By John L. Kiener,
Washington County Sessions Judge
The Widow Johnson: two-story brick. Nothing I know of this family. Now belongs to Dr. Jacob Stewart’s heirs.
Hardware and tin shop run by A.G. Mason: One-story brick. Replaced by two-story brick, belonging to the Masonic fraternity.
Jacob Naff, occupation unknown: Two-story brick. Later sold to W.H. Crouch, merchant. Three sons: Robert, George and William; two daughters. Now owned by E.J. Baxter.
Kern Family, bakers: two-story brick and frame. This family was German.
W.K. Blair, general merchandise: Two-story frame. This site and the Kern property is now used by the R.M. May Building.
Kern’s Bakery: A two-story frame. Now the property of P.K. White.
William Landreth, drugs: One-story brick. Now replaced by a modern one, belonging to W.E. May.
Eason, merchant: Just back of May’s Store, a large two-story brick. Now owned by W.E. May.
In a large, two-story brick. Now owned by W.E. May.
In a large two-story frame lived a family by name of Keys. This was torn away, and a three-story brick built by James H. Dosser. Now the property of Epps and Epps, Attorneys.
J.W. Deadrick, W. H. Maxwell, John B. McLin, Law Offices: A two-story frame, set back a short distance. In the second story, L.W. Keen had his Photo Gallery. To this building was a porch three feet high from which Nelson and Hayes delivered their speech for and against secession in 1861.
Two-story brick build by James H. Dosser for a business house. Both the above sites are now occupied by the Shipley Hardware Company.
Two-story brick built by Capt. G.E. Gresham, in which a man by the name of Monday sold goods. Now the property of Matt Fink.
Dr. J.C. Perry, drugs: One-story frame. Two sons: William and Joseph. I think this family moved to Sevierville in the later fifties. Now the site of Hoss & McCall Clothing House.
The Deadrick Building, built by Franklin Deadrick, three-story brick in which John A. Wilds and son sold merchandize, also Dr. Gibson had a drug store, and J.C. Aiken ran a general store.
On the hill back of the Deadrick Building stood a two-story frame in which lived Samuel Rhea and family. Site now of the home of J.B. Duncan.
John D. Cox, a large three-story brick now being remodeled into the Andrew Jackson Tavern with four storerooms on the street. On the hill north of this tavern is the Columns, the home of John D Cox and sister, Virginia.
John P Chester, Hotel: A large two-story frame with basement, at which all of our many prominent politicians stopped on their way to and from Washington, D.C. On top of the hotel hung a large bell to summon the guests to their meals. Only one son that I remember, Polk. Now the property of Gus Broderick.
Since the “Chester Inn” remains a Jonesborough landmark and is currently in the process of renovation, I will end the article at this point in Captain Ross Smith’s description. The book is full of important information. I will continue a listing of the Citizens of Jonesborough in a subsequent column.