Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 77

six (known) ferries and sent their children
to one of the 22 small (underfunded)
schools. Twenty of these were
single-room schoolhouses with a single
teacher for all eight grades. And, they
only " opened " four to five months of the
year. But, the proponents and supporters
of the new county held onto hope
that the growing industrialized economy
of Chattanooga would eventually spill
over. It never did.
By 1890 it was clear that James County
could not support itself. The tax base
of this rural area was woefully
insufficient despite
the determination and
toil of agrarian life. So, the
state legislature once again
stepped in by passing an act
to dissolve the county 19
years after its creation " contrary
to the wishes of its
citizens. " This action only
deepened the resolve of
many officials and residents
to hold onto their county.
According to local newspaper
reports: " When the
county registrar went to take
possession of the James County
records they refused him,
and the officers of Hamilton
and Bradley Counties were enjoined
by James County citizens from taking
possession of [the] county records or in any
way molesting them " (Daily Journal and
Journal and Tribune, April 3, 1890).
Despite the tenuous condition of financial
affairs and the difficulties arising
from them, the majority of citizens exercised
their self-sufficiency muscles and
continued the struggle.
The newspaper continues: " Though
OPENING
PAGE AND
LEFT: The tiny
county of James
was carved out
of Hamilton
and Bradley
counties, and
lasted about
four decades.
BELOW:
The Colonial
Revival James
County
courthouse was
built in 1913,
still stands in
Ooltewah and is
on the National
Register of
Historic Places.
all [James County] officers were abolished
[by the Legislature], the officers continue to
act q1... assessing taxes, arresting criminals
and making deeds and mortgages "
(May 6, 1890).
Coincidentally-or perhaps
not-the courthouse burned
the same year under suspicious
but unproved circumstances,
destroying most of the records.
With a level of tenacity
honed by the demands of rural
life, James County's farmers,
elected officials, merchants,
educators and others continued
the battle. This time, it was
ultimately directed at outside
" interference " and the weapon
was a lawsuit challenging the
constitutionality of the state
dissolving a county.
As reported, " If the judge
decides against the county the
leading citizens declare they will peacefully
[accede] and organize a little State of their
own " (Critic Record, May 6, 1890).
Giving up on James County was simply
not an option.
The 1890 judicial decision was rendered
in favor of " Little Jim, " and the
county remained intact-at least for a
while. A new courthouse was to be constructed
and the political machinations
continued for another 29 years. During
that time, very few of the daily struggles
changed for the population in the area;
roads deteriorated, schools struggled and
access to the amenities of urban life remained
out of reach.
1920
Then, the fate of James County was again
called into question in 1919.
For the third time, the Tennessee
Legislature passed an act regarding this
narrow strip of land in the southeastern
corner of the state. Based on the same
reasons from 1890 that " she could not
maintain herself, " James County was
once again legislatively dissolved pending
a local referendum. The questions before
a newer generation of voters would
be: Do we once again become part of
Hamilton (and possibly Bradley) county?
Or, do we keep James County? The future
of " Little Jim " would once again be
decided by the residents.
With a reported vote total of 953 to
78, the answer was clear: James County
disappeared from the map in 1920.
Over 100 years have passed since the
winds of change blew in a different direction
across these valleys. Today, the
old town of Harrison is submerged in the
lake behind TVA's Chickamauga Dam.
Original home, school and road foundations
are visible a few times during the
year when the water levels are low. The
(third) county courthouse was built in
1913, still stands as an impressive Colonial
Revival structure in Ooltewah and is
listed on the National Register of Historic
Places. And, Hamilton County is now
the caretaker of what few records remain
from the lost county of James.
Read more in Polly Donnelly's book,
" James County: A Lost County of Tennessee "
(1983).
MAY/JUNE 2023 77
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023
