Map courtesy of Carole Swann, Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Jessie Catherine Morrell
Masters
Located one mile north of Jonesborough lies the Allison
Farm that was founded by John Allison, II in 1800. On 300 acres, he produced
corn, wheat and beef cattle. Married to Martha Hodge, the couple had ten
children. Their son, John Allison, III was the next owner of the land. Along
with his wife, Susannah Hodges, they raised five girls. Their names were
In 1882, Susan and her husband Eldridge Sevier Morrell
acquired the farm. They owned the land until 1907 and then the land passed to
their son Joseph Lane Morrell. After almost thirty years of ownership, the land
was inherited by their children.
In 1984, the great, great, great, great grandson of the
founder, Jessie Catherine Morrell Masters acquired the farm. Today, she and her
husband William Arthur Masters continue to own the property and their son, Paul
A. Masters works the land. Currently, the 200 acres produces hay and beef
cattle. The farm has many buildings that were constructed in the nineteenth
century such as a large log barn, a log corn crib, a springhouse and a brick
house that are used and in good condition.
George H. and Martha Haire Archer
In
1854, Alfred T. Haire established the Archer Farm that is located north of
Jonesborough. According to the family, during the Civil War, General
Longstreet’s men camped overnight on part of the farm. While managing the 130
acre farm, Alfred also operated a shop where he made and repaired wagons.
Married to Jane Haire, the couple had fifteen children.
The next owner of the farm was Alfred’s and Jane’s son,
J. E. Haire. Along with his wife, Ruth Haire, they managed the farm and raised
tobacco, hay and cattle. The land passed through several generations and is now
owned by George and Martha Haire Archer. Today, George and his son, Kenneth
work the land that produces hay, corn, tobacco,
Photo: A view of the landscape on the Archer Farm.
Bruce H. Bacon, Jr.
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Founded by Robert B. Bacon in 1891, the Bacon Farm is located in
the Sulphur Springs community. Robert married Cora Mae Cox, and the couple had
nine children. On 110 acres, the family raised cattle, hay and tobacco. In
addition to managing the farm, Robert was a member of the original Sulphur
Springs School Board in 1908, which provided the political and financial
support to support a high school that served the community for many years.
The second generation to own the
land was the founder’s son, Bruce H. Bacon Sr.
Wed to Ann Walker Bacon, the couple had two children. During their
ownership, the farm produced hay, tobacco and cattle. The farm is located near
the historic Sulphur Springs United Methodist campground that had been home of
the Sulphur Springs camp meeting for more than 180 years.
In 2004, the grandson of the
founder, Bruce H. Bacon Jr., obtained the land. Today, Bruce raises hay,
tobacco, cattle, donkeys, peacocks and guineas. The fourth and fifth
generations of the family occupy the Bacon homestead that was built in 1906. An
1891 barn was renovated in 2004. The farm is also listed on the Appalachian RC
& D Council’s Quilt Trail and may be viewed on the Quilt Trail Web site at
http://www.vacationaqt.com/trail/waypoint/bacon-farm.htm.
Additionally, a replica of the LeMoyne Star quilt hangs on the barn and the original quilt that was quilted by the owner’s grandmother hangs in the living room of the owner, according to the family.
John
Edward Mays
Shadrack Hale founded a farm of at least one thousand acres from
land grants and purchases dating as far back as 1778. He and his wife Mary had
four children, three sons and a daughter. According to the family, Shadrack and
his brothers Meshack, Abednego, and Nicholas with brother-in-law Rev. Matthew
Talbot moved into this area of what was then North Carolina. Witnessing many important events to the development
of Tennessee as a state, “The oldest deed in the records of Tennessee was
witnessed by one of these brothers. . . Shadrack Hale signed the petition which
requested the North Carolina approve the new state of Franklin. ”
Shadrack Hale, Jr. became the owner
of the farm in 1803. He acquired at
least one hundred acres from his father and also signed the petition for the
creation of the state of Franklin. While
the name of his wife is unknown, he had one son, Landon Carter Hale, who
eventually inherited the family farm.
Married to Hannah Ellis, the couple had eleven children.
James Ellis Hale, born in 1836,
received land after Landon passed away in 1893.
Married twice, James had one son, William Brewer Hale, with his first
wife Delcina Chase, and five children with second wife, Nancy Anne
Ferguson. The Hales raised hogs, cattle,
horses, mules, chickens, corn, wheat, tobacco and orchards. James Ellis served
as a magistrate for his district and Nancy Anne was one of the five charter
members of the Oak Hill Baptist Church which is still active. It was during this generation that the Civil
War occurred and Nancy’s brother fought for the Confederacy.
