JUST UP THE ROAD - HISTORY OF ELKMONT, PART 7

SUBMITTED BY GARY COMPTON

The things that the commander told Levi troubled him as much as having to move. Old Bully was pushed hard to get home as soon as possible. Levi felt he was about to loose the place he called home and it would set him back for a long time. He had gone as far as he could go to hang on to what he and his family worked so hard for. Here it is in the early part of winter; no stability and nothing to look forward to. He was a couple of miles away from home when he suddenly stop old Bully, got off and dropped to his knees and begin to pray as he had never prayed before. Levi knew the Lord had provided for a long time and he would also guide him thru this situation.

He approached the cabin and heard the sound of livestock he hadn’t heard before. Somebody is here that doesn't  belong. He cautiously eased toward the cabin. There was a candle burning inside but there was no sounds. There was two horses tied up on the porch railing. Levi cocked the hammer on his flintlock musket and prepared to kick the door open. Then he heard a voice inside, “There is something outside.” Levi recognized the voice and shouted “Is that you, Wendell” ? “Yeah and you better be Levi”. The door flew open. Wendell , Harland and Levi embraced . The brothers had found where he lived. They had been traveling for nearly three months and they looked very frail. Ma Gretchen had fed them a good meal. The boys hardly knew their uncles and seemed somewhat distant. Levi tried to show hospitality but all that transpired that day was still hanging heavy on his mind. “Brothers, I am sure glad to see you but we all need to rest for there is a gospel meeting tomorrow afternoon up the hill. It is a good hour ride from here. We all need to go.

Levi was the first up the next morning. He hadn’t slept much at all. He went to the branch to wash off. He looked up the hill to see Gretchen coming. She could tell that things didn’t go well the day before. “Levi “ what is going to happen”? Cause I can tell things didn’t go well. Levi explained everything that had happened. “We are to stay here for now but my brothers must move on back a couple of miles.” “There is a lot of uncertainty as to what is going to take place around here and my brothers being here are only going to make things worse.”

They headed back to the cabin and by then everyone was up. Ma stoked up the fire and begin to cook some of the fatback Levi brought home. There was a good mess of eggs ready to be fried. Harland had brought about 20 pounds of the remaining wheat he and Wendell had been living off of the last few months. Herman got busy grinding some of it up to make bread. Ma sent Andrew to the branch to pick some water crest so she could pour hot grease on it. This made delicious greens. They all set down to a great Breakfast.

JUST UP THE ROAD - HISTORY OF ELKMONT, PART 6

Submitted by Gary Compton


The soldiers from Fort Hampton arrived one day with bad news. Mr. Simms and his family were told they would have to move because it had been determined that the Chickasaw Boundary was being violated by him and other settlers that had moved in the Elk River area . The orders stated they must leave within the next two days. This was a great blow to Levi as well to his family. Gretchen was not feeling well and was sick almost every day. Levi was very worried about her. He could not figure out her illness.

Levi paid a visit to the local land office trying to figure out what he needed to do to maintain ownership to this land. The Land was part of Mississippi territory and it was determined the he needed to move back East for about three miles. Here it was in the early part of winter with no shelter and no place to go.

Levi’s next step was to go and talk to the post commander at Fort Hampton. He knew that abandoning his homestead in the dead of winter would place his whole family in danger of freezing or starving to death. Levi arrived at the fort late that same day. Guards halted him at the fort entrance. He was commanded to state his name, where he was from and the purpose of his visit. One of the guards went to the commander's quarters and shortly returned with a message. “ The commander is busy getting his daily report from the field officers and it may be an hour or so before he would be able to see you”. This didn't set well with Levi because he needed to head back to his family as soon as he could. One of the soldiers recognized Levi and offered him some fatback and coffee. Levi accepted the offer and they begin to talk. The soldier found out Levi was from the same part of the country as he. Soon they found out they both knew some of the same people from back East. This put Levi at ease. The Colonial came out to meet Levi with a good hardy handshake. He invited him into his office and closed the door. “What can I do for you Mr. Simms ?” he asked. Levi explained his dilemma, expressing his concerns for his wife and children. The Commander begin to explain what was about to happen in the area where he was homesteading. “ The Government is in the process of purchasing the land from the Chickasaw and Cherokee Nations. The Indians have already been moved across the river and it is just a matter of time before it is all settled. Then, all this land will go up for sale. You will have to purchase it or lose it." Levi explained he had already invested a lot in making it livable. 

