Franklin County TN - History: History of Wilder’s Chapel ******************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ******************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Donald Hill July 22, 2009, 11:34 am HISTORY OF THE WILDER’S CHAPEL COMMUNITY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, TENNESSEE Prepared by: Donald L. Hill 4133 Greenside Ct. Birmingham, AL 35226-6210 hilldonl@bellsouth.net And: Willie Sue Partin Hill 826 Wilder’s Chapel Rd. Decherd, TN 37324 suehill@peoplepc.com July, 2009 FOREWORD Although we have made a sincere effort to record some of the history of this community, we apologize beforehand for any errors that we have included. Mistakes are impossible to avoid in trying to look back over 200 years of history. We also regret that more information and additional people could not be entered. Still, we plan to continue our research and to update this document from time to time. You may contribute by contacting one of us at the address on the cover. We would especially appreciate corrections of mistakes. If anyone benefits from our efforts, we will find our time well spent. Donald L. Hill Willie Sue Partin GEOGRAPHY The Wilder’s Chapel community, situated in the Elk River valley, lies near the base of the Cumberland Plateau in Franklin County, Tennessee. The principal stream flowing through this area, Elk River, begins at Elkhead in Grundy County and flows for more than 100 miles through southern Tennessee and northern Alabama, where it enters the Tennessee River. For several miles, it forms the border between Franklin and Coffee Counties. Streams connecting to the Elk include Yellow Branch, which flows through Wilder’s Chapel, and Gum Creek, from which the Gum Creek community gets its name. The waters of Woods Reservoir, formed by the AEDC dam, back up the Elk River through the northern part of Wilder’s Chapel as far as the mouth of Yellow Branch. This community is part of the old Ninth Civil District, which also includes Alto, Gum Creek, Roark’s Cove, and Oak Grove. For Wilder’s Chapel, which for much of the twentieth century, was known by some as “Shakerag,” the major roads are Rutledge Ford Road, on the east; Wilder’s Chapel road, which runs through the center of the community; and Yellow Branch Road, which runs about two miles southward from Wilder’s Chapel Road, crossing Dabbs Road. To the southeast of Wilder’s Chapel is Alto, which was once known as Hawkersville. To the south is Oak Grove and Gum Creek. Across the river to the north is Rutledge Hill, founded by a son of a signer of the Declaration of Independence. There are no federal or state highways and no railroads in Wilder’s Chapel, so the residents remain relatively isolated. Nevertheless, the green fields, numerous trees, and views of the Cumberland Escarpment to the east and south make this a scenic area. Among the trees present are hickory, oak, poplar, persimmon, sweet gum (the sap from which makes a refreshing chewing gum), cedar, and dogwood. The soil, made up of red and yellow clays and, near the river, sandy loam, is generally fertile. Nevertheless, there are swampy and uneven areas that are not cultivated. Present crops include soybeans, wheat, corn, and hay. Until about 1950, cotton was predominant; today, the acreage devoted to this crop is small. In Wilder’s Chapel, a small cave is located northwest of the junction of Yellow Branch Road and Dabbs Road. About one-half mile northwest of this cave is West Pond, which is known for snapping turtles and “chinkapins,” the edible seeds of the wild lotus plant. Blue Spring, hidden in the woods near the mouth of Yellow Branch, provides cool, fresh water, even in dry seasons. About ½ mile east southeast from the Hill Cemetery is the Granny Pond, which is about 100 feet in diameter and probably about 100 feet deep. Obviously a flooded sinkhole, it contains bream and catfish. A smaller pond is nearby. INDIANS In Wilder’s Chapel, there are no known sites of Indian villages or graves. At several sites on Elk River, however, numerous arrowheads and flakes of flint can be found, indicating that Indian hunting camps were located here. Since there is no evidence that the area was farmed, the diet of these people probably included fish from the river, mussels, deer, opossums, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, wild strawberries, wild grapes, wild cherries, mulberries, muscadines, huckleberries, watercress, poke