Much of this information was obtained from Goodspeed's History of Tennessee and also Tennessee State Gazetteer and Business Directory (1860-1861) by John L. Mitchell. The wording is mine and is protected by copyright . Please feel free to use any information for your own research. However, use of my information for commercial projects is expressly forbidden.

Early History:

Perry County was created by an act of the General Assembly of the state of Tennessee which was passed in November, 1819. This act provided for a new county to be established north of Wayne County, west of Hickman County, and south of Humphreys County. Perry County was named in honor of Oliver Hazard Perry (1785 - 1819 ), a War of 1812 naval officer instrumental in forcing the surrender of the British fleet. This original territory included almost all of what became Decatur County in addition to what is still Perry County today.

The Buffalo River flowing from the south end of the county to the north, divides the county in such a way as to leave 1/3 of the area to the east of this river and 2/3's to the west. A number of creeks flow from the western side of the Buffalo River towards the Tennessee River. Beginning at the north these creeks are: Crooked, Roan, Tom, Deer, Lick, Spring, Cypress, Marsh, Cedar, Bee, and White Oak. On the east side of the Buffalo River the creeks beginning from the north are: Lost, Russell, Lagoon, Cane, Brush, Coon, Short, Hurricane, Rockhouse, and Sinking.

Early Settlers:

Tom Creek
It is thought that Robert Patterson settled this area before 1818 as his son William was born on Tom Creek in 1818. Rev. William Hodge, Rev. Samuel Atkins, John Stanley, William O. Britt, Enoch Hooper, and John Young all settled on Tom Creek in 1818. In 1820, Ferney Stanley arrived. He taught the first school in the county.

Cane Creek
Some of the first settlers on Cane Creek were the Whitwells; Thomas, John, Samuel, and James Lomax; Horner Cude; James Salmon; John Anderson; Rev. Joseph Kelley; and Jesse Depriest. Jacob Huffstedler who was born on board ship while enroute from Germany to America in 1775, settled on Cane Creek with his family in 1821.

(Note - According to Marlene Bates Johnson, this information concerning Jacob Huffstedler from Goodspeed's is not correct. Please contact her for more information.)

Buffalo River
About 1824, John Horner, Elbert Matthews, Jerry Holligan, and James Wilkins and their families settled on the Buffalo River near what was to become Beardstown. Isaac W. Stanley , who was surveyor of Perry County, also settled on the Buffalo River.

Linden
Joseph Tucker came from North Carolina to settle in the area that is now Linden.

Lick Creek
As early as 1818, James Dixon, James Yates, Wiley Tanner, and John and Jesse Newton settled on Lick Creek.

Marsh Creek
Some of the first settlers on Marsh Creek were Joseph Brown, William and Nathan Ward, and Nathaniel Dabbs.

Cedar Creek
About 1818, Samuel Denton, John Tracey, and Jesse Childress settled this area.

White Oak Creek
The first settlers for this area were Joshua Briley, Thomas Evans, Nicholas Welch, and James Scott.

Sinking Creek
About 1818 or 1820, Jacob Fraley, George Hollabough, and John Webb settled this area.

Rockhouse Creek
David Hogan, Hodge Adams, and Nancy Randal settled this area about 1818 or 1820.

Hurricane Creek
Allen Barber and the Jarmons settled early on this creek.

Brush Creek
Early settlers on this creek were John Siser, John Turner, Elijah Duncan, and the Cobles.

Coon Creek
Thomas Dowdy, Joshua Cotes, and Abraham Barber settled early this area.

Other
William Holmes, John L. Houston, Oswald Griffin, John Wims, Green B. Newsom, West Wood, John A. Rains, Aaron Lewis, Jacob Harmon, Mark Murphey, and Joseph Dixon were other early settlers to Perry County.

Early Industry:

Iron Furnace
Iron was found in large quantities along Marsh, Cedar, and Sinking Creeks. About 1834, Wallace Dixon erected the Cedar Grove Iron Furnace on Cedar Creek. Its operation was suspended in 1862.

