Order Cases Online
The files located in the Tennessee Supreme Court Cases represent an especially valuable resource for historical and genealogical research at the Tennessee State Library and Archives [TSLA].
Use quotes for an exact search. ex. "J. W."
View Entry | Year | Case Name | County | Cause/Crime | Case Description | Division | Location | # Pages | Order |
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View Entry | 1879 | A. E. Burr & J.T. Burr v. Thomas Graves& James S. Richardson | Shelby | Petition for Injunction | West | Range: 84 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 141 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1896 | A. Setliff v. North Nashville Building & Savings Association | Davidson | Petition to Halt Sale |
Setliff borrowed about $3,000 from the defendant association in 1889 and in return executed a mortgage deed in trust with John Richardson as trustee. He has paid $3,882 to the Association on the mortgage since but the interest accrued at the time of the late monthly payent was $500. The plaintiff therefore paid an additional $382. The defendant claimed Setliff still owed money and attempted to sell the land in trust. Setliff petitioned for a halt of the sale and accounting. Exhibit is share ledger. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1109 | 113 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1947 | American Surety Company v. Isaac M. Shoffner | Claiborne | Debt, Petition on |
Exhibits: copy of application for Bond, copy of check, original check, original application for Bond, affidavit, itemized statement. Origin of Debt: indemnity insurance. |
East | Range: 7 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 582 | 60 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | Arthur Tate& Wife v. W. D. Neill, guardian | Sullivan | Petition for Alimony |
Incomplete case. Case mentions an unnamed child in the suit is identified as the legitimate child of James R. Gibson, deceased. |
East | Range: 5 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 4a | 2 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1922 | Abel Nelson, et al.v. John Bergman, et al | Grundy | Destruction of Property/ Petition to Halt Construction |
Additional defendants: G. I. Frazier and J. B. Hunt. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 448 | 11 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1889 | A. J. Wilson v. John A. Baird et al. | Johnson | Petition for Compensation |
Additional Defendants: Alice and Augenie Baird, Sarah White, Mary A. Stout, James and Elen Davis, G. W. Wilson, Jack C. Wilson and wife Elen Wilson, and William A. Lipford admr., of Andrew Wilson, dec. The plaintiff sued the defendants for a $3,000 payment from the estate of Andrew Wilson for the years of care that the plaintiff and heir provided for his parents Andrew and Elizabeth who both lived with him and he cared for prior to their deaths. |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1831 | 46 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1889 | A. S. Johnson v. George W. Gray et al. | Greene | Petition for Land Recovery |
Johnson sued George and Mary Jane Gray and John Gagley to have a receiver take repossession of land he claimed is his and remove the defendants from said property. |
Middle | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1830 | 110 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1946 | A. G. Shumate v. Claiborne County, et al. | Claiborne | Petition for Compensation |
Additional Defendant: J. Kyle Kivett, County Judge. Complainant, former de jure County Judge, sought to recover the Claiborne County Judge's salary for the years 1942 and 1943. Exhibit: court records. |
East | Range: 6 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 372 | 65 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1935 | A. E. Johnson, et al. v. Arrow Transfer & Storage Co., et al. | Hamilton | Debt, Petition on |
Additional Complainant: A. H. Gould. Additional Defendants: Paul S. Steward, Theodore King, Jr. This bill was filed to recover the sum of $1,000, being the balance upon a contract entered into between the parties for the transfer of a beer agency, Atlas Brewing Company. |
East | Range: 7 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 779 | 178 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1933 | Arthur J. Owens, et al. v. Nena Owens Parker, et al. | Knox | Petitions for Certiorari |
Suit brought by Arther J. Owens and brothers, against their sister Nena Owens Parker. Parker and her husband are accused of fraudulently obtaining a deed to land owned by the Owens' mother, Mrs. Annie Owens, then attempting to sell two tracts of the land. Annie Owens did not own the property free and clear, and was in debt to the Holston Union National Bank. According to Owens' solicitor, multiple errors were made in the filing of the dispute. |
East | Range: 10 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1498 | 31 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1879 | A. G. Buffat v. William Ledgerwood | Knox | Property, Petition to Compel Delive |
Plaintiff was a confederate soldier in the Civil War, at which time he was ordered to get a horse from a certain home. After the war, plaintiff was charged with being a horse thief and required to submit a note for the repayment of the horse. Plaintiff later discovered defendant to be in possession of stolen horse and demanded that horse be returned to him, so that he could return it to the owner. Plaintiff also requested the note be deemed and void since he found the horse and planned to return it |
East | Range: 20 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1639 | 115 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1916 | Battle Creek Coal & Coke Company v. B. Long, Trustee of Marion County, et. Al | Marion | Taxation, Petition to Stop |
