Clay County: The History And History Of Clay County

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Clay County was created by the Tennessee General Assembly on June 16, 1870. The county was formed from the secluded northern parts of Jackson County and Overton County. The citizens believed that, with this new county, they would have more opportunities to participate in self-government rather than continuing to be a part of larger county with which they were only connected to by a few trails and no roads. The first session of the county court assembled in Mary Robert’s store in the Butler’s Landing Community where the city of Celina was chosen as the county seat by a narrow margin.1 The name Clay County originates from American statesman, member of the United States Senate, and United States Speaker of the House Henry Clay.2 It is believed that the Mississippian Indians are some of the earliest residents of Clay County. Other tribes including the Cherokee, Iroquois, Chickasaw, and Shawnee have also resided in the County. The earliest white man in the area was Frenchman, Martin Chartier. He came as part of Shawnee hunting party around 1691 and, it is believed, he remained the...

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