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The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture © Tennessee Historical Society
Before
statehood, West Tennessee was occupied
by prehistoric Native Americans who
camped and hunted there as early
as 9,000 B.C., as well as much later
historic tribes such as the Choctaws
and Chickasaws. Woodland Culture
peoples developed the large mound
village site now protected by the
Pinson Mounds State Archaeological
Park, the site of three separate
mound groups. First discovered in
1820 by surveyor Joel Pinson, the
mounds remained of local interest
until the 1880s, when a Smithsonian
Institution archaeologist, William
E. Myer, surveyed and mapped the
site. Pinson Mounds is the largest
Middle Woodland Period mound group
in the United States and includes
one mound measuring seventy-two feet,
the second tallest mound in the country.
Twenty years after Tennessee statehood, the Chickasaws signed the 1818 treaty
that secured the area for settlement. The first farm families came to Madison
County in 1819 and settled east of Jackson in Cotton Gin Grove. In the following
year, additional pioneers settled further west on the banks of the Forked Deer
River in a community they named Alexandria. In 1822 Alexandria changed its name
to Jackson in honor of Andrew Jackson. Jackson's sister-in-law Jane Hayes lived
in the city, and Jackson played an important role in the early history of Madison
County.
Jackson became the county seat in September 1822 after the Tennessee General
Assembly created Madison County in November 1821. In 1835 Congressman Davy Crockett
made an angry speech on the courthouse steps following his defeat for reelection
in which he told the people of Jackson: "The rest of you can go to hell, for
I am going to Texas." A year later he and another Jackson resident, Micajah Autry,
were dead at the Alamo. In the antebellum period, Jackson became a transportation
center for agricultural products on the Forked Deer River.
During the Civil War, Madison County contributed two Confederate generals, Alexander
W. Campbell and William H. "Red" Jackson. The county was the scene of several
small battles and skirmishes, the most important of which was the battle of Britton
Lane. A small park in the Denmark area commemorates the engagement in which Confederate
cavalry under General Frank C. Armstrong clashed with Federal infantry, leaving
more than 170 Confederate dead. Because of its importance in the regional rail
work network, Federal troops occupied Jackson for most of the Civil War. In 1864
Federal raiders demanded a ransom or they threatened to burn Jackson. Although
the city met the demands, most of downtown Jackson was burned anyway.
The town of Denmark once rivaled Jackson for prominence and size, but a number
of man-made and natural disasters, including fires, tornadoes, and the relocation
of the railroad, have contributed to its demise. Today only a few houses remain
along with a historic antebellum Presbyterian church.
The town of Bemis arose from the cotton fields of Madison County when the Bemis
Brothers Bag Company decided to construct a cotton bagging plant and a town along
the Illinois Central Railroad. Begun in 1900, the model town developed in several
stages and incorporated the designs of graduates from the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology as well as local architects such as Reuben A. Heavnor. Jackson
annexed Bemis in 1980.
The first railroad appeared in Madison County in 1858 as a result of the promotional
efforts of Judge Milton Brown. In addition to serving the transportation needs
of commercial agriculture, the railroads developed a labor base for later industrial
development. Jackson resident I. B. Tigrett was the president of Gulf, Mobile
and Ohio Railroad, which boasted three thousand miles of track. The legendary
Illinois Central Railroad engineer Casey Jones made his home in Jackson. His
house and many of his possessions are preserved at Casey Jones Village.
Today Madison County offers a wide variety of economic, cultural, and educational
benefits. It is the home of Lambuth University, Union University, Lane College,
and Jackson State Community College. For many years, Jackson has hosted the Miss
Tennessee pageant. Several musical artists claim Madison County as their home,
including Sonny Boy Williamson, a legendary blues and harmonica artist; Big Maybell,
a gospel and blues recording artist; and Carl Perkins, Mr. "Blue Suede Shoes." Once
largely based on agriculture, the county's economy now rests on a diversified
industrial and commercial foundation. In 1997 the three largest industrial plants
were Procter and Gamble, with 1,200 employees; Porter Cable Corporation, with
1,000 employees; and Devilbriss Air Power, with 750 employees. Transportation
continues to be important to county development, and Madison County is served
by Interstate 40, three railroads (Norfolk-Southern, CSX Transportation, and
West Tennessee Railroad), and McKeller-Sipes Regional Airport.
At the hub of West Tennessee's agricultural and industrial production, Madison
County and the more than 84,000 people who live and work there benefit from a
rich history and a bright future.
