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The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture © Tennessee Historical Society
Historically Obion County has been a region of small farms; in 1860 most farms
ranged in size from twenty to fifty acres. Tobacco, corn, and wheat were the
principal crops. The population of Obion County increased rapidly in the antebellum
years; in 1830 the population numbered just over 2,000, increasing to 12,800
by 1860.
Obion County experienced its share of action during the Civil War. In the early
months of 1861 Camp Brown, which housed up to ten thousand Confederate soldiers,
was established one mile north of Union City in preparation for General Leonidas
Polk's invasion of Kentucky and occupation of Columbus in September 1861. The
last important engagement in Obion County pitted the U.S. Seventh Tennessee Cavalry
under the command of Colonel Isaac Hawkins against Nathan Bedford Forrest's Seventh
Cavalry under the command of Colonel Duckworth. Unable to take the Federal stronghold
at Union City by storm, the Confederates devised a "Quaker cannon" from a black
painted log and wagon wheels and successfully demanded unconditional surrender
in Forrest's name.
Rebuilding and recovery occupied the years following the war. Business and manufacturing
had revived by the early 1880s, and the rail lines soon made Union City a commercial
center, shipping the products of the county's furniture factories and sawmills
to eastern markets.
Along with the commercial vitality of Union City came demands to move the county
seat from Troy. Following a lengthy public debate and court battle, Union City
won a hotly contested referendum, and the county records were moved to the new
courthouse in July 1890. As the county seat, Union City grew rapidly, a period
of expansion now marked by several National Register properties, including the
Washington-Florida Avenues historic district; the East Main Historic District;
and the Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church.
In the early 1900s trouble loomed at Reelfoot Lake. Fishermen felt they had a
natural right to fish the lake. However, lands beneath the lake's shallow waters
had been claimed under the 1783 grants made prior to the earthquakes of 1811-12
that created the lake. In the meantime, settlers profited from the lake's bounty
of fish and migrant waterfowl unmindful of previous claims. In the 1870s John
Burdick established a dock and wholesale fish business at the lake.
In the 1890s James Harris of Tiptonville became interested in exploiting the
timber and agricultural possibilities of the lake. Buying up most of the old
land grants, Harris announced in 1899 that he would drain the lake. Opposed by
Burdick and the fishermen, Harris's son won the initial legal battle when the
lake was declared not navigable and thus subject to private ownership.
In 1907 Harris joined forces with the West Tennessee Land Company, which had
acquired the remaining grants. Under pressure from the land company, Burdick
chose to lease his property and obtained sole rights to purchase all lake fish,
a move that embittered some of the fishermen.
Emotions among some lake residents shifted toward a more violent solution to
the dispute as they lost faith in legal remedies. Soon men wearing masks and
gowns and calling themselves Night Riders, made vigilante raids around the lake,
terrorizing those who opposed them and burning Burdick's dock.
On the night of October 19, 1908, Robert Z. Taylor and Quentin Rankin, attorneys
for the land company, were taken from Ward's Hotel at Walnut Log by the Night
Riders. When they refused demands to reopen the lake to fishing, Rankin was killed,
and Taylor escaped into the water of the lake, surviving to tell the story.
Captured by the state militia, eight men were tried in Union City, and six of
them were sentenced to hang, but the Tennessee Supreme Court overturned the verdict
on several technicalities. The lake was later ruled navigable and incapable of
private ownership. Today it is a part of Tennessee's park system, and its fish,
game, and the winter presence of American bald eagles attract many visitors.
Economic development in the twentieth century rested on manufacturing. In 1923
Brown Shoe Company joined the Canvas Duck Decoy Company and Child's Specialty
House (children's clothing) as the major industries located in Union City. In
1934 Salant & Salant established shirt manufacturing in that city. In 1968
Goodyear Tire, employing 3,000 workers, came to Union City. The newest industry
to locate in Obion County is Tyson Foods, which established a processing plant
in 1996. In addition to rail service, Obion County is served by Everett-Stewart
Airport, originally a World War II aviation training field.
