When John Thorlton came home to Hickory Creek things were changing in the United States. Before 1815 the development of the United States was dependant on European forces, and affected by European wars. After the Treaty of Ghent, America turned its back on Europe, and turned her attention to a virgin continent awaiting the plow. However the American farmer was faced with problems of, markets for his goods, while American manufacturers were facing unfair competition from abroad.

The British were dumping goods on American shores, and few New England cotton mills managed to survive the fall in prices created by the surplus. Pittsburgh was eager to market its pig iron and bars on an eastern market already controlled by British and Swedish iron interests. In Kentucky the fledgling weaving industries were to bump heads with the Scottish foothold, and the shepherds of Vermont and Ohio cried out for protection against English wool. The large influx of emigrants after the War of 1812, created a need for new roads, canals and transportation. Between 1810 and 1820 the population west of the Appalachian Mountains increased from 1,080,000 to 2,234,000, and five new states representing, Louisiana (1812), Indiana (1816) Mississippi (1817), Illinois (1818), and Alabama (1819), were added to the flag.

The boundaries of the United States had seen major changes, the Spanish relinquished Florida to the United States, and would become a Territory in 1822. Congress created the Arkansas territory, and the remainder of the Louisiana Purchase became the Missouri Territory. In 1820 Maine separated from Massachusetts and became a state. The 9,660,000 United States citizens listed on the 1820 census became 12,800,000 in 1830 and would push the frontier in all directions. The Detroit settlements joined those in Ohio along Lake Erie. The Ohio Settlements were overflowing into Indiana and Illinois, joining those moving up the Mississippi and Missouri valleys around St. Louis. The Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi settlements slowly moved to meet those of Tennessee as they pushed south

Across the nation the voices grew louder and louder for internal improvement and for tariff protection, until 1816 when a new tariff law was finally passed. Henry Clay christened the "American System" with its tariff protection and internal improvements when he said in 1817;

"We are greatly and rapidly growing. This is our pride and our danger; our weakness and our strength . . . Let us, then, bind the Republic together with a perfect system of roads and canals . . . protection would make the parts adhere more closely . . . It would form a new and most powerful cement."

Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun pushed through Congress a bill to build a national road from Cumberland on the upper Potomac to Wheeling on the Ohio River. Connected with Baltimore by a national pike, this became the new road of the immigrants to the northwest. So hungry were the people for this road that it was almost used up even before it was finished. From its beginning in 1811, through its disruption during the war, to its completion in 1818, as fast as a section was completed it was in heavy use, and by the time the western section was completed the eastern section was nearly worn out by the consistent traffic the road attracted, for now it was possible to travel from Washington, D.C. to Wheeling in a breathtaking 30 hours.

Slowly now the people saw in their future, the opportunity for peace, prosperity, and social progress. This period, the "Era of Good Feelings" was accented by the development of New England and Pennsylvania as manufacturing centers. Politics took on a new meaning, and the political party almost ceased to exist.

Nationalism vs. States rights had been a bone of contention among the American people since the days of the revolution. The Federalists under Alexander Hamilton favored a strong federal government while the Democrats or the Democrat-Republicans under Thomas Jefferson were in favor of the federal government being subservient to the will of the states. Basically it boiled down to the interests of the slave owning farmer-planter of the south, against the mercantile-shipping interests of the north. These divisions did not however originate with Jefferson and Hamilton but preceded them by a hundred years. But in Jefferson and Hamilton they found natural leaders. Jefferson viewed the world with an idealistic vision of mild laws, equal opportunity, with simplicity and equality paramount to wealth, voiced in the words of hope of the French Statesman A. R. J. Turgot;

"These people are the hope of the human race. It may become the model. It ought to show the world by facts that men can be free and yet peaceful, and may dispense with the chains in which tyrants and knaves of every color have presumed to bind them, under the pretext of the public good. The Americans should be the example of political, religious, commercial and industrial liberty. The asylum they offer to the oppressed of every nation, the avenue of escape they open, will compel governments to be just and enlightened; and the rest of the world in due time will see through the empty illusions in which policy is conceived. But to obtain these ends for us, America must secure them herself; and must not become, as so many of your ministerial writers have predicted, a mass of divided powers, contending for territory and trade, cementing the slavery of peoples by their own blood."

