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Do you have information to provide? Your help is needed to make this site better for all the people inside and outside of CHEATHAM County, Tennessee. We are particularly interested in documenting the history of CHEATHAM County. If you have useable information we are anxious to publish it on this site or will provide a link if you have it already posted on the net. Many thanks. |
NOTE: A Click of your Mouse on most of the pictures will enlarge them for better viewing
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CHEATHAM COUNTY, TENNESSEE |
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| HISTORY of CHEATHAM COUNTY |
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Established 1856. Named in honor of Edward S Cheatham(1818-1878), Speaker of the Senate, Tennessee. Legislature, 1855 and 1861 |
| Cheatham County was formed by
as act of Tennessee General Assembly on February 23, 1856 Land for the new county was taken from Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery and Robertson Counties The people residing in Cheatham County voted to approve the move for a new county in April 1856 The county was organized May 15, 1856 The first meeting of a governing body occurred at the town of Sycamore Mills on May 5, 1856 An election day for choosing county officers was set at this meeting The next term of the county court took place on the first Monday of June in 1856 At the first meeting land was selected to form the town of Ashland 50 acres of land purchased from Mr. Lenox for $713 was set aside for the town The town Ashland City was incorporated on December 3, 1859 A mayor and six alderman were elected in January 1861 The town lost its act of incorporation on March 29, 1883 Ashland City later regained its charter |
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CHEATHAM COUNTY |
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4.1 miles northwest, at The Narrows. Montgomery Bell, pioneer industrialist, ironmaster, philanthropist, and turfman built a forge in 1818. Power was obtained by tunneling water through the hill at the top of the Narrows to a point below it where the river returns after making a 7 mile horseshoe bend. |
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PATTERSON FORGE |
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In the year 1790, Benjamin Darrow began operating a cotton gin and grist mill along Sycamore Creek. In 1835, on the site of the Old Darrow mill. Robert and Edward Cheatham along with Samuel Watson erected a powder mill which operated until the fall of Fort Donelson during the Civil War. Here in 1856 the first Cheatham County Court was held. The DuPont Company acquired an interest in the mill in 1873 and it continued to operate until 1904. Sycamore Mill became an important source for production of Civil War gunpowder |
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SYCAMORE MILL |
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Across the river are the remains of an 800 year old town built by ancient Native American Indians. Almost surrounded by the river. It was also guarded by a high palisade wall. A large temple mound and several smaller mounds surrounded an open plaza. Archaeologists believe this town had important political and ceremonial functions. It is currently owned by the State of Tennessee. |
| The site is located on
both sides of Highway 70 just after it crosses the Harpeth River The ancient community covers about 300 acres One of the largest prehistoric Mississippian Indian sites in the southeast Has been designated a State Archeological Area The site is closed to the public, but tours are sometimes conducted An Indian community existed in Harpeth Valley from about 900 to 1350 AD The end of the community is thought to be caused by disease from foreign explorers The first modern survey of the area was made by William E Myer in 1923 Additional digs were made in 1974-75 A main feature of the area is the "Great Mound," measuring 500 feet by 1,000 feet Fourteen smaller "residential mounds" surround the Great Mound Petroglyphs can be found on bluffs along the Harpeth River |
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MOUND BOTTOM |
| PEOPLE of CHEATHAM COUNTY |
| Adam was born in Pennsylvania in
1739 Adam later moved to North Carolina His wife Mattie was born in 1744, and died in 1812 Binkley and his family were the first settlers in a area now known as Sycamore Valley in 1787 The valley is located four miles north of Ashland City The family consisted of Adam and his brother Jacob, his wife, Mattie (Weller), and their children Binkley died in 1837 8/18/03 S. B. Tarpley
(Many thanks, SB for your info) |
| Adam Binkley |