Agriculture remains a key economic contributor. In 1986 the state designated
twenty-seven Tennessee Century Farms in Obion County and these properties produced
cotton, soybeans, livestock, honey, corn, and wheat.
Obion County's rich history has been carefully preserved. The first monument
ever erected in memory of unknown Confederate dead was dedicated in Union City
on October 21, 1869. Nearby is the Obion County Museum. On Highway 51 is Turner
Kirkland's Dixie Gun Works, the world's largest supplier of antique guns and
parts. The Obion County Courthouse, built by the Public Works Administration
in 1939-40, and the Park's covered bridge near Trimble are listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. In 1997 Main Street Union City sponsored a multiple
property National Register nomination which listed over one hundred additional
properties in Union City, including the Capitol Theater, Central School, and
the Union City Armory.
The 2000 census lists the county's population at 32,450, representing a slight
growth of 2.3 percent since 1990. Union City too experienced slow growth, reaching
a population of 10,876. Despite its industrial growth, Obion County has retained
its agricultural base and still ranks high in the production of corn, wheat,
orchard products, soybeans, and swine.
The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1887
Obion County is situated in the northwestern portion of West Tennessee, and is bounded on the north by Fulton County, Ky., east by Weakley County, south by Gibson and Dyer Counties, and west by Lake County. It is one of the richest counties in Tennessee, and contains an area of 560 square miles, about 36 of which are covered by Reelfoot Lake. The surface of the county is varied, about one-third of it being hilly and broken, and two-thirds undulating and level. The soil is chiefly a black loam, more of less mixed with siliceous matter, and resting upon a subsoil of red of whitish clay. No building stone is found in the county, except a kind of sandstone found on the banks of Mill Creek, and perhaps in a few other localities. The county is well supplied with running water. The principal streams are Obion and Reelfoot Rivers, East and West Davidson, Mill, Big and Little Clover, Harris, Fisk, Deer, Cypress, Indian, Pawpaw, Grassy, Dillard, Lick, Big and Little Richland, Grove, Houser, Reelfoot and Cane Creeks. The most wonderful natural feature of the county is Reelfoot Lake, which, previous to the earthquake of 1811-12, had no existence. Various accounts have been given of its formation. The following was related by Col. J. H. Tipton: "Col. Walker, of Missouri, who, in company with an Indian, came over the Mississippi River into Tennessee for the purpose of hunting on what was then called Reelfoot Creek in December, 1811, stated , that while there hunting the earth began to shake. Becoming very much alarmed he and the Indian started to return, but, upon reaching the place on Reelfoot Creek where they had left their canoe, they found that the earth had sunk, and that the waters from the Mississippi had rushed in and formed a great lake, which they afterward found to be twenty-five or thirty miles in length, and from one to ten miles in width." Previous to the settlement of the county it was covered with a heavy growth of walnut, oak, poplar, cypress, hickory, maple, elm and other varieties of trees, may of them of immense size, and while much has now been cut, large amounts of the best timber still await the lumbermen. All farm products can be successfully grown in Obion County, but the leading staples are tobacco, wheat, corn and cotton. The following amounts of each were produced in 1880: Tobacco, 1,133,472 pounds; wheat, 230, 243 bushels; corn, 1,501,881 bushels, and cotton, 4,225 bales.
The first white settlements within the present bounds of Obion County was made in 1819 by Elisha Parker, in the northeast part of the county. In the fall of the following year Col. William M. Wilson, with his family, located about three miles southwest (p 816) from Troy. He soon after removed to Jackson, but returned the next year, and his son, Thomas D. Wilson, is said to have been the first white child born in the county. During the next year or two the settlement went on quite rapidly. Rice Williams located near Troy, and after that place was laid out became its first resident. John Parr opened a farm five miles north of Troy; William Hutchinson nine miles west; George Davidson, twelve miles west, on what is now the Dyersburg road, and Joel S. Enloe about four miles east. Alexander Starrett settled about one mile south of the present site of Palestine, and John and William Carter in Civil District No. 7. John Polk located, where Polk Station now is, in 1833. Among other early settlers were Obadiah Roberts, northwest of Union City; Benjamin Totten, at Totten's well, in the northeast part of the county; also in the same locality, Jethro L. Byrd, John Harpole and Thomas Sayles; Willis and James Caldwell, west of Union City; John Killian, John Y. Brown and Henry Moppin, in the vicinity of Protemus. Indeed the settlements were made so rapidly after the opening of the territory that to give a list of all the early pioneers would be impossible.
