Today in Johnson City History, Friday, July 3, 2026
Happenings in and around Jonesboro, as it was spelled, and much more
Tuesday, July 3, 1731: Two hundred and ninety-five years ago today, Samuel Huntington was born. He was “President of the Continental Congress, governor of Connecticut, signer of the Declaration of Independence, born at Windham, Connecticut and died at Norwich Connecticut on January 5, 1796.”
(Source: Chase’s 2026 Calendar of Events.)
Monday, July 3, 1775: Two hundred and fifty-one years ago today, “George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
(Source: Chase’s 2026 Calendar of Events.)
Wednesday, July 3, 1901: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, the Herald and Tribune reported several short news items, as well as advertisements. Some of both offerings are included below: “The athletic committee of the faculty has decided to engage the services of Gilbert J. Kelley of the class of 1901 of Princeton as football coach at the University of Tennessee team for the next season.
“Mr. Kelley has been recommended very highly by friends of the college at Princton. He is said to be a fine man in every respect and a master of college football. He was captain of one of the football teams at Princeton and has made a splendid record upon the gridiron.”
Mrs. Eliza Murphy placed the following advertisement: “I am anxious to close out all that remains of the stock of goods belonging to the late Miss Eugenia Murphy, consisting of Books, Stationery, Dishes, Glassware, Notions, Toys, Pens, Pencils, Tea and Coffee Sets, Toilet articles, and in fact a general assortment, such as is kept by dealers in notions, etc. Come and see the goods.”
“J. R. Campbell keeps on hand, at Britton’s corner, too, and is prepared to deliver same to any part of town on notion. See him when you need him.”
“Salt at Ed Boyd’s.”
“Stuart Miller was in Bristol Sunday.”
Bristol is about 24 miles from Johnson City. It is north, and very slightly east, of Johnson City.
“Britton’s suits are smiling a welcome.”
“C. C. Cox, of Free Hill, was in town Monday.”
Free Hill is a community in rural Washington County.
“Baxter Taylor was up from his river home Monday.”
“Chancery Court met Monday, Judge Smith presiding.”
“C. G. Taylor, of Morristown, was on our streets Monday.”
Morristown, Tennessee is about 66 miles from Johnson City. It is west, and slightly south, of Johnson City.
“J. K. P. Hall of Greeneville, spent last Sunday in this place.”
Greeneville, Tennessee is located about 37 miles southwest of Johnson City.
“All the instructors engaged for the State Normal arrived Sunday.”
The State Normal eventually evolved into what is now known as East Tennessee State University.
“Get your ice cream at the Court house (sic for Courthouse) Thursday afternoon and evening.”
“Mrs. P. W. Kirkpatrick and daughter, Mary, are visiting in Knoxville this week.”
“Oranges, lemons, bananas and all kinds of fruit and early vegetables for sale at Ed Boyd’s.”
“Brick for the new jail are arriving, and work will be pushed forward as rapidly as possible.”
Another mention of ice cream at the Courthouse: “The ice cream at the Court house (sic) Thursday afternoon and evening will be cold and the cake sweet.”
“R. M. Duncan will sell you the best buggy for the least money. Be sure to see them and be convinced.”
“Dr. D. D. Sullins came up to this place last week and is visiting his daughter, Mrs. E. F. Dosser, and family.”
“Peter Miller has his addition to his hotel nearly completed and will have everything up to date when done.”
“George Panhorst spent last week at Washington College helping to close out N. T. Bowman’s stock of goods.”
Washington College is a community in rural Washington County. Washington College was a school for many years, functioning as a college and then a high school. As it is used above, Washington College very likely signified the community.
“Sam Haws, son of our townsman J. H. Haws, has opened a law office in Bristol and will make that place his home.”
“Thomas Bros. have just received another car load (sic for carload) of McCormick machinery. This makes four loads this season.”
“Hon. W. P. Brownlow, accompanied by his little granddaughter, Bernadine, reached home last week from Washington City.”
Walter Preston Brownlow was, “a Representative and Doorkeeper from Tennessee; born in Abingdon, Washington County, Va., March 27, 1851; attended the common schools; employed as a telegraph messenger boy when only ten years of age; became an apprentice in the tinning business at the age of fourteen and later became a locomotive engineer; entered upon newspaper work as a reporter for the Knoxville Whig and Chronicle in 1876; in the same year purchased the Herald and Tribune in Jonesboro, Tenn.; delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1880, 1884, 1896, 1900, and 1904; appointed postmaster at Jonesboro in March 1881; elected Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives for the Forty-seventh Congress (December 5, 1881–December 4, 1883); member of the Republican National Committee in 1884, 1896, and 1900; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fifth and to the six succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1897, until his death on July 8, 1910 (March 4, 1897-July 8, 1910); member of the Board of Managers for the National Soldiers’ Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers 1902-1910; died at the National Soldiers’ Home, Johnson City, Washington County, Tenn., July 8, 1910; interment in the Soldiers’ Home Cemetery.” (Source: InfoPlease.com.)
Washington City is now known as Washington, D. C.
“’Uncle’ Jerry Edwards has so far recovered from the stroke of paralysis lately suffered as to be able to be out on the streets.”
“A. M. Stuart received a dispatch from his son, Capt. Ed Stuart, of the 44th U. S. V., stating that he had arrived in San Francisco in good health. The regiment was mustered out on Sunday.”
U. S. V. was an abbreviation for United States Volunteers.
The Herald and Tribune was a newspaper published in Jonesboro, which was spelled that way in 1901. The newspaper ceased publication in 2025.
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