Rhea charts the maneuvers and battles from may 7, 1864, when union general ulysses s. Rhea county was formed in 1807 from roane county acts of tennessee 1807, chapter 9. Throughout the war troops from both armies crossed the county and the courthouse in washington was used as a headquarters by various officers in 1863. During the american civil war, rhea county was one of the few counties in east tennessee that was heavily sympathetic. Rhea county courthouse dayton 2020 all you need to. Minute books for county court before 1832 have been destroyed or lost. Rhea county obituaries dates vary for these usersubmitted death notices. The restored romanesque revivalitalian villastyle courthouse was built in 1891, designated a national historic landmark in 1977. The property must be located in the county in order to record the corresponding document. For more information regarding rhea county, please go to the.
Rhea county courthouse dayton 2020 all you need to know. Although no largescale battles took place in rhea county, the area was constantly under pressure and minor skirmishes were common. Rhea county genealogy resources where can i connect with other rhea county, tn researchers through message boards and forums. Today, all the fifth grade students have been allowed the opportunity to learn something about the history of their hometown, while taking a walk through the museum of our famous courthouse. I have learned so much about my paternal family history. As his first courthouse design, chamberlin crafted the building to be much more than expected. Rhea county, tn genealogy and history our goal is to help you track your ancestors through time by transcribing genealogical and historical data and placing it online for the free use of all researchers this site is available for adoption. Rhea county, tennessee informational page is updated regularly from reliable public sources. The red brick rhea county courthouse was built in 189091 after the county seat was transferred from washington, tenn. Chamberlin and company, a knoxville architectural firm, provided designs for the building, and chattanooga contractors william dowling and j. The collection is composed of commissions in the state militia, correspondence, diaries, genealogical data, land records, legal documents including the will of matthew rhea, dated march 8, 1816, maps, school books, and writings.
Beards barbershop looks out on the lawn of the rhea county courthouse, where. The rhea family papers, containing approximately 300 items, cover three generations, 17691859. Hamilton county, tennessee genealogy familysearch wiki. Taylor built the rectangularshaped, hiproofed structure. Hamilton countys early will books were destroyed in the civil war. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. Rhea county information genealogy trails history group. Guide to rhea county established 1807 genealogy, history, and courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, civil war records, revolutionary war records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries. The rhea county courthouse is a historic county courthouse in the center of dayton, the county seat of rhea county, tennessee. Our mission is to discover, collect, preserve and display materials which will help illustrate the rich history and. In the battles for spotsylvania court house and the road to yellow tavern, may 712, 1864, gordon c. The rhea heritage and scopes trial museum is housed in the basement of the courthouse. There were fires at the rhea county courthouse in 1869 and 1927. A condensed county history campbell, 1940 rhea and meigs counties tennessee in the confederate war allen, 1908.
When the rhea county society finalized their history of the county in 1990, these newspapers. Tennessee offers many local attractions and business for you to explore. Bibliography of tennessee local history sources rhea county please note that the tennessee state library and archives does not hold copies of all of the items listed in this bibliography. It was back during that long hot summer of 1925, that the events that had occurred here, allowed rhea county to be in the history books forever. Rhea county, tennessee, county court minute book, april 1, 1876. In addition, susan thrane provides a brief history of each county with relevant details about the design of the courthouse and highlights of the events which occurred there. Grant broke convention and flanked confederate general robert e. Copies of their microfilms are also available at the family history library. Rhea county books for sale at sk booksellers, mountain press. In the spring of 1925, john thomas scopes, 24, was a science teacher at rhea county high school in dayton. Genealogical fact sheets about tennessee counties rhea. Lees army of northern virginia after the battle of the wilderness, through may 12, when his. The clerks office ensures that public records are retained, archived, and made accessible to the public in accordance with all laws and regulations.
Sulphur springs name changed to rhea springs in 1878, situated on the bank of piney river, was settled early in the countys existence. The battles for spotsylvania court house and the road to yellow tavern, may 712, 1864. Rhea county courthouse dayton, tennessee courthouse, arts. George thacker, rhea county executive 375 church st. Home driver services dmv office locations tennessee rhea county dayton rhea county clerk mv services. I have ordered several books about the family histories, various churches, and schools of this region, primarily because my dad and aunts were born in rhea county. If you have a love for history, a desire to help others, and basic webpagemaking skills, consider joining us. Personal look at the civil war in rhea and meigs counties, tennessee broyles, 1999 records of rhea. She spoke of how historical society become relevant again back in 1976. Located in the rhea county courthouse and contains exhibits, photos, and news clippings of the famous scopes monkey trial of 1925. The first historical society was formed in rhea county around 1879. Rhea county is named for the tennessee politician and revolutionary war veteran john rhea a portion of the trail of tears ran through the county as part of the united states governments removal of the cherokee in the 1830s.
