THE HISTORY OF VERSAILLES TENTH DISTRICT AND IT'S PEOPLE

Compiled by: R Fred Nance and John W Nance Preparation of manuscript by: Susan G Daniel


Published by:
Rutherford County Historical Society
P. O. Box 906
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37130


Carmine Jackson

PREFACE

The Committee corked diligently for about two years to make this record available and within reach of all who have ties to Versailles and the Tenth District.

The demand fir this History has long been recognized. Nearly all persons born in the last century are gone and personal contacts were with descendants.

No information was purchased. All was obtained voluntarily. Notes and documents left be deceased relatives were used extensively. Full cooperation was received from many, many descendants. The self-appointed committee is grateful to all who had a part. Limited space prevented listing each by name. There were perhaps a hundred.

Mistakes will be found, Dates, names, typing errors and others are almost impossible to have 100%perfect. If and when these are found call attention in writing to page and line so most may be corrected.

Any financial overage that occurs will go the Rutherford County Genealogical Society.

The committee was composed of Carmine Jackson, Fred Nance, John Nance. And John D Pinkerton. Nancy Puckett, Ann Hatcher, Gladys Farris, Dick Poplin, and Fran Nance were associate members and made major contributions.

The committee expects the History to be a source of pleasure through the years to the younger generation, who may not now know or care about their heritage in this area.


IN THE BEGINNING
THERE WAS THE VERSAILLES KNOB

VERSAILLES

The history of Versailles parallels that of five other communities and towns of the same name in the nation. Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania each has a Versailles, six in all, pronounced Ver-sals. All except Versailles, TN, retained post offices, enhancing growth. Versailles was the nucleus of the area of the old tenth district of Rutherford County. Prior to the County or District, was the nucleus of a much larger area with no established boundary, being a small part of the western territory of the state of North Carolina as well as all of now Tennessee. Viewed from the height of a modern day jet liner the area will appear as a mere speck in the exploration and development of the sixteenth state, but the activities, the problems, the opportunities along with the character and nature of its people are comparable to and rate second to none.

The Tenth District included the area adjoining the Eighth District in the extreme southwestern part of Rutherford County, extended far enough north to include Sheads Mill, presently Farris sawmill area, but not far enough north to include what was known as the Cedar Lands; thence east to a straight north-south line to include the Pinnacle Knot to the Link Road and made three jig jags west then south to the Bedford County line, the southern boundary. The Tenth Civil District was established in 1840 and merged with and became the Eighth District area in 1972. Presently, the original Eighth and Tenth areas make the Eighth District, the extreme southwestern part of the county. The nucleus of the old Tenth District area is presently shared between Versailles and Rockvale. Rockvale came into being after 1870.

The Versailles store, heart of the community, is located within one mile northwest of the actual beginning or head of the Harpeth River Valley and a few hundred yards south of the Harpeth River Valley Creek, which further on becomes Harpeth River with the help of another major water source known as the head of the Harpeth. The creek was the boundary line between Rutherford and Williamson Counties until the Tenth District formed. Thus Versailles was in Williamson County until 1840. The entire length of the Harpeth River Valley Creek may be followed until it becomes Harpeth River and leaves the county. It is also shown on the 1870-78 map. Prior to the Tenth District all this area from the West Fork of Stones Rivers west was the Second or Western District of the County. Versailles shared the nucleus of this area with Eagleville and Middleton, now Midland.

The Old Colombia Trace, Trail or Road, came through Versailles from the very beginning if travel from the Nashville-Old Jefferson areas to Columbia which was an outlet and inlet to and from the Gulf Coast for explorers and traders. Most county seats in Middle Tennessee, north of Columbia also had a Columbia Road, Shelbyville for example. Abstract deeds to land in the Versailles area bear this out. One such is the deed to the land where Graham Gordon now lives.

French explorers from the north, some from Canada, as early as 1710 began coming into the area as well as the entire middle Tennessee territory. For years before, this was Indian territory with the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, and Shawnee Indians using it as hunting grounds. The area later to become Versailles, began as a trading post for the Indians with the French. No Indian town site such existed in the Versailles. These were along the Tennessee River and to the east, south and west. The Indians referred to the area as Hunting Grounds. The Indians came into the area during the hunting season, spring and summer, disposed of their kill at trading posts like Versailles and returned to larger villages outside circling the area. Artifacts bear this out. Spear points, burial grounds, forts and tables are found in the Versailles area and have been refereed to as such from generation to generation. In 1805, the treaties of Tellico and Dearborn destroyed all rights of the Indians to the land that is now Middle Tennessee. Prior to these treaties the area around the West Fork of the Stones River, the Duck and Harpeth Revers was Indian Territories. This included the Versailles area. Although there had been many setters to come south, the signing of the treaties cause a rush of home seekers to come over the divide, settling in the West Fork of the Stones, Duck and Harpeth Rivers.