| Darrow settled at Sycamore Valley in
1790 He married Elizabeth, one of Adam Binkley's daughters Benjamin constructed the first gristmill in the valley Later, a cotton factory, a saw mill, and some years later, a powder mill was constructed at Sycamore Some of Darrow's descendents were Christopher, James W, Henry, Christopher Jr., and George Darrow Later, Jess and Bud Darrow were born |
| Benjamin Darrow |
| Was born in Fallowfield Township, Chester
County, Pennsylvania on January 3, 1796 Bell was one of nine children born to John and Mary Pattison Bell He migrated to Lexington, Kentucky to help his widowed sister manage a farm. An interest developed in the construction of water-powered mills He moved back to Tennessee about 1800 He settled at Cumberland Furnace and formed a partnership with James Robertson He became sole owner of the iron producing furnace and dramatically increased its output Other forges followed his first venture: Carroll Furnace on the Cumberland River Upper Forge on Jones Creek Bellvue Forge on Jones Creek Valley Forge on Jones Creek White Bluff Forge on Turnbull Creek Piney Forge on Piney River Worley Forge south of Dickson (Named for Bell's favorite slave) Pattison Forge on the Narrows of the Harpeth River Bell bought a mansion on Franklin Road in Williamson County in 1850 He died at age of 86 on April 1, 1855 |
| Montgomery Bell |
| Represented Robertson County in the State
Legislature, 1843 A bill was passed in an attempt to establish Cumberland County, later named Cheatham County, 1843 The people living in the area voted against establishment of the county Cheatham was appointed a trustee of Liberty Academy in 1843 He died while visiting Whites Creek Springs near Springfield on September 9, 1845 His original burial was in the old City Cemetery in Nashville His remains were moved to Elm Wood Cemetery in Springfield in 1952 His wife, Susan, maintained the home place in Springfield until her death in 1867 |
| Richard Cheatham |
| Edward was born at Springfield, in
Robertson County Tennessee on July 31, 1818 His schooling was completed at the Liberty Academy in Springfield and the University of Nashville Ellen Foster's father was a member of the Tennessee General Assembly Richard Cheatham's widow and his son Edward continued to operate his business They teamed with Samuel Watson to operate the powder mills at Sycamore. The Cheatham heirs sold their interests to Watson in 1869 He married Ellen Foster on October 19, 1841 Cheatham was the first president of Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1860-61 He was also connected with the Henderson and Edgarfield Railroad Edward was appointed trustee of Liberty Academy As a member of the Whig party, he served in the thirtieth General Assembly in 1853-55 He was elected to the Confederate General Assembly in 1855-57 and 1861-63 Cheatham was speaker of the Senate when Cheatham County was established in 1856 The county was named in his honor Edward Cheatham died at Horn Lake, Mississippi on December 21, 1878 |
| Edward Sanders Cheatham |
| Other Early Cheatham Settlers |
| John Hyde and Howard Alley settled near Pleasant View in 1790 |
| John Hunt and his family settled near Pleasant View in 1796 |
| Braxton Lee, John Lee, and Reverend Robert Heaton settled near present town of Ashland City in 1796 |
| J J Lenox bought property and settled near Ashland City about 1796 |
| James Turner of North Carolina received
3,840 acres on the Cumberland River below Ashland City The land was in payment for Revolutionary War services of his father, Jacob Turner |
| Later James Wilson purchased the land
and moved his family about 1800 Wilson gave 2,000 acres of the land to his son-in-law, Henry Williams |
| Marvel Lowe and family settled three
miles north of Sycamore Mills about 1799 The Lowes church was erected some times later |
| Asa Bryant, David and Daniel Mosier and their families, Matthew Harris, and his sons, Henry, James and Nevil settled near Sycamore Mills about 1800 |
| Allen Hunter, Matthew and William Rayburn, the Shaws, S Wilson, and Nicholis Shoate settled near Thomasville about 1800 |
| Shadrack Hunt, William Shaw, Nathan Morris, Robert Pennington, and Dempsey Hunter settled near Pleasant View about 1800 |
| Eatherlies and Stewarts settled near the Cheap Hill Community about 1800 |
| Peter Woodson and his family settled on
a large tract of land adjoining present site of Pleasant Hill in
1807 Richard C and his wife Elizabeth (Morris) Jackson now own the Peter Woodson settlement |
| Abner Gupton and his family settled in what is now known as the Gupton Neighborhood in 1808 |
| James Mallory and his family settled near Thomasville postoffice in 1808 |
| Nicholas Hale settled on Sams Creek in 1808 |
