A Brief History of the Twelfth Civil District of Hickman County

CHAPTER I

The Twelfth Civil District of Hickman County is rather small in area, but it is large in the deeds of its pioneer settlers. The history of this section of the county is rich in the traditions of many of these early settlers, whose descendants make up the majority of its population today. It is doubtful if any section of the county today is populated by a larger percentage of its native sons and daughters than the Twelfth District.

This district is bounded by Lewis County on the south. The boundary line between the Twelfth and the Eleventh Districts on the west starts at a point on the Lewis County line and runs the old ridge road at the head of Jenkins Hollow and Coleman Hollow to the N., C. & St. L. Railway and along the general route of the railroad past Old Buffalo Switch to an old ridge road and down the dividing ridge between Persimmon Branch in the Twelfth and Haw Branch in the First, crossing Swan Creek and then along the dividing ridge between Falls Branch and Short Branch which is in the Fourteenth District, to the Lewis County line and along the said county line back to the point of beginning.

Fine Creek Bottom Land

This district lies on both sides of Swan Creek, early known as Swan River, and includes many of its upper tributaries. The farm lands of Swan Creek consist of some of the finest creek bottom lands to be found any where in the county. The limestone bluffs, honeycombed with numerous caves, along the creek gives the bottom land an ample supply of lime. The many valuable deposits of phosphate found in this district add to the fertility of the soil. The timberlands along Swan and its tributaries compare favorably with the timberlands to be found anywhere in Middle Tennessee.

Swan Creek itself is recognized as one of the best natural fishing streams to be found anywhere. Many of the leading authorities on streams and fishing realize that if the game fish of this cool bluish green stream were given a fair deal by the fishing public it could easily become the proverbial "Fisherman's Paradise."

It might be well to mention here that at the close of the Revolutionary War, North Carolina found its treasury depleted to the extent that the State did not have sufficient funds with which to pay its soldiers, who had served as a part of General Washington's Continental Army.

Veterans Awarded Land

The State Legislature of North Carolina decided that the best way of meeting this just obligation was by giving these soldiers title to certain lands in the western part of what was then North Carolina but which is today Tennessee. The Legislature in 1782 appointed Anthony Bledsoe, Absalon Tatum and Isaac Shelby as commissioners to allot to the Continental soldiers certain lands across the mountains. The original commissioners line which crossed the northern part of Hickman County and went near Vernon was soon discontinued and a new line under the supervision of General Rutherford was run in 1784.

This new line, known as the Continental Line, is approximately eight miles south of the original and is very important in the early land records of the county. It crossed Swan Creek near its mouth.

How Creek Got Name

Tradition, according to Spence's History of Hickman County, has it that this party of surveyors, or trail blazers, killed a swan on this creek. This account is given here not necessarily as a part of the history of this district but to show how its principal stream, Swan Creek, received its name.

What is today the Twelfth District of Hickman County was not a part of this land set aside to the Revolutionary soldiers under the terms of the survey known as the Continental Line, but the mouth of Swan Creek was included. Once settlements were made in this section the settlers pushed up the creek claiming for themselves the fertile creek bottom soils under what was known as occupancy possession. An "occupant" was one who settled on a tract of land without any form of deed or title. After living on the land for a certain period of time he could have it surveyed and an entry made in his name by paying a small nominal price.

John Tate Early Entry

One of the early entries in this district was the 500 acre entry of John Tate of Maury County. This land was surveyed and plated for Tate by John G. Webster, deputy surveyor, on January 3, 1821. This survey and plat is one of the earliest on record in this county. The State granted entry to Tate on March 17, 1822 and according to the original grant was located as follows: "On the waters of Big Swan Creek in Range No. 6, Fifth Section of Hickman County four miles above the Military Line and lying on both sides of the creek." The early land records refer to the creek as Big Swan Creek.

On December 26, 1822, Tate sold one-half of this entry to George Peery and the other half to William Alexander and Robert Peery. This land is what is today known as Perry Bend on the east side of the creek and the part lying on the west side of the creek is the Eramus Hill place which Emmett C. Peery now owns.

Thomas McMinn received an entry of 500 acres by "Soldiers Warrant" in 1821, just above the Tate entry. This entry on the west side of Big Swan Creek was between the mouth of Persimmon Branch and Copperas Branch. In 1825 William Beakley returned from Missouri where he had gone about five years before and bought the McMinn entry.

Peery Played Important Role

Several of these old Revolutionary War soldiers came into what is now Hickman County and laid out their land claims in person. One of them, James Peery, came to Swan Creek and played a prominent part in the development of what is today the Twelfth District.

In listing the early settlers of this county who left their stamp on posterity in this county and whose descendants have played a leading, and at times dominant, role in the history of the county and especially the Twelfth District, we must list James Peery, Sr. He was born in England but came to America at an early age. He remained on the Atlantic Coast long enough to help the young country win its independence, seeing service at the Battle of Cowpens under General Morgan. after the close of the Revolutionary War, the urge of the frontier and new lands to settle brought him to Swan Creek.

The descendants of this hardy pioneer have been many and some have played a leading role in the public affairs of this county for over 100 years. His sons were William Peery, Alexander Peery, Robert Peery, George Peery and James Peery, Jr. The first three named were triplets. All except James Peery, Jr. saw service in the Second War with England or the War of 1812. Robert Peery was wounded at the Battle of New Orleans.

Ministers and Teachers

Margaret Peery, daughter of James Peery, Sr. married George W. McNutt, who settled on Ugly Creek in the Fourteenth District shortly before 1820. After remaining on Ugly Creek for about 20 years, the McNutts moved to Mississippi. The sons of George and Margaret Peery McNutt were James Peery McNutt, Wiley B. McNutt, Samuel McNutt, George McNutt, and the twins William and Tilford McNutt. James P. McNutt was a school teacher and he and George H. McNutt were Cumberland Presbyterian ministers.

As a religious group most of the early Peerys in this county were Cumberland Presbyterians.

The only known descendant of James Peery, Jr. was his son Andrew Peery who inherited his father's lands in the Fourteenth District. Andrew Peery spoken of in Spence's History as "The Hermit of Ugly Creek" never married and tradition has it that he was one of the three voters in Hickman County who voted against Tennessee seceding from the Union before the Civil War.

Served in Mississippi State

William Peery left Swan Creek and moved to Mississippi where his son, W. D. Peery, served in the Mississippi State Senate.

The other sons of James Peery, Sr., George, who was born in Virginia and married Miss Ann Carson in East Tennessee; Robert, who married Jane Brown of Maury County; and Alexander, who served as Captain in the War of 1812, left descendants many of whom still reside in the Twelfth District.

George Peery served as Hickman County's second county surveyor. He succeeded James Weatherspoon in October 1825 and served until May 1851, a period of almost 26 years. This being the longest any one man ever served as county surveyor in this county. He was succeeded by Samuel C. Aydelott, another Twelfth district citizen, who served until 1865.

