[211]STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES TWO WILSON COUNTY FARM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 24, 2008
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947

STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES TWO WILSON COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Bloodworth Homeplace and Kenton Farm Recognized for Agricultural Contributions

(MURFREESBORO)—The Bloodworth Homeplace and the Kenton Farm, both late-19th century farmsteads located in Wilson County, have been designated as Tennessee Century Farms, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is located on the MTSU campus.
• Located 10 miles west of Lebanon is the Bloodworth Homeplace that was purchased in 1880 by Wilson Bloodworth. Although the farm was formally established as Bloodworth’s in the 1880s, the land previously belonged to John O. Cage, who owned hundreds of acres on the Wilson County side of the Cumberland River. The family believes that Wilson Bloodworth lived on the property in a cabin many years before purchasing it from Mr. Cage.
A story that is traditionally told within the family recounts that during the Civil War a Yankee general came to the cabin where Wilson and his family were living to ask if he could spend the night. Bloodworth accommodated the soldier, and the next morning when fighting began on the other side of the Cumberland River in Sumner County, the general told men to shoot above or below Bloodworth home.
Wilson was to married Alsey Eagen and they had seven children. Their names were Harriett Elizabeth, Webb Benton, Hugh Sumner, James Knox Polk, Mary Jane, Sarah Cornelia and Henry Ewing. The farm produced a wide variety of crops and livestock, including corn, wheat, vegetables, turkeys, chickens, cattle, hogs, hickory nuts and walnuts. The family reports that the farm had an outside kitchen, where they “kept the spinning wheel, spinning reel and the loom on which Aunt Sally made rugs.” In addition to making rugs, the women also gathered with other seamstresses who came to the house to make clothes for their families.
After Wilson and Alsey died, their children continued to live on the farm. Henry Ewing married Addie Elsea and they had six children: Frank Wilson, James Hugh, Flora Soper, Durward Escue, Ruth Miller and Henry Louis. According to the family’s records, when Louis was between 3 and 4 years of age, Addie died. As a result, their aunts—Harriet, Sally and Mary—helped Henry raise the children.
In 1953, Henry Louis Bloodworth and wife Evelyn Anderson Bloodworth became the owners of the property. They had two children, Ann Soper and Robert Henry. On the 35 acres, the family raised corn, tobacco, hay, vegetables and blackberries. In addition to working on the farm, Louis was a civil engineer who helped construct the Cheatham County Dam at Ashland City; the Tennessee Valley Authority Steam Plant in Gallatin; and the Veterans Memorial Bridge on the Cumberland River on Highway 109 between Sumner County and Wilson Counties.
While he worked on many engineering projects, Louis was also a member of the Farm Bureau and the La Guardo Church of Christ. Evelyn taught at local schools over
the years, including La Guardo’s elementary, Coaks School, Munsey Maple Hill and she
retired from Byars Daudy School in Lebanon after teaching for 31 years. In addition to her teaching duties, Evelyn was a member of the American Parent-Teacher Association, the Retired Teachers Association and the ADK Society.
Today, the farm is owned by Ann Soper Bloodworth Boyd, the
great-granddaughter of the founder. Ann belongs to the Wilson County Farm Bureau and the La Guardo Home Demonstration Club. She recalled being very active in 4-H during her grammar school years. An excellent seamstress, Ann often made dresses and received recognition by winning first prize for one of her dresses and selling other dresses at the State Fair in Nashville.
Currently, Ann’s son, Jeff, and Walter B. Butler work the land and raise vegetables, hay, cattle, chickens and ducks. A two-pen dogtrot log house remains on the property.
• Barry Cooper Kenton established the Kenton Farm in 1891. Married to Clarenda Howell, the couple had one child, Thomas Chapman Kenton. On 108 acres, the family raised corn, tobacco and cattle. Kenton continued to acquire property and at his death in 1937 and “owned approximately 1,200 acres on Benders Ferry and the surrounding community,“ according to family records.
The second generation to own the property was Thomas Chapman Kenton and wife Mary Etta Jones. Their children were Nelle Geneva, Icie Lee, Ridley Wesley, Boyd B. Sonny and Bess. During their ownership, the farm produced cattle, tobacco and vegetables. In 1937, Bess Kenton Williams obtained the land. Bess and her husband, J. Luther Williams, raised cattle and tobacco.
The current owner and great-great-grandson of the founder, Richard Kent Dudley, acquired the farm in 1997, and today, the farm supports cattle, goats, and vegetables.
“These two farms, along with the 67 other Wilson County Century Farms, were honored at the annual Century Farm luncheon at the Wilson County Fair in August,” Hankins said, adding that Wilson County continues to lead the state in the number of certified Century Farms.

About the Century Farms Program

The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign denoting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.

**ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owners or request jpegs of the farms, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.