Warren County

            Warren County was established in 1807 and was named in honor of General Joseph Warren, the first general killed in the War of Independence and its county seat is McMinnville. The county has a notable lumber industry and a nursery industry that have provided support for the county’s economy. The county is also home to Rock Island State Park where many residents find recreational opportunities. Warren County has four Century Farms and the oldest is the Adams Farm that was established in 1816. For more information regarding Warren County, please go to the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History & Culture website.

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

Adams Farm

Chastain Farm

Davenport Farm

Moffitt Farm

Map courtesy of Carole Swann, Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Adams Farm

Joe Ramsey Adams

            For over 170 years, the Starkey-Adams family has tilled the same 125 acres that comprise the Adams Century Farm. Isarah Starkey, who homesteaded this land as early as 1808, acquired the title to 125 acres in 1816 and established the family farm, which is located eight miles west of McMinnville. His son, Isaac Starkey, inherited the family farm later in the nineteenth century. His wife was Cassandra Crowe and together they raised three children. Little else is known about the early history of the farm.

            In 1953, all of the founders’ initial 125 acres passed to his great great grandson, Joe Ramsey Adams. Over 30 years later, Joe continues the farm’s operations, harvesting fields of corn, wheat and beans. He also manages herds of swine and beef cattle.

Photo: Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Dodd and children pose in front of their house in Warren County. The prescence of two hired helpers, one standing on the porch and the other on the far left, inidicates their acceptance as a part of the family.

Chastain Farm

Edwin and Myra Chastain

            Between 1838 and 1839, the federal government forcibly removed thousands of Cherokee Indians from their homelands in East Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. The overland route that the Cherokees took between Tennessee and Oklahoma has become known as the “Trail of Tears” because possibly as many as 4,000 tribal members died during the journey. The Chastain Farm, which is three miles southeast of McMinnville, not only contains one of the Cherokee campsites from the Trail of Tears; the farm’s history also includes significant information about hard cider production, mid-wives and the progressive farming experience in eastern Middle Tennessee. In 1818, Jean and Polly Bottom Chastain began farming with 74 acres and added land and improved the farm over time. The Chastains and their fourteen children cultivated apple trees and made hard cider. They also raised sheep for their own use.

            In 1833, Miles Chastain purchased 74 acres from his father and became the farm’s second owner. Five years after beginning his farm, Miles witnessed the “Trail of Tears” of the Cherokee Indians as they were force to leave East Tennessee and march westward toward Oklahoma. One group of Cherokees camped on the farm. Miles and his spouse Mariah Burlison eventually owned a farm of 260 acres. The parents of twelve children, the Chastains continued to operate the hard cider and opened a grist mill. A part-time surveyor, Miles also grew wheat, tobacco, corn and sugar cane.

            Miles Thomas Chastain, the founders’ grandson, acquired over 100 acres of the farm between 1872 and 1877. Miles Thomas and his brother kept the family’s cider mill in operation and also “ran a small saw mill.” Miles’ wife, Mary Rice, served as a mid-wife to the communities of Shellsford and Smyrna. She lived until 1936 and was the mother of five children. The Chastains owned a very diversified farm, producing tobacco, corn, sugar cane, cotton, wool, wheat and honey.

            In 1921, Miles Thomas Chastain, Jr., acquired his first tract of family land and by 1958, he owned 193. 5 acres of the farm. Married to Matilda Smoot, Miles held several public offices, including school board chairman and county highway superintendent. He also modernized the farm’s operations, transforming the place into one of the area’s most progressive farms. Tobacco, corn, sugar cane, wheat and honey were the farm’s basic commodities. In the 1920s, Miles purchased five Holstein heifers from Wisconsin and established a small dairy, named the Chastain Brothers, which delivered milk to McMinnville residents.

            In 1950, Myra Elizabeth and Edwin E. Chastain acquired 166 acres of the farm from their parents. They now own 198 acres which yield beef cattle, hay, corn, tobacco and vegetables. The Chastains also manage a large dairy operation and James Donald Evans is their herdsmen. These great great grandchildren have maintained the family tradition of  public service: Myra is a member of the county commission and Edwin is a deacon at the Shellsford Baptist Church.

Davenport Farm

Wilma C. Davenport

John Burl Davenport and Elizabeth DeBerry married about 1838 in Warren County.  About 1850 and perhaps earlier, the couple acquired land adjoining Elizabeth’s parents’ farm in the Centertown community.  At about this time John donated land for the Big Springs Baptist Church and cemetery.  John and Elizabeth  had eight children.   This son, Wesley, became the owner of the farm in 1879.  Wesley married Hanson Owens and their farm, like most others was self-sufficent, supporting hogs, cattle, horses, corn, hay, oats and cotton.

            In 1886, the land was acquired by John Burl’s brother, Edmond Davenport. On 218 acres, he raised corn, hay, hogs, cattle, cotton, fruit and a variety of vegetables. Edmond wed Nancy Lemmons and they had eleven children.  They were  also active members of the Big Springs Baptist Church.

            Two years after Edmond acquired the property, the land was passed to his son Robert and his wife Sally Frances Bottoms. During their ownership, they added a wheat crop and maintained a large apple orchard.  According to the family, these apples were loaded onto a wagon and taken to a distillery located near Clearmont.   Robert and Sally’s sons were Alton Hill and Frim Morford Davenport. 

            In 1939, Alton Hill Davenport became the fifth generation to own the land. Under his ownership, Alton continued to produce traditional crops and livestock, but also established a Grade A Dairy Farm and introduced Holstein cattle, beef cattle and soybeans to the farm.  Alton served as a school teacher in the community and was President of Centertown Bank until 1933 when it closed.

            Alton’s son, Morris L. Davenport acquired the farm over a period of years beginning in 1952.  Married to Wilma C. Davenport, they had two daughters, Elena and Phyllis. In addition to managing the farm, the couple was very active in the community. During the 1960s and 1970s, Morris and his wife were members of the Centertown Community Improvement Club and the Farm Bureau.  Morris served as a Volunteer Fireman while Wilma has been an active member of Centertown Home Demonstration Club (HDC) and Vinson’s Crossroads HDC.  In 1992, Morris passed away and Wilma inherited the property. Currently, the farm is rented out to Jason and Jarvin Fann, family friends, who produce soybeans and corn.  Additional acreage is in timber.

Photo: Wilma Davenport, present owner of the Davenport Century Farm.

Moffitt Farm

William C. Moffitt

            Located three miles east of Irving College on Hills Creek Road in Warren County lies the Moffitt Farm. The farm was established in 1825 by Aaron Moffitt and his wife Harriett. On 490 acres, they raised corn, hay, horses, cattle and hogs. The couple had seven children and their son, Gilbert Pierce Moffitt became the next owner of the land. Under Gilbert’s ownership, he cultivated the same crops and livestock as the previous owner. According to family tradition, during the Civil War, many of the crops and other edible items were taken by the Union soldiers who passed through the region. Gilbert’s son, Elijah was the third generation to own the farm and his son Shirley Alfred Moffitt became the next owner. After Shirley Alfred, the farm passed to the current owner William C. Moffitt who acquired the farm in 1968. Today, the farm mainly raises beef cattle and timber. A barn that was built in the 1890s has been maintained and continues to be used.