Aydelott Served as Surveyor

Samuel C. Aydelott was a great uncle of L. W. Aydelott of the Twelfth who served in the capacity of county surveyor from January 1936 until January 1947, at which time he resigned due to health. No other district of the county can come close to matching the Twelfth's record for furnishing county surveyors, either from the standpoint of length of time served or ability of those who served.

George Peery was born in Virginia and came to Swan Creek as a young man. In addition to being a surveyor, he was one of the pioneer school teachers of this county. At one time he taught school in a log school house on the hill between Dunlap Creek and Duck River near Shady Grove. He served as Magistrate in 1825. He lived to be an old man and must be considered one of this county's most valuable men during the time he lived on Swan Creek. He purchased land near the mouth of Persimmon Branch around 1820.

He was the father of Martha Peery, who married Abner F. Aydelott, brother of Samuel C. Aydelott mentioned above.

Long Line of Descendants

Martha Peery Aydelott left a long line of descendants, many of whom played a prominent part in the recent history of Swan Creek.

Other daughters of George Peery were Mrs. Alzenia Brown, who lived in Lewis County; Nellie, who married David B. Warren; and Mary, who married William P. Weatherly.

The sons of George Peery were George Peery, Jr., Marcenus G. Peery and David C. Peery. Marcenus G. Peery was the father of Thomas N. Peery, Samuel D. W. "Sam" Peery, David W. Peery, Simeon W. Peery, Marcenus B. Peery and Cave J. Peery, who served in Company D, 48th Tennessee Infantry during the War Between the States.

Marcenus G. Peery was commissioned in 1844 as captain of the 97th Tennessee Regiment. The old home place just below the mouth of Loveless Hollow or Shop Hollow and presently owned by Mrs. Lester Prince is the old Sam Peery home. The children of Cave J. Peery were Robert, Annie M., Finis W. and Arsena. Marcenus G. Peery was appointed by Governor Brownlow in May 1865 as a Justice of Peace.

Farmers, County Officials

David C. Peery's daughter Betty, married O. A. Prince, the son of Pinkney Prince. Ashford Prince, Twelfth District Magistrate, and Arch Prince, prominent Swan Creek farmers and Myrtle, the wife of Carl Peery, former Fourteenth District Magistrate and former county highway superintendent, are the children of O. A. Prince and Betty Peery Prince. Ashford married Elizabeth, the daughter of R. L. Peery and Sarah Holmes Peery, and Arch married Roxie, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Field of the Ninth District and sister of Edward Field, former county trustee.

Mayor Peery's Ancestry Traced

The sons of David C. Peery were Arch Peery, Leroy Peery and J. Fletcher Peery. Fletcher Peery, who married Fannie Anderson, was the father of Clarence L. Peery who married Vera Bates, the daughter of T. B. Bates. Charles Lee Peery, mayor of Centerville since October, 1952 and cashier of the First National Bank, is the son of Clarence L. Peery. Charles Lee married Georgia, the daughter of Grover C. and Donnie Malugin Hutchinson.

Clarence L. Peery now lives above the mouth of Copperas Branch at the farm which his father bought from Sam A. Bond.

The children of Martha and Abner F. Aydelott, previously mentioned, were Mrs. Ellen Sharp, Mrs. Margaret Beakley, Mrs. Priscilla Burcham, Frances who married Luther Whitesides, James D. Aydelott, Marcenus Peery Aydelott and Samuel D. Aydelott, who died during the Civil War in Company D, 48th Tennessee Infantry.

Served in Civil War

Marcenus Peery Aydelott married Mary E. Briggs on November 22, 1881. He had served in Company D, 48th Tennessee Infantry during the Civil War. It was in this same organization that his brother, Samuel D. Aydelott, lost his life.

The children of Marcenus P. Aydelott were Margaret, who married R. A. Hill; Abner Finley, David Moore, Rebecca Ann and William Marcenus.

County's First Judge

Abner F. Aydelott married Carrie Thornburg from Indiana. They both taught school at the old school at the mouth of Pine Branch. He was principal of the first school taught in the Old Fairview Academy and his wife also taught there at the same time. This institution of learning later became the Centerville Elementary School. He served as the first county judge of this county. A Private Act was enacted by the State General Assembly in 1908 providing for the office of county judge for Hickman County. Prior to that the members of the court each year elected a chairman to serve for one year. He was first elected County Judge by the election of 1908 and was elected by the people in the August election of 1908. He served in the capacity until his death December 17, 1915.

Centerville Car Dealer

Mary Ann Aydelott married Ben Frank McClanahan, brother of William W. "Bill Mack" McClanahan. They had one child, Willie McClanahan, who was an automobile dealer in Centerville at one time.

David Moore Aydelott married Mary Grimes, daughter of James K. Polk Grimes of the Third District. Their son Arch went to Oklahoma where he married and still lives.

Rebecca Aydelott married Allan Smithson. Their children were Walter, who married Anna Hutchinson; Bridges, who married a daughter of Lock Gracy of the Thirteenth District; Genova, who married Henry Anderson and Kate, who married Jerome McGill.

W. M. Aydelott first married Betty, the daughter of Alex George, to which union two children, Gilbert and Claude, were born. Gilbert is now deceased and Claude now lives in Maury County. After the death of Betty, W. M. Aydelott married Mary Ann Duncan, daughter of Lafayette "Bud" Duncan. The had several children. At the age of eight W. M. left the Twelfth District with his family and moved to the Fourteenth. In 1913 he moved to the First District and was elected Justice of the Peace in September 1926 to fill out the term of L. V. Porter, who resigned. He served until 1930. He was again elected in August election 1942 and served until September, 1948.

Elected Magistrate

William D. Aydelott married Margaret L. Prince, daughter of Pinkney and Jane Peery Prince. William D. Aydelott and his father-in-law, Pinkney Prince, were both elected Magistrates in the August election 1882 from the Twelfth. This was Aydelott's first election but Prince had served in this capacity before. Aydelott served as Twelfth District tax assessor in 1884. At that time and for several years after one magistrate from each district was elected by the court each year to assess the property taxes in his respective district. He resigned as magistrate in October 1884 but was again elected in 1894 and re-elected in 1900. He was killed by an enraged bull in his barn lot in July 1901, thus ending the life and public career of one of the Twelfth District and Hickman County's leading citizens.

W. D. Aydelott left two sons, O. D. Aydelott, who married Ona, the daughter of Henry Sisco, and L. W. Aydelott. O. D. Aydelott moved with his father-in-law to Maury County.

Elected Road Commissioner

L. W. Aydelott first married Allie Anderson, daughter of Essau Anderson, and after her death he married Ethel Tolle, daughter of John W. and Nettie Harder Tolle. He was elected Twelfth District Road Commissioner by the county court in 1904. He was re-elected in 1906 and 1908.

