Bedford County was formed in 1807 from Rutherford County and named for Thomas Bedford. The first settlements in this county were probably t hose made in 1805 or 1806 by Clement Cannon near the site of Shelbyville, by Philip Burrow, Freeman Burrow and others on Thompson creek, by John Blackwell near three Forks on Duck river and by William McMahon and Matt and Barkley Martin on Garrison Fork. Other early settlers were Mrs. Mary Scruggs, William Hix, Robert and Henry Hastings, Sally Sailors, Joseph Tillman, James Reagan, David Floyd, Thomas Gibson and Cuthbert Word. A number of revolutionary soldiers were pioneers - Colonel Barkley Martin and his brother Captain Matt, with five of their brothers, fought seven years under Washington.

In 1808 the county was organized at the house of Mrs. Payne near the head of Mulberry creek, which place, when the county was reduced the next year, became a part of the new county of Lincoln. By the legislature an act was passed Nov. 14, 1809, providing for the appointment of John Atkinson, William Wood, Barthell Martin, Howell Dandy and David McKissack to locate a county seat within two miles of the center of the county. John Lane and Benjamin Bradford were later added to this commission. The county seat was temporarily located at the home of Amos Balch, two and a half miles wouthwest of the present Shelbyville. In May 1810, the ocunty seat was permanently located at Shelbyville, Clement Cannon donating 100 acres for the purpose. The town was incorporated Oct. 7, 1819. In 1810 the population of the county was 8,242. In 1830 it had increased to 30,396 and was then the most populous in the state. It has been further reduced from time to time to form new counties or parts of counties.

The first court house was erected in 1810 or 1811. The chancery court convened for the first time in 1836, B.L. Ridley presiding. Among the early members of the bar were Archibald Yell, who afterwards became a distinguished citizen of Arkansas, William Gilehirst, I.J. Frierson, William H. Wisener, Henry Cooper, Hugh L. Davidson adn Thomas C. Whitesides. Early physicians were Doctors J.G. Barksdale, Grant Whitney, James Kincade, Frank Blakemore, G.W. Fogleman and John Blakemore. An early school, established at Bell Buckle in 1820 was Salem Academy. The first school of consequence taught in the county of which there is record was started in 1815 or 1816 three miles east of the present Wartrace by Rev. George Newton, who was a classical scholar, according to tradition. Dixon Academy was established in Shelbyville in 1820. The Webb School at Bell Buckle is one of the most famous preparatory schools in the South. Professor W.R. Webb principal, was elected to the short term of the U. S. Senate in 1913.

It is believed the earliest church or "meeting house" was Salem, built about 1807 perhaps a half mile from Shelbyville. In 1816 the Methodist Annual Conference was held at this church. Rev. John Brooks, whose little volume of reminiscences is mentioned in another chapter, once "rode the circuit" in Bedford County.

The county furnished a full company to the War of 1812, and it was present at the battle of New Orleans. The company was commanded by Capt. Barrett. Remembered members were John Farrer, William Hazlett, James Gowen, Michael Wamack, John L. Neil, three brothers, James, Philip and William Burrows, John Casteel, William Wood, Sally Sailors, Robert Ferguson, William P. Finch, John Pool, Andrew Mathus, Townsend Fugett, Wesley Rainwater, Benjamin Webb, Martin Hancock, J.L.W. Dillard, John Murphey, Moses Pruitt and James Scott. A full company under Captain Hunter saw active service in the second Seminole war. Remembered volunteers: Lewis Tillman, William Wood, Albert Smell, John Hudlow, John Stone, Standards Thomas and Abraham McMahon. When the war with Mexico came on, a company of Bedford Countians went to the front under Captain E.W. Frierson. In the war between the states the county furnished almost as many troops to the Northern as to the Southern armies.

Present population of Bedford County is 22,667.

From the History of Tennessee and Tennesseans Lewis Publishing Co. 1913