USA > Tennessee > DeKalb County > History of DeKalb county, Tennessee > Part 6
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Among the old papers of Jasper Ruyle was found this list of the members of the Church just preceding the War between the States: M. S. West, Lemuel Moore, Katherine Moore, Elizabeth Garrison, Little- berry Vick, Rhoda Vick, Sarah Vick, Jacob E. Moore, Mary Lamberson, Christina Smith, Jane Vick, Isaac Whaley, Lucinda Evans, Martha Martin, Matilda Bratten, Rebecca Yeargin, Susan Vantrease, Jasper Ruyle, Rebecca Ruyle, Mary E. Gossett, E. Jane Vick. Edward Gothard, Josiah Youngblood, J. C. Young- blood, Mary Jane Kersey, Matilda Neal, Malinda Moore, Eliza J. Moore, T. H. W. Richardson, Eliza- beth Richardson, Matilda Richardson, L. F. Moore, Amanda Bratten, Cynthia D. Sneed, Martha J. Moore, A. Tennie Evans, Sarah Hall, Montilius Richardson, C. W. L. Hale, W. J. Hale, J. F. Youngblood, T. R. Foster, J. H. Burton, E. W. Whaley, W. C. Vick, T.
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
B. Adamson, E. Jane Whaley, A. T. Vick, M. C. Seay, Matilda Burton, B. W. Seay, Mary F. Seay, Ellen Seay, Lydia A. Barkley, James Foster, John W. Lam- berson, and Len F. Woodside.
Goodspeed's history, published in 1888, says the Methodists of Alexandria first had a log church, but a frame church was built in 1835. In 1885 they put up the present handsome building.
Since the war of 1861-65 these, among other min- isters, have occupied the Methodist pulpit at Alexan- dria : B. G. Ferrell (1866), John G. Ray (P. E.), John C. Putnam, J. B. Allison (P. E.), W. J. Hale, J. J. Comer (P. E.), W. H. Bellamy, W. H. Johnson, B. M. Stephens, William Doss, G. L. Staley, Z. W. Moores, H. S. Lee, T. H. Hinson, B. G. Ferrell, W. \V. Graves. T. L. Moody, R. P. Ransom, J. T. Black- wood, G. B. McPeak, George L. Beale, B. H. Johnson, G. W. Nackles, B. F. McNeill. B. H. Jarvis, W. E. Doss.
Relying further on Goodspeed, the first Methodist church at Smithville was built in 1848 and was a brick structure. (There was a Methodist house of worship of some kind in 1844.) It was followed in 1856 by a frame building. Among the post-bellum pastors have been the following : A. H. Reams, WV. B. Lowry. John Jordan, W. H. Riggon, J. H. Nichols, J. J. Comer (P. E.), S. H. Andrews, R. T. McBride, J. F. Corbin, G. B. McPeak, David G. Ray, E. K. Denton, C. S. Hensley, E. L. Jones, G. W. Anderson (P. E.), J. T. Blackwood. Z. W. Moores, L. C. Young, N. A. Anthony, W. H. Lovell, G. L. Hensley, J. A. Chenault,
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
J. G. Molloy, H. W. Carter, D. M. Barr, J. W. Pear- son, J. W. Estes (Smithville and Keltonsburg Circuit).
Goshen, on Dismal Creek, was well known for its Methodist gatherings before and after the war. This can be said also for Bright Hill, near Smithville, As- bury, near Liberty, and the camp ground at Smith- ville. Some of the old-time ministers became popular because of their eccentricities as well as piety, among them : Mr. Wainwright, "Uncle" Jakey Hearn, "Uncle" Ike Woodward, "Uncle" Joe Banks, Elisha Carr, James Stanford, Ben Turner, and Caleb Davis.
Rev. Jerry W. Cullom, aged eighty-six years and the oldest member of the Tennessee Conference, writes June 12, 1914: "In 1854 I was the young pastor of Asbury Church. It was there that I had the greatest meeting I ever had or saw. All Liberty must have been there. Uncle Joe Banks, one of my local preach- ers, assisted me. It was there that we struck water. The year 1854 was the dryest I ever knew. The ques- tion with everybody was, 'How shall we get water for the meeting?' Some one discovered a moist place in the sand under the bluff back of the church, and a few strokes of a hoe unearthed a fine spring."