Petition to stop the defendants from levying and selling property of the complainant to satisfy taxes due to Marion County. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 77 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1896 | Bridges & Henderson v. D. B. Cooper et al. | Davidson | Debt, Petition on |
Additional Defendants: Sparrel Hill, C. H. and A. B. Benedict, composing the firm of Benedict Bros., D. C. Scales, American Publishing Co., Nashville Savings Bank, Lucius Frierson, H. C. Rinaldi and D. B. Ramsey, North Western Mutual Life Insurance by A. S. Caldwell, Flavius Cooper, and M. D. Cooper. Plaintiffs requested that an accounting of the lands and properties of defendants and necessary foreclosures made to repay debt to plaintiffs from prior judgment in Maury County circuit court. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1111 | 102 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1890 | Buss Machine Works v. Shepard, Mann & Johnson | Knox | Petition for Injunction |
The plaintiff company filed a bill of injunction to prevent the sale of machines by the defendant company under trust deed, regain possession of the machines, and have the title of said machnes divested from defendants. Exhibits include the notes of payment to plaintiff, receipt of delivery of machines, two Western Union messages regarding order and payment, and a bill of lading for machinery in dispute. |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1818 | 160 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1943 | B. E. Biggs, et al. v. Roy H. Beeler, Attorney General, et al. | Polk | Petition for Injunction |
Polk Co. & R. E. McClary successfully challenged the constitutionality of the state's new abolition of the poll tax. In 1943, the General Assembly passed a bill outlawing the poll tax. For years, the tax had been a way of legally suppressing voting privileges of poor whites and African Americans. Under the constitutional provision for a poll tax, counties required proof that male citizens had paid the tax. (The name Biggs is not obvious in the brief & argument.) |
East | Range: 7 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 552 | 552 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1939 | B. F. Cole v. Will Taylor | Carter | Petition for Injunction |
Complaint was filed for an injunction requiring defendant to remove obstructions from a road and permit complainant to have free and unobstructed passage over said road. Exhibit: 2-plat maps. |
East | Range: 7 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 646 | 265 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1848 | Bird Thomas, et al. v. Austin M. Hammer | Bledsoe | Petition for Injunction |
Other plaintiffs: Robert Burk (also spelled Burke). Defendant won judgment against plaintiff for $1800 using fraudulent notes. Plaintiff brought case to chancery court to obtain injunction on judgment. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1123 | 13 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1887 | B. F. Holder v. James M. Baker et al. | Franklin | Petitions for New Road |
Holder sued to enjoin creation of proposed road through his land, arguing it was never maintained as a public road, but served only as "a settlement passway around the plantation" that was "cut out to get rid of the shade on the field and fence." Proposed road was near a mountain. Holder had worked as a road hand, though not on road in question. Baker was road commissioner. Add. Def: Jefferson Holder (overseer of proposed road). |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 740 | 104 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1946 | Bewley & Rader Land Co. v. B. A. Whitaker | Greene | Petition for Compensation |
This suit was instituted to collect compensation for selling a boundary of real estate under a written contract between complainant and defendant. |
East | Range: 7 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 600 | 304 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1884 | Bryce Stewart v. C. W. Greenfield, et al. | Montgomery | Petition on Promissory Note |
Additional Defendant: Nannie Greenfield. |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 595 | 276 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1866 | B. Estes v. William. A. Garrison et al. | Warren | Petitions for Certiorari | Middle | Range: 34 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 610 | 77 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1892 | Burrel Driver v. W. P. Horn & C. M. Carter | Trousdale | Debt, Petition on |
Driver was awarded two judgements, totalling $39.18 in damages, against the defendants in court in the county. Defendants have yet to pay, and were even granted a bona status despite a full stand of corn and tobacco crops, which the complaintant asserted was enough to repay the court-ordered debt. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 939 | 38 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1924 | Bank of Cooter v. West Tennessee Grain Company | Shelby | Petitions for Certiorari |
Bank of Cooter: corporation from Pemiscot County, MO; J.M. Rowland authorized agent of defendant and could purchase corn and draw drafts for it; Bank looking to recover $281.90 for three car loads of corn |
West | Range: 78 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1780 | 287 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1928 | Crane Co., et al. v. Watkins-Leonard Corp., et al. | Sullivan | Petitions for Certiorari |
Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 80 | 1 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1890 | C. W. Bowman v. James H. Harman and Joseph L. Harmon | Claiborne | Petition for Land Recovery |
Plaintiff brought suit against James Harmon, and Joseph L. Harmon, Nancy J. Travis, and Benne D. Harmon to prove he was the rightful owner of certain tracts of land lying in the 2nd civil district. He claimed that the defendants entered his land and ejected him. He requested the court restore it to his possession and grant him damages. Exhibits include 2 oversze maps of the land in question. Located in M-17-21. |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1821 | 1182 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1945 | Chattanooga Estates Co. et al. v. J. Spencer Stone et al. | Hamilton | Petition for Injunction |
Plaintiff accuses defendant of using property in a manner that geos against the terms of the property's deed, seeks injunction to cease construction on property. Judgment for defendants, modified on appeal. Additional Plaintiffs: Morgan W. McPherson, Lou Powell McPherson. Additional Defendants: Myrtle J. Stone. Exhibits included. Oversize exhibit item located in ET Oversize Box 1. |
East | Range: 6 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 375 | 220 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1944 | Clyde Woodford, et al. v. American Aggregates Corporation | Loudon | Petition for Compensation |
Additional Complainants: W. D. Blankenship, No. 3039; Roy Woodford, No. 3040; Charles Jenkins and Frank Wilburn, No. 304, causes consolidated. Complainants sought wages for their work on the Ft. Loudon Dam at Lenoir City which defendant company contracted with TVA to build. Complainants claimed they had not been paid according to the Walsh-Healey Act provisions. |
East | Range: 7 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 590 | 248 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1870 | Charles A. Merritt, admr. v. R. H. Elam et al. | Davidson | Debt, Petition on |
Additional Defendants: J.G. Webb and G.W.G. Paine. The plaintiff was the admr. of John S. Merrill, dec. The case was used as evidence in the 1885 case of Susan Pinkerton et al.. v. D.B. Cliff, exec. of C.A. Merrill, dec. |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 698 | 104 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1895 | Cumberland Company, et al. v. Carter Lumber Company | Claiborne | Petitions for Appeal |
Incomplete Case. Folder only contains petition for appeal & a Decree. Other plaintiffs, & cause of action not stated. |
East | Range: 9 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1089 | 6 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | Cleveland National Bank, et al. v. D. A. Arnswine, et al. | Polk | Petitions for Certiorari |
Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 76 | 1 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1868 | Christopher L. Slater, et al. Ex-parte | Knox | Petition to Sale Land |
Slater, Emma C. Kidd, Melissa A. Kidd, and Lerretia J. Kidd by next friend Leroy A. Kidd petitioning to sell a tract of land. |
East | Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1224 | 29 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1938 | C. E. Byington v. Fenner & Beane et al. | Hamilton | Petitions for Certiorari |
The cause of action in this case is listed as a writ of certiorari. It appears the original case dealt with the sale of stocks. |
East | Range: 9 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1265 | 58 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1922 | Church of Living God of Christian Friendship Workers v. R. Fraser, et al | Shelby | Petitions for Certiorari |
church operating in Memphis, Tenn.; additional defendant: A. H. Kortrecht; deed of trust to Korterecht, trustee, conveying church property to secure an indebtness of $2500 evidenced by 50 $50 notes; Fraser acted as Church treasurer; Fraser claiming Church is indebted to him; congregation gave no authority for deed of trust; Exhibits: receipts and cost notes from church activities and bills |
West | Range: 78 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1678 | 464 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1883 | C. G. Bond Guardian v. Francis D. Theus | Madison | Petition to Sale Land |
C. G. Bond, regular guardian of F. D. Theus, a lunatic in the asylum at Nashville |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 222 | 86 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1897 | C. Buchanon & M. C. Edward v. Peoples Bank of Clifton et al. | Wayne | Petitions for Relief |
J. F. Biffle, Buchanon, and Edwards executed a note to the defendant bank in 1893. Biffle was the principal and the plaintiffs were the sureties. When Biffle defaulted on the note, a judgement was rendered for the bank and the plaintiff surities paid the note. However, the refused to pay the attorney fees of the bank, claiming they were unreasonable and that a judgment was reached quickly. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1182 | 50 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1920 | C. Runcie Clements, et al. v. A. H. Roberts, Governor, et al. | Davidson | Petitions for Certiorari |
The petitioners are C.R. Clements, Rufus E Fort, Edward Buford, Dudley Gale, James A Yowell, and A.S. Warren. Defendants are A.H. Roberts, Gov. of Tenn, and Ike B. Stevens, Sec of State of Tenn, A.L Todd, Speaker of the Senate, Seth Walker Speaker of House. The complainants are basically stating that the Governor and General Assembly of TN are conducting a Special Session to deal with the Suffrage Amendment and the complainants believe that it is an illegal special session. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 420 | 262 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1890 | C. W. Bowman v. James H. Harman et al. | Claiborne | Petition for Land Recovery |
