History of
Denmark, Madison Co TN

Denmark lies about twelve miles southwest of Jackson and contains about 250 inhabitants. It is in the midst of a rich farming community, and was one of the first places settled in the county. The land on which Denmark stands was opened by Thomas Sanders in 1822. Before the war Denmark did considerable business, but the completion and extension of the railroads have to a great extent taken the trade elsewhere. The place was incorporated in 1854 under the style of mayor and alderman of Denmark. Denmark has had a Presbyterian Church since 1833, a Methodist since 1842, a Baptist since 1871, and a Methodist (colored) since 1873. It sustains a good school. The high school was chartered in 1885 by M. Murchison, Anderson Taylor, J. A. Bryant, J. L. Burton, F. E. Bryant and G. W. Day.
The church at Denmark numbers thirty-six members, with J. P.Kincaid as pastor. The church at that place was erected in 1871. The trustees of the church at that time were Jerry ________, W. Moddell and Joe Newbern. Rev. Finlay preached for the people of Denmark in 1837.
Source: Goodspeed 1886

Denmark would have been as large as Jackson except that history dealt it a cruel fate. Few people have traveled to Denmark or even know where it is. It is located about 10 miles southwest of Jackson. It sits on an old Indian trail, four mounds still mark the trail. The first settlement was on a bluff over Big Black Creek known as Reids Old Mill.
Two brothers named Harbert had a store there. In the 1830's they moved their store to where the town is currently located. By 1840 there were eight stores there along with John Wray's grocery store, a whiskey store and the Meriwethere and Jett Hotel. The stagecoach stopper there on the way to Memphis.
The 1850's it was the most ambitious and promising towns in West Tennessee.. Prosperous Presbyterians built a large church, the Methodists soon followed. The Presbyterians paid their minister Rev. Cyrus Caldwell twelve hundred dollars a year, unheard of salery for the time. The town had a Masonic Lodge with 154 members, a company of National Guards and a brass band.
In 1831 the Denmark Male and Female Academy was chartered. There were 35 students participating in the closing exercises. Both schools had about 150 students.
In 1872 the town seemed to grow smaller. There wee three hardware and grocery stores named MyKissack and Myrton, Bryan and Duncan. W.J. Hudson manufactured carriages, wagons and buggies. Dr. John Tyson was adruggist and physician A.C. Burgess was athe undertaker. Dreams of the railroad coming led to hopes. The Mobile and Ohio and the Mississippi Central and Tennessee Railroads came to Jackson and bypassed Denmark. In 1872 the citizens raised $2500 for a line to be known as the Denmark, Brownsville and Durhamville Railroad. The venture failed. The citizens refused to raise the funds for the Tennessee Midland Railroad believing it would have to come through them anyway.. it didn't. The line was built one mile south through Mercer. Denmark failed as Mercer prospered.
In 1860 seventeen stores burned.. in 1867 a fire destroyed most of the business district. In 1903 three more burned and 12 other buildings and a cotton gin have since burned. Today only a few buildings remain. The Presbyterian Church still stands though it has no congregation. There is a new post office and two homes. Mrs. Robert Hardee, the postmistress lives in a house built by the Harbert brothers. Louise Stevens lives next door in the home of her uncle, Steve Carter.
There are three cemeteries in Denmark - the Presbyterian, Methodist and Old Soldiers cemeteries.
Excerpt from Harbert Alexander ( Sketches of Jackson and Madison County TN
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