1 Life and Legend of LAWRENCE COUNTY ALABAMA By DOROTHY GENTRY +----------------------------------------------+ Historical Marker +----------------------------------------------+ 1962 TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA 2 This book, privately printed in a limited edition of 1500 copies, is not copyrighted and anyone is welcome to use it in anyway he may choose. PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY NOTTINGHAM-SWS, Inc., 315 GREENSBORO AVE., TUSCALOOSA, ALA. 3 LAND OF THE SOUTH Land of the South-imperial land- How proud thy mountains rise! How sweet thy scenes on every hand- How fair thy evening skies! But not for this-oh! not for these- I love thy fields to roam; Thou has a dearer spell to me, Thou art my native home! -Alexander Beaufort Meek 4 BLANK PAGE 5 CONTENTS Introduction 7 Lawrence County 11 Prehistoric Days 12 Indians 17 White Settlers Move In 21 Early Trails and Roads 23 Alabama Admitted As A State 27 Early Settlements 29 The Slave Era, 1820-1860 42 The War Between The States, 1861-1865 43 General Philip Roddy 48 The Coming of the Railroad 49 Journalism 52 Post Offices 55 Readin', Ritin' and 'Rithmetic 61 Early Churches 74 Masonic Lodges 81 Who Are The Dead 82 Bankhead National Forest 88 Physicians 91 Lest We Forget, People and Places 98 Facts About This and That 117 Marriage Licenses, 1828-1884 118 Index 223 6 ILLUSTRATIONS Historical Marker 1 Early Roads 24 Second Courthouse, Moulton 1860-1936 32 Third and Present Courthouse, Moulton 1936- 32 The Dr. J. T. Masterson Home, Built in 1890 34 Moulton Hotel 34 "Aunt Jenny Brooks" Johnson 40 Confederate States Envelope Showing Jefferson Davis Seal 47 Lawrence County High School, 1909-1925 65 First Football Team, Moulton, 1915 65 Graduating Class of 1912-Lawrence County High School 66 Graduating Class of 1921-Lawrence County High School 67 Former Boarding House of Mountain Home Academy 70 Pine Torch Church in Bankhead National Forest 86 Tulip Tree 150 Feet Tall 89 Dr. James W. Fennell and Wife 93 Thomas J. Burch 101 Lucy 0. (Norwood) Burch 101 Burch Family Reunion, 1921 102 The Old Preuit Home 106 Castled Shell of Saunders Home, Courtland 109 "Fightin' Joe" General Joe Wheeler 111 Miss Annie Wheeler, Daughter of General Joe Wheeler 112 7 INTRODUCTION The history of Lawrence County in North Alabama is similar to other counties in many respects, but to the writer, no people have clung nearer to their forefathers' old established principles of initia- tive, integrity and traditions and none have manifested in their lives more dependence upon Divine Providence than the people of Lawrence County. There is no segment of American history more important nor more interesting than that of our native home. The story of our United States is a combination of the people and events of each small settlement, many of which made the early chapters of the history of the United States before national history was begun. There are many levels of civilization and each in its highest form is the offspring of bold adventure. The first explorers wrested this great wilderness from the red savage and converted it into a habitat of more modern civilization. The early settlers and pioneers who came to this area in search of a better land, endured untold hardships that could never be written in the pages of history. Bounded on the north by the historic waters of the Tennessee, lying in red, sandy loam soil and rolling uplands and hill country to the south, Lawrence County has a varied topography. Its climate is mild and there is beauty everywhere for those who know how to find beauty. The Dogwood and Redbud in bloom in Bankhead National Forest, the towering pine trees, the fragrant honeysuckle in bloom along fences in the spring and the sweet smelling Magnolia blossoms that have become linked simultaneously with stories of the south, and in the wooded lands the mocking bird sings and nests. This land of ours we take for granted was what the early settlers were looking for when they stopped in Lawrence County. Realizing they must have many gifts from nature to succeed, they found the Tennessee Valley inviting. The land was fertile, and the beautiful Tennessee River flowing through it had numerous tributaries on either side. There is a wealth of history that can never be written in a lifetime. No history is ever complete. This compilation is strictly a labor of love, a desire to hold on to the crumbling and dwindling history of our forefathers for our future posterity. Every attempt has been made to get the facts recorded as accurately as possible. There is no copyright and anyone is welcome to use the material anyway he may choose. It is my hope the effort will prove a help in learning something more of ourselves. In the preparation of this history, words are inadequate to express my deep appreciation to those who have assisted me so much. 8 My first acknowledgments go to my husband who has not only in- spired me throughout, but has encouraged me with unfaltering patience. I am also indebted to many individuals who have furnished me with information and historical data through a far-flung correspond- ence. It would be impossible for me to thank each one who has helped in so many ways, but without it, this book would have not been possible. -Dorothy Gentry 9 LIFE AND LEGEND OF LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 10 BLANK PAGE 11 LAWRENCE COUNTY Lawrence County, located in the northwestern part of Alabama, is bounded on the north by the Tennessee River, on the east by Morgan County, on the south by Winston County, and the west by Franklin and Colbert counties. The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio and its principal tributaries in the county are the Big Nance Creek, Town Creek and Flint Creek. The scenery along the river and creeks is very beautiful. Colbert is separated from Lawrence County by Town Creek. The area of Lawrence County is approximately 768 square miles, or about 448,000 acres. The greatest length from north to south is about 34 miles, and its greatest width from east to west is 24 miles. Approximately 238 square miles of the county are red valley lands; 242 calcareous land along the mountain slopes and in coves; 150 square miles in sandy lands of Little Mountain, and 160 coal measures. The Plateau of the Warrior coal field terminates in the lower part of the county in a mountain 250 or 300 feet in height overlooking the Moulton Valley, and which forms the divide between the waters flowing into the Tennessee River and those flowing into the Warrior River. Between Moulton and Courtland, Little Mountain, running east and west, separates Moulton Valley on the south from the Tennessee Valley on the north. The county is thus divided into four belts; two with prevailing sandy soils, formed by the two mountain ridges, and two with calcareous soils. The valley lands are mostly of red, sandy loam soil and of great natural fertility. Lawrence County was created on February 4, 1818 by an Act of Territorial Legislature. The Legislature conferred on it the name of Lawrence in honor of Captain James Lawrence, an American naval officer, born in Burlington, New Jersey, October 1, 1781. The war with Great Britain was just over and the name "Lawrence" registered with intensity of military ardor. The act that established the counties of Cotaco (now Morgan), Lawrence, and Franklin, was passed February 4, 1818. The following is taken from "A Digest of the Laws of the State of Alabama," 1823, published by Harry Toulmin, Esq.; Sec. 2: "and be it further en- acted, That all that tract of country, lying west of said county of Cotaco, south of Tennessee river, east of the western boundary line of range numbered nine, and north of the boundary of township numbered eight from the southern boundary of the State of Tennessee, shall hereafter form one county, to be called and known by the name of 'Lawrence'." According to the Bureau of the Census, the following table shows the population of Lawrence County, distributed by color or race from LAWRENCE COUNTY Lawrence County, located in the northwestern part of Alabama, is bounded on the north by the Tennessee River, on the east by Morgan County, on the south by Winston County, and the west by Franklin and Colbert counties. The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio and its principal tributaries in the county are the Big Nance Creek, Town Creek and Flint Creek. The scenery along the river and creeks is very beautiful. Colbert is separated from Lawrence County by Town Creek. The area of Lawrence County is approximately 768 square miles, or about 448,000 acres. The greatest length from north to south is about 34 miles, and its greatest width from east to west is 24 miles. Approximately 238 square miles of the county are red valley lands; 242 calcareous land along the mountain slopes and in coves; 150 square miles in sandy lands of Little Mountain, and 160 coal measures. The Plateau of the Warrior coal field terminates in the lower part of the county in a mountain 250 or 300 feet in height overlooking the Moulton Valley, and which forms the divide between the waters flowing into the Tennessee River and those flowing into the Warrior River. Between Moulton and Courtland, Little Mountain, running east and west, separates Moulton Valley on the south from the Tennessee Valley on the north. The county is thus divided into four belts; two with prevailing sandy soils, formed by the two mountain ridges, and two with calcareous soils. The