Administration - Historical Notes

Budget System

The following act once created a budgeting system for Lawrence County, but it has been specifically repealed or superseded by current law.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 1935, Chapter 759, created a five member Budget Commission for Lawrence County, four of whom would be named from the membership of the Quarterly Court at the April term, 1935, and every two years thereafter by the County Judge, who would also be ex officio Chairman of the Commission. The Commission would meet at the Court House on the first Monday in May, 1935 to make a careful investigation of the financial needs for the current year and to prepare a budget accordingly. The Commission was further required to compute a tax rate for the levy which would produce the funds for the budgeted amount. Each department must submit an itemized statement of the department's needs for the coming fiscal year for the Commission to consider, and report its findings to the Court, at the July session, after giving copies of the budget document to the court members in June. All members, except the Chairman, would be paid $3 per day for each day spent in the discharge of their duties as members of the Commission. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 414.

County Attorney

The following acts once affected the appointment, election, or office of the county attorney in Lawrence County. These acts are included for historical reference only. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Private Acts of 1907, Chapter 579, created the office of County Attorney in Lawrence County who would be elected by the Quarterly County Court at the April term, 1907, for one year and annually thereafter. The salary was set at $200 per annum not be changed during the term. It was the duty of the County Attorney to transact the legal business of the County, to advise county officials on legal matters and no county official could employ any other attorney except at his own expense. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 65.
2. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 65, established the office of County Attorney in Lawrence County who would be elected for a four year term by the Quarterly County Court at its April session, 1929. The annual salary would be set by the Quarterly Court at the April session between $600 and $1,200 which could not be changed in the year following and would be paid in equal monthly installments. The County Attorney would advise county officials and their employees on matters related to their duties, transact all the legal affairs of the county both in and out of court and do all other duties necessarily incidental to the position. The Quarterly Court could appropriate funds for the expenses of the office and authorize the payment of the same when they were property presented.
3. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 203, amended Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 65, Section 2, by deleting all the language in regard to the compensation of the County Attorney and fixed his annual salary at $900.
4. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 711, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 203, by increasing the annual salary of the County Attorney of Lawrence County from $900 to $1,080.
5. Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 283, amended Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 711, by changing the amount of the annual salary of the County Attorney from $1,080 to $1,500.
6. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 890, amended Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 283, by raising the salary of the County Attorney of Lawrence County from $1,500 to $1,800.
7. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 33, expressly repealed Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 65, and all the amendments thereto. The repeal of these acts was not intended to revive or to restore any other Acts enacted prior thereto, it being the intention of the Legislature to abolish the office of County Attorney in Lawrence County.
8. Private Acts of 1985, Chapter 82, exempted the sheriff and sheriff's deputies and employees from the provision of this act. The act was disapproved August 5, 1985.

County Clerk

The following acts once affected the office of county clerk in Lawrence 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 1915, Chapter 245, provided that females, married or single, over the age of 21 and a resident of Lawrence County, were eligible to serve as Deputy County Court Clerks, with all the rights, powers, duties, and obligations of other clerks in similar positions. Acceptance of employment would constitute an estoppel for denying any liability she might incur as a Deputy Clerk and to plead coverture against any suit brought against her on any obligation she might have as a Deputy Clerk.
2. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 697, fixed the compensation of the County Court Clerk at 100% of all the fees, costs, and commissions collected in the office up to $2,000, 60% of the next $1,000, and 40% of the next $1,000, the remainder of the fees, costs and commissions to be paid into the county treasury. The Clerk was obliged to file with the County Judge, or Chairman, during the first 10 days of January, April, July, and October, a report of all the income of the office collected during the preceding months which reports could be audited by the State Auditor. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 752.

