Stewart County Facts

Click HERE to see full size D.O.T. County Map     Created in November 1, 1803 from Davidson County NC, Tennessee County NC and Montgomery County, Stewart County is named in honor of Duncan Stewart (1752-1815), member of the North Carolina legislature, early settler, Tennessee state senator, surveyor-general and lieutenant governor of the Mississippi Territory. Originally inhabited by nomadic hunters and mound builders, the area received white settlers in the 1780s, as Revolutionary War veterans arrived to claim land grants. The fertile bottomland attracted immediate interest, but the area's substantial iron deposits also drew attention. Several factors, including the location of deposits between the easily navigable Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, the availability of slave labor to operate the furnaces, and timber for fuel, produced a thriving iron industry that lasted for over a century.     In 1805 a state-appointed commission purchased a 30-acre plot on the Cumberland River from Robert Nelson and established the county seat of Dover. By 1850 the frontier town had blossomed into a large river trade center and the second largest steamboat port on the Cumberland. During the Civil War, Union troops, who had occupied the town since the fall of Fort Donelson in 1862, set fire to Dover to prevent the town from falling into the hands of General Nathan Bedford Forrest; only four buildings survived the conflagration.    Newspapers were published in Cumberland City and Dover.  Scattered early issues are available from 1876, and a complete run begins in 1949. See Extended History for More information. There was a fire at the Stewart County courthouse in 1862.    Stewart County is bordered by Trigg County, Kentucky (north), Christian County, Kentucky (northeast), Montgomery County (east), Houston County (south), Benton County (southwest), Henry County (west) and Calloway County, Kentucky (northwest). Cities and Towns include Bumpus Mills, Cumberland City, Dover. The Official County Website is located at http://www.stewartcountygovernment.com/    Tennessee State Library and Archives has Inventories of Stewart County Records on Microfilm. Click Here to Order County Microfilm Inventories and Reels. Early Stewart County Records. Newspaper Microfilms are loaned to Tennessee libraries. Individual reels may also be purchased.  An Inventory of Newspapers on Microfilm at TSLA is available on our web site.  . Stewart County, Tennessee History Books at Amazon.com. Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.

There are free downloadable and printable forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms, U.K. Census Extraction Forms, Research Calendar, Ancestral Chart, Research Extract, Correspondence Record , Family Group Sheet , Source Summary Form.

Back to top

Stewart County Court Records

See Also Tennessee Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

PLEASE READ!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

  Stewart County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1838 and Probate Records from 1883 and is located at Courthouse, P.O. Box 67, Dover, TN 37058; Telephone: (931) 232-5665.
    The County Clerk maintains Marriage & Divorce records. It also has jurisdiction over probate cases. Wills, administrations, and all other records pertaining to probate are recorded in the respective county clerk's office. If the will or administration was contested, the records of these actions may be filed in the circuit court or chancery court.

   Stewart County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1803 and is located at Courthouse, P.O. Box 67, Dover, TN 37058; Telephone: (931) 232-5665 .
    The Register of Deeds office has land records beginning with county organization, land records are available from the register of deeds at the Stewart county courthouse. Land and property records include transfer of real estate or personal property, mortgages, leases, surveys, and entries.

   Stewart County Clerk of Circuit Court has Court Records from 1804 and is located at Courthouse, P.O. Box 67, Dover, TN 37058; Telephone: (931) 232-7042 .
   Circuit Court Clerks serve an important role in the operation of the court system in Tennessee. Chancery courts have jurisdiction over property disputes, and circuit courts oversee criminal cases, divorces, and adoptions. Early courts included courts of common pleas and quarter sessions.

There are a few online databases for Court, Land and Probate Records which include: Index to Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912, Tennessee Marriage and Bible Records, Tennessee Marriages to 1825; Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 and Tennessee Marriages, 1851-1900.

Click Here to Search Tennessee Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records! - Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

Below is a list of online resources for Stewart County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Stewart County Court Records by clicking the link below:

• Stewart County, Tennessee Court Books at Amazon.com
• Tennessee Immigration & Emigration Records - Immigration records help the family historian to understand the movements of their ancestry as they relocated to different parts of the world.
• ?

