Clifton City Cemetery

Posted on June 23, 2014 by

The Clifton City Cemetery lies between Main Street and the new highway #114. To reach the cemetery, travel Main Street into Clifton, turning left onto Elm Street. Travel through two 4-way-stops for .3 mile. Turn left onto Walnut Street and travel .2 mile. The cemetery is on the hill. This enumeration was done in sections. Section “A” was enumerated row-by-row starting on the first row near the large pine tree and going south. This section is located on the immediate right traveling up the hill. Section “B” & “C” were regretfully done in alphabetical order due to random grave locations especially in section “B”. This enumeration was completed March 21, 2011

Enumerated by David Montgomery.

Clifton Cemetery, Section A

Section “A” was enumerated row-by-row starting on the first row near the large pine tree and going south. This section is located on the immediate right traveling up the hill.

Row 1 N-S
Moore, Virginia L.; b. 11 Nov 1926, only date, wife of Lon Edward, m: 16 Aug 1947
Moore, Lon Edward; b. 11 May 1923, d. 29 Nov 1996, Pfc. US Army WWII
Wheat, Kenneth R.; b. 04 Mar 1938, d. 07 Jul 1978
Wheat, Arbie J.; b. 1912, d. 1972
Wheat, Earnest S.; b. 13 Nov 1898, d. Mar 1983
McAfee, Lauren Ashley; b. 06 Dec 1993, d. 14 Feb 1994
Boroughs, Patricia G.; b. 20 Oct 1946, only date
Boroughs, Jimmy H.; b. 17 May 1945, d. 18 May 1978
Boroughs, Lois; b. 18 Sep 1924, d. 31 May 1984
Boroughs, Mont; b. 22 Sep 1919, d. 27 Jun 1995
Smith, Janet (Gant)(Johnston); b. 05 Apr 1962, d. 24 Sep 2011
Linville, Bobby Clarence; b. 24 Feb 1950, d. 30 Mar 2013, husband of Sherri (Davis), m; 25 Jan 1992

Row 2 S-N
Dowdy, John Edward; b. 06 Aug 1900, d. Jan 1981
Dowdy, Johnnie Johnson; b. 18 Sep 1903, d. Mar 1984
(next two on opposite side of head stone)
Lacher, Dorothy (Dowdy); b. 14 Mar 1929, d. 25 Nov 2002
Lacher, Branford R.; no dates
DeBerry, Luther Oscar; b. 31 Jul 1874, d. 20 Dec 1960
DeBerry, Regina (Reynolds); b. 08 Jun 1884, d. 11 Mar 1982
Kelley, Clemmie A.; b. 07 Feb 1921, d. 03 Jan 1963
Kelley, Gladys L.; b. 16 Oct 1919, d. 27 Sep 2011, wife of 1st Clemmie A. Kelley, m: 19 Jun 1939, 2nd Thomas M. Bateman, m: 04 May 1990
Bateman, Thomas M.; b. 16 Oct 1918, d. 20 Jun 1997, MMCS US Navy WWII & Korea
Bateman, Elaine M.; b. 01 Jul 1916, d. 30 Aug 1988
Baker, Doss D.; b. 02 Nov 1916, d. 17 Jun 1988
Baker, Nadine W.; b. 1916, d. 1972
Kelley, Allen Everett; b. 16 Feb 1918, d. 13 Dec 1974
Kelley, Myrtle (Bunch); b. 10 Dec 1914, d. 15 Aug 2003
Kelley, Terry Edward; b. 21 Oct 1955, d. 28 Jun 1971
Hime, Carl Marion; b. 29 Aug 1906, d. 10 Jun 1986
Hime, Ruby Irene; b. 14 Sep 1909, d. 09 Mar 1979, wife of Carl Marion, m: 03 Nov 1928
Lineberry, Perry A.; b. 11 Apr 1933, d. 05 Jan 1979
Rosengarten, Patsy L. (Dickens); b. 13 Oct 1953, d. 28 Dec 2000

Row 3 N-S
Brashier, Sue R.; b. 1947, only date, wife of Raymond D., m: 19 Feb 1964
Brashier, Raymond D.; b. 13 Apr 1942, d. Jun 1975
Brashier, Lochie P.; b. 27 Sep 1921, only date
Brashier, Raymond C.; b. 07 Apr 1919, only date
Swope, Wanda Lee (Brashier); b. 23 Nov 1944, d. 09 Nov 2010, wife of William L. Jr., m: 12 Dec 1994
Swope, William L. Jr.; b. 14 Jun 1956, d. 30 May 2012, Pfc. US Army
Walker, Vannie M.; b. 19 Sep 1901, d. 18 Sep 1991
Walker, Jerry M.; b. 08 Apr 1899, d. Jan 1979
Kelley, Ida M.; b. 03 Apr 1903, d. 15 Jun 1982, wife of J.R., m: 25 Apr 1920
Kelley, J.R.; b. 25 Jan 1902, d. 23 Aug 1994
Carroll, Preston Welch Sr.; b. 07 Apr 1927, only date
Carroll, Dorthy (Cole) “Darbo”; b. 23 Feb 1931, d. 23 Feb 2006, wife of Preston Welch Sr., m: 06 Nov 1962
Cole, Roberta (DeBerry); b. 12 Mar 1913, d. 12 Sep 1998
Cole, Rex Johnson; b. 17 Nov 1909, d. 04 Jun 1996
Grimes, Mary J.; b. 01 Feb 1892, d. 16 Mar 1978, wife of William E., m: 12 Jul 1913
Grimes, William E.; b. 17 Mar 1892, d. 30 Dec 1979

Row 4 S-N
Hardin, Martin S.; b. 20 Jul 1916, d. 11 Sep 1995
Hardin, Gladys (Culp); b. 19 Feb 1908, d. 29 Apr 2005, wife of Martin S., m: 27 Dec 1941
Culp, James R.; b. 19 Apr 1910, d. 24 Oct 1971
Stribling, Rex E.; b. 13 Dec 1887, d. Apr 1972
Stribling, Ora S.; b. 19 Jun 1903, d. 02 Jul 1998
Steele, Andrew J.; b. 18 Jun 1893, d. Feb 1977
Steele, Eddie Griffith; b. 21 Dec 1892, d. Mar 1992
Steele, Marvin T.; b. 15 Mar 1899, d. May 1980
Steele, Fannie R.; b. 1897, d. 1981
Steele, Marvin Tennie Jr.; b. 18 Jan 1925, d. 17 Sep 1987, Sgt. US Army WWII
Dowdy, Joseph James; b. 18 Sep 1918, d. 03 Aug 2006, SSgt. US Army WWII Air Forces
Dowdy, Ruth S.; b. 27 Sep 1921, d. 13 Sep 1990, wife of Joseph James, m: 20 Jan 1945
Turnbo, Betty (Greeson); b. 05 Jan 1935, only date
Turnbo, Jesse Arland; b. 01 Oct 1931, d. 17 Apr 1995, US Army Korea
Turnbo, John A.; b. 31 Dec 1895, d. Aug 1974
Turnbo, Nancy R. (Minte); b. 02 Nov 1897, d. 07 Feb 1964
Lineberry, Jasper Newt; b. 28 Oct 1890, d. 07 Jan 1973, TN Pfc. US Army WWI
Stringer, Donald Lee; b. 15 Jul 1939, d. 01 Jul 2011, husband of Rhonda K. (Bowling)
Stricklin, Hubert C.; b. 24 Apr 1916, d. 24 Dec 1980
Stricklin, M. Louise; b. 19 Sep 1918, d. 06 Feb 2002
Walker, George F.; b. 21 Apr 1892, d. Nov 1976

Row 5 N-S
Ruth, Jada Marie; b. & d. 23 Jun 2007, daughter of Nicholas & Melissa
Tinin, Mary Virginia; b. 27 Sep 1925, only date, wife of James Hubert, m: 09 May 1944
Tinin, James Hubert; b. 17 Aug 1924, only date
Prater, Tennie Griffin; b. 19 Feb 1927, d. 11 Nov 2004
Prater, Stella Lee; b. 27 Apr 1932, only date, wife of Tennie Griffin, m: 14 Jan 1949
Stricklin, Elmer B.; b. 14 Mar 1896, d. Jun 1976
Stricklin, Henry; b. 11 Jul 1896, d. Mar 1986
Bowling, Lela Marie; b. 08 May 1935, only date, wife of William Douglas, m: 31 Jul 1953
Bowling, William Douglas; b. 16 Nov 1933, d. 29 Jan 2009
Gobbell, Jimmy Eric; b. 17 Nov 1962, d. 26 Jan 1983
Ruble, Tennie (Steele); b. 31 May 1918, d. 17 Jan 2008, wife of Russell Neely
Ruble, Russell Neely; b. 1915, only date
Steele, June; b. 31 Mar 1931, d. 01 Aug 2009
Steele, Mary Nelle; b. 07 Sep 1926, only date, sister of June
Brown, Nancy D.; b. 05 Jan 1905, d. 14 Mar 1986
Brown, George W.; b. 15 Jan 1908, d. 25 Apr 1987

Row 6 S-N
Floyd, Jeanne Villines; no dates
Floyd, Newt Allen; b. 01 Oct 1922, d. 26 Mar 1984, SF3 US Navy WWII
Bowling, Lincoln; b. 10 Apr 1915, d. 24 Dec 1989
Bowling, Mildred H.; b. 18 Nov 1918, d. 21 Mar 1977
Bowling, Winifred; b. 23 Nov 1912, d. 29 Sep 1997
Bowling, William P.; b. 1888, d. 1970
Grimes, Hundley; b. 07 Nov 1893, d. 22 May 1978
Grimes, Martha C.; b. 04 Feb 1895, d. 28 Dec 1976
Tate, Jessie Roy; b. 11 Jun 1919, d. 17 Jun 2001, Pvt. US Army WWII
Tate, Grace H.; b. 21 Jun 1922, d. 31 Jul 1999
Tate, Dorothy I.; b. 24 Apr 1942, d. 12 Mar 2007
Warrington, Paul Edward; b. 18 Feb 1912, d. 25 Nov 2004
Warrington, Mattie E. (Powell); b. 19 Jun 1919, only date, wife of Paul Edward, m: 30 Jan 1941
Steele, R. Loyd; b. 28 Sep 1903, d. 27 Jul 1976
Steele, Lena H.; b. 23 Aug 1903, d. 07 Oct 1969
Stricklin, Bently H.; b. 31 Jul 1902, d. Apr 1978
Stricklin, Nannie H.; b. 09 Aug 1900, d. Jan 1977
Bundrant, Fred F.; b. 1902, d. 1964
Gallaher, Myrtle T.; b. 1889, d. 1975
Conway, Jeffery Dell; b. 19 Aug 1924, d. 10 Oct 1992, BM3 US Navy Korea
Conway, Frances S.; b. 19 Nov 1926, only date
Young, Roy Lewis; b. 09 Aug 1943, d. 14 Jun 2008
Young, Linda Sue; b. 19 May 1945, d. 11 Feb 1998, 1st wife of Roy Lewis
Taylor, Mildred Garrard; b. 29 Jun 1921, d. 13 Jul 2010
Taylor, Norman D. “Dinkie”; b. 05 Dec 1937, d. 29 Oct 2007, Pfc. US Army

Row 7 N-S
Pittard, J. David Sr.; b. 07 Mar 1968, d. 20 Sep 2009
Gallaher, Charles; b. 30 Dec 1916, d. 13 Jan 1986, US Army WWII
Bundrant, Fritz Anna; b. 27 Jul 1944, d. 06 Jul 2006
Helton, Mary M.; b. 22 Mar 1908, d. 27 Apr 1974
Helton, Tolbert M.; b. 27 Mar 1908, d. 16 Jul 1984, Pfc. US Army WWII
Sewell, Clara L.; b. 12 Oct 1914, d. 07 Jan 2001
Sewell, George E.; b. 1906, d. 2000
Lineberry, Lillie; b. 07 Dec 1894, d. 06 Jun 1977
Lineberry, Johnie; b. 22 Jun 1891, d. 19 Jan 1966
Ray, Ada M.; b. 17 May 1885, d. 18 Aug 1967
Ray, John A.; b. 09 Jan 1886, d. 02 Aug 1978
Hardin, Sallye; b. 25 Aug 1900, d. May 1982
Hardin, Jack; b. 1896, d. 1963
Holder, Billy C.; b. 10 Jun 1938, d. 10 Aug 1963
Bowling, Willie E.; b. 24 Mar 1921, d. Jun 1972
Jeter, Thelma B.; no dates, wife of Robert W., m: 17 May 1946
Jeter, Robert W.; b. 31 Jan 1914, d. 07 May 1979, Tec4 US Army
Prater, Mary Sue (Swafford); b. 27 Jan 1933, only date, wife of Harold Ray
Prater, Harold Ray; b. 14 Feb 1932, d. 11 Jan 2008, SP5 US Army Korea

Row 8 S-N
Prater, Dorine (Brock); b. 01 Jan 1940, d. 09 Nov 2012, wife of Glenn Everett
Prater, George; b. 03 Apr 1906, d. 31 Dec 1983
Prater, Ethel D.; b. 28 Aug 1905, d. 06 Jun 1991
Jeter, William Thomas; b. 16 Feb 1950, only date
Jeter, Evelyn Docejo; b. 03 Oct 1948, d. 21 Feb 2005, wife of William Thomas, m: 19 May 1974
Battles, James A.; b. 26 Mar 1943, only date, husband of Dorothy B.
Battles, Dorothy B.; b. 08 Feb 1948, d. 10 Dec 1983, m: 18 Feb 1965
Churchwell, Johnnie M. Patterson; b. 05 Dec 1938, d. 02 Dec 2005
Churchwell, J. Marvin; b. 30 Aug 1917, d. 14 Aug 1984
Churchwell, B. Pauline; b. 29 Aug 1919, d. 15 Aug 1999
Davidson, Alice D.; b. 28 Sep 1906, d. Mar 1978
Davidson, Jack A.; b. 19 Aug 1899, d. Jan 1974
Davidson, Gladys C.; b. 01 Jul 1907, d. 14 Jul 1985
Vise, Annie Veronica (Davidson); b. 17 Dec 1905, d. 16 Jun 1970, wife of J.K.
Ray, G. Lee; b. 20 May 1902, d. Jun 1981
Ray, Gladys; b. 25 Dec 1908, d. 10 Mar 1997
Boyd, George W.; b. 02 Jan 1905, d. 27 Mar 1996
Boyd, Pearl L.; b. 08 Aug 1910, d. 02 Sep 2008, wife of George W., m: 26 Nov 1927
Pickett, Joe N.; b. 24 Oct 1925, d. Feb 1975
Pickett, Martha V.; b. 1924, d. 1974
Baker, DeWitt Brownlo; b. 06 Sep 1930, d. 06 Feb 1980, Cpl. US Army Korea
Baker, Myrtle B.; b. 19 Mar 1928, d. 18 Oct 1988, wife of DeWitt Brownlo, m: 05 Mar 1956
McDonald, Laura Lee (Crumbie); b. 1926, d. 1979
Pickett, W.C. Jr.; b. 14 Nov 1915, d. 11 Feb 1993, Cpl US Army WWII
Pickett, Mary J.; b. 25 Jan 1923, d. 04 Jan 2001

Row 9 N-S
Selph, Clara Belle; b. 18 Apr 1922, d. 03 Jun 2001, wife of Edward Abe, m: 28 Nov 1937
Selph, Edward Abe; b. 27 Aug 1919, d. 06 May 2002, Tec5 US Army WWII
Lay, Joe Montague; b. 22 Dec 1938, d. 12 Aug 1992
Brewer, Ernie E.; b. 1893, d. 1982
Carr, Aline B.; b. 1922, d. 1988
Cooke, Estelle (Dever); b. 19 Sep 1918, d. 13 Dec 1996, wife of William T. Jr., m: 08 Nov 1936
Cooke, William Thomas Jr.; b. 20 Mar 1916, d. 08 Mar 2001
Cooke, Shirley (Gammill); b. 30 Dec 1938, only date, wife of William Thomas III, m: 21 Feb 1960
Cooke, William Thomas III; b. 26 Apr 1941, d. 17 Jul 2008
Pugh, Rose M.; b. 1924, only date, wife of Walter B., m: 17 Jun 1941
Pugh, Walter M.; b. 02 Feb 1917, d. May 1980
Smith, Tina (Daye); b. 26 Sep 1965, d. 15 Mar 1981
Hoyt, Russell M.; b. 18 Jan 1903, d. 27 Feb 1982, Pvt. US Army WWII
Hoyt, Vera M.; b. 1912, d. 1993
Hardin, Lorine (Pevahouse); b. 19 Oct 1917, d. 15 Jul 1982
Hardin, Bernis Lee; b. 23 Jun 1912, d. 28 Mar 2010, husband of 1st, Lorine (Pevahouse)
Hardin, Freddie L.; b. 24 Dec 1919, d. 25 Jan 1986
Hardin, Barney Barker; b. 01 Sep 1911, d. 06 Dec 2002, Sgt US Army WWII
Pugh, Delta P.; b. 14 Oct 1911, d. 27 Aug 1998
Curtis, Cora E.; b. 19 Feb 1923, d. 25 May 2010, wife of John H., m: 01 Jul 1961
Curtis, John H.; b. 15 Mar 1913, only date
Skaggs, Ruby H.; b. 09 Apr 1916, d. 07 Aug 1984
McDonald, Dorothy A.; b. 23 Jan 1926, d. Mar 1986
McDonald, H.T.; b. 18 Nov 1922, d. Feb 1996
McDonald, Jerry Wayne; b. 07 Feb 1946, d. 19 Mar 1998
McDonald, Kenneth Ray; b. 27 Oct 1953, d. 07 Nov 2011

Row 10 S-N
Parker, John; b. 30 Nov 1915, d. 04 May 1986, Pfc. US Army WWII
Turnbo, Jimmie Ann; b. 18 Jul 1896, d. 15 May 1989
Pevahouse, Maudie L.; b. 13 Dec 1924, d. 20 Sep 2010
Lambert, Mae W.; b. 16 Jul 1902, d. 03 Jul 1998
Dooley, Johnnie H.; b. 18 Aug 1919, d. 21 Nov 1985, S1 US Navy WWII
Dooley, Frances; b. 24 May 1924, d. 09 Feb 1988
Pevahouse, Allen; b. 22 Oct 1907, d. 24 Feb 1993
Pevahouse, Della; b. 26 Jul 1907, d. 09 Nov 1990
Nance, Mickey Lynn; b. 20 Sep 1962, d. 12 Jul 1984
Eaves, Tommy Ray; b. 01 Jul 1966, d. 03 Aug 1991
Allen, Ledeana (Lineberry); b. 13 Apr 1933, d. 17 Jun 2011, wife of John Franklin “Little John"
Allen, John Franklin “Little John”; b. 21 Mar 1928, d. 16 Jul 1996, Pvt. US Army WWII Korea
Snodgrass, Jim; b. 1899, d. 1933
Snodgrass, J.R.; b. 1932, d. 1932
Snodgrass, Mirl; b. 31 Dec 1903, d. Jul 1992
Snodgrass, J. Hugh; b. 25 Oct 1919, d. 11 May 2004, TSgt. US Air Force, US Navy WWII & Korea
Powell, Coy Lee; b. 29 Aug 1914, d. 04 Oct 1944
Powell, Ocie Mae; b. 22 Feb 1917, d. 05 Jan 1985
Taylor, William P.; b. 23 Jan 1898, d. May 1985
Taylor, Effie N.; b. 13 Apr 1901, d. 04 Feb 1990
Morris, William H.; b. 1917, only date
Morris, Frances S.; b. 03 Mar 1934, d. 26 Sep 2000
Briggs, Ellen Mae; b. 14 Feb 1930, d. 13 May 2004
Briggs, Timothy Travis; b. 23 Dec 1962, d. 13 Oct 1989
Stricklin, James Thomas; b. 12 Apr 1941, d. 07 Apr 2013, National Guard
Stricklin, Caroline (Davis); b. 17 Sep 1942, only date, wife of James Thomas, m: 14 Nov 1964

