For a brief historical sketch of each farm, click on the farm name.
The following map is for a general geographical understanding. It does not provide the specific locations of the farms because of privacy reasons.
Map courtesy of Carole Swann, Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Harris A. Armour, Jr.
Birdie Louise Armour Kay
Billie Reeves Armour
Acquiring 178 acres located six miles east of
Somerville, William H. and Isabella Armour established the Armour Century Farm
in 1836. William was an Irish immigrant who moved to
The founders’ great great grandchildren acquired joint
ownership of the farm in 1962. As late as 1976, they specialized in the
cultivation of soybeans and cotton on 723 acres of land. Since the original
Century Farm survey in 1976, however, they have divided the land and Harris A.
Armour, Jr., Birdie Armour Kay and Billie Reeves Armour currently own and
operate separate tracts of the original family farm.
Wilena Roberts Bejach
Annie Laurie Bejach
The Bejach Farm is located 4 miles north of
According to the family, during the 1960s highway 76 was
built diagonally across the farm land. In 1969, the farm was divided into four
parcels. As time moved on, Wilena Bejach, Benton Bejach and Annie Bejach became
the owners of the farm. Wilena is a grand daughter in law of the founder and
Frank H. Boswell
Sam Carter Boswell
The 5th Civil District of Fayette County
is home to the Boswell Farm, one of several West Tennessee Century Farms that
began with a few hundred acres but soon became a major plantation covering
thousands of acres. In 1876, Dr. William J. and Catherine Wirt Cannon
established the farm, which is eleven miles northeast of
In 1900, Dr. William Cannon willed 989 acres of the
plantation to his daughter Lillie Cannon Boswell. Lillie and her husband Eugene
Carter Boswell continued to improve their agricultural operations.
In 1902, Eugene Cannon Boswell inherited the farm upon
his mother’s death and managed the property until his death in 1967. The farm
next passed to
Rene Thomas
Marzee Judson Wilson
Susan Wilson Stacks
Located in
In 1861, Sallie Ann died and David Soule along with his
wife, Emma Allen, became the owners of the property. David and Emma had four
children and cultivated crops such as wheat, Indian corn and cotton. In
addition, they raised swine, sheep and cattle.
Today, the great great granddaughter of the founder,
Marzee Wilson “Rene” Thomas along with her mother and sister are the owners of
the land. The farm now raises hay, horses and cattle.
Elizabeth K. Winfrey
Will R. Winfrey
Dating to 1830, Chestnut Hill Farm stands six miles
northwest of
Elizabeth K. Winfrey is the fourth generation of the
family to live at Chestnut Hill. She owns approximately 196 acres on which the
farm’s original dwelling and plantation office still stand. Her nephew Whitson
W. Winfrey works the land, growing cotton and soybeans.
Ann Crawford
The Crawford Farm has played a pivotal role in the
settlement and development of the town of
With his commodities including cotton, corn, wheat, oats
and fruit, Job Walker managed a diversified agricultural operation. He also
operated a dairy business and vineyard. Job planted mulberry trees as well, in
hopes of establishing a native silk industry. In doing so, he hoped to produce
in
Of the founders’ six children, Iverson Jones Walker
became the farm’s second owner. Married to Sarah Ann Currie and the father of
ten children, Iverson continued the family businesses. His 388 acres of land
yielded cotton, corn, wheat, sorghum and dairy products.
William Currie Crawford, Jr., the great grandson of the
founders, was the farm’s next owner. On 64 acres, he planted fields of cotton,
soybeans, corn and oats. He and his wife Kathleen Gaither had five children and
in 1971, their son J. Harrison Crawford acquired 37 acres of the original farm.
Charles E. Harvey
Breeded livestock and hybrid crops have made
significant contributions to the modern development of Estanaula Oaks Farm.
Established by Dr. Richard H. Harvey in 1853, Estanaula Oaks Farm is eight
miles north of
Alexander Harvey acquired sole possession of the family
farm in 1932. He ceased production of sheep and oats “and expanded the acreage
into corn and hay with cotton being controlled by acreage allotment.” Wed to
Lyda McKinstry, Alexander fathered three sons, Alexander, Charles and William.
At his death in 1949, the farm passed to Lyda, who managed the property until
the 1970s. In 1973, the farm was formally divided between the founder’s
grandsons; Charles Harvey acquired 143 acres of the original farm. Today, he
works a total of 363 acres and grows cotton and soybeans.
Annie Belle Farley
John B. Farley and Mary Esther Hammer Farley
established the Farley Place Farm in 1885. They cultivated 100 acres of land
located three miles north of Rossville, growing cotton, corn and peas. The
founders and their five children also managed herds of horses, mules cattle and
swine. The
Harmon Eugene Havercamp
Marie Havercamp Cash
In 1845, William Montgomery founded the Havercamp
Farm, purchasing 188 acres located seven miles southeast of
The founder’s granddaughter, Lizzie Havercamp, inherited
a portion of the family landholdings in 1879. An active member of the Rehobeth
Presbyterian Church, Lizzie remained the farm’s owner until 1944 when the
property passed into the hands of her brothers and sisters.
