GIBSON COUNTY, TN - SKULLBONIA - History of Skullbonia by Carlos L. Thetford ================================================================================ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ================================================================================ This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Dixie Lea Wright ================================================================================ HISTORY OF SKULLBONIA By Carlos L. Thetford I have been asked to write about what I know about Idlewild, Bradford and North Gibson commonly known as Skull Bone of Gibson County. Being born and reared on a farm in Gibson County near Idlewild, Tennessee, it affords me a great pleasure to give you such information or data as I can on Skullbone. I was born Oct. 5th, 1881, lived on the farm for twenty-five years. My father was the late J. N. Thetford, my Mother the late Bell Smith, Thetford. Father, at that time, was school director of the 22nd district of Gibson county. The other two directors were J. M. Knott and Wilse Aslin. In this district were four "one-room" schoolhouses, namely: Mulberry Grove, Mt. Pisgah, Caney Grove and last but not least, Smith Academy. The land it stood on was given to said County by my Grand Father, the late Robin Love Smith. This is the school I attended. My father was a firm believer in good Churches, Schools and rural life. At the age of thirty, he became a Justice of the Peace, a member of Gibson County court from his district and did he love this court! He always fought for the bare-footed boys and girls in the rural districts, for better churched, schools and roads, contending if you make the rural section prosperous, it would mean larger and better towns for our county. He was a diversified farmer. At that time, Gibson County stood second in diversified farming. He loved the larger towns in our county and their magistrates and would cooperate with them any way he could in appropriating money for their towns and schools. However, one court day I remember, Trenton, Humboldt and Milan asked for an appropriation be made for their schools, $3,000.00. My father rose in the court and said, "I have always been for good schools, but, what are the rural schools going to get out of this appropriation? One of his good associate Justice of the Peace from Humboldt said jokingly, "SET DOWN THERE, SKULLBONE!" I saw my father scratch his head and ask the judge to have the sheriff to call our County superintendent, J. B. Cummings, in on this matter. This was done promptly. My father said: "Mr. Cummings, face the court please", and asked him his duties as superintendent. He told him: "Hold teacher examinations, teacher institutes, and recommend to the school board teacher for each school." Then, he asked him if he knew who passed the best examination or grade in the county in his last examination for certificates? He said he did. "Will you please tell this court who they are? His reply was "Homer Waldrop and Floyd Waldrop, of Idlewild, Tennessee." My father said: "better known as SKULLBONE?" He said, "YES." My father said, "Mr. Cummings, I appreciate you coming before this court." Cummings stated, "Squire, it's a pleasure. Call me any time." Then my father faced the court and stated "gentlemen, you can see what the little one-room schools are doing in the country, and as bad as I hate to vote against my friends appropriation from Humboldt, yet I move this resolution goes to the Table. What are your boys and girls getting from its passage, and will say that I like the name of SKULLBONE AND IDLEWILD," and he had a dozen seconds to his motion to table this motion and down it went to the table! You would have thought you were at a convention some place, the way the court cheered my father. He was a member of that court 42 years, on the committee that built the present courthouse. My Father loved the older Justices of the Peace, like Esq. Dunlap at Humboldt, Mr. Arch Jordan, E. N. Stone and Edwards Hughes, McCoy Powell of Milan; Arthur Caldwell, H.V. Senter, Bill Boone of Medina; Esq. Estic and Bass of Gibson; J. R. Jackson and James M. Homes of Trenton; Smith and Jordan Dyer, in fact he had love and respect for them all. When it comes to Skullbone districts, men like Esq. Bruff, Perry, Mount, Cannon, Crocker, J.S. Alexander, Jim Brown and J.A. Overton, they were all ONE, and this went for Esq. Johnson in the 23 