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The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture © Tennessee Historical Society
From its beginning, agriculture has played an important role in Gibson County.
Fertile lands along the river bottoms of the North and Middle Forks of the Forked
Deer River and the Rutherford Fork of the Obion River and numerous creek bottoms
made farming profitable. Diversification has characterized Gibson County's agricultural
history. Some sixty years ago the county ranked second in the number of farm
products. During the last decades of the nineteenth century and until World War
I, truck crops (cabbage, tomatoes, and strawberries) were an important source
of income. Difficulties in securing labor and competition from other states caused
large-scale production of these crops to be discontinued. Today, agriculture
still accounts for a significant portion of the county's economy, with cotton,
corn, soybeans, swine, and beef the leading products.
Industrial development in the nineteenth century complemented agricultural needs.
In the 1800s there were numerous grist, flour, and sawmills scattered along the
waterways. Before the Civil War, at least one spinning factory operated within
the county. By the 1880s Gibson County had at least one cotton mill and acquired
another one at a later, unknown date. Since World War II the county has experienced
significant industrial growth. In 1941 a military arsenal was located in Milan.
For the first time in the county's history, employees at the Milan Arsenal worked
around-the-clock shifts, seven days a week. In addition, the new industry employed
a large number of women. Today, Gibson County's industrial sector is as diversified
as its agriculture. The largest industry remains the production of ammunition,
now supervised by Lockheed Martin. Other industries include automotive parts
and services (Douglas and Lomason; A. O. Smith Automotive Products Company; Eaton
Corporation), electric motors (Emerson Motor Company and Wis-Con Total Power),
sporting equipment (Wilson Sporting Goods), textiles (Kellwood Company), and
metal fabrication (Ceco Door Products, Ecko/Glaco, and Allsteel).
A number of incorporated towns hold special celebrations. Trenton, the county
seat, is the home of the world's largest collection of Veilleuse-Theieres. This
collection, numbering 525 porcelain pieces, was donated to the city by Dr. Frederick
Freed. A teapot festival is held each year. Since 1934 Humboldt has been the
home of the annual West Tennessee Strawberry Festival. Both the Strawberry Festival
Historical Museum and the West Tennessee Regional Center for the Arts are housed
in the old City Hall. Milan is the home of the West Tennessee Agriculture Museum,
where the annual No-Till Field Day is held. Dyer stages the Dyer Station Days
each summer. The event takes its name from the original name of the town. Yorkville,
one of the oldest settlements in the county, holds the annual International Washer
Tournament each year. Rutherford observes Davy Crockett Days. The restored last
Tennessee home of Crockett and the grave of his mother are found here. Kenton,
on the Obion County line, is the home of the "White Squirrels," and the town
holds a celebration in their honor each year. For a number of years, Bradford
observed the Doodle Soup Festival. Doodle Soup, a delicacy unique to the area,
is made from the drippings of cooked chicken. At one time Gibson was known as
the truck farming capital of the area. Medina celebrates its location as the
midpoint from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.
Davy Crockett--hunter, storyteller, and politician--stands out among the notable
personalities of Gibson County. Although many Tennessee counties claim Crockett
as a citizen, he was living in Gibson County when he announced his candidacy
for his term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Peter Taylor, the author of
several novels and short stories, is a native of Trenton. Historians Mary U.
Rothrock and Samuel Cole Williams both called Gibson County home, and Gentry
R. McGee, an early educator, wrote McGee's School History of Tennessee, which
was used as a textbook for over thirty years. Andrew D. Holt, a native of Milan,
served as president of the University of Tennessee, 1959-70.
In 2000, Gibson County had a population of 48,152. The county has three hospitals
and seven nursing homes. American Ordnance in Milan is the largest private employer,
with eleven hundred workers. Gibson County does not have a county system of schools,
but supports four special school districts and one city system.