After her father’s death in 1897,
Mary Tennessee [Hale] Odell, or Molly as she was also called, and her husband
Albert Monroe Odell received approximately 80 acres. They continued to raise many of the same
crops as her parents with the addition of turkeys. Having lived with his
parents in Virginia before receiving the land, Albert built a new home in
Tennessee between 1897 and 1900 where two of their five children were
born. He also built a large barn, crib,
sheds, chicken house, carriage house, and a house to rent. Serving on the
building committee for the Oak Hill Baptist Church, he made the pews and
pulpit. He also worked on many other buildings in his community.
When Molly died in 1944, the land was divided among her
children. Eugene Hale Odell bought his
siblings’ shares. He and wife, Ava Rowena [Watkins] Odell also bought two other tracts of land once belonging to
Shadrack Hale. Their total acreage was approximately
160. The couple had two children,
Richard Gene and Anna May, and raised tobacco, corn, wheat, barley, hay,
orchards, beef and dairy cattle, chickens, and horses. Very active in their
community, both were members of the Oak Hill Baptist Church where Eugene served
as a deacon and Rowena taught Sunday school, organized the first Bible school,
and served on numerous committees.
Rowena was also in the Home Demonstration Club.
In 2004, Richard and Anna inherited
the farm. Richard and his wife, Joanne
Chambers Odell had three children, Joanna, Richard Patrick, and Laurel Leigh.
Anna May and husband John Edward Mays had two daughters, Anita Anne Newsom, and
Cynthia Anne Clark. Richard and Anna
rented the land to Mr. Carl Cox and he grew corn, hay, and dairy cattle.
Today, Anna Mays owns 25 acres on
which she raises Angus cattle, horses, and hay. Her daughter and son-in-law,
Anita and Mike Newsom, also work and live on the land. There are several older
buildings on the farm including the original house, tobacco barn, feeding shed,
and a smoke house.
Bob Slonaker
The Breezy Hill Farm was established in 1888 by John
Andrew Slonaker. Located four miles southwest of Jonesborough, the 180 acres
produced poultry, grain and hay. Married to Nanny J. Miller Slonaker, the
couple had five children. Their names were Charles E., Rose, Daisy, Frank and
Myrtle. In addition to managing the farm, John made some improvements on the
farm by developing an orchard and maintaining a crop rotation on the farm.
The second generation to own the land was John’s and
Nanny’s son, Frank Slonaker. Along with his wife Ruby, they had three children.
During Frank’s ownership, the farm produced corn, wheat, hay and pasture. In
addition, he developed a large poultry enterprise by constructing four poultry
houses that were equipped with automatic feeders and water distributors.
In 1989, the grandson of the founder, Bob Slonaker
acquired the 130 acres. Today, the farm produces beef cattle, tobacco, alfalfa,
hay and pasture. In recent years, Bob installed a cattle guard, gates and
fences on the land. Also, he has created ponds that are accessible for his
cattle.
Photo: A pond and cattle herd on the Breezy Hill Farm.
Charles A. Keys
William Walker, of
In 1848, William “Billy” Walker, son
of William and Susannah, acquired the property.
He and his wife, Mary Brown, had nine children. During their ownership,
the farm supported bees, sheep, and corn.
The couple is buried in
By 1978, Charles A. and Marie E.
Keys, the current owners, had acquired the farm. Alfalfa, hay, and Holstein
steers are raised at
Photo: Susannah Graham Walker, wife of the founder of Brookside Farm.
Roy R. Brumit
Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Fulmer Brumit
Verbena P. Brumit
In 1819, John and Elizabeth Fulmer established the Brumit
family farm when they acquired 135 acres of land ten miles northeast of
John and Trephenia Ann Fulmer were the parents of five
daughters. When the property transferred to Pearl Fulmer Whittaker, Verbena
Brumit and Roy R. Brumit in 1922, it passed out of the Fulmer family name.
These were difficult times for farmers throughout
In 1974, the current generation of Brumits inherited the
farm. Two years later, Fred and Robert F. Brumit worked the property, producing
corn, wheat, hay and beef cattle.
Joseph Lee Bowman and
Amy Walker Bowman
The Centuryolde Farm is closely associated with the early
industrial and commercial history of the Bowmantown community and serves as a
physical reminder of the importance of grist mills and general stores in rural
communities of the nineteenth century. John and Elizabeth Bowman established a
farm of 157.5 acres, located six miles west of
Agricultural practices began to change on the Centuryolde
Farm at the turn of the century. William Sherfey Bowman inherited the store and
144 acres of the farm in 1905. Six years later, he planted the farm’s first
tobacco.
