USA > Tennessee > Hickman County > A history of Hickman County, Tennessee > Part 22
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FIFTEENTH DISTRICT.
was but three years after the commencement of the settlement at "The Bluffs" on the Cumberland River, and these men were beyond doubt the first explorers of what is now Hickman County. They named No B'ar Creek, Pine River, and other streams of the county. Lick Creek was probably named by Robert- son's party in 1780, and possibly received its name as early as did Duck River.
At the head of Robertson's Creek, where Orten and Pruett now live, a woman named Sallie Brady was buried in 1833. The first person buried here was the grandfather of John H. Anderson, in 1830. Zebulon Tarkington was one of the first settlers on this creek; and where Richard M. Anderson now lives, one-half mile from the spring at which Rob- ertson was killed, Joshua Tarkington lived in 1825. He lived on the Polk entry. The Polk entry, which included several hundred acres, joined the lands of " Kettle Dick " Anderson at the lower end of Ander- son's Bend and included much of the land on Robert- son's Creek. John Willey, the father-in-law of Craig Anderson, lived on Robertson's Creek in 1830, and on this account it came to be known as "Willey's Branch."
In 1862, back of Anderson's Bend and opposite the mouth of Short Creek, which runs into Duck River between the mouths of Leatherwood and Lick Creeks, Caleb McGraw was drowned by unknown parties. He was a Federal sympathizer, and, it being alleged that he had reported to the Federals the presence of
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
Confederate soldiers at home on furloughs, he was taken to the river and told to choose between drown- ing and taking the oath of allegiance to the Confed- erate States of America. He refused to take the oath, a rock was tied around his neck, and he was carried in a canoe to the middle of the river. He was again told to choose. He replied : " Drown and be damned ! " He was drowned.
In Anderson's Bend, years before the Civil War, Clark D. Fowler and Lawson H. Nunnelly had a " rough - and - tumble, old - fashioned fight " of such fierceness that the occurrence is yet readily recalled by old citizens. Nunnelly did not swim the river in order to reach Fowler, but deliberately crossed it in a canoe, he having made an engagement with Fowler to meet him for the purpose of fighting him. Odium did not then attach to affairs of this kind. This was the manner in which pioneer gentlemen settled minor differences.
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CHAPTER XIX.
OUR LEGISLATORS.
I N the Sixth General Assembly, which met at Knox- ville in 1805 and again in 1806, Duncan Stewart represented, in the Senate, Montgomery, Robertson, Dickson, and Stewart Counties; and Dickson and Robertson Counties were represented in the House of Representatives by Anderson Cheatham, of Robert- son County. On September 3, 1806, Senator Samp- son Williams introduced a bill granting to John Gor- don preemption rights in 640 acres of land on Duck River, the bill, which became a law, reciting that Gor- don, " under the sanction of the United States, did make an establishment at the crossing of Duck River for the purpose of affording necessary convenience to travelers on the route from Nashville to Natchez." Gordon had, prior to 1795, been engaged in furnishing supplies to the soldiers of the government on duty in Tennessee, he furnishing supplies to the party, under Captain Butler and Lieutenant Gaines, engaged in opening the Natchez Trace. After this party had . completed their work, Gordon, with the consent of the government, opened a trading post at the place where the trace crossed Duck River. Here he had a ferry and stand-that is, an inn. He wisely selected as his partner the Chickasaw chief, Gen. William Colbert.
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
Colbert, in return for his friendly attitude toward the whites, bore a major general's commission. The con- tract between Gordon and Colbert was made on Feb- ruary 14, 1804, and was witnessed by James Robert- son, Andrew Jackson, John McNairy, and William T. I.ewis. Colbert agreed to place in the possession of Gordon all of the property left at this point by the United States troops and to protect all property brought from Nashville by Gordon. Gordon was given the privilege of clearing and cultivating as much land as he thought necessary, and this privilege was to be his during his lifetime, and was to descend to his son, John, who was to continue the partnership with Colbert's son, Jamison. In return for these conces- sions, Gordon was to furnish all necessary supplies and was to employ a bookkeeper and manager. The net profits were to be equally divided. This con- tract was read to Colbert by an interpreter. Gor- don's bookkeepers and managers, under this contract, were: Smith Ogilvee, from February 15 to June 16, 1804; - Dromgoole, from June 17 to December 1, 1804; and Thomas H. Benton (" Old Bullion "), from December 1, 1804, to May 20, 1805. In 1806, as above stated, Gordon was granted preëmption rights in the lands around Gordon's Ferry. At this time, in each county the Court of Pleas and Quarter Ses- sions, composed of the justices of the peace of the county, had criminal and civil jurisdiction to about the extent of the Circuit Courts and Chancery Courts of the present day. In addition to this, the Court of
375
OUR LEGISLATORS.
