Marshall County Real Estate

Click on the Marshall County map below for more information on the various cities in Marshall County

Demographics

Marshall County is the home of the pure history, having settled land by Revolutionary War Veterans, and with cities name for explorers. Marshall county proves to be an excellent place to raise a family, with a more then adequate school system, and excellent parks and recreation. One of the largest cities in Marshall, Lewisburg, which is the county seat. Marshall County encompasses a 375 square mile are area and has a population of approximately 27,106 (U.S. Census 2000).

Geography

Marshall County is one of the southern-most counties in the Nashville-Davidson area. This Tennessee county is home to some of the most beautiful areas in the state. Many historic landscapes date back to the time when Native Americans were the only people to grace the soil of Marshall County. It borders Williamson County to the south, Maury County to the east, and Rutherford County to the southwest.

Municipalities in Marshall County

• Belfast
• Chapel Hill
• Cornersville
• Lewisburg
• Petersburg

History

It is not known where or by whom the first settlement was made. For convenience in treating of the first settlements, the county may be divided in to three sections: First, that portion north of Duck River; Second, that lying between Duck River and the Elk Ridge, and Third, that lying south of Elk Ridge.

On Caney Spring Creek, near the village of Caney Spring, Asa Fonville raised a crop in 1807, and a little farther up the creek James Patterson began clearing up a farm early in the same year. Four miles northwest of Caney Spring, Squire Atkisson was a very prominent early settler, and a leader in his community for many years. James Haynes and a man named Kellams settled near together, and between Atkisson and Patterson. Samuel Ramsey settled on the creek two miles from the village, in 1808, and afterward in 1809 removed south of Duck River. He had a water-mill, which was the first one north of the river. It was visited by people from ten or twelve miles distant. Others who lived in that vicinity prior to 1810 were the Allens, Wallaces and Becks. Gen. N. B. Forrest, who was born at Chapel Hill in 1818, was a descendant of this family of Becks.

In the vicinity of Chapel Hill a settlement was made in 1808 by Andrew Patterson, who was a captain, commanding a company in the battle of New Orleans in 1815. Robert Patterson, a brother of Andrew, also settled near in the same year. Northwest of Chapel Hill four miles in 1809, Joseph Brittain settled on his tract of 5000 acres. He reared a large family of children and gave them all farms. Several descendants of this man are now living in that section. He built a horse-mill. The Boyds and Riggs lived in the same community as early as 1810, and were probably there as early as 1808. The father of Gen. Forrest emigrated from North Carolina, and after a temporary stay at other places made his home at Chapel Hill in 1815.

Near Duck River on the north side, a large family of the Billingtons were the first to make permanent settlements. Near there was a Rev. Mr. Warner, a minister in the Baptist Church. Others among the first pioneers were James Patton, Hugh McClelland, Richard Walker and two families of McClures.

Early in the year 1807 James Neil came from North Carolina to where Farmington is now located. He built a cabin just northwest of the turnpike in the village. He was soon followed by two of' his brothers, Alexander and Andrew Neil, who both lived within a quarter of a mile of where the village stands.

About the same time John Reed opened up a small farm one mile south of these. Near Reed was John Dysarts about the same time, About three miles from Farmington, on West Rock Creek, Allen Leiper was the first cane cutter. He had a valuable watermill for those days, which in the years 1808-09 supplied the demand of the central section of the county. In 1808 John Shaw brought his family from North Carolina, and made his home one mile north of the village. Shaw was a hero at the battle of New Orleans.

In all parts of the county traces of the Mound-Builders are found. Mounds built of earth and small stones, ranging in height from four or five feet to about fifteen feet, are more numerous in this county than in any other part of the State. North of Lewisburg about a mile is a mound ten feet high, built of larger stories than are commonly found in those structures. It was evidently a burial place, for parts of a skeleton have been taken from it. A thigh bone of a person was recently found in this mound, which, if the other parts were developed proportionately, belonged to a person over seven feet tall. The jaw bone, also found, is much larger than that of any person of whom we now have any knowledge. This body was evidently buried in a sitting posture. Three miles west of Lewisburg is a large clay mound, covering over a quarter of an acre. In the Seventeenth District there is one of small stones and clay seventeen feet high. There is also a very large one in the Fifth District. In those mounds are found fragments of pottery and rude missles of various kinds, supposed to be weapons of warfare. In various parts of the county are found numerous arrow-heads, battle-axes, pipes, etc., probably relics of the Indians that lived here.

Marshall County was established by an act of the Legislature passed February 1836. It included fractions of Lincoln, Bedford and Maury Counties, when first organized, and in 1870 a part of Giles County, known as the Cornersville District, was given to Marshall. In establishing the first boundaries the line between Marshall and Maury placed nearer the county seat of the latter than the law allowed, and it was so changed to conform to the law. In 1871 the line on the west was again slightly changed to slightly changed to include the farms of John B. Wilkes and John Coffey, in Marshall.

October 3, 1836, at the house of Abner Houston, the first county court was organized by the following justices of the peace: William McClure, Thomas Ross, William Wilkes, Peter Williams, Thomas Wilson, David McGahey, James Adams, George Cunningham, James L. Ewing, John Field, Adam Miller, Joseph Cleek, Ephraim Hunter, Asa Holland, James Patterson, Jason B. Sheffield, Sherwood Dunnigan and Andrew Laird. William McClure was elected chairman, and David McGahey was appointed secretary pro tem. The court then "adjourned to meet at the camp ground immediately," and upon being again convened the following men were chosen to fill their respective offices: John R. Hill, sheriff; Martin W. Oakley, clerk county court; John W. Record, trustee; John Elliott, register; Joseph McCord, coroner; Isaac H. Williams, ranger, and Hugh McClelland, surveyor. The court then appointed commissioners to lay off the civil districts, and proceeded to the general routine of business, namely, appointing road overseers, etc.