Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Madison County

Madison County

Madison County was formed in 1821 from Indian lands

(Public Acts of Tennessee 1821, Chapter 32)

The county seat is Jackson.

 

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Selected Published County Histories

Additional county and community histories can be found at the Bibliography of Tennessee Local History Sources: Madison County. The items in the bibliography may not all be available at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.  

 

Published Local Records

 

Local Records on Microfilm

An inventory of microfilmed Madison County records is available on our website.  Individual reels of microfilm may also be purchased.

Earliest records include:

 

The following reels are available on interlibrary loan from the Library and Archives:

 

Newspapers on Microfilm

Newspapers were published in Jackson.  Scattered early issues are available from 1824, and a complete run begins in 1936.  Microfilms are loaned to Tennessee libraries.  Individual reels may also be purchased.  An Inventory of Newspapers on Microfilm at the Library and Archives is available on our website.

 

Search for Manuscripts Material in our Catalog 

 

Census Records

 

Additional Research Aids for Madison County

• County Index to Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications
• Early Tennessee Tax Lists at the Tennessee State Library and Archives
• Funeral Home Records at the Tennessee State Library and Archives
• Index to Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912
• Index to Tennessee Death Records 1914-1933
• School Census Records
• Tennessee World War I Veterans

* Indicates this title may be borrowed on Interlibrary Loan from the Library and Archives.

 

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Madison County Formation Act

PUBLIC ACTS OF TENNESSEE 1821, CHAPTER 32:

 

"An Act to form and establish new counties West of Tennessee River."

 

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, That a new county to be called and known by the name of Henry County, be, and is hereby established, on the west side of Tennessee River, and shall be bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning on the west bank of Tennessee River, where the north boundary of the state leaves the same, running thence with said boundary west to the second range line in the 12th surveyor's district; thence south to a point, two miles and a half south of the 6th sectional line in said district; thence east parallel with the said sectional line to the west boundary of Humphreys County; thence with said county line northwardly to the Tennessee River; thence down the said river with its various meanders to the beginning.

SECTION 2. BE IT ENACTED, That the following described lines shall be the bounds of two other counties, which may hereafter be established west of Henry County; the first one beginning at the north west corner of Henry County, running west with the state line to a point four miles west of the north west corner of range 2, fractional section 10 in the 13th district; thence south to the fourth sectional line in said district running parallel with the range lines; thence east on the fourth sectional line to the second range line in the 12th surveyors district; thence north with said range line to the beginning.  The second, beginning on the north west corner of the last mentioned bounds, and running thence south with the west line of said bounds to the fifth sectional line in the 13th district; thence west with said sectional line to the middle of the Mississippi River; thence up the main channel of said river to the north west corner of the state; thence east with the north boundary line of the state to the beginning; which two last described bounds shall be attached to, and remain a part of Henry County until otherwise provided for by law, and shall enjoy all the privileges, and be subject to all the duties as citizens of Henry County, with this exception, that no tax shall be laid or collected in said bounds for the purpose of erecting public buildings in Henry County.

SECTION 3. BE IT ENACTED, That all the territory included in the lines hereafter mentioned shall constitute a county by the name of Carroll County: Beginning on West boundary of Humphreys at the south east corner of Henry County; running thence west with the south boundary of said county to the south west corner of Henry County; thence south parallel with the range lines to a point two and a half miles south of the line dividing the 9th and 12th districts; thence east parallel with the sectional line to the second range line in the 9th district; thence north to the north east corner of range 2, section 11, in said 9th district; thence east with the district line to the west boundary of Perry County; thence northwardly with the west boundary of Perry and Humphreys counties to the beginning.