The county had been redistricted by the legislature in 1905 into eight districts instead of 15 but the legislature in 1909 placed the county back under 15 districts as it had previously been and as it remains today. In 1909 Aydelott and his father-in-law, Essau Anderson, were elected Justices of the Peace from the Twelfth and Aydelott has remained in the court since that time. At the January term, 1953, he was elected chairman pro-tem of the court in recognition of his long and faithful public service to the county. He is the first chairman pro-tem to be elected by the court in several years. Today he is regarded as the leading authority on the financial condition of the county. He always tries to protect the interest of the tax payers of the county, but at the same time studies the progressive needs of the county. He has been a true friend of the school boys and girls of this county throughout his long tenure of office as he has always been keenly interested in the educational needs not only of his home district but of the entire county. Not only does he vote his sentiments but is always ready to speak to the court on behalf of his views. The entire membership of the court respects his wisdom and judgment on the affairs of the county. During the past few years he has served annually on the tax rate committees.

In addition to serving his district as Justice of the Peace and road commissioner he has also served as a member of the school board and served as county surveyor from January 1936 until January, 1947.

Frances Aydelott, daughter of Abner F. Aydelott, married Luther Whitesides. Her sons were Tom C., who married Lizzie Brooks; John, who married in Texas; Robert L., who married Ruth Weatherly; and the twins, Bill Bud and Jim Bud, who married Margaret and Ellen Morris, daughters of Anderson Morris. Her daughters were Martha Jane, who married A. J. "Jack" Sisco; Allie married Dick Bates; Bettie, who married Tom Sims; and Fannie, who married Ernest Chandler.

The daughters of A. J. and Martha Whitesides Sisco were Allie, the wife of Comer Loveless; Edna, who married Albert Quillen and Delphia, the wife J. W. Mayfield.

Wounded in New Orleans

Robert Peery, the son of James Peery, Sr., was born in Virginia in 1796. After seeing service in the War of 1812 and being wounded at the Battle of New Orleans, he returned to Swan Creek and married Jane Brown of Catheys Creek in Maury County. He settled land in Peery's Bend of Swan Creek in 1817. His sons were Charles Brown Peery, who was born on January 23, 1824, and John Luther Peery, who was born on March 12, 1826, and James W. Peery.

Charles Brown Peery first married Mary A. Lusk and after her death he married the widow McGill of Swan Creek. His two daughters, Margaret and Mildred, died in early childhood. His sons were Robert Alexander Peery, who married Belle Burcham, and James Rufus Peery, who married Willie Meece.

The children of James Rufus and Willie Meece Peery were Grover C. "Todd" Peery, who married Nova Hutchinson, Harold Peery, who married Lois Hutchison; Orell, the wife of J. E. Sparkman; Carrie, who married Jess Elkins; Ova Julia and Tempie; Leftric, who married Lillian Tarkington. Leftric who served in the Army during World War I, died a few years ago and his widow lives in Centerville.

John Luther Peery and wife, Elizabeth Wheat Peery, had three daughters, Mrs. Eva Weatherly, whose daughter, Mrs. Susie Curry, now owns the old John Luther Peery home place; Louisa Peery, who married Jennis Johnson of Lewis County; and Margaret Elizabeth Peery, who never married. The last will of John L. Peery as recorded in the County Court Clerk's office reveals that he left most of his estate in trust for the support and benefit of his daughter, Margaret Elizabeth, during her life. R. L. Peery, son of John Luther Peery, was named as executor and trustee of said will.

Attorney For Many Years

R. L. "Bob" Peery was a lawyer at Centerville for many years. He married Sarah C. Holmes, daughter of Samuel C. Holmes, a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher, who served as county superintendent of public instruction of this county from January 1, 1876 until October 1, 1876 at which time he resigned. As a young man R. L. Peery was elected as direct representative in 1892. He lived a long and active public life, serving the county in various capacities. He died at his home, where his son Robert L. Peery now lives, in 1945. His children in addition to the above mentioned R. L. Peery, Jr., were Emmett C. Peery, who married Ollie, the daughter of George Sharp; Albert, who married Bessie, a granddaughter of George Sharp; Anne, who married Z. Kennedy of Maury County and Elizabeth, the wife of Ashford Prince. R. L. Peery, Jr. married Mayme Harville, daughter of Tom Harville, who lived in the Fourteenth District.

Elected Road Commissioner

Emmett C. Peery was elected district road commissioner in 1922. Albert Peery was elected magistrate from the Twelfth District in December 1919 to fill out the term of Essau Anderson, who died. Albert served in this capacity until 1932 when he moved to the Fourteenth. He served as magistrate in the Fourteenth from August 1944 until his death in 1950.

Two other daughters of R. L. Peery not mentioned above are Corrine, who married A. H. Sawyer, and Neoma, who married Ashley Burns.

J. W. Peery, the other son of John Luther Peery, moved to Lewis County, where he served as county trustee.

James W. Peery died on February 2, 1862 while in service in Company D, 48th Tennessee Infantry, Confederate Army.

Plea For Property Division

A proceedings in the county court records of the March term, 1871 shows that Charles Brown Peery filed a petition setting out that he and his brother, James W. Peery owned a certain tract of land located on Swan Creek. The petition further stated that they had an oral agreement as to how they would divide it prior to the death of James W. Peery. A committee was appointed by the court to divide said land and an order at a later term of court shows that the proper division was made.

This court proceedings also shows that James W. Peery's widow, Nancy Whitesides Peery, had married Samuel H. Holmes, the Cumberland Presbyterian preacher, after his death. The petition sets out the children of James W. Peery as being minors at that time. At the time of the division of the land under the provisions of the petition, a homestead and dower was set apart to Nancy Holmes. This land in Peery Bend was part of the original entry of John Tate. This land later was known as the Arch Peery place and the Gill Peery place.

Robert G. "Gill" Peery's widow, Dovie George Peery, still lives that Gill Peery place.

CHAPTER II

Another early settler who played an important role in the affairs of the Twelfth District for many years was Robertson Whitesides.

He became a magistrate from that district in 1852 and was re-elected in 1854 and 1860. He served until Governor Brownlow in May 1865 appointed him Justice of the Peace for Hickman County.

Whitesides served as Direct Representative from Hickman County in 1855 as a member of the Thirty-First General Assembly. He was born in South Caroline in 1800 and came to Swan Creek in 1825 after living in Maury City for a while. He married Sarah Webb of the Seventh District. Their children were Pleasant, Luther, Lafayette, Mrs. Mary Duncan, Mrs. Keziah Murcham, Mrs. Nancy E. Sharp and Mrs. Peggy Jane Sharp.

Served in Civil War

Luther Whitesides, who married Frances Aydelott, daughter of Abner F. Aydelott, served in Company D, 48th Tennessee Infantry during the Civil War as did his brother Lafayette. When William G. Harder resigned as Twelfth District magistrate in 1871, Luther Whitesides was elected to fill out his term. He was re-elected in 1876. He served as tax assessor for the Twelfth District from 1871 through 1877.

Opposed Bridge

During the heated fight in the county court in 1877 over building a bridge across Duck River, north of Centerville, Luther Whitesides was one of the recognized leaders of the bridge opposition. For several years he opposed all appropriations for bridges across Duck River.

