CHAPTER XIII.

SMALLER VILLAGES OF THE COUNTY.

HON. J. M. Allen once averred that his father, Jesse Allen, a Virginian, entered the land on Smith Fork Creek from John Corley's farm to Lancaster, one mile on each side of the creek, but sold his rights for $400, after which he entered a tract in another part of the county that became DeKalb. Lower Smith Fork Valley is one of the most fertile sections in Middle Tennessee, and the wonder is that the pioneers could see no farther ahead.

Dr. R. M. Mason says Samuel Caplinger, a large landholder, built the mill and house which were later owned by Nicholas Smith and which formed the nucleus of Temperance Hall. The late A. P. Smith, son of Nicholas, has stated that the village received its name from the fact that the Sons of Temperance used to hold their meetings on the second floor of his father's residence. It was named then, after 1848, for the elder Smith in that year removed from Wilson County to Temperance Hall, the site being in Smith County. By act of February 1, 1850, the line was changed so as to include in DeKalb County the farms and homes of Smith, Andrew Vantrease, John Robinson, and others. By the same act John F. Goodner's farm, near Alexandria, was taken into DeKalb, as has been seen.

The men who located at and around Temperance Hall in the first years of the nineteenth century were,

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many of them, of unusual force of character and a number in affluent circumstances: Samuel Caplinger, Alex Robinson, Stephen Robinson, Nicholas Smith, Daniel Ford, John Mason, John Corley, James Simpson, Matthew Simpson, John Lamberson, George Kelley, Jack Reynolds, Peter Reynolds, the Drivers, Bates, Lawrences, Lancasters, Oakleys, Hayeses, Tubbs, Stephens, Kelleys, Fishers, Stokeses, and others.

Owing to the distinction to which two members of the Stokes family reached in the State (William B. and Jordan), it is pertinent to record that their father, Sylvanus, had started from North Carolina to locate on his land, near the present Temperance Hall, when his team ran away, and he was killed. Mrs. Stokes, with her three children, Thomas, William B., and Jordan, and a Mr. Kelly, continued the journey, reaching this country in 1818. Some years later the widow married Mr. Kelly and settled near or in Temperance Hall. To them were born Harry and Rufus Kelly and two daughters, one becoming Mrs. Mike Lancaster and the other Mrs. Thomas Lancaster. Thomas Stokes became a farmer. Of him a reliable citizen, a former neighbor, writes: "He was at one time the richest man in DeKalb County, having at the close of the war of 1861-65 about fifty negroes and large land interests. He was a fire-eating secessionist, as was his brother William at the beginning of the war, though the latter became a Federal. Everything Thomas had that was loose at both ends was taken from him by Federal soldiers. For intelligence and fine mother wit he was the superior of either Colonel Bell or Jor-

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dan, but his fault was a fondness for alcoholic drink. He gave way to this habit after the war and died poor and almost an imbecile. A son of Thomas was William G. I can just remember him. A year or more prior to the war he started south with a drove of hogs and was never heard of more. Sylvanus, another son, the youngest, fought through the war for the Confederacy and died a few years ago. He was one man in the county who, in a threatened difficulty, made Capt. W. L. Hathaway 'take water.'"

Early merchants of Temperance Hall were John Mason, Dr. Arch Robinson, and Mr. Rodgers. The two first were in business about 1851-52; the last-named, who was there about 1855 to 1860, was Northern-born and returned to that section. Present business men: L. Driver (who also twice represented the county in the legislature), Williams & Terry, J. H. Close & Son, Turner & McBride, J. R. Kelley, and L. B. Midgett. The flour mill is operated by the Temperance Hall Milling Company.

Dr. Arch Robinson, father of the late Dr. W. H. Robinson, of Liberty, was one of the early physicians. Following his death, his brother, Dr. William B. Robinson, located in the village. After the war Dr. Thomas Gold entered that field. Other physicians have been Drs. R. M. Mason, G. W. Martin, and S. C. Robinson. Dr. Samuel Walker was for some years practicing in that region.

One of the earlier teachers was Mrs. Stephens. Others were Mr. Bush, Mr. Hatcher, A. L. Reynolds, A. L. Malone, E. W. Brown, J. W. Thomison (now a

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lawyer of Nashville), Joseph Ford, Dr. Thomas Ford, and Frank Foster. The present teachers are Leroy Smith and Miss Stella Young. Miss Lizzie Simpson taught in the vicinity some years following the war.

