LEWIS COUNTY BY DATE
All substantiated inputs/changes welcomed.
This page will be constantly updated.
THE YEAR WHAT HAPPENED
1541 First white man on Tennessee soil (DeSoto).
1756 First fort built in Tennessee (Fort Loudon)
1769 First white child born in Tennessee (Russell Bean)
1801 Beginning use of the Natchez Trace.
1805 The Chickasaw Indians released their claim to this area
1805-1816 The Chickasaw Nation established stands (food and lodging) on the Trace as promised.
1809 Meriwether Lewis death Oct. 11
1810 Post fence surrounds Meriwether Lewis grave.
1822 Buffalo Iron Works at Napier organized
1923 Meriwether Lewis Memorial Association organized with John Trotwood of Nash. as President.
1923 The Meriwether Lewis National monument was established.
1843 Lewis County Created Dec. 23..
1848 Newburg became the County seat.
1848 Meriwether Lewis Monument erected at a cost of $500
1852 Newburg incorporated.
1844 First term of Lewis County, County court.
1844 The Mormon Massacre Aug. 10.
1861 The 48th Tennessee Confederate (Voorhies) regiment was raised and organized.
1878 Hohenwald named by Augusta Elida Smith.1878
1878 First town well and schoolhouse build.
1879 First store built in Hohenwald by A. P. Grover.
1880 Dec., first child born in Hohenwald (Alida Grover Schappacher)
1884 Railroad lines completed from Aetna to Kimmins
1888 New Post Office opened at Kimmins.
1889 Railroad extended from Hohenwald to Allen's Creek
1890 Allen's Creek ore mines were opened.
1890 Village of Napier came into existence.
1890/92 Southern Iron Co. of Al. built 18 miles of RR to Mannie
1891 Two furnaces known as Mannie Furnace erected at Allen's Creek
1892 Small steam engines (dinkies) replaced mules in mining operation.
1893 The beginning of riverside.
1894 Railroad changed from narrow gauge to standard gauge.
1894 Swiss Pioneer Union formed by Swiss people in Milwaukee to locate in Tn. (Arkansas was bad first choice)
1895 Nov. 17, First group of Swiss arrived with 75 families numbering 300 people.
1896 8 mile section of railroad track built from Centerville to Swan Creek
1896 First Swiss Child born (Lewis Tennessee Muhlenthaler) (date approximate)
1897 Nov. 17, New Switzerland celebrates it's second birthday.
1896/97 County seat moved to Hohenwald.
1897 The Hohenwald Times..John Schwendimann was owner and editor.
1900 County court takes steps to erect a Jail in Hohenwald.
1901 Phosphate mining started in Gordonsburg (approximate date)
1901 N. W. Black was editor and publisher of the Hohenwald Chronicle
1902 Train bridge washed out at Allen's Creek.
1902 Railroad was run to Allen's Creek
1902 Ten families were living in Perry hollow where the ore washer was located at Allen's Creek
1920 The beginning of paved sidewalks in Hohenwald.
1920 Hohenwald has no police authority
1923 Allen's Creek furnace closed.
1923 Napier Furnace closed
1926/27 Much of the North side of Main street burned
1930 Napier Furnace dismantled and sold for junk.
1931 8 mile track from Centerville to Swan Creek abandoned.
1933 August 11, Meriwether Lewis Monument transferred from the war Dept. to the National Park Service.
1934 Post Office closed at Riverside.
1937 Phosphate mining at Gordonsburg ceased.
1941 The 10.38 mile RR segment from Hohenwald to Allen's creek abandoned and the track removed.
1951 Lewis County's first public library opened with Mrs. W. B. Sublett, Librarian.
1975 Lewis County Historical Society organized with Dr. R. W. Bouldin, president.
1997 Coroners inquest held to have Lewis remains exhumed to determine Suicide or murder.(J. Starrs)