salat, hickory nuts, and acorns. About 1835, the Cherokees, who occupied this area at the time, were rounded up and moved to Indian Territory, which later became Oklahoma. Nevertheless, the presence of Indian features - straight black hair and dark skin - in many of the inhabitants of this area indicates that not all of the Indians made this move. SETTLEMENT OF THE COMMUNITIES The Wilder’s Chapel area was settled late, relative to other areas in the county. Of those who lived in this area, none appear on the 1812 Franklin County Tax List, which contains about 1200 names. One early settlement on Elk River, about ½ mile north of the Hill Cemetery, probably included several O'Rear families. They arrived after 1812. By 1840, however, these folks, except for two females who married local residents, had moved to other areas in Franklin County. Perhaps malaria or a typhoid epidemic caused them to move on. It is said that, about 1835, Amos Richardson (1762-1860) and/or his son Abel (1792-1860) built a cabin across the creek from the present Wilder’s Chapel church. HISTORICAL FAMILIES: BAKER William Baker (1805-1880) moved from Coffee County to Wilder’s Chapel about 1850 and built a cabin on a rise overlooking much of the community. With two wives, Annie (Diannah ? Finch ?)(1806-1851) and Feribah Howard (1836-ca.1881), he had 18 children. Today, his descendants can be found in surrounding communities. BRANNON Albert Brannon (1823-1894) was born in Roark’s Cove, to James Culwell Brannon (ca1770-?) and Elizabeth Hood (ca1780-?). Albert’s son, John Brannon (1847- 1920) lived in Wilder’s Chapel. BRINKLEY John Brinkley (1821-?) and his wife Sarah (1814-ca1858) moved from North Carolina to the Wilder’s Chapel area about 1840. COKER Mansel Coker (1814-1903), born in South Carolina, moved from Overton County, Tennessee, into Wilder’s Chapel about 1835. All of the Cokers in Wilder’s Chapel are his descendants. CRABTREE The ancestor of the Crabtrees who lived in Wilder’s Chapel is William Crabtree (1822-?), who came from North Carolina to settle in Coffee County. FINCH Frank Hilliard Finch (1841-?), who married Sarah Melissa Finney (1848-1923), was the son of Daniel Finch (1797-1857). His origins are not known. FINNEY The ancestor of the Finneys who live in Wilder’s Chapel is James Madison Finney (1805-1867), who came to Franklin County about 1820. He married Anna Sansom (1807-1880). FRIZZELL Lewis Peyton Frizzell (1869-1950) and his wife Rhoda Jane Rich (1873-1969), who came from Marion County, moved into Wilder’s Chapel about 1900. GILLIAM General Jessup Gilliam (1839-1924), whose ancestors lived in Roark’s Cove, lived near the Granny Pond. He is buried in an unmarked grave in the Hill Cemetery. His son Sam also lived near Mud Creek until about 1927. GIPSON Most of the Gipsons in northern Franklin County are descended from Allen Gipson (1804-1896), who moved from South Carolina into Roark’s Cove about 1820. With two wives, Anna Long (1808-1853) and Minerva Garner (1834-ca1915), he had a total of 18 children. HENLEY William Alexander Henley (1789-1842) and his wife, Rebecca Campbell, moved into Roark’s Cove about 1815. These are the ancestors of the Henleys in Wilder’s Chapel. HILL The Hills of Wilder’s Chapel come from three different branches, two of which, according to recent research, are known have a connection with Jonas Hill (1763-1840), who lived on Crow Creek (in present day Sherwood). His sons Perry (ca1783-1840) and William (1816-1894), who were half brothers, moved to Roark’s Cove about 1835 and 1845, respectively. Most of the Hills in Wilder’s Chapel are descendants of William’s sons Andrew Jackson (1835-1898), Johnson (1844-1923), and George (1854-1929). An additional group of Hills are descendants of Francis Marion Hill (1842-ca1905), who was listed in the 1850 census as Francis Marion Perry. Since he grew up with William and his family, he took on the surname Hill. He was probably a nephew of Malinda Perry (1817- 1893), the wife of William Hill. LANDERS Joseph Landers (1845-?) and his wife Julia Ann Pye (1852-1907) came to Wilder’s Chapel/Gum Creek from Georgia about 1900. LINDSEY The parents of W. J. (Nick) Lindsey (1858-1939), who married Rebecca Oliver (1868-ca1940) and lived in Wilder’s Chapel, lived in East Tennessee. OLIVER Most of the Olivers in this area and in southern Grundy County are descendants of John Oliver, who moved into Hawkersville (now