The Commander thought for a few minutes and realized he had a great asset in Levi. “Mr. Simms, Would you consider working for the Government?” Levi didn’t know what to say. “The only thing I ever done was farm and trap”.  The commander said, "Well, I need someone that knows that area where you are living."  Levi thought hard.  "Well, I would be obliged to take your offer but that don’t help me and my family right now cause I got to move somewhere and don’t have a place to go."  The commander told Levi to go back to his homestead and "don’t move until you hear from me. I have some details to try and work out. Here is a letter that allows you to stay there in case one of my patrols try making you move."  The Colonial summoned an officer to escort Mr. Simms to the quartermaster. He also give the officer a paper with this list. With a hand shake ,they departed. The quartermaster looked surprised when he saw what was written on the paper. He begin to pull out wool blankets ( four to be exact); Two slabs of salt fatback, one heavy parka and a dozen pairs of foot wraps. The officer handed the items to Levi. Levi said, “these things are nice and are needed but I have no means to pay you so I can’t accept.” The officer told Levi, “ If the commander sees fit to give this to you, you need to take it with you because I never seen the colonial this generous before”.  Reluctantly, Levi took the goods and loaded them on Old Bully, thanked the officer and rode away.

JUST UP THE ROAD - HISTORY OF ELKMONT, PART 5

Things were shaping up for winter.

Next morning everyone was up early. The air was cool and they all knew winter was not far away. Ducks and geese filled the sky. They were heading south for the winter. (All Levi could see was good food going to waste). The boys were already taking the meat down from where it hung. Pa a few weeks earlier, built a table and a log smoke house. He knew this day would come when they needed a place to prepare and store the meat. Taking the axe, he begin to cut the meat up into smaller pieces. The Shoulders, Hams, Ribs, Neck, Loins, the hides all were saved. They carefully rubbed it all down with salt and hung it up in the smoke house. Pa built a small fire in a pit he had dug inside, placing piles of leaves on the fire to create lots of smoke. He would keep the fire going for six days and nights. this insured the meat would be preserved. Ma cooked out small batches of bear grease and poured it into the clay jugs that Levi traded for when he went to Mooresville. All the meat preparation took all day. everyone was tired and retired at sundown.

The cool weather causes fur bearing animals to get thicker pelts. This made them more valuable for trade. Levi made more snares and trapping became very busy. He would stretch the hides over hand hued boards and hang them up in the top of the barn to let dry. The furs could be sold for money or traded for other goods. This was everyone’s source of income during this time. The Simms family was totally self sufficient, but it was evident, there was desires for more modern things that would make their lives easier.-----To get ahead, even back then, was the American dream.

The boys at this time were busy clearing land. It was early November and they had cleared about eight acres preparing for the spring planting. They had no means to remove the larger stumps so they worked around them. Ten acres of cleared land at this time was considered large especially in frontier country.

Every thing was going well for the Simms and prosperity was just around the corner. The fur trade was doing well his livestock collection was increasing and the family was healthy and all was working hard to make things at it’s best.

JUST UP THE ROAD - HISTORY OF ELKMONT, PART 4

Ma picked up a piece of railing while charging at the Bear, screaming to the top of her lungs. The bear reared on it’s hind legs preparing for a fight. Ma Gretchen never checked up getting closer and closer. The Bear begin to bristle. It dropping the meat and Begin showing his teeth. Ma took a swing hitting the bear right square in the nose. The bear was stunned momentarily but showed no signs of leaving. She whacked him across the back this time. he went down seeming to be paralyzed in his back legs. By this time Herman had made it up to them, he was screaming "Ma Get Back". By now Ma Gretchen was saying things that no child should hear. The Bear apparently realizing he had met his match, wobbled off into the Brush, letting out a low rumble. Ma and Herman stood there waiting to see if he would come back.-------- After things settled down a bit Ma fell to her knees crying. She only now became frightened about what had happened.

Herman consoled her the best he could. He really didn't know what to say but he blurted out "Ma, the bear didn't have a chance, he didn’t' have a chance. You whipped him fare and square. He aint coming back because he is ah hurting too bad. A short time later they both heard the sound of a gun shot coming from down in the bottom. A minute or so later they heard the second shot. Herman knew then Pa had killed something cause that second shot was to finish him off.

Ma had finally collected herself. she realized the bear left their supper alone. She picked up the hind quarter and wiped it off, hanging it back up in the cabin. Herman hung around the cabin with Ma until Pa and Andrew arrived. They had killed a monster elk.

Herman couldn’t wait to tell Pa and Brother what him and Ma experienced.

Pa got excited at the possibility of killing a bear so he took off with his loaded musket. If he could find and kill it, they would have some much needed Bear Grease for cooking and other things; bear is good eating too.

