History of Tennessee, Obion County
The Goodspeed Publishing Co.,
Nashville, 1887

Many of the men mentioned in this article can also be found at World Connect.

Obion County is situated in the northwestern portion of West Tennessee, and is bounded on the north by Fulton County, Ky., east by Weakley County, south by Gibson and Dyer Counties, and west by Lake County. It is one of the richest counties in Tennessee, and contains an area of 560 square miles, about 36 of which are covered by Reelfoot Lake. The surface of the county is varied, about one-third of it being hilly and broken, and two-thirds undulating and level. The soil is chiefly a black loam, more of less mixed with siliceous matter, and resting upon a subsoil of red of whitish clay. No building stone is found in the county, except a kind of sandstone found on the banks of Mill Creek, and perhaps in a few other localities. The county is well supplied with running water. The principal streams are Obion and Reelfoot Rivers, East and West Davidson, Mill, Big and Little Clover, Harris, Fisk, Deer, Cypress, Indian, Pawpaw, Grassy, Dillard, Lick, Big and Little Richland, Grove, Houser, Reelfoot and Cane Creeks. The most wonderful natural feature of the county is Reelfoot Lake, which, previous to the earthquake of 1811-12, had no existence. Various accounts have been given of its formation. The following was related by Col. J. H. Tipton: “Col. Walker, of Missouri, who, in company with an Indian, came over the Mississippi River into Tennessee for the purpose of hunting on what was then called Reelfoot Creek in December, 1811, stated , that while there hunting the earth began to shake. Becoming very much alarmed he and the Indian started to return, but, upon reaching the place on Reelfoot Creek where they had left their canoe, they found that the earth had sunk, and that the waters from the Mississippi had rushed in and formed a great lake, which they afterward found to be twenty-five or thirty miles in length, and from one to ten miles in width.” Previous to the settlement of the county it was covered with a heavy growth of walnut, oak, poplar, cypress, hickory, maple, elm and other varieties of trees, may of them of immense size, and while much has now been cut, large amounts of the best timber still await the lumbermen. All farm products can be successfully grown in Obion County, but the leading staples are tobacco, wheat, corn and cotton. The following amounts of each were produced in 1880: Tobacco, 1,133,472 pounds; wheat, 230, 243 bushels; corn, 1,501,881 bushels, and cotton, 4,225 bales.

The first white settlements within the present bounds of Obion County was made in 1819 by Elisha Parker, in the northeast part of the county. In the fall of the following year Col. William M. Wilson, with his family, located about three miles southwest (p 816) from Troy. He soon after removed to Jackson, but returned the next year, and his son, Thomas D. Wilson, is said to have been the first white child born in the county. During the next year or two the settlement went on quite rapidly. Rice Williams located near Troy, and after that place was laid out became its first resident. John Parr opened a farm five miles north of Troy; William Hutchinson nine miles west; George Davidson, twelve miles west, on what is now the Dyersburg road, and Joel S. Enloe about four miles east. Alexander Starrett settled about one mile south of the present site of Palestine, and John and William Carter in Civil District No. 7. John Polk located, where Polk Station now is, in 1833. Among other early settlers were Obadiah Roberts, northwest of Union City; Benjamin Totten, at Totten’s well, in the northeast part of the county; also in the same locality, Jethro L. Byrd, John Harpole and Thomas Sayles; Willis and James Caldwell, west of Union City; John Killian, John Y. Brown and Henry Moppin, in the vicinity of Protemus. Indeed the settlements were made so rapidly after the opening of the territory that to give a list of all the early pioneers would be impossible.

During the first few years the settlers depended mainly upon wild game for their meat, and Indian corn for their bread. Deer were very plentiful, and bears were found in great numbers in the canebrakes, which were their usual resort. The county was a favorite hunting-ground of Davy Crockett, who traversed it many times, and it is said on one occasion killed six bears in one day. Indian corn, before the erection of mills, was ground, or rather crushed into meal by means of a mortar and pestle. The mortar was usually formed by hollowing out a stump. A large pestle of hard wood was then attached to one end of a pole working over a support, so that when forced down it would enter the mortar. A weight was then attached to the other end of the pole sufficient to raise the pestle. By this means a very coarse meal was made, but it was an exceedingly slow and laborious process. A man living on the lake bluff, more ingenious than his neighbors, constructed a mill of this character to be run by water-power. It was so arranged that a trough was placed upon the end of the pole opposite the pestle, and a stream of water from a spring conducted into it. As the trough, (sic) filled the pestle was raised, but when a certain amount of water had entered, it emptied itself automatically, and the pestle fell. This mill became very popular, and received patronage from miles around. Horse mills, however, were soon after erected. The first was probably built by Wyatt Bettis, who lived in what is now the First Civil District. Another was erected in 1823 by Col. Wilson. The first water mill was built three years later by Thomas McDonald, on Davidson’ Creek. It was afterward run by James and John Blaine, and still later by Joel S. Enloe. The first cotton-gin was built and owned by John Parr, four miles northeast of Troy.

Soon after the organization of the county, the question of internal improvement began to agitate the country, and as the rivers were then the main channels of transportation, their improvement was of the greatest importance. In 1838, the State having appropriated $31,000 to be used in the improvement of Obion River, H. J. P. Westbrook, James Harper and James M. Hunter were appointed commissioners on the part of Obion County to superintend the work. But little benefit, however, was derived from this work. The Mobile & Ohio Railroad was completed through the county in 1858, and the Nashville, Chattanooga &St. Louis at a little later date. The Memphis & Paducah, now the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern, was not completed until after the close of the war. The county voted no aid to any of these roads.

The original act establishing Obion County was passed October 24, 1823, and was entitled “an act for the establishment of a new county in the northwest part of the State.” It was given the name Obion*(*an Indian word signifying “many prongs”) from Obion River, and until 1870 in included what is now Lake County. It was organized on January 19, 1824, at the house of William M. Wilson, three miles southwest of Troy. The first county court was composed of the following justices: John McKee, Seth Bedford, Joseph Taylor, George C. Davidson, Rice Williams, William M. Wilson, William Reynolds, William Wilkinson, Samuel D. Wilson, Jr., John Parr and Stephen Mitchell, of whom Seth Bedford was elected chairman. An election of (p.817) officers for the county then took place, which resulted as follows: Clerk of county court, Samuel D. Wilson, Sr.; sheriff, Fletcher G. Edwards; register, Asa P. Hurt; trustee, Obadiah Roberts; ranger, James Bedford; surveyor, Robert B. Harper; coroner, John T. Abington, and Josiah G. Clark, Wyatt Bettis and William McKinney, constables. At the same time Stephen Mitchell, Rice Williams and John McKee were appointed to make out the tax lists for their respective neighborhoods. Provision was also made for the laying out of various roads in the county.

The court continued to meet at the house of Col. Wilson until the following January, when it met for the first time at the court house in Troy. This court house was a round, log structure, 18×20 feet, with one window and one door, and stood very nearly where the brick office on the square now stands. It was built by William B. Hutchinson, in the fall of 1825. The Public Square had been cleared by James Harper, who received $23 there-for. He also built the first jail, a round, log building, for which he received the sum of $270.42. The second jail was built of hewn logs, about 1844. This, after a few years, was succeeded by a brick structure, which in turn was replaced by a framed building. The latter was burned, and another of a similar style was erected. This, too, was destroyed by fire, and about 1881 the present brick jail was built at a cost of $9,000.