County Executive

The references below are of acts which once applied to the office of county judge, or county executive in Lawrence 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, provided for a County Judge in every Tennessee County who must be learned in the law and elected for four year terms by popular vote. The County Judge would be sworn and commissioned as any other Judge, would preside over the County Court and perform all the duties of the Chairman whose office was abolished along with the Quorum Courts. The Court would meet on the first Monday in every month exercising the jurisdiction specified in the Act. The County Judge would also be the accounting officer and the general agent of the county who would assume and discharge all the responsibilities stipulated in the act. The Judge would be paid $5 for each day spent sitting on the monthly and quarterly court. Adequate records would be kept of all the activities of the court and the Judge could continue to practice in all courts except the one over which he presided. This Act was repealed by Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 5.
2. Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 47, created the office of County Judge in the counties of Lincoln, Hamilton, Franklin, Lawrence, and Giles, who would be elected by the people for eight year terms, who would exercise the jurisdiction and perform the duties described in the Act, at a salary of $500 annually with a provision that the County Court could authorize higher payments. The Quorum Courts were abolished and their jurisdiction and powers along with that of the Chairman of the County Court were transferred to the County Judge.
3. Acts of 1870, Chapter 97, amended Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 47, so that the annual salary of the County Judge of Lawrence County would be reduced from $500 to $300, and the Quorum Court, or the Quarterly County Court, would have no authority to increase the annual salary for holding the Court.
4. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 675, provided that in Lawrence County the County Judge would receive in addition to his regular salary the sum of $500 per annum as compensation for his services as the financial agent of the County which would be paid to him monthly out of regular county funds as other salaries were paid. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 209.
5. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 501, vested the County Judge of Lawrence County with the authority to grant fiats for injunctions and other extraordinary processes in any cause arising in his court, or any of the courts of the State of Tennessee, to the same extent as that possessed by other judges and chancellors. The fiats would carry the same force and effect as others issued in courts of competent jurisdiction.
6. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 848, amended Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 675, by raising the annual compensation of the County Judge therein mentioned from $500 to $1,050 which were for his services to the County as Financial Agent. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 209.
7. Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 209, provided that the County Judge of Lawrence County, would be paid, in addition to their regular salaries now allowed by law, an amount of $1650 per annum for his services as the Financial Agent for the County which sum would be paid in equal monthly installments out of the general county funds. The Judge was also authorized to employ a Clerk in his office at a salary of not more than $65 per month.
8. Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 13, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 209, by increasing the annual salary of the County Judge as Financial Agent of the County from $1,650 to $2,250 and raised the limit on the monthly salary of the Clerk from $65 to $105, $85 of which would come from the county general fund and $20 from the Gasoline Tax fund.
9. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 166, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 209, to provide that the County Judge had the authority to employ a clerk in his office at a salary of $150 per month which would be paid out of the general county funds on the warrant of the County Judge.
10. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 336, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 209, Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 13, and Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 166, to the effect that the County Judge of Lawrence County would be paid in addition to other regular salaries now allowed under the law, the sum of $3,450 per annum for his services as the Financial Agent of the County, the same to be paid in equal monthly installments out of the general funds.
11. Private Acts of 1977, Chapter 159, provided that the General Sessions Court be given the judicial duties taken from the County Judge.

County Legislative Body

The following acts once applied to the quarterly court or the county legislative body of Lawrence County and are included herein for historical purposes.

