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Boundaries - Historical Notes

Tennessee Code Annotated
Tennessee Attorney General Opinions

The following is a summary of acts which authorized boundary changes for Putnam County.

  1. Acts of 1841-42, Chapter 169, was the original Act which created Putnam County but it was declared unconstitutional in 1844 and the county was in limbo until reestablished by Acts of 1853-54, Chapter 320.
  2. Acts of 1845-46, Chapter 126, appointed Richard F. Cooke, William H. Richardson, and James Bartlett, as commissioners, to survey the county of Putnam in such manner that the counties from which Putnam County was taken would not be reduced below their constitutional limits, nor their seats of justice approached nearer the twelve miles, and if, upon completion of the survey they can obtain a constitutional county, the same would be duly reported to the General Assembly but the survey would not include any portion of White County in Civil District 12, known as the head of Calf Killer.
  3. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 165, changed the lines between Putnam County and DeKalb County so that they lands of Bird Sexton, Willis Coggins, and Loyd P. Coggins, would hereafter be wholly contained in DeKalb County.
  4. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 173, rearranged the boundaries between Putnam County and White County to run from J. B. Lowry's mill on the Falling Water southward to Cole's Branch, leaving the said Lowry's house where he lives in White County to which county he would hereafter pay his taxes. Section 3 changed the line between the two counties to run northwest from Emory Pennington's to strike the northeast corner of John H. Robison's farm, thence with the Robison line to the old line so that all the lands belonging to Gideon Brown would thereafter be wholly within White County.
  5. Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 36, moved the farm of Claiborne Vaughn out of Putnam County into DeKalb County.
  6. Acts of 1859-60 Chapter 100, transferred the residence and farm belonging to Mathew M. Brewington out of Putnam County and into Jackson County.
  7. Acts of 1859-60, Chapter 135, moved the farm on which Dudley Hunter lived out of Putnam County and into White County.
  8. Acts of 1859-60, Chapter 196, contained a lengthy legal description of the land involved but actually moved only the farms belonging to D. Robeson and H. B. Clark out of Putnam County and into Smith County, provided Putnam County was not reduced below its constitutional limits. This Act was repealed by Acts of 1871, Chapter 74.
  9. Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 23, transferred the residence and lands and the citizenship of Mitchell M. Crowell out of Putnam County and into Smith County.
  10. Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 82, rearranged the boundary lines between Putnam County and Smith County beginning at a point in the line of Putnam and Smith Counties where the line crosses the ridge near M. M. Crowell's place; thence running along said ridge so as to include the lands of M. M. Crowell, Mary Brown, Susan F. Cardwell, and J. C. Apple; thence with G. W. Apple's line to Young's Fork of Indian Creek; and thence with said Creek to the Smith County line near Dr. William Robinson's, including all lands north and west of this line in Smith County. Section 5 transferred the residence and land of Jacob Null from Putnam to DeKalb County.
  11. Acts of 1868-69, Chapter 20, Section 2, changed the lines between Putnam County and Smith County so as to include the residence and farm of F. M. Goolsby in Smith County, provided the said Goolsby paid all taxes due on his farm for the next three years to Putnam County.
  12. Acts of 1868-69, Chapter 36, Section 3, moved the lands belonging to James Peak out of Overton County and placed them in Putnam County.
  13. Acts of 1868-69, Chapter 43, transferred the properties of J. C. Fletcher, O. P. Apple, H. B. Clark, and F. M. Goolsby, out of Putnam County and into Smith County but the 1869 and 1870 taxes would be paid to Putnam County.
  14. Acts of 1869-70, Chapter 48, detached the residence of lands of Thomas Watts from Putnam County and attached the same to Smith County.
  15. Acts of 1870, Chapter 49, took all the properties belonging to Samuel Welch out of Overton County and placed them in Putnam County.
  16. Acts of 1870, Chapter 84, Section 2, changed the line between Putnam County and Smith County to run with the Road and Young's Fork of Indian Creek instead of running altogether with Young's Fork, including all the road in Putnam County and that the line described above would hereafter be the line between the two counties. See Putnam County v. Smith County, 129 Tenn. 394, 164 S.W. 1147 (1914).
  17. Acts of 1870-71, Chapter 111, rearranged the boundaries between Putnam County and Overton County so that the lands of Elijah Peeke would be wholly included in Putnam County.
  18. Acts of 1871, Chapter 74, repealed Section 8, Acts of 1859-60, Chapter 135, and restored the county lines between Putnam County and White County to their position prior to the passage of that act.
  19. Acts of 1871, Chapter 104, altered the boundary lines between Cumberland County and Putnam County so as to include the farm and improvements, on which John H. Officer resided wholly within Putnam County.