George Tatum, who settled on Persimmon Branch prior to 1820, was elected magistrate in 1858 and was re-elected in 1860. He almost lost his seat in the court when Governor Brownlow had changed enacted during 1865. However Tatum was again elected as a member of the court in 1870. In April 1872 he was elected chairman of the court to fill out the term of T. S. Broome, who had died. He served as district tax assessor in 1875.

Harder Family Prominent

The Harder family was also a prominent family of this section for many years. William Harder, who was born in North Carolina, came to Swan Creek as a young man and married a Carothers. He was the father of Pleasant Harder who lost his life in Company D, 48th Tennessee Infantry during the Civil War. William Harder, Jr. served as a second lieutenant during the Civil War. He also taught school in this section. In 1870 he was elected magistrate but resigned in 1871. He was elected constable in 1876. J. M. Harder was elected magistrate from this district in 1876 and re-elected in 1882. W. A. Harder was elected district road commissioner in 1895.

One of the early settlers on Falls Branch was William Duncan who came to this section from Kentucky. His sons were W. H. Duncan, James A. , David M., Marcenus and John Duncan. William Duncan was elected magistrate in 1836, re-elected in 1842 and again elected in 1854. Edward Dotson, present County Court Clerk, is a descendant of this family of Duncans.

Hutchison Family

Richard "Dick" Hutchison, father of B. M. and S. George Hutchison, came to this section from North Carolina. Other children of Richard Hutchison were Will, Lou, who married John Harlow, and Josie, who married Dave Miller of the Anderson Bend section of the Fifteenth District.

B. M. Hutchison ran a store for several years above Swan Bluff at the mouth of Haw Branch in the First District.

Grover C. Hutchison married Donnie Malugin, daughter of Levi Malugin. Levi Malugin's wife was a sister of N. D. "Nick" Bates, prominent Centerville businessman for several years prior to his death in 1952.

G. C. Hutchison Built Store

In 1919 Grover C. Hutchison built a store on Swan Creek in the Twelfth District at the mouth of Loveless or Shop Hollow. This hollow was originally called Shop Hollow but as W. L. Loveless, former Eleventh District magistrate, owned land and lived in this hollow at one time it is now called Loveless Hollow. In 1946 Hutchison built a new store building out of concrete blocks beside the old building which stands there. He has operated the only store in this district since Ashford and Archie Prince closed the old Beakley store at Sunrise in 1829.

The other sons of S. George Hutchison were Lon, who was a prominent farmer on Swan Creek in the First District until his death in 1951, and Will, who now lives in Centerville.

Lon first married Betty Sisco, daughter of Jack Sisco, and after her death he married Ella Whitesides, daughter of Lafayette Whitesides, who now lives at the home place.

"Watch Dog of Treasury"

Another early settler on Falls Branch was Azariah Anderson, the father of Azariah, Jr., and Whig Anderson. James Anderson, another early settler on Swan Creek, was the father of James Anderson, Jr., who was the father of Essau Anderson. Essau Anderson was for many years one of the leading members of the county court. He was often referred to as the "Watch dog of Treasury." He was first elected to the county court in 1888 and served in this capacity until his death in 1919. When Hickman County was redistricted in 1905 into eight districts the old Eleventh and Twelfth were combined into the new Eighth District.

Essau Anderson served as a member of the court from this district and when the county went back under the old districts again in 1909 he continued to serve. He was last elected in August 1918 but due to poor health he was never able to attend court or make bond as magistrate. He served his district and the county in various other services as he was truly a valuable man to the county.

Tom Burcham, who lived at one on Persimmon Branch, married Priscilla, the daughter of Abner F. Aydelott. The Burchams moved to Obion County where John Simps Burcham, son of Tom and Priscilla, served as sheriff of Obion County for three terms. Elbert Burcham, son of John S., is now serving his third term as sheriff of Obion County.

Pinkney Prince, as previously mentioned, married Jane, the daughter of Alexander Peery. Prince was first elected as a Justice of the Peace from this district in March 1865 and also served as district tax assessor the same year. When the Thirty-Fifth General Assembly, known as the "Brownlow Assembly" met in 1869 a series of laws were enacted to further the grip of Brownlow forces in the state.

County Court Abolished

J. N. Puckett of the Thirteenth District was Hickman County's Representative. On January 31, 1869 a law was passed abolishing the County Court and creating a Board of County Commissioners consisting of five men who were to govern the county. The law provided that the original board was to be appointed by the Governor and their successors to be elected by the voters. Pinkney Prince was one of the five men appointed as county commissioners. The other four were: William M. C. Thompson of the First District; Johnson H. Totty of the Second; Jerome B. Baird of the Fourth and Jackson C. DeVore of the Eleventh. The law provided that their terms be for four years. The same session of the General Assembly in October 1869 repealed the law providing a board of county commissioners and placed the county back under the jurisdiction of the county court. Prince left the court at that time but was again elected in 1882. He served as district tax assessor again in 1881, 1885 and 1887.

Lewis County Abolished

The General Assembly also in the early part of 1869 abolished Lewis County and divided the county among Hickman, Maury, Perry, Wayne and Lawrence Counties. Prince along with William Harder, A. G. Cooper, John Carroll and John M. Sharp were named as a committee to lay out the Sixteenth District out of the portion of Lewis County that went to Hickman County. However in October 1869 the General Assembly re-established Lewis County.

The children of Pinkney Prince will be listed later on in this but at the present we will mention Ashford Prince, the son of O. A. or Bud Prince, and grandson of Pinkney Prince. Ashford was first elected magistrate from this district in September 1932 to fill out the term of Albert Peery, who moved to the Fourteenth District. He has served in this capacity since that time. Ashford and L. W. Aydelott give the Twelfth District very capable representation. Both are keen students of the financial affairs of the county and have served on numerous important committees.

Judgment Highly Respected

For the past few years Ashford Prince has served each year on the County Budget Committee and County Agricultural Committee. He has been very active in the Farm Bureau and the County Fair Association. As a member of the court his views have always been progressive and his judgment is highly respected by the entire membership of the court.

One of the newcomers to this section is William E. "Bill" Ronstadt. Bill, who was raised in Tuson, Ariz., and graduated from the Santa Clara University in California, came to Fall Branch in June 1946 and built a ranch-style home near the head of the branch. In early part of 1947 his wife, Sallie Ewing Ronstadt, and two children, William Ervin and Elisa Ewing Ronstadt, came to make their home here.

Mining Company Formed

In 1896 a group of Illinois farmers formed the New York and St. Louis Mining and Manufacturing Company and purchased approximately ten thousand acres of land in this county, the majority of which is in the Twelfth District. They started mining phosphate in the Jenkins Hollow and had a 100 foot shaft and a spur railroad track to Buffalo Switch. They mined here, one of the first phosphate mining operations of the county, until around 1906 at which time the brown phosphate rock was discovered near Mt. Pleasant.

The holdings of this company were offered at public auction here in 1939 and Judge Charles Ewing, one of the original owners, purchased the property outright.

Mrs. Ronstadt is the daughter of Judge Ewing, who died in 1942.

