Explanation of Stewart County Civil Districts

Created in 1836

Modified in 1871, July 1876

Introduction

In 1836, the new Constitution of the State of Tennessee required each county to partition itself into civil districts, doing away with the partition of counties by Militia Districts, and doing away with the Surveyor's Districts in the state. The task was assigned to the County Surveyor in each county.

These district boundaries changed in 1871 when the southern part of Stewart County was carved off to form part of Houston County.  The southern boundary of the county was to be kept at least 11 miles from Dover, and was to leave the county with at least 500 square miles.  Initially, Cumberland City was placed into Houston County, but this was reversed within a year or two when it was discovered that Stewart County had been reduced below 500 square miles.  This explains the arc forming the present southern boundary of the county.

In July 1876, the county was re-districted to have 5 districts north of Cumberland River and 7 districts south of Cumberland River.  At this time, District 5 changed from the Cumberland City area to the Potneck area, and the part of District 7 north of Cumberland River was placed into Districts 3 and 5.

District 13, in the Bellwood area, was created between 1910 and 1920.

Note that the county was also divided into 40 school districts beginning in January 1873 (see Settlements and Bonds Book K, pages 379-388), which were separate from the civil districts.  The creation of new school districts continued into the 1900’s.

1836 Civil Districts

The following 1836 district descriptions are found in Settlements and Bonds Book C, beginning on page 524.  These districts were used beginning with the 1836 tax list.

District No 1 To commence at the mouth of North Cross Creek running up said Creek with its meanders to the Indian Mount including Joshua Hamblet and Mark Milam, thence along the Ridge dividing main Cross Creek from Dicks Fork of North Cross Creek Continuing on the top of said Ridge till it strikes the Montgomery County Line thence with the County Line to Cumberland River thence down the River with its meanders to the beginning.

District No 2 Commencing at the mouth of North Cross Creek on the lower side of said Creek running thence down Cumberland River with its meanders to the mouth of Dyers Creek on the upper side thereof, thence up Dyers creek with its meanders to where the road leading from Dover to Hopkinsville crosses the same the first time, thence with said road including Meredith Cook, Charles B Wilcox, Solomon K Volentine, Richard Cooley and John Lee, Esquire to the forks of the road near Thomas French. Where the Red River Iron Works Road leaves the same, thence with the Red River Iron Works road to the Montgomery County Line, thence with the County Line to the top of the dividing Ridge between North Cross Creek and Dicks fork of North Cross Creek, thence with the top of said Ridge pursuing the line of District No 1 to the beginning.

District 3 Commencing where the Hopkinsville Road and the Cadiz Roads separate running thence with the Cadiz Road to where it crosses the Saline Creek including John Morgan, Hyman Legget and Edward W Smith, thence up said Creek to the State Line thence with the state and county line to the Iron Works road thence with said road to the beginning.

District 4 Commencing at the mouth of Dyers Creek, on the lower side thereof, running down the River with its meanders to the State Line, thence with said line to where the Saline Creek and Kentucky line intersect, thence with the Saline Creek to the Cadiz Road thence with the Cadiz Road to the forks of the Cadiz and Hopkinsville Roads thence with the Dover and Hopkinsville Road and Dyers Creek to the beginning.

District 5 Commencing at the mouth of Wells Creek running thence up the River to the Montgomery County Line thence with said line to the Dickson County Line thence with the Dickson County line to the Humphreys County Line thence with the Humphreys County Line thence with the Humphreys County Line to the Tennessee Ridge thence with the said Ridge to the head of the Middle West Fork of Wells Creek thence with the Ridge dividing the North fork and the Middle West Fork of Wells Creek to the main Wells Creek thence with said Creek to the Beginning.

District 6 Commencing at the mouth of Wells Creek running thence down the River to a point opposite the point of the Ridge North of the Bear Spring Furnace, the dividing Ridge between South Cross and Long Creeks, thence with said dividing Ridge to the Tennessee Ridge, thence with the Tennessee Ridge, to the head of the Middle West Fork of Wells Creek, thence with the Ridge dividing the North Fork and Middle West Fork of Wells Creek to the main Wells Creek thence with said Creek to the Beginning.

District 7 Commencing at a point opposite the point of the Ridge North of the Bear Spring Furnace running thence down the River to Phillip B Nolin's Ferry on Cumberland River thence with the Road leading from Nolin's ferry to the Road leading [from] Dover to Brandon's Ferry on Tennessee River at William Brutons thence with said Road to the mouth of Bee Branch thence with the Ridge dividing the Bee Branch and Bear Creek to James Barrow's thence with said Ridge to the line of District No 6. Thence with the line of said District No 6 to the beginning.

District 8 Commencing at Phillip B Nolin's ferry running thence down Cumberland River to the State Line thence with the state line to Tennessee River thence up Tennessee River to the mouth of Panther Creek thence up Panther Creek to the Road leading from Nolin's Ferry to Brightwell's Ferry thence with said Road to William Bruton's thence continuing the road to the beginning.

