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- MIDDLEFORK, A FORGOTTEN COMMUNITYClay Crook"Lizard Lick USA Middlefork, A Forgotten Community"
Henderson County Times Community History Series
Henderson County Times
May 28, 1980
Middlefork, Tennessee, is situated 10 miles south of Lexington on Highway 22A. It originally was a crossroads of the Lexington-Purdy Road (present 22A) and the Mifflin-Saltillo Road (present Middlefork-Mifflin Rd.). The community took its name from the Middle Fork Creek of the South Fork of the Forked Deer River, but is commonly known to many people as "Lizard Lick". Legend goes that the name was derived from an old salt lick in the area.
The first recorded settler of Middlefork was John Crook, who arrived there in 1820 from Bedford County, TN, by land grant from the State of Tennessee. Not much else is known from 1820 to 1830, but it seemed to be a time of great growth. Some settlers, like John Crook, brought their slaves with them to help in the building of houses, other came alone and sent for their families later. Sam settlers who arrived before 1830 included Charles Riddle, Joel Hurt, James McAdmas, Silas Grider, William Arnold, Thomas Dodds, and W. H. Griswell. Many were from North Carolina but some of these founding fathers made their way over directly from Spartanburg County, South Carolina, being descended from ancient families in that state. Other names like Beaver, Carver and Seyrnour also fill the lists of Pre-1830 settlers.
Another early settler was Jeremiah Hendrix, who ran a water mill near Middle Fork Creek. He also has one of the earliest tombstones in this area as he was buried in the Hendrix Graveyard on January 28, 1828. In 1834, Nichoclas Garrett and Frederick Phelps also joined the Middlefork community, both which are remembered by cemeteries that bear their names. James Ryals and Green McAdams came to the community soon after, with McAdams erecting a wool carding mill before 1850. James moss settled here also, but dies in 1843, being the earliest known grave at Old Big Springs Cemetery.
As the 40's rolled into the 50's, the population continued to grow. By 1860, it included well over 800 people; and had evolved into a very pr0-Southern agriculturally minded community, with the wealthier families procuring slaves to tend the house and help in the field: there were few paid overseers there as everyone in the family took some part in making the crop. By this time it could boast several stores, two blacksmiths, V. B. Garrett and J. W.Dodds; two carpenters; J. McGraw and William Wallace; one brick mason, Millinder Cox, two school teachers, E. Anderson and M..C. Stegall; one miller, J. B. Wallace; one boot and shoe maker, Elias Stewart; one granary keeper, Joseph S. Hamilton; one Postmaster, J. S. Ross; a doctor's office and a cotton gin . And, although most clothes were made by individual families, the town included four spintress's and a seamstress.
Very soon most of the male population would march off to join the army during the War Between the States, all but a few being included in the ranks of the Army of the Confederate States in order to defend their homeland. Middle Fork Creek seemed to be a dividing line in Henderson County; with most of the people north and east of it favoring the union, and those below it favoring the South. However, some decided their loyalty was still with the United States, and it caused great rifts in families. One such instance was the Meadows family, where one son, Jonas, joined the invading foe and the other son, James, joined the army of Rebellion. Both survived the War, but wouldn't speak to one another until well into their old age when they decided to bury the hatchet.
Among those who sided with their Southern brethren were T. G. Crook, Wiley M. Crook, Elijah H. Crook, Joseph H. Rylas, and Henry Carver, who would give his life as early as July of 1861. Many other citizens of Middlefork also fell, such as John Nesbit, Zach Dodds, John S. Brower, and James R. Arnold, who all met their death in the Battle of Tishomingo Creek, Miss. One other, Eli Arthur Reid, was wounded at the battle, having a Union bullet glance off his skull causing an indentation large enough to set a small ball or egg in, in which he could walk across a room and it would balance perfectly.
Middlefork suffered more atrocities at home from neighboring communities than it did on the battlefield. One such instance involved young Lt. James Wills Dodds, C.S.A., who was "captured and brutally murdered"; as his tombstone at Unity Cemetery will attest. On March 9, 1864, the young soldier was walking between Middlefork and Huron in his gray uniform. He was then set upon by Union sympathizers and they ravaged him by cutting off his ears, and silencing his cries by cutting out his tongue, and mutilated him in manner to be brutal. His devoted brother later found him in a thicket being devoured by hogs.
In another instance Colonel Fielding Hurst of Montezuma marched from Purdy to Lexington, through Middlefork cutting off the heads of Confederate sympathizers and placing them on each of the mile markers.
A small skirmish was also fought at the "Lick" in and around the present home of Mr. Earl Tignor. There were only a few boys on each side, but it ended up with the Yankees capturing a couple of the rebels guns, which they took to the blacksmith shop and proceeded to bend the barrels. The late Mr. George Arnold and a companion, having the curiosity of most young boys, took one of the weapons and managed to straighten out the barrel. They then tied it to a tree and rigged the trigger with a string to fire it, neither being willing to hold it. It fired, scaring the boys, and blowing a hole in a fencepost. Numerous stories are also told of how the air seemed to vibrate with the sound of thunder during the battle of Shiloh. One boy, wanting to join the conflict, got as far as Jack's Creek before the sounds of the guns scarred him enough to prompt him to return home, but being tired he stayed the night curled up in a hollow tree.
The war finally ended; and the men then turned their attention to making a crop instead, of making war. Reconstruction was comparatively quiet except for the adventures of Hugh E. Crook, who led his vigilante group to keep law and order. This was usually done by an ominous warning, but sometimes he resorted to the noose, having at one known time hung a man at Hinson Springs, and at other times meeting out such justice to fugitives from the law as he saw fit.
Source:http://www.tnyesterday.com/yesterday_henderson/middlefork/hismf.html
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1786 - 1865 (79 years)
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