By: Helen & Timothy Marsh, Pub. 1986, reprinted 2013, 184 pages, Index, ISBN #0-89308-568-5.

Bedford County was formed in 1807 out of Rutherford County. And in turn, the lower half of Bedford County was cut off to form Lincoln County in 1809. These are the oldest surviving Minutes of the County Court (1848-1860), all minutes prior to this date were destroyed in the Courthouse fire of 1863.