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The town of Winchester was laid out in 1810 when the site thereof was covered with timber. A Mr. Norwood cut the first
tree on the Public Square and the same year James Russey, grandfather of James Russey now of the Ballard House, built the first house locating it on the
corner where the Ballard House now stands. It is said that the United States troops wore quartered therein during the war with the Creek Indians. The
latter James Russey is the oldest native-born citizen of the town.
Thomas D. Wiggins was the first merchant in Winchester and sold his goods in a log cabin. The next merchants were Col. Crabb Hayter, Spyker and Daugherty
and following them were the Decherds, Tom Pryor, Alfred Henderson, Tom Wilson, Joe Klepper, Mark Hutchins and Mr. Blackwood. The first saloon or grocery
where liquors were sold was kept by Daniel Eanes & Son between 1810 and 1830. The town grew rapidly at its commencement and by an act of the General
Assembly of the State passed October 28, 1813. Ralph Crabb, Jonathan Spyker, James S. M. Wherter, James Estill and James Russell were appointed
commissioners for the purpose of regulating the town with authority to levy and collect taxes and compel the inhabitants to work on the streets
and alleys.
The first doctors were Higgins and Kincaid. In 1816, the learned Dr. Wallis Estill came from Virginia and located here. He soon rose to eminence
particularly as a surgeon and did nearly all the surgical practice in the county for nearly fifty years. Soon thereafter his brother William Estill
and Dr. John Fitzpatrick of Virginia settled in Winchester and both became prominent physicians. The latter died in 1854 and the former in 1874.
Soon after the town was laid out a hotel was erected opposite the Ballard House and was for many years headquarters tor the stage route. The site is
now vacant. The Ballard House was built about 1830 and the block on the opposite corner about 1833. By an act of the General Assembly passed
August 20, 1823 Winchester was incorporated and the town council given full power to enact all ordinances necessary to restrain vice and immorality
and to otherwise govern the town. As early as 1826 or 1827 a branch of the State Bank was established in the brick building still standing opposite
the southeast corner of the Public Square and Dr. M. L. Dixon was the first cashier thereof. This bank suspended early in the "thirties" and the town
has never had a bank since. In 1832 the population of Winchester was about 600 and the business of the town nearly equal to what it is now. The
merchants of the town during the "thirties" were Thomas Wilson, Joseph Klepper, Oehmig & Wells, Tolls & Russell, M. W. Howell, W. Williams,
James Robertson, A. L. & J. W. Campbell, William & J. H. Knox, A. M. Cowan, Benj. Decherd, H. A. Rains, Hutchins & Pryor, and J. & R. Snowden.
Madison Porter was a blacksmith and Wm. Buchanan had a tan-yard. There were two saddle and harness shops, one by Joe Bradford and the other by
James Russey. M. Robertson had a cabinet shop and Edmond Dyer was the silversmith. Winchester was then the only town of importance on a long stage
route and in a vast country surrounding it hence its business activity. There were then three hotels in the town: The Ballard House which was built
and kept by Henry Runnells; the old frame hotel on the opposite corner kept lastly by P. I. Curl; and the third hotel was kept by Col. Crabb in the
third brick building in the town. It is now occupied by Mark Henderson and others. Dr. Matthew L. Dixon and Dr. Turner were the prominent physicians
of the town and Dr. Wallis Estill was at the head of the profession.
Business of the forties:,
Merchants:
Mark Hutchins, Thomas Pryor, Thomas Wilson, Ben Powell, F. A. Loughmiller, the Decherds, Brazeltons, J. T. Slatter and others.
Carriage and coach manufacturers:
Thomas Logan and Hutchins Porter & Co. The carriages were mostly sold to the wealthy planters of the South and the business was very extensive.
Business of the fifties:
Merchants:
D. & A. R. Brazelton, Harris & Williams, Horton & Kennington, C. C. Brewer, Sanders & Henderson, H. Leonard & Co., N. R. Martin, Templeton & Stewart,
Crutcher & Tennison, J. W. Templeton, W. B. Wagner, G. A. Shook, Houghton & Decherd, S. A. & T. J. Lockhart.
Tailors:
L. Stone & Co. and J. S. Kelly.
Livery stable:
John W. Curtis.
Blacksmith:
Owin Hill.
The carriage making was continued by Thomas S. Logan.
The business continued about the same until the commencement of the Civil War. For the history of the town during the war period the reader is referred
to "Military." On the return of peace a noticeable event was the occupation of one house at the Russey corner now burnt by two merchants, one a Federal
soldier and the other a Confederate one having his goods on one side and the other occupying the other side.
