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Please add profiles of those who were born, lived or died in DeKalb County, Tennessee.
Official Website
DeKalb County was formed in 1837 from land in Cannon, Warren and White counties. Historian believes that the first settlers in the county were at Liberty and came from Maryland in 1797. If so, Addison Puckett was the first settler. She may have come over the Cumberland Mountains, although some sources claim she came down the Ohio, up the Cumberland to Nashville, and then overland about 69 miles.
DeKalb County was the site of several saltpeter mines, the main ingredient of gunpowder, and was obtained by leaching the earth from several local caves. Overall Cave was named for Abraham Overall who moved from Luray, Virginia, and settled near the present site of Liberty in 1805. He reportedly had many slaves and owned a large plantation on which Overall Cave is located. Two saltpeter leaching vats in the cave may date from the War of 1812, although this area was mined again during the Civil War. Other caves in DeKalb County that were mined for saltpeter include Avant Cave, located near Dowelltown, Indian Grave Point Cave, located in the Dry Creek Valley, and Temperance Saltpeter Cave, located near Temperance Hall.
Adjacent Counties
Cities, Towns & Communities
- Alexandria
- Belk
- Dowelltown
- Liberty
- Midway
- Smithville (County Seat)
- Temperance Hall
Links
DeKalb County, TN Genealogical Association
Land Deed Genealogy of Dekalb County, Tennessee (1868-1885) by Thomas Partlow
