Map courtesy of Carole Swann, Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Dorothy Beaty Daniel
Anne Daniel Dale
In 1850, Albert Green Beaty founded the Beaty Farm that is located
approximately one mile from the Haywood and
The next owners of the land were Martha Beaty Jones and
her husband John. The couple managed the farm for a several years and then sold
it to three of her siblings. Their names were F. A. Beaty, Posey Beaty and Mary
Ann Beaty Rainey. By 1876, F. A. Beaty owned half of the 211 acres. Having
never married, he left the farm and gin house to his sister, Emma Beaty Coffee
in 1880.
Emma was married to W. H. Coffee, however, they
eventually divorced and she continued to farm the land by herself until 1926.
As time moved on, the land was passed to Emma’s son, Dixon Coffee. At his
death, the farm was entailed for the next three generations.
In 1980, Dorothy Beaty Daniel, the great, great granddaughter of the founder became the owner of the farm. Today, Dorothy and her daughter Anne Daniel Dale own the property and the land is leased to Tirry Hooper.
Carol Ann E. Watson
Burrell Blackmon, whose family migrated to
Elizabeth Jane and husband Fountain
Willis Parrish were the parents of Burrell Smith, Walter Azbury, Charlie Jones,
Fountain Ernest and Lora Lee. In 1908, Burrell and Walter purchased 48 acres
that adjoined the original farm, along with another 19 ¾ acres that was
adjacent to the farm. After the death of their mother, Burrell and Walter
purchased the 92 acres from their siblings.
In 1915, Walter sold his half of the farm to Burrell and his wife,
Dora Ann Woods. During their ownership, they built a frame house on the
property facing the
Hester, one of their daughters, and her husband Fred Exum Jr.
moved back to the farm after Burrell developed glaucoma and lost his eyesight,
and with Dora, they operated the farm. After Burrell’s death in 1957, Fred
continued to manage the farm. Dora lived until 1971, dying just before her 92nd
birthday.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Fred and Hester made many improvements
to the farm, including constructing a new brick home and adding two equipment
sheds. In addition, the farm had a large barn that housed livestock and mules
that were used for gardening and pulling cotton wagons. The family also helped
raise registered
In 2005, the
great-great-granddaughter of the founder, Carol Ann Exum Watson, acquired the
farm. She and husband Harold and their sons, Jody and Scott, currently raise
beef cattle and hay. Son Jody, wife Diana and their son, Hunter, are the sixth
and seventh generations to live on the farm. Since moving to the farm, Jody and
Harold have restored and updated the sheds; plus, adding cattle working facilities
where the milking barn once stood.
John Pat Bond
John Robert Bond
Located twelve miles west of
During the Civil War, both
As time moved on, Thomas Hare Bond acquired the property.
Along with his wife, Flora Belle Keelen Bond, they raised seven children. While
managing the farm, Thomas also built a one-story frame farm house on the land.
In 1932, the great grandson of the founder, John Pat Bond, became the owner of the land. Today, John Pat and his son John Robert Bond manage the farm. However, John Pat’s nephew, Thomas Wilmot Bond, Jr. works the land that mainly produces cotton and soybeans. A one-story frame farm house, a log smokehouse and a frame milk shed with a brick cellar that were constructed in the 1870s still stand on the property.
Mary L. Coburn
In 1853, John W. West and Sarah Ann Dickinson were married. As parents of ten children, they were the
founders of a family that continues to farm in
The next owner of the property was
Sarah’s sister, Emma Jane Rose Dickinson and her husband, James E. Dickinson.
While managing the farm, James served as an active member of the
The third generation to own the land
was Edgar Hays Pentecost and Bettie Pace Dickinson Pentecost, who was John W.
West’s niece. The couple acquired the farm in 1924 and, with their seven
children, raised cotton, corn, cattle,
swine, peas, hay, sorghum, fruit, orchards and a vegetable garden. In 1943,
Edgar passed away and Bettie continued on the farming operation with the help
of their son Burnie. Bettie was active
in the Home Demonstration Club while Burnie and his wife, Jeanette worked at
the ASCS office. In later years, Burnie worked for the Tennessee Forestry
Service along with his brother, Thomas. Another brother, Kenneth, retired to
the farm and lived there until his death in 1984.
