Dandridge – Major Sam McCuiston, one of the oldest citizens of Dandridge, was found dead in his room this morning.

It seemed he had got up as usual and dressed and was kindling a fire in his room and dropped dead. He was laying just in front of the fireplace when his niece, Mrs. N. B. Guinn, entered his room about day-break. The neighbors were called in and found that he had been dead but a few minutes as his body was still warm.

The major was a very quiet and good citizen, he had held office in this county for about thirty-four years, was Circuit Court Clerk for eighteen years, Register for eight years and was deputy clerk for eight years, he was very popular and hundreds of friends in Jefferson county will be sorry to hear of his death.

He was about 76 years of age and had been living in Dandridge for more than fifty years. He was never married and has been living with his niece since the death of his sister in 1884.

At the time of his death he had in his possession the original Davy Crockett flint-lock rifle-gun.

Source: The Knoxville Tribune, Sunday, January 15, 1893

Transcribed by Robert McGinnis