The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1887
GIBSON COUNTY is one of the several counties formed in West Tennessee in 1823. It is bounded on the north by Obion and Weakley Counties, on the east by Carroll, on the south by Madison and Crockett, and on the west by Dyer and Crockett. It contains about 550 square miles, and is situated in that portion of West Tennessee, known as “The Plateau.” The Eastern part is quite hilly and broken, but toward the western line becomes very level. The soil is a dark loam containing a large quantity of siliceous matter, resting upon a clay subsoil varying in depth from two to twenty feet, and in color from a bright yellowish to a dark brown. There are no strata of hard rock or limestone, but some sandstone, ferruginous rock and lignite are found.
The principal water-courses of Gibson County are the Middle Fork and the Little North Fork of the Forked Deer River; Rutherford Fork, and the South Fork of Obion River. The first named stream enters the county about fourteen miles south of Trenton, and running northwest, enters Dyer County nearly due west of Trenton. It forms in part the southern boundary of the county, while the South Fork of the Obion forms the dividing line between Weakley and Gibson. The Little North Fork of the Forked Deer rises in the southeast part of the county, passes nearly centrally through the county, and empties into the Middle Fork near the Dyer County line. Rutherford Fork of Obion rises in Carroll County, enters Gibson near its northeast corner, ranges north, and passing into Obion County empties into the main stream about seventeen miles north of Trenton. All these streams have many small tributaries, which supply abundant water for stock raising purposes. Away from the creeks, springs are very rare, but a sufficient supply of water is found at a depth of about twenty-five to thirty-five feet.
Nearly two-thirds of the area of the county is still unimproved, and a large portion of it is covered with the most valuable timber known to this latitude. Among the most common varieties are the oak, gum, poplar, hickory, beech, maple, elm, ash, mulberry and cypress. A large number of saw-mills have been put into operation within the past few years, and the manufacture and shipment of lumber and staves has become one of the most important industries of the county.
For agricultural purposes, Gibson County is excelled by no other county in the State, since nearly every farm product, including the various grasses and fruits, is produced with sufficient ease to yield a handsome income. The following table of shipments from the different railway stations of the county for 1884, indicate its productions and varied resources. Total shipments by railroad: 11,363 bales cotton; 134,142 boxes fruit; 100 barrels apples; 176 crates strawberries; 46,068 bushels wheat; 129,078 head poultry; 16,145 dozen eggs; 1,636 head cattle; 1,545 head hogs; 62,410 bushels cottonseed-, 1,809,000 feet lumber; 7,300 bushels corn; 37 cars of barrel staves; 180 gallons syrup; 3,675 plows; 150 dozen chairs: 1,563 barrels flour; 53 carloads cotton seed meal; 11 carloads cotton seed cake; 34 cars cotton seed oil; 93 bales linters; 700 dozen brooms.
The first white settlement in the territory, comprised within the present limits of Gibson County, was made in 1819 by Thomas Fite, and his brother-in-law, John Spencer, and James F. Randolph, who, in that year, came from Warren County, Middle Tenn., to the western district. They brought an ax, a hand-saw and an auger, with which tools they constructed the first house in the county, on the Little North Fork of the Forked Deer River, about eight miles east of Trenton. Having done this, they retraced their steps to Warren County, and in the spring of the following year returned with their families. During the same year Luke Biggs located about four miles northwest of the present site of Trenton, and -- Hughbanks settled at a point about six miles west of Dyer Station. At about the same time, probably in the spring of that year, Col. David Crockett came from Lawrence County, Tenn., and located a short distance northeast of Rutherford. In the fall John Bergin, his brother-in-law, came, and with him brought Crockett’s family. L. K. Tinkle and H. McWhirter, also brothers-in-law of Col. Crockett, came soon after, and settled in the same vicinity. Others who settled in the neighborhood of where Rutherford now is, were Henry, Jacob, Humphrey and Bryant Flowers, and the Edmundsons: Robert, Allen, Michael and William. A settlement in the vicinity of Yorkville was begun very early by William Holmes, who located two miles south of that place. He was followed by the Reeds: Samuel, James, William, Robert and Hugh, Benjamin Tyson, Benjamin S. White and John W. Needham. John B. Hogg and Col. Thomas Gibson located on the present site of Trenton. David P. Hamilton, in 1822, began a settlement about two miles east of Humboldt. His early neighbors were Davidson Waddell, William P. Seat, George Gentry, W. G. B. Killingsworth and Alexander G. Hamilton, all of whom lived between Little North Fork and Middle Fork of the Forked Deer. The first settler in the vicinity of Bradford Station was Richard Smith, who, with others, subsequently joined the Mormons at Nauvoo, Ill. The settlement in the vicinity of Lynn Point was made by Robert Puckett, Hiram Partee; Samuel, William, Robert and James Baker; Peter Meyers, Dr. Joseph Dean, Joseph Dibrell, “Rutherford” David Crockett and “Little” David Crockett. The early settlers of “Skullbone” were William Goodman, William Stone, James Andrews, John Bryant and several sons, Patterson Crockett and John R. Tedford. This district is said to have obtained the name “Skullbone,” by which it is universally known, from one Allen Maxey. His cranium was exceedingly hard, and his love for the flowing bowl correspondingly strong. Therefore, for the amusement of bystanders, he would allow himself to be struck on the top of the head for a drink of whisky.