In 1974, Mary Louise Coburn,
daughter of Edgar and Bettie, acquired
fifty-five acres. Prior to owning this
property, Mary and her husband, Hubert Coburn farmed in
In 1993, Hubert died and today the
couple’s oldest daughter, Harriet, assists her mother in managing the farm.
Currently, the land produces row crops and is worked by Steve and Keith
Sullivan of
Billy and Roseann
Donnell
Because it evolved from a large antebellum plantation
into a smaller diversified agricultural operation, the Donnell Farm mirrors the
history of many
1,162 acres of his land at
an unknown date. Although the record is not clear, the family might have
experienced hard times during the Civil War and Reconstruction, forcing them to
sell land in order to keep the farm in operation.
In 1882, George Washington Donnell, the husband of
Josephine Ellis and the father of eight children, inherited a farm of 500
acres. His agricultural products were corn, cotton, wheat and livestock. While
adding 64 acres to his property, George, like his father, also sold large
amounts of the family landholdings. In 1901, his son Joe acquired only 100
acres of the farm. His crops remained the same as those of his father and
grandfather. The husband of Iantha Reid, Joe was the father of two daughters.
Having acquired his first tract of 70 acres in 1929, William Wadford Donnell became the fifth owner of the family land. Working with his son Billy, William managed a 210 acre farm that produced corn, cotton, wheat, hay, cattle and swine. Today, Billy and Roseann Donnell own the land.
For more information regarding the Donnell Farm see:
Kathalynn H. Abrams
Karaleigh H. Holmes
Lindsey Edward Hunt
On April 29, 1904, Samuel Pleasant Dougan, established a 404 acre
farm west of
The second generation to own the
farm was Sarah Vesta Dougan Hall. She married Jack Graves Hall and they had two
children, Francis Henrietta and Mary Elizabeth. The family grew row crops
including cotton, corn, hay and soybeans., and raised cattle, chickens, pigs
and horses. During the 1920s, Mary Elizabeth was an active member of the 4-H Club
and was a delegate to 4-H Congress in 1932.
In the 1940s, Mary’s sister, Francis became a Home Demonstration Agent
in
In 1982, Lindsey Hunt’s children,
Kathalynn H. Abrams, Karaleigh H. Holmes, and Lindsey Edward Hunt, became
owners of the farm. Today, Lindsey lives on the property and the farm is worked
by Allan Verrell. Currently, he raises
cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat and horses.
James Matthews
The Elmwood Farm, which dates to approximately 1855,
stands eight miles northwest of
In 1964, James Shields Matthews, Jr., who is the great grandson of the founders, received 220 acres of the original farm. He presently owns a total of 745 acres. James raises the farm’s apples, peaches and pork, but rents his crop land to Fred L. Bowyer, Jr. In 1967, the family “completed a remodeling of the home place” and have since “kept the place in mint condition.”
Photo: The farm house on the Elmwood Farm.
Ronald G. Harris
Carol H. Williamson
Beulah G. Harris
In 1905, W. S. Harris, J.W. Harris, and J.L. Harris purchased 102 acres in the Seventh Civil District of Madison County, Tenn. The men raised cotton, corn and cattle on their farm. In 1909, J.L. Harris conveyed his interest in the property to W.S. and J.W. Harris. W.S. married Madelyn Clason, and they were the parents of two children, Wesley Clason and Clarence Rowland Harris. Madelyn Harris also was active in the Home Demonstration Club.
In 1978, Madelyn and W. S. Harris’s sons acquired the family farm, which at the time consisted of 150 acres. Wesley and Clarence raised cotton, corn, soybeans and cattle. Wesley, who did not marry, was a member of the Farm Bureau. Clarence married Beulah G. Harris. Clarence, Beulah and Wesley were all members of the Young Farmers & Homemakers club. Clarence and Beulah had two children, Ronald G. Harris and Linda Carol H. Williamson. Carol was a 4-H member.