Levi didn't go far until he ran up on the bear. The bear was still in a bad mood but couldn’t get around very well. One shot finished him off. So back to camp to get Old Bully and drag the bear home. When Old Bully got close to that bear, Levi knew things might get out of hand . Bully went into the attack mode. He whirled around and about tenderized the bear with his hind feet before Levi could settle him down.

Old Bully reluctantly drug the bear down the hill to the cabin. They strung up their game by the hind legs removing the entrails and skinned them out. Levi fed and watered Old Bully and tied him out next to the carcass. He was their guard for the night. They would let the meat chill out over night before cutting it up then would salt it down. They washed up in the branch and carried a jug of water from the spring to the cabin. everyone set down for a great meal.---- Silence came over everyone when Pa begin to offer thanks . "Lord, we all know you been watching over us and I want to thank you for your protection . We thank you for this land where we live and the abundance you provide for us. We pray that you will continue to guide us thru this life. I thank you for the joy we have with each other. Bless this food and always remind us to give you the thanks for everything you give us. Continue to watch over Gretchen, Herman and Andrew. Oh yes , thank you for "Old Bully" and keep him safe too. AMEN"

JUST DOWN THE ROAD - HISTORY OF ELKMONT; PART 3

Submitted by Gary Compton

Traveling at night, there is not much to see. The moon and stars, the sounds of Owls, slow chirping Crickets an occasional sound of varmints fighting . Levi realized that he had a good friend "old Bully". Bully could sense danger and this set Levi at ease. Levi's thoughts soon turned to the gold they had found. He decided that tomorrow he would go and kill a elk and salt the meat down for winter food. Then scratch in the branch for more Gold.

He arrived at the cabin just before day break. There was a light blanket of frost on the ground and it was right at freezing. Before he could let everyone know he was home, Andrew was already up and met him at the door.  Andrew seemed to always have something to tell Pa when arriving from away.This time Herman had stepped on a large thorn and it went completely thru his foot. Andrew stated "Me and mama pulled it out and made Herman wash it out in the Branch".

Levi had seen people die from this . His concerns were great. He had sulfur ointment that he had made up for wounds and sores. This mixture was a combination of Sulfur and animal fat. Levi grew up knowing that this was a cure-all that Mama always used on him and his brothers. He told Andrew to go wake up Herman and get him over to the candle light. Herman wasn’t to happy about being disturbed this early in the morning but he knew that papa would be mad if he didn't do as he was told. Levi looked at the foot and felt Herman's head to see if he had a fever---he didn't feel hot. The foot was swollen and red. Levi knew that infection was about to set in.

Son. this is going to hurt but I need to get this ointment into the wound so you won't get sick. Herman was the tough one and told papa "do what you got to do"

Levi fashioned him a stick about the size of the thorn and coated it with the ointment. He thrust it into the wound and worked it around. Herman gritted his teeth trying not to show any pain. He finally gave in to big tears running down his face. Papa pulled the stick out being finished.

By this time, it was beginning to get good daylight. Andrew took old Bully to the Barn, removed his saddle and bridle, and fed him. Levi was tired and needed a nap. He laid down on his straw bed and slept until mid morning. He woke up to the smell of Venison frying. Ma Gretchen was up going at it cooking breakfast; Salt Venison, and fried Buckwheat bread.

Ma could get anyone moving with her cooking. The first one up was Herman. He was walking on the heel of his sore foot and everyone could tell he was doing OK. Levi walked down to the branch to wash his face. Andrew was right behind him. Pa, He said, “What you gona do today“. Levi told him the plans he had thought up on the way home. Andrew was all excited exclaiming he had been watching a big bull elk next to where he and Herman had cleared the land. Andrew wanted to go with him so he could spot the Elk. Levi told Him, "after breakfast, you saddle up Old Bully and get my Musket" .

Andrew couldn't resist telling Herman what he was about to do. Herman didn’t share his excitement because He knew he wouldn’t be able to go. Levi made him feel better by giving him a piece of Taffy Candy then telling him he needed to soak that foot in the branch occasionally and while he was at it, look for some more of that Gold. Ma didn't thank much of the idea but she kept her thoughts to herself. So they all eat their fill. Levi gave Ma a big old hug . Herman would be close enough to the cabin that Ma could keep an eye on him. She told Levi don't let Andrew out of your sight. He nodded and they left leading old Bully.  Herman went hopping down to the branch.

