Rhea County

Rhea County was established in 1807 and its county seat is Dayton. Originally, the county seat was Washington, a thriving marketplace during the early nineteenth century. However, the wealth of coal, iron and limestone in the Dayton area made it a major manufacturing center that encouraged the growth of the town. As a result of its large number of citizens and its large number of employment opportunities through the iron and coal industry, Rhea Countians voted to move the county seat from Washington to Dayton in 1889. The county became internationally famous in 1925 when the Scope Trial was held in Dayton, Tennessee and the courthouse where the trial took place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rhea County has six Century Farms and the oldest is the Cawood Farm that was established in 1848. For more information regarding Rhea County, please go to the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History & Culture website.

Louisa A. and Stephen Cawood established the Cawood family farm, which is four miles north of Spring City, when they acquired 700 acres of land in 1848. Few records remain of these early years, although the family knows that the Cawoods had three children and they raised hay, grain and beef cattle. In 1899, their son George M. Cawood obtained a portion of the farm and 56 years later, the founders’ great grandson Harold Cawood inherited 100 acres of the family land.

Today, Harold and his family manage a total of 358 acres, which produce hay, grain and beef cattle, the same crops raised by the founders over 130 years ago.

The story of the Chattin Century Farm clearly records the difficulties of maintaining farm operations in the Reconstruction era. Saddled by debt, many Tennessee farmers lost their properties and never regained their land. The Chattins were lucky; they eventually were able to rebuild their farm. In 1853, Colonel John Davis Chattin and his wife Susan Cooke Chattin established the Chattin family farm, which is two miles southeast of the Watts Bar nuclear plant. Initially, their farm contained 100 acres of land. A Mason and one-time merchant in the town of Washington, Chattin specialized in breeding mules. His farm also produced corn and grains, along with several varieties of livestock. After the Civil War, the family’s application states, Chattin found himself “deep in debt” and he sold his farm to Jeremiah C. Wasson for $4500. Wasson allowed the family to remain on the land, but two years later a flood forced the family to leave their homestead. Chattin was injured during the evacuation and he later died. In 1871, Susan and her four children repurchased almost 507 acres of the original farm and began tilling the land once again.

Susan and her children farmed the land as a partnership, producing corn, small grains, cattle and horses. But the family found itself incapable of managing so many acres of land and sold almost 409 acres of the property. In 1907, Mrs. Annie Chattin and her six children, the daughter-in-law and grandchildren of the founders, inherited the remaining 97 acres of the farm. This generation of Chattins expanded the farm’s operations to include crops of peas and strawberries. The construction of a gravel road and bridge over Yellow Creek in 1912 provided the family with a better connection to outside world.

Watson Fielding (Bill) Chattin, the founders’ grandson, inherited the farm from his mother in 1943. The 1940s and 1950s were years of agricultural modernization. The family acquired its first tractor in the late 1940’s and the rural electrical association installed electricity. The Soil Conservation Service reclaimed a swamp on the property and in the following decade, the agricultural Extension Service chose the Chattin farm as a test farm. A justice of the peace and operator of a small community store, Bill Chattin also raised hay, corn and beef cattle on his land, which he expanded to a total of 127 acres. His wife, Nelle Clack Chattin, raised their three sons, Glenn, Fred and John.

Today, Nelle and hers sons own and operate the Chattin farm. Nelle resides in the two-story home built in 1872 by Susan Cooke Chattin.

Located in the Wolf Creek community in Rhea County, the Crosby Springs Farm was founded by Joel Smith Crosby in 1879. Prior to moving to Rhea County, Joel and his wife Anna Stutzman lived in LaGrange, Indiana. During the Civil War, Joel S. Crosby joined Company B, the 17^th Regiment, Indiana Infantry as a private in 1861. He was mustered out on August 5, 1865 at Macon, Georgia. When Joel moved from Indiana, he brought an Oliver plow with him. As a result of the plow’s popularity, Joel eventually was employed by the Oliver Chilled Plw Works of South Bend and he began selling Oliver plows to his neighbors and traveled throughout the

United States

. In addition to selling plows, Joel managed the farm and raised cattle, horses, mules, pasture, hay, oats, wheat, pigs and chickens. He and his wife Anna had six children and they lived in a log house next to a spring until they built a large two story white farm house in 1890.

Joel and Anna’s son, James O. Crosby became the next generation to own the farm. Under his ownership, the farm raised the same crops and livestock as the previous owner with the addition of strawberries, corn and cabbage. In addition, he ran a dairy and shipped cream by rail to the Sugar Creek Creamery in Louisville, Kentucky and later sold whole milk to the Pet Milk Company.

