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The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture © Tennessee Historical Society
Well's, Guise's, and Yellow Creeks of present Houston County attracted many settlers
in the late eighteenth century. After Chickasaw land cessions, many residents
were ready to cross the Tennessee ridge to divide and claim lands on White Oak,
Cane, and Hurricane Creeks. There they had downhill access to both the Cumberland
and Tennessee Rivers for shipment of natural and manufactured products such as
whiskey, tobacco, cotton, Indian hemp, and timber. Settlers also shipped iron
products made at local forges on Well's Creek, Yellow Creek, and Hurricane Creek;
an 1806 iron furnace on Well's Creek is the first mentioned in the area. A type
of clay suitable for fire brick for furnaces was found on what is now Booster
branch of Well's Creek (Byron Forge Creek), and the fire brick no longer had
to be imported.
In the 1850s the railroad came to Houston County. The Clarksville and Louisville
Railroad Company, chartered in 1852, began the section from Guthrie to Paris,
and the Memphis and Ohio Railroad Company, chartered 1852, began the section
from Memphis to Paris. While crews were blasting the railroad bed in the 1850s,
a rock strata was found at an angle rather than the typical flat formation. State
Geologist James Safford studied and reported the find, which has received extensive
analysis since. Safford named the site Well's Creek Basin. This place is circular
and about two miles in diameter; it was core-drilled several miles deep to determine
if its origin was volcanic or meteoric. The latest geological opinion defines
it as meteoric.
By 1857 the Memphis, Clarksville and Louisville Railroad had been built from
Guthrie to near the Tennessee ridge, where a depot was built at a village later
known as Erin Station, located about one-half mile east of the present town of
Erin. Further construction stalled because of slides in the cuts of the trestle
west of Tennessee Ridge, and the railroad to Paris was not completed until April
1861. Initially a ferry crossed the Tennessee River, until the bridge was completed
in November 1861.
The Civil War began just as the bridge was completed. Confederate General Simon
Buckner took charge of the bridge and railroad to move Southern troops and supplies.
When the Union army captured the area, Federal soldiers and supplies traveled
in the opposite direction. In the course of the war, the bridge was damaged and
rebuilt several times.
After the war, repairs to the railroad system helped launch an industrial boom.
Danville became a rail and river port, moving farm products from the surrounding
area and northern Alabama. Marketable products from Alabama arrived by steamboat
and were reloaded at Danville. A spur line extended from Danville to Stribling
and the LaGrange iron furnace. McKinnon built coke ovens to fuel the iron furnaces,
and Stewart launched its lime industry, which spawned stave mills for making
barrels to hold the lime. Tennessee Ridge acquired a railroad depot and a spur
line to Carlisle and Bear Springs furnaces. Erin became a lime and timber manufacturing
center, and Cumberland City (originally in Houston County) was a rail and river
port for shipping farm products from the areas of Well's, Guise's, and Yellow
Creeks.
Arlington was the first seat of government in Houston County. Its location on
the grade of the Tennessee Ridge prevented trains from stopping there. Instead,
they halted at the nearby village of Erin, near the spot where later the county
seat was relocated. A favored legend has it that the Irish living there had a "wee
too much to drink" and decided the area resembled their beloved Ireland, thus
naming it Erin. Today, Erin celebrates its ethnic heritage with an annual Irish
festival. A week of activities concludes with a parade on the third Saturday
in March.
Recreation is a growth industry in Houston County. Erin features a two-mile greenbelt
walking trail, a park, and the Louisville and Nashville (L&N) Railroad Memorial
Pavilion along an abandoned stretch of the former L&N Railroad. The National
Guard Armory at Tennessee Ridge offers ball fields, tennis courts, and a walking
trail. There are three boat launches on the Tennessee River with nearby motels.
The timber industry remains a vibrant part of the county economy with five large
mills and processing plants. Trinity Hospital was the first hospital built from
the ground up by Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). The county has a state-of-the-art
nursing home with adjoining assisted-living apartments. Southern Gage found Houston
County in the 1950s, and now many manufacturing companies call the county home.
