Uncovering the Past

Most historical accounts of the Sequatchie Valley in
Central Tennessee, where Marion County is located,
usually emphasize the first white settlers. Several Native
American Tribes occupied the valley, but by sometime in
the 1700's the Cherokees had gained control of the area.
The Cherokee Nation was driven out, their land seized
and turned over to white men, and there begins the
history of rich, arable land, iron ore and coal.

The National African American Historic Association
(NAAHA) of Marion County tells a different story in a
brochure published this year:

"Since its inception, Marion County history has, in a true
sense of the word, been African American history. When
the Cherokees came to the area in the early 1780's, they
were surprised to find African-owned farms near Battle
Creek" [this was the first name of the town of South
Pittsburg] "that had been set up by people who had
escaped enslavement in the eastern colonies. During the
years before the American Civil War, it was the labor of
enslaved Africans that made the plantations of Marion
County successful."

Mrs. Gladys Streeter Wooten, president of the
NAAHA, which is compiling information on the early
history of African Americans in Marion County, is shown
in the photograph above at the NAAHA booth at South
Pittsburg's annual Cornbread Festival in April.

The brochure, entitled "Marion County Civil War
Heritage Driving Trail Guide", is an illustrated tour guide
to Civil War points of interest with particular attention
to African American involvement. It was produced with
support from the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage
Area and made be obtained from NAAHA, P.O. Box
2525, Jasper TN 37347. A donation is suggested. Or
contact Mrs. Wooten for further information or to share
with her sources of early Black history in Tennessee.

The NAAHA has several projects, including plans for a
small park and monument dedicated to the teachers and
students of McReynolds School, the high school for
African Americans, which was destroyed by arsonists
when the Marion County schools were ordered to
integrate.

Another project, with which I am assisting, involves
compiling information on the life and work of Dr.
W.J. Astrapp, an African American physician. who
administered to the citizens of South Pittsburg,
Tennessee, Black and white, from about 1910 until his
death in 1944. The object is at least a brief biography
of this dedicated doctor and perhaps a marker honoring
him in the city of South Pittsburg.

Those posting to the forum on Afrigeneas, a website for
researchers in African American genealogy, have been
Most helpful, especially Sadonya who has provided
several important source documents.

Anyone who has any information about Dr. Astrapp
in South Pittsburg or in Chattanooga please contact me.
I would be happy to hear from you.