| William Lenox settled at Sycamore Mills in 1810 |
| William Crockett and J B Domombreun were the earliest settlers on Marrowbone Creek in 1810 |
| Neal Thomas, S W Adkinson, Thomas Osborn, Maston Ursory, and L J Bell were among the earliest settlers near Kingston Springs in 1810 |
| Samuel Watson settled at Sycamore mills
and built a large frame house in 1835 Watson sent for David and William Nicholas from Dedham, Massachusetts to assist in the construction of a powder mill |
| BICYCLE ROUTES in CHEATHAM COUNTY |
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KEY: Blue Road 4+ Foot Paved Shoulder Pink Road 1+ Foot Pavement with or without white line Orange Road Rideable Gravel, Dirt, or Rough Pavement Shoulder Green Road Scenic, but with Little or No Shoulder |
The map can be enlarged by clicking your mouse on it. |
| LANDMARKS in CHEATHAM COUNTY |
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| Cheatham County Fairgrounds | Happy Hills Boys Ranch | Camp Sycamore Hills | Old Store Building in Pleasant View |
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Closed to public due to drop in traffic on October 18, 1998 |
| Nashville Zoo |
| HISTORIC HOMES in CHEATHAM COUNTY |
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| Casa Blanca |
| SCHOOLS in CHEATHAM COUNTY |
| A uniform system of public schools in
Cheatham County was established in 1873 S D Power was the first superintendent Wages for the average teacher were $30 per month and the schools ran five month a year Cheatham County had 37 white schools and 15 black schools with an enrollment of 2,395 in 1873 |
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| East Cheatham School | Pleasant View Elementary School | West Cheatham Elementary School |
| CHURCHES in CHEATHAM COUNTY |
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The church stood on a hill across Highway 12 on Neptune Road from 1888 until it was struck by lightning May 16,1984 and burned to the ground. A grove of trees marks the historic spot. The church was named for Edwin Clifton who built first a Meeting House on 1 plus A. of his land opposite a spring near Half Pone Creek, deeding it in 1825 to Church Trustees: Mark Chambliss, Joseph Stroud, Robert Williams, Philip Duke, Thomas Bell, son William Clifton, and William Stewart, Wit. James Pool and Leml Clifton, Edwin's brother. In 1803 Edwin & Nancy had given a M.H. on their Halfax County, North Carolina land to the Methodist Conference. |
| CLIFTON METHODIST CHURCH |
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| Beech Grove Community Church | Bear Wallow Road Church of Christ | Bell Town Church of Christ | Bell Town Church of God |
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| Bethel Freewill Baptist Church | Bethlehem Church of Christ | Bethlehem Freewill Baptist Church | Big Marrowbone Church of Christ |
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| Brewers Chapel United Methodist Church | Chapel Hill Church of Christ | Cheap Hill Church of Christ | Clarksville Highway Church of Christ |
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| Craggie Hope United Methodist Church | East Cheatham Church of Christ | Friendship Freewill Baptist Church | Good Spring Freewill Baptist Church |
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| Grace Baptist Church | Greenbrier Church of Christ | Harpeth Valley Community Church | Harvest Field Baptist Church |
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| Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witness Church | Lillamay Church of Christ | Mallory's United Methodist Church | Mt Pleasant Free Will Baptist Church |
 Organized 1872 Building erected 1972 |
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| Mt Zion Freewill Baptist Church | Neptune United Methodist Church | New Bethel United Methodist Church | New Hope Freewill Baptist Church |
 Founded 1913 Building erected 1977 |
 Abandoned |
 Building erected 1956 |
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| New Hope Freewill Baptist Church | No Name Church | Oaklawn Freewill Baptist Church | Oakwood United Methodist Church |
 Established by Atlanta Victoria Williams 1910 |
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| Petway Church of Christ | Pleasant View Church of Christ | Pleasant View First Baptist Church | Pleasant View United Methodist Church |
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 Founded 1850 Building erected 1951 |
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| Pond Creek Church of Christ | Shacklett Church of Christ | Sycamore Chapel Church of Christ | Truth Center Church |
| CEMETERIES in CHEATHAM COUNTY |
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 Established 1886 |
