State

First Across the Blue Ridge Although not generally known, it was Colonel Samuel Davidson who blazed the trail for the first permanent settlement across the Blue Ridge. He met a tragic fate. ANOTHER of North Carolina's unsung heroes is Samuel к Davidson, whose tragic story old-timers up in the "Land of the Sky" are recalling on this, the 150th anniversary of the establish¬ ment of the first permanent settle¬ ment West of the Blue Ridge. Though the first permanent set¬ tlers receive all the glory for hav¬ ing first colonized this then-wild and desolate section of Western North Carolina, it is to Samuel Da¬ vidson, the pioneer who blazed the trail, that the real honor is due. Buried Near Bee Tree Creek Several miles from the mouth of Bee Tree Creek, where the first permanent colonists settled and which became known later as the Swannanoa Settlements, is a grave marked by a granite monument bearing this simple inscription: "Here Lies Samuel David¬ son First White Settler of Western North Carolina Killed Here by the Chero- kces, 1784." That, in brief, is the tragic story of the attempt of Colonel Samuel W. Davidson, from the Catawba River settlements, to settle in this beautiful, historic and fascinating section of our state. Incidentally, there is an interest¬ ing little event connected with the naming of Bee Tree Creek. One of the members of the permanent col¬ ony cut down a bee tree on the banks of the stream on which they settled. The tree fell into the water and split open, the honey spilling into the water. To commemorate the incident, the stream was then and there christened Bee Tree Creek. But to get back to the story of Colonel Davidson: Samuel Davidson, with his wife and infant daughter and a woman servant, crossed the Blue Ridge in July, 1784, and settled at the foot of Jones Mountain, where he built a cabin. It was the custom of those early pioneers not to feed their cattle, THE STATE. January 26. 1946 By IIIAJEL IVEY SEAY but to turn the animals loose at night to feed on cane, pea-vine and other excellent cattle food which grew so abundantly in the woods. To make it easier to find his horse in the mornings. Samuel Davidson tied a bell around its neck. After several days had been spent at the cabin, he heard the ringing of the bell one morning just before day. the sound seeming to come from the top of the mountain. Naturally supposing that the horse had wan¬ dered up there during the night, he went in search of it. He followed the sound until he came to the Indian Trail which runs along the crest of the moun¬ tain. Here, without warning, he was shot down by the Cherokee Indians, who were hiding in the bushes waiting for him to appear. They had removed the bell from the horse's neck in order to lure him to the spot where his death was planned and carried out. Mrs. Davidson heard the shots but knew that there was nothing she could do among such a savage band so she took her tiny daughter and fled to Old Fort, where she had relatives and friends. And what a flight it was! Over densely wooded hills and through almost impene¬ trable forest jungles she fought her way for the distance of about 15 Carolina's Authority on Precious Stones ССДОШО JGHtliej /Ш (С 10Э» *23 South Elm St. Greensboro. N. C. (ffirr 1 ш7й(бггпо lo a i RttlSTERlMWUlft I AMWCWGlHSOClEm, miles, carrying her baby to safety. In some way, the servant had be¬ come separated from her and took a different route to Old Fort. Here. Mrs. Davidson was kindly received by her friends who imme¬ diately formed a party to go to the scene of the shooting and if pos¬ sible, avenge the death. Searching for the Murderers Davidson’s body was found lying apparently where it had fallen. Members of the party hastily dug a shallow grave and buried it and then went on to find the murderers, whom they supposed to be mem¬ bers of a hunting party from the band of Cherokee Indians who lived a short distance away. About a mile west of the spot where the shooting took place, they found the party, killing many of them and driving the remaining ones back into the mountains. It was a year later that the first permanent settlement of white peo¬ ple west of the Blue Ridge was established at the mouth of Bee Tree Creek, a tributary of the Swannanoa. Among the colonists was Samuel Davidson's twin brother, Major William R. Davidson and a sister, Rachel Alexander. They and the relatives who accompanied them cared for the grave of Samuel Da¬ vidson while they lived, and their descendants did the same after them. Permanent Marker Until 1913, a pine tree, in which the initials S. D. were cut, stood at the head of the grave as the only monument to the memory of this brave pioneer. In that year, some relatives erected a monument at the grave on which was placed the before-mentioned inscription. Few historians mention the name of Samuel Davidson in recording the history of our state but his name has been handed down "by word of mouth" for generations by the mountaineers, who delight in telling "furriners" of his courage and daring. 11