Ronstadt Has 1,000 Acres

Ronstadt has approximately 1,000 acres under fence here today. This has all been accomplished since he started his ranch operations in 1947. Most of this is barbed wire fence. He has cleared the ridges for pasture and is restoring fertility to the old cleared land. Since 1947 he has set out approximately 15,000 pine tree seedlings and 2,500 popular seedlings. He has started a nice herd of Hereford cattle and has doubled the size of his home and has installed his own light and water system.

Tom Sharp, who served as caretaker for the company when the land belonged to the above named company, was instrumental in the selection of the location where Ronstadt built his home.

CHAP

TER III

If the readers of this article will take an imaginary trip with the writer up one side of Swan Creek and down the other we can learn something of the history of the farms and some of the people who lived on each farm during the past 50 years, or the time since Spence wrote his Hickman County History around the turn of the century.

Going up Swan Creek on the west side of the creek we will enter the Twelfth District, just below the Swan Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which was first organized in 1826. The first elders of the church were Robert Peery and James Peery Jr.

Camp Ground Church

During the early period of existence, the congregation met without the comforts of a church building. Bush arbors and the shade of trees were used. Settlers from various sections of the county in addition to members of the Presbyterian faith living on Swan Creek would meet there for regular camp meetings. Tradition has it that large numbers would gather there on appointed days to worship, often remaining for several days. Entire families would come in wagons, buggies, horseback or travel on foot. The church became known as the Camp Ground Church.

Between sessions of preaching by various preachers, the men would swap horses and compare methods of farming while the women cared for the children and found time to tell of their pioneer experiences.

At the present time Sunday School is held here each Sunday with preaching two Sundays each month. The present minister is Bill Middleton, a Bible student at Bethel College at McKenzie. The present elders are Ashford Prince, Arch Prince, Grover C. Peery, Robert L. Peery, Jr., Clarence Peery, P. I. Mayberry, Lon Prince, Walter Smithson and A. H. Sawyer.

Built of Logs

The first building here was built of logs which stood for years before being torn down about 1890 at which time the present building was erected under the supervision of Bill Mac McClanahan, who at that time lived on Persimmon Branch. Some of the logs taken from the old log building are in the barn at Lon Prince's place.

If the original organizers of this church could return today, they would find much of which to be justly proud.

The Camp Ground Cemetery is located at the church. It is the largest cemetery in this district and many of the early settlers were buried here.

Erasmus Hill Farm

The next place is the Eramus Hill farm. Rufus A. Hill, son of Erasmus, bought the farm at a court sale after his father's death. Rufus A. Hill married Margaret, a daughter of Marcenus Aydelott. After his death his children, Grinden, who married Delia Plunkett; Inez, who married Jim Morrison; and Amelia Burcham, who married Otey Peery, sold the place to E. C. "Emmett" Peery who owns the place at the present.

Above this farm lies the northern portion of the Marcenus G. Peery farm. The celebrated Peery will gave all of his land here to his sons, T. N. "Newt" Peery and Samuel D. "Sam" Peery, who sold it to S. George Hutchison. In the division of S. G. Hutchison's property his daughter Carrie, the wife of Lester Prince, received the northern part where the Sam Peery residence is located. George Smithson and his wife live here now. The store of G. C. Hutchison, previously mentioned, is located just up the road a short distance.

Hutchison Children

The children of G. C. Hutchison and wife are G. C., Jr., who married Ruth Aydelott, daughter of W. M. Aydelott of Centerville, Fred, who married Frances Bowen of Waverly, and Georgia, the wife of Charles Lee Peery, mayor of Centerville and cashier of the First National Bank. G. C. is now a member of the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Fred is a successful young businessman at Centerville.

Up Loveless Hollow behind the store is the old W. L. Loveless home where Walter Smithson and wife, Anna, the daughter of S. G. Hutchison, lived for many years. The Smithsons built a new home near the old home in 1946. Mrs. Smithson received the central portion of her father's farm. Bertie Hutchison, who married P. I. Mayberry, received the southern part of her father's place. The Mayberrys live in the nice home on the hill north of the mouth of Persimmon Branch.

John L. Beakley Lands

Crossing Persimmon Branch we come to the lands formerly belonging to John L. Beakley, who married Margaret Aydelott, daughter of Abner F. Aydelott. Beakley sold this land to O. A. Prince and in the division of the Prince estate portion went to Lon N. Prince, who married Mattie, daughter of Ford George and they make their home here.

In front of L. N. Prince's home is the old store building where J. L. Beakley ran a store before selling to the Kennedy brothers, George and Clarence, who in turn sold to Brown brothers, Alvie and Lennie. Brown brothers then sold the store to Ashford and Arch Prince who were the last to run a store here. The place is known as Sunrise. Some brown phosphate has recently been mined in this section of the district. Just below the Lon N. Prince home his son James, who married Effie Mai Crider of Paris, has recently completed a new home on the bank overlooking the road. James is engaged in farming the lands of his father.

Up Persimmon Branch from where a new bridge was recently constructed, a fair rural road extends up the branch from the Swan Creek rural road through Watson, a railroad siding to State Highway 100.

McClanahan Lived on Branch

William W. McClanahan, who married Jennie Beakley, daughter of John Beakley, lived on Persimmon Branch for several years. McClanahan, known as Bill Mac McClanahan, was the father of Will and T. S. McClanahan. It will be recalled that he was the carpenter in charge of building the present church at Camp Ground. The McClanahans moved from this branch in 1899 to Beaverdam Creek below Coble.

Other children of William and Jennie Beakley McClanahan were: Robert and Betty, now deceased; Revo, who now lives in Atlanta, Ga.; Mollie, the widow of W. L. Loveless; Amelia, the widow of Dr. J. D. Cooper, and Lee, who married Roy Blackwell of Wolf Creek, all live in Shipp's Bend; Gracie, who married John Whitesides, now lives in Mississippi and Tabitha, the widow of E. B. Baker, now lives in Centerville.

The first farm up this branch from L. N. Prince's place is the old Tom Burcham farm, now owned by the Virginia Carolina Chemical Company. The next place, the Preacher Thomas Bates place, is also owned by a phosphate company and John Marler has rented this place for several years and made his home here. Various phosphate companies and the heirs of A. B. Crowe now own all the land on Persimmon Branch except the lands settled by George Tatum prior to 1820. Tom Jenkins now owns the old Tatum place.

Richard Meece Lands

Above the L. N. Prince farm is located the lands formerly belonging to Richard Meece. The daughters of Richard Meece were: Fannie, who married R. D. Clark, Twelfth District Magistrate from 1888 until 1894; Kitty, who married James D. Aydelott; Willie, who married J. Rufus Peery; and Jackie, who married Lanty Johnson. Walter S. Meece, son of Richard Meece, married Honor McGill, daughter of John McGill. He bought the Meece lands at a court sale. He raised a large family, and lived here until his death.