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| Bethlehem Cemetery | Evans Cemetery | Neptune Smith Cemetery | Scott Cemetery |
| POST OFFICES in CHEATHAM COUNTY |
| Ashland City | Opened: June 7, 1860 | Closed: Operating |
| Binnacle | Opened: June 13, 1882 | Closed: August 21, 1882 |
| Burney | Opened: March 6, 1900 | Closed: December 31, 1904 |
| Chapmansboro | Opened: December 1, 1921 | Closed: Operating |
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| Cheap Hill | Opened: August 6, 1877 | Closed: December 1, 1921 |
| Chestnut Grove | Opened: March 29, 1856 | Closed: September 22, 1866 |
| Craggie Hope | Opened: December 16, 1869 | Closed: June 30, 1953 |
| Dean | Opened: December 13, 1880 | Closed: September 5, 1882 |
| Deep Spring | Opened: March 20, 1878 | Closed: July 1, 1896 |
| Deepspring | Opened: February 4, 1897 | Closed: June 15, 1909 |
| Dodge | Opened: March 19, 1891 | Closed: June 23, 1892 |
| Opened: July 23, 1892 | Closed: June 20, 1895 |
| Opened: January 31, 1900 | Closed: August 31, 1911 |
| Fox Bluff | Opened: September 15, 1904 | Closed: December 16, 1932 |
| Fremont | Opened: November 6, 1874 | Closed: August 20, 1885 |
| Half Pone | Opened: July 29, 1891 | Closed: December 31, 1904 |
| Harper | Opened: June 8, 1900 | Closed: June 30, 1905 |
| Henrietta | Opened: June 22, 1858 | Closed: October 22, 1860 |
| Opened: June 19, 1877 | Closed: April 15, 1905 |
| Hoffasville | Opened: March 18, 1886 | Closed: September 15, 1904 |
| Junkston | Opened: July 19, 1883 | Closed: March 31, 1903 |
| Keith | Opened: February 28, 1881 | Closed: December 5, 1881 |
| Kingston Springs | Opened: October 6, 1865 | Closed: December 16, 1869 |
| Opened: still operating | Closed: |
| Lillamay | Opened: September 1, 1887 | Closed: May 31, 1908 |
| Lockertsville | Opened: May 23, 1884 | Closed: June 30, 1905 |
| Marrowbone | Opened: February 29, 1876 | Closed: May 10, 1877 |
| Opened: August 26, 1877 | Closed: March 15, 1907 |
| Narrows | Opened: December 22, 1892 | Closed: January 31, 1903 |
| Neptune | Opened: June 2, 1882 | Closed: April 30, 1907 |
| Opened: October 26, 1908 | Closed: April 30, 1857 |
| Oceola | Opened: June 22, 1859 | Closed: September 22, 1866 |
| Onecho | Opened: 1856 | Closed: February 6, 1860 |
| Peagram | Opened: August 29, 1882 | Closed: Operating |
| Peagram’s Station | Opened: October 9, 1866 | Closed: October 25, 1867 |
| Opened: November 22, 1870 | Closed: April 22, 1882 |
| Petway | Opened: August 20, 1885 | Closed: August 31, 1911 |
| Pinnacle | Opened: August 21, 1882 | Closed: November 29, 1902 |
| Pleasant View | Opened: March 5, 1869 | Closed: Operating |
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| Pond Creek | Opened: February 1, 1878 | Closed: September 27, 1882 |
| Rest | Opened: April 21, 1891 | Closed: April 4, 1896 |
| Opened: August 1, 1890 | Closed: May 31, 1911 |
| Rosebower | Opened: October 21, 1891 | Closed: April 6, 1895 |
| Opened: March 27, 1891 | Closed: April 6, 1895 |
| Opened: June 23, 1899 | Closed: November 30, 1903 |
| Sewanee | Opened: March 23, 1858 | Closed: June 7, 1860 |
| Shacklett | Opened: May 17, 1897 | Closed: June 30, 1904 |
| Shaw’s Store | Opened: June 24, 1856 | Closed: July 22, 1859 |
| Sobel | Opened: March 5, 1890 | Closed: May 15, 1918 |
| Sycamore | Opened: April 5, 1870 | Closed: December 16, 1907 |
| Sycamore Mills | Opened: May 26, 1856 | Closed: April 5, 1870 |
| Thomasville | Opened: January 16, 1867 | Closed: April 30, 1950 |
| Westernia | Opened: August 17, 1882 | Closed: August 15, 1903 |
| The Post Office at Sycamore Valley |
| The first recorded post office was at the Marvel Lowe house, and Lowe was appointed the first postmaster |
| Marvel Lowe | December 4, 1827 |
| Alexander Lowe | May 27, 1834 |
| Mason S Ferguson | June 14, 1834 |
| Jacob Binkley and Thomas Shaw | July 7, 1835 |
| C Williams | April 12, 1837 |
| Robert Harris and Tame Watson | April 12, 1843 |
| PARKS & RECREATION AREAS in CHEATHAM COUNTY |
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The Narrows is a horseshoe bend
located on the Harpeth River The Narrows was a low gap between Bell Hill and the Narrows Bluff Indians lived around the gap for thousands of years At the end of the Mississippian Period they used the area as a place of burial Montgomery Bell purchased the property about 1818 |
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His slaves tunneled
290 feet through a ridge from one side of river to the other |
| THE NARROWS |
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The State Park includes
the Harpeth Narrows Historic Area Access is off Hwy 70 The park covers 200 acres Features a 100 yard hand cut tunnel through solid stone Listed on the National Historic Register Montgomery Bell built a steel mill at site |