Row 11 N-S
Jennings, James Joseph; b. 17 Sep 1922, d. 20 Feb 1999, SN US Navy WWII
Bays, James Harvey; b. 04 Sep 1921, d. 08 Jan 1998
Brown, Sammie L.; b. 18 Jun 1948, d. 12 Sep 1996
Brown, Mable G.; b. 16 Oct 1918, d. 22 Jul 2000
Brown, Samuel B.; b. 06 Oct 1923, d. 06 Oct 1992, Pfc. US Army WWII
Bailey, Mary J.; b. 08 Jun 1913, d. 14 Oct 2001, wife of Roy E., m: 31 Aug 1940
Bailey, Roy E.; b. 28 Jul 1912, d. 20 Apr 1992
Eaves, Delia M.; b. 02 Jun 1917, d. 17 Oct 2002
Eaves, Charles Geiger; b. 10 Dec 1907, d. 03 Mar 1992, Cpl US Army
Keymon, Clair Belle; b. 02 Apr 1909, d. 21 Feb 2004
Keymon, Martin L.; b. 18 Nov 1908, d. 22 Nov 1991
Walker, Rebecca J. (Dicus) “Becky”; b. 24 Mar 1947, d. 18 May 1997
Kelley, Dorothy Ann; b. 05 Dec 1941, d. 05 Jul 2004
Kelley, Billy Wayne; b. 30 Aug 1948, only date
Likaits, Marvin C.; b. 13 Jan 1932, d. 13 Jul 2002, AB US Air Force
Walker, Carrie Jeanette; b. 14 Jan 1936, only date
Walker, Paul Freeman; b. 16 Nov 1933, d. 19 Nov 1990
Hardin, Kathleen W.; b. 18 Mar 1920, d. 19 Feb 1988
Hardin, Frank G.; b. 23 Mar 1910, d. 07 May 1991
Dicus, Susie J.; b. 20 Apr 1924, d. 17 Mar 2004, wife of Billy C., m: 11 Oct 1952
Dicus, Billy C.; b. 08 Jul 1927, d. 27 Oct 2006
Pevahouse, Bobby R. Sr.; b. 06 May 1932, d. 31 Aug 1996

Row 12, S-N
Adams, infant; b. & d. 28 Nov 1995, son of Charles David
Pevahouse, Timothy D. “Tojo”; b. 12 Oct 1976, d. 06 Aug 1995
Templeton, Glenn; b. 02 Jul 1931, d. 10 Aug 2007
Templeton, Elizabeth (Tinin); b. 27 Apr 1934, only date, wife of Glenn, m: 20 Jan 1952
Wheat, George; b. 13 Jan 1911, d. 05 Apr 2003, Pfc. US Army WWII
Wheat, Nettie M.; b. 16 Feb 1917, d. 14 Jan 1997
Eaves, Kenneth Ray; b. 23 Jan 1947, d. 30 May 2008
Eaves, Madlin (Ricketts); b. 28 Apr 1949, d. 10 Sep 2002, wife of Kenneth Ray, m: 07 Dec 1970
Ross, Catherine (Hugo) (Yeiser); b. 01 Aug 1939, only date, wife of James David, m: 06 Apr 1956
Ross, James David; b. 05 Jan 1933, only date
Davis, Perry Phillips Sr.; b. 16 Oct 1910, d. 28 Aug 1989, S Sgt US Army WWII
Davis, Flora Mae (Keeton); b. 12 Feb 1919, d. 10 Jul 2008, wife of Perry Phillips Sr., m: 23 Dec 1942
Hardin, Tommy Ray; b. 08 Apr 1958, d. 26 Oct 1993
Ray, Katherine; b. 13 Jan 1941, only date, wife of W.S., m: 02 Aug 1963
Ray, W.S.; b. 23 Aug 1938, d. 02 Feb 1998

Row 13, S-N
Overton, Nathan Lynn; b. 27 May 1953, d. 07 Sep 2002
Overton, Geannine (Warren); b. 21 Mar 1954, only date, wife of Nathan Lynn, m: 13 Oct 1972
Gordon, Jeff L.; b. 10 Jan 1959, d. 02 Jan 2006
Gordon, Tammy L. (Davis); b. 17 Dec 1961, only date, wife of Jeff L., m: 02 Dec 1993
Fuller, Ruth (Warrington); b. 07 Feb 1918, d. 06 Feb 1998
Ray, Betty Lou; b. 13 Mar 1939, only date, wife of Bobby Lee, m: 05 Nov 1956
Ray, Bobby Lee; b. 10 Feb 1929, d. 10 Nov 1996, AOAN US Navy Korea
Brown, Ethel (Culp); b. 14 Mar 1914, d. 01 Feb 2006
Brown, David Milton; b. 08 Jul 1939, only date
Brown, Electa Jane; b. 07 Aug 1938, d. 18 Sep 2003
Hanson, Lisa P.; b. 03 May 1961, d. 20 Dec 1996

Row 14 N-S
Keymon, Roy Dale; b. 27 May 1960, d. 20 Mar 1999
Keymon, Jane (Alley); b. 01 Aug 1939, d. 01 Oct 2011, wife of James Roy
Keymon, James Roy; b. 07 Feb 1931, d. 31 Aug 2006
Keymon, Marty T. Sr.; b. 18 Mar 1964, d. 15 Jan 2013
Warren, Hazel (Burgess); b. 01 Sep 1928, only date, wife of Guy Alvin
Warren, Guy Alvin; b. 15 Apr 1926, d. 14 Feb 2007, S1 US Navy WWII
This Completes Section “A”

Section “B” of the Clifton City Cemetery lies on the right side of the dirt road. This section has two above ground tombs. The majority of the older graves are located in this section also. This section could not be enumerated row-by-row very well due to so much misalignment of the graves. It is therefore listed alphabetically.

Clifton City,Section B

Baker, D.D.; b. 17 Oct 1860, d. 14 Mar 1913, Woodmen of the World Memorial
Baker, James Mack; b. 08 Mar 1856, d. 10 Nov 1915, husband of Vannie (Hardin) (Cole), 01 Jul 1901
Baker, Kans; b. 14 Oct 1862, d. 04 Sep 1951
Baker, Mabel; b. 1900, d. 1904
Baker, Martha J.; b. 1874, d. 1950
Barnett, Amanda Cade; b. 24 Oct 1852, d. 22 Nov 1930
Barnett, J.M. “Jim”; b. 27 Nov 1857, d. 24 Jul 1919
Barnett, James Richard; 18 Sep 1920, infant son of W.T. & Eunice (Holland)
Barnett, John L.; b. 03 Nov 1855, d. 20 Sep 1937
Barnett, Myrtle Mae; b. 23 Jul 1891, d. 25 Dec 1966
Barnett, Sallie (Grimes); b. 25 Oct 1857, d. 22 Dec 1902, wife of J.M.
Bateman, Cornelia Ann; b. 04 Apr 1880, d. 04 Nov 1942
Bateman, Mary Eleanor; b. 15 Nov 1866, d. 10 Nov 1927
Bateman, Walter Dean; b. 03 Jan 1870, d. 09 Jan 1950
Beard, Capt. Charles R.; b. 1874, d. 1945
Beard, Carrie (Russ); b. 13 Apr 1894, d. Oct 1979
Boone, Hattie; b. 24 Feb 1870, d. 02 Oct 1887, daughter of William & Mary Ann
Brown, T.G.; b. 11 Apr 1850, d. 09 Feb 1901, husband of M.P.
Christie, E.F.; b. 27 Dec 1816, d. 11 Dec 1899
Christie, Joe A.; b. 18 May 1859, d. 17 Dec 1886, wife of J.A.
Christie, T.J.; b. 10 Aug 1834, d. 18 Sep 1919
Clark, Josie H.; b. 29 Jan 1875, d. 20 Mar 1941, wife of D.C.
Clark, Lydia A.; b. 18 Apr 1842, d. 15 Dec 1909, mother of D.C.
Clouse, Frances; b. 04 Jul 1902, d. 09 Jul 1904
Crain, Harry A.; b. 16 Aug 1879, d. 18 Sep 1908
Crain, Henry S.; b. 08 Oct 1841, d. 07 Apr 1913
Crain, Mary F.; b. 03 Nov 1846, d. 16 Feb 1931
Culp, Ollie (Spear); b. 08 Sep 1861, d. 07 Mar 1951
Dampon, M. James; b. 1831, d. 1920
Davis, infant; 12 Jun 1883, son of B.F. & P.A.
Davis, infant; d. 23 Aug 1876, daughter of B.F. & P.A.
Dickerson, Reba; b. 21 Feb 1926, d. 12 Mar 1948
Dillon, Bose; b. 12 Oct 1874, d. 23 Oct 1921
Evans, Frank A.; b. 1877, d. 1949
Evans, Thomas J.; b. 14 Dec 1849, d. 10 Feb 1905
Ewing, Julian B.; b. 16 Dec 1875, d. 03 Sep 1899, son of M.L. & F.L.
Ewing, Martin Luther Alexander; b. 04 Sep 1831, d. 05 Oct 1915
Ewing, Paul; b. 18 Apr 1887, d. 29 Jun 1888
Fariss, Dr. W.E.; b. 01 Feb 1863, d. 08 May 1930
Fariss, Fannie (Speer); b. 12 Jul 1865, d. 23 Jul 1939
Fariss, Lura (Hughes); b. 11 Jul 1866, d. 10 Nov 1896
Gilmore, Bessie (Evans); b. 16 Apr 1882, d. 19 Dec 1966
Haggard, Fredy; d. 13 Nov 1875, 1 year, 8 months & 7 days of age
Haggard, Malena; d. 15 Nov 1869, 22 days of age
Hardin, Joseph Quinton; b. 31 Aug 1892, d. 13 Oct 1893
Hardin, Lona (Osborne); b. 22 Aug 1870, d. Aug 1970
Hardin, Mordicai; b. 1861, d. 1931
Hardin, Quinton; b. 08 Apr 1891, d. 10 Jun 1892, son of M. & L.H.
Hardin, William Jennings; b. 1896, d. 1957
Harris, Amie; b. 24 May 1899, d. 21 Jun 1900, daughter of M.B. & E.E.
Harris, Lilley I.; b. 15 Jan 1897, d. 02 Aug 1899, daughter of M.B. & E.E.
Hartwell, Marietta (Russ); b. 22 Aug 1889, d. 18 Aug 1974
Hassell, Clara Louise; b. 1902, d. 1903
Hassell, J. Frank; b. 29 Aug 1865, d. 22 May 1908, husband of Mae, later married Bose Dillon
Hassell, John Franklin Jr.; b. 08 Mar 1902, d. 29 Jun 1967
Hassell, Juanita; b. 29 Jun 1892, d. 17 Dec 1894, daughter of Thomas S. & Clara
Hassell, Lula B.; b. 1882, d. 1957
Hassell, Mae (Tarbet); b. 17 Oct 1875, d. 01 Feb 1954
Hassell, Thomas Franklin; b. 19 Jun 1896, d. 19 Dec 1988
Hassell, Thomas S.; b. 1866, d. 1928
Hassell, Willie (Britton) (Brown); b. 01 Jun 1914, d. 23 Dec 1973
Hawkins, Napoleon F.; b. 1826, d. 1878, 1st Lt. Co. “A” 10th MS Inf. CSA
Herchenhahn, infant; 26 Apr 1938, son of T.D. & Lona
Hill, S.B.; b. 19 Jun 1861, d. 03 Jan 1894
Hughes, Bettie (Speer); b. 15 Nov 1862, d. 22 May 1955
Hughes, E.B.; b. 17 Dec 1836, d. 14 Mar 1878
Hughes, Frank; b. 19 Apr 1819, d. 11 Feb 1872
Hughes, Frank; b. 19 May 1890, d. 01 Feb 1904
Hughes, Martha C.; b. 18 Mar 1833, d. 08 Jan 1911
Hughes, Thomas Solon; b. 30 Aug 1862, d. 03 Jul 1917
Ivey, Nettie (Montague); b. 28 Aug 1881, d. 29 Jul 1960
Jackson, Goldie; b. 28 Mar 1903, d. 17 Oct 1978, m: 21 Jul 1923
Jackson, Jack; b. 30 Oct 1896, d. 18 Dec 1976, husband of Goldie
Jackson, June; b. 04 Jul 1927, d. 08 Dec 2005
Jackson, Tom V.; b. 30 Oct 1896, d. Dec 1976, Pvt. US Army WWI
Jeffers, Mable B.; b. 09 May 1915, d. 21 Nov 1936, daughter of A.H. & Oakley
Jeffers, Oakley B.; b. 22 May 1889, d. 24 May 1915, wife of A.H.
Jobe, Frank H.; b. 24 Jun 1898, d. 16 Mar 1900, son of W.F. & Parlee
Jobe, Parlee; b. 27 Jan 1860, d. 13 Sep 1910, wife of W.F.
Jobe, Verna May; b. 27 Jan 1893, d. 16 Nov 1899, daughter of W.F. & Parlee
Johnson, Lockard B.; b. 1897, d. 1939
Johnson, Mollie (Hassell); b. 1860, d. 1925
Johnson, Thomas M.; b. 1882, d. 1951
Joice, Clara Lula; b. 1871, d. 1940
Joice, Cynthia S.; b. 18 Jan 1840, d. 23 Jul 1926
Joice, John; b. 25 Jun 1834, d. 26 Sep 1887, husband of Cynthia S.
Joice, Sallie May; b. 17 Dec 1875, d. 27 Jun 1961
Jones, Fred H.; b. 07 Sep 1884, d. 19 Oct 1901
Jones, Harry F.; b. 03 Feb 1886, d. 16 Feb 1886
Lancaster, Elisha; b. 06 Oct 1809, d. 07 Mar 1882
Lancaster, Elizabeth; b. 12 Nov 1821, d. 24 Jul 1900
Lay, Almon L.; b. 21 Oct 1914, d. 17 Jun 1986
Lay, James Jordan; b. 16 Dec 1908, d. 15 Mar 1982, Tec5 US Army WWII
Lay, Marietta M.; b. 30 Sep 1913, d. 08 Nov 1988
Lay, Rachel M.; b. 11 Mar 1914, d. 03 Jul 1974
Lay, William Ike; b. 20 Sep 1949, d. 18 Dec 1952
Luna, E.H.; b. 10 Sep 1829, d. 31 Jul 1901
Luna, N.J.; b. 10 Aug 1827, d. 16 May 1897, wife of E.H.
Luna, Tennie; b. 02 Jul 1859, d. 06 May 1904, daughter of N.J. & E.H.
Luna, Willis; b. 11 Aug 1864, d. 16 Jun 1915
McCall, Nick; b. 1877, d. 1923
McGee, D.K.; no dates, Co “A” 2nd TN Inf.
McGraby, J.L.; no dates, Co “B” 1st Ohio Cav.
Montague, Birdie F.; b. 1877, d. 1969
Montague, Isaac Newton; b. 1884, d. 1946
Montague, J.J. “Jack”; b. 1872, d. 1948
Montague, James Jack; b. 27 Dec 1921, d. 05 Aug 2005, SC1 US Navy WWII
Montague, Marietta (Hughes); b. 1853, d. 1917
Montague, Nettie Jane; b. 09 Nov 1923, d. 11 Feb 1992
Montague, Virgie H.; b. 1884, d. 1956
Montague, Virginia Joy; b. 10 Nov 1908, d. 25 Aug 1997
Montague, William Earl; b. 1879, d. 1905
Montague, William Young; b. 1841, d. 1911
Moore, Charles H.; b. 30 Nov 1871, killed 20 Jul 1907, husband of R.J. 
Moore, Dr. J.R.; b. 03 Nov 1872, d. 11 Jan 1928
Morgan, Fannie; b. 06 Jul 1864, d. 25 Sep 1919, wife of J.T.
Morgan, G. Albert; b. 11 May 1883, d. 24 Dec 1950
Morgan, J.T. Sr.; b. 08 Mar 1862, d. 11 May 1932
Morris, Tom; b. 22 May 1896, d. 15 Feb 1908, son of J.P. & Maude A.
Nicholson, Jacob Harvey; b. 27 Feb 1897, d. Oct 1966
Nicholson, Pauline (Hassell); b. 24 Jun 1898, d. 07 Feb 1995
Norman, Dorothy B.; b. 15 Oct 1914, d. 24 Jun 2005
Norman, Frank Harvey III; b. 26 Mar 1944, d. 13 Oct 1961
Norman, Frank Harvey Jr.; b. 15 Aug 1915, d. 23 Jan 1997, S1 US Navy WWII
Old, Grace R.; b. 1890, d. 1972
Pickett, Jesse E.; b. 05 Apr 1888, d. 18 Dec 1932
Pollock, Ada (Morgan); b. 1884, d. 1954, mother
Pollock, Ezra; b. 1907, d. 1922, son
Ricketts, Charles S.; b. 1863, d. 1937
Ricketts, Willie; b. 25 Apr 1863, d. 25 Feb 1898, wife of Charles S.
Rippy, A.; b. 10 Jul 1822, d. 18 Jan 1879
Russ, Capt. Watt; b. 28 Apr 1888, d. 20 Mar 1951
Russ, Cordie H.; b. 26 Oct 1885, d. 25 Mar 1962
Russ, Thomas G.; b. 18 Nov 1882, d. 28 Oct 1904
Scott, Kate (McMahan); b. 20 Apr 1913, d. 11 Feb 2000
Shannon, Charles W.; b. 1841, d. 1862, Corp. Co. “I” 14th LA Inf. CSA
Shipman, Capt. Charles W.; no dates, Co. “D” 2nd TN Mtd. Inf.
Shipman, E.A.J.; b. 1846, d. 1914, wife of C.W.
Shipman, Edna Mae; b. 1893, d. 1945
Simmons, B.N.; b. 14 Dec 1848, d. 22 Dec 1903
Speer, Hattie (Powers); b. 06 Aug 1871, d. 07 Apr 1951
Speer, John U.; b. 16 Oct 1867, d. 17 Jan 1923, Woodmen of the World Memorial
Stockard, Grace; b. 18 Apr 1886, d. 05 Apr 1887
Stockard, James E.; b. 19 May 1877, d. 13 Jul 1912
Stockard, Josephine (Hughes); b. 12 Oct 1851, d. 21 Oct 1886
Stockard, Leila E.; b. 24 Dec 1880, d. 08 May 1881
Stockard, Mary M.; b. 07 Mar 1879, d. 20 Mar 1880
Stockard, Samuel J.; b. 11 Aug 1847, d. 11 Apr 1930
Stockard, Samuel J.; b. 26 Feb 1876, d. 15 Feb 1952
Stribling, Amelia (Watts); b. 09 Sep 1849, d. 20 Jun 1927
Stribling, C.C.; b. 24 Nov 1844, d. 28 Aug 1916
Stribling, Roy W.; b. 13 Dec 1887, d. 05 Dec 1918, died in France, Pvt. 303rd Q.M.C.
Tinnon, Etheldra; b. 06 Dec 1827, d. 08 Oct 1909
Tinnon, Mary E.; b. 28 Dec 1830, d. 09 Apr 1910
Tyree, Elizabeth (Elliott); b. 1838, d. 1918
Tyree, Jonathan Cyrus; b. 22 Dec 1859, d. 08 Feb 1913
Tyree, Minnie (Hughes); b. 19 Feb 1869, d. 29 May 1949
Tyree, Thomas Jefferson; b. 1830, d. 1905
Wade, Frances (Hassell); b. 1906, d. 1998
Waller, Joseph; b. & d. 29 Aug 1877, son of W.G. & M.E.
Waller, Thomas Carl; b. 29 Mar 1883, d. 31 Dec 1886, son of W.C & M.E.
Weaver, Chester A.; d. 07 Jul 1882, son of J.R. & M.E.
Wilbanks, Eliza F.; b. 1835, d. 1924
Wilbanks, Frank; b. 1857, d. 1933
Willbanks, Francis; 21 May 1835. wife of J.W.
Willbanks, J.W.; b. 17 Nov 1828, d. 11 Jun 1905
Williams, Grace (Hill); b. 17 Jan 1892, d. 06 Jan 1957
Yokley, Mary B.; b. 06 Dec 1890, d. 07 Feb 1892, daughter of Rev. I.N. & Zula F.
This Completes Section “B”

Section “C” is to the left side of the dirt road and the east side of the paved street. 
This section also is listed in alphabetical order due to the older graves being so misaligned near the dirt road.