valley lands are mostly of red, sandy loam soil and of great natural fertility. Lawrence County was created on February 4, 1818 by an Act of Territorial Legislature. The Legislature conferred on it the name of Lawrence in honor of Captain James Lawrence, an American naval officer, born in Burlington, New Jersey, October 1, 1781. The war with Great Britain was just over and the name "Lawrence" registered with intensity of military ardor. The act that established the counties of Cotaco (now Morgan), Lawrence, and Franklin, was passed February 4, 1818. The following is taken from "A Digest of the Laws of the State of Alabama," 1823, published by Harry Toulmin, Esq.; Sec. 2: "and be it further en- acted, That all that tract of country, lying west of said county of Cotaco, south of Tennessee river, east of the western boundary line of range numbered nine, and north of the boundary of township numbered eight from the southern boundary of the State of Tennessee, shall hereafter form one county, to be called and known by the name of 'Lawrence'." According to the Bureau of the Census, the following table shows the population of Lawrence County, distributed by color or race from 12 LIFE AND LEGEND OF 1830 through 1950, and including Free Colored and Slave, from 1830 through 1860: Census Years Total White Negro Other Races 1950 27,128 21,192 5,930 6 1940 27,880 21,600 6,280 - 1930 26,942 19,889 7,053 - 1920 24,307 17,568 6,739 - 1910 21,984 15,046 6,933 5 1900 20,124 12,967 7,156 1 (Chinese) 1890 20,725 12,553 8,171 1 (Indian) 1880 21,392 12,642 8,750 - 1870 16,658 10,096 6,562 - Free Colored Slave 1860 13,975 7,173 14 6,788 1850 15,258 8,342 64 6,852 1840 13,313 7,143 25 6,145 1830 14,984 8,361 67 6,556 PREHISTORIC DAYS "The years teach much which the days never know"-EMERSON One of the earliest peoples to live in North Alabama were the Shell Mound Archaic people who built the shell heaps along the Tennessee River. They were here long before Columbus discovered America, but have disappeared entirely, leaving nothing by which their origin or their extermination can be traced. In the period before men learned agriculture, these Mound Builders were dependent upon wild food-plants, roots, seeds, fish, and game. Such sources of food were not plentiful and were often precarious. Shellfish formed one of the most staple and certain sources of food; so it was natural that groups of Indians settled or spent much time near the beds of fresh-water mussels. The Tennessee River spreads in a broad but shallow expansion called Muscle Shoals, named for the mussels abundantly found there, between Lauderdale and Lawrence counties, flowing over flint and limestone rocks in a succession of rapids. When this portion of the Tennessee River valley was first visited by white man, it was reported as uninhabited, but it was known to present abundant evidence of prehistoric occupancy. It appears that not until about 1660 is there any historic record of occupancy by any Indian tribe in this general region of the Tennessee River. It is a known fact, however, that the areas which were the heaviest popu- lated during aboriginal times, were the regions in which the geology and geography afforded the very best of living conditions for its human occupation. LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 13 Not being familiar with sanitation, the Mound Builders discarded the mussel shells around the camp and as the generations passed, the camps became situated upon higher and higher shell heaps. Houses were temporary crude shelters with clay floors and supports of post wood. Fire basins were floored with stones. Although shellfish was the main article of diet, fresh-water fish, wild turkey and vension were also gotten from time to time. Fish were caught with bone fishhooks. Game was killed with bone-tipped or stone-tipped spears launched with spear-throwers (a device giving the hunter greater leverage and accuracy in throwing the spear). Other tools were antler shaft-straighteners, grooved stone axes, circular pebble hammerstones, and flint drills. Roots were ground with stone bell pestles and nuts were cracked on "cracking" stones (circular flat stones with pitted surface). Food was cooked in vessels carved from sandstone or soapstone, apparently preheated pebbles being used to bring the mixtures to the desired warmth. Leather garments were fashioned with bone awls and needles. Both necklaces and bracelets were worn. Beads were fashioned from shells, stone and bone and tobacco was used, for tubular stone pipes have been found. For such a simple people the burial customs were elaborate. The dead were buried in the shell middens in either a tightly flexed or a sitting position. Often the head was removed before burial. Cremation was another way of disposing of the dead, the charred bones being either buried or left at place of cremation. For some reason, either ceremonial or personal, dogs were carefully buried as humans and sometimes dog burials accompanied human burials. The bow and arrow probably was not used at this time. The specific archaeological complex in northern Alabama is called the Lauderdale Culture, (Indians of medium statue with long heads), and it dates probably before 500 A. D. and may have been as early as 1000 B. C. There were many other archaic cultures in America at this time. Following the Archaic Period of American Indian prehistory, came a period labeled by archaeologists as the Intermediate Period or Early Woodland, called Intermediate because it was before the Hopewell or Middle Woodland, the early classic period of Indian culture in the eastern United States. The local variant of Early Woodland culture in northern Alabama is known as the Alexander Culture. The Alexander Indians lived much as their predecessors, in fact, were probably descendants of the Lauderdale Indians. The big change was the production of pottery, probably a trait introduced from outside. The pottery was unpainted, (true of all Indian pottery in eastern U. S.), but decorative effects were achieved by finger- pinching, stamping, punctuate impressions, lines, etc. 14 LIFE AND LEGEND OF Next comes the cultural complex which has attracted so much attention and speculation-the Hope-well or Middle Woodland. The Hopewell peoples built the burial mounds. In the Middle Woodland period, agriculture was definitely present, and the Indians cultivated corn, beans, squash and pumpkins. A more assured food supply enabled them to live in larger settlements, devote part of their time to other things such as taking care of the dead. In southern Ohio, the Hopewell culture reached its climax. Here were built the great Indian mounds which attracted wonders and speculation from the early settlers. Yet each mound was a religious center close to an Indian settlement. Close to an Indian settlement would be a large oblong compound enclosed by a palisade of wood and brush. Inside were shrines for religious services and graves for the dead. The dead were cremated in crematory basins and the remains buried in small graves, each of which was covered with a mound of earth. Appar- ently only important people were buried in this way as the total number of graves found in a mound is always very small in com- parison with the number of Indians in the village. After the ceremonial center became crowded with graves it was destroyed by fire and before the embers cooled the Indians started covering the ashes with clay. Some investigators believe that fire was be- lieved to be a spiritual agent which would preserve the soul or essence of a thing. By destroying their center with fire, they were transporting it to the supernatural world. The mound was built of successive layers of clay dug from nearby pits and capped with a layer of gravel to prevent erosion. Then the Indians started a new center. Not all the Mound-Builders were of one physical stock or language group. The culture contained many diverse groups of people in different tribes. Of course very little is known of its origin and developments and spread. Speculation of some archaeologists is that the Hopewell complex was associated with agriculture. After cultivation of corn was introduced, a ceremonial life developed and the religious ideas were diffused to new tribes by trade, war, con- quest or the further diffusion of agriculture. Decline probably came because the people got tired of building the mounds or because of intensified warfare between tribes or through a combination of circumstances. The Copena Indians of northern Alabama were the local rep- resentatives of the Hopewell. Their culture, while not up to Ohio standards, was impressive. The burial mounds of these people were somewhat different, being large conical mounds containing grave pits lined with exotic clays. In the center of some mounds were subfloor tombs, covered with logs and bark. Burials were either individual or group and skeletons were either extended in flesh or LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 15 tied in bundles. Grave offerings were placed with the dead but pottery was never included. Objects placed were broken or cere- monially "killed" (an unusual feature). Shell containers were obtained from the Florida Gulf Coast in some way. The Copena flourished at a later date than Ohio and Illinois Hopewell, the two greatest climaxes of the group. Following the decline of the Hopewell culture a new complex arose in the South which is known as the Temple Mound Period or the Mississippi Culture. Some believe