Dickson County lies within the limits of the western iron district of the State, and belongs to that geological division known as the Highland Rim. On the eastern boundary are two small tracts in creek valleys were the Meniscus limestone appears at the surface, but with these exceptions the outcrops are wholly from the silicious group of the Carboniferous age. The chief stone of the county is the St. Louis limestone, which contains the famous coral Lithostrotion Canadense. The stone is cherty, fossiliferous, often crinoidal, sometimes silicious and argillaceous, and is very valuable. There are three large and beautiful caves in the county which have been explored, and are often visited by pleasure seekers. One is near Cumberland Furnace, and has been explored three miles or more. The entrance to this cave is about ten feet square. Another cave is near Roger's Mill, on Yellow Creek; has an entrance about 20x60 feet, and has been explored about two miles. Bowman Cave on Sulphur Fork of Jones' Creek, and about two and one-half miles west of Charlotte, has an entrance of only about four feet square, but opens immediately into a large room. This cave has been explored not over half a mile, and is a great resort for picnics. The scenery in each cave is very beautiful. Charlotte rests upon the Lithostrotion beds.

Next to Hickman County, Dickson and Stewart rank as iron counties. The first iron furnace established in the western country was in this county. This was the Cumberland Furnace, which was erected in February, 1793, by Gen. James Robertson. After operating the furnace for several years Gen. Robertson sold the property to Montgomery Bell. The furnace was abandoned by Mr. Bell in a short time and the present Cumberland Furnace erected about half a mile east. This furnace is situated on Barton's Creek, in the Eighth District, and is the only iron establishment in the county now in operation. It is claimed, and has not been refuted, that all the cannon balls used by Gen. Jackson at the battle of New Orleans, during the was of 1812, were cast by this furnace and shipped to that city in keel-boats. The capacity of this furnace is about twelve tons of pig metal per day. The pig metal is hauled on wagons to Cumberland River, a distance of about eight miles, for shipment. Worley Furnace, which was established several years later, was operated up to the year 1874, and was then closed and has remained so. This furnace was situated on Piney River, in the First District. Furnaces were also established and operated for different lengths of time before 1860, as follows: Carroll Furnace and Bellview Furnace, on Barton's Creek in the Sixth District; Piney Furnace on Piney Creek, in the First District; Laurel Furnace on Jones' Creek, and Jackson Furnace on Beaver Dam, in the Fourth District. Iron forges were erected at the same time and in conjunction with the furnaces, as follows: Turnbull and White Bluff Forges on Turnbull Creek, in the Twelfth District; Valley and Jones' Creek Forges, on Jones Creek, in the Sixth District; Red House Forge on Jones Creek, Steam Forge near Cumberland River, in the Eighth District. The ore banks are numerous and very rich, and are to be found in almost any part of the county. Those from which ore has been taken in limited quantities for specimens are as follows: The Ticer Bank, one and a half miles from Charlotte, in the Sixth District; the Puckett Bank, three miles south of Burn's Station, in the Fourth District; the Robertson Bank, six miles west of Charlotte, in the Sixth District, and the Contrary Pond Bank, two miles north of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway, in the Eleventh District.

In 1865 parties commenced boring for petroleum in the Jones Creek Valley. Oil was obtained after reaching the depth of 565 feet, and several hundred barrels were utilized. The use of inferior tools, combined with the inexperience of the parties having the project in hand, rendered the enterprise unprofitable, and it was abandoned. A company has lately been organized at Dickson, known as the "Dickson Coal Oil Company," which has in view the prosecution of the search for oil in paying quantities and qualities in the Jones Creek Valley, and the erection of suitable works. The company is composed as follows: J. R. Bryan, Dr. C. M. Lovell, Henry Smith, W. S. Coleman, J. T. Henslee, N. B. Lipe and Edward Techont, the two latter gentlemen living in Carroll County, Tenn. Natural gas is supposed to exist in paying quantities in the above valley, and negotiations are on foot looking to the early development of this resource of the county.

The J. R. Bryan & Co. Lime Works have two kilns in operation one-half mile south of Burns' Station, and J. C. Donegan & Co. have one kiln in operation at their works, a short distance north of the above works. The former company have about $15,000 invested in their establishments, which consists of two large kilns, with a combined capacity of 200 barrels of lime per day; a stave and heading factory, which has a capacity of 200 barrels per day, also a general store, with a stock of about $3,000. About fifty laborers are employed at the works. J. C. Donegan & Company employ about twelve laborers and have about $10,000 invested in their works. The barrels used at their kiln are manufactured by J. R. Bryan & Co. The major portion of the products of these kilns is shipped to Nashville in bulk, were it commands an average market price, while the barreled lime is shipped into several adjoining States. The laborers employed at these works live with their families in the little valley, and together they form quite a village.

At Colesburg, in the Fifth District, a sumac-mill is operated, which grinds several tons of leaves per day. This promises to be an important industry for Dickson County, as the sumac grows in abundance on all the waste lands, and when prepared for market, brings from $70 to $90 per ton. Kingston Station is 506 feet above the sea level; Turnbull Creek Bottom, 459 feet; Sullivan Creek, 473 feet; six miles west of Kingston Station, on the railroad, 819 feet; eight miles farther west 862 feet; six miles farther west, 915 feet; and Gordon's Creek, 736 feet above. The prominent creeks are Yellow, Barton's, Jones', Piney, Johnson, Harpeth, Turnbull, Gordon's, Sulphur Fork and Town Branch of Jones' and Bear.

The first land entries bear evidence of the presence of white men in this county as early as 1786. These entries were in the nature of military land grants which were issued by the governors of North Carolina for services rendered in the Continental war, and were as follows: John Hogg 640 acres, in 1786; John Johnston 1,500 acres and Oliver Smith 640, in 1791; Hezekiah Barnes 350 acres and Edward Dickson 640 acres, in 1792; John King 457 acres in 1793; James West 4,800 acres, John Davis 1,280 acres; Benjamin E. Randolph 1,000 acres, and Charles Stewart 1,280 acres in 1795; Aaron Lambert 274 acres, in 1796; Joseph Kemp 274 acres, Charles Stewart 640 acres, George Ward 274 acres, Sterling Brewer 300 acres and Robert Lanier, 640 acres, in 1797; William Hill 320 acres, in 1807; Jesse S. Ross 200 acres, in 1808; William Tynell 360 acres, in 1809; Thomas Mathis 74 acres, in 1810; Thomas Garay 50 acres, Henry Wert 20 1/2 acres, and Spilsley Tribble 820 acres, in 1811. Among those who located on the waters of Barton's Creek during the nineties were Gen. James Robertson, who came from Nashville; John Nesbitt, from South Carolina; Hudson Johnson, from North Carolina; Abraham Caldwell, from Ireland; Richard Napier, from Virginia, and Montgomery Bell from Pennsylvania. Those who settled about the same time on Jones' Creek were Christopher Strong, Reace Borran, William Cox, Molton Dickson, James Martin, James Steel and Eleazer Smith, from North Carolina; Robert Harper, from Ireland; John Larkins and Fiel Farrer, from South Carolina, and Gabe Joslin, from Nashville. Johnson's Creek, same time, George Tubbs, from South Carolina; Charles Teal, from Maryland, and William Ward, from Virginia. Yellow Creek, the same time, George Turner and John Adams, from Virginia; John Le Masters, from North Carolina, and Jerry Nesbitt, from South Carolina. Turnbull Creek, Edward Tidwell, John Brown, Samuel Sellers, and Minor Bibb, from South Carolina, and Milton Johnson, William and Thomas Gentry and William Pullen from Virginia. On Piney River, William Hogins from Virginia, and Nicholas and Hutson Dudley and Thomas Petty, from North Carolina. Other settlers of that period were Robert Crumpler, who came from North Carolina and settled on Town Branch of Jones' Creek and Thomas Fannel, who came from Virginia and settled near what is now Charlotte. Richard Warway, George Southerland, Hugh NcNeiley, Christopher Robertson, Nathan Crumpler, Daniel and Jacob Leach, Daniel Williams, James Nosworthy, William Fussel, James Walker, John Spencer, Anthony Vanlier, John Hendrickson, Epps Jackson, Elias Napier, Robert and Hicks Boxter, William Doak, William Russell, Lemuel Harvey, Jesse Craft, William Caldwell, John Hall, James Fentress, John Burton, William Brasier, Redner Adams, Thomas Simpson, Robert Stington, Moses Smith, Cornelius Magraw, William Moore, Samuel Parker, Burgiss Harris and Thomas Mitchell were among the settlers who came to Dickson County between 1800 and 1810.

