THE DRAKE NOTES

Jonathan Kennon Thompson Smith

In the Tennessee State Library and Archives, in a collection under the name of the Tennessee Historical Society are notes taken by James Vaulx Drake (1833-1844), an educator, newspaperman, dealing with the histories of west Tennessee counties. These notes do not bear his name but are proven to be his by the society's minutes and his handwriting in the historical sketches and correspondence. Among the persons he talked with about early Henderson County history was JOHN REED whose family moved into this county in 1818.

"The first settlement, in the territory now embraced within the limits of Henderson County, was made by JOSEPH REED, on Beech River, five miles east of the site of Lexington, in 1818, the same year the Chicasaw /Chickasaw/ ceded the ‘District' to the U.S. government. His sons, JOHN and WILLIAM REED, still live on the same tract of land upon which their father laid his warrant. JOHN REED, now in his 75th year, has lived here longer than any other man in the county having been here since 1818."

"The pioneer settlers in what is now Henderson County were ABNER TAYLOR who settled near the site of Lexington; Maj. JOHN HARMON who settled near the head of Big Sandy; JACOB BARTHOLOMEW and WILLIAM HOY who settled at the head of Beech River; WILLIAM CAIN and GEORGE JOWERS who settled near the site of Pleasant Exchange; WILLIAM DIFFY /DIFFEE?/ who settled on the headwaters of the south prong of Forked Deer River; WALLER DISMUKES who settled on the north fork of the Forked Deer; and JOSEPH REED who settled near Pine Knob."

"The first church established in the county was at Beech River by the Baptists, in 1824, and Rev. WILLIS BRIDGES was the first pastor. The first campground established, by the Methodists, was near the head of Beech River in 1824.It was known as the ‘Story campground.' Rev. JOHN BALLEW and Rev. JOHN RENSHAW were among the officiating ministers."

"JOHN and WILLIAM BRIGHAM built the first water mill in the county on Mud Creek in 1821. DANIEL BARECROFT also built a mill in the county on a tributary of the Forked Deer River in the same year. WILLIAM SHACKLEFORD erected the first horse mill in the county, soon after, near Spring Creek, on the road from Lexington to Trenton. The first school was taught by _____ DAVIS in the Rhodes settlement in 1824. The first distillery erected in the county was by WILLIAM DIFFY on the south prong of Forked Deer River in 1824."