History of Wilson County Tennessee United States of America

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Local History Notes:

Wilson County and Smith County were erected on the same day, October 26, 1799, from a part of Sumner County. Wilson County was named for Maj. David Wilson, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Sumner while it was yet a part of North Carolina, and had been the first speaker of the Territorial Assembly.

Probably on Spring Creek, five miles north of Lebanon.

The first court of the county was held on December 23, 1799, at the house32 of Capt. John Harpool (or Harpole), and was organized by the following named magistrates: Charles Cavenaugh, John Alcorn, John Lancaster, Elmore Douglas, John Doak, Matthew Figures, Henry Ross, Wm. Gray, Andrew Donelson, and Wm. McClain. The following named officers were elected: Charles Cavenaugh, chairman; Robt. Foster, clerk; Chas. Rosborough, sheriff; Wm. Gray, ranger; and John Alcorn, register. Be. Seawell, Esq., was appointed county solicitor, and John C. Hamilton qualified as a practicing attorney.

The first settlement in the county was at Drake's Lick on the Cumberland River and was made in 1797, by John Foster and Wm. McClain. In 1799, a settlement was made on Spring Creek, seven miles southeast of Lebanon by John Foster, Wm. Donnell, and Alexander Barkley, or Barclay. In the same year a settlement was made at Round Lick by Samuel King, James Prather, Wm. McSpadden and Wm. Harris, and on Spring Creek eight or nine miles south of Lebanon by David Magathey, Foster Doak, John Doak, Alexander Braden, and the Donnells.

After 1800 immigrants came in constantly increasing numbers. Robin Shannon, Lee Harrelson, John Ozment, John Spinks, John Rice, and others settled at Pond Lick. Jacob Vantrease, Thomas B. Reece, John Caplinger, Edmund Jennings, John Patton, George Hearn, James Edwards, Duncan Johnson, Daniel Smith, Isaac Grandstaff, Evans Tracy, William Neal, Shelah Waters, Joseph Barbee, Solomon Bass, John Lawrence, Jordan Bass, John Green, Wm. Coe, John Phillips, William Haines, Arthur Hawkins, Benj. Phillips, and John W. Peyton located at Round Lick. Martin Talley, Wm. Sherrill, Pernell Hearn, James Cannon, John Jones, Benj. Mottley, Henry Chandler, Adair Harpole and Gregory Johnson on Spring Creek. Robert Jarmon, Lewis Merritt, David Fields, Jonathan Ozment, Dawson Hancock, and Seldon Baird on Sinking Creek. Absalom Knight, John Gibson, Charles Cummings, Henry Mosier, John Merritt, Frank Young, Joseph Stacey, and Charles Warren on Hurricane Creek. Frank Puckett, William Lester, John Donnell, Lord Sellers, John Alsup, Aaron Edwards, Sampson Smith, Jacob Jennings, and William Warren on Fall Creek. Hooker Reeves, Joseph Weir, Lewis Chambers, Nathan Cartwright, William Wilson, Matthew Figures on Cedar Creek. Joseph Castleman, Joseph Hamilton, Thomas Drennon, Benj. Dobson, Aquila Suggs, and Benj. Hooker on Suggs' Creek. Clement Jennings, James H. Davis, Thomas Davis, Joshua Kelley, Harrison Hays, Theophilas Bass on Cedar Lick Creek. Geo. L. Smith, Wm. Oakley, Charles Rich, Reason Byrne, Abner Bone, Jas. McAdoo, Edward Pickett, John Adams, David Ireland on Smith Ford. Caleb Taylor, Jas. Hunter, Joseph Kirkpatrick, Daniel Glenn, Sterling Tarpley, and Wm. Saunders on the Cumberland River.

The first white male child born in the county was probably Josiah McClain, who was County Court clerk for more than forty years.

Lawyers who practiced in the courts of Wilson County in the first years were: Jesse Wharton, Nicholas Perkins, John B. Johnson, Lemuel Herrod, John Dickinson, Charles Smith.

In 1802 the court was held at the house of Henry Turner on Barton Creek.

