“Doublehead is not a problem for us anymore,” Chief
James Vann told his friend. “Your wife is one of our people, and you have my
permission to settle on the lands you asked me about,” he concluded with a
smile and a handshake. Thus, Hans and Rachel Kennamer of South Carolina were
able to lead their large family into the Mississippi Territory without
molestation by the Cherokee.
2 They settled first along the Flint River in what
would one day become Madison County, Alabama. At the time, however, the area
was still a wilderness, and they were one of only a handful of White families
living in the region.
3 Then, in September of 1813, Hans and his family
received the news that there had been a horrible massacre of White settlers at
Fort Mims in the southern part of the territory. In response, Han’s eldest son
joined Andrew Jackson’s campaign against the Creeks later that year.
4 Over the months that followed, Jacob marched through
the lands of the Red Sticks and waged war on the hostile Creeks. Nevertheless,
due to a severe bout of dysentery, he was forced to return home early in March
of 1814 and was consequently spared from participating in the slaughter which
took place at Horseshoe Bend.
5 When Jacob had recovered, Hans decided to resurrect
an interest which had been smoldering within his breast for years. “Do you
remember that place at the base of the mountains?” he asked his son-in-law. “I
remember,” John Lemley responded. “I want you to go with me and the boys to get
a better look,” Hans told him. “When were you wantin to go?” John asked.
“Tomorrow,” Hans replied. “I’ll go,” John told him.
6 The next morning, Hans, along with his sons (Jacob,
Samuel, Stephen and David) and son-in-law, set out for the place which had
sparked his interest when they had passed through there a few years ago. The
party headed southeast from their home place. It was early fall; and, although
the air was cool, the sun was shining brightly that morning. For a while, they
stayed close to the Paint Rock River and followed it for several miles before
crossing over that watercourse to explore the lands on the other side.
7 In the course of time, they came into a cove that
lay nestled among the mountains. “This is a good place!” Hans declared. “Look
at that spring flowing out of the mountain,” he pointed. The brothers looked at
each other and grinned at their father’s delight.
8 “When will you and Mama be moving?” Jacob asked. “As
soon as possible!” he declared. “Will you boys help me?” “Sure, Papa, it looks
like a good place to live,” Samuel told him as the others nodded.
9 Over the weeks that followed, they felled a good
many logs and quickly erected a rather substantial cabin for their parents.
Hans insisted that it be built on a small rise near the spring.
10 “There are some wondrous caves around here,” the
twins reported one day. Levi and Zachariah did everything together. And, as the
youngest members of the large brood, their parents indulged their boyish
infatuation with exploring and adventure.
11 “How did you see?” their mother asked. “We carried
pine knot torches,” Levi volunteered. “Show me,” Hans commanded. “You’re as bad
as the boys!” Rachel scolded with mock scorn in her voice.
12 Thus it was that Hans explored and farmed the lands
which he had admired ever since he had first entered the area. Over the years
that followed, the locals began referring to the place as Kennamer Cove, and
even one of the caves was named after him. Many years later, the greatest of
the caves would eventually become the focus of Cathedral Caverns State Park.
13 “We are moving to my land in Tennessee,” Jacob told
his father at the end of the summer in 1816. “Is there any water there?” Hans
asked. “Sugar Creek runs right through the place,” Jacob assured him. “Well,
you know your mother will miss you,” his father snorted. “I know, Daddy, but
Giles County isn’t too far away,” Jacob smiled. “Well, don’t forget about us,”
Hans told his son. “Never,” Jacob promised.
14 Then, at the end of 1817, Mississippi became the
twentieth state to be admitted to the union, and Alabama became a territory.
Two years later, the Congress of the United States also admitted Alabama to the
union.
15 Now these are the generations of Hans Kennamer:
16 Hans was the father of sixteen children. One of
them was a daughter named Priscilla.
17 Priscilla married John Lemley, and they had a son
named George.
18 George was the father of a daughter named Sarah,
who later married Bryant Vann and had children.
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