SECTION 4. BE IT ENACTED, That the following described lines shall be bounds of two other counties which may hereafter be established west of Carroll County; the first one beginning at the northwest corner of Carroll county, running thence west on the fourth sectional line, to a point four miles west of the second range line in the 13th district; thence north to the fifth sectional line; thence west on said fifth sectional line to the fifth range line; thence south with said range line to a point two and a half miles south of the line separating the 10th and 13th districts; thence east parallel with said line to a point directly south of the south west corner of Carroll County; thence north to the beginning; the second beginning on the north west corner of the last mentioned bounds; thence south on the 5th range line to the district line; thence west on the said district line to the middle of the Mississippi River; thence up the main channel of said river to the 5th sectional line of the 13th district; thence east with said sectional line to the beginning; which two last bounds shall be attached to, and remain a part of Carroll County until otherwise provided for by law, and shall enjoy all the privileges and be subject to all the duties as citizens of Carroll County, with this exception that no tax shall be laid or collected in said bounds for the purpose of erecting public buildings for Carroll County.

SECTION 5. BE IT ENACTED, That all the territory included in the lines hereafter mentioned shall constitute a county to be called and known by the name of Madison county; Beginning two miles and a half south of the north east corner of range 2, section 11, in the 9th district, running thence west parallel with the sectional line to the 3d [sic] range line in the 10th district; thence south on said range line to a point two miles and a half south of the sixth sectional line in said district; thence east parallel with said sectional line to the second range line in the 9th district; thence north on said range line to the beginning.

SECTION 6. BE IT ENACTED, That the following described lines shall be the bounds of two other counties which may hereafter be established west and south of Madison County; the first one beginning on the south west corner of Madison County; running thence north with the west boundary of the same, twenty five miles to the north west corner; thence west to the south west corner of the first county west of Carroll County; thence north to the line dividing the 10th and 13th districts; thence west to a point two miles west of the first range line in the 11th district; thence south parallel with said range line to the 5th sectional line in said district; thence east to a point four miles east of the 5th range line in the 10th district; thence north two and a half miles; thence east to the beginning. The second, beginning on the south west corner of Madison County, running thence west six miles to a point one mile west of the fourth range line in the 10th district; thence south parallel with said line to the south boundary of the state; thence east on said boundary to a point two miles east of the meridian separating the 9th and 10th districts; thence north to Madison County line; thence west with the same to the beginning. Which two last described bounds shall be and remain a part of Madison County until otherwise provided for by law, and shall enjoy all the privileges, and be subject to all the duties as citizens of Madison County, with this exception, that no tax shall be laid or collected in the said bounds for the purpose of erecting public buildings in the county of Madison.

SECTION 7. BE IT ENACTED, That the following described lines shall be the bounds of one other county which may hereafter be laid off west of the said last described bounds: Beginning on the south west corner of the last described bounds, running thence north to the 5th sectional line in the 10th district; thence west to a point one mile west of the 3d [sic] range line in the 11th district; thence south parallel with said range running with the south boundary of the state; thence west with said boundary to the beginning. And that the following described lines shall be the bounds of another county which may hereafter be laid off north of Shelby County:  Beginning on the line separating the 11th and 13th districts, at a point two miles west of the range line in the 11th district; running thence west on said dividing line to the middle of the Mississippi River; thence down the main channel of the line to the north west corner of Shelby County; thence east with the north boundary of Shelby County, and the last mentioned bounds, to a point three miles east of the 2d [sic] range line in the 11th district; thence north parallel with the said line to the beginning. Which two last described bounds shall be attached to, and be a part of Shelby County until otherwise provided for by law, and shall enjoy all the privileges, and be subject to all the duties as citizens of Shelby County with the exception, that no tax shall be laid or collected in the said bounds for the purpose of erecting public buildings in the county of Shelby.

SECTION 8. BE IT ENACTED, That the following described lines shall be the bounds of one other county which may hereafter be established west of Hardin County; Beginning at the south west corner of Hardin County; running thence north with the west boundary of the same, twenty seven and a half miles; thence west putting the south east corner of Madison County, to a point three miles west of the first range line in the 9th district; thence south parallel with said range line to the south boundary of the state; thence east on said boundary to the beginning. Which last described bounds shall be attached to, and be a part of Hardin County, until otherwise provided for by law, and shall enjoy all the privileges, and be subject to all the duties as citizens of Hardin County, with this exception, that no tax shall be laid or collected in said bounds for the purpose of erecting public buildings for Hardin County.

