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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 Overton County.

  1. Acts of 1806, Second Session, Chapter 50, permitted James Chissum, of Overton County, to run the true boundary lines between Overton County and Jackson County. He was allowed to hire two chain carriers who would be paid $1.00 per day, the surveyor being paid $2.00 per day.
  2. Acts of 1809, Second Session, Chapter 40, was the legal authority for William Phillips, of Overton County, to employ some surveyor to run a line beginning at a point in the present dividing line between Overton County and White County, east of Phillip's house 10 poles, west 40 poles to a point, south to the present line dividing two counties, so as to include the present dwelling house of Phillips in White County, a plat of the boundary change to be made and filed in both counties of Phillip's expense.
  3. Acts of 1817, Chapter 8, stated that the house and premises occupied by the heirs of William Quarles, deceased, shall be annexed to Overton County and the Cumberland Road at that place shall be considered as the dividing line between Overton County and White County. Nothing in this act will prevent the sheriff of White County from collecting back taxes.
  4. Acts of 1817, Chapter 81, Section 2, declared that doubt has existed for some time on the bounds of Overton County, therefore a line shall be run between Overton County and Morgan County beginning at the corner of Morgan County where Robert Johnson now lives on the Cumberland River, thence north, 12½ degrees east to the Kentucky State line, which shall be the dividing line between the said counties. James Chism is appointed surveyor to run and mark the line and Garrett Hal is named to mark the line, a plat of which must be made and recorded. The surveyor would be paid $3.00 per day, the commissioner $2.00, and the markers, $1.00.
  5. Private Acts of 1819, Chapter 63, restored Jackson County’s boundary to its constitutional limits and called for the prevention of disputes between the citizens of Morgan and Overton counties.
  6. Private Acts of 1826, Chapter 168, was the legislative authority for Aron Higginbottom, of Warren County, and Jonathan C. Davis, of White County, to resurvey the lines of Overton County so as to ascertain accurately the number of square miles therein. If there is not enough land to meet constitutional requirements, the surveyor shall continue east with the said line until there is enough land, and make a plat of the area. Sam Brown and Jacob Robertson, of White County and Hampton Hughes, of Jackson County, are named commissioners to examine the central point of Overton County for a suitable place for a town, and the sheriff of Overton County shall hold an election to gather the will of the people on moving the county seat from Monroe.
  7. Private Acts of 1827, Chapter 157, nominated William Galbraith, of Jackson County, to resurvey the bounds of Overton County to determine the amount of square miles contained in the county. If the number of square miles is less than the constitution requires, the surveyor shall continue east with the said line of the state, and south with a line parallel with the east boundary of Jackson County until the boundary of Morgan County is intersected. A map and a plat of the county lines must be made and filed in the two counties. Anthony Diboral, of White County, and Amos Kirkpatrick and William Scanlon, both of Jackson County, are appointed commissioners to pin point the central portion of the county for a county seat in Overton County. A number of guidelines are expressed which must be followed until the results mentioned are achieved.
  8. Private Acts of 1829-30, Chapter 154, appointed Burchett Douglas, of Wilson County, or, in case of his failure to attend, Jonothan C. Davis, of White County, to resurvey Overton County to find out with certainty the actual number of square miles in the county. The remainder of the act is practically identical with those above on the same subject.
  9. Private Acts of 1831, Chapter 62, named Burchett Douglas, of Wilson County, and, in the event he did not do so, then Jonothan C. Davis, of White County, as surveyors, to ascertain the center of Overton County. Three plats of the work must be filed with the county court of Overton County. The surveyors would be paid $3.00 per day, plus $5.00 for going and $5.00 for coming, and the chain carriers would be paid $1.50 per day worked. Isham Perkins and John Cain, of Warren County, William Simpson, Isaac Taylor, and Samuel Johnson, of White County, Richard F. Cook and David Apple, of Jackson County, are named as commissioners to examine the central point to see if the same it suitable for a town and report their findings to the quarterly court of Overton County. If the site is not a suitable place for a county seat, then Monroe shall continue in that capacity. The town to be laid off at the central point shall be called Livingston in honor of Edward Livingston.
  10. Private Acts of 1831, Chapter 153, provided that the dividing line between Overton and Fentress County shall be altered so as to make Willis Huddleston a citizen of Overton County. The line shall begin where the county line now crosses the old path leading from the Huddleston house to his cotton gin, running 125 poles east, thence south with the variation of the county line the same distance, thence west to the line run by Burchett Douglas, which shall be the line hereafter.