Clifton Cemetery, Section C


?????, Evalina B.; wife of ???, no other information, stone destroyed
Allen, Tony Aaron Gage; b. 27 Oct 1995, only date, son of Damon & Gindy
Allen, Tony Damon; b. 22 Aug 1971, d. 05 Nov 2003
Alley, Johnnie; b. 12 Jul 1911, d. 16 Nov 1973
Alley, Mary Alice; b. 27 Sep 1917, d. 01 Jan 1968
Alley, Myrtle M.; b. 18 Feb 1899, d. 12 May 2003
Alley, Oliver Earl Jr.; b. 12 May 1924, d. 10 Apr 1945, TN Pfc. 385th Inf. 76th Div. WWII
Alley, Oliver E.; b. 26 Mar 1902, d. Jun 1974
Alston, Joseph C.; b. 25 Feb 1877, d. 23 Oct 1877, son of C.A. & M.A.
Anglin, Betty Lou (Devers); b. 19 Jun 1936, d. 18 Jan 2001
Anglin, James Russell; b. 11 Feb 1929, d. 27 Sep 1980
Anglin, Russell Earl; b. 25 Aug 1959, d. 20 Apr 2001
Averett, Lizzie V.; b. 29 Jul 1884, d. 26 Oct 1890, daughter of J.L. & R.J.
Averett, R.J.; d. 30 Dec 1895, wife of J.L., 35 years, 6 months & 9 days of age
Averett, Robert L.; b. 19 Mar 1887, d. 18 Jul 1892, son of J.L. & R.J.
Baker, Charlie; b. 1891, d. 1946
Baker, Elsie; b. 08 Dec 1893, d. 14 Nov 1998
Baker, Nettye C.; b. 11 Mar 1915, d. 08 May 1937
Barber, Dorothy P.; b. 22 May 1920, only date
Barber, O.A. “Sonny”; b. 07 Nov 1916, d. 29 Aug 1987
Barnett, Nina (Ray); b. 28 Mar 1882, d. 13 Oct 1974
Barnett, William Lee; b. 15 Nov 1880, d. 11 Jan 1949
Battles, Dewey (Earl); b. 07 Sep 1944, d. 15 Jul 1982
Beckham, William B.; b. 22 Jul 1955, d. 25 Jul 1955
Benham, Mary (Whipkey); b. 23 Dec 1872, d. 09 Jul 1954
Benham, William Resign; b. 15 Nov 1870, d. 20 Sep 1951
Berry, J.G.; b. 22 Jan 1834, d. 11 Jan 1894
Berry, Miss Joe; d. 17 Dec 1889, 25 years of age
Bridges, Clara M.; b. 07 Apr 1916, d. 31 Aug 1987
Bridges, Joel Ray; b. 14 Jan 1916, d. 25 Oct 1987
Brooks, Lori (Spoerl); b. 24 Oct 1962, d. 13 Oct 1992
Brown, Agnes; b. 15 Mar 1894, d. 20 May 1959
Brown, Anna D.; b. 05 Jun 1876, d. 23 Jan 1923, wife of Milton I.
Brown, Jackie Hardin; b. 23 Nov 1881, d. 23 Jun 1936
Brown, Milton I.; b. 26 Jul 1876, d. 08 May 1939
Carr, Mattie T.; b. 16 Aug 1882, d. 08 Jan 1969
Carr, Will L.; b. 11 Oct 1877, d. 11 Dec 1958
Cole, Ben; b. 17 Nov 1871, d. 21 Feb 1962
Cole, Mae H.; b. 29 Sep 1880, d. 07 Nov 1971
Cooke, Anna B.; b. 11 Oct 1860, d. 15 Apr 1952
Cooke, Dr. K.L.; b. 13 Sep 1852, d. 10 Apr 1930
Culp, Charlamae; b. 12 Jan 1907, d. 21 Dec 1989
Culp, Cordie W.; d. 04 Mar 1972
Culp, Dr. Edward M.; b. 02 Jun 1885, d. 04 Jan 1933
Culp, Edmon; b. 1879, d. 1933
Curry, Jesse (Osteen); b. 03 Jun 1934, d. 16 Jun 1985
Curry, Shirley B.; b. 27 Jan 1937, only date
Cypert, Nancy Cora; b. 13 Nov 1856, d. 20 May 1886, wife of N.B.
Davidson, Katherine M.; b. 08 Mar 1897, d. 17 Dec 1965
Davidson, Thomas Russ; b. 05 Feb 1962, d. 01 Mar 1996
Davidson, William H.; b. 29 Nov 1859, d. 23 Sep 1958
Davis, Caldwell; b. 1926, d. 1956
Davis, Gene E. “Eddy”; b. 04 Mar 1950, d. 20 Oct 1987
Davis, Malcom C.; b. 31 Oct 1924, d. 25 Jul 1997
Davis, Marion F.; b. 10 Mar 1931, only date, wife of Malcom C., m: 06 Jun 1948
Davis, Mary Sallie (Gillham); b. 21 Aug 1917, d. 09 Jul 1995
Davis, Robbie Lee; b. 1929, d. 1996
Devers, Elma (Floyd); b. 17 May 1892, d. 18 Aug 1950
Devers, Herman E. Jr.; b. 09 Nov 1942, d. 31 Jul 1945
Devers, Herman E. Sr.; b. 05 Aug 1915, d. 31 Oct 1980
Devers, Hugh E.; b. 27 Feb 1901, d. 27 Jan 1980
Devers, Marie E.; b. 07 May 1914, d. 22 Feb 1999
Dotson, Perlina E.; b. 17 Sep 1851, d. 19 Aug 1856, daughter of E.B. & A.
Dukes, Alzona; b. 1904, d. 1946
Eaton, Emma R.; b. 21 Jun 1872, d. 03 Oct 1903
Eaton, Ethel Iona; d. 28 Nov 1902, 7 years, 5 months & 21 days of age
Eaton, Jesse V.; d. 21 Oct 1902, 21 years, 7 months & 15 days of age
Elliott, Craig C.; b. 1908, d. 1963
Epitaph on the above stone: “In appreciation of “Miss Mollie” who did so much in aiding the needy & training the children of Clifton” –By Her Friends-
Evans, Dora; b. 1852, d. 1880
Evans, Ethel W.; b. 09 Nov 1889, d. 04 Aug 1948
Evans, J. Hugh; b. 19 Sep 1886, d. 20 Mar 1968
Evans, Wyatt; b. 1852, d. 1886
Floyd, A. Allen; b. 27 Apr 1861, d. 06 Jan 1947
Floyd, Annie (Patrick); no dates
Floyd, Annie (Tucker); b. 18 Jan 1902, d. 22 Dec 1988
Floyd, F. Belle; b. 29 Aug 1863, d. 19 Jul 1919
Floyd, Felicia (Pollock); b. 19 Nov 1904, d. 18 Jan 1998
Floyd, Frank L.; b. 05 Jul 1894, d. 12 Dec 1979
Floyd, Harry A.; b. 25 Dec 1889, d. 22 Jun 1939
Floyd, Joe Lynn; b. 30 May 1896, d. 16 Feb 1980
Fowler, Carrie T.; b. 10 Aug 1911, d. 21 Mar 2004
Fowler, Lige W.; b. 02 Jun 1909, d. 15 Aug 1972
Gannon, Martha A.; b. 1876, d. 1946, sister of Mrs. W.A. Hughes
Gillham, Archie Dee; b. 26 Sep 1935, d. 02 May 1953
Gillham, Archie Harold; b. 16 Jul 1878, d. 12 Oct 1944
Gillham, Dilia Belle; b. 09 Aug 1913, d. 31 Jul 1983
Gillham, Finley Enos; b. 21 Dec 1913, d. 14 Nov 1991
Gillham, Fred Elliott; b. 03 Feb 1910, d. 24 Aug 1983, US Navy
Gillham, Leila May (Finger); b. 06 May 1887, d. 30 Jun 1956
Gordon, W.J.; b. 13 May 1862, d. 12 Jul 1907
Hadden, Phil C.; b. 1901, d. 1940
Haggard, Mauda P.; b. 10 Jul 1858, d. 09 Jan 1881, wife of D.J.
Hamilton, Clyde; b. 1885, d. 1960
Hamilton, J.W.; b. 04 Aug 1925, d. 04 Jan 1945, TN Pfc. 335th Inf. WWII
Hamilton, Mattie Bell; b. 1889, d. 1956
Hardin, Helen Lee; b. 26 Nov 1891, d. 15 Mar 1923
Hardman, George Washington; b. 05 Oct 1870, d. 03 May 1948
Hartwell, B.J.; b. 08 Aug 1868, d. 02 Apr 1897, born in Goodrich, MI, husband of Ella V.
Hartwell, Laura B.; b. 06 May 1870, d. 17 Feb 1923, wife of Morris Victor
Hartwell, Morris Victor; b. 24 Nov 1861, d. 11 Jan 1944
Helton, Abner A.; b. 27 Feb 1873, d. 02 Dec 1960
Helton, Betty; b. 30 Nov 1883, d. 19 Aug 1957
Helton, Claude Franklin; b. 24 Sep 1921, d. 25 May 1941
Helton, Cornelius Edgar; b. 18 Jun 1888, d. 02 Nov 1964
Helton, Delia (Culp); b. 12 Jul 1896, d. 14 Aug 1974
Helton, Jessie B.; b. 05 Mar 1876, d. 22 Mar 1947
Helton, Jessie Mae; b. 07 May 1907, d. 03 Feb 1926
Hemphill, Elizabeth J.; b. 08 Nov 1835, d. 21 Mar 1854, daughter of ?? & E.B.
Hill, Allen W.; b. 26 Apr 1878, d. 24 Nov 1952
Hill, Burnes; b. 21 Oct 1914, d. 04 May 1936, son of Allen & Oda
Hill, Oda B.; b. 13 Apr 1875, d. 06 Sep 1946
Holland, Anna Mae; b. 21 Oct 1902, d. 23 Oct 1982
Holland, Smith E.; b. 04 Jul 1902, d. 24 Feb 1964
Holt, Edna (Strickland); b. 14 Aug 1880, d. 09 Oct 1967
Howard, Audrey C.; b. 05 May 1903, d. Apr 1970
Howard, Franky G.; b. 09 Mar 1903, d. 06 Mar 1904, child of James S. & Minnie M.
Howard, Irene V.; b. 1906, d. 1969
Howard, James S.; b. 1873, d. 1955
Howard, Leelar L.; b. 20 Aug 1900, d. 08 Mar 1904, child of James S. & Minnie M.
Howard, Mary T.; b. 1873, d. 1963
Howard, Minnie M.; b. 1880, d. 1928
Howard, W.S. Jr.; b. 17 Jun 1914, d. 14 Oct 1973
Howard, W.S.; b. 1867, d. 1940
Hughes, Frances; b. 28 Dec 1906, d. 10 Jan 1936, wife of Logan 
Hughes, Harrt T.; b. 23 Dec 1893, d. 30 May 1915, son of W.A. & Lillian
Hughes, John Gideon; b. 29 Jan 1896, d. 04 Nov 1988, 1st Lt. US Army WWI
Hughes, Lillian Frances; b. 06 Jan 1869, d. 12 Jul 1949
Hughes, Marjorie (Rucker); b. 12 Aug 1894, d. Mar 1983
Hughes, W.A.; b. 1866, d. 1946, Woodmen of the World Memorial
Jeter, Anna M.; b. 19 Apr 1907, d. 12 Jan 1989
Jeter, Carl A.; b. 09 Oct 1904, d. 11 Sep 1992
Jeter, Ermin L. (Benham); b. 1892, d. 1937
Jeter, James Ira; b. 1887, d. 1956
Jeter, Velma Lucille (Lard); b. 12 Apr 1923, d. 25 Nov 2007, wife of Vernon James, m: 27 Jun 1942
Jeter, Vernon James; b. 29 Jan 1917, d. 05 Jun 2002
Jeter, William H.; b. 15 Jun 1921, d. 21 Jun 2002, S Sgt US Army Air Force WWII
Jones, Allen; b. 26 Nov 1823, d. 26 Feb 1890
Jones, Delia; b. 26 Oct 1897, d. 02 Apr 1982
Jones, Jeffery Joe “Jeff”; b. 12 Jun 1962, d. 10 Dec 2005, Pfc. US Marine Corps
Jones, Joe A.; b. 29 Jul 1860, d. 13 Nov 1938
Jones, Joe Jake; b. 14 Jun 1939, only date
Jones, Nellie Mae; b. 10 Oct 1896, d. 20 Mar 1920
Jones, Robbin Ellen; b. 11 Aug 1943, only date, wife of Joe Jake, m: 26 Apr 1959
Jones, Sarah E.; b. 26 Dec 1826, d. 25 Oct 1905, wife of Allen
Jones, W.A.; b. 09 Dec 1894, d. 07 Apr 1973
Kloss, Emma Clara (Kinzy); b. 16 Jun 1870, d. 01 Apr 1952
Kloss, Theodore Louis; b. 15 Mar 1871, d. 11 Apr 1954
Lafferty, Ethel T.; b. 07 Oct 1881, d. Apr 1971
Lafferty, Forrest P.; b. 19 Jun 1908, d. 29 Jun 1991
Lafferty, Ruth D.; b. 12 Sep 1909, d. May 1984
Lafferty, Thomas P.; b. 1872, d. 1955
Lancaster, Ada (Ricketts); b. 1868, d. 1944
Lancaster, Albert L.; b. 08 Sep 1886, d. 24 Dec 1951
Lancaster, Elisha Sam; b. 1864, d. 1946
Lancaster, Lillian L.; b. 1893, d. 1977
Lineberry, Lee Ann; 1978, infant daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Timmy Lineberry
Love, Bonnie; b. 1919, d. 1997
Love, James E.; b. 05 Oct 1944, d. Mar 1980
Love, Nannie M. (Helton); b. 19 Jun 1867, d. 18 Dec 1939, wife of John T.
Love, Oscar L.; b. 15 Nov 1865, d. 15 Feb 1895
Mathis, Clara Marie; b. 1936, d. 1947
Mays, S.G.; b. 10 Dec 1861, d. 16 Nov 1886
McAlpin, 02 Feb 1921, d. 10 Oct 1993
Middleton, Lizzie (Davidson); b. 12 Sep 1871, d. 05 Jul 1910, daughter of Jack & Ann
Middleton, Mattie; b. 08 May 1875, d. 26 Jun 1887, daughter of A.J. & C.S.A.
Miller, Claire (Perkins); b. 17 Oct 1916, d. 08 Apr 1970
Miller, Dr. Richard W.; b. 01 Oct 1913, d. 26 Nov 1986 
Miller, Mary Elizabeth (Helton) “Mary Lib”; b. 26 Feb 1918, d. 21 Feb 1998, wife of Warren Blair Jr., parents of Warren Blair III
Miller, Meharriet; b. 02 Sep 1813, d. 09 Dec 1883, wife of Francis
Miller, Minnie (Patrick); b. 18 May 1885, d. 05 Mar 1937, wife of Warren Blair Sr
Miller, Mishie; b. 15 Aug 1850, d. 27 Jun 1912
Miller, Nora (Strickland) (Culp); b. 31 Jan 1894, d. Aug 1985
Miller, R. “Dick”; b. 22 Oct 1844, d. 29 Aug 1895
Miller, Warren Blair Jr. “W.B.”; b. 39 Jan 1911, d. 24 May 1964, Tec4 HQ Co. 14 Armored Div. WWII
Miller, Warren Blair Sr.; b. 13 Nov 1883, d. 17 May 1946, parents of Warren Blair Jr. & Dr. Richard W.
Minor, William H.; b. 12 Jul 1897, d. 12 Jan 1964, NY Pvt. 14 Co. 153rd Depot Brigade WWI
Morton, Robbie (Gillham); b. 07 Sep 1921, d. 30 Jun 1956
Mosen, D.R.; b. 31 Oct 1881, d. 13 Aug 1885
Mosen, E.R.; b. 27 Jan ????, d. 09 Sep 1886
Mosen, E.W.; b. 03 Apr 1887, d. 05 Sep ????, son of W.H. & M.E.
Mosen, Emma; b. 13 Apr 1847, d. 13 Sep 1919, wife of W.H.
Mosen, W.H.; b. 28 Jan 1851, d. 23 Sep 1945
Odle, Albert Adkins; b. 08 Mar 1873, d. 28 Jan 1955
Odle, Mattie (Garrett); b. 13 Jun 1879, d. 24 Mar 1980
Old, George W.; b. 17 Apr 1851, d. 24 Jul 1888
Old, I.H.; b. 24 Nov 1848, d. 01 May 1884
Parr, Elvira (Conner); b. 1848, d. 1916
Parr, Henry Warden; b. 1850, d. 1895
Phillips, Gladys H.; b. 15 Sep 1918, d. 26 Sep 1998
Phillips, J. Ben; b. 1871, d. 1952
Phillips, James Clyde; b. 17 Jul 1903, d. 10 Apr 1981, Pvt. US Army WWII
Phillips, Mary E.; b. 25 Sep 1882, d. Sep 1972
Phillips, Ray A.; b. 29 Jan 1915, d. 13 Sep 2001
Pickett, Henry; b. 04 Oct 1898, d. 16 Apr 1923
Pitts, Ed; b. 08 Sep 1876, d. 13 Jan 1923
Pitts, Hattie; b. 14 Dec 1882, d. 23 Apr 1960
Prater, Mamie (Seltzer); b. 03 Oct 1926, d. 14 Dec 2004, wife of William Sam “W.S.”
Prater, Melvin L.; b. 25 Nov 1953, d. 23 Dec 1997, son of Mamie (Seltzer)& William Sam “W.S.”
Prater, William Sam “W.S.”; b. 15 Dec 1924, d. 01 Sep 2011, US Army WWII
Rainey, Dorothy; b. 09 Aug 1926, d. 20 Nov 1995
Ray, John W.; b. 16 Sep 1898, d. Jan 1975
Ray, Olive G.; b. 31 Jan 1903, d. Oct 1976
Ricketts, Centhis F.; b. 12 Jan 1885, d. 14 Nov 1949
Ricketts, Dr. James A.; b. 22 Oct 1856, d. 20 Apr 1921, Woodmen of the World Memorial
Ricketts, Isabella; b. 10 Nov 1848, d. 10 Aug 1912, wife of T.R.
Ricketts, James Andrew; b. 26 Nov 1875, d. 21 Dec 1962
Ricketts, Lester Melvin; b. 15 Oct 1920, d. 10 Apr 1956
Ricketts, Lillian V.; b. 14 Feb 1873, d. 17 Jun 1893, daughter of T.R. & Isabella
Ricketts, Mary Jane (Hughes); b. 23 Aug 1860, d. 24 Feb 1943
Ricketts, Melodee Jeanne; b. & d.  08 Dec 1956
Ricketts, Minnie Lee; b. 03 Mar 1875, d. 16 Sep 1967
Ricketts, Tennie R.; b. 08 Feb 1845, d. 19 Sep 1898
Riley, Cephas; b. 28 Dec 1888, d. 23 Mar 1972
Riley, Irene; b. 16 Apr 1894, d. 04 Feb 1925, wife of Ed
Riley, T. Violet (Goforth) “Nee”; b. 17 Oct 1869, d. 05 Apr 1949
Rippy, John W.; b. 1872, d. 19??
Rippy, Lillie Bell; b. 1890, d. 1950
Roach, David; b. 04 Nov 1813, d. 21 Mar 1884
Roach, Delila; b. 05 Jun 1809, d. 21 Aug 1877, wife of David
Roach, James M.; b. 17 Dec 1832, d. 03 Dec 1878
Roberts, A. Lawson; b. 29 Jul 1879, d. 01 Feb 1935
Roberts, Dorothy Rhea; b. 10 Jun 1922, d. 01 Dec 2009, wife of John Nathan, m: 09 Oct 1942
Roberts, George Nathan; b. 11 Dec 1942, d. 21 Aug 1990
Roberts, George W.; b. 01 Aug 1882, d. 04 Mar 1947
Roberts, Ida R.; b. 18 Oct 1891, d. 30 Dec 1983
Roberts, James R.; b. 13 Sep 1911, d. 04 Apr 1974
Roberts, John N.; b. 13 Mar 1919, d. 10 Nov 1996
Roberts, Nelle D.; b. 21 Feb 1912, d. 11 Jul 2007, wife of James R.
Roberts, Sallie; b. 03 Apr 1874, d. 09 Mar 1928, wife of A. Lawson
Selph, Dr. Iley Nunn; b. 27 Mar 1830, d. 07 Feb 1894
Selph, Nannie T.; b. 22 Mar 1829, d. 07 Jan 1897
Selph, Nannie; b. 09 Dec 1868, d. 01 Jul 1872
Selph, Patti; b. 29 Nov 1870, d. 22 Jul 1871
Skinner, Margie N.; b. 1894, d. 1956
Skinner, William M.; b. 12 Oct 1901, d. May 1970
Smith, Elizabeth Lee; b. 14 Jan 1810, d. 18 Sep 1894, grandmother
Smith, infant twins; b. & d. 25 Feb 1882, twins of Thomas
Smith, infant; b. 13 Jan 1879, d. 17 Jan 1879, son of Thomas
Smith, John Tom; b. 11 Dec 1898, d. 22 Sep 1930
Smith, Thomas; b. 16 Jan 1843, d. 04 Aug 1913
Spurlock, Marie (Hughes); 25 Dec 1972
Spurlock, Mary Frances; b. 23 Dec 1917, d. 30 Jul 1995
Spurlock, Rev. John B.; 12 Apr 1951
Steele, Doris Faye (Bridges); b. 29 Sep 1939, d. 16 Feb 2008
Steele, Lochie Belle (Strickland); b. 27 Dec 1908, d. 18 Dec 1937
Stribling, Luella (Kloss); b. 16 Jan 1899, d. 12 Oct 1993
Stribling, Thomas Sigismund; b. 04 Mar 1881, d. 08 Jul 1965
Strickland, Carrie E.; b. 11 Nov 1896, d. 01 Mar 1930
Strickland, Dr. Robert H.; b. 15 Apr 1858, d. 04 Feb 1940
Strickland, Lillian; b. 1890, d. 1986
Stull, Clara (Hughes); b. 29 Jan 1898, d. 26 Aug 1980
Stull, Harry Lancaster; b. 09 Feb 1896, d. 21 Dec 1968, 1st Lt. 327th Inf. 32nd Div. TN WWI
Thompson, Hattie E.; b. 1884, d. 1957
Thompson, J. Earlon; b. 15 Apr 1907, d. 30 Oct 1974
Thompson, James L.; b. 1882, d. 1960
Thompson, Mary; b. 08 Feb 1920, d. 16 Aug 2001
Tinnon, J. Frank; b. 02 Jan 1854, d. 30 Apr 1930
Tinnon, Martha Ella; b. 31 Jul 1864, d. 11 Jan 1930, wife of J. Frank
Tucker, Lonnie K.; b. 14 Nov 1874, d. 03 Apr 1965
Tucker, Lula B.; b. 03 Dec 1877, d. 13 Dec 1957
Ward, Lura (Hughes) (Smith); b. 29 Jan 1898, d. 16 Feb 1996, In Memory of
Warken, Dorothy (Kloss); b. 26 Jul 1904, d. Oct 1984
Warken, Emma Lou; b. 1930, d. 1932
Warken, Jean Joseph Jr.; 1939
Warken, John Joseph; b. 04 Aug 1898, d. May 1965
Waters, Hexa T.; b. 02 Aug 1880, d. 27 Feb 1961
Waters, Jimmie Russ; b. 20 Jun 1944, only date
Waters, T. Norman; b. 22 Jul 1909, d. 21 Mar 1981
Waters, Thomas; b. 24 May 1881, d. 22 May 1964
Weaver, Mayme; b. 04 Jun 1905, d. Oct 1988
Weaver, Raymond; b. 20 Sep 1899, d. Mar 1971 
Wells, Bertha; b. 1883, d. 1953
Wells, Elias; b. 1830, d. 1900
Wells, Othel P.; infant 1925
Wells, Sarah J.; b. 1848, d. 1923
Wheat, James Willard; b. 29 Jun 1927, d. 24 Oct 2001, Pfc. US Army WWII
Wheat, Margaret (Alley); b. 07 Oct 1930, d. 29 Dec 2013
White, Bernice (Williams); b. 10 Feb 1907, d. 13 Apr 1997
Williams, Eugene C. Jr.; b. 23 Oct 1909, d. 12 Oct 1976
Williams, Eugene C.; b. 01 Aug 1884, d. Dec 1968
Williams, Gladys (Hill); b. 1890, d. 1943
Williams, Mildred (Jones); b. 23 Aug 1918, d. 19 Feb 1999
Wolf, Martha Ann; no dates visible, daughter of Dr. W.M. & C.H.
York, Linda (Alley); b. 24 Dec 1941, d. Feb 1980
This Completes Section “C”