  20. Acts of 1873, Chapter 66, detached all that tract of land on which Samuel Fitz Patrick lived from Putnam County and attached the same to Smith County, but Putnam County was not to be reduced below its constitutional limits. See Putnam County v. Smith County, 129 Tenn 394, 164 S.W. 1147 (1914).
  21. Acts of 1873, Chapter 76, Section 2, realigned the boundaries between Putnam County and Overton County commencing on the north boundary line of Putnam County, known as Thom Gap, running thence west with the old Thom Gap road to Spring Creek, near the old Holford farm, and just below the bridge across the creek; thence down Spring Creek to where Overton County and Jackson County's line crosses; thence south with that line to the north boundary of Putnam. All land south of the above described line would hereafter be a part of Putnam County.
  22. Acts of 1873, Chapter 76, Section 3, moved the farms owned by Elmore Carrington, William Sadler, Charles M. Sadler, M. M. Jaquess, and M. M. Owen, out of Jackson County and into Putnam County.
  23. Acts of 1877, Chapter 115, moved the lands belonging to Thomas L. Watts out of Putnam County and into Smith County. See Putnam County v. Smith County, 129 Tenn. 394, 164 S.W. 1147 (1914).
  24. Acts of 1877, Chapter 148, transferred all the properties owned by W. W. Pippin, Reuben Whitson, and W. C. Rector out of Jackson County and into Putnam County. Taxes on these lands would not be retained by Putnam County until all the taxes owed to Jackson County were paid in full.
  25. Acts of 1881, Chapter 142, took all the properties belonging to G. B. Thompson, A. J. Clark, L. D. Apple, and part of the lands of S. B. Lee out of Putnam County and placed the same into Smith County. See Putnam County v. Smith County, 129 Tenn. 394, 164 S.W. 1147 (1914).
  26. Acts of 1883, Chapter 42, rearranged the boundaries between Putnam County and Jackson County so that the lands belonging to Nathan Davidson were included wholly within Jackson County.
  27. Acts of 1883, Chapter 47, changed the lines between Putnam County and Jackson County so that the lands of Nancy Owen, J. M. Mabry, J. G. Smith, the lands of the heirs of John Smith, and the land of W. J. Lewis would all be located wholly within Putnam County.
  28. Acts of 1883, Chapter 99, moved the farm owned by J. M. Ballard out of Putnam County and into Smith County, and the lands of Purlina Evans out of Smith County and into Putnam County. See Putnam County v. Smith County, 129 Tenn. 394, 164 S.W. 1147 (1914).
  29. Acts of 1883, Chapter 109, moved a tract of land known as the Alred and Gore grant, and two tracts of land belonging to James Bartlett, adjoining the said grant, said lands being partly in the First Civil District of Cumberland County and partly in the 14th Civil District of Putnam County so that all lands, as described therein, would hereafter be wholly within Putnam County.
  30. Acts of 1883, Chapter 175, transferred the lands owned by W. P. Lewis out of Putnam County and into Jackson County.
  31. Acts of 1887, Chapter 192, changed the lines between Putnam County and DeKalb County in such a manner that the lands of F. H. Smith, which were located in Putnam County, would hereafter be wholly within and a part of the 16th Civil District of DeKalb County.
  32. Acts of 1887, Chapter 195, moved the properties belonging to A. P. Warren out of Overton County and into Putnam County.
  33. Acts of 1887, Chapter 203, realigned the boundaries between White County and Putnam County commencing on a bluff a few rods east of the mouth of Pigeon Roost Creek, running east up the Falling Water River to where the county line crosses the Falling Water River making the bed of the River the dividing line between the two counties.
  34. Acts of 1887, Chapter 212, took the lands of A. J. Poteet out of Putnam County and placed them in Overton County.
  35. Acts of 1889, Chapter 60, rearranged the lines between Putnam County and Overton County so as to include John Barnes, and the land upon which he now lives, wholly within Putnam County but nothing in this law was intended to affect the rights of any other citizen in either county, or to reduce Overton County below its constitutional limits.
  36. Acts of 1889, Chapter 109, transferred all the lands of T. L. Maddux from Putnam County to Jackson County, and that part of the lands of R. L. Maddux and T. J. Lee which were in Jackson County was moved over to Putnam County. The land belonging to J. P. Whitfield, was taken out of Putnam County and placed into Jackson County.
  37. Acts of 1889, Chapter 113, altered the lines between Putnam County and White County so that all the lands of Silas and William Howell were all situated in White County.
  38. Acts of 1889, Chapter 116, detached the lands of Sampson Bartlett from Overton County and attached them to Putnam County.
  39. Acts of 1889, Chapter 141, transferred the lands and residences belonging to Captain Purtaman Jones, and John H. Gamer, out of DeKalb County and into Putnam County.
