Books

Bethesda and Surrounding Communities

Rick Warwick’s latest book, “Bethesda and Surrounding Communities”, provides a wealth of information on the people and communities surrounding Bethesda. Rick has given us a comprehensive history of the area illustrated by over 250 photos. We are currently raising money for the Williamson County Historical Society’s historical marker fund. By making a donation of at least $45.00 to the Williamson County Historical Society you will receive a copy of the book - while supplies last.

Historical Markers of Williamson County

Since 1976 the Williamson County Historical Society has encouraged the placement of historical markers all across the county. Of the over 200 historical markers in the county, the Williamson County Historical Society has placed over 133. Other organizations contributing to this number include:  Tennessee Historical Commission (27), Brentwood Historical Society (13), Tennessee Civil War Trails (14),  Daughters of the American Revolution (6), Nolensville Historic Society (2),  City of Fairview (6), Sons of the American Revolution (2), Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County (8), Save the Franklin Battlefield (7), Capt. Ed Baxter's SCV Camp (3),  United Daughters of the Confederacy (2), Natchez Place Association (1), African- American Heritage Society of Franklin & Williamson County (2), and the City of Franklin (1). Collectively, we have made Williamson County one of the most celebrated in Tennessee. 

Click on image to read. Published 2010, soft cover, 254 pages

Civil War Veterans - their reunions and photographs

The old comrades of what became known as the "lost cause" began holding reunions in McGavock's Grove in 1877. The newspaper coverage of this reunion and those that followed until 1927 are included here to help the modern reader understand the importance of the Battle of Franklin in the memories of the old Blue & Gray warriors. At their last reunion in October 1927, 24 Confederate veterans were still living in Williamson County. W.D. Chrisman, the last Civil War veteran living in the county, died on April 29, 1939. However, the last native Williamson County veteran, James William Barnes of Antioch, died on August 26, 1944 at the age of 99. This book contains over 600 photographs of Williamson County Civil War veterans, information on their reunions and questionnaire responses from 1914, 15 & 20 . 

Click on image to read. Published in 2007, soft cover, 243 pages.

Freedom and Work in the Reconstruction Era

This work is a transcription of the Labor Contracts Book 1866, found among forgotten, dusty volumes in the county archives. The information gleaned from these contracts provide valuable insight into the nature of freedom and work in post Civil War Middle Tennessee for emancipated African Americans. These contracts offer an excellent primary source for better understanding the social and economic conditions of the Reconstruction era not only in Williamson County but in Middle Tennessee.  The Freedman's Bureau monitored the contracts. The Labor Contracts Book, 1866 details how this process worked in Williamson County and provides an invaluable perspective on how local whites and blacks negotiated a new culture, and a new community, out of the ashes of wartime destruction.

Click on image to read. Published 2006, soft cover, 233 pages

Who’s Who Volume 1, a-K & 2, L-Z by Derry Carlisle

The Williamson County Historical Society and The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County take great pleasure in offering the final articles of Who's Who in Williamson County, which ran in The Review-Appeal from 1935 until 1977. Mrs. R.S. Owen (1879-1978), affectionately known as "Miss Jane", began the series on October 31, 1935, featuring County School Superintendent Fred J. Page and ended with Marion Grigsby Warren, 1st grade teacher of Franklin Elementary School, on August 6, 1953. Miss Jane's 892 articles were published in the Williamson County Historical Society Journal, in four volumes, from 2003 to 2006. When Miss Jane left The Review-Appeal to work as receptionist for Ed Warren at the Franklin Memorial Chapel in August of 1953, Nat Osborn, Jr. (1920-1991) continued the Who’s Who series, under his own by-line. Nat began on November 5, 1953, with an article on J.T. Culberson. Nat wrote 90 articles during his tenure with The Review-Appeal. His last article on January 19, 1956, was an interview with W.A. "Bill" Moore, who had recently purchased the Standard Farm & Hardware Store on the Square. Nat moved to Lebanon in January 1956 to become editor of The Lebanon Democrat and died in 1991 in Harrisburg, PA, after retiring from The Patriot-News as editor. Nat's articles were published in the Williamson County Historical Society Journal No. 46 in 2014.

Dorinda Derryberry Carlisle (1920-2004), Derry to friends, grew up in Columbia, married Walter O. Carlisle, Jr. of Centennial Hall and was the mother of Dorinda Smith and Nancy Engelhardt. Derry worked for The Review-Appeal for 27 years. She picked up the Who's Who column in 1957 with the interview of Billy Peach of Pigg Men's Store and ended on December 22, 1977, with Ray Bell of Bell Construction Co. in Brentwood. Derry's 520 articles combined with the articles of Miss Jane and Nat's provide over 1400 Who's Who articles which have enriched our understanding of Williamson County and delighted us with brief biographies of her people. Personally, I would like to thank those who have loaned photographs for this project and also acknowledge the volunteers who helped retype these many articles: Jackie Canaday, Elaine Warwick, Brian Easter, and Pam Pewitt Shelton.

Good Reading Rick Warwick, editor