1. Acts of 1817, Chapter 42, created Lawrence County and established a Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions which would meet at the home of Dr. Joseph Farmer.
2. Acts of 1817, Chapter 138, Section 3, set the opening dates for the regular terms of the Courts in several of the Counties. The Quarterly Court of Lawrence County would meet on the first Monday in February, May, August, and November. Court would be held for one week.
3. Acts of 1820, Chapter 89, Section 3, fixed the times for the opening of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in Lawrence County on the first Monday in January, April, July, and October.
4. Acts of 1824, Chapter 61, made it lawful for the county court and the circuit court of Lawrence County, at the first or any subsequent term of the year to adjourn from the old to the new Court House erected in the town of Lawrenceburg there to be holden until otherwise directed.
5. Acts of 1826, Chapter 78, allowed the Quarterly Court of several counties, Lawrence County being among them, on the first day of the first term of Court in each year to select three of their number who would hold Court for the remainder of the year, as a Quorum Court, under the same rules and regulations as were applicable to the whole Court's meetings.
6. Acts of 1827, Chapter 8, stated that all the official acts performed by Robert Newton, Robert Brashears, Thomas Kees, Phillip Chronister, Michael Layton, Lemuel Blythe, Enoch Tucker, William S. Duncan, and George Keeton, as Justices of the Peace in Lawrence County, were hereby ratified and validated for all intents and purposes making them legal in every respect.
7. Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 6, established a County Court in every county, to be held by Justices of the Peace who would meet on the first Monday in every month and hold court until the docket was completed. One-third or twelve of the acting justices would constitute a quorum for doing business, except for appropriations exceeding $50 and assessing taxes which required a majority of the Justices. Three of the Justices could be a court to hear the probate of wills and matters relative to estate administration but no jury trials would be conducted by this Court.
8. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 337, provided that in Lawrence County the Justices of the Peace would receive $2.50 per day for each day of attendance at the meetings of the Quarterly County Court, plus such mileage for going and returning as was allowed under the law.
9. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 698, rearranged the Civil districts in Lawrence County by combining the 12th Civil District and the 13th Civil District into one and numbering it the 12th Civil District. An election was to be called upon the passage of this Act to elect two justices for the new 12th district. The justices for the remaining districts would continue to serve until the next general election.
10. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 687, allowed the 2nd Civil District of Lawrence County to have an extra Justice of the Peace for the town of St. Joseph which was located in that District. The Justice must be a resident of the town and would be elected by the town's citizens and exercise all the jurisdiction of a Justice of the Peace in the County. The boundaries of the town of St. Joseph were described in the Act. The Election Commission would hold the election as soon as practical after the passage of this statute.
11. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 757, amended Acts of 1901, Chapter 311, which is published herein under "County Executive", to provide that the Quarterly County Court composed of the Justices of the Peace of Lawrence County would meet on the second Mondays in January, April, July, and October instead of the first Monday.
12. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 17, was the authority for the towns of Lawrenceburg and Loretto in Lawrence County to each have an additional Justice of the Peace. This Act named Vail Wright as the Justice for Lawrenceburg and Frankie Johnson as the new Justice for Loretto both of whom would serve until their successors, elected in the next general August election, could assume the office.

County Register

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

1. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 119, provided that all the duties heretofore performed by the Entry Takers of the counties would hereafter be done by the Registers in those counties south and west of the Congressional Reservation Line. The Registers were allowed to charge and collect the same fees as the Entry Takers, who were instructed to hand over their books, records, and maps to the Registers. The Registers were permitted to appoint a Deputy when the best interests of the county warranted it. Lawrence County was among the several counties exempting themselves from the application of this Act.
2. Acts of 1903, Chapter 416, repealed all laws authorizing land grants in the State. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 86, amended this Act to exempt Lawrence County from the repealer. The Register of Lawrence County would perform the duties of entry takers until the County Court could elect entry takers.
3. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 696, fixed the compensation of the Registers of Lawrence County at 100% of the first $2,000 of all the fees, costs, and commissions collected, 60% of the next $1,000, and 40% of the next $1,000, with the remainder being assigned to the county treasury. The Register must file with the County Court Clerk a report in the first 10 days of January, April, July, and October showing all the fees collected in the office during the preceding months. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1935 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 130,

County Trustee

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

1. Acts of 1831, Chapter 58, authorized the Trustee of Lawrence County, acting as sole commissioner of the town of Lawrenceburg, to either enforce liens on property or to compromise cases when in his opinion the expenses of a suit would exceed the value of the property.
2. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 698, fixed the compensation of the County Trustee of Lawrence County. The Trustee must file within the first ten days of January, April, July, and October a report with the County Court Clerk which shows all the fees collected during the preceding months. The Trustee would be paid 100% of the first $2,000, 60% of the next $1,000, and 40% of the next $1,000 collected. The remainder of the fees would be paid over to the county treasury. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 756.