Prior to 1824. no roads had been opened in the county. In that year one was opened from the house of W. C. Love in an easterly direction to Huntingdon, and another west to Nash’s Bluff. The following year roads were opened from Gibson Port to Jackson, Lexington, Dresden and Obion County.
The first water-mill in the county was built by Thomas Fite and Jeremiah Randolph on the North Fork of Forked Deer River in 1825. The numerous streams of the county furnished mill sites in abundance, and several mills were erected (during the next few years. One was erected by a man by the name of Page about four miles south of Yorkville, while several were built on Rutherford Fork. Among them was Bryant Caraway’s, situated about three miles north of Rutherford Station, Keeley’s, Crider’s and Harrell’s further up the stream. Moor’s mill and Jackson’s mill were both located on the Little North Fork of Forked Deer.
The first cotton-gin in the county was built by Isham F. Davis in 1826. Another was soon after erected by William McDaniel about two miles south of Yorkville.
In comparison with Obion County, Gibson County developed very rapidly, and even became quite densely populated. The forest growth of the latter was neither so dense nor heavy as that of the former, and to prepare the land for cotton and corn, then, as now, the leading crops, required much less labor. Consequently the pioneer settler chose Gibson County as home in preference to the more fertile but less healthful Obion. In 1824 the number of acres of taxable land in the county was 273,143, while the total tax raised was $885.35. The tax upon the land, as was provided by the old constitution, was assessed at a given rate on each 100 acres, without regard to value. In 1840 the number of acres assessed was 256,086, valued at $894,869. The aggregate value of the personal property was $628,225, and the total tax $6,350.09. In 1860 the number of acres of taxable land was 400,019, valued at $4,238,519. The total value of town lots was $233,765, and the value of personal property, including slaves, $2,993,514, a greater assessed value than it has since attained. At the close of the war, on account of the abolition of slave property and the general demoralization of all industries, the value of taxables was greatly reduced. In 1880, however, so far as real estate was considered in the result, the values of 1860 had been regained, but the aggregate value of taxable personal property has been greatly diminished by the $1,000 exemption. The number of acres of taxable land in 18-- was 361,962, the value of which was reported at $3,693,263. The value of town lots aggregated $884,848, and the taxable personal property $129,459. The total tax collected was, $57,535.84.
The act providing for the establishment of Gibson County was passed on October 21, 1823. The first section is as follows; “Be it enacted, etc., That a new county, to be called and known by the name of Gibson County, in honor of and to perpetuate the memory of Col. Thomas Gibson, shall be and is hereby established west of Carroll County, beginning at the northwest corner of Carroll County; running thence west in the fourth sectional line to a point four miles west of the second range in the Thirteenth District; thence north to the fifth section line; thence west on said sectional line to the fifth range line; thence south with the said range line to a point two and one-half miles south of the line separating the Tenth and the Thirteenth Districts; thence east parallel with said line to a point directly south of the southwest corner of Carroll County; thence north to the beginning.”