Pleas and Quarter Sessions had about the same func- tions as the County Court of to-day. Appeals from this court were taken to the Superior Court of Law and Equity for the district, this court differing from the Supreme Court of to-day to the extent that trials were had by judge and jury. The jurors for this court were selected by the courts of the several coun- ties composing the district. In 1806 the counties of Stewart, Dickson, Robertson, and Montgomery were formed into the Robertson District, the court for which was held at Clarksville. At Clarksville was erected the jail for the district.
The Seventh General Assembly met at Knoxville in 1807. Parry W. Humphreys was Senator from the counties of Robertson, Dickson, Montgomery, and Stewart; and Anderson Cheatham was again in the House of Representatives. On Wednesday, Novem- ber 11, 1807, there was presented " the petition of a number of citizens of Duck River praying to have a new county laid off." This petition was referred to the " Committee on Propositions and Grievances." Senator Nicholas T. Perkins, of Williamson County, chairman of this committee, reported on Saturday, November 14, that " the petition of sundry inhabit- ants of Duck River to the south part of Dickson, praying to have a new county laid off, is reasonable." This report was read, concurred in, and sent to the House. On Monday, November 23, Senator Hum- phreys introduced a bill, entitled "An Act to reduce the present limits of Dickson County, and to form a
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new county to the south of the same." This bill was on this date read the first time, passed, and sent to
the House. On Wednesday, November 25, it was received from the House, read, and, on motion of Senator Robert Weakley, of Davidson County, with- drawn by him for amendment. On the following day
passed as amended, and sent to the House. On Mon- it was returned with amendments and was read,
day, November 30, it was again received from the House, read the third time, passed, and returned to the House. On Thursday, December 3, 1807, it was reported as being correctly engrossed by Hugh Law- son White, chairman of the " Committee on Engrossed Bills." On this day Senator Humphreys was elected by the Legislature as one of the judges of the Superior Court. The Act creating Hickman County, after giving its boundaries, provided that the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions should meet on the first Mon- days of January, April, July, and October, at the house of William Joslin, on Pine River. The jus- tices of the peace for Hickman County, they to com- pose this court, were appointed by the Legislature, and were: Thomas Petty, William Wilson, James Miller, Robert Dunning, and Alexander Gray. This court at its first session elected William Wilson chair- man. Wilson was the father of the first white child
born within the limits of what is now Hickman County. This was Jane Wilson (born on Decem- ber 27, 1806). This court elected William Phillips sheriff ; John Easley, trustee ; Bartholomew G. Stew-
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OUR LEGISLATORS.
art, register; Joseph Lynn, ranger; and William Stone, clerk of the court. The lands upon which Jackson, West Tennessee, now stands were originally owned by B. G. Stewart and Joseph Lynn. It was provided in the Act that the elections for Governor, members of Congress, members of the Legislature, and presidential electors should be held at the place for holding court, and that the sheriff of Hickman County should on the following day meet the sheriff of Dickson County at Charlotte and canvass the re- turns with him. The vote for Representative was to be added to the vote of the counties of Robertson and Dickson. Hickman County was made a part of the Robertson District, and was entitled to send two jurors to the Superior Court, held at Clarksville. Before the adjournment of the Legislature the time for hold- ing courts in Hickman County was changed from the first Mondays to the third Mondays of January, April, July, and October. It was also provided that there should be held in Hickman County, in the following May, an election for regimental officers, the county being entitled to one regiment of militia with one colo- nel and two majors. At this election John Holland was elected lieutenant colonel; Joseph Wilson and Joseph. Inman, majors. Hickman County was made a part of the Fifth Electoral District.
