Tennessee Tom or Sevier County Secret

Tennessee Tom was a blood relative and his tale was kept a Sevier County secret for generations. This Sevier County secret, was not a mystery in Sevier County, the enigma of Tennessee Tom and his rocky, trail of tears, was a subject that was never discussed and his legacy ended on a lonely ranch in California. Tom’s tale is not uncommon for the time, inhabitants and locale of Eastern Tennessee. The Civil War had been over for several years, however the folks of Sevier County still dealt with a lawless and ruthless element that believed they had been short-changed by the Union victory. Terror by night plagued the residents and resulted in numerous beatings, shootings, hangings and burnings. The day to day business of survival, which was the hill-folk’s lot, was the hallmark of their meager existence. The lifestyle had been ingrained for generations and a bunch of rowdy terrorists weren’t going to discourage their Sevier County heritage. A common thread that could have led to much of the foul play, was the accepted practice of supplementing the local’s sustenance, with a liberal helping of Tennessee White Lightnin’.

Tennessee Tom was one of thirteen children, was raised by three mothers and his father was considered prosperous and politically well-connected. Tom had relatives all over Sevier County, which was not uncommon at the time or today for that matter. However, there was no philosophy of letting bygones be bygones.  In Sevier County, kin were kin, but the difference in Civil War allegiance did make formidable enemies among family members, that lingered long after the Civil War ceased.

Tom was normally a kind and upstanding fellow, pleased to lend a helping hand and received a satisfactory schooling for the era. He attended church regularly with his family and helped his father in the local business. However kind and accommodating Tennessee Tom appeared, a totally foreign Tom manifested itself when he imbibed any of the local White Lightnin’. Tom’s father was forever rescuing him from scrapes that were attributed to his association with “bad company.” The “bad company” that Tom ran with, was no worse than himself and usually any socially unacceptable results were self-inflicted.

In order to make a long tale short, Tom and an acquaintance had been visiting and socializing with many different friends and kin, when the abuse of a cousin, by her husband, who Tom despised, was discussed and after several more stops, an enraged Tom and his comrade paid a visit to the house of the cousin. Tom banged on the door and demanded that the man of the house come outside for a little discussion. Tennessee Tom appeared to be placated by the husband’s explanation and left, only to soon return and kill his cousin’s mate, by embedding an ax in his head. Needless to say, young Tom lit out for parts unknown, returning after several months, in order to tell his side of the story. Tennessee Tom was immediately arrested and jailed in the Sevierville hoosegow and rumors were rife regarding a local lynch mob or Tom’s kin gathering to free him from the pokey. Tennessee Tom appeared at trial and even though he was a favorite of the community, he was found guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.

The stigma of Tom’s incarceration was too much for his father to handle and he sent many of his children to live with relatives in Missouri, in order to do what was necessary to secure the release of his wayward son. Tom’s father pooled all his resources and called in all political favors, to insure the election of a favorite for Governor. Sure enough his candidate was elected and the father was rewarded by granting his son, Tennessee Tom, a pardon after serving eleven years in prison.

Tom was rewarded by his father, by banishing his son, to the far reaches of Southern California. An older brother had established himself in the Golden State and set his younger sibling up as a laborer on a remote poultry ranch. Hoping that the desolate location would preclude Tennessee Tom from his liquid avocation, he lived in California for the remainder of his life, drinking himself to death, with his own concoction of Tennessee White Lightin’ in 1939. Tennessee Tom continued his family legacy as a Sevier County Secret to surviving kin, but not to the good folks of Sevier County.

Bummer