A compilation of information found from articles and old passed down stories as to the creation of Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park
Last revised: 3-23-2015
The Founding of Pilot Knob State Park
(Now known as Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park)
By Brett Lashlee, great grandson of original park organizer O.P Lashlee
The compilation of information below was gathered from research of former news articles, state park websites, prior written history as well as personal stories passed down to me from my Great-Aunt Lucille Lashlee Dunn, who was the daughter of park organizer, OP Lashlee.
For as long as Benton County has been in existence, one of the primary landmarks known not only to the local citizens, but also too many inhabitants over time, has been an elevated hilltop overlooking the Tennessee River’s western bank aptly named Pilot Knob, legendarily known as one of the highest points in West Tennessee. Pilot Knob was coined by the riverboat captains traveling the Tennessee River in the mid-1800’s and was a vital navigational landmark. Whether it be a result of a famous battle and historic military figure, or simply the majestic presence of a notorious navigational landmark, efforts by local citizens over time have played a role in establishing this landmark into an area set aside for all to enjoy.
Although research showed organized efforts to establish what we now know as Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park took place in the Spring and Summer of 1929, it can be somewhat concluded that interest was probably present amongst the citizens years before but never acted upon in an organized manner.
In a Benton County historical article written by Nell Morisette, she references a Confederate Veterans reunion attended by members who fought in the November 1864 Battle of Johnsonville which would have been held in the Eva and Pilot Knob vicinity. This reunion sparked interest in the local citizens’ movement and persistence in creating an established park area, but over the course of some 20 years it remained somewhat subdued until 1929.
Research gathered from archived editions of The Camden Chronicle shows the first sign of promoting renewed interest began from an editorial published on the front page of the March 1, 1929 edition. The editor may have possessed a bit of jealousy in that he cites that the Tennessee General Assembly has appropriated $40,000 toward the established of Fort Negley in Nashville and this should be the time to promote construction of another historical park at Pilot Knob. His closing statement includes “The Chronicle is interested in siting a suitable park maintained by the State at Pilot Knob which is but a short distance from Eva and it has been suggested that a meeting be called by our spirited citizens and take speedy action to get this park”.
The editorial must have sparked some attention for the March 29, 1929 edition mentions the initial efforts by the Tennessee State Legislature to appropriate $10,000 in funds establishing the park. No official act had been passed, but the appropriations act had passed its “first reading”. A later July 26, 1929 Camden Chronicle article reveals July 19, 1929 a Park Organization Committee meeting making a preliminary survey and viewing of the grounds. This newly formed committee met there during the day in which the people of Eva came out and hosted them to a large dinner-style picnic “fit for the gods”. The story states that an appropriation of $28,000 was made for beautifying 20 acres of land and building the memorial at the top of Pilot Knob which we know today as the tall obelisk granite monument in honor of General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Upon review of the State of Tennessee’s State Park website says it was made into a “Tennessee State Park” in 1963. Efforts prior to that was simply in the form of recognition, grants and appropriations by the State and/or Benton County toward a local “county managed” memorial park area. The July 26, 1929 article references a formation committee headed by Orlander Priestley Lashlee as chairman with Lindsey Melton, Rep. Joseph F. Odle, Rep. Henry Blake Pafford, Leon Caraway, Mrs. W.P. (Mable) Redick and Mrs. W.B. (Cecil Pafford) Warrick as additional members.
In a later November 8, 1929 article in the Camden Chronicle, a reference is made to the Nathan Bedford Park Association, so the presumption can be made that as the momentum grew on the formation, the committee refined its focus and structure, originally naming it the Pilot Knob Memorial Park Committee and then changing the name to the Nathan Bedford Forrest Park Association. How or why the changing of focus from Pilot Knob to Nathan Bedford Forrest Park is never explained. For those in Benton County it is easy to understand the same location being referenced two different ways with Pilot Knob being known as the physical landmark, but the famous Confederate General Forrest actually making the area known nationwide for the November 1864 battle he victoriously won there. Depending on the multiple article writers I suppose, the two difference references are continuously made until the October 1931 official ceremony and from that time forward Nathan Bedford Forrest Park emerges as the official naming reference.
