When volunteers unlock the doors at the Historical Society’s buildings on Friday afternoon, we never know what or who to expect. On one cold, snowy day this past winter, two dogs were warming themselves against the front door and were very reluctant to move. Some days are lonely–nary a soul shows up. One day, a long tour bus (something like Dolly Parton might own) pulled up and parked in front and a group of visitors from the Portland and Castalian Springs, TN area visited.

Recently John and Shirley Fiery and their daughter from Sapulpa, OK came by and asked if we had any information on William James Burnett who had lived in Palmersville in the late 1880s. Of course, we did!

William James Burnett was born September 1850 in Virginia to William F. and Ruth (Giles) Burnett. William F. Burnett died in 1850. Ruth then married Edward Preston Hodges in 1860. In 1866, William James, his mother, and his step-father came to Weakley County.

W. J. worked as a day laborer on a farm for a couple of years, and in 1869 he formed a partnership with Dr. G. L. Brooks and opened a grocery business in Palmersville and later added dry goods to the stock.

W.J. married Martha Cordelia Ridgway, daughter of James Marion Ridgway and Sarah Ann (McWherter) Ridgway, in December of 1870. They were parents of seven known children: Effie, Annie Bell (who died at one year), Bolivar Bates, Birch C., Severa Bell, Blanche, and Brooks G.

In 1877 after Mr. Brooks died , W. J. Burnett sold his interest in the grocery and dry goods business.

Two years later, Burnett returned to the dry goods business and partnered with Calvin O. Gatewood and T.J. Collier in Palmersville. In 1881 he sold his interest in the business and purchased 305 acres of land near Palmersville. He later increased his land holdings to 640 acres and gave considerable attention to stock raising. In 1883, Burnett partnered with Felix Grundy Eanes in the tobacco business.

Sometime between 1880 and 1900, Martha C. Burnett died, and W.J. Burnett and children left Weakley County and moved to the Indian Territory which would later become Oklahoma. Apparently he was a man of good business ability, as he is listed in the 1900 Census as a banker and his son Bolivar Bates was a clerk in the bank. Burnett built a grand house in Sapulpa–the grandest in Oklahoma he said. W. J. Burnett died in 1903 and was buried at the Old Sapulpa Cemetery in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

One story was told that Bolivar Bates Burnett made his fortune in the oil business in Oklahoma; he later lost it and committed suicide in New York City in 1925.

The Fireys now own this grand house and operate Miss Scarlett’s Tea Room there. It is also available for renting out for special occasions. Check out their website. www.burnettmansion.com