Contributed by Mrs. Edwinna STRICKLIN, Lutts, Tennessee
Note: This is taken from a xerox copy of a manuscript in the Tennessee Historical Society Collection, Tennessee State Archives and Library.
Wayne County – 1820
Wayne County was established by act of the General Assembly passed on the _____day of _____, 18__, and named for “Old Mad Anthony Wayne”, one of the heroes of the Revoluntionary War. This county is situated in the south western part of Middle Tennessee, and is bounded on the South by the State of Alabama and Hardin County; on the east by Lawrence; on the north by Lewis and Perry; and on the West by Decatur and Hardin Counties, from which it is separated by the Tennessee River, and has an area of 1000 square miles.
The pioneer settlers of this County were chiefly from the older and more central Counties of this division of the State. The first settlement within the limits of what is now Wayne County was made by Frederick Meredith, Mark F. Edwards, William Newton, Lovick Rasbury, Richard Churchwell, and Cary W. Pope on Buffalo River, in 1815; Isaac G. Grimes, Henry Grimes, Peter Renfro and John Johnson, settled on Hardin Creek in 1816; Thomas G. Harvey, Charles Burns, James Reeves, Samuel Loggans and William Scott, all settled on Green river in 1816; Henry and John Rayborn, Jessee and Baker Cypert, Ben Hardin, and David Shull, settled on Indian Creek in 1817-18; James Arnett settled on _______? branch of Hardins Creek in 1819; and //
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William Morris pitched his tent on Hardins Creek in 1818; John Dixon and David Gallaher on Shoal Creek in 1818; and on Forty-eight mile creek, William B. Pogue, William B. Walker, Joseph Staggs and Nathan Biffle were the pioneer settlers.
The first water mill built in the County was in 1817, on Mockasin Creek, by John Meredith; and the first horse mill was built by John O. Roberts on Eagle Creek in 1820. The first school taught in the County was in 1818 by Mark F. Edwards on Mockasin Creek.The first church erected in the County was on Green river, just east of the site of Waynesboro, by the Methodists in 1820, the Rev. James English and Rev. John Craig being among the first ministers to preach in it. At the mouth of Forty-eight mile creek, the Primitive Baptists erected the next church in 1820, the Revs. Willis Dodson, John Reeves and William Hodges being the first preachers here.
The first merchants in the County were Malachi Wimberly and Andrew Stowball near Ashland in 1819. The first cotton gin built in the County was by William B. Ross, near old Carrollsville in 1819; Thomas established the first ferry on the Tennessee river, in Wayne County, in 1818.
Wayne County was not organizaed //
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______20, though ineffectual efforts to this end had been made before this date. The first County Court was organized at old Town Branch, in the winter of 1819-20 by the following named Justices of the Peace who was commissioned by Gov. Joseph McMinn, to wit:
Ben. Hardin, Henry Rayburn, Jesse Cypert, William Burns, Cary W. Pope,John Meredith, Reuben Kyle, William R. Curtis, William B. Ross, Syphus Reily, WilliamB. Walker and David H. Gallaher.
William Burns was elected Chairman of the Court; William Barnett, Clerk; Ben. Hardin, Sheriff; John McClure, Register; John Meredith, Trustee; John Hill, Ranger; and William B. Pogue, Coroner.
The first Circuit Court was held in the little log Court house, on OldTown Branch, 4 miles north of the present County Seat; in the spring of 1820, Judge _____Turley, presiding; GeorgeBarnett, Clerk; and William F. Doherty, Solictor-General.
Wayne County has had four Court houses. The first was of logs, resembling a primitive log smoke house, with one door, dirt floor, and “big cracks” for windows, board roof, &c. This //
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used about two yearsas the “temple of Justice” for Wayne.
The second was built at Waynesboro about 1820. It was of logs also and not any more pretentious than the first. The third was a frame building built about the year 1827. 24 x 30 feet two stories high with Court room, Clerk’s offices &c. It had a door at each end was lighted by about a dozen windows. It was regarded as afine structure in its day. The fourth and present [1880] Court house is of brick, 30 x 40 feet, two stories high with Court room, Clerk’s offices &c. and cost about $4000.00. It was erected in 1840 or about that time.
There have been five jails: the first was of logs at “old Town”, and was used for about two years. The second was of logs also, being the first at Waynesboro. The third was a hewn log jail, 18 x 18 feet and well finished. The fourth was of brick, lined with logs, and was used until 1876. The fifth is a strong log building, 2 stories high, weatherboarded, and lined with 1½ inch oak plank with iron cages.
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Thomas Meredith, son of Frederick Meredith, from whom I obtained all my information concerning Wayne County, is now in his 75th years and has lived within ¼ miles of where his father first settled for the last 64 years. He is active for one of his age, enjoys good health and has a second wife, in her 49th year. Thos. Meredith, Rocky Point, Wayne County, Tenn.