that it was a renaissance of the old Hopewell Culture but others believe that the impetus came from the Valley of Mexico because there were a number of cultural similarities. The Middle Mississippian tribe in its centers of greatest influ- ence, reached a higher cultural peak than any other Indian civilization in the eastern U. S. The earlier Hopewell equalled it in quality of artistic objects but was inferior in a number of other respects. The Hopewell settlements were smaller, the agricultural practices less intensive, the political systems less extensive and the quantity of artistic out-put inferior. For reasons unknown, this culture began to decline before white contacts, but in its later stages after passing its zenith, the Spanish explorers arrived. The news and wild rumors reaching the Southeast concerning the Spanish conquest of Mexico plus the depredations of the Spanish explorers in the South and the new diseases introduced by the Spanish created a climate of hysteria and despair among the Indians. A religious revival swept the South and a sect known as the Southern Death Cult spread among the tribes. The particulars of this religion are not known to us but numerous religious objects were preserved in the mounds. Symbols of the Southern Death Cult were the spider, the cross, rattlesnake faces with weeping eyes, hunchbacks, fighting cocks, woodpeckers, etc. Other characteristics were monolithic axes (both head and handle made of one piece of stone), ceremonial batons of stone, en- graved copper plates showing warriors waving human heads, and elaborate costumes for the Death Cult warrior. The Death Cult flourished only a few years, but it created a brief Indian renaissance in the South. The most famous sites of the cult were Moundville, Alabama, Etowah in Georgia, and Spiro, in Oklahoma. By 1680 the cult had largely disappeared and the Indian cultures were again on the decline. In an archaeological survey of Wheeler Basin in 1939 there was found a total of 237 sites, most of which were covered with water when Wheeler Lake reached its final level. There are also mounds on the Bryant Lowery and John Wiley property, several miles from Wheeler Lake, but scattered throughout Lawrence County and in the Wheeler Basin. The Wheeler Basin extends over a large portion 16 LIFE AND LEGEND OF of the southern section of the Tennessee River and lies within six counties of northern Alabama. The Mound-Builders were not carriers of a mythical civilization, but quite ordinary Indians. Contrary to some speculations which have claimed that the Indians must have been very numerous to build such earthworks, the villages were probably quite small-1,000 to 2,000 each, and each of the mounds was constructed in a few decades by a few hundred workers carrying earth in baskets. If the Mound-Builders had survived until historic times the settlers would have considered them merely as Indians and would not have been so impressed with the mounds either, as they would have been deprived of mystery. In Lawrence County, a total of 30 sites were listed which revealed there had been ten villages, thirteen mounds, four bluff shelters, two workshops and a cave. As a general rule, the principal villages or settlements, with or without mounds, were on level ground adjacent to streams or lakes. Such places often showed an amazing amount of kitchen material in one or more portions of such settle- ments. A typical example was a spot on Tick Island where refuse reached a depth of more than eight feet for an area of nearly two acres. Other examples were the shell mounds, which were composed of shells, animal bones, stones, pebbles, flint chips, fashioned or broken objects, potsherds, fish remains, charcoal and occasional human burials. Mounds of this type were often as much as 300 feet wide, 600 feet long, and 15 to 20 feet high. They had as much as 60,000 to 100,000 cubic yards of materials, essentially all the left-overs from primitive kitchens. A conical shaped mound excavated on the Hood Harris property, near Big Nance Creek, revealed that the mound undoubtedly was a burial one, although most of the skeletons had gone to pieces. As was the custom, beautiful objects had been laid on a woven textile on the floor of the pit and copper salts had preserved the textile in contact with the metal. In another pit were found one small fragment of long bone and a pile of artifacts, and it could hardly be doubted that the single bone fragment represented the last residue of a skeleton and the pile of artifacts, a mortuary offering. One burial mound was located on Tick Island which was slightly more than four feet high, 90 feet long and 65 feet wide. The mound had been under cultivation for many years and was reported to have been much higher than it was at the time of exploration. Two other sites were located on Tick Island, formerly known as Hood Harris Island. At one of the sites, many large sherds and broken vessels were found, and also water bottles and utility vessels, associated with burials. It was believed that occupants of a nearby LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 17 village who made grit-tempered pottery, were later occupants of the site and that some of their village rubbish was deposited on the top and sides of the mound, perhaps long after it was built. The mound was built by a people who used for burial offerings only shell-tempered vessels. They deposited the dead in the flesh as extended or flexed bodies, and sometimes buried bones in bundles. Pottery was the only mortuary offering. Another mound, which rose very gradually from the surface level of Tick Island, was excavated and artifacts found. These consisted of a few projectile points, pottery elbow pipe, and a bracelet. It was badly corroded and appeared to be an alloy of brass. A cave, located near Lamb's Ferry in Lawrence County on the Tennessee River, situated about 20 feet up in the bluff, was covered with aboriginal remains. The late Professor W. D. Funkhouser, Dean of Graduate School and Professor of Anthropology at the University of Kentucky, Lex- ington, made a study of the skeletons and a picture of the average individual as indicated by the measurements of several skeletons, and showed that a man would be somewhat above medium height, rather light-boned, broad-faced with high cheek bones. There were some evidences of tooth extractions and it appeared that, in the primitive method used, the tooth had usually been forced laterally out of the socket, the pressure being from the outside. In spite of the common notion to the contrary, it appeared that these primitive peoples had as many and as varied troubles with their teeth as do the civilized races of today. REFERENCES Cultural and Natural Areas of Native North America, A. L. Kroeber, University of California, 1953 Archaeology of the Eastern United States, James B. Griffin, University of Chicago Press, 1952 Indians Before Columbus, by Paul S. Martin, George I. Quimby and Donald Collier, University of Chicago Press, 1947 An Archaeological Survey of Wheeler Basin on the Tennessee River in Northern Alabama, by William S. Webb, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1939 INDIAN DAYS "Tongues in trees, books in running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything." -SHAKESPEARE One of the five Indian tribes in the south, the Cherokee gave the white settler the most trouble. This tribe was a powerful one, of the Iroquoyian family and held a large amount of the territory 18 LIFE AND LEGEND OF of mountain regions in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, North Georgia, North Alabama and East and middle Tennessee. Agriculture of the Indians was confined to a few plants-maize, squashes, beans, tobacco, etc. Manufactures were confined to the making of canoes from bark or hollowed trees, weapons and images carved and occasionally hammered and moulded, pottery, skin clothing and ornaments. Game was taken by the bow and arrow or traps. They were fond of painting and tattooing their bodies, the paint being varied for grief or joy, woe or peace. They used as their ornaments, beads made of shells, feathers, porcupine quills, and parts of birds and animals. The tribes believed in a future state of existence, and paid great Attention to the bodies of the dead. Food was placed on the graves of the dead for the next world. They recognized a supreme being and a host of spirits good and evil. Being firm believers in the power of evil spirits, they ascribed disease and defeat to their malign influence; and the medicine men, who were supposed to counteract these, were resorted to in times of sickness and when starting on the war path, the hunt, or long and perilous journeys by land or water. Dreams exercised a great influence over them, and may be considered a part of their religious system. The settlement of the Cherokees in the region known as Melton's Village and the frequent passage of the Creeks, (which held the territory between the Oconee and the Alabama Rivers), soon brought the two tribes to blows. Oliver Day Street gives this account of one of these expeditions: "The Creeks were returning laden with the spoils of the chase, had recrossed the Tennessee at 'the shoals' and were ascending Beard's bluff, along the same route where the Guntersville and Deposit public road now runs, when they were suddenly startled by a war-whoop and immediately assailed by a strong party of Cherokees in ambush. The Creeks, though taken by surprise and inferior