[Nfb-seniors] A Peggy Chong historical account - from the Revolutionary war

[Robert Leslie Newman]

Hi You All

 

Earlier this morning I sent out the announcement about the newly awarded
Jacob Bolotin prize recipient, Peggy Chong. Well, a couple of weeks back,
she sent out a short account of a blind guy who lived during a super key
time in this country's history! I've pasted it in below. 

 

Peggy Wrote:

 

In keeping with the holiday, let me share a story of a man who fought in the
Revolutionary war and lost some of his vision as a direct result. John D.
Chisholm served from 1779 through 1781, just after the end of the war. 

 

John D. Chisholm was born January 1, 1756 in Hanover Virginia. He was the
son of David and Anna Griffin-Chisholm. In 1774, John married his first
wife, Sarah Harris. The couple had many children. During the war, John was
said to have obtained the rank of Captain. When John's widow Sarah applied
for a widow's pension in 1844, after his death, she provided letters and
stories that documented his service during the Revolutionary War. 

 

John got the name of "Blind John" Chisholm  even before the end of the war.
Around Knoxville in the late eighteenth century, everyone knew who "Blind
John" was. He was so named because of wounds he received during the
Revolution while in the service of Roebuck's Regiment of Mounted Spies at
the Battle of Charleston, South Carolina.

In 1790, John came to Knoxville Tennessee where he bought a half acre lot
and built a Tavern. The first Tavern in Knoxville. The tavern was a rest
stop for travelers and served meals to its customers that included meat,
stew, vegetables and the usual drinking fare. 

 

Customers to the tavern were of all races. The Cherokee often frequented the
Chisholm Tavern when coming to Knoxville to trade. Mostly only the Chief's
were served at the Tavern while the Braves were sent to the Chisholm home
for Mrs. Chisholm to feed.   Lafayette, the French military leader as well
as Andrew Jackson frequented the Tavern. 

 

As Knoxville grew, the Tavern was located at Front and Gay Streets. It stood
there for almost 200 years when it was torn down in the 1960's as a result
of the Urban Renewal project. 

 

Not long after the Tavern was running, John established a postal route
through Green and Jefferson counties that brought mail from Virginia. Some
say this was his greatest contribution to public service. 

 

John served as a negotiator with many of the American Indian Tribes in the
expanding west. Some negotiations were surrounded by scandal. Some Federal
negotiations netted John more land for himself as a side note to the
treaties.  Not always the most faithful of a husband, it is said that John
took a Native American bride, The two had several children. This helped his
alliances with the Cherokee and other Tribes in the area.

Captain Chisholm died on June 15, 1829. His Grandson Jesse Chisholm is the
founder of the Chisholm Trail, a cattle trail and considered to be the
founding father of Oklahoma. 

 

More can be found on the Chisholm's through the internet and the South
Carolina Archives if you would like to learn more.

Peggy Chong

The Blind History Lady