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 39
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 39
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 39
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 39
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 39
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 39
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Contemporaneoas with Dixon Academy was Salem Academy, which was established by Rev. Dr. Thurston near where now stands Bellbuckle in 1825. This school was taught in a double log house which was erected by the patrons of the school. Dr. Thurston was succeeded as teacher by Prof. Blake. In 1850 the school was removed to town and was "known as the Bellbuckle Academy, of which Thomas B. Ivey was the first teacher. In 1870 the school was succeeded by Science Hill School. which was established by Prof. A. T. Crawford; and Science Hill was in turn succeeded by the present Bedford College in 1880, when a handsome brick school building. costing $5.000, was erected. These schools were all a continuation of the old Salem Academy. In about 1828 or 1830 Mrs. James Jett. wife of Prof. Jett, of Dixon Academy, established an excellent female acad my a short distance east from Shelbyville, which was continued for about twelve years, until the death of Mrs. Jett.
The next school of consequence was the Martin School in Fairfield, which was estab- lished by Abraham Martin in 1828. Mr. Martin was a very successful teacher, and for eight years conducted a celebrated school. At about the same time Rural Academy was established one mile cast of Fairfield on the east side of Duck River, of which Rev. Bax- ter H. Ragsdale was the first teacher. The school continued until 1846. In 1837 Clark M. Comstack founded a classical school at Big Springs on Sugar Creek, which he taught until 1846, when the school was abandoned.
In 1840 the citizens of Shelbyville erected a building by subscription and founded a female academy, which was first taught by Prof. Alford Dashiall. The school was run for about eighteen years, and the school building stands at the present, being occupied as a residence. The school was succeeded by the present female college, which was estab- lished in 1858, when the large brick building now in use was erected at a cost of $15,000. The school is now under the management of Prof. J. P. Hamilton, and is very successful. In 1846 the Baptists established a school about one mile south of Fairfield, of which Abraham Tillman was the first principal. This school continned until the breaking out of the civil war, and after the war the building was remodeled and has since been run as a public high school, of which Prof. Joseph Estill is the present principal instructor.
The Shelbyville University was established in 1852, and continued abont four years, Prof. Hamilton being the president. After the war the building, which was considerably damaged, was rebuilt, and the university was continned by Prof. C. W. Jerome. The building, which stands and is in use at the present, is of brick, and cost about $1.200, ex- clusive of the ground, which was donated by Judge Davidson and Moses Marshall, Esq. In about 1870 the building and grounds were purchased by the school directors of the Seventh Civil District and converted into a public high school. For the ensning terni seven teachers are employed for this school, and a most successful term is anticipated. The school is one of three white public schools in the Seventh District, one of which is at Sylvia Mills, and the other at Fairview.
During the fifties Richmond, Fairfield and Unionville Academies (chartered), and a splendid school near Schaffner's Lutheran Church, known as the Jenkins School, were established, all of which are in use at the present. Wartrace Academy was chartered in 1860, Flat Creek Academy in 1875, Tumtine Academy in the Eleventh District, in 1873, Center Grove Academy in the Ninth District, in 1878. and Liggett's Academy in the Eighteenth District, in 1880- The above is a list of the chartered academies of the county.
The Webb School at Bellbuckle, was removed from Culleoka in the spring of 1886. and buildings are almost completed for the school. They are of frame, the main build - ing being one story in height, with two wing additions, affording a capacity for 150 to 200 students. The chapel has a floor area of forty-two square feet. W. R. Webb, A. M., and J. M. Webb, A. M., are the principals, while the school is owned by a stock com- pany. A classical course is to be taught, and the school will no doubt prove very suc- cessful.
Under a general law of the General Assembly. passed March 6, 18:3, the present
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BEDFORD COUNTY.
public school system was inaugurated. The number of pupils enrolled the first year in Bedford County was 5,432, and in 1876 the number enrolled was 6,062. On June 30, 1885, the scholastic population of the county was white male, 3.612; white female, 3,354; total 6,966; colored male, 1,484; colored female, 1,417; total 2,901; total white and colored male and female between the ages of six and twenty-one years, 9.867. For the same year there were teachers employed in the county as follows: white male, 50; white female, 39: colored male, 21; colored female, 16; total 126. Number of schools in the county: white, 63: colored, 31; total 94. Number of school districts in the county, 21.