in number, valiantly fought their way up the bluff, about a hundred feet high at this point, and for some distance along its summit, but were finally overpowered. The remnant of the vanquished scattered to the woods and many escaped, but most of the Creek braves were killed or captured." The Cherokees lived in the northeast section of Alabama and along the upper Tennessee region. The region between the Oconee and the Alabama rivers was held by the Creeks and the Choctaws held the southwest and central Mississippi area. Chickasaws occupied the territory in northwest Alabama and in the northern section of Mississippi. When the United States came into possession of Alabama and white settlers moved into the lands formerly owned by the Indians, the result was war and the Massacre at Fort Mims in Baldwin LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 19 County. Nearly 500 men, women and children were killed by the Indians, who were determined to kill all white people who were taking their lands. This tragic occurrence at Fort Mims sent General Andrew Jackson with volunteer armies from Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi to the scene, and eventually broke the power of the Creek Indians. In making the peace settlement, the Indians ceded the greater part of their lands. In 1806, the Cherokees ceded the lands north of the Tennessee river, in 1816 south of the Tennessee river, in 1819 northeast, and in 1835, south of the Tennessee in the extreme east. In Washington, on January 7, 1806, the following Articles were made between Henry Dearborn, Secretary of War, under authoriza- tion of the President of the U. S. and chiefs and head men of the Cherokee nation: ARTICLE I The undersigned chiefs, and head men of the Cherokee nation of Indians for themselves and in behalf of their nation, relinquish to the United States all right, title, interest and claim, which they or their nation have or ever had to all that tract of country, which lies to the northward of the river Tennessee, and westward of a line to be run from the upper part of the Chickasaw Old Fields, at the upper point of an island, called Chickasaw Island, on said river, to the most easterly head waters of that branch of said Tennessee river; called Duck river, excepting the two following described tracts, vis. one tract bounded southerly on the said Tennessee river at a place called the Muscle Shoals, westerly, by a creek called Te-Kee-ta-no-eh, or Cypress creek, and easterly by Chu-wa-lee, or Elk river, or creek, and northerly, by a line to be drawn from a point on said Elk river; ten miles on a direct line, from its mouth, or junction, with Tennessee river, to a point on the said Cypress creek, ten miles on a direct line, from its junction with the Tennessee river. -4 The other tract is to be two miles in width, on the north side, of Tennessee river; and to extend northerly, from that river, three miles, and bounded as follows, vis. beginning at the mouth of Spring creek, and running up said creek, three miles on a straight line, thence westerly, two miles at right angles with the general course of said creek, thence southerly, on a line parallel with the general course of said creek, to the Tennessee river, thence up said river, by its waters, to the beginning: which first reserved tract is to be considered the common property of the Cherokees, who now live on the same; including John D. Chesholm, Au, tow, we and Che Chout, and the other reserved tract, on which Moses Melton now 20 LIFE AND LEGEND OF lives, is to be considered the property of said Melton, and of Charles Hicks in equal shares. Article II stipulated that in consideration of the relinquishment of title by the Cherokees, the United States will pay to the Cherokee nation, two thousand dollars in money, as soon as this convention shall be duly ratified by the government of the United States; and two thousand dollars in each of the four succeeding years, amounting in the whole to ten thousand dollars; and that a grist-mill shall, within one year from the date hereof, be built in the Cherokee country, for the use of the nation, at such place as shall be con- sidered most convenient; that the said Cherokees shall be furnished with a machine for cleaning cotton; and also, that the old Cherokee chief, called the Black Fox, shall be paid annually one hundred dollars by the United States during his life. ARTICLE III It is also agreed on the part of the United States that the govern- ment thereof will use its influence and best endeavours to prevail on the Chickasaw nation of Indians to agree to the following boundary between that nation and the Cherokees, to the southward of the Tennessee River, viz. beginning at the mouth of Caney Creek near the lower part of the Muscle Shoals, and to run up the said creek to its head, and in a direct line from thence to the Flat Stone or Rock, the old corner boundary. But it is understood by the contracting parties that the United States do not engage to have the aforesaid line or boundary estab- lished, but only to endeavor to prevail on the Chickasaw nation to consent to such a line as the boundary between the two nations. ARTICLE IV It is further agreed on the part of the United States, that the claims which the Chickasaws may have to the two tracts reserved by the first article of this convention, on the north side of the Tennessee River shall be settled by the United States in such manner as will be equitable, and will secure to the Cherokees the title to the said reservations. Regardless of from where the Indian came, he felt the white man a bitter enemy invading his territory. Pagan in belief, the Indian saw God only in the cloud or heard him in the wind and his bravery and love for his race caused many an early pioneer to lose his life in the great struggle between the two races for supremacy, which could have but one ending-triumphal possession by the Anglo-Saxons. REFERENCES The American Cyclopaedia, 1881 Alabama, by Marie Bankhead Owen, 1921 LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 21 Laws, Treaties and Other Documents, Having Operation and Respect to the Public Lands, Washington City, 1810 The Indians of Marshall County, Alabama, Oliver Day Street, 1904 WHITE WOMAN SCALPED BY INDIANS A Burleson family emigrated at an early day from North Carolina to East Tennessee. At that time there was open war with the Cherokee Indians, for a sister of Joe and James Burleson (who afterward lived in Lawrence County) was scalped by these Indians. But belonging to a race possessing a great deal of vital energy, she recovered and was the grandmother of General John H. Morgan, renowned Cavalry Commander. James Burleson settled with his family on the north side of the mountain on Fox Creek. Here, near an Indian village called Moneetown, the family became involved in & feud following an altercation between a son-in-law, Martin, and the Cherokees. After three of the Indians were slain, James Burle- son and his son, Edward, fled to Missouri. REFERENCES Early Settlers of Alabama, by Col. James Edmond Saunders, 1899. WHITE SETTLERS MOVE IN "Through the battle, through defeat, moving yet and never stopping Pioneers! 0 Pioneers!" -WALT WHITMAN The years, 1816 and 1817 were the real beginning of the flow of immigration into North Alabama. Most of the newcomers were from Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and the Carolinas and were seeking a better place in which to live. Families with everything they owned were moving to a new land. Men with long rifles marched in front and behind the long procession of women, children, cows, pigs, and loaded pack horses or covered wagons. Some of the early settlers were wealthy and came in small colonies, bringing with them all the means and appliances of civilized life, their ministers, their physicians, their merchants, their lawyers and mechanics, and every department of business flourished. These were indeed, exciting times on the frontier! Moving in, however, was a trivial affair for some of the poorer pioneers who were also seeking a better home. A split slab, smoothed with an ax and supported by four legs, did duty as a table, three- legged stools or long benches of the same material supplied the place of chairs, and a long trough cradled the baby. The bed was often only a bear skin thrown upon the floor until the first corn crop 22 LIFE AND LEGEND OF supplied husks for a mattress. The log cabins, usually two rooms with a dog trot in between, a large fireplace in each room of the cabin, and split shingles for a roof, were built by the man and his wife. The chimneys were made of gray sandstone rocks stuck to- gether with thick yellow mud, or mud and sticks, and the interior of the cabin was in harmony with the rude simplicity of its outward construction. Housekeeping conveniences were not yet heard of and the inside finish consisted solely of some pegs driven into the wall for the accommodation of the few articles of spare clothing and two larger ones, or a pair of buck horns over the fireplace, for the rifle. Split rails fenced in cows. Although factories for making soap appeared at an early date, most housewives made their own supply from a combination of waste fats and wood ashes or lye. This mixture, boiled outdoors in a large iron kettle, produced a strong but effective soap. The women prided themselves in the quality of the soap they made and sometimes scented the milder mixtures with herbs. Cellars or spring houses served as an effective substitute