It should be explained here that it has been told for the truth that the preacher prayed for water, and the spring was sent in answer. Mr. Cullom states the facts, as he found the spring. This stream, we are told, is yet flowing.
"Rev. Joe Myers," proceeds Mr. Cullom, "declared in his sermon one night at Asbury that he saw a great ball of fire enter the door and roll over the congrega-
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
tion ; so the dear old Baptists said the Methodists had brought water from the earth and fire down from heaven. There were over two hundred conversions on the circuit that year, among whom I may mention Judge Robert Cantrell and wife, both of whom I bap- tized by immersion at Smithville. And I mention Colonel Stokes and Dr. Foster. Stokes was lying stretched full length on the floor when he was power- fully converted. I saw him in Alexandria after the war, when Stokes's Cavalry had become history, and we gladly greeted each other. Years afterwards I was sent up there as a presiding elder for four years- 1871-75. Holding a quarterly meeting at Asbury, I found Uncle Joe Banks present, and we had a great service. Though he was now in the Northern branch of the Church, we met in the altar at the close of the sermon and fell into each other's arms, and the thing was 'catching' all over the house.
"Abe Overall and Uncle Jakey Hearn often preached for me in 1853-54. Uncle Abe was present at Round Top when I performed my first immersion, and of course I made a botchi of it, as I was a new hand. He got a good deal of fun out of my awkwardness. Some one, speaking of Uncle Jakey Hearn's home con- veniences, said he could lie down at night and by pulling a string lock every door on his farm.
"John Savage and I were great friends. He owned a hotel at Smithville when I was pastor and gave me a room, board, and stall for my horse free."
In a second letter Mr. Cullom says: "The preachers for Smith Fork Circuit in 1854 were Revs. Joe G.
6
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
Myers and Russell Eskew. They were rather unique. Myers assisted me in the Asbury meeting. Arch Bain was a young preacher famous for leading the songs at camp meetings. Ferdinand S. Petway was the finest singer I ever heard. After the great meeting at Asbury, let me add, it fell to my lot to immerse more than a score of converts in Smith Fork. Six young ladies decided to kneel in the water and have it poured on them-'went down into the water' and were baptized by water or with water. Judge Robert Cantrell and wife professed at Bright Hill, three miles from Smith- ville, and joined our Church at Smithville after im- mersion. In 1873 or 1874 I stood on the scaffold and preached John Presswood's funeral before the swing- off by request of the sheriff. Some eight thousand people were present. At Smithville lived Wash Isbell, a hopeless cripple, but for many years he was county court clerk. William Magness, a brother of Judge Cantrell's wife, was a prominent merchant. So was Bob West. The hotel belonged to John Savage and was conducted by Mr. Stewart, whose wife was a sis- ter of M. M. Brien."
In 1845 the Methodist Church divided into the Southern and Northern "wings." The latter was not represented in DeKalb County or the South until after the war of 1861-65.
When the Federal army gained possession of East Tennessee many of the Methodists in that section de- sired the services of the M. E. Church-that is, the Northern wing. In 1864 its first Conference was or-
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ganized. Soon the ministers of that wing were preach- ing in DeKalb. As a lad the writer remembers when they appeared at Liberty, one of the ministers preach- ing being a Mr. Stephens, who had located at McMinn- ville. Then there was Rev. D. P. Searcy, who had been a Southern Methodist prior to the war. Rev. Joe Banks, of the county, also joined the Northern wing. It seemed that it made more advancement around Liberty than elsewhere. There was considera- ble hard feeling for a time between the two wings. Mr. Searcy located at Liberty, and shortly he and his interesting family became much beloved by all the neighbors. He was a son-in-law of Alex Robinson, of the county.
