Eastport History

Eastport Families

The village of Eastport was established by the 1840s, and was home to a small number of African Americans. The village encompassed Fuller Street, Wilder Street, Bethel Avenue, and the surrounding area. The 1880 Knox County census lists 149 African Americans as residents of Eastport. See their names below. In 1907, Eastport was incorporated by the town of Park City, along with the nearby 1850s village of Shieldstown and a number of Victorian suburbs. In 1917, Park City was incorporated by the city of Knoxville.

Warner Tabernacle

Greater Warner Tabernacle is recognized as the oldest of Knoxville's black churches. The Warner Tabernacle was established in 1845 on Fuller Street in Eastport on land donated by a religious German property owner. Established 20 years before slavery officially ended in Tennessee, the church is said to have been "a hub for educational and civic activities, at the helm regarding community concerns, and a spiritual balm for hundreds of families since its inception." Storms destroyed the original church building in 1908; it was rebuilt in 1910. The church moved to Speedway Circle in 1967 and was renamed to Speedway Circle A.M.E. Zion Church. In 1969, its name was changed to Greater Warner Tabernacle at the state annual conference. In 1987, the congregation bought the old McCalla Avenue Baptist Church building on McCalla Avenue, its present location. That portion of the road and westward is now named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. (Jeannine F. Hunter)

Underground Railroad

"Warner Tabernacle was a station on the Underground Railroad, a network that helped black slaves flee to the North and other areas to gain their freedom.Blacks on the Underground Railroad fled to Kentucky and Ohio. Free black Northerners, as well as white abolitionists, were among those assisting runaways who found refuge in woods, swamps, caves, homes, schools, barns and churches—including Friends Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church." (Jeannine F. Hunter)

Eastport School

"The first school for blacks in the Eastport community was in the basement of the Warner Tabernacle." (Jeannine F. Hunter) Later the Eastport School was built; the 1930s building is still standing but empty. Eastport Park nearby still bears the Eastport place name.

Oddfellows Cemetery

"This seven-acre cemetery site on Bethel Avenue in Eastport, the final resting place for some of Knoxville's most noted black citizens, is actually four cemeteries combined into one. The initial section was purchased by the Banner Lodge chapter of the Odd Fellows in 1880; the Daughters of Zion purchased an adjacent tract of land in 1881; the Order of Good Samaritans bought its space in 1884; and the Silvermoon chapter of the Odd Fellows bought the fourth section in 1885." Some of those buried there include the Rev. George Washington LeVere, Clement Jarnigan, John White, Cal Johnson and his two wives, and Melvin Patterson and his daughter Annie Ruth. (Robert J. Booker)

Sources: Knox County Census, Eastport, 1880; Jeannine F. Hunter, "Move Underway to Document Underground Railroad in Knoxville, " February 23, 2001; Robert J. Booker, “Keeping Historic Cemetery Clean is Worthy Project,” October 7, 2003; Margery W. Bensey, "Eastport History," research 2006-2008.

