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The Dry Creek Community
Cripps' Mill, 1903
History is taken from written records mostly, but it can also be events and knowledge from your lifetime. We have used both in writing this history what we know about Dry Creek Community and what we have researched, we hope to be true.
From artifacts found in this Valley, we know that the natives of Dry Creek were Native Indians.
According to history, Will T. Hale's book "History of DeKalb County," the Indian boundary crossed Dry Creek somewhere in the Wilder Hollow. The Indian gravesites are on the Indian Grave Point Hill above the Cathcart Cemetery on the Will Allen Cathcart Property, now owned by his daughter, Jeanette C. France.
The earliest recorded settler in Dry Creek on the upper part was Ebeneezer Snow who married Nancy Anderson and reared nine children. He was thought to be a brother of Mr. Snow who lived on the lower part of the Valley and served in the Civil War.
LAND
The land of the Dry Creek Valley drops down from high hills to form the valley, and out from the valley are hollows leading out onto other hills and valleys where many well-to-do farmers have lived for many generations. These people have lived self-sufficient lifestyles, believed in themselves, and were happy and satisfied with the quiet peaceful life.
The greatest assets of the valley are its fertile soil and the Dry Creek Stream which supplied needed water for the families. Dry Creek is known for its big springs for drinking and cooking purposes. When heavy rains come, there is an abundance of "Wet Weather Springs" gushing from between the rocks on the hillsides. Perishable foods such as milk and butter were kept in the springs. The fertile rolling countryside makes the land ideal for raising cattle, horses, sheep and goats. Among the smaller animals in the woods and streams are beavers, minks, muskrats, weasels, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons and skunks. Many of these animals were hunted for food and trapped for their skins. Groundhogs are abundant and served as food for many families.
Today, the deer population is plentiful and wild turkeys cover the hillside. Both are used for food. The hunters visit the Dry Creek Valley for deer and turkeys.
The cardinals, mocking birds, house wrens, blue jays, eastern bluebirds, purple finches, yellow finches, wood thrush, red-headed woodpeckers, sparrows, chick-a-dees, and humming birds are common in the valley.
Farmland covers thousands of acres of rich fertile soil. Several farmers planted the hills in corn, made wooden sleds and, with gentle mules, harvested abundant crops. In the early years, twenties and thirties, corn was the leading crop. Every family planted large vegetable gardens for family food and canning purposes.
In the fifties and sixties, tobacco was the big cash crop. Everyone had a big field of Burley tobacco which brought in good money in the fall.
Some soybeans were planted, but it was not a leading crop. McKinnley Jones put in soybeans for a few farmers for several years.
At present time, most farmers grow hay for their cattle. Currently, several families in the valley continue to grow vegetable gardens and enjoy their harvest using the canning preservation method. At the lower end of the valley, Michael "Moose" Nokes has a garden, Rob and Nora Harvey have a garden, Dr. Bruno Frazier and Dr. Barbara Frazier planted vegetables at the Louise Frazier Farm, Jeanette France, Roscoe and Pauline Frazier, Larry and Cherie Yoder are equally big gardeners. There may be others on up the valley.
In the forties and fifties, almost every farm had a big wheat crop. The Wheat Thrasher and laborers who followed it would harvest the wheat in the fall. A portion of the wheat paid for the harvesting. A large amount of the wheat was taken, ground into flour and put in storage for the farmers to use during the winter months.
ALONG DRY CREEK ROAD
According to the Register of Deeds Office, there are 5,600 acres of land in the Dry Creek Community. The Valley is a long strip of rich fertile farmland with many hollows extended on both sides of the main Dry Creek Road. There is a stream of water in each of the hollows which flow into the main Dry Creek Stream.
Big time farmers lived along the main road and most of them had "Share-Croppers" living on these farms. They would plant and harvest the crops for the farmers. They were furnished a house in which to live, a nice garden spot, and they were paid cash for any extra job.
We remember those who lived on Dry Creek Road, early thirties, Jack and Helen Calhoun Smithson, Dr. Bob Fuson and family, Will Vandergriff, Walter Vandergriff, John Ayers and children, Lucian and Ocie Cathcart, Lona Haas Frazier and son, Roy Frazier, Ben and Mairene Vandagriff, Tassie Cathcart, Houston and Hattie C. Cripps, Horace and Macon Hubbard, Shelie and Estie Parsley, Valter and Verna Fuston and Orville Byford.
Down the road that ran on the creek side of the Ben Vandagriff farm lived the Thomas family. Miss Ada was a very sweet lady who worked hard for her large family. The Ben Vandagriff farm was formerly owned by Shealie Rhody and family. This is where the Rhody Family grew up. The Rhody land joined the Jim Frazier land.
The Jim and Lona Frazier farm was eventually divided among his five children: Roy, Gertrude, Anna Rhea, Nettie Jim and Woodrow. On this farm is where Woodrow and Louise Frazier later reared their children, John, Joe, Judy, Peggy, Deborah, Kathy and Lisa. This farm is directly across the creek from the W.O. Womack and Son Grocery.
Off the main Dry Creek Road, Horace and Jennie Robinson and Floyd and Macon Robinson lived on a farm.
At the bottom of the hill on the Dry Creek-Pea Ridge Road was a large farm belonging to Roy Griffin and Gertie Hill Fuson Griffin. This was the old home place of Gertie Hill.
Larry and Cherie Yoder now live at the Cripps Mill. The Mill has been built into a beautiful brick building. The Yoders are from Michigan. They also own the Shealie Parsley property. The Parsley house has been renovated and is used as a guesthouse for the Yoder children and friends.
It is remembered that Sid and Martha Cripps lived on Aunt Tassie Cathcart's farm for years.
At the lower end of the Dry Creek Road, off Highway 70, these families currently live on the main road: James Hale, Georgia Hawker, Randy Hawker, Mike and Becky Nokes and family, Joyce Hendrixson, Wayne A. Sr. and Leslie Storey, Jim Cripps, Dwight Cripps, Joe Ayers, Derrick Hale and daughter, Rob and Nora Harvey, Anthony and Jamie Wright and family, Roger and Kathy Hendrix, Jared Hendrix, and Louise Frazier. Just across the bridge in the Womack House live Steve and Deb Davis.
Living on up the main road are Todd and Barbara Frazier Nuckels and sons Sam, Chris and William, Larry and Cheri Yoder (Cripps Mill), and Albert Bruno and Jeri Frazier and sons Andrew and Ryan (Daniel Moser Home).
Doug Frazier's son, Rosco and wife, Pauline Thomas Frazier, currently lives on their farm along the right side and at the bottom of Mill Hill Road. Here they reared their children, Wanda and Linda. This family is well known for their gardening and farming skills. Pauline provides a great service as a produce vendor at the DeKalb County Farmers Market. She has picked and provided blackberries, blueberries and strawberries to her neighbors for many years.
At the foot of Old Mill Hill Road, going right over the bridge and at the foot of Pea Ridge Road is a large farm where George and Lillian Cathcart lived for many years and until they died. Mrs. Lillian was a master at crocheting and completed beautiful dresser scarves, pillowcases and many other beautiful items.
Jo Dean Cathcart, of Snow Hill, now owns the farm. Stephen and Vickie White, of Murfreesboro, spend their weekends at the farmhouse.
HOLLOWS
For more than one hundred years, the Upper Dry Creek Valley was home to several families. After her husband died, Bettie Herndon returned to her mother's home on Dry Creek to rear her four children. She lived there until her death. Other families living in this area were Martha Crips, Hershal Braswell, Sam Patterson, John Lee Snow, a Baptist preacher, Oscar Snow, Evie Snow, Valter Snow and Valter Fuston. Orvil Byford owned a farm and lived at the beginning of this hollow. The children of early settlers attended the George School.
The Vickers Hollow was above the Daniel Moser Property. At one time, there was a road leading to Smithville. Some families living in this hollow were Floyce Vickers, Bob Lee Frazier, Bruce Smithson, Doug Frazier, and Henry and Novella Stanley.
There is an old rough road to the right of Mill Cave that meanders up several hundred feet and opens up to some beautiful fields and hillsides. This area was probably known as the Fox Hollow since it traverses directly by the Fox Cave. There was a period in history when several family homesteads were located in this area. Families known to have lived in this hollow and worked this land were Harvey Moser (Miller), William Moser and the Elledge family.
Just off the main Dry Creek Road, the Horace Hubbard family owned a nice farm at the beginning of the Cubbins Hollow. It has been sold to Dr. Barbara Frazier and husband Todd Nuckels, of Florence, Al. Todd, Barbara and boys have restored the farmhouse and use it as a country home.
In the thirties and forties, a very interesting "old" lady lived in the Cubbins Hollow. Amanda J. Atnip Denton was known to Dry Creek Residents as "Ma Denton." She was a sister of Rev. G.H. Atnip, long time pastor at several Baptist churches in DeKalb County. When he was an evangelist, Ma Denton traveled with him and was known to "exhort" him by shouting "encouragements" while he was preaching. She was also known to have high principles in regard to the proper way young ladies should dress and act. She was quick to "reprimand" young girls when she deemed it necessary. Everyone loved "Ma Denton." Her children were Will, Nellie, and Mary.
Other families living in the Cubbins Hollow were Charlie and Maude Cubbins, Bill and Nettie Cubbins, Brack and Pearl White, Charles and Alma White, George and Mattie Cubbins, and Marvin Hathaway. In later years (1949-50), Connie and Georgia Cubbins and daughter, Joyce, moved to the Cubbins Hollow.
