Manufactories of Shelbyville

The manufactories of Shelbyville are as follows:

The Victor Flouring-mill, built in 1880, present proprietors Lipscomb & Co., is situated on Duck River, and has water and steam-power; capacity 250 barrels of flour per day. The building is a large two-story brick, and the machinery is of the most improved pattern;

The Cannon Mill (water-power), which stands directly across the river, is also owned by this company;

The Shelbyville Flouring-mill, also situated on Duck River, was built sometime during the sixties by Robert Dwiggins. The mill has changed hands frequently, and is at present operated by E. Shepard, trustee; the building is a three-story brick, and the capacity of the mill is 225 barrels per day;

Mullins Mill, water-power, situated on Duck River, one mile east of Shelbyville, is owned by J. C. Tune;

Shelbyville Carding Machine, established in 1884, owned by Burdett & Co. ;

Shelbyville Manufacturing Company (stock company), was established in 1883, manufacture hubs, spokes, rims, double and single trees, etc., twenty-five men employed regularly;

L. H. Russ & Co., manufacturers of carriages, and the celebrated Hew South wagon;

McDowell Bros., manufacturers of wagons and buggies and general blacksmith;

Southern Machine Shops (owned by stock company), established in 1884;

A. J. Trolinger, cooper shop;

E. H. Kohl, repair shop;

H. C. Ryall, planing-mill;

W. F. Holman, tannery;

J. C. Eakin, fruit evaporator and canning factory.

Probably the most important manufactory in the county, and the only one of the kind in the county, is the Sylvan Cotton Mills, situated two miles southwest of Shelbyville. These mills were established in 1852 by Gillen, Webb & Co., but are now owned and operated by a stock company. The mills were destroyed by fire in 1881, but were rebuilt on a larger scale immediately thereafter. The present buildings are of brick, the main building being 50x186 feet, picker-room 40x56 feet and engine and boiler-room 40x60 feet; the machinery is all new and of modern make; the mills are provided with 3,680 spindles and 108 looms, and the daily capacity is 6,000 yards of drilling and sheeting. From 12,000 to 15,000 bales of cotton are consumed annually, and between eighty and ninety operatives are given employment. All of the operatives reside in neat cottages in the vicinity of the mills, forming quite a village. A general store is kept by the company, from which the villagers draw their supplies.

Shelbyville Banks

The Shelbyville Savings Bank was established in 1867 by A. W. Brockaway. From its establishment until 1873 William Gaslin was president and A. W. Brockaway was cashier. Brockaway was succeeded as cashier at that time by Dr. R. H. Wallace, and that gentleman was succeeded by his son, John R. Wallace. The bank suspended in September, 1885, with a capital stock of $40,000 and $120,000 on deposits, of which not over 20 per cent will be realized. The failure of the bank caused the failure of several business men.

The National Bank of Shelbyville was established in November, 1874, by Edmund Cooper, who became president, with Albert Frierson, cashier, and B. B. Whitthorne, teller. Mr. Cooper is still president and Mr. Whitthorne is cashier and Edmund Cooper, Jr., is teller at present; capital stock $50,000.

The Peoples' National Bank, with a capital of $60,000, has been recently organized, with N. P. Evans as president and S. J. Walden. Jr., as cashier. A building for this bank is in course of erection, and the bank will be ready for business during the present fall.

Shelbyville | Merchants | Banks | Churches | Societies | Newspapers

 AHGP Tennessee

Source: History of Tennessee, Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1886.