During the first few years the settlers depended mainly upon wild game for their meat, and Indian corn for their bread. Deer were very plentiful, and bears were found in great numbers in the canebrakes, which were their usual resort. The county was a favorite hunting-ground of Davy Crockett, who traversed it many times, and it is said on one occasion killed six bears in one day. Indian corn, before the erection of mills, was ground, or rather crushed into meal by means of a mortar and pestle. The mortar was usually formed by hollowing out a stump. A large pestle of hard wood was then attached to one end of a pole working over a support, so that when forced down it would enter the mortar. A weight was then attached to the other end of the pole sufficient to raise the pestle. By this means a very coarse meal was made, but it was an exceedingly slow and laborious process. A man living on the lake bluff, more ingenious than his neighbors, constructed a mill of this character to be run by water-power. It was so arranged that a trough was placed upon the end of the pole opposite the pestle, and a stream of water from a spring conducted into it. As the trough, (sic) filled the pestle was raised, but when a certain amount of water had entered, it emptied itself automatically, and the pestle fell. This mill became very popular, and received patronage from miles around. Horse mills, however, were soon after erected. The first was probably built by Wyatt Bettis, who lived in what is now the First Civil District. Another was erected in 1823 by Col. Wilson. The first water mill was built three years later by Thomas McDonald, on Davidson' Creek. It was afterward run by James and John Blaine, and still later by Joel S. Enloe. The first cotton-gin was built and owned by John Parr, four miles northeast of Troy.
Soon after the organization of the county, the question of internal improvement began to agitate the country, and as the rivers were then the main channels of transportation, their improvement was of the greatest importance. In 1838, the State having appropriated $31,000 to be used in the improvement of Obion River, H. J. P. Westbrook, James Harper and James M. Hunter were appointed commissioners on the part of Obion County to superintend the work. But little benefit, however, was derived from this work. The Mobile & Ohio Railroad was completed through the county in 1858, and the Nashville, Chattanooga &St. Louis at a little later date. The Memphis & Paducah, now the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern, was not completed until after the close of the war. The county voted no aid to any of these roads.
The original act establishing Obion County was passed October 24, 1823, and was entitled "an act for the establishment of a new county in the northwest part of the State." It was given the name Obion*(*an Indian word signifying "many prongs") from Obion River, and until 1870 in included what is now Lake County. It was organized on January 19, 1824, at the house of William M. Wilson, three miles southwest of Troy. The first county court was composed of the following justices: John McKee, Seth Bedford, Joseph Taylor, George C. Davidson, Rice Williams, William M. Wilson, William Reynolds, William Wilkinson, Samuel D. Wilson, Jr., John Parr and Stephen Mitchell, of whom Seth Bedford was elected chairman. An election of (p.817) officers for the county then took place, which resulted as follows: Clerk of county court, Samuel D. Wilson, Sr.; sheriff, Fletcher G. Edwards; register, Asa P. Hurt; trustee, Obadiah Roberts; ranger, James Bedford; surveyor, Robert B. Harper; coroner, John T. Abington, and Josiah G. Clark, Wyatt Bettis and William McKinney, constables. At the same time Stephen Mitchell, Rice Williams and John McKee were appointed to make out the tax lists for their respective neighborhoods. Provision was also made for the laying out of various roads in the county.