Banking Hours

1. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 133, allowed for a bank  to close on Saturday mornings or after 12 p.m. on any other day of the week, without incurring liability for doing so. However, the population bounds specified in the act did not apply to any county at the time. The act was attributed to Lawrence County in the Index of the Private Acts of 1951.

General Reference

The following private or local acts constitute part of the administrative and political history of Lawrence 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 1819, Chapter 43, stated that after the passage of this Act, John McClish, of Lawrence County, would again enjoy all the rights and privileges equally with every other citizen of this state, all laws, customs, and wages not withstanding.
2. Acts of 1819, Chapter 127, named Josephus Irvine, Henry Phenix, Enoch Tucker, David Crockett, and M. H. Buchanan, as Commissioners, to locate a place for a permanent seat of justice in Lawrence County as near the center of the County as possible. When the site was chosen, the Commissioners were instructed to buy 50 acres, and lay out a town, streets, alleys, and lots, reserving two acres for the court house. The lots were to be sold and the proceeds used to erect a Court House, prison, and stocks. The town would be called Lawrenceburg in honor of Captain James Lawrence, U.S. Navy. It was the duty of the courts to adjourn to the court house at the earliest possible moment after it was completed. This Act was repealed by Acts of 1825, Chapter 335.
3. Acts of 1821, Chapter 97, allowed Daniel May to retail spirits and other liquors in the Counties of Maury and Lawrence without having to obtain a license, or to pay any State, County, or Corporate tax to do so.
4. Acts of 1821, Chapter 120, was the legal authority for the commissioners of the town of Lawrenceburg to build a public jail and stocks. This Act amended Acts of 1819, Chapter 127, moving the jail site to some lot not on the public square.
5. Acts of 1822, Chapter 202, required that the surveyor of the Seventh District would hereafter keep his office in the town of Lawrenceburg in Lawrence County.
6. Acts of 1823, Chapter 210, appointed George Isom, George Rogers, John McClarin, Isaac Reader, Jesse McNally, and William Wisdom, as commissioners for Lawrenceburg who would serve in addition to all the others serving as such, and who would have identical rights and powers as the others. The new commissioners must execute bond before entering upon the duties of their offices. This Act was repealed by Acts of 1825, Chapter 335.
7. Acts of 1824, Chapter 34, made it the duty of the commissioners of Lawrenceburg when they receive the money from the sale of said lots in the town to appropriate the same, or so much thereof as might be necessary, to the erection of a court house, jail, and stocks. The surplus, if any, could be used to build an academy for the benefit of the county's citizens.
8. Acts of 1825, Chapter 243, was the authority for John McCan of Lawrence County to hawk and peddle goods, wares, and merchandise in Lawrence County without having to obtain a license. Thomas Lyons of Lawrence County was given the same right in Section 2.
9. Acts of 1825, Chapter 244, incorporated the town of Lawrenceburg in Lawrence County. This Act was repealed by Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 127.
10. Acts of 1825, Chapter 335, provided that the commissioners appointed in 1819 and 1823 were to be discharged on the first Monday in January, 1826, at which time the County Court of Lawrence County would appoint three commissioners in the place of those being discharged, who would be bound by all the obligations of their predecessors and who were invested with all their authority to perform all of the remaining duties of the former commissioners.
11. Acts of 1826, Chapter 123, allowed Wyly Ledbetter, of Maury County, to hawk and peddle goods, wares, and merchandise in the counties of Maury, Hardin, Lawrence, Wayne, McNairy, Madison, Henderson, Perry, and Hardeman without having to obtain any license.
12. Acts of 1826, Chapter 127, authorized Noah Parker to build a dam across Shoal Creek in Lawrence County, adjoining the town of Lawrenceburg, for the purpose of propelling the machinery of a cotton factory. If the water backed up on any part of the Lawrenceburg town tract, the dam could not be declared a nuisance and removed.
13. Acts of 1826, Chapter 154, was the enabling act for the Mayor and Alderman of Lawrenceburg to cause a well to be dug on the Public Square of the town and they could call upon the County Commissioners to pay for the cost of the work out of the funds received from the sale of lots in the town, or out of unappropriated funds.
