Adam, Here is what Joe W. Stout sent to the Weakley Co. list a few months ago on Shade's Bridge: "Prior to 1828 the only way to cross the South Fork of the Obion River was with the aid of a foot-log. Fording was possible in places a few times during the year. Shade's Bridge is a crossing that has been in use since 1828. Shadrach Madison, who went by the name of Shade Madison, operated a ferry at this spot from 1828 until 1833 when a bridge was built. He was a 'free man of color.' The 1832 December Term of Gibson County Court ordered that Henry Capps be appointed overseer on the Paris Road from Shadrach Madison's ferry to the county line and have all the lands north of the South Fork of the Obion River within the bounds of Gibson County to therein under his direction. At that time this area was in Gibson County and now is a part of Weakley County due to the swap of 1837. The September and December term of court of 1833 ordered the building of a bridge. The court minutes of 1833 refers to Shade's Ferry and later the court referred to the crossing as Shadrach Madison's Bridge or Shade Madison's Bridge or in some cases, Shade's Bridge. Shadrach Madison was a free man of color born about 1792 in Virginia. His wife was a mulatto slave, born about 1804 in Virginia. Shadrach must have bought his wife from a slave owner, otherwise he would not have had the right to set her free, which he did. Shade Madison was the first person to be indicted for murder in Gibson County in 1832. He was found not guilty. For many years Shade's Bridge has been a favorite place for being baptized. >From the time the bridge was built in 1833 and during the War Between the States this was the only bridge crossing the South Fork of the Obion River. A brief skirmish between the "Clairborne Gang" along with other Southerners, and Union troops on the way to Shiloh ended with the Southerners having to flee because their powder was wet. After the Union troops had passed, the Southerners burned the bridge which was a little late. The present Shade's Bridge Road from Greenfield is a winding road running to Shade's Bridge and then runs due east through 'Stafford's Store and Flytown' all the way across the county line into Carroll County and Christmasville. The road crossing Shade's Bridge goes to the legendary 'Skullbone' about a mile and a half into Gibson Co." Patti