I found the following info in a book titled, "Tennessee Cousins". Hope it helps someone on the list! As follows -- (SORRY IT IS SO LONG...BUT IT IS INTERESTING!) CHEATHAM COUNTY was established February 28, 1856, out of parts of DAVIDSON, ROBERTSON, DICKSON and MONTGOMERY Counties, all of which were originally the CUMBERLAND DISTRICT and then DAVIDSON COUNTY. Cheatham was so small when established that no part of it was ever taken to make parts or all of any other counties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ...the present site of SPRINGFIELD, which was selected as the County Seat of ROBERTSON COUNTY. ARCHER CHEATHAM donated 30 acres for the County seat in 1796, and later 30 acres more were acquired from Thomas Johnson, which was likewise used. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There were a lot of springs on the lands acquired from cheatham and Johnson, and many others in the vicinity, and hence the name SPRINGFIELD was chosen for the place. It is located on the South side of the Sulphur Fork of Red River. The very first settlers of the locality were ARCHER CHEATHAM, JOHN HUTCHISON, THOMAS DICKSON, JONATHAN FERGUSON, and THOMAS JOHNSON, heretofore mentioned. Col. Cheatham was a farmer and hotel keeper. John Hutchison had also run a hotel in the settlement, & was known as "Squire" Hutchison. THOMAS DICKSON was a oripple, having lost one of his legs. JOHN FERGUSON was a hatter. DR. LEVY NOYES was the first Doctor in Springfield, and did not come until 1802. DR. ARCHIBALD THOMAS came along a little later.The first merchants in Springfield were the MARTIN BROTHERS, and JAMES McMEANS was the first resident lawyer in the town. The first postmaster in Springfield was Nicholas Conrad, The Methodists built the first church & installed REV. WILLIAM PETERS as the first minister. Ministers of all the usual denominations had used the Co. courthouse until churches were erected for their use. Springfield was not incorporated until 1853 and ??aton A. Williams was elected the first mayor of the town. The first courthouse was a log building and was used until 1819. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHEATHAM COUNTY, TENNESSEE TERRITORY FOR CHEATHAM FROM FOUR DIFFERENT COUNTIES The territory necessary for the establishment of CHEATHAM COUNTY,was taken from four other Tennessee Counties, viz, DAVIDSON, ROBERTSON, DICKSON and MONTGOMERY. It was established on February 28, 1856, a short time prior to the War Between the States. It derived its name from NATHANIEL CHEATHAM, who was Speaker of the Tennessee Senate at the time the County was created. The first county court for Cheatham County was held at SYCAMORE MILLS on May 15, 1856. The following magistrates for CHEATHAM COUNTY were presant: W. L. COWER, Chairman. B. F. Binkley J. M. Lee E. L. Hooper Jesse Hooper N. Crockett J. L. Majore R. T. Cupton W. W. Williams A. J. Bright R. L. Weakley. SAMUEL WATSON WAS ELECTED THE FIRST COUNTY JUDGE OF CHEATHAM SAMUEL WATSON was elected the first county judge of Cheatham County and was sworn into office on the first Monday in June, 1856. Land for the courthouse and other county business was bought from a man named LENNOX. The Court Court held it sessions however, at FOREST HILL, a little South of ASHLAND until November, 1857, when it began to hold its first meetings at ASHLAND, selected as the County Seat of the new County. The town of ASHLAND was incorporated in 1859 under the name of ASHLAND CITY, but on account of negligence on the part of the officials its charter was lost, but it was reincorporated many years later. BENJAMIN DARROW is said to have lived near SYCAMORE MILLS as early as 1790. (The ancestor of CLARENCE DARROW, famous Chicago Attorney). JOHN HYDE and HOWARD ALLEY were early settlers near Pleasant View, and ROBERT HEATON and BRAXTON LEE were a ASHLAND CITY (site) in 1796. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------