After the death of Walter Meece and his wife, A. B. Crowe bought the farm at a court sale. Hugh Cunningham and his wife, a daughter of A. B. Crowe, live here now. Cunningham is related to the prominent Cunningham family of Clarksville.

The home where the Cunninghams live is near the mouth of Copperas Branch. The Sunrise school is just south of the Cunningham home and is located on the old Blackburn or Dr. J. D. Cooper lands. Cooper practiced medicine in this community for several years, riding horseback day and night to attend to the needs of the people of this section. Dr. Cooper first married a daughter of Greene Sharp and after her death he married Amelia McClanahan, daughter of William W. McClanahan. His sons, Mayhugh and Carl, married Claudie and Nellie Peery, daughters of R. G. Peery. His daughter Ester Cooper married Ernest Beakley, a son of J. L. Beakley. The Coopers moved to Missouri and the Beakleys to Texas. When Dr. Cooper sold the farm, it was bought by Robert L. Peery, Centerville attorney and Swan Creek resident. Robert L. Peery's daughter, Elizabeth, wife of Ashford Prince, now owns this farm.

Next we find the land which O. A. Prince sold to a phosphate company. The Prescott Mining and Manufacturing Company sold this along with the Lafayette Whitesides place to Howard and Raymond Cook. The Cook brothers sold the part south of Copperas Branch to Alex Rosen and his son Wilbur J. Rosen. Alex Rosson's father was Jeff Rosen.

Above this place is a small farm which originally belonged to Carolie Brown which she sold to L. W. Aydelott.

Above this farm lies the farm which J. Fletcher Peery, son of David Peery, bought from S. R. Bond and others. David C. Peery was a Fifer in the Confederate Army.

In addition to being a fifer, David C. Peery was also a drummer in the Confederate Army. He was a man of unusual mechanical ability and made many drums during his lifetime. At one time Yankee soldiers came to his home and stole the drums which he had at home before he could get them to the Confederate Army.

He also devoted much time to invent "perpetual motion". According to tradition he did not have much faith in his work along this line but gave his best efforts as he was employed by others in trying to solve the age old problem.

Clarence L. Peery, grandson of David C. Peery, who lives on this place still has the old fife which his grandfather used during the Civil War.

A new TVA power transmition line crosses Swan Creek at this place.

CHAPTER IV

The next farm above the farm where Clarence L. Peery now lives is the original Samuel C. Aydelott lands. This farm is on the west side of Swan Creek just below the mouth of Coleman Hollow. After Samuel C. Aydelott's death this place went to his three daughters; Mary, who married a Hines; Ferby, who married a Bartley; and Caroline, who married Frank Nunn, a Confederate cavalry man, who would not wear any clothing except gray. Pinkney Prince bought the shares belonging to Mary and Ferby. At Prince's death these shares were bought by W. D. Aydelott through the county court of Hickman County. Caroline Aydelott Nunn sold her share in her father's place to a phosphate company. This was the first land sold to a phosphate company in this section. This phosphate company also bought the northern part of this bend of the creek from the heirs of Albert Southall. Sanford Southall, who married Mrs. Josie Thompson McCollum and Gus Southall, who married Rebecca Anderson, were living on the place when it was sold.

Other Children

Other children of Albert Southall were: Iowa, who married George Sharp; Sallie, who first married a Wray and then married Greene Sharp and Will, who lived in Maury County. Sanford and Gus Southall bought land at Cross Bridges in Maury County after selling out their interest in the lands here. Tom Sharp, a son of George Sharp lived near the mouth of Fall Branch until his death in 1952. Ode Sharp, son of Greene and Sallie Sharp, now lives on Short Branch in the Fourteenth District.

In 1896 the phosphate company, which later became the Virginia and Carolina Chemical Company, sold this land bought from Nunn and Southall heirs, lying south and east of the old public road to W. D. Aydelott. After the death of his mother, L. W. Aydelott bought out his brother, O. D. Aydelott's share and now owns the entire farm where he and his wife now reside.

Carothers Land

Above the L. W. Aydelott farm on the west side of the creek is located the land formerly belonging to a Carothers, an early settler who located here prior to 1835. Jonathan Tolle, who married Mary Ann Sharp secured title to this land. After his death his son John W. Tolle got the upper part and his daughter Christine the lower part. John Tolle married Nettie Harder. John lived to be 91 years old and his mother was 98 at the time of her death. John Tolle's two sons, Adolph and Porter, went to Los Angeles, Calif., where Porter still lives. After the death of his wife, Nettie, John W. Tolle sold his farm to Ford George and moved to Gibson County in West Tennessee. After the death of Ford George his farm was bought by J. A. Sisco, a Church of Christ minister, who sold to Edgar and Robert Black. The Black brothers sold to A. D. Grimes and his brother Walker W. Grimes. Walker W. and his wife, Lela Duncan Crimes now own and live at the John W. Tolle home.

Moved to Maury County

Jonathan Tolle's daughter, Clementine, who received the lower part of her father's farm, married W. Henry Sisco. Henry and Clementine sold this place to John T. Sisco and with their daughter Ona and her husband, O. D. Aydelott, bought land and moved to Maury County. The later sold out in Maury County and moved to Linden, Ala., where Clementine and Ona still live. Clementine is at present 92 years of age. After the death of John T. Sisco the place was sold to J. W. Mayfield and wife, Delphia Sisco Mayfield, who at present live at the old home place.

Above the lands formerly belonging to Jonathan Tolle is the land settled by Jere Harder prior to 1830. Harder was a brother of William Harder, Sr. Before the Civil War, J. H. Plummer, the owner of a large number of slaves, lived here. This place was for many years the home of John Luther Perry. After his death his children rented the place for several years to Albert Peery. Several years ago the farm was sold through Chancery Court at Centerville and now belongs to Mrs. Susie Curry, granddaughter of John Luther Peery. Kyle Johnson, Theodore Talley and Aubrey Lindsey have lived here in recent years. The public road from Swan Creek near the eater boundary of this place to the Lewis County line is the same road bed that was used by the early settlers.

Just south of Luther Perry's place is the W. T. (Tom) Duncan farm. Her Tom, his wife and his oldest son, Arthur, died. Arthur's wife, Nancy Grimes Duncan, and the other heirs sold the place to Bascom Overby. Bascom and his wife, Floy, daughter of L. W. Aydelott, make their home here.

Could Kill Hawk on the Wing

Next we come to Harder Hollow where George Harder (erroneously called John Harder by Spence) and his wife Cynthia lived alone for many years. Harder had a gristmill operated by water power which came from a dam built across the waters of a large spring in the hollow. Much of the corn meal for the community was ground on his water mill. In addition to being a miller, he was a great hunter and fisherman and could easily furnish the family table with fish from the creek or game from the adjoining hills. Tradition has it that he could take his trusted "22" rifle after he became an old man and kill a hawk on the wing. He and his wife were the last to be buried in the little cedar cemetery near his home. Since his death the place has been in the possession of Homer Dunn, Theodore Talley and now Elmer Talley and his family.

