Rosemark near Millington in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Paul W. Barret
In the community of Barretville, which had been established in 1852 by his grandfather, Anthony Barret (1827-1910), Paul Weisiger Barret (1899-1976) co-founded Barretville Bank & Trust Company in 1920, when he was only 21. Under his leadership, it survived the Great Depression and became one of Tennessee's largest and most successful rural banking systems, with 10 branches in Shelby County and affiliates in Somerville, Rossyille, and Henderson. He amassed over 3,000 acres of farmland and expanded his family's general mercantile and ginning businesses in southwest Tennessee.
An all of E. H. ("Boss") Crump (1874-1954), Barret served on the Shelby County Quarterly Court for 24 years. As a dominant figure in Shelby County politics from the mid-1950s until the early 1970s, Barret championed fiscal conservatism and the Baker vs. Carr lawsuit. In that landmark 1962 case, the United States Supreme Court established the "one man, one vote" standard that led to reapportionment of legislative bodies throughout the nation. Now listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this Craftsman-style house, "Squire's Rest," was built for Barret and his bride, Sarah Dickey Barret (1895-1978), in 1920. They lived here for 56 years.
Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4E 165.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Civil Rights • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.
Location. 35° 22.332′ N, 89° 45.877′ W. Marker is near Millington, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Rosemark. Marker is on Barret Road, ¼ mile south of Mudville Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8993 Barret Road, Millington TN 38053, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bobby Blue Bland (within shouting distance of this marker); Hurst's Raid at Barretville (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Richland Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (approx. ¾ mile away); Rosemark National Historic District (approx. ¾ mile away); Dr. Peter John Flippin (approx. 0.8 miles away); Anthony Chapel School, Greenwood AME Church & Cemetery (approx. 1.6 miles away); Wade Bolton and Bolton College / Bolton School (approx. 3.2 miles away); Atoka Evangelical Presbyterian Church (approx. 4½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Millington.
Also see . . . Paul Weisiger Barret (1899-1976). Biography in Tennessee Encyclopedia, by The Tennessee Historical Society. (Submitted on April 19, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 218 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 19, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.