[465] Fentress County Farm Joins Ranks of State's Century Farms Program

For Release: May 19, 2011
Contact: CANETA HANKINS, CENTER FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, 615-898-2947


FENTRESS COUNTY FARM JOINS RANKS OF STATE’S CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM

Cooper Farm Recognized for Agricultural Contributions

(MURFREESBORO)— Cooper Farm, located in Fentress County, has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reports Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms Program at the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU.
The Century Farms Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have owned and kept family land in continuous agricultural production for at least 100 years.
In 1835, Matthew Wright bought 300 acres in Fentress County for $162. He harvested timber and cleared his land near the east fork of the Obed River for row crops and pastureland and raised corn, wheat, cattle, hogs, sheep and mules. He was married to Margaret Wright, and the couple had seven children.
Matthew Wright sold 200 acres to his son Jacob Wright in 1854 for $500. Jacob also grew a variety of crops on his land, including corn, hay, apples and peaches and raised cattle, sheep, hogs, mules and horses. Jacob also donated land for Wright’s School and Cemetery. Jacob married America (Hinds) Wright, and they were the parents of 14 children.
During the Civil War, Jacob and his family had to hide their valuables from foraging troops from both the Union and Confederate armies.
David Wright, one of Jacob and America Wright’s children, purchased 150 acres from his father in 1896. David grew corn, hay, wheat and cotton on his farm, in addition to raising horses, mules and cattle, and he also planted trees and sold timber. David had a rafting business and floated the timber down the Obed River from his farm to the Cumberland River and Celina and Nashville, where it was sold. David first married Nancy York Hamilton and they had three children – Sarah Jane, Helen and T. C., also known as “Pete.” David’s second wife was Ellen Turner Hamilton.
Sarah Wright Cooper and her husband, Granville, purchased 150 acres from her father in 1929. They produced corn, hay, fruits and vegetables and raised cattle, sheep, mules and hogs. Following family tradition, they donated additional land for the Wright Cemetery. In 1964, Sarah and Granville also donated the land and paid for the construction of the Wrights Chapel Church. Sarah and Granville were the parents of five daughters: Mae, Pearl, Ava, Eva and Ruth.
Upon the death of Sarah Cooper in 1975, her five daughters inherited the family farm. One of their cousins, Casper Wright, also a direct descendent of Matthew Wright bought the property from them in 1978. He harvested timber and grew hay. In 1987, Ruth Cooper and her husband, Cledis, and their sons, Kyle and Carl, bought 178 acres of the original family farm back from Casper Wright. The farm continued to produce timber, hay and beef cattle.
In 1994, Kyle Cooper, the great-great-great grandson of the founder, acquired 104 acres of the family farm. He is the eighth owner of the farm in its 176 years of history. Kyle and his wife, Anita, and their son, Justin, live on the farm and raise hay and beef cattle and some timber products.
Since 1984, the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farms Program.
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit www.tncenturyfarms.org. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132 or 615-898-2947.

• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owner or request jpegs of the farm for editorial use, please contact the CHP at 615-898-2947.



Founded in 1911, Middle Tennessee State University is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution located in Murfreesboro and is the state’s largest public undergraduate institution. In September 2011, MTSU will celebrate its 100th year anniversary with special events and activities throughout the year—kicked off by a Blue-Tie Centennial Gala on Friday, Sept. 9.