Two block-houses, or forts, were built for protection. These forts were rude but strong log houses, with doors and windows made of puncheons, calculated to withstand both bullets and arrows, and were situated near Cumberland Furnace and the town of White Bluff. There is only one instance on record where the life of a settler was taken by Indians in the county. In 1809 the Indians went upon a general raid, and much property and not a few lives were destroyed. One band of them crossed Duck River and came into this county, and raided the farm of Col. William Garner, on the creek by that name, and after killing the Colonel, drove away most of his stock. Several large grave-yards used by the Indians are situated in the county. Until 1800 there were no roads through Dickson County, the nearest approach to one being simply a trail, running from the Cumberland River to the head of Yellow Creek, passing through what is now Charlotte. In about 1810 or 1812 a road was established from Nashville to Charlotte, and from the latter place on to the Southern States.

The first man licensed by the county court to keep a general store was John Holland, who in 1806, opened a store in the county (the location of which cannot be ascertained), and sold dry goods, notions, groceries and whisky. The same year Burton Scroggins was granted a license to keep an ordinary. The first corn-mills of which there is any recollection were built along in 1800. Probably the first one was on Jones' Creek, and was built by Arter West. The building was a one-story log structure, about 25x30 feet in dimensions, and was water-power. Similar mills were erected about the same time on Jones Creek by Christopher Strong; on Yellow Creek, by John Adams; on Piney River, by William Edwards; also one near the Hickman County line on Piney River, by James Davis. The mills of the present are as follows: First District, corn and saw-mill, water-power, on Piney River, owned by Ira Dugan; Second District, corn-mill, water-power, on branch of Piney River, owned by Buck Murrell; Third District, corn and flour-mill, water-power, on Parker's Creek, owned by Samuel Spencer; Fifth District (Dickson), steam flour-mill owned by T. F McCreary; Sixth District, corn-mill, steam-power, on Sulphur Fork, owned by W. M. Larkins; saw-mill, steam, owned by Heath & Jennnings; corn-mill, water-power, on Jones Creek, owned by William Jordon; Seventh District, corn-mill, steam-power, owned by Jacob Hand; Eighth District, corn and flour-mill, steam-power owned by E. N. Phipps; Ninth District, corn mill, water-power, and saw-mill, steam-power, owned by Thomas Rogers; Twelfth District (White Bluff), corn and flour-mill, steam-power, owned by Alexander Kerr; corn and flour-mill, steam-power, owned by F. P. Jones; saw-mill, steam-power owned by Henry Taylor. Still-houses were numerous from the very early days of the settlement until the breaking out of the civil war. The distilleries were long, low, log houses, and were supplied with the old-fashioned copper worm. The beer would be run off one day, allowed to cool for a day, and then run through the worm again on the third day. The capacity of the average still was about one barrel per day. Stills were owned by Hudson Johnson on Barton's Creek, by John Adams on Yellow Creek, by Christopher Strong and Daniel Leach on Johnson's Creek, Abraham Caldwell on Barton's Creek, Minor Bibbs on Turnbull Creek, and by John Talum, William Hogan and Lum Bruce in the First District. These were the early stills from the first down to the last, in the order named.

There were no offices in Dickson County until 1806, when the first one was established at Charlotte, of which Richard Waugh was probably the first postmaster. Other early postmasters were Absolom Massie, Robert McNeiley and William James. The postoffices of the county at present are as follows: Second District, Hazel Ridge; Third District, Spencer's Mill; Fourth District Burns and Larkins; Fifth District, Dickson and Colesburg; Sixth District, Charlotte and Cloverdale; Seventh District, Bellsburgh; Eighth District, Cumberland Furnace and Bufrange; Ninth District, Wood's Valley; Tenth District, Batson's Store; Eleventh District, Cave Mill, Danielsville and Dull; Twelfth District, White Bluff; Thirteenth District, Gillam. The principal slave owners of Dickson County were as follows: Anthony W. Vanlier owned about 100; Montgomery Bell, 200; Dr. E. W. Napier, 50; Henry Napier, 40; George Napier, 75; Joab Hardine, 30; Benjamin and Theodrick Collier, 50; William S. Fentress, 100, and Thomas McNeiley, 24.

In May, 1830, Dickson County was visited by a very destructive hurricane. The court house and jail at Charlotte were demolished. The books and papers in the former building were scattered in every direction for miles, and many of them entirely destroyed. Several large books were carried by the wind into Cheatham County, and afterward recovered. A man was in the second story of the court house when the storm occurred, and was completely buried in the rubbish, but escaped serious injury. The roof of the jail was carried over thirteen miles. Charlotte was damaged by this storm to the extent of about $30,000, and the balance of the county as much more.

Dickson county has a population of nearly 14,000 of which there were 2,700 voters at the 1884 election, nearly five-sixths being Democrats. In 1855 the population was 8,404, of which number 6,286 were white, and 2,118 were slaves. Financially the county is in an excellent condition, it being entirely free from debt and its orders selling at par. The tax levy on the $100 for the present year is as follows: County purposes, 30 cents; school, 20 cents; road 10 cents. The total number of acres in the county assessed for taxation, in 1885, was 283,511, and the total value of real and personal property assessed at $859,480, while the total taxes amount to $12,966. The Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway (St. Louis Division) passes through the county east and west, and the Nashville & Tuscaloosa Railway has its northern terminus at Dickson, but from neither road does the county derive any revenue, as by their charters each road is exempt from taxation for the period of twenty years from the date of their completion, and that date will not expire until 1888. In 1885 there were 3,760 horses and mules in Dickson County, 7,970 cattle, 5,640 sheep and 22,670 hogs. The cereal products of the county in the above year were barley, 30 bushels; buckwheat, 117 bushels; corn 616,422 bushels; oats, 50,735 bushels; rye, 555 bushels; wheat, 45,318 bushels.

Dickson County is bounded north by the counties of Houston and Montgomery, east by Cheatham and Williamson, south by Hickman and west by Humphreys and Houston. The county was named in honor of William Dickson, of North Carolina, who was a United States surveyor. The county was erected out of the counties of Robertson and Montgomery October 25, 1803, by the following enactment:

AN ACT ERECTING PART OF ROBERTSON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES INTO A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT COUNTY
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee. That a new county by the name of Dickson be, and hereby is erected and established out of that part of Robertson and Montgomery comprehended within the bounds following, to wit: Beginning on the south bank of Cumberland River, were the line which separates the counties of Robertson and Davidson intersects the same, running thence down said river to a point half a mile below Fayetteville; yhence southwardly to a line which shall intersect Barton's Creek, one-half mile north of the forge; thence due west to a stake or point one (1) mile east of the east boundary line of Stewart County; thence south to the southern boundary of this State; thence east with said southern boundary to the southwest corner of Williamson County, as established by an act of the last session of the General Assembly, entitled " An Act to extend the jurisdiction, and to ascertain the bounds of the counties therein mentioned;" thence north with the west boundary lines of the counties of Williamson and Davidson, to the beginning.

The above limits were materially reduced by an act of the Legislature, passed December 3, 1807, which provide for the establishment of Hickman County out of the south part of Dickson, and again by an act creating Humphreys County, passed October 19, 1809, and again in the erection of Cheatham County, by an act passed February 22, 1856, and still again by an act passed January 23, 1871, by which a portion of the county was taken in the formation of Houston County. The county at present contains 470 square miles. Section 2 provided that the first court of pleas and quarter session should be held by the justice at the dwelling house of Robert Nesbitt, on Barton's Creek, the first Monday in February next Section 3 provided for holding elections and musters. Section 4 provided that the sheriffs of Robertson and Montgomery Counties should collect taxes in the respective parts stricken off for the ensuing year, and tax arrearages for preceding years. Section 5 appointed James Elder, surveyor, to run the line between the counties of Montgomery and Dickson, and authorized him to hire assistants, the expense to be paid by Dickson County. Section 6 made Dickson County part of the electoral district to which Robertson and Montgomery Counties belonged. Section 7 provided that the sheriffs of Robertson, Montgomery, Stewart and Dickson Counties should meet at Clarksville the Monday succeeding elections, to compare the rates, and that the sheriff of Robertson County should certify the poll for governor, representative to congress and representatives to the General Assembly for the counties of Robertson and Dickson.

