The Long Way Home; The adventure begins!

The Long Way Home: The Adventure Begins!

September 1843

She sat on the back porch of her daughter’s home in McMinn County, Tennessee, savoring the crisp morning air. Now a frail woman, many described her as feisty, hardheaded, and stubborn. She preferred to think of herself as strong-willed, truthful, and determined.

Her thoughts wandered to the challenges of the journey ahead as she wrapped her hands around a steaming cup of coffee, freshly poured from the pot atop the wood stove. The coffee was still too hot to drink, but her anxiousness about the trip was clear. In truth, her journey had already begun. Her son-in-law, William, had brought her from her home in Blount County to his and her daughter Nancy’s house, nestled in the rural hills of McMinn County, not far from the small but bustling town of Athens.

Traveling the rugged wagon trails was no longer easy for her. Yet, her resolve was unwavering. At nearly 80 years old, she bore the aches and pains of a long life—born in 1764, she had weathered personal hardships and witnessed the turmoil of wars and frontier conflicts.

She was born in the British-controlled colony of the Carolinas, where, during her teenage years, the Revolutionary War raged. The Carolinas were a patchwork of Loyalist (Tory) and Patriot strongholds, and violence between the two was common. Skirmishes, raids, and even massacres left deep scars on the land and its people.

By the time she eloped with Reuben, North Carolina had become an independent state in the new United States of America. Their plantation lay just five miles outside Asheville, in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The land here was lush and rolling, with dense forests and fertile valleys, though the threat of conflict with the Cherokee Nation, whose capital was just across the Little Tennessee River, was never far away.

Tennessee, once part of North Carolina, had become its own state as settlers pushed westward, seeking new opportunities. Despite treaties reserving much of the land for the Cherokee, European settlers continued to encroach, drawn by the promise of prosperity. The region was marked by tension and violence, such as the infamous Nine Mile Massacre, a grim reminder of the dangers that lurked in the Appalachian foothills.

The War of 1812 brought further hardship, as the Cherokee sided with the British. After their defeat, the area saw a period of uneasy peace. But just five years earlier, President Andrew Jackson had enforced the Indian Removal Act, forcing thousands of Cherokee from their ancestral lands in the tragic Trail of Tears. Still, many natives hid in the mountains, their presence a silent testament to the land’s complex history.

Now, as she prepared to cross the mountains to Asheville for the first time in forty years, she knew the journey would be arduous. The wagon offered more comfort than horseback, but only just. Her mission was clear: to ensure her rightful claim to Reuben’s estate and protect her children’s inheritance from a rival claimant.

Circa 1785

That earlier chapter of her life felt almost dreamlike. She and Reuben had eloped and lived together for twelve years, raising two children. Their first home was in Pendleton, South Carolina, near her mother and stepfather. Later, they moved to a plantation outside Asheville, where Reuben’s family lived. The house was grand, and her needs were met by several enslaved people—a stark reminder of the era’s harsh realities.

Their marriage soured when Reuben brought a young woman of mixed heritage, Mary “Polly” Quean, into their home. The resulting strife led to abuse and, eventually, her decision to leave with her children. Divorce was rare and scandalous, but she chose survival over social acceptance, famously declaring, “I might die and go to hell, but I wasn’t going to live in it.”

Life in Pendleton was hard for a single mother in the late 1700s. With no support from Reuben, she did what she could to provide for her children.

September 1843

Back in the present, she encountered Reuben’s nephew, Reuben Casada, at the general store. He reminisced about their days in Asheville and shared news of Reuben’s declining health—rumored to be the result of a horse’s kick to the head, possibly revealing or causing a brain tumor. Reuben had since moved to a plantation on the French Broad River, a fertile region known for its rich farmland and abundant livestock.

Reuben’s estate was substantial: four plantations, a dozen slaves, and herds of horses, cattle, hogs, and other livestock. The wealth could help her descendants, many of whom struggled to provide for their families.

As she contemplated the journey, she knew her children deserved recognition and support for enduring Reuben’s absence. Nancy, her eldest, had been young when they left Asheville, and Phoebe had done her best to raise her children alone. Now, she hoped to secure a better future for them all.