To Hamilton this was sentimental nonsense, and he wished to model the new nation after the old, a new Europe. And he said;

"Every power vested in the government is in its nature sovereign, and includes by force of the term, a right to employ all the means requisite to attainment of the ends of such power . . . If the end be clearly comprehended within any of the specified powers, and if the measure have an obvious relation to that end, and is not forbidden by any particular provision of the Constitution, it may safely be deemed to come within the compass of the national authority."

This would, in the future, be used as the escape clause for many using the "implied power" they envisioned within the constitution, for their justification of cultural eradication.

With the establishment of the Second Bank of the United States, the question of States rights, and "implied power," came to the forefront, when Maryland levied a tax upon the notes it issued. The Bank refused to pay and the case was carried before Chief Justice Marshall and his court. Advocates of states right espoused that;

"The powers of the general government are delegated by the states, who alone are truly sovereign; and must be exercised in subordination to the states, who alone possess supreme dominion."

Marshall countered with;

"The government of the Union, then, is emphatically and truly a government of the people. In form and substance it emanated from them. Its powers are granted by them, and are to be exercised directly on them, and for their benefit."

And from Hamilton's opinion of 1791;

"The government of the Union, limited in its powers, is supreme within its sphere of action . . . We admit, as all must admit, that the powers of the government are limited, and that its limits are not to be transcended. But we think the sound Constitution must allow to the national legislature that discretion, with respect to the means by which the powers it confers are to be carried into execution, which will enable that body to perform the high duties assigned to it, in the manner most beneficial to the people. Let the end be legitimate, let it be within the scope of the Constitution, and all means which are appropriate, which are plainly adapted to that end, which are not prohibited, but consistent with the letter and spirit of the Constitution, are constitutional."

And Marshall wrote;

"The result is a conviction that the States have no power by taxation or otherwise, to retard, impeded, burden, or in any manner control, the operations of the constitutional laws enacted by congress to carry into execution the powers wasted in the general government. This is, we think, the unavoidable consequence of that supremacy which the Constitution has declared . . . That the United States form, for many, and for most important purposes, a single nation, has not yet denied. In war, we are one people. In making peace we are one people. In all commercial relations we are one and the same people. In many other respects, the American people are one; and the government which is alone capable of controlling and managing their interests, in all these respects, is the government of the Union. It is their government, and in that character they have no other. America has chosen to be, in many respects, and to many purposes, a nation; and for all these purposes her government is complete; to all these objects, is competent. The people have declared, that in the exercise of all powers given for these objects, it is supreme. It can then, in effecting these objects, legitimately control all individuals or governments within the American territory."

Marshall struck a powerful blow against the sovereignty of states, and won for himself many enemies among the state's rights advocates, not the least of which was Andrew Jackson. Jackson would retaliate when he undercut Marshall's authority as mentioned in the next chapter, in the decision of Worcester v. Georgia in 1832, when Jackson refused to enforce the supreme court order in favor of the Indians of Georgia. State's rights advocates were not to be deterred however, and would carry forward their beliefs, until its final resolution on the bloody battlefields fields of the Civil War.

Supreme Court decisions such as Marbury v Madison established the court's right to review any state or federal law, and McCulloch v Maryland which upheld Hamilton interpretation of "implied power" gave new muscle to the Supreme Court, and with Marshall's leadership, made the Constitution a living body of principles.

America was becoming a manufacturing power. We had our own literature as represented by such men as William Cullen Bryant, James Fenimore Cooper and Washington Irving, and with the passing of the Land Act of 1820, which made it easier for the small farmer to purchase land, Henry Clays "American System," was in full bloom. This was "The Era of Good Feelings," political strife was low, and land speculation was high. The land policy of the government encouraged land speculation and credit was easy, so why shouldn't John Thorlton Jr. feel as good as everyone else? Back home, he added to his farm by purchasing an additional 182 acres on the west side of Hickory Creek near where it flows into the Clinch River. This would become the homeplace. Here he would work the land and raise his family while engaging in land speculation along Hickory Creek all the way to its headwaters;

