Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-09-12
HOW THEY WERE NAMED.
HISTORICAL DATA CONCERNING
TENNESSEE COUNTIES.
In Nearly Every Case Prominent Pho
neers Were Honored.

Nashville American, Anniversary Edition.
How the COUNTIES of the State de-
rived their names should be known
to every resident, yet it is known to
but very few and none of the State
historians have even attempted to
give this interesting information in
any of their volumes.
TO person at all conversant with
the early history of the State 1t APP
pears as if a large proportion of the
counties were named for the pioneers
in her history, men, who by valiant
deeds deserve more fitting mouu-
ments than to have their names
pronounced daily by the people "from
Carter to Shelby" without even
thought Of those gone long before.
Still it is a better monument than
none, and the defendants of the few
who braved the terrors of the wilder
ness have the satisfaction of know
ing that their illustrious predeces-
sors are not entirely forgotten.
Notwithstanding the early history
of the State is closely interviewer
with the Indians, it is singular fact
that but two of the counties have
Indian names. This is little
strange, and can only be accounted
for on the grounds that the pioneers
did not have very exalted opinion
of the redskin, and did not care to
perpetuate his memory or honor him
by naming any portion of the State
after him. Almost every State in the
Union has a profusion of Indian
names, or Indian names anglicized.
Taking the ninety-six counties in
alphabetical order, the first that pre-
sents itself is Anderson. 1t was ad-
mitted in 1901, and named after
Joseph Anderson, who was a mem
Der of the convention that had been
called for the purpose of taking steps
to secure the admission of the State
into the Union.
Bedford derives its name from
Nathan Bedford, a prominent charac.
ter in the early history of the State,
and who is still further remembered
by being the person from whom Gen.
n. B. Forrest derived his Christian
name. The county was organized in
1908.
Benton will be Immediately con-
nected with the name of Jesse Ben
ton, who fought the duel with VIM.
Carroll in 1918, and who, in 1924,
fought with Andrew Jackson in the
old city Inn in Nashville because Of
a difference of opinion on politics
The county was organized in 1885.
Bledsoe is named for Isaac Bled.
soc and was formed in 1907. Bled
soe's salt lick was prominent place
in those days.
Blount is name prominent in the
early history of the State. The coun
ty was formerly known as "Chero
kee County," and when, in 1895, i
was proposed to legally organize i
and name it after one of the Blounts
some of the old settlers made {
strong fight for the old name
Opinions differ as to which one of thu
Blounts it was named fOr-Willie, o.
to spell it as pronounced-"Wylie'-
after whom it was probably named
was Judge, the second Governor o
the State and prominent politician
VIM. Blount was the territorial
Governor, a member of the Constitu
tional Convention and a Unitet
States Senator.
Bradley was organized in 1886, ant
derives its name from a politician
actively interested in her early his
tory.
Campbell is named. after Davi
Campbell, who was the first Judge c
the Supreme Court of the State. ]
was formed in 1906.
Cannon derives its name fror
Newton G. Cannon, who Representa-
the State in Congress for sewers
terms. Early in his career he incur
red the enmity of Andrew Jackso
because Of his being on a jury tbs
rendered a verdict adverse to Jack
sons client. Jackson never forgav
him, and worked against him polit
cally. In spite of the oppositio
Cannon served a term as Governo
The county was organized in 1886.
Carter was made a county in 179t
There were two prominent me
named Carter, so to whom the homo