A nice farm was located at the entrance of the Wilder Hollow. This was the home of Will Allen and Martha Cathcart and daughter, Jeanette. Others living in the hollow were Lon and Mattie Cripps, Dave and Mai Stephens, A.B. Frazier, Tony and Lela Allen, Acie and Mattie Joines, Hobart and John and Maude Cripps Families. In the late forties, Roy and Claudie Frazier and family moved to the Lon Cripps Farm. Bruno Frazier now owns the Dave Stephens and A.B. Frazier Farm.
Just off the Pea Ridge hill road, near the Dry Creek Elementary School, lived two families, Jeff and Cynthia Cripps, Willie and Ethel Owens and children Edwin, Carlene, Georgia and Donald. Later, Walter and Wilma Cubbins owned the Owens farm where they reared their children, Rita and Sandra, and lived for many years.
During World War II, Mattie Davis Joines went to work in Detroit, earned and saved her money, returned home and bought the Shelie Vickers Farm near the entrance of the Frazier Hollow. She and husband, Acie, lived there until they died. Others living in the Frazier Hollow were their son and wife, Robert and Johnnie Joines and Bobby, the McGinnis Family, and the Homer and Laura Frazier Family.
On up in the Frazier Hollow on the left side of the road lived Jim Roy and Audrey Frazier where they reared their children, Richard, Sherry, David and Randall.
In Possum Hollow, during the twenties, thirties and forties, there were families living on every farm. There were the Hunt Family, Bob and Effie Lee Fuston, and Robert and Vena Fuston and son, Bob Earl. Others were the Charlie Tramel and George Tramel Families, Howard and Addie Bailif, Charlie Floyd Bailif, Roscoe and Elsie Tramel and son, Kenneth, William Tramel and family, Alvie and Fannie Mullican and son, Garry, Alvie and Lovell Taylor, Johnny S. Tramel, Paul and Jessie Bailif, the Ike Hale and Ike Pack Families. Others may have lived further up the hollow on the road leading up to the Snow Hill Community. Most of these families are dead. Living in this hollow now are Helen Vandagriff Burt, Faye Elrod, Nonnie Tramel, Gary and Betty Mullican, Riley and Peggy Tramel, Todd Davis, and Barry and Barbara Poss.
In the Vandergriff Hollow, many families owned nice farms on which to rear their children. The land was cleared of bush and trees so the farmers had more acres to cultivate. Families living in this hollow were John and Parthene Vandagriff and family, Alvie and Altie Vandergriff, the Bill Davis', Roy and Virgil Davis, Christopher and Mary Denton Vandagriff and children: Gracie, Elmer, Calvin, Virgil, Alvie, Anna Belle; Charlie and Delia Vandergriff and family, John and Ruth Vandergriff and Annette, Ed and Mary Barrett and Betty Jane, and John Barrett. Later, families living in this hollow included Jimmy and Lou Ann Midgett and family, Kenny and Janice Edge, Jimmy and Judy Kimbrell and Monica, Reed and Sonya Edge and children, the Kenneth Clayton family. Several other new landowners have since moved in from other areas of the country.
Off the Dry Creek Road on Vandergriff Road resided Floyd and Mae Vandegriff who owned a farm and lived there with their children, Helen, Audrey and Joe.
In the Cathcart Hollow, in the early years before World War II, there were many well-to-do farmers who reared their children in this hollow. These families were Virgil and Sally B. Taylor, Bill and Nettie Cubbins, the Bob Davis, Les Vandagriff, Tal Davis and T.J. Farler families.
Today, we know that there are very few families living there. Jack Pitman lives in the Virgil Taylor Farm. Merle Harris, a retired DeKalb retired teacher, and her family built a new dwelling house. Others may have since moved in and now living on up the hollow.
ROADS
For many years, the roads in the community were impassable, rough, narrow gravel roads that were mostly in the creek. When heavy rains fell, the mail carrier could not deliver mail.
In the summer of 1959, the Dry Creek Valley got its first paved road. Clyde Martin, Sr. and his employees built the road beginning at the lower end near Highway 70 and ending just above the current church.
In recent years, DeKalb County Road Supervisor, Kenny Edge and his employees, repaved the road to accommodate the current traffic pattern which has greatly increased over the years.
MILITARY
Some brave young men from the Dry Creek Community answered the call from the United Stated Government and served in the Military Forces. Some were drafted, others volunteered. Among them were John Ayers, Spanish American War; Edward and Edsel Frazier, U. S. Army, World War II; Charles Athol Ervin, U.S. Army, World War II; Alvie Mullican, U.S. Navy, World War II; Carl Cripps, U.S. Navy, World War II; Solon Taylor, U.S. Army, World War II; Woodrow W. Frazier, U.S. Navy, World War II; Jim Roy Frazier, U.S. Navy, World War II; Joe Ronald Frazier, U.S. Army, Vietnam; Gary Cripps, U.S. Army, Vietnam; James "Butch" Thomason, U.S. Army, Vietnam; Hoyt Lee Fuston, U.S. Navy, World War II; Edsel Allen Fuston, U.S. Marine Corp, World War II; Willie Owens, U.S. Army, World War I; Henry Buchanan Frazier, U.S. Army, Civil War; Joe Brown Farler, U.S. Army, World War II; James E. Farler, U.S. Army, World War II; Roscoe Frazier, U.S. Army; Loyce Frazier, U.S. Arm, Vietnam.
Some of these soldiers were overseas for as long as three years. Many had wives and children at home who were left alone which made a hardship for the families.
Many of the maneuvers (practice wars) in Middle Tennessee in 1943 were held in the Dry Creek Valley. The soldiers would move in the large bottomland, pitch tents on the hills, park army jeeps in barns or wherever they could find cover to spend the night.
Housewives in the community prepared many country ham breakfasts for the troops. Scrambled eggs and gravy with hot biscuits, butter, homemade jam and gallons of hot coffee were served to the men, many who were far from their homes and loved ones. After a hot breakfast, they began their make-belief war. Because of an abundance of water and many large barns and hillsides on which to camp, the valley was suitable for these maneuvers.
The Dry Creek people welcomed the soldiers. They were kind and friendly. Regardless of crops, the maneuvers were enacted up and down the farmland of the valley.
DURING THE YEARS WHEN.....
Dry Creek Community did not have a grocery store; the area had some "rolling groceries" or peddlers.
In the early forties, we remember a very nice young man from the Short Mountain Community, a Mr. Keaton (Thomas D.) who came to the valley with his big truck of groceries. He was married to Wilma Hibdon, who later married Allen Hooper. Housewives would sell eggs and chickens to the peddler to pay for groceries such as sugar, coffee, and other needed food supplies. At a very young age, Mr. Keaton became ill and died.
Another peddler who visited the valley every week was Stratton Malone, who lived near Liberty. He was the main Peddler until W.O. Womack put in his grocery store.
As far as medical services, Dr. John Van Hoosier made house calls to people in the country who were too sick to leave their homes to seek medical attention. Lona B. Haas Frazier, in the absence of a doctor, was known to deliver babies (10 or 11) for one family and others. Dr. Hoosier gave her much praise as the "Mid-Wife of Dry Creek." She was a very kind and generous lady who loved God's creatures.
GROCERY STORES
Dry Creek has had several good grocery stores.
Near the Cripps' Mill, there was a Patterson Grocery Store where families living nearby did their shopping for items such as coffee, sugar, and salt.
Kent Cathcart owned and operated a grocery store on what is now the Jimmy Womack Farm which stocked groceries for the community (in earlier years).
In the nineteen thirties and forties, Floyd "Rat" Cripps and his wife, Macon Cripps, had a nice grocery store on the old Dry Creek Road across from the Bill Davis Farm. On Saturdays, there were standing room only, because the Dry Creek Families would rest from the week's work and go to the only store in the valley to get an ice cold Coca-Cola for 5 cents and purchase needed groceries for the coming week. This was at the lower end of the Valley.
In 1947, an outstanding citizen, W.O. Womack, went into the grocery business in a building near his home. It was named the "W.O. Womack and Son Grocery." Farmers and residents living in the community welcomed the grocery store. Orien Womack was a kind and gentle person who allowed farmers to have credit from the beginning of the crop year until harvest. The Womack Grocery was probably the largest and best stocked grocery store in the Dry Creek Community. People from adjoining communities could be seen shopping at this country store which also sold gas and oil. His store was stocked with most everything the farmers needed such as all types of groceries including milk and milk products, hardware, dry goods, Lily White Flour, feed for animals, field seed and fertilizer. Also available, for the ladies, were many sewing supplies and a selection of fabric.
A popular gathering place for the farmers on cold winter days was around the Womack Grocery "pot belly stove". It gave warmth from the elements as well as a place for many tall tales to be exchanged. It was also a place to share and receive the latest news of family and friends. It was common to find children setting on the fringe listening with great interest to the tales being told. In the summer time, coke boxes were used to set on while drinking a cold drink with peanuts. It wasn't unheard of for children in the community to raid their parent's hen houses for eggs and to also scourer the ditches for coke bottles to sell at the store to pay for their favorite treats.
W.O.'s wife, Pauline Cathcart Womack, was such a great help in the store and worked daily by her husband's side. It was known by locals that, if required, Mrs. Pauline would keep the store open until 10:00 p.m., then go to her house and prepare the family meal. It was not unusual for her to begin the day with people already waiting to make their purchases. Many times they would be knocking on the door of their house to let them know of their waiting. There were no set business hours. Neighbors and friends who were recipients of such kindness from this lady are forever appreciative and remember her with love and respect.