A few churches were established. That at Dowell- town was erected first in 1880 and has been wrecked twice by storms. The second wind, in 1913, entirely demolished it. The following have served as pastors there: D. P. Searcy, J. N. Turrentine, J. F. Turner, O. O. Knight, W. B. Rippetoe, A. Barnes, J. L. Chandler, S. L. Clark, W. C. Carter, D. L. McCalebs, IV. P. Banks, T. J. Stricklin, S. H. Creasy, J. R. Con- ner, G. W. Nunally, H. P. Keatherly, D. P. Hart, E. C. Sanders, and C. W. Clayton.
The Dowelltown Circuit has five churches-Asbury, Snow's Hill, Indian Creek, Fuller Chapel, and Dowell- town-with more than five hundred members. Rev. W. P. Banks, who died in July, 1914, wrote early in the year as to Asbury :
It is the oldest church in this vicinity. The early settlers built for themselves a small, incommodious house for Church
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
and school purposes, and at an early date a Methodist Church was organized here. Who the preachers were, I do not know. This house was finally burned to the ground by an incendiary, and a commodious house for that time was erected in its place. This house also was used for Church and school pur- poses. About twenty years ago the members of the M. E. Church bought the property, tore down the old house, and erected an up-to-date building, perhaps the best country church in the county, with a thriving membership of one hundred and a Sunday school that has run more than fifteen years consecu- tively. The organization was effected by Rev. D. P. Searcy. Thomas Chapman was the first to join and was followed by Joe Banks, Jep Williams and wife, and about fifteen others. Judge W. T. Robinson and wife also joined soon afterwards.
Mr. Banks wrote of others, but was so modest about his own work that this writer feels it a duty to add: He was fifty-seven years of age in 1914 and was a re- tired minister on account of broken health. His grand- father, Rev. Joseph Banks, was not only a moving spirit in the organizations of DeKalb County, but a great revivalist in his day; while his father, Enoch Banks, was a local deacon and did some pastoral work on circuits as a supply. At the age of twenty-two, after spending four years in Tullahoma College, W. P. Banks entered the Central Tennessee Conference of the M. E. Church and became an itinerant preacher. He served as pastor of circuits sixteen years and as presiding elder of the Nashville District six years. While presiding elder the finances of his district in- creased one hundred per cent, an increase equal to that of any twelve years before or after his term of service for the same territory. For eight years he was secretary of the Annual Conference and twelve
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
years the editor and publisher of the Conference min- utes.
Rev. Enoch H. Banks, mentioned, for many years kept up monthly appointments and revivals in the fall at some of the schoolhouses adjacent to Dowelltown.
There are a small number of Cumberland Presby- terian congregations scattered throughout the county. For some years the only church on Dry Creek south and east of Dowelltown was a small building located at the head of that stream and called Cave Spring Church. It had a scattered membership. Its pastor for some forty years was the eccentric but really in- tellectual I. L. Thompson. He was also pastor of Banks Church, on Short Mountain, as well as a little society at Possum Hollow Schoolhouse, on Dry Creek, midway between Cave Spring and Dowelltown. Of the three, only Banks Church was remaining in 1814.
In 1881 the Cumberland Presbyterians erected a Church at Alexandria. Prior to the War between the States preaching was had in the Turner M. Lawrence College. The following, with their families, were early members : James Doss, John Bone, W. R. Lewis, Al Edwards, Monroe Doss, J. D. Baird, W. W. Patter- son, J. A. Davidson, V. H. Williams, J. B. Stevens, C. D. Baird, T. Macon, also Mrs. Mary E. Ford, the Kings, Simpsons, Fousts, and many others, all among the most influential citizens.
Names of pastors, including the present one, Rev. Joseph Barbee: Mr. Dillard, Reece Patterson (before the war), Dr. Burney, J. F. Patton, J. H. Kittrell,
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
Baxter Barbee, H. Lamon, J. R. Goodpasture, Ira W. King, and Mr. Sanburn. A number of theological students from Cumberland University have from time to time held services in the church.
The Church of Christ, or Christian Church, has been very strong in the county for many years. In Alexandria the members erected a church as early as 1835. It was succeeded by a new frame in 1851, or near that time. About 1873 a church was built at Smithville, and at Liberty another prior to 1890, dedi- cated by Mr. Woolen. In all there are nine churches in the county, others besides those named being at Temperance Hall, Keltonsburg, Belk, Young's Bend, 'Falling Water, and Cherry Hill. The total member- ship is between six hundred and eight hundred. The oldest church is that at Falling Water, it is believed.
