Eidson, Tennessee 37731

    The town of Eidson in Tennessee, the only town of that name in the postal directory, is located in Hawkins County, Tennessee, about 15 miles north of Rogersville on Highway 70, some 10 miles south of the Virginia border. It is situated over the pass in a valley on the north side of Clinch Mountain in an area known in the early 19th century as War Gap -- just off the Wilderness Road blazed by Daniel Boone on his way to the Cumberland Gap in 1775. Eidson was settled by Creighton Eidson, son of Joseph of Richmond County, Virginia, and grandson of our immigrant, Edward. Named for his maternal great-grandfather, Henry Creighton,he was born in Richmond County, VA circa 1746, and grew up there and in adjoining Northumberland County, where he married Winnefred (Barnes) circa 1778. They went to Tennessee after 1785. Creighton Eidson was killed by a blow or blows on the head the 21st of Nov 1826 at the home of his son-in-law George Myers. The state of Tennessee filed murder charges against Myers and set his bail bond at $6,000. He (and his brother Jacob) were finally acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence.
    The first Post Office was in the house built by Samuel Eidson (Dr. Jack’s great-grandfather) on Little War Creek Rd. Samuel Eidson died in 1885 and sometime after his death the house was sold to Larkin Davis and one Martin Davis became the 1st Postmaster. It was a two story house with the breezeway leading to a kitchen separate from the house with slave quarters above the kitchen. The breezeway, later the dining room, was closed in by Davis and it became the first P.O. of Eidson. It is assumed that the P.O. was called Eidson because it was located in the old Eidson house which has now been demolished. Today, there are no Eidsons residing in the community and the large Eidson family on the southern side of Clinch Mountain is a separate branch, descended from both the Edward and Boyse lines.