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, l e several children by by children several Wilson, Hazard James Davidson Ruth Sr.and IIgrew James Wilson. Coun- Williamson inup remain to and chose ty family a and start here Sam- brother, his while u ofone and became as of Secretaries first the admission it’s after State 1700’s. His grandson, grandson, His 1700’s. Wilson Hazard James Ravens- built II,who 1800 in born was wood of one be and would to the Union in 1845. in Union theto RESTON

Volume 13, Issue 3 13, Issue Volume : T. P Y

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In March of 1821, James Hazard Wilson II Wilson Hazard James 1821, of In March Promi- Wilson. Emeline cousin his married figure historical and Texas nent Tennessee his man at best the as served Houston Sam settle would and Emeline James wedding.

Past, Present, and Future and Present, Past, —

August 2011 August Built Hazard by James Wilson II 1825 in — Ravenswood

Ravenswood Thomas Wilson immigrated to America America to immigrated Wilson Thomas and fol- 1700’s mid the in Ireland from down through trail migration the lowed over and finally Carolinas and the Virginia late the in settled he where intoTennessee The Bugle The Society Historic Brentwood the of publication a Bugle, The

The Bugle Brentwood Historic Society Post Office Box 788 Brentwood, Tennessee 37024-0788 Page 2 The Bugle Volume 13, Issue 3 Page 7 in Brentwood and build their home in 1825. torical integrity of the home and its outbuild- chased and many future generations will The home was christened Ravenswood in ings will remain intact and the extent and continue to enjoy its Southern charm and honor of their friend Sam Houston whose purpose of their usage is still being consid- magnificence. Cherokee Indian name was “the Raven”, ered. There will be a few non-lit athletic most likely due to the jet black hair of his fields and perhaps a pa- youth. vilion or two for gather- ings. It will certainly generate picnics by the Sam Houston ran away from home when he lake and marriage pro- turned 16 and went to live with the Cherokee posals under the shade Indians near the Hiawassee River. The tribal of the trees down by the chief became a father figure to Sam and gave old spring house. As him the Cherokee name Colonneh, meaning meetings continue to be "the Raven”. Sam lived with the Cherokee held on the final layout for about 3 years before returning home to for the park, one thing Maryville, TN and enlisting to fight in the is for certain – the City War of 1812. It would be here where he of Brentwood will be would gain the attention of a military leader good stewards of this named Andrew Jackson. Sam Houston and historical piece of land Andrew Jackson became good friends and, that they have pur- following in Jackson’s footsteps, he would take an interest in politics, eventually becom- ing the only person in American history to serve as Governor of two different states – To join the Brentwood Historic Society or renew your membership, please complete the following:

