Community Newsfrom the Rutherford Register

Community News
from the Rutherford Register, Rutherford, Tennessee
submitted by Alice King

This article on the history of Yorkville appeared in the issue of the
RUTHERFORD REGISTER dated Friday, May 1, 1908. It was a reprint of an article published in 1882 in the RUTHERFORD COURIER.

YORKVILLE IN 1882

"The following is sent us by Mrs. A. H. SANFORD. It was published in The RUTHERFORD COURIER, May 23, 1882, and is a brief sketch of old land marks around Yorkville: This is among the oldest incorporated towns of West Tennessee--was incorporated before towns that now put on city airs were "in the woods." Yorkville, at its first settlement and christening, away back in the thirties, was called "Belfast."

The writer was once told by WILLIAM E. TINKLE that the old CORLEY blacksmith shop now stands where old Indian Tom, the last red man of his race left in this section, and yet remembered by the oldest inhabitants, smoked the last bear out of a hollow tree ever killed in this immediate vicinity.

The first man who ever sold goods here was an Irishman--an old gentleman from Yorkville District, South Carolina, by the name of KUYKENDAL. The old KUYKENDAL monument, said to be the first ever erected in this county, is still standing in the Cumberland Presbyterian cemetery, in a dilapidated condition.

The old brick chimney at the old homestead of JAMES H. BALDRIDGE, the first brick chimney built between Trenton and Little Rock, Arkansas, is still standing, and COL. B. E. HOLMES said he helped to bear off the brick when a small boy.

The old oak tree in the BALDRIDGE lane, under whose wide spreading branches the first election was held in this district, and where the festive candidate "treated" sixty years ago, is as green as in "ye halcyon days."

DR. JAMES T. BONE was the first physician who settled in this district to practice the healing art, and was perhaps more extensively known than any physician of his day. He was the poor man's friend, and those who knew him best say he gave away three fortunes. "His life was a triumph of virtue, his death was a triumph of faith."

COL. BEN HOLMES, when a very young man, was elected the first magistrate this corporation ever had, and was the last one. He is still hale and hearty, and I hope he will still live to see the rise and fall of a dozen more corporations.

The first campmeeting ever held in Gibson county was Old Concord, at this place, long since passed away, but the whole West is scattered over with ministers of the Gospel who received their first blessing here.

The old muster-ground, where the ear-piercing fife and the soul-stirring drum called our old gray-headed friends (who were boys then) to step so proudly to martial music and try their manhood on her green swards, MR. CULLEN WRIGHT has yet, in a high state of cultivation.

The first land cleared in this district, by old Indian Tom, on the farm of CAPT. JOHN H. LASLEY, still waves in golden grain and is good land yet.

Revs. JOHN A. GRIER and S. Y. THOMAS were the first ministers of the Gospel who settled here; they were both able and good men. They have both gone to the rewards prepared for such men, but their examples and good deeds still live.

ROBERT REED is the only man in this district over forty years of age who still lives in the house in which he was born.

GEORGE J. TERRELL is said to be the oldest man in this district who was born here.

Uncle AARON WILSON is the oldest person in the district, in the 84th year of his age, and JOHNNY BARKLEY, the III, is the youngest."
(Submitted by) BOAZ

From the RUTHERFORD REGISTER, issue dated Friday, January 18, 1907

COMMUNITY NEWS AND NOTES

"ELGIE KEATHLEY has moved from the KEATHLEY place near town to DYER COUNTY."

"Mrs. KATHRYN COURTNEY visited her uncle, ROBERT TINKLE, at DYER, Monday night, who was quite ill."

"Rev. R. L. KEATHLEY has moved from his farm near town to KENTON, where he is pastor of the C. P. church."

"SCOBY MOUNT has resigned his place with the W. P. ELROD CO. and gone back to traveling for his old house, selling rubber goods."

"A room in the Rickman building has been nicely arranged for ALBERT J. ELROD as a law office."

