Artifacts Twenty Four

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When 30-year-old Pall Mall, Tenn. native Alvin York joined the US Army during WWI, he did so as a conscientious objector. Because of York's ability as a rifleman, however, his commanding officer took a special interest in him and allowed the Tennessee native to return home after basic training to make up his mind about remaining in the service. York returned to the Army and was shipped out to France where he killed more than 20 German soldiers and, along with a handful of American soldiers, captured 132 German prisoners in a single battle.
The Tennessee native was awarded the National Medal of Honor for his action sunder fire and a Hollywood film starring Gary Cooper was made about his life. The Tennessee native remained in Pall Mall throughout his life working to improve education and social conditions in Fentress County. Although he was hounded in later years by the Internal Revenue Service, following his death, then-President John F. Kennedy stepped in and ended the battle to afford the family some peace. Both York's home and his flourmill are now state historic sites and managed by his son Andrew York.

The Alvin C. York Family (1900)

Photo (top) courtesy of National Medal of Honor Museum
Photos (center and bottom) courtesy of Tn State Archives

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Although no likeness of him exists, William Lauderdale rose to become a wealthy farmer in Sumner County, Tenn. who served Gen. Andrew Jackson in the Creek Wars and the War of 1812. In 1838, then-Major William Lauderdale and his Tennessee Volunteers were called out to help with the Second Seminole War. He and his men built a fort at the edge of the Florida Everglades to help in the Seminole removal. Following his service, Major Lauderdale died in Baton Rouge, LA the night before he and his men were to be mustered out and sent home. The Tennessean was laid to rest in the officer's cemetery amid a ceremony fitting for a decorated military officer. His brother, who was killed in the Battle of New Orleans, had a county named in his honor and one of William Lauderdale's sons was later killed in the Mexican War.
Through the years, Lauderdale's grave has become lost to time and experts are still searching to recover it. The city, which sprang up around the fort built by him and his Tennessee volunteers, however, adopted the name and today Fort Lauderdale, FL is regarded as one of America's premier cities. A monument in the city's Forest Ridge Park is the only known monument honoring the Tennessee native.

Photo (bottom) courtesy of Tn State Archives

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Jasper Newton Daniel first bought his whiskey still operation from a Lutheran Minister in 1863 at the age of 13. At the close of the War Between the States, Jasper Daniel operation was such that he had to register his Whiskey operation with the US Government, which made him the first in America to do so. In 1904, after being convinced to enter his whiskey in the St. Louis World's Fair, Jack Daniels Whiskey won a gold medal beating out numerous famous European brands.
Since then, Jack Daniel's Whiskey has earned an international reputation for both itself and the State of Tennessee and has become one of the leading businesses in its industry. In 1906 when he couldn't open a safe at his office, Daniel angrily kicked it breaking one of his toes. The injury was never treated and, on Oct. 9, 1911, Jasper N. Daniel died from complications due to a gangrene infection. Tour officials today tell visitors it took five years for the disease to claim their beloved founder because of the purity of the whiskey he spent a lifetime perfecting and drinking.

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John Luther "Casey" Jones moved to Jackson, TN in 1888 when he took a job with the Illinois Central Railroad as a fireman. He eventually worked himself up to conductor and became known for his determination to keep his train running on time -earning the engine's nickname the "Cannonball Express".
On April 29, 1900, Casey Jones pulled Engine 382 into the Memphis station and was scheduled to return home to Jackson. When his relief conductor reported he was ill, Casey Jones and black fireman Sim Webb took the shift 95 minutes behind schedule. From Memphis to Vaughan, Miss., Jones pushed the train to the limit making up the time. As he pulled near his final station, he discovered a train on the track. He ordered his fireman to jump and he throttled back lessening the impact of the collision. While he was killed in the accident, his fireman and passengers survived. The story of that night went on to become a national legend in print and song. Casey Jones Village in Jackson, which features his home and museum, is one of Tennessee's top-rated tourist attractions.

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Tennessee native Ben McCulloch was one of the men who followed David Crockett west to Texas. Along the way, however, he fell ill and could not make it to the Alamo mission. He would go on to serve in the Texas Army and receive a battlefield commission from former neighbor and teacher Gen. Sam Houston for his actions at the Battle of San Jacinto. McCulloch would later serve as one of the first Texas Rangers and as a member of the Texas Legislature. He would also serve in the Mexican War, where he became noted as one of the best American scouts in the Army. In addition, he went on to serve as a United States Marshal, but resigned his post to return to Texas.
In 1860, he was appointed as a colonel and rose to the rank of General in the Confederate Army. He was killed on March 7, 1861 in the Battle of Pea Ridge by a Union sniper. The Tennessean was laid to rest in the Texas National Cemetery and is generally regarded as the last frontier statesman.