History of Nashville, Tenn., Part 34

Author: Wooldridge, John, ed; Hoss, Elijah Embree, bp., 1849-1919; Reese, William B
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Nashville, Tenn., Pub. for H. W. Crew, by the Publishing house of the Methodist Episcopal church, South
Number of Pages: 806


USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > History of Nashville, Tenn. > Part 34


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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YEAR.


Highest.


Dates.


Lowest.


Dates.


Range.


1872


46.2 feet April 15


2.9


October 29


43.3


1873.


..


39.0 feet February 21 .


0.5


October 13, 16, 17


38.5


1874.


49.2 feet April 16, 17.


I.O


July 8, 9, 10.


48.2


1875 .


41.3 feet March 2 . .


1.5


September 13.


39.8


1876.


34.5 feet January 29.


0.8


October 19, 20, 21


33.7


1877


40.3 feet January 22 .


I.I


October 20, 21 .


39.2


1878.


27.2 feet April 26


'0.3


October 9


26.9


1879.


41.3 feet January 19.


0.4


October 3


40.9


1880 ..


46.5 feet March 17. .


0.6


September 26


45.9


1881 . . . .


33.0 feet


January 24, 25 .


0.2


September 12, 13, 14.


32.8


1882.


54.6 feet


January 22. .


1.5


October 26, 28


53.I


1883


41.4 feet February 13.


0.4


September 17-20.


41.0


1884.


.


49.2 feet March 15 ..


0.2


October 26, 27.


49.4


1885 .


37.8 feet January 2I


0.4


September 13, 29


37.4


1886.


49.3 feet April 10


0.5


November I . . .


48.8


1887


44.2 feet March 2.


0.3


September 14, 15, 16.


44.4


1888.


39.2 feet March 30.


0.9


August 17


38.


1889 ..


35.6 feet February 21


1.6


October 19


34.0


The following table shows the dates of the closing and opening of navigation since the station was established, and also the number of days it was closed in each year :


YEAR.


Closed.


Opened.


Days Retarded.


1871


August 4


November 25


II3


1872.


June 19


November 10.


144


I873


July 12


December 21


162


1874.


July 27 .


November 12


IOS


1875


August 26.


November 8


79


1876


August 19.


January 7.


142


May 28


June II


I877


July 8.


July 19


( August I


November 2.


1878


July 16.


November 28.


159


1879


September 10


November 16


91


1880.


July 22.


October 9


123


1881.


July 10


October 30


II2


1882.


( September 21


December 2.


72


1883


August 8


October 29


90


1884


August 10


December 15


143


1885


July 18.


October 29.


IO3


1886.


September 8


November 18.


85


1887


June 29.


December 28.


190


1888.


September 29.


October 23.


48


1889


[ July 16.


July 21


2


§ June 2


September 2


S June 8.


July 2.


2


S July 25.


August 2.


1


ĮJuly 15


July 31


1


Not closed during the year.


316


HISTORY OF NASHVILLE.