Joseph Lee Bowman, the founders’ great great grandson,
acquired 87 acres of family land in 1942. Today, his widow Amy Walker Bowman manages
operations that include the production of corn, silage, tobacco and dairy
products. Her son Derek Bowman works the land and lives on a portion of the
property.
Mr. and Mrs. J. B.
Galloway
Mr. and Mrs.
Louis Crouch
The founder of the Galloway Farm was Thomas Galloway of
J. B. was a veteran of the Civil War and operated the
farm for the next two decades until Clyde W. Galloway, Sr., acquired 95 acres
of the family land.
In 1978,
Mary Pearl Stout
Irene Miller Stout
Frank H. Stout
The history of the Karst Farm relates the typical
agricultural transformations experienced by
Upon J. W. Stout’s death in 1953, his son William Howard
and daughter Mary inherited the farm and “together they managed and operated a
grade A dairy of 25 Ayrshire and
James Barnes Keefauver
Upon purchasing 186 acres in 1803, Nicolas and Dicey
Keefauver established the Keefauver Farm five miles northwest of
Nicholas was the father of two sons to whom he willed the
property in 1879. Abraham Keefauver’s share totaled 189 acres on which he grew
corn and wheat while raising livestock. The land has passed through the
Keefauver family throughout the twentieth century. The present owner is James
Barnes Keefauver, who acquired title to 127 acres in 1967. The great great
grandson of the founder, Jim raises beef cattle, tobacco and corn.
Marcella Thomas Epperson
Knob View Farm was founded in 1848 by Henry Swadley and his wife
Mary Swadley. A part of the Princeton
Community, the Swadleys established and operated a tannery. On 50
acres they produced hay, corn, flax, eggs, dairy products, and wheat as well as
horses, swine, cattle, poultry, and mules. The first
Billy Joe Lewis
Kathie Lewis
In 1880, Jasper Newton Lewis and Mary Watson Lewis founded a 150
acre farm ten miles north of Jonesborough in the Harmony community. The couple
had eleven children and they raised tobacco, mules, horses, cattle and feed
grains.
The second generation to own the
farm was the founder’s son, Everett Matthew Lewis who obtained the property in
1909 following his father’s death. Lewis
married Ola Kate Moore and they had eleven children. A self-sufficient farmstead, the family
produced tobacco, chickens, hogs, cattle, feed grains, fruit trees, and garden
vegetables. The family also operated a
grist mill, blacksmith shop and sugar cane mill for the production of sorghum
molasses.
In 1973, Kathleen Lewis, the
granddaughter of the founders, became the owner of the farm. The family
remembers that in the fall of year, friends, neighbors, and relatives, as well
as the congregation of the nearby
In 1996, the great-grandson of the founding couple, Billy Joe Lewis and his wife Kathie became the current owners of the farm. They are the parents of Kalen and Kara. The family produces hay and beef cattle. A barn, a spring house, a shed, and a farm house that was built in 1921 and restored in 1996 by the current owners are part of the historic farmstead.
Photo: This farm house was built in 1921.
Bill Lewis
Anne Lewis
The Lewis Family Farm II follows the same history as the Lewis
Farm I until 1909 when Jasper’s and Mary’s son Charles became the owner of the
farm. Charles fathered nine children and
the family raised cattle, tobacco, chickens, corn and pigs.
In 1940, Charles’s son, Foy Lewis
became the owner of the farm. Foy children were Charlie, Don, Martha and
Clarence. On 60 acres the family
produced tobacco, cattle, chickens, corn and pigs.
Bill Lewis and his wife Anne became the owners of the farm in 1955. Currently, Bill and his son, Billy Joe Lewis work the land and grow cattle, feed grains, hay and garden vegetables.
Photo: A view of the farm landscape of the Lewis Family Farm II.
Steven K. Lewis
Konnie Lewis
A third family farm also originated with Jasper and Mary Lewis.
The story of this farm changes in 1973 when a 20 acre parcel was divided
between James Alvin Lewis and Evelyn Lewis Fulwiler. James had four children,
Michael, Sharon, Kathy and Steven. On
ten acres, the family raised cattle and hay. Evelyn had two children, Barbara
and Mark. Like James’s parcel, the farm produced cattle and hay. In 1993, the
great-grandson of the founder, Steven K. Lewis and his wife Konnie became the
owners of the Lewis Family Farm III.
They live on 20 acres with their two sons, Matthew Lewis and Kary
Gentry, and raise hay and horses.
