Named for the immense number of large beech trees in the river bottom, BEECH RIVER is the largest stream of water in the county. The river rises some seven miles northeast of Lexington, and flows southwest until it reaches the present city limits where it forms Beech Lake. Leaving the man-made lake, it flows south about a mile, forms a semicircle around Lexington, and then runs eastward emptying into the Tennessee River above Perryville. Beech River has several main tributaries. Wilson Branch, now called Town Branch, rises near the Lexington cemetery and flows directly into the river. This branch was named for Samuel Wilson, the founder of Lexington. Wolf Creek, named for timber wolves that inhabited its headwaters at what has been known as Council Woods, rises in Palestine Community and flows east to empty into the river. Lick Branch, named for a salt lick near its origin, is as large as some creeks and rises near what is known as the Fred Woods place and flows east into the river.

PINEY CREEK heads about a mile east of the Highland Ridge near what was known as Thomas Community. The creek flows east a short distance and fills Pine Lake, formed by the dam built by the Beech River Watershed. Piney Creek runs through a canyon known as Pine Knobs. Its Big Knob and Little Knob are a mile in length and are covered with large growths of tall native pine trees, hence the name, Piney Creek. It empties into Beech River after leaving Pine Knobs.

DRY CREEK, so called because it does not run fully during the entire year, rises on what is known as the G. H. Buck place and flows south into the river. A dam forming Sycamore Lake is a part of this creek.

CANE CREEK rises near Highway 100, not far from what was known as the Jones Austin farm, and empties into the river east of the Chesterfield-Middle burg Road. Although dry part of the year, the creek's bottomland still contains rich soil. The creek received its name from the large cane breaks growing along its banks.

To the north, BIG CREEK rises some five miles from Highway 20, forms a lake, then flows directly south into the river.

BROWNS CREEK, named for the early settler Nathaniel Brown, rises north of its lake, flows through south Natchez Trace Park, and forms Pin Oak Lake.

HALEY'S CREEK rises a mile and one-half southwest of the John A. McCall farm, forms Red Bud Lake, then flows directly south to the river.

LICK CREEK, named for the several salt licks near its heading at the Reed School Community, flows south to the river.

HARMON'S CREEK, named for Major John Harmon, rises west of Oak Grove Community and flows south to the river.

OWLS CREEK, named for the large number of owls that roosted nearby, rises from a large spring on what was known as the Bass place and flows directly to the river. Through these tributaries Beech River drains approximately one-third of the county.

Another river, the Big Sandy, rises in the Long Sought Community, flows north through Carroll County, turns slightly east through Benton County, and empties into the Tennessee River in Henry County. Big Sandy rises in a section of sandy land, hence its name. Beaver, North Fork, Big Beaver, and Olive Branch are its tributaries.

CUB CREEK surfaces in the northeast part of the county, forms Cub Creek Lake at Natchez Trace Park, flows east through Decatur County, and empties into the Tennessee River.

DOE CREEK appears a mile north of the Sardis­Scotts Hill Highway and flows through part of Presley Community, southeast into the river.

LITTLE HURRICANE CREEK rises two miles northwest of Sardis and flows into Middleton Creek.

BIG HURRICANE CREEK rises south of Reagan.

MIDDLETON CREEK rises south of Center Hill Community; both enter Chester County and continue to White Oak River, also a tributary of the Tennessee River. All these rivers, creeks, and streams drain the county east of the Highland Ridge.

MIDDLEFORK CREEK, one of the numerous prongs of Forked Deer River, rises near Stegall and McAdams communities, flows in a westerly direction into Madison County. There it joins the south fork and is one of several creeks on the west side of the divide. Another prong rises south of Juno about one mile south of Hwy 20, curves around Huron, then flows west into Middlefork. The north fork, larger than the other two, rises near Bargerton, flows southwesterly and then northwesterly to empty into another prong near the Madison-Carroll County line. Spring and Griffin Creeks are small tributaries.

About six miles on each side of the Highland Ridge are numerous everlasting springs. At one time there were five springs located within 100 yards of the Palestine Church. The main public spring has been in use for over 150 years. Its clear, cool water runs out of a pipe located several inches above ground. The top of the spring is covered with concrete, and 30 inch tiles bank the ground for eight feet. People still stop there to quench their thirst.

An unusual spring, known as Boiling Spring, was located 150 yards behind Palestine Church. Water boiled and foamed out of the ground from an eight to ten foot diameter hole. It has been reported that a person could pitch a fence rail into the hole and watch it disappear, only to see it shoot up and out of the hole later. This spring mysteriously changed location each year but never moved out of a 15 yard radius. Sand and top soil, carried by Wolf Creek, have destroyed this miracle of nature. Today, all that remains of the spring is a small trickle of water.

Transcribed by Christine Walters - Excerpt from "Henderson County" by G. Tillman Stewart 1979