One of the most important events connected with the navigation of the Cumberland River was the Cumberland River Improvement Convention held in Nashville November 20 and 21, 1889. The convention consisted of about two hundred prominent gentlemen from the Cumberland Valley counties of both Tennessee and Kentucky. The purpose for which the convention was held was to concentrate the efforts of the people of these river counties toward the securing of an open river at all seasons of the year, the great necessity for which is clearly shown by the foregoing table, looking to the complete development of the Cumberland Valley, with its immense and varied wealth. The Davidson County delegation to this convention consisted of the following individuals: William B. Bate, United States Senator from Tennessee; Wade Murray, James S. Dunbar, E. Kirkpatrick, T. P. Bridges, E. M. Neal, Alexander Ken- dall, William Bowman, Nat F. Dortch, John H. Anderson, H. H. Pos- ton, A. B. Hill, C. E. Dortch, W. M. Cassety, A. E. Baird, S. A. Champion, George H. Armistead, B. M. Hord, A. L. Landis, John W. Morton, John R. Handley, James S. Brown, R. H. Dudley, H. C. Spur- lock, George W. Winters, A. J. Caldwell, E. I. Golliday, W. C. Dib- rell, J. H. Wilkes, T. O. Morris, W. M. Duncan, R. R. Caldwell, M. F. House, J. W. Allen, Dr. William Morrow, Lewis T. Baxter, George S. Kinney, T. D. Craighead, J. H. Hutchison, Rufus K. Polk, E. K. Glenn, John P. White, J. H. Nye, J. D. Wade, C. A. Sharenberger, Charles Rich, J. W. Mccullough, D. S. Williams; C. P. McCarver, Mayor of Nashville; Thomas Plummer, John J. McCann, Seldon Will- iams, Duncan Eve, J. H. Neil, John W. Hunter, J. S. Cooley, James T. . Gleaves, Edgar Jones, B. G. Hampton, Oliver Cunningham, John Over- ton, Joseph H. Thompson, Thomas L. Claiborne, Jere Baxter, W. G. Sadler, Alexander Donaldson, J. E. Caldwell, Steve House, June Turner, J. E. Easley, E. W. Cole, F. W. Gallagher, N. C. Williams, T. T. Wright, General G. P. Thruston, James Whitworth, A. W. Wills, J. P. Drouillard, Dr. D. F. Blanks, Herman Hasslock, Ben Lindauer, Charles Nelson, F. O. Beazley, B. H. Cooke, F. P. McWhirter, Samuel Scoggins, Samuel J. Keith, T. D. Fite, D. A. Bradley, James Lovell, L. T. Armstrong, John C. Gordon, E. A. Carsey, W. H. Carsey, J. R. Dortch, C. S. Pearce, J. M. Hamilton, M. T. Bryan, V. S. Pease, O. H. Hight, D. B. Cooper, E. W. Carmack, T. G. Ryman, M. S. Pilcher, William Litterer, John Demoville, J. M. Gleaves, A. S. Colyar, M. R. Priest, H. W. Buttorf, I. T. Rhea, Frank Lester, J. O. Cheek, A. Ty- ler, W. H. Jackson, Charles A. Miller, James P. Byrne, M. Burns, Charles Sykes, E. R. Richardson, E. M. Woodall, Tim Johnson, M. A. Spurr, Thomas Nolan, Chris Power, H. G. Scovel, S. W. Allen, G.


317


TRANSPORTATION.


H. Baskette, William Sutherland, F. M. Hamilton, S. C. Junk, C. H. Benedict, John Streight, E. T. Noel, W. W. Parminter, L. H. Lanier, Jr., W. M. McCarthy, T. W. Wrenne, J. Conley, H. W. Grantland, M. I. Couch, J. D. Bass, G. R. Padgett, John A. Ward, Thomas Hering, M. S. Cockrill, C. F. Sharpe, Jerry Bowen, Dr. J. H. Jordan, Frank White, C. B. Harwood, James Cockrill, B. Gray, M. B. Howell, J. M. Dickinson, J. H. Yarbrough, F. T. Cummins, John M. Lea, John Ruhm, J. S. Frazer, Sanford Duncan, Dr. W. P. Jones, M. J. Smith, Dan Bailey, John Carson, Pat Walsh, and J. Bailey Brown.


A great deal of work was done by the local Committee on Organiza- tion and Invitation, of which J. M. Hamilton was President, before the convention assembled in Amusement Hall on Broad Street, November 20. Besides sending circular letters to the Chairmen of the County Courts of the counties in Tennessee and Kentucky contiguous to the Cumber- land Valley, invitations were sent to all the Congressmen in the two States, to the Governor, Colonel Barlow, engineer in charge of the river improvements, General Atkins, and others. Upon the assembling of the convention at 10: 50 A.M., November 20, Hon. M. T. Bryan stated the object of the meeting, which was to prepare an address to Congress such as might do the most good in securing an appropriation large enough to make the improvements contemplated, in order that the Cumberland River might be navigable the entire year. H. H. Poston, of Nashville, then moved that W. D. Gold, of Smith County, be made temporary chairman; and on motion of Colonel S. A. Champion, Charles Sykes was made temporary secretary. Upon calling the roll it was found that the following counties were represented: In Tennessee, Montgomery, Cheatham, Robertson, Davidson, Sumner, Wilson, Trousdale, Smith, Putnam, Jackson, Macon, and Pickett; and in Kentucky, Livingston, Lyon, Trigg, Logan, Monroe, Cumberland, Pulaski, and Bell. A Com- mittee on Permanent Organization was then appointed, as follows: Allen G. Hall and H. H. Poston, of Davidson County; Dr. J. W. Bowen, of Smith County; and J. W. Rice, of Stewart County. H. K. Bedford, of Monroe County, Ky .; W. C. Conant, of Livingston County, Ky .; J. H. Ritchie, of Cumberland County, Ky.


