Ardmore2021

Local Areas of Interest

Lincoln County Lincoln County was carved from territory ceded to the U.S. by the Cherokee and Chickasaw Indian tribes. The Elk River, called “Chewalee” by the Indians, flows through Lincoln County. Established on November 14, 1809, Lincoln County was named for Revolutionary War hero General Benjamin Lincoln. The Tennessee state legislature appropriated funds to purchase 100 acres of land for the county seat from Mr. Ezekiel Norris for $100. The name “Fayetteville” was chosen in honor of the many settlers who came here from Fayetteville, NC. The first church in Fayetteville was the Presbyterian Church, known at the time as the First Church of Fayetteville. It was established in 1812. The first item to be considered by our pioneer fore-fathers was a lot for the County jail, or calaboose. It was built in 1810 by Ephrahim Parham. The first circuit court was established in 1810 and the first chancery court in 1835. During the War of 1812, Lincoln County furnished a company in General Andrew Jackson’s army and participated in the Battle of New Orleans. In 1846, Lincoln County also furnished a company of men for the War of Mexico. Known as the Lincoln Guards, the company distinguished itself for gallantry at the battles of Monterey, Vera Crus, and Cerro Gordo. During the Civil War, Lincoln County furnished 21 companies of infantrymen for the Confederate Army. A number of famous Americans, including Davy Crockett, Sam Houston, Daniel Boone, and General Andrew Jackson, have lived in or visited Lincoln County. The gravity-flow water system, located at what is now known as Wells Hill Park, was the first of its kind in the U.S. Engineers from as far away as New York came to see it in operation.

Pulaski Pulaski, population 9,181, was chartered in 1809. Pulaski was named for the Polish exile Count Casimir Pulaski. Count Pulaski, the victim of tyranny in his native Poland, joined the colonies in their fight for inde- pendence. He was wounded in an attack on Savannah, Georgia, which resulted in his death on October 11, 1779, and was buried at sea. The first businesses addressed everyday needs, and the early years saw the establishment of mills, stores, blacksmith shops, tan yards, livery stables, and taverns. Nathaniel Moody, one of the commis- sioners, moved to Pulaski and in 1811 built the first mill. It was on Richland Creek at the mouth of Mill Lane and has continued to be a mill to this day. By 1820, men who were prominent businessmen for the next 40 years had arrived. Among them were Thomas Martin, Andrew Ballentine, and Ben F. Carter. Thomas Martin, founder of Martin College, became a merchant with a store on the southwest corner of the square (now the Peddler). Martin was interested in nearly every enterprise in the county. He was first president of the C & S Railroad, had promoted use of Richland Creek for transportation, and gave liberally to the building fund for the Methodist Church. He also owned a plantation, raised and dealt in cotton, and became one of the richest men in town. Andrew Ballentine, a penniless Irishman when he came to America, moved his store from Robertson’s Fork to Pulaski and also became verywealthy. BenCarter, a physician turnedmerchant, came toPulaski from Elkton. The period from 1840 to 1860 was the prosperous era in Giles County and many of the elegant houses in Pulaski were built during that period.

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