The State of Tennessee did not require local governments to report births until 1914. In rural areas, such as Jefferson County, these records usually are inconsistent until the 1920's. For various reasons, some individuals born prior to 1914 applied for "delayed" birth certificates, so it is worth checking.
Early birth records are not maintained in Jefferson County. They are kept by the State in Nashville. The State of Tennessee has a detailed explanation of birth records on its Web site. TSLA offers limited look-up services by mail for a fee. Click here for details.