Shelby County was for a long time the geographical center of the United States and for a longer period its center of population. It was Squire Boone, the younger brother of Daniel Boone, who began the settlement of Shelby County Territory, around 1779. The first of Shelby's peculiarly large number of Stations was that of the "Painted Stone." The book is divided into seven parts. Part One is about the county itself. The author shows the reader the geology, boundaries and topography of the county, as well as a look at the first visitors and settlers and the county's first century. Part Two gives a more in-depth look into the Stations of the county and its many towns and villages. Parts Three and Four give the reader information about the many churches, schools and other institutions of the county. Part Five explores the county's early pioneers; the biographies include those of Squire Boone, William Shannon, Col. Charles S. Todd, William Logan, John Allen, Col. Abraham Owen, Gov. John Pope, Capt. John Simpson, Moses Hall, Dr. John Knight, Nicholas Merriwether and Joseph Hornsby. Part Six contains some traditions and reminiscences of the county, including: the Long Run Massacre, the Silver Mine Agreement, reminiscences from John W. Williamson and Judge Luther Clay Willis. The book's final part deals with county statistics. Some of these include: first tax list, senators and representatives, Constitutional delegates, county judges, county clerks, postmasters, early marriages, Revolutionary soldiers, Shelby County Masons, and noted burial ground. A new full-name index is included as well as many photos.