Ronald G. Harris, Carol Williamson and their mother, Beulah Harris, now own the Harris Farm. They raise cotton, corn and soybeans on their 150-acre farm. Ronald is married to Gale Harris and they, along with his mother, sister and brother-in-law, Bill Williamson, and Carol and Bill’s son, Brian Williamson, live on the farm today. The farm manager is Andy Williamson, a great-grandson of the founder.
Photo: Farm landscape on the Harris Farm
Kathryn Hopper Bass
Daniel and Lucinda Burrus Hopper purchased 90 acres and
established the Hopper Farm in 1843. From these humble beginnings, they
developed a major antebellum plantation of 2,000 acres, which produced cotton,
corn, wheat, swine, cattle and mules. Daniel, in addition, owned and operated
the community’s first mule-powered cotton gin.
In 1886, William Hopper acquired 1, 600 acres of his
parents’ land. William and his wife Roberta Boone, the parents of two children,
raised cotton, corn, wheat, cattle and swine.
Kathryn Hopper Bass, the great granddaughter of Daniel
and Lucinda Hopper, inherited 492 acres in 1965. Today, she manages 517 acres
and her hired labor grows cotton, soybeans and corn and breeds registered
The last known Confederate veteran
of Madison County had an association with the Rochelle family. John Patton Stribling, a cousin of Lucas
Rochelle, and known affectionately to the family as Uncle John lived on the
Rochelle farm from 1909 to his death in 1943. During the Civil War, he enlisted at Union
City where he served in the 33rd Tennessee Infantry. He served in
the Battle of Shiloh under General Albert Sidney Johnson and after being
separated from his company, joined the Second Tennessee Brigade at
Chattanooga. He was commissioned a
lieutenant in Forrest’s cavalry. He fought in the battles of Murfreesboro,
Chickamauga, Franklin and Perryville which he considered the bloodiest battle of
all. The family recalls that he remained
a good natured man who “flat out refused to worry.” Well respected within the community, he was
honored on his 100th birthday by the American Legion and offered
these words in response, “There’s lots
of good to be found in life if you go after it right.” The old soldier is buried in the Rochelle family plot in
Hollywood Cemetery.
Like his father, John L. Rochelle
was also a progressive farmer. When he was around 15 years old, he dismantled a
tower in the Lambuth College area, brought it back to the farm, rebuilt it,
added a windmill, connected it to batteries, and provided an electric current
for the family home. This process took
him about a week. According to the family, “he accomplished a huge task for
anyone, much less a young teenager.” He was involved in learning useful things
about motors, farm equipment, and generally how to make things work and if they
did not, why. He also learned wielding
and gained experience in working with livestock through the 4-H club. He recalls the Depression years but remembers
that they always had food on the farm from chickens, and they canned fruits and
vegetables to see them through.
In 1942, John joined the Navy and was stationed at the Millington
Naval Station. He returned to the farm
in 1946 after which he learned to fly and owned his own airplane. He built a landing strip and a hanger for his
plane on the farm.
In 1977, Lucas passed away leaving the 123 acre farm to John. John is actively engaged in the everyday operation of the farm. Black Angus, cotton, corn, wheat, soybeans, tomatoes, and a peach orchard keep the According to John, “farm children have the best of both worlds, they can go to the city and see the sights but return to the farm and learn valuable lessons from farm life. But the city children just see one side to life and miss the education of the farm.” For more than a century, Lucas and John Rochelle have owned and farmed this property.
Photo: Front view of the barn on Rochelle Farms.
Rachel Jeanette Smith
Annie Mai Smith Jamison
Harriet Smith Huggins
The
Smithland Farm is located six miles west of
In 1980, Rachel Jeanette Smith, Annie Mai Smith Jamison,
and Harriet Smith Huggins, granddaughters of the founders, became the owners.
The farm has undergone some changes during their ownership. The airport
purchased an additional 40 acres of the farm in 1994 and a tornado demolished
the 1900 barn in 1999. The daily operations of the farm are managed by Rachel
and Harriet and they raise beef cattle, horses, and hay on 165 acres. The home
place built about 1900 remains from the time of the founding generation and a
building now used as a shop dates to the nineteenth century. A barn and silos
from the 1940s continue to be used on the farm.