Tennessee and Texas. Membership Levels-tax deductible The Grand Staircase in the front foyer of the home ___Individual $ 15 ___Family 25 It is speculated that the Wilson, Houston, Ravenswood home to establish their plan- and Crockett families all became familiar ___Contributing 50 tation. James II became a very prosperous ___Corporate/Benefactor 100+ with each other and forged friendships during businessman and landowner. He main- their migration from Ireland to Middle Ten- tained large plantations in Tennessee, Lou- ______nessee. The Crocket Family also laid down isiana, and Mississippi raising primarily Name Address/Zip Code roots in Brentwood around the turn of the cotton. With the opening of lands West of th 19 century with Andrew Crockett building a the Mississippi River, James II acquired a ______home in the area in 1786 and Samuel Crock- steamboat line along the Mississippi River. Phone Email Address ett building Forge Seat in 1808. And, just in The steamboat route cut the time it took to Detach this form and send, along with your check payable to: case you were wondering, yes, Davy Crock- get cultivated cotton from the plantations ett was a young nephew of Andrew’s. to the markets in New Orleans from Brentwood Historic Society; Attention: Linda Lynch; City of Brentwood, P.O. Box 788; Brentwood, TN months to merely days. By the mid 1800’s 37024-0788 James Hazard Wilson II and his wife pur- he was one of the wealthiest individuals in For more information: www.brentwood-tn.org/aboutus/history or Linda Lynch, City of Brentwood, 371-0060 chased hundreds of acres of land around the the state. The Brentwood Historic Society is a citizen organization supporting the Brentwood Historic Commission, the Boiling Spring Academy School Program, and dedicated to the study and preservation of Brentwood’s history and culture. Page 6 The Bugle Volume 13, Issue 3 Page 3 Things were good at the Ravenswood Plan- front of Ravenswood today was not a part existed would become a park for its citizens established as a servants’ quarters complete tation but the years did not pass without of the railroad at that time. The railroad almost 200 years later. I can’t help but be- with fireplaces and exterior entrances. their scars. James II and Emeline had nine line that crosses Concord Road near the lieve he would be proud of the care that has Make sure to tour the kitchen just outside children. Their son Samuel died of a heart Interstate and Brentwood Baptist Church been given to the home over the years and the back of the home. As was common in attack in 1851 and less than a year later in was the original line. The portion of the that it will be preserved for generations to those days, the kitchen was detached from 1852 his only daughter Emeline would pass railroad that crosses in front of Ravenswood come. the house so if there was a fire in the kitch- away. In 1854 they lost another two sons, today was not constructed until sometime en it would hopefully not spread to the Jason and George Washington. In 1856 his around 1914. When the Civil War broke So what awaits you when the new Park and main home. It is easy to imagine the large son Walter who was deaf and mute from out, James II spent over $10,000 equipping its Historic cast iron kettle that once occupied the fire- birth died from a gunshot wound when a a company of men from right here in Brent- Home open place. Out shotgun that was leaning against a column wood that would become part of the 20th the gates? As back, two in- on the front porch fell over and accidentally Tennessee Regiment. tact brick one you walk up discharged. It is said that when family to the histor- room slave members found Emeline to tell her about James II used a portion of his considerable ic home and cabins still the accident that her mother’s intuition had wealth to build two stately mansions on the its outbuild- remain and in already told her something had happened to Ravenswood Plantation for two of his sons. ings, visions front of the her 14 year old son, Walter. When his oldest son Samuel married in of Southern home the old springhouse 1845, James II built Oak Hall, also known plantation Wilson pike, originally call the Harpeth still stands. as Century Oak. It was named such be- life will en- Turnpike, was a toll road built by the Har- That spring- cause it was built in a grove of large White velop you peth Turnpike Company around 1840. house feeds Oak trees just to the North of Ravenswood with the mel- James Hazard Wilson II the headwa- ancholy de- was the majority stakehold- ters of the Lit- light of the er in the Harpeth Turnpike tle Harpeth long ago and Company. In the early River. At far away. 1850’s, James Hazard Wil- The front porch of Ravenswood is reminiscent of both Federal style homes of the one time When you son and several other pros- period and Southern Plantation life. there was turn the an- perous Middle Tennessee most certain- tique knob landowners raised enough ly a smokehouse somewhere near the home and enter the house, the door will give en- capital to build the railroad which has undoubtedly fallen over the years trance to the shadows of former years, to an that would pass through leaving no trace of its existence. age forgotten; a time when James II and Brentwood giving the Emeline had filled the house with the young city life. When the laughter of small children. The majestic railroad came through, Many proposals have been put forth from spiral staircase in the foyer warmly greets commerce and population citizens on what should be integrated into you as it has done for almost 200 years. Up growth began to come to the park. While the final plans have yet to the spiral staircase lay the bedrooms on the Brentwood in the area of be unveiled it is evident that a large portion second level. Aside from the two main lev- the current Town Center. of the property will remain untouched and els of the home, evidence shows that what The railroad that runs in One of two one room slave cabins still standing behind the main home. has become a basement in recent years was lined with hiking and biking trails. The his- Page 4 The Bugle Volume 13, Issue 3 Page 5 along Wilson Pike. Originally the home In 1858, James II built another mansion family. Inglehame passed from the Wil- sons at Ravenswood – Reese III, Steve, and had three stories but the third floor was across Wilson Pike to the East for his son son family hands in 1877. Mark. After Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Jr. passed destroyed by a tornado in 1920 and was James III upon his marriage to Virginia away, the home remained vacant for several not rebuilt. After Samuel died in 1851, his Zollicoffer. Virginia was the daughter of In 1961, Reese and Marcella Vivrette years but was still well maintained and cared wife Lucy married one of Samuel’s broth- Felix Zollicoffer, A United States Congress- Smith Jr. purchased the historic home and for by the sons. In January of 2009, the ers, Frank Wilson, in 1853 and they con- man from Tennessee who had the unfortu- 500 acres surrounding it, recreating a por- Smith family brothers approached the City tinued to live in the home. The practice of nate distinction of being the first Confeder- tion of the original plantation. The home of Brentwood to begin discussions about the marrying spouses’ siblings after they ate General killed in the Western Theatre at was lovingly restored over the years bring- potential of selling and preserving the prop- passed away was very common in that the Battle of Mill Springs in Kentucky in ing it back to its former majesty. The his- erty for future generations. For almost two day. January of tory of the house was always in the fore- years the City Commission and staff had dis- 1862. This front of any renovations or additions to the cussions with the Smith family about the po- tential for a new park on the Southern edge One of the mansion was property. Mrs. Smith even prominently of the city. In November of 2010, the Com- most fasci- originally displayed a portrait of Emeline Wilson in mission voted to purchase 320 acres of land nating sto- named Har- the front parlor. Over the years the Reese along with the historic Ravenswood home ries around peth due to family hosted many prominent business- and out buildings and to establish the Mar- Oak Hall the spring men and politicians on the state and na- cella Vivrette Smith, Jr. Park in Mrs. Smith’s happened that feeds tional level to come enjoy the beauty of honor. This would mark the single largest during the the headwa- Ravenswood and its surroundings. As a land purchase ever by the City of Brent- Civil War. ters of the young boy in the 1970’s, even I remember wood. In addition, the City holds an option It was a Little Har- passing the stately house on Sunday after- to purchase common peth River. noon drives another 80 occurrence Today, it is and seeing acres of land after the fall known as that area adjacent to of Nashville Inglehame. flush with the current in the When Civil game and 320 acres Spring of War broke wondering over the next 1862 for The fireplace in the detached kitchen located behind the main house.. The fireplace out in the about the itself measure almost 10 feet across and would certainly would have been capable of five years. Union Spring of large old producing meals for large numbers of people. James Haz- Troops to 1861, James house that ard Wilson forage in the area and confiscate livestock. III left to join the Confederate army. The stood invit- II probably Frank and Lucy had thoroughbred horses elder James’ wife, Emeline has passed away ingly off in never imag- that they knew would surely be confiscated in 1860 so when the younger James went the distance. ined that by Federal troops if found so on more than off to war, Virginia moved over to live in what started one occasion, they blindfolded the horses the Ravenswood home. James III survived Over the out as a gift and led them up one flight of stairs and the war but could not survive the economic years, Mr. to Emeline stored them in the second floor ballroom hardships brought on by Reconstruction. and Mrs. in 1825 be- until the troops has passed. The hoof prints The elder James passed away in 1869 and Reese fore Brent- can still be seen on the grand staircase to- in 1873, James III was forced to move to Smith, Jr. The drive up to the home which takes you back in time as if called by some obscure voice from the past. wood even day. Nashville to find work and provide for his raised three