For a brief historical sketch of each farm, click on the farm name.
Justine Reed
Located on Highway 200,
the Crouch Farm was founded in 1904 by Thomas E. Crouch. The 75 acres produced
corn and supported cattle and swine. The couple had four children. Their
daughter, Mae, and her husband E.B. Moody were the next owner s of the
land. The farm had two subsequent owners
after Mae and now the current owner is the founder’s granddaughter, Justine A.
Reed. The 75 acre farm now
supports cattle. Ms. Reed’s daughter and son-in-law, Mike and Connie Storie
work the land today. The Storie’s are
also proud owners of a Century Farm in
Richard W. Pierce
Lois Pierce
Junior Pierce
Located west of Byrdstown is the P & Z Farm that was founded
around 1900 by Jim Henry Pierce. Married to Lorina Pierce, they had five
children. Their names were G. Rowmanus, Alvin, Sophia Brooks, Dade Spurlin and
Sis Anderson. In addition to raising row crops on the 68 acres, the family
reports that there was a lead mine on the farm. In 1907, the founder’s son, G.
Rowmanus Pierce acquired the property. He and his wife Belle Dennis Pierce, had
two children, though both died in infancy.
The family recalls that rare daffodils and rare May Day peonies were
cultivated. During these early decades,
the land for
In 1929, the farm was sold to his first cousins, Posie, Walter and
Roscoe. The cousins paid for the farm over the Depression years raising and
selling row crops, and working at the blacksmith shop and at sawmills. The
cousins farmed the land for several years and then they divided the land
between the three of them. Over the twenty years, the Pierce family entertained
the local community with their well known musical talents and dances were held
at the old farm house.
The fourth owners of the farm were Woodrow Pierce and Gracie Irene
Zachary Pierce who acquired the farm from Roscoe Pierce in 1952. Gracie paid
for the farm with $500 that she had saved up and finished paying for the
property the next year with a tobacco crop. While helping manage the farm,
Woodrow also worked as a mechanic and at a sawmill. In addition, he raised and
traded swine and grew tobacco.
Today, the farm is owned by Richard W. and Lois D. Pierce.
Currently, the farm produces cattle, hay, and poultry. A house, built from materials recycled from
homes torn down to make way for
John Sells
By 1886, Joann Sells had defied the odds and had
established a working farm of 65 acres located six miles northeast of
John Sells, the grandson of Joann Sells, inherited 60 acres in 1977. He now raises pasture, hay, cattle and chickens and continues to practice soil conservation.
Paul Taylor
The founders of the Triple T Farm were Reuben and Nannie
Tipton Taylor. In 1832, they purchased 200 acres of land fourteen miles north
of
Frances and Thursey left the family land to their son Tom
Sherman Taylor.
In 1978, Paul E. and Mary Ramsey Taylor obtained the family farm. They “have acquired and put back together (all) of the original land” and possess a total of 420 acres. Beef cattle, hay and tobacco are the farm’s chief commodities.
Willie Williams
Located ten miles east of Byrdstown, the Williams Farm
dates to William F. Williams’ acquisition of 300 acres prior to 1870. Married
twice and the father of eleven children, Williams was a general farmer who was
interested in the welfare of the community. He donated land for the
construction of the
His son Osco B. Williams was the farm’s second generation
owner. Osco and his wife Pearl Storie managed 287 acres and their labor yielded
cattle, swine, corn, hay and tobacco. In 1975, the farm passed into the hands
of Osco and