History of Wayne County Tennessee United States of America

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Wayne County was erected by act of the Legislature on November 24, 1817, from parts of Hickman and Humphreys counties and named in honor of Gen. Anthony Wayne. This act, however, was not engrossed and approved and, therefore, had to be repassed at the session of 1819.

The first meeting for organization of the county court was held at the house of Benjamin Hardin, on the Factor's fork of Shoal Creek at the crossing of the Natchez Trace. The next meeting was held at Wm. Barnett's on the Old Town Branch where Barnett had built a log courthouse, and the following magistrates were present: Benjamin Hardin, Jesse Cypert, Wm. B. Curtis, Wm. Burns, Perley and David Gallaher, Reuben Kyle, John Meredith, C. W. Pope, Wm. B. Ross, Henry Rayburn, and Wm. B. Walker.

The county officers elected were: Wm. Barnett, County Court clerk; Benj. Hardin, sheriff; Jno. M. Barnett, Circuit Court clerk; John McClure, register; Jno. Meredith, trustee; John Hill, ranger; and W. B. Payne, coroner.

Courts were held at this place until 1823, when the county seat was moved to Waynesboro, which was founded by Wm. Burns, in 1821, and was sold by him to the commissioners appointed to locate the county seat, viz.: Nathan Biffer, Chas. Burns, Jas. Hollis and John Hill. This land, 40 acres, was divided into lots, which were sold and proceeds used to erect a courthouse.

The first Chancery Court was held at Waynesboro in 1847, Judge Terry H. Cahal presiding; C. B. McLean, clerk and master.

The mineral deposits of the county are extensive. The iron deposits have been and are still being worked. There are also important deposits of manganese and cement.

Wayne and Hardin are two of the best wooded counties in the state.

The first school, Ashland Academy, was built at Waynesboro in 1843. In 1849 the Female Academy was established at the same place.

The Masonic Academy was built at Clifton in 1855, and Frank Hughes College, also at Clifton, in 1906.

The first settlement was made on Pine River by Adam Wilson.

Statistics of Wayne County: Population, 1920, 12,877. Assessed valuation of taxable property, 1921, $4,232,812. Area, 720 square miles. Number of farms, 1,651. Railway mileage, eighteen. Drained by tributaries of the Tennessee River. Surface generally hilly and is a splendid fruit growing section. A large part of the county is well timbered. Staple products are corn, wheat, cotton, hay and live stock. Limestone and iron ore are found in the county. Waynesboro, the county seat, has a population of about six hundred, and has good schools and churches, bank, and prosperous business establishments. Collinwood, another town, has large manufacturing interests. Scholastic population of county, 5,220; high schools, 4; elementary schools, 71.

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

History of Wayne County Tennessee

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