The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1887
MADISON COUNTY lies on the plateau or slope between the basin of the Tennessee and the Mississippi. It is at the headwaters of the Forked Deer, and lies near the watershed between the two large rivers above named. The surface of the county in general is level or undulating. This is particularly the case in the center and toward the north and the west. To find rolling or broken lands, the east and south, where the surface is quite broken, must be looked to.
The streams of the county are all comparatively small, shallow and sluggish. With the exception of Big Black and Clover Creeks, which are tributaries of the Hatchie, the streams all belong to the Forked Deer system. Middle Fork, of Forked Deer, enters the county from Carroll near the northeast corner of the county, and passes southwesterly through the county and enters Gibson County about sixteen miles northwest from Jackson. South Fork, of Forked Deer, enters what was the southeast corner of the county, and passes in a western direction out of the county. Little Middle Fork enters Madison at a little south of the center on the eastern line of the county, and unites with South Fork about four miles east of Jackson. Greer Creek is a small tributary of Little Middle Fork. Turkey, Jones, Johnson and Cub Creeks are tributaries of South Fork. Dyer Creek, which rises about two miles north of Jackson, empties into Middle Fork of Forked Deer River. From their shallow beds these streams are subject to frequent overflows. Mill sites have been established on the more favorable of these streams since the organization of the county.
The soil of the county is generally of a dark color, having a mixture of clay and sand. In the northern and western sections it is more of a yellowish tinge, while in the southern and eastern sections it has a reddish tinge, owing to the admixture of iron oxides. The main body of the county rests on beds of orange sand. The formations are all comparatively recent, no portion reaching as far back as the silurian, and is largely of alluvial formation. As would be expected the soil is generally very productive, and stands drought and other extremes remarkably well. In consequence of sluggish streams, alluvial beds and vegetable sediment, there are considerable malarial troubles in the summer and fall, but these are not generally of a serious character. The character of the soil does not indicate any great deal of mineral wealth, as almost the entire formation is of the quaternary period, and consequently too modern for the carbonaceous, argillaceous or auriferous deposits, although ferruginous sandstones are found in some parts of the county, near which are some chalybeate springs.
Although formerly well supplied with timber there is now no great abundance for export. Formerly there were large quantities of poplar (Lyriodendron tulipfera), but its great value led to its destruction in a great measure. Perhaps the most valuable timber now left is the oak (Quercus). There are several varieties of the oak, which need no description, such as the white oak (Quercus alba), black oak (Quercus tinetoria), post oak (Quercus obtusiloba) and the black (Jack) oak (Quercus nigra). There are also large quantities of hickory (Carya) of several varieties, consisting of the common hickory (Carya tormentosa), the scaly bark hickory (Carya alba) and other varieties. There are the elm (Ulmus), the gum (Nyssa), both the sweet (Liquidamber styraciflua) and the black (Nyssa aquatica) or tupello, the beech (Fagus ferruginea), the ash (Fraxinus), maple (Acer), mulberry (Morus), black walnut (Juglans nigra), and many other of the less valuable timbers.
Though well suited for a wide variety of products the lower portions of the lands are devoted to the growth of cotton. A very heavy yield of this staple is obtained. The cereals are grown only to a limited extent. Vegetables grow well; the sandy character of the soil renders it well suited for the growth of all of the tuberous character. Timothy and clover do well, and thus render stock raising profitable. More of a mixed farming would doubtless yield a more certain and better income to husbandmen. The excellent facilities for transportation to the best markets are rapidly developing the industries of the county.
Settlement
Madison County has an area of about 531 square miles, and an elevation of 400 feet above the sea. The first settlers of the County were mainly from Middle Tennessee; these, however, had come originally from Virginia and North Carolina, some from South Carolina. On the extinguishment of the titles of the Chickasaw Indians, in 1818-21, these pioneers, moved by the feelings that "westward the course of empire takes its way," soon again started to find new homes. The constant streams from the older States, pouring into and through Middle Tennessee, carried with them many who had found homes in the rich lands of Middle Tennessee. Moved by the restless tide of emigration, and incited by the rich fields in West Tennessee now unoccupied, many fell in with the current and were carried westward. In a few years after the opening of the country for settlement almost the entire portion of West Tennessee was covered with toiling thousands of a busy throng. Since the tide all originated from the same place the character of the people was very much alike. The intelligence, refinement, courteous bearing, high moral integrity, found in the Carolinas and Virginia, had their counterpart here. Closely related by marriage, social and business relations, the people of Tennessee have maintained their individual characteristics larger and more distinct than most any other people. There is here a homogeneity that is quite foreign to the Northern and Western States.
