
"A Struggle to Exist"
Section nine of the Act of 1879 appointed commissioners to select a site for a county seat. The only two seats nominated by the commissioners for the county seat were Henderson and Montezuma. Henderson was chosen to become the county seat by an overwhelming majority of the popular vote. Henderson was a central point of Chester County and became the center of all major activities in the county. Prior to becoming the county seat, Henderson was the location of some historical events that contribute to the history of Chester County. Henderson was established in 1857 when the Mobile and Ohio railroad was being constructed. The original name of this town was Dayton, but the name was changed during the Civil War to Henderson’s Station, probably after Henderson County. A depot was built near the railroad and the town’s business area developed near the depot and the railroad tracks. The Civil War, however, brought the building boom to an abrupt halt. During the Civil War, many farmers from the surrounding areas brought baled cotton to Henderson Station to be shipped on the railroad to northern markets. In 1862, after northern troops had taken over this area and were guarding the depot, the rebels invaded Henderson Station. The rebel raid resulted in over one hundred bales of cotton being burned on the station platform, along with the depot and water tank. After the Civil War ended, the town of Henderson once again began to grow.
In the words of S.E. Reid, “Chester County, Tennessee, is a good place to live, a good place to labor, to love and help promote peace and happiness of the community and uphold the dignity of the great state in which we live.”
Prepared by Wendy Carroll
2nd place in Tennessee Contest sponsored by Henderson
Station Chapter NSDAR
Attractions
and Events in Chester County
Tourism
Association of Southwest Tennessee
State of
Tennessee Links for Chester County
![]()
|
|
||
Last Updated 07/29/03