Burch Biggs was no ordinary sheriff. From moonshine raids as a teen to wielding political power in Polk County, TN, his name became synonymous with corruption, scandal, and backroom deals. He built a legacy through intimidation, rigged elections, and even outright ballot destruction by throwing votes into the river to secure his control.

Under his watch, violence was common. Names like Garret Hedden, James Spurling, David McFadden, Jack & Maddie Haddock, George Ledford, Emmet Gaddis, and Horace Hughes became casualties of the Biggs Machine.

The corruption ran deep—illegal foreclosures, using prison labor on his farm, stealing city water, and colluding with banks. But it wasn’t until after WWII, with the rise of the Good Government League (GGL), that the Biggs dynasty finally crumbled.

Want the full story? Check out The Biggs Machine: Old Time Politics in Polk County, Tennessee a book by local author Tyler Boyd.