district, (?) Pybass Hunt, Bennett and Koffman in the 20th; Carolton of the 8th, and Garner Marsh of the 24th districts; Davis, Hulby, 11th and McDaniel of the 19th; Casey, Davis of the 12th; Esq. Holt of 13th district. At home, we grew on the farm cotton, corn, and hay as a regular crop. fruits and vegetables like Beans, Tomatoes, and Strawberries which meant lots of hard work. One time we had around 25 acres of berries and when they came in it "took everybody and the cook" to take care of them. Believe me, we had no "hours" to work, with 80 to 90 hands to get these berries harvested, it was some job, yet, we liked it. There were two stout young men in Bradford, one of them was slim in stature, the other was stout, and they would walk from Bradford down the Railroad to Idlewild, one to gain weight, the other to reduce weight by this kind of exercise. As the railroad almost split our farm in half, thought if they were getting the exercise I was getting, there would be no need for that walk. One of these gentlemen was Judge R. V. Atkinson. The other was T. C. Boone, retired produce dealer. Any way, they are fine men and I like them. In 1907, I went to Chicago and secured a position with G. W. Randall & Co., as a traveling man, buyer of fruits and vegetables. Stayed with them for five years, then went with Coyne Bros. and stayed with them for five years, then went with John A. Eck Co. My father and Mother were insisting that I quit the road and be near them and nothing would do my father but I should run for road commissioner of Gibson County and I could take care of the Fruit and Vegetable deal in Tennessee, and be one of the Highway commissioners, also. Finally, I agreed to it. As I did not want to go to New Jersey to buy sweet potatoes, and stated to Eck why go to New Jersey to buy sweet potatoes, when we have right here in Tennessee much better potatoes than they grow? In 1909, nothing would do my father but, I run for Commissioner of Highways, so, I agreed with him I would run and try out the two positions, as he suggested, so at the age of 21 I was elected one of the commissioners, knowing nothing much about roads, however, the county court elected me on a roll call on first ballot. I found out I had a real job. However, I could not afford to let my Father down and his friends in the court, so they called me the "boy road commissioner", and what did I know about roads? All we had back then was "public ditches" , no hard roads of any kind. New contract had to be let for my eighth district, we had to collect the hands' money where they did not work, build all bridges under 16 feet, so in letting contracts for road construction, we did our best to get best available men as contractors, men who knew how to build bridges as well as roads, in my territory, men like Deadman Bros., Davidson Hassel & Aldridge; Lee Lanom, Earnest Smith & Cotrell Taylor; Carl Springer & Leander Caruth; George M. Taylor, McCaleb Bros. I would visit each. Bought me a pair of overalls, gloves, and learned how to run a grader as well as how to dynamite stumps and banks, those days they wanted a good road but did not want to give any land to build them on, however, the automobile came along and the people got very liberal on the land situation and began to cooperate with the commission, all wanting a good road at the same time. In 1914, I bought my first Ford car, never did go to New Jersey to buy sweet potatoes, but, bought around 35 cars of potatoes that year in Weakley, Henry and Gibson counties. Mr. John A. Eck came down, a new industry was born. That was "future contracting" Nancy Hall sweet potatoes with the farmers for storage to be kiln dried. My father and O. V. Barger contracted with him, 5000 bushels, at $1.00 per bushel. We built at Idlewild a storage Plant in 1919 that held 10,000 bushels and filled it the first year with the help of other growers. Of course, I knew nothing about kiln drying potatoes to be shipped in the winter months, but, I was like I was by roads or road work, I knew Mr. Dave Haliburton, and R. C. Billips who had experience along this line. They had two small houses and agreed with them if they would help me out in this matter I would buy their potatoes when they got ready to sell, so they were anxious to have this outlet as ten bushels would "glut" any town market at that time here at 45¢ to 50¢ per bushel, so the growers were proud to have a money crop in winter. All this worked out fine, only thing we had to have more storage space to take care of our demand, so in 1920 we built a storage plant in Milan, Tennessee, a brick one that holds 35 thousand bushels to take care of the situation. Mr. J. D. Denney, Dr. Harrison, John Haynoe (?), H. P. Webb, and Mr. Felix Walker, any others cooperated with me to the fullest to get this plant here and I never will forget Grover Keaton and Mayor Creswell. They were right on the job and Mayor Creswell contracted to build the brick work. In 1923, I moved to Milan, having to quit as commissioner of roads in 1919, after serving 5 terms, 10 years, however I loved good hard service Roads, made many new friends, which was a big asset to my Fruit and Vegetable business, and dreamed some day there would be a highway from the Canadian borders on the North to the Gulf of Mexico. Later, I was elected "Promotion Officer" for the road which was then called "The Burlington Way", in Springfield, Illinois, for the Southern Division, and Carl Webber was elected for the same office for the Northern Division, this road run from Minneapolis-St. Paul and Chicago right through Tennessee to Mobile and Gulfport. Every post was marked WHITE, ORANGE AND WHITE AND REMEMBER, that day every town from Jackson to Fulton, Kentucky, called a holiday to land this road. We met our friends from the North, ran a special passenger train with 9 coaches and 75 fords to secure this road over Memphis, and it is now known as U.S. 45E. Then we had to have a bridge at Cairo, Illinois and Paducah, Kentucky, over the Ohio River, had another big job to get. The barge lines were fighting these bridges, as it would hinder transportation, they said, and we had to have a permit from the Government to cross the river. This meeting was held at the old Halliday Hotel at Cairo. Alvin Barkley was congressman from Kentucky, Denson from Illinois, the meeting was presided over by a U.S Colonel from the Army and two majors. I told them at this meeting, we were not trying to hinder transportation but, promote it, and it did not look right for 5 Southern states to be blocked for the lack of a bridge and that many Northern states, and their representatives fly in an "Airplane" for the barge lines to be at this meeting and there was nothing in his way! Then I said, being from the south and representing this great highway from the south, Dixie wants to shake hands with Yankee Doodle, that we may know more about your Northern progress, that you may know more of our Southern history, that you may come down to Shiloh National Park and visit the graves of your loved ones, the boys in the blue and gray, who sleep there. I further stated that the white of our marking represented the five Great Lakes, the Canadian snow capped mountains and the orange in the center of said marking, represented the wheat fields, corn fields of Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. The white at the bottom of the marking, last but not least. represented the cotton fields of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama, Dixie Land, where the Mocking birds sing you to sleep and the magnolia blossoms perfume the atmosphere. Congressman Barkley followed by saying, gentlemen, I am representing Kentucky, the birthplace of one of our greatest Presidents, Abraham Lincoln, told about many of his good qualities, and wound up singing the chorus of "Tuck Me to Sleep in My Old Kentucky Home", they almost tore down the house. Mr. Henderson, congressman from Illinois, made a good speech, and we got permission to build the bridge, and today it is the main street from the North to the South. In 1923 I got married at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis to Miss Ourie Koffman. My father gave her a position as assistant teacher at the age of 16, at the Little Red Schoolhouse, Smith Academy, her people called her "Skullbone". She would smile and say "yes, I am proud of that name." She graduated at Union University at Jackson, went to U.T. college and graduated there, taught school quite a few places in 15th and 22nd districts, was the Principal of Laneview school, a well educated woman, fine in music, something I loved. She and I used to play here on the piano or organ. We had a string band at Idlewild. My fathers' instrument was the bass violin, Mr. D. White, lead violin, my brother, mandolin, Mr. Whites' nephew was banjo, my oldest sister, guitar or organ, piano. I play guitar, I would pick up sheet music pieces that I liked when I was on the road, and send them home, tell Ourie and Maud to try them out. This was popular music, when I got home on a late train, they would wake me playing this music. In those days, "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree", "Where the Sunset Turned the Ocean Blue to Gold" "Where the Silvery Colorado Winds its Way" The Bells Are Ringing For Me and My Gal" "Be Sweet to Me, Kid", then a little ring time music like, "What You Going to Do When the Rent Comes Around" "Do Your Duty, Doctor" by Irving Berlin, "If You Do Not Like My Peaches, Quit Shaking My Tree" by Lasses White, "Under the Sycamore Tree", classical music "Estileta" Sextet Luchear, "Over the Waves, Waltz". We had a good time. To sum up Idlewild and Skullbone, there were more section foremen from this place than any other, namely G.W. Lemonds, his four boys, John Lemonds, Ike Lemonds, P.R. Nixon, Ed. Jamerson, Elmer Crocker, A.L. Thetford, Jim Thetford, E.N. Goddard, Jim Steel, Luther Hollingsworth, Marsh Powell, Sam Steel, Yard Master Fulton, R.C. Crocker, Road Master, T. Crocker, Track Supervisor, R.W. Thetford, Track Supervisor, John Daniel, Chas. Goddard, Track Supervisor, Raymond Thetford, Passenger conductor, Ed Terry, engine foreman, Bob Terry, engine foreman, Guy Morris, Conductor, Jeff Askin, Chas. Bryant, Conductor, Gilbert Smith, Crane operator, Gaither Smith, same, G.R. Thetford, same, Dick Smith, Section foreman, Grover Bryant, Agent, Chas. Steele, Bridge foreman, Steve Williams, Section foreman, Tom Jamerson, Tank pumper and John Jamerson, Tank pumper. Now all of these fellows went to school at the "Little Red School House" in the 22nd district, as did Henry Davis, T.A. Grier, Mrs. Lizzie Ford, Ourie Koffman, Thetford, Al Wingo, J.T. Robinson, Essie Davidson, Miss Donie McConnell, Mrs. J.W. Altman, Mrs. Bessie Burns, Garrett, Kitty Bell Harrison, Miss Tommie Wilson, and, my last teacher at Smith Academy was R.S. Rutledge who was in Union University teaching when he passed on, Beaunia Pruett. Today, there is one school left in Idlewild, which is in the 22nd district, which is outstanding. Miss Carleton Ford competed in last years cotton carnival at Memphis, sang and acted on a song entitled "A Good Man is Hard to Find" over W.M.C. and took the prize out of ten states contesting. The Toastmaster asked her where she got her training? At home, Idlewild and Bradford. He asked her if she anticipated being an actress. Her reply was "no, that she really loved to act and sing. Then I thought of the contests between the different states up in New Jersey for the QUEEN for the best actress and singer of the 48 states, and Miss Mississippi won. Her toastmaster asked her what did she contribute this to ? Her reply was "my Sunday School Teacher" and stated she told me if I had the faith of a mustard seed, in God, I would win, and did she win!" We had three men who served Gibson as county officers for many years from Idlewild. The late John Vick, Circuit clerk, George Ingram, County Register, Frank Lemonds, Trustee, and Mr. Ike Lemonds served in Crockett County several years as Trustee, too. There were two good preachers and a lawyer from this place called Skullbone. The same can be said of Bradford, in the same territory, of professional men in Railroading in transportation and Bankers, as well as county officers, I am proud to say we have now serving as County Judge Hon. R.V. Atkins and W.T. Kizer as county court clerk. Hon. John Kizer, Circuit Judge, from Milan, George Parish as Trustee, all from Skullbone or the East side of our great county. Let me digress a little to state who I think today is the President of Skullbone. This man is the Hon. Clipper Dowland of Skullbone and Nashville, Tennessee. His fathers name was Emerson Dowland. His Mother passed on when he was a little boy and he had to work to make a living. This little boy went to school in the country schools and at Bradford, later taking the examination for mail clerk and was appointed to a position in this service in Nashville. He did his job well and saved his money, investing in property as he went along. After retiring, he was well fixed, financially. Today, he is a big boy in stature and character, has a big heart and has been around the world three times and loves to write. He never has forgotten his home, being ready at all times to promote the