SECTION 9. BE IT ENACTED, That the following described line shall be the bounds of one other county, which shall be called and known by the name of Henderson County in honor of, and to perpetuate the memory of Col. James Henderson; Beginning at the south east corner of Madison County, running thence east to the west boundary of Hardin County; thence north with Hardin County line to the north west corner of Hardin on the 6th sectional line of the 9th district; thence east on said sectional line to the west boundary of Perry County; thence north with said boundary to the line separating the 9th and 12th districts; thence west with said line to the north east corner of Madison County; thence south with the east boundary line of said county, on the 2nd range line in the 9th  Surveyors district to the beginning.

SECTION 10. BE IT ENACTED, That for the due administration of justice, the Courts of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in said counties shall be held at the following places and times: For the county of Henry, at the house of Henry Wall, on the first Monday in December, March, June and September; for the county of Carroll, on the second Monday in December, March, June and September, at the house of R. E. C. Doherty; for the county of Madison, at the house of Adam R. Alexander, on the third Monday in December, March, June and September; for the county of Henderson, at the house of Samuel Wilson, on the fourth Monday in December, March, June, and September, at which places the said courts shall be holden until otherwise provided for by law, under the same rules, regulations and restrictions, and shall exercise the same power and jurisdiction that is possessed by said courts in other counties of this state.

SECTION 11. BE IT ENACTED, That the sheriffs of the counties of Henry, Carroll, Madison and Henderson shall each hold an election at the places appointed for holding courts in said counties on the first Friday and Saturday in March next, for the purpose of electing held officers of the militia for said counties, under the same rules, regulations and restrictions as are pointed out by law in similar cases; and the militia of the county of Henry shall compose the Regiment, and shall be attached to the Brigade; and the militia of the county of Carroll shall compose the ___ Regiment, and be attached as aforesaid; and the militia of the county of Madison shall compose the ___ Regiment, and be attached as aforesaid; and the militia of the county of Henderson shall compose the ___ Regiment, and be attached as aforesaid.

SECTION 12. BE IT ENACTED, That it shall be the duty of the commandants of said ___ and ___ Regiments, having first been commissioned and sworn according to law, to divide their regiments into such number of companies as they shall think best for the convenience of said companies, and it shall be the duty of each of said commandants to issue writs of election for company officers according to law.

SECTION 13. BE IT ENACTED, That all person who were appointed and are now acting justices of the peace for Stewart county, that live in the bounds of Henry County, be, an they are hereby continued in office with as full power and authority as though they had been appointed for Henry County.

 

 

Passed on November 7, 1821

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Madison County Bibliography

 PLEASE NOTE that the Tennessee State Library and Archives does not hold copies of all of the items listed in this bibliography. Please check the Tennessee State Library and Archives Online Catalog or visit the Ask Us a Question! web page to contact the Library and Archives and verify we have an item in our collection. We will respond to e-mail requests promptly; response time may vary, depending on the amount of research required to answer your question and the unique nature of your request. If you need immediate assistance you may call the reference desk at (615) 741-2764 or visit us in person.

Subjects :

