Adam Huntsman was one of the most colorful politicians of his time. He lived and worked in all three of Tennessee’s grand divisions. Once entering politics, he never lost a race for public office. He was a quirky man, but had a great sense of humor. During campaigns he often used Bible verses and Aesop’s fables in speeches. He lost a leg during the Creek-Indian War, but his outlook on life never wavered. What he accomplished in his life, caused him to become one of the most famous politicians in Tennessee History.
Adam Huntsman was born on February 11, 1786 in Charlotte County, Virginia. His parents were Jacob and Mary Devine Huntsman. Nothing is known about his life in Virginia. He migrated to Tennessee in 1807. When he reached Tennessee he settled in Knoxville. While in Knoxville, he studied law under prominent attorney John Williams. Williams would eventually become a United States senator. It might have been from him that young Adam Huntsman took an interest in politics.
Politics were put on hold for awhile following the outbreak of the Creek-Indian War in 1813. Huntsman signed up to fight. While in this war, he suffered the loss of his leg. It is unknown how it happened, but most believe he was attacked while walking through the swaps of East Florida. For the rest of his life he had to wear a peg leg. This led to him getting the nickname “the peg leg politician.” He used his peg leg to his advantage, showing it off as evidence of his sacrifice to his country. After the war ended, Huntsman returned to practicing law.
Around 1815, Adam Huntsman moved to Overton County, Tennessee. He set up a law practice, and also served the county, as well as nearby White and Smith Counties in the Tennessee State Senate. He also served White County as court clerk. He was also the first member of the newly formed Masonic Lodge in Sparta. He gained wealth by buying and selling land and slaves in the area. He continued this practice even after leaving the area. While living in the Upper Cumberland, Huntsman met his first wife Sarah Quarles. Sarah was the daughter of William and Ann Quarles of White Plains. Huntsman lived in the Upper Cumberland area of Middle Tennessee, until 1821.
In 1821, Huntsman and Sarah moved west to Madison County, where he became one of the most famous criminal lawyers in West Tennessee. He also became one of the larger leaders of the Democratic Party in that area. They settled in the Cotton Grove community. Cotton Grove was the first settlement in Madison County. The Huntsman’s started a farm there, and built a lavish home. In 1825, Sarah died, and he married a woman named Elizabeth Todd. It is unknown how Sarah died, but Huntsman did not stay single long. Two years later Huntsman served his second term in the State Senate. He served as a State Senator until 1831.
Some of Huntsman’s accomplishments while serving in the State Senate included serving as a commissioner to make Tennessee’s rivers more navigable, and he also led the charge to revise the State Constitution. In 1834 he was appointed as a delegate from Madison County to revise the State Constitution. Huntsman was truly a Jacksonian Democrat and that gave him the power to get things done, and also allowed him to gain much more political power then the common politician.
Adam Huntsman is most famous for his campaign and subsequent victory over David Crockett in the 1835 Congressional Race to represent the twelfth district. He received support from President Andrew Jackson, as well as Tennessee governor William Carroll. Both men ran vigorously for the office. Both campaigns went back and forth “smearing” each other. Huntsman wrote a tract known as “The Book of Chronicles,” which slandered Crockett in Biblical language. He focused primarily on Crockett’s failure to get a land bill passed during his three terms in Congress. Crockett responded to this by giving Huntsman the nickname “Old Black Hawk.” The two men never missed out on a chance to slander the other.
Huntsman and Crockett frequently traveled together while campaigning. They would make speeches to supporters, as well as debate. They were away for long periods of time, meaning that they had to spend nights together. One night while staying at the home of a farmer, Crockett decided to get back at Huntsman for the barbs Huntsman had been throwing his way. Crockett knew that the farmer had an attractive daughter, and Huntsman’s reputation as a womanizer spoke for itself. That night, Crockett snuck out of his room and grabbed a wooden chair. He took the chair to the door of the farmer’s daughter’s room. He began to rattle the girl’s door knob. He then put one of his feet on the rung of the chair and walked back to his room. The chair made the sound of a peg leg, which woke the girl and her father. The farmer ran up to Huntsman’s room and confronted him. Crockett acted as the mediator between the two. The farmer swore to expose Huntsman for who he was, and to vote for Crockett.