The different religious denominations were organized in Bedford County probably as early as 1806, and the Methodists and Presbyterians had camp grounds at different points in the county, where they would meet during the months of July, August and September. The Methodists had camp grounds at Salem, Steele's, Horse Mountain, Knight's and Holt's; the Presbyterians at Bethsalem, and later on, the Cumberland Presbyterians at Three Forks, Beech Grove and Hastings'. Probably the first meeting-house erected was Salem Church, which was built in about 1807 at Salem Camp Ground, one-half mile from the present town of Bellbuckle. The church was a log house, built of yellow poplar, unhewn logs, and the cane was cut, logs cut and carried on the shoulders of men, and the house built by the individual members of the church. The old building stood until about 1820, when it was replaced with a better log one, and in 1845 a substantial frame building was substituted for the log, and it is in use at the pres- ent time. In 1816 the Tennessee Annual Methodist Episcopal Conference was held at Salem Church. Other early Methodist Churches were Pleasant Garden, on Flat Creek, in the Twenty-fourth District, built in 1814: Holt's Camp Ground, near the Fayetteville Pike, in the Twenty-fourth District, built in 1823, and Mount Moriah, near Wartrace, built in 1823. In 1821 the Methodist Circuit extended from below Fayetteville to Hooker's Gap, and from four to five weeks were required to ride the circuit. Rev. John Brooks, one of the ablest of the Methodist Episcopal ministers, was the circuit rider.
The Presbyterians erected their first church at Shelbyville in 1815, and their second and only other one at Bethsalem, near Wartrace, in 1816.
New Hope, at Fairfield, was probably the first Baptist Church in the county, it hav- ing been erected in 1809, and though having been rebuilt several times is still in use. Keele's church, named for "Billy Keele." on Garrison's Fork, near Fairfield, was prob- ably the first church erected by the Separate Baptists, some time in 1812 or 1813.
The Cumberland Presbyterians erected their first churches at Three Forks about 1820, and at Hastings' Camp Ground about 1821. The Lutherans came into the county at an early day, and erected a church on Thompson Creek about 1826, though they were organized several years before that time. Their next church was Cedar Hill Church, in the Shaffner neighborhood.
In 1846 the Christian Church was organized in the county, and in 1855 the Catholic Church was organized in Shelbyville. The Episcopal Church was organized in 1853 (see Shelbyville Churches). The Northern Methodists came into the county since the war, yet are very strong at the present, having eleven churches in the county and at Caldwell's Camp Ground, three miles from Shelbyville on the Unionville Pike, which was named in honor of Hon. Thomas H. Caldwell, of Shelbyville.
The Duck River Bible Society, a very important adjunet of the churches, was organ- ized at Shelbyville on the 16th of May, 1718, and has been in continuons operation up to the present. The society is an auxiliary to the American Bible Society, which was organized in 1816, and the Duck River branch was one of the first organized. Its lead- ing object is to distribute Holy Bibles to the needy and destitute.
The churches of the present, outside of those in the towns already mentioned, are as follows by civil districts; Center, Cumberland Presbyterian; Shiloh, Methodist Episcopal South: Bethlehem, Primitive Baptist; Haley's Station, Methodist Episcopal South, and Union Ridge, African Methodist Episcopal, in the Second District. Mount Mariah, Methodist Episcopal South; Betbell, Methodist Episcopal South; Mount Olivett,
1
884
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Methodist Episcopal North; Phillipi, Methodist Episcipal North, in the Third District. Cross Roads, Christian, and Guy's Gap, Baptist, in the Fifth District. Whitesides Chapel, Methodist Episcopal South: Nance's, Missionary Baptist; Hart's Chapel, Method- ist Episcopal; Bellview and Browntown, Colored Missionary Baptists, in the Sixth District. Mount Pisgah, Primitive Baptist; North Fork, Missionary Baptist: Hickory Hill, Methodist Episcopal South, and Green Hill, Cumberland Presbyterian in the Eighth District. Blankenship, Methodist Episcopal South; Tarpley, Methodist Episco- pal South, and Bethlehem, African Methodist Episcopal, in the Ninth District. Enon, Primitive Baptist; Rover (town), Missionary Baptist; Rover (town), Methodist Episco- pal North; Cedar Grove, Methodist Episcopal; Mount Zion, Protestant Methodist Episco- pal; Kingdom, Cumberland Presbyterian, and Poplar Grove, African Methodist Episco- pal, in the Tenth District. Ray's Chapel, Protestant Methodist Episcopal; Crowell's Chapel, Lutheran; Pleasant Valley, Methodist Episcopal South; Zion's Hill, Methodist Episcopal North, and Corner Meeting-house and Thompson's Ford, both African Methodist Episcopal and Cumberland Presbyterian combined in the Eleventh District. United Presbyterian (at Palmetto); Zion, Primitive Baptist; Shiloh, Methodist Episcopal South; Dryden's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal South; Liggett Chapel, Methodist Episcopal North; Libourn, Methodist Episcopal North, and African Methodist Episcopal and Bap- tist, in the Eighteenth District. Richmond (town), Christian, and Branchville, Method- ist Episcopal South, in the Nineteenth District. Marvin's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal South; Big Springs, Missionary Baptist; Cottage Grove, Cumberland Presbyterian, and Knight's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal South, and one colored church each of Missionary Baptist and African Methodist Episcopal, in the Twentieth District. Center, Methodist Episcopal South, in the Twenty-first District. Mount Harmon, Methodist Episcopal and Separate Baptist combined, in the Twenty-second District. New Hope, Cumberland Presbyterian; Mount Pisgah, Methodist Episcopal South; Hickory Grove, Separate Bap- tist ; Caldwell's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal North; St. Mark, Christian, and St. Mark, African Methodist Episcopal, in the Twenty-third District. Normandy (town), Method- ist Episcopal South; Jenkins Chapel, Christian, and Mount Bethel, African Methodist Episcopal, in the Twenty-fifth District. Sylvan Mills, Methodist Episcopal North; Mis sion, Cumberland Presbyterian ; Reed's Hill, Missionary Baptist; Fairview schoolhouse used by Methodist Episcopal, Baptist and Christian congregations; Robison's Hill, col- ored Missionary Baptist, and Elbethel, Colored Missionary Baptist.
MARSHALL COUNTY.
THE basis of all wealth is the soil of the land. Prosperous cities, towns and huge T manufactories seem to spring up and flourish as if by magic and without reference to the agricultural advantages of the country; but such growth will be but temporary un- less sustained by a country possessing agricultural wealth. It may almost be reduced to a mathematical problem in which it may be said the soil and climate equal the wealth of the country.
The surface of the county is comparatively level, yet there is sufficient undulation to give ample slope for drainage. The backbone known as Elk Ridge extends from cast to west and rises to the height of 300 feet. This is the water-shed south of Duck River and separates the county into two distinct parts in that part of the county .. Duck River flowing through the northern part is the main outlet for drainage in that part north of the ridge. The two principal tributaries of Duck River from the north are Caney Spring and
885
MARSHALL. COUNTY.
Flat Creek. The two principal streams from the south are East Rock Creek and West Rock Creek. Both these streams take their rise in Elk Ridge but unite before entering Duck River, south of the ridge are Cane Creek, Richland Creek, Bradshaw Creek, Swan and Robinson Forks. Duck River and Richland Creek are the finest streams in the county, affording ample facilities for milling purposes, and their valleys and in fact all in the county, are made up of rich loamy soil. The beds of these streams are usually covered with pebbly limestone. The banks show an outcrop peculiar to the Central Basin. This is what is known as the Trenton formation which is composed of the Carter Creek lime- stone, this being a light blue or dove-colored limestone, the upper part sometimes gray. This is the upper layer. The next below in the natural order is the glade limestone. This a light blue color, is thin-bedded, shaly and is the formation peculiar to the cedar glades. The next stratum in order is the Ridley limestone, below this is the Pierce lime- stone and lastly is the central limestone. Each of these strata affords a rich fossil plant which is inviting to the paleontologist. The streams above mentioned have sufficient flow to prevent stagnation and the waters are usually clear. The drainage of the county and other physical features are such as to render it comparatively free from malarial or mias- matic diseases. The section of the county north of Elk Ridge is more level than that south of it. The soil here yields a rich harvest in all the cereals, grasses, vegetables and fruits. The iron oxides give the soil a reddish hue yet it is very rich. The spurs and ridges fur- nish a fine growth of timber, the cedar and poplar being the most valuable. Many of the farms are fenced with rails of the former, and the latter has become a very valuable arti- cle of export since the completion of the Duck River Valley Railroad.
The section of the county lying in the vicinity of Chapel Hill is particularly well adapted to the growth of cotton. The section along Richland Creek, south of Elk Ridge, is regarded as the best part of the county and is equal to any in the State. The finest and best improved farms in the county are to be found in this section. All the lands are ara- ble and highly productive except near the tops of the knobs, serrated ridges and glady spots. The ridges are usually fertile to their summits and are covered with a soil of flinty, siliceous, cherty gravel and weathered rocks, that is friable and easily worked. What is known as the Cornersville District is generally considered the finest agricultural section of the county, and will compare favorably with any in the State.