Alto) about 1820. His son Armistead Rogers Oliver, who married Delitha Partin, moved to Wilder’s Chapel after the Civil War. O’REAR William Sterling O’Rear (1761-1850) and his wife Esther Kelly (1770-1830) came to the area of Wilder’s Chapel ca1812. No O’Rear is found on the 1812 tax list. Although some of the female O’Rears intermarried with local men, all of the male O’Rears had left this area by 1840. PARTIN The Partins in Wilder’s Chapel are descendants of Charles Partin, who moved into Roark’s Cove from Orange County, North Carolina. Charles’ grandson, Henry W. (Hack) Partin, built a cabin about ½ mile south of the present Wilder’s Chapel church. Hack, who had four wives, had a total of 22 children. Hack’s son Lewis Marcus (Dick) Partin obtained the Baker property and added onto the Baker cabin to make an imposing house that was, in many ways, the center of Wilder’s Chapel, until it was destroyed in 2004. PERRY Most of the Perrys in this area are descendants of Rollin Perry (1856-1941), who had 11 children. His son, Bailey (1881-1984), had 17 children and died at the age of 103. RICHARDSON Amos Richardson and his son Abel were early settlers of Wilder’s Chapel. Abel’s daughter, Mary Adeline, married James Campbell (Cam) Coker. STEPHENS Jacob Stephens (ca1830-?), whose origins are unknown, married Nancy Jane Coker (1832-1922), a daughter of Mansel Coker (1814-1903). Their descendants can be found in Wilder’s Chapel, Gum Creek, and Oak Grove. STEVENS Luther M. Stevens (1890-1977) and his wife, Lizzie Kirk (1886-1968), moved to Wilder’s Chapel from near Cowan, Tennessee about 1930. WALLS Erasmus Walls (1844-ca1905), whose origins are unknown, married Margaret Hill (1849-1925). His son, William D. Walls (1871-1957) had 21 children. Today, there are several Walls families in Wilder’s Chapel and surrounding communities. WARREN Calaway Warren (1864-1924) moved from Knox County, Tennessee, into Wilder’s Chapel about 1880 and married Minerva Hill (1863-1923). Their descendants live in Wilder’s Chapel, Gum Creek, and surrounding areas. WILCOX James Monroe Wilcox (1845-1909) came from Blount County, Tennessee, to live in the 9th Civil District. His descendants have lived in Wilder’s Chapel and Gum Creek. WILDER Nathaniel Wilder, Sr. (1765-1832), and his wife Elizabeth Hampton (1765-?) moved from Virginia to Franklin County about 1810. He is said to be buried near the junction of Gum Creek Road and Wilder’s Chapel Road. His son, Nathaniel, Jr. (1813-1889) married Polly Murphy (1814-1862). About 1858, Nathaniel and Polly moved to Pike County, Indiana. Their son, John, remained in Franklin County. WILEMAN John Wileman (1769-1830) and his wife Elizabeth Bond (1787-1857) moved from Virginia to what is now Coffee County about 1810. William Wileman (1829-1870) and his wife Jane Taylor (1825-?) lived in the area that became known as Wilder’s Chapel. There are no Wilemans residing there at present. COLORED RESIDENTS Until about 1920, several families of “colored folks,” descendants of slaves, lived near Elk River, about a mile north of the Hill Cemetery. Others lived on what is now known as Granny Pond Road. Surnames, taken from their former owners, include Moore, Kennerly, Oliver, Rutledge, Dartis, Cunningham, Taylor, and Wilson. CHURCHES Wilder’s Chapel Congregational Methodist Church The Wilder’s Chapel Church was started in 1898 by a missionary, a Mr. Hartgraves, who came here from Texas and lived with, or near, John Wilder. Another missionary, a Mr. Mannings, who also came from Texas, followed him and proceeded to set up additional Congregational Methodist churches on the mountain. A two-room parsonage was constructed for Mr. Mannings near John Wilder’s house. On June 22, 1901, John Wilder and his second wife, Fannie Bowens, gave a half-acre of land for construction of a building that was to be used for a church and a school. Listed on the deed as trustees for the church were L. M. Partin, William Hill, Charley Stephens, John Wilder, and W. J. Lindsey. Following Mr. Mannings as pastor was a Mr. McBee, who was apparently from Franklin or Grundy County. A one-room log building, constructed shortly after the land was given and located a few yards southeast of the present site, served for about 20 years as a church and a school. In the 1920’s, a frame building was constructed on the present site. A separate frame school building was erected across the road. The present church building was