After a number of hard fought months on the campaign trail, election day finally arrived. The results were 4,652-4,400 in favor of Huntsman. This infuriated Crockett. He claimed that President Andrew Jackson had used his “franking” privilege to send anti-Crockett pamphlets to West Tennesseans. He also accused Jackson of taking twenty-five dollars as a bribe to vote for Huntsman. It is unknown how true, if at all these claims were. Crockett did take the loss hard. He left Tennessee all together and went to Texas, just as he had promised during the campaign. He would be killed at the Alamo.
The election of Huntsman gave Andrew Jackson another ally in Congress. Huntsman is what historians call a “Jacksonian Democrat.” Huntsman wanted to push every piece of legislation that Jackson was in favor of through Congress. This legislation included pieces on banking, tariffs, and various internal improvements. He was never a big name in Washington, but he was considered a dependable “war horse” for the Democratic Party. By all accounts, he got things done, during his time in Congress.
When Tennessee and Kentucky became states, there was a question hanging over their heads. That question concerned the border. It was very much disputed and up to debate as to what lands were Tennessee’s and which were Kentucky’s. This issue likely resulted due to outdated survey equipment and human error. But the issue continued to be a problem for the next few years. The issue became so great that eventually the United States Congress had to intervene. Adam Huntsman led the charge in getting the border dispute resolved. He sent surveyors to the border to resurvey the land. It was found that there was a problem with the border between the two states. The surveyors recommended that the border remain how it was. Even though Huntsman and others wanted the border to be changed, and the crisis resolved, it was much easier said then done. The border crisis was not resolved until after Huntsman had left office. Once the border crisis was resolved, Huntsman was given credit for leading the charge during his term in office. This was Huntsman’s greatest accomplishment while serving in Congress.
In 1837, Huntsman decided not to run for reelection. He felt like he could win the election, but he knew it would be an uphill battle to take on Whigs John Wesley Crockett, and Archelaus M. Hughes. He blamed the Democratic Party for not defending him from slander that had been printed about him in various newspapers. The most widely accepted reason for not running again, is that Huntsman felt that he was neglecting his law practice, and he wanted to get back to it. Huntsman’s career in politics was over, but his spotless record remained intact.
Huntsman returned to Jackson following his single term in Congress. For the remainder of his life he lived at his farm in Cotton Grove, and practiced law. He remained very heavily involved in campaigning for politicians throughout Tennessee. He served as a delegate for James K. Polk during his successful presidential campaign. A few years before he died, he married Nancy Waller Mosely. She was the widow of John S. Mosely, a prominent citizen of Montgomery County. Nancy had 851 acres and thirty-eight slaves in Montgomery and Madison Counties. Huntsman and Nancy only lived together one or two years, before he passed away on August 23, 1849. It is interesting to note that the couple prepared a prenuptial agreement four days before their wedding. The agreement stated that each person kept ownership of their property. In total Huntsman had six children, by two different wives. Three months after his death, it was discovered, that he had no will. Huntsman had taken out loans against his farm, that he had failed to pay back. The bank took his farm following his death. Huntsman is entombed in the Old Salem Cemetery in Jackson, Tennessee.
Adam Huntsman is one of the most interesting figures in Tennessee History and politics. The fact that he never lost a race for public office is impressive. Huntsman lived in all three of Tennessee’s grand divisions, and made a positive impact in all three. He was a lawyer, soldier, and a politician. He had a somewhat unconventional way of doing things, but most of the time it all worked out for good.
Author’s Note: For more on Adam Huntsman the author recommends the book “The Peg Leg Politician: Adam Huntsman of Tennessee” by Kevin D. McCann. Some of the information contained in this article, comes from that book.
Painting of Adam Huntsman showing him as a "circuit lawyer."
Painting showing Adam Huntsman debating David Crockett.
David "Davy" Crockett
The Huntsman home place in Cotton Grove.
The grave of Adam Huntsman in the Old Salem Cemetery in Jackson, Tennessee.
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