Edward C Harrison's Petition To Open Grist Mill on Duck River

Transcription of Bedford Co TN Court Minutes

March Term 1849

Upon the petition of E.C. Harrison by his attorney John P Steele, which was this day filed in court representing to the count that he is desirous to erect a grist mill on Duck River near to where Hiram Harris now lives. that he is the owner of the banks of said River on the west side at the point where he wishes to erect said mill and one Wm G Cowan is the proprietor of the land on the east side of said river who is not willing your petitioner should erect said mill.

It is therefore ordered by the court that a summons ____ to said Cowan to be and appear at this next term of this court to answer to the allegations in said petition.  It is further ordered by the court that Jacob Fisher, John Streeter, Benjamin Earnheart & John F Thompson, four honest freeholders citizens of said county be & they are hereby required to go upon the premises, lay off and value on oath, one acre of the land of said Cowan.

Notes:

Edward C Harrison's occupation is listed as a miller in the 1850 Census(the visitation date was 31st Oct 1850).  I don't know if he opened that grist mill as I've not found either party in the minutes for the next term. I've not located Edward's family in 1860 and this may be because they were moving to Ray County, Missouri where they are enumerated in 1870. Edward C Harrison is a son of William Harrison(1750-1833) and Elvira Cooper Harrison(1770-1851).

Sources:

• Bedford County Tennessee Court Minutes Books 1848- 1852, p 55, March Term 1849, EC Harrison petition to build Grist Mill on Duck River near where Hiram Harris currently lives; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-D3C6-999G-F : accessed 8 Dec 2025), IGN 8659600, Image 35 of 844.
• 1850 US Federal Population Schedule, Bedford County Tennessee, District 7, p 142(stamped), Dwelling 32, Family 32, William G Cowan(line 13); image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DC6Q-LT4 : accessed 8 December 2025), IGN 4191095(item 2 of 2), Image 121-391, Entry for William G Cowan and Sarah Cowan, 1850.
• 1850 US Federal Population Schedule, Bedford County Tennessee, District 8, p 157(stamped), Dwelling 63, Family 63, k Edward C Harrison (line 20); image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DC6Q-21Y : accessed 8 December 2025), IGN 4191095(item 2 of 2), Image 150 of 391, Entry for Edward C Harrison, 1850.