W.O. was a farmer who had many chores to take care of every day. At a very early age, he taught his son, Jimmy, what farm life was all about. The Womack's daughter, Brenda, became an educator and taught school in Athens, West Virginia. Brenda frequently returns to the Valley for visits with friends and relatives who continue to live in this community.
Due to Mr. W.O.'s health, the Womack Store closed in 1964 and the family moved to Smithville. Jimmy continued to take care of the Womack Property until his parents passed and continues to do so today.
Around 1949, Gordon H. Turner, roving reporter for The Nashville Tennessean, visited Dry Creek and wrote an interesting article entitled, "Romantic Dry Creek Steeped in Primitive Beauty, History." In this article he talked about the prosperous friendly people, who lived somewhat off the beaten path, in the beautiful Dry Creek Valley in southwest DeKalb County. The only merchant in the area's center, W.O. Womack, had invited Turner to visit Dry Creek Community to see its beauty and learn about historic places. That day, Gordon Turner, W.O. Womack, Will Allen Cathcart, and a few more Dry Creek neighbors visited the historic Cripps Mill and made a picture of the mill which appeared in The Tennessean. In the article, Mr. Turner wrote about the farms were never sold but were handed down within families. He also stated that the water-mill was the oldest water-powered device in this section of Tennessee. He quoted these signs appearing in the community, "Trade at Home," and "Help Your Community."
During the forties, fifties, and sixties, Alton Close drove a milk truck in this area. Many farmers had a herd of milk cows which they milked twice daily. The milk was stored in large milk cans overnight and ready for pick-up in the morning time. This brought in added cash for the farmers, but the labor was hard on the families, especially the children who did much of the milking. In some cases, the milk had to be brought out of the hollows to the main Dry Creek Road for Mr. Close to pick up. Children of the present generation asked what happened when families went on vacation; they were shocked to hear that most farm families didn't go on vacations mainly due to never ending daily chores, like milking.
SOCIAL LIFE
Social life in the Dry Creek Valley was centered around the church and schools.
Before the thirties, transportation was mostly by foot, a few horse and buggies, and wagons drawn by mules and horses.
In the summer time, area children looked forward to Vacation Bible School at church, and planned Sunday School picnics. The monthly meetings of the W.M.U., which were held in the member's homes, were all-day events involving delicious meals. Attendance was always around twenty to thirty people (husbands were invited as well).
During the "Great Depression," money was scarce. The schools had to plan events to make money; two of these were "Pie Suppers" and "Candy Drawings." These events were held at the schools and entire communities attended.
"Quilting Parties" were held in some of the homes. A housewife would piece a quilt, put it in a frame and invite neighbors to come help quilt. Sometimes there would be as many as eight ladies, four to each side, quilting on one quilt. By four in the afternoon, the quilt would be finished. Of course, these ladies were talented quilters. The "hostess" for the day would serve delicious food at the noon hour. Neighbors loved each other and were always there when they were needed.
Family picnics were enjoyed at the Frazier Hollow and Cripps' Mill Caves.
In the earlier years, families living in the Dry Creek Community enjoyed visiting their neighbors. Housewives were good cooks who enjoyed preparing and cooking a good dinner, inviting friends into their homes and spending the day taking pictures and having fellowship one with another. They shared their happiness and their sorrows. Life was wonderful in the beautiful Dry Creek Valley.
LUMBER MILLS
Lumber mills were located at several locations throughout the Dry Creek Valley. In the Cubbins Hollow, Brack White and Bill Cubbins owned and operated a sawmill where many thousand board feet of lumber were sold each year. Palace Crips and son, Austin Crips, owned and operated a sawmill up the Valley near the Crips old home place. John A. Stevens and Austin Crips operated a mill in the Wilder Hollow and in the Frazier Hollow. There was, at an earlier time, a sawmill in operation at the lower end of Dry Creek near the Lucuis Cathcart Property. Beech, hickory, and oak trees were used to cut the lumber. Few cherry trees, if any, were used for lumber.
EDUCATION
People living in the Dry Creek Community have always desired a good education for their children. Public schools were located in central locations throughout the valley.
At the head of Dry Creek where the Butternut Valley Nature Center is now located, there was the George School where several families lived and this was the school for their children to attend.
Near the Cripps Mill, there was a small log building, the Mill School, which had school only two or three months of the year. The children studied the basic subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic.
According to Tommy Webb, DeKalb County Historian, the Church School, the Mill School, the George School, and the Possum Hollow School were combined in 1928, to make Dry Creek School which had three teachers who were Jeff Crips, Luther Fuson, and Barbara Reeder. Possum Hollow School later reopened.
The Dry Creek Elementary School was located on the Ballinger Property with the Dry Creek Stream flowing nearby. This was the largest school in the valley. In the late twenties, this school had grades one through eight and first and second year high school with four teachers. Luther Fuson of Smithville taught mathematics in the high school.
Other teachers who taught at Dry Creek Elementary were Jeff Cripps, Wilma Moss, Barbara Reeder, Louise Frazier, Annette Frazier Bass Jordan, Lois Vandagriff, and Sara Frances Herman.
Kenny Edge remembers that one of his last teachers was Jim Ed Rice of Smithville. The school was consolidated with Dowelltown and Liberty Elementary Schools in the 1954 school year.
Possum Hollow School was located in Possum Hollow. Woodrow W. Frazier taught his first year at this school in 1932-1933. In the early forties, Will Allen Cathcart taught at the Possum Hollow School. He rode a mule to the school.
June Bug Elementary School was located on the lower end of the Valley near the John Ayers property. Ruth Yates, of Dowelltown, taught here several years. In 1949, just after the 1948 Christmas break, this school was consolidated with Dowelltown Elementary School. Louise K. Frazier was the teacher at June Bug during the 1948-1949 school year. At this time, there is no public school in the Dry Creek Community.
In the upper Dry Creek Valley, there is the Butternut Valley Nature Center which consists of about one thousand acres of land. This was home to several families who lived there in the 1800's up to the 1960's. Some of the families enjoying a quiet peaceful life in this area were John Lee Snow, a preacher, his son, Oscar Snow and daughter, Evie Snow, the Hershal Braswell family, the Betty Herndon family and the Martha Crips family. Their houses have been restored and now serve as teaching centers at the Butternut Valley School.
A lifelong educator, Helga Thompson, enjoys teaching at Butternut Valley. The Center provides students and teachers of DeKalb County Schools with activities that meet with the Tennessee Curriculum Standard.
School bus drivers in the valley were Lucius and Gertie Stephens, Joe Howard Elledge, Charles Elledge Davis, Clifford "Big Dog" Gibbs, Carl Gibbs, Walter Cubbins and Roscoe Frazier.
CHURCH
Dry Creek Baptist Church is the only "spiritual lighthouse" for the people who live in this beautiful valley.
Grime's History of Middle Tennessee Baptists says that The Dry Creek Baptist Church was organized "near a straw stack in Dr. J.A. Fuson's lot," the year was 1888. J.M. Stewart and J.H. Vickers organized this church. In the year of 1880, thirteen members from Pistol's Church organized a church known as the Round Hill Church, located at the head of Dry Creek.
By mutual agreement, in 1889, the Round Hill Church with forty-nine members and the Dry Creek Baptist Church united its members and became one, Dry Creek Baptist Church. In 1989, the Dry Creek Baptist Church celebrated its one hundredth anniversary.
A nice church building was erected midway between the two churches on some land belonging to Nix and Tassie Cathcart near the W.O. Womack store place. In January 1928, this building was destroyed by a storm. The church was rebuilt on some land belonging to Lona Belle Frazier, which was more convenient to the public.
During the pastorate of Rev. Alfred Pistole, the present church was built. Bro. Pistole made a contract with the church to build a new church building using any usable material from the old church. He preached the first sermon in the new building in November 1950.
Early pastors were J.M. Stewart, William Simpson, J.H. Davis, J.H. Grime, Stephen Robinson, P. Carney, W.R. Whitlock, James Davenport, G.H. Atnip, J.H. Carroll, J.H. Ramsey, M.T. Crips, Grady Craddock, Clay Boss, J.H. Harvey, J.H. Taylor, Enzo Mathis, Joe Bush, Alton Neville, Bill Owen, Gary Akins, David Carden and Mike Gay.
Out of this church, God has called several ministers, namely: J.W. Davis, M.T. Crips, Walter Cathcart, Kenneth Mason Tramel, Donald Owens, and Grady Crook. Brown Cubbins and David Frazier were called to preach after they left the Dry Creek Church.In 2001, the church asked "one of its own," the Rev. Donald Owens, to come help the church as the Interim Pastor. Later, he accepted the pastorate and currently remains pastor of the church.
Under his leadership, the Dry Creek Baptist Church has added six new Sunday School rooms, two bathrooms and a nursery, a new Fellowship Hall with a commercial kitchen, expanded the old auditorium for greater seating capacity, the choir loft was enlarged and a new baptistery was installed.
On Wednesdays, a full meal is cooked and served to an average of near one hundred people. Bible study, Children and Youth Programs Youth follows the dinner. Each Sunday, Dry Creek Church continues Sunday School, morning and evening worship services.
Dry Creek Baptist Church annual events are "Homecoming," Revivals, Vacation Bible school, Easter daybreak service followed by country breakfast, Sunday service and special evening service with Crucifixion, special Memorial Day service, Thanksgiving service with meal, and Christmas "Birth of Christ" Play.
RURAL MAIL DELIVERY
Rural mail carriers for the Dry Creek Community were Andy Estes, Oscar Davis, Albert and Lois Bass of Liberty, Joe Howard Elledge of Dowelltown, and Rusty Caplinger of Smithville.
