The Darwins of Cookeville Tennessee

The Darwin family were some of the most well known and wealthy people in Cookeville, Tennessee. They came from the White’s Bend area of Jackson County. They operated a chain of department stores known as Jenkins and Darwin Big Store. The stores were located as far north as Kentucky and as far south as Alabama. Cookeville was the headquarters of the business. The Cookeville store was located on Broad Street, next to Harding Studios, in the WestSide district. Brothers John Claude, Dero, Charlie and Lee Sadler were all active in the business. All four brothers lived on Dixie Avenue, and were instrumental in getting the street an historic designation. All four brothers were very active in Civic Organizations such as the Lion's Club, and Masonic Lodge. The brothers were also very active in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. John Claude Darwin and his brother Dero were also active in local politics. John Claude served on the Putnam County School Board, and Dero served as mayor of Cookeville. The African-American Darwin School was named in honor of John Claude Darwin. The other three Darwin brothers, Hugh, Ottis, and Dick, chose to pursue careers different from Jenkins and Darwin. Hugh stayed in Jackson County and ran the family farm at White's Bend. Ottis, along with a man named Draper, started a competing chain of stores based out of Lebanon, Tennessee known as Draper and Darwin. Dick opened up a store on his own known simply as "Darwin's." Charlie was the oldest of the brothers, born in 1886. Dero lived the longest, passing away in 1997 at the age of 97. The entire Darwin family has left a great legacy in both Cookeville and Putnam County. Their contributions to business, and civic organizations is commendable. 

Ad in the Putnam County Herald for "Bargain Week" at Jenkins and Darwin.

The Darwin home located in the White's Bend community of Jackson County.

Author's Note: Moore Historical Consulting was proud to have complied all this information, plus even more, for a client who has purchased one of the former Darwin homes on Dixie Avenue.

Come back next week for another installment of Moore Historical Consulting's Throwback Thursday. Go check out the company page here on the blog and put me to work for you today!!