Greenfield, Tennessee
A History of Greenfield Newspapers

Newspapers of Greenfield, Tennessee 
The Greenfield Sentienel
The Greenfield Times
The Greenfield Gazette
The Tri-City Observer
***
The earliest known newspaper of Greenfield was The Greenfield Sentinel. There are copies of the May 7, 1880, May 21, 1880, June 16, 1880 and October 14, 1880 on Microfilm at the Tennessee State archives. The Greenfield Sentinel was published by Sims & Goolsby.

There is also a copy of the Dresden Democrat with G. D. Sims and Fielden N. Miller as editors. This is the same Sims of the Greenfield Sentinel.

Guilford Dudley Sims born 1856 died 1902 in Texas. He married Amanda Ellen McConnell born 1858. Their children were William Vanna, Mary Caroline, John H., Penelope, and Samuel Sims. He moved to Texas in 1881. 

The 1880 Weakley Co., Greenfield, TN census shows John D. Goolsby age 22, editor, as a boarder in the household of Guilford Sims, printer. It also shows him in the same census in the Gleason, TN in the household of his grandfather. John David Goolsby died at age 28. The Greenfield Sentinel may have ceased publication in 1881 when Sims went to Texas or possibly when John D. Goolsby died in 1886. He never married and is buried in Hopewell Cemetery, Gleason, TN - Goolsby info from Jan Coats Johnson

Household Record  1880 United States Census 
 Gifford P. SIMS   Self   M   Male   W   23   TN   Printer   NC   TN 
 Amanda E. SIMS   Wife   M   Female   W   23   TN   Keeping House   TN   TN 
 William B. SIMS   Son   S   Male   W   5   TN      TN   TN 
 Mary C. SIMS   Dau   S   Female   W   3   TN      TN   TN 
 John B. GOOLABY   Other   S   Male   W   22   TN   Editor   TN   TN 
 George W. FRENCH   Other   S   Male   B   22   TN   Day Laborer   TN   TN 
---------------------------
Household Record  1880 United States Census 
 John GOOLSBY   Self   M   Male   W   79   VA   Farmer   VA   VA 
 Jane H. GOOLSBY   Wife   M   Female   W   54   TN   Keeping House   NC   SC 
 John D. GOOLSBY   GSon   S   Male   W   22   TN   Editor   VA   NC 
 Julia GREAR   Other   S   Female   W   16   TN   Servant   NC   TN 
 

It appears that The Greenfield Times  was the successor to the Greenfield Sentinel.

The Greenfield Times began publication on September 2, 1892. There are very few copies of any issue that are still in existence. The earliest known issue is a copy at the Greenfield Library with a date of October 7, 1898. This copy was donated to the Library by James "Buck" Abney. There are copies of the September 1, 1899 and December 11, 1908 on microfilm at the Tennessee State Archives. Walter B. Knight was the publisher. Walter Knight was born in March of 1870 and died in 1914. He was married Fannie A. Patterson born April 27, 1870 and died in 1946. Both are buried in the Highland Cemetery, Greenfield, TN. They had 3 children, Kent, Carl and Grace Knight. 

Walter Knight was the son of Leonidas Knight born 1847 died 1922 and Susan M. Ray born 1849 died November 11, 1935. Leonidas Knight was the son of John Knight born 1811 died 1863 and Fannie B. Mitchell born 1817 died 1902.

The following submitted by Martha Smith, a descendant of Walter Knight.

December 10, 1897 Walter B. Knight, editor of the Greenfield Times, was in Dresden Monday.

November 20, 1914 News reached Greenfield Tuesday of the serious illness of Walter Knight, formerly editor of the Greenfield Times, but now residing at Brownsville. Mr. Jim Ray, an uncle, left at once for Brownsville. 

November 27, 1914 Walter B. Knight

Walter Knight died at his home in this city Wednesday night at 10 o�clock after an illness of several weeks aged forty four years. The remains were taken to his old home, Greenfield, Tenn. Thursday afternoon. Interment took place Friday morning following services being conducted by Rev. W. W. Armstrong of Union City. Mr. Knight leaves a wife, two sons, Kent and Carl, and a daughter, Grace, besides a brother, Robert Knight of Dyersburg and a sister Mrs. Lela Knight Smith of Greenfield, to mourn his death. Walter Knight has been a resident of Brownsville for about ten years, during which time by his genial nature and sterling qualities he has made a host
of loyal friends. He was open-hearted, frank and courteous in his dealings with his fellows. His word was his bond and he never violated an obligation. His death is a distinct loss to this community. The States Graphic extends deep sympathy to his loved ones in this trying hour of distress.