The first settlers came to Madison County in 1819-20. Adam R. Alexander, who had charge of the land office for the Tenth District, settled about two miles northwest of Jackson. His place was formerly called Alexandria. He not only held the land office, but was also a justice of the peace. Robert H. Dyer, who was one of the first justices, also settled not far from Alexander’s place. Joseph Lynn, one of the commissioners for the organization of the county opened a farm about three niles west of Jackson. John T. Porter, one of the first commissioners, after the organization became the first register of the county. He lived near South Fork about three miles west of Jackson. Near Porter lived James Brown. Near Alexandria lived J. H. Raygin, a brother-in-law of Alexander. About five miles west of Jackson, beyond South Fork, James Cockrell settled with his family in September, 1821. W. G. Cockrell, his son, is now the efficient county superintendent. On the south side of Forked Deer were Frank Herron, Henning Pace and Benjamin Blythe; also Foster and Richard Golden, whose place was put in nomination for the county seat. On Johnson Creek were I3onj nun Blythe, before mentioned, John and James McClish, Wm. Cooper, Nathaniel Robinson and Thomas Lacey. In the vicinity of Denmark, Thomas and Richard Sanders settled in 1822. Col. Williamson settled on Big Black some time during the same year. James M. Jelks settled northwest of Jackson in 1821. In the same neighborhood were time Mitchells and others. In a short time there was a settlement sufficient for a school. A log school-house was built in that neighborhood in 1822, which was standing a few years ago. A man named Tyner was the pioneer teacher.
Some time in 1820 Mr. Wear settled in the northeast part of the county, where he planted his first crop. In the vicinity of Cotton Grove were John Hardgrove, who was one of the commissioners of Jackson, the two McIvers, Duncan and Roderick, Elijah Jones, John and Thomas Brown, William Woodfork, an early magistrate, Stephen Cypert, George Todd and ______ Vaulx. Adam Huntsman, the well known one-legged lawyer, lived about four miles east of Jackson; Nathan Deberry about the same distance. Wm. E. Butler, the well known trader and influential citizen, settled near the spring, where the water-works now stand, in 1819 or 1820. John McNairy, Joseph Phillips and Wm. E. Butler owned the lands east of Market Street, on which the city of Jackson now stands. The land lying immediately west of Market Street was owned by Thomas Shannon. James Trousdale settled between Jackson and Denmark in 1822. Charles Sevier, who was a hatter by trade, lived at first near Jackson, but afterward moved to the south side of the South Fork of Forked Deer River. Jacob Hill also settled south of the river. John Montgomery, Martin Lawrence, Lewis and Moses Needham, Francis Taylor, Jacob Thomas, Wm. Davis and John Tidwell all settled north of Jackson. In addition to these the following had settled in the county before 1824: Herndon and Vincent Haralson, Samuel Taylor, Wm. Atchison, George White, John Fare, or Farr, Elijah Jones, Wm. H. Doak, Henry L. Coulter, Smith Sullivan, Guy Smith, James Dollard, Zachariah Thomas, Wm. Davis, David Jernigen, James Caldwell, Nathan Simpson, C. C. Collier, Z. B. McCoy, Gabriel Chandler, S. D. Waddel, George Gentry, Wm. Harrison, Wm. Harris, Jacob Bradberry, David Jarrett, Rufus P. King, Wm. C. Love, Martin Cartmell, J. B. Hogg, Hazael Hewett, Michael Murchison, James Greer, David Ferguson, Bartholomew G. Stewart, J. S. Caruthers, Wm. Wilborn, H. L. Gray, Thomas Boling, James McDaniel, James Epps, William Witherspoon, William Harper, Cullen Lane, ______ Exum, William Stephens and Phillip Alson.
