Early Tennessee Exploration By Dr. Walker

Source

THE UPPER CUMBERLAND OF PIONEER TIMES, By Alvin B. Wirt:

"In 1750 Dr. Thomas Walker heading an exploration party in the employ of the Loyal Land Company, came into the upper part of this valley over the old Indian trail and gave the English name 'Cumberland' to the Ouasioto Mountains, as well as to the gap in those mountains through which the path passed into Kentucky, and to the Shawnee River in the valley beyond."

"The Cumberland River, which flows through this section, was first known as the “Ouasioto,” but early French explorers gave it the name “Shavanon,” or Shawnee, because they found a few Indians of the Shawnee tribe living in the lower part of the valley."