Ma got busy fixing a special treat for all, Venison Porridge, now this consisted of chopped up salt venison, Pulverized Buckwheat, fresh ground basal , chopped up wild onions, a small piece of Indian Turnip, lightly crushed chestnuts and seasoned with some Ground Sassafras leaves. Then she made a large piece of bread consisting of Ground Buckwheat and wild barley , venison stock, salt and water. The day was going well as she walked down to the branch to check on Herman. Herman had found more pieces of gold. The sun was bright and warm as she sat watching him. He was not having a care in the world. Involved in what he was doing. Ma begin to wonder where all their efforts would wind up. She begin to thank about her sisters back east and tears begin to fall realizing she may never see them again. They were so far away. . Her thoughts were quickly interrupted when she heard a commotion in the cabin. Out the door came a huge black Bear with what appeared to be a hind quarter of deer in it’s mouth. 

JUST DOWN THE ROAD - HISTORY OF ELKMONT; PART 2

Submitted by Gary Compton

This trail was used extensively delivering supplies and mail to Fort Hampton. It was also used by thieves and no-goods that capitalized on the many travelers. Sometimes they would beg and other times they would rob. The latter was attempted on Levi. He was just east of Mooresville trail when from nowhere three crusty, looking fellows came from a heavily wooded area. They surrounded him and his mule. Using sharpened wooden spears, they demanded all of his furs and his ride or they would kill him. 

To even Levi’s surprise, his mule, "Old Bully", flared his nostrils and begin to kick violently at anyone in range. Levi had to use all his strength and might to stay on "Old Bully’s" back. First there was a strong thug as old "Bully" connected with one of the robbers' chest. One down and two to go. The second wasn’t lucky either. He moved in with his wooden pole to gore the mule. Suddenly, old "Bully" caught him in the head with his back hoof; down went number two. The third robber started running as fast as he could to escape, disappearing into the woods not to be seen again.

Levi had a mess on his hands as one robber was lying in the trail moaning and the other appeared to be dead. Levi dismounted Old "bully" and examined both of them. The one groaning had some busted ribs and the other was in fact dead. His head was laid open by "Bully's" sharp Hoof. Levi told the one still alive that he would need to take care of his comrade since he had started this mess. "I will be back thru here tomorrow and check on you” and the would be robber seemed to understand so Levi mounted and rode away being shook up by the hole ordeal.

Late that afternoon, it begin to turn cold as he arrived at the trading post. He stated his business to the keeper and requested to finish up the trade so he could head on back to his homestead. As nightfall came so did the cold wind, Levi knew it would be miserable traveling at night but it was more important to get back home with his family than to stay at the trading post overnight. 

Along with the 30 lbs. of salt he had traded for, there was one tin of black powder, two pounds of lead, one small sack of taffy, Two clay jugs with tops , three hens and a rooster. Not much for 25 top grade furs but Levi didn’t complain.

On his way back Levi arrived at the place where the robbers were. He could see a small campfire deep in the woods. Quietly he continued on, wondering what might have happened to the three. Why had they become robbers?  Why did old "Bully" do what he did? Why didn't they just ask for help? Levi being a sensible man, knew he would never know the answer to these questions. He decided not to stop and check on these thugs as he told them. He felt that getting back to his family was more important.

JUST UP THE ROAD - HISTORY OF ELKMONT

PART I - submitted by Gary Compton

Whenever we think about pioneer days, we often think how much simpler it was and wish we could have lived back then. Contrary to those thoughts, life was hard then. Each day was a challenge, not knowing where that next meal would come from. There was very little communication with others. Hostilities were everywhere; almost unbearable work. Your daily decisions would regulate whether you would live or die.

It was in the early summer of 1817 when Levi Simms and his family arrived at a small stream west of what is now known as Elkmont. This area of Alabama had been prime hunting ground of the Cherokee and Chickasaw Indians. The area was heavily wooded and was considered wilderness. The United States was in the process of purchasing the northwestern part of Alabama from these two Indian Nations. Elk River was the western boundary that now separated the young America from Indian territory.  Ft. Hampton was located down the Elk about 25 miles southwest. The Fort's Mission was to prevent settlers from crossing the river into Indian territory and to prevent Indians from crossing back to Western America, It had been decided that their culture differences were much too great for Indians and Settlers to Live together peacefully.

As Levi and his sons led their horses and other livestock to water, they were all observant of their surroundings. There were deep rutted trails where elk and deer traveled back and forth between their feeding and bedding areas. There was a large spring coming from beneath an outcropping of rocks and the water was very cold and refreshing. Levi noticed how pleasant it was being beneath the tall canopy of Popular, Chestnut and Oak trees. The long Valley that ran from Northeast to Southwest creating a natural shield from the hot summer sun and potentially the cold North winds in the winter months.