The court continued to meet at the house of Col. Wilson until the following January, when it met for the first time at the court house in Troy. This court house was a round, log structure, 18x20 feet, with one window and one door, and stood very nearly where the brick office on the square now stands. It was built by William B. Hutchinson, in the fall of 1825. The Public Square had been cleared by James Harper, who received $23 there-for. He also built the first jail, a round, log building, for which he received the sum of $270.42. The second jail was built of hewn logs, about 1844. This, after a few years, was succeeded by a brick structure, which in turn was replaced by a framed building. The latter was burned, and another of a similar style was erected. This, too, was destroyed by fire, and about 1881 the present brick jail was built at a cost of $9,000.
In 1831 a brick court house, fifty feet square and two stories high, was erected. This building was so badly injured by an earthquake shock, in the spring of 1842, that it was taken down, and a one-story building constructed from the same materials. On January 28, 1848, an act was passed by the Legislature loaning to Obion County the State taxes for the years 1848-49-50, for the purpose of building a court house; the revenues thus loaned to be repaid in three annual installments, the first to be made October 1, 1852. The last part of the act, however, was not complied with, and the State has never received the revenue loaned to the county.
The following is a list of most of the officers of the county since its organization, with the date of election:
Clerks of the County Court -- Samuel D. Wilson, 1824; William S. S. Harris, 1834; George Sheeks, 1844; A. S. Hord, 1846; Samuel C. Henry, 1856; Ed. D. Farris, 1860; G. F. Isbell, 1865; Ed. D. Farris, 1868; W. S. Scott, 1878; A. J. Stanfield, 1886.
Clerks of the Circuit Court -- Jonas Bedford, 1824; James L. Totten, 1831; A. W. O. Totten, 1832; John B. Hubbard, 1835; Daniel St. John, 1836; H. J. S. Westbrook, 1840; Samuel C. Henry, 1848; James H. Meacham, 1850; W. H. Caldwell, 1865; John Crockett, 1866; Lysander Adams, 1870; C. Goad, 1874; W. S. Harris, 1876; W. G. Huey, 1877; J. H. Bittick, 1878; J. B. Meacham, 1880; J. J. Lancaster, 1882.
Trustees -- Obidiah Roberts, 1824; William Hutchinson,1826; John C. Wilson, 1830; J. M. Bedford, 1834; Samuel Hutchinson, 1836; John C. Reid, 1838; James H. Guy, 1838; John T. Abington, 1840; B. L. Stovall, 1848; Archibald Crockett, 1854; Benjamin Evans,1860;George A. Herald, 1862 * * * W. R. Hogan 1868; J. L. Moultrie, 1870; G. A. Herald, 1874; W. H. Holloman, 1876; George P. Hurt, 1880; J. W. Bransford, 1884.
Registers -- Asa P. Hurt, 1824; Moses Parr, 1825; W. S. S. Harris, _____; John Parr, 1836; S. S. Calhoun, 1840; W. P. Hill, 1856; George P. Summers, 1860; R. A. Hewatt, 1865; D. Hubert, 1870; John E. Evans, 1872-74; and A. C. Lancaster, 1882.
Sheriffs -- Fletcher G. Edwards, 1824-26; Joel S. Enloe, 1826-36; Thomas A. Polk, 1836-1840; John Crockett, 1852-56; James W. Bransford, 1856-58; William S. Scott, 1858-62; William H. White, 1865-67; James B. Walker, 1867-69; Joseph R. Brown, 1869-70; Pleasant W. Duncan 1870-72; H. W. Hickman, 1872-74; P. W. Duncan, 1894-76; H. W. Hickman, 1876; D. H. Dalby, 1880; G. F. Thomason, 1884; F. P. Taylor, 1886.
The following have been the representatives to the lower house of the General Assembly since 1833 inclusive: Joel R. Smith (Carroll, Gibson, Obion and Dyer), 1833; William M. Wilson, 1835; John B. Fizer (Obion and Dyer), 1837; Ausborne Purcell, 1839; Thomas A. Polk, 1811; Dr. Purcell, 1843; G. W. L. Marr, 1845; R. P. Caldwell, 1847; (p.918) Samuel C. Henry, 1849; E. A. Ferguson, 1851; B. L. Stoval, 1853-57; R. C. Nall (Obion and what is now Lake County) 1876; William Jones, 1878; S. W. Cochran, 1880; J. H. McDowell, 1882; T. J. Bonner, 1884.