  11. Acts of 1845-46, Chapter 75, recited that Putnam County was formed out of portions of Jackson, White, and Overton counties in 1841, and was duly organized as a county. Further, that, at the March term of the chancery court at Livingston in Overton County, the Honorable Bromfield L. Ridley, Chancellor, in the case of Patrick Pool and William Goodbar, complainants, against William H. Carr, et al., quashed the Formation of Putnam County because such action reduced Overton and Jackson counties both below their constitutional limits of 625 square miles, and great inconvenience and concern have arisen, this act validates all marriages, conveyances of land, deeds, mortgages, and other instruments executed when the county existed, and all other acts done in good faith by county officials.
  12. Acts of 1847-48, Chapter 36, changed the lines between Overton and Jackson counties so that the line ran with the Cumberland River from where the said line first strikes the River above Celina to the Kentucky State line.
  13. Acts of 1849-50, Chapter 110, transferred the farms and residences of James S. Winningham, Absolom Garrett, Abram Garrett, and Samuel Reagan, out of Fentress County and put them in Overton County.
  14. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 221, Section 3, rearranged the lines between Overton and Fentress counties so that the line began on the present county line at or near James Boles fourth corner tree which is the beginning corner of a tract of land on which T. M. Allred now lives; thence eastwardly with the line of the said tract of land to the second corner tree; thence northwardly with the line of said tract to Rock House Creek, and thence down the creek to the old county line.
  15. Public Acts of 1866-67, Chapter 28, Section 2, moved all of J. D. Hale's tract of land out of Overton County and into Fentress County.
  16. Public Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 13, Section 3, altered the boundary lines between Overton County and Fentress County so that all the land belonging to Elizabeth Flowers would be wholly included in Overton County. The act would take effect immediately and all conflicts were repealed.
  17. Public Acts of 1868-69, Chapter 36, Section 3, conveyed all the land and residence of James Peak out of Overton County and into Putnam County.
  18. Public Acts of 1868-69, Chapter 43, rearranged the boundaries between Overton County and Fentress County to the effect that a 60 acre tract of land belonging to R. Dowdy went out of Overton County and into Fentress County.
  19. Public Acts of 1870, Chapter 49, moved all the lands belonging to Samuel Welch out of Overton County and into Putnam County but Welch was not relieved from paying any taxes due to Overton County.
  20. Public Acts of 1870, Chapter 62, changed the lines between Overton County and Jackson County so that the whole of the land on which George Kinnaird now lives is in Jackson County, but he is not relieved from paying any taxes which may be due and owing to Overton County.
  21. Public Acts of 1870-71, Chapter 68, detached the home and farm of James Amonett from Fentress County and attached the same to Overton County.
  22. Public Acts of 1870-71, Chapter 111, moved the home and farm belonging to Elijah Peeke, on which he now lives, out of Overton County and into Putnam County.
  23. Public Acts of 1873, Chapter 80, transferred all the lands and buildings to William Gunter out of Overton County and into Fentress County but nothing in this act shall be construed to add any other citizens, or lands, to Fentress County except the petitioners.
  24. Public Acts of 1875, Chapter 140, Section 2, contained a metes and bounds description changing the lines between Overton County and Clay County but the total effect of the act was to move the lands of T. W. Berry, Thomas Martin, W. W. Chilton, C. N. Heard, W. Heard, W. H. Welburn, Matthew Armey, and John F. Gawette out of Overton and into Clay County provided Overton is not reduced below the constitutional limits.
  25. Public Acts of 1875, Chapter 140, Section 5, moved the farm belonging to James H. Ferrell out of Fentress County and into Overton County.
  26. Public Acts of 1881, Chapter 132, changed the lines between Overton County and Clay County commencing on the said line at Carter's Creek, running up the said creek 400 years to Thomas Martin's spring, thence up the right hand fork of the said creek to include the house of Thomas Martin, about 600 years to the forks of a branch; thence up the right hand branch to the Overton and Clay County line, a distance of about 200 yards, which would place all the lands and houses of Thomas Martin and William Martin in Clay County.
  27. Public Acts of 1883, Chapter 65, transferred all the lands and improvements of Tranville F. Bilbrey out of Fentress County and into Overton County.
  28. Public Acts of 1885, Chapter 117, moved the lands of John Hill's mountain tract, Margaret McDonald's tract, Conoway Cooper's fifty acres, William Choate's tract, and Milton K. Hargrove's tract all out of Pickett County and into Overton County.
