Administration - Historical Notes

Budget System

The following act once created a budgeting system for Weakley County, but it has been specifically repealed or superseded by current law. Also referenced below is an act which repeals prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 552, reorganized the fiscal affairs of Weakley County by granting to the Quarterly Court the power to prescribe detailed procedures to be employed in the administration of the finances, personnel and procedures of all departments and agencies of county government, except the Weakley County Municipal Electric System. A three member Purchasing and Finance Commission was established, elected by the Quarterly Court for staggered three year terms, with only one member from a civil district. Members of the Quarterly Court could not be chosen for the Commission. Compensation, as set by the Court, could not exceed $300 per year. The Commission would serve as Purchasing Agent for the County, perform audits of county departments, set the wage scale for employees of the Highway Department, and supervise the payroll for the County Board of Education. A County Budget Committee would consist of the Chairman of the Purchasing Commission, the Chairman of the Highway Commission, the Superintendent of Schools, the County Judge or Chairman, and three Justices of the Peace selected by the Quarterly Court. The Committee would adopt a proposed budget for all departments except schools. This Act was designed to place Weakley County on a "cash" or "pay as you go" basis. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.

County Clerk

The following acts once affected the office of county clerk in Weakley County. They are included herein for historical purposes. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 160, stated that females, either married or single, over the age of 21 and residents of the county appointing them, shall be eligible to serve as Deputies in the office of the County Court Clerk in Weakley County with the same status and authority as other County Court Clerks. Acceptance of employment by the female shall stop her from denying any legal liability which might be hers as a Deputy Clerk and she is expressly prohibited form pleading coverture as a defense thereto.
2. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 274, permitted the appointment of females over the age of 21 and residents of the county appointing them, as Deputies in the office of the County Court Clerk in Weakley, and several other counties, who would be responsible for the duties of the office as fully as any other Deputy Clerk. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
3. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 169, made it the duty of the County Court Clerk in Weakley County to issue and countersign all county warrants drawn on the County Treasury, except school warrants, after the same have been signed by the County Judge. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
4. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 702, provided that the County Court Clerk, the Register, and the Trustee of Weakley County shall be deprived of all fees, commissions, emoluments, and perquisites of their offices, except as pay for serving as a special receiver, and they shall be paid an annual salary instead of all other compensation. The salary of the County Court Clerk was set at $2,500 per year. The officials must file a report quarterly with the County Judge, or Chairman, showing the fees collected, and pay the same to the Trustee semi-annually. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
5. Private Acts of 1931 (2nd Ex. Sess.), Chapter 3, granted the authority to the County Court Clerk of Weakley County to appoint a Deputy County Court Clerk who, when sworn and bonded as required by the law, was empowered to perform all the work and acts which the County Court Clerk could do. The salary of the Deputy Clerk would be $1,500 a year, payable out of the excess fees of the Clerk's office, but, if the fees are insufficient to do so, the County would pay the difference out of regular county funds in the same way as any other debt would be paid.
6. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 676, stated that the County Court Clerk of Weakley County would receive an annual salary of $3,500 for his services. All fees, costs, emoluments, and other compensations over and above that amount would be paid over to the Trustee, but, if the income of the office was less than that sum, the lesser amount would constitute the salary of the Clerk for that year.