Troy dates its existence from March 16, 1825, when it was located by Rice Williams, John Parr, William Terrell, G. W. Adams and Joseph Taylor, commissioners appointed to fix the seat of justice for Obion County. Fifty acres of land were donated as a site by William Polk, of North Carolina, who afterward added fifteen acres to be used forever as a public commons. The site, which was then covered by a heavy growth of timber, was laid off into lots, streets and a public square. The sale of lots at once began, the prices paid ranging from $5 to $158, Lot No. 4 having been sold for the latter amount. In 1931 ninety six lots had been sold for an aggregate of $3,036.50. The first house, a double log-house was erected by Rice Williams on or near the present site of the Bright House, and there he kept a tavern until his death, in 1829. The first store was opened by Col. Lysander Adams, who for more than half a century continued a prominent and honored citizen of the town. For the first year or two he had a partner by the name of Dreibelbiss. They occupied a double log house, which had been built by a man by the name of Culp, on the northeast corner of the square. Adams continued to do quite an extensive business for a number of years, and it was he who shipped the first bale of cotton and the first hogshead of tobacco from the county. The next merchant of note was W. S. S. Harris, the father of the present druggist of that name. A little later Porter & Partee did a large and profitable business for a number of years. J. H. Moran, of Dresden, also did an extensive business, through a branch house in Troy, for two or three years. D. Glass was another prominent merchant. The firm of Polk, Crockett & Co., composed of Thomas A.., George and Alexander Polk and John M. Crockett, at a little later date controlled a large share of the business. They were succeeded by J. S. Moffat who has ever since been one of the leading business men in Obion County.
The first physician to locate in the town was Samuel L. Teator, who practiced his profession for several years. The next was Dr. Wilkerson, a brother-in-law to William M. Wilson. Among the other early physicians were William K. Waddy, W. H. D. Covington, Wood & McBane, Cutler, Burroughs, Horace Head, and his son, Henry Head, and David Bright, who for nearly fifty years sustained a high reputation in his profession, and who has recently retired from practice.
The first newspaper established was the Western Advertiser, in 1858. The type, press and other material were purchased by a joint stock company composed of many of the leading citizens of the town. The first publishers were Cowan & Parsons, the former of whom withdrew in a short time. In about a year Parsons was succeeded by D.A. Chambers, who continued the publication under the name of the Troy News, until the beginning of the war. After the cessation of hostilities it was revived by S. M. Howard and J. B. Maxwell, who were succeeded by Sumpter Baker. Baker published the Signal of the South for a short time, after which the office material was sold to a firm in Fulton, Ky. The next journalistic enterprise in Troy was the Obion News, established by Thomas A., Batte, who was succeeded by Sherrill & Doughty. They continued until January, 1879, when they sold the office to Dr. W. Brice and T. P. Walker. In June, 1881, the News was consolidated with the Troy Banner, a paper established by the Banner Publishing Company a short time before, and has since been continued by Dr. Brice as the News-Banner. The New Era, established in May, 1885, by the New Era Publishing Company, and edited by W. B. Stovall and J. W. Bransford was suspended about September 1, 1886, the subscription list having been transferred to the Obion Democrat, of Union City.
The first secret society organized in the town was Western Sun Lodge, No. 88, A. F. & A. M., which has ever since been sustained. The charter was granted October 16, 1839, to A. M. Chamberlin, W. M.; H. W. Wright, S. W. And Jethro L. Byrd, J. W. At a much later date a lodge of I. O. O. F. was established, but the interest in it was not sufficient to maintain it. The town was incorporated in 1852. The officers elected were (p. 819) Alfred M. Bedford, mayor; and J. S. Moffat, Dr. David Bright, Allen Hord. Dr. Horace Head and S. W. Cochran, aldermen.
