My brother raising the flag, Arthur Eugene "Sticks" Stark (1924-1944). He died of wounds suffered at Anzio, Italy, and was the last male in our line.






Sumner County History





A lead mine was operated on a small scale near New Hope Church during the first year of the war. Two men near Goodlettsville made guns, a Mr. George W. Kemper and Mr. Alexander Stalcup. Only a few were produced but they were exceptionally well made.



Sumner County, Tennessee was named for Gen. Jethro Sumner of Revolutionary War fame. It's first settler was Thomas Sharp Spencer who settled at what is now Castallion Springs then called Bledsoe's Lick, in 1779.



By 1859 the L & N RR was completed and went into operation the following year with stations in Sumner County at Mitchellville, Richland, Fountain Head, Buck Lodge, Gallatin, Pilot Knob, Saundersville and Hendersonville, the United states was rapidly approaching a crisis in internal affairs caused by different viewpoints held by northern and southern sections of the nation.



When the Civil War began in 1861, Sumner County was much larger than now. The Constitution of 1870 formed Trousdale County from a part of Sumner, Macon and Smith counties. Hence, in this work, it must be remembered that it includes as being Sumner Countians, those who then lived in that territory.



The first Court House was built in 1803, the one now in use being the second one.



When the war began Gallatin had a Court House, jail, brick church used by all denominations, a Presbyterian Church Masonic Hall, two Newspapers, 12 stores, two Taverns, 11 Lawyers, four Doctors, one Cabinet Shop, one Chair Factory, three Tailor shops, two Shoemaker Shops, two Sadler shops, one Wagon Maker, one Tanyard, one Tinner and Coppersmith three Blacksmith Shops, one Hatter, one Male Academy, two Female Academies. A population of 666 of which 234 were colored. Of dwellings there were 35 log houses, 36 frame and 27 brick. A stage from Lexington, Ky. to Nashville three times weekly and one to Carthage twice weekly. A steamboat landing at the mouth of Elliott's Branch run by a Mr. Boyers.



Cairo -two doctors, church, academy, tavern, cabinet shop, cotton factory, 30 families. Incorporated in 1815. Steamboat landing.



Bledsoe's Lick (Castallion Springs) -General store, post office, blacksmith shop, wagon makers shop, Methodist church.



Hendersonville -Four stores, two schools, two churches mechanics shop, post office, depot.



Saundersville -Four stores, depot.



Mitchell -Two stores, post office, tobacco factory. (Mitchellville)



Fountain Head -Four stores, tobacco factory, depot.



South Tunnell -Store, post office (in Rodemer's Store), depot.



Richland (Portland) - Store, post office, depot.



Cottontown - Two stores, post office, saw mill, grist mill.



Bethpage -Store, post office, church.



Coat's Town (Westmoreland) -Store, post office.



Parham -Store, post office. Later Pitt & Jackson's Store.





A. B. C. (Turner's Station) -Store, post office.



Perdue (Sengtown) -Store, post office.



Witham - Store, post office. Near Liberty church, between Portland and Westmoreland.



Enon -College, school, store, post office. Near Payne's Store.



Pondville -Store, post office.



Sugar Grove -Store, post office.



Worsham (Shackle Island) -Church, store, post office.



Saundersville -Store, post office, church, depot.



Most post offices were in stores. Mitchell was in process of moving to the nearby RR and becoming Mitchellville.