There was a post office, Youngblood, many years ago located in the Middle of the Dry Creek Valley. The early mail carriers had a difficult time delivering mail because the road meandered over rock, dirt and many times right through the creek bed.
Andy Estes was the mailman who traveled by foot to carry the mail from Dowelltown to Youngblood because the rough conditions made the road impassible. K.C. Cathcart was the postmaster at The Youngblood Post office. Youngblood Post Office opened April 17, 1899, and closed March 15, 1904.
THE DRY CREEK STREAM
The Dry Creek Stream has been a valuable asset to the Dry Creek Valley. For many years there was an abundance of fish in the stream. Families relied on the stream for fish to eat.
Harmful debris has entered into the Dry Creek Stream and killed the fish. The water is used in watering cattle and livestock.
This stream of water has always served as a swimming pool for the children living in this area. There is a series of "slick rocks" near the Frazier Farm that children have enjoyed and are still making it their favorite place to slip, slide and swim.
Dry Creek Baptist Church baptized their members in the stream for over one-hundred years and continues to do so upon request. Many other churches use the creek for baptisms.
It has been home to the wild ducks and the large wading bird with long legs and a long straight bill, the Crane. They can be seen at dusk flying high over the water. Dry Creek residents love the "honk" of the Cranes.
TREES
There are many different types of trees growing in this area. Near the farms, many families have an orchard including apple, pear, peach and cherry trees for their fruit. Growing in and around the wooded areas are wild plum, mulberry, and persimmon trees.
A variety of Oak trees along with Ash, Beech, Boxelder, Cedar, Elm, Hackberry, Yellow-Popular, Maple, Sourwood, and Hophornbeam trees are common on the hillsides and the valley floor. Along the creek banks are many beautiful Sycamore and Weeping Willow trees.
Dogwood, redbud, and locust are beautiful blooming trees that make springtime especially beautiful in the valley. Walnut and Hickory trees grow in this area; the nuts are used in food dishes.
In many areas, fruit bushes such as Blackberry, Elderberry, and Huckleberry grow in thick bunches over the hillsides. The berries are picked and used for canning purposes. Many ladies continue to use the same methods today as were used in years gone by when preserving jams and jellies.
INTERESTING POINTS OF DRY CREEK
MILL, MOVIES, VIDEOS
The Cripps' Mill is perhaps the most visited location in the Dry Creek area.
It is known that a man, Harvey Moser, was the "miller" at Cripps' Mill and he kept the Mill in operation during the Civil War. Harvey's son, Daniel Moser, was the "miller" during the early nineteen-twenties.
Daniel Moser's daughter, Charlotte, married William Lee Edge, and he became the "miller." He was the "miller" in the thirties and forties and as long as the Mill stayed in operation. George Cathcart, husband of Lillian Edge, owned the mill in the forties and until it closed.
The Moser families lived on Pine Creek before moving to their home in the Dry Creek Community and located a short distance from Cripps' Mill. The Moser children attended the Mill School where they received most of their formal education.
For many years, the Cripps' Mill was the voting place for the Fourth District and people came to the Mill to vote.
Another interesting place to observe is on the road leading to the Frazier Hollow. On the Bobby Joines Property, there is a well-preserved log smokehouse built and used by the ancestors of Henry Buchannan Frazier.
The Dry Creek Community is known for having many caves. In the book, "Caves of Tennessee," by Thomas C. Barr, Jr., he writes about the Indian Grave Point Cave, the Frazier Hollow Cave, and mentions the Cripps' Mill Cave.
According to Mr. Barr, the Indian Grave Point Cave is the largest cave in DeKalb County and one of the largest in Tennessee. It is located on the Jimmy Womack Farm. It is 125 feet above the floor of the Dry Creek Valley at an elevation of about 780 feet. There are pools of water in places which form small lakes. Dripping waterfalls inside the cave results in making it damp and muddy. The entrance is about 30 feet wide. There are four large rooms and at two places it drops to a low, wide crawl. The largest room is names "Cascade Dome." It is 120 feet long, 75 ft. wide and 120 ft high.
Near the entrance of the cave, two other parts branch off from the main passage. There is a lower passage of two deep pools of water. It is necessary to climb up a steep stone to reach the upper part of the cave extension. Near the top of the climb is a shallow pool 50 ft long and 30 ft wide. Rock formations surrounding the cave are limestone.
Boys and girls of this community have spent many hours exploring and enjoying this cave. Other notable groups visiting this cave include Vanderbilt University students who have spend many weekends scurrying up and down the rocks while observing the many beautiful stalactites, stalagmites and pools of water.
There have been many occasions when it was necessary to call in the local rescue squad due to individuals either being injured or lost in the cave. All were eventually found and carried out to safety.
Frazier Hollow Cave is located on the Bobby Joines Property on the North side of the hollow at an elevation of 640 ft. The entrance of the cave is 12 ft. wide and 4 ft. high. A stream of water flows out of a low passage. This cave can be explored inward to only about 100 ft. The surrounding rock is limestone.
In his book, Mr. Barr made mention of the Cripps' Mill Cave. This cave has a large body of water at the entrance and can be explored a short distance on its right side. This cave served community residents as a picnic area for many years. There was a trout farm at this location in the mid 1970's, where the public could come and fish for trout. Joe and Nancy Cassity and family owned and operated the farm at one time. Later, the Luna's were the owners of this farm for a short period of time.
On the Daniel Moser, Bernice and Nettie Jim Edge, Bruno Frazier Property, there is the Fox Cave which can be explored up to eight miles.
In the upper part of Dry Creek, in what was then Warren County, there are two caves where the Ebeneezer Snow Family lived. Mr. Snow did not build a barn but cut a few poles and placed across the mouth of the caves which provided him with a stable for his horses. As late as the 1970's, the owner was using them to keep hogs.
There is one other large cave, The Goat Cave, located near the Mill. Its entrance is small. Huge rocks are near the entrance which is very dark. A light is needed to see inside this cave. After you climb upward and over the big rocks, there are large mounds of bat guano manure. Hundreds of bats live here.
At the bottom of the cave, there is a beautiful Spring of good water. The Shelie Parsley, Claude Stanley and Lloyd Stanley Families used the Spring Water for cooking and drinking.
Dry Creek Community is blessed to have several great artists who live and work in this area. Rob Harvey, who once had a big dairy farm is now a gifted pottery maker and has his Studio near his home. At the Old Homer Frazier Farm, in the Frazier Hollow, live William and Sharon Kooienga both of whom are talented artists. William works with wood by making tables, benches, cutting boards, and other wooden craft items in his new studio near their log house. Sharon is a weaver and dyes fabric.
Because of its natural beauty and surroundings, the movie "I Walk the Line," starring Gregory Peck and Tuesday Weld was filmed on location at the farm of Valter and Vernie Fuston located at the upper part of Dry Creek.
On the Woodrow Frazier Property, Ray Stevens filmed his video, "Everything Is Beautiful." He had his piano setting on the wooden bridge over the Dry Creek Stream.
Children of the neighborhood sat on the gravel bar and in the shallow water and sang "Everything Is Beautiful" while Ray played the piano. Joe Ronald Frazier, II was one of the children singing.
CEMETERIES
The Dry Creek Valley has some sacred grounds known as "graveyards" or cemeteries.
In the Upper Dry Creek Area, there is the George Cemetery. An odd thing about this cemetery is that the infants and children are buried on one side of the cemetery and the adults on the other side. Some of the names of those buried there are Estes, Stanley, George, and Hale.
On what used to be the Ballinger Property is the Cripps' Cemetery. This is the old homestead of Willie and Ethel Owens and later the Walter and Wilma Cubbins farm.
High on a hillside on the Will Allen Cathcart Farm is the Cathcart Cemetery where twenty-eight people are buried. People buried here include several members of the Cathcart, Cripps, Davis families and Tilman Joines.
Entering the Frazier Hollow Road to the right is the Frazier Cemetery. Buried here are John Larry Frazier and wife, Billie Ann Malone Frazier. James Buchanan and Elisa Davis Frazier, and James Henry Frazier, Jim and Lona Belle Haas Frazier, Maxie Washer (five year old daughter of Greely and Anna Rhea Frazier Washer), and infant twins of Roy and Claudie Frazier are also buried here. On up the hill in the old part is the Henry Frazier Cemetery where many ancestors of the Frazier Family are buried. This is located on the hill southeast of the Robert and Johnnie, Bobby and Mary Joines house.
On the Rob and Nora Harvey Property at the top of a high hill is the Barnes Cemetery. Thomas Jefferson Haas, father of Henry Haas and Lona Haas Frazier, is buried here. Others buried here are L. Rhody, Lumey and Martha Rhody, Braswells, Fraziers, Elledges, Wilsons, Banks and Cripps. There are sixty or more graves marked, fieldstones are unmarked.
There are a few marked graves on the Todd and Barbara Frazier Nuckels Farm (Horace Hubbard/Braswell Cemetery) and on the Michael Nokes Property (Alton and Jennie Hubbard).
The people who once lived in the Dry Creek Valley and their ancestors rest in these graveyards. Their knowledge of this land and their way of life may remain unknown.
Life in the Dry Creek Community has not always been easy. There have been hardships, draughts, as well as floods to endure, mountains to climb, and goals to achieve, but according to historic records, life has been complete.
Families have reared children who have made outstanding citizens in their community and nation.
For generations, the natural resources of this area have helped sustain these people who had fortitude, love in their hearts, and faith for their tomorrows.
In conclusion, the Dry Creek Area has a most interesting history not found in many communities. There is much more that could be written. Look over the mistakes, and enjoy the history of a most beautiful and wonderful place to live, the Dry Creek Valley.