Soon after the war the merchants of the town were M. D. Embry, Avery Handley, D. S. Logan, John Vaughan, W. L. Bickley, Moffett & Clark, W. B. Miller,
Matterson & McDowell, J. W. Degresse and P. H. Achey & Co. Nearly all business was suspended during the war and twenty years have passed away since it
began to recruit. A reference to the business of the present will show how it has been re-established and increased.
The merchants now are:
Dry goods:
Wiley S. Embry
J. L. Baugh
Mark Henderson
Sim Venable
A. C. Plumlee
Dry goods and groceries:
J. A. Gaines
T. J. Gaines
J. C. Garner
T. J. Jackson & Son
Whit Ransom.
Hardware:
Carter & Brother
Tinner and stove dealer:
John F. Vaughan
Drugs:
G. G. Phillips
John M. Hutchins
Family grocery:
H. H. Embry
Confectioner and baker:
Johnnie Sehrom
Manufacturer of leather boots, shoes, saddles, and harness:
Matt P. Petty.
Provisions:
B. Templeton
Mrs. Rosa Ayers.
Milliners:
Mrs. Emma Brazelton
Mrs. N. E. Days.
Furniture dealers and undertakers:
Fred Wenger
Jacob Weidman.
Repair shop:
John Lawing.
Jewelers:
C. S. Crane
George R. Martin.
Wagon-makers:
John Kissling
Jack Miller, the latter colored.
Manufacturers of carriages, wagons and farm implements:
Ruch & Little
The proprietors of the Winchester Spoke and Handle Factory:
Wenger, Girton, & Woodward who employ ten hands and do an extensive business.
Blacksmiths:
George Lefeber
James Lee
A. Knapper
Charlie Coleman
Boot and shoe-makers:
R. Kleinwaechter
Dealers in coal:
Bill Street
Looney and Estill
Painter:
James N. Logan
Picture Gallery:
R. B. Williams
Livery Stable:
W. E. Lockridge
M. A. Lockridge
Hotels:
Estill House by Isaac Estill
Ballard House by James Russey
Cole House by Mr. Cole
Physician:
Shapard
Murrell
Grisard
Blalock
Dentists:
Baird, Gattis, and Slaughter.
Societies:
Cumberland Lodge of F. & A. M.
A. L. of H.
K. of H.
K. & L. of H.
Temperance Alliance.
In 1855, the General Assembly passed an act authorizing the mayor and aldermen of Winchester to lay off the town into a suitable number of wards and
providing for the election of a constable and two aldermen in each ward. The town was accordingly divided into four wards and the officers were elected
as provided in the act which conferred upon them full power of the then existing laws for the government of incorporated towns. The last meeting of the
council during the war was held June 16, 1862 and the action of the corporation was then suspended until January 7, 1867 after which a new council had
been elected and convened. On the 13th of March 1883 the General Assembly upon petition of the citizens of Winchester passed an act repealing their
charter to take effect at the close of the year. Accordingly the council held a meeting December 31, 1883 and made full and final settlement of finances
and adjourned sine die. According to the census of 1880 Winchester had a population of 1039 which has not greatly increased since. The town has no
saloons but it has two colleges and two free schools and seven churches. "The young ladies wear the blush of modesty and the crown of culture and
refinement. The young men are thrifty energetic and sober."
Newspaper
The first newspaper published in the county of which there is any account was:
The Highlander established and published in Winchester in 1839 by H. Mabry. How long its publication continued is not known.
The next seems to have been The Winchester Independent which was established in 1850 by Alexander R. Wiggs with George B. White as editor.
Its publication continued about three years.
Hon. F. A. Loughmiller it is said once published a paper in Winchester the name of which and date of publication is clouded with uncertainty.
The Winchester Appeal was established in February 1856 by George E. Pulvis & William J. Slatter. It was American in politics and advocated the
election of Fillmore and Donelson. Its publication suspended with the close of the year.
The Home Journal was established in January 1857 by Metcalfe & Pulvis who published ten copies and then sold it to William J. Slatter who was
connected with it until October 1884 when he leased it to H. H. Dulin who had for many years been connected with it in the capacity of printer. It is
now published by Taylor & Dulin. W. D. Watterson, Lewis Metcalfe, and others have been connected with it for short periods. It has always been
Democratic in politics.
The Franklin County News was established in June 1883 by Phillips, Embrey & Co. who continued to publish it until 1884 when they leased it to
Morrell & Snodgrass who published until June 1886. The company then sold it to Nathan Francis the present publisher. It is also Democratic in politics.
Source: History of Tennessee, Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1886
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