Stewart-Houston Industrial Park contains three manufacturing facilities, with
four additional facilities in the planning stages. Erin's water plant, which
supplies the county, was named the number-one water plant in Tennessee in 1996.
Violent crime is a rarity, and churches of most faiths are spread throughout
the county. Born into a history of industrial success, the progress of Houston
County is as rich as the surrounding hills. Its 2000 population was 8,088.
The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1887
The geology and topography of Houston County are both interesting and peculiar. A great portion of the county is included in the river basin, while a still larger portion belongs to the siliceous group of the lower carboniferous period. An interesting phenomenon occurs in this county, known as Well's Creek Basin, which is an area of six or seven square miles, touching the Cumberland River, while the creek by the above name runs through it. The rocks in the basin dip at a very great angle, and in some places are nearly vertical. [The views of the State geologist and of eminent scientist who have visited this locality, disapprove the usual theory of novices that this basin was formed by volcanic action. On the contrary the better opinion attributes its origin to the denudation or erosion which, at the close of the glacial period, stripped nearly all of Middle Tennessee of its upper strata. If the lands outside of the basin be penetrated to a sufficient depth the same strata will be found which appear at the surface in the basin. For further information see chapter on geology in the State history.] Some of the best building stone in the State occurs within the county, not more than a mile distant from the county seat. Iron ore, lime, rock and fire-clay are all found in this county, the two latter in paying quantities. Natural gas is supposed to exist in the county, as there is an abundance of surface indications.
The county is traversed north and south by Tennessee Ridge, which rises many feet above the general level, and forms the water-shed between the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Erin on the one side and Stewart Station on the other of this ridge are 425 and 484 feet respectively above the sea level, while the gap through which the Louisville & Nashville Railway passes is 755 feet. For a distance of nearly five miles the grade of the railroad over Tennessee Ridge averages ninety-five feet to the mile. The lands of the county are rolling, except in the river and creek bottoms, and the soils, though thin on the broad, flat ridges, are generally fertile enough to repay cultivation. Numerous streams and springs of pure water abound. Among the streams worthy of mention are White Oak, Yellow, Wells, Cane and Hurricane Creeks.
The early settlement of what is now Houston County dates back to about the years 1797 or 1799, at which time the State of Tennessee had just been organized. At that time the country was a wild, unbroken stretch of thickly wooded hills and hollows and dense canebrakes, where roamed game of every description in abundance, including bears, catamounts, panthers, wild cats, wolves, deer, and all the smaller game, and the Indians had undisputed possession of the hunting grounds. A number of years previous to this the hard times which prevailed in Europe, and particularly in Scotland, induced many of the better class of these honest, sturdy people to leave their native land and seek to better their conditions in America, and large numbers of them settled in North Carolina. From that State a few of them wandered into Tennessee and located in this section. Probably the first man to settle in Houston County (or what is now Houston County), was Henry Edwards, who, with his family, located at what is now Stewart's Station in the year 1798 or 1799. A short time afterward, Walter Stewart settled on what is now the Brigham farm, two miles east of the present town of Erin. Stewart, it is claimed, was a nephew of Charles Stewart, heir to the Scottish crown. A log building erected by Stewart on this farm still stands. Archibald Cook was another pioneer, he settling on a tract of land about one mile from the Brigham farm. Another of these very early settlers was Derry Adkins, who came from Virginia in the year 1806 and settled on Barton's Creek. Later on came the Gills, McMillins, McLeods, McKinseys, McAuleys, McDonalds, Brighams, Buchanans, Whiteheads, and still a few years later, the Locketts, Grahams, Boones, Milans, Williamses, Ellises and Wilsons, all of whom came and settled all along between 1810 and 1825. These people, as their names would indicate, were all, or nearly so, of Scottish birth or descendants of that nationality, and a more upright and religious class of people could no where be found. They were not squatters, their lands being purchased before settling on them, and are to-day in possession, in most instances, of their heirs or descendants.
The first house in the Yellow Creek Valley was built by James Salmon, at the mouth of the creek which bears his name. Two houses are standing at the present time on Wells Creek, the dates of the building of which cannot be ascertained, but they are supposed to have been erected some time in 1799 or 1800. They were standing when the pioneers of the twenties came, and were old houses then; one is now occupied by Thomas Lockett as a residence, and the other, which is on the McCauley farm, is in very good repair, having been used at one time recently as a dwelling.