On January 5, 1824, the first county court met and organized at the house of Luke Biggs, four miles northwest of the present site of Trenton. It was composed of the following justices commissioned by Gov. Carroll: William P. Seat, Robert Edmunson, 0. Blakemore, Benjamin White, Robert Reid, Yarnell Reese, Abner Bergin, John D. Love. William W. Craig, W. G. B. Killingsworth and Isham P. Davis, who were sworn in by Bartholemew G. Stewart, a justice from Madison County. William P. Seat was chosen chairman and Thomas Fite, clerk. At the same time Alexander G. Hamilton, James B. Blakemore, C. Dowell and Anslem Russell were elected constables.
At a subsequent meeting the commissioners of the town of Trenton were authorized to build a hewed-log court house, 20 x 35 feet, and one story high. Such a building was completed and the first court held in it in April, 1825. It was used until 1829, when it was sold and a two-story brick building, having one court-room below and another above, was erected in its stead, at a cost of $5,988. The first jail was, a log structure, which cost only $121. It was located in the northwestern part, of town and was used until, about 1836, when a brick building was erected on the present site of the colored school. This was destroyed during the civil war, but after the close of hostilities a similar building was erected upon the same site. It served as a jail until 1875, and is now occupied by the colored school. In 1875 a large and more commodious jail wascompleted on the northeast corner of the square, under the direction of J. J.Wells, A. S. Currey, L. P. McMurray, W. A. Allison and J. T. Cowan. To meet the expenditure for this building, bonds to the amount of $16,700 were issued by thecounty.
In January, 1881, it was entirely destroyed by fire, and during the followingsummer the present substantial building was erected upon the same site at a cost of $15,000, for which interest-bearing county warrants were issued to the amount of $14,000. The commissioners who superintended the erection of the jail were S. H. Hale, chairman; T. J. Happel, secretary; H. J. Stroud, John Maclin and I. R. Wright.
The court house mentioned above had been occupied but a short time when it was found to be unsafe, and in April, 1837, the county court appointed commissioners to have it taken down and to have a temporary house erected from the material. The same commissioners were also authorized to let the contract for the new court house. This latter duty was not performed until May 1, 1839, when the contract was awarded to Solomon Shaw and Robert Jetton, who were given until December 25, of the following year, to complete it. This time was afterward extended six months, and in 1841, the building was tendered to the commissioners, consisting, of N. O. K. Cole, A. S. Wallis, N. I. Hess, John H. Raines, L. J. Wilkins and Thomas Fite, who refused to receive it, on the grounds that it was not completed according to contract. The matter was then submitted to a board of arbitrators who allowed the contractors, $111.78 for extra work, making the entire cost about $20,000. This building, which has been occupied by the court for nearly half a century, is in a remarkably good state of preservation, and stands as a monument to honest workmanship.
Since 1840 the county has maintained a poor farm. In December, of that year, E. Sharp, James A. W. Hess and Samuel Booth, commissioners appointed by the county court to purchase a poor farm, reported that they had bought 100 acres from Augustin Woods, situated about five miles southeast of Trenton. This was fitted up for the reception of paupers, and Allen Parr appointed the first superintendent. The number of paupers was at first quite small, and even now, only average about fifteen. The cost to the county at the present time is about $70 for each inmate. No insane are confined there, these unfortunates being sent to the State asylum, where they are maintained by an appropriation by the county court when the number exceeds twelve.