After speeches by Hon. J. W. Stone, member of Congress from the First Kentucky District, and Hon. Benton McMillin, member of Con- gress from the Fourth Tennessee District, the Committee on Permanent Organization made the following report: Permanent President, General H. B. Lyon, of Lyon County, Ky .; Secretary, Charles Sykes, of David- son County. Vice-chairmen: Dr. J. C. Steger, of Stewart County; C. W. Tyler, of Montgomery County; T. A. Turner, of Cheatham County;


318


HISTORY OF NASHVILLE.


N. F. Dortch, of Davidson County; J. Bandy, of Wilson County; J. H. Neely, of Trousdale County; George H. Glass, of Smith County; A. H. Young, of Putnam County; Isaac West, of Macon County; W. W. Chilton, of Pickett County; R. L. Hayes, of Houston County. From Kentucky: C. W. Conant, of Livingston County; Felix K. Grasty, of Trigg County; H. K. Bedford, of Monroe County; J. P. McMillan, of Cumberland County; C. W. Cole, of Pulaski County; J. B. Fish, of Bell County; and Martin Hale, of Jackson County. A Committee on Resolutions was then appointed containing one member from each coun- ty represented. While the appointment of the committee was being made Governor Robert L. Taylor addressed the convention in a brief speech, and was followed by Colonel Barlow, who delivered one of the most carefully prepared and reliable addresses ever made on the subject of Cumberland River improvements. Colonel Barlow said that previous to 1871 very little money had been appropriated by Congress for the im- provement of the Cumberland River, not over $155,000 in the aggregate. From 1871 to the present time there has been appropriated a total sum of $1,041,000, divided as follows for different sections of the river: Below Nashville $285,000; Nashville to the Kentucky line, $83,000; Kentucky line to foot of Smith's Shoals, Ky., $79,000; Smith's Shoals, $115,000; Smith's Shoals to falls of the Cumberland, $4,000; above the mouth of Jellico $15,000; above Nashville, $325,000: grand total, $1,061,000. The project in hand, he said, contemplated the construction of twenty- three locks and dams, if that number were found necessary, at an esti- mated cost of $3,202,922, divided as follows: from Nashville to the Kentucky line, $1,987,536; from the Kentucky line to the Cincinnati Southern railroad, $1,215,386. Locking and damming Smith's Shoals would cost $875,000 more.


After the conclusion of Colonel Barlow's address and the announce- ment of the Committee on Resolutions, Hon. M. T. Bryan offered the following resolutions :


" That it is the sense of this Convention that a permanent organization be formed to look after and hasten, as best it may, the improvement of the Cumberland River by locks and dams, now under way by the Gener- al Government.


" That a committee consisting of one delegate from each county repre- sented be appointed to prepare a Constitution and by-laws for the gov- ernment of such association, said committee to report as early as practi- cable."


At the evening session, which opened at 7: 55, a Committee on Con- stitution and By-laws was appointed in accordance with the above reso-


319


TRANSPORTATION.


lutions. The report of the Committee on Resolutions, which was very long, was then received. In the preamble the committee stated that in their opinion the time had come for prompt action to promote the enter- prise which had been formally inaugurated. The spectacle of the vast area of the Cumberland Valley, rich in agricultural resources, lumber, coal, and iron, standing virtually land-locked in the presence of growing needs for its mineral and farm products, ready to stimulate commerce and manufactures, but powerless to aid them for lack of transportation facilities, was without a parallel in this age of achievement. Unobstructed navigation of the Cumberland River was declared to be of inestimable value to the coal-fields of that river, which coal-fields are as extensive as those near Pittsburg, Pa .; and from the four counties in Pennsylvania, near Pittsburg-viz .: Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, and Fay- ette-there was mined in 1880 the enormous amount of II,006,031 tons. Much of this Pennsylvania coal found a market in the Mississippi Valley, which market should be supplied with coal from the fields of the Cum- berland Valley. This would be the case if unobstructed navigation of the Cumberland River could be had; and this must be had.


After the unanimous adoption of the resolutions, which are but briefly outlined above, speeches were made by Hon. Joseph E. Washington, member of Congress from the Sixth Tennessee District; Dr. McMillan, of Burkesville; Dr. John W. Bowen, of Smith County; Clarence P. Dresser, correspondent of the Chicago Inter-Ocean; and Colonel A. S. Colyar.


The Committee on Constitution and By-laws for the Cumberland River Improvement Association made its report, which was unanimously adopt- ed. Officers for the Association were then elected, as follows: President, Hon. M. T. Bryan; Secretary, Charles Sykes; Vice-presidents (from Tennessee ), T. A. Turner, Cheatham County; J. H. Neely, Trousdale County; James T. Anderson, Jackson County; I. N. Wakefield, Macon County; G. H. Armistead, Davidson County; Dr. Darden, Wilson County; H. B. C. Naden, Putnam County; William D. Gold, Smith County; M. C. Sidwell, Clay County; Witt W. Chilton, Pickett Coun- ty; Julius A. Trousdale, Sumner County; and from Kentucky. T. F. Gibson, Livingston County; Hon. Robert Crenshaw, Trigg County; General H. B. Lyon, Lyon County; Dr. W. G. Hunter, Cumberland County; and Dr. J. W. F. Parker, Pulaski County. The Convention then adjourned sine die.


The Nashville American, after the adjournment of the Convention, said editorially of Colonel Barlow's address :


" But the central feature of the Convention was the address of Colonel


320


HISTORY OF NASHVILLE.


J. W. Barlow, the engineer in charge of the improvement of the Cum- berland and Tennessee Rivers. This address had been anticipated with great interest by all concerned in the movement, coming as it should from a gentleman of Colonel Barlow's standing, who was in a position to im- part reliable and accurate information on a subject with which he was more familiar than any one else. Those who heard the address, or read it in the American-where it was produced in full-were not disappoint- ed. It gave evidence not only of the scholarly attainments of its author, but also of his broad and comprehensive thought on the subject under consideration, and was received with universal satisfaction."


The American also spoke of Hon. M. T. Bryan, the President of the Association, as one who would leave no stone unturned to contribute to the effectiveness of the work of the Association, and said that if the citi- zens of the Cumberland Valley gave to him the assistance and the hearty co-operation which the inestimable importance of the opening of the Cumberland River to navigation the year round deserved, the efforts of the Association would be crowned with ultimate success.


The Executive Committee was appointed by President Bryan Decem- ber 7, 1889, and is as follows: For Tennessee, J. M. Hamilton, H. H. Poston, G. S. Kinney, A. G. Hall, W. M. Cassetty, all of Davidson County; Judge Charles W. Tyler, of Montgomery County; J. W. Rice, of Stewart County; and William R. Shaver, of Smith County. For Kentucky, Colonel James A. Mckenzie, W. F. Browder, Dr. J. P. Mc- Millan, C. W. Cole, Felix K. Grasty, C. W. Conant, and H. K. Bed- ford.


The work of the Association was completed, so far as this Convention is concerned, by the compilation and transmission of a memorial to the Congress of the United States on the subject, fully setting forth the ne- cessities of the case and asking for the needed appropriation. What success will attend these efforts is at this writing uncertain, but that the appropriation will be small appears tolerably clear from the fact that only $295,000 has been recommended by the Congressional Committee on Ap- propriations.


The Franklin Turnpike Company was incorporated by the Legislature December 31, 1829. This was the first company of the kind chartered whose road was to enter Nashville. The Commissioners appointed by the act were: Randal McGavock, John Watson, James Swanson, Lau- rence Bryan, Joseph Wood, Robert B. Currey, H. R. W. Hill, Robert Weakley, William Hadley, Christopher E. McEwen, John C. McLe- more, and Philip Pipkin. These Commissioners were authorized to re- ceive subscriptions to the amount of $75,000, which sum was to be di-


321


TRANSPORTATION.


vided into shares of $25 each. When $5,000 should have been subscribed a meeting of the stockholders was to be held, and the subscribers from and after the first meeting were to be the incorporators. Those at the first meeting were to elect seven Directors, who were to elect a Pres- ident and other officers, and to have power to receive subscriptions to the extent of the remainder of the $75,000, to make contracts for any part of the work along the route mapped out by the Commissioners, and to call in payments on the stock, until all should be paid, in sums of $5 at a time on each share. The road was to be begun and completed within seven years; and there were to be two toll-gates, one within two miles of Nashville or Franklin, and the other within five miles of the first gate.