Lebanon was chosen as the county seat in 1802, and was located on land previously belonging to James Menees. It was named for the Biblical Lebanon because, like the ancient city, it was remarkable for its cedars. It was incorporated in 1807. Neddie Jacobs, a peculiar character and a fiddler, was the first settler on this site. Tradition says he was living there as early as 1800. The earliest physicians were: Drs. Samuel Hogg, Edmund Crutcher, and Henry Shelley. Doctor Shelley built the first brick house in Lebanon in 1812. John Alcorn was the first postmaster and John Trotter the first school teacher. The first church was erected by the Methodists in 1802, and Rev. German Baker was the pastor.

From December, 1802 to 1806, the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions met at private houses. In 1806 the first courthouse, of cedar logs, was built.

The first session of the Circuit Court was held at the courthouse on September 24, 1810, Judge Thomas Stewart presiding. Early Circuit judges were: Thomas Stewart, 1810-1830; James C. Mitchell, 1830-1835; Samuel Anderson, 1835-1852.

Lebanon and Wilson counties have been justly celebrated for educational facilities from the establishment of the first school, taught by Benj. Alexander, in 1800, to the present day. Among their institutions are or have been: Campbell Academy, Brevard College, Abby Institute, Carroll Academy, Corona, Greenwood Seminary, Castle Heights School and Cumberland University.

Revolutionary soldiers who settled in Wilson County were: James Scott, Jeremiah McWhirter, Anthony Gann, Philip Shackler, John Harpole, John Dabney, Edward Mitchell, and John Wynn.

Wilson County sent two companies to the War of 1812 under command of Capt. John Hayes and Capt. Charles Wade, among whose soldiers were: Fred Askey, Joseph Settle, George Dillard, William Norman, William Hartsfield, Lawrence Sypert, Zachariah Tolliver, Wm. Sypert, Kit Seaburn, James Carson, William Meyers, Wm. Martin, Grief Randolph, T. K. Ramsey, John Shackleford, and William Harrison.

A company under Capt. J. J. Finley went from Wilson County to the Seminole war in 1836, and another company went, in 1837, under Capt. W. L. S. Dearing. Among these troops were: T. J. Stratton, Jno. D. Mottley, John Wilbury, P. Hern, J. N. Kennedy, Dawson Hancock, W. W. Talley, Nathan Oakley, Geo. W. Lewis, E. S. Smith, Lewis Pendleton, Wm. Watkins, J. H. Kennedy, Samuel T. Powers, and John Alexander.

Two companies also took part in the Mexican war under Captains Hayes and Smith.

Statistics of Wilson County: Population, 1920, 26,241. Assessed valuation of taxable property, 1921, $21,653,882. Area, 536 square miles. Number of farms, 4,134. Railway mileage, 54. Drained by the Cumberland River and tributaries. One of the best live stock counties in the state. Staple products are wheat, corn, oats, hay, tobacco, and live stock. Traversed by the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad and the Tennessee Central Railway. Lebanon, the county seat, is thirty miles from Nashville, on the above railroads, and has fine schools and churches. It is the seat of Cumberland University and Castle Heights Training School. Has two weekly newspapers, four banks, electric light plant, and manufacturing establishments, including a cotton and woolen mill, cannery, etc. Watertown is another prosperous town. Scholastic population of county, 9,277; high schools, 12; elementary schools, 107.

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

Biographies:

