Hooten

 Nebo - Hooten  Name Change
                                                                                                                 submitted by Janie Putman
                                                                                                                        December 1, 1998

     Different citizens of the community mentioned the fact that Hooten was once called Nebo and Nebo once called Hooten.  Research has revealed that fact to be true.  The area known as Hooten today was called Nebo at one time.  A land transfer dated January 17,1898 from A.R. Jones and wife F.M.Jones to S.J.Hogue gives the description of the land as in Nebo.  The one and three-forth acres was the same as the land where the Clarence and Ollie King Home later stood.   That was without any doubt downtown Hooten that we knew in the 1920's and to the present day.  This fact was also related to Dennis Carlton by his grandfather, Pike Carlton and to Louise King McKinley by her grandfather, James H. King (Pa King).

     The postmasters' list for Nebo and Hooten reveals the same fact. Mack Morris was the first postmaster of Nebo named on June 7, 1888. Mollie Reynolds started on March 27, 1893 and only held the job two months, when John T.(Pike) Carlton was named on May 15, 1893.  George Terrill was serving as postmaster when the name was changed on April 6, 1899 to Hooten.

     The Tri-City Reporter, of Dyer, Tennessee published an interesting article on February 24, 1977 written by Winfield Taylor, an old timer who remembered Hooten in the 1890's.  It is probably the best available record of that period since he was an eye witness. Mr. Taylor recalled how wide the road had been at the time when Harlan and Mac Morris owned and operated a stave mill in Hooten.  According to Taylor, Mac Morris erected a spacious Country store, which was run by a Mr. Weiss. and a blacksmith shop  was operated by Jim Pearson.  He recalled a store built by a Mr. Shelton. According to the 1900 census that Mr. Shelton was William Shelton and his clerk was his son W. C. Shelton.  Mr. Taylor tells about the post office name being changed and the place becoming Hooten, rather than Nebo.  The J. W. Hooten Family was living there at the time of the name change. Shug Hogue was the rural mail carrier, bringing mail from Dyer to Hooten at the time. 

  Bryan's Day, a political rally for the democratic presidential candidate, William Jennings Bryan, held at Hooten in 1896, was one of the high lights of Mr. Taylors memories.  Hooten put on quite a show, with Bryan Slogans, ladies from Trenton to sing, entertainment, barbecue, watermelons, and even a tight wire act by Lee Horner.  His wire was stretched across West Main. Nebo (Hooten) gave Bryan their very best, but McKinley won the election and became the 25th. President of the United States.

    Some of the men who were important customers at the stone in Nebo (Hooten) included Eldon Pigue and John Carlton who were members of the Gibson County Court, representing Nebo (Hooten) and the surrounding area. They were also some of the top checker players there, according to Mr. Taylor.

Stores, carrying General Merchandise in Hooten, have included  Mac Morris,  William Shelton,  George W. Terrell, Jim M. Hunt, Bill Wimberly, Gervis Flack, Carl Smith and Louis King.  The store closed in 1942.

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