County Legislative Body

The following acts once applied to the quarterly court or the county legislative body of Weakley County and are included herein for historical purposes. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1823, Chapter 41, set the terms for the Quarterly County Courts in all counties west of the Tennessee River which included Gibson County, Dyer County, Obion County, Henderson County, Madison County, McNairy County, Hardeman County, Shelby County, Haywood County, and Weakley County whose court would meet on the fourth Monday in January, April, July, and October.
2. Acts of 1823, Chapter 112, which created Weakley County, also provided that the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the said County would be held at the house of John Tyrrell until otherwise provided by law.
3. Acts of 1824, Chapter 53, permitted the Court to adjourn to any such place in the County as might suit their convenience, provided, that a majority of the Justices agreed to do so.
4. Acts of 1824, Chapter 102, rescheduled the terms of the Quarterly Court in Weakley County do begin on the second Monday in January, April, July and October.
5. Acts of 1825, Chapter 318, changed the opening dates for the terms of the Circuit and County Courts in several counties. The Quarterly Court of Weakley County would continue to meet on the second Monday in January, April, July, and October.
6. Acts of 1827, Chapter 65, was the authority for the Courts of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in the counties of Dickson, Sullivan, Weakley, Hawkins, Hamilton, Smith, Henry, and Rhea, nine, or a majority of the Justices being present, to select on the first day of the first term of the year, by ballot, three of their number to hold Court for the remainder of the year. The Clerk would enter their names on record and all rules and regulations of the regular Court would be observed.
7. Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 6, established a County Court in every county to be held by the Justices of the Peace which would meet on the first Monday of every month and continue until the business of the Court was completed. No Jury trials were allowed in this Court but it was their responsibility to select 25 jurors, one from each Civil District of the County if there were that many Districts, or 37 jurors, whichever may be better for the County, or as directed by the Judge. The Justices would elect a Chairman to a one year term to preside over the Court. This Court was also empowered, at its second term each year, to levy a tax for county purposes.
8. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 841, vested the Quarterly Court of Weakley County with authority to levy a tax to meet the expenses of paupers, paupers' coffins, expenses of Western Hospital, lunacy inquests, and several other services. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
9. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 869, allowed the Quarterly Court of Weakley County to make an appropriation from the general funds of the County in the amounts they might determine to promote and aid agricultural, dairy, and educational exhibits in the County, State or Tri-State Fair under the supervision of a committee of five citizens and taxpayers of the County. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
10. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 260, declared that the Justices of the Peace in Weakley County would be paid the sum of $6 per day for each day's attendance upon the sessions of the quarterly court, but no justices could draw pay for more than two days per session. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.

County Mayor

The references below are of acts which once applied to the office of county judge, or county executive in Weakley County. They are included herein for historical purposes only. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 253, created the office of County Judge in every county of the state, who must be a person learned in the law, who would hold office for four years, who would be elected by the people and sworn and commissioned as any other judge. All the Quorum Courts were abolished and their duties assigned to the County Judge. The County Judge would preside over the Quarterly Court in place of its Chairman whose duties he would assume. The court would meet on the first Monday in each month and sit until the business of the court was completed. The jurisdiction and procedures of the court were outlined. The county court clerk would serve as the clerk. The county judge would also be the accounting officer and general agent of the county for which the powers and duties were enumerated in the act. Records and proper dockets must be kept and the Judge was permitted to practice in every court except his. This act was repealed by Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 5.
2. Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 30, Section 15, created the office of County Judge for Weakley County and set the judge's salary at $500 a year. The judge was made the financial agent of Weakley County and was given all the rights and privileges heretofore given to the County Judge of Perry and Decatur Counties. This act was repealed by Acts of 1869-70, Chapter 8, Section 3.
3. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 292, amended Acts of 1893, Chapter 124, by adding eight additional powers to the County Judge as accounting officer and general agent of the County, and rewrote Section 4 by setting the compensation of the county judge at $800 for his services as county judge and at $400 for his services as financial agent and accounting officer of the county.
4. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 688, was the authority for the Quarterly Court of Weakley County to fix the compensation of the county judge, or chairman, for holding inquisitions of lunacy for the purpose of committing people to the State Hospitals, and to make appropriations out of the ordinary funds of the county to pay for the same. This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
5. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 581, amended Acts of 1893, Chapter 124, so as to read that the county judge would have the same power and authority to grant fiats and writs of attachment, injunction, certiorari and supersedeas, and all other extraordinary writs that the chancellors and circuit judges of this state are now vested with to grant or order.
6. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 582, amended Acts of 1893, Chapter 124, by setting the salary of the county judge at $800 a year as a judge, and at $700 a year for his services as financial agent and accounting officer of the county.
7. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 433, amended Acts of 1893, Chapter 124, by inserting provisions in the act between Sections Three and Four which enlarged the jurisdiction of the county judge and the county court to grant concurrent jurisdiction with the Chancery and Circuit Courts in certain areas. Pleading and practice would be the same as in the other courts. Section 12 advanced the salary of the judge to $1,600 for his services as financial agent and $800 for his services as judge, making a total pay of $2,400 each year. This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
8. Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 426, amended the road law (Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 656) by requiring that the County Judge of Weakley County ratify and confirm all purchases of the Highway Department in excess of $250, and that he countersign all warrants for said amount and over.
9. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 803, amended Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 433, by increasing the salary of the county judge to $3,200 a year, for his services as financial agent of the county, and his salary as county judge to $800 making a total salary of $4,000 per year, payable monthly.
10. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 630, amended Acts of 1893, Chapter 124, by adding a section to the act which would transfer some felony jurisdiction to the county judge under certain conditions and placed upon the county judge the duty of disposing of the case. This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 296.
11. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 365, amended Acts of 1893, Chapter 124, by increasing the salary as Financial Agent in the capacities as Budget Director and Purchasing Agent to $4,400 per annum. The salary for service as County Judge remained at $800 per year.
12. Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 244, would have amended Acts of 1893, Chapter 124, by removing the concurrent jurisdiction of the county court and county judge in matters of divorce, alimony, and custody of children with the circuit and chancery courts, but leaving the authority to enforce any decrees rendered while the court did have jurisdiction. This act was rejected by the quarterly court and never became an effective law under the Home Rule Amendment to the Tennessee Constitution.
13. Private Acts of 1965, Chapter 215, was an amendment to Acts of 1893, Chapter 124, which abolished the position of County Chairman and assigned all the duties of the post to the county judge who would thereafter be elected by the people to an 8 year term. The act further removed the provisions from Section 3 which listed the judicial powers of the judge and inserted a provision which conferred upon the county judge all the powers and jurisdiction conferred by general law upon them and the county court. This act was rejected by the quarterly court and never became an active law.
14. Private Acts of 1967-68, Chapter 387, repealed Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 433, with a provision that all such cases filed, or pending, in the said court under the authority of this repealed act would remain therein until finally disposed of, or were retired from the dockets of the court. This act was rejected by the quarterly court and never became operative law.
15. Private Acts of 1995, Chapter 11, repealed Private Acts of 1893, Chapter 124, as amended by Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 292, Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 688, Private Acts of 1921, Chapters 581 and 582, Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 365, and all other acts amendatory thereto.