Back to top

Stewart County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Tennessee

Click Here to Search Tennessee Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Often in as few as three business days!

   Tennessee State Vital Records, is located at Central Services Building, 1st Floor, 421 5th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee  37243; Phone (615) 741-1763, FAX (615) 741-9860. The Tennessee Office of Vital Records registers and maintains the original certificates of births, deaths, marriages and divorces that occur in Tennessee. They have the following records:

• Birth Certificates: Records are available beginning with January 1914, for Nashville since June 1881, for Knoxville since July 1881, and for Chattanooga since January 1882. Records of some births that occurred in the major cities from 1881-1913 are also available. A certified photocopy of the original record may be obtained at a fee of $12.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time. For persons born from 1949 to the present, a certified copy produced by computer is also available at a fee of $7.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE. For Earlier Records See Tennessee State Library and Archives Below.
• Death Certificates: Death records are available for the past 50 years (1957). The fee is $7.00 per certified copy. The cause of death is not normally included on a certified copy unless specifically requested and then is available only to certain family members or legal representatives. You can download an application online for Death Certificates. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE. For Earlier Records See Tennessee State Library and Archives Below. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
• Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage and divorce records are available for the past 50 years at a fee of $12.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time. You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificate. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE. For Earlier Records See Tennessee State Library and Archives Below.

Make certified checks and money orders should be made payable to "Tennessee Vital Records". Credit Cards may be uses by using VitalChek services Please do not send cash or checks. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service. Mail all Applications to: Tennessee State Vital Records, Central Services Building, 1st Floor, 421 5th Avenue North, Nashville, TN,  37243.

   Tennessee State Library and Archives have the following records:

• Birth Records & "Delayed" Birth Certificates: Tennessee began keeping birth records statewide in 1908. TSLA has statewide birth records for the years 1908-1912. To find a birth record, we need the following information: name of child, date of birth or approximate date of birth, county of birth (if known) and names of parents (if known). The larger cities in Tennessee did keep earlier birth records: Nashville (beginning in 1881); Knoxville (beginning in 1881); Chattanooga (beginning in 1879); and Memphis (beginning in 1874). Only the early Nashville birth records are indexed. For birth records after 1912 or for "delayed" birth certificates filed for persons born after 1903, contact the Office of Vital Records above.
  
  TSLA also has "delayed" birth certificates for persons born 1869 - 1903. These delayed certificates were filed at the request of the individual or that person's representative for legal reasons. To locate a delayed birth certificate, we need the following information: name of child, date of birth or approximate date of birth, county of birth (if known) and names of parents (if known). E-mail TSLA and they can check thier index to the "delayed" birth records for a specified name.  Please specify that you are requesting a "delayed" birth certificate.
  
  There is a $20 fee to search for a birth record. If the record is found, they will mail a copy to you. If the record is not found, you will be notified by mail. The $20 fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check,  money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312. 
  [GO TO FORMS PAGE]
• Death Records: Tennessee began keeping death records statewide in 1908. TSLA has statewide death records for the years 1908-1912 and 1914-1955. To find a death record, we need the following information: name of individual, date of death (or three year range to search), county of death (if known) and name of spouse (if known). Please keep in mind that some deaths were not recorded, due to poor record-keeping by local officials. For death records from 1956 to the present, contact theOffice of Vital Records above.

  The larger cities in Tennessee did keep earlier death records: Nashville (beginning in 1874); Knoxville (beginning in 1881); Chattanooga (beginning in 1872); and Memphis (beginning in 1848). Only the early Nashville and Memphis death records are indexed. TSLA can search the unindexed records for one year only; you must provide us with the name of individual, date of death, the city, and the name of the spouse (if known).
  
  There is a $20 fee to search for a death record. If the record is found, they will mail a copy to you. If the record is not found, you will be notified by mail. The $20 fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check,  money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312.  
  [GO TO FORMS PAGE]

There are a few online marriage databases which include: Index to Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912, Tennessee Marriage and Bible Records, Tennessee Marriages to 1825; Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 and Tennessee Marriages, 1851-1900

Below is a list of online resources for Stewart County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Stewart County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

• Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
• Stewart County, Tennessee Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
• ?