In 1835 the county was divided into fifteen civil districts, and so remained until 1847, when the Sixteenth District was formed from portions of the Second, Third, Seventh and Twelfth. Three years later the Seventeenth was made by adding a portion of the Thirteenth to the Fifteenth and dividing the combination. In 1848 portions of the First, Second and Twelfth were constituted the Eighteenth, and in 1850 the Nineteenth was formed from portions of the Tenth and Fourteenth. In 1854 the Fourth District was divided, forming the Twentieth, and the Twenty-first was made in a similar manner from the Ninth in 1858. Two years later portions of the Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Seventeenth were combined to form the Twenty-second. The Twenty-third was not established until 1868, when a portion of the Fourteenth was added to the Nineteenth and the combination divided. The Twenty-fourth District was divided in 1871. Upon the organization of Crockett County the Twentieth, Fourth and nearly all of the Sixteenth Districts were cut off, and in 1873 a new Fourth was formed from portions of the Third, Fifth, and the remainder of the Sixteenth. In 1879 a new Sixteenth was formed from parts of the Sixth and Seventh, and two years later a new Twentieth was made out of portions of the Third, Fourth and Seventh.
The following is a list of the persons who have filled the most important county offices, with their term of service:
Clerks of the County Court: Thomas Fite, 1824-36; Allen C. Nimmo, 1836-48; James A. McDearmon, 1848-54; E. W. Raines, 1854-65; J. E. Wood, 1865-70; M. C. Holmes, 1870-82; J. D. Carne, 1882.
Registers: W. W. Craig, 1824-36; W. G. B. Killingsworth, 1836-40; Lucian B. Gilchrist, 1840-60; J. M. McLaurine, 1860-65; J. A. Morrison, 1865-70; William R. Cox, 1870-78; J. F. Jones, 1878-82; W. D. Johnson, 1882-86; Samuel H. Thomas, 1886.
Sheriffs: John W. Needham, 1824-32; M. McLaurine, 1832-49; Luke P. Seay, 1842-48; Johnson Williams, 1848-52; J. A. W. Hess, 1852-58; Johnson Williams, 1858-65; Hugh A. Moore, 1865-70; Johnson Williams, 1870-74; J. B. Arnold, 1874-80; J. H. Hefley, 1880--82; T. J. Parr, 1884.
Trustees: Robert Reed, 1824-26; William Ferguson, 1826-32; Allen C. Nimmo, 1832-36; John H. Raines, 1836-44; William Atchison, Sr., 1844-50; Thomas Cooper, 1850-54; Moses E. Senter, 1854-56; F. G. Goodman, 1856-60; N. J. Hockaday, 1860--; David Thomason, 1865-70; J. A. G. McEwen, 1870-74; J. C. Long, 1874-80; John W. Ramsey, 1880-86; William Gay, 1886.
Clerks of the Circuit Court: Joseph H. Talbot, 1824-25; James L. Totten, 1825-31; John W. Crockett, 1831-36; J. B. Blakemore, 1836-44; Smith Parks, 1844-56; William A. Varner, 1856-60; S. W. Hatchett, 1860-62; Benjamin Landis, 1865-1870; William Moore, 1970-86; J; W. Vick, 1886. Clerks and Master of the Chancery Court: John A. Taliaferro, 1836-40; John C. Claiborne, 1840-46; Henry C. Levy, 1846-55, James A. McDearmon, 1855-61; J. T. McDearmon, 1861-62; J. A. McDearmon, 1865-71; R. E. Raines, 1871.
The circuit court for Gibson County was held at the house of William C. Love, on May 24, 1824, by Judge John C. Hamilton. Joseph H. Talbott was appointed clerk, and James R. Chalmers appeared as solicitor-general. The following grand jury was empaneled: W. G. B. Killingsworth, Robert Reed, Isham F. Davis, George F. Crofton, William McKendrick, W. W. Craig, Robert Tinkle, Robert Edmundson, John Spencer, Benjamin S. White, William Blakemore, Andrew Cole and John Parker, who reported no indictments or presentments. The only other matter coming from the court at this term was the admission of John D. Love as a practicing attorney. During the first ten or fifteen years the court transacted but little business. The first-case tried was that of James Harbor vs. Jesse Woods, for slander. The defendant at first plead “not guilty,” but finally compromised by pleading “guilty” and paying the costs. The first indictment for murder was found in 1832, against Shadrach Madison, a free man of color, who, upon trial, was found “not guilty.” The first person sent to the penitentiary from Gibson County was Thomas M. Watson, who was sentenced at the October term, 1835, to three years’ imprisonment for horse-stealing. Only one person has paid the death penalty for crime, under the process of law, In the history of the county. That person was Henry, a negro, the property of Mrs. Ann Kelly. He was hanged at Trenton, on April 4, 1843, by the sheriff, L. P. Seay, who received $12.50 for his services. The negro was convicted at the preceding March term for the murder of William C. Franklin, in May, 1842. The case was prosecuted by John W. Crockett, attorney-general.