Capt. Bates, now of the Sixteenth District, is said to have assisted in building the first court house in 1822. The first marriage in the county was between B. S. Jones and Canada H. Curtis. The ceremony was performed by A. B. Alexander, January 1, 1822. Samuel Jones, son of Elijah Jones, is said to have been the first child born in the county. ______ Robertson, born at the house of Charles Sevier during a temporary sojourn of the parents, was the first child born in Jackson. A daughter of Samuel Swan, a small grocer, was the first female child. Jesse Russel came to the county in January, 1823, and his marriage, which occurred a few months afterward, was the first marriage in Jackson. Robert Russell, son of Jesse, was the first male child of a permanent resident. John Brown, a prominent lawyer of Jackson, son of Dr. John F. Brown, is but a few months younger than Rob. Russell. Col. Robt. I. Chester, born in North Carolina in 1793, came to Washington County in 1796, and to Madison County in 1823. He is still vigorous at ninety-four.
The early settlers had few of the luxuries of life, but plenty of the substantial things. Corn furnished most of the "staff of life." This was eaten as hominy, or made into meal, by beating in a mortar, grinding in a hand-mill, or a small water-mill. James Cockrell brought the first hand-mill to the county in September, 1821 This served not only for his own family, but also for his neighbors. One of the Jameses built the first mill on Wallick Creek, near Cotton Grove, in 1821. This mill had a capacity of five bushels per day, or ten bushels in twenty-four hours. A. R. Alexander built a mill on his land in 1822; Duncan McIver one on his land on Jones Creek, and Ezekiel McCoy one on Trace Creek, also in 1822. In 1823 George W. Still built a mill on his forty acre tract, on Trace Creek, Clark Spencer one on Cane Creek, T. J. Hardeinan one on Pleasant Run, Obediah Mix one on Jones Creek, and Gabriel Chandler one on Young Creek; Col. Williamson built his mill on Big Black in February, 1823, and Newsom’s mill, on Meredith Creek, was built in 1824. The rapid increase of population at this time brought about a rapid increase in the number of mills.
One of the Joneses built the first ferry, called Jones’ Ferry, on South Fork, within the limits of the county, in 1820-21. This was west of Jackson. A ferry was established on South Fork, at Shannon’s Landing, by Thomas Shannon, in 1822, also one on South Fork, by J. G. Caruthers, in the same year. A ferry was established by John Murray, on the Hatchie, on his lands, in 1822, and one at Hatchie Bluff, by Wilson Jones. Ordinaries were opened by John Beding and Robert H. Dyer at their respective houses in 1822. The privilege of keeping an ordinary implied the privilege of selling liquors. Trade was carried on by wagon from Nashville or by keel-boats, by way of the Forked Deer River. These boats brought flour, meat, coffee, sugar, domestics, etc., and carried away produce of various kinds. Barney Mitchell was for a long time owner of the principal line of boats. Newson perhaps brought the first boat, as he is known to have navigated South Fork in the spring of’ 1822. The corn crop of 1821 did not mature well, in consequence of which most of the bread stuff of that year had to be imported. It may proper to remark here that little of Madison County’s great staple cotton was raised during the first decade of its history, from the fact that it did not mature well. The virgin soil kept it growing too late without forcing it to maturity.
A short distance west of Jackson are several circular mounds of the usual form peculiar to Mound Builders. Near Pinson, in the southeast portion of the county on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad are several mounds of immense size. The highest of these is seventy-two feet in height and is of the usual conical shape. There are several others, fifty or more feet in height; some are almost perfect cones, others are frusta of cones, and one presents the frustum of a pentagonal pyramid, with sides severity or more feet. In connection with these may be seen an old earthwork or earthworks. It consists of a ditch and an embankment, the embankment being from two to five feet in height. In some places two distinct embankments are to be seen extensively in parallel directions. The mounds consist of earthwork entirely and have been constructed of surface soil entirely. These mounds indicate that they have been built for defenses, for observatories or for sacred and sepulchral purposes. None but a few of the smaller ones have ever been examined with any care. Hon. J. G. Cisco, of the Forked Deer Blade, who is quite an antiquarian and who has an excellent collection of Indian relics, has made an examination of some of the smaller mounds and has been rewarded with a large number of arrow-heads, some excellent specimens of pottery and bones, skulls and other specimens of human remains. Charred remains, sticks, coals, bones are the usual relics of the sepulchral mounds. A scientific investigation, by some skillful antiquarian, of these mounds would doubtless reveal some rich pages of the history of a very peculiar people. A systematic boring and tunneling would amply repay the expenditure. A small appropriation each year expended under the direction of the State geologist, would add an immense treasure to Tennessee’s archeological collection, which is being destroyed every year by the unlettered, or carried away by relic hunters from other States.
