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TNGenes provides a variety of genealogical data for Putnam, Jackson and White Counties in Tennessee.

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Featured Abstracts

Due to the Courthouse fire in 1899, many of Putnam County's marriage records were lost. This abstract is an attempt to reconstruct the lost marriages from a variety of other sources.
This transcription contains obituary notices from The Cookeville Press and the Putnam County Herald . There are hundreds of obituaries from these papers.
This section contains abstracts from the early Putnam County deed books. Fortunately, most of Putnam County's deed books survived the 1899 fire.
Putnam County History

Allison Murders - 1875

A crime that captured the nation's attention.

Around midnight, a drunken Jo and Teek Brassell, Dol Bates, and Dob Johnson traveled to the Allison House with the intent to rob the occupants of the $4000 believed to be stored in the house. During the robbery, Teek killed Russ Allison. The next day during their apprehension, Teek killed John Allison, a brother to Russ.

Jo and Teek Brassell were tried, convicted, and hung for the murder of Russ Allison. Dol Bates served six years in the Tennessee State Prison. Dop Johnson turned States Evidence and was never tried for any crime.

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Allison Murders - 1875

Brassell Brothers

Joseph and George Andrew "Teek" Brassell were hanged 27 March 1878 on Billy Goat Hill.

Putnam County History

Stagecoach Robbery - 1882

A robbery that shocked the community.

Early in the morning of 30 October 1882, Bugg Hunt, John Edwards and Tom Edwards stopped a stagecoach on it's way to Lebanon. At gunpoint, the passengers were robbed of their belongings.

Bugg Hunt and John Edwards were captured, tried and served time in a Federal Prison. Tom Edwards was never caught.

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Stagecoach Robbery - 1882

Stagecoach

From the National Archives

Putnam County History

New Courthouse - 1900

On 13 May 1899, the Putnam County Court House burned.

How the fire started is a mystery. It was believed at the time that someone started the fire in the Circuit Court room. Many of the county records were lost.

After taking bids from several contractors, Joe F. Yeargin was contracted to build the new courthouse. It was completed about 1900.

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New Courthouse - 1900

Putnam County Courthouse

The new Putnam County Courthouse, circa 1900.