Back to top

Stewart County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records

Click Here to Search Tennessee Voter Lists & Census Records! - Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable.

  Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Stewart County, Tennessee are 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Stewart County, Tennessee are Industry and Agriculture Schedules available for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

See Also Statewide Records that exist for Tennessee

Below is a list of online resources for Stewart County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Stewart County Census Records by clicking the link below:

• Stewart County, Tennessee Census Books at Amazon.com
• ?

Back to top

Stewart County Maps & Atlases

   Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Tennessee and other states.
   You can view rotating animated maps for Tennessee showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps
   You can view rotating animated maps for Tennessee showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here

Below is a list of online resources for Stewart County Maps. Email us with websites containing Stewart County Maps by clicking the link below:

• Stewart County, Tennessee Map Books at Amazon.com
• ?

Back to top

Stewart County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Tennessee

Click Here to Search Tennessee Military Records! - Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

   The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Stewart County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Stewart County Military Records by clicking the link below:

• Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files from the State of Tennessee (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
• Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Tennessee (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from Tennessee units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier.
• Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Tennessee (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
• Southern Claims Commission from the State of Tennessee (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
• Stewart County, Tennessee Military Books at Amazon.com
• Tennessee Society Daughters of the American Revolution
• Tennessee Society Sons of the Revolution
• Tennessee Civil War Regimental Histories
• Tennessee, Civil War Confederate Pension Applications Index
• ?

Back to top

Stewart County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Tennessee tax lists can be used to locate families, document historic properties and study community history. Early tax lists generally include all white males over 21 and indicate whether they owned land or slaves. They usually do not provide other personal information.

The tax lists enumerated for Stewart County for the years: 1808, 1811, 1827-1833, 1836-1838, 1841-1843, 1846-1849, 1850-1853, 1855-1861, 1877-1900 ; are available on microfilm at the Tennessee State Library and Archives. They are generally filed with each county's records, but some early lists are in a separate collection. To order a search of the records by mail, follow this link [EMAIL]

   The 1796 Constitution levied taxes on “every freeman of the age of twenty-one years and upward possessing a freehold in the county wherein he may vote, and being an inhabitant of this State, and every freeman being an inhabitant of any one county in the State six months immediately preceding the day of the election, shall be entitled to vote....”

Many early surviving tax records were published in an effort to replace the missing federal censuses. Original extant tax records are preserved in the respective county courthouse as well as in the Tennessee State Library and Archives, where a card index exists for tax records in its collection pre-dating 1835, arranged by county, date, and district. 

Original tax schedules for most Tennessee counties for 1836 through 1839 are available at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

The 1891 tax lists of male inhabitant voters in each county were recently found. Available on microfilm at the Tennessee State Library and Archives, these nine reels are arranged alphabetically within each district in each county. Tax records from trustees office in counties are available on microfilm as well.

Below is a list of online resources for Stewart County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Stewart County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

• Stewart County, Tennessee Tax Books at Amazon.com
• ?

Back to top

Stewart County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Tennessee Genealogical Addresses

   The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Stewart County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Stewart County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

• Stewart County Archives, 660 Old Highway 79, Dover , TN 37058; (931) 232-7062
• Fort Donelson National Battlefield, 101 Petty Street, PO Box 434, Dover, TN 37058 931-232-5706
• Local Tennessee Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
• Tennessee State Library and Archives, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243-0312; Phone: (615) 741-2764 , Fax (615) 741-6471
• Tennessee Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 3343, 9114 Davies Plantation Rd, Brunswick, TN 38014, (901) 381-1447; [EMAIL]
• Tennessee Historical Society, 300 Capital Boulevard, Nashville 37243
• Tennessee Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.

Back to top

Stewart County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Tennessee

Click Here to Search Tennessee Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

   There are many churches and cemeteries in Stewart County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Stewart County Tombstone Transcription Project. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches and cemeteries free for viewing or download here.

   Although few histories for Tennessee churches have been published, there are church records for almost every county in the state. Baptist, Presbyterian, and Methodist were the principal religions of early settlers in the state, and documents from these groups make up the largest number of records available. Other representative religions include Lutheran, Church of Christ, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and Jewish. Most early Tennessee churches only kept minutes and membership records. Church records could, however, include records of baptism, marriage, burial, membership, or removal, but it is rare to find all or several of these categories maintained by one church. .

