Isaac Newton Rawles

Dr. I. N. Rawles was born in Dyer County in 1857. He practiced in his home on corner of Main St. and McGaughey. When he passed away in 1917, Drs. E. H. Baird, J. P. Baird and O. Dulaney purchased the property for $10,000 and expaned the building to become the largest hospital in West Tennessee outside of Memphis.

...

C. C. Mengel Box Company and Mengelwood

Last month, we explored Dyersburg's roots and how it was shaped by the currents of the Forked Deer and Mississippi Rivers. This month, we'll dive deeper into how this connection fostered major industries, bringing us to a truly colossal player in the timber world: The Mengel Company, and its profound impact on Dyer County.

The story begins with a remarkable individual,...

Dyer County was founded in 1823, and Dyersburg soon followed, nestled on the banks of the Forked Deer River. Anyone who has spent time in Dyersburg has heard how the river shaped the town's growth. But looking at the river today, you might wonder, "How could boats of any size navigate this winding stream, often choked with limbs and debris?" That's a great question, and it's central to our history as a river town. Our story as a river town begins even before the steamboat Grey Eagle successfully...

On the evening of October 25, 1917, the northbound Chicago, Memphis & Gulf Railroad passenger train No. 104 made a routine stop for water in the small community of Miston. This railroad, a subsidiary of the Illinois Central, was a vital artery for the region. Onboard was an American Express car managed by messenger C.G. Stovall, and inside it, a safe containing a
substantial payroll. The shipment held over $12,000 in cash—worth nearly $300,000 in today's money—and a heavy load...