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Madison County in General

• Alexander, Harbert L. "The Armstrong raid including the battle of Bolivar, Medon Station & Britton Lane. " THQ 21 (1962), pp. 31-46.
• Allred, Charles E. Business cycles & age of operators as factors in the progress of TN farmers. Knoxville, TN Ag. Exp. Sta., 1938. 30 pp. (its Rural research series monograph #87)
• Allred, Charles E. Education of farmers' wives & children in four counties of TN. Knoxville, TN Ag. Exp. Sta., 1937. 43 pp. (its Monograph #27)
• Allred, Charles E. Inheritance as a factor in the progress of TN farmers. Knoxville, TN Ag. Exp. Sta., 1938. 38 pp. (its Rural research series monograph #88)
• Allred, Charles E. Rural credit in TN, 1923. Knoxville, TN Ag. Exp. Sta., 1938. 48 pp. (its Rural research series monograph #82)
• Allred, Charles E. Why farmers move or change tenure status. Knoxville, TN Ag. Exp. Sta., 1943. 40 pp. (its Rural research series monograph #159)
• American National Red Cross. Madison County Chapter. Community study of Jackson & Madison County. Sponsored by Madison County ARC, December 9, 1946. Jackson, n.p., 1947. 73 pp.
• Baker, Steve. "Free blacks in antebellum Madison County. " THQ 52 (1993), pp. 56-63.
• Beardsley, Richard L. A survey of the vascular flora of Madison County, TN. MSU thesis, 1973. 100 pp.
• Biographical directory, TN General Assembly, 1796-1969 (Madison County, Preliminary # 41). Nashville, TSLA, 1973. 49 pp.
• Bonser, Howard J. Costs & returns in growing corn, Henry & Madison counties, TN, 1942. Knoxville, TN Ag. Exp. Sta., 1946. 26 pp. (its Rural research series monograph #209)
• Bonser, Howard J. Economic aspects of cotton production, Henry & Madison counties, TN, 1942. Knoxville, TN Ag. Exp. Sta., 1946. 38 pp. (its Rural research series monograph #208)
• Cisco, Jay G. "Madison County. " AHM 7 (1902), pp. 328-348; 8 (1903), pp. 26- 48.
• Emergency operations plan, Jackson-Madison County, TN. Nashville, TEMA, 1987. 1 vol.
• Flood insurance study: Madison County, TN, unincorporated areas. Washington, D.C., FEMA, 1983. 31 pp.
• Goodspeed's history of TN (Madison County, pp. 797-917). Goodspeed, 1887.
• Hawkins, Herman. "The story of George Frederick Burgoyne Howard: the holy cheat. " WTHSP 16 (1962), pp. 56-69.
• Jackson-Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Jackson-Madison County industrial survey. Jackson, n.p., 1958. 50 pp.
• Kuhlman, Augustus F. Social survey of the city of Jackson & Madison County, TN. Jackson, Jackson-McClaran Chapter, Am. Red Cross, 1920. 139 pp.
• Kwas, Mary L. & Robert C. Mainfort, Jr. "The Johnson site: precursor to Pinson Mounds? " TN Anthrop. 11 (1986), pp. 29-41.
• Mainfort, Robert C., Jr. Archaeological investigations in the Obion River drainage: the west TN tributaries project. Nashville, TN Div. Archaeology, 1994. 185 pp.
• Mainfort, Robert C., Jr., ed. Archaeological investigations at Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Area: 1974, 1975 & 1978 field seasons. Nashville, TN Div. Archaeology, 1980. 108 pp.
• Mercer, Mrs. Frank A. A survey of family living conditions in Madison County, TN. UT thesis, 1935. 75 pp.
• Myer, William E. "Recent archaeological discoveries in TN. " Art & Arch. 14 (1922), pp. 141-150.
• Puckett, Liz. "Stories from the tackroom. " TN Folklore Soc. Bull. 46 (1980), pp. 45-83.
• Rothrock, Mary U., ed. "Family letters: home life in Madison & Carroll counties, TN, 1864-1867. " WTHSP 23 (1969), pp. 110-128; 24 (1970), pp. 106-129.
• Smith, Jonathan K. Ezekial Brownlee Mason: his contribution to early Madison County, TN, history. Jackson, the author, 1993. 20 pp.
• Smith, Jonathan K. The Gibbs place in Madison County, TN. Jackson, the author, 1993. 10 pp.
• Smith, Jonathan K. The historic Denmark Baptist campground & church, Madison County, TN. Jackson, the author, 1993. 11 pp.
• Smith, Jonathan K. Historical configurations of the magisterial districts of Madison County, TN: a study. N.p., the author, 1992. 28 pp.
• Smith, Jonathan K. Our Claybrook heritage. Jackson, the author, 1993. 64 pp.
• Soil survey, Madison County, TN. Washington, D.C., US GPO, 1906, 1978.
• Swaim, J. Richard. Your government in Madison County. Compiled by Madison County 4-H clubs, 1964. Jackson, n.p., 1964. 23 pp.
• TN Dept. Transportation [county maps ] issued periodically.
• US Geol. Survey [topographic maps ] issued periodically. Quadrangles: Humboldt, Medina, Spring Creek, Cedar Grove, Bells, Adair, Jackson North, Claybrook, Juno, Denmark, Westover, Jackson South, Beech Bluff, Luray, Mercer, Teague, Medon, Henderson.
• US Soil Conservation Service. Flood hazard analysis, Moize Creek, Madison County, TN. Washington, D.C., the service, 1975. 13 pp.
• Utley, Buford C. "The early academies of west TN. " WTHSP 8 (1954), pp. 5- 38.
• West, Robert H. The NC & St L railway & its relation to the life & growth of Madison County, TN. Nashville, the author, 1945. 15 pp.
• West TN: its advantages & its resources. Published for the information of those seeking homes therein. Jackson, Cisco & Hawkins, 1885. 76 pp.
• Williams, Emma I. "Jackson & Madison County, an inland cotton center of the growing west, 1821-1850. " THQ 3 (1944), pp. 24-45.
• Williams, Emma I. Historic Madison, the story of Jackson & Madison County, TN from the prehistoric mound builders to 1917. By Emma Inman Williams, a contribution to the sesquicentennial celebration of TN statehood in 1946. Jackson, Madison County Hist. Soc., 1946. 553 pp.
• Williams, Emma I. et al. Jackson & Madison County: a pictorial history. Norfolk, VA, the Donning Co., 1988. 248 pp.
• Williams, John J. Report on a new system of good county roads by which the farming lands of Madison County will be increased to double their present value, & from four to six times the cost of the good roads, read before the honorable county court of Madison County, TN, at its quarterly session of April, 1895. Jackson, David L. Balch, 1895. 18 pp.

