| 12. | William Rankin Fine was born on 12 Feb 1838 in Wilsonville, Cocke County, Tennessee (son of Isaac Fine and Annie Poe); died on 27 Dec 1907 in Wilsonville, Cocke Co., Tenn. Other Events and Attributes:
- Fact 1: Fact 1
- Name: Major William Rankin Fine
Notes:
Notes for William Rankin Fine:
William and Mary had Thirteen Children. They inheirted the historic Wilsonville Stage Inn later called the Presidents Inn because many Presidents stayed there including Andrew Jackson.
"With this issue of
the Times it becomes our sad and painful duty to announce to its readers the
death of W.R. Fine. During the day of the 27th he was engaged by working in a
field across a small creek from his home at Wilsonville and on his return to
the house he attempted to cross the creek on a small footlog, when by some
means he lost his balance and his body was precipitated head foremost into the
creek the force of the fall and weight of the body unjointing his neck, and
before friends reached him the spirit of the big brained, big hearted and big
souled W.R. Fine has crossed the mystic river." ............."The deceased had
a very limited education, but nature furnished him with a big brain and with a
strong and active, analytical mind. By means of these endowments he became a
splendid skilled machinist and an expert with tools. With a hand-hammer and a
file he could fashion from a bar of steal a pocket knife, a razor, a pair of
scissors, a pistol or a rifle gun, and with his inventive genius he could make
an automatic rat trap or an improvement on a car coupler or a steam
engine."........"In June 1857, the deceased was married to Nancy Wilson,
daughter of Alberta Wilson, As a result of this marriage he leaves to morn
his loss his widow and five sons; Ewen, Mack, Rufus, Frank, and Charley; and
five daughters; Mrs. Kerrilla McNabb, Emma (Jane)Gray, Nancy Samples, Barshia Hall
and Virgie Gray."
Notes for William Rankin Fine:
William and Mary had Thirteen Children. They inheirted the historic Wilsonville Stage Inn later called the Presidents Inn because many Presidents stayed there including Andrew Jackson.
"With this issue of
the Times it becomes our sad and painful duty to announce to its readers the
death of W.R. Fine. During the day of the 27th he was engaged by working in a
field across a small creek from his home at Wilsonville and on his return to
the house he attempted to cross the creek on a small footlog, when by some
means he lost his balance and his body was precipitated head foremost into the
creek the force of the fall and weight of the body unjointing his neck, and
before friends reached him the spirit of the big brained, big hearted and big
souled W.R. Fine has crossed the mystic river." ............."The deceased had
a very limited education, but nature furnished him with a big brain and with a
strong and active, analytical mind. By means of these endowments he became a
splendid skilled machinist and an expert with tools. With a hand-hammer and a
file he could fashion from a bar of steal a pocket knife, a razor, a pair of
scissors, a pistol or a rifle gun, and with his inventive genius he could make
an automatic rat trap or an improvement on a car coupler or a steam
engine."........"In June 1857, the deceased was married to Nancy Wilson,
daughter of Alberta Wilson, As a result of this marriage he leaves to morn
his loss his widow and five sons; Ewen, Mack, Rufus, Frank, and Charley; and
five daughters; Mrs. Kerrilla McNabb, Emma (Jane)Gray, Nancy Samples, Barshia Hall
and Virgie Gray."
William R. Fine Obituary
Plain Talk and Tribune Newport Tenn.
Feb 7, 1955
1908 Account of W.R. Fines Death Reveals History
With this issue of the Tribune it becomes our sad. And painful
duty to anounce to it's readers the death of W.R. Fine During
the day of the 27 he was engaged by working in a Field across a
small creek from his home At Wilsonville and on his return to the
house he attempted to cross the creek on a small footlog, when. by
some means he lost his balance and his body was precipitated.bead
foromost into the creek, the force of the fall Fall and weight of the body
unjointing his neck, and before friends reached him the spirit of the
of the big-brained, big-hearted, and big-souled W.R. Fine had
crossed the rnystic river.
He was born near Wilsonville, COCKE County, Tennessee on the
12th day of February, 1838 and just finishing the seventieth
year Of life when death called Called for him. He was a descendant of
pioneer stock; his direct ancestors and collateral kindred rend-
ered valuable service in protecting the original settlernents or
the valley's of the French Broad and Big Pigeon Rivers.
In this connection it may be of interest to the relatives and
friends of the deceased to refer briefly to the Fine farnily and
note the part they performed in perfecting and protecting the ear-
ly settlements or that port!on of Gceene County, N. C, that now,
constitute Cocke County , Tennessee, Among the early settlers or
this territory were five brothers, Wenden, Euphemeas, Peter, John
and Vinot .Fine All the evidence points to their coming from the
Shenandoah of Uirginia. The only record we have of Wenden.