Petition To Free Slaves (1825)

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Betty Peacock

with Will of John Akin appended

“To the honorable the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, now in session. We your humble petitions, heirs and legal representatives of John Akin, Dec’d, beg leave to represent to your honorable body, that the said John Akin, de’d, in his will ordered, willed and appointed Lott, a negro man servant of the said Akins, to be set free after three years service after his death and Esanah, a negro Girl to be set at liberty and made free immediately after his death. We therefore being the heirs and being willing that the said intentions of the said will of said Akins, dec’d should be compled with, pray your honorable body to pass such a law as may be thought most effectual for the final liberation and setting free said negroes, Lott having served the time required in s’d will of the said Akins, etc. and your petitioners in duty bound, will and pray.

//s//
W. V. Akin
William Grimes
Jacob Biffel
Moses Smith
Samuel W. Akin
John Akin
Robert H. Akin

Will of John Akin

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Akin, of the County of Wayne and State of Tennessee, being weak of boddy but of sound mind; calling to mind my mortality, I do feel it my duty to distribute my property amongst my children. I do make and order this my last weill and testament.

First: I bequeath to my eldest sone Robert Akin one yong bay borse & fourth of the crop and third of the Waggons and farming utentials.

I bequeath to my beloved son William B. Akin one third of an hundred acres of land where I now dwell lying on the waters of Tennessee in Wayne County and the fourth part of the hoggs and the fourth of the crop.

I bequeath to my beloved son Samuel Akins the third of the land, fourth of the crop and third of the waggons and third of the farming utentials.

I bequeath to my beloved son John Akin the third of the land, fourth of the crop and third of the waggons and third of the farming utentials.

I bequeath to my beloved daughter Martha L. Grimes one brown made and towo cows, Luck and Pink, and calf one bed and furniture and half the casting and loom and fourth of the hoggs —

I bequeath to my beloved daughter Pemelia Smith, one bed and furniture, one cow and calf, one three year old steer and yong sorrel mare and fourth of the hoggs.

I bequeath to my beloved daughter Ellenor Biffel, the remainder of the cattle and clock and half of the casting and dresser furniture, a yong gray horse, apails[?] and chairs and fourth of the hoggs. The books to be distributed amongst all the heirs.

I have through the prudence of God, two Black people cast on my care, the eldest named Esanah, the other Lot. I hereby ordain and decree that Esanah shall be free at my decease, free from bondage and from all persons. Lot, a black boy, I do ordain and decree that he shall serve my son John Akin three years after my deseace, then he shall be free from bondage and all persons.

I hereby appoint my beloved sons, Robert and Samuel Akin to be my faithful executors of this my last will and testament. Given under my hand and seal this 19th day of July 1821. //s// John AKin {Seal}

Witnesses:
Jacob Biffel
Joseph Scott

The execution of the last will and testament of John Akins was proved by the oaths of Jacob BBiffel and Joseph Scott.

The execution of the last will and testament of John Akins was proved by the oaths of Jacob Biffel and Joseph Scott and done in open Court in December Term 1821. Attest By //s// William Barnett, Clerk

State of Tennessee, Wayne County I, William Barnett, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session for Wayne County do hereby certify that this is a true coppy of the last will and testament of John Akins, Deceased, recorded in my office which I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the county to be affixed there too. Witness, Wm. Barnett, Clerk at office this 6th day of Oct 1825. //s// William Barnett, Clerk, by deputy, Wm. R. D. Barnett.

Balentine Cemetery

Posted on June 22, 2014 by

Balentine Cemetery

GPS Coordinates 35° 01¢ 10² N, 87° 50¢ 46² W

LOCATION: To reach the Balentine Cemetery, turn off the Natchez Trace Parkway ¼ mile north of the Alabama Tennessee state line onto Cooper Ridge Road. Keep right and travel 6/10 of a mile and bear to the left. A sign points the way. Go approximately 1 mile to the cemetery on the left.

There are approximately 159 known graves and 24 unknown graves in this cemetery. This survey is current as of June 4, 2007. Surveyed by David & Martha Montgomery at {dmont1734@comcast.net}. Updated 17 May 2013.

Additional information provided by Grace Wright Carver. Mrs. Carver stated, “There are graves lost in this cemetery. I attended the funeral for Bell Cooper, but no grave marker was erected.”

Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Jim (James M. Mitchell and Eliza C. Balentine) 26 Dec 1869. (I don’t know if this is the right one. I think he drowned in Big Cypress Creek near Hyde’s Chapel.)

This survey is current as of June 21, 2014. Enumerated by David & Martha Montgomery at dmont1734@comcast.net

Balentine, Amanda; b. 05 Jan 1871, d. 12 Oct 1887, daughter of John S. & Nancy Ann Balentine, Charlie H.; b. 24 Sep 1883, d. 11 Jan 1965 Balentine, Elbert J.; b. 27 Jun 1891, d. 25 Oct 1936 Balentine, Icie E.; b. 04 Mar 1889, d. 23 May 1969 Balentine, infant; b. 03 Apr 1913, d. 05 Apr 1913, daughter of R.H. & Alice Balentine, infant; no dates, daughter of R.H. & B.J. Balentine, infant; no dates, son of R.H. & B.J. Balentine, Ivadean; b. 02 Jun 1933, d. 20 Oct 1933 Balentine, J.D.; b. 19 Jul 1850, d. 16 May 1921 Balentine, Jennie; b. 09 Jun 1860, d. 07 Jan 1909, wife of R.H. Balentine, John A.; b. 29 Sep 1869, d. 20 Sep 1887, son of John S. & Nancy Ann Balentine, John E.; b. 10 Nov 1878, d. 10 Mar 1896 Balentine, John S.; b. 26 Jun 1848, d. 25 Jan 1926 Balentine, Lucille (Tidwell); b. 11 Sep 1922, d. 27 Sep 2013, wife of Vernice Glenn, m: 14 Dec 1941 Balentine, Mary J.; b. 26 Jan 1886, d. 28 Aug 1902, daughter of R.H. & B.J. Balentine, Mattie Ada; b. 24 Feb 1890, d. 24 Nov 1961 Balentine, Merga; b. 08 Jan 1917, d. 08 Mar 1917 Balentine, Nancy Ann; b. 04 Feb 1851, d. 09 Dec 1930 Balentine, Nancy J.; b. 11 Oct 1848, d. 20 Dec 1909 Balentine, Pollie Ann; b. 27 Dec 1829, d. 15 Mar 1891, wife of R.H. Balentine, R.H.; b. 11 Jan 1827, d. 19 Mar 1882 Balentine, R.H.; b. 18 Aug 1855, d. 02 Mar 1917, husband of Alice Balentine, Roscoe Moore; b. 23 Aug 1941, d. 29 Dec 2012, husband of Annette Balentine, Ross; b. 02 Apr 1915, d. 16 Jun 1917, son of R.H. & Alice Balentine, Sammy; no dates or info Balentine, Thomas G.; b. 06 Feb 1897, d. 05 Jul 1919, son of R.H. & B.J. Balentine, Vernice Glenn; b. 09 Sep 1918, d. 20 Oct 2008 Balentine, Virginia Annette; b. 25 Feb 1940, only date, wife of 1st Leonard Weaver, 2nd Roscoe Moore Balentine Barkley, Alvin; b. 03 Oct 1906, d. 01 Apr 1966Barkley, John R.; b. 23 Feb 1880, d. 01 Feb 1960 Barkley, Lucille (Horton); 20 Aug 1925, only date, wife of Willie H., m: 28 Mar 1942 Barkley, Mary C.; b. 25 Feb 1880, d. 14 Feb 1971 Barkley, Willie H.; b. 22 Jul 1923, d. 18 May 1994 Barnett, George W.; b. 12 Feb 1891, d. 17 Nov 1892, son of J.O. & W.M. Barnett, Jesse S.; b. 11 Jun 1815, d. 27 Mar 1890, husband of S.R. Barnett, Mattie; b. 10 Nov 1903, d. 10 Oct 1904, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J.O. Barnett Barnett, McHobert b. 17 Sep 1897, d. 24 Sep 1897, son of Mr. & Mrs. J.O. Barnett Bevis, A. Jackson; b. 14 May 1879, d. 04 May 1937 Bevis, A.J.F.; b. 22 Jul 1861, d. 17 Mar 1937 Bevis, Arlon E.; b. 26 Mar 1945, d. 21 Feb 2003 Bevis, Dalton W.; b. 12 Apr 1916, d. 08 Jun 1986 Bevis, David Alvie Warren; b. 31 Dec 1907, d. 30 Mar 1908, son of J.H. & M.I. Bevis, Doil; b. 21 May 1920, d. 31 Jan 2004 Bevis, Ester Irene “Rena”; b. 19 Jul 1893, d. 11 Feb 1970 Bevis, Frederick Eugene “Frog”; b. 19 Aug 1935, d. 05 Jun 2010 Bevis, Gertie (Holt); b. 27 Feb 1921, d. 03 May 2013, wife of Doil, m: 16 Jun 1940 Bevis, Gertie; b. 18 Mar 1917, d. 10 Oct 1917, daughter of J.A. & E.I. Bevis, infant; b. & d. 01 May 1923, daughter of J.A. & E.I. Bevis, infant; d. 13 Apr 1942, son of J.M. & Reba Bevis, infant; d. 18 Mar 1950, infant of Mr. & Mrs. Owen Bevis Bevis, James H.; b. 1880, d. 1949 Bevis, Jeames Washington; b. 14 Feb 1853, d. 25 Aug 1910 Bevis, Jessie Andrew “Ander”; b. 08 Feb 1890, d. 17 Mar 1980 Bevis, Jessie Andrew Jr “Jay”.; b. 16 Sep 1921, d. 28 May 2009, husband of Sadie Bevis, Jewel (McFall); b. 09 Nov 1916, d. 14 Jun 1945 Bevis, John Daniel; d. 19 Jul 1924, infant son of Charlie & America Bevis Bevis, Laura; b. 24 Feb 1882, d. 16 Apr 1984 Bevis, Lawrence P.; b. 01 Jun 1948, d. 08 Jun 1948, son of Doil & Gertie Bevis, Lea; b. 09 Dec 1915, d. 13 Jan 2004 Bevis, Lena; b. 10 Aug 1876, d. 26 Aug 1910 Bevis, Louise; b. 02 Apr 1943, only date, wife of Frederick Eugene “Frog” Bevis, M. Ida; b. 1880, d. 1974 Bevis, Martha Ann; b. 25 Feb 1888, d. 17 Jul 1907, daughter of J.W. & M.J. Bevis, Martha Jane; b. 16 May 1861, d. 17 Apr 1935 Bevis, Marvin; b. 19 Dec 1911, d. 31 Dec 1985 Bevis, Ora Belle; b. 28 Jul 1917, d. 13 Nov 1918 Bevis, R.I.; b. 01 Jan 1858, d. 27 Jun 1925, wife of A.J.F. Bevis, Reba M.; b. 29 Aug 1916, d. 23 Nov 1974 Bevis, Robbie; b. 15 Jul 1918, d. 20 May 1943, wife of W.D. Bevis Bevis, Roxie A.; b. 09 Nov 1891, d. 14 May 1931 Bevis, Roy Lelton; b. 16 Feb 1912, d. 10 May 1912, son of J.H. & M.I. Bevis, Turner; b. 18 Mar 1884, d. 02 Sep 1958 Bevis, Willie R.; b. 13 Feb 1910, d. 24 Mar 1980 Chambers, Margie L.; b. 09 Oct 1921, d. 08 Apr 2005 Cooper, James; b. 16 Feb 1882, d. 24 Jul 1962 Cooper, Joe; d. 04 Jun 1892, 74 years of age Cooper, Martha; d. 10 Nov 1894, 68 years of age Covington, Alan Howard; b. 06 Jul 1948, d. 08 Nov 1993, SP4 US Army Vietnam Covington, George N.; b. 18 Apr 1926, d. 02 Jan 1990, S1 US Navy WWII Covington, Lois G.; b. 04 Jan 1922, d. 21 Aug 2007, wife of George N., m: 13 Mar 1954 Covington, Wanda M.; b. 01 Sep 1948, d. 20 Jan 2005, wife of Alan, m: 16 Sep 1977 Creasy, Jesse Walter; b. 21 Jul 1921, d. 08 Apr 1994, Tec5 US Army WWII Creasy, Mary L.; b. 05 Jan 1937, only date Davis, Clara N. (Smith); b. 19 Mar 1934, d. 29 Mar 1983 Dulin, Mary (Cooper); b. 21 Oct 1856, d. 13 Jun 1920 Franks, Alpha B.; b. 27 Sep 1909, d. 07 Feb 1973 Franks, Earl T.; b. 21 Feb 1909, d. 01 Jan 1981 Gean, Ada B.; b. 16 Aug 1895, d. Oct 1978 Gean, Homer H.; b. 16 Sep 1901, d. Apr 1978 Hammack, Altie B.; b. 17 May 1908, d. 28 Mar 1975 Hammack, James I.; b. 30 Jan 1873, d. 16 Nov 1958 Hammack, Lue Ethel; b. 08 May 1881, d. 14 Aug 1934 Hammack, Roy Lee; b. 10 Apr 1933, d. 06 Mar 1934, son of D.L. & Alta Hanback, Covie; b. 02 May 1902, d. 29 May 1922, son of W.A. & M.J. Hanback, Elmer E.; b. 06 Jul 1914, d. 13 Jun 1916, son of J.A. & M.C. Hanback, infant; d. 02 May 1902, daughter of W.A. & M.J. Hanback, Pearle; b. 18 Jun 1911, d. 08 Sep 1921, daughter of J.A. & M.C. Hanback, Vinnie; b. 10 Jan 1872, d. 26 Jun 1906 Hayes, Lisa; b. 01 Dec 1965, only date Hayes, Michael Dewayne; b. 02 Sep 1964, d. 14 May 2013, National Guard Hayes, Ottis Jude; b. 13 Feb 1939, d. 24 Dec 2006, husband of Wanda June (Bevis) Hayes, Wanda June (Bevis); b. 19 Jul 1939, d. 23 Sep 2011, m: 03 Aug 1962 Henson, Elizabeth (Bevis); b. 02 Nov 1895, d. 09 Dec 1958 Henson, J. Clifford; b. 22 Feb 1912, d. 11 Sep 1912, son of W.M. & M.E. Hill, infant; no information Hill, infant; no information Hill, Jinnie; b. 09 Apr 1870, d. 25 Oct 1945 Hinton, Charlean B.; b. 10 Oct 1947, only date Hinton, Clifton; b. 04 Dec 1923, d. 30 Jun 2011, husband of Wadean (Johnson) Hinton, Ellen; b. 31 Oct 1886, d. 28 Nov 1963, wife of James C. Hinton, Hazel I.; b. 15 Dec 1931, d. 25 Jun 2007, wife of Lell B. Hinton, James C. “Buddy”; b. 20 Jun 1888, d. 23 Jul 1958 Hinton, Jerry Glenn; b. 19 Sep 1947, d. 16 May 1980, Sgt. US Army Vietnam Hinton, Lell B.; b. 02 Aug 1928, d. 20 Aug 2009 Hinton, Wadean; b. 12 Aug 1925, only date Howard, Samuel; d. 08 Apr 1967, infant son of Frank & Doris Johnson, Annie Correne; b. 27 Dec 1933, d. 29 Apr 1980, wife of B.D. Johnson, Bradford David; b. 23 Dec 1908, d. 06 Dec 1994 Johnson, David A.; b. 10 May 1888, d. 21 Jul 1974 Johnson, Dora Bell; b. 19 Feb 1911, d. 10 Dec 1952 Johnson, Edna F.; b. 25 May 1895, d. 29 Aug 1988 Johnson, Ellis; b. 19 Nov 1914, d. 07 Apr 1981 Johnson, J.W. “Bill”; b. 11 Aug 1882, d. 21 Dec 1959 Johnson, J.W.; b. 12 May 1871, d. 15 Sep 1910 Johnson, Margaett “Marg”; b. 23 Apr 1874, d. 25 Dec 1947 Johnson, Mary A.; b. 31 Jan 1897, d. 01 Sep 1974 Johnson, Mary Jane; b. 04 Dec 1849, d. 10 Oct 1896, wife of H.W. Johnson, Renie; b. 16 Oct 1866, d. 20 Feb 1943 Mansonia, Martha; no information McFall, Bulah G.; b. 03 Mar 1915, d. 23 May 1915, daughter of W.T. & O.S. McFall, Edward; b. 03 Aug 1914, d. 01 May 1965 McFall, Ollie Slinnie; b. 21 Jul 1899, d. 07 May 1917, wife of W.T. McFall, Walker Turner; b. 11 May 1891, d. 24 Jan 1962, AL Pfc. BTRY “F” 317th Fld Arty WWI McFall, Waverly; b. 1941, d. 1990 Mitchell, Jim; no dates Mitchell, Mrs. Jim; no dates Patterson, Ed; b. 05 May 1878, d. 02 May 1957 Petty, Alton; b. 20 Oct un 2014, US Army Korea Petty, Billy Gene; b. 14 Sep 1933, d. 21 Apr 1989 Petty, Bud Hardin; b. 27 Oct 1889, d. 15 Dec 1964 Petty, Climmie E.; b. 07 Oct 1897, d. 22 Jan 1990 Reaves, Betty; 06 Feb 1906, only date Reaves, Clara; Apr 1906, only date Reaves, Clarence; no dates Reaves, Cleatus Ray Jr.; b. 30 Jan 1963, d. 30 Nov 2012 Reaves, Dulcie; 25 Dec 1923, only date Reaves, George H.; b. 09 Sep 1882, d. 27 Apr 1976 Reaves, L.H.; b. 08 Jul 1846, d. 26 Oct 1936 Reaves, Mattie; b. 08 Mar 1848, d. 02 Jul 1930 Reaves, Willard A.; b. 30 Sep 1939, d. 17 Jan 1940, son of Mr. & Mrs. W.E. Reaves Scott, Cora; b. 04 Feb 1908, d. 21 Feb 1908, daughter of J.C. & S.J. Scott South, Jesse Desmer; b. 30 Oct 1955, d. 04 Apr 1991, Sgt. US Army Stoves, Joe Johnson; b. 03 Jan 1884, d. 23 Nov 1936 Stowe, Evie O.; b. 13 Dec 1903, d. 10 Aug 1922, daughter of T.H. & H.R. Stowe Stowe, Henritta; b. 17 Aug 1859, d. 20 May 1929, wife of T.H. Stowe, Leanoer; b. 27 Jan 1882, d. 23 Aug 1904, son of T.H. & H.R. Stowe Stowe, Martha Jane; b. 25 Dec 1889, d. 07 Sep 1937 Stowe, Tal; 11 Oct 1931, only date Vickery, Eugene; b. 12 Mar 1944, d. 19 Dec 1944, infant son of Woodie & Merga Vickery, Jacklyn Gay; b. 13 Feb 1955, d. 15 Mar 1955, infant daughter of Woodie & Merga Vickery, Jackson Thomas “J.T.”; b. 06 Feb 1942, d. 07 May 2012, husband of Donna M. Vickery, Merga Marie (Bevis); b. 23 Apr 1918, d. 14 Nov 1997, wife of William, m: 04 Nov 1934 Vickery, William “Woodie”; b. 22 Mar 1914, d. 15 Jul 1987 Watson, Mary Ann (Vickery)(Vaden); b. 14 Dec 1945, d. 11 Apr 2007 Weaver, Leonard; b. 10 Mar 1940, d. 10 Sep 1984, husband of Virginia Annette Weeks, Bill; b. 18 May 1921, d. 17 Jul 1964 Weeks, Verta; 29 Mar 1914, only dateWhite, Dollie; b. 18 Feb 1890, d. 13 Dec 1944 Williams, Claborn; b. 22 Sep 1930, d. 21 Dec 1936, son of E.E. & C.E. Williams Williams, infant; 1908, only date, infant of Sue Bet Williams, infant; b. 22 Sep 1930, d. 10 Nov 1930, daughter of E.E. & C.E. Williams Williams, Sue Bet; b. 1879, d. 1910 Wright, Birdie Lois; b. 15 Jul 1915, d. 04 Aug 1995 Wright, Newton Howard; 18 Sep 1911, d. 19 Dec 2006, husband of Birdie Lois