The Fighth General Assembly met at Knoxville in 1809. John Shelby, of Montgomery County, was Senator for the district composed of the counties of Stewart, Dickson, Hickman, Robertson, and Mont-
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
gomery. John Coleman, of Dickson County, repre- sented in the House of Representatives the counties of Robertson, Dickson, and Hickman. Thomas H. Ben- ton was chairman of the Senate " Committee of En- grossed Bills." The place for holding regimental musters in Hickman County was fixed at the place for holding court. By this Legislature, Circuit Courts were established, and the State was divided into five judicial circuits, the counties of Montgomery, Dick- son, Hickman, Humphreys, Stewart, and Robertson composing the Fifth District. For this circuit Parry W. Humphreys was elected judge by the Legislature, and George W. L. Marr was elected solicitor general. A Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals was created, and this system took the place of that which had hither- to existed. On October 5, 1809, Senator Shelby pre- sented the tax aggregate of Hickman County for 1808. This statement, made and signed by " William Stone, Clerk Hickman County Court," was as follows: "An Aggregate Amount of the Taxable Property of Hick- man County, 1808-36,807 acres of Land, 71 dolls .; 167 white polls, 20 dolls. and 87 cts. and 5 mills ; 72 black polls, 18 dolls. ; 7 stud horses, 18 dolls. ; 1 tavern license, 5 dolls .; 1 lawsuit, 67 cts. and 5 mills; Tax on Registration of 3,665 acres of Land, 3 dolls. and 36 cts. and 5 mills." The lawsuit was the case of Compton vs. Peery, referred to in preceding pages. On October 18 a bill establishing a permanent seat of justice for Hickman County was reported as correctly engrossed. The town selected as the seat of justice
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OUR LEGISLATORS.
was to bear the name " Vernon." The Act provided that an election should be held in the county of Hick- man on the first Monday of March, 1810, for the pur- pose of naming five commissioners who were to fix the location of the county seat. A record of this elec- tion is not now in existence, but the commissioners were chosen and they selected the present site of Vernon. On November 22 a county academy for Hickman County was established, with the following trustees : James Barr, Hugh Ross, William Wilson, John Holland, John McCaleb, Alexander Gray, and William Ward. This was Johnson Academy. The teacher was John Y. Peyton, Vernon's first school- teacher. For a seat in the Senate of this Legis- lature, the veteran Sampson Williams was defeated by Thomas K. Harris, from the counties of Smith, Jackson, Overton, White, Warren, and Franklin. Williams contested and many depositions were filed, but Harris was given the seat.
The first session of the Ninth General Assembly met at Knoxville in 1811. Robertson, Montgomery, Stewart, Dickson, Hickman, and Humphreys Coun- ties were represented in the Senate by James B. Reynolds, of Clarksville; and the county seat of Humphreys County, established during this session, was named " Reynoldsburg " in his honor. Rob- ertson, Dickson, and Hickman Counties were repre- sented in the House by Sterling Brewer, of Dickson. In the Senate were Newton Cannon and Robert C. Foster; also Sampson Williams, who had been vindi-
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
cated by an appeal to the people. Land warrants were ordered issued to John Rains, Thomas Brandon, and the heirs of Richard Shaffer. Rains had been a hunter; Shaffer, a chain carrier; and Brandon, a guard, in running the Continental Line of 1784. While these men were with one of the parties run- ning this line, it is not known whether they were with the party that went west from Mount Pisgah and through Hickman County, or with the party that went east from that point. Shaffer was one of the men with Hickman at the time of the latter's death, and was himself later slain by Indians. Rains was the celebrated Capt. John Rains, grandfather of J. H. Rains, of the Eighth District of Hickman County. The second session of this Assembly met at Nashville on September 7, 1812, this being the first session to meet at Nashville. By a communication from the clerk of the Hickman County Court, giving the num- ber of captain's companies in the county, the atten- tion of the Legislature was directed to the fact that Hickman County had not its quota of justices of the peace. The Legislature, therefore, appointed two ad- ditional magistrates-Thomas Porter and Jesse G. Christian. Since 1803 the State had been divided into three congressional districts. One of these, the Mero District-a perpetuation of the old name " Miro "- included Dickson County, and later Hickman County. It had been represented by William Dickson (two terms), Jesse Wharton, Robert Weakley, and Felix Grundy. The State by this Legislature was divided
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OUR LEGISLATORS.
into six congressional districts, the Sixth District being composed of the counties of Robertson, Mont- gomery, Dickson, Humphreys, Hickman, Stewart, Maury, and Giles. Its first representative in Con- gress was Judge Parry W. Humphreys, of Montgom- ery County.