14. Acts of 1826, Chapter 165, permitted Jesse Williams to hawk and peddle without a license.
15. Acts of 1827, Chapter 78, allowed William McCann to hawk and peddle goods, wares, and merchandise in Lawrence County without a license.
16. Acts of 1829, Chapter 165, directed the commissioners of the town of Lawrenceburg to immediately proceed to settle and close their business as commissioners and to collect any money due from the sale of lots in the said town which money would be paid into the hands of the County Trustee of Lawrence County. At the first meeting of the County Court after January 1, 1831, the commissioners would appear before the Court with all the books and records and make a final and complete settlement of their business at which time they would be allowed compensation for their services not to exceed $2 per day. The County Trustee would apply this money to the payment of the unsatisfied claims against the county as provided by law.
17. Acts of 1831, Chapter 43, Section 6, directed the cashier of the Bank of the State of Tennessee to place to the credit of the Counties of Montgomery, Dickson, Robertson, Sumner, Davidson, Stewart, Humphreys, Perry, Hickman, Williamson, Lawrence, Wayne, Hardin, and Wilson their pro rata share of the $60,000 set aside for the internal improvement of Middle Tennessee.
18. Acts of 1831, Chapter 58, was the authority for the Trustee of Lawrence County, and his successors, acting as the sole commissioner for Lawrenceburg, in all cases where he believed the expense of a suit in equity to enforce a mortgage on a town lot would exceed the value of the lot, to compromise with the owner of the lot on such terms as he considered in the best interest of the county. This Act amended Acts of 1829, Chapter 165.
19. Acts of 1832, Chapter 18, Section 4, stated that Augustine W. Bumpass, and Douglas H. Stockton, were entitled to enter and jointly lay down on the general plan of the 8th Surveyor's District, 5,000 acres in not more than five different tracts under the same restrictions as provided in this Act encouraging the manufacture of iron in Tennessee.
20. Acts of 1832, Chapter 63, was the legal authorization for John Catron, owner of the Buffalo Iron Works in Lawrence County in the 8th Surveyor's District, to survey and cause to be entered in his own name seven occupant claims, not over 200 acres in any one of them, lying within the range six, Section two on Brush Creek, to include the improvements of Wyly Barlow, James Waters, Jacob J. Waters, Daniel Layton, John Briley, Isaac Morris, and Shadrach Morris, to which all rights and privileges pertaining to bona fide resident occupants would vest in Catron once the area was properly entered in his behalf.
21. Acts of 1832, Chapter 109, appointed Augustin W. Bumpass, John McCracken, George Lucas, John B. Stribling, Robert Brashears, and John Wasson, as a Board of Internal Improvement in Lawrence County. The Board was empowered to receive funds from the State for internal improvement, to make loans, and to use the interest for internal improvements.
22. Acts of 1833, Chapter 11, authorized William Thornton of Wayne County to hawk and peddle in the counties of Giles, Lawrence, Wayne, and Hardin without paying any tax for this privilege.
23. Acts of 1833, Chapter 25, provided that any person wishing to build a mill on any of the waters in the counties of Hickman, Lawrence, Wayne, Hardin, and McNairy, or in any other county lying west of the Tennessee River, provided no nuisance was created, were entitled to have laid down on the general plan of any surveyor's district south and west of the congressional reservation line, and west of the Tennessee River, 25 acres, or less, and be entitled to the same benefits as others in the county. The mill must be constructed within two years of placing it on the general plan and must be on land not fit for cultivation.
24. Acts of 1833, Chapter 34, established the Planters Bank of Tennessee which had branch offices at various cities in the State including an office at Lawrenceburg under the supervision of Martin Gaither, A. W. Bumpass, Thomas D. Davenport, Franklin Buchanan, William McKnight, Jr., D. H. Stockton, and Joshua Bowdry. All the rules and regulations concerning this Bank were also contained in the statute cited.
25. Acts of 1833, Chapter 39, allowed John J. Williams, of Hardin County, to hawk and peddle in the counties of Hickman, Lawrence, Wayne, Hardin, and McNairy without having to obtain a license, and Williams would also be permitted to operate a grocery store in Savannah in Hardin County under the same conditions, provided he made oath that he would sell no goods other than his own and only for his own benefit.