The Southern Methodists have a good church in the hamlet. A Baptist church and Pisgah, the latter belonging to the Northern wing of the Methodists, are located a short distance out. The Disciples also have a congregation at this place.

Dowelltown, on the Lebanon and Sparta Turnpike and two miles north of Liberty, is on land settled some years after 1800. Thomas Dale, of Maryland, seems to have bought up some of the claims of Revolutionary soldiers of North Carolina. At any rate, he held warrants for much of the land around the village.

Levi Gray became possessed of a tract on the south side of the creek, living in the house east of the covered bridge, which was later occupied by Frank Dowell. It belonged to the Grays for years, and their family graveyard was across the turnpike west of the residence. The estate was inherited by Isaac Gray, who married a Miss Dowell. He died and left two children, Harriet and Melvina.

Frank Dowell married the widow Gray, his cousin, and lived on the farm until the close of the War between the States, when he removed to Arkansas. At one time he represented his county in the Arkansas Legislature. Dowelltown was named for him.

Frank Dowell sold the Dowelltown property to Rev. John Hunt, a Baptist minister from East Tennessee. Hunt exchanged it for land belonging to Sanford

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Mann, who came from the North after the war and was the first ferrotype artist of Liberty after peace. Mann sold to Thomas Chapman. The present owner is John Robinson, a son of the pioneer, Edward Robinson.

The country adjacent to Dowelltown was settled by as high-class men as any mentioned in other sections of the county. Among them were Robin Forrester, William and Samson Williams, Matthew Sellars, Benjamin Avant, David Fite, Alex Robinson, George Barnes, Edward Robinson, the Yeargins, the Harts, the Fraziers, the Bankses, the Snows, the Turners, and others.

The first storehouse was erected about 1869 where the Barger Hollow Lane intersects with the Lebanon and Sparta Turnpike, and probably the first merchant was James Ashworth. In the same building the following successively had stocks of merchandise: James Fuson, William Wall, Bratten & Turney, Riley Taylor, Barney Taylor & Co., Thomas Curtis, Less Fuson, and John F. Turner. Other early merchants were Charles Pullen, Thomas Bright, Pat Geraty, and Robert F. Jones.

There are now six stores in the village, the present merchants being John F. Turner, N. R. Robinson, W. T. Robinson, A. R. Meares & Son, G. S. and W. T. Blackburn, and Less Bass.

In 1866 Col. J. H. Blackburn began the erection of a flour mill, which was finished in 1872 by Lieut. Wingate T. Robinson. The Big Spring northwest of town furnishes the power.

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In 1866 Allan Wright (born in Baltimore County, Md., in 1831) came to DeKalb County and erected the first flour mill in Liberty after the War between the States on the site of that burned by Gen. John T. Wilder during the war. In 1868 he erected and has since controlled the Dowelltown Woolen Factory.

As to physicians of the town, Dr. C. C. Robinson was the first to locate, remaining in the village until his death. Previous to this time Dr. John A. Fuson, of Dry Creek, did the practice. Dr. W. F. Fuson came next, then Dr. S. C. Robinson, a son of C. C. and now of Temperance Hall. Dr. C. B. White resides there at present. Dr. Howard Curtis, son of Rev. Mack Curtis, was graduated at Chattanooga University, but located at Allgood and is a leading physician of Putnam County. Dr. W. T. Robinson, a son of B. W. Robinson, was graduated at Vanderbilt and is meeting with success at Shelbyville.

The local dentist is Dr. J. T. Duggan. Dr. Hoyt Robinson, son of B. W. Robinson and graduated in dentistry at Vanderbilt University, located in Union City.

W. B. Corley and Hon. N. R. Robinson are resident attorneys.

Edward Gothard was probably the earliest blacksmith, then came Gothard & Self, then Self & Grandstaff. Isaac Burkett had a shop just north.

One of the early teachers of the neighborhood was Alex Robinson, a capable man. Other teachers: R. B. Harris, J. B. Green, T. A. Kilman, R. A. Underwood, Mr. Sykes, Mr. Myatt, O. B. Close, Rev. W. P. Banks,

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N. R. Robinson, J. F. Caplinger, O. B. Starnes, and M. Malone.