County Register

The following acts once affected the office of county register in Weakley County, but are no longer operative. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1824, Chapter 67, allowed the County Register and the County Ranger of Weakley County to keep their offices at their respective homes for the next two years after the passage of this Act but no longer.
2. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 119, was a general law which required the County Registers in counties south and west of the congressional reservation line to perform the duties of Entry Takers. However, Weakley and several other counties exempted themselves from the provisions of this Act.
3. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 274, was the authority to appoint females, over the age of 21, who were residents of the county appointing them, to serve as Deputies in the office of County Register and several other offices in the government with the same authority and responsibilities as other Deputy Registers. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
4. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 702, fixed the annual salary of the County Trustee, County Court Clerk, and County Register of Weakley County. The salary of the Register was set at $2,000 per annum, provided a report was filed quarterly with the County Judge showing the total amount of fees collected in the office. These fees were to be paid to the Trustee semiannually. All fees, commissions, emoluments, and perquisites of the office where withdrawn as pay to the Register except for those coming as pay for special receiver. The salary was in lieu of all fees and commissions. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
5. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 170, prohibited the Register from recording a Deed unless a certificate from the Tax Assessor was attached to the same stating that the Assessor had been notified of the transaction. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
6. Private Acts of 1931 (2nd Ex. Sess.), Chapter 2, was the authority for the Register of Weakley County to appoint a Deputy Registrar who would be sworn and bonded to do all the duties imposed by law upon the Registrar. The Deputy would be paid out of the excess fees of the office a salary of $900 a year, but, if the excess fees were not sufficient, the county would pay the difference as other general county expenses were paid. Although the term Registrar is used in the Act, it is obvious that Register was intended. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.