The timbered lands of the county cover from seventy to eighty square miles of territory, and some of this is unsurpassed in the United States. The best of these lands are between East and West Rock Creeks, west of Farmington, between Duck River and the railroad, extending to the neighborhood of Berlin, and in the northwest part. The growth of timber includes oak, poplar, ash, elm, linden, beech, loenst, cherry, walnut, sugar tree, hackberry, buckeye, cedar, hickory and chestnut. The growth of oak, walnut and poplar is of immense size.
In addition to the excellent timber the county affords good limestone rock, not only for fencing but also good building material. The sandstone in some places affords good grit for whetstones and grindstones. Excellent lime is made from the limestone rock, which exists in almost unlimited quantities. Within the last two decades there has been a perceptible falling off in the amount of cotton raised, and a great increase in the amount of grain, particularly in wheat, oats and corn. The greatest increase, however, has been in the amount of fine stock, including horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. This change has greatly increased the wealth of the county, is less exhaustive on the soil and is obtained at a less expense of labor.
A landscape view of the territory now included in Marshall County, as it was 100 years ago, would reveal to us an unbroken wilderness visited only by the roaming Indian in pursuit of the game which so abundantly inhabited this section. No settlements were made within the present limits of Marshall County prior to 1807. The first settlers found a growth of cane so rank that they preferred traveling along the beds of small streams to the arduous labor of cutting out roads. Most of the first settlers came here to live on land which had been granted to Revolutionary soldiers by North Carolina, for service
SS6
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
rendered in the war. The many indications of a fertile soil and the equable climate caused many others to follow soon, and in 1810 the curling smoke ascended from many of the primitive "clearings," and the hardy pioneers began to call this new land their home.
It is not known where or by whom the first settlement was made. For convenience in treating of the first settlements, the county may be divided into three sections: First, that portion north of Duck River: Second, that lying between Dnck River and the Elk Ridge, and Third. that lying south of Elk Ridge.
On Caney Spring Creek, near the village of Caney Spring, Asa Fonville raised a crop in 1807, and a little farther up the creek James Patterson began clearing up a farm early in the same year. Four miles 'northwest of Caney Spring, Squire Atkisson was a very prominent early settler, and a leader in his community for many years. James Haynes and a man named Kellams settled near together, and between Atkisson and Patterson. Samuel Ramsey settled on the creek two miles from the village, in 1808, and afterward in 1800 removed south of Duck River. He had a water-mill, which was the first one north of the river. It was visited by people from ten or twelve miles distant. Others who lived in that vicinity prior to 1810 were the Allens, Wallaces and Becks. Gen. N. B. Forrest, who was born at Chapel Hill in 1818, was a descendant of this family of Becks.
In the vicinity of Chapel Hill a settlement was made in 1808 by Andrew Patterson, y.ho was a captain, commanding a company in the battle of New Orleans in 1815. Roh- ert Patterson, a brother of Andrew, also settled near in the same year. Northwest of Chapel Hill four miles in 1809, Joseph Brittain settled on his tract of 5,000 acres. He reared a large family of children, and gave them all farms. Several descendents of this man are now living in that section. He built a horse-mill. The Boyds and Riggs lived in the same community as early as 1810, and were probably there as early as 1808. The father of Gen. Forrest emigrated from North Carrlina, and after a temporary stay at other places made his home at Chapel Hill in 1815.
Near Duck River on the north side, a large family of the Billingtons were the first to make permanent settlements. Near there was a Rev. Mr. Warner, a minister in the Baptist Church. Others among the first pioneers were James Patton, Hugh McClelland, Richard Walker and two families of McClures.
Early in the year 1807 James Neil came from North Carolina to where Farmington is now located. He built a cabin just northwest of the turnpike in the village. He was soon followed by two of his brothers, Alexander and Andrew Neil, who both lived within a quarter of a mile of where the village stands.
About the same time John Reed opened up a small farm one mile south of these. Near Reed was John Dysarts about the same time. About three miles from Farmington, on West Rock Creek, Allen Leiper was the first cane entter. He had a valuable water- mill for those days, which in the years 1808-09 supplied the demand of the central section of the county. In 1808 John Shaw brought his family from North Carolina, and made his home one mile north of the village. Shaw was a hero at the battle of New Orleans.