John Selden Roane, governor of Arkansas, was born in Wilson county, Tenn., Jan. 8, 1817. He was graduated from Cumberland college, then located at Princeton, Ky., and about 1835 removed to Pine Bluff, Ark., and was a representative in the state legislature for several years, serving as speaker in 1844. He engaged in the war with Mexico as lieutenant-colonel of Archibald Yell's Arkansas cavalry, and served at Buena Vista, where he commanded the regiment after Colonel Yell was killed, Feb. 22, 1847, being commissioned colonel, Feb. 28, 1847. A company in the regiment was commanded by Albert Pike , who subsequently wrote severe criticisms on Roane's conduct in the Mexican war, and Colonel Roane challenged him. They fought in Indian Territory opposite Fort Smith in August, 1848, Roane's friend, Henry M. Rector, acting as his second. After exchanging shots twice, the difficulty was settled, and afterward the two men were warm friends. Roane was governor of Arkansas 1848?52. On the outbreak of the civil war he joined the Confederate army; was appointed brigadier-general, March 20, 1862, and on April 8, 1862, upon the transfer of Van Dorn's army to Corinth, General Roane was left in charge of the state, his force consisting of the scattered state militia, badly organized and poorly armed, and the 5,000 Indians and half-breeds, under Gen. Albert Pike, in the Indian Territory. On the arrival of Gen. Thomas C. Hindman to take command of the trans-Mississippi army, General Roane assumed command of a brigade in Sharp's division, and took part in the battle of Prairie Grove, Dec. 7, 1862. He died at Pine Bluff, Ark., April 7, 1869.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Martin, senator, was born in Wilson county, Tenn., Nov. 12, 1833; eldest son of Matt and Mary (Penn.) Martin; grandson of Gen. John Martin of South Carolina, and a descendant of Abram and Elizabeth (Marshall) Martin of Carolina county, Va. Elizabeth Marshall was an aunt of Chief-Justice John Marshall, their fathers being brothers. In 1848, on the death of his father, who was a farmer, the entire support of a large family devolved upon him. He conducted the farm until 1851, was clerk in a country store and studied law, 1851-55; removed to Tecumseh, Kan. Ter., in April, 1855; was assistant clerk of the house of representatives, 1855, and county clerk and register of deeds for Shawnee county, 1855-57; was admitted to the bar, Dec. 3, 1856; was postmaster of Tecumseh, 1857-58; first county attorney for Shawnee county, 1858-59, and deputy U.S. attorney for Kansas Territory, 1859-61. He was married, Nov. 12, 1860, to Caroline, daughter of C. B. Clements of Kansas. He was reporter of the supreme court. 1860, and commenced the practice of law at Topeka, Kan., in 1861. He represented Shawnee county in the state legislature, 1874-75; was defeated as the Democratic nominee for U.S. senator in 1876 by P. B. Plumb, and as governor of Kansas in 1876 by G. T. Anthony. He declined a second nomination in 1882 and suggested the name of G. W. Glick, who was elected. He was judge of the 3d judicial district court, 1883-85; was defeated as representative in the 50th congress in 1886 by Thomas Ryan, and as governor of Kansas in 1888 by L. U. Humphrey. On Jan. 24, 1893, he was elected by the Democrats and Populists as U.S. senator to fill out the unexpired .term of Senator Plumb, deceased, in place of Bishop W. Perkins, appointed by the governor, the term expiring March 3, 1895. He was a member of the Democratic state central committee, 1864-84, and its chairman, 1870-84.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John J. Pettus, governor of Mississippi, was born in Wilson county, Tenn., in 1813; son of John and Alice T. (Winston) Pettus. He was educated in Limestone county, Ala., where he also prepared for the law. He engaged in practice in Sumter county, and subsequently removed to Kemper county, Miss., where he became a planter. He served in both brunches of the state legislature; was governor of Mississippi, 1860-62, and convened a special meeting of the legislature in 1862 to provide for additional troops for the Confederate army. He was a brigadier-general in the Confederate army, 1863-65, and after the war removed to Arkansas, where he died in 1867.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Robert Verrell Foster, educator, was born in Wilson county, Tenn., Aug. 12, 1845; son of Rufus Harrison and Sarah (Spain) Foster, and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He was graduated from Cumberland university, Lebanon, Tenn., in 1870, studied in the theological department, 1875-76, and was graduated from the Union theological seminary, New York, in 1877. In April, 1879, he was ordained by the Lebanon presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He occupied the chair of Hebrew and biblical theology in the Cumberland University theological school, 1877, and accepted that of systematic theology in 1893, at the same time doing editorial work in the Cumberland Presbyterian publishing house at Nashville and holding a professorship in the Lebanon college for young ladies. He received the degree of D.D. from Trinity university, Texas, in 1884. He published: Introduction to the Study of Theology (1889); Old Testament Studies, an Outline of Old Testament Theology (1890); A Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans (1891); and an extensive treatise on Systematic Theology.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Wilson County Tennessee

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