The signing of these treaties extended the county boundary to the Alabama line. In just a few short months settlers had reached the Alabama line. Rough terrain, lack of roads and communications maid governing the area impossible from Jefferson, the county seat. This made Versailles very important for communications, drop point, trading, and a social gathering center.

In 1807 Bedford County was formed from Rutherford using the ridge that divides the waters of the Duck River from those of the Cumberland, then westerly to the southeast corner of Williamson County, as per "Indian Treaties and Land Laws of Tennessee", 1800-1810.

Some of the Indians on the horrible Trail of Tears wandered aside into the Versailles area in 1837, hid and went no further. A few returned via this area. Much later one old Indian returned to the area on a visit. Residents have handed this fact down from one generation to the next.

The Trading Post at the Head of Harpeth Valley continued as such until after the Revolutionary War and until about the time of the aborted birth of the State of Franklin. During this period of approximately 80 to 90 years the area was under contest for possession by the French. The French purpose, in addition to trade was territory possession. Indian and French became friendly toward one another and hostile toward the English east of the Appalachian Mountains. The English had possession of the territory east of the Mountains and became progressively more intense in their efforts against the Indians and French for the territory west of the mountains. The French and Indians contested the English for the western territory about the same time that France and England were at war in Europe. Following this war the French began to support the English in this country as they began to flow over the mountains westward into territories like Tennessee. The French appeared to foresee the Revolutionary War coming on between the English colonies and the British Government. Thus in a complete reversal. France lent its support against Britain to the English colonies in the new world. King Louis of France and Lafayette were prominent in this support. The French were very popular with the colonies as a result of their assistance during the war of Independence. Invitations to French leaders to visit the new country became the order of the day. Thus King Louis, still interested in territory further west, came into New Orleans and traveled incognito through the territory west of the mountains, He traveled as the Duke of Orleans through what is now Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania and perhaps others. His popularity zoomed with the settlers and through their enthusiasm. and admiration for the French, sox communities known as trading posts or some local landmark such as a spring or creek changed their designations to Versailles (Ver-si). in honor of King Louis' hometown of Versailles, France, about the time Tennessee became a state in 1796. This popularity was not one-sided. After returning home as King of France, he often mentioned his visit to Tennessee in his correspondence. In a letter to Andrew Jackson, he kiddingly asked if Tennesseans still slept till three to a bed and carried whiskey in a tin around their necks, in reference to his sharing a bed with two others at an overcrowded lodge during his visit in the area.

Also about this time immigrants were pouring over the mountains into east and middle Tennessee, from which came a few permanent English settlers to the Versailles area, principally for land and land grants and the excitement and speculation of living in the new independent country, the United States of America. Lafayette of France later made a visit to Versailles KY and was extremely well received, but not sufficient enough to prevent the English settlers from gradually returning Versailles from the French pronunciation to the English pronunciation. This became complete when the postmaster was appointed for Versailles, TN in 1830. Thus conclusions are reached that Versailles, TN was named for Versailles, France and the local residents gradually changed to the English pronunciation after the intense admiration for the French began to wane. The Nance, Jackson and Ransom families and others in the larger area accelerated this change in pronunciation.

Versailles was in a remote wilderness area, secluded and inaccessible, except in dire necessities, from the larger developing areas such as Nashville, Donelson, Old Jefferson, Murfreesboro, Shelbyville and Eagleville. Yet it was there as early as most. Being reasonably equidistant from most of these, it continually went through the throes of which way civilization. Hesitancy about this still remains, but Murfreesboro has dominated since about 1830. Roads, electric lines, telephone lines. water lines, schools and business at the county seat, all to come, enhanced the direction.

The rocks that underlie the soils of the area are limestone. Hardly a square mile is without outcrops of rock. Most streams run on clean bedrock with numerous small falls and shoals. the land surface is petted with numerous sink holes and depressions since limestone is relatively soluble and conductive to rapid weathering. Most of the soil is classified as Rock Outcrop-Talbott Barfield by the Soil Conservation Service. Elevation rates from a maximum of almost 1300 feet above sea level on top of the knobs to about 600 feet in the lowest lands. Soil is easily eroded, the timber having been cut over several times through the years. Contour farming and a minimum of row crops is recommended. Most cultivated fields are small and would be considered as very small patches compared to the Midwest row crop farm area or even to the cotton field of West Tennessee.

