RNT Family History

Reverend Samuel Witherspoon Doak



Source Information

  • Title Reverend Samuel Witherspoon Doak  
    Short Title Reverend Samuel Witherspoon Doak  
    Author Doak House Museum  
    Publisher Tusculum College  
    Source ID S607 
    Text The Reverend Samuel Witherspoon Doak was born March 24, 1785. His
    father, Reverend Samuel Doak, was the first Presbyterian minister to settle in
    the frontier region that would later be known as Tennessee, arriving around
    1778. Rev. Doak also founded the Salem Presbyterian Church in 1780 and, by
    1783, he received a charter for the first school in Tennessee, Martin Academy,
    later known as Washington College. Rev. Samuel W. Doak graduated from his
    father's college in 1806 and was licensed to preach by Abingdon Presbytery in
    1807. In 1808, he married Sarah Houston McEwen and they became the
    parents of 13 children between the years of 1809 and 1838. By 1830, the Doak
    family moved to the museum's current location at Frank Creek, where the Rev.
    Samuel W. Doak built his impressive brick home, erected a log structure for
    Tusculum Academy, and served as preacher to Mount Bethel and Providence
    Presbyterian Churches. When he started Tusculum Academy, Rev. Samuel W.
    Doak had only four students, but as local population increased, his enrollment
    soon grew to thirty-five. So, in 1841, he began soliciting funds for a new, larger
    school building. During this time, he received a $20 donation from Andrew
    Johnson for the project. In 1844, Tusculum Academy became Tusculum
    College. Rev. S. W. Doak's new building, now called "Old College", currently
    houses the Pres. Andrew Johnson Museum and Library. Besides teaching and
    preaching, Samuel W. Doak also served as President of Washington College
    from 1838-1840 and President of Tusculum College from 1842 until his death
    in 1864.


     
    Linked to Doak, Reverend Samuel Witherspoon