County Trustee

The following acts once affected the office of county trustee in Weakley County, but are no longer operative. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1843-44, Chapter 124, authorized the Revenue Commissioners of Weakley County to settle with Israel F. Outhouse, a former Trustee for Weakley County, on the accounts of the common school money distributed by him as Trustee for the years 1840 and 1841. If any amount was found to be due Outhouse after the examination of the accounts, authority was granted under this Act to pay such an amount to him out of the 1844 common school fund. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
2. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 247, was the authority for the Trustees of Weakley County and Obion County to draw out of the branch of the Bank of Tennessee at Trenton the unexpended balance of the fund appropriated for the improvement of the Obion River within the boundaries of each County and they would hold the same subject to the order of the County Court of each of the Counties to be used on other public improvements. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
3. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 274, declared that females over the age of 21, and residents of the counties appointing them, were eligible to be named to and serve as Deputies in the offices of the Clerk and Master, Circuit Court Clerk, County Court Clerk, Register, and Trustee. Such female deputies would have the same rights and powers and be subject to same duties and obligations as other deputies in those offices. The Act applied to Weakley, Rutherford, Montgomery, Greene, Giles, and Fayette Counties and was repealed as it applied to Weakley County by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
4. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 702, set up the annual salaries for the position of County Court Clerk, Register, and Trustee of Weakley County under certain terms and conditions. These officeholders were deprived of all fees, commissions, emoluments, and perquisites accruing to their positions except for pay as a special receiver, and, provided further, that they file a report each quarter showing the fees collected and paid them with the Trustee semiannually. The annual salary of the Trustee was fixed at $3,000. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
5. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 675, stated that in Weakley County the salary of the Trustee would not exceed the sum of $3,500 per year, and in the event the fees collected by the office were more than that amount, the excess would be paid to the Trustee, but, if the fees were less than the stated sum, the salary of the Trustee would be the same as the fees collected. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.

Flood Control - Drainage

The private and public acts listed below have been an integral part of this subject in the past years as related to Weakley County but all have been superseded, or repealed, so that they are no longer in effect.

1. Acts of 1825, Chapter 299, was the authority for William Hendrix and George D. Randell to build a mill on the middle fork of the Obion River in the 12th Surveyor's District of Weakley County. They had the exclusive right to enter and obtain a grant for 250 acres which plot could be more than twice as long as it is wide.
2. Acts of 1826, Chapter 61, gave a preference to Jubilee Rogers, Perry Vincent, Thomas H. Phillips, and the representatives of Absalom Jones, until the next session of the General Assembly, to enter upon and obtain title to a mill site and land lying in Weakley County which was secured to them by an 1825 Act. It was made unlawful for any other person to enter upon said land. This Act further gave to John W. Rogers a preference to enter vacant land of 200 acres for a mill site on Mud Creek in Weakley County.
3. Acts of 1827, Chapter 240, Section 3, gave to John W. Rogers preference to enter the 200 acres of vacant land specifically located in the 13th Surveyor's District on Mud Creek in Weakley County for a mill site.
4. Acts of 1831, Chapter 80, stated that Albert Thomas, of Weakley County, would have all the rights and privileges in relation to his occupancy claim near the mouth of Thomas Creek which claim may have been extended to the occupants of the Western District and the same would be exempt from the entry of any other person.
5. Acts of 1831, Chapter 120, allowed Joseph Vincent to lay down a claim on the general plan of Surveyor's District 13 to any quantity of land, vacant and unappropriated, not to exceed 200 acres, which were unfit for cultivation, including thereon a site for a mill on Spring Creek, and the said Vincent could enter the land by warrants or as otherwise directed by law.
6. Acts of 1831, Chapter 274, permitted James O. K. Wood, of Weakley County, to lay a claim to any quantity of uninhabited vacant land, not to exceed 500 acres, which adjoins his mill on the north fork of the Obion River.
7. Acts of 1831, Chapter 278, granted to one Henry Sample, of Weakley County, the right to have all the privileges that other occupants south and west of the Congressional Reservation have to a tract of country five miles in extent along the middle and north forks of the Obion River which was unfit for cultivation. If Sample did not succeed in processing salt water upon the said tract within two years, the land reverted to the State or to the United States as the case might be.
8. Acts of 1832, Chapter 79, Section 3, was the authority for Robert Ury, of Weakley County, and John B. Slemons, of Carroll County, to enter on the general plan of the 12th Surveyor's District 200 acres of vacant and unappropriated land, including the mill, or the mill sites, they were erecting on Spring Creek, provided they did not interfere with any other occupant and that they complete the construction of their mills within one year from the passage of this Act.
9. Acts of 1833, Chapter 103, authorized John A. Gardner and Thomas C. Jones, of Weakley County, to build a mill on the north fork of the Obion River since the said land on which the mill will be built is now vacant and unappropriated. They were given the right to enter and occupy the land and to perfect the title thereto. Section 3 of this Act gave John Dunn, of Weakley County, the right to enter 200 acres on the Middle Fork of the Obion River, south of the tract granted to the Trustees of the University of North Carolina, and to perfect the title to the same.
10. Acts of 1837-38, Chapter 37, declared that Spring Creek in Weakley County is navigable from Finch and Mobby's mill to the mouth of the said Spring Creek.
11. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 247, allowed the County Courts of Weakley and Obion Counties to dispose of the unexpended balance of a fund appropriated for the improvement of the Obion River.
12. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 685, cited in the preamble that on August 30, 1919, the Board of Directors of the Middle Fork and Spring Creek Drainage and Levee District No. 1 of Weakley County by a proper Resolution spread an assessment of $5,860.01 on the property owners in the District to repair the levee, of which $1,732.88 was spent for that purpose but to do more would be a waste of money, therefore there was a balance of $4,127.21 in that fund. There also remained in their hands the sum of $1,583.13 of the original bond issue. This Act authorized the Trustee to refund $5,700.34 to the property owners of the District. See Grooms v. Board of Directors of Middlefork and Spring Creek Drainage District No. 1, 167 Tenn. 589, 72 S.W.2d 772 (1934).