The Versailles Knob in the Tenth District and on which a surveyors crew erected a cedar flagpole in 1819, is 1240 feet above sea level, the third or fourth in height in the county. Many girls and boys carved their initials on the flagpole even as late as the 1930's after it lay on the ground in broken parts,

-Researched by John and Fred Nance


ROADS

written by John and Fred Nance

To use the phrase "down the road," which most have heard many times, was just a figure of speech for early travelers. Roads did not exist. Everyone used animal trails, especially those of the buffalo. History described these trails as broad beaten paths, worn into the earth two feet or more in many places and had apparently been used for ages

Large herds of animals traveled these trails. Early trappers and Indians used them not only for travel, but trapping and hunting areas. Robberies were common along these trails. Recognizing that the animals and Indians had chosen the best routes, early settlers widened the trails into roads.

To of these trails were important in the development of Versailles. The Columbia Trail ran southward from Lebanon, Jefferson, Versailles, near Chapel hill (east of Eagleville) ti Columbia, then confecting with the Natchez Trail, west of Columbia. Highway 99, Rockvale, Versailles, Mt Pleasant and Bunker Hill were on the Columbia Trail. Sections can still be seen today near Leslie King's home on the Bunker Hill road and near Rockvale. The Great South Trail ran southward from Salt Lick (Nashville) crossing the Harpeth River at a large Indian village near Franklin, then in a southeasterly direction to the headwaters of War trace Creek, then south to Tullahoma and to the Flint River. the Great South Trail met the Columbia Trail at a right angle in Versailles, then followed south on the Columbia Trail got approximately one-half mile, turned right and came out at what is now Concord and the Jackson Ridge Road. These two Trails today have become the Versailles-Longview and the Mt Pleasant-Jackson Ridge roads. these two Trails are described in detail in the "Indian Trails of the Southeast."

Improvements and upkeep of the roads were provided by residents who were interested or could benefit. The cost was recovered by use of toll gates. They were not gates, but a long pole extending across the road. After a toll charge was paid the pose was raised allowing the travelers to pass, Records reveal t hat toll charges ranged from one cent to ten cents per unit. The rates indicated the amount of traffic and varied in many areas, A fine was levied on anyone caught evading toll charges, Later years residents of the County were required to perform five days work or pay equivalent in cash for maintenance of the roads. This requirement was in effect until the early 1930's.

Each of the roads were marked with mile posts, from the zero post at Murfreesboro. Records indicate these posts were used for determining the distance to the County lines, as laws required the boundary be within one day's travel from its county seat. These markers aided in determining unit cost for contract construction and maintenance. Mile posts were also used similar to mileage markers on today's highways.

Within the Tenth District, the Columbia and Great South Trails in comparison were the super highways of the time, with many other trails serving the area much like our secondary roads today. The Old Ox road began on the Longview road near the Garrett schoolhouse. It followed near the boundary lines of the Hill, Jackson, Leathers, )Old Nance place) Land Grants, joining the now Kingdom Road. This provided a shortcut to the Rover area. The Fishing Ford road was developed by members of the My Pleasant Church traveling to and from church meeting. It joined what is now known as the Haunt Hollow Road. The Fishing Ford road and part of the Old Ox road partially bounded the Hill grant as owner boundary lines help establish secondary roads. The Panther Creek road connected the Link Road and the now Crescent-Midland road. Douglas Hollow (now Whitus road) connected the Versailles(Columbia Trail) and the Old Link road. Bunker Hill road connected Mt Pleasant road and the Rover area, The Snail Shell Cave road ran off the Columbia Trail west to Windrow. The Old Link Road ran east to Link off the Great South Trail. A so-called Lane Line Road connected the Columbia Trail with now Highway 99 near Rockvale school. The now Concord- Versailles road came into being much later.

Eagleville changed from Williamson County to Rutherford County and the rapid growth following the Civil War resulted (1877) in now Highway 99 at first a toll road, to the county seat. This road by-passed Versailles due to lack of sufficient financial support, although the Ransoms and others bought stock. Toll gates were located approximately every five miles to recover the costs.

Modern day transportation now demands quality but the early reads established by the animals and Indians are today recognized by many engineers as the most logical routes.

Sources: (1) "Indian Trails of the Southeast." (2) Maps, Beers and Survey maps of 1795 (3) Local residents