1880 United States Census
Eastport, Knox County, Tennessee

1. J.H. MARTIN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1857> TN
2. Mary E. MARTIN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1862> TN
3. Luther A. MARTIN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1879> TN
4. A.L. MONTGOMERY - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Other Gender: Male Birth: <1857> TN
5. Elizabeth MONTGOMERY - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Other Gender: Female Birth: <1859> TN
6. William THOMAS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Other Gender: Male Birth: <1835> GA
7. James HENRY - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1823> TN
8. Anice HENRY - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1830> TN
9. Sarah HENRY - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
SDau Gender: Female Birth: <1854> TN
10. Chesley JARNAKIN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1811> TN
11. Varina JARNAKIN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1830> TN
12. Harriet JARNAKIN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1858> TN
13. Lula JARNAKIN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1867> TN
14. Emma JARNAKIN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1872> TN
15. William NELSON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
GSon Gender: Male Birth: <1866> TN
16. Alice NELSON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
GDau Gender: Female Birth: <1868> TN
17. Rachell IVINS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Female Birth: <1841> TN
18. Laura IVINS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1864> TN
19. John IVINS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1877> TN
20. George AKINS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Other Gender: Male Birth: <1861> TN
21. William AKINS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Other Gender: Male Birth: <1863> TN
22. James LILISON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1830> TN
23. Nelson MCMILLAN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1828> TN
24. Sarah J. MCMILLAN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1851> TN
25. Gabler GLENN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1836> NC
26. Sarah A. GLENN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1846> TN
27. George DELANY - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Other Gender: Male Birth: <1847> TN
28. W.J. GLENN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1865> TN
29. Margaret GORDON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Female Birth: <1845> TN
30. Richard GORDON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1863> TN
31. Rufus GORDON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1866> TN
32. Lizzie GORDON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1871> TN
33. Lassy GORDON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1875> TN
34. Frankey GORDON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1878> TN
35. Charles JARNAGAN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1851> TN
36. Lovinia JARNAGAN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1860> TN
37. Charley JARNAGAN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1875> TN
38. Sarah A. JARNAGAN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1878> TN
39. William CHARLTON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1851> TN
40. Lucinda CHARLTON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1855> TN
41. James A. CHARLTON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1872> TN
42. George H. CHARLTON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1874> TN
43. William T. CHARLTON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1877> TN
44. Sarah I. CHARLTON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1878> TN
45. Mary SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1868> TN
46. William SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1853> TN
47. Anna SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1857> TN
48. Willie SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1873> TN
49. Charley SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1878> TN
50. Burril FULLINLOVE - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1773> NC
51. Mary BROWN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1832> TN
52. James SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
GSon Gender: Male Birth: <1859> TN
53. Peter SLIGER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1836> TN
54. Sarah SLIGER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Other Gender: Female Birth: <1845> TN
55. Sarah SLIGER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1872> TN
56. Mary J. SLIGER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1874> TN
57. Charles S. SLIGER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1878> TN
58. Peter SLIGER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1880> TN
59. Sarah BLACKWELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
MotherL Gender: Female Birth: <1806> TN
60. Marcus FRAZIER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1816> TN
61. Mary FRAZIER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1816> TN
62. Cynthia FRAZIER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1857> TN
63. James FRAZIER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
GSon Gender: Male Birth: <1873> TN
64. Catharine WOODS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Female Birth: <1843> TN
65. Daniel WOODS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1859> TN
66. George WOODS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1864> TN
67. Charley WOODS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1867> TN
68. Carrie B. WOODS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1879> TN
69. Montgomery CHANDLER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1848> TN
70. Margaret CHANDLER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1857> TN
71. Joseph A. CHANDLER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1877> TN
72. Andrew J. LILISON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1830> TN
73. Marth J. LILISON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1850> TN
74. Louisa A. LILISON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1869> TN
75. Laurina C. LILISON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1871> TN
76. Margaret T. LILISON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1873> TN
77. Mary Jane LILISON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1875> TN
78. Larcena LILISON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1877> TN
79. Russell FRASER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1840> TN
80. Mariah FRASER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1845> VA
81. David FRASER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1872> TN
82. Ulysses G. FRASER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1879> TN
83. Eliza WILKERSON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Female Birth: <1831> TN
84. Lizzie JOHNSON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1850> TN
85. Joseph CROFT - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
GSon Gender: Male Birth: <1864> TN
86. James CROFT - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
GSon Gender: Male Birth: <1866> TN
87. John CROFT - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
GSon Gender: Male Birth: <1875> TN
88. John SANDERS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1813> TN
89. Rhoda SANDERS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1824> TN
90. Calvin SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1843> TN
91. Louisa J. SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1856> TN
92. Lovina A. SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1865> TN
93. Rhoda J. SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1867> TN
94. Ardimitia A. SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1872> TN
95. John C. SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1874> TN
96. William E. SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1875> TN
97. Arva B. SMITH - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1879> TN
98. James HOPEWELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1821> TN
99. Martha HOPEWELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1822> VA
100. Belle BROWN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
GDau Gender: Female Birth: <1864> TN
101. Alex SCOTT - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
GSon Gender: Male Birth: <1863> TN
102. Mary T. BROWN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Other Gender: Female Birth: <1880> TN
103. Henry HOPEWELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1858> TN
104. Sophrona HOPEWELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1861> TN
105. Mary E. HOPEWELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1879> TN
106. Samuel RUNNELS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1830> TN
107. Delia RUNNELS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1840> TN
108. Cornelia RUNNELS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1869> TN
109. Lizzie RUNNELS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1871> TN
110. Harriet BEARDEN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
GDau Gender: Female Birth: <1865> TN
111. Berry MITCHELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1830> NC
112. Celia MITCHELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1838> TN
113. Clarissa MITCHELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1867> TN
114. George MITCHELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1870> TN
115. Eliza MITCHELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1872> TN
116. Lou E. MITCHELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
GDau Gender: Female Birth: <1879> TN
117. Jack RUSSELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1821> TN
118. Mary E. RUSSELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1863> TN
119. Josaphine RUSSELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1869> TN
120. Missouri RUSSELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1874> TN
121. Fay RUSSELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1875> TN
122. Willie RUSSELL - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1878> TN
123. George BAYLESS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1809> TN
124. Celia BAYLESS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1819> GA
125. Sarah LUTY - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Female Birth: <1853> TN
126. Ida LUTY - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1870> TN
127. Willie BRITAIN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1875> TN
128. Jimmie BRITAIN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1879> TN
129. Nellie BRITAIN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1879> TN
130. Wesley CARTER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1853> TN
131. Elnora CARTER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1858> AL
132. Julia CARTER - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1877> TN
133. Thomas COCKE - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1836> TN
134. Harriet COCKE - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1839> TN
135. Betsey BOWS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Aunt Gender: Female Birth: <1794> VA
136. Antney HUMES - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1812> TN
137. Mariah HUMES - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1835> VA
138. Alax LANGDON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1805> TN
139. Biodey LANGDON - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1835> VA
140. N. L. LUSK - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1809> TN
141. Scott SCRUGGS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
SonL Gender: Male Birth: <1856> VA
142. Catharine SCRUGGS - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1856> TN
143. Samuel LUSK - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
GSon Gender: Male Birth: <1876> TN
144. John WAISMAN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Self Gender: Male Birth: <1825> VA
145. Mary WAISMAN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Wife Gender: Female Birth: <1840> TN
146. John W. WAISMAN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1875> TN
147. Henry WAISMAN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Son Gender: Male Birth: <1880> TN
148. Anna WAISMAN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Dau Gender: Female Birth: <1880> TN
149. Bessie WAISMAN - 1880 United States Census / Tennessee
Niece Gender: Female Birth: <1863> TN