"ROSCOE MOUNT, who has been in the West several years, writes us from PARSONS, KANSAS, that he is now located there and has a good position with the State Asylum, and requests us to give to his friends here his best regards."

"JAMES VOLNER has returned to RUTHERFORD after a sojourn in CALIFORNIA, and is now better satisfied with GIBSON COUNTY. We understand that JIM says he'd rather be a lamp post in RUTHERFORD than a working man in CALIFORNIA."

"GEORGE TINKLE made his first run on passenger train No. 5, Sunday morning for the Mobile & Ohio Railroad.

"The Colored C. P. church building on MILL STREET was destroyed by fire about 5:30 o'clock Friday morning. The origin of the fire is unknown. It was a fairly good frame structure and was in good repair. We learn it was insured for $550 in the GERMAN FIRE INSURANCE CO. of MEMPHIS.

"DYER is getting up signers to a petition to the legislature to be allowed to issue $3000 or $5000 in bonds for street improvements."

"D. F. GLISSON, carrier on Route No. 3, has been unwell for some weeks and the patrons of the route have been served by J. C. CALLIS."

"MR. W. P. ELROD has in his possession a barrel that has been used for about 35 years as a coffee barrel, beginning with it when he first went into business here."

"The continued unusually warm weather is causing much alarm among the fruit growers of TENNESSEE, KENTUCKY and ALABAMA. Several points in these States report the peach trees in full bloom. The thermometer registered 70 at NASHVILLE Tuesday."

OLD BETHLEHEM NEWS--
"RACE BARNES has bought of Mr. H. M. WILKES 98 acres of land off the east end of the tract known as the M. S. WILKES farm. So RACE will not leave us."
"Notwithstanding the unfavorableness of the weather, a fairly good
congregation assembled at the church Sunday, 11 am and listened to a discourse on the subject "Love," delivered by Brother POTTER, a young licensed preacher of MARTIN BIBLE COLLEGE. We think Bro. POTTER a rising young minister and wish him much success.
"Bro. BELL was with us Saturday, but left for KENTON to finish his pastoral work there Sunday."
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DEATH NOTICE:

"Mr. SAM FLOWERS, aged about 65 years, a farmer living near KENTON, died Tuesday and the remains were interred at FLOWERS CHAPEL Wednesday.

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BANK REORGANIZED

"The BANK OF RUTHERFORD" which has for ten years been one of the strongest financial institutions in this section has been reorganized and after this will be known as "THE RUTHERFORD BANK." The following officers have been elected for the present year: W. P. ELROD, President; HENRY O'DANIEL, Vice President; LUTHER PORTER, Cashier; FRED P. ELROD, Assistant Cashier. The
Directors are as follows: J. R. JORDAN, M. PEEL, W. P. ELROD, THOMAS THORN, T. W. CALLIS, HENRY O'DANIEL, W. T. H. THORN, N. R. NEWELL, LUTHER PORTER, A. H. TAYLOR.

RUTHERFORD REGISTER Issue dated Friday February 15, 1907

"Messrs. SENTER, BOUCHER and HASSELL, our county representatives, have gotten bills passed creating new School districts in the Ninth, Tenth, and Nineteenth civil districts: also bills to allow RUTHERFORD and MILAN to vote on a bond issue for school buildings."
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RUTHERFORD REGISTER Issue dated Friday April 26, 1907

"Misses ANNIE McCORKLE and LORAINE WHAREY spent Wednesday night with their friend and former music teacher, Miss JESSIE MIDYETT. They report the 10th grade graduating exercises of the KENTON HIGH SCHOOL to have been fine.
Ask them how traveling in the rain from KENTON to YORKVILLE suits."
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RUTHERFORD REGISTER Issue dated Friday May 24, 1907

YORKVILLE NOTES---
"Miss Lila Sanford has accepted a position as music teacher in the
NEBOVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
Prof. WILL TERRELL and wife of TRENTON are to be the principal and first assistant, respectively of our next school."
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RUTHERFORD REGISTER Issue dated Friday May 31, 1907

YORKVILLE NOTES---"Misses MARY LOGGINS and ANNIE POPE are in TRENTON attending the TEACHERS INSTITUTE."
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RUTHERFORD REGISTER Issue dated Friday June 14, 1907

CHINA GROVE---"Our new school house is being painted. Also the residence of Mrs. FORD, and the church is to be painted also."