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Denmark

• Edmonson, James H. "Denmark, TN: the first 150 years. " WTHSP 34 (1980), pp. 88-95.

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Jackson

• American National Red Cross. Madison County Chapter. Community study of Jackson & Madison County ARC, December 9, 1946. Jackson, n.p., 1947. 73 pp.
• American National Red Cross. Southern Div. Social survey of the city of Jackson, & Madison County, TN. Jackson, Jackson-McClaran Chapter, ARC, 1920. 139 pp.
• Campbell, Alexander W. Oration by Gen. A.W. Campbell, on occasion of decorating the graves of the Confederate dead in the city cemetery at Jackson. Jackson, Sun Job Office, 1876. 7 pp.
• Chandler, Walter. Personal recollections of Jackson. N.p., 19--. unp.
• Flood insurance study: city of Jackson, TN, Madison County. Washington, D.C., FEMA, 1983. 21 pp.
• Hilliard, Jack. History of the First Baptist Church, Jackson, TN, 1837-1987. Jackson, the church, 1986. 120 pp.
• Irby, Henry C. History of the First Baptist Church, Jackson, TN, 1837-1912. Jackson, McCowat-Mercer, 1912. 96 pp.
• Jackson MSA, 1980-1987: an economic analysis. Nashville, TN Dept. Emp. Sec., 1988. 12 pp.
• Jackson Sun. The Jackson Sun of Jackson, "the hub city of west TN" in the geographical center of a three hundred eighty million dollar annual market. Jackson, McCowat-Mercer, 1960. 23 pp.
• Jackson-Madison County, TN master plan recreation 2000. Jackson, n.p., 1980. 103 pp.
• Jackson, TN citizens. Brief statement of facts showing the sentiment of the citizens of Jackson, TN, upon the saloon question. All exhibits & certified lists are in the hands of A.H. Askew, representative from Madison County. Jackson, n.p., 1907. 16 pp.
• Jackson, TN Free Public Library. Civic affairs forum, Jackson Free Library, Jackson, TN. Case study by Mrs. Gretchen Conduitte & Sarah Francis Smith, March-May, 1954. Forum conducted with one of twenty sub-grant awards by the ALA from the Fund for Adult Education. Nashville, TSLA, 1955. 34 pp.
• Jackson, TN Utility Div. Sesquicentennial celebration cookbook. Jackson, n.p., 1972. 44 pp.
• Jackson-Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Ind. Dev. Div. Jackson- Madison County, TN, industrial study. Jackson, the division, 1958. 50 pp.
• Jackson-Madison County sesquicentennial celebration: program, commemorating the l50th anniversary of the founding of Jackson & Madison County, TN, 1822-1972, including the program of festivities, October 7-14, 1972. Jackson, n.p., 1972. 56 pp.
• James, Lena G. Historic St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Jackson: glimpses past & present. Jackson, the author, 1962. 67 pp.
• McNatt, Martha. A heritage revisited: First Christian Church, Jackson, TN. Winona, MN, Apollo Books, 1986. 100 pp.
• Mercier, Laurie. "The business history of Jackson, TN. " WTHSP 35 (1981), pp. 95-102.
• 100th anniversary edition, Sunday, November 28, 1948, Jackson, TN. N.p., 1948. 216 pp.
• Phillips, Elizabeth C. "John Tomlin, the 'literary postmaster' of Jackson, TN. " WTHSP 8 (1954), pp. 39-54.
• Price, A. Lacy. The history of Jackson Lodge #45, Free & Accepted Masons of TN, with the story of masonry through the ages. Jackson, the lodge, 1965. 343 pp.
• Profile for decision making, Jackson, TN. Prepared by Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce & West TN Ind. Assoc. Jackson, the association, 1987. 37 pp.
• Reed, Mary S. Journey to excellence: a history of Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Jackson, Golden Circle Print., Inc., 1993. 169 pp.
• TN Industrial & Agricultural Dev. Comm. 3 plans for community progress.
• Nashville, the commission, 1958. 52 pp. (titles: The Oneida Plan; The Lewisburg Plan; The Jackson Plan)
• West Jackson Baptist Church. History of the West Jackson Baptist Church, Jackson, TN: the first fifty years, 1906-1956, golden anniversary celebration. Jackson, the church, 1956. 36 pp.
• Wiley, J.W. St. Mary's Church, Jackson, TN: the story of catholicity in Jackson, TN, from earliest times. Jackson, McCowat-Mercer, 1951. 71 pp.
• Williams, Emma I. "Jackson & Madison County: an inland cotton center of the growing west. " THQ 3 (1944), pp. 24-45.

