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COLLECTIONS FROM THE PASTBy Elsie Hawkins Henson
(This article was published in the May 24, 1975 issue of the Cowan Bell.) Our first Franklin County Court House has been finally completed, and deep gratitude is due those loyal citizens who gave of their time and labor. Every one is extremely proud of their accomplishments, and now the time has come to furnish the dwelling home of Major William Russell. Jenny Lou Brock, Lila Wilkinson, Linda Cantrell, Virginia Holden and Rose Hancock have been diligently searching (with a little help from yours truly) for furnishings of this period in history.
All household furniture and personal articles are completely authentic, dating from the mid 18th Century though early 19th Century; from pail, piggin and snuff box to cordbed and flaxwheel. I must make an honest confession. I have used one reproduction, a wrought-iron adjustable candle stand, and Mr. Elmer Zaugg made us a sweeping broom of that era.
The cord bedstead and trundle bed were from my maternal ancestors, the Sells or Zells family, who were among the early founders of Germantown (Philadelphia), Pa. Hendrich von Sellen (variation of the same name) is listed as a resident there in 1689. The beds were hand made after the family had immigrated to the “Great Valley of Virginia” and from there to the Middle Tennessee frontier in the movement west in the early 1800’s.
The loom woven coverlet on the bedstead, sometimes referred to as a “linsey-wolsey”, was of the early loom woven era which dates from 1725.
The little aged pine wash stand was given to me by a descendant of my great uncle, Philip B. Hawkins. It was handmade by early cabinet makers in South Carolina, brought to Tennessee with other household furniture that was made by order for my great grandfather, John Baxter Hawkins, who settled in Franklin County about 1817. The furniture was brought to Tennessee in covered wagons. Years after the little table arrived here it was destined for another covered wagon trip – this time to the far West Texas. The stay there was short, and once again the little pine washstand was loaded into a covered wagon and returned to Tennessee to spend the remainder of its days. It has been in my home for many years now. I often wish the little table could talk! I am sure it could spin some exciting yarns of the past.
Furnishing the cabin would have been an impossible task had it not been for the generous folks who have gladly loaned their antiques and heirlooms. We sincerely thank John Ross, Ruth McNutt, Lynn Womack, Bessie Wilkinson, Dora Hawkins Boyd, Teddy Click, Louise Brock, Jim Brock, Alma Cowan, Cletus Garner, Ruth and Agnes Sargeant, the Bob Sloans, Ottie Shook, Juergen and Evamaria Krischell, Abbie Davenport of Alabama and Mrs. Lawrence Jackson.
For David Stines, words are a small reward to express our thankful appreciation for his favors and the benefits received from his labor. The guest register, which he made of redwood and hand carved, will be especially treasured.
For future generations it will reveal an eventful day and become a part of Cowan’s history. |
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