(Written by Louise Frazier, as a special article for the Smithville Review, 2010.)
From artifacts found in this Valley, we know that the natives of Dry Creek were Native Indians.
According to history, Will T. Hale's book "History of DeKalb County," the Indian boundary crossed Dry Creek somewhere in the Wilder Hollow. The Indian gravesites are on the Indian Grave Point Hill above the Cathcart Cemetery on the Will Allen Cathcart Property, now owned by his daughter, Jeanette C. France.
The earliest recorded settler in Dry Creek on the upper part was Ebeneezer Snow who married Nancy Anderson and reared nine children. He was thought to be a brother of Mr. Snow who lived on the lower part of the Valley and served in the Civil War.
LAND
The land of the Dry Creek Valley drops down from high hills to form the valley, and out from the valley are hollows leading out onto other hills and valleys where many well-to-do farmers have lived for many generations. These people have lived self-sufficient lifestyles, believed in themselves, and were happy and satisfied with the quiet peaceful life.
The greatest assets of the valley are its fertile soil and the Dry Creek Stream which supplied needed water for the families. Dry Creek is known for its big springs for drinking and cooking purposes. When heavy rains come, there is an abundance of "Wet Weather Springs" gushing from between the rocks on the hillsides. Perishable foods such as milk and butter were kept in the springs. The fertile rolling countryside makes the land ideal for raising cattle, horses, sheep and goats. Among the smaller animals in the woods and streams are beavers, minks, muskrats, weasels, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons and skunks. Many of these animals were hunted for food and trapped for their skins. Groundhogs are abundant and served as food for many families.
Today, the deer population is plentiful and wild turkeys cover the hillside. Both are used for food. The hunters visit the Dry Creek Valley for deer and turkeys.
The cardinals, mocking birds, house wrens, blue jays, eastern bluebirds, purple finches, yellow finches, wood thrush, red-headed woodpeckers, sparrows, chick-a-dees, and humming birds are common in the valley.
Farmland covers thousands of acres of rich fertile soil. Several farmers planted the hills in corn, made wooden sleds and, with gentle mules, harvested abundant crops. In the early years, twenties and thirties, corn was the leading crop. Every family planted large vegetable gardens for family food and canning purposes.
In the fifties and sixties, tobacco was the big cash crop. Everyone had a big field of Burley tobacco which brought in good money in the fall.
Some soybeans were planted, but it was not a leading crop. McKinnley Jones put in soybeans for a few farmers for several years.
At present time, most farmers grow hay for their cattle. Currently, several families in the valley continue to grow vegetable gardens and enjoy their harvest using the canning preservation method. At the lower end of the valley, Michael "Moose" Nokes has a garden, Rob and Nora Harvey have a garden, Dr. Bruno Frazier and Dr. Barbara Frazier planted vegetables at the Louise Frazier Farm, Jeanette France, Roscoe and Pauline Frazier, Larry and Cherie Yoder are equally big gardeners. There may be others on up the valley.
In the forties and fifties, almost every farm had a big wheat crop. The Wheat Thrasher and laborers who followed it would harvest the wheat in the fall. A portion of the wheat paid for the harvesting. A large amount of the wheat was taken, ground into flour and put in storage for the farmers to use during the winter months.
ALONG DRY CREEK ROAD
According to the Register of Deeds Office, there are 5,600 acres of land in the Dry Creek Community. The Valley is a long strip of rich fertile farmland with many hollows extended on both sides of the main Dry Creek Road. There is a stream of water in each of the hollows which flow into the main Dry Creek Stream.
Big time farmers lived along the main road and most of them had "Share-Croppers" living on these farms. They would plant and harvest the crops for the farmers. They were furnished a house in which to live, a nice garden spot, and they were paid cash for any extra job.
We remember those who lived on Dry Creek Road, early thirties, Jack and Helen Calhoun Smithson, Dr. Bob Fuson and family, Will Vandergriff, Walter Vandergriff, John Ayers and children, Lucian and Ocie Cathcart, Lona Haas Frazier and son, Roy Frazier, Ben and Mairene Vandagriff, Tassie Cathcart, Houston and Hattie C. Cripps, Horace and Macon Hubbard, Shelie and Estie Parsley, Valter and Verna Fuston and Orville Byford.
Down the road that ran on the creek side of the Ben Vandagriff farm lived the Thomas family. Miss Ada was a very sweet lady who worked hard for her large family. The Ben Vandagriff farm was formerly owned by Shealie Rhody and family. This is where the Rhody Family grew up. The Rhody land joined the Jim Frazier land.
The Jim and Lona Frazier farm was eventually divided among his five children: Roy, Gertrude, Anna Rhea, Nettie Jim and Woodrow. On this farm is where Woodrow and Louise Frazier later reared their children, John, Joe, Judy, Peggy, Deborah, Kathy and Lisa. This farm is directly across the creek from the W.O. Womack and Son Grocery.
Off the main Dry Creek Road, Horace and Jennie Robinson and Floyd and Macon Robinson lived on a farm.
At the bottom of the hill on the Dry Creek-Pea Ridge Road was a large farm belonging to Roy Griffin and Gertie Hill Fuson Griffin. This was the old home place of Gertie Hill.
Larry and Cherie Yoder now live at the Cripps Mill. The Mill has been built into a beautiful brick building. The Yoders are from Michigan. They also own the Shealie Parsley property. The Parsley house has been renovated and is used as a guesthouse for the Yoder children and friends.
It is remembered that Sid and Martha Cripps lived on Aunt Tassie Cathcart's farm for years.
At the lower end of the Dry Creek Road, off Highway 70, these families currently live on the main road: James Hale, Georgia Hawker, Randy Hawker, Mike and Becky Nokes and family, Joyce Hendrixson, Wayne A. Sr. and Leslie Storey, Jim Cripps, Dwight Cripps, Joe Ayers, Derrick Hale and daughter, Rob and Nora Harvey, Anthony and Jamie Wright and family, Roger and Kathy Hendrix, Jared Hendrix, and Louise Frazier. Just across the bridge in the Womack House live Steve and Deb Davis.
Living on up the main road are Todd and Barbara Frazier Nuckels and sons Sam, Chris and William, Larry and Cheri Yoder (Cripps Mill), and Albert Bruno and Jeri Frazier and sons Andrew and Ryan (Daniel Moser Home).
Doug Frazier's son, Rosco and wife, Pauline Thomas Frazier, currently lives on their farm along the right side and at the bottom of Mill Hill Road. Here they reared their children, Wanda and Linda. This family is well known for their gardening and farming skills. Pauline provides a great service as a produce vendor at the DeKalb County Farmers Market. She has picked and provided blackberries, blueberries and strawberries to her neighbors for many years.
At the foot of Old Mill Hill Road, going right over the bridge and at the foot of Pea Ridge Road is a large farm where George and Lillian Cathcart lived for many years and until they died. Mrs. Lillian was a master at crocheting and completed beautiful dresser scarves, pillowcases and many other beautiful items.
Jo Dean Cathcart, of Snow Hill, now owns the farm. Stephen and Vickie White, of Murfreesboro, spend their weekends at the farmhouse.
HOLLOWS
For more than one hundred years, the Upper Dry Creek Valley was home to several families. After her husband died, Bettie Herndon returned to her mother's home on Dry Creek to rear her four children. She lived there until her death. Other families living in this area were Martha Crips, Hershal Braswell, Sam Patterson, John Lee Snow, a Baptist preacher, Oscar Snow, Evie Snow, Valter Snow and Valter Fuston. Orvil Byford owned a farm and lived at the beginning of this hollow. The children of early settlers attended the George School.
The Vickers Hollow was above the Daniel Moser Property. At one time, there was a road leading to Smithville. Some families living in this hollow were Floyce Vickers, Bob Lee Frazier, Bruce Smithson, Doug Frazier, and Henry and Novella Stanley.
There is an old rough road to the right of Mill Cave that meanders up several hundred feet and opens up to some beautiful fields and hillsides. This area was probably known as the Fox Hollow since it traverses directly by the Fox Cave. There was a period in history when several family homesteads were located in this area. Families known to have lived in this hollow and worked this land were Harvey Moser (Miller), William Moser and the Elledge family.
Just off the main Dry Creek Road, the Horace Hubbard family owned a nice farm at the beginning of the Cubbins Hollow. It has been sold to Dr. Barbara Frazier and husband Todd Nuckels, of Florence, Al. Todd, Barbara and boys have restored the farmhouse and use it as a country home.
In the thirties and forties, a very interesting "old" lady lived in the Cubbins Hollow. Amanda J. Atnip Denton was known to Dry Creek Residents as "Ma Denton." She was a sister of Rev. G.H. Atnip, long time pastor at several Baptist churches in DeKalb County. When he was an evangelist, Ma Denton traveled with him and was known to "exhort" him by shouting "encouragements" while he was preaching. She was also known to have high principles in regard to the proper way young ladies should dress and act. She was quick to "reprimand" young girls when she deemed it necessary. Everyone loved "Ma Denton." Her children were Will, Nellie, and Mary.
Other families living in the Cubbins Hollow were Charlie and Maude Cubbins, Bill and Nettie Cubbins, Brack and Pearl White, Charles and Alma White, George and Mattie Cubbins, and Marvin Hathaway. In later years (1949-50), Connie and Georgia Cubbins and daughter, Joyce, moved to the Cubbins Hollow.
