Did you know that at one time in the history of the United States, shortly after the Revolution, there was a state in our Union known as Franklin? North Carolina had given the territory to the federal government, but it wasn't wanted, so the people set themselves up as a State. Then Carolina suddenly realized that the wilderness was valuable, and wanted it back! And who could blame them - there were lumber covered mountains; and rich, productive valleys which could all bring gold into the coffers of Carolina. John Sevier was the governor of Franklin (located in what is now East Tennessee), and would later be elected to the US Congress as Tennessee's first governor in 1796.