Harmon Havercamp, the great grandson of William
Montgomery, now manages the family farm. He cultivates soybeans on a total of
625 acres of land.
Mrs. Alexander Harvey
Eight miles north of
James Edward Hester
George Stephen Hester
Jessie Stone Hester
The history of the Hester Farm is a reminder that the
construction of the state’s railroads brought both profit and loss to many
Grandsons James D. Hester and John Todd Hester became the
farm’s next owners. At a later date, James assumed complete control of the
family’s 500 acres. Married to Mattie Settle and the father of three children,
he grew cotton and corn and raised swine and horses. At James’ death, Mattie
became the farm’s owner.
For most of the twentieth century, James D. Hester, Jr.,
the great grandson of the founders, owned and operated the farm. He worked 650
acres, producing soybeans, corn, hay, cotton and cattle. James died in 1981 and
his sons, James, John and George, together with their mother Jesse Stone
Hester, became the farm’s owners and managers. Presently, the 575 acre property
yields Zoysia sod.
William H. Harvey
A second Century Farm to evolve from the original
estate of Dr. Harvey is the Hilltop Farm, located eight miles north of
Edward H. Rogers
Located one mile north of Dancyville is the Jones-Rogers Farm
founded in 1881 by Isaac Wesley Coppedge.
Married to Sarah Frances “Sally” Stanley Coppedge, the couple had five
children. Prior to settling in
The next owner of the property was
the founding couple’s daughter, Mary Ann Coppedge Jones. She and her husband, Leonidas Alexander “Sid”
Jones Sr., had seven children. During their
ownership, the farm produced primarily cotton and corn as had her parents. During a flu epidemic in 1900, three of their children, Frank, age 22, Lucy, age 7 and six-month-old Leonidas, Jr. ,
died.
The four surviving siblings, Sarah
Sallie Jones, Annie Coppedge Jones Rogers, Lizzie Kate Jones Wilkerson and
William Thomas Jones, inherited the property.
Eventually, William Thomas bought out the interests of two of his
sisters, Annie and Lizzie. William Thomas married Glenna Jones and they lived
in a house across the highway from the Methodist church in Dancyville. The
three sisters moved later to
In 1965, the great-grandson of the
founder, Edward H. Rogers acquired the farm. During the 1960s, the original
farmhouse burned, but the cedar trees in front of the house remained
standing. Twenty-five acres acres remain
in forest land and though cotton has once again become the primary crop. The great-great-grandson of the founder,
Edward Harrsion Rogers, III, prepared the family farm application for his
father who, now in his 91st year, continues to own the Jones-Rogers
Farm.
Mattie Watkins Fowler
A key theme in the history of the Fowler Farm is the
contribution of drainage systems to the higher yields and greater productivity
of modern agriculture. The Fowler Century Farm began in 1843 when John and Mary
Bell Burtis acquired 400 acres of land located seven miles northwest of
Shortly after the end of the war, in 1866, 600 acres of
the original farm passed to Fannie Burtis Salmon and her husband Sydney B.
Salmon, who had operated the family water mill throughout the conflict. Sydney
and Fannie, parents of four children, were regular contributors to religious
and charitable groups.
In 1906, Mrs. Sallie Salmon Watkins inherited 300 acres
of the farm from her mother. She was an important “supporter of the
Of Sallie and John Watkins’ eight children, Mattie
Watkins Fowler inherited approximately 215 acres in 1947. Three decades later,
Mattie owned over 2,700 acres. At that time, her son-in-law Alex Moore worked
the farm, growing cotton and soybeans.
Charles Edward Harvey
Old Mill Farm was founded in 1904 by William Patillo Boswell. The
211 acres yielded corn and cotton and also supported livestock. His 1919 will bequeathed the land to his
brother and sister, Eugene Carter Boswell and Betty May Boswell McKinstry. With their spouses, Lillie Cannon Boswell and
William Hemphill McKinstry, respectively, they continued to produce the same
row crops and stock the founder initiated.
In 1936 and 1948 transactions, McKinstry heirs consolidated
portions of the original parcel, which the current owner, Charles Edward
Harvey, great-nephew of the founder, then purchased in 1953. Six years later, he acquired the remaining
acreage, returning the farm to the 211 acres originally owned by William P.
Boswell. Today, Scott and Mat Rhea rent
the land, raising cotton on the portion not in the Conservation Reserve
Program.
Kathryn Rogers Petty
A. Royce Petty
The Petty Farm is one of the few Century Farms to
document the number of slaves who worked the land before the Civil War. In
1836, Robert R. and Martha Fraser Rogers established the property upon
acquiring 440 acres of land. The founders directed their 22 slaves in clearing
the land, building cabins and constructing new roads. Corn, cotton, vegetables
and livestock were the farm’s chief commodities. In 1860, the land yielded 600
bushels of corn and 69 bales of cotton.
Robert and Martha Rogers had six children and their daughter
Carrie Rogers Dickinson became the farm’s second owner. Carrie’s husband B. P.