In 1831 a brick court house, fifty feet square and two stories high, was erected. This building was so badly injured by an earthquake shock, in the spring of 1842, that it was taken down, and a one-story building constructed from the same materials. On January 28, 1848, an act was passed by the Legislature loaning to Obion County the State taxes for the years 1848-49-50, for the purpose of building a court house; the revenues thus loaned to be repaid in three annual installments, the first to be made October 1, 1852. The last part of the act, however, was not complied with, and the State has never received the revenue loaned to the county.

The following is a list of most of the officers of the county since its organization, with the date of election:

• Clerks of the County Court — Samuel D. Wilson, 1824; William S. S. Harris, 1834; George Sheeks, 1844; A. S. Hord, 1846; Samuel C. Henry, 1856; Ed. D. Farris, 1860; G. F. Isbell, 1865; Ed. D. Farris, 1868; W. S. Scott, 1878; A. J. Stanfield, 1886.
• Clerks of the Circuit Court — Jonas Bedford, 1824; James L. Totten, 1831; A. W. O. Totten, 1832; John B. Hubbard, 1835; Daniel St. John, 1836; H. J. S. Westbrook, 1840; Samuel C. Henry, 1848; James H. Meacham, 1850; W. H. Caldwell, 1865; John Crockett, 1866; Lysander Adams, 1870; C. Goad, 1874; W. S. Harris, 1876; W. G. Huey, 1877; J. H. Bittick, 1878; J. B. Meacham, 1880; J. J. Lancaster, 1882.
• Trustees — Obidiah Roberts, 1824; William Hutchinson,1826; John C. Wilson, 1830; J. M. Bedford, 1834; Samuel Hutchinson, 1836; John C. Reid, 1838; James H. Guy, 1838; John T. Abington, 1840; B. L. Stovall, 1848; Archibald Crockett, 1854; Benjamin Evans,1860;George A. Herald, 1862 * * * W. R. Hogan 1868; J. L. Moultrie, 1870; G. A. Herald, 1874; W. H. Holloman, 1876; George P. Hurt, 1880; J. W. Bransford, 1884.
• Registers — Asa P. Hurt, 1824; Moses Parr, 1825; W. S. S. Harris, _____; John Parr, 1836; S. S. Calhoun, 1840; W. P. Hill, 1856; George P. Summers, 1860; R. A. Hewatt, 1865; D. Hubert, 1870; John E. Evans, 1872-74; and A. C. Lancaster, 1882.
• Sheriffs — Fletcher G. Edwards, 1824-26; Joel S. Enloe, 1826-36; Thomas A. Polk, 1836-1840; John Crockett, 1852-56; James W. Bransford, 1856-58; William S. Scott, 1858-62; William H. White, 1865-67; James B. Walker, 1867-69; Joseph R. Brown, 1869-70; Pleasant W. Duncan 1870-72; H. W. Hickman, 1872-74; P. W. Duncan, 1894-76; H. W. Hickman, 1876; D. H. Dalby, 1880; G. F. Thomason, 1884; F. P. Taylor, 1886.

The following have been the representatives to the lower house of the General Assembly since 1833 inclusive: Joel R. Smith (Carroll, Gibson, Obion and Dyer), 1833; William M. Wilson, 1835; John B. Fizer (Obion and Dyer), 1837; Ausborne Purcell, 1839; Thomas A. Polk, 1811; Dr. Purcell, 1843; G. W. L. Marr, 1845; R. P. Caldwell, 1847; (p.918) Samuel C. Henry, 1849; E. A. Ferguson, 1851; B. L. Stoval, 1853-57; R. C. Nall (Obion and what is now Lake County) 1876; William Jones, 1878; S. W. Cochran, 1880; J. H. McDowell, 1882; T. J. Bonner, 1884.

Troy dates its existence from March 16, 1825, when it was located by Rice Williams, John Parr, William Terrell, G. W. Adams and Joseph Taylor, commissioners appointed to fix the seat of justice for Obion County. Fifty acres of land were donated as a site by William Polk, of North Carolina, who afterward added fifteen acres to be used forever as a public commons. The site, which was then covered by a heavy growth of timber, was laid off into lots, streets and a public square. The sale of lots at once began, the prices paid ranging from $5 to $158, Lot No. 4 having been sold for the latter amount. In 1931 ninety six lots had been sold for an aggregate of $3,036.50. The first house, a double log-house was erected by Rice Williams on or near the present site of the Bright House, and there he kept a tavern until his death, in 1829. The first store was opened by Col. Lysander Adams, who for more than half a century continued a prominent and honored citizen of the town. For the first year or two he had a partner by the name of Dreibelbiss. They occupied a double log house, which had been built by a man by the name of Culp, on the northeast corner of the square. Adams continued to do quite an extensive business for a number of years, and it was he who shipped the first bale of cotton and the first hogshead of tobacco from the county. The next merchant of note was W. S. S. Harris, the father of the present druggist of that name. A little later Porter & Partee did a large and profitable business for a number of years. J. H. Moran, of Dresden, also did an extensive business, through a branch house in Troy, for two or three years. D. Glass was another prominent merchant. The firm of Polk, Crockett & Co., composed of Thomas A.., George and Alexander Polk and John M. Crockett, at a little later date controlled a large share of the business. They were succeeded by J. S. Moffat who has ever since been one of the leading business men in Obion County.

The first physician to locate in the town was Samuel L. Teator, who practiced his profession for several years. The next was Dr. Wilkerson, a brother-in-law to William M. Wilson. Among the other early physicians were William K. Waddy, W. H. D. Covington, Wood & McBane, Cutler, Burroughs, Horace Head, and his son, Henry Head, and David Bright, who for nearly fifty years sustained a high reputation in his profession, and who has recently retired from practice.

The first newspaper established was the Western Advertiser, in 1858. The type, press and other material were purchased by a joint stock company composed of many of the leading citizens of the town. The first publishers were Cowan & Parsons, the former of whom withdrew in a short time. In about a year Parsons was succeeded by D.A. Chambers, who continued the publication under the name of the Troy News, until the beginning of the war. After the cessation of hostilities it was revived by S. M. Howard and J. B. Maxwell, who were succeeded by Sumpter Baker. Baker published the Signal of the South for a short time, after which the office material was sold to a firm in Fulton, Ky. The next journalistic enterprise in Troy was the Obion News, established by Thomas A., Batte, who was succeeded by Sherrill & Doughty. They continued until January, 1879, when they sold the office to Dr. W. Brice and T. P. Walker. In June, 1881, the News was consolidated with the Troy Banner, a paper established by the Banner Publishing Company a short time before, and has since been continued by Dr. Brice as the News-Banner. The New Era, established in May, 1885, by the New Era Publishing Company, and edited by W. B. Stovall and J. W. Bransford was suspended about September 1, 1886, the subscription list having been transferred to the Obion Democrat, of Union City.

The first secret society organized in the town was Western Sun Lodge, No. 88, A. F. & A. M., which has ever since been sustained. The charter was granted October 16, 1839, to A. M. Chamberlin, W. M.; H. W. Wright, S. W. And Jethro L. Byrd, J. W. At a much later date a lodge of  I. O. O. F. was established, but the interest in it was not sufficient to maintain it. The town was incorporated in 1852. The officers elected were (p. 819) Alfred M. Bedford, mayor; and J. S. Moffat, Dr. David Bright, Allen Hord. Dr. Horace Head and S. W. Cochran, aldermen.

