Chapter 14
RUTHERFORD
COUNTY, TENNESSEE
1817
Rutherford County,
Tennessee, was created in 1803 from a portion of Davidson County; however,
settlement in the area by pioneers first occurred in 1799, a mere 17 years
before the Shapards arrived. The town of Murfreesboro was established in 1811,
only five years prior to their arrival. It was a popular and rapid growing
community, containing 71 families by 1820, equating to a population of about
600 to 800 inhabitants, and would be recognized as the Capital of Tennessee
from 1818 until 1826, after which it was moved to Nashville. The design of the
town was well planned and was platted in 1812. The roads were laid out on a
grid system, each town lot containing a half acre, with the focal point of the
town being the central Public Square. The Rutherford County Courthouse, with
its red roof, sat upon a large two acre grassy lawn, crowning the center of the
Public Square. Businesses gradually occupied the town lots bordering the roads
surrounding the courthouse.
By the time the
Shapard’s arrived in Murfreesboro in 1817, the town was in its infancy and
still being hacked out of the surrounding forest. Roads were not paved and still
encumbered with tree stumps, rocks and ruts. Most construction was of log or
wood frame; however a few brick structures would grace the Murfreesboro
landscape in those early years. In 1819, the Presbyterian congregation, being
the main religion of the area, constructed a large church, which became one of
the first brick buildings in the town. Paint and window glass were other unique
and distinctly civilized adornments that graced some of the early buildings and
homes of Murfreesboro. There were four natural springs in the area, around
which the town was built up, that supplied the community’s water. Residents and
‘water dray’ slaves would fill their buckets at these springs each day to not
only satisfy their needs for drinking and washing, but also to acquire the
latest news and local gossip.
After moving to
Rutherford County, Lewis was quick to associate with the key men of Murfreesboro.
This was made easier through the connection he had with his son-in-law Joshua
Harrison. In particular, Lewis sought out the best and the brightest craftsmen
and business owners the town could offer, not only as potential clients but
also as a means of securing his children’s futures.
On February 1, 1817, Lewis Shapard
acquired an apprenticeship agreement in Murfreesboro for three of his sons;
James, Booker and Robert. This was a major accomplishment for a father to bind
his male children to a successful trade; thereby, assuring them the education,
social rank and experience to earn a comfortable living and be productive
members of society when they came of age. The bond of apprenticeship was a
legal bond of temporary servitude enforceable by law, and entered into for the
benefit of learning a trade. Young boys were often allowed the privilege of
choosing their trade. During the term of their apprenticeship, the boys lived
with their master and were fully engaged in business, learning their craft, and
productive habits, as well as, gaining an education in reading, writing and
arithmetic. Free time was limited; only to be had at night and on Sundays after
worship. If an apprentice became discontented and ran away, legally, when
located, he would have to be returned to his master.
The apprenticeship
agreements for his sons were similar, in that they basically stated that, “Lewis Shapard has this day bound as
an apprentice unto said [master], his son [giving his name and birth date],
until he shall come to the full age of 21 years, to be taught and instructed in
the art and mastery of [the specific trade]. Now of the said [master] upon faithful
service of said [son] in said apprenticeship doth covenant well and truly to
teach and instruct him in the art and business of [the specific trade], and
teach him or cause him to be taught to
read and write and cipher through the Rule of Three, and at all times during
his said apprenticeship to furnish him with such clothing as shall be
necessary, together with washing, diet, lodging and stationary as may be fit
and proper and at the expiration of said apprenticeship to give him a good suit
of clothes to be worth $50.00…”
Lewis bound his son James Paine
Shapard as an apprenticed to Mr. Abraham Statler (c.1770-c.1830) to learn the
trade of ‘hatter.’ Mr. Statler was born circa 1770 in Virginia, where he
married Miss Hannah Wright Miller (1772-1836) in 1809, widow of David Miller,
and daughter of Isaac and Rebecca Wright. Abraham was a skilled hat-maker and
migrated to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in 1811, becoming the first of his trade
in the town. He purchased the town lot No. 66 on Church Street in 1815, from
which he operated his store. During this era, pre-made hats were rare, as most
men and ladies preferred custom made headwear by a hatter from wool, and fine
furs, all of which was plentiful on the frontier. Those in the business made significant
profits, and Mr. Statler made a fortune. To run his growing business, Mr.
Statler staffed two or three journeymen or apprentices, one of which was James
Shapard. The terms of the apprenticeship with Mr. Statler would end in 1822,
when James reached 21 years of age.
Lewis bound his son Booker Shapard
to learn the trade of ‘saddler’ through his apprenticeship with Mr. Charles
Niles (1786-1855) until the year 1824, when he reached the age of 21. Mr. Niles
was born in 1786 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and migrated to Murfreesboro,
from Nashville, about 1812. He was married to Abigail Wade and established his
residence and business on lot No. 5 on the corner of College and Lebanon
streets. Not only was he a talented saddle-maker but he also embraced a
leadership role in the community; being elected as one of the town’s first
Alderman after Murfreesboro was incorporated in 1817, and subsequently elected
to the same position in 1829, 1834 and 1835. He also held the office of Mayor
of Murfreesboro in 1833. Charles Niles died in Holly Springs, Mississippi, in
1855, at the age of 69.
Robert Paine Shapard, at twelve
years old, was legally apprenticed to Lewis Shapard’s wealthy and enterprising son-in-law,
Mr. Joshua Norman Harrison, to learn the trade of nail-making until the year
1826. At this time, nails were scarce
and expensive, as only wrought iron nails were in use. Each nail was handmade, one
at a time, from a long piece of iron rod. After the iron was heated in a fire,
the nailor would hammer the end to form a point. The pointed rod was reheated
and cut off to the desired nail length. The nail was then inserted into a hole
in an anvil and a head was formed with several glancing blows of a hammer. Mr.
Harrison’s factory employed a few laborers, apprentices and slaves to keep up
with the production demands for nails. It was a noisy and hot working
environment with the constant banging, sheering and hammering and heat from the
fires. Over the years, as the demand for
local nails declined, Mr. Harrison diversified by establishing a dry-goods and
merchandise store on the property, adjourning the nail-making shop. Robert Shapard
also became trained in the operation of a mercantile store and learned the art
of commerce, business management and double-entry bookkeeping.
Shortly after binding
his sons into lucrative professions at Murfreesboro, Lewis Shapard realized
that he needed to permanently return to Smith County. Lewis’ business relied
heavily on the commerce along Cumberland River, and though Murfreesboro was centrally
located and flourishing, it was too distant from the river to function as a convenient
home for him. There is mounting evidence to suggest that his four youngest
children, Lewis, Jr., Martha, Thelia and Thomas P., did not returned to Smith
County with him, but instead remained with Sophia and Joshua Harrison, to be
educated in Murfreesboro. If the latter was the case, Lewis would have financially
compensated the Harrisons for all expenses involving the children’s upbringing,
and allowed the Harrisons the benefit of one or more of his slaves. However,
Lewis’ eldest son, William B. Shapard did return to Smith County with his father,
to assist him with his business.
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