  29. Public Acts of 1885, Chapter 128, altered the boundaries between Overton County and Clay County beginning where the county line crosses Mitchell Creek, thence up the creek till it passes a direct line to the said county line, thus cutting of some ten to fifteen acres from Overton County to Clay County, which was a portion of the lands of T. B. Davis, whereon the residence of W. T. Davis now stands in Clay County.
  30. Public Acts of 1887, Chapter 195, transferred the lands of A. P. Warren out of Overton County and into Putnam County.
  31. Public Acts of 1887, Chapter 212, changed the boundaries between Overton and Putnam Counties so that the lands of A. J. Poteet were wholly contained in Overton County.
  32. Public Acts of 1889, Chapter 60, moved the lands of John Barnes out of Overton County and into Putnam County provided that no other citizen is affected by this act nor Overton County be reduced below the constitutional limits thereby.
  33. Public Acts of 1889, Chapter 62, changed the lines between Overton County and Clay County so as to place the lands and homes of Thomas Marlin and J. K. P. Davis into Clay County.
  34. Public Acts of 1889, Chapter 116, moved the lands of Sampson Bartlett from Overton County into Putnam County.
  35. Public Acts of 1891, Chapter 233, changed the lines between Overton County and Clay County so as to include the lands of John Conner, James Conner and O. C. Waddle, which bordered on the line between the two, wholly within Overton County.
  36. Public Acts of 1891, Chapter 260, detached the lands belonging to J. H. France from Putnam County and attached the same to Overton County.
  37. Private Acts of 1897, Chapter 287, moved the residence and farm belonging to R. N. Smith out of Pickett County and into Overton County.
  38. Public Acts of 1899, Chapter 82, transferred the lands of James Conner out of Pickett County and back into Overton County.
  39. Private Acts of 1901, Chapter 214, detached all the lands belonging to Robert Fletcher which were situated in Overton County from that county and attached them to Clay County.
  40. Private Acts of 1901, Chapter 262, was an act which moved some property between Putnam County and Jackson County, and then changed the lines between Overton and Putnam Counties so as to include all the property of Sampson Bartlett in the fifteenth civil district of Putnam County.
  41. Private Acts of 1901, Chapter 482, moved the land and residence of Gabriel A. Marcom from Clay County over into Overton County.
  42. Acts of 1903, Chapter 56, rearranged the county lines between Overton County and Putnam County so as to place the lands belonging to J. W. Warren wholly within Overton County.
  43. Acts of 1903, Chapter 223, altered the lines between Overton County and Putnam County beginning at the Putnam and Overton County line in Leo Matheneys line and with his line and A. P. Warren's line to the old Fisk Road, then north with the road to the Overton County line so that all lands on both sides of the road, including Kate Going's are now in the first civil district of Overton County.
  44. Acts of 1903, Chapter 425, detached the lands of W. F. Judd from Overton County and attached them to Putnam County.
  45. Acts of 1903, Chapter 512, brought the lands and buildings belonging to Melvin Phillips out of Fentress County and put them into Overton County.
  46. Acts of 1903, Chapter 523, moved all the lands belonging to Barnes and Harp out of Overton County and into Putnam County.
  47. Acts of 1905, Chapter 38, realigned the boundaries between Overton and Putnam counties beginning at a stake in the Putnam County line and the Bohannon line to a stake in the corner of the same, thence with his and Matheny's line to a stone, thence with his and J. A. Smith's line back to the Putnam County line so that all the lands of John Bohannon are included in Putnam County.
  48. Acts of 1905, Chapter 193, transferred the land belonging to Lottie Sells, which was located in Overton County, out of that county and into Pickett County.
  49. Acts of 1905, Chapter 218, rearranged the county lines between Overton County and Putnam County so that the land of Ben Mason is relocated out of Putnam County and put into Overton County.
  50. Acts of 1905, Chapter 258, moved all the lands of James Glidewell which were located in Clay County near Oakey, Tennessee, out of Clay County and placed them into Overton County.
  51. Acts of 1905, Chapter 337, changed the boundary lines between Overton County and Clay County so that the lands of A. J. Poston, Bill Smith, J. P. Maxwell, J. B. Ayers, Elijah Carwile, and part of the farms of Mrs. Fisk Kirkpatrick are to be included in the third civil district of Overton County. A fairly good description of the properties involved is included in Section 2 of the act.
