In
1832, Samuel Smith, at the age of 70, brought 350 members of a
party of settlers, including his family, through the Cumberland
Gap to settle in Tennessee. He was given 1000 acres of land as a
pension in Montgomery County by his grateful country, for his
service in the Revolutionary War, particularly in the Battle of
Brier Creek, Georgia.
In his saddlebags were six white pine seedlings from his native
state of North Carolina, which he planted on his home site, now on
the Ft. Campbell Army Base. One of the white pines still stands
there, overlooking his grave within the Samuel Smith Cemetery, and
its 135 foot height serves today as a landmark for the helicopter
pilots.
In 1976, in honor of the Bicentennial celebrations, soldiers
from Ft. Campbell expended 3,500 man-hours, 500 equipment hours,
and about $5,000 worth of materials to clean the gravesite and
held a ceremony of dedication to the old soldier. A large bronze
plaque stands near the tall white pine, in tribute to Samuel Smith’s
contributions to his country.
The Samuel Smith White Pine is located off Engineer Road, on US
Department of Defense property.
Originally nominated by Rob Niemann.
Entered into the Landmark & Historic Tree Register in 2003
as a landmark tree.