OLD BETHLEHEM---"Misses ELSIE BONDS and ZETA MONTGOMERY, two of our young teachers, were present at the last session of the COUNTY INSTITUTE."
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RUTHERFORD REGISTER Issue dated Friday July 26, 1907

"C. B. NEIL has been taking the census of the town this week as was
required by parties who are bidding on the school bonds.
School will begin at RUTHERFORD ACADEMY three weeks from next Monday.
Don't let the children miss a single day of the term."
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RUTHERFORD REGISTER Issue dated Friday, March 27, 1908

OAK HILL ACADEMY---"OAK HILL school will close on April the 19th."
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RUTHERFORD REGISTER Issue dated June 5, 1908

GREAT NEED OF NEW SCHOOL BUILDING
"As a citizen of RUTHERFORD I should like to have a word with the patrons of our school. Many years ago when the present school house was built, the people here had reason to feel proud. It was a credit to the town and to the public spirited men who built it. It served its purpose nobly. Their children were educated, most of them now have homes and occupy positions of trust.
A few days ago I walked into our school house alone, and as I sat there I thought surely our people do not realize the condition as it is. There is not a latch on a single door. The same old desks that were there when the house was erected are still in use. The window frames are all decayed and not strong enough to support glass against a light wind. In the primary room there are no stove flues, but holes large enough to contain a flour barrel. In these holes the stove pipes are placed. I think it would be within the bounds of truth to say, that twice a week during the winter months the teachers in the lower grades were forced to dismiss until the flues and pipes could be cleaned and replaced. The stairway leading into the Hall is so badly worn that all the dirt and filth that may collect on the feet of those who sit in the Hall falls freely into the room below.
Fifty or sixty children and the teacher who occupy their place are forced to eat and breathe all this.
In the Hall or upstairs where a hundred and fifty children stay, it is
something like fourteen feet to the ceiling and just a few feet above is a flat (nearly so) tin roof. When it rains or the wind blows everyone must quit work until it is all over, because the noise is so great that nothing can be done.
At first only two teachers were required. We now have two hundred fifty children, courteous, ambitious and intelligent, requiring the services of no less than six teachers, and yet we have room for only three and the poorest of the poor accommodations for not more than one hundred twenty children. The entire building with its furniture is so absolutely repulsive to children that it will encourage rebellion on their part. I duly believe the patrons would make no great mistake to say we will have no more school until some repairs are made. Perhaps it would be best not to mention the other buildings on the school lot.
The business houses and residences of RUTHERFORD would be a credit to a larger city. The horses and Jersey cattle of our town have a more attractive and a more inviting shelter than the antiquated barn which shelters (?) our children for nine months in each year. To my mind this is the paramount question for our people just now. Until something is done we need not be surprised that the children will regret for another school term to begin. Shall we have no school the coming year or will we erect a new house?"
A Friend to the School
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RUTHERFORD REGISTER Issue dated Friday February 26, 1909

OLD BETHLEHEM--"The children of Mr. MATTHEWS and little LALA TAYLOR are absent from school on account of sickness."
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RUTHERFORD REGISTER Issue dated Friday, July 30, 1909

