2011 CCHGA Officers RD Huffines- President James Jenkins - VP Betty Cannon- Treasurer Judy Mayo- Secretary Jane Dilworth- Asst. Secretary 2011 Museum Officers Tom Salter - Chair Roger Smith - Vice Chair Jennifer Smith - Secretary & Asst. Treasurer Betty Cannon - Treasurer There will be a PALS Meeting July 19 @ 11:00 at Earl and June Nixon s home. Note: This speaker was rescheduled from February 2011 to. June 23, 2011 CCHGA Program Meeting VAULX CIVIL WAR ERA JOURNALS Ross Hudgins of Fairview will give a presentation on the Private Journals of Maggie Vaulx at the June 23, 2011 CCHGA meeting to be held at the Cheatham County Public Library. The meeting will start at 6:30 and refreshments will be served. 1907 Public School System of Cheatham County Tennessee Submitted by Lisa Walker, Cheatham County Historian Primary Schools School District No. 1 Bethelehem Miss Kate Link Marrowbone Mr. J. E. Mayo Beech Grove Mrs. J. E. Mayo Ashland City This Primary School has been consolidated with the County High School at that place Pinnacle Miss Stella A. Simpkins Mt. Zion Mr. Jesse Weakley Hoffasville Mr. H. V. Abernathy Bear Wallow Mr. J. S. Moores Mt. Pleasant Miss Ida Cochran School District No. 2 Sycamore Mrs. Ada Duke Sweet Home Miss Zuleima Sanders Cochran Mr. Henry Simpkins Thomasville Miss Effie Mae Greer Brewer s Chapel Miss Lois Link Oak Lawn Miss Alma Shearon Glenwood Mr. George Nicholson Water Valley Mr. G. W. Mitchel Poplar Ridge Miss Jenni Babb Happy Hollow Miss Mina Lee Pace Pleasant View This school has been consolidated with Highland Institute School District No. 3 Salem Miss Ellen Teasley Pinson Mr. R. M. Walker New Hope Mr. W. F. Teasley School District No 4 Pond Creek Mr. J. J. Lovell Lillamay Mr. A. J. Lovell Sam s Creek Miss Lena Jordan Poplar Grove Miss Gertrude Hodges Cedar Hill Mr. C. V. Hale Amanda s Chapel Miss Cora Mayo Petway Miss Effie Lovell School District No. 5 Kingston Springs Mr. Palmer Smith Muddy Branch Miss Belle Martin Dog Creek Mr. Garfield Smith Craggie Hope Miss Myrtle Wall Pegram Miss Edna Lawrence South Harpeth Miss Eura Lawrence To be continued. CCHGA Bytes Page 1
A Visit to the Home of Montgomery Bell by Sam Wishart From the Nannie Seawell Boyd Collection, Papers related to Montgomery Bell TSLA Submitted by Lisa Walker, Cheatham County Historian (Note document not dated) Have you ever tried spending your vacation by hunting out-of-the-way places of historical interest, istead of the much visited places chosen by most of the travelers of the present day? If not just try it once and be convinced you can derive as much pleasure as you can be traveling the beaten paths that no lead along the great highways. Recently, a party composed of ten native born Tennesseans, six of whom have chosen Oklahoma as their adopted state the other four still residents of the grand old Volunteer State of Tennessee ---decided to spend a day that would be profitable, as well as a pleasure and our destination was the Narrows of Harpeth, the home of Montgomery Bell, a great and worthy man, of whom so little has been written. Our party left Nashville, going out the Charlotte Pike to the River Road, thence to Pond Creek, until we reached what was once known as Sam s Creek Springs, now only a shadow of the past. Where once had stood the ball room, cabins and other houses, now is undergrowth. The sulphur spring, where we drank, was the only thing that connected the past with the present. We spent a little time exploring that part of the country. (Probably few know that ten acres of this land has been reserved as a state park.) Here we cooked our dinner, as the pioneers might have done in the days of old, and I am sure of one fact that the appentites of the latter could not have been keener or their appreciation greater, than was ours over this enjoyable meal. After this repast, we started on our journey up Horse Pen Hollow which had evidently never been traversed by such a modern vehicle as a Ford car; and well might Mr. Ford have been proud of his car had he been able to see us as we went over the rocky bed of creek. We finally reached the ridge, and then on to Dog s Creek, where we stopped to refresh ourselves with a cool drink of water. Onward we went until we reached the Narrows of the Harpeth, where we viewed what might be termed one of the most ancient water powers of Tennessee; for Montgomery Bell made water power a study, and in 1818, he began the improvement of the Narrows of Harpeth, which was one of the most remarkable undertakings of the day in which he lived. The river makes a great loop at the place called the Narrows. The distance around the loop is seven miles, and across the neck of the bend, it is only eighty feet. We climbed to the top of the bluff which overlooks the river at a height of 150 feet, and it was through this bluff of rock that Montgomery Bell succeeded with such, tools as