By a supplemental act, passed November 7, 1803, the sheriff of Dickson County was directed to hold an election the first Thursday in June, and the succeedings day, at the place of holding courts, to elect field officers for the county; and the justices in that part of Dickson stricken from Montgomery County were authorized to continue their duties in the new county. By an act passed August 3, 1804, Robert Dunning, Sterling Brewer, John Davidson, Montgomery Bell and George Clark were appointed commissioners to fix on the most central and suitable situation for the erection of a court house, prison and stocks for Dickson County, whose duty it was to purchase forty acres of land on the most reasonable terms, on some part of which the above buildings were to be erected. The commissioners were also authorized to lay off the said forty acres into a town, to be called Charlotte, and to sell said town lots, and with the proceeds of such sales erect and pay for the court house, prison and stocks, and should the money derived from such sales be insufficient to pay all the costs incurred in erecting such buildings, the county court was authorized to levy a tax for such purchase. Pursuant to the above act Montgomery Bell, William Doak, William Russell, Sterling Brewer, Gabriel Allen, William Teas, Lemuel Harvey, Jesse Croft and Richard C. Napier, the justices provided for by said supplemental act, met and qualified on Monday, March 19, 1804, at the residence of Col. Robert Nesbitt. The house in which the first session of the county court was held remains standing in very good repair, being occupied by a grandson of Col. Nesbitt. It is a one-story log building, and stands about three miles north of the county seat. After appointing Robert Drake, clerk pro. tem., and Drury Christian, sheriff pro tem., the court adjourned over until 11 o'clock the next day, when it again met, and there being a full attendance of justices the following officers were elected to serve until the next regular election should be held. Clerk, Daniel Dickson; sheriff, Benjamin Weakley; register, James Walker; commissioner of revenue, Robert Drake; county trustee, John Larkins; wood ranger, William Caldwell; corner, John Hall; all of whom were qualified and entered upon the discharge of their official duties. One of the first acts of the court was to appoint Ezekiel Norris, general, and James Fentress special guardian of John Davis, son of John Davis, deceased, and to order a road laid off leading from Yellow Creek to the Montgomery County line, on the middle fork of Barton's Creek.

The following jury was appointed to serve at the following June court of pleas and quarter sessions: John Burton, Redner Adams, William Brasier, William Runland, Howel Adams, Andrew Giffin, Robert Nesbitt, Thomas Simpson, Samuel Walker, Simeon Walker, James Ross, Lewis Russell, John Larkins, Jr., Robert Stington, John Ward, Moses Smith, Nathan Nesbitt, Hugh Robertson, Samuel Hartly, Matthew Gilmore, Edward Lucas, Cornelius Magraw, Andrew Caldwell, Burgess Harris, John Holland, Robert Norris, William Moore, Samuel Parker, Thomas Mitchell, James Woods, Earl Hutchen, Thomas Napier, Stephen Ward, Levi Hand, Michael Dickson, William McKnight, Charles Walker and John Davidson, and out of the above a grand jury of fourteen and a foreman were selected at the meeting of court.

At the June term of the county court the prices regulating the Harpeth River ferry, were established. For man and horse, 12 1/2 cents; single horse, 6 1/4 cents; footman, 6 1/4 cents; sheep and hogs per head, 1 1/4 cents; wagon and team, $1; two-wheel carriages, 50 cents; cattle per head, 6 1/4 cents. Indictments were returned by the grand jury at this term as follows: David Ross, rescuing; William Carrin, trespass and assault and battery; John Craft, assault and battery.

From the year 1808 until the year 1815 there are no records to show the proceedings of the county court, but during that time the commission appointd by the said act carried out the instructions contained therein and selected a county site at what is now Charlotte.  The land was owned by Charles Stewart, who, in 1808, donated fifty acres to the commission upon which to locate the county site, and lay off a town, which was christened Charlotte. Upon being platted the lots were sold to the highest bidders, and with the money derived from the sale the public buildings were erected. Just when these buildings were completed cannot at this late day be ascertained, as the records of the county court between the years 1808 and 1817 have been lost or destroyed. However, it was some time between 1810 and 1812 that the buildings were finished and moved into. The court house, a large substantial brick, was erected at a cost of between $10,000 and $12,000. It was square in shape, two stories in height, the county offices being below on the first floor, and the whole of the second floor being used as a court room. There were four entrances to the building, all opening into a large hall. A large circular belfry surmounted the roof. The jail was also a two-story brick building, being also a sheriff's residence, and cost about $4,000. Both the court house and jail were destroyed by the storm of 1830, but were rebuilt by the county court, during the following year, in the same places and in the same style and manner, and at about the same cost. The sessions of the court were held in the public school house until the new buildings were erected. Peter Seals was the first man sent to the State prison from Dickson County, and he was sent there by the county court in 1830, for whipping his wife.

Previous to 1836 the poor of the county were kept by different individuals in the separate civil districts, at the expense of the county, appropriations being made from time to time by the county court. In the above year the court passed an order for the purchase of ground and the erection of necessary buildings to be used as a county asylum. The ground was purchased at a point about two miles from Charlotte, on the Dickson road, upon which was erected a comfortable log house, at a cost of about $400; the house was found to be inadequate of recent years, and in 1870 the court passed another order for the sale of the property, and for the purchase of a suitable tract of land situated four miles from Charlotte, on the Nashville road, upon which were erected a number of small log houses for the accommodation of the overseer and paupers. The land and buildings cost upward of $25,000.

A bit of interesting history was enacted by the county court in 1833, which has few precedents in the State of Tennessee. It was a follows: On the 25th of November, 1833, William C. Bird, a white man and a patrol, was assaulted, by one Wiley, a slave, with a club and murdered. Wiley was soon afterward arrested, and the county court convened in special session on the 19th of December of the same year for the purpose of trying the slave on the charge of murder. The trial was by jury, and lasted three days, a verdict of guilty being returned on the third day, fixing the penalty at death by hanging. The charge was read to the negro, and the day of his execution being set for December 28, following, he was remanded to jail. On the appointed day Wiley was taken from jail and placed in a cart and conveyed to the place of execution. The gallows had been erected the previous day at a point about half a mile east of Charlotte, and was in the shape of two upright posts and a cross piece, to which the rope was attached. Several thousand people gathered on the surrounding hillsides and climbed up into the neighboring trees to witness the hanging. Slave owners took their slaves to see the negro hung, hoping thereby to give them a terrible lesson and warning. The cart bearing the doomed man was driven between the two uprights, the noose was placed around the slave's neck, and the driver was instructed to "drive up the cart," and the negro was jerked into eternity. An aged darkey preached a funeral sermon over the remains, and delivered a solemn warning to his brethren.

In 1836 the State Legislature passed an act creating the circuit court, and one reorganizing and reconstructing the county courts of the State. Previous to this time the county court had jurisdiction in any and all cases, both criminal, civil and probate. But by the requirements of this act of the Legislature, the jurisdiction of the county court was limited to county affairs, the circuit and chancery court being given jurisdiction over all cases of justice and equity. The county court clerks have been as follows from the organization of the county to the present: David Dickson, from 1804-13; Fiel Farrar, 1813-36; William Hightower, 1836-42; Thomas J. Kelley, 1842-43; Thomas McNeiley, 1843-59; Thomas C. Morris, 1859-65; F. M. Binkley, 1865-70; Thomas K. Grigsby, 1870-86, and is a candidate for re-election.

From some time during the year 1819 until about 1821 or 1822, the Supreme Court of the State of Tennessee held regular sessions as Charlotte. The records of this court, or at least of its sessions held in Charlotte, have been lost, and as there are no citizens whose memory is clear on the subject, it is impossible to give any account of the proceedings. The judges were three in number, and were probably Haywood, Emmerson and Catron.