This Indenture made this twentieth day of June in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fourteen between Gabriel Richards ??? of the county of Roane and state of Tennessee of the one part and John Thorlton of the county of Roane and the State above mentioned state of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Gabriel Richards for and in consideration of three hundred dollars to him in hand paid by the said John Thorlton the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath and by these presents doth grant bargain, sell alien ????? and confirm unto the said John Thorlton his heirs and assigns forever a certain tract or parcel of land containing one hundred and eighty two acres lying and being in the county of Roane joining Isham Cox and John Courtney bounded as follows; beginning on a Spanish oak & sour wood running south forty five west one hundred poles to a post oak and black oak tree, hence south ten degrees west seventy two poles to a post oak & black oak hence south forty three east seventy nine poles to a hickory & post oak hence north seventy seven east seventy poles to a pine hence north fifty east twenty six poles to two post oaks hence north fifty two east sixteen poles along the several meanders of the road hence north sixty five east thirty two poles hence north fifty east eighteen poles hence north fifty east eighteen poles to a pine on the county line of Roane and Knox north five west one hundred and forty poles to a small post oak and stake on John Courtneys line. Hence west twenty poles to a stake hence north forty five west to the beginning with all and singular the woods, waters, water courses command either hereditaments and appurtenances to the said land belonging or appertaining and all the estate rights title interest claim and demand of him the said Gabriel Richards his heirs of in and to the same and every part and parcel thereof either in law or equity to the said John Thorlton to have and to hold the said one hundred & eighty two acres of land with the appurtenances unto the said Thorlton his heirs & against the lawful title claim and demands of all and every person or persons shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents in witness whereof the said Gabriel Richards hath hereto set his hand the day and year first above written. Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of .

William Alexander Gabriel Richards His James X Qualo Mark State of Tennessee July sessions 1816 Roane County

Then was the execution of the written Deed of Conveyance duly acknowledged in open court by Gabriel Richards the grantor therein named and admitted to record let it be registered the state tax being paid to me given under my hand and private seal having no seal of office this 17th day of July 1816. Henry Breazeale Clerk by his deputy John Parris State of Tennessee Roane County the written Deed of Conveyance and acknowledgment therein is registered in the Registrars Office of Roane County in book & page 90 August 24th 1816

John McEwen Registrar of Roane County

Then two months later he sold his property on Third Creek:

This indenture made this seventeenth day of August in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen between John Thorlton of the county of Knox and State of Tennessee of the one part and William Nicols of the county of Anderson and state aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said John Thorlton for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and seventy five dollars to him in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath and by these presents doth grant bargain sell alien enforce and confirm unto the said Williams Nicols his heirs and assigns forever a certain tract of land containing thirty five acres be the same more or less lying and being in the county of Knox on the head of Third Creek and joining the land on Hickory Creek and others beginning at a post oak and hickory in line of Campbells big ???? thence thirty four degrees west forty poles to a post oak then south ten degrees thirty nine poles to a post oak in the hollow above Mr Careathers spring then west forty seven poles to a pine then north one hundred and forty two poles to a stake in the line of Campbells big survey and from thence to the beginning containing thirty five acres more or less. With all and singular the woods waters water courses profits commodities hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever belonging or in any wise appertaining and the reversion and reversions remainder and remainders rents and issues and thereof and all the estate ????? property claim and demand of him the said John Thorlton his heirs and assigns forever of in and to the same and every part thereof either in law or equity to have and to hold the same to the William Nicols his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful claim of all persons whatsoever will warrant and forever defend by these presents Signed sealed and delivered

In presence of John Thorlton Joseph Crawford State of Tennessee County of Knox

The execution of this deed was acknowledged in open court by John Thorlton and admitted to record Let it be registered, the state tax being paid. Given under my hand and seal of office the 9th day of October 1818 Registered and revised

Chat W. Clung by his November 12, 1818 Deputy Wm Sivan

While John was busy adding to his holdings, Nancy was busy adding to the family and in 1815 she gave birth to her third son and named him, James W. Thorlton, in honor of her father. Then came my great-grandfather, William Harvey Thorlton born in 1816, named for Nancy's uncle, who witnessed the June 20, 1814 deed above. Then followed their forth daughter, Mary V. born in 1818, and the fifth daughter Cynthia born in 1819.

And a new name was added to the family on January 2, 1823 when John and Nancy's daughter Phebe married the third son of neighbor, Benjamin Longacre. John Longacre and Phebe Thorlton were married in Roane County. John's family migrated from Virginia where John's grandfather Andrew, and his two brothers, Richard, and John owned property in Winchester. John's father, Benjamin, was born in Frederick County, Virginia on March 31, 1761. John's oldest brother, Benjamin Jr. was also born in Frederick County in 1789. Shortly after Ben's birth Benjamin Sr. moved his family to Knox County Tennessee where the remainder of the family was born, Richard in 1791, Anna in 1794, and John in 1802.