  52. Acts of 1905, Chapter 373, changed the lands of James Boles, near Spurrier, Tennessee, from the jurisdiction of Overton County and placed them under Pickett County.
  53. Acts of 1905, Chapter 378, is identical to Acts of 1905, Chapter 193, above, which moved the lands of Lottie Sells out of Overton County and into Pickett County.
  54. Acts of 1905, Chapter 453, transferred the entire farm of Samuel Hall from Fentress County into Overton County.
  55. Acts of 1909, Chapter 493, removed all the lands of James Warren from Overton County and placed them in Putnam County.
  56. Acts of 1909, Chapter 538, transferred from Clay County into Overton County the property of Dr. Cullom Sidwell, which was known as part of the Buck Farm. This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 430.
  57. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 537, changed the boundaries between Overton County and Putnam County so as to include in Putnam County a strip of Overton County land at Cedar Springs, Tennessee, containing about ten acres, which lie southwest at the northeast line at the Putnam County Pike right of way as it is now surveyed, running from Monterey to Shady Grove in the direction of Brotherton and Cookeville, Tennessee.
  58. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 220, detached all the lands belonging to B. L. Judd from Overton County and attached them to Putnam County.
  59. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 221, moved all the property and farm belonging to Ben Mason out of Putnam County and into Overton County.
  60. Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 686, so changed the boundary lines between Overton County and Pickett County that the lands of A. J. Lacy were all included in Pickett County.
  61. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 80, removed all the lands of Charley Warren from Overton County and placed them in Putnam County.
  62. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 327, rearranged the boundary lines between Overton County and Fentress County so that the land belonging to M. B. Smith would be contained wholly within Fentress County.
  63. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 611, changed the boundaries so that all the lands belonging to Polk and Wilson would be included wholly in Overton County instead of Fentress County.
  64. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 391, changed the lines between Overton County and Putnam County by detaching from Overton and attaching to Putnam the land belonging to J. W. Warren beginning at a post oak on the north corner of the Gaw farm, now belonging to J. W. Warren, running east 27½ poles, with the road to a set stone; west 27½ poles with Warren's line to the public road, thence north 32 poles to the beginning, containing 5½ acres, more or less.
  65. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 450, detached the farm of Ben Mason, about 3 acres, from Putnam County and attached it to Overton County which action would now place all of Mason's lands in Overton County. The act has a general description of the property involved.
  66. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 213, moved Herman Parrott's land out of Overton County and into Pickett County.
  67. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 214, transferred the farm of W. M. Barnes from Putnam County into Overton County.
  68. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 221, rearranged the lines between Overton County and Clay County so that all the farm and residence of W. H. Maynard was included wholly within Overton County.
  69. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 839, changed the boundaries of the city of Livingston so as to exclude from the city and return to the county the tract of land known as the Florence Dillon home place, containing about seven acres, bounded on the north by other Dillon lands, on the south by Freeman, Edwards, and Sam Flowers, on the east by M. C. Carr, and on the west by Freeman and Maynard.
  70. Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 244, placed all the lands now owned by Dillard Maynard, which are now situated in Clay County into Overton County.
  71. Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 561, placed a segment of Overton County into Clay County which is bounded on the north of G. L. Maynard and Eddie Brown; on the east by the land of the Fletcher heirs; on the south by the land of the Stinson heirs; on the west by the lands of Farley Robbins, Gertrude Kelly, and Edd Chilton, about 150 acres, more or less, which is part of Chatt Chilton's lands bordering the line.
  72. Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 502, took the lands of Mrs. S. V. Bowden out of the city of Livingston and returned them to the county.
  73. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 265, changed the county lines between Overton County and Putnam County so as to include the lands of Walter Thompson, consisting of 35 acres, now located in Putnam County, wholly within Overton County, bounded on the north by R. J. Thompson, on the east by Walter Thompson, on the south by J. H. Williams, and on the west by Bear Creek.
  74. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 330, set up a schedule of fees to be charged by surveyors in Overton County which showed ten cents for each search and copy, fifty cents for recording a plat and a certificate, $7.50 per day for services rendered, and $5.00 for the actual time necessary for the calculation of the area of such surveys. All services ordered by a court are to be included in the court costs.
  75. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 730, detached from the Eighth civil district of Overton County so much of the farm of C. F. Officer as was located in the said district and attached the same to the fourteenth civil district of Putnam County.