The business interests of Troy at the present time are represented as follows: J. S. Moffatt & Co., George B. Wilson and Cave J. Crockett, general merchandise; E. S. Walton; dry goods; J. A. Rochell, John Bennett and Jerry Stephens, groceries; W. S. S. Harris, drugs; S. E. Lyons, blacksmith shop and grist-mill; Harris & Murphy, blacksmith and wagon shop; D. H. Dalby, livery stable; Dr. W. Brice, News Banner; J. H. Hildebrant, Bright House, and Charles Inman, Inman House. The present physicians are W. M. Bright, W. Brice, A. W.Caldwell, A. B. Weddington and William H. Coover.

Union City is the largest town in Obion County. It is situated at the junction of the Mobile & Ohio and the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroads, 156 miles west of Nashville. It was laid out on land owned by Gen. George W. Gibbs in 1854, but previous to the civil war attained but little importance. The first store was opened by Dabney Glass in 1855. At the same time a post office was established , with C. N. Gibbs as the first postmaster. The latter and W. B. Gibbs were the first resident attorneys of the town. Among the other merchants during the years prior to the war were A. H. Patton, Rice & Thomas M. Pierce, James Wilson, Thomas Ray, Felix McGaugh, Isaac Foster, Bynum Bros. and Robert & William Seay. The first physicians to locate in the town were Drs. Chittim and Thompson. Drs. Samuel Cutter, Robert McMullen and Gus. Batte were also among the early residents. In 1856 Charles N. Gibbs built a steam saw-mill, in which was used the first circular saw in Obion County. At the breaking out of the war Union City on account of its excellent railroad facilities, was made a camp of instruction by the Confederate authorities, and at times it was occupied by from 5,000 to 20,000 men. After the fall of Fort Donelson it was captured by Col. Harvey Hogg, with a regiment of Illinois Cavalry. It was afterward twice taken by Forrest’s cavalry, but at the close of hostilities was in the hands of the Federals.

About 1866 the town again began to improve, and continued to grow until 1873, at which time the population had reached about 1,000. An epidemic of Cholera during that year caused about one-half of the inhabitants to flee from the town and of the remainder about 100 died from that disease. The demoralization incident to such a calamity, together with the financial depression of 1873, seriously interfered with the growth of the town during the next two to three years. Since that time, however, the growth has been remarkably rapid, the population in 1886 numbering nearly 5,000. Its railroad facilities are unexcelled, and consequently it offers superior advantages to manufacturers. Within the past ten years large amounts of capital have been invested, and at the present time no town of equal size in Tennessee can boast of a greater number of manufacturing establishments. The first enterprise of this character was inaugurated by D. P. Shoffner about 1871. It was a saw and planing-mill, to which was added machinery for turning out building material, and later furniture in considerable quantities was manufactured. Mr. Shoffner, soon after beginning business, associated with himself Messrs. Moffatt & Beck,the firm being known as Shoffner, Moffatt & Beck. After about three years Shoffner’s interest was purchased by Benj. Bransford, and during the next four years the style of the firm was Moffat, Beck and Bransford. It was then changed to Beck & Bransford, and so continued until January, 1885, when the business was consolidated with that of the Ekdahl Furniture Company, which had been organized in 1882, with William Askins as president. The new firm is known as the Beck, Bransford & Ekdahl Furniture Company, of which J. E. Beck is president, and R. Garth secretary and treasurer. This is one of the most extensive establishments of their kind in the West, and has a capital stock of $75,000. In addition to the furniture manufactured they handle large amounts of lumber, the sales of both aggregating about $200,000 per year. In January, 1886, their furniture factory was destroyed by fire, but was immediately rebuilt.

After the retirement of Shoffner from the firm of Shoffner, Moffatt & Beck, he established a factory, of which he was the individual proprietor. He continued until 1883, when he made an assignment of his property to his creditors, and the business was then conducted until 1886 by a joint stock company, known as the Union City Furniture Company,. (p. 820) with John H.McDowell as president. In 1886 the Tennessee Furniture and Chair Company was organized, with W. G. Moss as president and general manager, W. A. Posey, vice-president; W. H. Gardner, secretary; J. H. Whipple, treasurer. They purchased the property and stock of the Union City Furniture Company and also that of the Union City Chair Company, a company organized in 1883, with W. G. Moss as president. The new company has a capital stock of $25,000, and is doing an extensive business in the manufacture of furniture and chairs.

In 1883-84 Bookwalter Bro. & Co., manufacturers of buggy and wagon wheels in Miamisburg, Ohio, established a factory at Union City for the manufacture of spokes. They have a capital of from $12, 000 to $15,000 invested at the latter place, and employ about twenty men. They use nothing but hickory timber, a large part of which comes from Obion County.

In 1881 the Union City Manufacturing Company was established for the manufacture of wagon spokes, and the following year the entire business was purchased by W. H. Garden, who, in company his son, still continues it. They have an invested capital of $20,000, and turn out products to the value of $50,000 annually. Only oak timber is used, and nearly all of it comes from the mills of Obion County.

In 1879 Trautwein & Semones established a wagon manufactory and machine shop, and have recently added a foundry. They employ a capital of about $15,000. Ownby & Co.’s foundry and machine shops were established in 1879 by Ownby & Son, the mane of the firm having been changed in November, 1879. The value of their plant is estimated at $5,000 and they turn out products annually to the value of about $6,000.

The Union city flouring Mill was erected in 1868. It is now owned and operated by F. M.Brown, who took possession about 1880.

A tile factory was established in the spring of 1885, by Whipple & Hatcher, who have since done a good business. Two brick-yards are in operation, owned by Lee Bransford and R. W.Fowlkes & Co. Respectively. The former was established several years ago; the latter in April, 1886. Other manufacturing enterprises are Godwin & Littleton, brooms; H. Dietzel and Duval& Crittendon, tin-ware.

The Bank of Union City was established in 1879, and chartered under the laws of Tennessee. The first president was J. E. Beck, and the first acting cashier, George G. Bell, who has since confuted in that position. The present president is Seid Waddell. The bank has a capital stock paid in of $50,000, and owing to the careful and conservative manner in which it is managed enjoys the universal confidence of the business men of the county.

At the close of the war the town could boast of but one merchant, John Morgan, but others came in soon after, among whom were Tyler & Murphy, Cary & Patton, George and William Hatch, Curlin & Bynum and Parson Hutchinson. J. M. Vincent also had a grocery store. During the financial panic of 1873 nearly every merchant in the town became involved, and almost all of the present mercantile firms of Union City have located there since that date. The following is a list of the most important:

• Dry goods — B. Lowenheim & Bro., Siesel, Jacobs & Co., L. J. Friedman & Co., L. Falls, L. Frankland, B. H. Bransford and L. Folz.
• Family groceries — Woosley & Verhine, Hale & Roper, Evans & Killough, Gibbs & Hardy, J. H. De Graffenried, B. H. Whitley, Brackin & Son, Diggs, Chambers & Co., and C. Speck.
• Drugs — W. W. Hall, S. W. Godwin, Polk & Lane, P. Y. White, W. G. Moss and W. E. Skates
• Jewelry — J. F. Lukens.
• Jewelry and Books — W. P. Richards.
• Books — G. W. Griffin.
• Hardware and Implements — H. Dietzel and Duval & Crittendon.
• Furniture — D. A. George, and the Beck, Bransford & Ekdahl Furniture Company.
• Millinery — Mrs. V. H. Hughes and the Misses Tardiff.
• Butchers— B. N. Pleasant, Samuel Pack, J. W. Temple and G. L. Williams.
• Liverymen— Fowlkes & Barry, Cathey & Hughes, and C. D. Gibbs & Bro.
• Hotels — Brackin House, H. G. Lefils, proprietor, and Fowlkes House.