Additional information provided by Grace Wright Carver. Mrs. Carver stated, “There are graves lost in this cemetery. I attended the funeral for Bell Cooper, but no grave marker was erected.” I think he drowned in Big Cypress Creek near Hyde’s Chapel.

History of the Martin’s Mills Community

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Betty Peacock

by Ruby Johnson

North of Pinhook about four or five miles lies a small community called Martin’s Mills. It is located in the forks of Weatherford and Indian creek and north across Indian Creek and West across Weatherford Creek to the Hardin County line.

As I searched for information on Martin’s Mills Kenneth Skillern let me borrow the history of the Martin family taken from Wayne County Historian, Volume 4, Number 3, September 1991. This was the same family for which Martin’s Mills was named and was written by Richard W. Martin of Athens, Alabama.

Ancestors of the Martins came from Belfast, Ireland to America between 1750 and 1760 and settled in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Jefferson Martin, who finally settled in Wayne County, was the oldest of ten brothers and sisters all born in Bourbon County. He was born February 1803. All the children attended the common schools of Kentucky which were primitive structures without a floor and furnished with slab benches.

Before the Civil War, the Martin family was divided and Jefferson moved to Williamson County, Tennessee in 1827. There he met Esther L. Stuart and they were married January 8, 1829. In the next ten years she and Jefferson became the parents of four children, all born in Williamson County.

In the early 1850’s, Jefferson’s family moved to Lawrence County, Tennessee where he and his oldest son, Edward B., were in the real estate business.

Their next move brought them to Martin’s Mills in Wayne County, Tennessee. Moving with Jefferson was his wife, Esther, their daughter, Sarah Martin Atkins and her son, and Edward B. and his wife, Mary Ruth and son Jim.

Jefferson and son, Edward B., bought Cravens Mills on Weatherford Creek for $15,000.00 and 600 acres of land on Indian Creek for $4,000.00. Then on August 25, 1860, the bought 22½ acres from L. P. Cheatham.

Prior to the Civil War they were operating a steam mill, water mill, grist mill, brewery, cotton gin and a distillery. They also had a general store which carried all the needs of the families in the Martin’s Mills area within a radius of ten to twelve miles. To keep the store furnished, they had to travel by wagon up Gant Hill and across the ridge to Clifton to meet the boats to buy their commodities.

The local people came to the mills to get corn ground into meal or to have timber sawed into lumber. While there they purchased other needed items such as salt, coffee, sugar, snuff, chewing tobacco and overalls. With the tanyard they could get shoes and some farm equipment.

In the 1860 Wayne County census, Jefferson Martin is shown as the owner of five slaves and his son, Edward B, as the owner of four. The slaves were used to help run the mills, cotton gin and sawmill.

On the morning of May 29, 1863, the Civil War came to Martin’s Mills. In a report made by Captain Eagleton Carmichael of Company B, 15^thIllinois Cavalry to his headquarters in Corinth, Mississippi on June 2, 1863, he states that he chased Biffle’s band of guerrillas in the area around Martin’s Mills and Pinhook on the morning of the 29^th of May. The Martin’s Mills had all been destroyed with only a concrete dam remaining. All the wheat fields had been burned and the women went to the burned mills and scooped up flour that was spilled on the ground.

Just twelve days after the battle of Martin’s Mills, Jefferson Martin’s wife died and was taken back to Mt. Ararat Cemetery in Lawrence County to be buried with others in the family.

In February of 1864, the Martins bought 172½ acres at Martin’s Mills for $1,800.00. They put the troubles of the war behind them and rebuilt the mills. Soon they were in business again and glad to be alive.

On August 14, 1873, a post office was established at Martin’s Mills with Edward B. Martin appointed the first postmaster. While at Martin’s Mills he served as a Justice of the Peace and as Chairman of the County Court of Wayne County. He retired as postmaster on September 7, 1882. After his father, Jefferson died in Waynesboro in 1886, he sold all their real estate at Martin’s Mills and went to Cisco, Texas to live with his son, Jim. He died in June 1893 and was buried there. From that time to the present, this area has been called Martin’s Mills, a well deserved name.

Myers, Paulk (John Paulk) and Company, dealers in dry goods, groceries and general merchandise may have been the buyers of some of the real estate sold by the Martins. They went into business in 1895.

In 1899, Frank Parker was also a dealer in general merchandise in the area.

In the early 1900’s, S. R. Eaton operated a general merchandise store north of Morgan Branch.

J. A. Lacefield built a two story house and a store and began operating a general merchandise store and a cotton gin in 1906. In 1917, Mr. Lacefield sold his property to A. A. Johnson and he and Taylor Morgan operated the store and cotton gin. After they went out of business, Isham Beckham and several others had a store there until it ceased to be in operation. Part of this store building is still standing, a reminder of times that were for the older generation.

Dan Wilkerson also operated a general store and grist mill in the early to mid-1900’s. This old building is also no longer in use.

John Paulk sold his property to Mrs. Mary Newborn and she, along with her son, Henry Newborn, and her son-in-law, Luther Webb and wife, moved in. Later on Henry Newborn became the postmaster with the help of his wife, Emma (Wilbanks) Newborn. Dan Wilkerson carried the mail and John Beckham brought the mail from Waynesboro to the post office.

The next postmaster I am told was Arthur Chowning. I do not know how long each one served, but the post office was eventually moved to Lutts. The Martin’s Mills area were served for many years bu the Lutts post office until this route was switched to Collinwood.

John Greeson was probably the first mail carried from Lutts to Martin’s Mills. He carried the mail in a buggy pulled by two big black horses. His wife Cora, was his substitute and rode side saddle on a horse to deliver the mail, which must have taken all day. The John Morgan carried the mail for several years followed by his son, David, for a short time. When David was transferred to the Collinwood post office, Grady Sinclair became the last mail carrier from Lutts to Martin’s Mills. After the route was switched to Collinwood, Dumont Hanback, W. C. Smith and at the present time Doyle Risner have carried the mail for Martin’s Mills.

The history of Martin’s Mills would not be complete without mentioning the Rose Normal school of the 1800’s. Professor Robert Sutton, the president, and Professor Tolbert McAnnally, an outstanding schoolmaster, taught at Rose Normal which was a college. It was much more than an elementary school. People who really wanted to be educated in those days were students there. Many students boarded in the boarding hall including Superintendent John Gallien, Judge Frank Melson and my uncle, William Eli Cherry of Hardin County. Many local people were also educated there.

The boarding hall was located on what is now Brodie Johnson’s farm by a well that is still useable. The Rose Normal School burned more than a hundred years ago and the boarding hall was torn down and used in building a dwelling house.

In 1912, the Rose School was built and later on in the 1900’s another room was added. It was finally called the Martin’s Mills School and served the community until it was consolidated with the Pinhook School in the early 1940’s.

Another school was located on the G. W. Johnson farm in the early 1900’s on the north side of Indian Creek in what was called the Gant Bottom. This school for the colored people was also their church.

The only other church at this time was the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1907 on December 10, H. H. Smith sold seven sixteenths of an acres more or less for $50.00 for the building. The M.E. Church used this property until October 1920 when it was sold to A. A. Johnson for $400.00 with P. D. Hall, James Lawson and W. H. Weaver as witnesses and J. D. Horton, Notary Public.

During the 1930’s the preachers from the Christian Church in Waynesboro came one Sunday afternoon a month and preached in the Martin’s Mills school building.

In September 1948, the Church of Christ started meeting in the vacant school building. In 1960, the congregation built a church building on land donated by Clura and Elizabeth Wilkerson which is still being used at the present time.

In years past the Skinner Farm on the north side of Indian creek had always been a source of community pride. After going through a gate there was a long lane leading up to a plantation type house with big cedars in the yard which was surrounded by a white picket fence.

During the last 1800’s and early 1900’s Samuel H. Sinclair, born in 1839, was the owned of the Skinner farm. He had married Eliza A. Harbour. A farmer of the farm was Elisha Harbour, probably a close relative. Sinclair owned more than 800 acres on Indian Creek.

In the 1880 census, Mr. Sinclair had three children: Minnie, Lina and James Samuel who was born in 1877 and died in 1896. Lina, born in 1874, was living in Kentucky in the late 1800’s and had married a Mr. Skinner. they had one son, born in 1896. In 1910, Lina was a widow at age 36 and Sinclair, her son, was 14 years old.

Samuel H. Sinclair was still living in April 1912 when he made a will that had not been probated in 1920. In his will he made his daughter, Minnie Martin trustee leaving land in nearby Hardin County to her and what is known as the Skinner Farm in trust to Lina and her heirs. After her father died, Lina and her son, Sinclair, remained on the farm for sometime but finally moved back to Kentucky where her granddaughter lived. Her son stayed at the farm for some time before going up north to work. At their deaths they were all buried at Mt. Hebron.

Through the years several different families occupied the Skinner House, but in 1933, the Joel Yeiser, Sr. family moved there and stayed until 1975. While operating the farm he served eight years as County Judge and five terms as County Trustee. In 1867, he died and was buried at Mt. Hebron. His wife, Mary (Young) Yeiser and daughter Sue continued to live on the farm until 1875 when they moved to Waynesboro. Sue died suddenly in 1988 and was buried alongside her father. Their son, Joel, Jr., who lived in Waynesboro, continued to operate their farms at Martin’s Mills until his death in 1991. He was also buried at Mt. Hebron.

In the Wayne County record of cemeteries, six cemeteries are listed in the Martin’s Mills area. First is the Eaton Cemetery on a hill at the Ernest Warrington farm where the Daniel Eaton family and some of the Yerby family are buried. The nine graves are dated from 1886 to 1941.

The second cemetery is the Herndon Cemetery located on the same farm about 300 yards behind Chrystine Warrington’s house on the east side of Weatherford Creek Road. Three graves are visible but one tombstone has grown into a cedar tree and the inscription cannot be read. One foot stone is marked W. H. It is believed that William and Sarah Herndon are buried there. Two graves have mounds of stone but no inscription.

The third cemetery is the Rose Cemetery up Morgan Branch from Brodie Johnson’s farm. Six members of the Rose family were buried there in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

The fourth cemetery is across Weatherford Creek at the top of a hill behind the Ronnie Yeiser farm. It is called the Cook Cemetery with tombstones dated from 1910 to 1920.

The fifth cemetery is called the Horton Cemetery by some and the Martin Cemetery by others. It is located on the west side of Weatherford Creek on the Tom Helton farm. The tombstones are dated from 1868 to 1939. Thomas Stribling, a Civil War veteran, is buried there. This is a larger cemetery than the others with close to thirty graves having tombstones.

The sixth cemetery is called Davana. It is one mile east of Hardin County line on a hill south of Indian Creek on Alfred Gallaher’s farm. Three members of the Davana family were buried there from 1834 to 1847.

Special thanks to the following people for information used to write this history: Ruby Reece; Grady Sinclair; Clura Wilkerson; and June Scott.

References: Wayne County Cemetery Records and old deeds.

Short History of Collinwood

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Betty Peacock

Written by the late Eva BURNS SMITH LUTTRELL

Collinwood, located in the center of Wayne County is included in the 150 acres tract of land that was granted by the State of Tennessee to Mr. A. G. McDOUGAL by Grant No. 28 containing 2500 acres of land on Butler and Shawnattee Creek. This was on April 12, 1847. Then on September 11, 1849, the 150 acres, of which Collinwood is located, was conveyed to James TILLEY by Mr. McDOUGAL for $20.00 in hand.

Five years later, Mr. TILLEY sold the land to Harmon LAKEY and authorized McDOUGAL to make Mr. LAKEY a deed to it. Then Mr. TILLEY moved to Arkansas, Mr. LAKEY fenced in some of the land and farmed it for forty-six years. He died in 1898 leaving a son William LAKEY as his only heir. Nine years later William LAKEY sold the land to Jasper McWILLIAMS for $250.00. Three years later on September 1904, Jasper McWILLIAMS sold to a Mr. G. N. SCOTT for $500.00. Seven years later on December 29, 1911, Mr. G. N. SCOTT sold it to a Mr. W. M. SCOTT for $2,000. One year later, August 17, 1912, Mr. W. M. SCOTT sold it to a Mr. Wes McGEE for $2,500.00 and then seven days later Mr. McGEE sold it to Mr. J. E. WILBURN for $2,500.00. At this time there were just a few scattered houses owned by settlers who did some farming and timber work.

Early in 1913, the Superior Lumber and Tie Company purchased several acres of forest land around the area where Collinwood is now located. W. W. COLLINS was a Superintendent of the operations for the company and it seems was a man of great energy. He hurriedly set up the company’s sawmills, and started a plan toward building a town. He named the town Collinwood – Collin for him and wood because of the great wood industry. At this time the Collinwood Land Company was formed by the businessmen of the town along with the companies. They purchased the land from Mr. J. E. WILBURN for $12,000.00. They hired an engineer, a Mr. Edward LULL, to lay out the town. They sub-divided a portion of the land into town lots and laid off and located a number of streets and alleys.