In the November 8, 1929 article controversy can be seen. Reading the article it appears the legislature made the original appropriation at the closing of the Spring, 1929 session, and it was referenced only in a “Senate Resolution” form and never signed by the Governor (Henry Horton). The Attorney General renders an opinion given to the State Comptroller, Edgar Graham, who was directed “not to pay out the fund”. The article later states that the appropriation issue would be addressed in an extra session of the Legislature to be held in December 1929. Additionally, the November, 1929 article states “Forrest Park Will Not Get $10,000”. Confusion arises here because the original July, 1929 article states $28,000 whereas the November 8, 1929 article states $10,000. A later write-up by Nell Morisette states that only $5,000 was actually allocated in a December 13, 1929 act by the legislature.
A March 7, 1930 front page Camden Chronicle article contains a proclamation of financial support to the citizens of Benton County by Committee Chairman O.P. Lashlee. In this article he states The Benton County Memorial Committee Brought “home the bacon”. This is yet a third reference of a different committee name so the presumption is this committee was simply formed to secure and acquire funding for the park. Members of this committee were O.P. Lashlee (chairman), H.B. Pafford (secretary) and L. Melton (treasurer). No reference was made to the earlier article where an extra session of the Legislature would restore funding. One can sense that Governor Henry Horton may not have been in favor of this endeavor to establish a park funded by the State of Tennessee or that the amount of allocation, during a time when the Great Depression was in its infancy, may have been excessive. Anyhow, the article to a degree piggybacks off the November 8, 1929 article above references a February 20, 1930 meeting with “The Government and the State Librarian”. Who comprised “The Government” is not known, but protocol would assume The Governor and possible legislators of the Benton County area for O.P. Lashlee and HB Pafford were well connected politically having served in the legislature and Benton County offices prior to 1930. Per the article, these attendees headed straight to The State Comptroller’s office and collected the $10,000. The committee treasure (L. Melton) secured a bond and then deposited the funds in the name of the Park Committee with The Peoples Bank and Trust in Camden. The funds were to be used for a monument and clearing and beautifying the grounds of the park.
Somewhat humorously, an April 11, 1930 article reports that there may be a cave where or near the monument was designated to be! It describes that a local citizen of Eva some time ago found an opening near the base of Pilot Knob and placed a stick and then a large pole into an opening and both completely disappeared. Further research of the area would be conducted, but this same article did report that the road had been opened from the main Eva Highway to the Knob and was now ready for a grader.
By June 1930 it seems the parks development was in proceeding at a rapid pace. A June 13, 1930 Camden Chronicle article describes a Park Commission meeting on June 6, 1930 in which numerous visitors and dignitaries attended. The purpose for this meeting was to conduct a business session (progress report) and inspection of the site. By this time the parks development had nearly been going on for one year (referencing the June 26, 1929 article above). Park grounds and a roadway leading to the summit of the mountain had been cleared. Out of town visitors in attendance were the Governor (Henry Horton) and some descendants of the confederate soldiers who fought at the Battle of Johnsonville. At the conclusion of some dignitary speeches, a dinner was served. The article also references some possible “competitive pride” being shown by Benton Countians for that they make mention that the view from Lookout Mountain and Moccasin Bend in Chattanooga in no way surpassed the view from Pilot Knob and its overlook of the valley below to the Tennessee River. Remember, TVA and Kentucky Lake was still years away from providing the current look we see today so from the knob one would be seeing agricultural fields and sparse forest below up to the Tennessee River area outside of Eva.