community in which he was raised. The same can be said of his cousin, Robert Eli Dowland. We hear lots these days about juvenile delinquency, which I think is wrong. I think it is parental delinquency, as the Bible says, bring up a child when it is young in the way it should go, when it grows older it will not depart from its raising, and any young boy or girl who doesn't think their father is KING OF THEIR HOME AND THEIR MOTHER IS THE QUEEN, doesn't stand very high in my book. Frankly speaking, when I go back to where I was raised, in the rural section of Skullbone and see those nice cemeteries and Churches like Shiloh, Mt. Pleasant, Camp Ground, Poplar Springs, Belews' Chapel, Fairview, Locust Grove, Mt. Pisgah, Olivers' Chapel, Chestnut Hill, Griffins' Chapel and last but not least, Idlewild Baptist Church and Cemetery at Idlewild, where my dear Father and Mother sleep, (they were members of this church and helped organize it), and look at the monuments in that cemetery of other good friends that have passed, it makes my heart feel good to see the progress that has been made in this section of our county in the 37 years I have been away, and will say I did what I could seeing to it when I was commissioner of highways, that they had a good road. As stated, in 1923 I moved to Milan and was elected to the city board as treasure of the town. There were only around 1500 people here, we had no sewage then, not a hard surface street in town. Mr. H.P. Webb was Mayor. Later, Mr. Creswell was elected Mayor. We talked the situation over with men like the late J.D. Denney, Grover Keaton, Dr. Harrison, Bob Coley, J.W. Haynie and others. We secured a sewage plant in Mr. Webbs' administration, 1st and contracted 10 miles of concrete streets, later built what was known as the cigar factory, then secured the Milan Box Co., then began to get hard surface roads. "Everybody and the cook" were busy. There were to be two war plants to be built in the South. I was President of the Chamber of Commerce, later the President of the West Tennessee Shippers Association, which required me being in business meetings at night. One time I thought my Dutch wife would leave me, but she was true BLUE, she stayed right in there with me but I was "some" busy man. Finally, we secured the two War Plants which covered more than 28,000 acres of land, I thought I had been busy, but when the people began pouring in town wanting houses and other things, you could hardly get through the streets, then with my Fruit and Vegetable deal I was really swamped as well as all business here. We lived through it. Some lovely people came down for Proctor & Gamble Co. to take charge of the two plants, from Cincinnati, namely, Messrs. Woodward, Vits and Pruden. My Dutch wife was President of the Music Club, and this club was to be entertained in my home by Mrs. Clyde Thompson and Mrs. Thetford. I told my wife to invite the ladies out at Erie Q. to this dinner. They all came that evening and joined the club. From that time, all of them were Milanites. Then, we put in a U.S.O. I loved music and did we all have fun ! So, in this way, I could help my friends get a position. When I got up in the morning, you would think my home was a personnel office. However, I did what I could to help all of them get jobs. Later, we got a new passenger station, then a bus station. After the war, we induced the U.S. Rubber Co. to locate a shoe plant here and today our town has a population of around 7000 people. After years of experience, I have found out we get out of life here what we put into it, and the BIBLE says this life is only a place to get ready to live after we pass on, and I was taught this and believe in the BIBLE. Easter, our Savior arose from his grave after being in the grave three days. He called his disciples to him, after they were all out of hope after his death and said to them Quote: "John 1-2-3, 14th Chapter: Let not our hearts be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Fathers' house are many mansions, if it were no so I would have told you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself, that where I am there, there ye may be also. So, in the evening of life, I am doing my best to go where there is no death and Beyond the Sunset, we will meet our Savior, Loved ones, Friends and The Rose Will BLOOM AGAIN, and what a Glorious time that will be. Sincerely, C. L. Thetford The Country Boy From Skullbonia.