By treaty between the Indians and the Government a line [See Indian chapter in State history.] was blazed out on Tennessee Ridge, between the waters of White Oak and Wells Creek, which was a dividing line for the hunters of each race. The locations of this line is still observable. Many rumors of threatened attacks from the Indians led to the erection by the settles of a block-house or fort, to which they would remove their families when alarmed, where they would keep the women and children for several weeks at a time. This block-house stood about two miles north of the county site. The only encounter between a settler and an Indian occurred at the mouth of White Oak Creek, about the year 1800, when an Indian who had been guilty of committing numerous depredations against the whites, was overtaken by a posse of men who had gone in pursuit, and seriously wounded him; he was afterward released, his wounds being deemed sufficient punishment. All over the county may be found traces of the Mound-Builders and the Indians; bleached bones, earthenware, tomahawks, arrow-heads, etc., have been unearthed from time to time, and many curious relics are to-day in the possession of the citizens. On the Fentress farm, just below the mouth of Salmon Creek, stands a singular mound, which was one of the burial-grounds of the Mound-Builders before the coming of the pioneers. Some years ago the mound was excavated and several skeletons were discovered; the graves were arranged in a circle, with the heads or feet coming together at a point in the center. Decaying skeletons, curious images, pottery, bows and arrows, etc., were found, it being a custom of barbarous tribes to bury all the property with the owners, that they might have them for use in the happy hunting ground. Similar mounds may be seen in other parts of the county.
A number of the first settlers remained only a few years in this county, and leaving their farms went to West Tennessee, where they expected to find cheaper and better lands. For many years after the coming of these first settlers, and, in fact, up to the present, the settlement of the county was slow and gradual, there being no great inducements offered by this section to those seeking homes, other than that of a healthy and salubrious climate, plenty of pure water, and a moral, religious community. One of the most prominent of early settlers was William Brigham, who was born in 1776, twenty days after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He was the father of Dr. J. W. Brigham and Alfred Brigham, both of whom are now living. [To these gentleman the author is under obligation for valuable assistance in the preparation of this chapter.] Dr. Brigham is perhaps the oldest citizen now living in the county who has been here continuously. He is a refined and hospitable old gentleman, whose great delight is to entertain all who may come to his door.
Probably the most noted of the pioneers, because of his long life and varied experience, was Christopher Buchanan, commonly called "Uncle Buck," who died at his home in Arlington on the 15th of January, 1886, at the ripe old age of ninety-six years and six months. Mr. Buchanan came here with his parents from North Carolina in 1801. He fought with Gen. Harrison in the Northwest in the war of 1812, and was mustered out of the service at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., at the close of the war, and furnished transportation as far west as Pittsburgh, Penn., from which place he walked to this county, arriving at the house of Malcom McLeod, two miles north of Arlington, on the 15th of May, 1815. This log house still stands, and is one of the very few connecting links between the past and present. Some time after the young soldier's return he became enamored of the charms of McLeod's daughter Isabel. The love was mutual, and one hot day in June, after Isabel had prepared dinner and the family were seated around the table, she put on her bonnet, and without saying a word, walked to the upper end of the horse lot belonging to the late John L. McMillin, a neighbor, where she met young Buchanan by appointment, and the two were quietly joined together in holy wedlock. They lived happily together for over seventy years. Another old pioneer was Angus McAuley, who moved his family from North Carolina in 1821, and settled at the head of the west fork of Wells' Creek. He was a veteran of the war of 1812. The switch of weeping willow used to drive the horses on the journey West was planted, took root, sprouted, and eventually became a large tree, which stands at the present time an object of much curiosity. Mr. McAuley's son Daniel still lives on the old farm, and is one of the old citizens, being over seventy years of age. Joseph Gill settled with his father when a mere boy on Gill's branch of Well's Creek in 1800. He afterward moved to Nashville and became a member of the supreme bench. One of the old citizens who but recently passed away was N. H. Belcher. He attended the funeral of Gen. Jackson, at Nashville, and assisted in lowering into the grave the remains of the "Hero of the Hermitage," a fact of which the old gentleman was ever afterward proud. Dred Boone, the celebrated North Carolina hunter and trapper, and a relative of Daniel Boone, was for many years before his death a resident of this county.