A year later a July 10, 1931 Camden Chronicle articles again hints at a bit of tension and controversy. Although the park itself had been allocating funding for its establishment, the 8.2 mile roadway to the park is undergoing some setbacks. This road for the most part is the highway we know as “Eva Road / Highway 191 North with some possible deviations to the exact routing it takes today. The article states that the departing Spring 1931 legislature did not provide additional funding to complete the highway project that was already in progress. Benton County Judge R.G. Florence had been sent a letter from the State Highway Department Engineer John Neely, Jr. where he states all construction has to be ceased and that the construction activities will be directed for maintenance only type repairs of county roads in the area. Since this again was in the beginning stages of The Great Depression, the article provides a sense that only the bare minimum to keep highways and roads operable were to be performed due to fiscally hard times. Engineer John Neely additionally states that if an extra session of the Legislature was called that they surely would remedy the situation for it borders “Criminal Negligence” in allocating public funds to a project and not complete it and allowing them to fall into “rack and ruin”! Although research of this dilemma was not pursued to determine when the road was actually completed, the park development and opening was still on schedule for a fall dedication.
During the Spring of 1930 up until October 1931 it is presumed continuing development and establishment of the park took place and after much human labor and persistence, the park was officially dedicated on October 21, 1931. This information was obtained from State Archive photographs. An October 16, 1931 article was the last article found in The Camden Chronicle and highlighted the dignitaries who would be in attendance as well as stating that “proceeds derived from the sale of barbeque, etc. would go to the work required on the park grounds”. The opening ceremony was attended not only by dignitaries and local citizens, but also by surviving Confederate veterans, veterans children, and widows of the famous 1864 Battle of Johnsonville who served under Confederate General NB Forrest (see photos originally provided by Roy Melton).
In March 1963, Governor Frank Clement signed into law the creation of Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park which brought the park out of the county’s management and into the hands of The State of Tennessee (see photo). This structure still remains in existence today!
As to the naming of the park, it appears to have changed over time. Locals of course knew of the historical Civil War battle that took place on the East and West Banks of the Tennessee River under the view of Pilot Knob. The early news articles from 1929-30 referred to the park as being Pilot Knob Memorial Park, but shortly after, began being referred to as Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park. The state park website states:
“Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park was named after a Confederate cavalry leader, General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Although a controversial figure, Forrest is remembered by some as a noted military tactician of the Civil War. On November 4, 1864, he attacked and destroyed the Johnsonville Federal supply and munitions depot across the river at the mouth of Trace Creek. His operations were concentrated along the river in the vicinity of the park and the town of Eva.”
On a visit with my Great-Aunt Lucille Lashlee Dunn in the summer of 1992, she showed me old black and white photographs of her father, O.P. Lashlee, with the granite monument as it was being cut and polished from her husbands (Albert Dunn) quarry in Marietta, Georgia. There were other photos of the stones sitting stacked on the quarry grounds as well as others showing those stones loaded onto a large pallet bed pulled by mules. Other photos showed the granite pieces being loaded onto a train bound for Eva, Tennessee and then other photos showed OP Lashlee with the quarry’s stone-mason who travelled on the train to Eva with O.P. Lashlee. This stone-mason would erect the granite sections into the tall obelisk monument in the late summer-early fall of 1931 where it still stands today. Aunt Lucille told me how she remembered her father saying the state had shorted the park committee of funding it had earlier appropriated, so he (O.P. Lashlee) used his own personal funds to acquire the monument from his son-in-law, Albert Dunn, who owned the Quarry and Construction Company in Marietta, Georgia. In using his personal funds, he freed up monies in the committee coffers to be used for other areas of need in which to make the park a first-class site for the people of Benton County. Although I am still trying to trace down those photos from family members who may possess them, I fear they may have been lost in her estate sale shortly after her passing in July, 1996.
With the assistance of current Park Manager Robert Wood, I was able to obtain the following history on the actual erection of the obelisk monument:
In the Fall of 1931, an unidentified man and the monument in memory of Nathan B. Forrest arrived by rail at the Eva Depot from Calhoun Georgia. This man stayed at the Holland Hotel in Eva about two weeks until the job of erecting the monument was completed.
