Napier Family 

Dickson County Herald, 16 Oct. 1931: “Miss Florence Napier of Ashwood, Tennessee, (Maury County) was here Tuesday in an effort to gain family data that would prove her eligibility as a member of the D. A. R. Miss Napier belongs to one of the foremost pioneer families of this state and has the lineage of her family in precise form dating five generations in Scotland. She and other members of the family tree are anxious to learn the burial spot of Col. Richard Napier, they having failed to gain the information by extensive research.

Col. Napier was an officer in the Revolutionary army, having himself raised and equipped the regiment, which he commanded. In return for services rendered their country, he and his two brothers, Patrick and Thomas received each 1,000 acres of land in Georgia or Kentucky. They preferred the former, but Col. Napier caring not for the sandhills around Augusta, Ga., where his entry was made, later came to the Cumberland country, bringing with him his wife and children, 100 negroes, carriage and wagons. He arrived in Nashville and settled “across the Cumberland” in 1791, but moved to Dickson County on Barton’s Creek soon after and here built the first brick house erected in Middle Tennessee. The old structure remains standing and is in fair state of preservation, being occupied by Allen Elliott, a substantial farmer of Barton’s creek and his family.

Col. Napier was born in Washington, N. C., in 1747, and his death occurred in this state in 1823. He was the father of Richard C. Napier II, whose exploits in the early history of the iron industry in this county is outstanding. Richard C. II owned and operated the Carroll furnace on Barton’s creek, the properties being located almost directly in front of what is now the farm residence of James Jackson. Faint marks of the furnace grounds are yet visible. Carroll furnace ceased operations several years prior to the Civil War. Richard C., the iron industrialist, was buried in the old city cemetery in Nashville, the tomb being near that of Gen. James Robertson. Col. Richard Napier was distinguished from his son in legal procedure by omitting the initial C., which was invariably added to the signature of the iron manufacturer, Richard C. Napier. Any information leading to the discovery of the resting place of Col. Napier would be joyfully received by the writer.”

(This article was written by D. C. Castleman.)