JOHN SEVIER AND HIS BRAVE WIFE 361 



It is said that once she rode boldly into a camp of out- 

 laws who had stolen her horses, told the leader that the 

 penalty of his crime was hanging, and promising him 

 speedy execution at the hands of her husband if the 

 property was not returned. The horses were restored to 

 her. Yet this woman, who knew no fear and could be 

 as stern as her husband, was all gentleness and kindness 

 to those in distress, a model housewife when peace came 

 and she was mistress of her happy home. 



When John Sevier was induced, by his loyalty to his 

 Watauga people, to become governor of "the Free and 

 Independent State of Franklin, ' ' the result of a secession 

 from North Carolina, his wife supported him, though 

 she did not believe in the futile project. She kept an 

 open " Governor's House," from which no one was turned Governor's 

 away, and the people were as proud of the "Governor's 

 lady" as of him. Major Elholm, an officer of Pulaski's 

 Legion, writing to the governor of Georgia at this time, 

 said : "If Colonel Sevier is king here, his gracious lady 

 is certainly queen of the Franks. She is gifted with great Queen of the 

 beauty and the art of hospitality, but above all is to be 

 esteemed her discreet understanding." After stirring 

 scenes, including the kidnapping of Colonel and Governor 

 Sevier and his rescue by his wife's ingenious plan, Ten- 

 nessee emerged from the governmental chaos, the charge 

 of treason made against the French leader was dismissed, 

 and in recognition of his many services to his country he 

 was appointed general. Near Kuoxville, the first and 

 new capital of the state, he built another home ; and a 

 little later his wife rode with him to witness his inaugura- 

 tion as the first governor of Tennessee. Six terms was First 

 this Huguenot descendant elected governor, and his wife Tennessee" 

 was noted for her hospitality as much as for her beauty. 

 It is an interesting sidelight on the times that during the 

 first term as governor some eastern friend presented Mrs. 

 Se\'ier with a brace of silver candlesticks and an im- 

 ported carpet — the first ever spread on the puncheon 