District 9 Commencing at the mouth of Panther Creek on Tennessee River running thence up the River to the Mouth of Short Creek thence up Short Creek to Leatherwood Road in the Ridge between Leatherwood and Standing Rock Creeks Continuing said Ridge to Tennessee Ridge thence with said Ridge to James Barrow's thence with the line of District No 7 to William Bruton's thence with the Road from Nolin's to Brightwell's Ferry to Panther Creek thence down Panther Creek on the Southside where of the beginning.

District 10 Commencing at the mouth of Short Creek running thence up Tennessee River to Crosswell's Ferry thence with the dividing ridge between White Oak and Cane Creek, crossing Cane Creek at Stephen Mizzle's, Continuing over to Hurricain Creek Meeting House Continuing to the Tennessee Ridge and from thence to the beginning at the mouth of Short Creek.

District 11 Commencing at Crosswell's Ferry running thence up the River to the County Line thence with the County Line to the road leading from Dover to Reynoldsburgh thence with said road to the Ridge dividing Lewis' Branch from Cane Creek thence with said Ridge to Tennessee Ridge at the Head of the Middle West Fork of Wells' Creek thence with said Ridge to the Line of District No 10 thence with the Line of No 10 to the beginning.

District 12 Commencing at the County Line on the Road leading from Dover to Reynoldsburgh running thence East with said line to the Tennessee Ridge thence with the Tennessee Ridge to the head of the Middle West Fork of Wells' Creek thence with the line of District No 11 to the beginning.

1871 Creation of Houston County

See Settlements and Bonds Book K, pages 246-248, for a commissioner’s report of the boundaries of Stewart County, which reported that the creation of Houston County had reduced Stewart County below the required 500 miles, and that the Houston County boundary, in error, came closer than 11 miles to Dover

1876 Re-Districting

In July 1876, the county was re-districted so as to create 5 civil districts north of Cumberland River and 7 districts south of the river (see Settlements and Bonds Book K, pages 583-585):

District 1:  Beginning at the mouth of North Cross Creek, thence up said creek to Henry Moody’s spring, thence with the Clarksville road to the county line, thence south with the county line to the Cumberland River, thence down the river to the beginning

District 2:  Beginning at the mouth of North Cross Creek, thence up the creek with the line of District No. 1 to the county line, thence north with the county line to A. B. Gilbert’s farm, thence westward to Stamper’s Chapel Church, thence with road running between John Zoercher’s and T. W. Morrow to the Lafayette Road, thence west to the Howell pond, thence southward with an old road through Bellwood coaling to the head of Poplar Branch, thence down said branch to Cub Creek, thence down Cub Creek to the Cumberland River, thence up the river to the beginning (precinct Indian Mound)

District 3:  Beginning at A. B. Gilbert’s thence north with the county line to the state line, thence west with the state line to Samuel Kennedy’s, thence to Duck Spring Church, thence with the road by Big Rock Church to Howell Pond, thence with the line of District No. 2 to the beginning (precinct O. K. School House)

District 4:  Beginning on the state line at Sam Kennedy’s, thence west with the state line to the Cumberland River, thence up the river to Dr. Wesley Brandon’s spring, thence eastward rising by Hays Fork Church and W. G. Morgan’s to the Dunbar old field, thence by the old camp ground to Allen Elliott’s old place and the line of District No. 3, thence with the line of No. 3 to the beginning (precincts Bumpus Mills & Tobaccoport)

District 5:  Beginning at the mouth of Cub Creek, thence up said creek with the line of District No. 2 to the Howell pond, thence northward with the line of District No. 3 Allen Elliott’s old place, thence westward with the line of District No. 4 to the Cumberland River, thence up the river to the beginning (precinct Burr’s Chapel)

Districts 5 & 6 constitute 2 places (Bear Spring & Cumberland City)

District 7 remains as before, except all the voters on the east side of Bear Creek in No. 7 to wit the Tubbs, J. R. Glasgow, J. W. Wofford, move to District 6

District 8 commencing on the Tennessee River at the mouth of Lick Creek, running with original line to the Tennessee ridge, thence north with said ridge to the Hurricane, thence east with dividing ridge between Barrett’s & Neville’s Creek to Stewart’s landing on Cumberland River  (voting place Western Furnace)

District 9 commencing at the mouth of Lost Creek running with the original line to the Bear Creek, thence with said line to the Cumberland River (voting place Iron Mountain Furnace & Folks Spring)

District 10 remains as before

District 11 to include all of the votes of Leatherwood not included in No. 12

District 12 commencing at Houston County line at John Gray’s, running the mail road so as to include D. S. Mosely and all living above him on Cross Creek, thence running the dividing ridge between Cross & Long Creeks to the head of Leatherwood, then taking the ridge between east and middle prong of Leatherwood to Mrs. Garrett’s, thence to the Houston line so as to include all of Stewart County on Hurricane (voting place cross roads on Hurricane)