The postmasters have been William Wall, Robert Yeargin, Alf Standford, R. F. Jones, M. A. Stark, Lucian Avant, B. W. Robinson, N. R. Robinson, and Fannie M. Robinson.

In 1885 an elegant school building was erected and for some years was properly appreciated. As in most villages, the public's appreciation of educational advantages is spasmodic, and in saying that there have been good schools here, followed by intervals of languor, we but repeat the history of most communities. Old Asbury Church was frequently used for schools before it was burned. Preceding it was a smaller structure erected by the pioneers for religious and educational purposes.

The village is surrounded by a fine agricultural region, and its population is prosperous and law-abiding. A considerable number of Federal pensioners live there and adjacent (though they are rapidly passing away), and their pensions have greatly added to the volume of business.

The Big Spring northwest is a notable feature of the community and was such before the village came into existence. It is deep, cold, and about forty feet in diameter. Formerly it was a great fishing place-for "gigging" by torchlight, angling, and lassoing with copper wire.

Near the Dry Creek bridge were the muster grounds, which in ante-bellum times provided a great gathering place. Near by was Gum Springs in a cavelike de-

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pression at the edge of the turnpike. "The water," Mrs. Pet White explained once to the writer, "was almost as cold as ice, dropping from the overhead rocks and falling into the tub made from the cut of a hollow tree. The young women and young men of the neighborhood congregated here on muster days and Sunday afternoons, so that you would be led to believe it some famous summer resort."

In the center of Dowelltown and on Mrs. White's land is the old Gray cemetery, a popular burying place a half century ago. Several members of the Gray pioneers sleep there, among the rest, Isaac C. Gray, born in 1807, died 1850; Leven Gray, born in 1812; C. E. Gray, died in 1852, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. Others interred there are: Rev. James Stanford, Matthew Williams, William Craven (Union soldier), James White, Isaiah White (born in 1806), and Charlie Blades. Time and the weather will crumble or hide these simple memorials before many years, then the humble sleepers will be as entirely forgotten as if they had never lived.

For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn,
Or busy housewife ply her evening care;
No children rush to lisp their sire's return,
Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share.

Laurel Hill, a pleasant village in the northern part of the county, was for a long while better known as Smutville, owing to the irreverence of the wag who does not let home pride interfere with his attempts at wit. The country adjacent is hilly but fertile and needs only good roads to make it an ideal section.

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The citizens are mainly of North Carolina and Virginia ancestry-industrious, lovers of music and the chase, and of strong religious and political convictions.

Among the early settlers were: Coleman Helm, Riley League, P. W. Presley, James Isbell, William Garner, Isaac Burton, Riley Coggin, Jeremiah Hale, Willis Coggin, Peter Exum, Elisha Conger, Hezekiah Love, Andrew Carr (living in 1914 at the age of ninety-four), John Clemens, Mat Lee, David Lee, T. J. Lee, Ephraim Foster, Nelson New, J. H. Kerr, Jesse Haggard (yet living, aged eighty-four), Jesse Hale, Claiborne Vaughan, S. H. Smith, John McGuffey, Joseph Mitchell, Robert Maxwell, John Merritt, and the Johnsons. These were of the pioneer type of Americans-sturdy, conscientious, and level-headed. In politics they were, both Democrats and Whigs, of strong convictions. A majority of the old-timers were anti-slavery in sentiment. The village furnished several men to the Federal and Confederate armies, the larger number siding with the North. In 1914 only two veterans of the great war were surviving,-J. S. Maxwell, Union veteran, and W. A. Moss, Confederate. During the war there was no local engagement between the belligerents, though not infrequently detachments and even regiments of troops passed through the community. It may be added that there was naturally considerable bitterness among neighbors of opposing political views, though this is now a thing of the past.

The Laurel Hill people are either Baptists or Methodists in religious faith, and both sects have comforta-

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ble churches. In 1876 and 1880 the old log structures were displaced by modern frame buildings creditable to any rural locality. Among the early ministers were Thomas Dodson, Alex Byers, David Lee, M. P. Gentry, D. P. Searcy, and Milton Pressley. Later ministers have been: J. M. Carter, Francis Deal, J. M. McNeil, J. B. Hitchens, Van N. Smith, and J. H. Keathly. Near Laurel Hill is Wolf Creek Baptist Church.