he had, in drilling a tunnel, the opening measuring 12 x 16 feet, with a falloff 19 feet, and the water gushed out with such force that one might well think he stood before a young Niagara Falls. Mr. Bell spent much time and also money here at this place, and one can still see the remains of the orn foundry, which he called Patterson Iron Works, in honor of his mother. The immense anvil and hammer can be seen today, lying unused as is this fine water power only waiting for someone to take hold of it and use it to advantage in making electricity or the other wonderful things which water power is cabable of. Upon the hill just to the right of the Narrows, the old home Bell stands as a landmark to the passer-by. It is in a state of dilapidation, the dining room and kitchen having been tornaway and only the main part of the building remains standing. However, one can form an idea of how it once looked in the days when the visitors danced the light fantastic in the large hall and reception rooms. Only a few large stones remain of the rock wall which once enclosed the place and the iron gates have disappeared entirely. Only a stone horse-block stands intact. It is sad to look at a place that has been so neglected as this for Bell was the Andrew Carnegie of his day. It is said that he once owned three hundred slaves, and offered to send as many back to Liberia as CCHGA Bytes Page 2
wished to go. Ninety took advantage of this offer, and it cost him over one hundred thousand dollars. A story is told that Bell owned so many Negroes and mules that he did not know them all by sight. One day meeting a darkey with a fine team of mules, he offered to buy them. The Negro said, I couldn t do it Bess; dese mules belong to Marse Bell Mr. Bell s gift of twenty thousand dollars to found Montgomery Bell Academy was perhaps the first of its kind in the state, and wise trustees have been able to increase the value of the gift to fifty thousand dollars. As we left this place, we were glad to know that such a man as Montgomery Bell had chosen Tennessee as his home of adoption and this spot as a last resting place. Returning to Nashville via Kingston Springs, we viewed the ancient mound city of a pre-historic race, which some historians claim are over three hundred years old. Thus, we had come to the end of a day that we considered had been well spent. Ashland City Times, November 23, 1949 Social Highlights Submitted by Lisa Walker, Cheatham County Historian Bethlehem News Misses Bobby and Frances Hooper of Greenbrier Community spent the past weekend here with their aunt, Mrs. Virdie Hudgens and Mr. Hudgens Little Beverly Watts spent last week with her aunt, Miss Juanita Harris, and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Harris. Mr. and Mrs. Bee Perry visited her father, Mr. Bill Rose of Bearwallor Community Sunday afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Reed of Nashville and Mrs. Maryre Reed and Miss Leota Reed visited Mr. and Mrs.Luther Reed Sunday afternoon. Rev. and Mrs. Adam Scott and son, Duane, attended the Thanksgiving Program at the Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Maxey were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Dowlen of White Creek Sunday. Miss Betty Joyce Turner spent the past weekend with Mr. and Mrs. Lesley Binkley. Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Oliver and son of Springfield, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Cannon and Miss Sue Cannon, Mr. and Mrs. Byron Ross of Ashland City, and Mr. Marcell Evans of Nashville were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Evans Sunday. Pleasant View News Mrs. M.F. Walker, Sr. spent Friday in Nashville. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Felts and children were in Ashland City Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Rayburn Gower and daughter, Evelyn and Mrs. Paul Felts spent Tuesday in Nashville. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Shaw and son Tom visited Mrs. W. T. Clark in Ashland City Tuesday afternoon. Sue Gower and Bryant Lowery of Mrufreesboro attended the Navy Air Force football game at Milton Navy Base, Memphis this Saturday. Town Club Honors Mrs. C. L. Allen The Town Club honored is new member, Mrs. C. L. Allen at a Buffet Supper last Wednesday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Jackson, Jr. Bridge was played later with Mrs. Allen winning high prize for the ladies and Mr. Neil Robertson winning high prize for the men. Other guests who were present were: Mr. and Mrs. Huffman Morse. Mrs. Wood Bouldin and Mrs. Huffman Morse plan to entertain the Town Club this week. CCHGA Bytes Page 3
