Spurlins of Fentress County, Tennessee
Spurlins were among the early families on the Wolf River in Fentress County, Tennessee, where Daniel Spurlin is said to have started the family's Spurlin Cemetery in 1858. A 1920 county history profiles M. H. Spurlin, a Wilder lawman and justice of the peace.
Sourcing: mixed 1 book · 3 genealogy · 1 reference
Early families
A. R. Hogue's History of Fentress County, Tennessee (1920) says that Nathan Spurlin, grandfather of M. H. Spurlin, "settled on Wolf River." The book's sketch of Justice Frank Tinch names his grandmother as Sarah (Spurlin) Tinch and a great-grandfather as James Spurlin.[1] The Find a Grave memorial for Daniel Spurlin (1800–1865) lists his children with his wife Mary McDonald as including Emily Jane Spurlin Auterson, Clark Spurling, Rev. Hicks Lafayette Spurlin and Lewis Spurlin.[2] WikiTree has a profile for an Emily Spurlin born in 1828 in Fentress County who died in Callaway County, Missouri, which shows that some of the family moved on to Missouri.[3]
Spurlin Cemetery
Fentress County's Spurlin Cemetery is described on Find a Grave as lying in the northeast part of the Grimsley quadrangle, on the old Spurlin farm northeast of the Tinchtown and Old Barger roads. According to the description, Daniel Spurlin established it in 1858.[4] It has 82 memorials, and Wikidata records it as item Q117627363, with GNIS ID 1271172.[4][5] Daniel's own memorial says his grave has not been located but that he is buried there.[2] See also Spurlin cemeteries.
Milton H. Spurlin
Hogue's history includes a sketch of M. H. (Milton H.) Spurlin. It says he was born in the county's sixth district, the son of Clinton Spurlin and Samantha (Stephens) Spurlin.[1] Spurlin served as constable, deputy sheriff and justice of the peace, and he was nominated in the 1914 Republican primary for sheriff of Fentress County.[1] He married Lillie Franklin, daughter of Union veteran Hedley Franklin. He was an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias, belonged to the Freewill Baptist Church, and lived at Wilder.[1] A photograph caption of the county court for 1912–14 lists an "M. Spurling, J.P.," most likely a variant spelling of the same man. The same book lists M. H. Spurlin among the attorneys and others who helped fill out World War I draft questionnaires in the county.[1]
See also
- Spurlins of Hardeman County, Tennessee · Genealogy mixed
Spurlins lived in Hardeman County, in southwest Tennessee, by the 1830s. Eli and George W. Spurlin are buried at Wesley Cemetery, Piney Grove, and George drew a Confederate pension. Another branch moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and on to Texas. - Early Spurlin and Spurling families in America · Genealogy mixed
Spurlin and Spurling families appear in colonial Virginia and North Carolina in the 18th century and moved west and south into Indiana, Alabama and Texas during the 19th century. Their European origins are still debated. - Spurlin cemeteries · Places weak
A roundup of burial grounds named for the Spurlin family on Find a Grave: eight Spurlin cemeteries in Arkansas, Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky and North Carolina, plus Spurlington- and Spurling-named cemeteries and the graves of notable Spurlins. - Spurlin family lines by state · Genealogy weak
A state-by-state guide to the main Spurlin and Spurling family lines in the United States, from colonial Virginia and North Carolina to Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Texas and Indiana, with the sources behind each link. - Spurlins in public service · People strong
A roundup of people surnamed Spurlin (and, separately, Spurling) in government, politics, the military and the courts, from a 19th-century Indiana sheriff to a Kentucky utility commissioner and recent local candidates, with links to the individual articles.
References
- ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ History of Fentress County, Tennessee (A. R. Hogue, 1920) — Internet Archive Book
- ↑ ↑ Daniel Spurlin (1800–1865) — Find a Grave Memorial — founder of the cemetery per contributor; children Genealogy
- ↑ Emily Spurlin (1828–1876) (Spurlin-212) — WikiTree Genealogy
- ↑ ↑ Spurlin Cemetery in Tennessee (Fentress County) — Find a Grave — description; 82 memorials Genealogy
- ↑ Spurlin Cemetery (Q117627363) — Wikidata — GNIS ID 1271172 Reference
Last reviewed 2026-09-24.