Category: People Places and Stories
Remembering Rutherford: Bell lynched despite victim’s plea and sheriff’s efforts
Greg Tucker, the Murfreesboro Post, July 25, 2017 “The ‘law’s delay,’ as exemplified in the courthouse, is the cause of these illegal executions. A reform in court proceedings is badly needed.” Editorial from The Fayetteville Observer (September 12, 1878), regarding a Rutherford County lynching. Abner Dement was born in 1848 in the northeastern…
Industries of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad: Evaporated Milk (Part 1)
The Dixie Flyer, the Official Newsletter of the NC&StL Preservation Society, Spring 2016 The following are excerpts from the NC&StL Bulletin, March 1945 Carnation Co., Murfreesboro In the above picture of Carnation’s beautiful plant at Murfreesboro, Tenn., we’re only given a glimpse of its size. When the war clouds have…
Remembering Rutherford: Ruckers Knob home older than Rutherford County
Greg Tucker, The Murfreesboro Post, June 26, 2017 The origin and history of Rutherford County and its people are deeply rooted in the Rucker surname. The Rucker migration into Tennessee began in or about the same year as Tennessee statehood. Benjamin Rucker, a wealthy Virginia landowner and Revolutionary War veteran,…
Harber’s History Lesson: Slaughter Pen was preeminent in Civil War history at Stones River
Susan Harber, The Daily News Journal, June 19, 2017 The term “slaughter” emanates cold chills down the spine of any individual in Rutherford County. Yet, slaughter was unending on December 31, 1862, with the perilous, bloodiest encounter of Union and Confederate troops in a heavy forest near the Stones River.…
Haber’s History Lesson: Spymaster Henry Shaw was leader of Coleman Scouts
Susan Harber, The Daily News Journal, May 15, 2017 Henry Shaw of the Coleman Scouts was the son of Thomas Shaw, who came to America from Scotland and settled in both Lancaster, Pa., and North Carolina. Thomas established roots in Robertson County in 1821 and made Clarksville his home. Living…
Remembering Rutherford: Civil War seduction linked to Carnation evaporated milk
Greg Tucker, Murfreesboro Post, April 25, 2017 Sophie took care of Sophie! Educated in Philadelphia, Alfred H. Dashiell came to Tennessee in the 1830s as president of the Nashville Female Academy. After four years at the Academy, he entered the ministry and served four years as pastor of the Presbyterian…
Snail Shell one of nation’s most biologically important cave
Tour of Old Jefferson
Frank Caperton, Rutherford County Historical Society, April 8, 2017 Jefferson Springs native Toby Francis conducted a tour of Old Jefferson for a few former residents of the community once known as Jefferson. The weather was warm and beautiful as were the memories shared by all.
Remembering Rutherford: Fences tell of feuds, psych care and personalities
Greg Tucker, The Murfreesboro Post, March 22, 2017 Even the fences tell tales in Rutherford County. Devil’s fence Virgil Pitts and Ellis Peyton, neighbors on Trimble Road in the eastern portion of Rutherford County in the 1940s, raised sheep. Their respective sheep pastures shared a common fence, and for years…
Remembering Rutherford: Bell lynched despite victim’s plea and sheriff’s efforts

Greg Tucker, the Murfreesboro Post, July 25, 2017 “The ‘law’s delay,’ as exemplified in the courthouse, is the cause of these illegal executions. A reform in court proceedings is badly needed.” Editorial from The Fayetteville Observer (September 12, 1878), regarding a Rutherford County lynching. Abner Dement was born in 1848 in the northeastern…
Industries of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad: Evaporated Milk (Part 1)

The Dixie Flyer, the Official Newsletter of the NC&StL Preservation Society, Spring 2016 The following are excerpts from the NC&StL Bulletin, March 1945 Carnation Co., Murfreesboro In the above picture of Carnation’s beautiful plant at Murfreesboro, Tenn., we’re only given a glimpse of its size. When the war clouds have…
Remembering Rutherford: Ruckers Knob home older than Rutherford County

Greg Tucker, The Murfreesboro Post, June 26, 2017 The origin and history of Rutherford County and its people are deeply rooted in the Rucker surname. The Rucker migration into Tennessee began in or about the same year as Tennessee statehood. Benjamin Rucker, a wealthy Virginia landowner and Revolutionary War veteran,…
Harber’s History Lesson: Slaughter Pen was preeminent in Civil War history at Stones River

Susan Harber, The Daily News Journal, June 19, 2017 The term “slaughter” emanates cold chills down the spine of any individual in Rutherford County. Yet, slaughter was unending on December 31, 1862, with the perilous, bloodiest encounter of Union and Confederate troops in a heavy forest near the Stones River.…
Haber’s History Lesson: Spymaster Henry Shaw was leader of Coleman Scouts
Susan Harber, The Daily News Journal, May 15, 2017 Henry Shaw of the Coleman Scouts was the son of Thomas Shaw, who came to America from Scotland and settled in both Lancaster, Pa., and North Carolina. Thomas established roots in Robertson County in 1821 and made Clarksville his home. Living…
Remembering Rutherford: Civil War seduction linked to Carnation evaporated milk

Greg Tucker, Murfreesboro Post, April 25, 2017 Sophie took care of Sophie! Educated in Philadelphia, Alfred H. Dashiell came to Tennessee in the 1830s as president of the Nashville Female Academy. After four years at the Academy, he entered the ministry and served four years as pastor of the Presbyterian…
Snail Shell one of nation’s most biologically important cave
Tour of Old Jefferson
Frank Caperton, Rutherford County Historical Society, April 8, 2017 Jefferson Springs native Toby Francis conducted a tour of Old Jefferson for a few former residents of the community once known as Jefferson. The weather was warm and beautiful as were the memories shared by all.
Remembering Rutherford: Fences tell of feuds, psych care and personalities

Greg Tucker, The Murfreesboro Post, March 22, 2017 Even the fences tell tales in Rutherford County. Devil’s fence Virgil Pitts and Ellis Peyton, neighbors on Trimble Road in the eastern portion of Rutherford County in the 1940s, raised sheep. Their respective sheep pastures shared a common fence, and for years…