The business interests of Troy at the present time are represented as follows: J. S. Moffatt & Co., George B. Wilson and Cave J. Crockett, general merchandise; E. S. Walton; dry goods; J. A. Rochell, John Bennett and Jerry Stephens, groceries; W. S. S. Harris, drugs; S. E. Lyons, blacksmith shop and grist-mill; Harris & Murphy, blacksmith and wagon shop; D. H. Dalby, livery stable; Dr. W. Brice, News Banner; J. H. Hildebrant, Bright House, and Charles Inman, Inman House. The present physicians are W. M. Bright, W. Brice, A. W.Caldwell, A. B. Weddington and William H. Coover.
Union City is the largest town in Obion County. It is situated at the junction of the Mobile & Ohio and the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroads, 156 miles west of Nashville. It was laid out on land owned by Gen. George W. Gibbs in 1854, but previous to the civil war attained but little importance. The first store was opened by Dabney Glass in 1855. At the same time a post office was established , with C. N. Gibbs as the first postmaster. The latter and W. B. Gibbs were the first resident attorneys of the town. Among the other merchants during the years prior to the war were A. H. Patton, Rice & Thomas M. Pierce, James Wilson, Thomas Ray, Felix McGaugh, Isaac Foster, Bynum Bros. and Robert & William Seay. The first physicians to locate in the town were Drs. Chittim and Thompson. Drs. Samuel Cutter, Robert McMullen and Gus. Batte were also among the early residents. In 1856 Charles N. Gibbs built a steam saw-mill, in which was used the first circular saw in Obion County. At the breaking out of the war Union City on account of its excellent railroad facilities, was made a camp of instruction by the Confederate authorities, and at times it was occupied by from 5,000 to 20,000 men. After the fall of Fort Donelson it was captured by Col. Harvey Hogg, with a regiment of Illinois Cavalry. It was afterward twice taken by Forrest's cavalry, but at the close of hostilities was in the hands of the Federals.
About 1866 the town again began to improve, and continued to grow until 1873, at which time the population had reached about 1,000. An epidemic of Cholera during that year caused about one-half of the inhabitants to flee from the town and of the remainder about 100 died from that disease. The demoralization incident to such a calamity, together with the financial depression of 1873, seriously interfered with the growth of the town during the next two to three years. Since that time, however, the growth has been remarkably rapid, the population in 1886 numbering nearly 5,000. Its railroad facilities are unexcelled, and consequently it offers superior advantages to manufacturers. Within the past ten years large amounts of capital have been invested, and at the present time no town of equal size in Tennessee can boast of a greater number of manufacturing establishments. The first enterprise of this character was inaugurated by D. P. Shoffner about 1871. It was a saw and planing-mill, to which was added machinery for turning out building material, and later furniture in considerable quantities was manufactured. Mr. Shoffner, soon after beginning business, associated with himself Messrs. Moffatt & Beck,the firm being known as Shoffner, Moffatt & Beck. After about three years Shoffner's interest was purchased by Benj. Bransford, and during the next four years the style of the firm was Moffat, Beck and Bransford. It was then changed to Beck & Bransford, and so continued until January, 1885, when the business was consolidated with that of the Ekdahl Furniture Company, which had been organized in 1882, with William Askins as president. The new firm is known as the Beck, Bransford & Ekdahl Furniture Company, of which J. E. Beck is president, and R. Garth secretary and treasurer. This is one of the most extensive establishments of their kind in the West, and has a capital stock of $75,000. In addition to the furniture manufactured they handle large amounts of lumber, the sales of both aggregating about $200,000 per year. In January, 1886, their furniture factory was destroyed by fire, but was immediately rebuilt.
After the retirement of Shoffner from the firm of Shoffner, Moffatt & Beck, he established a factory, of which he was the individual proprietor. He continued until 1883, when he made an assignment of his property to his creditors, and the business was then conducted until 1886 by a joint stock company, known as the Union City Furniture Company,. (p. 820) with John H.McDowell as president. In 1886 the Tennessee Furniture and Chair Company was organized, with W. G. Moss as president and general manager, W. A. Posey, vice-president; W. H. Gardner, secretary; J. H. Whipple, treasurer. They purchased the property and stock of the Union City Furniture Company and also that of the Union City Chair Company, a company organized in 1883, with W. G. Moss as president. The new company has a capital stock of $25,000, and is doing an extensive business in the manufacture of furniture and chairs.