for modern refrigeration. Built over a spring, or dug into the ground, these cool shelters cut down on milk spoilage. The cellars were also used as shelters during storms and were often called storm houses. Until screens became common, dining in the summer months sometimes meant fanning away insects with one hand while eating with the other. In some of the wealthier homes of the 19th century, punkahs-large fans made of cloth on a wooden frame, were sus- pended above the dining table. Some people helped each other build houses and clear the lands for farming. "House-raisings" and "log-rollings" were common, and in the fall "cornhuskings" was a method of cooperation. For the older boys and girls and the grown folks, square dances were enjoyed as the fiddler sat in one corner and played such favorites as "Leather Breeches," "Sail Away Ladies," "Sugar Valley," and "Rabbit in the Pea Patch." There were no roads, only Indian trails, where danger lurked in every shadow, Indians ready to slay and scalp his white adversary and wild beasts ready for the attack. Marauding bands infested it to the terror of the white settlers who were often compelled to have part of their men stand guard while others worked in fields. Boys were instructed early in the use of firearms and a rifle or shotgun was usually their first piece of property. Only indomitable courage and self reliance could master this situation. Thus, we have the background and conditions existing in North Alabama at the time it was attempted to be settled by the white man. LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 23 EARLY TRAILS AND ROADS "Beaten Paths are for Beaten Men"-VOLTAIRE The earliest roads were Indian trails and were little more than paths through the wilderness. These trails could be followed on foot or on horse back, but were not suitable for wagons or coaches which came later. Settlers came from Kentucky and Tennessee over the Natchez Trace, a road which crossed the Tennessee River near the present site of Muscle Shoals. As the population grew, rough wagon roads were established between the settlements and by 1830, stage coach lines connected all the important towns. Stage coaches pro- vided the best transportation for passengers and mail between towns. They never traveled at night and were often delayed by impassable roads. Back as far as 1805, however, settlers manipulated with Indians and on October 25, a treaty was drawn up between the United States and the Cherokee Indians which gave citizens the use of certain roads. Article IV of the Treaty stated that "the citizens of the United States shall have the free and unmolested use and enjoyment of the two following described roads, in addition to those which are at present established through their country; one to proceed from some convenient place near the head of Stone's river; and fall into the Georgia road at a suitable place towards the southern frontier of the Cherokees. The other to proceed from the neighborhood of Franklin, or Big Harpath, and crossing the Tennessee at or near the Muscle Shoals, to pursue the nearest and best way to the settlements on the Tombigbee." The articles were agreed upon by Return J. Meigs and Daniel Smith, appointed commissioners of the U. S. to hold con- ferences with the Cherokee Indians at Tellico. On October 27, 1805, the Cherokees granted the free use of a road through their country for the carriage of the mail, which stated: "and whereas the mail of the United States is ordered to be carried from Knoxville to New Orleans, through the Cherokee, Creek and Choctaw countries; the Cherokees agree that the citizens of the United States, shall have, so far as it goes, through their country, the free and unmolested use of a road leading from Tellico to Tom- bigbee, to be laid out by viewers, appointed on both sides, who shall direct it, the nearest and best way; and the time of doing the business, the Cherokees shall be notified of. In consideration of the above cession and relinquishment, the United States agrees to pay to the Cherokee Indians, sixteen hundred dollars in money, or useful mer- chandise, at their option, within ninety days after the ratification of this treaty." All supplies had to be hauled in from shipping points at some distance off. Roads were of prime importance, and where feasible, 24 LIFE AND LEGEND OF +----------------------------------------------+ Early Roads +----------------------------------------------+ these traveled the high land rather than most direct routes. Unlike present day road building, no preparations were made for a road except to clear the trees and stumps from the route and to use logs in swampy land, forming a "corduroy" which afforded a firm foundation for the heavily loaded wagons. The Moulton Road was an important source of supplies for the settlers. It ran from Columbus, Mississippi through Guin, Hamilton, and Hackleburg, on to Russellville, Moulton and Courtland. The Byler Road was completed through this section about 1820 by John Byler and connected the Tennessee Valley with Tuscaloosa by way of what later became Haleyville, Delmar, and Natural Bridge. A general road law was enacted in 1836 that was in force with a few amendments for 60 years. It was customary during this period to have an overseer with a few hands to go over the road, break up a few rocks and fill up the deepest holes. The roads were laid out to save all the tillable land possible for cultivation, around the foot of hills, and occasionally across the valley called a lane. The following is taken from "Two Hundred Years At Muscle Shoals" by Nina Leftwich: "From time before there were records kept by the whites there had been a trail from the northeast to the far southwest by the way LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 25 of the mouth of Bear Creek, known as the Mountain Leader's Trace. Intercourse between the United States and the Natchez District was by way of the difficult ascent of the Mississippi and Ohio or by way of this lonely trail, a mere bridle path for 500 miles. Since 1797 the government's mail carrier had been carrying the mail between Nashville and Natchez over the dangerous old trail. And so, immediately after the organization of the Mississippi Territorial government in 1798 the Federal authorities empowered General Wilkinson in command of the United States troops at Natchez to enter into negotiations with the Indians in reference to opening a road. As the result, in October, 1801, a 'Treaty of reciprocal advantages and mutual conveniences between the United States and the Chickasaws' gave leave to cut and open a wagon road between Nashville, Tennessee and Natchez, Mississippi. Governor Claiborne appointed commissioners and the road was laid out in 1802. In 1806 Congress appropriated $6,000 for opening the road through the Indian country and in 1815 made a larger appropriation 'for repairing and keeping in repair the road from Natchez to Nashville.' The road, which had now become definitely known as the Natchez Trace, ran by way of Columbia, Tennessee, crossed the Tennessee River at Colbert's Ferry thence southwest by the present Allsboro into Mississippi and on by old Pontotoc southwest to Natchez. Under the treaties the Indians expressly reserved rights to establish public houses of entertainment along the route and to control the necessary ferries across the water courses .... First and worst of the Natchez Trace bandits were the Harps, Big Harp and Little Harp, who killed for fun. 'Neither avarice, want, nor any of the usual inducements to the commission of crime seemed to govern their conduct.' For four years, 1795-1799, they roamed the wilder- ness road, robbed many a night-foundered traveler, sank his corpse in a nearby stream, then gleefully rode on to rob and murder again. Joseph Hare, a handsome lad, 'who loved a well-cut coat and a snug-fitting pair of breeches,' began his life of crime by picking pockets in the New Orleans Cabarets. Here the flatboatmen and rough planters from the up-country threw their money around carelessly. As Hare saw every few days a company of them start from New Orleans on horse, and knew they carried a great deal of money with them, up through the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations over the Natchez Trace, he gathered his men about him, armed and mounted them, and started up the trail after his victims. "The wilderness had a sinister influence on men's character. For the farmers of Kentucky and Tennessee the trip to New Orleans with the fall crop was a gay holiday. 