Among the prominent physicians and surgeons are A. M. McConnel, A. P. Warterfield, S. T.Evans, R. R. Winston, D. M. Pierce, G. B. Jones, J. B. Harrison, F. W. Watson, T. B.Sanders, J. J. Figg, T. H. Turner, Maney Bell and C. Bayn. T. J. And J. T. Edwards are oculists and aurists of high reputation. (p.821)

Union City has always supported a number of secret and benevolent societies. December 6, 1886, Lodge 194, A. F. & A. M., was organized, and for several years had a vigorous growth, but, owing to the institution of a large number of new orders in the county, the interest began to decline, and since 1883 no organization has been maintained.

A lodge of I. O. O. F. was also organized soon after the war, and at one time had as many as 250 members, but on account of mismanagement the interest declined, and the charter was surrendered. An encampment, Mount Nebo, No. 35, was organized about 1871.

Vineyard Lodge, No. 31, K. of P. Was instituted by Dr. R. L. C. White, of Lebanon, Tenn., September 5, 1883, with M. T. Boswell, C. C.; S. T. Evans, V. C. C.; J. E. Beck, P.; Henry Little, K. Of R. & S.; J. M. Ownby, M. A.; C. R. H. Zimmerman, M. F.; J. F. Howell, M. E.; J. W. Woosley, I. G.; W. R. Anderson, O. G. Other charter members were Felix W. Moore, T.J. Edwards, W. J. Dickerson, W. H. Griffin, John and G. G. Bell, A. J. Harpole, C. J.Watson, J. R. George, H. Moffatt, F. T. Cummins, H. Little, D. P. Shoffner, D. A. George, W. S. Crittendon, A. P. Warterfield, J. C. Reynolds and W. Z. Massengill. The lodge is composed of the best men of the town, and is in a highly prosperous condition. At the last meeting of the Grand Lodge it showed a greater gain in membership than any other lodge in the State, and it now numbers fifty-five members. The present commander is H. T. Robinson.

Union City Lodge, K. Of H. No. 240, was instituted February 22, 1876, and received its charter on September 5, of the same year, at which time the following named persons constituted the membership: F. M. Trevathan, S. T. Evans, George Gibbs, Robert Nailling, John E. Massengill, F. W. Moore, W. I. Edwards, T. J. George, James F. Howard, P. R. Nolen, A. C.Winstead, George G. Bell, A. J. Stanfield, N. K. Moore, D. D. Bryant. The lodge has been uniformly prosperous since its institution, and now numbers about 150 members. In company with the K. Of P. They have fitted up an elegant lodge room.

Obion Local Assembly, No. 5823, K. Of L., was organized March 2, 1886, with W. W. Epperson as M. W.; W. D. Botts, W. F.; G. M. Booker, U. K.; J. B. Wilson, V. S.; B. H. Whitley, Treasurer,; W. F. Wicks, Recording Secretary; W. W. Davis, Financial Secretary; J.W Foshee, Judge; H. B. McCall, Judge Advocate. The present membership of the lodge is about 450.

The first newspaper in Union City was published a short time previous to the war,  by H. C. Lawhorn. About 1867 the Herald was established by David Chambers, who soon after associated with himself his brother, Daniel W. Chambers. The former died in about two years, and the latter continued the paper until about 1883. He was an extremely eccentric man, and many issues of the paper did not contain a single intelligible sentence from the editor. He had been a gallant soldier in the Confederate Army, and had lost a leg in the service. This fact impelled the citizens of the county to support his paper.

During two or three years in the early part of the last decade the Courier was published by Capt. W. R. Hamby, who afterward removed to Jackson. In 1874 the Reveille was established by N. B. Morton, who continued to publish it until the latter part of 1876, when he removed it to Texas. In February, 1878, he returned and established the Anchor, an eight-column folio, which he continued until 1882, when he sold it to W. R. Andrews. After several months he sold it to McDowell & Doyl, who in 1886 leased it to Millard F. Cloys.

The Chronicle was established by Stokes & Trissenriter, who in a short time sold it to D. L. Rivers, from whom it was purchased by L. D. Cardwell, who changed the name to the Solid South, and later to Our Country. In November, 1883, he sold out to N. B. Morton, who has since published the Advance, one of the best county papers in West Tennessee.

In January, 1886, the Obion Democrat was established by Tatom & Griffin. It is an eight-page, seven-column folio, one of the largest weekly papers in West Tennessee, and has a circulation of about 1,600. In September, 1886, the Troy New Era was purchased (p. 822) and consolidated with it. The proprietors are both young men of energy, experience and ability, and they are making the paper a decided success.

Union City was first incorporated early in 1861. The first mayor was Thomas Ray. Jesse Garrett, William Askins, Felix McGaugh, Dr. Eli Bynum and Green Bynum were aldermen; John Cullum, marshal, and Joseph Morehead, recorder and treasurer. At the close of the war the charter was renewed, and W. D. Skates was chosen mayor. The present city officers are Seid Waddell, mayor; William H. Gardner, H. Dietzel, Benjamin Bransford, Dr. S. T.Evans, P. Cloys and Taylor Hayden, aldermen; Samuel Bratton, marshal; and J. N. Barry, recorder.

Kenton, the third town in the county in population and the second in commercial importance, was established in 1858 on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, near the line dividing Obion and Gibson Counties, and was named in honor of Simon Kenton, of Kentucky. The first house was built by Wright & West, who engaged in a general mercantile business. The place obtained but little importance until the close of the war, at which time Gray & West and Howell, Carroll & Holloman constituted the business firms of the town. The former firm soon closed out its business, and others succeeded, the most important of which have been Howell & Son, Wilson& Flowers, general merchandise; Wade Bros., groceries and W. A. Montgomery, drugs.

About 1882 a stream flouring mill was erected by White & Bogle, who are now putting in the latest improved machinery, which will give it a capacity of sixty barrels per day. About 1875 a steam flouring mill was built by W. J. Mathes, but in August, 1886, it was destroyed by fire. The Kenton Manufacturing Company operates a saw-mill, which does an extensive business.

In the early part of 1878 a joint stock company purchased a newspaper outfit, and Capt. J. H.  Dean established the Kentonian, which he continued until the following summer, when he fell a victim to yellow fever while nursing the sick at Martin, Tenn. The next year the Kenton Recorder was established by Col. Long, who continued the publication but a short time. It then changed hands frequently, until its final suspension two or three years later.

The secret orders are well maintained by the town. Oriental Lodge, I. O. O. F., was established in 1866; Kenton Lodge, A. F. & A. M. In 1869; Kenton Commandery, U. O. Of G. C., in 1878; Ophir Lodge, A. O. U. W., in 1881, and a lodge of the order of the Golden Rule about 1880.

The town was incorporated in 1874, with W. C. Pharr as mayor. The present officers are A. R. McCutcheon, mayor; J. W. Howell, recorder; W. W. Casey, treasurer; J. H. Norman, marshal, and W. J. Mathes, J. N. Tull, W. A Montgomery, N. N. Garrison and J. W. Worts, aldermen.

Obion Station, on the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern Railroad, seven miles south from Troy, was begun in 1872, and for a time grew very rapidly. It was located on land owned by William M. Wilson. The first business men were A. H. Patton, Daniel Shoffner, and “Buck”Crittendon. The town owes its importance largely to its lumber interests which are extensive. L. V. Boyle & Co., who operate a saw-mill, cutting about 5,000,000 feet of lumber yearly, have a planing-mill at this place, which they make their shipping point. Lyon, Murray & Peck also operate a planing-mill, and Blair, Ashley & Co., and Humphrey & Co., stove factories. The other business of the town consists of Farris & Wylie and D. P. Tucker & Bro., general merchants; R. S. Morris, Humphrey & Sanford, and A. Wilson, grocers; John R. Walker & Co., undertaking and livery; Bright & Lancaster, drugs; A. Wilson, blacksmith shop; and Henry Wilson and George Stine, hotel.