The Circuit Court of Dickson County, in common with similar courts throughout the State, was established by an act of the Legislature of Tennessee passed January 25, 1836. By this act Dickson County was placed in the Seventh Judicial District, of which Hon. Mortimer A. Martin was judge, and William K. Turner was attorney-general. Previous to that time the county court had full jurisdiction in all cases, both criminal and civil. During the war of the Rebellion the records of the circuit court were damaged and destroyed to a considerable extent, and of the first three years' proceedings of the court there is now no record, the dockets and minute books being entirely lost. The first session of the court, of which there is a record, was held in the court house at Charlotte, beginning on the second Monday of June, 1839, over which Judge Martin presided. The first grand jury, of which there is a record, also met at this term of court, and was composed of the following gentlemen: Willie Bothrop, John S. Spencer, William Willey, David Frazier, William White, Jesse Graham, Elisha Lloyd, James Loggins, Lawson Gunn, Thomas McMurry, Josiah Ferrill and Berryman S. Walker, of which Willie Bothrop was chosen foreman. Among the indictments returned by this grand jury were one against Warren Hill for drunkenness, and James Bruce of assault and battery. Jesse Norris was convicted of grand larceny at the February term, 1842, and sent to the penitentiary for three years. At the February term, 1843, Richard Hutson was sent to the penitentiary for three years on the charge of horse stealing. At the June term of the same year Henry D. James was sent to the county jail for one hour on being convicted of the charge of rescue. Aaron D. Cochran was convicted of usury at the February term, 1844, and fined $25, while at the following term William H. Nichols and William Baker were tried and acquitted of the charge of murder.

From the October term, 1845, until the June term, 1855, the records are missing. At the latter date John Luther was sent to the penitentiary for four years for harboring slaves, Scarborough Penticost was acquitted of the charge of killing of one Edwards, and the entire family of Samuel H. Moran, including himself, wife and four children, were bound over to keep the peace of twelve months, each one being required to give $500 bond.

Willis Johnson was tried and convicted of the murder of John Welsh at the February term, 1857, and sent to the penitentiary for six years. P. H. Hamilton was convicted of forgery at the February term, 1859, and sent to the penitentiary for three years, and at the following term Sanford Higgs, Henry and Andrew Elridge were convicted on the double charge of murder and arson and each sent to the penitentiary for fifteen years. At the October term, 1861, John H. and W. J. H. Ross and D. A. Gallighy were convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to be hung. Their case was taken to the supreme court at Nashville, and the prisoners were liberated by the Federal soldiers when that city was captured during the war. Beginning with May, 1862, the circuit court transacted little or no business for several terms, and were finally abandoned and were not opened again until after the close of the war, when the first session was held in June, 1866. At that term Thomas Smith was sent to the penitentiary for stealing a hog. At the February term, 1867, Willis Holt and Wesley Hood were each sent to the penitentiary for fifteen years for stealing a horse. Betty Nixon was convicted of grand larceny at the October term, 1868, and sent to the penitentiary for one year. Nathan Bowan, colored, was convicted of the murder of Robert Collins at the June term, 1870, and sent to the penitentiary for ten years. Samuel Porter was convicted of the murder of Jack Snowden at the March term, 1871, and sent to the penitentiary for ten yers, and at the following July term Henry White was sent to the penitentiary for life for the murder of Stanford Donnegan. At the March term, 1876, Jesse Dowing, colored, was sent to the penitentiary for sixteen years upon a charge of ku-klux. William Still was sent to the penitentiary for three years on the charge of grand larceny at the July term, 1879, and was tried and convicted on the same charge at the March term, 1880, and sent back for three years more. Andrew White was tried at the March term, 1881, on the charge of larceny and sent to the penitentiary for sixteen years, and at the following term White was tried on the charge of murdering James Clardy and was convicted and sentenced to be hung, but his sentence was commuted by the governor to imprisonment in the penitentiary for life. At the March term, 1885, Warren Bishop was sent to jail for ten days for committing manslaughter, and at the following November term Jeff Clark was sent to the penitentiary for ten years for murder, and John Grace was convicted of the murder of D. W. Price and sent to the penitentiary for five years.

The following is a list of the officers of the Dickson County Circuit Court from the organization of the court tot he present time: Judges--Mortimer A. Martin, from 1836-52; W. W. Pepper from 1852-61; Thomas W. Wisdom from 1861 to the breaking out of the war, and presided over the first term of court after civil law was restored in 1865; John Alex. Campbell from 1865-69; James E. Rice from 1869-78; Joseph C. Stork from 1878 until the present time, and is the present incumbent. Attorney-generals--William K. Turner from 1836-42; W. B. Johnson, 1842-48; V. S. Allen, 1848-50; J. M. Quarles, 1850-58; W. E. Lowe, 1858-62, James E. Rice, 1865-69; W. J. Broaddus, 1869-70; T. C. Milligan, 1870-78; B. D. Bell, 1878 until present time. Clerks--John C. Collier, 1836-42; Robert McNeiley, 1842-62; James E. Justice, by appointment, 1865-66; H. C. Collier, 1866-70; J. A. Dodson, 1870-86. Dickson County is now in the Tenth Judicial District, which is composed of the counties of Robertson, Montgomery, Dickson, Stewart, Sumner and Houston. Many eminent lawyers practiced before the Charlotte bar between the thirties and sixties; men who made their mark as jurists, statemen and politicians. Among the local lawyers of the above period were John C. Collier, W. H. Dortch, John Montgomery, John Reed, S. L. and James Finley, Robert and Thomas McNeiley, Lucien B. Chase and A. G. Williams, all of whom ranked well in their profession. The attorneys of the present are Thomas Morris, Jacob Leach, W. L. Grigsby and Hardin Leach.

The Chancery Court of Dickson County was established by an act of the General Assembly in 1836, but was held in Clarksville, Montgomery County, until October, 1837, at which time the court and records were removed to Charlotte, and the first session held in June of the following year, which was presided over by Judge Hamilton, chancellor of the Twelfth Chancery District. Judge Hamilton was succeeded by Judge Andrew McCampbell, who served until 1846 and was succeeded at that time by Judge Jesse H. Cahal. Judge Cahal served until 1850; Judge A. O. P. Nicholson from 1850-51; Judge John S. Brien from 1851-54; Judge Samuel D. Frierson from March, 1854, to October, 1854; Judge Stephen Pavatt from 1854-66; Judge R. H. Rose from 1866-68; Judge J. W. Doherty from 1868-71; Judge G. H. Nixon, from 1871-86, and is the present incumbent and candidate for reelection. Chancery clerks and masters have served as follows: William A. Dortch, 1837-39; John C. Collier, 1839-54; Henry C. Collier, 1854-66; R. M. Baldwin, 1866-71; Henry C. Collier, 1871-81; W. L. Grigsby, 1881 to the present time, and has five years more of his term yet to serve.

