John M. Clemens Papers
This collection consists of four documents related to John M. Clemens. Three of these documents concern the planning and funding of the Fentress County Courthouse. The fourth is a land indenture that was filed by Clemens during his time as court clerk.
The earliest document, dated March 20, 1827, contains the specifications of the jail and courthouse that were to be let out for bids and completed by May 1, 1828. The second document, dated from November 10, 1827 to August 1, 1829, is an "Acct of Money Rec'd from Sundry Persons ... for building Courthouse." The third document, dated January 16, 1830, is a receipt from Early Albertson, chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Jamestown, for $82.56 1/2 for special taxes in 1828 and 1829 to build the courthouse in Jamestown.
The final document, dated December 4, 1832 and September 2, 1833, is an indenture for land near Wolf River that Jonathan Simpson sold to John W. Simpson for $30. The boundaries are described and the deed is witnessed by Ephraim Guffy and Bird Smith.
Dates
- 1827 March 20-1833 September 2
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
1.8 Linear Feet (1 oversize folder)
Abstract
This collection consists of four documents related to John M. Clemens. Three of these documents concern the planning and funding of the Fentress County Courthouse. The fourth is a land indenture that was filed by Clemens during his time as court clerk.
Biographical/Historical Note
John Marshall Clemens was born on August 11, 1798 in Lynchburg, Virginia to Samuel and Pamela Clemens. He married Jane Lampton on April 6, 1823, and they moved to Fentress County, Tennessee in the early 1830s. In Jamestown, Clemens was an attorney, circuit court clerk, and county commissioner. He also bought 70,000 acres of land as an investment. The family moved several more times before settling in Hannibal, Missouri. John and Jane Clemens had seven children: Orion (1825-1897), Pamela (1827-1904), Pleasant Hannibal (1828-1828), Margaret (1830-1839), Benjamin (1832-1842), Samuel Langhorne (1835-1910; became famous under the pseudonym Mark Twain), and Henry (1838-1858). John M. Clemens died on March 24, 1847 of pneumonia.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository