USA > Tennessee > Bedford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 16
USA > Tennessee > Marshall County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 16
USA > Tennessee > Wilson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 16
USA > Tennessee > Maury County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 16
USA > Tennessee > Williamson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 16
USA > Tennessee > Rutherford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 16
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100
The early settlers on Knob Creek were the Sellers, Hanks, McLeans, Williamses, Gwynns, Badgetts and Partecs. At a later date came the Goodwins, Vestals. Powells, Neeleys, Coopers and Hudspeths. Perhaps no list of families has been perpetuated more fully than these. The first horse-mill on Knoll Creek was built by John Gwynn, the first water-mill by the Partees. The first ministers were Thomas Hanks, Elijah Hanks and Mr. Dodson. Through the influence of these men Hanks' church was built. This
3
751
MAURY COUNTY.
was what was known as an "Old or Hardshell Baptist Church." A schism occurred, and a division headed by Elijah Hanks joined the Missionary Baptists. Elder Hauks was recognized as a leading spirit in building up the missionary cause in the county. Near the mouth of Greene's Lick is Hunter's ford, an old and favorite crossing place for the Indians and early settlers.
In the vicinity of Leiper Creek were the Hamiltons, Crawfords, Oakleys, Neathering- tons, Edgars, Mayes, McCallums, Wrens and Lyons. On the farm formerly owned by Maj. John Brown, is a sulphur spring that was resorted to for a time as a health spring. Near the same place Mr. Goodrich made a boring of 900 feet in depth for oil, but without success. In the vicinity of Bear Creek lived Gen. Isaac Roberts, well known in the coun- ty's history and development. Also Daniel Evans, Joseph Hernden. James M. Lewis and Dr. James C. O'Riley, who is mentioned in the article on physicians. The Gordon fam- ily, also the Crawfords, settled in the same vicinity.
Maury County was named in honor of Maj. Shaw Maury, of Williamson County, who represented Williamson County in the lower house of the General Assembly in 1823-24, and again in 1842-43. He also saw military service under Gen. Jackson in 1812 and was connected with one of the best families of the county. The act creating the county passed the General Assembly November 16, 1807, and was entitled "An act to reduce Williamson County to its constitutional limits." Section 2 reads: "Beginning at the above described point, it being the southwest corner of Williamson County; thence south to the Columbia road; thence with said road as it meanders to a point where the Indian boundary line leaves the same: thence with said line to the dividing ridge that divides the waters of Duck River from the Elk; thence with said ridge to a point thirteen miles and fifty-six chains and a half east of the line of the congressional reservation hitherto run and marked; thence north to the Williamson County line; thence with said line, to the place of begin- ning, to be called Maury County." The survey was made by Henry Rutherford in the fall of 1807, by order of Peter R. Booker, Gideon Pillow, John B. Porter and John Lind- sey. These boundaries embraced a much larger area than now belongs to Maury County. It originally embraced parts or all of Lewis, Lawrence, Giles, Marshall and Bedford Counties; as it is now limited it contains 386,309 acres. Section 11, of the act above quoted, declared Maury County to be a part of the Mero District, with as full and ample powers as other parts of said district. Another section of the same act appointed James Gideon to run the line between Maury and Williamson. He was allowed $2 per day for his services and was empowered to employ two chain carriers, the expenses of the above named work to be borne equally by Maury and Williamson Counties.
As is well known, the statutes require the division of the counties into districts accord- ing to the number of population, twenty-five being the maximum number. Under the first constitution, this division was not made on the population alone but upon the number belonging to the various militia companies; these of course to some extent represented the number of population. Tax listers were chosen or elected, not for a certain district but for a certain captain's company. The growth of population caused an increase in the num- ber of companies. These were changed every two years. The first available, and possi- bly the first division made, was in 1809, the following being the heads of companies: Capt. William Polk, Capt. Sellars, Capt. Whitson, Capt. Scott, Capts. James Isom, John Moorehead, Moses Smith, Eli Frierson, James Rutledge, George W. McGahey, William Daniels, Isaac Bills, Thomas Shannon, and Adongah Edwards; fourteen companies or dis- tricts. In 1811 the following were the captains of companies: Capts. Scott. Whitson, Booker, Polk, Boyer, Davis, Kirkpatrick, Fitzpatrick, Daniels, Reynolds, Bills, Rutledge, McGahey, Jones, Smith, Gurley, Isom and Moorehead-seventeen in all. In 1813 there were Capts. Looney, Gholson, Farney, Reading, Hurt, May, Osburn, McIntyre, Young, Kirk, Summers, Stockard, Watkins, Kilpatrick, Campbell, Chisholm, Mc Niell, McLean, Mitchell, Hanks, McCarkin and Dickson. In 1819 the number of divisions had increased to twenty-six, viz: Capts. Cockburn, Gholson, McNutt, Ewing, Dooley, Wilkes, Ar- dreas, Cathel, Allen, Hauna, Crawford, McCarty, Kiley, Short, Torn, Campbell. Bavirey,
752
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Middleton, Powell, Polk, Hamlett, Seargrove, Mills, Cheairs, Gamon and Sherrod Just before the new constitution went into operation there were military districts of Capt. F. S. Alderson of the Columbia Company and Capts. Kerr, Woods, Gill, Edwards, Worth- man, Kennedy, Chaffin, King, Martin, Steele, Garrit. Tollman, Dearens. Dyer, Foster, and Mitchell of the Ninety-third Regiment. The Mount Pleasant Company of Capt. J. B. Boyd'and Capts. McKee. Cockrill. Oaks. Grimes, Craig, McMakin. Baxter, Graham, Fri- erson, Stringham and Sites of the Fifty-first; and Capts. Sparkman, Harbison, Cathey. Mitchell, Smith, Black, Oliphant, Kerford. Brown, Ledbetter, Jarrit, Laird and Crawford of the Forty-sixth Regiment. Under the new constitution these divisions came to be known by the ordinal numbers. Various changes have been made in the county boundaries since the organization and much more numerous changes in the civil districts. In February, 1853, Nathan B. Akin, Robert M. Cooper, James Farris, Alfred P. Buckner, C. Y. Hudson, were appointed commissioners to lay off that part of Lewis County which had been attached to Maury into districts. These districts at that time were Nos. 11, 12 and 13. The number of districts as now limited is twenty-five.
Private houses were used as court houses till 1810; the place of meeting was at Col. Joseph Brown's. The session of 1808 was opened December 21, in Columbia. The build- ing used was a small log shanty which stood on the east side of the Square about where East Market Street enters the Square. The act of 1807 required of the commissioners of Columbia that they should contract for the building of a court house, prisons and stocks. They were to use the money arising from the sale of lots not otherwise appropriated. In case there was not sufficient money they were empowered with authority to levy a tax of 12} cents on each white poll, 25 cents on each black poll, 25 cents on each town lot, $5 on each merchant and peddler or banker, to be collected by the collector of public taxes. The first building was built of brick, within the square, and was completed in 1810.
The above building stood till 1845, after having been repaired and improved many times. At the April term of 1844 a majority of the justices decided to build a new court house, provided the same could be built at a cost not exceeding $15,000, provided said sum should be taken in the claims for taxes then held by Nimrod Porter. A committee consist- ing of J. B. White, James Brown, Parke Street, Thomas Worthams and E. C. Frierson was appointed for making a contract for the erection of a house. The contract was closed with Nimrod Porter for $15,000, $9,100 were already held by him in tax receipts, and the re- mainder was to be in money. A bond was executed in the amount of $30,000 by Nimrod Porter, B. W. Porter, Hugh Bradshaw. George Lipscomb, G. W. Gordon, W. H. Pillow and Joseph Brown. By this contract the county was enabled to secure $9,100 of doubtful value. The house now standing was built according to the plans and specifications of this contract. The house was to be 87x49 feet and two stories high. After the house was well under way it was concluded best to build an additional story. This was accordingly or- dered at an additional cost of $4,000, making the total cost $19,000. The old house was sold to J. L. Smith for $10, who was allowed one and two years time. Smith failed to meet his obligation, and it was accordingly resold. While the new court house was in course of construction, court met in the old market-house. The court house thus erected is still doing service, but will doubtless soon be replaced by one more in accordance with the wealth and taste of the people of the county. The first jail was erected by the com- missioners of Columbia, who were empowered with authority to build a jail. This was erected about 1810, and was of brick, and stood near the second jail site. It was afterward changed to a family residence.
By an act of the General Assembly the citizens of Maury were granted authority to build a new jail. At the February term of court in 1837 James R. Plummer, Joseph Hern- don, Tazwell S. Alderson, Patrick McGuire and A. Zillner were made a committee for the erection of a new jail. Lot 46 of the original plan of Columbia was purchased for $1,200 as a jail site. A special levy of taxes was laid for the purpose of raising $3,000 for jail purposes, but the cost greatly exceeded that amount. The work was completed in 1838. The allowances for the jail at the January term of 1839 will indicate the cost. There were
758
MAURY COUNTY.
allowed to Walter & Benner, $2,385.26; to Thomas W. Ament, $2.832.34: to William Hors- ley, $1,399.07; to T. W. Ament. a claim for foundation for $929.50. This jail served till 1883, when steps were taken for building a new one. At the October term of court a com mittee was appointed for the purpose of erecting the proposed building. In January the committee organized by electing W. O. Gordon, chairman, and Robert M. Mckay. secre- tary. The committee purchased the "Thompson property" for $500, and exchanged it for the lot at the head of Embargo, fronting Sixth Street: they also bargained for a lot adjoin. ing with Z. R. Gillespie for $710. The committee were instructed to advertise for planz and specifications, the cost not to exceed $22,500. The committee did its work, and the contract was let to McDonald & Bro., of Louisville. Ky., whose bid was considered the most favorable among six competitors. The fine three-story jail and residence is the ro- sult of this contract. Warrants on the county were sold to the amount of $22,500, and cashed by the First National Bank of Columbia for 94 cents on the dollar.
A common mode of punishment in former days was by placing prisoners in the stocks. These were erected by the town commissioners about 1808. They were erected on the Square, and consisted of timbers cut with a groove, so as to clamp around the wrist and ankles. Thus confined the prisoner was so placed that he could move neither hand nor foot. Not unfrequently the prisoner fainted from stagnation of the blood, caused by the pressure of the clamps. Previous to 1830 the poor of the county were farmed out to the lowest responsible bidder. In that year twelve and a half acres of land were purchased for the purpose of establishing a permanent poor farm. In October, 1841, an additional thirty acres were purchased from Dr. Smith for $400, since which time the poor farm has become one of the fixed institutions of the county.
The first turnpike chartered in Maury County was in 1831. It was called the Franklin & Columbia Turnpike; a new charter was granted October 22, 1833. This road, how ever, was not built till many years after this. The road is now known as the Columbia & Santa Fe Pike, and is an excellent road of eleven miles in length. The Columbia & Haw- pasture Turnpike was chartered by William E. Kennedy and others January 23, 1850. and five miles of the road were built in 1856-57. The road was rechartered May 23, 1856. and the road extended to twelve miles in length. The Columbia Central, i. e. the Maury Central, was also chartered in 1856. The charter was granted to Granville A. Pillow, pres- ident, and William Gallaway, E. C. Frierson and John M. Francis. The company had the privilege of erecting toll-gates every five miles. The road is now twelve miles long. The Columbia & Mount Pleasant Pike is sixteen miles long, and runs through the finest portion of the county, if not of the State. The Columbia & Little Bigby is a good road, and is ten miles in length. It received its charter in 1880. The Carter's Creek Turnpike was chartered in 1880, and an extension granted in April, 1883. There are also the Colum- bia & Pulaski Pike of five miles, and the Columbia & Sawell Mill Pike, of five miles in length. The charter to the Columbia & Culleoka Turnpike Company was granted to J. K. Akin, A. F. Brown, W. J. Moore, J. J. Flemming, J. E. Gordon and James T. Akiz November 11, 1879. On September 8, 1883, the Culleoka & Mooresville Pike was char- tered by R. A. Walker, W. K. Stephens. J. A. Coffey, O. N. Fry and W. A. Bryant. Maury County now has about 100 miles of pike.
-The first steps taken to build a railroad through Maury County were some time between 1840 and 1850, when a charter was obtained for what was called the " Columbia & Tenner- see River Railroad." The road was surveyed and estimates made and stock taken, but on resurvey it was found that the estimates were far from correct, and the enterprise failed. In 1852 a charter was obtained for the Central Southern Railroad, and soon after for the Tennessee & Alabama Road. In October, 1855, the county voted $200,000 stock in the last named road, and in November of the same year $140,000 was voted in the former road. A charter was also obtained for a road from Nashville to Mount Pleas- ant. This was afterward changed to Columbia. The road was completed in 159. and was called the Nashville & Decatur Road. A branch road of eleven miles in length was soon after built to Mount Pleasant through some very fine country. The branch was torn up
754
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
during the war, and the iron taken for other roads by the Federals. Within the last decade this road has been rebuilt and put in good condition, and a narrow guage road built from Columbia to Fayetteville. In April. 1866, the Tennessee & Alabama Southern Road ob- tained control of the Nashville & Decatur by lease, and in 1884 the whole system of roads in the ecunty passed into the hands of the Louisville & Nashville Company. Since they have assumed control the road has been greatly improved and its business extended.
The wealth of Maury County and eligible site of Columbia, and the unsettled question of the State capital led the people of this county not only to aspire but to expect the cap- ital to be located at Columbia. While the General Assembly was meeting at Murfrees- boro it was thought that if good communication could be had with the Tennessee it would further the claims of Columbia for the State capital. With this as one of the motives in view, a company was formed for the purpose of opening a public highway from Columbia to Clifton, or some other point on the Tennessee, and from that point a steam-boat was to run to New Orleans, thus opening rapid and direct transit to that city. The company was formed about 1820. Among the members were Peter R. Booker, Patrick McGuire, Maj. Samuel Polk, David Gillespie, Dr. MeNiel, James Walker, Edward B. Littlefield. John Hodge, John T. Moore, Maj. John Brown, William Bradshaw, Joseph B. Porter, William Frierson and some others. A steam-boat was built at Pittsburgh and purchased by the company for about $40,000. Edward B. Littlefield being a son-in-law of Gen. Na- thaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame, and one of the heaviest stockholders in the company, the boat in deference to him was called the " Gen. Greene." It is remembered that I. P. Minor was captain of the "Gen. Greene;" Lemuel Duncan, clerk, and William J. Dale. a prominent citizen and retired merchant of Columbia, was assistant. The "Gen Greena" was an unprofitable investment, and it was afterward sold for about one fourth of its original cost. The "Gen. Greene" brought neither wealth to the company nor the capital to Columbia. This was in the days when to be a steam-boat captain, clerk or even cabin boy was a "consummation devoutly to be wished."
Before the introduction of the steam-boat the produce was conveyed to New Orleans by means of flat-boats. These sluggish vessels were laden with deer saddles, skins, fars, pork, corn and other articles of commerce, and floated to New Orleans, where its owner sold it with its cargo and returned home on foot. He would travel through the cane- brakes of Louisiana and Mississippi till striking the "Old Natchez Trace"; thence by this "through the far resounding forest" he reached home after a month or more's absence. Not infrequently, however, he exchanged his cargo for coffee, sugar, rice, salt or other necessaries, and returned by water in a keel-boat, propelled by oars, pushed by poles or drawn by ropes fastened to trees in front. The navigation of Duck River received the attention of the Legislature at a very carly day. An act was passed November 2, 1809, forbidding the obstruction of the river for "boats, rafts and flats at least twelve feet wide," and another passed September 30, 1811, forbidding bridges below Shelbyville that would obstruct the river. By an act of November 17, 1813, Alexander Gray, Garret Lane, of Hickman, and Robert Hill, William Cathey and William Stockard, of Maury County. were made "commissioners of Duck River navigation from Gordon's Ferry to the mouth of the river."
Section 4 of the same act gave them power to call upon the commissioners of the town of Columbia for $1,050 of moneys arising from the sale of lands. not otherwise appropri- ated. Jonathan Webster. Isaac Roberts and Samuel Smith were the commissioners to im- prove the river from the Bedford line to Gordon's Ferry. On November 9, 1815, Thomas Jones. John Brown and Richard McMahan were the commissioners. These were changed from year to year as necessity required. Among the noted flat-boat men of Duck River were Edwin H. Baird, Moses A. Wiley, Alexander Farris, Andrew T. Gray, John Gor- don, Gabe Brown, William Brown, James D. Freeland, Archibald Wray, Powhattan Gor- don and Elijah Reeves.
The increased amount of produce in the county brought about the necessity for a bet- ter outlet to the outside world. To meet this demand the Duck River Steam Navigation
755
MAURE COUNTY.
Company was organized and was incorporated by an act of the Legislature January 27, 1840, with an authorized capital stock of $500,000 divided into shares of $100 each. The fol- lowing persons were appointed to open books in Columbia for subscriptions of stock: R. B. Mayes, James Walker, Gardner Frierson, H. Langtry, Robert P. Webster, John B. Ham- ilton and Robert Campbell, Jr. At Centerville there were B. Gordon, Samuel B. Moore, David B. Warren, Edwin M. Baird and John Studdart. Books were to be opened on the first Monday in March in 1840, and when $150,000 were subscribed the commissioners at Columbia were to give notice that an election of directors would be held at such time and place as they deemed proper. An act passed January 20, 1844. by which William J. Ran- kin, Meredith Helm andRobert Campbell at Columbia: Powhattan Gordon, Abraham Church and Samuel S. Porter at Williamsport, and Samuel B. Moore, Robert Shegoy and Boling Gordon, at Centerville, were appointed commissioners to open books of subscription for a joint stock company with a capital not to exceed $200,000 for the purpose of navigating Duck River with steam-boats. The insufficiency of water in Duck River led to the forma- tion of the Duck River Slack Water Navigation Company. The company was incorpor- ated January 15, 1846, and the capital limited to $650,000 in shares of $50 each. The com- pany was granted the exclusive privilege for fifty years after the passage of the act, to nav- igate Duck River with steam-boats, barges and keels. The work was to be completed with- in twenty years else the charter was to become void. The following persons were the mem- bers appointed to open books for subscriptions: Robert Campbell, Jr., Christopher Todd, R. B. Mayes, James Smizer, Gideon J. Pillow, George W. Gordon, Robert T. Webster, William F. Rankin, Meredith Helm, Abraham Church, Edwin Baird, M. C. Napier, John Montgomery, D. G. Jones, John B. Gray, Joseph Blackwell and Henry G. Cummings.
A large amount of stock was soon subscribed and a civil engineer was employed who made a survey of Duck River from Columbia to its mouth. According to the engineer's estimate, fourteen or fifteen locks were all that were necessary. It was afterward found that this estimate was only about half the number required. This was not learned, how- ever, until one lock had been completed and that at about double its estimated cost. The lock completed seemed satisfactory but for the immense cost. Under these discouraging circumstances suits of injunction began to be filed against the further prosecution of the work. Before the formation of either of the above companies, the steam-boat, "Madison" came up Duck River. This was in 1839, as is learned from an old file of the Observer pub- lished at the time.
Before the establishment of the county courts, roads or highways were opened by au. thority of the State to different settlements or by the General Government for military pur- poses. Among the last named was the "Old Natchez Trace," called by the older settlers " Notchy Trace." This is supposed to have originally been marked by the Indians in go- ing from one tribe to another or to have been worn by buffalo. The trace, or the military road which followed the trace a portion of the way, was cut out by a detachment of sol- diers under command of Capt. Thomas Butler and Lieut. E. P. Gaines, afterward Maj .- Gen. Gaines. This was done by order of President Jefferson in 1801-02. The object was to open easy communication with Indian nations and the Spanish settlements. The terminus at one end was Nashville; the other was at a point about twenty-five miles above Port Hudson. The route is described as leading from "Nashville by Gen. Harding's place, thence through the Perkins settlement, passing about three miles east of Franklin, crossing Duck River at Gordon's Ferry; thence by Debbin's stand on Big Swan Creek: thence to Grinder's old stand on Little Swan; thence by John McClish's; thence across the Tennessee at Colbert's Ferry; thence to Buzzard Roost on Big Bear Creek; thence crossing Brown's Swamp to the Chickasaw agency; thence south a little west of Jackson, Miss .; thence at or near Canton and south to Line Creek." This was the main thoroughfare from Nashville to the lower Mississippi. A branch of this road led into Columbia from the south; it passed through the Athenaeum grounds. It was by this route that Gen. Jackson returned with his army from the battle of New Orleans. It was on the old trace that Mer- riwether Lewis committed suicide. It was along the old route that Aaron Burr traveled
756
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
in 1806 on his way from Louisiana to meet Jackson at the Hermitage and Blennerhassett in his island home.
The Davis Ford road was the principal thoroughfare from Nashville to Huntsville. This road crossed the river at Davis' Ford below the mouth of Fountain Creek and passed near Hurricane and Culleoka; thence across Elk Ridge near Dodson's Gap where the rail- road now crosses. This road took its name from a Mr. Davis who lived on McCutchin's Island near the Indian trail. At the ford Capt. McCutchin overtook and destroyed a ma- rauding band of Indians, and their bodies were buried on the river bank on the north side.
The first bridge across Duck River, at Columbia, was built by Edward B. Littlefield, Peter R. Booker and David Craighead. The consideration for the bridge was $15,000. It was let August 31, 1820, and the contract called for a bridge with stone pillars, the bridge to be covered, weather-boarded, the boarding to be painted white and the roof red. The pay- ments were in installments of $5,000 each, the first due at the time of beginning, the second September 1, 1821, and the third September 1, 1822, the date of completion. The sureties were Robert Mack, James Walker, John Brown, James T. Sandford and Nimrod Porter. The bond was fixed at $30,000. How well the work was done is shown by the fact that the same pillars still stand, but the bridge was burned in the retreat of the Confederates before Buell in 1862. This was improved and temporarily repaired till 1870, when a contract was let to Moore & Vaughn for a new bridge, except the pillars and abutments. The new bridge was completed within the first few days of 1872. Strong efforts are now being made to have a new iron bridge constructed below the old bridge. An effort was made in 1824 to have the bridge a toll-bridge, but was defeated January 26, of that year, by a vote of thirty-three "against" and six "foi" a toll-bridge. In 1838 the vote was again taken, and it became a toll-bridge, with rates ranging from 1 cent to 50 cents. J. S. Alderson. John Brown and Joseph Herndon were appointed a committee to employ a bridge-keeper, the first money to be used in repairs on the bridge. As a toll-bridge it was soon discontinued.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.