John Sevier officially obtained the Marble Springs area in 1796, although he was living there as early as 1790 (the site was within a days' journey of Knoxville, which at the time served as capital of the Southwest Territory). He named it after two springs on the property that flowed continuously throughout the year. Structures on the farm included a barn, springhouse, corn crib, smokehouse, ash hopper (used for making lye soap), and several other cabins.