One of the most active ministers of this denomina- tion for the past twenty years is Rev. H. J. Boles. His son, Rev. H. Leo Boles, who is now President of the Nashville Bible School, labored with him for some years in strengthening the congregations.
Among the pioneer preachers of the county were the following, in addition to H. J. Boles : Tolbert Fan- ning, Caleb and Jesse Sewell, Sandy Jones, J. M., C. C., and W. T. Tidwell. Later: J. M. Tidwell, Wiley B. Carnes, Mr. Sutton, Luke Melton, Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Woolen, and others. The resident ministers of the county in 1914 were Rev. H. J. Boles and Rev. O. P. Barry.
Among the prominent citizens who have been identi-
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
fied with the congregations may be mentioned Dr. Drake, Dr. T. J. Potter, Judge J. E. Drake, Prof. H. L. W. Gross, Brackett Estes, Samson McClelland, Hon. J. M. Allen, Judge W. G. Crowley, Judge M. D. Smallman, editor and educator W. D. G. Carnes, Wil- liam Floyd, Dr. T. P. Davis, the Lincolns, Wades, Magnesses, Cantrells, Griffiths, Webbs, Martins, Hayses, Tyrees, Potters, Pritchetts, and Smiths.
After the War between the States a religious awak- ening became apparent throughout the county. The writer, then a lad, saw some of the manifestations of fervor at Liberty, and especially at the Baptist church. The war had somewhat demoralized the people, and during revivals at the church named well-patronized ginger cake and melon vendors held forth on the bluff less than one hundred yards from the church. At night mischievous persons would cut harness and saddles. There were many indictments, moreover, for disturb- ing public worship.
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CHAPTER VIII.
ANNALS OF ALEXANDRIA.
THIS town is on the Lebanon and Sparta Turnpike, forty-nine miles east of Nashville. The nearest rail- way points are Watertown, six miles west, and Brush Creek, two and one-half miles north. The tradition is that it was named for one of its pioneers, James Alexander, who came from Virginia. Showing that it was a village of Cannon County in 1837, in which year DeKalb County was established and the Lebanon and Sparta Turnpike chartered, the following Alex- andrians appointed commissioners of the road are named as citizens of Cannon: Jacob Fite and James Goodner.
The act incorporating the village was signed Jan- vary 31, 1848, the boundaries being as follows: "Be- ginning at the southwest corner of Leander Scott's lot and running north to Hickman Creek; thence east with the meanders of said creek to the northwest cor- ner of Thomas Allison's lot; thence south to the west end of Gin Alley; thence east with said alley to the northeast corner of lot No. 13; thence east to the cast corner of McDonald's lot, including Elijah Dobb's lot; thence west to Jacob Fite's line; thence north with the said line to the beginning, including the Meth- odist church and schoolhouse." During the War be- tween the States the corporation fell into "innocuous desuetude." After hostilities ceased it was rehabili- tated. One of the ante-bellum mayors recalled was
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BUSINESS BLOCK, ALEXANDRIA
ON PART OF SITE WHERE TWENTY-ONE BUILDINGS RECENTLY BURNED
HISTORY £
OF DEKALB COUNTY
the late John Batts, while one of the most vigorous mayors just after the war was Robert Yeargin. As with other Tennessee towns of small population, the charter was surrendered shortly after the passage of the four-mile law to get the benefit of that statute. In 1913 the town was again incorporated, with Rev. O. P. Barry as the first mayor and J. W. Parker city attorney.