Palestine is a village about eight miles southeast from Troy. A schoolhouse was built upon the site many years ago, but about 1857 the first dwelling was erected by David Miller, and the first store was opened by W. R. Hardison. The merchants of the present are A. B. Woody & Co., S.W. Tate & Co., and George P. Wright. The physicians are (p. 323) Samuel Hornbeak, John Peacock, J. J. Wells and J. L. Ivey. John Hopple has a blacksmith shop and wagon shop, and Quincy Taylor, grist-mill. Brown Lodge, I. O. O. F. Was organized about 1870, and Palestine Lodge, No. 296, A. F. and A. M., about ten years earlier. A postoffice known as Glass has recently been established.

Polk Station is on the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern Railroad three and one-half miles southeast of Troy. It was begun in 1872, and was named for James Polk, whose father, John Polk, settled there and opened a farm in 1833.(*) It is known on the railroad as East Troy, and is the shipping point for Troy.

Rives was established in 1859 on land donated by W. H. Caldwell, who built the first house. It is located at the crossing of the Mobile & Ohio and Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern Railroads seven miles east of Troy. The business of the town at present consists of T. R. Hutchinson &Co., and T. B. Moffatt, general merchants; E. W. White & Co., drugs; Isham Wallace, grist-mill; and the Mobile & Ohio R. R. Hotel. The physicians are E. H. White, W. A. Wright and W. C. Pressley. Pleasant Hill Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Was recently removed to the town.

Woodland Mills, on the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad, three miles northwest of Union City, was founded in 1868, the first improvement being a steam saw and grist-mill, erected by W. G. McFetridge & Co. A grocery store was soon after opened by Daniel Burris, and a dry goods store by John Taylor. In the summer of 1886 Davis, Branham & Co. erected the largest flouring-mill in the county. It contains the latest improved machinery, and has a capacity of fifty barrels per day. The other business men of the village are Hefley & Odum, general merchants; Briggs & Son and Joseph Williams, grocers; and H. Briggs, wagon and blacksmith shop.

Pierce’s Station on the Chesapeake, Ohio & southwestern Railroad in the northeast part of the county, was located about 1862, and named in honor of Thomas M. Pierce.

Harris’ Station on the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern Railroad in the northeast part of the county, was located about 1869, and named in honor of John F. Harris, the first merchant of the place. Clayton, Crystal, Beech point, Fremont and Protemus are all postoffices or interior hamlets of small importance in the western half of the county.

Jacksonville, at one time a village about five miles east from Union City, before the days of railroads had a population of about 150 souls. It has now, however, almost entirely disappeared.

A town called Wheeling was laid off at the foot of the bluffs near the mouth of Indian Creek, about 1852, by William Henry. Owing to its isolated position, and other causes, it failed to grow, and now constitutes part of a farm.

The first circuit court in the county was held at the house of Col. Wilson, on May 10, 1824, with John C. Hamilton, judge of the ninth judicial circuit, presiding. Jones Bedford was appointed clerk, and James R. Chalmers produced his commission as solicitor-general. The grand jury consisted of Evan Crawford, William Cunningham, Joseph Taylor, John Parr, John McKee, Charles Owen, Jonathan Finley, Nathan G. Pinson, Thomas Hewlett, N. Lindsay, Rice Williams, W. M. Wilson and Seth Bedford, who, after due inquiry, failed to make any presentments. The first case to come before the court was that of Nathan G. Pinson against the magistrates of Obion County, contesting the election of Samuel D. Wilson, Sr. to the office of clerk of the county court. It was affirmed by Pinson that two of the magistrates voting for Wilson, were not residents of the county when commissioned, and that Wilson himself was holding the office of trustee of Madison County when elected clerk of Obion County. The case went to the circuit court of Henry County on a change of venue, but Pinson lost his case, and Wilson continued to hold the office for several years.

The first resident attorneys of the county were Charles McAlister and _____ Davis, who located at Troy, a short time after the organization of the county. McAlister was then quite a young man, of moderate ability, and a fair knowledge of the law. He continued for several years, and for a time did a considerable business. At the February term, 1842, Alfred M. Bedford and Richard B. Brown, both young men of ability, were admitted to the bar. They opened an office in Troy, but remained there only three or (p. 824) four years, when the former removed to Missouri and the latter to Mississippi. At about the same time Samuel Williams, afterward judge of the circuit court, located in Troy, but in a short time removed to Trenton. He was a man of limited education, but possessed great native ability, and although not an eloquent speaker, was a close reasoner. He was industrious and energetic, and upon the bench was generally popular. During the year 1842 S. W. Cochran also became a resident of the town and opened an office. He had formerly practiced his profession at Kent, Ohio, and he at once assumed a prominent place among the members of the profession in West Tennessee, a position he sustained for forty years. He is still a resident of Troy, but on account of ill health has retired from active practice. For many years land suits were very numerous, and in this branch of the profession he was especially skilled. Another attorney, who obtained some reputation as a land lawyer, was James Davis. He had been a cabinet maker by trade, and for some time chairman of the county court. Soon after opening an office he took into partnership John Somers, the present chancellor of the Tenth Chancery Division. In 1853 A. B. Enloe was admitted to the bar. He had been a student under Maj. Cochran, and he now formed a partnership with his preceptor, which continued until the latter’s retirement, a period of thirty years. A clear thinker, a thorough student, and an eloquent speaker, he has made an enduring reputation as one of the leading advocates of this portion of the State. In 1857 Thomas R. Shearon opened an office in Troy, and has since continued the practice of his profession there. He is thoroughly educated, both in general literature as well as the law, having attended both Yale and Harvard Colleges. At about the breaking out of the civil war James G. Smith and William Smith, then young men, formed a partnership for the practice of law at Troy. The latter died soon after. The former has since continued, and ranks as one of the best advocates in the county, possessing great energy and a thorough knowledge of the law. Other members of the Troy bar previous to the war were J. W. Buford, T. C.. Swanson, S. M. Howard, William Caldwell, John C. Hawking, and ___ Atkinson. The present bar, in addition to those already mentioned, consists of John E.Wells, a partner of Maj. John E. Wells, a partner of Maj. A. B. Enloe and a young man of good ability as an advocate, and Charles Wright and W. W. Cochran, both recently admitted members who have their professional reputations to make.

The chancery court at Troy was organized in 185-, with John W. Harris, of Paris, Tenn., as chancellor, and P. H. Marbury, clerk and master. At the next election William M. Smith was chosen chancellor, and so continued until the suspension of the court during the war. Upon its reorganization, John W. Harris presided at the first session, and since that time, the office has been filled by John Somers, with George B. Wilson as clerk and master.

The judges, who have occupied seats upon the bench in this judicial circuit since John C.Hamilton, have been John W. Cooke, William R. Harris, afterward a judge of the supreme court, mention of whom is made in another chapter; William Fitzgerald; Samuel Williams, who was on the bench at the beginning of the war; Isaac Sampson, appointed by Gov. Brownlow; John A. Rogers; James D. Porter, resigned to accept the office of governor in 1874; S. W.Cochran, appointed to fill out the unexpired term. Joseph R. Hawkins, Clinton Aden and W.H. Swiggart. In 1869 special courts of chancery and law were established at Union City, having jurisdiction over Civil districts One, Two, Three, Thirteen, Seven and Eight. The law court was organized on April 19 of that year, by John A. Rogers. The clerk of the circuit court at Troy served as the clerk of this court deputy, until 1874, when N. K. Moore was elected clerk of the special court. Since that time the office has been filled by S. O. Higgason, T. H. Turner, and J.H. Edmiston, the present incumbent.