Frances Leona Crumley
Sarah Elizabeth Walters
Dating to the homestead that James and Elizabeth King
Crumley established in 1852, the Lone Pine Farm lies north of
At the turn of the century, in 1902, Sally Crumley Krouse
and her husband Samuel Krouse acquire 148 acres of the family farm. Like many
The founders’ great great granddaughter, Frances Crumley,
inherited 87 acres of the original family land in 1932. She presently lives at
the farm with the family of her daughter, Sarah E. Walters. On their land
stands an early nineteenth century log cabin that the Daughters of the American
Revolution have designated as the early homesite of John Carr, a soldier in the
Revolutionary War.
While Lone Pine Farm has several physical remains of its
colorful past, the owners are worried about future development. Mrs. Walters notes
that the “community has changed drastically since Highway 137 took a portion of
our property. All of our farm land has been annexed by
Maude W. Teague
Located five miles south of
In 1950, the granddaughter of the
founder, Maude Teague became the owner of the land. Today, Maude, her son
Robert J. Teague and her granddaughter Michelle Livingston live on the
farm. Robert and John F. Walter, a great
nephew of Mrs. Teague, work the land and raise cattle.
Margaret and George
Holley
The Michael Krouse Farm is closely linked to the history of the
Mrs. Claude R. Simmons
Joseph Bowman and Christina Beahm Bowman were the
founders of the Mizpah Hills Farm. In 1818, they acquired a tract of 451 acres,
two miles northwest of
In 1883, Daniel F. Bowman recorded his title to 156 acres
of his grandparents’ land. Daniel and his wife Susan Pence were progressive
farmers of the late nineteenth century. They built lime kilns to produce lime-a
popular fertilizer. They also grew red clover and operated a small dairy.
In 1920, the Bowmans deeded the property to their
daughter Mary Simmons, the wife of Claude R. Simmons. The Simmons have managed
the farm for the last six decades, raising wheat, hay, tobacco and beef cattle.
Claude has passed away, but Mary survives and her son L. D. Simmons currently
works 222 acres of the family land.
Jesse Lemuel Humphreys
John L. Humphreys
Samuel H. Humphreys
Located just north of
The second generation owners of Pioneer Farm were Issac
N. and Tina Sherfey Humphreys. Tina was the founders’ daughter and the mother
of four children. The Humphreys farmed 108 acres and corn, wheat, hay and beef
products were their chief agricultural commodities. Issac was also a prominent
local politician, serving in both the county court and the Tennessee State
Legislature. A former teacher, Isaac played an important role in the selection
of
In 1924, Issac died and left twelve acres of the family
land. Today, the Humphreys manage a farm with eighteen head of cattle, a
tobacco patch and fields of corn and pasture. The founders’ great grandsons,
John and Sam Humphreys, work the land.
The Humphreys log dwelling, which dates to 1793, has been
listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Margaret Holley and
George Holley
Pioneer
Josephine Roach
Although established after the Civil War, in 1866, the
The current owners, who acquired the property in 1958,
are the grandchildren of the founders. The family states that “the farm has
changed from a family sustaining general farm to beef cow-calf operation.” The
This Century Farm is significant for its Dungan’s Mill,
originally established in 1788, and its Dungan’s Stone House. Both structures
are in the National Register of Historic Places and serve as daily reminders of
the farm’s importance in the agricultural and architectural history of
Photo: The St. John Farm and landscape.
Located just inside the city limits
of Jonesborough, Sunnyside is a 200-acre farm founded by Nathan Shipley in
1807. The family reported that this parcel was part of land grants awarded to
Nathaniel Taylor from 1790 to 1795. Shipley, a native of Baltimore, and wife
Elizabeth had one son, Enoch.
Enoch acquired the property in 1834.
He was a surveyor and held several posts in
A member of the 8th Tennessee Cavalry throughout the Civil War,
Nathan—following his years as a solider—he became a civil engineer. By this
time, the farm had expanded to about 450 acres, the family notes.
Elbert, in his turn, became the
owner of Sunnyside. In 1865, trying to follow in his father’s footsteps, he
enlisted in Company I of the 8th Tennessee Cavalry, but was not mustered
because of ill health. After the war was over, he farmed, attended school and
became involved in several
In the late 1880s, he also served as secretary of the Jonesboro
Board of Education and was chairman of the Republican Committee 1st
Judicial district for many years. During Elbert’s ownership, the farm produced
pure-bred Aberdeen Angus cattle, Poland China hogs, white
In 1908, Walter P. and Albert L.
