Chronology
Chronology of Early Maury County, 1807 - 1850
| 1807 | November 24, Maury County formed from Williamson County. Numerous Maury County families already present |
| 1808 | County seat of Columbia established January, First of Zion Church families arrive August 1, First lots sold in Columbia September, First marriage in Columbia: Samuel Srygley to Rachel McClus |
| 1809 | Giles County formed from Maury October 11, Meriwether Lewis found dead at Grinder's Stand (now in Lewis County) November, Circuit Court established November, Woodward Academy plans established |
| 1810 | First brick courthouse built First newspaper published, The Western Chronicle Native Americans continue to trade in Columbia November, First Circuit Court held in Columbia |
| 1811 | December 16, New Madrid earthquake began and continued until February 1812 chimneys crumbled, glass panes broke and cracks formed in buildings in Maury County |
| 1812 | December, Andrew Jackson brought his men back from New Orleans over the Natchez Trace to Columbia for dismissal |
| 1813 | Maury County companies go to Alabama to fight Creek War Black Tongue epidemic killed several in Maury County |
| 1814 | James Johnson given permission to keep ferry across Duck River near Parsons Bend December, Capt. James McMahon of Maury killed at New Orleans |
| 1815 | Woodward Academy built, first school in Columbia January 8, James Moore and James Henry Smith of Maury killed at the Battle of New Orleans |
| 1818 | First naturalization in court records: Edmund Kelly of Ireland petitioned to become citizen |
| 1819 | National Depression seriously crippled Middle Tennessee and Maury County First bank established October, Columbia Steam Boat Co. incorporated; Duck River still believed to be navigable November, Williamsport incorporated November, General Assembly appointed commissioners to build a bridge at Columbia, with money from sale of lots to finance it |
| 1820 | Military Road completed, ran from Maury County to Columbus, MS to Madisonville, LA Population of Maury County: 22,089 June, James Knox Polk admitted to practice law in Maury County |
| 1824 | Mt. Pleasant incorporated Spring Hill established Andrew Johnson lived in Columbia for six months |
| 1825 | James K. Polk went to Congress April, French General Lafayette visited Nashville; many Maurians attended |
| 1826 | First mules seen in Columbia |
| 1828 | Columbia College opened |
| 1830 | Maury County Post Offices listed as: Williamsport, Isom's Store, Mooresville, Pleasant Grove, Spring Hill, Cedar Springs, McMurray's Store/Bigby, Hurt's Cross Roads, Mt. Pleasant, Columbia |
| 1834 | Maury was divided into civil districts for the first time and Justices of the Peace elected Cholera epidemic occurred southeast of Columbia Fire destroyed buildings on public square of Columbia and plans for a fire department were made |
| 1835 | Degraffenreid storm hits western Maury County; victims were Mrs. Sarah Degraffenreid, five of her children and members of a Lusk family (Degraffenreids are buried in Zion Church Cemetery) |
| 1836 | Population of Columbia was 1500 Native Americans on Trail of Tears camped briefly on Lytle and Cathey's Creeks 4000 turn out for visit of Andrew Jackson |
| 1837 | James K. Polk elected Speaker of House Line changed between Maury and Hickman Counties; triangle from Duck River to Fall Branch to Natchez Trace given to Hickman County |
| 1838 | Spring classes began at Columbia Institute; school established by Bishops James H. Otey and Leonidas Polk |
| 1839 | Steamboat Madison plied up Duck River to Columbia; first steamer in county |
| 1840 | A.O.P. Nicholson appointed Senator by Gov. Polk |
| 1842 | Maury County placed in 6th Congressional District May 7, Former President Martin Van Buren visited Columbia |
| 1843 | March 16, 18-20 inches of snow covered Maury County and stayed for six weeks; all farmwork was suspended |
| 1844 | February and March, Black Tongue epidemic killed several in Columbia James K. Polk elected President |
| 1845 | Duck River Slackwater Navigation Co. incorporated to navigate Duck River, failed; Lily of the West last steamer to come up Duck River |
| 1846 | May 13, Mexican War declared; Tennessee's goal was 2400 men and 30,000 volunteered, earning the state the nickname of the Volunteer State |
| 1847 | Large part of downtown Columbia destroyed by fire December, Biggest flood since 1811/12 took out bridge at Columbia |
| 1848 | December, Last stagecoach robbery in Maury County |
| 1849 | First telegraph message received in Columbia for Frank G. Smith, head of Columbia Institute March, James K. Polk's term ended; he made his last visit to Maury County and died in 1850 |
Frank D. "Denny" Thomas, Volunteer for Maury County
Bi-Centennial Issue of "The Daily Herald," 4 July 1976
Maury County newspapers on microfilm, TSLA
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This page was last updated July 12, 1998.