The other county officers of Dickson County who have served since its organization: Sheriffs--Robert Weakley, 1804-06; David Hogan, 1806-08; Michael Malton, 1808-10; Edward Pearsall, 1810-11; James Read, 1811-13; Drury Christian, 1813-19; Richard Batson, 1819-25; David McAdoo, 1825-26; William Hightower, 1826-28; George Smith, 1828-35; Robert Livingston, 1835-38; George W. Tatum, 1838-40; Thomas McMurry, 1840-46; W. J. Mathis, 1846-52; W. L. White, 1852-53; G. W. Clarke, 1853-54; J. W. Hutton, 1854-60; John V. Walker, 1860-61; Eli Wylie, 1861-65; M. G. Harris, 1865 (served only two weeks); W. G. McMahan, 1865-66; D. L. Matlock, 1866-72; J. W. Hutton, 1872-77; W. M. Kirk, 1877-82; Rufus Ferfee, 1882-84; S. M. Grigsby, 1884-86, and the present incumbent and is a candidate for re-election. County registers--James Walker, 1804-16; Malton Dickson, 1816-23; Richard Waugh, 1823-42; Henry A. Bibb, 1842-48; L. L. Leach, served one month in 1848; E. E. Larkins, 1848-56; J. P. Priestly, 1856-60; E. E. Larkins, 1860-74; Henry A. Bibbs, 1874-86, and is the present incumbent and candidate for re-election. County surveyors--Thomas Williams, 1824-29; Malton Dickson, 1829-33; Sellman Edwards, 1833-45; David Gray, 1845-51; Willis Roberts, 1851-52; Sellman Edwards, 1852-54; Peter Jackson, 1854-58; A. Myatt, 1858-69; Peter Jackson, 1869-73; Robert Martin, 1873-85; W. G. McMillan, 1885-86, and is the present incumbent. State senators--Duncan Stewart, 1805-07; Parry W. Humphreys, 1807-09; John Shelby, 1809-11; James B. Reynolds, 1811-15; Robert West, 1815-17; Sterling Brewer, 1817-19; James R. McMeans, 1819-21; Sterling Brewer, 1821-23; Robert Weakley, 1823-29; Henry Frey, 1829-31; Bowling Gordon, 1831-33; Thomas Shaw, 1833-39; J. B. Hardwick, 1839-41; Jacob Voorhies, 1841-45; Thomas Shaw, 1845-47; Stephen C. Paratt, 1847-51; Samuel B. Moore, 1851-53; W. C. Whitthorne, 1853-57; Thomas McNeily, 1857-61; Joshua B. Frierson, 1861-67; Jesse E. Eason, 1867-69; W. A. Moody, 1869-73; Mitchell Trotter, 1873-75; H. M. McAdoo, 1875-77; Vernon F. Bibb, 1877-81; D. B. Thoruss, 1881-85, and present incumbent. representatives--John Coleman, 1809-11; Sterling Brewer, 1811-13; William Easley, 1813-17; Robert C. Daugherty, 1817-19; Abraham Caldwell, 1819-21; Malton Dickson, 1821-23; Richard Batson, 1823-27; John Reed, 1827-31; Bowling Gordon, 1831-33; George Smith, 1833-35; Robert McNeiley, 1835-37; John Eubanks, 1837-47; William A. Moody, 1847-55; W. J. Mathis, 1855-57; F. T. V. Schmitton, 1857-59; William L. White, 1859-65; A. D. Nicks, 1865-67; M. J. J. Cagle, 1867-69; A. D. Nicks, 1869-73; Jacob Leach, 1873-75; J. J. Pollard, 1875-77; Jacob Leach, 1877-79; G. W. McQuary, 1879-83; W. J. Mallory, 1883-84; H. H. Buquo, 1884-85; N. B. Sugg, present incumbent.

The soldiers furnished by Dickson County to the war of 1812 were as follows: John B. Walker, Thomas Edwards, David McAdoo, William James, Benjamin Swift, Daniel Williams, James Bell, Thomas Williams, James Daniels, Thomas Gilbert, William Porter, John Jones, John Hall, John Tilley, William Dodson, James Hightower, Obediah Spradlin, Abraham Heath, Simon Deloach, Jesse Beck, Francis Hunter, Drury Atkins, A. Etherage, Isaac Heath, Aaron Parrish, Willis Willey, Thomas Nesbitt, Richard Batson, Isaac Hill, David Bibb, Allen Bowen, Richard Watkins, Lansom Gunn, Anderson England and Edward Niblack. Those who went from Dickson County into the Florida war of 1836, in Capt. James Tatum's company, were Alexander Jones, Moses Street, Abraham Street, Allen Nesbitt, Mortimer Edwards, Joseph Parrish, William Tatom, James Hudgins, James Young, Hudson Shropshire, John Linke, Washington Weems and William Young. When the call was made for volunteers to serve in the Mexican war, in 1846, Dickson County responded promptly by raising two full companies, but before they could report at Nashville, Tenn., the quota was already full, and they were rejected. However, several members of the companies succeeded in getting into the service, and served throughtout the war. They were W. J. Mallory, James Hudgins, William Tate, John Owens, Bass Ferrell and John Morris.

The part taken by Dickson County in the war of the Rebellion was a conspicuous one. She not only furnished her quota of soldiers to the Confederate Army, but was the scene of stirring events during the four years in which the war was waged. Until President Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 volunteers the people of Dickson County were rather disposed to remain passive and, if possible, maintain a neutral position on the question of secession. But the call to take up arms against the people of the South served to ignite a spark of indignation in their breasts, and the refusal of Gov. Harris was received by them with demonstrations of pleasure. Preparations were at once inaugurated for the raising and equipment of the county's quota of State troops, and in the first part of May following the first company was equipped and started for Nashville, under command of Capt. William Green. Two days later two more companies were started for the same destination, under command of Capts. W. J. Mallory and William Thedford. The companies were assigned places in the Eleventh Tennessee Regiment, being designated by letters C, H and K, in the order of captains given above. They were then sent to Camp Cheatham, in Robertson County, for instructions.

Upon another call made for volunteers, during the same year, two more companies were organized and equipped, and left in December following, under command of Capts. Thomas H. Grigsby and J. B. Cording; for Fort Donelson, where they were assigned to the Forty-ninth Tennessee Regiment, as Companies B and D, respectively. At different times during the war the Southern Army was recruited from among the citizens of the county; they going out in small squads and joining different commands. After a month spent in drilling, at Camp Cheatham, Companies C, H and K were ordered on post duty on the railroad between Hainsville and Knoxville. Under Gen. Zollicoffer they next went to Rock Castle, Ky., and participated in the battle of Fishing Creek, on the morning of the 19th of January, 1862, that being their first engagement. Their next engagement was at the siege of Cumberland Gap and next at the battle of Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862. The battles of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, the memorable retreat from Dalton to Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville and the march to North Carolina were also participated in by the Dickson County boys. They were surrendered to Gen. Sherman April 9, 1865. Companies B and D, as above stated, went from Dickson County to Fort Donelson, where they experienced their initiative fighting. After the surrender the members of the two companies were taken to Alton, Ill., where the officers and men were separated, the former being taken to St. Louis, then to Camp Chase, Ohio, and next to Johnson's Island, while the latter were sent to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., all being held as prisoners of war. The sketch of their service appears elsewhere in this volume. At the final surrender of the army there remainedbut one man of Company B, William H. Taylor.

In 1862, a party of about sixty Federal soldiers visited the county on a raid, and a slight skirmish occurred between them and a band of guerrillas a few miles out from Charlotte, in which no damage was sustained by either side. During the latter part of November, 1863, a portion of two Federal regiments, numbering between 300 and 400, took possession of Charlotte. They were under command of Maj. Kirwine, and remained in Charlotte until the middle of March, 1864. They established headquarters in the court house, and erected barracks all around the court yard, and christened the same as "Camp Charlotte." During those months much damage was done to the town in addition to "eating the citizens out of house and home." The records in the court house were mutilated and destroyed and in an inexcusable and wanton manner, and private and business houses invaded and pillaged. A continuous fight was kept up between the Federals and guerrillas, and not a few lives were sacrificed as a result. In 1864 William D. Willey was captured by the Federals under Lieut. Donnehue, and shot as a guerrilla. The latter, it is supposed, killed John Lindsey, a Federal sympathiser, during the same year, and in a short time thereafter Demps Dobson, a guerrilla, was captured by the Federals, and taken about a mile north of Charlotte and shot. When friends of the dead man went after the body to give it decent burial, they found in his hand a scrap of paper, on which was written, "Shot in retaliation for the killing of John Lindsey." M. Gilbert, a citizen of Charlotte, was also killed by the Federals. The Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway (then known as the Northwestern Railway) was guarded by detachments of Federals stationed at White Bluff, Burris' Station, Cox Springs and Gillam Station. The Federal Army had a large amount of stores and a considerable number of soldiers at Johnsonville, on the Tennessee River, in 1864, about the time Gen. Hood was moving on Nashville, and Gen. Forrest was dispatched to undertake their capture. The Federal troops no sooner learned the movements of that General than they were off for Nashville in hot haste. They reached Charlotte in a state of demoralization, having left behind them a trail marked by guns, ammunition, blankets, flour, meal, meat and in fact everything they found unhandy to carry in their flight. After passing through Charlotte and proceeding a mile or two they received word that Gen. Forrest had gotten between them and Nashville. This was the signal for retreat, and all moved rapidly to Clarksville.

Nothing, comparatively, can now be learned of the religious condition and happenings in Dickson County prior to the year 1800. At that time the Methodists, Baptists and Presbyterians had organizations in the county, though no church houses had been erected, and services, when held, were conducted in private residences, or during the pleasant weather season in some shady grove. Probably the first church erected in the county was a log building, which stood about half a mile west of where Charlotte now stands, and which was built some time in 1804 by the Psalm Singers, who, some time before, led by the Rev. Samuel Brown, had seceded from the Presbyterian Church. The Psalm Singers were few in number, and, as an organization, did not live long in this county, and a grave-yard now marks the spot where once stood their church building.