The first settlers of the community, it is believed, arrived about 1795. The following list includes as many of the early business men as it is possible to give at this late date: James Alexander, Joshua M. Coffee & Son, Jacob Fite (father of Judge John Fite), James Goodner, Samuel Young, Church Anderson, William Floyd, J. D. Wheeler, Bone & Bro., Thomas Compton, Reece & Ford, Turner Bros., Wheeler & Jones, John F. Moore, S. W. Pierce, Lawrence & Roy, William Geltford, L. D. Fite, James Baird, Jack Baird, and Dexter Buck. The last named was the only merchant doing business during the latter part of the war. Since the war the following are recalled: James and Jack Baird, Turner Bros., Stokes & Wood, Dinges & Lincoln, Hurd & Co., M. F. Doss, Bridges & Smith, George Evans, Rutland & Goodner, S. W. McClelland, Dinges & Co., Roy & Yeargin, J. W. King, John Jost, Tubb & Schurer, Edwards & Rutland, Gold & New- man, Jones Bros., John Garrison, and Batts & Garri- son. Business directory for 1914: Livingston Tubb, Goodner & Son, Roy & Jones, Roy & Seale, Lester's Department Store, Adamson Grocery Co., D. A. Stark, Dinges Hardware Co., Rutland Bros., Sampson Gro-
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
cery Co., O. P. Barry Produce Co., Style Millinery Co. (Miss Daisye Vantrease), Donnel & Patton, Grif- fith Livery Co., H. H. Jones, J. W. Measle, and Shelby Malone, insurance.
The pioneer bank of the town and county is the Alexandria Bank. This bank was the first established between Lebanon on the west and Rockwood on the east. The original capital was $10,000, it being a private concern owned by J. F. Roy and Ed Reece. About 1891 it was chartered as a State bank and the stock increased to $20,000. Mr. Roy was the first Cashier and then President. C. W. L. Hale, of Liberty, was once Vice President, and William Vick, of the same place, was a stockholder and an officer. J. F. Roy is now President, and Frank Roy, Cashier. This bank, which was established in 1888, has been suc- cessful from the start.
The second bank in point of time is known as the D. W. Dinges Banking Company. It has also wonder- fully prospered. It opened for business January 24, 1900, with the following officers : D. W. Dinges, Presi- dent ; J. A. Walker, Dib Dinges, Brien Tubb, and W. H. Lincoln. On January 7, 1904, the capital was in- creased. Large dividends have been declared each year. The capital at present is $150,000, with a sur- plus of $14,000. Present directors : D. W. Dinges, J. A. Walker, O. P. Barry, Livingston Tubb, J. W. Measle, G. R. Lester, Dib Dinges, W. T. Jones, Paul Tubb, D. C. Dinges, and E. T. Dinges.
The earliest paper published in the county was the Alexandria Independent. It was established a year or
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
two prior to the war of 1861-65, but suspended when the great struggle commenced. While its publisher and editor, W. H. Mott, was said to have been from the North (marrying a Southern girl, Miss Van- trease), he joined Col. R. D. Allison's company of Confederates. With the Twenty-Fourth Regiment in the battle of Murfreesboro, he was severely wounded, and soon after having been brought home he died. All efforts to secure a copy of the Independent have failed, though its jottings would be both interesting and il- luminative of the times.
In 1882 J. W. Newman began publishing the Enter- prise, continuing it about two years.
The Alexandria Review was published about 1892 by E. C. King. In that year it was sold to James Tubb, according to a communication to the Liberty Herald of April 6, 1892.
The initial number of the Times appeared April 4. 1894. A stock company was publisher, and Robert F. Jones editor. Rob Roy and R. W. Patterson pur- chased the plant two years later, but the latter soon retired. Since the change Mr. Roy has been publisher and editor. In the eighteen years of the Times's pub- lication no less than twenty-nine newspapers in De- Kalb, Smith, and Wilson Counties have started and suspended.
The War between the States is recalled in connec- tion with two of the early enterprises of Alexandria, the flour mill and the fair. It is tradition that the name of the first miller was a Mr. Hoover, whose lit- tle plant on Hickman Creek was equipped for grind-
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
ing corn and sawing, the saw being of the horizontal. or sash, variety. The splendid flour mill built about 1852, which Gen. John T. Wilder, Federal commander, put out of business by twisting and bending the ma- chinery, was under the management of Yan and Lon Wood. After the war-about 1887-a stock comany, composed of Ed Reece, J. F. Roy, B. F. Bell, John Rutland, L. E. Simpson, D. W. Dinges, and others, was organized, and a fine roller mill was erected. Brown Bros. once operated this plant in the eighties. Barry & Smith operated it in the nineties. This finally burned, and Lon Compton operates a plant erected somewhat recently.