Dickinson grew cotton and corn and raised cattle, swine and chickens.
In 1957, Kathryn Rogers Petty inherited 30 acres of the
family landholdings. The great granddaughter of the founders, Kathryn and her
son A. Royce Petty presently manage 48 acres. The farm specializes in cotton
production and the breeding of fine race horses. Royce also trains the horses
for competition on his own race track.
Rupert Harvey Pulliam
David K. and Lucy Wright Pulliam, purchasing 100
acres of land located four miles north of Rossville, founded the Pulliam
Century Farm in 1849. The parents of five children, the Pulliams planted fields
of cotton and corn. Their son David K. Pulliam, Jr., became the farm’s second
owner in 1900. A veteran of the Civil War, Pulliam married Mary Farley. Working
with their ten children, the Pulliams specialized in corn and cotton
production.
In 1915, Rupert Harvey Pulliam acquired the family’s 100
acres. A prize-winning conservation farmer, Rupert terraced his land to prevent
water runoff and soil erosion. Wed to Sallie Jenkins, he fathered three
children. The family’s crops and commodities were cotton, corn, cattle, fruit
and swine.
In 1977, Rupert, Jr., acquired all of the family
landholdings. He has since added 143.8 more acres and cultivates large fields
of cotton, corn and soybeans. Rupert, a veteran of the Second World War, also
manages a cattle herd.
Jimmy Neville Spencer
The R. P. Neville Farm is located in
Lillian F. Reid
The Reid Farm, which is two miles north of Rossville,
is the oldest Century Farm in
The founders had five children and their son Willie N. Blain became the farm’s second owner. He married Julie Cocke and they managed 600 acres of land, producing livestock, corn and cotton. The Blain property passed through the hands of three family members before Lillian and Harold Reid recently purchased 100 acres of the original farm. Lillian is the founders’ great great granddaughter. The farm’s commodities are cattle, soybeans and cotton.
Jimmy N. Spencer
Billy T. Spencer
One hundred years ago, James Joseph Spencer and his neighbor,
William Jefferson Wiles, purchased a tract of land that had been owned by
Spencer’s father when he died in 1902. This tract and others were sold to
settle the estate in 1906. Spencer
bought a portion of what had been his father’s land in May of 1907. James
and his wife Nannie Payne Spencer had
five boys. Their names were Curtis, Leroy,
Currently, Jimmy manages and works
the farm founded by his grandparents. He
raises beef cattle, pasture and hay. In
addition, he rents out some of the cropland for cotton and
soybeans.
Rhea
Sylvan Ridge Farm is especially notable for its three
intact antebellum buildings, a rarity among West Tennessee Century Farms. The
“Sylvan Ridge” home is a two-story frame structure built in 1832. The
“Sylvester” home is another two-story frame building constructed in 1850. The
property also contains the
Of Edmund and Elizabeth’s six children, Samuel Allen
Taylor acquired 640 acres of the family property in 1872. Samuel raised the
same crops and farm products as his father. In addition to farming, however,
Samuel operated a store, cotton gin and saw mill. Married to Sarah Bullock,
Samuel was the father of seven children. In 1900, Sarah willed 100 acres of the farm to Charles K. Taylor. Three
years later, 530 acres passed into the hands of Mary Sue, Frances and Kate
Taylor.
In 1958, Rhea V. Taylor, Jr., obtained title to 640 acres
of the family landholdings. This great great grandson of the founders worked
the farm until he died in a plane crash in 1976.
Homazelle Teague Ashford
Most
Homazelle Teague Ashford, the present owner of the family
landholdings, acquired the farm of 196 acres in 1975. The great granddaughter
of the founders, she manages 186 acres and Robert Wayne Hurdle rents the land
and harvests its crops.
Walter Burch
Ena Wade Burch
Three miles west of
In 1982, Ena Wade Burch and her husband Walter Burch
acquired title to the family’s 95 acres. Walter and Steve Brunson work the
land, producing cotton, soybeans and cattle.
James Harvey Shelton
Thirteen miles northeast of
Kate Wiggins Shelton, the daughter of the founders, was
the farm’s second generation owner. The wife of W. T. Shelton, Kate was the
mother of five children. Throughout the early twentieth century, the Sheltons
operated a large farm of 974 acres. Cotton, corn, horses and mules were the
family’s chief agricultural commodities. In 1931, Kate willed 257 acres to her
son James Wiggins Shelton, who owned the land for the next three decades.
In 1969, James Harvey Shelton obtained title to 243 acres
of the original Wiggins land. James, who is the great great grandson of James
and Sally Wiggins, now owns a total of 843 acres. He is a major
Marjorie Yancey Sanders Levy
Erma Yancey
Louise Yancey Montague
Cornelia Yancey Walls
Gail Terry Vance
Joan Terry Armstrong
Andrew Lee Terry, Jr.
Located seven miles northwest of
In 1970, the farm passed into the hands of the founders’
grandchildren. James W. Montague tills the land for the current owners. His
crops are corn, cotton, milo and soybeans.