At Fishing Ford a man named Hazelett was the first to clear away the cane and build a cabin. Southwest of him a short distance was a man named Cleek. Cleek raised several sons, who made good citizens of that section. Who first drove the ax through the wilderness where Lewisburg now stands is not known. At the time of the organ- ization of the county Abner Houston lived just west of Col. J. H. Lewis' house, and across the creek from him lived JJohn H. Bills. Two miles northwest William McClure, the first chairman of the county court, settled in 1808 or 1809. Jonathan Moore came in 1808 from Carolina, and made the first opening in the forest on Globe Creek, and was soon followed by John Wilkes, who has many descendants in the county at present. On the head waters of Rock Creek a settlement was made by James Leiper, a brother of Al. len Leiper, in 1808. About this time Benjamin Simmons came from North Carolina to the same neighborhood, bringing with him a slave then eight years old, who is now rev-
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MARSHALL COUNTY.
erently addressed, by white and black, as "Uncle George McBride." This negro was widely known throughout this section of the State on account of his skill in the use of the violin. Just east of Simmons were Josiah and John Blackwell's farms. Not far from where the railroad begins to ascend Elk Ridge from the north, John and Robin Orr were among the first settlers in the county. In 1SOS William Williams settled where Round Hill Church now stands, and soon afterward removed to near Belfast. Then he opened a store. He bought his first stock of goods at Nashville, and hauled it home in a .one-horse cart. From a ledger which he kept in 1823 the following prices are quoted : Coffee, per pound. 56} ceuts; sugar, 25 cents: indigo, 31} cents: salt. 4 cents; copperas. 12} cents; nails, 25 cents: madder, 15 cents; cambric, per yard, $1; flannel, 75 cents; cal- ico, 50 cents; muslin, $1; bombazette. 75 cents: whisky, per pint, 18# cents; wine. 50 cents; "Bateman's drops," per bottle, 25 cents, etc. A remarkable fact is that calico was bought in quantity from three-fourths to three yards, rarely ever more than one yard being purchased at one time by one party. The book indicates that Mr. Will- iams did a large business and that his debtors paid their accounts promptly. Early in 1807 Nathaniel Dryden emigrated from North Carolina to his grant of land where Belfast now stands. Thompson Cannon was his first neighbor, and in the same year Francis H. Woods and James Coffey settled near. Further down the creek was Samuel Ramsey. who moved from north of Duck River in 1809. He was the father of John Ramsey, who was born in North Carolina in 1297; was fifteen years old when coming to the county, and is now living at Farmington, at the age of eighty-nine years. Thomas J. Hall, who was a prominent Presbyterian minister, settled near Farmington in 1814, and taught school there for many years.
South of Elk Ridge is some of the finest land in the county, and it was not long in being developed into a well settled community. At Connersville the first to disturb the stillness of the wilderness was John Haynes, who, in 1807. lived near where the flouring- mill stands. William Henderson, in 180S, built the first house on the ground now cov- ered by the town. In a very short time Pearsley Cox became his neighbor on the north- west. Billy Marr came from North Carolina to Robinson Fork in 1808, and in a short time he sold out to Ephraim Massey, who kept a store for several years. Ephraim Pat- rick. John Dabney, John Cockrell, Billy Alexander and John and Thomas Walker came to this section about the same time. John Parks lived four miles south of Connersville, on Richland Creek, in 1807. On Cane Creek, about ten miles south of Lewisburg, Elisha and Joab Bagley located between 1807 and 1810: James Brown lived very near them. Above Brown, on the same creek, were Josiah McAdams and his two sons, Irvin and James; still further up the creek Jesse McLean and Henry Bagley were the first pio- neers. Elisha Bagley had a horse-mill. After these first settlers had opened the first farms settlements rapidly followed, and the names of those coming in after those above mentioned would occupy too much space to be given.
In all parts of the county traces of the Mound-Builders are found. Mounds built of carth and small stones, ranging in height from four or five feet to about fifteen feet, are more numerous in this county than in any other part of the State. North of Lewisburg about a mile is a mound ten feet high, built of larger stones than are commonly found in these structures. It was evidently a burial place, for parts of a skeleton have been taken from it. A thigh bone of a person was recently found in this mound, which, if the other parts were developed proportionately, belonged to a person over seven feet tall. The jaw bone, also found, is much larger than that of any person of whom we now have any knowledge. This body was evidently buried in a sitting posture. Three miles west of Lewisburg is a large clay mound, covering over a quarter of an acre. In the Seventeenth District there is one of small stones and clay seventeen feet high. There is also a very large one in the Fifth District. In these mounds are found fragments of pottery and rude missiles of various kinds, supposed to be weapons of warfare. In various parts of the county are found numerous arrow-heads, battle-axes, pipes, etc., probably relics of the Indian tribes that lived here.
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