HOW HOHENWALD GOT ITS NAME

Most everyone in and around Hohenwald knows that the word "Hohenwald" is a German name and that it means in the parent tongue, High woods or High forest, but few know the facts concerning the naming of the town or how it all came about and who named it.

The following affidavit sent us by Hon. John Trotwood Moor, state librarian and keeper of the Archives gives a full explanation of the naming of the town as well as of the early history of the town.  "We were handed a clipping from a Knoxville paper some weeks ago carrying the same story but for want of room were unable to use it."  In the fall of 1878, Warren Smith, with his German wife, Augusta Elida and son, frank, camped under the wide-spreading branches of some oak trees at the cross roads on the Falliss old place in Lewis County,  Tennessee.  These intersecting roads ran north and south from the John Mays farm, on Grinders creek in Lewis county, to Linden, Perry County, and east to west from Centerville, in Hickman county to Rockhouse Creek and on to Waynesboro, in Wayne county.  The Falliss place had not been inhabited since the war, and at the time of the Smith's camping there, was but a barren sedge field.  Within two weeks, a plain, three room box house was built and the campers moved into it.  This was the first house built at this place after the Civil War.  Smith looked to the future of the place and prevailed on A.P. Grover to move to the Falliss cross roads and put up a store.

Will Webb came from Matton, Illinois, and established a blacksmith shop.  A town well was dug and school house built.  A pony mail route was changed so as to serve the infantile community and post office created.  The name was selected by the German wife.  A reception was given to the lone horseman who carried the first mail into the little hamlet.  He was welcomed in a brief speech by Warren Smith and presented a luscious cake by Mr. Smith amidst the assembled residents.  The name given the post office was Hohenwald, meaning in German, High Woods.  Since then, the county seat was voted from Newburg to Hohenwald.  God bless the town my  mother named, and all who dwell therein, forever.

Signed Frank P. Smith "subscribed and sworn to before me this 12th day of July, 1924.

Signed Jessie M. Houston, Notary Public.  My commission expires June 28, 1928.  The affidavit was written by Frank P. Smith of Oklahoma and not by the Frank Smith known in the county.

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