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Casey Jones

• Currotto, William F. Casey Jones. Memphis, the author, 1994. 57 pp.
• Drake, Robert Y., Jr. "Casey Jones: the man & the son. " TN Folklore Soc. Bull. 19 (1953), pp. 95-101.
• Gleiter, Jan & Kathleen Thompson. Casey Jones. Illustrated by Francis Balistreri. Milwaukee, WI, Raintree Childrens Books, 1987. 32 pp. (juvenile)
• Lee, Fred J. Casey Jones: epic of the American railroad. Kingsport, Southern Publishers, 1939. 298 pp.
• Moody, James W., Jr. "Casey Jones Railroad Museum. " THQ 25 (1966), pp. 3- 21. (reprinted in More landmarks of TN , pp. 187-205)
• Overall, B.W. "The man at the throttle": the story of Casey Jones, the brave engineer. Jackson, Casey Jones Museum, 1956. 76 pp.
• York, Carol B. Casey Jones. Illustrated by Bert Dodson, Mahwah, NJ, Troll Associates, 1980. 46 pp. (juvenile)

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Lambuth College

• Clement, Sarah V. A college grows... MCFI-Lambuth. Jackson, McCowat- Mercer Press, 1972. 242 pp.
• Herron, W.W. "A history of Lambuth College. " WTHSP 10 (1956), pp. 20-37.
• Hinton, David E. Origin, development & aims of Lambuth College. George Peabody College thesis, 1936. pp.

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Lane College

• Adair, Thomas J. Bishop Isaac Lane, a portrait: 1834-1914. TSA&I thesis, 1956. pp.
• Cooke, Anna L. Lane College: its heritage & outreach, 1882-1982. Jackson, the college, 1987. 150 pp.
• Savage, Horace C. Life & times of Bishop Isaac Lane. Nashville, National Pub. Co., 1958. 240 pp.

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Union University

• Rutledge, Rosa D. "Union University through the century, 1834-1950. " WTHSP 4 (1950), pp. 83-96.
• Ward, Richard H. A history of Union University. Jackson, Union U. Press, 1975. 211 pp.
• Ward, Richard H. "Union University & its predecessors: historical highlights. " WTHSP 29 (1975), pp. 55-63.

 

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