Information about the history of rhea county was also very. The site of the scopes trial contains a small exhibit dedicated to the famous case. This magnificent, lavishly illustrated book presents each of ohios 88 existing courthouses through a sumptuous layout of color and blackandwhite images. How much has the town where the scopes trial took place. A portion of the trail of tears ran through the county as part of the united states governments removal of the cherokee in the 1830s. I owe an entire chapter of my book wildly strolling along to information i first found out there. Rhea county veterans affairs, veterans health administration 375 church street, suite 205, dayton, tn 37321 4237757849 rhea county health department 334 eagle lane, evensville, tn 37332 4237757819 rhea county ut extension rhea county office building, 125 court street, unit 3, dayton, tn 37321 4237757807 rhea county animal shelter. History of rhea county, tennessee broyles, 1991 name index. Tennessee genealogy books by county mountain press. Surviving will books are held at the county courthouse. Rhea county, tennessee public records directory quickly find public record sources in the largest human edited public record directory. The rhea county courthouse was renovated in the 1970s and is now a national historic landmark. The final product was a magnificent romanesque revival design that would be used as a model for other quality courthouse commissions in two other tennessee counties and. Rhea county is named for the tennessee politician and revolutionary war veteran john rhea a portion of the trail of tears ran through the county as part of the united states governments removal of the cherokee in the 1830s during the american civil war, rhea county was one of the few counties in east tennessee that was heavily sympathetic to the cause of the confederate states of.
The dates indicated below could be the first widely known documents for this county. August 00 american history t he history of the scopes trial is far from forgotten in presentday dayton, tennessee. Rhea county courthouse dayton, tennessee atlas obscura. Rhea county, tennessee, county court minute book, april 1, 1876 august. The tsla microfilmed deed books j through q 18791902 and the index 18791968 in the 1970s. Tennessee state genealogy network rhea county, tennessee message boards boards. Registrar of deeds has military discharge records 19181994. Rhea county, concord america from the great depression to world war ii source. Title history ownership title history, deeds and mortgage records voluntary liens titles, deeds. Rhea county, tennessee ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. When the rhea county society finalized their history of the county in 1990, these newspapers were not available for inclusion so they are now a supplement to that history.
Record real property documents such as deeds and deeds of trust with the rhea county register of deeds. Rhea county, tennessee genealogy genealogy familysearch wiki. Please check the tennessee state library and archives online catalog or visit the ask us a question. Among the discussions in the wake of the tennessee evolution law were those which took place in dayton at robinsons drugstore on market street, a favorite gathering place for local citizens. Available online services please select an option below. Discover rhea county courthouse in dayton, tennessee. The rhea county town, located on the banks of the tennessee river between knoxville and chattanooga, still embraces its singular historic moment, even as it moves forward into the new century. The battles for spotsylvania court house and the road to. Scopes faced charges for including charles darwins theory of evolution in his public school lesson. Information about the history of rhea county was also very interesting. Mar 01, 2005 the battles for spotsylvania court house and the road to yellow tavern, may 712, 1864 rhea esq. American memory from the library of congress rhea county, dayton america from the great depression to world war ii source. The next speaker, pat guffey, rhea county historian.
Find property records, vital records, inmate and court records, professional and business licenses, contractor licenses and much more. Rhea county linda shaver 375 church st dayton, tn 37321 phone. Beards barbershop looks out on the lawn of the rhea county courthouse, where daytonians are currently gathered for the annual scopes trial festival. Did you know that the courthouse survived the civil war and with only a few exceptions records exist from 1808. Rhea county, tennessee genealogy familysearch wiki. Rhea county clerk mv services of dayton, tennessee dmv. The new jail was completed in 1890 and the new brick courthouse, designed by w. In 1889 rhea countians voted to move the county seat from washington to dayton. Rhea county historical and genealogical society, 1991 rhea county tenn. Tennessee first lady visits courthouse for reading and history. Thanks to rhea county, dayton tn for understanding the historical importance.
Built in 1891, it is famous as the scene of the scopes trial of july 1925, in which teacher john t. Rhea county is named for the tennessee politician and revolutionary war revolutionary war veteran, john rhea. Rhea county, tn private acts 1807, 1809, 1811, 18, 1815, 1817, 1819, 182021, 1822, 18251826, 182829. As you will learn from visiting the newly renovated rhea heritage and scopes trial museum, the county has a rich history. Guide to rhea county established 1807 genealogy, history, and courthouse. The rhea county clerk, located in dayton, tennessee, is the official keeper of public records for rhea county. She spoke about her duties as a historian and encouraged people to learn about history, especially history of their state and county. Everyday discount prices and great customer service. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you. In the early 1990s, the hamilton county microfilm department microfilmed will books 1 to 6 18621936 and an index. Court records rhea county, tennessee, 18231918 family history library minute books, 18151910 family history library minute books, 18231912 family history library minute dockets, 18231829, rhea county, tennessee family history library minutes, 18151842 family history library minutes, 18441867 family history library rhea county, tennessee. How much has the town where the scopes trial took place evolved since the 1920s. View all hotels near rhea county courthouse on tripadvisor.
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