History of Madison County Tennessee United States of America

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Madison County was erected on November 7, 1821, from the Western District, and was named in honor of President James Madison. The earliest settlers, however, arrived during the preceding two or three years. Among them were: James Cockrill, J. H. Regan, Adam Huntsman, James Brown, John T. Porter, Joseph Lynn, Robert H. Dyer and Adam R. Alexander, the last named in charge of the Land Office of the Tenth District. All these located in the vicinity of Jackson.

On December 17, 1821, the county was organized by the following named commissioners who constituted the first court of the county: Adam R. Alexander, Bartholomew G. Stewart, David Jarvett, Wm. Atchison, Robt. H. Dyer, Jno. Thomas, Duncan McIvor, Joseph Lynn, Jas. Trousdale, Herndon Harelson, Wm. Braden, Samuel Taylor and Wm. Woolfork. Herndon Harelson was chosen chairman; Roderick McIvor, clerk; Thos. Shannon, sheriff; John T. Porter, register; Jas. Brown, ranger; Wm. Atchison, trustee; Wm. Griffin, coroner; Geo. White, John Fore, Elijah Jones, and Wm. Doak, constables. Henry L. Gray, Alexander B. Bradford and Robert Hughes qualified as attorneys.

The first courthouse was completed in September, 1822. Jackson, the county seat, named for Andrew Jackson, was located on the lands of Daniel Shannon, W. E. Butler, Joseph Phillips and John McNairy. It was incorporated on December 16, 1845. Its first mayor was R. J. Hays; its first postmaster, Samuel Taylor; its first newspaper, the Gazette, founded on May 25, 1824, by Charles D. McLean, Elijah Bigelow and Ed Hays.

Early attorneys were: John Wyatt, Adam Huntsman, Milton Brown, Benj. Gillispie, A. L. Martin, Stokely D. Hays, Micajah Bullock, J. S. Allen, Hugh W. Dunlap, Andrew McCampbell and M. A. McKenzie.

The numerous mounds in Madison County indicate that this section was once the home of a populous community of prehistoric people.

The sale of lots in the town of Jackson began July 4, 1822, and lasted about one week. Joseph Lynn was allowed twenty dollars for whisky furnished at the sale to encourage bidding. The first purchasers of lots were Geo. Todd, Herndon Harelson, Mark Fisher, Duncan McIvor, Wm. Broden, Wilson McClellan, Jas. McKnight, Vincent Harelson, David Horton, J. H. Ball, Isaac Curry, Wm. Espy, Alex. B. Bradford, W. L. Flener, Jas. Burress, Jas. K. Polk, S. F. Gray, S. C. Crofton, Roderick McIvor, and M. Leggett. James K. Polk bought three lots, costing the aggregate sum of $582.

Madison County furnished to the Seminole war of 1836, a company called The Grays, commanded by Capt. Jesse McMahon; also troops to the Mexican war.

Statistics of Madison County: Population, 1920, 43,824. Assessed valuation of taxable property, 1921, $25,793,119. Area, 520 square miles. Number of farms, 4,467. Railway mileage, 115. Intersected by the Forked Deer River. Its surface is generally level. Soil very fertile and staple products are cotton, corn, fruits, vegetables and live stock. The Illinois Central, the Mobile & Ohio, and the N. C. & St. L. Railroads traverse the county. A large cotton mill is located at Bemis, near Jackson, employing a large number of operatives. Jackson, the county seat, with a population of 18,860, is a flourishing city with the facilities of the three railroads named. It has large manufacturing interests and is a jobbing center for a large territory. Jackson has fine private and public schools and is noted as an educational center. It has daily and weekly newspapers and other large publishing interests. An artesian waterworks system owned by the city supplies the city with water. Scholastic population of county, 16,783; high schools, 14; elementary schools, 100.

From: Moore, John Trotwood. Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923. Vol. 1. Chicago, IL, USA: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1923.

History of Madison County Tennessee

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