The following
map is for a general geographical understanding. It does not provide
the specific locations of the farms for privacy reasons.
Map Courtesy of Carole Swann, Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Roy McKinnon
The Burns-McKinnon Farm is the second Century Farm in
The parents of nine children, the Burns produced sheep, cattle,
hogs, cotton, corn, wheat and hay. Their daughter, Elizabeth “Bettie” Minerva
Burns, became the owner of the farm in 1892. Married to Angus J. McKinnon, who
died only seven months after their marriage, they had one son, born six months
after his father’s death. Bettie reared her son and maintained the farm on her
own.
Hankins says the family recounts a story of a younger Bettie
during the years of the Civil War, before the Burns moved to this property.
Bettie hid the hogs, sheep and cows in the brush near a creek when Union
soldiers were encamped in the area. However, she could not hide the horses;
thus, the soldiers took most of them. Undaunted, she rode after them to Pinson
about five miles away.
“She must have presented herself as a courageous woman riding
sidesaddle and traveling this distance as she somehow persuaded the Yankees
into returning the horses they had stolen from her,” writes one of her descendents.
In 1907, Bettie’s son, William Angus McKinnon, became the
third-generation owner of the farm. William and wife Martha E. Simmons McKinnon
had three children—Lessie, Dossie and William. During his ownership, William
opened and operated a potato house, where many community members stored their
crops in designated bins. McKinnon controlled the temperature so the potatoes
would be preserved throughout the winter.
Dossie Lee McKinnon acquired the family farm in 1929. He and his
wife, Hester Fry, served as hosts for many church and community gatherings.
Giant oak trees and a spring formed a popular spot for picnicking and
swimming. Tragically, Dossie was killed
in 1939. Crossing a road during a blinding dust storm, he was struck and killed
by an automobile. Like Bettie, Hester reared two small boys and managed the
farm.
In 1988, the great-great-grandson of the founder, Roy L. McKinnon,
acquired part of the property, as did his brother, William Bernard McKinnon
(whose farm was certified as a Century Farm earlier this year). Buildings that
are reminders of the generations who lived and worked here during the 20th
century include a log cabin, where Lessie, William and Dossie McKinnon were
born; a frame house constructed in the 1920s; and two barns built in the
1940s. Today, three generations live on the Burns-McKinnon Farm, which
produces hay and cattle.
Robert M. Frank
Donna J. Pierce
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Located in the Enville community, the F & W Farm was founded
in 1893 by John G. Anderson. Married to
Cansady Catherine Findley, they had two children, Dossie Benton Anderson and
Orpha Anderson. On 214 acres, the family
raised cotton, corn, cattle and hogs.
In 1921, Dossie Benton (D.B.) became
the second owner of the farm. He and his wife, Hallie Ross Anderson were the
parents of Maerene. She acquired the
land in 1984. Married to L. C.
Weatherington, Donna was their only child.
During this time, the farm produced cotton, corn, beans, cattle and
hogs.
In 1994, Donna became the fourth
generation owner. Married to Robert Michael Frank, they had two children,
Robert Michael, II and Tabbitha Jane.
The family raised cotton, corn,
beans and cattle.
In 2005, the great great grandson of the founder, Robert Michael Frank, II is the owner and manager and lives on his family’s farm. The primary products grown today are cattle, corn and beans.
Photo (top left): A view of the landscape of the F & W Farm.
Photo (top right): Cattle on the F & W Farm.
John Larry Tignor
G. H. and Eliza of North Carolina founded this
Century Farm in 1850. Located five miles northeast of
Eliza Jane and her husband Mac Harvey Watlington, while raising five children, also managed a farm of cotton, corn and cattle over 50 years. In 1935, their son Hugh Watlington inherited the land. Hugh never married and in 1952 the founders’ great great grandson, John Larry Tignor, acquired the property. Tignor currently grows cotton and hay. As of 1976, Wallace Harvey, who worked the land for Larry Tignor, lived in a log house originally constructed in 1878.
William Bernard McKinnon
Located three miles
west of
In 1907, Bettie’s son William Angus McKinnon became the third
generation owner of the farm. William and his wife Martha E. Simmons McKinnon had three children.
During his ownership, William Angus McKinnon opened and operated a
potato house where many community members stored their crop in designated
bins. McKinnon controlled the
temperature so the potatoes would be preserved throughout the winter.
Dossie Lee McKinnon acquired the family farm in 1929. He and his wife, Hester Fry, hosted many
church and community gatherings. Giant
oak trees and a spring formed a popular spot for picnicking and swimming. Tragically, Dossie was killed in 1939. Crossing a road during a blinding dust storm,
he was struck and killed by an automobile.
Like Bettie, Hester raised two small boys and managed the farm.
William Bernard McKinnon, son of Dossie and Hester and the
great-great grandson of the founder, acquired the farm in 1988. William and his family live on the farm and
he raises
William Trice
In September 1856, William Crook Trice established a farm east of
Increasing his original 441 acres to 1,200 acres, the Trice Farm
produced corn, cotton, wheat, oats, cattle, mules, hogs, chickens and hay.
Trice was appointed magistrate in 1865 and was also a mason.
The next owner of the property was
Luke Lee Trice, the son of the founders. An article in the local newspaper
dated 1945 notes that L. L. Trice “carries his 86 years like a champion. He is
a prosperous farmer, drives his car, rides horseback and makes daily trips
around his farm during planting and harvesting seasons.” Wed to Elma Cornelia
Priddy, the couple had two children, Mary Leslie and William Lee Trice.
In 1952, William Lee Trice acquired the farm. He and his wife,
Zelda Opal Allen, had two children, Virginia Allen and William Luke. During
this generation, the farm supported corn, cotton, wheat, oats, hay, soybeans,
hogs and mules.
In 1999, William Luke Trice, the great-grandson of the founder, became the owner of the property. Today, Trice cultivates soybeans and wheat on the family farm.
Photo: A view of the barns and landscape on the Trice Farm.
Martha Phillips
Clendenin
Walnut Corners Farm touches upon three of the major
themes of nineteenth century agricultural life in West Tennessee: migration
from
JaHu Phillips was the second generation to own Walnut
Corners. A veteran of the 31st Tennessee Infantry, he married Sara McKinney
and they raised seven children. JaHu greatly expanded the farm’s cotton
production and at one time had 406.5 acres in cotton and feed crops. When he
died in 1906, the farm consisted of 236.5 acres.
George Brantly Phillips inherited the farm after his
father’s death and expanded its operations to include timber products. He also
donated land for the construction of
After the death of Lana in 1989, Martha Phillips Clendenin, the daughter of George and Lana bought the farm from her siblings and the children of her deceased siblings. Martha still maintains the farm today.
Carmon Johnson
During the Civil War, in 1862, Wilburn and Mary
Seaton established the Walnut Grover Farm, located northeast of
Mr. and Mrs. Carmon Johnson, acquired 80 acres of the original family farm in 1938. After her husband’s death, Mrs. Johnson, the great granddaughter of the founders, assumed management of the farm’s livestock operations. Despite the changes in agricultural products over the years, Walnut Grove retains some of its nineteenth century buildings. The main barn and two rooms of the farmhouse are over 100 years old.
Photo:
The full length, shed-roofed, front porch is the dominant feature of
this one-story frame house in Chester County. In the summer, the porch
provides a cool shelter from the scorching sun.