Albert Cherry and Oscar Pafford contracted the job for $500.00. The monument was rolled off the train at the depot. Mr. Cherry went to Dickson, Tennessee and rented a truck. When the base was loaded onto the truck, it squatted all the way down on the frame. This plan not working, Mr. Cherry and Mr. Pafford cut and made a wagon, wheels and all, out of black gum trees. The base of the monument was then loaded onto the wagon and pulled by the truck to the bottom of Pilot Knob. The truck could not pull it up the hill. At this time Mr. Bob Farmer was the road commissioner and he told Mr. Cherry that they only had one dozer which was in use during the day but they could use it at night to pull the load. After work Mr. Carshfield Holland hooked the dozer to the wagon and the base was pulled up the hill. The middle section being somewhat lighter was pulled up by the truck the next day. That night the dozer was brought back and the shaft was pulled up.
When all the pieces were on top of the hill ready to set into place the man from Georgia hired some young men to help. They were Ernie Cherry, David B. Pafford, Ben B. Holland, Addillea Hollingsworth, and Onas (Bigen) Sanderfur. These young men were paid .25 cents per hour.
An “A-frame” was built; cables were tied to trees with two winches on each side. Leather strips were put under the timber with long bolts to tighten the shaft to lift and set on the second piece. The base was set on lead to keep water out. Between the base and the first piece and first and shaft a one inch strip of lead was laid around the edge to seal water also.
Ernie Cherry placed a new Indian Head Penny heads up on the base before the second piece was set into place. This information was related to me by Mr. Ernie Cherry on October 20, 1993. Mr. Cherry passed in 1995, but was 84 years old at the time he provided this information and the last one living at this time who helped in the erection of the monument in memory to Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Timeline:
1907 – Confederate veterans reunion held in Eva and Pilot Knob area and attended by members of Forrest’s Calvary. This meeting planted an idea for the park’s creation.
March 1, 1929 – Benton County residents initiate efforts to lobby State of Tennessee for the funding to establish a state park below and atop Pilot Knob in Eva, Tennessee.
March-April, 1929 – Original funding from Tennessee General Assembly in the amount of $10,000 or $28,000
July 19, 1929 – First organizational meeting of the committee members in charge of establishing the Pilot Knob State Park
November, 1929 – State Attorney General restricts original funding of the park made by the legislature.
December 2, 1929 – Governor repeals the funding for the park.
December 13, 1929 – The extra session of the State Legislature passes an act to create the Forrest Park Memorial Commission, allocating $5,000 funding for the park.
March, 1930 – $10,000 in funds acquired for park development and construction.
Spring, 1931 – O.P. Lashlee acquires granite obelisk from the Dunn Construction and Quarry Company of Marietta, Georgia.
Summer-Fall, 1931 – Stone-mason travels from Marietta, GA to Eva, TN via train with granite sections and erects the obelisk monument atop Pilot Knob.
October 21, 1931 – Official dedication of park (See photos)
Late 1930’s – WPA (Works Progress Administration) & CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) clears land around the Pilot Knob area creating recreational, hiking, picnic areas and roads in and around the established park boundaries.
March 1963 – State of Tennessee officially establishes the park from a Memorial Park managed by Benton County to a State Park and assumes jurisdiction of the upkeep and preservation. (See news photo)
Research Sources:
The Camden Chronicle (Archived edition), page 1, July 26, 1929
The Camden Chronicle (Archived edition), page 1, November 8, 1929
The Camden Chronicle (Archived edition), page 1, March 7, 1930
http://tnsos.org/tsla/imagesearch/index.php?resultpage=22&find=memorials (Original Park Photos)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Bedford_Forrest_State_Park
http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/nathan-bedford-forrest
http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1534 (references WPA history)
https://web.archive.org/web/20060505212223/http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnbenton/bentonhistory26.html (references article written by Clara Nell Morisette)