This act was amended December 13, 1831, so as to authorize the erec- tion of four toll-gates, the one nearest to Nashville to be at the turn of the road near Joseph W. Horton's house, about one and one-fourth miles from Broad Street; that nearest Franklin to be at least two miles from that place; and the other two to be located by Major Thomas Edmond- son, the Superintendent of the road. The same act increased the cap- ital stock to $90,000, and required nine Directors to be elected, instead of seven. The road was completed to Franklin at a cost of about $75,000.


The White's Creek Turnpike Company was chartered May 5, 1830. John Wright, John Shelby, Andrew Hynes, Alexander Porter, Thomas Crutcher, William L. Brown, Francis Porterfield, John H. Porter, and William Seal were appointed Commissioners to receive the subscriptions to the capital stock, which was authorized to be $28,000. Of this amount the Nashville Bridge Company subscribed $10,000, and James Erwin $3,000. The road cost $31,000. Mr. C. W. Nance superintended its construction, and completed it in 1844. On August 18, 1860, the stock- holders having become alarmed for the prospect of their road, on account of the building of the Evansville branch of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, and having on this account secured an act of the Legislature enabling them to do so, sold the road to C. W. Nance and E. H. Chil- dress. The war coming on, Mr. Childress became desirous of disposing of his interest, and sold out to Mr. Nance, who has owned the road ever since.


The Gallatin Turnpike Company was incorporated January 5, 1830. The stock was subscribed and officers were elected in 1836. The origi- nal capital was $135,000, but it was afterward increased to $265,000, and it is now $261,000. The first officers were: Robert Weakley, President ; and William Edwards, Secretary. The first toll-gate was opened in Jan-


21


322


HISTORY OF NASHVILLE.


uary, 1839, located just east of Nashville, and the road to Gallatin was opened to the public at about the same time. Toll-gates were fixed Feb- ruary 1, 1839, and the road was soon afterward completed to the Ken- tucky line near Scottsville. Besides the one toll-gate already mentioned, there were three gates above Gallatin. Some time after the road was finished the part between a point fourteen miles above Gallatin and the Kentucky line was abandoned, so that now there is kept up only fifty miles of the road. The cost of the entire road was $270,000. The offi- cers of this company at the present time are: H. Vaughn, President; and A. G. Adams, Secretary and dispenser of dividends.


Connected with the Gallatin pike is the Vaughn pike, commencing about two miles from Nashville and running east about two miles to the residence of Hiram and Michael Vaughn, the road having been built by them in 1850. This is a free turnpike.


The Porter pike also connects with the Gallatin pike, commencing one and one-quarter miles from Gallatin, and running a little to the north of east a distance of one and one-half miles. This also is a free turn- pike.


The Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Shelbyville Turnpike Company was incorporated in 1831. Books for subscription to the stock of the company were opened January 16, 1832, in Nashville, under the superintendence of William Carroll, Robert Woods, Francis Porterfield, H. R. W. Hill, Will- iam Nichol, George Shawl, James Barrett, Moses Norvell, and Harry L. Douglass. The first officers of the company were: R. C. Foster, Pres- ident; and Russell Dance, Secretary. The original capital stock was $200,000. After the stock held in the company by the State was pur- chased by the company, the capital was reduced to $103,000. It is now $85,000. The road was completed to Shelbyville, a distance of fifty-six miles from Nashville, in 1838, at a cost of at least $250,000. The pres- ent officers of the company are: A. G. Adams, President; W. Y. El- liott, Secretary and Treasurer; and J. W. Ewing, Superintendent.


The Richland Turnpike Company was incorporated January 30, 1844. The road runs in a south-westerly direction fifteen miles into the valley of South Harpeth, terminates at Providence Baptist Church, and is popu- larly known as the Hardin pike. It was largely constructed by General W. G. Harding, Major David Graham, Abraham Demoss, and Frank McGavock. The road cost about $35,000, and the capital of the com- pany is now $34,400. J. M. Thompson is President of this company, and General W. H. Jackson is Secretary and Treasurer.


