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Swannanoa Stories: Samuel Davidson Story

by FANS Admin
September 2nd, 2012

Bill Alexander, who grew up in Swannanoa and now lives in Black Mountain, has many stories to tell. One of those stories involves the tragic tale of his ancestor, Samuel Davidson. Davidson’s grave marker, along with Alexander’s stories, will be featured in the Swannanoa Valley Museum’s Historic Hiking Tour of the Alexander Farm Ruins on Saturday, September 1, at 2:00 p.m.

In a December 2011 interview, Alexander related part of Samuel Davidson’s story:  “In the spring of 1784, Samuel Davidson and his wife Rachel – who was an Alexander – came across the Swannanoa Gap, built a cabin, and tilled the land. He was only there four or five months before an Indian hunting party came by and saw the smoke from the cabin and his horse wandering nearby with a bell around its neck,” Alexander explained.

“Davidson had tied the bell on his horse so that he could find it easily, and the next morning he decided he needed to take his horse to Old Fort to get supplies. He heard the bell and stepped out of the cabin. What he didn’t know was that the Indians had taken the bell off the horse and were luring him to the top of Jones Mountain.” Alexander continued, “When he got there, they jumped out and killed him.”

“The next day, a group of kin, Alexanders and Davidsons, my kin, came cross the gap and began searching for Samuel and found his body where he had been shot.  Immediately, they dug a grave and buried him. There was a big oak tree a short distance away, and so they carved the initials ‘SD’ in the tree,” Alexander said.

In 1913, a group of Davidson’s surviving descendants gathered on the top of Jones Mountain to place a grave marker, which still stands and reads, “Here Lies Samuel Davidson, First Settler of Western North Carolina, Killed Here By Cherokees, 1784.”

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MENU
  • Home
  • About FANS
    • Our Mission
    • History of Our Organization
    • Our Board
    • Get Involved
  • About Swannanoa
    • Facts & Figures
    • Our Community
    • Our Rich Heritage
      • A Brief History
      • Beacon Blankets
  • Our Projects
    • Swannanoa Winterfest
    • Welcome Sign
    • Swannanoa Community Garden
    • Clean-Ups
    • Swannanoa Community Newsletter
    • Community Yard Sale
    • Bus Shelter
    • Greenways
    • Other Projects
  • Photo Galleries
    • Thumbnail Directory
    • Swannanoa Community Garden
    • Swannanoa Yard Sales =>
      • Yard Sale Fall 2014
      • Yard Sale Spring 2014
      • Yard Sale Fall 2013
    • Swannanoa Sweep =>
      • In 2013
      • In 2012
    • Other Events
      • Groovin’ On Grovement
      • River Cleanup
      • Mill Around the Village 2011
      • Mill Around the Village 2012
      • Holiday Party and Benefit 2012
      • Dave’s House Wall Raising in Beacon Village
  • Helpful Resources
    • Swannanoa Organizations
    • Other Information
  • Contact
  • FaceBook