The chancery court was organized on April 26, 1869, by John Somers, who appointed David D. Bell, as clerk and master. He continued in that office until 1873, when he was succeeded by his son, John Bell, who has since continued as clerk and master, with the exception of six years from 1877, during which time George G. Bell filled the position.

The bar of Union City, in point of ability, will compare favorably with that of any (p. 825) other town in West Tennessee. The first attorneys to locate in the town were Charles N. And William B. Gibbs, sons of Gen. George W. Gibbs, who had been a prominent lawyer in Nashville. The former in 1874 was elected secretary of State, under Gov. Porter, and at the expiration of his term of office, moved to Chattanooga. The latter has since continued the practice of his profession, but recently has given the greater portion of his attention to farming. At the close of the war, Col. D. D. Bell, who had previously located in the town, resumed the practice of law, which he had begun in Nashville. He is a man of fine intellect, a thorough scholar, and an eloquent speaker. J. J. Brooks and J. A. McCall practiced in partnership for a time after the war. The former removed to Memphis, and the latter died in 1873, after having served a term in each House of the General Assembly. The firm of Ford & Bentley was contemporary with Brooks & McCall, but neither member remained long at Union City. A. J.Lawson was a partner of Col. Bell for a time. He had been a student of the Lebanon Law School, and during the short time he was in practice, gained a high reputation as an advocate. J.P. Mills and E. D. Edwards were also members of the Union City bar for a short time. Of the present members, R. A. Pierce is one of the most successful advocates. For several years he filled the office of attorney general, and has served one term in Congress. He is an eloquent speaker, and has an especially high reputation as a criminal lawyer. He is a native of the county, as is also W. H. Swiggart, the recently elected judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.

The latter is a graduate of the law department of the Cumberland University, and is one of the ablest jurists in West Tennessee. He began the practice of his profession at Union City in 1872. At a little later date Felix W. Moore became a member of this bar, and at once assumed a leading position, which he has since maintained. He is a man of excellent legal ability and sound judgment, and as a speaker, has few superiors. Seid Waddell began the practice in 1874. He is a graduate of the law department of the Cumberland University, and thoroughly versed in the principles of his profession. He handles his cases with skill, and, while not an eloquent speaker, he is unusually successful as an advocate. Woodfin Naylor, a former magistrate , and chairman of the county court, has been engaged in the practice of the profession for a number of years. Other members of the Union City bar are A. M. Hancock, A. N. & J. M. Moore, R. J. Harpole, R. P. Whitesell, and W. P. & J. A. Caldwell.

As a portion of the “Volunteer State,” Obion County has well supported that title. Upon the declaration of war with Mexico, a company was promptly organized by Maj. S. W. Cochran and Wm. Mothral, and tendered to the Governor, but the quota had already been filled by the more populous counties, and it was never called out. The first company recruited for service in the civil war was Company ___ of the Fourth Tennessee Regiment, which was organized at Union City, May 1, 1861, with J. H. Dean as captain; M. M. Merritt, first lieutenant; L. Brown, second lieutenant, T. L. Nailling, third lieutenant, and N. L. SA. Curlin, orderly sergeant. At the reorganization which took place at Corinth, the following year, an entire change of officers was made. S. F. Maxey was chosen captain; J. K. Murphey, first lieutenant; T. C. Freeman, second lieutenant, H. C. Lawhorn, third lieutenant, and G. S. Morris, orderly sergeant. At Murfreesboro, in 1863, it was consolidated with Company D, and J. A. Only  assumed command of the combined companies. At the same time Samuel Cannon became third lieutenant, and J. S. Murphey, orderly sergeant.

One of the best known and most gallant companies organized for service in the confederate cause was Company H, of the Ninth Tennessee Infantry, better known as the “Obion Avalanche.” It was recruited in the vicinity of Troy, and was organized at Jackson, Tenn. The commissioned officers at that time were Capt. J. W. Buford, afterward colonel of the regiment; First Lieut. S. T. Swanson; Second Lieut. S. M. Howard;Third Lieut. Warren McDonald, and Orderly Sergt. Thomas S. Williams. A year later the company was reorganized at Corinth, when Warren McDonald was elected captain; Daniel Bell, first lieutenant; William Latimer, second lieutenant; “Pink” Buchanan, third lieutenant, and H. W. Head, orderly sergeant. The last named was soon after promoted to third lieutenant, and finally became captain. At (p. 826) Murfreesboro the D company was consolidated with Company G. known as the “Hickory Blues,” and “June” Hall was placed in command.* (footnote: For the movements of the Ninth and other regiments, see the chapter in Confederate Military History)

Company B, of the Twenty-seventh Tennessee Infantry, was organized at Troy, on August 20, 1861, with A. W. Caldwell as captain, J. M. Wright, first lieutenant; Oliver Farris, second lieutenant; John Starrett, third lieutenant, and Obadiah J. W. Davidson, orderly sergeant. A few months Wright was discharged on account of disabilities, and Stephen Sanford succeeded him as first lieutenant. At the battle of Shiloh the colonel of the regiment was killed and was succeeded by Capt. Caldwell, the latter’s place being filled by H. Campbell. Upon the reorganization at Corinth, Campbell retained his position as captain, and James Harper, Cahal Pery and Israel Moffatt were elected lieutenants, and Thomas Sowell, orderly sergeant. At Dalton, Ga., Company B was consolidated with another company, and C. Pery was placed in command.

Company A, of the Forty-seventh Regiment, was organized at Troy, December 1, 1861, and fifteen days later the regimental officers were chosen at Trenton. The original officers of Company A were J. R. White, captain; William Stacey, first lieutenant; Gibson Dickey, second lieutenant; John McDonald, third lieutenant, and Joel Fulk, orderly sergeant. At the reorganization of the company, William Stacey became captain. T. R. Sherron, who entered the service as a private in this company, was promoted to rank of major.

Company I, of the Forty-seventh Regiment, was organized at Troy, and numbered about sixty-seven members, with William S. Moore as captain; —– Ayres, first lieutenant; J. C. Butler, second lieutenant; E. Gleason, third lieutenant, and J. R. Oliver, orderly sergeant. After the reorganization and consolidation at Corinth the last named officer became captain of the company.

Company H, of the Forth-seventh Regiment, was raised in the vicinity of Kenton, where it was organized. The officers were B. E. Holmes, captain; S. H. Reeves, first lieutenant; W. H. Holloman, second lieutenant, M. S. Wilkes, third lieutenant, and Robert T. Jones, orderly sergeant. Upon the reorganization of the regiment at Trenton Capt. Holmes was made lieutenant-colonel, and was succeeded as captain of the company by John Duncan, who was killed at Murfreesboro. W. H. Holloman then became captain.

O the Thirty-third Tennessee Infantry five companies were composed almost exclusively of men from Obion County, while portions of two other companies were thus formed. Company D, of this regiment, was organized with W. H. Frost as captain, James Scott, first lieutenant, P. J. Cummings, second lieutenant; R. N. Payne, third lieutenant, and Walter McDaniel, orderly sergeant. At the general reorganization in 1862 James Scott became captain; R. N. Payne, first lieutenant; P. J. Cummings, second lieutenant; W. F. Henderson, third lieutenant, and John Thompson, orderly sergeant. The last named was soon after succeeded by A. E. Ratliff.