In December of 1913 the first train pulled into the settlement. Work had begun one year before by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Company who had a contact to build and operate the railroad known as the Tennessee Western Railroad Company, and to furnish telegraph equipment and lines from Collinwood to St. Joseph, Tennessee. There was much excitement ion the town when the first train pulled in for its first shipment of lumber.

As soon as possible buildings were started being built. Some of the first buildings were a Drug Store owned by S. E. BYLER, a Grocery and Dry Goods Store owned by J. L. BURNS, and a Hardware Store owned by Gard WHITTEN, a Feed Store owned by Harman BRYANT and a Boarding House owned by T. A. ADKINSON.

In 1917 the Collinwood Land Company sold out to the Tennessee Valley Iron and Railroad Company for $5.00 cash and other goods and valuable sufficient considerations.

A brick plant was constructed where the Lumber Company is now situated and bricks were made to build the brick buildings, one of the first being the Bank of Collinwood.

The crashing sound of falling timber, the hissing of locomotives and the rush of immigrants gave Collinwood a real boom town air and the population reached two thousand. All this was before World War I. The town was incorporated in 1915, but this lasted only a couple of years. During this time a Mr. HOLMES started publishing a newspaper called the Collinwood Pilot and it had all the splendor of a frontier newspaper. A beautiful depot was built.

When the outbreak of war in Europe came and Uncle Sam began scouting around for something to fight his war with, the still large reserves of hardwoods beckoned and in almost not time two thousand men were at work setting up a chemical plant with which to manufacture alcohol, acetate of lime, car tar, pig iron and charcoal. The furnace for the plant was shipped from Rusk, Texas. In order to keep a supply of wood for the chemical plant and logs for the sawmills, a tram line made if wood and similar to a railroad was constructed to haul the logs from the forest to the mill. These trams were first pulled by a steam engine but they didn’t prove successful. Then mules and horses were used to pull them. This brought on a demand for horses and some car loads of wild western horses were being shipped to the Collinwood area and sold at auction.

The town took on a very lively atmosphere. Three trains came in each day, two of them passengers. Each time the train whistle would sound the town would gather at the depot because each time the train came it meant more new people. They came from all sections of the country but most of them came from the North and East and the Southern people could hardly understand their language. Included with these people from the East were the personnel of the companies. They built fine homes in the area where Hassell & Hughes Lumber Company is now located. These homes had running water and baths which was unheard of until then.

The Collinwood Hotel, called the Highland Inn, was rapidly constructed and the company built a huge commissary and did a thriving business along with the other stores that were built. Even a silent moving picture theater was built and each week it was filled with people to see Hoot Gibson and other great actors of that time. Each week a boxing match was staged as an added attraction. This drew many fans as well as boxers. There were several boxers from this area who were great. One who was champ for quite a while was Earl CARTER.

During these days of wealth and merriment, three horseless carriages were brought into Wayne County. One of these was owned by J. D. DUNN. It was an air cooled Franklin and the many predicaments Mr. DUNN got into with it were quite interesting.

The first doctors in Collinwood were S. E. BYLER, who was Doctor and Druggist; Dr. W. W. RIPPY, Dr. REYNOLDS, and Dr. J. F. TOWNSEND. The first dentist was Dr. BLACK.

Miss Mamie ADKINSON taught the first school, a one room building. Later a larger school was built where the present elementary school now stands.

The Southern Methodist Church was built in 1917 and the First Methodist Church in 1918.

Then came Armistice Day. The war was over. The government closed down the plant and Collinwood suffered a slight depression. But in 1919, workers were sent back and the plant was operated for about a year then the Tennessee Valley Iron and Railroad Company was declared insolvent and the Tennessee Charcoal Company bought most of the property including the vast forests. They cut lumber and shipped it out to other plants and kept the town going for several more years.

Along about 1928 Collinwood’s world quivered and tottered. The stock market broke too. Work on every project stopped. The hotel burned down and Collinwood folded. The charter was revoked by the legislature. The railroad were taken up and most of the Northerners moved out and as one reporter put it, “It took on the look of a ghost town.”

The Tennessee Charcoal Company was declared insolvent and Bon Brother Corp. bought the property in 1929. They employed a few people in lumbering. But the main form of livelihood was farming and many people had to move away in order to live.

Then Hassell and Hughes Lumber Company bought the property and set up a lumber industry that helped almost every family here.

When World War II broke out bomb racks were made here and many people were now being employed in the Muscle Shoals area. There was a growing demand for lumber and the lumber company expanded and hired more men.

At the present time [1985] we have a new manufacturing plant that employs about 350, mostly women and another lumber industry, the By-Far Products operated by Allen FARRIS that employs several.

Our population now is around 1,000 with new people moving in regularly. We have a new high school that everyone is proud of. We also have five churches, two new supermarkets and other stores that help us.

Since Collinwood is the only town on the Natchez Trace, many tourists come through especially in the summer and this helps gas business immensely.

We now have two policemen – only one was needed in the early days. The old depot is now being used for a Senior Citizens Center.

We may never reach the population of 3,000 as in the old time, but as one old timer said, “It’s a good place to live.”

Some Early Settlers of Wayne County

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Betty Peacock

By Charles M. THOMPSON. Reprinted from “The Clifton Mirror”, Clifton, Tennessee, “Anniversary Edition” of 20 October 1905.

“Some time ago the editors of the “Mirror” made a request of Mr. C. M. THOMPSON of Houston to furnish us with her early reminiscences of the early history of Wayne County. Mr. THOMPSON replied with an installment which we published several weeks ago when we published his life sketch. In this second [editor’s note: actually first installment] installment he deals with the early settlers. All Wayne County people in particular will find this article exceedingly interesting. The contribution follows:

Editor’s Mirror,

By your request I will give you now some of the early settlers of Rain’s Creek (now known as Indian Creek).

My father, Zachariah THOMPSON, Jesse CYPERT, and John CYPERT came to Wayne County in the year 1818 together with Francis CYPERT, their father and also the grandfather of the undersigned. Robert CYPERT, a brother of Francis, and a soldier in the war of 1776, came with the above and all settled on Indian Creek.

My father settled the place where Joseph SIMS (the son-in-law of J. N. DAVIS) now lives. This farm has never passed from the connection. Robt. CYPERT, the old soldier, built the first mill on Indian Creek. It was built on the George WHITE farm, a few hundred yards southwest of the corner of J. N. DAVIS’ land and was a failure. The old man then moved up the Creek about seven or eight miles and built a mill on what is known as Johnson’s Fork of Indian Creek, near the place where the Martins Mills now stands. This mill went into the hands of Willoughby PUGH, from PUGH to Samuel COOPER, from COOPER to Archibald WALKER, from WALKER to the CROMWELLS, from the CROMWELLS to the MARTINS, the present owners.

Soon after the CYPERTs came to Indian Creek, Isaac HORTON, an old soldier of the war of 1776, and his three sons, Isaac, Nathaniel and William came to Indian Creek and settled just below the old mill. It might be of interest to record the sons of Jesse, Baker and John CYPERT.

Jesse CYPERT had seven sons. John L. was a Baptist minister (correction: preacher) and was one of the organizers of the Indian Creek Association. Zachariah, William C., James, Thomas P., Robert Jasper and Jesse N. CYPERT. The latter is the only member of the family now living. He resides in Searcy, White County, Arkansas. He served one term as judge of his county. Baker CYPERT had only one son. His name was Samuel and he now resides in the State of Oregon. John CYPERT had six sons, Jesse, Robert, Anderson, Thomas J., John W., and James W. CYPERT. Thomas J. CYPERT was captain of a company in the Federal Army, served in the Legislature of Tennessee two terms as Senator, was assessor of Internal Revenue for the sixth collection district of Tennessee and was a preacher for several years before his death. His brother John was a Captain in the Confederate Army in Arkansas. The members of this family have all passed over the river.

Henry RAYBURN came to the county a little later than the CYPERTs and settled near the mouth of Rayburn Creek, where it empties into Indian creek thence its name.”

C. M. THOMPSON, Martins Mills, Tennessee.

Second Installment, published in “The Clifton Mirror”, 10 November 1905, page 8.

“Inasmuch as my last article missed the waste basket, I will come again. In my former contribution I mentioned Henry RAYBOURNE as being one of the early settlers of this county. It might be well enough to give a short sketch of him and his family.

“Squire RAYBOURNE served for years as justice of the peace for his civil district. He had four sons and three daughters. His oldest son, Gen. John RAYBOURNE was a very prominent man in the county. He was sheriff for a number of terms, surveyor and a state senator. The names of the other three sons were Samuel, Davidson, and Elihu. The latter died young and never married. Squire RAYBOURNE was the grandfather of John A. SMITH and his sister Tennie, who live near Old Town in Hardin County; he was the grandfather of Charley SMITH of Cerro Gordo and of Mrs. Joseph HARRISON living near Saltillo. The two old people, son, daughter and infant are buried in the old apple orchard near the old home.

“Thos. BROOKS settled at an early day and the farm remained in the family for several years. It then passed to Wm. PARKER, father of John Y. PARKER and an uncle of your townsman, C. C. STRIBLING. John Y. PARKER now owns and lives on this farm.

“About a mile above the creek Andrew DOWNING settled. He came with three son: John, William and Jonathan to Indian Creek about the same time BROOKS did. John DOWNING settled across the creek at the place N. W. BRATCHER now lives. Wm. DOWNING, I think, went further down the creek, perhaps in Hardin County. Jonathan remained on the old homestead until about 1860-61 and moved to West Tennessee. After the war, R. J. CYPERT bought him out, the farm having been divided and changed hands several times. John W. MIDDLETON now lives on the Old DOWNING homestead and in the house that DOWNING built.

“The next farm on the creek above was settled by David SHULL. This farm changed hands several times. After SHULL came J. R. HUGHLING, then Col. Jacob BIFFLE (BIFFLE lived on it when the war came up) then Luther FARRIS, an uncle to Dr. Will FARRIS of your town. After FARRIS, A. F. HASSELL, after HASSELL, Daniel EATON, after EATON, James RIGHT and after RIGHT, the present owner Dr. E. R. YEISER.

“The next farm of note that I will mention is that of J. N. DAVIS. It was settled at an early date by David GALLAHER who remained on it for several years. It passed from GALLAHER to Wm. PARKER and from him to his son Frank. From Frank PARKER to Capt. David I. DICKERSON from DICKERSON to the present owner, J. N. DAVIS.

“I will now cross the creek opposite to place of the writer’s birth to the David TACKETT farm. MR. TACKETT was a large land owner. His farm has been divided and sub-divided. The names of the parties occupying the lands formerly owned by TACKETT are Samuel DAVIS, Bart LAY, Will and Marion LINDSEY, Joe ROBERSON, John ROBERSON, Thos. MARTIN, Wm. NOWLIN and Wm. SCOTT.

“This brings me to the Wm. YOUNGBLOOD farm. Mr. YOUNGBLOOD came to Indian Creek at an early date and settled the farm where his grandson Zachariah HORTON now lives. Mr. YOUNGBLOOD raised three children: Josiah, Lidda, the mother of Zachariah HORTON, and John William, the father of Joe and Mat YOUNGBLOOD.”

C. M. THOMPSON, Martins Mills, Tennessee

Third Installment, published in “The Clifton Mirror”, 24 November 1905, page 1

“Here I came again. As I started out to give a short sketch of the early settlers of this section of Wayne County, I will resume by dropped down from upper Indian to what we call lower Indian.

“Squire A. B. GANTT came to Indian creek at a very early date from Bedford County, Tenn. and bought an improvement from an old gentleman by the name of Jesse O’STEEN and settled what is now known as the GANTT farm – I think the second best farm in the county.

“Squire GANTT served several terms as justice of the peace but never held any other county office. He had three sons, L. B., W. M. and A. B. GANTT and several daughters. They have all passed away except three daughters who now reside in Texas. The farm is divided and is now owned by J. Y. PARKER and W. W. JOHNSON.

“I now cross the creek to the farm where Daniel EATON lives. It was settled at an early date by Phillip CANARD who did not live but a few years. His widow remained on the farm until her death. After that it passed to Mr. HERNDON. From HERNDON to J. and E. B. MARTIN, and from MARTIN to the present owner, Daniel EATON.

“I will now cross the creek to the farm settled by George HAWK. It passed from HAWK to David COOK, a great-uncle to your townsman, Dr. COOK. After COOK it passed to Wm. J. STRAYHORN (Mr. STRAYHORN was a very prominent and influential man in this neighborhood). After STRAYHORN to Ledford NEIGHBORS and thence to the present owner, Samuel H. SINCLAIR.

“I see in the last issue an extract from a letter written by Dr. Wm. T. CHILDRESS of Terrel, Texas. He resided just across the creek south of the S. H. SINCLAIR farm and practiced medicine for ten or twelve years. Dr. CHILDRESS is well known in this neighborhood and a man who stood high in his profession.

“I will not give a short sketch of John COOK. He came to Indian Creek at an early date and settled on the farm adjoining Daniel EATON on the West side and lying in the fork of Indian and Weatherford Creeks. Mr. COOK had four sons: David, Martin, Christian and John COOK. The latter is said to have obtained the first marriage license issued in Wayne County. His bride was a Miss MARTIN, a sister of the late John A. MARTIN of Martin’s Mills. Mr. COOK was a German by birth and a hatter by trade. He was the great-grandfather of your townsman, Dr. COOK, and the grandfather of H. C. GREESON. Mr. COOK also had three sons by his second wife: Austin, Henry, and Frederick. The latter lives just across the line in Hardin County, on a portion of the land formerly owned by Hugh McCARN.

C. M. THOMPSON, Martins Mills, Tennessee

Fourth Installment, published in “The Clifton Mirror” 22 December 1905.

Mr. C. M. THOMPSON of Martin’s Mills who has been contributing a series of articles to the Mirror on the early settlers of Wayne County continues his histories sketch with the following communication:

“Editors Mirror

“Since my last article found a place on your front page, it is a pleasant inducement for me to write again.

“Continuing a sketch of the early settlers of Indian Creek, I wish to say that Messrs. Frederick ROSE, William BECKHAM and Green BECKHAM came to Indian Creek with or about the time John COOK did. Rose settled the farm across the creek north of the Daniel EATON farm. He had four sons, William, Phillips, Eli and Eanis. All settled in the same neighborhood together with William and Green BECKHAM. The former was the father of Zachariah BECKHAM, who raised twenty-one children to be men and women – fifteen sons and six daughters and all had families. Mr. BECKHAM was married three times.

“I will now pass up Weatherford Fork of Indian Creek, to the farm now known as the John SINCLAIR farm. It was settled by Stephen STUBBLEFIELD about the year 1819 or 20 and passed from STUBBLEFIELD to John SINCLAIR, (father of S. H. SINCLAIR of your town) about the year 1830, and has remained in the family to the present time.

“The above farm adjoining the latter on the south was settled by James SMITH at an early date. It passed from SMITH to William SINCLAIR, a brother of John, and remaind in the family until two or three years ago when it passed to the present owner, Jack BREWER.

“Douglass GILLIS, a Methodist preacher, settled the farm just across the creek, west from the latter and built the first camp ground that was built in this section of the county. Mr. GILLIS sold out to the SINCLAIR’s and mvoed to Horse in Hardin County, where he remained until his death.

“Jas. COPELAND, a brother-in-law of Mr. GILLIS, came to Weatherford’s Fork about the same time GILLIS did and settled the farm adjoining the above. COPELAND had five sons and one daughter. The names of the sons are Thomas S., Daniel G., James D., William and Joseph M. COPELAND. The latter is the grandfather of your townsman, Elihu DAVIS. The COPELAND farm is now owned by J. B. COPELAND, a grandson of the old man, having never massed out of the family.

“I now come to the Pinhook farm as it was known. This farm was settled by William Weatherford (thus the name of the creek) about the year 1818-1819 and was the first settled on the creek. Weatherford was part Indian and claimed to be related to Old Chief WEATHERFORD. He had four sons, Joel, Hill, John and William. The latter died young and never married. The farm passed to the Rev. W. P. KINDRICK.

“Mr. KINDRICK possessed considerable wealth and was above the average ability. He was a fine pulpit and stump orator and was a candidate for Congress at one time being defeated by the Hon. Barkley MARTIN. KINDRICK had three sons, W. P., James, and Clay. The latter died in the Confederate Army and was never married. The first son, W. P. Jr. was a very prominent man and served one term as State Senator and ranked high as an orator. He ran for Congress and was defeated by the Hon. John V. WRIGHT. Mr. KINDRICK was captured while organizing a regiment for the Federal Army and was sent to Libby Prison, and was one of the men who escaped through a tunnel and returned to Clifton. He died soon afterward and was buried in his own garden in Waynesboro, now owned by John F. MORRISON, attorney-at-law.

“James KINDRICK made his home at Florence, Alabama, and represented his county in the state legislature. Rev. Wm. P. KINDRICK was the grandfather of Dr. James BARLOW of Savannah. His wife was a sister of Judge CLAY of Alabama and also a cousin of the great statesman, orator, and politician Henry CLAY of Kentucky. The KINDRICK family have all passed away.

“I will in the near future have something more to say about the early settlers of the Pinhook neighborhood provided it is agreeable with the editor.”

Mirror Editor’s note: “Come ahead, Uncle Charlie, our space is at your disposal. Your article this week is exceedingly interesting and we are sure our Wayne County readers in particular will enjoy it. Ed.”

Fifth Installment, published in “The Clifton Mirror”, 12 January 1906, page 1.

“As I stated in my last communication that I would have something to say concerning a few more of the old settlers in the Pinhook Community and having been granted the permission of the editor to continue this series of articles, I will do so by stating that Gregory SINCLAIR, a brother to John and William SINCLAIR, bought land from Pryor YATES and settled the Pinhook farm, SINCLAIR living on this farm for several years and accumulating considerable property, both real and personal, but concluded that he could do better out west, so he sold to his nephew, William SINCLAIR, a son of John SINCLAIR, who remained on the farm until his death. His widow still occupies the old homestead.

“William SINCLAIR, Jr., was a very prominent man in his neighborhood and was a man of more than the ordinary talent. He served as Justice of the Peace for several years and ranked high as a gentleman, socially, religiously, and masonically.

“The farm adjoining the latter on the south was owned by Richard MOORE (Uncle Dickey), the father of Mastin MOORE of Hardin County and Thos. MOORE of Hardin’s Creek, the father of Richard and Ed MOORE and also the uncle of Dr. K. L. COOK of Clifton.

“The SINCLAIR family, John, William and Gregory, together with their father and two sisters came from Ireland to N.C., thence to Wayne County, Tennessee. John was a horse doctor, William a blacksmith, and Gregory, a weaver.

“The farm adjoining the Pinhook on the East at the mouth of Bear Creek was owned for several years by Benjamin WATKINS, but was sold to Wm. SINCLAIR, Sr. and remained in the family until the old man’s death. Since that time it has changed hands several time. The present owners are John HOUSE and the widow of John D. STRICKLIN.

“The farm adjoining the latter was owned at an early date by Rev. Wm. BAKER, the grandfather of Thos. J. GILLIS, living just across the line in Hardin County. BAKER sold to James A. LAWSON. The farm on the east of this was owned at a very early date by Robert SIMS, the grandfather of Robt. M. SIMS, attorney-at-law, Clifton, and also the grandfather of Thetis SIMS of Linden, the present member of Congress from the 8^th district. Mr. SIMS had four sons, M. J., Robert, G. W. (father of Thetis), and A. M. (father of your townsman). SIMS sold to James A. LAWSON.