County Government
Madison County occupies almost the exact center of the western division of Tennessee. It is bounded on the north by Crockett, Gibson and Carroll Counties; on the east by Henderson and Chester; on the south by Chester and Hardeman; on the west by Haywood and Crockett Counties. It embraces an area of 340,000 acres.
The treaty of 1818 with the Chickasaw Indians allowed them the use of their lands as hunting grounds for two years, in consequence of which the settlements were not so rapid until after the limits of the treaty had expired. On November 9, 1821, the General Assembly at Murfreesboro passed an act providing for the organization of the western district into counties. It was under this act that Madison, Henry, Carroll and Henderson were created, but Madison was not finally organized till December 17, 1821. On Monday, December 17, 1821, the following commissioners met at the house of Adam B. Alexander, who lived about two miles west of Jackson, at what is now called the McClanahan farm, and who at the time was register of the laud office for the tenth surveyor’s district: B. Bartholomew, G. Stewart, David Jarrett, William Atchison, Rob. H. Dy___, John Thomas, Adam B. Alexander. Duncan McTver, Joseph Lynn, James Trousdale, Herndon Haralson, William Braden, Samuel Taylor and William Woodfork. The first step in the organization was the appointment of Robert Hughes. clerk, pro tem. The permanent officers then chosen were Boderick McIver, clerk; Thomas Shannon, sheriff; Herndon Haralson, chairman; John I. Porter, register; James Brown, ranger, and William Atchison, trustee. These men constituted the first county court. Joseph Lynn, Bartholomew Stewart and James Trousdale, with A. B. Alexander and John Hardgrove, in case of failure of the other parties, were selected by the General Assembly to determine the site for a seat of justice for the county, with power to erect public buildings. The places put in nomination were A. B. Alexander’s place, Golden Station, three miles south of Jackson, and Jackson. The present site was agreed on May 19, 1822.
The court met at Alexander’s residence until the September term 1822, when the first court house was ready for occupancy. This house was erected by John Houston for which he was allowed $135. This house stood on the square near the northeast corner and was a log building, one story high, covered with clapboards resting on ridge poles. This building was about 30x40 feet and stood till 1824-25, when the rapidly increasing population seemed to justify a new court house. The second house was a brick building two stories in height and about the same dimensions otherwise as the former house. This building was erected by Benjamin Ghohson in the fall and winter of 1824-25. In addition to the court house, offices were erected on the square for the county officers. The county court clerk’s office and registry office stood at the northeast corner of the square and the circuit clerk’s office was at the southwest corner of the square. The court house was not a substantial building, and it became necessary to tear it down and erect a larger and more substantial building. Steps were taken as early as 1837 to erect the new building, but it was not till 1839 that the building was well under way. The committee consisted of J. W. Campbell, David Thompshire, Granberry Anderson, J. L. Talbot, Thomas Connally, Wm. Croan, B. W. May, I. W. Herron, James Caruthers, Wyatt Mooring and Samuel Lancaster. The contract was let to Thomas Brown, who was assisted by his brother, Robert Brown, who still resides in Jackson. The brick work was done by John and Thomas Norville, and the other work by the Browns. The dome and some of the painting were not completed till 1845. In 1839 the courts met at rooms at the Lafayette Inn, rents being charged for the same at $250 per year. The federal court met at the Presbyterian Church. The court house is a two-story building and is about 50x60 feet. It contains rooms for all the county offices, and a room for the various courts of the county, as well as a supreme court room. This building was erected at a total cost of about $25,000, and is in an excellent state of preservation.
On November 23, 1883, the United States Government purchased the block on the corner of Market and Baltimore Streets, for the purpose of erecting thereon a government building, to be used as a postoffice, federal court room, etc. The block was known as the "McCorry Block." Deeds were made by H. W. and C. A. McCorry, Wm. A. Barnhill and wife, Caroline Barnhill, et al., S. J. Caruthers and J. W. Gates, to the United States Government for the aggregate sum of $7,000. The building is about 50x60 feet. It is of the most approved architecture and finish. It is built of brick resting on a stone basement. The streets on its fronts are paved with fine curbing, and the lot enclosed by an iron fence. The entire cost of the building and fixtures amounts to about $100,000. It is by far the finest building in the city of Jackson.