Company A was organized with Ellison Howard as captain, Henry Hickman, first lieutenant; William Flemings, second lieutenant; Benjamin Gray, third lieutenant, and James Hickman,orderly sergeant. At the reorganization Henry Hickman became captain, William Flemings, second lieutenant; T. H. Hickman, third lieutenant, and F. M. Johnson, orderly sergeant.

Company C. was commanded at first by John Bedford, but at the battle of Murfreesboro it was consolidated with Company D.

Company I was organized at Union City with J. M. Wilson as captain; William Caldwell, first lieutenant; William Jackson, second lieutenant, and Thomas Stovall, third lieutenant. At the reorganization, William Caldwell was chosen captain; William Jackson, first lieutenant, and Thomas Barham, second lieutenant.

Company E was organized at Union City about September 1, 1861, with T. R. Hutchinson, captain; D. Pearce, first lieutenant; A. J. Milner, second lieutenant; Frank Brooks, third lieutenant, and W. P. Hutchinson, orderly sergeant. The company at that time numbered about 110 men. May 8, 1862, it was reorganized with J. W. Walker as captain; W. P. Hutchinson, first lieutenant; L. Oliver, second lieutenant; J. C. Riley, third lieutenant (p. 827) and Joel Hatchett, orderly sergeant. W. P. Hutchinson was killed at Murfreesboro and was succeeded by O. D. Brown. The company was afterward consolidated with Company A, and Capt. H. Jones was placed in command. Later he was succeeded by H. Adams.

Company K, of the Second Tennessee Cavalry (Bartow’s regiment). Was organized at Oxford, Miss., in the fall of 1863. It was made up of men from Gibson and Obion Counties, who had stolen away after these counties has fallen into the hands of the Federals. A part of the company had been partially organized at South Gibson, and had gone out with Russell’s cavalry. The officers chosen were S. H. Reeves, captain; William Latimer, first lieutenant; J. H. Bittick, second lieutenant, William Roberts, third lieutenant, and J. W. Howell, orderly sergeant. The regiment was composed of good material, and it saw much arduous service in Mississippi, Alabama and West Tennessee.

In the early part of 1864 a company of about forty members, known as King’s Scouts, was organized in the vicinity of Kenton, for the purpose of maintaining order and punishing lawlessness. It acted under orders from Gen. Forrest. The officers were George King, captain; J. W. Norton, first lieutenant; Samuel A. Thomas, second lieutenant, and John E. Thomas, orderly sergeant.

A cavalry company was also recruited in the western portion of the county, and with Oliver Farris as captain, served in Russell’s Twentieth Regiment.

As has been stated schools were established in the county very soon after its organization. The most of them, at first, were taught in private houses and numbered but a few pupils. The teachers, as a rule, were poorly qualified for the work, and possessed but the merest rudiments of an education. One of the first schools, of which there is any remembrance, was taught in a house on the farm of Col. W. M. Wilson, three miles southwest of Troy, by William Rockford. He was succeeded by Thomas Macon, who taught at the same place as early as 1832. At about the same time Rev. Eleazer Harris had a school about two miles north of Troy, and an old man by the name of Hargis taught what is known as Beulah Church. The latter was succeeded in 1839 by Nathaniel Macon, a man of more than ordinary ability, but possessing a strong penchant for the “flowing bowl.” Early in the forties John Crockett taught a school in what was then known as the Wolverine neighborhood. The first school in Troy is said to have been taught by S. N. Martin, in a house standing on the site of the present Presbyterian Church. About 1845 an academy was established one and one-half miles west of Troy. It was built by Walter Caldwell, and was known as Westbrook Academy. This continued to be the school at which the youth of Troy were educated for many years. In 1860 George B. Wilson assumed charge of the academy, with Ira P. Clark as assistant. Both were very excellent teachers. At the beginning of the war they suspended the school and entered the army, but at the close of hostilities resumed the work and continued for one year, after which Wilson resigned his position and Clark continued for another year. He was then succeeded by Profs. Sample and Underwood. In 1876 Obion college was established in a handsome building erected by the co-operation of the citizens of the town, aided by a munificent gift from J. S. Moffatt. The school is now one of the best in the county,m and is well supported. For the past year it has been under the able management of Prof. J. B.Cummings, assisted by a corps of four teachers.

The first school in Union City was taught by James Fuzzell, in 1856, in the law office of Charles N. Gibbs. In the winter of 1860 a house was erected at a cost of about $1.000, and a school opened. It continued until the beginning of the war, when it was taken by the Federals as a hospital. The origin of the present excellent school system of Union City dates from 1874, when the board of directors, consisting of G. Kimberlin, W. R. Niblett and A. J. Wyatt decided to organize a graded school. Two small houses were rented and fitted up, and the schools opened under the directions of M. Liles as principal, with W. W. Hall as assistant. Schools were thus continued the greater part of the time, until 1879, when a contract was entered into with the trustees of Union city College, and institution just opened by which, upon payment of $250.00 per month by the directors, the trustees of the college agreed to receive all children between the ages of six and twenty-one (p. 828) and furnish them instruction in the common branches free of charge. This arrangement was continued until May, 1881, when the trustees of the college transferred the building to the directors of the district, upon the latter’s assuming indebtedness upon it amounting to about $3,500. In order to meet this indebtedness the public money was withheld for two years, and the school was sustained by private subscription. Since that time the schools have been opened to all youth of school age, upon the payment of a small incidental fee which goes to supplement the public funds. These schools are now admirably conducted, and are equal to any public schools in the State.

An academy was established at Kenton in 1874, at which time a two story brick building 40×80 feet was erected by the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities in co-operation with a number of citizens. The lower part of the building is occupied by the school, while the upper part is fitted up as a lodge-room. The trustees of the academy leased the lower rooms to the directors of the district, and a very excellent school was maintained until 1883. In that year, the district having become involved in debt, the public schools were suspended, and so continued until the fall of 1886, when they were once more reopened, under the management of Prof. Throop. A very good select school is also conducted at Kenton, by Miss Ida Flynn.

During the period from 1850 to 1860, the two most important schools in the county were Bell Forest Academy, situated about three miles north of Union City, and the academy at Pleasant Hill. The latter institution, during the last two or three years of that decade, was under the management of George B. Wilson, and attained a high reputation. Since the adoption of the present school public school system in 1874, the educational status of the county has greatly improved, and in every neighborhood a free school is now maintained for about four months each year, to which is usually added a tuition term of equal or greater length. The first superintendent of public instruction was W. F. Shropshire, who continued to fill the office until 1880, when he was succeeded by W. A. Harrison. W. B. Stovall, elected in 1884, is the present incumbent. The advancement in the educational interest of the county is shown by the following statistics: In 1875 the scholastic population was 6,248; the enrollment, 4,900; the number of teachers, 75, and the total expenditures for school purposes, $14,273.36. In 1885 the scholastic population was 8,237; enrollment, 6,894; number of teachers, 102, and total expenditures, $18,235.

