Early Soddy, Daisy History
 
Written by Soddy, Daisy & Montlake Historian, Steve Smith
The area of Hamilton County was part of the land granted by King Charles II of England to eight of his friends in 1663. The area was called Carolina in honor of King Charles II. In 1669 Carolina was divided into North and South Carolina, and the section of Hamilton County fell to North Carolina. Then the area passed through a succession of North Carolina counties to the state of Franklin, the site of Hamilton County became in 1792 a part of the Territory of the United States South of the Ohio River. In 1796 it passed as part of Knox County to the State of Tennessee. Roane County was formed from Knox County in 1801, and the section was a part of Roane County until Rhea County was erected in 1807, at which time it became a part of that county. (1)
Families of settlers had already begun to move into the Soddy area even before the county was established. Robert Patterson had received a land grant from the State of North Carolina for 300 acres around Opossum Creek in 1807. He was also granted permission to build a mill on the creek. In 1807 William McGill also bought 200 acres in Sale Creek and then 200 acres between Soddy Creek and Opossum Creek. (2)
The name "Soddy" is a more modern version of the Indian word "Tsati". During research on the area I found that this meant either "Land of Many Springs" or "The Sipping Place". Also in a book written by a former Soddy resident Ralph McGill, the name was derived from the last name of an early trader to the area, William Sodder. I have never found proof of the later.
On a map drawn by Matthew Rhea, while surveying land in the Soddy area in 1826 spells Soddy Creek as, "Saudia Creek".
Whatever the origin of the name, Soddy has a long and rich history that still is evident today. Soddy First Presbyterian Church was founded in 1828 as the Mount Bethel Presbyterian Church. It remains the oldest church in Hamilton County. Only the former Brainerd Mission to the Indians would have been formed before (1811) the Mount Bethel Church. This year the former Mount Bethel Church will celebrate its 176th anniversary.
Colonel William Clift, a former Soddy resident, was to become the first millionaire of Hamilton County. Also, Soddy had the first organized Coal Company in the state of Tennessee. The Soddy Coal Company was organized just after the Civil War in 1866.

Ernest Floyd
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Eustice Brothers

Doug Houston Barber Shop Soddy

E J Copeland

Henry Lovelady Voters Registration 1932

 
 
 
 
 
 

Daisy also has a long history and has played its part in the early history of the county. Many question the name and its origin.
Colonel Thomas Parks, vice president of the Daisy Coal Company, wanted a train depot closer to the office of the company so visitors would not have to travel such a long distance. He offered a piece of land to the railroad to build such a depot at the intersection of Igou Ferry Road and the railway operated by the C.N.O. & T.P. Railroad. The offer was made under one condition and this condition was the depot was to be named for his daughter, Daisy. This is the most accepted version as to the origin of the name "Daisy".
Daisy has its own unique items of history with the first being it was the site of the first attempt at an organized court in the infant stages of Hamilton County in 1819. Poe's Tavern was a local establishment owned by Hasten Poe. The tavern was used by travelers moving through the area between Chattanooga and Smith's Crossroads (Dayton). Also, travelers from the Sequatchie Valley going east to the Tennessee River would come off of the mountain just south of the tavern. Both armies would use it during the Civil War. Even recorded history of the Civil War in the "War of the Rebellion" mentions troops stopping at the tavern during the war with a single soldier dying during his stay at the tavern from wounds suffered in battle.
Daisy had its coal as did Soddy but it was the rich deposits of clay that would put Daisy on the map. In the late 1870's a pottery was started in Daisy that would exploit the rich clay deposits from the area for the next 80 years. At one time there where five potteries in operation. Mr. Charles Krager, while living in Daisy and working among the potteries, was responsible for numerous patents dealing with the clay industry.
In 1986, both Soddy and Daisy were chosen to participate in the Tennessee Homecoming '86, made famous by former Governor Lamar Alexander.
Both areas, Soddy and Daisy have a history that is all their own and we should be proud to call it home.
( Written by Soddy, Daisy & Montlake Historian, Steve Smith)
References:
1. Armstrong, Zella, The History of Hamilton County and Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chattanooga, Lookout Publishing Company, 1931.
2. Marquis, W. H., Our Zion, The College Press, Collegedale, Tennessee, 1978.
 

Hallett Furneral Receipt 1916