1901GLivesay

The New Tazewell Times - August 1901

How has Tazewell grown over the last 100 years? Some of the methods of forcing people who disagree with their politics have long since vanished, but many are still in place. According to George Livesay, where you get your credit or bank had huge pluses in your standing in the community, and why not, business is business and there is defiantly nothing illegal about that although I do think that in the name of fairness and democracy, not everyone can agree on everything at the same time.
As many know, this county does not welcome "outside" banking but has allowed a credit union to continue banking here, but as many probably don't know there is still a personal connection of this credit union to the largest bank in the county.
When thinking about that and knowing that many of the larger businesses depend on these banks, I can see where this might be beneficial for the population as whole when keeping jobs local is of great concern. But for many, such as myself, who have lived and worked away from Claiborne County, you might see where it seems a might strange. I would also say that knowing the families of the banks personally I am more than certain that their love for Claiborne County runs as deep or much deeper than my own. So from this prospective I must say "more power to them". Those of us who choose to remain sooner or later either conceded to the politics, just become complacent (sterilized by their logic) or fail miserably and leave with our heads hung in shame or tails tucked between our legs, so to speak.
The true measure when looking back is where did those who disagreed with the local "big money" politicians go and were they successful at other ventures. Not being so much a great businessman, I am doubtful at my age should I decide to move away "again" that any venture that I took on would probably not be successful.
One such politician/busnessman who moved was George Livesay, who left after many heated arguments with the politics of Claiborne County. George Livesay was a successful businessman found running a livery and poultry business on Central Avenue in Knoxville from 1910, according to the City Directory, up until about 1930 when his son took the business later selling out to what became "Chicken City" on Magnolia Avenue in Knoxville. His daughter Edith went to work for Fountain City Bank, later Home Federal Bank where she remained for over 30 years.

George Livesay, as I have said, was editor of the Cumberland Gap Progress near the end of the 19th Century. He left this newspaper to begin a New Tazewell paper. He became very disenchanted with what he called the Spout Springs Village Republicans of Old Town. Oddly enough George himself as well as his son-in-law Lafayette Green Payne, my grandfather, were both Republicans also. It seems he had at least three businesses, one in Tazewell and two in New Tazewell. He sold Deering farm equipment in Tazewell in 1901, had a General Merchandise store in New Tazewell and had a partner, T.H. Ford in a livery business in New Tazewell where he sold all kinds of leather goods that included saddles, harness, bridles and shoes. This livery business was in the old George Cosby and Sons Building or a building very close in proximity and likeness to it..

Some of his editorials must have shocked the weak at heart. I have pieced together just two pages of the New Tazewell Times, Published Every Friday, George Livesay, Editor and Proprietor. The cost was Fifty Cents a Year and from one article it seems that a free years subscription was offered to anyone bringing him 50 votes that would move the County Court House to New Tazewell.

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Next up Page 2 of the August 1901 New Tazewell Times and the
back and forth bantering between George Livesay and his Republican adversary Daniel Yoakum
More on what might have been the reason for heated argument between the Livesay/Yoakum families.

Under Social Notes: (not in order)

Our nearby neighbor, the New Tazewell Times has enlarged from seven column sheet, two pages being home print. We congratulate the proprietor, Mr. Livesay, upon his evidence of prosperity and enterprise. The name of the paper will be changed to New Tazewell Republican it being the recognized organ of the Straight republican party in Claiborne county - Claiborne Progress (sarcasm)

B.F. Henry was in to see us last Monday.

W.M. Harmon was in to see us this week.

Old Uncle John Minton called on us one day this week.

Mr. John Smith says that "beef soup" is a good cure for a cut foot.

A.L. Ford has given a bill for lumber to build a residence and store house on the lot lately purchased from Joe Carr near the depot.

Mr. Bill Gipson of third district was in town and ordered Livesay & Ford to make him a fine pair of buggy harness.

J.W. Green was in town Monday and brought one of Livesay & Fords fine sidesaddles.

J.W. Chumley of the 11th district has purchased of Livesay & Fords fine saddles.

Houston Shipley who lives in the shadow of the Spout Springs Village was in town this week and took away one of Livesay & Fords good saddles.

Chas. Hodges, one of the drummer boys was in town Wednesday. He reports the road leading from Middlesboro, to Cumberland Gap, almost impassable on the Tennessee side and the people who come from the Blue grass country say Tennessee is a poor state or she have better roads.

Mr. E. Mirecile, representing the Cable Piano company of Knoxville was in to see us this week. If you want to any thing from a gews harp to a piano call on him at Ford's Hotel.

The I.O.O.F meets every SATURDAY night, visiting brethren are cordially invited.
A.L. Dyer N.G.
H. Pureifull V.G.
W.H. Hollingsworth Rec. Sec.
A.L. Ford Treasurer
P.M. Bolinger Chaplin

Notice To The Public
My carding machine, located on Little Sycamore, five miles East of New Tazewell, will card wool for 5 cents a pound. I am doing fine work. My machine is in good repair.
W.H. Bolton
June 7th, 1901

Sent Free
The Times will be sent free to any one sending us the names of fifty voters who are in favor of moving the court house Old Tazewell to New Tazewell.
Yours Respectfully,
GEO LIVESAY
Business Manager

CAST YOUR VOTE
In order to get an expression of the general public on the question of moving the county seat to the railroad, we will hold an election from day to day, in our office, or you may send your vote on a postal card, or by some friend. The number for and against will be reported each week.
FOR REMOVAL........................652
AGAINST REMOVAL..................81

Double Killing at Pineville
We learned through a citizen of Pineville to a party here, that Mat Hoskins killed Lira Steadman and Bill Sears killed Bob Harrison, no particulars.

Gone but Not Forgotten
David Jennings, a section man learned that his pay check from the Southern Railway was in the hands of the agent at this point, got Mr. Smith the section master to advance him the amount due on a promise to sign up and deliver in the morning (Tuesday) when morning came he was gone, leaving Landlord Surber a board bill, several accounts in the stores here and one at Lone Mountain with Smith as surety. The probabilities are, in a divide up, all his creditors will come up short.

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