26. Acts of 1833, Chapter 65, permitted John Duncan and William S. Duncan to enter jointly on the 7th Surveyor's District in Lawrence County up to four tracts of land which was vacant and uncultivated, the total amount not to exceed 2,000 acres to which land title would be granted to the Duncans. The Register, upon satisfactory proof that an iron works had been erected and was in operation, was instructed to record the title.
27. Acts of 1833, Chapter 90, restored James Williams, of Lawrence County, to all the rights and privileges of full citizenship in the State of Tennessee.
28. Acts of 1833, Chapter 118, was the legal authority for a Samuel Garland and Bartlett Huckabee to hawk and peddle their goods, wares, and merchandise in the counties of the 10th U. S. Congressional District composed of Lincoln, Giles, Lawrence, Wayne, and Hardin Counties without a license, provided, however, they took an oath to sell only those goods which belonged to them and only for their benefit.
29. Acts of 1833, Chapter 136, recited in its preamble that Felix A. Catron and George F. Napier were making valuable improvements on the Buffalo Creek and Chalf Creek in Lawrence County by erecting furnaces and forges for the manufacture of iron but they needed timber and stone with which to build. This Act authorized them to enter Lawrence County on the Buffalo Creek for 2,000 acres of land in five tracts, or less, in the 8th Surveyor's District, which land must be vacant and unappropriated to which they would then have title the same as all others. Section 2 gave the right to John G. McDonald to enter up to 1,000 acres of land near his furnace in Lawrence County under the same terms and conditions.
30. Acts of 1833, Chapter 212, detached the portion of the Internal Improvement Fund in the Bank of the State of Tennessee which belonged to Lawrence County and made that sum part of the common school fund of the county. The cashier of the Bank was required to pay the funds involved over to the chairman of the common school commissioners, and the school commissioners were entitled to manage the same when the money came into their hands.
31. Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 48, established an Entry Taker's Office in each county who would be selected by the Quarterly Court of the County and abolished all the Surveyor's offices, requiring them to turn over and deliver all their records to the said Entry Takers. Section 14 instructed the Surveyor of the 7th District to deliver and surrender all his records and reports to the Entry Taker of Lawrence County.
32. Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 127, repealed Acts of 1825, Chapter 244, which incorporated the town of Lawrenceburg. Section 2, reincorporated the town under the same rules, regulations, restrictions and limitations enacted for the formation of the town of Clinton in Anderson County on December 28, 1835.
33. Acts of 1837-38, Chapter 188, Section 3, provided that the dividends which have been, or might hereafter be, declared on 16 shares of stock in the Planters Bank of Tennessee, the same being the Internal Improvement Fund for Lawrence County, would constitute an addition of that much to the annual appropriation to the said County, for the use of schools, and would be used along with all other funds thus designated to improve the public schools.
34. Acts of 1841-42, Chapter 34, Section 25, required the Entry Takers of the Counties of Lawrence, Hickman, Wayne, Giles, and Maury to account for all the money received by them in payment of the sales of vacant land to the State Comptroller on the first Monday in September of each year; the Comptroller would audit the account and certify the same to the Treasurer. When all this was accomplished, grants to the land in question would then be issued by the Register of Middle Tennessee.
35. Acts of 1847-48, Chapter 141, gave Lawrence County a Director in the Bank of Tennessee at Nashville who would serve under the same rules and regulations as the other Directors.
36. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 191, Section 12, was the enabling legislation for the County Courts of the counties of Lawrence, Maury, Williamson, and Davidson to subscribe to whatever amount of stock they desired in any railroad company which had authority to build a railroad through their respective counties. Prior to taking stock, an election for the people to vote on whether to buy stock in the company, or not must be held. The counties could issue their bonds to secure the funds with which to pay for the stock. The county court could levy a tax sufficient to pay the annual interest on the bonds and create a sinking fund to redeem said bonds. (The case of Fidelity Trust and Safety Vault Company of Louisville v. Lawrence County, 92 F. 576 (1899), held that this Act was repealed by implication by the Tennessee Constitution of 1870)
37. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 193, Section 7, enabled the Mayor and the Aldermen of the town of Lawrenceburg to subscribe to the stock of any railroad company running through the boundaries of the municipality to the same extent and in the same manner as the town of Franklin was authorized by this Act.
38. Acts of 1853-54, Chapter 61, repealed all the laws which required the Planters Bank of Tennessee or the Lawrenceburg Bank of Tennessee to pay a bonus to the State on a specific amount of capital stock. Hereafter, these banks would be required to pay only ½ of one percent per annum upon their actual capital at the time of the assessment of taxes. The Lawrenceburg Bank of Tennessee would have five Directors who would be elected to the Board in the same manner as in other branches.
39. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 176, Section 3, incorporated Henryville in Lawrence County under the Mayor-Aldermen form of Charter, enumerating the specific powers conferred upon the municipal corporation and its officials. The Mayor and Aldermen were to appoint a Constable and a Recorder. The Constable of the 11th Civil District would hold the election for the city officials. The boundaries of the city were legally described in Section 8 of the Act.
40. Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 126, abolished the positions of Entry Taker in the Counties of Lawrence, DeKalb, White, Macon, Decatur, Grundy, Humphreys, and Wilson. The Surveyors in those counties would do and perform all the duties of the Entry Taker and be paid the same fees while being responsible for the duties.
41. Acts of 1903, Chapter 416, narrated in the introduction that the State should sell all the remaining public lands for the school fund, therefore all the laws, and parts of laws authorizing land grants were repealed.
42. Private Acts of 1905, Chapter 512, authorized one corporate charter for firms who would be acquiring real and personal property to construct, operate, equip, and maintain a system of waterworks, electric lighting plants, and gas works. An enumeration of the corporate powers granted to the institutions formed hereunder was included within the Act. A form of charter was specified, and some basic standards established for each type of the public utility mentioned above.
43. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 262, amended Acts of 1903, Chapter 416, so as to relieve Lawrence County from the repeal of all the laws regarding land grants.
44. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 288, was the authority for the County Court Clerk, the Clerk and Master of the Chancery Court, the Sheriff and his Deputies, Constables, Attorneys, and the Trustees of mortgages in Lawrence County to employ a professional qualified auctioneer for sales at public outcry arising under their jurisdiction. All persons seeking to qualify as an auctioneer in these instances must file a certificate signed by five reputable citizens of the county who will certify that the applicant is a resident of the county and has been a recognized professional auctioneer for at least four years. The compensation of the auctioneer was fixed by the Act.
45. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 77, removed all the disabilities of infancy of Thomas L. Phillips of Lawrence County, and endowed him with all the responsibilities and privileges of being an adult including the right to pass good title to land.
46. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 481, authorized Campbell County and Lawrence County to hold annual Fairs in the County at which agricultural, mineral, livestock, poultry, commercial, industrial, and educational progress could be exhibited and demonstrated for which premiums and prizes could be awarded in an aggregate amount which could not be less than $1,500. Admission rates were not to exceed fifty cents per person for adults and five cents would be charged for entering the zoo exhibits in order to defray some of the expense of caring for and feeding the animals.
47. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 109, emancipated Nola Joyce Hammond from all the inferiorities of her minority conferring upon her all the rights and privileges of an adult.
48. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 110, took away the disabilities of her minority from Clara Carolyn Hammond, who was past 18 years of age.