It was not till about 1820 that the whites were given an opportunity to settle within the territory. The rapid progress of settlement is seen from the fact that the courts were organized in the Fall of 1823, and the first census, 1830.

  This rapid settlement came in from North and South Carolina, Virginia, north Alabama, and, largely, Middle Tennessee. The characteristics of those old states are quite prominent in the population of Hardeman County.

  William Polk was the first chairman of the county court, and was a man of good sense but eccentric. Thomas McNeal was the father of the prominent McNeal family of Bolivar. It was at McNeal's house that the first courts were held. Jacob PIRTLE (PURTLE), one of the first justices, raised a crop of corn near Thomas McNeal's in 1821.  Joseph WARNER settled at Fowler's Ferry on the Hatchie about 1821-22. His place was known as Warnersville.

In the vicinity of Bolivar, such men as the Polk's, Bill's, McNeal's, Wood's, FENTRESS's, Miler's and Hardeman's will always be known.

In the neighborhood of William SHINAULT were the BONAR's, HUTLEY's, WHITAKER's, and others. In the COKERAM settlement were William LOVE, W.E. NORMENT, and others .Abner PILLOW owned a large plantation near Old Mt. Hope Church.  Elisha BOYD and William ROSEN settled southeast of Bolivar near Piney;BENJAMIN near Middleburg. Other settlers followed fast. Goodspeeds History of Tennessee, Hardeman County.