Sevier Station

Sevier Station is Clarksville’s oldest building, built in 1792 on a 640-acre purchased with the Revolutionary War grant of Valentine Sevier II. Although the Native Virginian is little known, he is a pioneer who experienced Clarksville before it was established as Clarksville. His oldest brother, John, became Tennessee's first governor. Like several of his family members, Valentine had been a part of the militia, even fighting in the Revolutionary War and earning the rank of colonel. Much of his life, however, was coated in various wars with the Native Americans. This was, in part, due to the ferocious determination of the pioneers of the age, leading to the refusal to respect the treaties put in place between the Americans and the Native Americans. Valentine took part in seizing these lands. One famous and grave account is described in 1794, after Valentine’s settlement in pre-Clarksville, in which Valentine’s station was attacked by approximately 40 Indians. This devastating attack resulted in the loss of his neighbor and the neighbor’s family, along with his own son, Joseph. His daughter, Rebecca, despite having been scalped in the attack, lived. Valentine Sevier II died in 1800 from chronic rheumatism in Clarksville. He is buried at the Riverview Cemetery.