Mills
The first horse-mill, on Lick Creek, was erected in 1820 by James Dixon. John Tracey erected the first water-mill on Cedar Creek in 1821.
Between 1866 and 1880, Thomas Whitwell operated a wool-carding mill on Rockhouse Creek.
During the 1870's, Josiah Bastian operated a woolen-mill on Cane Creek.

Merchants
James Yates was the first merchant. About 1819, he began his business on Tom Creek.

Cotton
Samuel Denton erected the first cotton-gin on Cedar Creek in 1821. This, however, was not a prominent industry.

Tanneries
Charles Gotthardt, a German, established the first tannery about 1843. It was located at a place on the Tennessee River called Rat Tail. Robert Houssels established a tannery in 1868 and James B. Sutton also had a tannery.

Early Organization:

The first magistrates were James Dixon, Joseph Brown, William O. Britt, William Holmes, John L. Houston, Oswald Griffin, Enoch Hooper, Mr. Nunn, and Green B. Newsom.

The act which established Perry County, provided for the quarter sessions and circuit court to be held at the house of James Yates. The first magistrates selected the house of James Dixon on Lick Creek as the place for holding their first session. At this session in January, 1820, Perry County was organized. The magistrates elected Joseph Brown as chairman of the court of quarter sessions. William Jarmon was elected as clerk, West Wood as sheriff, John A. Rains as register, Aaron Lewis as trustee, Jacob Harmon as ranger, Mark Murphey as coroner, and Joseph Dixon as constable.

In 1845, an act of the General Assembly divided the county of Perry and established Decatur County with the Tennessee River as the boundary between the two. Perry County courts were then moved to Harrisburg where they remained for 2 years while a new county seat was being selected. By election, Linden was chosen over Harrisburg by a majority of 6 votes. David R. Harris donated 40 acres to the county to be used as the site of Linden. The town was surveyed, town lots sold, and the county was divided into 11 civil districts.

County Court Records:

The first courts were held at the house of James Dixon and then moved to that of Mr. Barry on Tom Creek. In 1821, the county seat was established at Perryville on the west bank of the Tennessee River. The first courthouse in Linden was made of logs. It was replaced in 1849-1850 with a frame building. This building was burned along with its records during the Civil War. Only the records housed in offices not at the courthouse were saved.

Available today are: Chancery Court beginning 1854, Circuit Court Minutes beginning in 1834, County Court Minutes beginning in 1865, Deeds beginning in 1844, Marriage Records beginning in 1865, and Probate Records beginning in 1847.

County Court Officials:

County Court Clerks   Since the War
Jesse Taylor               1865 - 1867
John Taylor                1867 - 1868
R. A. Guthrie             1868 - 1870
T. J. Lewis                   1870 - 1874
P. P. Pickard               1874 - 1882
C. L. Pearson             1882 - 1886

Registers Since 1840
J. A. Rains                     1841 - 1846
Thomas Lomax            1846 - 1882
R. A. Kimbel                  1882 - 1886

* Since J. A. Rains was the first register according to available records, it is very possible that he actually served beginning 1820.

Sheriffs
West Wood                     1820 - 1828
John Easley                   1828 - 1832
Larkin Baker                 1832 - 1834
Madison Harris            1834 - 1836
William Welch               1836 - 1842
Abner Coleman            1842 - 1843
Hugh B. Hand               1843 - 1846
Thomas Simmons        1846 - 1847
John L. Webb                 1847 - 1848
James Kelley                  1848 - 1852
Moses Bates                    1852 - 1856
James H. Brown            1856 - 1858
Moses Bates                    1858 - 1862
??????                            
James M. Dodson           1866 - 1868
Henry H. Long                 1868 - 1870
John L. Webb                   1870 - 1874
William J. Flowers         1874 - 1876
Edward W. Easley          1876 - 1878
A. D. Craig                        1878 - 1882
J. M. Hunt                         1882 - 1886