Aetna Postmaster

Around the year of 1900 Ison Harder owned the farm at the southern end of the Twelfth District on the west side of Swan Creek and bounded by Lewis County on the south. Harder sold this farm to Jesse Duncan, who came from Coon Creek in Perry County, and moved to Missouri. Jesse and wife, Laura Downey Duncan, raised a large family here. Ezra Duncan, a son of Jesse Duncan, for many years ran a general merchandise store at Aetna and for over 30 years has purchased wood for the Tennessee Products and Chemical Corporation plant at Wrigley. He has shipped over 100,000 cords of wood from the Aetna rail yards to Wrigley. He retired from the store a few years ago but he is still the postmaster at Aetna.

Oil Distributor

E. H. Duncan, another son, lives in Centerville where he is distributor for Gulf Oil products in this county. Other children of Jesse Duncan are: Finley, who lives in Dickson; Willie, who married Lettie Garner, is now dead; Earl lives near Detroit, Mich.; Howard lives at Hohenwald and Harold, who taught school in this county a few years ago, now lives at Oak Ridge. The daughters of Jesse Duncan are Pearlie, who married Crocher Poore and now lives in Hohenwald; Earline, who married Joe Lindsey, now lives at Sheffield, Ala.; Lula, who married Russell Johnson and lives on Swan Creek in Lewis County; and Ether, the widow of Lehman Sisco, now lives at Hohenwald.

Mrs. Duncan, a widow, now owns the farm. Just south of the farm is the Salem Church of Christ which has produced such ministers as Will and Jake Sisco, also Cap or R. T. Sisco, R. L. Whiteside and Glenn Mayfield, and at the north boundary was the location of the old Baptist Church of Center. The Hinson brothers preached to large crowds here on the second Sunday in May, foot washing day, each year for many years. There is no trace of the building now as it has long since been torn down.

On the east side of Swan Creek just north of the Lewis County line lies the Luther Whiteside tract of land. Luther, who married Frances, the daughter of Abner F. Aydelott, died here during the big sleet in January 1888. The old log house in which they lived still stands on the hill east of Bat Cave.

Bat Cave

Bat Cave is one of the natural wonders of this section. It is located near Swan Creek just above the upper bridge in this county across Swan Creek. It has a massive cone shape opening with a small stream of water running out of the cave. The inside limestone walls, including the overhead, is well marked with initials of many of the community's residents. This cave and its immediate surroundings have been used in recent years as a picnic ground.

The Luther Whiteside land here was purchased by A. J. "Jack" Sisco, who married Luther Whiteside's daughter, Martha Jane. He sold the hill part which now belongs to J. S. "Sid" Armstrong, who came to this section a few years ago from Coble. The remainder or south end he willed to his three daughters, Mrs. Comer Loveless, Mrs. Delphia Mayfield and Mrs. Edna Quillen.

Next below on the east side of Swan Creek and across the creek from the mouth of Jenkins Hollow lies the Anderson Morris place. This place was originally settled by a Clayton, an early settler. Morris married a Clayton. Their children were John, Margaret and Ellen, who married the Whiteside twins, Jim Bud and Bill Bud; Will, Josie and Adline, who never married, Huldah, who married Jeff Garner, and Julia, who married Willie Garner.

Mrs. Huldah Garner

Mrs. Huldah Garner, a widow, now lives near Twomey. She is the mother of Georgia, the wife of Hartie Lee Coble who is register for Hickman County. Julia and her husband, Willie Garner, purchased through the Chancery Court of Hickman County the south portion of the place and lived there with their daughter, Osie, who married Clarence Edwards. After the death of Willie Garner the place along with the woodland which Edwards had bought were sold to J. S. Armstrong who now lives there.

The north portion of the Morris lands were bought through a Chancery Court land sale by J. W. Duncan and D. C. "Tobe" Duncan who in turn sold the larger part to A. L. Garner. Garner also bought a small adjoining tract from R. L. Elkins, who served as magistrate from this district from the death of W. D. Aydelott in 1901 until 1905. The Elkins tract had a dwelling and barn on it. A. L. Garner's wife, Ada Sisco Garner, who now owns the place, lives with her daughter, Lettie Garner Duncan, near Vernon in the Seventh District.

Runs Blacksmith Shop

D. C. Duncan's widow, Tabitha George Duncan, now owns the remaining north portion of the Morris land and is living there with her son, Howard S. "Hod" Duncan. Gertis Bailey and his wife, Alida Churchwell Bailey, live at the top of the hill and own the part of the R. L. Elkins land that A. L. Garner did not buy. Bailey runs the blacksmith shop beside the road near his home. He is one of the few remaining community blacksmiths left in the county.

CHAPTER V

At the foot of the hill and below the land now owned by Bailey is the David M. Duncan farm. His sons John W. and G. W., and his daughter Keziah never married. John W. was elected as magistrate from this district in 1872. Other children of David M. Duncan were Bud, who married Addie Satterfield; Jim, who married Leora Harder and after her death moved to West Tennessee; Bill, who married a widow, Sallie Burgis, and moved to Gibson County in West Tennessee; Jake "Crickett" who went to Oklahoma; Sallie who married James Irwin in Obion County. Jim Duncan was a school teacher.

Neeley Lives on Duncan Farm

D. C. Duncan's first wife was Jennie Smith and after her death he married Tabitha George. The children of Bud Duncan were Dave, who married a Cates, John H., who married Jane Bartlett and after her death married Emma Anderson; R. W. "Wess" married Mrs. Gusta Watkins; Mary Ann, the wife of W. M. Aydelott, who now lives in Centerville; Bee, who married Jack Heatley; Bell, who married Scott Jones; and Irvin Duncan, the youngest, was a casualty of World War I. He was the only soldier from this district who lost his life in service during World War I.

D. C. "Tobe" Duncan's son Cooper, a veteran of World War I, married Lamond Mitchell and after his death his widow married Jesse Elkins of Centerville. D. C. Duncan's other children by his first wife were Leonard, who married a Peery; Lillie, who married George Church and Claudie, who married H. S. "Stanley" Neeley. Neeley who has served as road commissioner from this district and deputy sheriff, now owns and lives with his wife on the old David M. Duncan home place.

The children of D. C. and Tabitha are Howard S., who lives with his mother and who married Alma Shoat, and Lela, who married Walker and lives across the creek from the home place. D. C. served as district road commissioner in 1909 and 1910.

Above the mouth of Horse Branch in the east side of Swan Creek is located the Sharp place. The Sharps were early settlers here, and Nehemiah Sharp was the original owner of part of this land. He entered here prior to 1825. This place for years was used as the district voting place and the muster grounds. The muster grounds being the place where volunteer citizens of the community met on certain days and took part in regular army drills similar to our National Guard drills of today. Those who took part in the musters did not receive pay. It was strictly a patriotic service performed by the able bodied men of that day. The voting precinct has since been moved to Sunrise and elections are held in the school house there.