Obion and Forked Deer River - Flood Control and Drainage Improvements

The following acts, which were not codified, once affected flood control and drainage improvements in the Obion and Forked Deer River basin, and are included herein for historical purposes.

1. Public Acts of 1972, Chapter 807, added a new section to Public Acts of 1959, Chapter 129, providing the department of agriculture with concurrent authority and responsibility for maintenance of completed channel improvements for the Obion and Forked Deer Rivers. This act was repealed twice, first by Public Acts of 1973, Chapter 38, and again when the 1973 act was repealed by Public Acts of 1974, Chapter 415.
2. Public Acts of 1973, Chapter 38, amended Public Acts of 1959, Chapter 129, and Public Acts of 1963, Chapter 149, to transfer the authority and responsibility for the flood control and drainage improvements for the Obion and Forked Deer Rivers from the department of highways and public works to the department of agriculture. This act was repealed by Public Acts of 1974, Chapter 415.

Purchasing

The following act once affected the purchasing procedures of Weakley County, but is no longer operative. Also referenced below is an act which repeals prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 552, created a three member Purchasing and Finance Commission for Weakley County to be elected for staggered three year terms. The compensation, as set by the Quarterly Court, was in an amount not to exceed $300 per year. The Commission would serve as the purchasing agency for the county and as such would purchase all the supplies, materials or properties of every kind and character, including insurance. No County official or Board other than the Commission would have any authority to make purchases or to let contracts which bind the county. All purchases in excess of $100 would be by competitive bids. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.