This was a grand time of land speculation, and everywhere men harbored visions of riches and prosperity, and everywhere men were buying up large parcels of land, mostly on credit. The Land Ordinance as amended in 1800 allowed for the purchase of land with credit extended over four years, with an interest of 6% per year. Speculators could purchase land, make a small down payment, subdivide and sell at a profit, hopefully before the notes came due in four years.

The Thorltons, the Thompsons, the Alexanders and now the Longacres possessed a large portion of the land around Hickory Creek, but even so they like the other speculators were seeking even more. John joined with his cousin, William Thompson, the son of James and Jane (Caldwell) Thompson, and they purchased 200 additional acres on Hickory Creek.

This Indenture made this sixth day of September one thousand eight hundred and sixteen between Robert Fracker of the County of Knox and the State of Tennessee of the part and William Thompson and John Thorlton of the same place of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Robert Fracker for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred and thirty dollars to him in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath and by these presents doth grant bargain sell alien enforce and confirm unto the said William Thompson and John Thorlton their heirs and assigns forever a certain tact of land containing two hundred acres lying and being in the county aforesaid on Hickory Creek beginning on two hickories on the north side of the ridge running south fifty east two hundred and eighty two poles to a stake thence north forty east one hundred and twenty two poles to a stake thence north fifty thence two hundred and thirty three poles to a post oak thence a direct line to the beginning south sixty two west one hundred and thirty eight poles containing two hundred acres more or less. With all and singular the waters mines and minerals and appurtenances whatsoever to the said tract of Land belonging or appertaining and the reversion and reversions rents and fines thereof and all the estate right tithe interest property claim and demand of him the said Robert Fracker his heirs and assigns of in and to the same and every part or parcel thereof either in law or equity. To have and to hold the said two hundred acres of land with all the appurtenances unto the said William Thompson and John Thorlton their heirs and assigns forever against the lawful title claim and demand of all and every person or persons whatsoever will warrant and forever defend by these presents in witness whereof the said Robert Fracker hath hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written.

Robert Fracker

Signed sealed and delivered, State of Tennessee in the presence of us; Knox County David L. Alexander William Alexander October sessions. 1816 Joseph Wilson The execution of the written deed was proved in open court by the oaths of David L. Alexander and William Alexander and written to. Let it be registered the state tax being paid C. McCLung Clerk by his ???? J.W. McClung Registered and received May 30, 1817 And on April 7, 1818, John purchased 10 more acres; This indenture made this seventh day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen between James Hope and Jacob Wells of the County of Roane and State of Tennessee of the one part and John Thorlton of Knox County and same state aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said James Hope and Jacob Wells doth relinquish all their rights titles claims and demands that they have to John Thorlton and his heirs for the following tract or parcel of land for the consideration of one dollar to them in hand paid lying and being in Knox county beginning at a white oak on one fork of Hickory Creek then south the meanderings of the creek down to the main creek then down the meanderings of the creek to the Wagon Road being the conditional line between John Thorlton and John Kellums then with the road to a line Jacobs Wells purchased from Barlet Cannon then north on a line to the beginning being ten acres be the same more or less including all the supplies land within the bounds so as to not interfere with any other lines is understood by the consenting parties that there is no part of the consideration money is to be paid back ???? land is lost ???? ???? ???? but all the titles that the said Jacob Wells has in the above mentioned tract to be in John Thorlton or his heirs or assigns forever as witnessed our lands and selIs the day and year above written signed seal and delivered in the presences of ???? ???? ???? ???? James Hope Jacob Wells And on July 12, 1820 he purchased; This Indenture made this twelfth day of July in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty. Between Robert Fracker of the county of Knox and the state of Tennessee of the one part and John Thorlton of the county and state aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Robert Fracker for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars by him in hand paid the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. Hath and by these presents doth grant bargain sell enforce and confirm unto the said John Thorlton his heirs and assigns forever a certain tract or parcel of land containing two hundred and fifty acres lying and being in the county of Knox on the waters of Hickory Creek beginning on two hickories corners to the Chapmans survey thence south fifty degrees east two hundred and thirteen poles to a chestnut and stake thence south forty degrees west one hundred and fifty poles to a red oak at the big survey line then with said line north sixty seven degrees west two hundred and twenty poles to a pine on the top of the Beaver Ridge thence north forty west along said ridge to the beginning. With all land singular, the woods, water, water courses, profits commodities, interest, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the said track of land belonging or appertaining and the reversion, reversions, remainder and remainders, rents and estates thereof, and all the estate rights title interest property claim and demand of him said Robert Fracker his heirs and assigns, and to the same and every part and parcel thereof either in law or equity. To have and to hold the said two hundred and fifty acres of land with the appurtenances unto said John Thorlton his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful title claim and demand of all and every person or persons whatsoever will warrant and forever defend by these presents. In the witness whereof the said Robert Fracker hath hereunto set his hand and seal the day and date above written. Signed seal and delivered Robert Fracker in the presence of Joseph Alexander William Thompson State of Tennessee Knox County October sessions 1820 the execution of this deed was duly acknowledged in open court by Robert Fracker and admitted to record. Let it be registered the state tax being paid. Given under my hand.and at office in Knoxville the 7th day October 1820 Registered & Revised Chal. M. Clung January 2, 1821 his dep. W. Sivan