Mound Bottom, a mile upstream, is an ancient Indian
ceremonial center The park has canoe access at: The1862 Newsom's Mill ruins Hwy 100 bridge McCrory Lane Bridge |
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ACCOMMODATIONS: Meeting Rooms (600 persons) Laundry Restrooms |
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: Hiking Horseback Riding Horse Rental Planned Activities |
WATER ACTIVITIES: Canoeing Fishing |
| THE NARROWS STATE PARK |
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| Cheatham Lock and Dam was authorized by
the River and Harbor Act of 1946 Additional authorization provided for hydroelectric power in 1952 The project is located 148.7 miles upstream from the mouth of the Cumberland River |
Cheatham lake extends 67.5 miles upstream to the Old Hickory Dam Construction began in April, 1950 The lock portion of the project was opened in 1952 The powerhouse was completed in 1960 |
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Cheatham Dam (Right Bank) |
Ball field Boat ramps (2) Fishing cleaning stations in tail water area Fishing trail |
Handicapped fishing
platform Picnic shelters and tables Playground Restrooms |
| CHEATHAM DAM |
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On River Road about seven
miles from Ashland City Boat launching ramps Fishing Trail Group shelter Handicapped fishing platform Playground |
| BRUSH CREEK RECREATION AREA |
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Planned to eventually be extended to Clarksville |
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| "Rails to Trails" Trail | Cheatham County Creek | Cheatham Wildlife Management Area |
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On Highway 49 west toward Dickson
County Picnic tables Boat launching ramp |
On Champmansboro Road
off Hwy 12 North Shelter with picnic tables Playground Boat launching ramp Restroom |
On Highway 12 South, between Ashland
City and Scottsboro Boat launching ramp |
| Bluff Creek Recreation Area | Sycamore Recreation Area | Sam's Creek Recreation Area |
| At the Cheatham Dam Resource area entrance Full service, Class A campground Water and electric hookups Showers Amphitheater |
Boat launching ramps Courtesy floats Fish cleaning station Nature trail Playground Picnic shelter |
On Highway 49 at the bottom of Harpeth
River Bridge Boat launching ramp Camping, free on first come first served basis No electricity or water Playground |
| Lock A Campground | Harpeth River Campground |
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 2 Lighted Fields |
| Bethlehem Community Center | East Cheatham Ball Field |
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B C Balthrop Memorial
Playground Ball Fields |
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Pleasant View Athletic Association Park |
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SPECIAL DAYS in CHEATHAM COUNTY |
| Event | Date | Description of Event |
| Pegram's Annual Fish Fry | March | A 50 year-old tradition that draws thousands of people to eat Tennessee River catfish that is served up fresh with all of the fixings. |
| May-Day Golf Classic | May | Held at the Sycamore Valley Golf Course in Ashland City. Sponsored by the Cheatham County Chamber of Commerce. |
| Kingston Springs' Spring Fling | May | The city's largest event features top name country music entertainment, baking contests, crafts, and games. |
| Ashland City's Summer Fest | June | A day long family festival held at River Bluff Park. Features music, games, petting zoo, a variety of vendors, and fireworks display. |
| The Golf Classic Tournament | June | Held at The Golf Club of Tennessee at Kingston Springs. |
| Pleasant View Bar-B-Que | July | A family oriented event complete with food, music, crafts, a carnival, and an auction |
| Pegram July 4th Celebration | July | All you can eat pancake breakfast begins the patriotic celebration, followed by a parade, contests, music, and a fireworks finale. |
| Cheatham County Fair | August | A week-long event features arena events, such as mud drag races, mule pulls, and demolition derby. |
| Cheatham County Christmas Parade | December | Sponsored by the Cheatham County Chamber of Commerce and features bands, floats, clowns, and Santa Clause. |
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STATISTICS for CHEATHAM COUNTY |
| Square Miles | 303 |
| Miles of City Streets | 43.25 |
| Miles of County Road | 417.10 |
| SIZE of CHEATHAM COUNTY |
| 1950 | 9,167 |
| 1960 | 9,428 |
| 1970 | 13,199 |
| 1980 | 21,616 |
| 1990 | 27,140 |
| POPULATION of CHEATHAM COUNTY |
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