The first public road ordered to be cut out in the county, was one to lead from the court house, to meet a contemplated road to be opened from the office (surveyor’s), in the Ninth District, on the line of the county, near the northeast corner of Section 8, Range 2, by way of Duncan Melver’s Mill on Jones Creek. The committee consisted of Duncan Mclver, Herndon Haralson, George Todd, Byland Chandler, Vincent Haralson and Boderick Melver. This order was passed December 19, 1819. On March 18, 1822, B. G. Stewart, Frances Taylor, Thomas Jones, Samuel Taylor and Jacob Bradberry, were ordered to open a road from the court house by way of the Forked Deer Postoffice and Francis Taylor’s mill toward the center of Carroll County. At the same time Guy Smith, H. L. Gray, J. G. Caruthers, David Ferguson, J. B. Hogg, Moses Oldhain and James Trousdale, were to open a road from where the above struck the Madison line along the ridge by way of Robert H. Dyer’s and Caruthers’ Ferry, the nearest route to McGuire’s Ferry on Big Hatchie. Ezekiel A. McCoy, Duncan Mclver, Wm. E. Butler, Vincent Haralson, Gabriel Chandler, Moses Wilson, Wm. Wilson, Martin Cartmelh, John Jones, Hazael Hewett and Byland Chandler were ordered at the same time to open the road from Jackson to the seat of Henderson County (Lexington). In September, 1822, the road leading from the "town of Alexandria" (i. e. Alexander’s land office), was opened by D. Horton, Stokely D. Hays, Wm. H. Doak, Wm. E. Butler, John Harrison and Arthur F. Gray, to connect with the landing on the south fork of the Forked Deer River. Wm. Braden, Adam B. Alexander, J. G. Caruthers, Joel Dyer, J. T. Porter, David Jarrett, H. L. Gray, Thomas Bohing and Guy Smith, were to open the road to Middle Fork. James Trousdale, N. J. Hay, Andrew Hay, Wm. Espy, James Tidwell, James Poor and George Meazler, were to open the road from Alexandria to Harrison’s Bluff. The importance of having good communication between the different parts of the county was grasped at an early day, and the work accomplished without delay. The McClanahan Levee road, which leads from Jackson to Somerville, across the south fork of Forked Deer, was built by Dickens and Garrett in about 1835. This was a toll road, and for a time paid large dividends. The Chester Levee was named in honor of Col. B. I. Chester, who aided largely in its construction. Campbell’s Levee was built at a later date, and leads from Jackson to Brownsville. All three of these roads are now under control of the county, by which they are kept in repair.
In 1852 aid from Madison County was asked for the construction of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. In April of that year the county court, by a large majority, voted $100,000 stock to assist in the enterprise. Warrants to the amount of $50,000 were to be issued in 1856 and $50,000 in 1857. John C. M. Garland was made tax collector for the road. He was bound in the sum of $100,000 for the faithful performance of his duty, with Stephen Miller, A. S. Rogers, W. B. Collier, Hiram Johnson and George A. Connally as sureties. New tax collectors were appointed from year to year, as the bonds became due. The road was completed in due time after the issuance of the bonds. The Illinois Central was built a few years later than the Mobile & Ohio, and a few years ago was leased by the present company. It is a main thoroughfare from New Orleans to St. Louis and Chicago. The Brownsville & Jackson Railroad was chartered in September, 1882, by Napoleon Hill, W. H. Moore, Lois Hanamer, J. C. Neeley, J. B. Bond and W. P. Dunavant. It is intended to connect Brownsville, Haywood County, with Jackson, Madison County. The Ohio Valley Railroad was chartered in 1886, by J. W. Allison, J. L. Wisdom, W. P. Robertson, E. S. Mallory, of Madison, and .J. J. Head, of Henry County. It is intended to connect some point on the northern line of the State with some point in Hardeman or McNairy, and to pass through the intermediate counties.
The first jail was ready for occupancy in December, 1822. This building stood south of the court house and was erected, at a cost of $95, by Samuel Shannon. In February, 1825, this old jail was offered for sale and a new one erected. The second one stood till about 1885, when a new brick jail was erected on the lot near where the present jail stands. In 1840 John Norville, Robert W. May and John Irvin were appointed a committee to improve and repair said jail. With the several improvements, this jail sufficed till the courts were closed by the war. This was then sold and became a private residence. In August, 1865, Greenberry, Anderson, Wm. Alexander, P. D. W. Conger, J. B. Chappell, J. M. C. Garland, Harvey Brown and J. S. Miller were appointed a committee to report on the propriety of building a new jail. The work was undertaken in 1866. Warrants on the county to the amount of $18,000 were issued for the purpose of building the same. The building stands on the old jail lot, and is a two-story structure, with cells on the second floor. It is a well built and creditable building. It is a brick structure, and contains not only the jail proper, with its prison cells, but the jailer’s residence as well.