DON'T KNOCK
"Are you a friend to the town of RUTHERFORD and to our school? If so let us reason together a short while. Some time ago our people voted bonds to the amount of $12,500 and proceeded to erect a school building that would be a credit to a larger town. It will be a magnificent building when completed, one in which every citizen of the town should take a just pride.
The building committee, the foreman and workmen all have performed their duty in a creditable manner. The deserve the thanks of the entire community, and yet how many adverse criticisms and unkind remarks have we heard concerning them and their work.
Since the building has been under construction every one who has visited it has found some objectionable feature. He has returned to the streets of RUTHERFORD and "caussed (cussed?) out" the town, the committee and all who favored a new school building in RUTHERFORD. Let me suggest that you go back and take another look, then think of the old barn that stood there a year ago, think of the dirty old walls, the filthy stove flues, the unattractive and unsanitary conditions surrounding the building, then get ashamed of yourself for the unkind things you have said, walk right up like a man and express your thanks to the committee and workmen for discharging their duty so nobly. Stop complaining and let us go to work for the best town and best school in GIBSON COUNTY."
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RUTHERFORD REGISTER Issue dated Nov. 26, 1909

"RUTHERFORD TWENTY YEARS AGO"

"Twenty years ago last week the present editor of this paper landed in this town with a wagon load of types, presses, office furniture, etc., the property of Mr. E. E. BENTON, proprietor of the TRENTON HERALD-DEMOCRAT, and begun the work of getting out the first issue of The REGISTER, a 5 column 4 page paper. The initial issue being Friday, Nov. 22, 1889.

The town did not look so pretty and prosperous as it does to day by a jug full; neither did the first issue of the little sheet. But we were received kindly and went to work in earnest with scant material and limited experience of a green country boy. But in looking over the first issue, a thing we had not had time to do since it was placed on the file twenty years ago, we were surprised to again look over its columns and read again the large amount of interesting home news it contained, in a town then of 535 inhabitants. We were assisted in the write up of the locals by Attorney J. T. CURTIS, who died a few years later, and Miss VINNIE BARTON, who moved away from the town a few years later. We are now reminded that the town, as well as the paper has advanced a great deal during these twenty years.

There are only three business houses now standing on the streets that were here at that time. They were the COMMERCIAL HOTEL, the FLETCHER brick, occupied by the PERRY BROS., and the brick occupied by THE HOME EXCHANGE BANK, all of which have been changed up. The hotel was just being finished then. There are perhaps not over a half dozen homes here now that were here then, which have not been rebuilt or remodeled, as well as the churches and school. We have not space to speak of the improvements, which have been of a very general and valuable kind.

By reference to the first issue we notice that REV. MAULDIN was pastor of M. E. CHURCH but was then moving away to give place to REV. BRYANT MEDLING. REV. HALL was pastor of C. P. CHURCH, and REV. J. W. GOOCH of the BAPTIST.

T. D. LOCK was depot agent and had been for (21?) years. His son, R. L. LOCK, was telegraph operator. REV. J. W. C. FAIN was then, as now, preaching an occasional sermon for the METHODISTS.
Our advertisers in that issue, all very small cards, the whole lot making two and a half colums, were: S. N. PAGE, M. D., new at UNION CITY; J. T. CURTIS, Lawyer; S. F. MEDLING, Dentist; R. L. GREEN, Barber; WM. PASCHAL, Painter; CORLEY HOUSE, A. KILLOUGH, proprietor; DAVIS BROS., Blacksmiths; RUTHERFORD ACADEMY, R. L. McDONALD, Principal; Misses AMANDA HOPPER and LULA RIGSBEE, Assistants, Mrs. JESSIE BITTICK, Music; Miss VINNIE BARTON, Millinery; J. E. KYZER, General Merchandise; E. T. WARD, General Merchandise; R. B. TINKLE, General Merchandise; THE GEM SALOON, C. G. FLETCHER, Proprietor, BUD WITHERINGTON, Bartender; H. B. BLACKBURN, Saloon; PORTER & NORTHERN, a nice lot of locals; also J. M. SKILES & CO., TRENTON, a nice lot of locals.