Then with the notes on his 1816 purchases coming due he sold his original 113 acres;

This indenture made this twentieth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty between John Thorlton of the County of Knox and state of Tennessee of the one part, and Robert Fracker of the County and State aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said John Thorlton for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars to him in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath and by these presences doth grant bargain and sell ???? fee off and confirm ??? the said Robert Fracker his heirs and assigns forever a certain tract or parcel of land containing one hundred and thirteen acres ?? the same more or less lying and being in the County of Roane and Knox on the waters of Hickory Creek beginning on two posts by the way ???? ford on James Hopes corner thence north fifty five degrees east sixteen poles to a stake thence fifty six east thirty two poles to a stake thence north forty east eighteen poles to a stake, thence north forty east eighteen poles to a pine thence north forty five east one hundred and six poles to a stake thence south forty five east to the big road thence north to the big road to the wagon road thence up the creek to the Little Fork thence up the meanders of the Little Fork to a white oak on the south bank of the Little Fork then south with Helms line to a stake on the??? of the ridge thence south fifty west one hundred and sixty two poles to a blackoak thence north fifty west one hundred and eight poles to the beginning being part of a tract conveyed by John Brew against John Smith to said conn????? all and singular the woods waters, watercourses, profits, commodities, hereditaments, interests, and appurtenances whatsoever to the said tract of land belonging or appertaining and the reversion and revisions remainder or remainders rents and issues thereof and all the estate rights ??? interest property claim and demand of him the said John Thorlton his heirs and assigns of in and to the ???? and every part and parcel thereof either on ??? or equity' to give and to hold the said one hundred and thirteen acres of land be the same more or less north sell the appurtenances acres unto the said Robert Fracker his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful ??? claim and demand of all and every person or persons whatsoever sell warrant and forever defend by these presents.

...........Remainder missing . . .

On October 21, 1821, John purchased an additional 100 acres:

This Indenture made this twenty first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred twenty one by and between Alexander Patterson of the County of Knox and State of Tennessee of the one part and John Thorlton of the county and state aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Alexander Patterson hath for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred and twenty dollars in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath and by these presents doth grant bargain sell alien enforce and confirm unto the said John Thorlton his heirs and assigns forever a certain tract of land containing one hundred acres be the same more or less lying and being in the county of Knox on the waters of Hickory Creek and having such shape and form to wit, beginning on a pine ???????? Alexander corner thence south forty five east one hundred and sixty poles to a red oak on Alexander's corner on the side of the Black Oak Ridge thence along his line forty poles to two hickories thence along a marked line up the Black Oak Ridge to a post oak thence north forty five west to a stake on ??????? to Charles Turney thence north sixty nine west two hundred fifty nine poles with ????? line to a post oak thence south nineteen west seventeen poles to the beginning with all and singular the woods waters water courses profits, commodities, hereditaments, and appurtenances whatsoever to the said tract of land belonging or appertaining and the reversion reversions remainder and remainders rights rents and issues thereof and all the estate right title interest property demand or demands of him the said Alexander Patterson his heirs and assigns forever of in and to the same and every part and parcel of either in law or equity to have and to hold the said one hundred acres of land be the same more or less with all the appurtenances unto the same John Thorlton his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful title claim and demand of him the said Alexander Patterson his heirs and assigns will warrant and forever defend by these presents in witness my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Alexander Patterson Signed sealed and delivered in presence of David L. Alexander William Alexander State of Tennessee Knox County January session 1823 the execution of this deed was proved in open court by David L. Alexander and William Alexander and admitted to record. So let it be registered the state tax being paid. Given under my hand and office the 6th day of January 1823 Registered and revised March 29, 1823 Charles McCung

A new frontier was now open in the brand new state of Indiana, now only ten years old. A young Scottish social reformer named Robert Owen established a community in the Wabash Valley which he named New Harmony. Other hopeful settlers followed filling the lower part of the state with the same optimistic pioneer American that filled the trails and roads since the inception of this new democratic experience called "America." John's brother-in-law Joseph Alexander, and his wife, John's sister Polly on November 16, 1826 decided to become one of these hopefuls. Joseph sold his land to John, and Joseph and Polly set out on the road to Indiana.

