The Louisville and Nashville Railroad

The Louisville and Nashville Railroad, commonly referred to as the L&N, was created in 1850. The goal was to transport both freight and passengers from Louisville, Kentucky to Nashville, Tennessee. This goal became a reality, with the rail road actually reaching further north and south of its namesake cities. The L&N served as a major strategic concern to both sides during the Civil War. Trains were used to carry soldiers from both sides to and from battle. It was common for rail lines, and rolling stock to suffer damage during the war. After the Civil War was over, the L&N started expanding and never really stopped. Within thirty years after the war, the railroad reached as far north as Ohio, and as far south as Florida. Most smaller railroads, such as the Western Atlantic, sold out to the larger L&N. By the turn of the century, the L&N was the largest railroad in the southeastern United States. It almost became a monopoly, as it was able to provide railroad transportation at much cheaper costs than their competitors. During WWI and WWII, the L&N saw a major increase in business. Men who were going off to war, enlisted the L&N to get them there. It was during the World War period, and after, that the L&N switched their locomotives to diesel power, and passenger service such as the Pan-American, and Dixie Flyer were created. In the 1950s, the L&N celebrated its 100th anniversary by absorbing the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railroad. In the 1960s, they absorbed the bankrupt Tennessee Central. The L&N continued to dominate railroad service in the southeast for the next decade. In 1971, companies like Amtrak, and CSX, took over passenger and freight service. The L&N had no choice but to sell out to them. After 132 years of continuous operation, the L&N was no more. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad has gone down in history as one of the greatest business success stories of all time. 

Map of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.

The L&N operated steam locomotives like this one until after the World Wars.

During the 1950s and 60s, passenger service on the L&N boomed.

The L&N rail yard in Louisville, Kentucky. Note the eleven story office building to the left. L&N offices were housed in that building.

There are still a few surviving L&N locomotives. This one is housed at the Tennessee Central Railway Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Buck's College

Buck's College was established around 1850. It was named after founder Isaac Buck. The school is often referred to as Andrew's College, however the reason for this is unknown. It is thought by many that Andrew's College is the name given to the school by the Tennessee General Assembly. There is also evidence that suggests that the Buck family gave it that name. The name Buck's College was most likely given to the school by locals who simply associate it with the Buck family. Buck's College became Putnam County's first school of higher education. The Buck family moved to the area from Pennsylvania in the 1820s. It was in Pennsylvania that members of the family were provided with a college education. Isaac, was ordained a minister in the Methodist church. When volunteers were being sought to go South and establish churches, Buck answered the call. He and his wife arrived in Putnam County around 1820. They settled on what is now known as "Buck Mountain." They also purchased around 140 acres of land about a mile east of present day Cookeville. Buck and his son Jonathan established Buck's College at that site. By all accounts the school building was very luxurious for the time. It featured poplar logs, five large chimneys, a chapel, dining room, and various other amenities to numerous to name. The building was constructed in an "H" shape. Buck's College thrived throughout the decade. Enrollment numbers were high, with graduation rates to match. The school was the most prestigious in the Upper Cumberland. In 1854 Isaac Buck petitioned the county commissioners at White Plains to make the county seat Buck's College. Their request however was denied and the county seat became known as Cookeville. When the Civil War started in 1861, Buck's College, like all institutions of higher learning, closed down. However, when the war ended in 1865, Buck's College never reopened. The most widely accepted reason for this happening was the creation of nearby Washington Academy. The State of Tennessee Financial Aid, was transferred from Buck's College to Washington Academy by an act of the Tennessee General Assembly. It is unknown what the Buck's did after closing the college, but by all accounts Jonathan kept teaching in private schools in the area, while Isaac focused full time on his ministry at nearby Salem Methodist Church. The story of Buck's College is an interesting one, and it is a vital part of Putnam County history.

This picture of Buck's College, hanging in the author's office, was painted in 1974. One should still be able to make out the "H" shape design.

Drawing of how Buck's College looked during the height of its operation.

Isaac Buck

Buck's College historical marker. The school was located on present day Broad Street, across from Belle Acres Golf Course, about a mile east of Cookeville.