Probably the most remarkable of the many pioneers of Houston County was Daniel Buchanan, a brother to Christopher. Daniel was a most powerful man and, physically, had no match in the settlement. When splitting rails he would go into the forest, fell a tree, chop it into proper rail lengths, and then shouldering the logs, would carry them to an accustomed place and split them into rails. On one occasion while traveling on foot through the woods night overtook him. He built a fire and went to sleep, but was soon aroused by a large black bear. He was unarmed, but as the animal, desperate with hunger, made a dash at him he seized a large fire-brand and thrust it down the bear's throat, and then in the struggle that followed, beat its life out with his fists and feet. The next day the carcass of the bear was striped of its hide, when it was found that nearly all the ribs were broken, and the flesh had been beaten into a jelly. Buchanan was scarcely scratched in the encounter. He was a great religious enthusiast. The only physician who practiced in Houston County in those early days was Dr. Marable, who served the entire county.
The early mills were but few in number and very inferior in quality, being simply for corn. The mode of crushing corn before the introduction of horse and water-mills, was to fell a tree about two feet in diameter, then cut from it a log about three feet in length. This was upended and a hollow burned into the center, in which the corn would be placed, and then crushed into meal by means of a club or maul. Corn-mills worked by hand were afterward invented, which were used for a number of years. So far as can be traced, from recollections of people now living, the early horse and water-mills were only three or four in number, and were situated on Yellow, White Oak and Wells' Creeks. One was built by Benjamin Young, at Jackson's Forge, on Yellow Creek; another by Robert West, about three and a half miles below, on the same creek; another was built by the Wilsons on White Oak Creek, and still another was built by Col. Goren, at the head of Wells' Creek. All of these mills were built along between 1800 and 1815, and have long since been abandoned and nothing save an occasional millstone is left to show they ever existed. In later years mills were owned by Jesse Brunson, John Matthews, and at a still later date corn-mills, at which flour was made, were established at various places all over the county. An excellent steam flour and corn-mill was erected a few years since near Erin by Messrs. Lockett & Boone, which supplies the entire county with breadstuffs.
Houston County had its quota of distilleries, or "still-houses" as they were generally known. These were very ordinary affairs, however, with a limited capacity, in some cases amounting to less than a barrel per day, while even the larger ones had an output of not exceeding two or three barrels. The first still probably was established some time early in the twenties, and was located at Col. Gorin's mill, on Wells' Creek. Then followed the erection of others on Weaver's farm, on Gill's branch of the above creek, one on Well's Creek below Erin, owned by David Moore, and one on a branch above Sam Allen's farm, in about the order named.
Houston County has quite an iron history. Iron ore in paying quantities and qualities was found in different parts of the county, and at one time the prospects for this industry were bright and promising. Along in the forties numerous forges and furnaces were erected and worked for a number of years quite extensively. Byron Iron Forge was the first, which was put in operation by J. L. James some time in 1845. This forge was situated about four miles north of Erin and continued in operation, though under different ownerships, for a period of about twenty years, when it suspended. During the year 1851 Hollister & Phillips erected Ashland Furnace, which was located about four miles northwest of Erin. In the same year Union Furnace was erected on Thomas' branch on Wells' Creek, and Eclipse Furnace on Hurricane Creek, all of which were in full blast for a number of years, but shut down before the war of the Rebellion. In later years an excellent article of limestone was discovered in the rugged hills around Erin, Arlington and Stewart Station, and during the past twelve or fourteen years the manufacture of lime has been the chief industry of the county and the main dependence of a large number of laborers in and around those towns. Lime works are now operated at Arlington, Stewart Station, and at the Erin Lime Works, about a mile southwest of Erin, the total number in the county being seven, with a combined capacity of about 750 barrels per day, and work altogether about 300 men. The lime manufactured at these kilns is of a superior quality and meets with a ready sale in between twelve and fifteen different States in the Union.
