that these associations will set to work as soon as possible and revive these institutions and cause them to flourish in all their pristine splendor and magnificence. Jonesboro' is as good a place as anywhere to have schools, and there being no reason why we should not build them. The people here are beginning to see this matter in its proper light, and are coming up to the rescue with a willing heart and open hand. As a result of these newly awakened enterprises, the Masonic and Odd Fellows' Lodges have lately had large accessions and nearly all of our citizens are members of either one or the other association.  Jonesboro' (TN) Journal

26 April 1853 - Holston Christian Advocate, page 2 - Odd Fellows Female High School, Jonesborough, Tennessee 

A circular just received shows that the Trustees of the Jonesborough Female Academy have surrendered the Academy grounds and buildings to the Jonesborough Lodge No. 40 Independent Order of the Odd Fellows. The lodge has enlarged the grounds, repaired the buildings and are opening a Female High School under the supervision of Rev. R.P. Wells, and Rev. D. Sullins. Board and tuition are as low as they can be found anywhere in this country.