Previous to 1849, the poor of the county were farmed out to the lowest bidder, and were scattered over the county without system and with little regard to comfort and convenience. In the early part of the decade of 1840, a farm was purchased, with an eye to the erection of a poor-house thereon and collecting all paupers to the one place, but the one chosen did not prove a suitable location, and in 1841, Wyatt Mooring, John M. Barnett and John Irvin, were appointed by the county court to sell the same and to purchase a new site. In 1849 John H. Day and Charles Sevier were added to the committee, and in April of that year a 100-acre tract, lying about two miles north of Jackson, was purchased of Samuel Lancaster, for the sum of $600. The farm was put under the care of Mr.John Irvin, as superintendent till 1854, when this farm also was ordered sold. The county was without a poor-house till 1866, when a new committee, consisting of Wm. Alexander, Felix Rutherford, John Irvin, Richard Withers, H. H. Hodgson, J. B. Chapell and James Blackmon, were chosen to select a new site for a poor-house. This committee did not succeed in making a purchase. In January A. S. Rodgers, with A. B. Reid, H. H. Hodgson, B. W. Sims and James Blackmon, as advisory committee, purchased of W. J. Seahorn, a body of 297 acres, for the sum of $3,600 in county warrants. This embraced a farm of good land, and lies about eleven miles southeast of Jackson. James Adams was employed as superintendent, at a salary of $450 for the first year. The poor asylum is managed with comparatively little expense to the county.
The following is a list of the county officers up to the present time: Sheriffs-Thomas Shannon, 1822-26; Mark Christian, 1826-30, resigned in February, and was succeeded by Daniel Madden; Daniel Madden, 1830-34; Nathaniel Deberry, 1834-38; James McDonald, 1838-40; G. H. Kyle, 1838-42; J. S. Lyon, 1842-44; J. L. McClellan, 1844-46; J. C. Stewart, 1846-48; J. B. Jelks, 1848-54; J. J. Brooks, 1854-60; J. B. Woodfork, 1860-62; G. S. Perkins, 1865-70; B. M. May, 1870-78; W. F. Blackard, 1878-84; B. B. Person, 1884-86, incumbent. County court clerk-Roderick McIver, 1822-34; Thomas W. Gamewell, 1834- 56; P. C. McCowat, 1856-72; W. H. Parkham, 1872-76; S. D. Barrett, 1876-78; E. A. Clark, 1878-86; F. W. Adamson, 1886, incumbent. Circuit clerks-Beverly Randolph, 1822; resigned in October, and was succeeded by Wm. Harris; Wm. Harris, 1822-36; Andrew Guthrie, 1836-52; J. L. Brown, 1852-56; S. W. Boon, 1856-74; B. A. Sneed, 1874-82; W. L. Utley, 1882-86; B. J. Howard, 1886, incumbent. Register-John T. Porter, 1822; J. D. McClellan, 1836-48; W. B. Gates, 1848-56; W. G. Cockrill, 1856-62; J. R. Chiappell, 1865-70; Henry McCutchen, 1870-75; W. H. Bruton, 1875-76; J. M. Hardage, 1876-82; J. W. Wallace, 1882-86: incumbent. Clerks and master-Thomas Clark, 1846-73; D. M. Wisdom, 1873-82; M. L. Vesey, 1882- 84; R. B. Hurt, 1884, incumbent. Judges-Joshua Haskell, 1822-40; John Read, 1840-62; G. W. Reeves, 1865; W. P. Bond, 1866-70; Gideon B. Black, 1870-76; H. W. McCorry, 1876-82; T. C. Muse, 1882-86; L. S. Woods, 1886, incumbent. Chancellors-Andrew McCampbell, 1846-48; Calvin Jones, 1848-59; John Read, 1859-62 (July, Fourth District); J. W. Harris, 1865-69; T. C. Muse, 1869-70; James Fentress, 1870-75; H. W. McCorry, 1875-82; T. C. Muse, 1880-86; A. G. Hawkins, 1886, incumbent.
City of Jackson
The city of Jackson was founded by an act of the General Assembly, passed in 1821-22, entitled an "a |
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Tennessee 
