John Sevier: Tennessee's First Hero

by Gordon T. Belt, Traci Nichols-Belt (With)

This book sheds new light on John Sevier, founding father of the state of Tennessee.
A celebrated soldier, admired politician and founding father of the state of Tennessee, John Sevier led an adventurous life. He commanded a frontier militia into battle against British Loyalists at Kings Mountain. He waged a relentless war against the Cherokees in his effort to claim America's first frontier. He forged the state of Franklin from the western lands of North Carolina and later became Tennessee's first governor. Following his death, Sevier's accomplishments faded from public memory, but years later, writers resurrected his image through romanticized accounts of his exploits, relying heavily on folk tales and recollections from aging pioneers. Thus, life and legend intertwined. Join authors Gordon T. Belt and Traci Nichols-Belt as they examine John Sevier's extraordinary life through the lens of history and memory, shedding new light on this remarkable Tennessee figure.

Genres: Biography, History

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 16, 2014

Reviews

[Melissa Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I particularly liked the fact that the author told us what previous historians and authors have written about John Sevier that was inaccurate or could be proven otherwise today. Living in Tennessee most of my life I have been taught in school about John Sevier and I never really felt like I got the full picture until this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Tennessee history or history in general.

Gordon T. Belt did an excellent job!

[Josiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I did not realize how little there is known about John Sevier (in his own writings and others). He is truly a founding father of TN lost today mostly in legend and memorials. This book is broken up in three different subjects: Sevier as a pioneer, soldier, and statesman. In the last page of this book, Belt admits that this book is as much on the writers and writings of this man throughout history as the man himself, and this can be clearly seen in the first two parts. They seem to be just that, and acknowledgement after a acknowledgement of how little is truly known and credible of Sevier's life at this time. He relies heavily on secondary source material throughout the book, especially these first two parts. So much so that it got to the point to where I just wanted to hear something about the man himself rather than about his biographers.

In the third part of this short book, we finally read and hear stories of this man somewhat more in depth. I don't blame Belt in not giving that much detail as I would like, this subject is rather void of a lot of information. One thing that Belt does particularly well is give examples of fictional writings about Sevier and more realistic writings, throughout the history of his biographers. He also gives a good intro to the man's life, as well as the time he lived in. The bibliography page as well is extensive and is good for researching.
Overall, throughout the reading of this book, I have acquired a real desire for early TN history, or at least what is still known today of it, and even more about this man in particular. He, in my opinion, is a character of TN that should be remembered and studied today, and was revolutionary in the development of the earliest days of the territory and state.

[Steve Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Biography of a lesser known figure

This was a nice biography of an important figure in Tennessee history; but about a quarter of the book was historiography of the research of Southern/frontier history, and really broke up the narrative. It’s almost as though there weren’t necessarily enough on Sevier himself to justify a full book, so it was supplemented with historiography.

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This, John Sevier: Tennessee's First Hero, was a book that I had planned on acquiring and reading quite a while back. The pile ahead of me slowed me down, but I finally had to just check it off my list. I'm glad that I made that decision.

Gordon and his wife Traci have made Sevier come alive, no easy task with all the hate and legends over the years, but for someone who lives in Tennessee you need to understand our past. This book is engaging and both attempts to clear up misunderstandings, admits to lack of knowledge, but also makes the case that Sevier despite his warts was instrumental in making Tennessee successful both in his time and after.

The Battle of King's Mountain during the Revolution perhaps made John Sevier's career, even if not the only event, it became obviously a very important component of Tennessee's self-determination from North Carolina and part of what carried Sevier to a mostly successful political career.

There still was Andrew Jackson and his wife Rachel to reckon with, but you need to read it to believe it. I was aware previously, but not knowledgeable enough regarding that event. You can't make this stuff up folks.

Yet, lots of amateur historians over the years wrote books 'based on a true story,' and at least in Tennessee these were popular, and no wonder. Alone, if you have a portrait painted of you like Charles Willson Peale during this era you are something and that only adds fuel to the fire. For example we currently have the Michael Israel portrait of Donald Trump purchased through money from his 'foundation.'

Regardless, this is a book that anyone interested in Tennessee history should read and until some journal is found by Sevier or his press secretary will probably be the final word.

[Lane Willson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book to learn more about one of my ancestors, John Tipton, who was one of the two main antagonist of John Sevier's life, Andrew Jackson being the other. I was surprised to learn how little existed about this period of Tennessee history and especially of Sevier. It was also interesting to learn that Theodore Roosevelt was one of John Sevier's more noted biographers. At times the story of the story of John Sevier's life was the focus of the book, as there was not much else to discuss. Regardless, Godon Belt tells it in a captivating fashion.

[Caley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read


Very good book for providing an overview of John Sevier's life, but it's main credit is the evaluation of sources. Sevier can become a bit of an untouchable superhero in some ways, but this book did a good job reporting him (to the best of the author's knowledge) as he really was. Overall, a good read that I feel supersedes any other source on John Sevier other than original. Any true Tennessean should read this book.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short work is both a general biography and a review of previous literature on John Sevier. This work presents good stuff on previous literature published on John Sevier, the commemoration of the Battle of Kings Mountain over the years, the "Lost" State of Franklin, and John Sevier's largely hostile relationship with Andrew Jackson.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall not a bad history book. The book seemed like it was really less about John Sevier and more about the events surrounding his life, particularity the Battle of King's Mountain. Good read and informative. Recommended

[Adam Southern · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great piece of scholarship from Gordon T. Belt.

Watch my interview with the author here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l69Hb...