'Even decent quiet deacons at home would throw religion aside when they embarked on their annual trip downriver;' they cut the pigeon-wing; they rioted. They 26 LIFE AND LEGEND OF were most gullible. Drunk, they became an easy prey for the gambler and robber. From 1801 to 1814 Samuel Mason and his gang con- tinued to kill and rob along the Trace. The last, the greatest and most dangerous of the land pirates was John A. Murrell, 'he of such genteel manners.' Taught by his mother to steal, he became adept at it, even before he was twelve years old. He boasted that he carried off more than a thousand slaves. He sold them, stole them, sold them again and often killed them in the end to destroy the evidence. He posed as an itinerant preacher and said, 'in all that route, I robbed only eleven men, but I preached some d-- fine sermons.' In the last days of his operation, about 1833, he led a great conspiracy to arouse the Negroes to a general rebellion not for the purpose of liberation but for plunder. He was apprehended, confined to prison; became an imbecile; and with him passed the day of the robber gang." Gaines Trace was apparently the first "road" in Lawrence county. Congress authorized the opening of a horse path, the Indians limited the load to 200 pounds, from Melton's Bluff just north of the present Courtland through the southern part of Colbert county to Cotton Gin Port at the head of navigation on the Tombigbee River. This road was opened by soldiers of the United States under the direction of General George Strothers Gaines about 1805, with the result that supplies were floated down the Tennessee to the Shoals, put on horses and carried to the Tombigbee over the trace and again floated down to St. Stephens. Another fork of this Trace left from Eastport across the western part of Colbert County to join the main Trace about where Russellville is now. Toulmin's Digest of the Laws of the State of Alabama, 1823, contains Acts establishing the following roads (limited to North Alabama, and particularly this area) : "That a public road be, and the same is hereby established, as follows, to wit: beginning on the great military road leading from Columbia in Tennessee to Madison- ville in Louisiana, at or near the place where Samuel Craig now lives, on the west side of Big-Shoal Creek in Lauderdale county; thence the nearest and best way to the Tennessee river, at the ferry opposite the town of Bainbridge, Franklin county; thence southeast from the southern part of said town, the nearest and best way to the county line between the counties of Lawrence and Franklin; thence south along said county line, wherever the situation of the ground will admit, and at all times as near the said line as practicable, to the southern boundaries of the counties of Lawrence and Franklin; thence the most eligible route to the falls of Tuskaloosa river." Section 1, Act passed December 16, 1819, Toulmin's Digest. In Section 4, it is provided that "John Byler, of the county of Lawrence, and his associates, be, and they are hereby authorized LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 27 and empowered to continue the said road from the southern boundary of the counties of Lawrence and Franklin, to the center of the southern boundary of township numbered eighteen, or range num- bered ten, west, the most eligible route which they can or may have discovered." "That Johnson M'Kenney, Jacob Sutton, James Harvey, John Beetcham, and William Warren, be, and they are hereby ap- pointed commissioners to view and mark out a road, leading from Button's Gap, near Moulton, to intersect Byler's road at or near the sixty-six mile tree from Tennessee river, and that they with their associates are authorized to open said road by voluntary subscription." Act passed November 27, 1821, Toulmin's Digest. "That a public road shall be and is hereby established, to com- mence at Martin's Gap, in the southwest corner of Lawrence County, running thence the nearest and most direct way, so as to intersect the military road leading from Nashville to New Orleans, at Pikes- ville in Marion County." Act passed December 24, 1822, Toulmin's Digest. The first attempt at road making required locating the roads and clearing off the timber. Holes left by the removal of trees were filled with brush and stones. The dirt surface was soon worn into ruts and bumps and in wet weather, the roads were muddy and hard to travel. But these crude roads made it possible for the settled pioneer to go to market and to do the small amount of traveling which his busy life allowed. The old stagecoach roads which joined Lawrenceburg, Moulton, Tuscaloosa, Tuscumbia, and Decatur, crossed at Courtland, and the elegant old horse drawn stage coaches bounced their passengers from town to town. Twenty-four plank roads on which tolls were charged, were established by the Alabama Legislature during 1849 and 1850. The State Highway Department was created in 1911 and in 1916 Senator John H. Bankhead, Sr., obtained a Federal appropriation of $5,000,000 a, year to aid Alabama in the construction of roads. State Highway No. 20, running from Decatur through the north- ern part of the county to Tuscumbia, and State Highway No. 24 running from Decatur through the southern part of the county to Russellville and to the Mississippi state line, are paved wide thoroughfares. Paved highways also bisect the county in many directions and rocked rural roads are in good condition. ALABAMA ADMITTED AS A STATE The State of Alabama was admitted into the union on December 4, 1819. It had been Alabama Territory since March 1, 1817 when President James Madison signed the act which divided the Mississippi Territory. 28 LIFE AND LEGEND OF Since 1811 the people of various sections of the Mississippi Terri- tory had advocated statehood, and some of them, notably George Poindexter favored the extension of statehood to the entire Territory. But the area was considered on the whole, much too large for a state. Numerous petitions from conventions were received from 1815, suggesting various lines of division, and finally on March 1, 1817 the president signed the act which divided the territory for Alabama and Mississippi Territories. The name, "Alabama" was given to the eastern half and "Missis- sippi" was named for the western half. Alibama was the Indian name of a tribe in South Alabama, a Mushhogean tribe of the Creek Confederacy. Alibamu is from the Choctaw words, "alba aya mule", meaning "I open or clear the thicket." Alabama is also the meaning of "Here we rest." President James Monroe appointed William Wyatt the first Governor of the Alabama Territory and St. Stephens was designated in the act as the temporary seat of government. There, two sessions of the Territorial Legislature were held. On March 2, 1819 "an act to enable the people of Alabama Territory to form a Constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the union on an equal footing with the original states" was passed by Congress and the election of delegates to the Convention was held in May, 1819, authorizing them to meet in Huntsville until suitable buildings could be built at Cahaba. Hunts- ville was regarded as the state's temporary capital on July 5. The people in the Territory realized this convention was of major importance-the formation of a State Constitution and government was at stake-and they selected the delegates with much care. The most intellectural leaders in the Territory were on this committee. Arthur F. Hopkins and Daniel Wright, both from Lawrence County affixed their signatures to this Constitution. There were twenty-two counties at that time and the first legislature created thirteen addi- tional ones. The Constitution recognized Negro slavery, and granted the privilege of voting to white men twenty-one years old and upward. This memorable occasion of the first assembly was in session almost two months and was the real beginning of state functioning. After the capital was moved to Cahaba, it remained there for a period of six years, but in 1825, by a margin of one vote, the Senate voted to remove the state capital to Tuscaloosa, stating that the town of Cahaba was situated in a lowland and was in danger of being flooded by the waters of the Cahaba and Alabama rivers. Matthew Clay, Senator, represented Lawrence county at that meeting. Tuscaloosa remained the seat of government for twenty years LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 29 when Montgomery was selected by the legislature to become the capital of Alabama in 1846. REFERENCES Reminiscences of Public Men in Alabama, by William Garrett, Atlanta, Georgia, 1872 Alabama, by Marie Bankhead Owen, 1921 Mississippi, The Heart of the South, Dunbar Rowland, 1925 Alabama History, by Joel Campbell DuBose, 1915 The New Eclectic History of the United States, by M. E. Thalheimer, 1881 EARLY SETTLEMENTS "God made the country and man made the town" -WILLIAM COOPER MELTON'S BLUFF Melton's Bluff was the county seat of justice while Alabama was a Territory. It was the first and largest town in Lawrence county and located at the head of Elk river shoals, on the south bank of the Tennessee River. It was laid out by General Andrew Jackson and his associates. The General thought a town above the shoals must succeed, while his relative, John Donelson and others thought that Bainbridge at the foot of the shoals, was the very site for a large town and they cut a broad canal through the river for a mile to the foot of the prospective town. Neither Melton's Bluff nor Bainbridge was a success. There are no remains at either place. Melton's Bluff was settled rapidly and all the houses were built on a line parallel to the bluff. The most prominent citizen in the place then and for many years was Isaac Brownlow, who died at Lamb's Ferry in 1828. The settlement was named for a Cherokee Indian, Melton. Some are inclined to believe that the county seat was formerly at Courtland, however, it has been said the town took its name from the fact that a United States Land Office and the federal court were established there, hence the name "Courtland." Courtland was in- corporated by an Act passed December 13, 1819, and by an act of the Legislature approved February 23, 1871, the probate judge was authorized and required to hold at least one term of his court during each month at Courtland. But it was at Melton's Bluff, in Lawrence County, that the Honorable Obadiah Jones, Esq., Judge, presided