The above is taken from last week�s State Graphic, Brownsville where Mr. Knight has resided for many years. Mr. Knight published the Greenfield Times Which paper he edited with credit to himself and Greenfield for several years, later removing to Brownsville. Walter Knight was a true gentleman. He was generous-hearted, honorable, upright in all his dealings and the Enterprise found in him a courteous competitor. 

Sharon Siftings Column
Mr. Walter Knight, of Brownsville, brother-in-law to F. Y. Patterson, our chicken man, died on last Wednesday.

August 26, 1921 Editor Cannon Here
Editor Cannon, of the Greenfield Times, was over on Tuesday and paid our sanctum sanctorum an appreciated visit. Mr. Cannon informs us that his new Linotype came in last week and will be installed and put into operation in the Times office this week. Cannon and Davidson have in mind still other and greater improvements.

April 7, 1922 Greenfield Column
With Friday�s issue of the Greenfield Times, publication of that paper was indefinitely suspended.

Dresden Enterprise of November 18, 1955: 
The Enterprise staff had the privilege last week to see a copy of The Weekly News, a newspaper published at Greenfield, June 11, 1915. The paper is the property of Mrs. Dewey Perry [Elsie Drewry Perry] and we are delighted to have the pleasure of reading it.
 

The Times issue of March 31, 1922 lists Davidson & Cannon as Editors & Proprietors. This was the last issue of The Greenfield Times. This was Harry W. Davidson and Thomas W. Cannon.

Harry W. Davidson born September 7, 1890 died September 12, 1947 and wife Ethel Brock Davidson born 1895 had one child Billy Brock Davidson.

Thomas W. Cannon born 1892 died 1984 married Willie Maureen Coats born 1893 died 1989. Their children were Dorothy Sue, Thomas Donald, Betty, and Jerry M. Cannon. Willie Maureen Coats mother was Minnie Knight Coats a daughter of Leonidas Knight. This would explain the succession from Walter B. Knight. 

The Times was succeeded by The Greenfield Gazette which began in the last week of November 1923. David "Davy" Crockett was the owner editor and he came to Greenfield from Troy, Obion County, Tennessee. Davy Crockett was born August 1, 1873 died June 18, 1928. Davy�s wife was Ida Mae Tucker born June 10, 1884 died December 28, 1970. This David Crockett was the son of Harry Hill Crockett born 1851 died March 7, 1890 and Mary Jane Wallace Smith born October 3, 1854 died August 12, 1944. He was not of the same line as the famous Davy Crockett of Alamo fame. His ancestors came from Ireland to Pennsylvania to Humphreys County, Tennessee and then to Obion County,
Tennessee.

Davy Crockett died June 18, 1928 and was succeeded at the Gazette by his son Paul Smith Crockett born about 1908. Paul Crockett married Sylvia Catherine Hillis born about 1910. They had two daughters Jo Ann and Jeanette Crockett.

Sometime in the early 1930�s the Gazette ceased publication, most likely because of the Great Depression.

In December of 1935 the Gazette was revived with Harry W. Davidson and Joel Clark as editors. Joel Clark left the paper at some period and Harry Davidson became the sole editor/publisher.

After the death of Harry Davidson in 1947, Thomas Osborne became the editor/publisher until sometime in the late 1950�s or early 60�s Paul Dycus purchased the paper until about the mid 1960�s when the Gazette ceased publication forever.

On February 28, 1964 The Tri-City Observer began publication. Ed Critchlow was the publisher. This paper ceased publication on October 31, 1975.

The last newspaper of Greenfield, Tennessee was the short lived Greenfield Guardian edited and published by Richard Ward from July 19, 1989 thru December 6, 1989.

Thus ended the Newspapers of Greenfield, Tennessee.

There were other editors of these newspapers that have not been determined as yet because of the scarcity of issues that have been preserved. 

Submitted by Joe Stout

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