The Early History of Philadelphia by Calvin Lundsford

The Loudon County Harold Special Edition, June 13.- 20, 1970

Through the many passing years since its founding in 1822 the town has had many note worthy and interesting things to be a part of the town and the people.

EARLY SETTLERS

The town of Philadelphia has not shown any great population growth through the passing years and has somehow been able to maintain its quiet and peaceful way of everyday living. It is one of the very few remaining towns where everybody knows everyone else .

The early settlers of Philadelphia were Jocob Grimmet, Stephen Bond, William Reynolds, George Yokem, Daniel Prigmore Hardy Jones, and James Bacome. The first store was opened by Robert Browder in1824 when the Morgan and Jacobs Company of Knoxville opened a store in Philadelphia. The first hotels in Philadelphia were operated by Robert Carden and Captain James Maddy. Captain James Dodd ran the local still house. A tan yard was operated by Louis Patterson. In 1821 a grist mill was put into operation by Jacob Pearson. Around 1860 the town was at its peak and some early business men were R . R. Cleveland, James Chesnut, E.E. Edwards, Hugh Smith and John Stansfield.