Among the old field teachers of the neighborhood were William Whitefield, S. H. Smith, Walker Brown, William Garner, William Isbell, and Jesse McDowell. These men were of rugged individualities. We are told that in the old days here the pupils sat in the schoolroom with hats on, studied aloud, and sang geography. They were followed by Napoleon Smith, J. E. Conger, Van N. Smith, and Misses Sallie and Emma McDonald. There are two schoolhouses on Wolf Creek and one north at the river, and school is still kept at these places.

The physicians have been: William Farmer, Gideon Smith, W. E. Sypert, W. E. Sypert, Jr., J. C. Fisher, and T. J. Smith.

Early business men: J. H. Kerr, Nelson New, S. H. Smith, and Joseph Mitchell. Later: T. J. Fisher, J. T. Exum, Smith Bros., D. G. Eaton, Bose Tyree, and J. E. Conger. Present: Noah Duke, Z. O. Medley, Allie Pressley, and Henry Sadler. Millers: K. D. Exum, Pinkney Coggin, J. S. Maxwell, and L. S. Exum. Blacksmiths: Coleman Helm, W. G. Stephens, John Alcorn, Pleas Randolph, and John New.

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About 1906 the post office was abolished and rural route service established. Former postmasters were: J. H. Kerr, S. H. Smith, W. E. Bartlett, Van N. Smith, T. J. Fisher, and Henry Sadler.

In every community there has been some citizen whose bizarre qualities have attracted to himself unusual and pleasing attention above his local contemporaries. That of Laurel Hill is no exception to the rule. To illustrate, "Uncle Pink" Coggin, miller, will long be recalled with pleasure and amusement, and many anecdotes are told at his expense. Had Rev. Milton Pressley, another old-timer, been properly educated, it is probable that he would have been a leading minister of his day. "Chill penury" often indeed represses a noble rage. To this inland preacher one who knew him pays this tribute: "He could not read, but knew the Bible almost by heart. He also knew a few of the early day hymns. I have heard preachers of every type, but no scholar or theologian have I heard who had the power Uncle Milt wielded over an audience. He once preached before Methodist bishops and startled his cultivated audience with his untutored power. Sacred be his dust!"

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There are a number of burgs throughout the county which sprang up after post offices were secured, but the rural route service has left them without official names. Perhaps the largest was Forks-of-the-Pike. The adjacent territory is very fertile, and the farmers are progressive. Among the older farmers were James Roy, John, Moses, and Henry Fite, Thomas West,

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Eli Vick, Thomas Fite, Thomas and John Groom, and the Truits and Hayses. They were succeeded by Samson Sellars, Mrs. Ford, Grant Roy, F. H. Hayes, Tom Ford, John Bell Hays, William Hays, Robert Vannata, Sam Vannata, Henry Givan, P. T. Bragg, W. D. Evans, Sam Flippin, Jake Young, Joseph Clarke, and others. William Fite erected a storehouse just after the war, merchandising for several years. He was succeeded by Jacob Young, and Young by P. T. Bragg in 1880. The last merchant and postmaster was R. B. Vannata. Postmasters have been: P. T. Bragg, James J. Evans, and R. B. Vannata. Four Corners, the village schoolhouse, has had many competent tutors, among them the following: Rev. and Mrs. P. A. Pearson, John W. Overall, Mr. Pendleton, the Preston brothers, Mr. Hood, E. W. Brown, Mr. Jones, Robert Hayes, Mr. Whitlock, Wheeler & Holmes, Matt Bratten, Lee West, Mr. Ford, Thomas Bryant, Prudie Sellars, Miss Mullins, Willie Bell, and Maggie Robinson. The Misses Bell were teachers in 1914. Keltonsburg, a few miles from Smithville, was named for James Kelton, who built the mill there. This mill, it may be stated here, was transferred to Paris & Boles in later years, who sold it to Mr. Thompson. It is at present possessed by Mr. Mullikins. The village has two stores and a blacksmith shop, and the Methodists and Disciples have congregations there. The first store was under the control of B. M. Magness for many years. Keltonsburg is surrounded by a worthy class of citizens.

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