  40. Acts of 1891, Chapter 260, took all the lands of J. H. France completely out of Putnam County and placed them within Overton County.
  41. Acts of 1893, Chapter 102, moved the land of W. J. Bartlett out of Jackson County and into Putnam County as the same was described by giving the names of the owners of the properties adjoining the land.
  42. Acts of 1895, Chapter 98, transferred the properties owned by A. H. King out of Putnam County and into Smith County. See Putnam County v. Smith County, 129 Tenn 394, 164 S.W. 1147 (1914).
  43. Acts of 1895, Chapter 116, took all the lands belonging to Sidney Sutton out of Jackson County and placed them into Putnam County.
  44. Acts of 1897, Chapter 148, detached the lands of I. W. Evans from Putnam County and attached the same to Smith County as they were described in the Act. See Putnam County v. Smith County, 129 Tenn 394, 164 S.W. 1147 (1914).
  45. Acts of 1897, Chapter 306, removed the farm belonging to D. S. Officer out of Putnam County as the same was particularly described, and placed it in White County.
  46. Acts of 1901, Chapter 242, directed that all the lands on which H. F. Sadler now lives in Jackson County would hereafter become a part of the 12th Civil District of Putnam County and Martin's Creek would thence become the boundary line between the two counties.
  47. Acts of 1901, Chapter 262, rearranged the boundary lines between Putnam County, Jackson County, and Overton County to the effect that the real property of Sampson Bartlett would be thereafter located wholly within the 15th Civil District of Putnam County.
  48. Acts of 1903, Chapter 23, transferred the lands upon which William C. Ashburn lived out of Jackson County and placed them wholly within the First Civil District of Putnam County.
  49. Acts of 1903, Chapter 56, altered the lines between Putnam County and Overton County so that the land belonging to J. W. Warren would be located entirely in Overton County.
  50. Acts of 1903, Chapter 223, rearranged the boundary line between Putnam County and Overton County so that all the lands of Kate Going, as described in the Act, would become a part of the First Civil District of Overton County.
  51. Acts of 1903, Chapter 425, changed the lines between Putnam County and Overton County, relocating the lands owned by W. F. Judd entirely within Putnam County.
  52. Acts of 1903, Chapter 523, took all the real property belonging to Barnes and Harp, as the same were described in the Act, out of Overton County and placed them into the Fifteenth District of Putnam County.
  53. Acts of 1905, Chapter 9, detached all the lands owned by F. P. Jared from Jackson County and attached the same to Putnam County.
  54. Acts of 1905, Chapter 36, changed the lines with DeKalb County so that all the lands of V. M. Weaver, as described herein, were included within Putnam County.
  55. Acts of 1905, Chapter 38, moved all the lands of John Bohannon out of Overton County and relocated the same in Putnam County.
  56. Acts of 1905, Chapter 156, transferred the land belonging to Richard Herron from Putnam County to DeKalb County.
  57. Acts of 1905, Chapter 197, realigned the boundaries between Putnam County and Jackson County beginning in the Putnam County - Jackson County line at Carrell Pippin's northeast corner; thence with his north boundary line to Henry Netherton northeast corner; thence with his north boundary line to J. W. Atkins's northeast corner; thence with his north boundary line to G. W. Brown's southeast corner; thence west with the said line to the Putnam County line so that all the lands within the area described were taken out of Jackson County and placed in Putnam County.
  58. Acts of 1905, Chapter 198, changed the line between Putnam County and Jackson County beginning at the stake in the said line, thence east 60 poles to a stake; thence north 64 poles to a stake; thence west 60 poles to a stake in the said county line so that the lands described above owned by J. L. Sadler were removed from Jackson County and placed in Putnam County.
  59. Acts of 1905, Chapter 199, moved the lands belonging to Samuel Henby out of Jackson County and into Putnam County.
  60. Acts of 1905, Chapter 218, transferred the property of Ben Mason out of Putnam County and into Overton County.
  61. Acts of 1905, Chapter 238, detached the lands owned by Norrell Chaffin from the 12th Civil District and attached the same to the Fifth Civil District of Jackson County.
  62. Acts of 1905, Chapter 239, moved the lands of M. J. Julian out of Jackson County and into Putnam County.
  63. Acts of 1905, Chapter 370, returned the lands owned by I. W. Evans to Smith County from Putnam County. See Putnam County v. Smith County, 129 Tenn. 394, 164 S.W. 1147 (1914).
  64. Acts of 1907, Chapter 29, made a change in the line between Putnam County and Smith County beginning on the line between the said counties at a stake at low water mark on the south bank of the Caney Fork River, the northwest corner of the J. C. Barne's tract of land, running thence south 12 degrees east, 211 poles to a stake on the south side of the railroad right of way; thence north, 60 degrees east, 40 poles to a stake; thence north 70 degrees east, 23 poles to a stake, at low water mark on the west bank of the Caney Fork River so that all the above described lands would be detached from Smith County and attached to Putnam County.
