HICKMAN COUNTY, TN - NEWS - The Centreville Iron Bridge ----¤¤¤---- January 11, 1878 MASTER MEN The people of Hickman County bought an iron bridge at Dayton, Ohio, to go across Duck River at Centreville. They are at a loss now to bring such a ponderous mass, 40 tons, over such bad roads, until A. NEWTON, MCCLANAHAM, ROBERT MCCLANAHAN and JOSEPH FOWLKES, master men, under take to bring it there themselves. They got the contract, and came to Columbia, went out to RUFE PEYTON'S on Rutherford Creek, six miles from Columbia, cut down poplar trees, hewed out two gunwales, hauled them to town, made the boat and landed it yesterday - all inside of six days. They are massive men, and have performed their work well. The iron will be placed in the boat when the river gets up, and taken to Centerville. When they reach Centerville and unload, they will load the boat with goober peas, which they will take to Paducah, Kentucky. These men are quite remarkable in their way, having accomplished feats that required great skill and courage. When GEN. HOOD'S army wanted a pontoon across Duck River, several efforts were made, and owing to the exceeding swiftness of the current, they were unsuccessful. Finally NEWT MCCLANAHAN of Hickman county, undertook the job and put it across at once. He also put it across for the army to retreat over on. He and his brother and friend are master men. January 25, 1878 HICKMAN COUNTY ITEMS CHANCELLOR NIXON made one of his characteristic speeches, such a speech as can only be made by him, in which he said the commencement and completion of our road was a fixed fact, and work would begin as soon as the weather would admit, and the location could be permanently fixed. We think now the road will be completed to Centreville in the present year. MR. MORRISON, the bridge contractor, is moving along well with his work, the middle pillar is nearly finished, and the abutments near each bank are being rapidly completed. THE MESSRS. MCCLANAHAN, from near Centreville, have already completed a boat in which to ship the bridge as soon as it is arrives in your city. April 12, 1878 WILLIAMSPORT ITEMS The iron bridge, shipped from Columbia some time since bound for Centreville, has made slow progress reaching it destination. The boat conveying it first hung upon a fish-dam two miles above this place; but was drawn back into deep water without sustaining material damage. Here it had to remain some time, waiting for a sufficient rise to carry it over the dam. At last, sufficient rise to carry it over, as was thought came. The attempt was made and over the boat went; but the strain was too great, and caused a leak that resulted in its being sunk. It had then to be unloaded, raised and turned upside down for repairs. This being done it was again launched and loaded, and is now ready and waiting another rise of the river, to go on its way. We hope no other accident will befall it ere it reaches its destination. April 20,1878 WILLIAMSPORT ITEMS Yesterday morning the boat carrying the Centreville bridge, which for some weeks has been moored two miles above here, loosed its fastenings and turning its head down stream made for its destination, which it has no doubt reached ere this. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Penny Boyer Pbgenealogy@aol.com Sarah Armisted Amr6007@aol.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------