Fine is that he died in the territory that is now Cocke County in
the spring of 1789 and that his two brothers, Euphemeas and Peter
ministered upon and wound up his estate, As to the point where
Euphemeas. Fine 1ocated and what finally became or him we have no
information. Peter Fine located on French Broad River opposite
and above Old Newport; his entry included the old ferry and the
large island apposite the old residence or C. I. Thomas. At this
- 14 -
place he died, leaving one son, Abraham Fine, Who became one of
Cocke County's most respected citizens.
Capt~ John Fine located on the land shown as the Rutherford farm
on Sinking Creek, At this place he died and his children all went
west in the early part of the last century.
Vinet Fine entered and located part or the land known as the
Swagerty land now owned by the Unaka Tannery. He was in posses-
sion or this land at the time of' his death, which will be referred
to later. He left a number of sons and daughters, amonq them was
Isaac Fine, the father of the subject of this sketch.
In the Sumner or l78l Col. John Sevier attacked a party of In-
dians on Indian Creek. The place of battle was just across the
county line near the farm of Williarn Phillips, In this enqagement
seventeen Indians were killed. In the last conversation the writ-
er had with the deceased, the latter informed the writer that his
father, Isaac Fine pointed out to him the place of the battle and
informed him that Peter, John, and Vinet Fine participated in the
battle.
In the SPring of the year 1783, Col. William Lillard and Major
Peter Fine raised a company of thirty men, among the number being
Capts, John and Vinet Fine, crossed the mountain to the Overhill
Town of Cowee and burned it. From this town originated all the
aggressions upon the Piqeon and French Broad settlements.
In the winter or the year 1763รบ the Indians commenced hostilities
upon the Pigeon settlements by stealing horses and cattle. Major
Peter Fine and Capt. Jr.. NcNabb raised a company of men and fol-
lowed the Indians across the mountain into North Carolina where
they killed one Indian and wounded another and recovered all the
horses. Upon their return they were fired upon by the Indians.
Thomas Holland and a Mr. Bingham were wounded and Vinet Fine was
killed. Tha party broke a hole in the ice and placed the body in
the creek with a view of returning and carrying it away for bun-
al, but owing to a sudden rise in the water of the creek the body
was carried away and never recovered. The creek has ever since
been known as Fine's Creek.
Proud of Ancestors
The deceased often expressed himself as being proud that he was
the grandson or Vinet Fine, the man who voluntarily sacrificed his
life for the protection of the inFant settlenient of Pigeon, and
his eyes would gleam with pride and his voice would be eloquent
with ernotion as he would recall the history and tradition of the
Fine family. The deceased had a vary limited education but nature
furnished him with a big brain and with a strong, active, analyt-
ical mind. By means of these endowments he became a skilled mach-
inist and an expert with tools. With a hand hammer and a file he
could fashion from a bar of steel a pocket knife, a razor, a pair
of ScIssors, a pistol or a rifle gun and with his inventive genius
he could make an automatic rat-trap or an improvement on a car
coupler Or a steam engine.
- 15
In June1 1857, the deceaseci was married to Nancy Wilson, daugh-
ter oF Alberta Wilson. As a result of his marriaqe he leaves to
mourn his death a widow and Five sons EWEN, Mack, Rufus, Frank
and Charles; also six daughters: Mrs. Kerrilla McNabb, Emma Cray,.
Nancy Samples, Mrs. Sarah Maloy, Marshia Ilall and Virgie Gray.
Kind and Jndulgent
As a citizen, neighbor and friend his character was much to be
admired. He was kind liberal and generous. He met cordially his
friends and neighbors and always commanded their respect and es-
teem. In his home liffe he was kind and indulgent and was idol-
ized by each and every member or his family. It was indeed a sad
sight and one that filled our heart with emotion and dimmed our
eyes with tears as we witnessed the stalwart sons and tiny grand-
children weeping piteously over the grave of their departed loved
onE,. -
On the summit of a high hill under the shadow of the greaL
mountain overhanging the murmuring waters of the crystal streamlet
from which he had so often refreshed his tottering and wearied
body, we tenderly and affectionnately laid hin to rest.
He has passed auny,
Like a gentle breath;
And his eyes are closed, with the sleep of death;
The leaves on the trees will flutter and fa11
And the drifting Snow will cover all;
But he will peaceful1y, and calmly rest
Forever happy
By angels blest.
Josephine CrawFord Baker,
DAR National No 395940
OF 299 Wood. Dale Drive, Jackson, miss.
contributed this newspaper article
Facts about this person:
Burial Unknown
?
William married Mary Nancy Wilson in Jun 1857 in Wilsonville, Tenn. Mary (daughter of Albert Wilson) was born in 1839; died in 1909. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1911 - 1911 (0 years)