The history of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Dickson County must always abound with interest, as that denomination, now prominent and flourishing in every State of the Union, had its origin in this county, in a log house, the home of Rev. Samuel McAdoo. The house in which was planned and organized the Cumberland Presbyterian Church stood about six miles south of Charlotte, and was an old-fashioned double log house, a story and a half high, which was covered with clapboards, the boards being held in place by weight poles. The chimneys were made of wood and dirt. The logs were hewn with a broad ax, and the cracks daubed with mud. The windows were small, and not being provided with glass were closed by clapboard shutters, hung with wooded hinges. In 1800 a great revival swept over portions of Kentucky and Tennessee, during which great numbers of sinners were converted to the religious belief, and the membership of the Presbyterian Church was increased tenfold. The organization of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was one of, if not the greatest, results of this revival. The great increase in membership of the old church caused by the revival made the establishment of more churches and ordaining of new ministers a necessity, and although there were many able and pious men among the new preachers, the mother church refused to ordain them because of their lack of education, they not being possessed of a regular collegiate and classic education, and also because of their unsoundness of faith respecting the doctrines of election and predestination. They were also objected to on the ground of being too noisy in their meetings, they believing and practicing the revival system of securing conversions to the church. After a period of contention and dissatisfaction lasting several years and separation was effected. February 3, 1810, Revs. Finis Ewing, Samuel King and Samuel McAdoo, all regularly ordained ministers of the Presbyterian Church, met at the residence of the latter (in Dickson County), and after a night spent in prayer and consultation, on the following day formed a Presbytery, which was called the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. A few years afterward a church building was erected about four miles northwest of Charlotte, which was christened New Hope. This building was constructed of hewn logs, and is standing at the present time. The next church erected by the denomination was on Johnson's Creek, and stood about five miles northeast of Charlotte. During the thirties three more buildings were erected by the same denomination, they being Bethel Church on Yellow Creek, Bethlehem Church on Jones' Creek and Mount Liberty Church, situated on a ridge about twelve miles est of Charlotte. Rev. Gideon Blackburn, the able Southern preacher, and Rev. John L. Smith were among the most prominent of the ministers who occupied the pulpits of these early-day churches, and dispensed the teachings of religion to the early settlers.

Probably the first church erected by the Methodists was Smyrna Church, some time in 1810, which was a log building, and stood on Sulphur Fork of Jones Creek. The next was Mount Lebanon, also a log building, and stood about half a mile south of the first church. Mount Lebanon was rebuilt in 1880. During the thirties churches were erected by the Methodist denomination as follows: Mount Carmel, at the head of Barton's Creek; Soul's Chapel, on Horse Branch of Barton's Creek, and Bethany, on the Harpeth River. The early ministers of these churches were Rev. Michael Berry, who preached for sixty-two consecutive years; Rev. James Sizemore, Rev. Henry Hutton and Rev. Caleb Rucker.

The churches of the county by districts at the present time are as follows: First District--Eno Methodist Episcopal Church, South, on Piney River; Fewes Chapel, Methodist Episcopal Church, South, on Garner's Creek, and Oak Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, North, situated between Garner's Creek and Piney River. Second District--Bethel, Baptist, and Beach Grove Methodist Episcopal, South, both on Piney River. Third District--Baptist, on Turnbull Creek; Box House, on Parker's Creek, at which meet both the Methodist Episcopal, North, and Missionary Baptist congregations. Fourth District--Grasses Spring Baptist, at Burn's Station; Marvin's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Christian Church, both on Beaver Dam. Fifth District--One each of Methodist Episcopal, South, and Methodist Episcopal, North, United Baptist, Old School Presbyterian, Lutheran and two colored churches, one African Methodist Episcopal and one Methodist Episcopal, South. Sixth District--Fagan's Chapel, on Barton's Creek; Mount Carmel, on Barton's Creek; Sycamore, at head of Jones Creek; Mount Lebanon, on the Charlotte and Dickson Road; Liberty, on the Charlotte and Nashville Road; Green Brier, on the Harpeth Road, all Methodist Episcopal South; Big Spring, at head of Jones Creek; New Hope, at the head of the east prong of Barton's Creek, all Cumberland Presbyterians, and Rock House Christian, on Jones' Creek. At Charlotte, one each of Methodist Episcopal, South, and Cumberland Presbyterian, and also two colored churches, one each of African Methodist Episcopal and Baptist. Seventh District--Old Bethel, Methodist Episcopal, South, near mouth of Harpeth River; Mount Liberty, Cumberland Presbyterian, on a ridge near Harpeth River; Jackson's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal, South, and Brown's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal, South, both on Jones' Creek. Eighth District--St. James' Episcopal, at Cumberland Furnace, and Rock Spring Baptist, on Barton's Creek, and Soul's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal, South, one-half mile north of Cumberland Furnace. Ninth District--Liberty Methodist Episcopal, South, on Leatherwood Creek; Mount View Cumberland Presbyterian between Barton's and Bear Creek; Valley Springs, Missionary Baptists, on Barton's Creek, and Barton's Creek Church, Hard Side Baptists, on creek of that name. Tenth District--Stony Point, Cumberland Presbyterian, on Williamson Creek. Eleventh District--Wesley Chapel, Methodist Episcopal, South, at mouth of Cedar Creek; Union Methodist Episcopal, South, Maple Grove, Missionary Baptists, on west fork of Yellow Creek; Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian, on line between the Sixth and Eleventh Districts. Twelfth District--Two Methodist Episcopal, South Churches and one Cumberland Presbyterian Church at White Bluff; also a Colored Baptist and African Methodist Episcopal Church. Thirteenth District--One Methodist Episcopal Church, South, on Yellow Creek, and another of the same denomination on the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway.

Among the very early schools was one at the forks of Piney River, now in the Second District, which was taught by Alexander Campbell. The branches of  instruction at the school consisted of reading, writing and spelling. The average attendance was about twenty-five scholars. Another similar school was conducted by James Scott, an Englishman, in the Hudson and Tatum neighborhood, now the First District. Mr. Scott was a thoroughly competent teacher and left a good record. Another school, on Turkey Creek, was taught by Jesse Ross, and still another on Piney River by Little John Donnegan. The first schools of any importance in the county were located at Charlotte, the first one of which was established some time in 1823. This school was conducted by Jacob Voorhies, of New Jersey, and classical in its organization. Mr. Voorhies was followed by Robert Nesbitt, who conducted a very good school, but was not up to the standard of his predecessor, some time in 1827 or 1828. William James opened an excellent school in the vicinity of Charlotte which was attended by scholars from all over the county. In 1830 a splendid school, known as Tracy Academy was established at Charlotte, and is in use up to the present day. Latin, Greek, and all the higher branches were taught at this school, and its pupils were not only from all parts of the county, but came from adjoining counties, and even other States. This school was supplied all along with excellent instructors, the first of whom was Prof. McGuiggin, Mrs. Richardson and then Miss Farley conducted the school, and in 1837 Prof. E. E. Larkins, the veteran school-teacher of Houston County, now teaching at Erin, taught for about a year, and was followed by Jesse Leigh, of New Hampshire. In 1839 Prof. Larkins again took the school in hand, and conducted it for two years. In 1840-43 J. R. Paschall taught the school, and was succeeded in 1843 by Prof. Larkins, who held the position of principal instructor until 1877. Rev. J. C. Armstrong, Prof. Larkins' assistant the previous year, succeeded to the professorship, and conducted the academy until 1880, at which time Mr. Larkin again assumed charge, and with Mrs. L. W. James, as assistant, conducted the institute until 1883. Since that time the school has been taught by Mrs. Bettie Dudley, of Kentucky. These schools were all in the nature of subscription schools, yet received assistance from the State. Some time in 1836, a first class private school was established and taught by Mr. W. B. Bell, on Barton's Creek, in what is now the Sixth District. This school established for itself a most excellent reputation, and was and is to-day patronized by students from all over the county. Mr. Bell, Sr., was succeeded by his son W. A. Bell, who conducts a school at present, under the name of Cloverdale Academy. Recently a first-class school, of the same natureas Cloverdale, has been opened under the name of Edgewood School, by Prof. Wade, assisted by his wife, Edgewood is on Yellow Creek, in the Eleventh District, and was opened in the spring of 1885. The Dickson Academy, an incorporated school, is also an excellent institute and is gaining a good reputation. This school was established in February, 1885.