   As with cemetery records, the DAR has collected church records for Tennessee, available at the DAR Library in Washington, D.C., and through the FHL. Many compilations of church records have been compiled and/or published for the state. The Tennessee State Library and Archives has records of over one hundred churches that pre-date 1900.

There is a online Tennessee Marriage and Bible Records which contains over 25,000 records for the state of Tennessee for the years approximately 1720-1890. This includes marriages, births, deaths, and wills, etc., has been obtained from family bibles, church, court, and county records.

   A large collection of transcripts of Tennessee cemetery records has been compiled by members of chapters of the DAR. Records collection available at the Tennessee State Library and Archives and through the FHL. The state library and archives has notebooks containing listings of cemetery records.

   County genealogical and historical societies and local citizens have collected, compiled, and published numerous volumes of cemetery records.

Below is a list of online resources for Stewart County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Stewart County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

• Stewart County, Tennessee Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
• Stewart County, Tennessee Church Books at Amazon.com
• ?

Back to top

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Click Here to Search Tennessee Family Tree Records! - The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

   When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Stewart County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Stewart County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

• Stewart County, Tennessee Family Books at Amazon.com
• Search 60 Years Of Everton Data : For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
• Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
• Sites on USGenweb: [ Stewart County ] [ Tennessee ] [ Main Page ]
• [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
• Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
• Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
• Meet your ancestors. Learn their stories. Start your FREE family tree.
• Tennessee Family & Local History Records - The Family & Local Histories Collection lets you read journals, memoirs, and other first-hand historical narratives right on your computer. Gathered from some of the world's finest libraries, these materials may provide hard-to-find town, county, and state information; tax records and wills; military, church, and court records; as well as photographs, stories, and maps.
• Genealogical Document Search and Retrieval Service
• The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture
• ?

Back to top

County History

 The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture © Tennessee Historical Society

The county's boundary lines have changed repeatedly. Today, the county encompasses 458 square miles; its population in 2000 was 12,370, representing a 30 percent increase since 1990. State and federal agencies control over 44 percent of the land in the county. Modern highways have replaced the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers as the primary transportation arteries. A Cumberland City ferry is the last remnant of a service rendered obsolete by the construction of bridges throughout the county. However, many place names indicate the county's geography and cultural history: Tobaccoport, Bumpus Mills, Big Rock, Bear Springs, Model, Bellwood, Leatherwood, Indian Mound, and Cumberland City.

Cumberland City, the second largest city, was established in 1814. Prior to 1860, it was known as Bowling Green, but changed the name to Cumberland to eliminate confusion with Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was also on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The word "City" was added by citizens who anticipated a great future for their town. The town is perhaps best known for the Cumberland City Academy, which was founded in 1893 by W. T. Thomas. Before statehood, Methodist circuit-riding preachers conducted campground meetings at the site of the McKendree Church, the oldest church in the county. Today, Cumberland City looks much as it did at the turn of the twentieth century, except for the presence of one of the largest coal burning steam plants in the world, constructed by the TVA in 1968. Adjacent to the steam plant is Stewart-Houston Industrial Park, which houses several modern manufacturing operations.

Many other county communities were once bustling towns. Bumpus Mills derives its name from Andrew Bumpus, who built a sawmill, gristmill, flour mill, and planing mill on Saline Creek in 1846. The mills thrived and were best known for the production of Bob White Flour. Big Rock was a hub of activity for tobacco farmers at the turn of the century. A tobacco prizing warehouse established in 1915 by C. W. Joiner and William Martin attracted tobacco men from the area. Although Big Rock remains an important county community, the development of Fort Campbell in the 1940s greatly diminished the town's size and population. Indian Mound was named for the prehistoric burial mounds located in the community. Early settlers recognized the mounds and recorded their presence in early court records and deeds. The community developed with the establishment of two iron furnaces. When the furnaces closed, the population of the community declined.