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The Free State of Jones

The Free State of Jones was made up of a group of Confederate Army deserters, led by Newton Knight. Knight had been a farmer prior to the war. It is unknown why he deserted, but based on a quote by Knight, "he had a right to quit when he got ready." Following the Battle of Vicksburg, desertion in the Confederate ranks grew to be a huge problem. Most of the deserters followed Knight to Jones County, Mississippi. They called themselves the Knight Company, and they lived in the swamp on the banks of the Leaf River. The men acted much like guerrillas. They stole and plundered from Confederate sympathizers and gave their spoils to Union supporters. They defended these actions by saying that it was for "taxes." The swamp became known as "Devil's Den." They enlisted women and slaves to provide food for them. Some of the slave men actually joined the Knight Company. The women served as lookouts for Knight and his men. When a Confederate force would get close, the women would sound a cattle horn. From 1863, to the end of the war, the Knight Company engaged Confederate forces in fourteen skirmishes. Knight actually sent a letter to William Tecumseh Sherman telling him that Jones County had seceded from the Confederacy. Jones County functioned as their own state. Knight served as the governor, with his most trusted confidants as his advisors. The Knight Company was unable to hide out in "Devil's Den" forever. Confederate General Leonidas Polk sent Colonel Robert Lowry to Jones County to track down Knight and his deserters. Lowry and his men used bloodhounds to track down the deserters. They were able to round up ten members of the Knight Company. Among the ten, were Newton's cousins Benjamin Franklin Knight, and Sil Coleman. It is unknown how Newton escaped, but he claimed that he "tried to escape through Confederate lines and join the Union Army, but failed." Knight eventually surrendered, at the end of the Civil War. He and his company's last raiding mission was to free children who were still enslaved. They were successful in their raid. Knight petitioned the United States government for compensation for he and his men. Their request was denied, due to the fact that they were not "organized for military service." Newton eventually went back to being a simple farmer. He separated from his wife Serena, and married a freed slave named Rachel. This led to a genealogy made up of interracial marriages, that would stay with the Knight family forever. The Free State of Jones will go down in history as one of the most interesting stories of the Civil War.

Map showing where Jones County is located in Mississippi.

The grave of Newton Knight.

In June 2016, the film "Free State of Jones" was released. 

Stay tuned next week for another installment of Moore Historical Consulting's Throwback Thursday series. Go check out the Moore Historical Consulting section of the blog, and put me to work for you today!!

Memphis Mosquito Epidemic

The Memphis Mosquito Epidemic was one of the most deadly outbreaks of disease in Tennessee History. Following the Civil War, the population of Memphis doubled. This was due to the freeing of slaves, soldiers returning home, and an influx of French and German immigrants from the east. People wanted to live in Memphis because whether they were a farmer, or manufacturer, they could put their goods on boats and sail them up or down the Mississippi River. With this boost in population came the need for increased housing. Many people were forced to live in the streets. Sanitation was poor. When someone thew out their trash, they threw it in the street. There was also no underground sewage. This made clean water hard to come by. All of these factors led to an outbreak of Yellow Fever. The Fever spread thanks to mosquitos. One has to understand that Summers in Memphis, and Tennessee in general for that matter, are very hot and humid. Mosquitos thrive in this type weather. When mosquitos bit people, they were immediately infected with the Yellow Fever. By the time the disease was able to be controlled, approximately 17,000 people had been affected. Out of those 17,000, 5,000 died. The Memphis Mosquito Epidemic became one of the deadliest outbreaks of disease in United States history. The outbreak did lead to some positive inventions, most notably the creation of a board of health, as well as sanitation systems. Thanks to the creation of these inventions, people today don't have to be worried about disease outbreaks, such as what happened in Memphis.

Yellow Fever spread through mosquitos that were attracted to the hot, humid climate of Memphis.

In Memphis there is a cemetery made up primarily of Yellow Fever victims.

Stay tuned next Thursday for the next Throwback Thursday blog post. Be sure to check out the section of the blog devoted to Moore Historical Consulting. Put me to work for you!!