The schools of Dickson County at the present time by districts are as follows: First District has 4 schools, all white; Second District, 4 schools, all white; Third district, 5 white schools and 1 colored; Fourth District, 6 white and 3 colored; Fifth District, 10 white and 3 colored; Sixth District, 8 white and 1 colored; Seventh District; 3 white and 3 colored; Eighth District, 7 white and 1 colored; Ninth District; 5 white and 1 colored; Tenth District, 5 white and 2 colored; Eleventh District, 5 white schools; Twelfth District, 6 white schools; Thirteenth District, 2 white schools. There are about 5,000 school children in the county, 4,000 of whom are white and 1,000 colored. The county superintendents have been as follows: L. L. Leach, 1873-77; T. F. McCreary, 1877-79; W. G. McMillan, 1879-84; B. F. Harris, present incumbent.

Charlotte, the county seat of Dickson County, has about 400 inhabitants, and is situated very near the center of the county. It was laid off and platted in 1804. The land was owned by Charles Stewart, who donated it to the commission appointed to select a county site. The town contains fifty-nine lots, and is divided into blocks by eleven streets, running east and west and north and south. The surface of the town is very uneven, and is broken by deep ravines and washes. Town Branch, a tributary to Jones' Creek, flows through the town.

The first house, which was built of logs, was erected by William Peacock in the west part of the town some time during 1804, or probably before the town was platted. It remained standing until along in the fifties, when it was destroyed by fire. The next house erected stood on the southwest corner of the public square, and was built in about 1804 by John H. Hyde. This was also constructed of logs. Other houses, followed, and by the year 1815 Charlotte was a live business town and growing rapidly. John Spencer was the first store-keeper; he opened up a combination establishment in 1806, in which he kept tavern and sold whisky, dry goods, groceries, and all kinds of provisions. Thomas Martin also conducted a similar establishment the year following, and during the same year Thomas Pannell, a hatter, opened up a shop and drive a brisk business in the manufacture and sale of woolen hats. The first cabinet and furniture shop was owned by Benoni Crawford, who made and sold all the furniture used in and around Charlotte. Elisha Williams was the village blacksmith from 1805 to 1808, and was followed by James Morris and Wilkin Corbin. Among the first citizens were William Peacock, Thomas Pannell, Elisha Williams, James Douglas, John H. Hyde, John Reed, Sterling Brewer, Benjamin Joslin, John Spencer, John Ellis, Marable Stone, Christian Robertson and Frank Ellis. The court house was built some time between 1810 and 1812, and destroyed by a storm in 1830 and was rebuilt in 1834. The first real tavern was established in 1810 by Frank Ellis. The building stood on the northwest corner of the public square, on what is now Col. T. K. Grigsby's garden patch, and opposite that gentleman's residence. In about 1812 Benjamin Joslin erected a large two-story tavern on the south side of the public square, and in doing so intended to improve the other buildings in regard to style. The old building remains standing at the present time, being used as a tenement house. It is a conspicuous feature of the town, its verandas and balcony catching at once the eye of a stranger on entering Charlotte. This tavern was under the proprietorship at different times, in the order given, of Christian Robertson, next by Benjamin Robertson, then Jonathan Hardwick, Thomas McNeiley, Mrs. Cording, and last by William Balthrop. The supreme court of the State held regular sittings in Charlotte during the years 1820-21, and the iron business being then in a flourishing condition, the town assumed an importance as a business center and trading point of which it cannot boast at the present. From 1820 to 1840 Charlotte enjoyed what would now be termed a "boom." By virtue of an act of the General Assembly, passed December 11, 1837, Charlotte was incorporated in the spring of 1838. Thomas Kelley was the first mayor elected, but of the other officers chosen at that election, nor of any proceedings of the town board from the incorporation of the town for quite a number of years, there remain no records. In fact until within a few years of the present there are no records, they all having been lost, burned or otherwise destroyed. The corporation is in force yet, with the following board of officers: mayor, Jacob Leach; recorder, T. H. W. James; marshal, W. E. Hicks; aldermen, C. C. Collier, T. C. Morris, T. H. W. James and W. E. Hicks.

The business men of the twenties were Christopher Robertson, Minor Bibbs, Thomas Pannell and Voorhies and Kelley, all of whom kept general merchandise. The business men of the thirties were all general merchants, and were John Ward, Jacob Voorhies, B. A. & T. M. Collier, William and James T. Massie. Business men of the forties were William Balthrop, Thomas Overton, Joab Harding and William James, all of whom kept similar stocks as their predecessors. Business men of the fifties were Leach & Dickson, W. C. Collier, William James, Thomas K. Grigsby, Thomas Overton and J. F. Davis, all being general merchants. The business men of the sixties, seventies and the present time are Mallory & Leach, general store, including drugs and bar-room; C. C. Collier, general store; W. C. Collier, same; Bowers and Sizemore, druggists;  T. H. W. James, notions and stationery, also postmaster, and Abner Hickerson, groceries and bar-room. A first-class boarding house is conducted by Mrs. Martha Hickerson, and Joseph Taylor operates a blacksmith shop. Jacob Leach, T. C. Morris and Hardin Leach are the lawyers, and Dr. D. R. Leach and Dr. A. G. Castleman, the physicians.

The secret societies of Charlotte are Charlotte Lodge, No. 97, F. & A. M., which was organized and instituted October 6, 1842; Eureka Lodge, No. 813, K. of H., organized December 3, 1877, and Lily Lodge, K. & L. of H., organized March 26, 1880. The Masonic lodge was at one time very strong, but has been weakened in membership from time to time by the institution of the following lodges of the county, the members of which were taken from the parent lodge, No. 97; White Bluff Lodge, Dickson Lodge, Iron Lodge at Cumberland Furnace, Rainey Camp Lodge, McAllison Lodge and Yellow Creek Lodge. The memberships of both the lodges of K. of H., and K. & L. of H., are ordinarily strong. Charlotte has two good churches, the Cumberland Presbyterian and Methodist South, the former having a large brick church, which was erected directly after the close of the war, and the latter a substantial frame building. The membershipof each is good. The colored people also have two church organizations, they being the African Methodist Episcopal and Baptists. One school is conducted in Charlotte, it being the old Tracy Academy, of which mention is made in full on another page. There is also a colored school taught in the public school season.

Dickson is by far the largest town in the county, and has about 1,000 inhabitants. It lies eight miles south of the county seat, and is situated on the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad, and is also the northern terminus of the Nashville & Tuscaloosa Railroad. Being one of the best shipping points on the road a large amount of business is transacted by her many energetic business men. The town was laid off and platted by C. Berringer, of Allegheny City, Penn., the owner of the land, in the spring of 1868, though a railroad station was located on the present site of the town three years before. The first building in Dickson was erected during the war by W. H. Crutcher. It was a log house, and stood on the north side of the railroad crossing, where now is Main Street. Another log house was erected about the same time by Mr. Crutcher, which stood where J. R. Bryan's residence now stands, and was built for a store-room. Before completion both buildings were destroyed by the Federal soldiers, then encamped at Cox Springs near by, and the material taken to that place and used in the comstruction of quarters for the troops. The first merchant of Dickson was Mr. Crutcher, who built a small log store, 16x16, during the latter part of 1865. The stock carried by Mr. Crutcher was of general merchandise, and his business was profitable. Other log houses were erected during the years of 1866-67, among which was one used as a tavern, which stood on what is now the corner of Main and Murrell Streets, opposite the Press office, and was conducted by C. J. Martin. The town continued to grow gradually, the buildings being erected in rapid succession, each one being on a more improved style of architecture than the preceding one, until at the present Dickson is an average size inland town, and has a bright future.