As the era of the iron industry passed, the economy depended more heavily on the earlier established farming and timber industry. Cotton was among the first crops grown in the early 1800s, but it declined in production due to low yields caused by poor soil conservation practices. Both dark-fired and burley tobacco were introduced into the area in the early 1800s, but dark-fired tobacco dominated and continues as the county's primary cash crop. In fact, the region is known as the "Dark-Fired Capitol of the World." In addition to tobacco, Stewart County farmers produce corn, wheat, and soybeans.

Timber has always been one of the county's greatest natural resources. As early as the 1830s trees were harvested for the production of charcoal to fuel the iron furnaces and steam boats. As the railroad expanded, local farmers provided crossties to meet increasing demand. Even today, hundreds of acres of timber are managed by Westvaco and a number of sawmills continue in operation.

Stewart County contains a number of sites of recreational, educational, and historical interest. Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley offer opportunities for fishing and boating. Cross Creek Wildlife Refuge and the Land Between the Lakes provide nature lovers sightings of eagles, wild geese, turkey, and deer. The 1850 Homeplace, a living history farm, furnishes entertainment and education for all ages. For Civil War buffs, Fort Donelson National Battlefield and Cemetery and Surrender House, the site of Buckner's surrender to Grant, are popular attractions.

The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1886
The Cumberland River enters the southeast corner of the county and runs approximately in a northwesterly direction until it reaches a point beyond Dover, when it turns and runs nearly due north and parallel with the Tennessee River, which bounds the western side of the county. The Tennessee Ridge forms the water shed between the two rivers. The creeks of the county are Elk, Saline, Hickman, Standing Rock, Lick, Long, South Cross, Bear, Barrett's, Nevill's, Prior's, North Cross, Bullpasture, Cub, Panther, Bird's and Rushing's.

     Stewart County was settled principally by North Carolinians, the first of whom came some time about 1795, that State having issued military grants to survivors of the Continental war, which called for large tracts of land lying in this county. Among the persons to whom these grants were issued between the years 1795 and 1805 were James and Thomas Armstrong, Duncan Stewart, James Camper, Caleb Fisher, William Hendry, John McAuslin, J.C. Mountflounce, James Tabb, Abner Lamb, William B.. Blunt, Lewis Cannon, William Fawn, Henry Turner, Robert Hays, Robert Searcey, Daniel Wheaton, Simon Bright, Adriah Valch, Benjamin Shepherd, James Templeton, and James Martin , all of whom received from 1000 to 1500 acres each, while grants fro 174 and 640 acres each were received by Lewis Pipkin, Martin Armstrong, Charles Stewart, John Baker, John McNeese, Joseph Brach, Nathan Alexander, Arthur Tynor, Thomas Campbell, Charles Gerard, Charles Griggs, John McNairy, Robert Calf, James Mills, Anthony Hart, Solomon Kitt, James Rice, James Gillingham, Henry Johnston, Thomas Taunt, Thomas Sharp, Jesse Massie, Hayden Wells, William Curd, James Coglin, John McAdams, Joshua Doris, James Lack, Abner Lamb, Richard Fenner, John Collins, James Douge, Gryan Whitfield, and Jesse Burton.