The postoffice at which the people of Houston County received their mail during the forties, was first at the Cumberland Iron Works. Robert Caldwell was the postmaster in those early days. The next and nearest postoffice established was at Cumberland City; Nathan Allman was the postmaster. In 1868 an office was established at Erin Station, of which Andrew Holliday was the first postmaster. Offices were afterward established in Houston County as follows, in the order given: Danville, Tennessee Ridge, Stewart Station, Yellow Creek, Metcalf and Omega. A very disastrous flood occurred in the Yellow Creek Valley in August, 1836. Among the early slave-holders were William Brigham, William Fentress, Isaac West, George Stacker, Abner Skelton, William Cooksie and James Wilson. During the year 1812 this section of the country was visited with an earthquake. In places the earth seemed to have cracked open in great seams, and then partly closed, leaving great sink holes, several of which yet exist in this county. These sink holes cover in some instances a space of fifty and sixty feet square and are fifteen to twenty feet in depth.
Houston County is bounded on the north by the counties of Stewart and Montgomery, on the east by the counties of Montgomery and Dickson, on the south by the counties of Dickson and Humphreys, on the west by the Tennessee River, and has an area of 340 square miles, with a population of about 4,330. The total number of acres of land in the county is 166,400, of which 25,660 are improved. The total value of property assessed for taxation in 1885 was $1,581,730, and the average value per acre assessed was $3.77. The tax levy of the county for 1885 was as follows: General purposes, $2,335.87; school, $5,031.64; special $778.62; highways, $351.36; making in all a total of $8,497.49. The number of horses and mules in the county in 1885 was 1,275; of cattle, 2,436; of sheep, 2,242; of hogs, 7,872. The general products of the same year were Indian corn, 231,311 bushels; oats, 13,846 bushels; wheat, 3,062 bushels. Marriage licenses to the number of 707 have been issued altogether by the county court clerk, as follows: During the year 1871, 37; 1872, 53; 1873, 51; 1874, 47; 1875, 37; 1876, 23; 1877, 49; 1878, 36; 1879, 59; 1880, 59; 1881, 53; 1882, 43; 1883, 53; 1884, 54; 1885, 56. There were 1,284 votes polled in Houston County at the presidential election in 1884, out of which the Democratic ticket received a majority of nearly 500. The vote of the county for President since its organization has been as follows: November, 1872--Greeley and Brown, 459; Grant and Wilson, 94; Democratic majority, 365. November, 1876--Tilden and Hendricks, 502; Hayes and Wheeler, 110; Democratic majority, 395. November, 1880--Hancock and English, 522; Garfield and Arthur, 127; Democratic majority, 395. November, 1884--Cleveland and Hendricks, 630; Blaine and Logan, 174; Democratic majority, 456. Houston County was named in honor of Gen. Sam Houston, of Mexican war and Texas fame, who was a native, and at one time governor of the State of Tennessee. The territory which now comprises the county formerly belonged to the adjoining counties of Stewart, Dickson and Humphreys, and was created out of fractions of those counties by an act entitled "an act to establish the county of Houston," which was passed by the Legislature of Tennessee on January 21, 1871. Section 1 of this act provided that a new county be created out of the fractions of Stewart, Humphreys and Dickson Counties, to be known as Houston County. Section 2 provided for the establishment of the boundary lines of said county as follows: Beginning at a mulberry about six poles below the mouth of White Oak Creek on Tennessee River, running east eleven miles with the old Stewart and Humphrey's county line, to a point due north from Waverley, eleven miles; thence east with a circle, keeping eleven miles from Waverley, seven miles; thence east six miles to the Dickson County line; thence north twenty-one degrees east by Morris' Mills, three and a half miles to a sycamore on the right bank of Bear Creek, about 350 yards from Maj. Shelton's residence; thence north seven miles to the Montgomery County line; thence west with said county line four miles to the southwest corner of Montgomery County; thence north nineteen degrees west with said county line to the Cumberland River; thence with said river and its meanders seven miles tot he residence of Capt. Naylor, on the bank of said river opposite the "Checkered House," and about eleven miles from Dover; thence south seventy degrees, west eleven miles with a circle, keeping eleven miles from Dover to a stake eleven miles due south of Dover, and one-quarter of a mile west of the residence of John Barnes, deceased; thence north seventy-three degrees west with the same circle, six and one-half miles to the Leatherwood Creek; thence down said creek with its meanders to the Tennessee River; thence up the said river with its meanders to the beginning, twelve and one-half miles, containing 340 square miles. Section 3 provided that