The merchants of the latter part of the sixties and the first part of the seventies were W. H. Crutcher, general store; McFarland & McCreary, same; J. C. Donnegan & Moore, same; Joseph McWilliams, same; A. Myatt, same; Wiliam Pickett, same; John Alexander, same; Miles H. Mayes, same; J. R. Spicer, same; W. H. Mathis, same; J. A. Thomas & Co., same; John Rickert, same; N. George, hardware; J. T. Henslee, drugs and general merchandise. The business men of the present are as follows: General merchants, John Rickert, J. R. Spicer, Murrell & Son, J. A. Thomas & Co., W. J. Mathis, A. Myatt, Miller Bros., and R. L. Schmitton; drugs and general merchandise, Henslee & Coleman; hardware, tinware and furniture, Freeman & Cullum; fancy groceries, J. B. Bruce; harness, Aukney & McCaul; groceries, Mrs. Christ Nagley; boots and shoes, John Beckman and Robert Easley; tailors, Easley Bros.; jewelers, Bear & Dittis. Two good hotels are located in the town, under the management of Col. M. H. Mayes and Mrs. M. J. Mayes, respectively. Dickson also boasts of two first-class livery stables, the proprietors of which are Messrs. Hutton & Christian and W. J. Mathis; there are also two blacksmith shops, which are operated by Lee Shawl and Stroup & Lyttle; also two wagon manufactories, the proprietors being Joseph Davis and Sylvis & Best; the physicians are Drs. C. M. Lovell, B. Z. Henslee and G. W. Boyt; the first and only flour and corn-mill was erected in 1876 by Messrs. Nopp & Loafbourn, and is now owned by T. F. McCreary. The mill is a first-class steam mill in which is invested capital to the amount of $8,000. The educational facilities of Dickson are embraced in one school, the Dickson Academy, which was opened for the admission of scholars in February, 1885. It is a chartered school, and by its establishment Dickson was placed under the jurisdiction of the "four-mile law," by which the sale of liquor is prohibited. The churches of Dickson are seven in number--five white and two colored--and are as follows: Methodist Episcopal North, organized in 1867; Methodist Episcopal South, organized in 1872; United Presbyterian, organized in 1871; Old School Presbyterian, organized in 1869; Lutheran, organized in 1874, and the African Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Episcopal South (colored). The secret societies of Dickson are as follows: A. F. & A. M., removed to Dickson from Beach Grove in 1873; K. of H., organized in 1880; K. & L. of H., organized in 1883; G. T., organized in 1886; C. O. F., organized in 1881.

The only newspaper in the county is published at Dickson, and was established by its present publishers, Messrs. Conant & Freeman, in 1881, and has the appropriate name of The Press. This paper is a seven-column folio, and is gotten out in a neat and readable manner, and is conducted successfully, both financially and from a literary standpoint. The advertising patronage is liberal, while the circulation reaches 900, more than an average for a county newspaper. Previous to The Press the Dickson County Independent was conducted by N. B. Morton; that gentleman established The Independent in 1878, and continued its publication for three years. Dickson was incorporated in 1870, but the corporation was abondoned in 1883, and the records having become misplaced an account of the proceedings of the town board cannot be given. The town was originally called Smedsville, in honor of a civil engineer who located the first side-track at the place, but was subsequently changed to Dickson. The depot at Dickson is a handsome building, and is said to be the best on the railroad between Nashville and Chattanooga. Dickson is connected with Nashville, Burns Station and White Bluff by telephone.

White Bluff is a flourishing town of about 300 inhabitants, situated ten miles south of the county seat, and on the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway. The town takes its name from White Bluff Iron Forge, which at one time was in operation near the present site of the village. Probably the only good highway in the county passes through the town of White Bluff, the same being the old Charlotte & Nashville Pike. The town had its origin from having been a camp of the Federal soldiers during the war. Alexander Carr was the first man to locate in the town, he building a home for himself as soon as the soldiers departed from that vicinity. The first merchants were Morton & Wright, who opened a general store in 1865. The next merchants were Howell & Crumpler, who set up in general merchandise business in 1867. The merchants following for the next ten years, all of whom kept general stores, including drugs, were George W. Collier, Charlton & Hicks, Jackson & Harris, F. E. Willey, John Hagie, and from that time to the present, J. G. Brown, C. Arnold and W. M. Beard, all of the above constituting the present merchants. The White Bluff Hotel is the only public hostelry, and is presided over by Mrs. Thomas Overton. White Bluff has three blacksmith and wagon shops, owned by S. H. Carson, Jones & Thompson, and John Luther. A planing-mill has recently been established by A. J. Carver & Co., which promises to add much to the town in the way of business. The railroad company has erected a neat depot. There is no school of a public nature taught immediately in White Bluff, as the school building was destroyed by fire in 1879, and has not as yet been rebuilt, though steps have been taken looking to the early erection of so important a building. Several good priviate schools constitute the educational advantages and facilities at the present.

The Southern Methodists, Cumberland Presbyterians and Christians have churches at White Bluff, also the colored Baptists and African Methodist Episcopal. White Bluff was platted in 1867 by A. Myatt, and incorporated in 1879. In 1882 the corporation was permitted to die out, and was renewed again in 1884. The corporation was again abandoned in 1885, in order to take advantage of the four-mile-law, and a charter was obtained for a school, which was established near the town. White Bluff is surrounded by a spendid timber and farm country, and has quite a bright prospect ahead. In the amount of business transacted and as a shipping point it ranks close up to Dickson. The town is connected by telephone with Nashville, Dickson and surrounding towns.

Burns Station lies nine miles south of Charlotte, on the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway, and has a population of about 150. Upon the completion of the railroad, in 1860, Moses Tidwell, who owned the land where Burns now stands, erected a number of houses. These houses were afterward destroyed by the Federals during the war. The first man to engage in business at Burns was William Wadkins, who in 1868 established a general store. The following year Neiley & Stephens opened a store, and in 1870 were succeeded by Larkins & Son. In 1872 J. C. Donnegan purchased Mr. Wadkins' store, and in turn sold out to A. Myatt. In 1874 William Dowden opened a general store. Joseph Hendricks opened one in 1880, and J. C. Allspaugh one in 1881. Burns has one hotel, which is owned by F. F. Tidwell, T. K. Grigsby and W. M. Hogin, and one blacksmith shop, the property of A. D. Luther. Two lime works, of which mention in made elsewhere, are located one-half mile south of Burns. A chartered school, situated on Nail's Creek, serves both to educate the youth of Burns and also prohibit the sale of whisky in that section. The Primitive Baptists have the only church organization at Burns.

Gillam, or Tennessee City, is situated nine miles west of Dickson, on the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway, and has a population of about fifty people. Gillam Statiion was established upon the completion of the railroad, but was nothing more than a mere stopping place until in 1865, when Messrs. Pickett & Moody purchased several acres of land in the immediate vicinity of the station and erected a store-house, in which they sold general merchandise. The only other establishment at that time was a blacksmith shop owned by Jesse Haywood. In 1868 Daniel Rice opened a general store at Gillam, and is to-day the only merchant in the place. Messrs. Pickett & Moodey having dissolved and the latter dying, Mr. Haywood sold his blacksmith shop in 1870 to William England, who ran the business for a few years and then abandoned it. The first physician who practiced at Gillam was Dr. W. A. Moodey, who was succeeded by Dr. William Bray, and he in turn by Dr. Oscar Moodey. In 1886 W. A. Schoenfeld, a Chicago capitalist, purchased a large tract of land lying on both sides of the railroad, and had the same laid out and platted into 20,117 town lots of fifty feet front, and gave the embryo city the name of Tennessee City. Whether the scheme of establishing a city at Gillam of the dimensions proposed by the projector will amount to anything remains to be seen. As yet it is a town on paper only. Gillam has a good railroad depot. Bon Air, or Colesburg, is another railroad station, and is situated two and one-half miles east of Dickson. Bon Air has about seventy-five inhabitants. The first business man was W. H. Crutcher, who began selling general merchandise in 1863. In 1879 Mr. Crutcher erected a large building, in which he opened a hotel, but did not continue in the hotel business long, and the building is now a dwelling house. J. C. Donnegan opened a store in 1870, but continued in business only a few years, selling out to F. C. Willey. The present merchant is J. D. Griffin. At Bon Air is located the sumac-mill of J. F. Gunkle, of which mention is made elsewhere. A saw and grist-mill is run in connectiion with the sumac-mill. A neat depot has lately been erected here.