Marker Dedication Denotes McKenzie's Origin

Marker dedication denotes McKenzie's origin

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A new historical marker resides in the downtown McKenzie park. A Saturday afternoon

ceremony was abbreviated by heavy storms as Mayor Patty Edwards and Martha McKenzie

Carpenter, the great granddaughter of founder James Monroe McKenzie attempted to dedicate

the marker.

Mrs. Carpenter said she pursued the idea of erecting the marker at the urging of Dr.

Howard Smith and wife, Marion.

Last week, crews from the McKenzie Public Works Department and Carroll County Electric

cleared an area for the marker. It is situated just north of the gazebo and west of the

veteran's walk.

Because the inclement weather/forced the ceremony to be cut short, Mrs. Carpenter was not

able to give her prepared speech, but did pass along the contents of that text to The

Banner.

"We are here to dedicate this marker to James Monroe McKenzie for his contribution to the

development of this little town. Some newcomers may have wondered where the town got its

name. James Monroe McKenzie was born February 14,1818 and probably was named for President

James Monroe who came to office about that time. He came to West Tennessee with his

father. Captain John, along with some settlers - Sneads, Gilberts, Pates, Ridleys, Bowdens,

and others. Little communities sprang up where these families staked their claims.

The railroad began coming through in the 1850s taking land for the right-of-way as they

needed it. The Memphis and Ohio line, later the L&N, was the first line with passenger

and freight service from Memphis to Bowling Green, beginning in 1861. The N&W had begun

laying track from Nashville to the west but the Civil War interrupted the construction.

After the war, work continued and eventually the two lines crossed at McKenzie. In March

1861, James Monroe had donated 10 acres of land on the north side of the N&W tracks to

construct a depot. Subsequently a passenger depot was built right at the crossing and a

freight office a little to the west. They called this McKenzie Station. When the town was

incorporated in 1869, the name 'stuck' When scheduled train travel was established, the

railroads had to publish timetables so they had to name the stops. In 1870, a 112' x 20'

freight platform was built on each side of the freight office with rail sidings on each

side. Later a concrete platform was laid between the main line and the freight siding."

The script continued by reading, "James Monroe worked for good schools, churches and

government. He married Martha Louisa Coleman and they had eight children. The two oldest

boys, James Albert and John David practiced medicine in Bradford for many years and came

back here to retire. They build identical houses on Stonewall, one of which was razed two

years ago. Malcolm became an attorney, practicing in McKenzie and Huntingdon before going

to Oklahoma, where he practiced law and was an agent for the Pawnee Indians. Today the

name Malcolm McKenzie is still known in the legal profession in Oklahoma City and Tulsa

through some of Malcolm's children. Clinton Atkin was the youngest son and he too went

west.   He was there when the land was opened up for homesteaders so all his life he was

involved in real estate and oil. He is the one who gave McKenzie its first swimming pool

on Stonewall.

My grandfather, George W. was station agent for the railroads in McKenzie and in Dickson

for 55 years, James Monroe also had three daughter, Callie, Sally, and Gussie who marked

local businessmen and lived near the rest of their family.

James Monroe died in 1873 before Mt. Olivet (cemetery) was established. He could have been

buried in the Gilbert Cemetery or on McKenzie land, but it is assumed he was moved to

Mount Olivet where his wife and all the children and spouses are buried.

McKenzie has always been a good place to live.   Folks were interested in having good

schools, good churches and keeping an eye on their children. The town has responded to

national emergencies, sending their boys to the service, supporting the Red Cross and War

Bond campaigns. There have always been those planting flowers to make the town pretty,

book clubs to keep up to date on what was going on, and church circle meetings. Many

former McKenzians and their children have excelled in the field of education, military,

athletics and religion. I am sure the young people coming up now will accomplish even more

with the opportunities open to them today. And when they become famous, I hope they will

always mention they got their station in this little town, even if it's through a great

grandfather or grandmother. I hope those who choose to leave McKenzie will always have a

longing to return someday. I honestly believe the happiest people in the world are those

who were born and raised here and never left. I still get home sick sometimes and when I'm

on the way up here, along about Jarrell Switch, the air seems to smell better, the trees

greener, and I drive a little faster."

                                                            submitted by Jere R Cox