A county fair association was formed prior to 1858, and in that year the first fair was held. The war then interfered, and Federal soldiers, principally Stokes's men, camped on the site and practically destroyed the property. The site was on the William Floyd farm, on Hickman Creek. In 1871 the DeKalb County A. and M. Association was formed, and the present-day fair resulted. The first directory was composed of T. P. Doss, J. D. Wheeler, J. F. Roy, J. H. Kitchen, J. A. Jones, John Bone, J. J. Ford, John Rollins, M. A. Wood, H. B. Smith, W. H. Lincoln, Jacob Measle, and Gen. William B. Stokes. Of these directors, only one, J. F. Roy, is living. This is believed to be the oldest fair in Tennessee. The State is said to be a stockholder. From 1871 to the present the fair lias been held every year except 1881, when the severe drouth prevailed. On the morning of June 27, 1914, all the buildings were burned, entailing a loss of $8,000
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
or $10,000, Rob Roy being the largest loser. Un- daunted, tents and circus seats were procured, and the fair of 1914 was made a success.
A fact worthy of note, reflecting credit on the negro population of the county, is that for several years the colored people have held a fair at Alexandria, the man- agers in 1914 being Henry Belcher, R. E. Preston, and Dib Burks.
Among the early citizens of this community, in addi- tion to many already mentioned, there are recalled : Bartel Carter, King Herod, James Malone, Robert Dowell, Rizer Duncan, Louis McGann, William Kiser, Phil Palmer, Benjamin Garrison, John Van- trease, Jonathan and Steward Doss, Thomas Simpson, William Wright, Aaron Botts, Louis Y. Davis, Ed- ward Turner, James Goodner, William Grandstaff, Paschal Brien, Henry Rutland, Tom Minor, Beverley Seay, Samuel Pierce, Stephen Pledger, Bartley James. Thornton Christy, Richard Rison, Turner Lawrence, T. Allison, James Link, Oliver Williams, Sr., James Jones, John Pierce, Spencer Bomar, J. Yeargin, J. F. Goodner, Jack Baird, William Johnston, Peter Davis, Tom Price. Caleb Davis, Hez Bowers, John Bowers, Al Bone, William Bone, Peter Turner, James Turner, Yan and Lon Wood, Jefferson Sneed, and William Floyd. The last-named brought to the county the first thresher and piano.
William Floyd was also a before-the-war post- master ; so was Joshua M. Coffee ; so was Samuel W. Pierce. Other postmasters have been Stephen Pled-
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HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY
ger, James Turner, Al Edwards, R. M. Bone, S. B. Franks, J. W. Parker, and J. Moores Pendleton.
As to professional men, the lawyers who have lived at Alexandria were Col. John Fite (born there), Man- son M. Brien, John Botts, William B. Stokes, Dan Williams, and J. W. Parker.
Dentists : Drs. H. I. Benedict and L. D. Cotton.
Early physicians : Drs. John W. Overall (about 1830, and born in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., be- fore his parents removed to the neighborhood of Liberty, Tenn.), Jefferson Sneed, James Dougherty, William Sales, Cornelius Sales, George Gray, William Blythe, Richard Blythe, T. F. Everett, Nicholas Mer- cer, E. Tubb, Horace Sneed, Isaac J. Miers (or Mize), Mayberry, Bobo, McConnell, and Flippin. Later: T. J. Sneed, Jr., C. L. Barton, Dr. Fletcher, O. D. Wil- liams, T. A. Gold, Thomas Davis, Sam McMillan, and J. R. Hudson.
This tradition is told by the older people of Alex- andria : Dr. Miers (or Mize) was of French extrac- tion, locating in Alexandria long before the War be- tween the States (about 1848 or 1849), and wooed and won a Miss Paty. He was impatient to build up a practice, and it was charged that, going to Woodbury one day and procuring smallpox virus, or "scabs," he returned to his home with a sinister scheme. Inviting a young Mr. Turner to go hunting with him with flint- locks, he managed to inject his companion with the virus. Soon there was an epidemic of smallpox.
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