There were several other concerns doing business here at the time, among whom were, ELROD, COX & POPE; J. C. HOLMES and a number that we cannot correctly call to memory.
N. L. DAVIS had just been elected Supt. of Sunday School. F. W. E.
FLOWERS was postmaster; J. T. CURTIS, Mayor; W. A. BOONE, Marshal; E. T. WARD, HENRY O'DANIEL, W. F. BILLS, W. P. ELROD and W. T. H. THORN, Aldermen; Doctors, PAGE, BUCHANAN, MCDANIEL, and CLAY; Building and Loan, J. E. KYZER, President; R. D. COX, Vice President; HENRY O'DANIEL, Secretary; J. T. CURTIS, Atty; School Board, J. E. KYZER, HENRY O'DANIEL, H. C. HOPPER, C. C. THOMAS, W. P. ELROD, E. T. WARD, R. B. TINKLE AND J. T. CURTIS.

Lodges: MASONIC, I. O. O. F., KNIGHTS OF GOLDEN RULE.
ESQ. T. J. WREN run a saw and roller mill; BIRD, MULLINS and THORN, a saw mill; ELROD a gin; and some one else another gin; JESSE KILLOUGH, a livery stable; JIM COLLINS, colored, a blacksmith shop; B. A. SMITH manufactured cotton gins; GEORGE BALL, colored, a restaurant; B. TALIAFERRO, grocery; JOHN TURNER, saloon; R. KILLOUGH, attorney at law; some one a picture gallery; FLETCHER & SON, harness and groceries; WILL FLOWERS, a general store.

Not a single active business man then is now in business, except Mr. W. P. ELROD, who is now Bank President."

REMINISCENCE and News Items also from the issue of twenty years ago...... "From an issue of this paper just twenty years ago we reproduce a few items that will be of interest to many people today: Mr. J. WARREN is having a beautiful residence erected in the West End suburbs, on MILL Street, which will add much to the beauty of our charming and prosperous little city.

Mr. LUTHER PORTER, our genial and handsome Main street grocer, handed us several nice ripe pears last Sunday, which were of the second crop this year, grown on his father's place two and a half miles west of town. Mr. HENRY LONG, an old gentleman who lives near WALNUT GROVE, fell from his barn loft last Friday and received internal injuries from the effects of which he has ever since been confined to his bed. He is an old settler in this county, and used to hunt deer with that famous old gentleman, DAVY CROCKETT.

The cotton crop of the present season is estimated to be over 1,000,000 bales. This is considerably in excess of the crop for last season, and it will be hard to convince the farmers of Gibson County, at least, that such is the case. But if not a bale of cotton was produced in the whole state of Tennessee, the effect on the general crop would be inappreciable.

Mr. and Mrs. B. A. SMITH celebrated their Silver Wedding Wednesday at their elegant residence in North Rutherford by giving a dinner in honor of their thirtieth year of married life. Mrs. W. B. SEAT, of Humboldt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. SMITH and quite a number of old friends and acquaintances of this place were present and participated in the grand reception. We wish that much happiness may fall to the lot of that excellent couple in their old age, and may they live to celebrate their Gold and also their Diamond weddings is the wish of The REGISTER."

"The following is an advertisement: (from the issue twenty years ago) T. J. WREN, Proprietor RUTHERFORD ROLLER MILLS, says: As the cotton crop is short, and money scarce, he will reduce the price of flour to 2 1/2 cents per pound, commencing Monday Dec. 2."

"The following items were in a communication from YORKVILLE: (also from the issue twenty years ago) MR. EDITOR:-- We are happy indeed to know that RUTHERFORD now claims that distinguished honor of having a newspaper. For she is one of the leading towns in the country and justly deserves it. She is noted for her hospitality, good schools, etc, and above all for having the best boys and the prettiest girls on the M. & O. ROAD. And with these distinctions she certainly is worthy of a newspaper; and it takes that to make her complete.

The WHEELER ROLLER MILL is nearing completion. It will commence grinding in a few days, and it will be very advantageous to the town and surrounding country. The farmers are eager to hear the whistle blow as some of them have been borrowing flour for some time.

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