Lexington is near the center of Henderson County and is 720 feet above sea level. It was chosen the County Seat in 1821 and named in honor of the historic town of Lexington, Massachusetts, where the untrained Americans defeated the British Regulars in the first battle of the Revolutionary War. Before the entering of the land of Samuel Wilson in the spring of 1821 where Lexington now stands, the forest was undisturbed by a woodsmans ax; the soil was unbroken by a single furrow of the plowman. Everything was as nature had planted it. The huge oaks lifted their branches high into the air and left a space vacant between them and the mother earth except for their own bare trunks. Hovering closely upon the ground were wild peas and grasses. Animal life was plentiful, the wild pigeons, turkeys, and deer ranging at will. Nature, indeed, ruled supreme. As has already been stated, the settlers following Samuel Wilson were Dr. John A. Wilson, Abner Taylor, and others. The town of Lexington was laid off in accordance with the position of the house of Samuel Wilson. That is the reason that the town is not sitting "straight with the world". The streets were given a bearing north forty-seven degrees east and were made eighty feet wide. The lots were laid off in rows around the square beginning at the northeast corner and numbering 1, 2, 3, etc. around the square to the place of beginning. Then another row was started and numbered in the same order, the total number amounting to 104. [See Chapter III for other information upon the organization of the town of Lexington, and Chapter IX for the schools and churches of it.]

Lexington has almost always been blessed with church services. The first Sunday School was conducted perhaps by Mrs. Hellen C. Jones, who had come south from Burlington, Vermont to be a governess in the home of Judge Henry M. Taylors father and who soon afterwards married J. W. S. Jones. Mrs. Jones would invite the children to her home for Sunday School and would even call the children in from the streets. This was some fifteen years before the Civil War. The town has been favored with a newspaper for many years, however, most of the old records have been destroyed, and we cannot give accurate account of them. A man by the name of Musgrove published a newspaper about forty-five years ago in a frame building near the present site of Stegalls. Captain S. A. Mynders published a monthly magazine called the "Public Educational Review". There was published the "Lexington Eagle" at an early date. Mr. Will Teague of north of Lexington, who lost a leg about thirty years ago, worked in connection with these papers. About 1857 the Lexington Dispatch" was established with H. C. Henry as editor and proprietor. The "Advance" was published by G. B. Davis and later the "Advance-News" by W. T. Hawkins.

The "Lexington Progress" was established in April 1884. W. V. Barry was its publisher. Since that time it has been owned and operated by W. V. Barry and Sons. The "Lexington Republican" was established January 1, 1894 by H. P. Barnes and Felix Creasy. The machinery was brought to Lexington by Rev. J. W. Drake, who published the church paper, "Central Methodist," for about six months. Barnes and Creasy bought the machinery from him, but later sold it. Mr. Creasy bought it back in 1904 and has published the "Lexington Republican" ever since. Rev. Fleetwood Ball is very active in its articles. Lexington has had many noted activities, and has been and still is a flourishing town. But dame fortune has not always smiled on it. Many disastrous fires have poured out, as it were, their pented wrath upon the little city, and with the possible exception of one or two buildings, its entire business section has been utterly destroyed, to say nothing of some twenty or thirty desirable homes and residences, including three hotels.

But the citizenship of Lexington is not composed of the kind that are ready to fold their hands and quit, because adversity has more than once knocked at their door. In the face of almost unsurmountable financial, and other difficulties, they set about to rehabilitate their fortunes, and to retrieve their loss, and today we point with pride to some one hundred business enterprises of more or less importance, listed as follows: The Central State Bank was organized in 1907 by E. J. Timberlake, who first served as cashier of the Bank of Lexington, which was the first bank ever organized in the County. After about two years service in the capacity as cashier of the Central State Bank, Mr. Timberlake died, and was succeeded by R. A. Lewis, who, for several years, had been associated with him as assistant cashier of the Bank of Lexington. About 1911, Mr. T. Edwards was elected president and remained in that capacity until his death in 1929, when he was succeeded by R. A. Lewis as President, with Geo. H. Maxwell as cashier. At present Claude A. Fesmire is assistant cashier, and R. O. Pope, bookkeeper. The Bank has a capital stock of $40,000.00 with $12,500.00 undivided profits, and total assets of more than a half million dollars. And from the outset, the institution has enjoyed a successful career. In 1923 The First National Bank was organized by John A. McCall, with J. W. Stewart President, C. H. Johnston Vice-President, John A. McCall Cashier, W. B. Wilkinson assistant cashier. This bank has a Capital Stock of $25,000.00, with surplus and profits of $50,000.00 and with resources amounting to $550,000.00. Its officers deserve praise and credit for its unprecedented success.

Lexington also has one mammoth wholesale grocery firm, with new and well equipped bottling works and an ice cream factory operating in connection with same; eight retail groceries and feed stores; five dry goods and clothing dealers; three general stores carrying mixed stock; three drug stores; two variety stores; five hardware, furniture, and implement dealers; two undertaking establishments; one poultry and produce house; two meat markets; three barber shops; one dry cleaning and pressing shop; one jewelry and optical store; two hotels; four regular cafes and restaurants; and four dispensing founts. In addition to the foregoing, Lexington has one big lumber concern carrying a full line of builders material of all kinds, including plumbing and electric fixtures. This company also operates a planing mill in connection with its yard and sheds, and is one of Lexingtons most outstanding and successful business enterprises. Beginning in a small way about twenty-five years ago with limited capital, Threadgill Bros. engaged in the lumber business, and the ever increasing demand for building material has forced them from time to time to seek larger and more commodious quarters, until finally two large brick sheds were erected, a or in 36,000 square feet of floor space and storage room. Afterwards the Threadgill Lumber Company was organized, which now occupies their spacious office and store room on the corner of Main & Henry Streets. Lexington also has an ice plant; light, power, and water works; a machine shop and strainer factory; two gins with six and three unit capacities respectively; four authorized auto sales agencies; four wholesale gas distributing stations; three repair garages; fifteen gas and oil filling stations; two blacksmith and repair shops; two shoe hospitals; two large and adequate sheds for sorting, packing, and shipping tomatoes; two coal yards; two grist mills; one radio shop; and one picture show.

This year the town has erected a magnificent fair building and gymnasium and a new city hall. These two buildings are for the benefit of the people of Lexington and the County. They are buildings that any town or county should feel proud of. Lexington was first incorporated by an act of the legislature October 9, 1824. Its charter was to run fifty years, but it has been renewed several times. During the seventies and at other times it has been without a charter. At present it has its Charter with Mr. W. R. Holland as its Mayor. Mr. Holland is one of Lexingtons leading citizens and is worthy of many remarks here, but space will not permit. In 1922, with the railroad terminal being moved from Lexington to Bruceton, the town lost over 500 people, yet it has increased in population over a period of ten years including the time of this misfortune. The census of 1920 shows Lexington to have a population of 1,792. That of 1930 a population of 1,823, or an increase of 31 despite the loss of over 500 in 1922. This speaks well for Lexington. This year the town sold its franchise to own and operate electric power and light to the Tennessee Electric Power Company for the sum of $250,000.00, which sum has enabled it to provide better for its citizens. And so far as the author has been able to learn, Lexington is the only town its size in the State totally out of debt and with money in its treasure. Lexington is a good town and a fine place in which to live.