Clipper Reid DOWLAND was a bigger than life personality. He lived mostly in Skullbone, Gibson Co, TN but spent time in Greenfield, Weakley Co., TN as he owned and lived in a hotel in Greenfield.  He also was reponsible for inteviewing local "old timers" of his day, very interested in local history. Later, he owned and managed a few small hotels in Nashville. See section under Greenfield on his interviews. His obit follows the photos. This webpage is in his honor - MaryCarol

Clipper Dowland and wife, Gracie with their plane 1950

One of the hotels in Nashville he owned and managed

Inside one of his Nashville Hotels

Tri - City - Observer - date unknown Home Town Newspaper for Citizens of the Greenfield, Sharon, and Bradford areas Obit C. Reid DOWLAND C. Reid DOWLAND, “Mayor” of skullbone community east of Bradford and a well known historian of the West Tennessee area, died last Tuesday at Vanderbuilt Hospital in Nashville following a heart attack.  Born  and reared in the Bradford area, Mr. DOWLAND had made his home in Nashville in recent  years. Mr. DOWLAND was the historian of the Gibson County area. At the time of his death he was writing a history of Skullbone - believed by many to be the oldest settlement in the county and famous in pioneer days for its fist and skullbone type of bare-knuckle fighting. He was widely known through Tennessee as the Mayor of Skullbone and also the Mayor of Mugwump.  He had made Skullbone a well known name in many parts of the nation by appearing on radio and television.  He traveled extensively  in all parts of the world,  always serving as an ambassador of Skullbone and Gibson County. Mr. Dowland was a member of the Tennessee Historical Society and a patron of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society.  He was influential in locating the national headquarters of the latter Society in Nashville in 1951. Mr. Dowland was born in Gibson County, the son of Emerson E. DOWLAND and Addie REID DOWNLAND and was descended from early settlers of this area.  His Mother died when he was very young and a few years later his sister died.  At this time he went to live in Skullbone with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William REID, better known as Aunt Bob and Uncle Bill RIED. He owned and operated a hotel in Greenfield and later owned and operated several small hotels in Nashville.  At one time he owned and operated a general store in Skullbone community.  During this time he was a program director of an annual musicale which attracted as many as 20,000 visitors to the community. On January 22, 1949, he married the former Miss Grace DRUMRIGHT who survives.  He was a member of the Vine Street Christian Church, where he served as a deacon. Services were held Thursday afternoon at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church with Dr. Roger NOOE and Dr. Wayne BELL of Vine Street Christian Church and the Rev Dennis BEAL of Mt. Pleasant officiating.  Special music was provided by a choir composed of Weakley and Gibson County singers and by a quartet of four boys, Larry SELLERS, David ADAMS, Stanley CATES, and Randy BEAL.  Burial was in the church cemetery. Honorary pallbearers were members of his Bible class at the Vine Street Church. Active pallbearers were Kermit CATES, Landon HAMPTON, Billy CLARK, Roy DOWLAND, Lavaugn DOWLAND and Melvin DOWNLAND all of Skullbone.

 

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