History
Early Landowners
Native Americans would have traveled from Middle Tennessee, North Mississippi or Alabama by taking their canoe from the Wolf River near where I-240 turns West and headed South through the woods. After 3.8 miles of walking, they would have come to Nonconnah Creek which they would have canoed down for about 3 hours to the Mississippi River. During the rainy seasons, usually the spring and winter, the Wolf River and Nonconnah Creek flooded. Native Americans and settlers traveling on foot would use the trails and roads on the highest ridges and bluffs which would bring them through our neighborhood since it is adjacent to the highest point in Shelby County. The earliest road through this area was the Alabama Road, later called State Line Road and currently called Poplar Avenue and Highways 72 and 57.
Under the Treaty with the Chickasaws in 1818, they did not exert any claim to the lands north of Winchester Road. This area was either North Carolina or Tennessee. Early land records indicate the land on which our Sea Isle Park Neighborhood is located was acquired by grants from these states, although these grants have not been located. The records do reflect that the west half of the present Sea Isle Park Neighborhood was known as the Thomas Polk 500 acres. Mr. Polk had the land surveyed in 1821 and retained ownership until 1846 when the Polk family sold the land to J.J. Todd and T.H. Todd. The Todd family retained ownership until at least 1926.
The east half of the Sea Isle Park Neighborhood was originally 4 or 5 parcels of land ranging from 96 to 200 acres owned by William Lawrence, Harrison Hunt, Major Haralson, and H.B.S. Williams. This land was acquired from the state or from individuals in the early 1800's. In 1836 Major Haralson owned 496 acres and James H. Epps owned 246 acres. Both properties were divided and sold to landowners.
White Station Road, which runs through the neighborhood, was named for one of the largest landowners, Colonel Eppy White. Colonel White established a 4,000 to 9,000 acre plantation from wilderness that he purchased from the Native Americans. Colonel White also ran a wagon yard and a coach stop along the ridge that was a favorite road for hunters and settlers, as it was the highest ground between the Wolf River and Nonconnah Creek.
In 1842, the Memphis and Lagrange Railroad was built to 6 miles outside of Memphis where it stopped. Colonel White would not let the railroad continue because he was afraid the train would frighten his cows. Because no more rail bed was laid, the sheriff sold the railroad for debts in 1842. The railroad was later completed in 1857 by the Memphis and Charleston Railroad Company. This railroad is the present Southern Railroad which forms the Northern boundary of the Sea Isle Park Neighborhood.
In 1857 Colonel Eppy White's will was probated. His total estate was valued at $30,698.84, a substantial amount in those days just before the War between the States. His vast acreage had been reduced $30 per acre.
Native Americans would have traveled from Middle Tennessee, North Mississippi or Alabama by taking their canoe from the Wolf River near where I-240 turns West and headed South through the woods. After 3.8 miles of walking, they would have come to Nonconnah Creek which they would have canoed down for about 3 hours to the Mississippi River. During the rainy seasons, usually the spring and winter, the Wolf River and Nonconnah Creek flooded. Native Americans and settlers traveling on foot would use the trails and roads on the highest ridges and bluffs which would bring them through our neighborhood since it is adjacent to the highest point in Shelby County. The earliest road through this area was the Alabama Road, later called State Line Road and currently called Poplar Avenue and Highways 72 and 57.
Under the Treaty with the Chickasaws in 1818, they did not exert any claim to the lands north of Winchester Road. This area was either North Carolina or Tennessee. Early land records indicate the land on which our Sea Isle Park Neighborhood is located was acquired by grants from these states, although these grants have not been located. The records do reflect that the west half of the present Sea Isle Park Neighborhood was known as the Thomas Polk 500 acres. Mr. Polk had the land surveyed in 1821 and retained ownership until 1846 when the Polk family sold the land to J.J. Todd and T.H. Todd. The Todd family retained ownership until at least 1926.
The east half of the Sea Isle Park Neighborhood was originally 4 or 5 parcels of land ranging from 96 to 200 acres owned by William Lawrence, Harrison Hunt, Major Haralson, and H.B.S. Williams. This land was acquired from the state or from individuals in the early 1800's. In 1836 Major Haralson owned 496 acres and James H. Epps owned 246 acres. Both properties were divided and sold to landowners.
White Station Road, which runs through the neighborhood, was named for one of the largest landowners, Colonel Eppy White. Colonel White established a 4,000 to 9,000 acre plantation from wilderness that he purchased from the Native Americans. Colonel White also ran a wagon yard and a coach stop along the ridge that was a favorite road for hunters and settlers, as it was the highest ground between the Wolf River and Nonconnah Creek.
In 1842, the Memphis and Lagrange Railroad was built to 6 miles outside of Memphis where it stopped. Colonel White would not let the railroad continue because he was afraid the train would frighten his cows. Because no more rail bed was laid, the sheriff sold the railroad for debts in 1842. The railroad was later completed in 1857 by the Memphis and Charleston Railroad Company. This railroad is the present Southern Railroad which forms the Northern boundary of the Sea Isle Park Neighborhood.
In 1857 Colonel Eppy White's will was probated. His total estate was valued at $30,698.84, a substantial amount in those days just before the War between the States. His vast acreage had been reduced $30 per acre.