In 1883-84 Bookwalter Bro. & Co., manufacturers of buggy and wagon wheels in Miamisburg, Ohio, established a factory at Union City for the manufacture of spokes. They have a capital of from $12, 000 to $15,000 invested at the latter place, and employ about twenty men. They use nothing but hickory timber, a large part of which comes from Obion County.
In 1881 the Union City Manufacturing Company was established for the manufacture of wagon spokes, and the following year the entire business was purchased by W. H. Garden, who, in company his son, still continues it. They have an invested capital of $20,000, and turn out products to the value of $50,000 annually. Only oak timber is used, and nearly all of it comes from the mills of Obion County.
In 1879 Trautwein & Semones established a wagon manufactory and machine shop, and have recently added a foundry. They employ a capital of about $15,000. Ownby & Co.'s foundry and machine shops were established in 1879 by Ownby & Son, the mane of the firm having been changed in November, 1879. The value of their plant is estimated at $5,000 and they turn out products annually to the value of about $6,000.
The Union city flouring Mill was erected in 1868. It is now owned and operated by F. M.Brown, who took possession about 1880.
A tile factory was established in the spring of 1885, by Whipple & Hatcher, who have since done a good business. Two brick-yards are in operation, owned by Lee Bransford and R. W.Fowlkes & Co. Respectively. The former was established several years ago; the latter in April, 1886. Other manufacturing enterprises are Godwin & Littleton, brooms; H. Dietzel and Duval& Crittendon, tin-ware.
The Bank of Union City was established in 1879, and chartered under the laws of Tennessee. The first president was J. E. Beck, and the first acting cashier, George G. Bell, who has since confuted in that position. The present president is Seid Waddell. The bank has a capital stock paid in of $50,000, and owing to the careful and conservative manner in which it is managed enjoys the universal confidence of the business men of the county.
At the close of the war the town could boast of but one merchant, John Morgan, but others came in soon after, among whom were Tyler & Murphy, Cary & Patton, George and William Hatch, Curlin & Bynum and Parson Hutchinson. J. M. Vincent also had a grocery store. During the financial panic of 1873 nearly every merchant in the town became involved, and almost all of the present mercantile firms of Union City have located there since that date. The following is a list of the most important:
Dry goods -- B. Lowenheim & Bro., Siesel, Jacobs & Co., L. J. Friedman & Co., L. Falls, L. Frankland, B. H. Bransford and L. Folz.
Family groceries -- Woosley & Verhine, Hale & Roper, Evans & Killough, Gibbs & Hardy, J. H. De Graffenried, B. H. Whitley, Brackin & Son, Diggs, Chambers & Co., and C. Speck.
Drugs -- W. W. Hall, S. W. Godwin, Polk & Lane, P. Y. White, W. G. Moss and W. E. Skates
Jewelry -- J. F. Lukens.
Jewelry and Books -- W. P. Richards.
Books -- G. W. Griffin.
Hardware and Implements -- H. Dietzel and Duval & Crittendon.
Furniture -- D. A. George, and the Beck, Bransford & Ekdahl Furniture Company.
Millinery -- Mrs. V. H. Hughes and the Misses Tardiff.
Butchers-- B. N. Pleasant, Samuel Pack, J. W. Temple and G. L. Williams.
Liverymen-- Fowlkes & Barry, Cathey & Hughes, and C. D. Gibbs & Bro.
Hotels -- Brackin House, H. G. Lefils, proprietor, and Fowlkes House.
Among the prominent physicians and surgeons are A. M. McConnel, A. P. Warterfield, S. T.Evans, R. R. Winston, D. M. Pierce, G. B. Jones, J. B. Harrison, F. W. Watson, T. B.Sanders, J. J. Figg, T. H. Turner, Maney Bell and C. Bayn. T. J. And J. T. Edwards are oculists and aurists of high reputation. (p.821)
Union City has always supported a number of secret and benevolent societies. December 6, 1886, Lodge 194, A. F. & A. M., was organized, and for several years had a vigorous growth, but, owing to the institution of a large number of new orders in the county, the interest began to decline, and since 1883 no organization has been maintained.
