You are here: Home > Community History > The Clear Fork Community
The Clear Fork Community
The land on Clear Fork was some of the best in DeKalb County and was settled very early. John Looney had a home there in 1801. He sold the house and 405 acres to Abraham Overall in 1811; the house still stands and Overall descendents live there. In 1808 John Looney sold land to Thomas Whaley of Maryland, whose daughter married William Goggin. George, Isaac, James and Jacob Turney were all on Clear Fork by 1805, as were John and William Adamson and Peter Tittle by 1803. Daniel Allen was on Clear Fork in 1801; he later sold his land to Thomas Dale of Maryland, father of Adam Dale. Thomas Dale built a two-story house in 1812, part of which still stands and is owned by the descendents of George Givan.
Most of the families attended Salem Baptist Church in Liberty, so not many churches have been built on Clear Fork. The Cave Spring Baptist Church was organized on Adamson Branch in 1901, which remains active today. Some residents near the Cannon County line attended Sycamore Baptist Church in Cannon County.
There were early schools on Clear Fork and, John Givan mentioned that before the Civil War, all the teachers in the Clear Fork School were male. In 1904 Clear Fork had five schools: Goggin, Adamson Branch, Green Hill, and a school for the African-American families called Buckeye College. By 1940 only Adamson Branch remained of these, as apparently pupils from other areas were attending school at Liberty by then.
A post office named Festoon was on the upper end of Clear Fork from 1890 to 1894, and on Adamson Branch was a post office called Haleville from 1888 to 1904.
Today, most of the community activity on Clear Fork seems to be combined with that of the Liberty community.
Most of the families attended Salem Baptist Church in Liberty, so not many churches have been built on Clear Fork. The Cave Spring Baptist Church was organized on Adamson Branch in 1901, which remains active today. Some residents near the Cannon County line attended Sycamore Baptist Church in Cannon County.
There were early schools on Clear Fork and, John Givan mentioned that before the Civil War, all the teachers in the Clear Fork School were male. In 1904 Clear Fork had five schools: Goggin, Adamson Branch, Green Hill, and a school for the African-American families called Buckeye College. By 1940 only Adamson Branch remained of these, as apparently pupils from other areas were attending school at Liberty by then.
A post office named Festoon was on the upper end of Clear Fork from 1890 to 1894, and on Adamson Branch was a post office called Haleville from 1888 to 1904.
Today, most of the community activity on Clear Fork seems to be combined with that of the Liberty community.