The following map is for a general geographical understanding. It does not provide the specific locations of the farms because of privacy reasons.
Map courtesy of Carole Swann, Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Albert L. Keller
About 1870, in the aftermath of the Civil War, John Keller, of
About 1885, John Franklin Keller,
acquired his parents’ farm. Married twice, he fathered seven children. Under
his ownership, the farm supported cotton, corn, sorghum, timber, peas, hay, and
wheat. In addition, the farm produced milk cows, hogs, chickens, geese and
rabbits.
John Franklin’s son, Archie
Clinton Keller became the third owner of the land. Between the years 1910 and
1920, he built three large houses in the community of Toone, two of which still stand. Archie and his wife Bertha Estelle Teague had
seven children -- Cecil, A. C., Duree, Delia, May Sue, and Kay. Another son, Albert Lloyd Keller became the
next owner of the farm in 1956. A member
of Farm Bureau since 1946, Mr. Keller continues to be active in the farm
operation which primarily produces beef cattle.
John R. Harris
Located between
The great grandson of the founder of the farm and current owner is John R. Harris. He and his son, William Scott Harris work the land raising cattle and hay. Historic buildings still in use include a smokehouse, currently used for storage, a corn crib, and the 1912 farm house.
Photo: The Century Farm Sign on the Harris Place farm.
Lewis B. McNeely
The McNeely Farm, established in 1869 by the Rev. Lewis
McNeely and Mary Holmes McNeely, is three miles southeast of Middleton. Its
history, like that of many West Tennessee Century Farms, reflects the influence
of the progressive farm movement on the region’s agriculture. A graduate of
In 1896, the entire farm passed into the hands of Holmes
McNeely and his wife Annie Burns. Holmes was a typical turn of the century
progressive farmer, producing cotton, corn and livestock on his 150 acres.
Active in the Farm Bureau, he encouraged other area farmers to use “improved
methods of farming.” He was the first in the community to terrace his fields to
lessen soil erosion.
Lewis B. McNeely is the founders’ grandson and the current property owner. Obtaining his farm in 1927, he has managed its operations for six decades. He has served in several agricultural groups, including the ASCS and the FHA. As of 1976, Joe Johnson cultivated the farm’s cotton, corn and soybeans. The family also raised livestock. At that time, a mid-nineteenth century log barn of dove-tail construction still remained on the property.
Photo:
Mrs. Holmes C. McNeely, wife of the second farm owner, and son Lewis
pose in front of the family's single story I-house. Notice the tricycle
to the left of the child.
Julius Leonidas Sammons,
III
Julius Leonidas Sammons,
Jr.
David Winston Sammons
Located six miles north of Whiteville, Joseph Allen
Sammons established the Pecan Row Farm in 1827. Prior to establishing the farm,
Allen Sammons served as a fife major in the War of 1812. In the 1820s, he and
his wife Sally Long Sammons migrated from
Allen
and his wife Sally had nine children and their son William Wiley Sammons became
the next generation to own the farm. Like his father, William served as a
preacher for the Primitive Baptist church and was a farmer. According to the
family, William labored for twenty-six years as a pastor and traveled
“thousands of miles between churches in northern
The
third generation to own the land was Julius Leonidas Sammons, Sr. During his
ownership, two articles appeared in the Progressive Farmer publication about
his farming techniques. In addition to managing the farm, Julius served as one
of the first Presidents of the Tennessee Horticultural Society and was the County
Road Commissioner for District #2 in the county. Julius and his wife Mary
Burton Neely had six children and their son Julius Leonidas Sammons, Jr. became
the next owner.
Under
Julius, Jr.’s ownership, he farm cultivated cotton, cron, beans, apples, peaches
and sweet potatoes. He also raised cattle, hogs and peanuts. According to the
family, one of the items that Julius grew on the farm that made him famous in
the county was his “Kerckley Sweet” watermelons. In 1955, Julius built the
first cold storage for commercial fruit production in
In
1982, Julius Leonidas, III, the great great grandson of the founder acquired
the land. During this same year, Lee’s Greenhouses was established and soon
became the leading producer of bedding plants, poinsettias and flowering
baskets in the area. Along with his father, Julius, Jr., the farm raises corn,
beans and cattle. A corn crib and a mule barn built in 1899 are still used
today for storage of farm equipment. Some pecan trees still line the road that
provided the inspiration for the name of the farm.
Photo: A log
barn surrounded by pecan trees on the Pecan Row Farm.
Evelyn C. Robertson, Jr.
A rare African-American Century Farm, the Robertson Farm was
founded in 1888 by Crawford 
Robertson and his wife Cora Robertson through an
initial purchase of 75 acres.
Subsequently adding acreage, the Robertsons accumulated over 200 acres
that produced corn, cotton, sorghum, and hay, and also supported cattle, hogs,
and mules. Their family dwelling, built
in 1906, is still extant on the Robertson Farm.
Crawford Robertson, born into slavery in
Before establishment of
Myrtle Robertson, taught Home Economics in Hardeman County public
schools from 1930 – 1972, all but two of those years in the school her father
co-founded. Her mother, Cora Robertson,
was active in the Hardeman County Home Demonstration Club during the 1940s and
1950s. Upon Crawford Robertson’s death
in 1938, his six children inherited the land, continuing to grow the same row
crops and livestock.
Current owner, Evelyn C. Robertson, Jr., acquired 122 acres of his
grandfather’s acreage in increments beginning in 1964. He continued the family tradition of
agriculture and public service as an educator, Superintendent of Western Mental
Health Institute, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and
Mental Retardation, and current Executive Director of the Southwest Tennessee
Development District. The owner’s
cousin, A. J. Robertson, and Alan Ferguson work the farm today, raising corn
and cotton.
Photo:
A portrait of the Robertsons.
Bernice Ferguson
Helen Ferguson
Eloise Ferguson
In August of 1828, Thomas Thompson obtained a land grant
to establish a farm in
Thomas and Margaret had three children and their son John
Boyd Thompson became the third generation to own the farm. Under his ownership,
the farm raised cotton, cattle, corn, pecans, hogs and sheep. In addition to farming, John was a founder
and strong supporter of the
Irene Thompson Ferguson the daughter of John and
In 1985, the three sons, Joel Harry, Thomas Boyd and
Robert Thompson Ferguson acquired the farm. Today, Harry and his son Allan
Ferguson work the land and produce cotton, corn, wheat, milo, soybeans and
cattle. In addition to raising crops and livestock, the farm has an on-going
conservation plan that is being followed that includes terracing, planting
cover crops and the construction of waterways. In the 1990s, all three of the
Photo: A view of the barn on the Thompson Farm.