at a superior court begun and held on August 24, 1818, and the minutes of this court state that it was "held in pursuance of an act of the Legislature at Melton's Bluff for the County of Lawrence." The Honorable Beverly Hughes, Esq., Judge, presided at a superior court of law and equity begun and held for the County of Lawrence at Melton's Bluff on November 8, 1819, and the Honorable Henry 30 LIFE AND LEGEND OF Minor, attorney general for the Northern district, was also present for the court. Even after Alabama became a state, the Honorable Richard Ellis, Esq., Judge, held court for four days at Melton's Bluff, beginning on February 14, 1820 and at this term the Honorable Peter Martin, solicitor for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, appeared for the State. Just prior to this last term of Court, an election had been held in the county to fix the county seat. On December 4, 1819, an Act entitled "An Act permanently to fix the seat of justice in the County of Lawrence," wag passed. This Act provided, among other things, that an election was to be held on the first Monday and Tuesday in February, 1820, to elect five commissioners; that they or a majority of them should have the power to fix a site for the public buildings in the county, "which site they shall place at the center thereof or at the nearest eligible place thereto;" and to obtain title to "not less than three acres, nor more than one quarter section of land, at the place fixed on by them for the seat of justice." No record of the outcome of this election can be found, but Col. Saunders in his "Early Settlers of Alabama" records this interesting information: "The law providing for a permanent seat of justice was passed 4th of December, 1819." On December 17, Moulton obtained an act of incorporation, Courtland heard of it, and on the 19th she was incor- porated. In February, 1820, the election was held to fix the county seat, and the choice fell to Moulton. Arrangements were made at once for the erection of the public buildings. Major John Gaugett got the contract, and they were completed within two years. REFERENCES Early Settlers of Alabama, Col. James E. Saunders, 1899 MOULTON-COUNTY SEAT Moulton, county seat of Lawrence County, is located in the central part of the county, with miles of paved streets and side walks, beautiful homes, progressive businesses and is the gateway to the Bankhead National Forest. A historic town, incorporated December 17, 1819, it was named in honor of Lieutenant Michael C. Moulton of the United States Army, who fought in the Creek Indian War of 1813-14. In February, 1820, an election was held to fix the county seat of Lawrence and Moulton was the choice. Courtland had been in- corporated on December 19, 1819, only two days after Moulton, and both towns were rivals for the county's seat of justice. Moulton has had three courthouses, the first one dating back to 1820. It was a log building with a fence around it. Sometime LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 31 between the February term, 1859, of the Commissioner's Court and April 4, 1859, the Courthouse at Moulton was destroyed by fire. At a special term of the court on April 4, 1859, provisions were made to build a new courthouse, and stipulated "The house is to be fifty- four feet square, two stories high and constructed of brick, to be completed by the first of March next, I860." H. H. Higgins was employed to furnish the drawings and specifications for the plan of the new courthouse and he also contracted to build it. Pending construction, the office of Hansell & Clark was designated as the place for holding the Chancery Court, and the Baptist Female Institute was used for holding the terms of the Circuit Court. The courthouse building had only two large offices, two small offices, two jury rooms and the courtroom. The building was used as a hospital during the War Between the States. It was torn down and replaced by the present building in 1936. Before Lawrence County had a jail, old timers have said that trials were held on the courthouse lawn while the prisoners were chained to a tree. The first jail was built of logs and lined with heavy lumber. In order to make it more secure, the walls were filled with nails. It was located just in front of the present jail building. The second jail was built on the site of the first one, which is now used as the courthouse annex on the west side of the square. The third and present jail was erected at the rear of the present courthouse annex. Peter Taylor was the first judge elected after Alabama became a state; James B. Wallace, second; James Gallagher, third; Boiling C. Baker, fourth; John B. Sale, fifth; David P. Lewis, sixth; Richard 0. Pickett, seventh; William M. Gallaway, eighth; and William C. Graham, ninth. Daniel W. Wright was the first Lawrence County Clerk, by appointment and in 1818 with Arthur F. Hopkins, Wright became a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Wright was followed by John Gallagher, Rev. Andrew 0. Horn, John Greggs, and Wiley Gallaway. In 1850, the civil jurisdiction was removed from the county courts and the office of clerk was abolished with the duties being turned over to the probate judge. Henry A. McGhee was the first probate judge; Crockett McDonald second; Christopher C. Gewin, third; Charles Gibson, fourth; and James H. McDonald, fifth. Thirteen sheriffs served for a period of 62 years beginning in 1818, in addition to General Philip Dale Roddy, who was 26 years of age and served after Samuel Henderson as the seventh. The first sheriff was Hance M. Cunningham; William Reneau, second; Hugh M. Warren, third; Boiling B. Burnett, fourth; John Gregg, fifth; Matthew Roberts, sixth; Samuel Henderson, seventh; Denton H. Valiant, eighth; John C. Burruss, ninth; Wm. Eubank, tenth; Joseph 32 LIFE AND LEGEND OF +----------------------------------------------+ Second Courthouse, Moulton 1860 - 1936 +----------------------------------------------+ +----------------------------------------------+ Third and Present Courthouse, Moulton 1936 - +----------------------------------------------+ LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 33 H. Shryg-ley, eleventh; C. C. Gewin, twelfth, and Henry A. McGhee, thirteenth. Early merchants were John Gallagher, Moore and Norwood, Bernard M. Patterson, James Deary, David Hunter, Mitchell and Pryor, Ambrose Hunter, James M. Minis, James Elliott, Edmund P. Andersen and Hubbard and Talmadge. The clerks of Circuit Courts were George Foote, (when the county seat was at Melton's Bluff) ; Jonathan Burford, John Galla- gher, John M. Jackson, John McBride, C. J. Cummings, David J. Goodlett, John M. McGhee, Christopher C. Harris. Asa M. Hodges was elected in 1868 but declined and D. C. Goodlett was appointed in his place. He was followed by Robert Y. Goodlett. The names are listed in the order of their service. Moulton is not only one of the oldest towns in the state, but the Moulton Advertiser, a weekly newspaper, is the second oldest news- paper in the state, and is the oldest weekly paper. The Masonic Lodge is the oldest, active lodge in Alabama. There are three churches in Moulton, organized as the town was settled. They are the Church of Christ, the Methodist and Baptist. The first mail line was from Moulton by Walker Court House to Tuscaloosa, in March, 1829. Moulton gradually expanded as business houses were set up and by 1878, a thriving town was well on its way. Stepping stones were replaced by sawdust walks. On the west side of the square, there was a livery stable operated by Jim Heflin, later by W. Windham; a dry goods store was operated a short time by a Mr. Wert, and the Moulton Hotel and saloon did good business. W. S. Eyster also had a drug store. On the north side, Howard and Billy Irwin had a merchantile business. Jim Downing had a saloon and the post office was located about the middle of the block. The Masonic Lodge Hall, also on the north side, burned down along with the other buildings, including Frank Goodlett's grocery store, first operated by James Monroe Sandlin, who came from Russellville. The brick jail was erected at the north end of the east side of the square, and the newspaper office was south of the jail. The Moulton Bank was located between the jail and printing office. Jim Griffin had a saloon on the south side of the square. The first bank in Moulton, the Bank of Moulton, was organized in 1905 by Gayle and Brown, of Owenton, Ky., with $10,000 capital stock. The following were the first directors: J. C. Kumpe, W. D. Irwin, C. C. Prince, A. L. Windham, J. M. Irwin, T. R. Alexander, and Robert M. Byars. The bank opened for business October 16, 1905 with J. C. Kumpe, president; C. C. Prince, vice president, and J. C. Brown, cashier. At the close of business on June 30, 1906, a 34 LIFE AND LEGEND OF +----------------------------------------------+ Dr. J. T. Masterson Home, Built in 1890 +----------------------------------------------+ +----------------------------------------------+ Moulton Hotel +----------------------------------------------+ LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 35 condensed statement of the condition reported Resources: Loans and Discounts, $24,745.71; overdrafts, $100.11; Real Estate and Fixtures, $3,715.79; Cash and due from banks, $27,827.53; making a total of $56,389.14. Liabilities showed Capital stock, $10,000; undivided profits less expenses, $758.34; reserved for taxes, $140; individual deposits, $45,490.80, making