erected about 1952, with Elmer Hill performing much of the work. Before 1940, George Rollins started preaching at this location, walking each Sunday from his home in Midway. He served as pastor until 1944. Other pastors and their approximate dates of service are as follows: Joe B. Shrum 1945-1949 Carl B. Shrum 1970-1973 Herbert Tate 1949-1953 Tony King 1973-1975 Pless Layne 1953-1955 Hershell Johnson 1975-1978 Henry Morrison 1955-1959 Robert Johnson 1978-1983 Aylor Layne 1960-1962 Mike Geary 1983-1986 Homer Graham 1962-1964 Tony King 1986-1989 Joe B. Shrum 1964-1966 Jeff Meeks 1989-1991 Herbert Tate 1966-1967 T. L. Pyburn 1991-1992 Edd Anderson 1967-1968 Ernest Trussell 1992-1996 Henry Morrison 1968-1969 Dennis Nunley 1996-1998 Homer Graham 1969-1970 Others who served as pastors, but whose dates are not known, include Howard Caldwell, Gilliam Brown, Tom Lecroy, and Carl Haynes. Most of these men came from Grundy County. Others who preached at Wilder’s Chapel include Joe Land, John Mooney (d. April 12, 1963), Hervey Medley (d. Feb. 23, 1970), Elmer Land (d. Jan. 12, 1987), Elgin Hill (d. April 4, 1990), and Lee King (d. Sept. 11, 1996). Joe C. Hill (d. 1959) taught Sunday School for several years, before giving way to this brother, Chester (d. June 4, 1981), who taught for 42 years. WILDER’S CHAPEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL This school was established about 1898, when John Wilder gave land for a church building, which was also used as a school. A log building, facing east, was built on Yellow Branch. About 1910, a separate frame building was constructed across the road for the school. Until 1942, the school had two rooms, the “Little Room” for grades 1-4 and the “Big Room” for grades 5-8. After 1942, all the classes met in one room with one teacher for all eight grades. The other room served as a kitchen and dining room. Some of the teachers were Jackson Hill, Edith Starnes, Velma Goodman, Nannie Partin, and Rita Hayes. The school ceased operation about 1955, and the students were transferred to Alto. The building served as a community center for several years before it was torn down about 1970. A few students from Wilder’s Chapel attended a two-year high school that was operative about 1910. COLORED SCHOOL A school for colored children was located on a small stream leading to Yellow Branch, about ¼ mile south of the residence of William Mansel Hill on Wilder’s Chapel Road. The topographical coordinates are 35.2916°N 85.9570°W. It existed from about 1875 to about 1900. As of 1990, the old well was still visible. When this school ended, the bell from the building was transferred to the newly constructed Wilder’s Chapel school. -CEMETERIES- HILL CEMETERY This cemetery is located on Rutledge Ford Road, about ½ mile north of the beginning of Wilder’s Chapel Road. The earliest burial with a date is that for their son Andrew Jackson Hill (1835-1898) and his wife Margaret Gipson (1838- 1927) Hill. UNNAMED This neglected cemetery is located about ½ mile north-northeast of the Hill Cemetery. (The GPS coordinates are 35.2991°N 85.9518°W.) The only grave with a legible tombstone is that for Esther Kelly O’Rear. “To the sacred memory of Ester Orear daughter of Mary W..... & wife of ....... Orear b. 1770, Jun 16, d. 1833.” The last burial there was probably before 1840. Esther (1770-1833) was the wife of William Sterling O’Rear (1761-1850). BAKER This cemetery is located in Wilder’s Chapel, about ¼ mile north of the Louis Marcus Partin home, which recently burned. It was started by William Baker, who owned the land. Although William Baker and his two wives are very likely buried there, the earliest burial with a date is that for one of William’s sons, Henry Porter Baker (1850-1888). STORES To meet the needs of local residents unable to make the difficult trip to Decherd or Winchester, stores provided various supplies, including sugar, salt, tobacco, flour, coffee, crackers, and kerosene. With electrification, in the late 1940’s, “cold drinks,” ice cream, and gasoline were available. The stores provided places for conversation and “loafing.” Today, there are no stores in this community. OWNER LOCATION APPROXIMATE DATES OF OPERATION: G. W. Hill - Wilder’s Chapel Road, 1955 to 1975 Jack Hill - Wilder’s Chapel Road, 1905 to 1915 James and Joe Hill - Wilder’s Chapel Road, 1915 to 1927 Francis M. (Cub) Hill - Yellow Branch Road, 1905 to 1915 Jeff and Thursie Partin - Wilder’s Chapel Road, 1930 to 1980 OTHER ENTERPRISES According to census records, the most common occupations were “farmer” and “housekeeper.” Some were listed as “laborer.” In Wilder’s Chapel, Jack Landers operated a grain mill from about 1920 to 1945, Johnson Hill operated a sawmill from about 1900 to 1910, and Lem and Sam Hill operated a sawmill from about 1950 to 1960. J. Armistead Oliver operated a sorghum mill from about 1910-1930. A few men, who will not be named, were in the business of “distilling.” Today, only a few people make their living by farming. Many work in Decherd, Winchester, and Tullahoma. ENTERTAINMENT Some of the residents were musicians, playing the fiddle, guitar, or “French harp” (harmonica). Church-going people frowned upon dancing, drinking, and gambling, although the latter two were widely practiced. Box suppers, where young men bid on boxes of food prepared by young women, and ice cream suppers raised money for the schools and allowed people to socialize. “Shivarees” were held for newlyweds, who were expected to provide treats for their guests. By custom, the groom was carried to the nearest body of water, where he was immersed. In the fall, there was “possum” hunting. Generally, while the dogs were running through the woods, the men would build a fire and tell scary tales in order to frighten the boys in the group. When the weather was warm, males often went swimming (naked) in Elk River or in small “holes” in Yellow Branch. Women would gather at “quilting parties,” not only to produce warm bedcovers but also to have social contact. "SOLDIERS" CIVIL WAR: Confederates who died: William Hays, George W. Partin, and James Bowens died in prison in Camp Morton, Indiana; William Sansom and William J. Finney probably died there; and George Kendrick Wilcox died in a Tullahoma hospital. Survivors: Cam Bennett, George W. Brannan, Grover Cherry, David Coble, James Campbell Coker, Andrew J. Dial, Hopkins P. T. Finney, William G. Finney, Corporal William R. Finney, General Jessup Gilliam (his name not his rank), Andrew Jackson Hill, Bailey Hill, Francis Marion Perry/Hill, Corporal Armistead R. Oliver, Jack Partin, William Partin, Tom Perry, William Riley Richardson, James Sansom, and Larry Thompson. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR: Surviving - Jack Landers WORLD WAR I Surviving - Joseph Baker (1880-1938); Robert Gilliam (1891-1976); Henry Hill (1892-1934); Henry Walls (1889-1952). WORLD WAR II Killed - James H. Warren (1921-1944); James Clinton Partin (1913-1943); Robert Leon Brinkley (1928-1945). Surviving - Alvin Coker; Bill Coker; Harvey Coker; J. C. Coker, James Crabtree; Hazel Gipson; William Henley; Woodrow Henley (1920-2008); Calvin C. Hill (1925-1968); Luther Hill (1909-1963); Oscar T. Hill (1907-1953); Joe Thompson. KOREA Surviving - John William Hill (1933-present) VIETNAM Killed - Douglas Gipson (1945-1971) THE LONG/WILEMAN KILLINGS In 1862, William Wileman (1829-1870) and his wife Jane Taylor (1825-?) were engaged in a “domestic dispute” when William H. Long (1817-1862) tried to intervene and was stabbed. It is not known if Wileman was convicted of this killing. Since it occurred during the unsettled times of the Civil War, he may not have been sent to the penitentiary. In any case, he was at home in 1870, when riders arrived and shot him. The accused men, however, were not brought to trial. The story, told many times around campfires of “possum” hunters, is that the three men rode up to Wileman’s house and called him out to his front porch. After he was shot, he fell and his blood stained one of the two rocks holding up the porch. With the passing of a few years, his cabin and smokehouse disappeared, leaving only the two stones. It is said that, when it snowed, Wileman’s blood could be seen on the rock through the snow. James Otis (Jimmy) Hill, who now lives nearby, retrieved the rock about 1980 and placed it in his yard. It remains there today. HENRY OLIVER Henry Oliver (1900-1915) was killed accidentally as be brought sugar cane to his father’s molasses mill. He and some others had loaded wagon with cane, placing the cut ends of the stalks toward the front. Henry sat on top of the load, driving the mules. As they came down the hill on the eastern end of Wilder’s Chapel Road, the load shifted, causing the sharp stalks to stab the mules. The mules ran away, throwing Henry off the cane and under the wheels of the wagon. ---