The Nashville and Charlotte Turnpike Company was chartered some- where between 1835 and 1840, for the purpose of constructing a turnpike


un Vang his


323


TRANSPORTATION.


from Nashville toward Charlotte. The road as constructed is ten miles long, and cost about $60,000. It was a very important road previous to the building of the railroads, and it was no uncommon thing to see twen- ty teams at a time traveling on this pike, as it was the main road leading to Memphis. Since the railroads have come in this pike has become a mere local road. In 1880 it was purchased very cheaply by A. L. De- moss. It was sold by him in 1887 to Dr. H. M. Pierce, who afterward turned it over to the West Nashville Land Company, its present propri- etors.


The Nolensville Turnpike Company was incorporated about 1837, with a capital of $100,000, half taken by the State, the other half being sub- scribed by individuals. The first officers were: Hays Blackman, Pres- ident; and Benjamin King, Secretary. The road was completed about 184I, and extends three miles beyond Triune, in Williamson County, a total distance of twenty-six miles from Nashville. The cost of its con- struction was $110,000. The present capital of the company is $97,000. The officers are: Hiram Vaughn, President; W. C. Blackman, Secreta- ry; and James K. Rains, Superintendent.


The Mill Creek Valley Turnpike Company was incorporated January 21, 1846. Its road is a branch of the Nolensville turnpike, running from a point on this pike about five miles from Nashville eastward to Antioch Church, a distance of about twelve miles.


The Lebanon turnpike extends from Nashville to Lebanon, a distance of thirty miles. The company was incorporated February 12, 1836. The first officers were: Dr. Haggard, President; and A. V. S. Lindsley, Sec- retary and Treasurer. The cost of the road was $240,000. The pres- ent officers are: H. Vaughn, President, Treasurer, and Superintendent ; and A. G. Adams, Secretary and dispenser of dividends.


Stewart's Ferry turnpike commences at a point on the Lebanon pike nearly seven miles from Nashville, and runs in a south-east direction to Stone's River, a distance of about two miles.


The Louisville and Nashville Branch Turnpike Company was incorpo- rated January 1, 1846. The stockholders were made the incorporators, and the commissioners to receive subscriptions to the capital stock were: A. W. Putnam, Josiah F. Williams, James A. Porter, Joseph L. Ewing, and Charles W. Moorman. The road runs from a point on the White's Creek pike about one and one-half miles from Nashville to Mansker's Lick (now Goodlettsville), a distance of eleven miles from the starting- point. Claiborne Hooper and William D. Phillips each subscribed $4,000, and the entire capital was $16,000, the road costing that sum. It was surveyed and laid out by C. W. Nance, and was completed in 1852 or


324


1


HISTORY OF NASHVILLE.


1853. The present officers are: W. Connell, President; and Thomas M. Hart, Secretary and Treasurer.


The Nashville and Hillsboro Turnpike Company was incorporated February 3, 1848, with succession, as in most of the other turnpike com- panies, for ninety-nine years. The capital stock was fixed at $100,000, to be increased if necessary, the funds to be applied to the construction of a macadamized road from Nashville to the foot of Duck River Ridge, near Hillsboro, in Williamson County, a distance of about twenty-eight miles. Of this road there was constructed before the war that portion leading from Nashville to a point in Williamson County called the Per- kins Lane. From Perkins Lane to Duck River Ridge, a distance of eight miles, work had been done at different points along the route, and detached portions had been completed, about one-half the route between these two points having been completed in this way. During the war the road was used by the Federal army for all purposes and worn out to a great extent, and among its other misfortunes the bridge across Big Har- peth River was destroyed. At the conclusion of the war the company commenced the repair of the road, remetaling it and rebuilding the bridge. This all took time, and so the completion of that part between Perkins Lane and Duck River Ridge was delayed, but not lost sight of, and in 1873 an engineer was employed to survey the route. About the time of the submission of his report the new bridge across Big Harpeth River was washed away by a flood, which imposed heavy expenditure upon the company, and which again delayed the completion of that portion between Hillsboro and Duck River Ridge. The company became involved in lit- igation on accounts, which finally resulted in the purchase of the entire. road by Thomas J. O'Keefe for $7,785.72. On September 4, 1883, Mr. O'Keefe conveyed the property to Samuel Perkins, Samuel Claybrooke, and J. C. Bradford; and on the Ioth of the same month these gentlemen organized themselves into a corporation, under the name of the Nashville and Duck River Ridge Turnpike Company, and became invested with the property and all the powers and franchises of the old Nashville and Hillsboro Turnpike Company.




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