The Tenth General Assembly met at Nashville on September 21, 1813. No journals of this General Assembly can be found in the archives of the State, and it is, therefore, impossible to give the names of Hickman County's Senator and Representative. Prior to this time the voting place for the county had been at the house of Robert Joslin, near the present site of Pinewood, and later at Vernon. By this Legis- lature a second voting place was established " at the house of Zebulon Hassell on Lick Creek of Duck River." The penalty for voting at both places during the same election was a fine of ten dollars. Alexander Gray and Garrett Lane, of Hickman County; and Robert Hill, William Cathey, and William Stockard, of Maury County, were made a commission to open Duck River for navigation from Gordon's Ferry to the mouth. They were to receive as funds for the carrying on of this work $1,050 from the commission- ers of the town of Columbia. This was to be supple- mented by the County Court of Hickman County raising by taxation $110 during the years 1814 and 1815. The time for holding court in Hickman County was changed to the second Mondays of February, May, August, and November.
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
The Eleventh General Assembly met at Nashville on September 18, 1815. The Senator for Robertson, Hickman, and Dickson Counties was Robert West; the Representative from Dickson and Hickman Coun- ties, William Easley. Easley was the first Hickman Countian to hold a seat in the State Legislature. In the Senate was Adam Huntsman, of Overton County, who emigrated to West Tennessee in after years and defeated David Crockett in a race for Congress. An- other voting place was established in Hickman County at the house of Crawford Goodwin, on Tumbling Creek. This territory was then a part of Hickman County, and here lived B. G. Stewart, Hickman County's first register. Several of the early magis- trates of the county were also from this section. Voters who presented themselves at the house of Goodwin were to swear that they had not already voted at either of the other voting places. Failing to swear this, they were not to be permitted to vote. This law also governed the election at the other two places. David Rolling, of Humphreys County, who, while going up the Tennessee River in a boat in 1808, had been shot by Indians " through both thighs and in the left knee, through both arms and in several places in the body, hitting him with eleven bullets, some of which remain," was allowed to conduct " an ordinary or house of entertainment " in Humphreys County without paying license therefor. He was also allowed to " hawk and peddle spirituous liquors " in the counties of Humphreys, Stewart, and Hickman.
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OUR LEGISLATORS.
Public inspections of tobacco, hemp, flour, lard, but- ter, and other articles intended for exportation were established for Hickman County. The warehouses at which they were to be deposited to be examined by the inspector were authorized established " at or near the mouth of Lick Creek" and "at Joseph Ship's [Josiah Shipp's] in Ship's Bend." Here in 1811 the pio- neer, Josiah Shipp, had erected the first cotton gin in the county. The militia of Hickman County was constituted the Thirty-sixth Regiment and attached to the Sixth Brigade.
The Twelfth General Assembly met at Knoxville on September 15, 1817. Senator Sterling Brewer, of Dickson County, represented Robertson, Dickson, and Hickman Counties. In the House was William Easley, who represented the counties of Dickson and Hickman. In the Senate were John Bell and Hugh Lawson White. Ten solicitorial districts were estab- lished, the Ninth District being composed of Giles, Maury, Lawrence, and Hickman Counties. For this district Robert L. Cobbs was elected solicitor-general. Lawrence and Wayne Counties were established, they being composed, in part, of territory taken from Hick- man County. The Supreme Court for the Fifth Cir- cuit was removed from Clarksville to Charlotte. The commissioners already appointed by the Circuit Court of Hickman County to divide the lands in this county of Asa Shute, deceased, were empowered to divide all of his lands in the State. The ranger of Hickman County was authorized to publish notices of estrays in
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
newspapers of either Columbia or Nashville. It was made lawful for the justices of Hickman County, if a majority so desired, to levy a tax to provide for additional compensation of jurors. This compensa- tion, however, was not to exceed fifty cents per day. The time for holding the Circuit Court of Hickman County was fixed as follows : First Mondays in March and September. The County Court was required to meet on the second Mondays in January, April, July, and October, and to remain in session for one week. An election place was established “ at David Will- iams' on Beaver Dam Creek." Robert Murray and John Brown were appointed notaries public for Hick- man County.