Among the earliest attorneys of Trenton were Joseph H. Talbott, James L. Totten, A. W. 0. Totten, James M. Moore and Felix Parker, all of whom were admitted to practice previous to 1831. Talbott soon removed to Jackson, where he was subsequently followed by the Tottens. Moore and Parker were members of the Trenton bar for many years. The former was a quiet, sober and unassuming man, of good intellect and considerable learning, and a fairly successful attorney. Parker was not a profound lawyer, but possessed considerable ability as a speaker, both in the hustings and on the stump, and was several times elected, on the Whig ticket, to a seat in the lower house of the General Assembly.
John A. Taliaferro, John W. Crockett and Rolila P. Raines were admitted to practice during the thirties. Taliaferro became cashier of the Branch Bank of Tennessee, at Trenton, in 1838, and afterward did but little practice, except in cases in which the bank was interested. Crockett, after having represented his district in Congress for one term, was elected attorney-general. He possessed but few of the characteristics of his father, Col. David Crockett, being a quiet, scholarly gentleman, of refined tastes. He removed to New Orleans, but afterward returned to Tennessee, and located at Memphis. Raines occupied a leading position in the profession for several years, and was especially distinguished as a criminal advocate. He was painstaking in the preparation of his cases, and no weak point in the position of his opponent ever escaped his notice. He was a good speaker, and possessed great power before a jury, and, taken all together, was one of the most successful lawyers ever at the Trenton bar.
In 1850 the attorneys of the county, besides Parker, Moore and Raines already mentioned, were James A. McDearmon, M. B. King, H. C. Levy, M. R. Hill, S. Williams, T. J. Freeman, M. J. Clay, R. P. Caldwell and Joshua Richardson. King was an: able advocate and a thorough student. He possessed a rather delicate constitution, however, and died from consumption a few years after locating in Trenton. M. R. Hill had formerly practiced at Dyersburg. He was an eloquent speaker, and ranked as one of the ablest lawyers in the State. He was twice elected to the State Senate, and during one term was speaker of that body. Williams had been located at Troy, Obion County, a short time previous to his coming to Trenton. He was well versed in the law, and was eminently successful as an advocate. In 1858 he succeeded William Fitzgerald upon the bench of the circuit court, a position which he filled with universal satisfaction to the bar. At the breaking out of the war be espoused the Union cause, and went to Illinois, where he died. Richardson, while a man of good ability and considerable personal popularity, on account of intemperate habits did not attain much prominence at the bar. He served one term in the Lower House of the General Assembly. R. P. Caldwell continued a member of the Trenton bar until his death in 1886. He was an excellent jury lawyer, but attained greater prominence as a politician than as a jurist. He served in both houses of the General Assembly, and at one time represented his district in Congress. He was a native of Obion County, and studied law with Judge S. W. Cochran, of Troy.