John Brown, W. M. Blake and J. W. Lewis, of Humphreys County; Abner Shelton, A. J. Parish and Dudley Clymer, of Dickson County; Ransom Dudley, John L. McMillin and J. J. Pollard, of Stewart County, should be a commission to organize the new county of Houston and set in motion the wheels of government; a majority of the commission could transact business and fill vacancies of their number. Section 17 provided that the county court could issue county bonds bearing 8 per cent interest, running not less than ten years, for an amount not exceeding $20,000 interest, payable semi-annually; the same to be sold for not less that 80 cents on the dollar, said money to be used in the erection of a court house and jail; also provided that the court should have power to assess and levy taxes to meet the interest on said bonds and provide a sinking fund. Section 18 provided that the following part of Montgomery County be attached to Houston: Beginning at the point where the eastern boundary line of Houston County strikes the south boundary line of Montgomery County four miles from the southwest corner of Montgomery County; running thence due north to the Cumberland River; thence down said river with its meanders to the point where the west boundary line of Montgomery County crosses Cumberland River; thence south nineteen degrees east with said line to the southwest corner of Montgomery County to the beginning, containing about thirty-two square miles.
The commission met in Union Church, at Erin Station, January 31, 1871, and were duly sworn, according to the provisions of said act, by Thomas McIntosh, acting justice of the peace for Stewart County, and at once organized by selecting J. L. McMillin, chairman, and J. J. Pollard, secretary. An election was ordered to be held on February 22, 1871, for the purpose of submitting the above act to the voters, and polls and precincts were designated as follows: At the residences of J. C. Lockhart, on Well's Creek; Allan Barnes, on Cane Creek, and Mrs. Keziah Vickers, on Hurricane Creek, in the Stewart County fraction; at the residences of B. W. Swift and John Brown, on White Oak Creek, in the Humphreys County fraction; at the residence of A. B. Skelton, on Yellow Creek, and at Bethany Cumberland Presbyterian Church, on the Dry Branch of Yellow Creek, in the Dickson County fraction; at the mill of Levi Myers, on the east fork of Yellow Creek, in the Montgomery County fraction.
The commission met in Erin on the day following the election, and the required two-third vote having been cast in favor of the new county by all the fractions save that of Montgomery County, Houston County was declared established from the fractions of Stewart, Dickson and Humphreys Counties, with boundaries as provided in Section 2 of said act. The county was then divided into ten civil districts, and an election was called for March 17, 1871, for the purpose of voting on the selection of a county site, and also for the election of the county and district officers, as provided for by said act. The selection of a county site was a question of great importance, as many advantages would necessarily accrue to the locality so selected, and much contention of a friendly nature was occasioned, the result of which was the placing in nomination several tracts of land to be voted upon, as follows: Hollister's field (now Erin), and the McMillin farm at Arlington, and the Bateman and West farms. The election was held, but no place receiving a majority of all the votes cast a second election was ordered to be held for the same purpose on April 21, 1871. Hollister's field and the McMillin farms having received the largest votes at the first election, those two were the only sites voted upon at the second election. At this election McMillin's farm received the majority, and the county seat was ordered located at Arlington. The county and district officers elected on March 17, 1871, were as follows: County court clerk, J. S. Lee; circuit court clerk, G. W. Rushing; sheriff, J. M. Newberry; revenue collector, S. T. Allen; county trustee, J. W. Hall; register, C. S. Humphreys. District No. 1--Justices of the peace, N. McKinnon and W. J. Vickers; constable, D. C. Wilson. District No. 2--Justices of the peace, Jerry Mobley and F. M. Turner; constable, J. Pitty. District No. 3--Justices of the peace, Thomas McIntosh and John Chadwick; constable, Gideon French. District No. 4--Justices of the peace. J. W. Knight and J. Shelton; constable, William Shelton. District No. 5--Justices of the peace, J. Y. Knight and N. H. Belcher; constable, William Knight. District No. 6--Justices of the peace, H. J. Dickson and W. H. Rice; constable, J. C. Dickson. District No. 7--Justices of the peace, L. D. Tatom and J. H. Russell; constable, J. M. Russell. District No. 8--Justices of the peace, Jacob Parchman and W. R. Griffin; constable, J. M. Keel. District No. 9--Justices of the peace, Robert Steel and R. E. Thomas; constable, J. I. Allman. District No. 10--Justices of the peace, J. W. Richardson and H. H. Buquo, constable, T. J. Reynolds.
