Reuben Hurtt
Reuben Hurtt was a New River businessman and a Scott County sheriff who served in office from 1876 to 1882.
See Also: Sheriffs of Scott County
Preceded By: Fowler Hatfield • Succeeded By: Beaty Cecil
Early Life
Born in Kentucky on April 24, 1850, Reuben Hurtt was the son of John Crawford Hurtt (1807-1883) and Francis “Fanny” Bruton Hurtt (1810-1883). His father was originally from South Carolina before moving to Kentucky. At some point after Reuben Hurtt’s birth, the family moved to New River in Scott County. Both of his parents are buried at the Hurtt Cemetery in New River.
Hurtt married Olive Sexton (1860-1938) of New River on January 20, 1876.
Business Ventures
New River was a scenic river in the 1860s and 1870s that was generally regarded as one of the best fishing streams in Tennessee. As such, it attracted sportsmen from the Midwest who would travel to New River to fish. The tourism traffic, together with the growing industrial scene in New River, prompted Hurtt to build a motel there. He operated the motel until it was sold to A.Y. Keen.
Hurtt also served as a postmaster.
As related by historian H. Clay Smith in Dusty Bits of the Forgotten Past, notorious outlaws Jesse and Frank James boarded in Scott County under presumed names for a period of time. Years later, when Frank James visited Hustonville, Ky., he told shopkeepers there that he was well-acquainted with Billy Sharp and Reuben Hurtt in Huntsville.
Elected Office
Hurtt was elected in 1876 as Scott County’s seventh sheriff, replacing Fowler Hatfield. He was subsequently re-elected in 1878 and 1880, serving three terms before leaving office in 1882.
Hurtt was then elected Scott County Circuit Court Clerk in 1884, and served 12 years in that capacity before leaving office in 1896.
Death
After leaving office and selling his New River hotel to A.Y. Keen, Hurtt left Scott County and moved to Harriman, Tenn., and later to Williamsburg, Ky., perhaps to live with his daughter, Florence Ellen Hurtt Berry, and her husband, Dr. Franklin Berry. He died on July 23, 1924 and is buried at Highland Cemetery in Williamsburg, along with his wife.