“The farm adjoining the latter on the east was settled by Nathaniel MARIN [editor’s note – surname probably MARTIN), and passed to Wm. SINCLAIR, Sr., and after him to James A. LAWSON.

“Next comes the farm settled by A. J. MARTIN, which remained in the family until about a year ago when it passed to James M. LAWSON, a grandson of James A. LAWSON.

“The next farm was settled by John N. GILLIS and passed to James A. LAWSON. LAWSON was a large land owner. He had four sons, Samuel, G. W., Thos. J., and John M. LAWSON. They are all living but the latter, and occupy the farms purchased by their father. These farms are all on Bear Creek of Weatherford’s Fork.

“If this misses the waste basket, I will come again. Wishing the editor a happy and prosperous New Year, I am, Yours truly, C. M. THOMPSON, Martin’s Mills.”

Sixth Installment, published in “The Clifton Mirror” 16 February 1906.

“Having been some time since writing you last, I have concluded to write another short sketch of the first settlers of Wayne County.

“Mr. Ben HARDIN, a land speculator, came to the county about 1817 and settled the form now known as the Gallaher farm on Factor’s Fork of Shoal Creek where the old Notchey Trace cross’d said creek (This trace was the road Gen. JACKSON cut on his march from Nashville, Tennessee, to New Orleans, the latter part of the year 1814, just before he fought the battle that is known in history as the battle of New Orleans which occurred on the 8^th day, Sunday, January 1815.) The farm is still owned by the GALLAHER heirs having never passed out of the family.

“The farm lying east and adjoining the William YOUNGBLOOD farm, spoken of in an earlier article, was settled by a Mr. James GIPSON in the year 1819 or 1820, passing from him to Elijah HARBOUR. Mr. HARBOUR had three sons, Samuel, Elisha, and Elijah, and two daughters. The two first named settled in Hardin County, Sam settled on Turkey Creek about three miles above Old Town.

“Mr. HARBOUR’s farm was divided and subdivided and finally passed out of the family. Elisha settled on Indian Creek some two miles below the line. The farm settled by HARBOUR is one of the best farms on Indian Creek, this said farm never having passed out of the family. The present owner is the great-grandfather (Ed. – he means great-granddaughter) of the original settler. She is Mrs. Minnie MARTIN and is the daughter of your townsman, Mr. S. H. SINCLAIR.

“Elijah fell heir to his father’s farm and sold it to A. B. GANT and went to Mississippi. Before being divided, this was the best farm in the neighborhood. Mr. GANT divided it between his two sons, L. B. and W. M. GANT. The latter sold his to James HORTON and S. A. KING, while L. B. GANT sold his a few years fore the war between the states to Henry L. BURKETT and went to Texas. When the war came, MR. BURKETT took his family and went South, his oldest son going into the Confederate Army.

“After the war closed they settled in Mississippi and a few years later Frank BURKETT was Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge of the State of Mississippi. Henry BURKETT came back to this state and sold his land to R. C. MARTIN and Mr. MARTIN’s daughter, Mrs. Charles BOYD, is the present owner.

“The farm adjoining the Elisha HARBOUR farm on the east in Hardin County was settled by Kenneth MURCHISON, the great-grandfather of your townsman, Dr. K. L. COOK (this is his name) Said farm passed to Hugh McCARN, who accumulated considerable wealth both real and personal. He had four sons and two daughters by his first marriage and two daughters by his last marriage. The four sons were named Neal, Daniel D., John and William. The latter married but did not live but a year or two. Neal and John emigrated to Arkansas before the war. Daniel G. still remains in this county and is the only member of the family now living so far as the writer knows.

“Mr. McCARN owned a large farm at one time, but it is all owned by other people with the exception of what is owned by Daniel G. and Thomas J. GILLIS, who is a nephew to the old man.

“I guess I had better ring out before my contribution falls into the waste basket.”

Editor’s note: The Sixth Installment was the last article of the series found. If there were other articles contributed by Charles M. THOMPSON, the issues of the newspapers have not survived and therefore the articles are lost.

History of Wayne County, 1880 by Thomas Meredith

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Betty Peacock

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 //
[page 2]
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 //
[page3]
______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 //
[page 4]
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.

– End –

Goodspeed’s History of Wayne County, Tennessee

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Betty Peacock

Transcribed by Fred Mutishaw

[Note: This history was published in 1886 and was compiled from a number of different sources which were not listed or cited. Please use information in this history with caution. And always verify the information given]

WAYNE COUNTY is on the extreme western side of the Highland Rim, with its northwestern corner extending into the valley of the Tennessee. The county presents a generally broken surface, with parallel and transverse ridges and intervening hollows, the ridges usually radiating from the center in all directions, except to the east, the general surface of the county being a plateau of about 800 feet elevation.

The principal streams are Indian Creek, Hardin Creek, Shoal Creek, Buffalo River, Bush Creek and Second Creek. Mill Creek is a tributary of Hardin Creek. Butler Creek, Big, Middle and Little Cypress and Factor Fork are all tributaries of Shoal Creek. Forty-eight Creek, Moccasin, Rock House, Mill, Opossum, Chapel Creeks and Green River are all tributaries of Buffalo River. Wayne has lands particularly suited for farming and grazing, and the remainder for minerals. Of the 700 square miles in the county, about 200 square miles of it are mineral lands of iron ore. This seems to lie in inexhaustible beds of fine quality, the yield at the furnace being forty-four per cent. For working this ore the Wayne Furnace was built about 1835, and in 1868 the Gaylord Iron & Pipe bought the old Wayne Furnace and 21,000 acres of land for $40,000. They increased the capacity of the furnace to twenty-four tons per day. The agricultural land in found in the river and creek bottoms, and covers about ninety square miles of fine lands. These lands yield heavy crops of all the cereals, cotton, peanuts, and the other lands are suited for grazing. From the extensive ranges, stock raising can be carried on at immense profit. Wayne County affords an immense growth of valuable timber. In the southern portion of the county are immense growths of yellow pine. The ridges furnish oak, chestnut and poplar, and the glades furnish cedar. large quantities of the chestnut oak bark is used in the various tanneries in the county. Great quantities of timber are used at the furnaces for wood and charcoal smelting.

The first settlers of Wayne County were mainly from the older counties of Middle Tennessee and from North and South Carolina. The early settlements were made on North Carolina military grants, occupants’ claims and warrants. The first settlement was made by Frederick Meredith, Mark F. Edwards, William Henton, Lovick Rasbury, Richard Churchwell and Craig W. Pope, on Buffalo River in 1815. On Hardin Creek were Isaac G. Grimes, Henry Grimes, Peter Renfrow and John Johnson, in 1816. Thomas G. Harvey, Charles Burns, James Reeves, Samuel Loggans and William Scott settled on Green River in 1816 and 1817. On Indian Creek Henry and John Rayburn, Jesse and Baker Cypert, Benjamin and David Schull settled in 1818. James Surrett settled on the east fork of Hardin Creek in 1819. David Gallaher and John Dixon settled on Shoal Creek in 1818. William B. Payne, William B. Walker, Joseph Staggs, Nathan Biffle and Isaac Robertson settled on Forty-eight Mile Creek in 1818. Other settlers in different parts of the county before 1820 were Jacob Biffle in the Eight District, where land was entered in 1812; David Carter, assignee of Elizabeth Walker, also in the Eighth District; also William B. Ross, Joseph Denton, Wiley Harrington, Thomas Reeves, J. W. Nunley, T. Gambel, Daniel Cherry, Jacob Fraley, J. R. Russell, John Gibson and J. P. Walker. John Watson settled on Hardin Creek in 1820, and Lewis Johnson and Henry Colston on Beech Creek about the same time. The following entered lands before 1820: Michael Robertson, Henson Grove, Mark F. Edwards, Isaac Rice, William Williams, Thomas G. Harvey, James H. Gambel, Alexander Steele, James R. Russell, Daniel Voorhees, Samuel Mayfield, John Meredith, John Duke, R. P. Scoot, John McCulley, David Carter, John Welch, Allen Brown, James Davis, James Collins, John Mitchell, G. H. Garrett, R. C. Harris. John Akin, S. Read, J. L. Smith, James Davis, James Elliot, John Brown, James Staggs, W. B. and James P. Walker, Jesse Thompson and the Morris family. The first water and tub-mills in county were build on Moccasin Creek, in 1818, by John Meredith; the first horse-mill was built by John O. Roberts, on Beech Creek, in 1820. The first cotton-gin was built near where old Carrollville stood, by William B. Ross, in 1819. The first ferry across the Tennessee River, within the limits of the county, was established in 1818 at Carrollville, but the owner of the ferry is unknown.

The first church erected in the county was built on Green River, just east of the site of Waynesboro, at the grave-yard in 1820, by the Methodists. The Rev. James English was the first preacher. At the mouth of Forty-eight Mile Creek the Primitive Baptists also built a church in 1820, the Rev. Willis Dodson was the first pastor of it. The first merchants in the county were Malachi Wimberly and Anderson Stoneball, near Ashland, in 1819. A Mill was built on Buffalo, near Ashland, by John Biffle, about 1830. The first tan-yard was built on Eagle Creek, by James Elliott, in 1819.

The first boat up the Tennessee for business was a keel boat owned by Samuel Cade. This was loaded with salt and other supplies. Wesley Warrington kept the first wood-yard for steam boats, about 1823-25. The first camp-meeting was held on Eagle Creek about 1823.

Near Ashland may be seen many relics of the Mound-Builders. These mounds are the usual shape, but arranged in a somewhat circular outline, with the larger mounds in the center. The whole cluster numbers perhaps forty or fifty. Surrounding these is an old earth-work of very distinct outline, having a moat and embankment of considerable height. In the hollow below is an old Indian burying-ground, where numerous skeletons have been found, some in very perfect state of preservation. The graves are marked by stones above ground, with the graves walled and covered by the same material. In all or nearly all are found charcoal or charred remains. This burying-ground was discovered by Prof. Smith, of the Columbia Atheneum, in 1877, where may be seen excellent specimen remains. On a tributary of Forty-eight Creek, called Court House Creek, are fine natural bridges. Passing beneath the first sharp angle in the little stream there appears an open court which rivals almost any of the natural curiosities of the world. Here, according to tradition, the dusky savage once held his council fires. A little further down the stream the water passes under the second archway and dome of splendid beauty and symmetry.

Wayne County was created by a act of the Legislature in 1817, but on failure to have it engrossed it had to be repassed in 1819. It was named in honor of Gen. Wayne, “Mad Anthony,” of Revolutionary fame, and embraces an area of 338,291 acres. The court for organization met at Factor Fork, where the old Natchez trace crosses that stream. The next meeting was held at William Barnett’s, on old Town Branch, where it continued to meet till 1822. The following justices were present, holding commissions from the governor: Benjamin Hardin, Henry Rayburn, Jesse Cypert, Wm. Burns, C. A. Pope, Wm. Walker, John Meredith,Reuben Kyle, Wm. B. Curtis, Wm. B. Ross, S. Perley and David N. Gallaher. The officers chosen were Wm. Barnett, clerk; Benjamin Hardin, sheriff; J. M. Barnett, circuit clerk; John McClure, register; John Meredith, trustee; John Hill, ranger; and Wm. B. Payne, coroner.

The first court house was built, it is supposed, by Wm. Barnett in 1819 or 1820. This was a small log house with a dirt floor, board roof, and large openings in the side for windows. This house was in use about two years. On the location of Waynesboro as the county seat in 1822, a new log court house was erected the same year. This house was built at a cost of $800 on the Square, and differed not greatly in size or construction. The third house was built in 1827, and was a frame building. This building was two stories high, and was about 24X30 feet. The upper floor was used as the court room, with the offices below, and had two entrances as the present house.

The present court house was built by Nathaniel Thomas. It was begun in 1843 and completed in 1844. It is a good brick building, in excellent state of preservation, and is two stories in height. The upper floor is used as the court-room, while the offices are below. The building is about 35X40 feet, and was erected at a cost of about $4,000.

The first jail was built at Old Town, and was a very rude structure. It was in use only about two years. The second jail was built of round logs at Waynesboro in 1822. The third jail was built of hewn logs. It stood till some time between 1830 and 1840, when it was replaced by a brick jail. This jail stood just north of the Eureka Building, and was erected at a cost of about $700. The elements, time and war unfitted this as safety. In 1873 J. G. Berry, A. T. Hassell, M. Collier, G. W. Boyd and J. R. Hughes were appointed committee for the construction of a new jail. The material of the old was sold to the Methodists, Masons and others, and a new lot purchased east of the Square. The contract was let to Wm. A. Fowler. The new jail was built at a cost of $1,664.25, less $148.93 realized on the old jail.

The poor at first were farmed out to the lowest bidder. The first farm was on Green River, two and three-fourths miles below Waynesboro. This was a small place, and little improvements were made upon it. In 1849 a farm was purchased by Washington Carter, D. J Jones and Jonathan Morris for $400. In 1866 the present farm was purchased of J. L. Fowler by A. Montague, G. W. Barker and J. A. Grimes, as poor-house commissioners, for $700. The county now owns about 145 acres of good land and maintains its paupers at a small cost.

Although Wayne has neither turnpike nor railroad, the Columbia Central Turnpike formerly passed through the county from Columbia to Clifton. This road was completed about 1844, but has suffered to fall into disuse since the war. In 1880 the charter of the Nashville & Tennessee River Railroad was spread upon record. This road is intended to connect the Nashville & Tallapossa Road with the Memphis & Knoxville Road, at or near Clifton.

The meeting of the first county court is elsewhere stated, both as to place and members. The first circuit court was held at the log court house on old Town Branch, north of Waynesboro, in the spring of 1820, with J. M. Barnett as circuit clerk, Benjamin Hardin as sheriff and Wm. F. Doherty as solicitor-general. A loss of all county records to 1848, the circuit court records to 1851, and those in the chancery court to 1861, renders it impossible to follow the courts fully. One of the longest cases ever tried in Wayne County was the case of Meredith against Renfro, which vexed the courts for sixteen years. The first murder case believed to be the case wherein Haggard killed Busby. The case grew out of a quarrel between two little boys, sons of the two men. The case was tried in Dixon County on change of venue, and Haggard was acquitted. Another case was the “State vs. Choat,” for the killing of Mosby. This case resulted in acquittal, on the plea of self-defense. In 1828, Wm. Venable and James McDool, the former a gray-bearded old man and the latter a boy of sixteen, were convicted of passing counterfeit money. They received for punishment on the bare back, twenty-five lashes. About this time the officers of the law were compelled to contend with a gang of counterfeiters, horse-thieves and murderers, under John A. Murrell, whose life and adventures were written many years ago. and whose exploits extended over a large portion of the State. About 1830, occurred several damage suits, one, “Miller vs. Robertson,” for false imprisonment, in which the plaintiff got judgement for $10,000. Another was case of Chas. Teas against W. B. Ross, for swearing to a lie. This suit resulted in a verdict for $10,000 for the plaintiff, but was afterward compromised for $900. Charles Reeves brought a suit for slander against John O. Roberts, for saying that Reeves “stole horses, cattle and hogs.” The plaintiff was awarded damage to the amount of $2.50. All cases previous to the passage of the “penitentiary law,” in 1832, were punished by imprisonment, fines, whipping, standing in the stocks, branding — any or all of these. The first person sent to the State’s prison was Mathew Murphy, who was sentenced on March 23, 1839, for a term of three years and the second case was David Staggs, who was sentenced for one year from October, 1842. The offense in neither case is given, but it is presumed it was larceny. The first divorce suit was the wife of Henry Mahon against her husband. The suit was brought in 1829, on the plea of inhuman treatment, and granted. The first of the circuit court records began with May 26, 1851. The usual number of cases of gaming, peace warrants, wearing bowie knives, larceny, vi et armis, and other minor misdemeanors occur. In 1852, Moses Page, “without the fear of God before his eyes, and being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil,” assaulted Thomas H. Short and killed him with a gun. Page was tried , convicted, and sentenced to the penitentiary for a term of three years. One of the heaviest suits for damage, in former years, was the suit of Sanders and Martin against Gallaher, King, McDougal and East, in which the plaintiffs got judgment for $1,126.05. This case was decided at the March term, 1840.The case of the State against Daniel G. McCarn, on a change of venue from Hardin County, came up for trial in Wayne County Circuit Court. He was tried for being accessory before the fact for an assault and Battery with intent to commit murder. The trial was begun in 1850, and ended October 9, 1852, in conviction and sentence to the penitentiary for seven years. An appeal to the supreme court was taken, and the case reversed and ordered begun de novo. The case was tried again with the singular result of conviction and sentence for twelve years instead of seven. A very hotly contested suit was the case of Dr. Wm. G. Childress against John Morrow, for slander. The case was begun in 1857, and ended in February, 1860 in judgement for $5,000 for plaintiff. Dr. Childress had treated a son of Morrow, who died. The latter accused the former of malpractice, hence the suit. The jury in the case were Andrew Jackson, W. T. Bryant, J. M. Moore, Little Choat, J. I. Biffle, John Stockard, J. W. Howard, Jasper Davis, J. L. Kyle, J. Scott, J. N. Hollis, and J. C. Whitton. Judgement was rendered, and it was ordered that execution issue, when the plaintiff in open court remitted all the fine except one cent. A very hotly contested case was begun January 3, 1876, entitled State vs. John W. Bundrant and Peter Bundrant. They were tried for the murder of S. R. Dicus. The case was continued from January 3, 1876, till November, 1879, and ended in the conviction of John Budrant and sentence to the penitentiary for five years,

Another case of note was the case of the State against T. G. Brown, D. E. Holt, Wallace Hays, Austin Hays, Wm. A. Fowler and Jesse Atkisson. They were tried for the murder of Wm. H. Hays in October, 1878. Atkisson died before trial. The suit ended August 20, 1879, in a sentence of Thomas G. Brown and D. E. Holt for a term of several years in the penitentiary; Wm. Holt, Austin Hays and Wallace Hays to six months in the county jail. The circuit courts were closed from January 29, 1862, to September 23, 1865. The last jury before the war consisted of L. M. Morgan, Little Choat, S. R. Denny, J. H. McClure, Wm. Eads, A. G. Clay, Wm. Pollard, J. H. Rutledge, Jas. Durham, J. C. Walker, Wm. Sinclair, J. J. Porter, J. N. Hollis, J. A. Gibbs, John L. Smith, Isaac Robinson and F. Churchwell. Many very bitter suits grew out of offenses committed during the war. On January 23, 1874, was spread upon the minutes a tribute of respect to the memory of Judge Elijah Walker, of Savannah, who died December 31, 1873. Judge Walker was doubtless the ablest judge ever upon the Wayne County bench. The chancery court for the district of Wayne, Hardin, Lewis and Lawrence was established by the Legislature February 5, 1847, with Jerry H. Cahal as chancellor, who served till 1852, when J. L. Brine was chosen to fill his place. Judge Brine was succeeded by C. Pavatt in 1855, who in turn was succeeded by R. H. Rose on February 28, 1866. Judge J. W. Doherty served from 1868 to 1870, when he was succeeded by Hon. Geo. H. Nixon, who served till 1886. The clerks and masters have been Col. McLean, A. T. Hassell, J. W. Helton and Capt. P. H. Craig since 1873. One of the longest and most peculiar cases ever tried in the chancery court was the case of Sarah C. Smotherman against James Smotherman, for divorce and alleging as a plea, brutal and inhuman treatment. The case was in the courts for about sixteen years. A judgement rendered by Judge Hughes in favor of the plaintiff in April, 1868, and the same confirmed by Judge Nixon in September, 1871. The divorce, custody of their child and alimony in lands were granted to plaintiff. The case was taken to the supreme court on a writ of error by the defendant. Whereupon said court found error, not only in the point at issue, but the whole proceedings. The whole case was accordingly referred. Pending this decision the defendant had married a second time and the plaintiff had been confirmed in possession of her lands. The curious case was then presented, of two legal owners of the same property and a man having two legal wives.