This indenture made this sixteenth day of November one thousand eight hundred & twenty-six between Joseph Alexander of the county of Knox and state of Tennessee of the one part and John Thorlton of the county and state aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Joseph Alexander for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred & forty dollars to him in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged herewith and by these presents doth grant bargain, sell, alien enforce and confirm unto the said John Thorlton his heirs & assigns forever, a certain tract or parcel of land lying & being in the county of Knox on the waters of Hickory Creek containing fifty five acres. Beginning on a black oak then north fifty five east eighty poles to a stake on John Wilsons line there with a conditional line made with Joseph Wilsons. North sixty two west one hundred and sixty poles to a blackjack near the top of ????????? to a stake ????? Fulethers old line then with ???????? south forty five east to the beginning.. With all the woods, waters, water courses, profits, commodities, hereditaments & appurtenances whatsoever to the said tract of land belonging or appertaining the revision & revisions remainder and remainders rents & issues there of sale the right title interest property claim & demand of him the said Joseph Alexander his heirs & assigns forever of in & to the same & every part or parcel thereof ether in law or equity to have and to hold the said fifty five acres of land with its appearances unto the said John Thorlton his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful title claim & demand of all in any manner of persons whatsoever will overcome and forever defend in testimony whereof the said Joseph Alexander hath hereunto set his hand and seal the date above mentioned.

Inference of . . . Joseph Alexander Robert ????............... State of Tennessee Knox Co. Francis T. Wilson . . . October session 1827 The execution of this deed was proved in open court by Robert ??????? & Francis Wilson subscribing witnesses hereto and admitted to record. Let it be registered the state tax being paid given under my hand at office. Recd rev. Dec. 20, 1827 Chas McClung clk by his Dep. Wm Tivan.

John Thorlton now possessed in whole or part, over 500 acres of rich land on the banks of Hickory Creek. And, by the end of the decade his family was complete. John C. Thorlton was born in 1825, and the last of the family, the tenth child, and sixth sister Esther, was born in 1829.

The success of the non-slave frontier farm depended on the children of the family. The daily chores were overwhelming and required intensive manual labor. Sons were as valuable to the farmer as gold was to the prospector. In 1826 John and Nancy possessed a sizeable family to support their farm. John undoubtedly purchased a good share of his land on speculation the exact amount is unclear, however a family of John's size, with was only able to manage 50 or sixty acres, so John must have rented or leased out part of his land. To assist their father, Robert 16, James at 11, and William at 10, were, by frontier standards, and farm requirements already men, with their full complement of chores. And to help Nancy with her duties was, 19 year old Phebe, 17 year old Margaret, 12 year old Jane, 8 year old Mary, and 7 year old Cynthia.

West Tennessee was quickly evolving into a cotton and tobacco growing, slave dependent region, and was rapidly becoming a seat of "talent and fashion." But East Tennessee farms, with their poorer land, and crops of wheat, rye, and corn, required family labor to survive. Even so in the view of one of its residences, a David Anderson Deadrick, it was a more desirable place to live;

".......Our soil is poor in comparison with what is now called Middle Tennessee, or in comparison with the Western District, and we have it not within our reach, as a people, to become rich as they can in the west. Yet I believe this is one of the leading reasons why our country will be more desirable as a place of residence than any part of the west, for where there are temptations and opportunity to get wealth men are less apt to be virtuous and happy, and, where property is most equally distributed, there is most contentment and peace of mind. This I believe is exemplified at the present moment in the conditions of West and East Tennessee . . . "

Farmers were learning new methods of crop management, and soil replenishment. Lime and manure were more and more in use, and crops were being rotated. A man named Gideon Davis invented a new plow with a cast iron mould board, a cast iron point, which were usually changed for wrought iron ones, when put to use. Mr. Davis wrote that:

"If our farmers will only use it judiciously in plowing under clover, buckwheat and other green crops, a great change will be effected in the aspect of our country in a few years."