yesterday's tennessee

Tennessee Family Land Heritage Century Farm Program

Mrs. Lissa Clarke*

THE WEST TENNESSEE FARM

Marvin Downing, Editor
Published by The University of Tennessee at Martin, 1979

The Tennessee Family Land Heritage-Century Farm Program sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture in 1976, was designed to honor those families who have owned and continuously operated a farm in Tennessee for 100 years or more. More importantly this program demonstrated the living history of the land which provided food, clothing and shelter through our nation's first industry — agriculture.

The department awarded each family a certificate of ownership for the documented period and also a large metal sign to display on their property. The department is in the progress of compiling a complete listing 0f Century Farms for each county and the volume should be published this year. (Picture A.)

Picture A
This is a photo of the yellow metal sign the Tennessee Department of Agriculture presented to each of the qualifying families. (Courtesy of Miss Anne Pope, Yorkville and Martin)

The Tennessee Historical Commission awarded this program its Certificate of Merit "for having made significant contributions to the study and preservation of Tennessee's historical heritage.

In the fourteen counties of Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, Obion, Tipton, and Weakley, there are ninety-nine (99) farms on the list. Obion, Gibson and Crockett and Henry counties head the list respectively with twenty-eight (28), thirteen (13), and eleven (11) for the last two counties.

Below are some brief random selections which will appear in the state publication.

Benton County  Years: 129
Cuff Farm — 3/16/1847 — 5 mi. N.E. of Camden, Beaverdam Community
Founder: Margaret Cuff of S.C.
1976 Owner: Mr. & Mrs. Edgar A. Cuff, Rt.4, Camden, Tn. 38320, Tel. (901) 584-6301

Margaret Cuff bought 200 acres of land in 1847, and farmed it together with her son, Francis Asbury Cuff. They farmed corn, cotton, sorghum, cattle, hogs, and sheep. When the land was passed to the son, he opened a sorghum mill, establishing sorghum as a major Benton County crop. The next generation not only operated the sorghum mill, but also operated a community telephone switchboard from the house. The present day owner is the great-great-grandson of the founder and the farm now consists of 191 of the original acres. The old log house has been converted to a barn and a hay house which aids in the production of corn, wheat, hay, potatoes, beef cattle, and hogs.

Carroll County  Years: 138
McDonald Farm — 1/5/1838 — 7 mi. S. W. of McKenzie
Founder: John McDonald
1976 Owner: Mrs. Betty Lou McDonald Penick, 329 Magnolia, McKenzie, Tn. 38201, Tel. (901) 352-2352
(Editor's note: This was the site of old Christmasville, Tennessee.)

Crockett County  Years: 155
Frog Jump Farm, Parker & Parker — 1821 — Hwy. 88, midway between Maury City and Gates in 10th Dist. on Johnson Grove-Frog Jump-Chestnut Bluff Rd.
Founder: Dr. Samuel Oldham, Sr.
1i976 Owner: Mr. Emmett Garfield Parker, Jr., 717 W. Tigrett St., Halls, Tn. 38040, Tel. (901) 234-7896

Dyer County  Years: 132
Sweatt Farm — 8/5/1844 — 12 mi. S.E. of Dyersburg on old Hwy. 20
Founder: Thomas W. Jones
1976 Owner: Mr. Charles Edward Sweatt, Jr., Rt.2, Friendship, Tn. 38034, Tel. (901) 677-2532 or 285-5948

Thomas Jones, born in Tennessee, began his farming career in Dickson Co. after buying 300 acres and later adding 690 acres. Growing small grain and tobacco were his chief products along with livestock. His son, James Hugh, served as buyer for the infantry division of the U.S. Army, buying mules and horses for the infantry. Today great grandson Charles Sweatt and his daughter and her family live on the farm and Sweatt himself operates the grain, cotton, corn, beans, hay, livestock, and dairy businesses.

Gibson County  Years: 110
Pope Farms — 1866 — 1.5 mi. S.ofYorkville Nebo Rd.
Founder: William M. Bradley
1976 Owner: Mr. Joe Pope, Rt.1, Dyer, Tn. 38330, Tel. (901) 643-6615; and Miss Anne Pope, At above address, Tel. (901) 643-6634

Editor's note: This is the farm featured in Bob Sugg's "West Tennessee's Farm Heritage Evident in Pope Century Farm."

