Mechanicsville
1st Row: Bratten Kirby, Jim Henry Johnson, Lawrence Loring, Buster Melton, Herbert Jones, Nina Hale, Ruby Jean Underhill (in front), Macon Kirby, Joe Swan Hale, Fisher Kirby, James Inglis, Jim Underhill Jr.
2nd Row: Leonia Campbell, Reb Melton, Cleveland Hale, Delter Hale, Erma Dean Patterson, Bernice Haley, Margaret Inglis, Virginia Dale, Virginia Hale, Ella Lee Young, Joe Dean Underhill, Frances Grizzle.
3rd Row: Betty Sue Hale, Ruth Hale, Artie Underhill, Woodrow Patterson, Paul Hale, Frances Melton, Ray Mabe, Naomi Motley, Walter Melton (Teacher)
4th Row: Ruby Kirby, Shelah Young, Daisy Newby, Martha White Young (Teacher), Dixie Hale, Oleta Hale, J.B. Underhill, Virginia Motley, James Hale, Nellie Underhill.
Photo- Unidentified, Sam, Kate, Emma, Dr. Arnett, Rhoda.
Dr. Arnett was a native of Kentucky. He attended the lectures at a medical college in Louisville, and drifted down into Tennessee with some horse-traders. He liked the country, and stayed.
He married Miss Zana Grizzle, daughter of Mr. George Grizzle, the first sheriff of Cannon County. Mrs. Zana Arnett died young and left a little son, Liege Arnett who spent his entire life in this community. About the close of the Civil War, Dr. Arnett married Miss Sarah Hendrixson, and settled again at Short Mountain near the place where Womack's store now stands. A few years later he bought the house and farm of Harvey Patterson, now owned and occupied by Mrs. Hester Hale. Here Mrs. Sarah Arnett died in 1880, leaving four children, Jim, Joe, Candy, and Kate. The third time Dr. Arnett married Mrs. Rhoda Halderman. She with her three children Sam, Bob, and Emma survived him. After his death, they moved to Texas.
Several years after his third marriage he sold his property to Dr. Doyle and moved near Woodbury. A few years later he bought back his old house, and returned to Mechanicsville, where he spent the rest of his life. That is the way most of them do. There is an old saying that if you drink of the waters of the Big Spring, you will keep coming back for another drink.
Miss Mary’s Column March 10, 1950- Cannon Courier