     Probably the first settlers of the county were George Petty, Samuel A. Smith, Brittain Sexton, James Andrews, Samuel Boyt, and Elisha Dawson, all of whom came from North Carolina about 1795. Petty settled on the Cumberland River, near where Dover now stands; Smith in the same neighborhood; Sexton on Standing rock Creek, in the Tenth District; Andrews on Lick Creek, in the Seventh District; Boyt on Panther creek, in the Ninth District, and Dawson about five miles southwest of where now stands Dover. In 1800 Duncan Stewart, Nimrod Croswell, Robert Nelson, Seth Outlaw, William Pew, John Stansel, Thomas Shaw, Thomas B. Perrill, Christopher Brandon, Littleberry Hamilton, John Kingins, Z.T. Shamwell, John Ferrell, Maricy McCollum,Etheldred Wallace, Samuel Ross, William Carr, M.G. Morris, Charles Polk, Abraham Phillips, John Bird, Walter Boslon, Thomas Buckingham, Jack Warford, John Gardner, and Jarris Taylor came from North Carolina and settled in different parts of the county. At about the same time Joseph Smith and Larry Satterfield came together from North Carolina and settled at the foot of the Cumberland River hills, on Lick Creek, near the present site of Dover; David Lewis , another North Carolinian came in about 1803, settling in the Fifth District. About that time quite a settlement of natives of the Carolinas was formed on Long Creek, six miles southeast of Dover, among whom were Travers Moore, Matthew Manning, Bryand and Zachariah O'Neal, Thomas and David Childers, Drewry Bird, Thomas, James and William Magee, Wilson Randall and George Cathey and Philip Hornbarger was at the head of a settlement on Byron Forge Creek at the same time. In about 1804 James Scarborough, Sr., James Scarborough Jr., David Andrews, Emanuel James, Evenezer Rumphelt, Benjamin Bogt, James Boyd and John Scarborough came from Virginia, and found farms on which to locate in different sections of the county. Among other early settlers were William Massey, James Elder, Sterling May, James, Tygart, Henry Samson, John Jones, William Haggard, William R. Bell, John Trousdale, Caleb Williams, Louis Elliott, Thomas White, Moses Ward, Amos Fletcher, Ebenezer Piatt, John Cooper, William Linsey, James Galing, Samuel French, John Kyzer, Elisha Simpson, John Graham, Benjamin Downs, Jacob McCartney, Thomas Almon, John Scott, Charles Wilcox, John Hobbs, James Simpson, David Hogan, Samuel Baker, W.R. Allison, Thomas C. Clinton, William Bitts, Louis bryant, John Churchwell, Robert Lancaster, Thomas Smith, Vernon Randolph, Thomas Craig, Thomas Cottingham, James Hurd, John Boyd, Jonathan May, Henry Gibson, David Yarborough, John Frazer, Guthridge, Lyon, James Moore, John Churchwell, John Carney, Warren Fortner, John Price, John Polk (cousin of James K. Polk), William Dunbar, Benjamin Bradford, Caleb Williams, Manton Wells, Zachariah Ratcliff, James wyatt, Simon Fletcher, Nathaniel Denson, John Sanders, Robert Armstrong, Enoch James, John Scales, Elijah Simpson, Louis Keeling, James Cook, George Crassner, Silas Vincent, Wiley wheatley, Stephen Gilbert, Thomas Mallory, William Pearce, Armstead Stubblefield, John Edmonson, James Warnock, Asa Atkins, Archabald Cook, Tapley Maddos, Anthony Lee, William Christmas and Nicholas Long.

     The first settlers found the county infested with Indians, a majority of whom were hostile, and two block-house forts were erected for better protection from the savages. Those structures were of rough unhewn logs, calculated to withstand a furious and determined attack, and stood on Lick Creek and Tennessee River. Some time before 1795 a party of surveyors, composed of seven or eight men, who had come out from North Carolina to run the lines of tracts of land in the different military grants, were attacked one night while encamped on Spring creek (now known as Dyer's creek), in the Fifth District, and three or four were killed by the Indians. Thomas French , one of the few settlers of that early date, was one of the party, but made his escape. Depredations of all kinds were committed by the Indians, and as late as 1812 the Tennessee River had to be constantly patrolled by the militia to prevent them from making incursions and raids on the settlers.

    Game of every description also abounded in the vast canebrakes and forests in the early days, and many a "bar" story has been handed down, one of which is as follows and is vouched for by Judge Scarborough , of Dover: some time in 1807 James Scarborough and sons left home to attend court in Dover, leaving the farm in charge of his wife, Mary . As they lived a long distance from the county seat, it was necessary to remain overnight. Along in the evening, after the men had taken their departure, a huge black bear was detected prowling around the place, and finally got in among the pigs. The dogs were set on it, and it took refuge in a large tree near the house. By this time it was dark, and Mrs. Scarborough could not distinguish the form of Bruin, so she made a large fire under the tree and sat up all night long to replenish it, in order to keep the animal in the tree, and when morning came the plucky woman got her husband's rifle and killed the bear, which was skinned, and the hide preserved as a trophy. During the first days of the settlement there were no mills or stores nearer than Palmyra, Montgomery County, and thither went the settlers to mill and trade. A large amount of the stores used in those days were brought from New Orleans. The time required to make one of the New Orleans trips was about six months. They would load their furs, skins, and whatever produce they had on keep-boats, and float down the river. Exchanging produce for groceries, etc., they would start on the return trip. If they sold their boats they would walk home making the trip in about four months, and if the boats were brought back, as was frequently the case, the full six months were required for the trip, as it was necessary to draw the boats all the way home by hand. Among the early merchants were Mason Bennett , who in 1904 was granted license to sell whisky at his dwelling house. Bennett also kept a small assortment of general merchandise. James Russell kept a similar store, in what was afterward Dover, about the same time. At that time George Petty kept tavern at his house on the Cumberland River and John Stewart also kept tavern at his house on Wells Creek. In 1806 George Petty opened a tavern in Dover, and Philip Hornbarger kept a similar establishment at his house on Byron Forge Creek, and Phillip Wells kept a small store on Well's Creek. Nathan Skinner kept store in 1812 on Shelby Creek, and in 1815 John Ross opened store at his dwelling house.