Bell Family of Dickson/Cheatham County (Family information provided by Julie McClellan) Front Row: Mary Hyde Nichols Bell (1878 1956), Robbie Bell (1905 1936), Eugenie "Jeanie" Bell (1893??) Back Row: Robert Bell (1867 1935), Delmas Bell (1907 1984), Chauncey Bell (1901 1990), Amanda "Mandy" Hyde Nichols (1854 1921) (this is Mary's mother - grandmother to the children), the baby is Berkley Bell (1911-1988 ) CCHGA is looking for information on the family of Lucy Bell. Her death certificate states: Female, black, widowed, housekeeper; born 22 Nov 1838, Tenn; died 22 Sept1917, 1 st Dist, aged 78 years 10 ms, uremeia; burial Ashland City; father: Montgomery Bell, born Tenn; mother: Patsy Bell, born NC; Informant Robert Bell, Ashland City (Death Cert 1917 No. 409 page 20) The line being researched is Lucy s son Willie Bell born in 1869. Willie had a brother named Robert Bell born in 1867. Willie married Mary Nichols (b. 1878), daughter of Joseph Nichols or Nicholson (b. 1849) and Amanda Hyde (b. 1854). Willie and Mary s daughter was Robbie Bell (b. 1905, d. 1936). Robbie married Jack McClellan Conducting successful African American genealogical research can be a challenging adventure. African American Genealogy records are much more difficult to find due to the scant nature of record keeping for blacks prior to the Civil War. Slaves were freed in 1865, so the 1870 census was the first to record every African American by name. Prior to 1870 only free black individuals were listed in the census. In the 1800 to 1860 censuses, slaves were enumerated under the slaveholder s name by age and sex. Only the total number of slaves owned by a slaveholder was reported in the 1790 census. If you have any information on this family or other African American families in Cheatham County, please call the CCHGA office at 615.792.3623 or e-mail cchga007@bellsouth.net CCHGA Bytes Page 4
World War Record of Ex-Soldiers of Cheatham County American Legion Cheatham County Post No. 40 Ashland City, Tenn Compiled under the direction of Mrs. Rutledge Smith, Historian of Tennessee Department of the American Legion Auxiliary 1933 1936 This Book the Property of the Cheatham County Post #40 of the American Legion, is the most complete record available of the veterans who served in World War I (1917 1918) from Cheatham County This record is being placed in the County Court Clerk s office and may be used by anyone desiring information from this record. This 17 th day of Dec. 1949 James B. Hallums, Adjutant J. B. Balthrop, Commander Page 44 - Deaths Adkerson, Robert U. 3,542,405 C Kingston Springs, Tenn RFD #2 Ind: Sandusky Ohio Aug 3/18 Born: Dixon Tenn Age: June 28/93 Died of Lobar Pneumonia Person notified of death: Miss Lucy O. Adkerson, Sister Kingston Springs Tenn RFD 2 Baber, Frank W. 780,366 W Pleasant View Tenn Ind: Ft Oglethorpe Ga Dec 14/17 Born: Sadlersville, Tenn Age: 28 4/12 Years Died of rupture of two small intestines, tramatic May 6/19 Person notified of death: Mrs. Mary F. Baber, Mother, Pleasant View, Tenn Bains, Walter C. 3,256,076 W Kingston Springs Tenn Ind: Ashland City Tenn May 28/18 Born: Kingston Springs Tenn Age: 24 5/12 Yrs Died of Pneumonia Octo 19/18 Person notified of death: George W. Bains, Father, Kingston Springs, Tenn Binkley, George R. 4,252,432 W Ashland City, Tenn RFD #2 Ind: LB Cheatham Co Tenn Sept 6/18 Born: Ashland City, Tenn Age: Oct 1/96 Died of Meningitis Oct 13/18 Person notified of death: Joe W. Binkley, Father, Ashland City, Tenn RFD 2 To be continued.. June 23, 2011 Ross Hudgins July 28, 2011 Business Meeting August 25, 2011 Program Meeting September 22, 2011 Business Meeting Mark your calendar for the 2011 CCHGA meetings! October 27, 2011 November 17, 2011 December, 2011 Program Meeting Business Meeting No Meeting CCHGA Bytes Page 5
Cheatham County This and That - Past and Present Another Trusted Officer Fallen The Chicago Tribune, Nov 18, 1888 page 12 Nashville, Tenn., Nov 17. Trustee Tom Linn of Cheatham County has fled to parts unknown. Examination of his books show a shortage of $6,128, and action has been begun against his sureties. He as held the office for six years, and his defalcation created a profound sensation. It is thought by some that he is in Canada. He is 40 years old, and has lost his right leg. Tennessee Deaths and Burials Doris Bell, Female Death Date: 02 Dec 1926 Place: Chapmansboro, Dickson, Tennessee Birthplace: Tennessee Race: Black United States Census, 1920 for David W. Washington Name: David W Washington Residence:, Cheatham, Tennessee Household GenderAge Estimated Birth Year: 1865 David W Washington M 55y Age: 55 Spouse Elizah Washington F 45y Birthplace: Tennessee Child Lenora Washington F 22y Relationship to Head of Household:Self Child James E Washington M 12y Gender: Male Race: Black Marital Status: Married Father's Birthplace: Tennessee Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee CCHGA BYTES Cheatham County Historical and Genealogical Association P. O. Box 703, Ashland City, TN 37015 Phone 615-792-3623 cchga007@bellsouth.net http://www.rootsweb.com/~tncchga/ CCHGA Bytes Page 6