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Waynesborough
Waynesboro, the County Seat, was founded in 1821, on the land of William Burns and named for Gen. Anthony Wayne, of Revolutionary farm. It is located in a broken, though healthy and productive section on the west bank of Green river, about six miles north of the geographic center of the County and is supplied with excellent water from a never failing spring which issues from a bluff just north of the public square. The town is situated about 90 miles south west from Nashville, 18 miles north of east from Clifton on the Tennessee river, with which it is connected by a turnpike road. It has no railroad facilities, and its chief shipping points are Clifton and Columbia, to and from which goods and produce are conveyed by wagon.
The first dwelling built in the place was by William Burns, in 1821; and Wm. Merrill was the first merchant, beginning business in the Fall of this year. The first hotel keeper was William Barnett, who opened house in 1821 also. The post office was established in this year, and William Barnett appointed the first postmaster. Dr. Martin Mahon was the first physician here, beginning practice in 1822-3; and the first attorney to locate //
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in the town was Thomas F. Edwards in 1822-3. The Methodists erected the first church in Waynesboro in 1834-7 and Rev. William P. Kendrick was their pastor. The first newspaper – Waynesboro Times – was published here in 1856, B. F. Murtishaw, editor and proprietor. The first school taught in the town was by Nathaniel Casey in 1821-2. Waynesboro was incorporated in 18__. and Thomas H. Maberry elected the first mayor.
The town attained its greatest prosperity about the year 1836, and has rather declined since. It has now 4 stores of general merchandise, 1 drug store, 1 saloon, 1 milliner shop, 3 blacksmith shops, 1 boot and shoe shop, 1 carpenter shop, 1 tanyard, 2 hotels, 2 livery stables, 1 school – Ashland FemaleAcademy, 1 church – occupied by Methodist and Cumberland Presbyterians alternately, 1 colored church, 1 Masonic Hall, Lodge Knights of Honor, brick Court house, jail, no preachers, 2 physicians, 2 lawyers and a population of about 300, of which about 75 are colored.
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Villeges of Wayne Co
Clifton, a post village on the east bank of the Tennessee River, 16 miles west from Waynesboro, was founded in 1840, on the land of Stephen Roach, and took its name from the high [banks] on which if is situated. It is the most flourishing village in the county, having the advantage of the navigation of the Tennessee River, and being the chief shipping point for the County. Clifton has some half dozen stores, a number of mechanic shops, a foundry, a school, two churches, a newspaper establishment “Wayne County Citizen”, 4 physicians, a good ferry and a population of about 200, of which 35 are colored.
Ashland, a post hamlet, in the Centerville road, 11 miles north east from Waynesboro, was established about 1830 by Ephraim Dixon and Samuel Mitchell, its first merchant. It has two stores, 2 churches, a school, Masonic hall, mechanic shops & a small population of about 50 inhabitants. It is pleasantly situated on the south bank of the Buffalo river.
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Flatwoods, a post hamlet, on the Linden road, 14 miles north west from Waynesboro is pleasantly situated on the north bank of Buffalo river, and has a store, blacksmith shop, schhol, church and a small population of about 25 inhabitants.
Carrollville, once a small place on the Tennessee river, a mile below Clifton, exists now only in name. “Old Town” on old Town branch, 4 miles east of north from Waynesboro, was for a year or two the seat of Justice for Wayne County. Northing of it now remains, but the spring from which issues most excellent water.
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Wayne County 1820 – 1880
State Senators: Jonathan Morris, Archibald McDougal, Thomas J. Cypert.
State Representatives: William Burns, Benj. Hardin, John Rayborn, Jonathan Morris,Andrew Brown, Merida Morrison, William Pougue, John A.Talley, Ed. B. Martin, John Porter, William Benham, Ulyses Ross, Wm. P. Kindrick.
Sheriffs of Wayne County 1820 – 1880
1. Ben. Hardin – 2 years – 1820-1822
2. John Rayborn – 12 years – 1822-1834
3. James L. Smith – 2 years – 1834-1836
4. Jesse S. Ross – 4 years – 1836-1840
5. Samuel J. Alexander – 2 years – 1840-1842
6. Samuel L. Burns – 2 years – 1842-1844
7. William Benham – 4 years – 1844-1848
8. William Pollard – 2 years – 1848-1850
9. Elijah H. Pugh – 2 years – 1850-1852
10. Rial Brewer – 2 years – 1852-1854
11. Elijah H. Pugh – 4 years – 1854-1858
12. Jacob B. Biffles – 2 years – 1858-1860
13. David S. Skillern – 2 years – 1860-1862
14. John F. Hall – 2 years – 1862-1864
15. John Grimes – 1 years – 1864-1865
16. Jas. M. Dickerson – 3 years – 1865-1868
17. Elijah V. Turman – 1 year – 1868-1869
18. Jas. M. Stribling – 1 year – 1869-1870
19. Joseph G. Gallaher – ½ year – 1870-1870
20. William J. Grimes – 2 years – 1870-1872
21. James M. Stribling – 2 years – 1872-1874
22. Henry Brewer – 2 years – 1874-1876
23. David H. Jones – 2 years – 1876-1878
24. blank
25. blank
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The first paper established in Wayne County was the “Waynesboro Citizen” published and edited by Malone Bros. on the 23rd of Feb’y 1872. Neutral in politics. H. R. & T. B. Malone.
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