Shipley, the sons of Elbert and wife Jennie, became the next generation to own
the land. Although the property was legally divided between the brothers, they
chose to farm the land together for many years. Under their ownership, the farm
produced Pure-bred Aberdeen Angus and full blooded
Brothers Albert and Walter also
served as community servants, businessmen and were involved in politics at the
local, state, and national levels. Albert, who was married to Pearl Britton,
served on the staffs of Govs. N. W. Hopper and Alfred A. Taylor. In 1921,
Albert furnished President Warren G. Harding with a 42-pound turkey from the
farm for Christmas dinner at the White House. Harding spared the bird, the
family reports, and called it “the feathered monarch of the White House garden”
because it was such a fine specimen.
In addition to farming, the two brothers were very active in the
community, with Albert serving in
Walter, married to Frances Britton,
was a graduate of the
In 1964, Marjorie Shipley Mitchell,
the daughter of Walter and Fan, acquired the farm. Her mother was the daughter
of Frank and Alice Lee Howren Britton, also
Today, Samuel and wife Irene live on the farm, where beef cattle,
tobacco, hay, various grains and corn are the primary products. A main
livestock barn, a tobacco barn, a springhouse, a smokehouse and a large
farmhouse are among the buildings on the busy farmstead.
Photo: The current Sunnysaide barn.
Henry M. Walker, Jr. and
Julia G. Walker
In 1896, James M. Deakins founded the Willow Branch Farm
that is seven miles north of Jonesborough. On 224 acres, James produced hay,
corn, wheat, timber and cattle. In addition to managing the farm, James operated
a saw mill. During his ownership the land was cleared for row crops and a
two-story Victorian farm house was constructed on the land. Married twice,
James had two daughters with his first wife and one daughter with his second
wife.
The next owner of the land was Flora Deakins Walker, who
was the founder’s daughter. Married to Henry M. Walker, Sr., they had four
children, however, two of them died during childhood. In addition to raising
children, Flora helped manage the farm that produced beef cattle, dairy cattle,
tobacco, corn, hay, barley, rye and soybeans.
After Henry and Flora passed away, their son, Henry M.
Walker, Jr. acquired the farm. Today, Henry and his wife Julia G. Walker work
the land that produces dairy cattle, beef cattle, corn, tobacco, hay, soybeans
and barley. Over the years, Henry and Julia have made significant contributions
to the farm by developing a waste water lagoon that served as a prototype for a
nationally approved design. In addition, the farm was one of the first in
Kenneth D. Woods
Kenny D. Woods
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Charles R. “C.R.” and Lou Etta Byrd and their daughter, Gusta Mae, moved from Mitchell County, N.C., to a 95-acre farm in Washington County, Tenn. in 1908. Through the years, the farm grew to 188 acres, and by 1912, the Byrds owned a mill, barn and storehouse. They grew tobacco while making and selling butter as part of their dairy operation. Beef cattle, chickens, and timber also contributed to their farm income.
The Byrds also donated two acres in 1908 to establish the A. J.
Mackey schoolhouse. C.R. died in 1938, leaving the farm to Lou Etta, who passed
it on to Gusta and her husband, P.C. Phillips in 1943.
Gusta and P.C. Phillips’ daughter and son-in-law, Helen and Denver
“Dan” Woods, moved to the farm to help her parents manage and work the 167
acres. In 1947, the Byrds sold the land to the Woodses.
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In addition to producing farm products, Dan Woods used his
blacksmith and welding skills to run a successful community business from a shop
on the farm. Helen was a bookkeeper for their business and also was known for
her flowers, sewing and cooking. The family recalls that at Christmas she made
“the best peanut butter candy and gave it away by the pounds.” Dan often
repaired farm equipment, installed well pumps and worked for the farmer’s
cooperative and for logging operations throughout the Telford, Limestone and
Jonesborough areas. In the 1950s, Dan built a runway and hanger for his sons’
airplane. The couple had five children –Darrell, Mack, Barbara, Dallas and Nancy
– who inherited equal shares of the farm in 1996.
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Between 1996 and 2012, Darrell Woods purchased his siblings’
acreage. Darrell and his wife, Carol Sue, are the parents of Kenneth and Kathy.
Darrell who is considered an expert cattle assessor in his community, now lives
in Erwin with Carol and serves on the Erwin Utilities Board of Directors and on
the Jonesborough Co-Op board. Though he doesn’t live on the farm, Darrell is
actively engaged in the management of the farm with his son Kenny.
Kenny, the fifth generation to reside on the farm, lives in the
farmhouse, which predates the family’s purchase of the property. In addition to
working at Erwin’s Nuclear Fuels Service, Kenny works with Darrell to raise
chickens, horses and 100 head of cattle, while also growing tobacco and hay.
David Kent Harris, a grandson of Darrell and Carol Woods, writes that he hopes
to ensure the Woods Farm continues as a “strong family farm for the next hundred
years.”
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