Eldad Cicero Camp
Eldad Cicero Camp Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Near Mount Vernon, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | November 21, 1920 (aged 81) Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Coal industrialist, lawyer, philanthropist |
| Known for | President of Coal Creek Coal Company and Virginia-Tennessee Coal Company; U.S. District Attorney for East Tennessee |
Eldad Cicero Camp Jr. (August 1, 1839 – November 21, 1920) was a prominent American coal industrialist, lawyer, and philanthropist who established his career in Knoxville, Tennessee. He held the presidency of both the Coal Creek Coal Company and the Virginia-Tennessee Coal Company, and served on the board of directors for Knoxville's Third National Bank. At the height of his career, he ranked among the most affluent individuals in East Tennessee. His residence in North Knoxville, known as Greystone, is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
Having served as a Union officer during the American Civil War, Camp settled in Knoxville in 1865. In a widely noted downtown altercation in 1868, he fatally shot Confederate Colonel Henry Ashby. He gained significant recognition as the U.S. District Attorney for East Tennessee from 1869 until 1871. During the late 1860s, he established the Coal Creek Coal Company, which grew to become a leading coal producer in the region. In the 1890s, Camp played a key role in founding Knoxville’s Florence Crittenton Home and Camp's Home for Friendless Women.
Early life
Born in 1839 on a farm near Mount Vernon, Ohio, Camp was the son of Eldad Cicero Camp Sr. and Minerva Mallory Hinman, both predominantly of English ancestry. He received his education in Chesterville and initially trained as an educator, teaching in Richmond, Kentucky from 1857 to 1860 and later in Platte City, Missouri from 1860 to 1861. It was during this latter period that he began pursuing legal studies.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, Camp enlisted with the 142nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His military service included participation in significant engagements such as the Battle of Island Number Ten and the Siege of Petersburg, as well as assisting in supply deliveries to General Ulysses S. Grant during the Battle of Cold Harbor. After being mustered out with the rank of sergeant major in 1865, he relocated to Knoxville, drawn by its mineral wealth, and chose it as his permanent residence.
Camp – Ashby shooting
Following the war, Camp became involved in a conflict with Colonel Henry Ashby, a former Confederate officer. In 1866, Camp accused Ashby of mistreatment toward Union prisoners during 1862, resulting in Ashby’s indictment on charges of treason. Ashby initially fled but returned after the charges were dismissed.
On July 9, 1868, tensions escalated on Knoxville’s Gay Street when Ashby assaulted Camp; this confrontation continued the following day at Camp’s law office. Accounts differ regarding whether Ashby was armed with a cane or a derringer pistol; however, Camp discharged his firearm during the encounter, killing Ashby.
Camp was taken into custody but soon released after bail was provided by former Union supporters including future Knoxville Journal editor William Rule. The incident polarized local media: Democratic-leaning newspapers denounced Camp as a murderer while Republican-leaning outlets hailed him as a hero. Ultimately, the district attorney chose not to pursue prosecution.
District attorney
In 1869, President Ulysses S. Grant, upon recommendation from Congressman Horace Maynard, appointed Camp as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. His docket primarily involved cases related to fraudulent pension and bounty claims alongside prosecuting 63 moonshine violations. He presented arguments before the Tennessee Supreme Court on matters including disputes over payments involving Confederate currency, seizures of property during wartime, and contested sales transactions. In 1871, following allegations that his aggressive prosecutions were motivated by personal financial gain through legal fees, Camp faced suspension. Although he was later reinstated, he resigned soon afterward to support Republican Party interests.
Business ventures
After the railroad reached Anderson County's Coal Creek Valley in 1868, Camp established the Coal Creek Coal Company and launched a mining operation near Fraterville, which contributed significantly to the village's development. Initially, the company yielded approximately 30,000 tons of coal each year. By the turn of the century, it managed three separate mines—Fraterville, Hollow Entry, and Thistle Switch—raising annual production to more than 200,000 tons. Importantly, Coal Creek Coal refrained from employing convict leasing, thereby avoiding much of the labor strife that troubled other mining enterprises on the Cumberland Plateau during the Coal Creek War of 1891–92.
The Fraterville Mine disaster of 1902, recognized as Tennessee’s most catastrophic mine explosion, took place at Coal Creek Coal’s Fraterville site. George Camp, son of the founder and mine superintendent, spearheaded rescue operations despite the tragic loss of 216 miners. Following the disaster, the company was sued for damages exceeding one million dollars in the case Slover, et al. v. Coal Creek Coal Company; however, the suit was eventually dismissed.
In addition to his leadership at Coal Creek Coal, Camp held the presidency of the Virginia–Tennessee Coal Company based in Raven, Virginia, and led the Knoxville Acetylene Company, a manufacturer specializing in gas generators. During the 1890s, he was a board member of Knoxville’s Third National Bank alongside W.R. Tuttle, president of Knoxville Iron Company. Furthermore, in 1887 he co-established the Knoxville and Edgewood Street Railroad Company to enhance local transportation infrastructure.
Community development
Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, Camp actively promoted various civic and infrastructure projects. Serving as vice president of the National Rivers and Harbors Congress in 1910, he advocated for improved shipping facilities and lower freight charges along the Tennessee River. While maintaining focus on his business interests, he also engaged with the Tennessee Bar Association to support more rigorous standards for bar admissions.
In 1895, Camp played a key role in founding Knoxville’s Florence Crittenton Home, which aimed to assist unwed mothers by providing employment opportunities. He also founded Camp’s Home for Friendless Women to offer shelter and care for impoverished elderly women.
Passing
Camp passed away in Knoxville on November 21, 1920, and was laid to rest at Old Gray Cemetery.