Plaintiff Bowman sued defendants James H. Harman and Nancy J. Travis to prove the plaintiff's ownership of a tract of land in the 2nd district of Claiborne County. Bowman claimed the defendents entered his land on January 10, 1888 and ejected him. He requested the court also restore his possession of said land. There are two large hand-drawn maps of the land in question (both are torn and fragile). |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1821 | 1023 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1909 | C. G. Stevenson v. T. M. Stevenson, Road Commissioners | Giles | Petition for Injunction |
Additional Complainants: G. G. Stevenson, J. N. Young, J. W. Guffey. Bill filed for purpose of having a decree of the County Judge, directing Commissioner to open a new road, declared and void. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 526 | 54 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1885 | Cowden McCord v. Emily M. Record, et al. | Marshall | Petition on Promissory Note |
Additional Defendants: I.[?] H. Hill, individually and as trustee of Emily M. Record, John R. Hill, John T. Hill. |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 571 | 407 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1914 | C. M. Wiggins et al. v. City of Memphis | Madison | Petition for Payment |
Citizens filed suit to prevent the City from collection the sum actually expended in the improvement of Cooper Street from Madison Ave. |
West | Range: 79 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1335 | 262 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1873 | Daniel Bales v. Peter Harmon | Greene | Petitions for Certiorari |
Daniel Bales sued Peter Harmon for allegedly unlawfully detained land from the Bales. Because of difficulties in the case proceedings, petitions for certiorari and supersedes were filed. Bales also issued an action of ejectment against Harmon. |
East | Range: 5 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 14 | 23 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1879 | D. B. Cooper clerk& master v. M. E. Voss et al. | Maury | Property, Petition to Compel Delive |
Additional defendant - W. D. Davis |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 53 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | D. W. Hughes et al. v. National Bank of McMinnville | Hamilton | Petition for Injunction |
Plaintiffs D. W. Hughes, J. T. Willingham, and W. J. Willingham, filed a writ of injunction to prevent the constable from executing judgements against the plaintiffs. Plaintiffs requested that the defendant bank be forced to first exhaust the property already levied against the plaintiffs for repayment of their debts to the defendant. |
East | Range: 19 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1773 | 63 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1858 | Daniel Dayley v. Benjamin D. Clift | Monroe | Petition for Injunction |
Dayley [alt. spelled Daily] wanted an injunction against Clift from collecting an execution in favor of Clift against Dayley. Dayley sued Clift to get a credit of $100 (balance of note Dayley claimed he paid and which Clift had received execution for) and to give up bond to make A. Newton a title for tract of land. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1206 | 40 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1928 | Don Kelly v. The Camden Fire Insurance Association | Washington | Petitions for Certiorari |
Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 80 | 1 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1928 | D. M. Rose & Co. v. R. S. Dysart, et al. | Knox | Petitions for Certiorari |
Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 | 1 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1928 | Drusilla Ford, exe. v. Elizabeth Mead, et al. | Knox | Petitions for Certiorari |
Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 | 1 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1933 | Dr. Louis Prosterman v. Tennessee State Board of Dental Examiners, et al. | Hamilton | Petitions for Certiorari |
Dr. Prosterman practiced as a dentist in multiple states during the early 20th century. In order to gain the trust of the public and business, he combined with two other workers and formed what was advertised as the "Southern Dental Institute," where he would perform dentistry and teach students. However, he was the only dentist. The Board found his advertisements to be false, and his license was revoked. Prosterman tried then to appeal this decision with this case. Three folders. |
East | Range: 10 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1517 | 385 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1890 | D. P. Simmons, et al. v. John M. Leonard, et al. | Marshall | Petitions for Certiorari |
Margaret Simmons died with no children and left her estate to her brother and other relatives. Her brother John Leonard, administrator, located allegedly forged information in the estate documents including the inventory in his favor. The other heirs were illiterate & contested the estate documents. Margaret left a 137 acre farm located in the 2nd Civil District of Marshall County. Add. documents located in MT 942, 943, and 1073. Box 1073 has combined case A. S. Robinett et al. v. Mrs. D. E. Leonard et al. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 847 | 2234 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1859 | Elihue Keaton v. William Pollard | Wayne | Petitions for Dower |
Dispute over the rights of the widow of Jacob A. Keaton. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 260 | 275 | Order A Copy |