A lodge of I. O. O. F. was also organized soon after the war, and at one time had as many as 250 members, but on account of mismanagement the interest declined, and the charter was surrendered. An encampment, Mount Nebo, No. 35, was organized about 1871.
Vineyard Lodge, No. 31, K. of P. Was instituted by Dr. R. L. C. White, of Lebanon, Tenn., September 5, 1883, with M. T. Boswell, C. C.; S. T. Evans, V. C. C.; J. E. Beck, P.; Henry Little, K. Of R. & S.; J. M. Ownby, M. A.; C. R. H. Zimmerman, M. F.; J. F. Howell, M. E.; J. W. Woosley, I. G.; W. R. Anderson, O. G. Other charter members were Felix W. Moore, T.J. Edwards, W. J. Dickerson, W. H. Griffin, John and G. G. Bell, A. J. Harpole, C. J.Watson, J. R. George, H. Moffatt, F. T. Cummins, H. Little, D. P. Shoffner, D. A. George, W. S. Crittendon, A. P. Warterfield, J. C. Reynolds and W. Z. Massengill. The lodge is composed of the best men of the town, and is in a highly prosperous condition. At the last meeting of the Grand Lodge it showed a greater gain in membership than any other lodge in the State, and it now numbers fifty-five members. The present commander is H. T. Robinson.
Union City Lodge, K. Of H. No. 240, was instituted February 22, 1876, and received its charter on September 5, of the same year, at which time the following named persons constituted the membership: F. M. Trevathan, S. T. Evans, George Gibbs, Robert Nailling, John E. Massengill, F. W. Moore, W. I. Edwards, T. J. George, James F. Howard, P. R. Nolen, A. C.Winstead, George G. Bell, A. J. Stanfield, N. K. Moore, D. D. Bryant. The lodge has been uniformly prosperous since its institution, and now numbers about 150 members. In company with the K. Of P. They have fitted up an elegant lodge room.
Obion Local Assembly, No. 5823, K. Of L., was organized March 2, 1886, with W. W. Epperson as M. W.; W. D. Botts, W. F.; G. M. Booker, U. K.; J. B. Wilson, V. S.; B. H. Whitley, Treasurer,; W. F. Wicks, Recording Secretary; W. W. Davis, Financial Secretary; J.W Foshee, Judge; H. B. McCall, Judge Advocate. The present membership of the lodge is about 450.
The first newspaper in Union City was published a short time previous to the war, by H. C. Lawhorn. About 1867 the Herald was established by David Chambers, who soon after associated with himself his brother, Daniel W. Chambers. The former died in about two years, and the latter continued the paper until about 1883. He was an extremely eccentric man, and many issues of the paper did not contain a single intelligible sentence from the editor. He had been a gallant soldier in the Confederate Army, and had lost a leg in the service. This fact impelled the citizens of the county to support his paper.
During two or three years in the early part of the last decade the Courier was published by Capt. W. R. Hamby, who afterward removed to Jackson. In 1874 the Reveille was established by N. B. Morton, who continued to publish it until the latter part of 1876, when he removed it to Texas. In February, 1878, he returned and established the Anchor, an eight-column folio, which he continued until 1882, when he sold it to W. R. Andrews. After several months he sold it to McDowell & Doyl, who in 1886 leased it to Millard F. Cloys.
The Chronicle was established by Stokes & Trissenriter, who in a short time sold it to D. L. Rivers, from whom it was purchased by L. D. Cardwell, who changed the name to the Solid South, and later to Our Country. In November, 1883, he sold out to N. B. Morton, who has since published the Advance, one of the best county papers in West Tennessee.
In January, 1886, the Obion Democrat was established by Tatom & Griffin. It is an eight-page, seven-column folio, one of the largest weekly papers i |
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Tennessee 