General Reference

The following private or local acts constitute part of the administrative and political history of Weakley County but are today no longer operative because they have either been superseded, repealed, or failed to receive local approval. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1823, Chapter 206, appointed Abram Maury, William Hall, James Fentress, and Benjamin Reynolds as Commissioners to select a site for a permanent seat of justice in Weakley, Gibson, McNairy, Dyer, Hardeman, Obion, Tipton, and Haywood Counties as near the center of the county as possible, to procure as least 50 acres of land, lay the same off into lots, streets and alleys, and then to sell the said lots.
2. Acts of 1824, Chapter 132, stated that the Commissioners appointed by the County Courts of Gibson, Dyer, Hardeman, Tipton, Fayette, Weakley, Obion, and McNairy Counties to lay off and sell lots in the county seats of the said counties would have and exercise all the powers this Act granted to the Commissioners appointed to establish Brownsville. The County seat of Weakley County would be named Dresden.
3. Acts of 1826, Chapter 114, stated that Alice S. Wilson, a poor woman and a citizen of Weakley County, was hereby given a preference of entry on the parcel of land upon which she lives, if it is vacant, notwithstanding she may not have resided thereon on or before May 1, 1826, but provided further that the preference extended herein shall not exceed 200 acres.
4. Acts of 1827, Chapter 12, established a Treasury Department in the Western District consisting of the counties of Shelby, Fayette, Hardeman, McNairy, Hardin, Perry, Henderson, Carroll, Henry, Weakley, Obion, Dyer, Tipton, Haywood, Madison, and Gibson. The Treasurer would be appointed by joint ballot of both houses of the General Assembly, must be sworn and bonded, and would be subject to the same penalties as are all others in a similar capacity. All taxes due in Nashville would be payable to this Treasurer at his office in Jackson.
5. Acts of 1829, Chapter 26, was an act conferring upon several different people in several different counties the right to hawk and peddle goods in their respective Congressional District where they live without having to obtain a license, among whom was Amasa Webb of Weakley County.
6. Acts of 1831, Chapter 44, allowed the County Courts of the counties west of the Tennessee River to organize three member Internal Improvement Boards which would then supervise and plan the expenditure of funds allotted to the counties for improving primarily their roads and rivers.
7. Acts of 1832, Chapter 14, amended Acts of 1831, Chapter 44, by making it lawful for the County Courts of Henry, Carroll, Gibson, Weakley, Obion, and Dyer Counties at the first, or a subsequent, term after the passage of this Act, to proceed to elect Boards of Internal Improvement under the same rules prescribed by the 1831 Act.
8. Acts of 1837-38, Chapter 286, was the enabling legislation for the County Court of Weakley County to draw the remainder of the internal improvement money belonging to the said County and to appropriate the same to internal improvement in a manner that would be most advantageous to Weakley County.
9. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 294, incorporated William B. Martin, Matthew F. Wilson, Philemon T. M. Fowler, Wilie Smith, and William R. Ross, as the Trustee of the Christian Church in Dresden with all the powers incidental to corporate institutions being granted.
10. Acts of 1868-69, Chapter 58, incorporated John T. Priestly, Worshipful Master, P. S. Dunlap, Senior Warden, and W. B. Johnson, Junior Warden, as "Washington Lodge #159, of Free and Accepted Masons", in Weakley County.
11. Acts of 1875, Chapter 15, amended Section 1792 of the Tennessee Code so as to allow the counties of Knox, DeKalb, Shelby, Cannon, White, Davidson, and Weakley to each have one additional Notary Public over those already permitted under the law who would be appointed by the Justices of the County Court. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
12. Acts of 1879, Chapter 170, was the authority for the Quarterly Court of Weakley County to appoint two additional Notaries Public for the said county, one of whom would reside in Dresden, and the other in the town of Gleason, both to have and exercise all the powers incidental to Notaries elsewhere. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
13. Acts of 1897, Chapter 124, set the annual salaries for most county officials according to the population of the county in which the official served. The officials were deprived of all fees, commissions, and compensation of every sort which would be paid by them to the Trustee. This Act was invalidated by the Supreme Court in Weaver v. Davidson County, 104 Tenn. 315, 59 SW 1105 (1900).
14. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 661, averred that all sales, leases, rentals or other dispositions of municipally owned water, electric, or other utilities for consideration heretofore bargained, sold, conveyed, leased, or rented in the counties of Carroll, Dyer,Gibson, Henry, and Weakley are hereby validated, confirmed, and made binding transactions in those counties named above. This Act was repealed as it related to Weakley County by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.
15. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 799, removed all the disabilities of infancy from Ishmal Byers, of Weakley County.
16. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 102, removed the disabilities of infancy from Mrs. Elizabeth Fielder, of Weakley County.
17. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 194, emancipated Wilma Simpson of Weakley County from her minority.
18. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 366, removed all the disadvantageous of his minority from Luke Lea Hilliard, of Weakley County, so that he could take the Bar Examination, do all other acts as fully as an adult, and apply for and receive a license to practice law.
19. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 636, made an adult out of Nannie Thomas, of Weakley County, by removing her minority.
20. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 235, provided that Joseph Winstead, of Weakley County, might hereafter do and perform all the acts of an adult, his minority being hereby removed.
21. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 236, removed the disabilities of infancy from Rachel Winstead, of Weakley County.
22. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 332, removed the disabilities of infancy from Mrs. Beauton Foust Harrison, of Greenfield in Weakley County, and bestowed upon her all the rights of an adult including the authority to settle accounts with her guardian.
23. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 426, moved Miss Barbara Elizabeth Tansil, of Sharon in Weakley County, from infancy into adulthood with all its rights and privileges.