A nice farm was located at the entrance of the Wilder Hollow. This was the home of Will Allen and Martha Cathcart and daughter, Jeanette. Others living in the hollow were Lon and Mattie Cripps, Dave and Mai Stephens, A.B. Frazier, Tony and Lela Allen, Acie and Mattie Joines, Hobart and John and Maude Cripps Families. In the late forties, Roy and Claudie Frazier and family moved to the Lon Cripps Farm. Bruno Frazier now owns the Dave Stephens and A.B. Frazier Farm.
Just off the Pea Ridge hill road, near the Dry Creek Elementary School, lived two families, Jeff and Cynthia Cripps, Willie and Ethel Owens and children Edwin, Carlene, Georgia and Donald. Later, Walter and Wilma Cubbins owned the Owens farm where they reared their children, Rita and Sandra, and lived for many years.
During World War II, Mattie Davis Joines went to work in Detroit, earned and saved her money, returned home and bought the Shelie Vickers Farm near the entrance of the Frazier Hollow. She and husband, Acie, lived there until they died. Others living in the Frazier Hollow were their son and wife, Robert and Johnnie Joines and Bobby, the McGinnis Family, and the Homer and Laura Frazier Family.
On up in the Frazier Hollow on the left side of the road lived Jim Roy and Audrey Frazier where they reared their children, Richard, Sherry, David and Randall.
In Possum Hollow, during the twenties, thirties and forties, there were families living on every farm. There were the Hunt Family, Bob and Effie Lee Fuston, and Robert and Vena Fuston and son, Bob Earl. Others were the Charlie Tramel and George Tramel Families, Howard and Addie Bailif, Charlie Floyd Bailif, Roscoe and Elsie Tramel and son, Kenneth, William Tramel and family, Alvie and Fannie Mullican and son, Garry, Alvie and Lovell Taylor, Johnny S. Tramel, Paul and Jessie Bailif, the Ike Hale and Ike Pack Families. Others may have lived further up the hollow on the road leading up to the Snow Hill Community. Most of these families are dead. Living in this hollow now are Helen Vandagriff Burt, Faye Elrod, Nonnie Tramel, Gary and Betty Mullican, Riley and Peggy Tramel, Todd Davis, and Barry and Barbara Poss.
In the Vandergriff Hollow, many families owned nice farms on which to rear their children. The land was cleared of bush and trees so the farmers had more acres to cultivate. Families living in this hollow were John and Parthene Vandagriff and family, Alvie and Altie Vandergriff, the Bill Davis', Roy and Virgil Davis, Christopher and Mary Denton Vandagriff and children: Gracie, Elmer, Calvin, Virgil, Alvie, Anna Belle; Charlie and Delia Vandergriff and family, John and Ruth Vandergriff and Annette, Ed and Mary Barrett and Betty Jane, and John Barrett. Later, families living in this hollow included Jimmy and Lou Ann Midgett and family, Kenny and Janice Edge, Jimmy and Judy Kimbrell and Monica, Reed and Sonya Edge and children, the Kenneth Clayton family. Several other new landowners have since moved in from other areas of the country.
Off the Dry Creek Road on Vandergriff Road resided Floyd and Mae Vandegriff who owned a farm and lived there with their children, Helen, Audrey and Joe.
In the Cathcart Hollow, in the early years before World War II, there were many well-to-do farmers who reared their children in this hollow. These families were Virgil and Sally B. Taylor, Bill and Nettie Cubbins, the Bob Davis, Les Vandagriff, Tal Davis and T.J. Farler families.
Today, we know that there are very few families living there. Jack Pitman lives in the Virgil Taylor Farm. Merle Harris, a retired DeKalb retired teacher, and her family built a new dwelling house. Others may have since moved in and now living on up the hollow.
ROADS
For many years, the roads in the community were impassable, rough, narrow gravel roads that were mostly in the creek. When heavy rains fell, the mail carrier could not deliver mail.
In the summer of 1959, the Dry Creek Valley got its first paved road. Clyde Martin, Sr. and his employees built the road beginning at the lower end near Highway 70 and ending just above the current church.
In recent years, DeKalb County Road Supervisor, Kenny Edge and his employees, repaved the road to accommodate the current traffic pattern which has greatly increased over the years.
MILITARY
Some brave young men from the Dry Creek Community answered the call from the United Stated Government and served in the Military Forces. Some were drafted, others volunteered. Among them were John Ayers, Spanish American War; Edward and Edsel Frazier, U. S. Army, World War II; Charles Athol Ervin, U.S. Army, World War II; Alvie Mullican, U.S. Navy, World War II; Carl Cripps, U.S. Navy, World War II; Solon Taylor, U.S. Army, World War II; Woodrow W. Frazier, U.S. Navy, World War II; Jim Roy Frazier, U.S. Navy, World War II; Joe Ronald Frazier, U.S. Army, Vietnam; Gary Cripps, U.S. Army, Vietnam; James "Butch" Thomason, U.S. Army, Vietnam; Hoyt Lee Fuston, U.S. Navy, World War II; Edsel Allen Fuston, U.S. Marine Corp, World War II; Willie Owens, U.S. Army, World War I; Henry Buchanan Frazier, U.S. Army, Civil War; Joe Brown Farler, U.S. Army, World War II; James E. Farler, U.S. Army, World War II; Roscoe Frazier, U.S. Army; Loyce Frazier, U.S. Arm, Vietnam.
Some of these soldiers were overseas for as long as three years. Many had wives and children at home who were left alone which made a hardship for the families.
Many of the maneuvers (practice wars) in Middle Tennessee in 1943 were held in the Dry Creek Valley. The soldiers would move in the large bottomland, pitch tents on the hills, park army jeeps in barns or wherever they could find cover to spend the night.
Housewives in the community prepared many country ham breakfasts for the troops. Scrambled eggs and gravy with hot biscuits, butter, homemade jam and gallons of hot coffee were served to the men, many who were far from their homes and loved ones. After a hot breakfast, they began their make-belief war. Because of an abundance of water and many large barns and hillsides on which to camp, the valley was suitable for these maneuvers.
The Dry Creek people welcomed the soldiers. They were kind and friendly. Regardless of crops, the maneuvers were enacted up and down the farmland of the valley.
DURING THE YEARS WHEN.....
Dry Creek Community did not have a grocery store; the area had some "rolling groceries" or peddlers.
In the early forties, we remember a very nice young man from the Short Mountain Community, a Mr. Keaton (Thomas D.) who came to the valley with his big truck of groceries. He was married to Wilma Hibdon, who later married Allen Hooper. Housewives would sell eggs and chickens to the peddler to pay for groceries such as sugar, coffee, and other needed food supplies. At a very young age, Mr. Keaton became ill and died.
Another peddler who visited the valley every week was Stratton Malone, who lived near Liberty. He was the main Peddler until W.O. Womack put in his grocery store.
As far as medical services, Dr. John Van Hoosier made house calls to people in the country who were too sick to leave their homes to seek medical attention. Lona B. Haas Frazier, in the absence of a doctor, was known to deliver babies (10 or 11) for one family and others. Dr. Hoosier gave her much praise as the "Mid-Wife of Dry Creek." She was a very kind and generous lady who loved God's creatures.
GROCERY STORES
Dry Creek has had several good grocery stores.
Near the Cripps' Mill, there was a Patterson Grocery Store where families living nearby did their shopping for items such as coffee, sugar, and salt.
Kent Cathcart owned and operated a grocery store on what is now the Jimmy Womack Farm which stocked groceries for the community (in earlier years).
In the nineteen thirties and forties, Floyd "Rat" Cripps and his wife, Macon Cripps, had a nice grocery store on the old Dry Creek Road across from the Bill Davis Farm. On Saturdays, there were standing room only, because the Dry Creek Families would rest from the week's work and go to the only store in the valley to get an ice cold Coca-Cola for 5 cents and purchase needed groceries for the coming week. This was at the lower end of the Valley.
In 1947, an outstanding citizen, W.O. Womack, went into the grocery business in a building near his home. It was named the "W.O. Womack and Son Grocery." Farmers and residents living in the community welcomed the grocery store. Orien Womack was a kind and gentle person who allowed farmers to have credit from the beginning of the crop year until harvest. The Womack Grocery was probably the largest and best stocked grocery store in the Dry Creek Community. People from adjoining communities could be seen shopping at this country store which also sold gas and oil. His store was stocked with most everything the farmers needed such as all types of groceries including milk and milk products, hardware, dry goods, Lily White Flour, feed for animals, field seed and fertilizer. Also available, for the ladies, were many sewing supplies and a selection of fabric.
A popular gathering place for the farmers on cold winter days was around the Womack Grocery "pot belly stove". It gave warmth from the elements as well as a place for many tall tales to be exchanged. It was also a place to share and receive the latest news of family and friends. It was common to find children setting on the fringe listening with great interest to the tales being told. In the summer time, coke boxes were used to set on while drinking a cold drink with peanuts. It wasn't unheard of for children in the community to raid their parent's hen houses for eggs and to also scourer the ditches for coke bottles to sell at the store to pay for their favorite treats.
W.O.'s wife, Pauline Cathcart Womack, was such a great help in the store and worked daily by her husband's side. It was known by locals that, if required, Mrs. Pauline would keep the store open until 10:00 p.m., then go to her house and prepare the family meal. It was not unusual for her to begin the day with people already waiting to make their purchases. Many times they would be knocking on the door of their house to let them know of their waiting. There were no set business hours. Neighbors and friends who were recipients of such kindness from this lady are forever appreciative and remember her with love and respect.
W.O. was a farmer who had many chores to take care of every day. At a very early age, he taught his son, Jimmy, what farm life was all about. The Womack's daughter, Brenda, became an educator and taught school in Athens, West Virginia. Brenda frequently returns to the Valley for visits with friends and relatives who continue to live in this community.