A series of injunction suits were instituted against Houston County by the counties of Stewart, Humphreys and Dickson in regard to the jurisdiction of the first named county over certain territory included in the boundary lines of that county. Stewart County filed her bill against Houston County in the chancery court at Dover on September 18, 1871. The bill charged that in organizing Houston County Stewart was reduced below the constitutional number of square miles (the constitution prohibiting the old counties from being reduced by the formation of new counties below an area of 500 square miles), and that the line of Houston County approached within nearer than eleven miles of the county seat of Stewart (which was also prohibited by the constitution). A decree was rendered against Houston County on November 29, 1872, by which that county'[s boundary lines were ordered changed, and the county was also taxed with the costs of the suit. Houston County took an appeal to the supreme court, where the decree of the Stewart Chancery Court was affirmed, and the suit was finally settled by agreement. The same charges were made in substance in the injunction bill filed by Humphreys County against Houston County. This bill was filed in the chancery court at Waverly October 14, 1871. A decree was also rendered against Houston County in this instance, and, as in the Stewart County case, was appealed to the supreme court, and the chancery court decree was affirmed, and Houston County was thrown into the costs. A similar bill was filed in the Chancery Court of Dickson County against Houston County on August 4, 1876, but in this instance Houston County was successful, and the bill was dismissed.
By the above suits Houston County was materially lessened in area, and the county was redistricted into eight instead of ten civil districts. The boundary lines of the county were altered, and are at present as follows: "Beginning at the mouth of White Oak Creek on the Tennessee River, running thence east eleven miles with the old Stewart and Humphreys County line to a point due north from Waverly; thence east with a circle, keeping eleven miles from Waverly seven miles; thence east six miles to the Dickson County line; thence north twenty-one degrees east by Norris' mill on Yellow Creek, three and a half miles to Sycamore on the south bank of Bear Creek, and about three hundred and fifty yards from Major Shelton's residence; thence north seven miles to the Montgomery County line, thence west with said line four miles to the southwest corner of Montgomery County; thence west from near this corner to the Tennessee River; thence up said river with its meanders twelve and a half miles to the beginning."
The county court met at Erin April 3, 1871, when the above elected officers appeared and qualified, and entered upon the discharge of the duties of their respective offices. In the absence of a court house, the first courts were held in Union Church. The county court is composed of the justices of the county. At the October term, 1871, of the county court, it was ordered that a frame court house be erected on the county site at Arlington, at a cost not to exceed $1,500. It was further ordered that the money with which to defray the cost of said building be raised by the sale of county bonds, redeemable at the will and pleasure of the county. J. J. Pollard, H. H. Buquo and J. L. McMillin were appointed as a commission and instructed and authorized to draw up plans and specifications for the court house, advertise for and receive sealed proposals for the award the contract for the material and erection of the building, and superintend the same, and also to purchase a lot upon which to locate the court house. The contract for the erection of the court house was awarded to G. W. Buquo, at the sum of $1,440, and lot No. 26 of the public square was purchased upon which to erect said building. Twenty county bonds of the denomination of $50 each were sold at 80 cents on the dollar.
The court house at Arlington was completed and accepted in the spring of 1872, and the county court convened its first session in the new building on the 6th of May of the same year. But the county seat question was not yet settled. Arlington was not without its disadvantages, chief among which was the fact that the railroad company declined to locate a station at the town, the grade of the road as it runs by Arlington being so great that trains could not |
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