Gibson County  Years: 119
Lancaster Farm — 9/12/1857 — 8 ml. W. of Trenton, 1/2 mi. off 104 going S.
Founder: Bennet Watts Roberts
1976 Owner: Helen Louvenia Roberts Lancaster, Rt. 3, Box 283, Trenton, Tn. 38382, Tel. (901) 559-4631

The Roberts family grew a variety of crops to include cotton, corn, wheat, and raised milk cows, hogs, goats, sheep and poultry for the family. Son John added 100 acres to his father's original 90 and continued the farming operations. Today great granddaughter Mrs. Woodrow Lancaster and daughter Patricia Ann raise soybeans, corn, and cattle. They manage the farm and nephew Harry Burkett works on the farm.

Gibson County  Years: 149
Alvin Smith Farm — 1827 — 6 mi. W. of Rutherford, in the Tyson Store Comm.
Founder: Benjamin P. Tyson
1976 Owner: Mr. & Mrs. Alvin Smith, Rt. 2, Kenton, Tn., Tel. (901) 673-4289

Alvin Smith and his wife work 45 of the original acreage and have added 185 of their own. Corn, soybeans and wheat are their main crops and, up until about four years ago, raised livestock. Since 1943 they have operated the farm. Founder Benjamin P. Tyson, great grandfather of Alvin, accumulated over 2200 acres when he first came to Tennessee from North Carolina in 1827. In 1847 he donated land for North Union Church and cemetery.

Haywood County  Years: 151
Oak Hill — 1828 — 2 Mi. E. of Memphis — Hwy. 40
Founder: Thomas Barksdale Collier
1976 Owner: Lucy Truss Coppedge, Stanton, Tn. 38069

Thomas Barksdale Collier was seeking agricultural advantages when he came to Tennessee from Virginia. Like others of that farming period, he raised cotton, corn, hay and some cattle. A son of his, William, only 15 years of age, enlisted in the 7th Tennessee Cavalry under General N. B. Forrest (Nathan Bedford) and fought in all the battles in West Tennessee. Later he studied law in Memphis and became owner and publisher of the "Appeal-Avalanch" in 1885 until 1894.

Today a granddaugher of Thomas Collier, Lucy Truss Coppedge, owns 696 acres of the original 2000 acres. The servant's house and smokehouse are still in fair condition and are used. Russell Davis, a friend, works the land. Cotton, corn and hay are grown. Cattle and offspring are raised at "Oak Hill."

Lake County  Years: 120
Shumate Farm — 1856 — 7th Dist. Levee Rd.
Founder: John P. Craig
1976 Owner: Mr. John Hamilton Shumate, Rt. 2, Box 152, Tiptonville, Tn. 38079, Tel. (901) 253-7669

John Craig, a confederate soldier, maintained a 156-acre farm raising cotton, wheat, corn, hogs and dairy cows.

His land was purchased because elevation was above the overflow level. All generations have been active in community and church affairs.

Today 66 of the original acres are owned and worked by John H. Shumate, grandson of the founder. The Shumate farm produces cotton and soybeans.

Editor's note: John Shumate is referred to in the Lewis article, "Steamboats Loaded Cotton Here."

Lauderdale CountyYears: 141
Paradise Farm — 1825 — Dist 1, 2½ mi. E. of Henning.
Founder: Edmond Fitzpatrick
1976 Owner: Mr. Eugene Rice Anthony, 200 Jefferson St., Ripley, Tn. 38063, Tel. (901) 635-1774

Edmond Fitzpatrick of Virginia searched and found rich farm land in Lauderdale County, just outside of Henning, Tennessee. Around 1825 he brought 2000 acres of land. He raised cotton, as did most western counties, corn, hay and cattle. During the Civil War, Federal troops camped on the land. Also $50,000 in gold was buried under the hearth in the founder's house during the war.

Down through the years cotton and corn have been the main crops at Paradise Farm. A great grandson, Eugene Thomas Anthony, first began raising soybeans on the farm about 1952.

Today, with over 1000 acres, a great, great grandson, Eugene R. Anthony still raises the same crops in addition to other activities.

*Mrs. Lissa Clarke, Information Officer for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture in Nashville, provided the information presented here.

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