Photo: A Cattle
herd on the Smithland Farm.
Jo Eddie Wilbur O’Cain
Catherine Camille Wilbur Jobe
The Spivey Farm was founded in 1849 by Calvin J. Spivey and his
wife Mary A.E. Spivey. This farm is
composed of 150 acres. They had two
children, Mary and Calvin Spivey. Joe and Calvin Spivey, the founder’s
grandsons, were the next owners of the farm. The now 350 acre farm produced
cotton, corn, and hay and supported mules, sheep, cattle, swine, and
chicken. Joe Spivey and his wife Mildred
provided a country store and grist mill for the community. He also furnished mule teams to maintain the
county roads. In addition to farming,
the land was used as an Auxiliary Training Airfield during WWII.
At the passing of Joe and Mildred Spivey, the farm was left to
their two daughters, Mildred and Betty Joe.
Betty Joe’s husband William Bradford was recognized as “Save Our Soil”
winner in
granddaughters,
Jo Eddie Wilbur O’Cain and Catherine Camille Wilbur Jobe, are the current
owners of the farm.
Photo:
The farmhouse on the Spivey Farm was built in the 1910s by Joe Spivey.
Helen Sykes Hamilton
The 4th District of Madison County is home to
the Sykes Farm, the oldest Century Farm in the county. Established by Jonas
Sykes in 1822, the farm originally consisted of 142.4 acres. Jonas had not
planned to locate his new home in
In 1843, Eliza Hollingsworth Sykes and Cyrus Sykes,
respectively the daughter-in-law and grandson of the founders, obtained 142.5
acres. Cyrus, who served in the Confederate army during the Civil War, married
twice and fathered six children. During his operation of the farm, crops and
products became more varied and included clover, cotton, vegetables, corn,
wheat, sorghum, broom corn and livestock.
Mrs. Fannie Sykes and her three daughters, acquired the farm in 1963. The three daughters are the great great great granddaughters of the founders. They jointly owned 82 acres and their cousins, Jesse and Earl Sykes, planted and harvested their crops of soybeans and cotton. In 1999, some of the acreage belonging to other family members was auctioned off and Helen Sykes Hamilton became the sole owner of the farm.
Photo: Walter and Fannie Sykes.
Ann Taylor Pope Wagster
Betty Vanlandingham
Taylor
Located three miles southeast of Mercer is the Taylor
Homeplace Farm that was founded by Robert W. Taylor in 1878. On 80 acres, the
farm produced cotton, corn and dairy cattle. Married to Mary Ellen Pentecost
Taylor, the couple had seven children. Their son,
After George died, one of his sons, William Ernest Taylor
bought out his other siblings interest and became the sole owner of the land.
William managed the land until his death in 1970. At this time, the land was
inherited by William’s children, Billy Hollaman Taylor and Ann Taylor Pope
Wagster. On April 21, 1971, Billy passed away and his interest of the farm was
acquired by his wife Betty Vanlandingham Taylor.
Today, Ann and Betty continue to own the land that
produces cotton and soybeans. Currently, Ann’s son, Stephen F. Pope and his
family live on the farm, however, the land is leased to Ray Fuller.
William Ward Woolfolk
The Civil War’s impact on the planter class in
In 1871, Susan Elizabeth Pearson inherited 153 acres of
her parents’ plantation. Susan wed John George Woolfolk and they had four
children. The present family home, called Walnut Flat, dates to 1870. The
family raised cotton, corn, hay, wheat, swine and beef cattle on a farm that
eventually totaled 249 acres. William Brodus Woolfolk acquired 225 acres of the
family land in 1918. A charter member of the
Woolfolk died in 1947 and left the farm to his four
surviving children, Gladys, John B., James and William. James died in 1976 and
John passed away six years later. Today, Gladys and William are the farm
managers and Gladys lives in the Walnut Flat homeplace. Working the farm’s 477
acres are William Woolfolk and his sons. The family has “been building a herd
of registered Polled Hereford cattle” and they cultivate cotton, corn,
soybeans, wheat and oats.