Due to Mr. W.O.'s health, the Womack Store closed in 1964 and the family moved to Smithville. Jimmy continued to take care of the Womack Property until his parents passed and continues to do so today.
Around 1949, Gordon H. Turner, roving reporter for The Nashville Tennessean, visited Dry Creek and wrote an interesting article entitled, "Romantic Dry Creek Steeped in Primitive Beauty, History." In this article he talked about the prosperous friendly people, who lived somewhat off the beaten path, in the beautiful Dry Creek Valley in southwest DeKalb County. The only merchant in the area's center, W.O. Womack, had invited Turner to visit Dry Creek Community to see its beauty and learn about historic places. That day, Gordon Turner, W.O. Womack, Will Allen Cathcart, and a few more Dry Creek neighbors visited the historic Cripps Mill and made a picture of the mill which appeared in The Tennessean. In the article, Mr. Turner wrote about the farms were never sold but were handed down within families. He also stated that the water-mill was the oldest water-powered device in this section of Tennessee. He quoted these signs appearing in the community, "Trade at Home," and "Help Your Community."
During the forties, fifties, and sixties, Alton Close drove a milk truck in this area. Many farmers had a herd of milk cows which they milked twice daily. The milk was stored in large milk cans overnight and ready for pick-up in the morning time. This brought in added cash for the farmers, but the labor was hard on the families, especially the children who did much of the milking. In some cases, the milk had to be brought out of the hollows to the main Dry Creek Road for Mr. Close to pick up. Children of the present generation asked what happened when families went on vacation; they were shocked to hear that most farm families didn't go on vacations mainly due to never ending daily chores, like milking.
SOCIAL LIFE
Social life in the Dry Creek Valley was centered around the church and schools.
Before the thirties, transportation was mostly by foot, a few horse and buggies, and wagons drawn by mules and horses.
In the summer time, area children looked forward to Vacation Bible School at church, and planned Sunday School picnics. The monthly meetings of the W.M.U., which were held in the member's homes, were all-day events involving delicious meals. Attendance was always around twenty to thirty people (husbands were invited as well).
During the "Great Depression," money was scarce. The schools had to plan events to make money; two of these were "Pie Suppers" and "Candy Drawings." These events were held at the schools and entire communities attended.
"Quilting Parties" were held in some of the homes. A housewife would piece a quilt, put it in a frame and invite neighbors to come help quilt. Sometimes there would be as many as eight ladies, four to each side, quilting on one quilt. By four in the afternoon, the quilt would be finished. Of course, these ladies were talented quilters. The "hostess" for the day would serve delicious food at the noon hour. Neighbors loved each other and were always there when they were needed.
Family picnics were enjoyed at the Frazier Hollow and Cripps' Mill Caves.
In the earlier years, families living in the Dry Creek Community enjoyed visiting their neighbors. Housewives were good cooks who enjoyed preparing and cooking a good dinner, inviting friends into their homes and spending the day taking pictures and having fellowship one with another. They shared their happiness and their sorrows. Life was wonderful in the beautiful Dry Creek Valley.
LUMBER MILLS
Lumber mills were located at several locations throughout the Dry Creek Valley. In the Cubbins Hollow, Brack White and Bill Cubbins owned and operated a sawmill where many thousand board feet of lumber were sold each year. Palace Crips and son, Austin Crips, owned and operated a sawmill up the Valley near the Crips old home place. John A. Stevens and Austin Crips operated a mill in the Wilder Hollow and in the Frazier Hollow. There was, at an earlier time, a sawmill in operation at the lower end of Dry Creek near the Lucuis Cathcart Property. Beech, hickory, and oak trees were used to cut the lumber. Few cherry trees, if any, were used for lumber.
EDUCATION
People living in the Dry Creek Community have always desired a good education for their children. Public schools were located in central locations throughout the valley.
At the head of Dry Creek where the Butternut Valley Nature Center is now located, there was the George School where several families lived and this was the school for their children to attend.
Near the Cripps Mill, there was a small log building, the Mill School, which had school only two or three months of the year. The children studied the basic subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic.
According to Tommy Webb, DeKalb County Historian, the Church School, the Mill School, the George School, and the Possum Hollow School were combined in 1928, to make Dry Creek School which had three teachers who were Jeff Crips, Luther Fuson, and Barbara Reeder. Possum Hollow School later reopened.
The Dry Creek Elementary School was located on the Ballinger Property with the Dry Creek Stream flowing nearby. This was the largest school in the valley. In the late twenties, this school had grades one through eight and first and second year high school with four teachers. Luther Fuson of Smithville taught mathematics in the high school.
Other teachers who taught at Dry Creek Elementary were Jeff Cripps, Wilma Moss, Barbara Reeder, Louise Frazier, Annette Frazier Bass Jordan, Lois Vandagriff, and Sara Frances Herman.
Kenny Edge remembers that one of his last teachers was Jim Ed Rice of Smithville. The school was consolidated with Dowelltown and Liberty Elementary Schools in the 1954 school year.
Possum Hollow School was located in Possum Hollow. Woodrow W. Frazier taught his first year at this school in 1932-1933. In the early forties, Will Allen Cathcart taught at the Possum Hollow School. He rode a mule to the school.
June Bug Elementary School was located on the lower end of the Valley near the John Ayers property. Ruth Yates, of Dowelltown, taught here several years. In 1949, just after the 1948 Christmas break, this school was consolidated with Dowelltown Elementary School. Louise K. Frazier was the teacher at June Bug during the 1948-1949 school year. At this time, there is no public school in the Dry Creek Community.
In the upper Dry Creek Valley, there is the Butternut Valley Nature Center which consists of about one thousand acres of land. This was home to several families who lived there in the 1800's up to the 1960's. Some of the families enjoying a quiet peaceful life in this area were John Lee Snow, a preacher, his son, Oscar Snow and daughter, Evie Snow, the Hershal Braswell family, the Betty Herndon family and the Martha Crips family. Their houses have been restored and now serve as teaching centers at the Butternut Valley School.
A lifelong educator, Helga Thompson, enjoys teaching at Butternut Valley. The Center provides students and teachers of DeKalb County Schools with activities that meet with the Tennessee Curriculum Standard.
School bus drivers in the valley were Lucius and Gertie Stephens, Joe Howard Elledge, Charles Elledge Davis, Clifford "Big Dog" Gibbs, Carl Gibbs, Walter Cubbins and Roscoe Frazier.
CHURCH
Dry Creek Baptist Church is the only "spiritual lighthouse" for the people who live in this beautiful valley.
Grime's History of Middle Tennessee Baptists says that The Dry Creek Baptist Church was organized "near a straw stack in Dr. J.A. Fuson's lot," the year was 1888. J.M. Stewart and J.H. Vickers organized this church. In the year of 1880, thirteen members from Pistol's Church organized a church known as the Round Hill Church, located at the head of Dry Creek.
By mutual agreement, in 1889, the Round Hill Church with forty-nine members and the Dry Creek Baptist Church united its members and became one, Dry Creek Baptist Church. In 1989, the Dry Creek Baptist Church celebrated its one hundredth anniversary.
A nice church building was erected midway between the two churches on some land belonging to Nix and Tassie Cathcart near the W.O. Womack store place. In January 1928, this building was destroyed by a storm. The church was rebuilt on some land belonging to Lona Belle Frazier, which was more convenient to the public.
During the pastorate of Rev. Alfred Pistole, the present church was built. Bro. Pistole made a contract with the church to build a new church building using any usable material from the old church. He preached the first sermon in the new building in November 1950.
Early pastors were J.M. Stewart, William Simpson, J.H. Davis, J.H. Grime, Stephen Robinson, P. Carney, W.R. Whitlock, James Davenport, G.H. Atnip, J.H. Carroll, J.H. Ramsey, M.T. Crips, Grady Craddock, Clay Boss, J.H. Harvey, J.H. Taylor, Enzo Mathis, Joe Bush, Alton Neville, Bill Owen, Gary Akins, David Carden and Mike Gay.
Out of this church, God has called several ministers, namely: J.W. Davis, M.T. Crips, Walter Cathcart, Kenneth Mason Tramel, Donald Owens, and Grady Crook. Brown Cubbins and David Frazier were called to preach after they left the Dry Creek Church.In 2001, the church asked "one of its own," the Rev. Donald Owens, to come help the church as the Interim Pastor. Later, he accepted the pastorate and currently remains pastor of the church.
Under his leadership, the Dry Creek Baptist Church has added six new Sunday School rooms, two bathrooms and a nursery, a new Fellowship Hall with a commercial kitchen, expanded the old auditorium for greater seating capacity, the choir loft was enlarged and a new baptistery was installed.
On Wednesdays, a full meal is cooked and served to an average of near one hundred people. Bible study, Children and Youth Programs Youth follows the dinner. Each Sunday, Dry Creek Church continues Sunday School, morning and evening worship services.
Dry Creek Baptist Church annual events are "Homecoming," Revivals, Vacation Bible school, Easter daybreak service followed by country breakfast, Sunday service and special evening service with Crucifixion, special Memorial Day service, Thanksgiving service with meal, and Christmas "Birth of Christ" Play.
RURAL MAIL DELIVERY
Rural mail carriers for the Dry Creek Community were Andy Estes, Oscar Davis, Albert and Lois Bass of Liberty, Joe Howard Elledge of Dowelltown, and Rusty Caplinger of Smithville.
There was a post office, Youngblood, many years ago located in the Middle of the Dry Creek Valley. The early mail carriers had a difficult time delivering mail because the road meandered over rock, dirt and many times right through the creek bed.
