Bearden residents gathered on Oct. 23 to unveil a new historic marker at the Knollwood estate, a 175‑year‑old property that links the community to the founding of Tennessee. The Samuel Frazier Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) led the dedication, honoring Samuel Frazier for his service as one of the 55 delegates who framed and signed the state’s 1796 Constitution.

Family roots and DAR heritage

Frazier and his wife were originally interred in the Reynolds Family Cemetery on the Knollwood grounds. Their great‑granddaughter, Ida Reynolds Lones, was born at the estate in 1881 and later became the organizing regent of the Samuel Frazier Chapter, which was established on Dec. 19, 1951. The new marker recognizes not only Frazier’s patriotism but also three generations of his descendants who lived on the land that once covered hundreds of acres in the community of Erin, now known as Bearden.

Restoration and community support

The dedication coincided with an extensive restoration project overseen by property owner Jordan Mollenhour and Knollwood Historic Preservation LLC. Funding for the marker and the ceremony came from a Tennessee America 250 Commission grant, and the project benefited from close cooperation with the preservation firm.

Approximately 75 guests attended, including U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, historian Warren Dockter, and Mollenhour himself. DAR leaders present were State Regent Carol Teeters, Vice President General Emily Robinson, and State Chaplain Sandra Long. Descendants Sally Maddox and Mary Jane Broussard also shared the occasion, while Dick and Sue Ann Stein of Classic Bronze Resources in Cincinnati supplied the large bronze marker that now stands at the estate’s courtyard entrance.

Recognition of preservation efforts

During the ceremony, Chapter members Anne Brooks Haston and Susan Cromwell presented a DAR Historic Preservation Award to Mollenhour, acknowledging the careful work that has revived Knollwood’s historic character. The DAR chapter will return in December to celebrate its 75th anniversary, further cementing the connection between the organization and the property.

The event underscores how local heritage groups, private owners, and state resources can collaborate to protect and promote the stories that shape community identity. For Bearden, the marker not only marks a Revolutionary War figure but also highlights the ongoing commitment of residents to preserve the tangible links to Tennessee’s early days.

Original reporting: Knox TN Today — read the source article.