The firm of T. J. & J. T. Carthel was prominent during the decade preceding the civil war. The former entered the Confederate Army, and was killed in the battle before Atlanta. The latter, at the close of the war, resumed his practice, and in 1878 was elected to a seat upon the bench of the circuit court. In that position he displayed rare ability, and it was universally regretted that he declined to become a candidate for re-election. Gideon B. Black, his predecessor upon the bench, came to Gibson County a short time previous to the war, from Marshall County, Tenn., where he had previously been engaged in the practice of his profession. He was an able lawyer and an impartial judge. He is still living near Trenton, but has retired from the practice of his profession. The present bar, which is one of recognized ability, is composed of the following attorneys: John S. Cooper and Thomas J. Hays, Thomas B. Howard and W. W. Wade, J. C. McDearmon and L. H. Tyree, M. M. Neil and J. R. Deason, J. T. and J. E. Carthel, Le Grand and Paul Jones, John R. Walker, 0. B. Freeman, S. B. Williamson, R. L. Taylor, and A. Killough. J. T. Curtis resides at Rutherford. In 1869 law and Chancery courts having jurisdiction over civil districts One, Two, Three, Thirteen, Eighteen and fractions of Four and Twenty were established at Humboldt. Of the former the clerks have been T. J. Williams, H. C. Burnett and M. H Johnson, the present incumbent. T. J. Williams has been clerk and master of the county court since its organization. The first attorney to locate in Humboldt was H. T. Johnson, a man of fine intellect, and an excellent advocate. He remained in Humboldt until his death in 1882. S. W. Sharp, for some time a partner of Johnson, located in the town about 1869, and remained until his death. He was also an able lawyer, and a highly respected citizen. The present members of the Humboldt bar are J. F. Rawlins and Samuel C. Williams, W. H. Babbitt and W. I. McFarland, and W. M. McCall. There are also four attorneys who reside at Milan. They are V. L. and W. B. Ware and S. F. Rankin and J. P. Rhodes.
For mention of the judges of the circuit court of Gibson County previous to 1870, see the sketch of Obion County. Of the judges of the supreme court Gibson County has furnished three -- A. W. 0. Totten, Thomas J. Freeman and W. C. Caldwell -- sketches of whom, with the exception of the last named, appear in another chapter of this work. Judge Caldwell is a native of Obion County, where he began the practice of his profession. About ten years ago he located at Trenton and became a partner of R. P. Caldwell. In 1883 he was appointed one of the judges of the court of referees at Nashville, and so continued until that court expired by limitation in April, 1886. He then became a candidate for a seat on the supreme bench, and, having received the nomination of the Democratic party, he was elected the following August.
Trenton is situated near the center of the county, on the North Fork of the Forked Deer River. The site was selected by James Fentress, Benjamin Reynolds, William Martin and Robert Jetton, commissioners appointed for that purpose by an act of the Legislature, passed September 27, 1824. The land upon which it is located was donated by James Whitaker and John B. Hogg who gave twenty acres, and Jesse Blackburn, James Caruthers and Frank McGavock, who together gave thirty-six and one-fourth acres. John W. Evans, John W. Buckner, William C. Love, Robert Tinkle and John P. Thomas were appointed by the county court to lay off the town site into a public square, streets, lots and a commons, the latter to comprise six and one-fourth acres, and the town plat proper just fifty acres. This was accordingly done, and a board of commissioners, of whom John H. Raines was chairman, was appointed to sell the lots and convey titles. Previous to the location of the town one house had been erected upon the site and was then occupied by Col. Thomas Gibson, who had a small stock of goods which he was selling to the settlers. From this circumstance the place was called Gibsonport, a name which it continued to bear until it was changed, by an act of the Legislature, the following year.
Very soon after the location of the town Robert Seat opened a store on the east side of the square. He had a small stock of such articles as were most needed by the pioneers, and these goods he exchanged for corn, furs and other produce, which he shipped from Eaton by flat-boat down Forked Deer to the Mississippi, and thence to New Orleans. He was afterward associated with Thomas Fite, under the firm name of Fite & Seat. At a little later date Hugh D. Nelson carried on quite an extensive business on the east side of the Public Square, as also did Murphey & Cameron. The leading firm in town at that time, however, was Armour, Lake & Caruthers, whose store stood on the lot where the opera-house now is. Brown & Taliaferrohad a small store where Senter & Keenan now are, and the site of the Hick’s House was occupied by M. & J. Woodfin. During the decade of the forties the leading mercantile firms were B. Elder & Bros., the senior member of which began business in 1835; Claiborne, Davis & Co., Seat & Morton, A. A. P. Grigsby, Abel Hicks & Co., 0. B. & L. Caldwell, William C. Crawford and L. J. Wilkins, and with a few changes these firms continued through the next decade. Others which may be mentioned are N. T. & J. A. Wilkins, McGee & Scrape, W. H. Thompson & Co., J. J. Hammon, J. L. & R. L. Davis, John S. McCullough and L. Oppenheimer.
