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In 1814 after returning from the Battle of New Orleans, William Tipton began to look for a new opportunity. The opportunity he found for his family, friends, and neighbors was Cades Cove.
Though William and many in the Tipton family moved to Cades Cove after the grant was approved in 1821 the initial success of Cades Cove was due to the bravery of one couple and their young child; John and Lucretia Oliver and one year old daughter Polly.
John had a life-long dream of owning his own farm and William Tipton and Cades Cove gave him that opportunity.
Early Morning Light - Cades Cove
William Tipton promised John and Lucretia that if they were willing to be the first settlers in the Cove he would provide them with supplies for the trip and money to buy their own farm once the land grant was approved.
The Olivers knew it was a huge risk but in the fall of 1818 they made the move to Cades Cove. Their first night was spent in an abandoned Indian hut and the next day John began building their first cabin which was located a few yards away from the one below which they built in 1820.
Cove View
They were alone in the wilderness and soon became increasingly afraid of the Indians. Though the Olivers brought food with them there wasn't enough to last the winter and heavy snows made it difficult to hunt. Lucretia believed they would starve to death. Ironically the Cherokee they were afraid of brought them dried pumpkin to eat which saved them from starvation.
In the spring of 1819 John's friend Joshua Jobe arrived with a herd of cattle and found the Olivers exhausted but alive. Their perseverance in the face of great obstacles was the beginning of what would become the thriving community of Cades Cove.
Racing to the Mill
William's brothers Jacob and Thomas settled in the Cove along with Thomas's daughter Ruth and son-in-law Joshua Jobe plus many friends and neighbors including Peter Cable whose nephew built Cable Mill.
Wooded Surroundings
William donated the land for one of the Cove's first churches, The Missionary Baptist Church, which still stands today. The Tipton name is still a part of the Cove. The Tipton Place, built by Colonel Hamp Tipton after the Civil War, is one of most interesting places to visit in the Cove. Hamp Tipton was the great grandson of William's brother Jacob.
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