In 1861 the case of Mary J. Ricketts, administratrix, vs. C. B. McCulley et al., involving the right of title, was begun. McCulley was the legal owner of two tracts of land. On March 2, 1861, he conveyed to his wife and children one of his tracts of land. He was owing Ricketts $1,260. Although it was proved McCulley was owner of other real estate valued at $1,500 and personal property to the amount of $1,000, he subsequently failed. S. S. Ricketts died in 1863, intestate, and the plaintiff, as administratrix, revived the debt in her own name, and got judgement against the land conveyed, and had it sold on execution. The case was take to the supreme court in 1865, and the conveyance made by McCully was confirmed from that fact that at the time of the conveyance he had ample property to pay his debts and the conveyance at the time indicated no fraud. The case of Carr vs. Grimes, executor, in 1877, involved the mental capacity of the decedent to make a will. In this suit about $10,000 worth of property was involved. The supreme court confirmed the action of the defendant. W. P. Kendrick and Rob A. Hill were, doubtless, the resident lawyers of the Wayne County bar. The latter in now United States district judge, with headquarters at Oxford, Miss. The present bar is represented by Robert Cypert, Boyd & Haggard and John F. Montague.

Waynesboro was founded in 1821, on the lands owned by Wm. Burns. A deed was made for 40 acres to James Hollis, John Hill, Nathan Biffle and Chas. Burns for $300. These men were the commissioners appointed by the General Assembly to establish a county seat for Wayne County. The transfer was made March 1, 1823. The commissioners were empowered to sell lots, and with the proceeds to build a courthouse, jail, stocks, ect. Among the first purchasers of lots were James Blair, Chas. Burns, Wm. Barnett, Wm. Copeland, Wm. Burns, Willis Copeland, H. W. Mahon, Willey Simmons, J. W. Lemaster, Jordan Morris, John Hill, Obedience Hill, James Anderson. The first dwelling-house was erected by Wm. Burns in 1821. Wm. Meredith began merchandising in 1821; and Wm. Barnett opened the first hotel in the place, also in 1821. A postoffice was established in 1821, with Wm. Barnett as postmaster.The first practicing physician was Martin Mahon, who began practice in 1822-23. The first local attorney was Thomas F. Edwards, who began practice about the time of Dr. Mahon. The first school was opened in the town in 1821-22. The first church was built at the grave-yard just east of town, across Green River, with the Rev. James English as pastor. The house of Burns, above mentioned, stood some distance from town near where Mr. Whitby now lives. Wm. Barnett’s stood where Mr. Hassell’s house now stands; John Hill’s was near. These were the first houses in Waynesboro proper, and were small round-log houses.

The business of Waynesboro was about such as is seen in a small inland town till about 1844-45, at the completion of the old Central Turnpike, when business gradually increased, reaching its maximum activity about 1855, but remained good until the war. Since that period the place has suffered some loss of trade from the sale of goods at many country stores throughout the county. The principal business for one or two decades before the war was done by A. T. Hassell, James Anderson, and Wm. West & Co. The former of these has done an extensive business since 1844. The present firms are A. T. Hassell, M. J. Sims, Bromley & Martin, Huckaba Bro. & Co., Turman Helton & Co., drug stores, G. W. Boyd & Co., A. T. Collier; hotel, Thomas Young.

Waynesboro was incorporated in 1852, with the usual powers of such corporations. The following constituted the first board: Cyrus Tyree, I. Warner, S. R. Laird, J. C. Bridges, G. W. House, J. Morris and N. C. David. Of these Tyree became mayor; David, recorder, and Bridges, treasure. The charter was allowed to lapse in 1860, but was renewed again in 1870, with Matthew Collier, mayor, and C. C. Stribling, recorder.

The first newspaper in Waynesboro was The Family Visitor, edited by W. L. Morris. This was in the early part of 1850. This was followed by Waynesboro Times, under B. A. Murtishaw, in 1856. Then came the period of the war, and no more paper till 1872, when the Review was started by the Malone Bros. This was followed by the Wayne County Citizen, on February 19, 1874, by Stribling & Warren as proprietors, with Robert Cypert as editor till December 24, 1874. On November 24, 1875, the paper was first issued at Clifton, where it has since remained.

Waynesboro Lodge, No. 127, was organized February 13, 1851, with the following officers: Jas. Anderson, W. M.; Chas. Cox, S. W.; N. F. Biffle, J. W.; D. K. Hood, Treas.; John McDougal, Sec.; A. P. Cook, S. D.; S. R. Laird, J. D.; J. C. Bridges, S. and T. Visiting members, P. Whitehead and S. D. Whitley, both Master Mason. The first members added were W. R. Kindle and J. M. Jones. The membership now numbers thirty-seven. A chapter was instituted November 1, 1879, with J. J. Comes as High Priest; C. Buchanan, King, and J. Jackson, Scribe. A Grand Army Post was organized in 1884 by Capt. Jones, of Nashville. It is known as the Wm. P. Kendrick Post, No. 5. It enrolls from fifty to sixty members.

About two miles below where Clifton now stands, formerly stood Carrollsville, named in honor of Gov. Carroll. This place was founded in 1818 on the lands of Thomas Reeves. The sale of lots began in 1821. At the time Reeves sold his interest to Johnson & Blackburn. Henry Mahon, John Blackburn, Matthew Grimes, Henry Rayburn, Stephen Stubblefield, Jacob Spencer, Malachi Wimberly, Chas. Harrington and John Elliott were principal property owners of the place. The business men were Hugh Simpson, Chas. Teas, Hine & Ross, and R. A. McCullough. It is claimed that Carrollsville came within one vote of being made capital of the State. On the completion of the Central Turnpike to its terminus on the river, at Clifton, Carrollsville began rapidly to decline, so that now noting remains to mark the site of the old town. This place witnessed one of the first tragedies in the county, the killing of Dr. Green by Edward Sanford. A quarrel arose over the sale of some liquors, and Green assaulted Sanford with a gun, and was himself killed by a stone in the hands of Sanford. Clifton, it may be said, grew from the ruins of Carrollsville; it was founded in 1840, and was named from the high cliff upon which it stands. It is situated sixteen miles west of Waynesboro, on the Tennessee River, at the terminus of the old Central Turnpike. The lands were purchased of Stephen Roach by Evan Young, Granville A. Pillow, W. J. Polk and James Helton, of the Turnpike Company. The first owners of lots were R. C. Hemphill, A. T. Hassell, James Walker, John O. Roberts, Edward Spears, J. Wright, R. H. Cooper and S. S. Ricketts. The first business men were James Walker (who managed the old “Marine Furnace),” A. T. Hassell & Co., Cooper & Hemphill. Clifton has always been an excellent business point, by far the best in the country. It now has the following dry goods and general stores: Hughes & Grimes, Thompson & Cook, J. J. Nichols, T. N. Copeland. Drug and grocery stores: T. R. Ricketts & Co., Stribling & Hassell, Hardin & Duncan. Groceries: Charles Ricketts.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was built in 1859, on a lot deeded to them by H. W. Hunter. The Methodist Church was built much later. Masonic lodge, No. 173, called Clifton Lodge by last report, has a membership of forty-five. Clifton also has a chapter, No. 57, R. A. M., and a council, No.37, R. & S. M. Clifton was incorporated by an act of Legislature in 1854, but allowed its charter to lapse during the war; however, it has since revived. The first number of the Wayne County Citizen was issued on November 25, 1875, by C. C. Stribling and Warren. The paper, however, had been published at Waynesboro by the same firm since 1874. On December 21, 1876, Mr. T. F. Warren severed his connection with the paper. Since that time it has been owned by C. C. Stribling. It is no more than justice to say that the Wayne County Citizen is a paper of uncommon merit. Politically it is Independent.

Ashland is situated eleven miles northeast of Waynesboro, and was established in 1830 by Ephraim Dixon and Samuel Mitchell. The postoffice at that place is called Forty-Eight; formerly it was called Pleasant Hill. Malachi Wimberly and Anderson Stoneball sold goods near where Ashland now is in 1819. The first settlers around Ashland were Lovick Rasberry, Nathan Biffle, James Russell, Wm. Walker and Wm. Burns. Following Dixon & Mitchell, above mentioned, Buckner & Dickson were the next business firm. Ashland has usually had from one to two general stores. The principal business of the place in now done by A. H. Cunningham.The Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Masonic lodge room, on Buffalo, was built in 1878. The trustees of the church were G. T. Walker, A. B. Wisdom, R. A. Shaw, W. F. Edwards and James Durham, and the Buffalo Lodge, No. 329, were T. S. Evans, W. M.; Theodore Clendenen, S. W.; P. H. Craig, J. W., and others.

Flatwood is a small neighborhood village, about fourteen miles north-west of Waynesboro, founded about 1850. It is the seat of two stores, a postoffice and a school. The business firms are Harris & Hurt and Burns & Graves.

Old Town was the former seat of justice for the county. It was situated on Old Town Branch, a small tributary of Green River, about five miles from Waynesboro. The only residents of the place were Wm. Barnett and John Hill. Nothing now remains to mark the former site of Old Town, so called in distinction from Waynesboro, or the new town.

Though hardly a part of military history, it may be stated that Wayne County was, like all other counties, divided into districts embracing all subject to military duty. The first divisions for the county were Beech Creek, Eagle Creek, Hardin Creek, Indian Creek, Cypress Creek, Buffalo River, Forty-eight Creek and Rich Creek. In these were the companies of Capts. William Gambrell, G. H. Tucker, Isaac Robertson, H. J. Ray, A. Morris, Thomas Reeves, John Rayburn, Frank Mayberry, Sherrell, Thompson and Aydlotte. These increased in number as the population grew. No regular organized body of men went from this county to either the Seminole or Mexican war. The only representatives of either of those wars is the Rev. George E. Huckaba, who commanded Company H. of the Second Tennessee (Federal) Mounted Infantry in the late war. The county was almost unanimous for the Union till hostilities began, when there was a division. The southern part of the county remained firm for the Union during the whole struggle, while the northern portion was almost unanimous in favor of the Confederacy. The first troops raised for the Confederate Government were for the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry. These troops were mainly recruited about Waynesboro and in the vicinity of Ashland and Flatwood. The first company was A. The officers of this company were J. T. Biffle, captain; J. M. Benham, first lieutenant; P. H. Craig, second lieutenant; G. P. Wells, third lieutenant. The second company had for its officers James M. Reynolds, captain; Reiley Littleton, first lieutenant; John Littleton, second lieutenant. The third company of this regiment was commanded by Capt. John A. Johnson, with B. S. Hardin, first lieutenant, and A. H. Ross, second lieutenant.

The Ninth was mustered into service in August, 1862, at Waynesboro. The operations of the regiment were confined to the surrounding counties, in guarding railroads, bridges, rivers, ect. Later the regiment was ordered to Murfreesboro with Forrest, where it joined in an attack and capture of the same, also in the raid through West Tennessee in December, and upon Franklin and Spring Hill. In 1863, the regiment was in pursuit and capture of Col. Streight, of the Fifty-first Indiana, in his raid through Georgia. The regiment was engaged at Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and at Knoxville in the siege of Burnside’s army. In December, 1863, P. H. Craig raised Company B, consisting of about seventy-fife men, and was attached to the Twentieth Regiment. Their operations were confined mainly to Alabama and Mississippi till the fall and winter of 1864, when the entire army invaded Tennessee in the advance upon Nashville. A very brilliant dash was made upon Johnsonville and the Federal supplies at that place captured and burned, amounting to more than a million dollars. The troops then advanced upon Nashville, by way of Florence, Wayland Springs, Lawrenceville, Columbia, Spring Hill and Franklin. In that engagement the Twentieth was on the right, under Forrest. After the retreat to the Federals from Franklin the Twentieth joined in the pursuit, and struck the Federals at Hollow Tree gap and drove in the pickets at Nashville. Forrest, with a large portion of his cavalry, was sent to assist in the operations against Murfreesboro. After the defeat of Hood at Nashville these forces were hastened to Franklin to cover the retreat from Tennessee. Those that escaped the disaster were collected at Tupelo, Miss., and soon afterward sent East to engage in the final struggle in that section. For the ninth Battalion there recruited Company F from Wayne County. This was commanded by T. D. Whitehead as captain; William M. Biffle, first lieutenant; Dr. R. W. Couch, second lieutenant; S. W. Burns, third lieutenant. These men were mustered into the service in 1861, at Camp Anderson, near Nashville. After the defeat and capture at Fort Donelson, the men captured were held till the last of August, 1862, when they were exchanged and were soon after reorganized. At the reorganization, W. L. Bromley was chosen captain; Joseph Clendenen, first lieutenant; James E. Grimes, second lieutenant; J. T. Cotton, third lieutenant. J. H. Akin was in command of the battalion, the history of which is found elsewhere. Several companies went out in Deering’s Fifty-fourth, but after the stampede and disorganization of the regiment the men were assigned to Dixon’s Forty-eighth. The companies were three in number. The officers of the first were T. R. Hughes, captain; William L. Montague, first lieutenant; Jasper Benham, second lieutenant; A. K. Hardin, third lieutenant. Of the second, D. S. Skillern, was captain; D. H. Jones, first lieutenant; J. H. Shields, second lieutenant; J. B. Huckaba, third lieutenant. Of the third company, James M. Reynolds, was captain; J. N. Hollis, first lieutenant. (See history of Dixon’s Forty-eighth for a history of this regiment.)

The first company for Federal service was Company A. of the Tenth Tennessee (three years). Officers: Captain, Ed B. Bladen; Henry N. Lee, first lieutenant; John J. Brewer, second lieutenant. Mustered into service April 26, at Nashville. Henry N. Lee was afterward chosen captain. The men were mainly from south part of the county. Number of men, 92. Services were mainly garrison and guard duty. Second Mounted Infantry (one year), regimental officers: John Murphy, colonel; Owen Haney, lieutenant-colonel, J. M. Dickerson, major; Nat Brown, adjutant. Organized at Nashville in 1864. Services were mainly at Clifton and other parts of Wayne and other counties. Company A — T. J. Cypert, captain; Jas. Moore, first lieutenant; C. C. Stribling, second lieutenant. Company B — W. A. Harrison, captian (afterward Sam H. Martin); E. D. McGlamery, first lieutenant; Elias Thrasher, second lieutenant. Company C — A. J. Roberts, captain; Wm. Barnett, first lieutenant; Alfred Cottham, second lieutenant. Company D — C. W. Shipman, captain; Phillip Howard, first lieutenant; Asberry Thompson, second lieutenant. Company E — Henry D. Hamm, captain; J. J. Bromley, first lieutenant; G. H. Brewer, second lieutenant. Company H — Geo. E. Huckaba, captain; John Judd, first lieutenant; Wm A. Skillern, second lieutenant. Company I or K — A. Garner, captain; Mr. Barnett, first lieutenant; Mr. Glasgow, second lieutenant. These were all in the Second Tennessee Mounted Infantry.

Sixth Tennessee Cavalry was composed of the companies of Capt. G. Berry and Capt. D. I. Dickerson. The Eigth Mounted Infantry consisted of the company of Capt. C. W. Shipman, formerly of the Second Tennessee, as above, with E. V. Truman as first lieutenant. Eldridge’s artillery consisted of Lieut. Wright and a few men from different parts of the county.

The schools of Wayne County were entirely isolated in their character till 1843, when Ashland Academy was built. This was built under the old seminary law. This building stood a short distance southwest of the Public Square of Waynesboro. The first trusttees were John McDougal, Nathan Biffle, J. L. Ross, Abraham Montague, D. L. Jones, R. W. Kendel, S. D. Mack and T. M. East. In 1849 the funds had so accumulated that an additional academy was erected. This was called the Female Academy, and stood on Lot 31, where the college building now stands. The building was under the same board of management as the other. These served the public until the reorganization of the schools since the war. In 1885 was erected in Waynesboro the new school building known as the Waynesboro College. This was built by a joint stock company of leading citizens of the place and vicinity. This is an excellent building and is managed as a consolidated school. The schools of the county were organized under the present system in 1873, by James Anderson, county superintendent. A comparison of superintendent’s reports for 1880 and 1885, the only ones available, will show the increase in attendance and number of the public schools. In 1880 the number of scholastic population was white, 3733, colored, 334; total, 4,076. Number of teachers in the county: White, 56, colored, 5: total, 61. The enrollment during the year was 2,577, white and 127 colored. The average attendance was 2.003 white, and 98 colored. The county then had 1 brick, 12 frame and 20 log schoolhouses, and expended for schools $2,109.95. The scholastic population for 1885 was 4,180 white and 392 colored; total, 4,572. The pupils enrolled were 3,042 white and 297 colored; total, 3,339. The average daily attendance was 1,861 white and 200 colored, or 2,061 in all. The number of schoolhouses was 19 frame and 26 log houses, the whole number being 45. The whole number of schools in the county, however, including females’ schools, was 75, 67 of which were white and 8 colored. The total amount expended for that year was $6,546.62.

The first Methodist Church erected in the county was built just east of Waynesboro, at the grave-yard, about 1820. This was a small log building, and served as a place of worship till 1840. In That year the lot opposite Capt. P. H. Cray’s residence was deeded by Thomas Boshers to D. J. Jones, John McDougal, Thomas Boshers and Thomas East, as trustees of the church. This was a frame building and stood till the war. In 1878 one wall of the Cumberland Church fell, and was repaired by the Methodists and Masons. The Methodists were allowed an interest in that building. The Methodists also have churches at Indian Creek and a camp-ground was also established there in 1859; the trustees having been A. G. McDougal, J. B. Biffle, W. T. Childress, A. P. Denning, J. J. Denning and W. Roachwell; one at Culp’s Chapel, built in 1877, Eagle Tannery, Clifton, Ashland, Flatwood, Furnace Branch, El Bethel and Beech Creek.

The first Primitive Baptist Church was built near the mouth of Forty-Eight about 1820. To this belonged the Russells, Biffles, Walkers and Thompsons. This church is still sustained with a good membership. The church on Hardin Creek is half a century old: also the one at Goshen, in the Sixth District, is nearly as old. There is also a church of this denomination on Upper Indian Creek. Churches of more recent datestand in the First and Ninth Districts. The founders of these older churches have long since been “gathered to their fathers.”

By far the most numerous branch of the Baptist family is the branch known as the Missionary Baptists. The oldest organizations of this church are at Indian Creek and Philadelphia, each of which dates back more than a half a century. Besides the two mentioned, there are churches at Green River, Zion, Friendship, Bethlehem, Union, or Beech Creek, Holly Creek, Chestnut Creek, Oak Grove, Macedonia, Rayburn Creek, Pleasant Valley and Leatherwood. The aggregate in membership amounting to about 700. Besides these, there are a number of Free-Will Baptists in the county, there being a church of this denomination at the head of Factor Fork and at Oak Grove; also a number of others.

The first Cumberland Presbyterian Church erected in this county was perhaps, the church at Waynesboro. This was erected about 1830 by the Presbyterians and Masons. The church at Clifton was built in 1859; they are both substantial brick buildings. This denomination has churches at Shady Grove, Ashland, New Providence and Mount Olive.

Wayne County, TNGenWeb

Tag Archives: Scott

Clifton City Cemetery

Petition To Free Slaves (1825)

Balentine Cemetery

History of the Martin’s Mills Community

Short History of Collinwood

Some Early Settlers of Wayne County

History of Wayne County, 1880 by Thomas Meredith

Goodspeed’s History of Wayne County, Tennessee