The boys were already ripping up and down the stream splashing each other, venturing further and further out while being curious of every thing that they saw, felt and smelled. Andrew, the youngest son, soon found that the stream was abundant with fish and crawfish. He begin to remove stones and gathering crawfish, placing them in his ruck sack for a great evening meal. Herman, the older, begin gathering watercress, Chestnuts and wild berries of all sorts. These were typical daily activities as they all had to pitch in to survive.

Mrs. Simms, " Ma Gretchen" , they called her, was busy setting the Irons and building a fire for the evening meal. The Iron Dutch oven was her favorite and only cooking vessel and she always had it wrapped with a leather blanket when not in use. No one was allowed to use it for any reason other than cooking and it was constantly hanging over a fire when they were not traveling. The variety of things that had been in that pot would make some people cringe but nourishment was anything that had meat and none would ever complain. Wild grains were plentiful along their travels and were gathered almost daily. Ma Gretchen would sometimes find a convenient flat stone and a small round river rock. She used this to grind the grains into flour. Bread was a favorite among the family and it was part of their daily staple.

Mr. Simms was busy making a temporary corral for their livestock . His only tool was a Pole Ax that he brought with him from South Carolina. He chopped down several small saplings and tied them up with vines fashioning a fence that would do for a few days while he decided if this place would be their homestead or if they needed to move on. Levi was always looking ahead planning his next move. He was much more happy being away from all the hustle bustle of the east and took great joy watching his boys grow up away from the influences of civilization. Gretchen was his rock and he was always trying to comfort her as she missed her family back East so much.

In days to come, Levi would bridle up his mule early each morning, scouting the surrounding areas while Gretchen and the boys stayed behind doing their daily chores. Levi soon discovered that the Elk River was only a mile are so from camp and soldiers were frequently patrolling the river banks looking for evidence of anyone crossing the river. After getting acquainted with the soldiers, he found out there was several settlements and there was a couple of trading posts about a day's ride from where they were camping.

Levi would occasionally kill a deer to supplement their food supply and was delighted to see so much wild game. There was Turkey, Deer, Elk, Black bear and a few Buffalo. Fur bearing animals were various and plentiful, including Mink, Fox, Beaver, Coon and Weasel. All would be major factors in making his decision to stay or Move on.

Levi had a long day setting and running his snares and was on his way back to camp. Andrew ran up the trail to meet him all excited. "Papa, Papa, Papa look what I found in the branch". Levi had seen it back east and at first he thought it to be fools gold but after biting into it, it was soft and malleable. He realized it was a Gold nugget. "Son" he said, "Show me where you found this". they both ran to the branch. Levi scratched around in the rock crevices at the bottom of the pool using his bare hands and low and behold he found another Nugget. This was all that Levi Simms need to make his decision.” This is where we will stake our claim and make our home".

In days to come Levi had to resist the temptation of scratching around in the branch as he had to build a cabin for the family and shelter for his livestock before winter.  Over the next couple of months the Cabin and barn was erected. Now they had a permanent house and livestock shelter for the winter ahead. In this period of time several families, drifters, some freed men and even Indians came thru Levi’s homestead but they were all encouraged to move on as he had claimed the rights to 640 acres and they would need to settle somewhere else. Levi and his family kept the secret about the gold. not daring to tell anyone.

After finishing his log home, Levi traveled to the river bottom one day and caught up with the soldiers on patrol, he asked them to mail a letter back East to his two younger brothers. The letter asked them to come west . "It’s a good place to live and you will do well. There is plenty of game and the soil is rich". (Mailing something in those days was not very reliable and very slow. sometimes taking two to three months to be delivered). But Levi had plenty of patience, being seasoned by the many months of wilderness travels and personal hardships.  Andrew and Herman begin to take on more and more responsibilities and played a big role in the success of their new found home. They had cleared almost four acres of land at the lower end of the hollow, using a axe, mule and their hands.

They were getting ready for next spring and their first garden. Ma Gretchen had a variety of seed she had brought from back east. She had small glass bottles with wooden stoppers with a variety of garden seed in them She had them all wrapped in leather to protect them. The boys knew that this first year in their new found place was going to be the roughest. They knew they would be eating lots of wild game and wild plants.

Levi knew that laying up food for the winter months was going to be tough. One thing he needed badly was lots of Salt. He took inventory of his Animal Furs that he had acquired so far for trade . Mooresville was his destination and it was his first time to go there. The entire trip would take two full days so he left his musket, Powder horn and bullets with Andrew. Levi knew they would need protection while he was away. The next morning he headed out early using the Upper Fort Hampton Trail to go East.