Back to top

Stewart County Published Records

• 1880 Census, Stewart County, Tennessee (Sistler, 1999)
• Benton Co., Tennessee, Carroll Co., Tennessee, Henry Co., Tennessee, Houston Co., Tennessee, Stewart Co., Tennessee [1891 enumeration of male voters] (Reed, 1989)
• Cemetery Records of Land Between the Lakes, (Betwixt the Rivers) 1814-1973 (Maupin, 1974)
• Cemetery Records of Stewart County, Tennessee (Stewart County Historical Society, 1983)
• County Court Minutes, Stewart County  [vol. 1  1813-1815;   vol. 2  1815-1819]  WPA,  1941)
• Deed Records [vol. 1 1804-06; vol. 3 1789-1818; vol. 4 Abstracts, 1810-13 & Marriage Records 1838-1848] (WPA, 1937-1939)
• Marriage Records, Stewart County, Tenn., 1849-1866 (Simmons, 1973)
• Marriage Records, Stewart County, Tenn., 1865-1881 (Simmons, 1973)
• Marriages of Stewart County, Tennessee, 1838-1866 (Whitley, 1982)
• Name Index to History of Tennessee From the Earliest Time to the Present : Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Montgomery (Marsh, 1972)
• Stewart Co., Tenn., Marriage Records, 1838-1848 (Simmons, 1974)
• Stewart Co., Tenn., Marriage Records, 1881-1896 (Simmons, 1993)
• Stewart County, Tennessee Census of 1850 (Willis, 2000)
• Stewart County, Tennessee, Census of 1850 (Partlow, 1998)
• Stewart County, Tennessee, Census of 1860 (Partlow, 1994)
• Stewart County, Tennessee, Census of 1870 (Partlow, 1994)
• Stewart County, Tennessee, Census of 1900 (Partlow, 1994)
• Stewart County, Tennessee, Federal Census of 1880 (Partlow, 1993)
• Stewart County, Tennessee, Court Minutes, vol. 3, 1811-1812 (WPA, 1941)
• Stewart County, Tennessee Deed Book 4 or D, 1811-1813 ; Deed Book 5 or E, 1814-1818 (Crumpton, 1999)
• Stewart County, Tennessee Deed Book 6 or O, 1819-1823 ; Deed Book 7 or G, 1823-1826 (Crumpton, 1999)
• Stewart County, Tennessee Deed Book F, 1826-1829 [and] Deed Book 9, 1829-1832 (Crumpton, 1999)
• Stewart County, Tennessee Deed Books 1,2,3 or A,B,C, 1804-1819 (Crumpton, 1999)
• Stewart County, Tennessee Deeds [*vol. 1  1791-1806; vol. 2  1803-1814; *vol. 3  1813-1817; vol.4  1817-1819] (Willis, 1995)
• Stewart County, Tennessee, General Index to Deeds, vol. 1, 1804-43 (WPA, 1939)
• Stewart County, Tennessee, Minute Docket, 1807-1807 (WPA, 1936)
• Stewart County, Tennessee Slave Schedule of 1860  (Partlow,  1996)
• Stewart County, Tennessee, Tax Book, vol. 2, 1808-1812 (WPA, 1938)

Back to top