Bates Buys From Duncan

Thomas Bates came from Beaverdam and bought the Sharp lands from Bill Duncan. He also bought the Southall land just above the place on the east side of the creek and the lower end of the old Jesse Grimmitt place. The sons of Thomas Bates were John Martin, who married Fronie Walker; Tommie, who married Addie Jenkins; Johnson or M. J.., who married Minnie Bates and T. B. "Timothy B.", who married Minnie Bell Beakley, a daughter of of J. L. Beakley. John Martin Bates, who at one time served as tax assessor for this district and constable, owned land and lived near Bat Cave. Thomas Bates' daughters were Sarah, who never married; Atlanta, who married Bud Flowers, a son of John L. Flowers; and Eliza, who married R. L. Elkins. Elkins was a carpenter and served as magistrate as previously mentioned.

After Thomas Bates died, his sons, Johnson and Timothy, got possession of the Thomas Bates land and Atlanta got the Grimmitt part on Horse Branch. Johnson sold his land to L. W. Aydelott and T. B. sold his land to O. A. Prince. Clyde Aydelott now lives on the Johnson Bates place.

Prince Lands Divided

In the divisions of the O. A. Prince lands, Archie E. Prince received the T. B. Bates place and lives on it at the present time. Archie E. Prince also bought the part of the Grimmitt place that Atlanta owned. The remainder of the Jesse Grimmitt lands were sold his son, W. J. C. Grimmitt, to the Hoover and Mason Phosphate Company. Robert Simmons, who married Bertha Alexander, has rented this place for several years and is living here at the present. He has raised a large family here and his daughter, Elizabeth, is the wife of Albert Wilson, who is now serving his first term as sheriff of this county.

The farm just below the mouth of Horse Branch was purchased by S. G. Hutchison from Kittrell. His daughter, Nova, who married Grover C. "Tood" Peery, son of J. Rufus Peery, now owns and lives here. Just below here is the original Robertson Whitesides place later owned by Robert Alexander Peery, who married Belle Burcham, a sister of Jim and John Burcham. R. A. "Alex" Peery sold this place to O. A. Prince, son of Pinkney Prince. Ashford Prince, son of O. A. Prince, now owns and lives on the old home place or original Robertson Whiteside place.

Howard Cook Farm

Just north of the Robertson Whiteside place, now owned by Ashford Prince, is the farm which Lafayette Whiteside owned and was later owned by the Prescott Mining and Manufacturing Company. The phosphate company then in turn sold it to Howard and Raymond Cook, sons of Walter and Ada Hutchison Cook. Howard Cook also owns the J. R. Bates place which lies between the old Lafayette Whiteside place and Fall Branch.

The daughters of Lafayette Whiteside were Mary Jane, who married Jot T. Prince and Ella, who married Lon W. Hutchison. Mary Jane, widow of John T. Prince, now lives on Piney River in the Seventh District. Ella, now a widow, lives on Swan Creek in the First District at the foot of the George Hill. George Whiteside, a son of Lafayette, married a Fowlkes and after her death went to Oklahoma and married Mamie Aydelott, a daughter of James D. Aydelott and a granddaughter of Abner F. Aydelott.

Pine Grove Church Rebuilt

Just north of Fall Branch is a part of the Duncan tract now owned by Mrs. Ada Cook. Mrs. Cook, a daughter of S. G. Hutchison, also owns that part of her father's land that lies east of Swan Creek. Various phosphate companies have purchased most of the land on Falls Branch above Mrs. Cook's place. The Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church has been rebuilt on Falls Branch near the site of the original Pine Grove church.

Clement's Uncle Runs Mill

R. M. Holland of Dickson, an uncle of Governor Frank Clement, has operated a saw mill and planing mill on Falls Branch for several years and furnishes work for many of the residents of this section.

Just north of Mrs. Cook's lands is located the old M. P. Duncan place. M. P. or "Teen" sold it to W. D. Aydelott who sold it to Alex Rosson, a son of Jeff Rosson. Jeff Rosson, a descendant of Joseph Rosson, a faith doctor who married a daughter of George Berry and lived on Copperas Branch as one of the early settlers of this section. Jeff Rosson married Millie Frances Simmons, a daughter of Bills Simmons, and lived as a good citizen on Fall Branch for many years.

Perry Bend Section

This brings us to what is known as the Perry Bend section of Swan Creek. Here Robert L. Peery, Jr. owns and lives on his father's old home place which is the original Pinkney Prince home place.

Pinkney Prince first married Jane Peery, daughter of Alexander Peery and granddaughter of James Peery, Sr. After her death he married Ann Blackburn Harder, widow of William Harder, Jr., a lieutenant in the Confederate Army and a school teacher. C. D. Harder was a son of William and Ann Harder. He taught school and then moved to the Hampshire section of Maury County with his wife, Nellie Akin Harder.

Prince Family

Two of the children of Pinkney and Jane Peery Prince have already been mentioned: O. A. or Bud Prince and Margaret, the wife of William D. Aydelott. Other children were Charles, Priscilla, who married a Brown on Cathey's Creek in Maury County, and Alice Prince, who married Simp Prince. The children of Simp and Alice Prince were Hiram, Jim, Alex and Beatrice, who was the first wife of J. P. Thompson, who now lives in Centerville.

The children of Pinkney Prince and Ann Harder Prince were two daughters; Julia, who married V. A. McClanahan of Hampshire, and Lila. Julia is now a widow and Lila lives with her at the old McClanahan home near Hampshire.

Anderson Farm

Near the Pinkney Prince old home place is the farm which was formerly owned by Essau Anderson. Essau Anderson first married Amelia Hill, daughter of Erasmus Hill and sister of R. A. Hill. After Amelia's death he married Malinda Nichols. His daughter Lou married John D. Flowers, a son of John L. Flowers. Edna, another daughter, married Billie Cochran of Shady Grove, and Allie was the first wife of L. W. Aydelott. Henry Anderson, a son of Essau, married Geneva Smithson. He now owns and lives on his father's old home place. Also near this place in Perry Bend is located the R. G. or Gilmore Peery farm. R. G. first married Anne Smith and after her death he married Dovie George, daughter of Ford George. The children of R. G. Peery were E. Brown Peery, who married Lou, the daughter of O. A. Prince by his first wife; Carl Peery, who married Myrtle, a daughter of O. A. Prince by his second wife; Armour, who married Ruby Crawel of Nashville; Tempie, who married Ney Bates; Claudie and Nell, who married M. B. and Carl Cooper, sons of Dr. Cooper; Hazel, who married Clyde Aydelott, son of L. W. Aydelott; and Linda and Jennie who are not married. Brown and Lou own and live on the Arch Peery land nearby where they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary last year, 1952.

THE END

(Transcribed by Rita Morgan from Microfilm Roll #113, "Centerville Hickman County Times - 1953-1955")

(Tennessee State Archives)

(Written by Edward Dotson)

1st Chapter published on Thursday, February 5, 1953)

2nd Chapter published on Thursday, February 19, 1953)

3rd Chapter published on Thursday, February 26, 1953)

4th Chapter published on Thursday, March 5, 1953)

5th Chapter published on Thursday, March 12, 1953)