Tan Rara History

The history of an area is more meaningful if it includes its surrounding territory. Tan Rara was not settled in and of itself. Also, one cannot separate the territory from the folks who settled and inhabited it from the beginning. This history of Tan Rara Oeste (Spanish for "So Rare in the West") is taken from records written by my ancestors, the book Southern Pioneer Families written by J.C.F. Herrell, memories from my family - and some memories of my own as the writer of this history. The name Tan Rara Oeste was given to our subdivision by Ralph Kinzalow, the original developer of the subdivision. Ralph saw the beauty of this particular area and gave it a fitting name. It is the intent of the writer of this history to not only give you information, but to enhance your appreciation of your beautiful portion of Tan Rara Oeste. The development of Tan Rara Oeste as a subdivision began in 1967 when Lou Mae Koon Fox sold the property to Ralph Kinzalow. From the accounting of J.C.F. Herrell in his book, Southern Pioneer Families, we find the following: "In the early days, when Tennessee was yet a Territory, the road leading Westward from near Morgantown, North Carolina, was knows as "The Yellow Mountain" and a portion of it by "The Emory." This trail crossing the mountain barrier, which separates the mother from her majestic son, found a passable gap near Jonesboro. From there the trail winds over the hill, mountain, and through the great and smaller valleys of East Tennessee to terminate perhaps near Nashville." In this original trail came the Foxes and the Herrells who settled East, North, South, and West of Emory Road. This Emory Road is the road north of Knoxville in the Powell area. Emory Church Road, as it is now called, just Southeast of our subdivision, circling the lake and currently under major construction, received its name from its predecessor, Emory Road, described in the previous paragraphs. I believe in the earliest days it was called the Road West of the Emory. This is the information that was given to me. This road's proper name, unless changed recently, is West Emory Road. These two families, the Herrels and the Foxes, were some of the first families to settle, farm, and govern this area, and it is my privilege and pleasure to share a bit of their history with you. The land of Tan Rara Oeste was originally a farm owned by the descendants of the Foxes, who were God fearing people who landed in North Carolina during the 1600s. History tells us they came from England. Many of the Foxes occupied responsible positions, some in the military under General Lee, four of the Foxes served in the house of Burgesses, many lived lives that were dedicated to public service in governmental capacities such as Pennsylvania Assembly. (Details of this information are found in Colonial Record of North Carolina by Saffels and Clark.) In some mysterious way, the southern highlands of North Carolina have been one of the central points where great men - physically, mentally, and spiritually - have gone forth to be an asset to states and to our nation. Perhaps you, the reader, have some ancestors who have hailed from this area of North Carolina. When each of us looks backward into our respective history, we usually find we have a lot to live up to in order to carry forward the dream and standards of strength of mind, body, and spirit that we have inherited from our ancestors. The Fox family who belongs in the history of Tan Rara is John Fox, who, at age 82, migrated to Tennessee from Burke County, North Carolina in 1836. He purchased four farms, which totaled 700 acres, about three miles southwest of Powell Station and Beaver Creek, bisected by Emory Road. John Fox had eighteen children by two wives. The first wife is reported to be a Miss Lovin, who bore him ten children. His second of these two wives, Valencia Branch, bore him eight children. He was a man six feet, six inches tall. He fought against the British in the battle of King's Mountain. Having been wounded during this battle, he was allowed a pension on Certificate No. 23881 which was issued April 20, 1834 at the rate of $26.66 per year, Act of June 7, 1832, North Carolina Agency. The wound was from a ball which passed through his left arm almost at the shoulder into his right side. From this wound it is said that John Fox walked in a stooped posture. Farming and public service comprised John Fox's life. From all the information available to me, John Fox was a strong, reliable, trustworthy, and industrious man. He was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina in 1754. He died in 1840 at age 86 and was buried on his home farm. His second wife, Valentia, survived him by fifteen years and is also buried on the home farm. One of John Fox's sons, Austin, was born in 1792, in Burke County, North Carolina. In 1827, Austin married Margaret Walker and soon started the slow moving wagon train trip westward from Burke County, eventually to find Beaver Creek Valley. They settled in the Ninth District of Knox County, one mile northwest of Karns School on Beaver Creek. From an investigation in the Register's Office, his farm was near 400 acres. Bringing all of their possessions, which included furniture, hay for feeding the horses, seed to plant, sheep, cattle, et cetera, the trip took longer than it would take today to circle the globe several times.

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