Andy Estes was the mailman who traveled by foot to carry the mail from Dowelltown to Youngblood because the rough conditions made the road impassible. K.C. Cathcart was the postmaster at The Youngblood Post office. Youngblood Post Office opened April 17, 1899, and closed March 15, 1904.
THE DRY CREEK STREAM
The Dry Creek Stream has been a valuable asset to the Dry Creek Valley. For many years there was an abundance of fish in the stream. Families relied on the stream for fish to eat.
Harmful debris has entered into the Dry Creek Stream and killed the fish. The water is used in watering cattle and livestock.
This stream of water has always served as a swimming pool for the children living in this area. There is a series of "slick rocks" near the Frazier Farm that children have enjoyed and are still making it their favorite place to slip, slide and swim.
Dry Creek Baptist Church baptized their members in the stream for over one-hundred years and continues to do so upon request. Many other churches use the creek for baptisms.
It has been home to the wild ducks and the large wading bird with long legs and a long straight bill, the Crane. They can be seen at dusk flying high over the water. Dry Creek residents love the "honk" of the Cranes.
TREES
There are many different types of trees growing in this area. Near the farms, many families have an orchard including apple, pear, peach and cherry trees for their fruit. Growing in and around the wooded areas are wild plum, mulberry, and persimmon trees.
A variety of Oak trees along with Ash, Beech, Boxelder, Cedar, Elm, Hackberry, Yellow-Popular, Maple, Sourwood, and Hophornbeam trees are common on the hillsides and the valley floor. Along the creek banks are many beautiful Sycamore and Weeping Willow trees.
Dogwood, redbud, and locust are beautiful blooming trees that make springtime especially beautiful in the valley. Walnut and Hickory trees grow in this area; the nuts are used in food dishes.
In many areas, fruit bushes such as Blackberry, Elderberry, and Huckleberry grow in thick bunches over the hillsides. The berries are picked and used for canning purposes. Many ladies continue to use the same methods today as were used in years gone by when preserving jams and jellies.
INTERESTING POINTS OF DRY CREEK
MILL, MOVIES, VIDEOS
The Cripps' Mill is perhaps the most visited location in the Dry Creek area.
It is known that a man, Harvey Moser, was the "miller" at Cripps' Mill and he kept the Mill in operation during the Civil War. Harvey's son, Daniel Moser, was the "miller" during the early nineteen-twenties.
Daniel Moser's daughter, Charlotte, married William Lee Edge, and he became the "miller." He was the "miller" in the thirties and forties and as long as the Mill stayed in operation. George Cathcart, husband of Lillian Edge, owned the mill in the forties and until it closed.
The Moser families lived on Pine Creek before moving to their home in the Dry Creek Community and located a short distance from Cripps' Mill. The Moser children attended the Mill School where they received most of their formal education.
For many years, the Cripps' Mill was the voting place for the Fourth District and people came to the Mill to vote.
Another interesting place to observe is on the road leading to the Frazier Hollow. On the Bobby Joines Property, there is a well-preserved log smokehouse built and used by the ancestors of Henry Buchannan Frazier.
The Dry Creek Community is known for having many caves. In the book, "Caves of Tennessee," by Thomas C. Barr, Jr., he writes about the Indian Grave Point Cave, the Frazier Hollow Cave, and mentions the Cripps' Mill Cave.
According to Mr. Barr, the Indian Grave Point Cave is the largest cave in DeKalb County and one of the largest in Tennessee. It is located on the Jimmy Womack Farm. It is 125 feet above the floor of the Dry Creek Valley at an elevation of about 780 feet. There are pools of water in places which form small lakes. Dripping waterfalls inside the cave results in making it damp and muddy. The entrance is about 30 feet wide. There are four large rooms and at two places it drops to a low, wide crawl. The largest room is names "Cascade Dome." It is 120 feet long, 75 ft. wide and 120 ft high.
Near the entrance of the cave, two other parts branch off from the main passage. There is a lower passage of two deep pools of water. It is necessary to climb up a steep stone to reach the upper part of the cave extension. Near the top of the climb is a shallow pool 50 ft long and 30 ft wide. Rock formations surrounding the cave are limestone.
Boys and girls of this community have spent many hours exploring and enjoying this cave. Other notable groups visiting this cave include Vanderbilt University students who have spend many weekends scurrying up and down the rocks while observing the many beautiful stalactites, stalagmites and pools of water.
There have been many occasions when it was necessary to call in the local rescue squad due to individuals either being injured or lost in the cave. All were eventually found and carried out to safety.
Frazier Hollow Cave is located on the Bobby Joines Property on the North side of the hollow at an elevation of 640 ft. The entrance of the cave is 12 ft. wide and 4 ft. high. A stream of water flows out of a low passage. This cave can be explored inward to only about 100 ft. The surrounding rock is limestone.
In his book, Mr. Barr made mention of the Cripps' Mill Cave. This cave has a large body of water at the entrance and can be explored a short distance on its right side. This cave served community residents as a picnic area for many years. There was a trout farm at this location in the mid 1970's, where the public could come and fish for trout. Joe and Nancy Cassity and family owned and operated the farm at one time. Later, the Luna's were the owners of this farm for a short period of time.
On the Daniel Moser, Bernice and Nettie Jim Edge, Bruno Frazier Property, there is the Fox Cave which can be explored up to eight miles.
In the upper part of Dry Creek, in what was then Warren County, there are two caves where the Ebeneezer Snow Family lived. Mr. Snow did not build a barn but cut a few poles and placed across the mouth of the caves which provided him with a stable for his horses. As late as the 1970's, the owner was using them to keep hogs.
There is one other large cave, The Goat Cave, located near the Mill. Its entrance is small. Huge rocks are near the entrance which is very dark. A light is needed to see inside this cave. After you climb upward and over the big rocks, there are large mounds of bat guano manure. Hundreds of bats live here.
At the bottom of the cave, there is a beautiful Spring of good water. The Shelie Parsley, Claude Stanley and Lloyd Stanley Families used the Spring Water for cooking and drinking.
Dry Creek Community is blessed to have several great artists who live and work in this area. Rob Harvey, who once had a big dairy farm is now a gifted pottery maker and has his Studio near his home. At the Old Homer Frazier Farm, in the Frazier Hollow, live William and Sharon Kooienga both of whom are talented artists. William works with wood by making tables, benches, cutting boards, and other wooden craft items in his new studio near their log house. Sharon is a weaver and dyes fabric.
Because of its natural beauty and surroundings, the movie "I Walk the Line," starring Gregory Peck and Tuesday Weld was filmed on location at the farm of Valter and Vernie Fuston located at the upper part of Dry Creek.
On the Woodrow Frazier Property, Ray Stevens filmed his video, "Everything Is Beautiful." He had his piano setting on the wooden bridge over the Dry Creek Stream.
Children of the neighborhood sat on the gravel bar and in the shallow water and sang "Everything Is Beautiful" while Ray played the piano. Joe Ronald Frazier, II was one of the children singing.
CEMETERIES
The Dry Creek Valley has some sacred grounds known as "graveyards" or cemeteries.
In the Upper Dry Creek Area, there is the George Cemetery. An odd thing about this cemetery is that the infants and children are buried on one side of the cemetery and the adults on the other side. Some of the names of those buried there are Estes, Stanley, George, and Hale.
On what used to be the Ballinger Property is the Cripps' Cemetery. This is the old homestead of Willie and Ethel Owens and later the Walter and Wilma Cubbins farm.
High on a hillside on the Will Allen Cathcart Farm is the Cathcart Cemetery where twenty-eight people are buried. People buried here include several members of the Cathcart, Cripps, Davis families and Tilman Joines.
Entering the Frazier Hollow Road to the right is the Frazier Cemetery. Buried here are John Larry Frazier and wife, Billie Ann Malone Frazier. James Buchanan and Elisa Davis Frazier, and James Henry Frazier, Jim and Lona Belle Haas Frazier, Maxie Washer (five year old daughter of Greely and Anna Rhea Frazier Washer), and infant twins of Roy and Claudie Frazier are also buried here. On up the hill in the old part is the Henry Frazier Cemetery where many ancestors of the Frazier Family are buried. This is located on the hill southeast of the Robert and Johnnie, Bobby and Mary Joines house.
On the Rob and Nora Harvey Property at the top of a high hill is the Barnes Cemetery. Thomas Jefferson Haas, father of Henry Haas and Lona Haas Frazier, is buried here. Others buried here are L. Rhody, Lumey and Martha Rhody, Braswells, Fraziers, Elledges, Wilsons, Banks and Cripps. There are sixty or more graves marked, fieldstones are unmarked.
There are a few marked graves on the Todd and Barbara Frazier Nuckels Farm (Horace Hubbard/Braswell Cemetery) and on the Michael Nokes Property (Alton and Jennie Hubbard).
The people who once lived in the Dry Creek Valley and their ancestors rest in these graveyards. Their knowledge of this land and their way of life may remain unknown.
Life in the Dry Creek Community has not always been easy. There have been hardships, draughts, as well as floods to endure, mountains to climb, and goals to achieve, but according to historic records, life has been complete.
Families have reared children who have made outstanding citizens in their community and nation.
For generations, the natural resources of this area have helped sustain these people who had fortitude, love in their hearts, and faith for their tomorrows.
In conclusion, the Dry Creek Area has a most interesting history not found in many communities. There is much more that could be written. Look over the mistakes, and enjoy the history of a most beautiful and wonderful place to live, the Dry Creek Valley.
(Written by Louise Frazier, as a special article for the Smithville Review, 2010.)