The first druggist was W. B. Billingsly, who opened a store in 1845, and the following year was succeeded by Jesse I. Wells.
The first tavern was probably kept by John W. Evans, who was licensed to keep an ordinary in 1829. Robert Seat was granted a license for the same purpose the following year, and in 1831 a similar one was granted to Abraham S. Davidson. At a little later date J. D. Hill opened a hotel on the lot now occupied by J. W. Bigelow. He afterward opened a house on the present site of the Hick’s House, and was there succeeded by Goodoe & King. The Hick’s House was built soon after the war by G. B. & R. A. Hicks, the present proprietors.
The business interests of Trenton at the present time are as follows: J. W. Hoy, E. Richardson, Davis & Johnson, Smith Bros., J. Freed and L. Oppenheimer, dry goods; Senter & Keenan, J. A. Landis, R. C. Adams, C. C. Gentry & Son, Nettles & Ramsey, Smith Bros., J. W. Hoy, McGee & Harrison, J. W. Bigelow, A. A. Pybass, J. M. Skiles & Co., and Haste & Haste, groceries; Hutchison & Co., Leroy Shackleford, N. L. McRee and A. B. Cooper, drugs; R. E. Grizzard, hardware and notions, and Mrs. William McDearmon and Mrs. J. K. Pierce, millinery. In 1838 the Bank of Tennessee was established, and one of its branches was located at Trenton. Moses Woodfin was appointed president and John A Taliaferro, cashier. The latter held his office until the beginning of the war, with the exception of about a year, when it was filled by James B. Blakemore. The presidents changed frequently. Among those who held that office were Thomas B. Claiborne, Benjamin Elder, John W. Elder, Z. J. Freeman and John L. Davis. During its existence it was considered one of the best paying branches in the State, and was of great value to: the town and surrounding country. After the war this county was without a bank until 1879, when the Gibson County Bank, with a capital of $50,000, was chartered under the laws of the State. It has since been under the able management of J. W. Elder, as president, and H. M. Elder, as cashier, and has done an excellent business, commanding the confidence of the entire community.
The first manufacturing establishment of importance was founded in 1855-56, by William Jarrell, and consisted of a foundry and plow manufactory. After the war it was reopened by William Jarrell and J. I. Wells, and is now conducted by J. I. Wells & Son, who have added a well equipped machine shop. They also operate on an adjoining lot a saw and planing-mill.
The Gibson County mills were erected in 1861, by William Lovin. In 1871 they were purchased by H. H. Rogers, who operated them until December, 1876, when they were entirely destroyed by fire. The next year they were rebuilt by Mr. Rogers at a cost of $10,000., They were operated with the old process machinery until 1886, when they were refitted with all the latest improvements. The present owners are Taylor, Ramsey Co.
The Trenton flour-mills were erected in 1882, by Jetton and Davis, who still operate them. The building is a three-story brick, and is supplied with the old process machinery.
The Trenton cotton-seed oil-mill was erected and put in operation by an incorporated company, of whom R. G. Taylor was president, in 1883. Four presses are run consuming about twenty-five tons of cotton seed per day, of twenty-four hours, making about 1,000 gallons of oil and nine tons of meal. The capital stock of the company is $30,000.
The Trenton cotton-mills were incorporated in April, 1884, with an authorized capital stock of $100,000, of which $80,000 has been paid in. The president of the company was J. M. Senter, and the secretary, George Everett. The machinery, consisting of 2,440 spindles and eighty-five looms, was put in operation in June, 1885. The present president of the company is J. A. Landis.
A steam cotton-gin, established in 1880 by Ewell and Ellis, is now operated by W. H. Ellis. A planing-mill, established in 1884, is operated by S. A. Higgason. Birmingham Bros. carry on an extensive business in the manufacture of buggies and wagons an |
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Tennessee 