The establishment of schools and churches began almost with the organization of the county, and even before that time the settlers had occasionally met for divine worship under the protecting boughs of some large tree. The first sermon preached in the county, it is said, was by Rev. ___ Scott, a licentiate in the Cumberland Presbyterian; but the first organization was probably made by the Associate Reformed Presbyterians, better known as Seceders, who had established a church as early as 1830. Many of the first settlers of the county were natives of South Carolina, and had been members of the denomination in that State, and here, in 1827, they were visited by the venerable Rev. William Blackstock, a native of Scotland, who gathered them together, and held service under a spreading beech tree, standing on the site of the present church. The congregation, which consisted of seventeen members, of whom William Hutchinson and James Harper were elders, was organized by Rev. Eleazer Harris, who continued as its minister until about 1838, when he was succeeded by Rev. Robert McCoy. Among others who have since ministered to the congregation are James P. Weed, Leroy Grier and Thomas P. Pressley. Previous to 1840 two log churches were used, one of which was situated about two miles north of Troy, and the other in the neighborhood of Pleasant Hill. About 1840 a church was erected in Troy, which was occupied until the present house was erected, a short time after the war. The congregation at Troy now numbers 110 members, and one at Pleasant Hill, recently organized, has a membership of twenty-five.

The Cumberland Presbyterians were also pioneers in the organization of churches as well as in missionary work in Obion County. At the organization of the Obion Presbytery in March, 1833, there had been established two societies in the county — Troy and Mount Comfort, the former of which was represented in the presbytery by James McCollum. The minister ordered to ride on the Troy Circuit at this session was Charles E. Hay, (p. 829) who continued for many years one of the most active and devoted members of the Obion Presbytery. Other pioneers in that body were Benjamin Lockhart, Samuel M. Johnson, Eli S. Jones, John B. Hubbard, Jethro L.Byrd, Levi Calvert, John W. Ward, F. E. Roberts, David Morrow and Charles McBride. The first session of the presbytery held in Obion County was at Mount Comfort, in September, 1835; the second was one year later at the residence of James J McCollum, at which time W. S. S. Harris, of Troy, was chosen its stated clerk. The third society organized in the county was at Bethlehem, which was admitted into the presbytery in March, 1839. At the same time F. D. Piner was assigned to preach at Reeves’ Schoolhouse. At about this time the growth of the church was very slow, so much so that in 1842 a day was set apart for fasting and prayer for the welfare of the denomination. In 1849 New Ebenezer and Pleasant Hill societies were admitted into the presbytery, and J. W. Ward and F. E. Roberts were assigned, respectively, as their pastors. Other societies were admitted as follows: New Prospect in 1853; Antioch, 1956; Camp Ground and Union City. Prior to 1881 that portion of Obion County south of the river belonged to Hopewell Presbytery, but in that year this territory was constituted a part of Obion Presbytery. It then included three churches: North Union, organized about 1845; Beech Valley, about 1857; and Kenton, in August, 1867. Since the change in the presbyteries three new churches have been admitted. They are Rives, in 1882; Palestine, Obion, 1883; and Mount Horeb, 1886. The aggregate membership of the churches of Obion County, as reported at the spring session of the presbytery of 1886, members 1,311, and the value of the church property $17,300.

So nearly contemporaneous were the Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists, in beginning the work of preaching the gospel and establishing churches in Obion County, that the honor of priority can not perhaps be ascribed to any one of them. In point of membership, however, the Methodist Episcopal Church South has always been the leading denomination. The first congregation organized in the county was probably at Troy, not far from 1830. Another was formed at W. M. Wilson’s, at almost as early a date, and during the decade, New Chapel, Salem and Mount Zion were established . Among the first circuit riders were William P. Ratcliffe, Robert Tarrant, Arthur Davis, a man of remarkable talent, but of limited education, and ___ Ramsey , one of the most wonderful exhorters ever in the pulpit. Among the presiding elders were Dr. George W. D. Harris – the eldest brother of Isham G. Harris, and father of the present presiding elder of the Union City District – Robert Payne, John M. Holland, Thomas Joiner and Finley Bynum, all heroic and self-sacrificing men.

Obion county, with the exception of three or four churches, constitutes a portion of the Union City District Conference, of which the presiding elder is W. T. Harris, D. D. The churches and circuits are as follows: Troy Circuit, Charles Goulder, pastor – ______pastor; Obion and Wilsonville Circuit, W. D. Evans, pastor – Wilsonville, Salem, Antioch, Shady Grove, Sander’s Chapel and Pleasant Valley; Union City Station, Chapel Hill, Mount Moriah, Bethlehem and Edgar; Center Mission, A. D. Owens, pastor – Boyle’s Mill, Zion and Richwoods; Kenton Circuit, M. Taylor, pastor – Union Grove, Liberty, Boyett’s Chapel (formerly Robinson’s Chapel) and Kenton; also Mount Zion, of the the Hickman (Ky.,)Circuit, and Stanley’s Chapel and Obion Chapel, of the Sharon Circuit.

The membership of almost all of these churches increases yearly, and now numbers in the aggregate about 2,200.

The first organization of the Missionary Baptists in the county was Beulah, which was formed some time in the thirties. Another society was organized at an early date at the old Republican Meeting-house, now known as Mount Olive, a new house having been erected. At about the same time, a church, know as the Rehoboth, was established about three miles northwest of the present site of Kenton. A short time after the war, (p.830) a new house was erected about three fourths of a mile southeast of the old building, and the name changed to New Concord. Macedonia, about two miles northeast of Kenton, is also an old organization.

Among the early ministers of this church in Obion County were David Halliburton, James Hall, Samuel Cryder and David Wagster.

The following is a list of the organizations of the present with the membership of each; Beulah, 30; Johnson Grove, 112; Mount Moriah, 36; Mount Olive, 159; New Concord, 108; New Salem, 113; Macedonia, 76; Obion, 50; Palestine, 27; Reelfoot, 80; Troy, 47; Union City, 141; Woodland, 37, and aggregate in the county of 1,016.

Of the Presbyterians there are but two organizations, one at Union City and the other at Pierce Station. The former was established November 28, 1868, by Rev. M. M. Marshall, with sixteen members, of whom E. N. Bradshaw and W. C. McCampbell were the elders. Soon after a house of worship was erected, and, since that time, although it has met with many difficulties, the organization has been maintained, and now its members number sixty-six. The present officers are John Coffin, T. R. Smoot, Robert Garth and W. C. McCampbell, elders, and P. E. Lewis, J. H. Thompson, Dr. S. T. Evans and J. H. Shelton, deacons. The society at Pierce Station was organized in May, 1886. It has but a small membership.

The Protestant Methodists and Primitive Baptists each have an organization in the county.

The first congregation of the Church of Christ was organized October 29, 1848, at the old Republican Meeting house, four miles west of Union City, and consisted of the following members: Willis Caldwell, James Caldwell, Ezekiel Harelson, Isaac W. Caldwell, William M. Craig, Sarah Caldwell, Harriet E. White, Robert T. Caldwell, John C. Harris, David P. Caldwell, Martha C. Harelson, John K. Skinner, Sophronia Skinner, George W. Whipple, Harriet Polsgrove, Emiline Polsgrove, George Polsgrove, Logan Kindle and Mary M.Caldwell. Services were held for a few years at Republican Meeting-house after which they were transferred to a schoolhouse, three miles northwest of the town, and there many were added to the church. About 1858 a house of worship was erected at Union City, by the advice and assistance of Rev. H. D. Bantu, the first regular minister. Prominent among those who had ministered to the spiritual wants of the congregation previous to this time were Elders James Holmes, G. Hill and ___ Ford.

Prior to the war two other congregations, one at Palestine and the other at Pleasant Hill, had been organized, and within the past few years congregations have been established at Wilsonville, and at Caldwell’s, about two miles north of where the first church was organized. The aggregate membership of this denomination in the county is now estimated at about 700.