Hamilton County

            Hamilton County was established in 1819 and was named in honor of Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury in George Washington’s administration. The county seat is Chattanooga, a city that has been significant in Tennessee’s railroad transportation history. As a prominent rail center, Chattanooga became a focal point during the Civil War. Chattanooga also has many tourist attractions such as Rock City, Ruby Falls, the Incline Railway on Lookout Mountain, the Chattanooga Choo Choo family entertainment complex, and the Tennessee Aquarium. In addition, to its tourist attractions, Hamilton County has many industries and businesses such as a Coca-Cola bottling franchise, DuPont, McKee Baking, and Combustion Engineering. Hamilton County has only one Century Farm known as the Shelley Dairy Farm.
For more information regarding Hamilton County, please go to the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History & Culture website.

For a brief historical sketch of each farm, click on the farm name.

Shelley Dairy Farm

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

Shelley Dairy Farm

Johnny Shelley

            The Shelley Dairy Farm is the only Century Farm in Hamilton County. John Matthews acquired title to his land in 1839, owning 160 acres located one mile south of Georgetown. According to the family, “when John Matthews and his sons first came into this area, there were many, many acres of land which had been cleared by the Indians and on which they were growing Indian corn, broom grass and wild sweet potatoes.” The Cherokees also “made many things such as clay pots, woven baskets from willow limbs and clay brick . . . . There was enough Indian trade brick for three chimneys for the two-story house” of the family. “The Indians also made deer skin moccasins, jackets and rugs as well as caps of animal skins and feathers from wild ducks, geese and turkeys.”

            Matthews and his family became friends of the Cherokee and learned much about tilling the soil of Hamilton County from their Indian neighbors. They grew all types of foodstuffs in addition to harvesting fruit orchards and local wildberries. The second generation owner was Pleasant Lewis Matthews, who loved “the soil and the good things it produced.” A graduate of the College of William and Mary in Virginia, “he dedicated his life to improving the soil, the crops he grew, the forest land and trees. He spent much time improving horses and cattle, and apple and peach orchards.” In 1845, Pleasant directed his slaves in the construction of a farmhouse and all the necessary outbuildings and furniture. The farmhouse still stands and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

            The farm’s third generation owner was Nancy Matthews Edwards, the founder’s granddaughter. Nancy and her husband Edward managed a very progressive and diversified farm on their 1,800 acres. In fact, Edward “introduced alfalfa to southwest Tennessee.” He “was strictly an up-to-date farmer and went it along scientific lines. He always made it a rule to buy and introduce the latest improved farm machinery and applied all the latest and most progressive methods to his farm work.” Ed also developed one of the largest stock farms in the region.

            In 1939, Inez Edwards Shelley inherited John Matthews’ original 160 acres and the farmhouse. Eight years later, she willed this property to her son Raymond D. Shelley. Although Raymond died in 1985, the family still operates the farm, which features a large, modern dairy operation with Holstein cattle, and keeps alive the family tradition of service to both the civic and agricultural communities of Hamilton County.