  65. Acts of 1907, Chapter 291, altered the boundary between Putnam County and DeKalb County so that the farm and home of Jesse Pullum would be included altogether in Putnam County.
  66. Acts of 1907, Chapter 503, detached the lands of W. L. Foster from Putnam County and attached the same to DeKalb County.
  67. Acts of 1909, Chapter 493, took the lands of James Warren out of Overton County and placed them in Putnam County.
  68. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 537, changed the county line between Putnam County and Overton County so as to include within Putnam County a strip of Overton County land at Cedar Springs which contained about ten acres, and which lay southwest of the northeast line at the Putnam County pike right of way which has now been surveyed, running from Monterey to Shady Grove in the direction of Brotherton and Cookeville.
  69. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 220, moved the property owned by B. L. Judd out of Overton County and into Putnam County.
  70. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 221, returned the lands of Ben Mason to Overton County from Putnam County.
  71. Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 541, transferred that portion of the real property owned by Joseph Bozarth located in the 13th Civil District of Putnam County to the 8th Civil District of DeKalb County.
  72. Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 656, stated in the preamble that a dispute had arisen and litigation was threatened concerning the boundary lines between Putnam County and White County. To settle the dispute this Act changed the line so that the lands known as the Rose Tract, now the property of Ed Nowlin and Jack Duncan, the lands known as the Simp Saylors Falls or Lowery Tract, and now the property of Alonzo Burgess, and the lands of Silas and William Howell, would hereafter all be included in White County.
  73. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 80, transferred all the properties of Charles Warren then located in Overton County into Putnam County.
  74. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 698, detached the farm of Alonzo Burgess, which was conveyed to the city of Cookeville for the site of a hydro-electric facility, consisting of some 90 acres, and now being used for that purpose, from White County and attached the same to Putnam County, and the line of the Falling Water River running east from the farm with the south bank of the high water mark of the Falling Water River to the east end of the John Jones farm was all placed into Putnam County.
  75. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 412, moved about 30 acres of land owned by Albert Ashburn out of the 8th Civil District of DeKalb County and placed all of the same in Putnam County.
  76. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 391, changed the boundary lines between Putnam County and Overton County so that the portions of land described in this Act belonging to J. W. Warren would hereafter be wholly included within Putnam County.
  77. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 450, rearranged the boundary lines between Putnam County and Overton County so that about three acres of land belonging to Ben Mason was taken out of Putnam County and placed in Overton County in the First Civil District.
  78. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 214, caused all the lands owned by W. M. Barnes to be taken out of Putnam County and placed into Overton County.
  79. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 562, detached the lands of Fate Weaver, which were described in this Act, from the 4th Civil District of Putnam County and attached them to the 11th Civil District of White. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 62.
  80. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 711, transferred the lands owned by J. M. Lee, about 300 acres as described in the Act, out of Putnam County into Jackson County.
  81. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 712, changed the boundary lines between Putnam County and Jackson County so that two tracts of land belonging to L. A. Fuqua, both consisting of about 140 acres each, would be included wholly within Putnam County.
  82. Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 152, altered the county line between Putnam County and Jackson County so as to include in Jackson County a farm owned by L. A. Fuqua, which was known as the Ferrell farm, situated near the mouth of Spring Fork.
  83. Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 426, changed the lines between Putnam County and DeKalb County so as to include within the present 16th Civil District of DeKalb County the portion of land owned by John Agee, now located in the 13th Civil District of Putnam County, containing 47 acres, more or less.
  84. Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 434, detached a parcel of land containing about three acres belonging to Rhoda McGuffey from DeKalb County and attached the same to Putnam County which placed all the lands of the above named in Putnam County's 13th Civil District.
  85. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 265, moved a tract of land of about 35 acres which was described in the act, and which was owned by Walter Thompson, out of Putnam County and into Overton County.
  86. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 710, detached a tract of land consisting of some 70, or more, acres, owned by Hite Garrison, and known as the Sam Myers farm, from the First Civil District of Putnam County and attached all of the same to Jackson County.
  87. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 730, realigned the boundaries between Putnam County and Overton County so that the farm owned by C. F. Officer was taken out of the 8th Civil District of Overton County and placed in the 14th Civil District of Putnam County.
  88. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 522, moved a tract of land of approximately 40 acres, owned by Herman Smith, out of Putnam County and into Jackson County. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 225.
  89. Private Acts of 1963, Chapter 131, moved the lands of Walter Loftis and L. E. Judd out of the 10th Civil District of Jackson County and into the 15th Civil District of Putnam County, containing about 75 acres, more or less, as it was described in the Act.