The Thirteenth General Assembly convened at Mur- freesboro on September 20, 1819. The senatorial dis- trict, composed of Robertson, Dickson, and Hickman Counties, was represented by Sterling Brewer, who resigned and was succeeded by James R. McMeans. McMeans was a lawyer who lived at Vernon, and later at Centerville. He married the widow of Captain Porter, of Vernon. He removed from Centerville to Paris, West Tennessee. Mrs. Porter was the sister of the wife of John G. Easley, who for several years conducted a hotel at Centerville. She was the mother of Mrs. Paralee Haskell, who from 1871 to 1881 was State Librarian. Dickson and Hickman Counties were represented in the House of Representatives by Robert E. C. Dougherty. Robert Weakley was speaker of the Senate; and James K. Polk, clerk.
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OUR LEGISLATORS.
Felix Grundy represented Davidson County in the House. An Act was passed for the relief of Robert Murray, who had obtained retail merchants' license in Williamson County and had removed to Vernon before the expiration of the license. He was allowed to continue selling in Hickman County under his Will- iamson County license. Perry County was estab- lished at. this session. David Lowe, Joel Walker, John T. Primm, and Joseph Lynn were appointed commissioners to have run and marked the lines of the county of Hickman for the purpose of reducing it to its constitutional limits of 625 square miles. After having had the line run as prescribed in the Act of 1807, they were to ascertain the center of the county, and, if the place proved to be a suitable location, they were to buy not less than fifty acres for the purpose of laying out a town thereon, this to be the seat of justice for the county. If the exact center proved to be an unsuitable location, they were to select a suitable location near the center. It was provided that noth- ing in the Act should be construed as preventing the commissioners from selecting Vernon as the seat of justice, if, in their opinion, it was the nearest and most convenient place to the center. The compen- sation of the commissioners was to be fixed by the County Court. The compensation of the surveyor was fixed by the Act at two dollars and fifty cents per day. It was further enacted that the line between Hickman and Dickson Counties, run by William B. Ross, remain unchanged. The town directed to be
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
laid off was to be named " Canton." Provisions were made for the removal of records and public business from Vernon to Canton whenever the completion of the public buildings in the latter town were certified to by the commissioners. In the event that the com- missioners could not agree as to the location of the seat of justice, Col. Robert Weakley, of Davidson County ; Maj. James Fentress, of Montgomery Coun- ty ; and Col. Archer Cheatham, of Robertson County, were appointed as umpires. An Act was passed for the relief of Amos Johnston, who had laid his land warrant on both sides of Duck River at the mouth of Pine River, a portion of this land being within the Indian boundary. Eli B. Hornbeak and Garrett Lane were appointed notaries public for Hickman County. The time for holding the courts of Hickman County was fixed as follows: Circuit Court-Second Mon- days in March and September ; County Court-Third Mondays in January, April, July, and October. On November 25, 1819, Robert E. C. Dougherty was elected surveyor general of the Twelfth Surveyor's District, and on the following day he resigned his seat in the Legislature. His bondsmen were Hugh Hill, W. Malugin, James Hicks, John Stockard, John K. Campbell, Felix Grundy, and George Kinzer. The second session of this General Assembly convened on May 15, 1820, with William Easley as the successor of Robert E. C. Dougherty. Representative Easley introduced a bill to divorce John Hulett and wife, and to divorce Sarah Capps from her husband. At
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OUR LEGISLATORS.
that time the Legislature alone had the power to grant divorces.
The Fourteenth General Assembly convened at Murfreesboro on September 17, 1821. James K. Polk was again clerk of the Senate. Hickman, Law- rence, Wayne, and Hardin Counties were represented in the Senate by Dr. Joel Walker. In the House of Representatives, Hickman and Lawrence Counties were represented by David Crockett, the famous bear hunter and pioneer politician, who afterwards lost his life at the Alamo. It is related that during this ses- sion Crockett engaged in a heated debate with a col- league. He was being worsted in the war of words, when he rushed at his antagonist. He grasped his collar, when the entire false front of his shirt came loose. Crockett then seemed satisfied, and carried this token of victory back with him to his seåt. Will- iam Hall, Aaron V. Brown, and Felix Grundy were members of this Assembly. It appearing that Rich- ard Campbell, of Hickman County, had exhausted his funds in the building of a gristmill, and was, there- fore, unable to buy the land upon which it was erected, it was made unlawful for any person, save Campbell, to enter or obtain a title to the fifty acres of land, having the mill for a center, for one year. Henry Hardin, Edward Nunnellee, David Curry, and James McNeilly were appointed commissioners for the pur- pose of running the county lines of Hickman County, finding the center of the county, etc., having prac- tically the same duties to perform and the same powers
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