Saulsbury was incorporated January 7, 1856.  Located at the juncture of Saulsbury-Ripley road and the Memphis-Charleston Railroad it quickly became a major center for commerce in the area. In 1860 Saulsbury had a population of 337 and was the second largest town in Hardeman County, behind Bolivar. Saulsbury grew quickly in the last half of the 19th Century as evidenced by the long of list businesses that were formed. As the 20th Century brought a shift from agriculture to industry and changes in transportation and technology, business in Saulsbury began to slowly decline. Today there is one store remaining.  Look back at the long list of businesses that were once a part of the city.

 

19th Century Businesses in Saulsbury, Tennessee

Business Date Location Description
Branch & McClellan 1838 Berlin, then Saulsbury  
B. A. Baugass 1846 Berlin  
Martin W. Guy 1847 Saulsbury  
Dr. Russell 1848 Saulsbury Physician
Humphrey & Allen 1851 Berlin Closed 1853
Locke & Hassler 1856 Saulsbury  
A. G. Dennis & Son 1857 Saulsbury Store
E. E. Low 1858 Saulsbury General dealer in staple and fancy goods for cash, dry goods generally, located south of the railroad
J. C. Bullington 1858 Saulsbury Wholesale and retail grocery and dealer in produce
B. T. Dowdy 1859 Saulsbury Groceries
Bostwick & Pierce 1860 Saulsbury Wholesale and retail grocery and plantation supplies in general, iron castings
Dr. N. H. Dunlap 1860 Saulsbury Physician
McLeary & Dunlap 1861 Saulsbury  
W. W. R. Elliote 1861 Saulsbury  
T. C. Moore & Co. 1861 Saulsbury Successors to E. E. Low, dealer in dry goods, boots, shoes, clothing, hats, etc.
W. C. Chambers & Co. 1862 Saulsbury Dealers in fancy goods and staple dry goods (quick sales and small profits)
T. C. Park & Co. 1864 Saulsbury  
McClellan, Bostwick & Co. 1866 Saulsbury Wholesale and retail grocery, cotton factors and general commission merchants. “Kept constantly on hand a large and well selected stock of groceries, bagging rope and plantation supplies. Liberal advances made on cotton.” Closed in 1867 and sold to R. M. Wright.
E. E. Low and J. J. Chambers 1867 Saulsbury  
J. D. Sauls 1868 Saulsbury  
Hall & Co. 1868 Saulsbury Dealers in fancy goods and staple dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes, hats, notions, etc. Cash terms
Elliotte & Co. 1869 Saulsbury Cotton merchants and dealers in dry goods and groceries
D. A. Robertson 1869 Saulsbury Dealers in groceries, dry goods, cotton and produce generally
Dr. J. D. Sauls 1869 Saulsbury Physician and Obstetrician
Wright, Durden & Co. 1870 Saulsbury Wholesale and retail dealers in dry goods, groceries, plantation supplies, boots, shoes, hats, caps, hardware, etc.
S. Dreyfus & Co. 1870 Saulsbury Dealers in dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes, hats, groceries, liquors, etc.
Elliotte & Sons 1871 Saulsbury  
J. H. Sannoner 1871 Saulsbury Cash dealer in dry goods, groceries, clothing, hats, caps, boots, shoes, and farmers supplies generally. (This store was in the building that later belonged to Oscar Floyd.)
Dowdy, Bostwick & Co. 1872 Saulsbury Dealers in dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes, groceries, drugs, patent medicines, hardware, seeds and family plantation supplies
W. G Moore 1878 Saulsbury Millinery
Dr. R. M. Bostwick 1878 Saulsbury Physician and surgeon (was surgeon in Civil War). Was married to Fannie Guy, daughter of Martin W. Guy
Roger S. Clark 1878 Saulsbury Postmaster
W. W. R. Elliotte Jr. 1879 Saulsbury Dealer in dry goods, groceries, drugs, boots, shoes, hats, etc. Highest price paid for cotton and country produce.
Ed R. Rosson 1879 Saulsbury Dealer in drugs, medicine, chemicals, oils, varnishes, toilet articles, etc.
Craig Bros. 1880 Saulsbury Dry goods and groceries. Hardware
G. W. Dowdy & F. M. Cargile 1880 Saulsbury Family and plantation supplies
Reaves Bros. 1880 Saulsbury Wholesale and retail
J. A. Finger 1880 Saulsbury Watchmaker and jeweler
U. T. Stewart 1880 Saulsbury Manufacturer of buggies, wagons, plows and coffins
Roger S. Clark 1880 Saulsbury General merchandise agent for the White Sewing Machine Co.
Ben Dowdy Sr. 1880 Saulsbury Blacksmith
Wiseman 1880 Saulsbury Blacksmith
D. A. Queen 1880 Saulsbury Saulsbury Saloon
Dr. D. A. Ferguson 1880 Saulsbury Notary Public
Wallace & Cox 1885 Saulsbury Tin shop located on north side of town
James H. Godsey 1885 Saulsbury Harness and leather
F. G. Trousdale 1885 Saulsbury Store and saloon
Bob Green 1885 Saulsbury Barber shop
Moore & Pankey 1885 Saulsbury Store
D. A. Ferguson 1885 Saulsbury Store
W. H. Bryant 1893 Saulsbury Blacksmith, wood workman and undertaker. He provided a homemade coffin for “Crawling Bill”.
Wylie Cox 1894 Saulsbury Drugs
James H. Godsey 1895 Saulsbury  
Wiley Durden 1895 Saulsbury Store

The following is a list of the officers of Clinton Lodge No. 54, Bolivar, Tenn., for the ensing Masonic year:

  • L.B. ADAMS, W.M.
  • Baily MACON, S.W.
  • James FENTRESS, J.W.
  • John H. BILLS, Treasurer
  • W.C. DORION, Secretary
  • W.H. THOMPSON, S.D.
  • Isaac BAKER, J.D.
  • John T. GRAHAM, Tyler
  • John KENNEDY and J.R. BYNUM, Stewards

Source: Bolivar Bulletin, January 20, 1866, pg. 3

The following is a list of the officers of Bolivar Chapter No. 34 for the ensuing Masonic year:

  • William H. THOMPSON, M.E.H.P.
  • L.B. ADAMS, E.K.
  • D.J. WELLS, E.S.
  • B. MACON, C. of H.
  • W.O. GRAY, P.S.
  • J.M. RICHARDSON, R.A.C.
  • W.C. DORION, M. of 3d. V.
  • J.C. FLEMING, M. of 2d. V.
  • James FENTRESS, M. of 1st. V.
  • R.S. HARDY, Secretary
  • J.H. BILLS, Treasurer
  • John T. GRAHAM, Sentinel

Source: Bolivar Bulletin, January 20, 1866, pg. 3.