James and his wife Mary E. Darwin Crosby had five children and their son-in-law Seth Tallent and the Spring House

husband of Henrietta Crosby Tallent became the third generation to own the farm. During his ownership, Seth made several improvements to the farm by building a large hay barn, developing several ponds, and constructing a milking barn. In addition to managing the farm, Seth and Henrietta were active participants in the community by serving in the Wolf Creek Community Club, the Wolf Creek Church, the Wolf Creek Elementary School and the Rhea County Historical Society.

Today, the land is owned by Paul D. Tallent, the great-grandson of the founder and son of Seth and Henrietta. The farm raises beef cattle, pasture, hay and timber. The farm house built in 1890 and a barn built in the 1880s are still standing today.

John Q. Shaver, a confederate veteran of the Civil War, purchased 200 acres in Rhea County just east of Dayton. Upon acquiring the land in August 1868 he and his wife, Elmira, began growing hay, corn and cattle. John, a religious man, donated the land for Salem Baptist Church. He preached at this church and also traveled to deliver sermons. The Shavers had eight children: Henry Houston, Nancy Jane, Jesse, Hester, Alice, Mary Delia, Ida and Ollie.

The Shaver family has remained on the farm for 143 years, passing through five owners and four generations. In 1903, the founder’s son, Henry Houston Shaver, was next to farm the land. Henry had nine children with his wife, Mattie. This generation of Shavers grew strawberries, corn and hay. The farm was then managed by Wallace Shaver, Henry’s son, who continued to grow the same crops.

Wallace passed the farm to his brother, John Hudson, a World War I veteran. John Hudson Shaver, raised cattle, hogs, mules, corn and hay. In addition to these agricultural activities, he was a prominent strawberry producer.

In 1970, John Q. Shaver’s great-grandson, Marvin R. Shaver, and his wife, Debbie, acquired the land and now own 45 acres of the original farm. With the help of their son, John A. Shaver, they grow cattle, hay and sheep. Marvin served in the Vietnam War, was in 4-H and was the Future Farmers of America chapter president. John also was in 4-H and FFA.

Rhea County, founded in 1807, now has five certified Century Farms. The newest addition to the list was founded in 1899 by Isaac Morris, who purchased 40 acres of land northwest of Spring City for $40. He married Eliza Garrison, and they were the parents of seven children. The family raised vegetables and dairy cattle.

In 1925, Isaac Morris sold 88 acres to Mark Reed, his second cousin. Mark, and his wife, Bessie (who also was related to Isaac Morris) raised mules and hay, and also owned and operated a sawmill. Mark and Bessie were the parents of four children.

In 1958, Allen Galloway, a grandson of Isaac Morris, acquired 47 acres of the farm on which he raised beef cattle and feeder pigs. Allen was also a successful beekeeper, having as many as 25 hives at one time. Allen Galloway and his wife, Arkie Morris Galloway, were the parents of eight children. Their son, James A. Galloway, acquired the land in 2008. James and his wife, Bonnie, live on the farm, where they raise beef cattle and hay.

Just east of Dayton is the Grassy Branch Farm purchased in 1904 by William Thomas “W. T” Housley. He and his wife, Cambley Bernice [Morgan] Housley, had eleven children and together the family worked the 200 acre farm. Each generation has built on a legacy of agricultural and community contributions.

Changes came to the farm in 1934 when two of the daughters, Della and Lela, began operating a dairy. Another primary crop they initiated was strawberries. Lela was married to William Bryant Massengale and the couple had two sons, Jennings Bryant “J. B.” and Harold.

J. B. was the third generation owner of the farm and ran two dairies to assist his mother. A progressive farmer, he purchased the dairy’s first electric milker and remodeled the dairy as well as combined herds to start beef production. He also raised corn for silage and crush feed, wheat, orchard grass, beans, and millet. In March of 1980, J. B. agreed to participate in the Soil Conservation Program. Throughout these years, he was very busy off the farm as well. The family advises that J. B. was “instrumental in starting the local DHIA (Dairy Herd Information Association) program.” He served as chairman of the Rhea County Election Commission and Rhea County Grand Jury. He was also involved in establishing the Frazier Volunteer Fire Department. J. B. married Rachel Josie Kate Barger and their children are Betty, Beverly, Connie, Bryan, and Don.

Today the farm is owned by Don Massengale. Don, wife Karen, and son Brandon live on the family farm. On 42 acres, originally farmed by his great- grandfather, Don raises beef cattle, miniature donkeys, wheat, straw, hay, corn, and sorghum. In 1978, Don earned an American Farmer Degree through FFA, and received Master Beef Certification in 2007.