Chancery Court Clerks and Masters
James H. Kinzer             1854 - 1858
I. N. Hulme                      1858 - 1860
R. M. Thomas                  1860
T. M. Brashear                1865 - 1868
H. J. Young                      1868 - 1871
T. W. Edwards                 1871 - 1877
W. A. Edwards                 1877 - 1883
W. C. Webb                      1883 - 1886

Circuit Court Clerks Since 1846
F. H. Kimble                     1846 - 1850
T. W. Edwards                  1850 - 1858
B. G. Rickman                  1858 - to war
J. P. Ledbetter                  1865 - 1870
Lewis C. Waggoner        1870 - 1874
T. J. Evans                        1874 - 1878
James E. Dodson            1878 - 1882
J. W. Lewis                        1882 - 1886

Legislative Representatives
H. M. Brown
Robert Crudup
Charles Graham
Thomas M. Brashear
Hartwell Barham
F. H. Kimble
William S. Maxwell
William N. Baker
Jesse Taylor
C. B. Dodson
J. B. Daniel

State Senate
H. H. Brown
Thomas M. Brashear
Warren Smith

Settlements:

Beardstown
Beardstown was established in 1830 and named after George Beard its first merchant. It is located on the west side of the Buffalo River about 8 miles below Linden.

Britt's Landing
On the east bank of the Tennessee River, Britt's Landing was established in 1839. As early as 1844 it was of considerable commercial importance. The post office was established in 1850. Cotton and peanuts were primary exports. William O. Britt and Son were the proprietors of the landing and also a large general store and warehouse.

Cedar Creek Landing
This landing had a post office, a store, and a warehouse.

Cedar Grove Furnace
A post office in Perry County in 1860.

Denson's Landing

This landing had a post office, a store, and a warehouse.

Farmer's Valley
Located on the Buffalo River 10 miles above Linden, this town had a post office, 2 stores and a warehouse.

Linden
The site of Linden consisted of 40 acres. It was donated to the county by David R. Harris. He reserved a few lots and named the town Linden. The town was surveyed into lots, including a public square. The lots were sold and the money from the sales was used to help with the expense of erecting public buildings. The first houses in Linden were built in 1847 by Jesse Taylor and Miles Prince. The first hotel was opened in 1849 by John L. Webb. The first store was opened by Dr. William C. Moore who was also the first physician and postmaster. In 1860 the town had a courthouse, public offices, an academy, and several stores.

Lobelsville
Lobelsville is a post-village on the west side of the Buffalo River about 5 miles below Beardstown. It was established in 1854 and named after Henry de Lobel, a French immigrant. There were 3 stores and a combined church and schoolhouse.

Mouse Tail Landing
On the east bank of the Tennessee River, this landing was established between 1840 and 1845. Homer and Blackburn had a grocery store for a number of years. Tan bark is the major export.

New Era
This landing had a post office, a store, and a warehouse.

Patriot
A post village in 1860.

Peter's Landing
This landing had a post office, a store, and a warehouse.

Theodore
This was a post-hamlet on Hurricane Creek with a wool-carding mill, grist mill, and a saw mill.

Webb's
This landing had a post office and a warehouse.

Woods
A post office was located here in 1860.

Schools:

The first school in the county was taught by Ferry Stanley on Tom Creek in 1820. The first school in Linden was taught by Edwin H. Eldridge about 1848.

Churches:

John Craig, of the Methodist Church was the first minister preaching in the county. He began preaching ca 1818 or 1819.
A log building was erected on Lick Creek in 1825 by the Primitive Baptists. William Hodge and Samuel Akin/Atkin were the first ministers.
The Baptists built the first church building in Linden in 1849 and Greenberry Mitchell was the first minister.
The first camp-meeting was established on Lick Creek in 1826. Afterward another was established on White Oak Creek and another near Linden.

Poor Farm:

In December, 1880, the county purchased a farm of 277 acres with its buildings from W. C. and J. L. Webb. This farm was located on the east side of the Buffalo River, about a mile from Linden. This farm was to serve as a home for the paupers of the county. According to Goodspeed, it housed on an average, 8 paupers per year.