a total of $56,389.14. The December 81, 1958 statement showed a total of $2,607,309.03 resources. The old building was located on the east side of the square and a new modern banking institution was erected south of the old one and occupied in December, 1939. The first start of the organization of the Citizens Bank, of Moulton, was made August 19, 1911 and was first located on the south side of the square where the Aldridge barber shop is now located. The original directors were A. J. Crosthwaite, D. H. Bracken, C. P. Prueit, W. R. Coffey, J. D. L. Byars, L. P. Alexander, and J. M. Crowell. Mr. Crosthwaite was the first president, Bracken was vice president, and L. P. Cropper was the first cashier. The bank's capital stock stood at $15,000 when organized and the state- ment of December 30, 1958 showed $45,000 undivided and reserve profits, $174,936.35. A new building was erected on the west side of the square and occupied in the summer of 1940. The Bank of Moulton and the Citizens Bank are the only two banks in Lawrence County. At one time there was a branch of the Tennessee Valley Bank, of Decatur, in Courtland, Alabama, and also at Town Creek. Some of the earliest settlers of Moulton were the Roberts, Mc- Daniels, Hodges, and Peters families, whose descendants are still located in Moulton and Lawrence County. Among the many other prominent families, the names of several rank high, including Philip Dale Roddy, Confederate General; Judge T. M. Peters, Chief Justice of Alabama's Supreme Court; D. C. and Jourd White, journalists, who edited the Moulton Advertiser for many years; Ed Almon, Congressman for many years; J. C. Kumpe, probate judge for more than thirty years, and Earl M. Hodson, Lawrence County Super- intendent of Education for fifteen years. MARATHON Marathon, a settlement just west of Melton's Bluff on the Tennessee River, was a town laid out in lots, but no field notes showing the metes and bounds of the boundary lines can be located. The lots in the town of Marathon were offered for sale in 1818 under the Federal Credit System and Lots Numbers 1 to 564, in- clusive, were sold to various parties, most of whom, after paying a part of the purchase money, made default of the remainder, thereby 36 LIFE AND LEGEND OF forfeiting their rights to the lots purchased. The sales were made pursuant to authority of Proclamation Number 24 of May 26, 1818. No further entries were made until the year 1834 when cash entries were made for the forfeited lots, 1 to 564, except lots 68 and 196. An act was passed on June 25, 1936 by the 74th Congress, releasing interest in fractional section 25 to the owners of the equitable titles thereto. According to abstract of title lands of James B. Gilchrist, J. W. Lane owned 48.91 acres on N. W. part, Sec. 25, South of Tenn. River, dated Nov. 28, 1822. The S. E. part, south of the Tennessee River, Section 25, 3 South, 7 West, in the Town of Marathon, 149 acres were sold in town lots. Marathon was spread out a little more than a mile long and a little less than a mile wide, south of the Tennessee River. It was surveyed by John Coffee and laid out in 658 lots with public grounds centrally located. John Coffee was surveyor general of Alabama from 1817 to his death in 1833 of the territory on the Duck and Elk rivers. COURTLAND Courtland was settled probably as early as 1800. Federal Courts were established at the site to dispose of adjoining lands while the state was still a part of the Mississippi Territory. Some, however, claim Courtland was so called because Indians held tribal court upon the banks of the nearby Big Nance Creek. There is a natural rock formation in the shape of a large chair on the creek bank, said to have been the judgment seat of Chief Big Nance and from whom the creek supposedly received its name, however, no reference to a Chief Big Nance can be found. A government surveyor laid out the town of Courtland with streets running due east and west and due north and south. Each street is sixty-six feet wide, blocks are three hundred feet in each direction and each block is bisected in each direction with alleys 161/2 feet wide. The town as laid out was one-half mile square and has remained unchanged to the present. William H. Whitaker was the first postmaster, having been appointed on June 13, 1825. Courtland was established in 1818, incorporated December 19, 1819, and re-incorporated January 9, 1829. The town is located on the Southern Railway in the northern part of Lawrence County, and is 15 miles north of Moulton. The altitude is 560 feet, population, 1872-600; 1880-580; 1890-579; 1900-488; 1910-478; 1920-367; 1930-359; 1940-454; 1950- 507. The earliest settlers were the Bynum, Shackelford, Sherrod, Gil- christ, Harris, Sykes, Perrine, Saunders, Swope, Watkins, Jones, and LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 37 Pointer families. The community furnished a company of soldiers for the War with Mexico. They surrendered with Colonel Frannin and all but four physicians and their four assistants were shot by the Mexicans. There were many handsome ante bellum homes in Courtland, but all except that one of Colonel James E. Saunders were burned by raiders during the war. In "Two Hundred Years at Muscle Shoals", the author, Nina Leftwich states that in a graveyard at the once promising city of Bainbridge in Colbert County is a stone inscribed: "Sacred to the memory of Nancy Johnson, consort of John H. Johnson, who departed this life April 10, 1834, age 35 years." She was the mother-in-law of Major Lewis Dillahunty, who was sent by President James Monroe to prepare the minds of the Indians south of the river for the cession of their land and who, with his young wife, Lucinda Johnson, was the first resident of Courtland. Courtland's Red Rovers The following is, in part, an article prepared by Ronald V. Gunter of the Alabama Highway Department, which appeared in The Moulton Advertiser on March 17, 1960: It was in Courtland many years ago where one of the most heroic groups of Alabamians who ever lived rode off into history, into fame, and into death. All but one died. They were lined up on a sultry, wind-blown day and executed by a band of Mexican soldiers. It all happened because . . . well, because Lawrence Countians are a proud people, with a proud heritage. Some of the first settlers to hack their way into the county were veterans of the American Revolution. They knew tyranny; they hated tyranny. It all happened because a nation filled with sadness and indignation shouted "Re- member the Alamo" and swore in the same breath that the Alamo would be avenged. North Alabama and South Texas had nothing in common, except that indefinable bond of brotherhood and love of freedom. A doctor known, loved and respected by Courtland and Lawrence County made a talk to the town's people on Saturday afternoon from the town square, and almost the whole town was there to hear him. It was an impassioned speech, calling men to arms. Dr. Jack Shackelford ended his speech with a rallying cry, "Revolt to tyranny is obedience to God." Here was a man of Virginia aristocracy, a man born with riches and position, who was prepared to give every- thing for a land he had never seen; for a people he didn't know. He was not alone. He was swamped by volunteers from through- out the area. Cries of "Remember the Alamo" echoed throughout the town and 63 men signed up to fight alongside the few Texans 38 LIFE AND LEGEND OF •who had met the merciless hordes of Santa Anna. The volunteers insisted that "Dr. Jack" lead them as their captain. One old timer "hollered" out that he was too old and crippled to "jine up" but he would give money to outfit the volunteers. Many more contributed money to help in the provision of this Lawrence County regiment, known as the Red Rovers. Women and children of the town pitched in to help outfit the 63 men who had a job to do. Cloth for uniforms had to be made on hand looms. The women dyed the material and when they were done, the shirts were patches of red, green and brown. Children of the community raveled cloth and made fringe for the uniforms. Red pants completed the uniforms for the Red Rovers, except for coonskin caps. While preparations for clothing were being made, Captain Jack Shackelford drilled his soldiers each day around the court square. During these days an almost festive atmosphere pervaded the town. Children, playing soldier, ran along behind the marching men. Uni- forms ready, farmers, merchants, rivermen trained, the day for leaving for the Texas battlefield arrived. At first when the troops marched through town, cheers went up and cries of "get them Mexicans" rang out. But when the men started to board the Tuscumbia, Courtland, and Decatur Railroad cars, many women wept as the mule-drawn train pulled away from the station. Children, perched on fences, waved till they could see the train no longer. The wives, mothers and sweethearts who waved and watched did so for the last time. None knew, that for their loved ones, there would be no homecoming. After a long and arduous trip, the Red Rovers arrived in Texas, ready to ride into battle. They joined in with a group of Texans who were marching toward the Colita in Mexico. Officers and men numbered 275. It was near the noon hour and the Mexican sun bore down on the marching troops. The Texas commander, who outranked Captain Shackelford, halted the march for a short rest. This halt in the open countryside drew an immediate protest from Captain Shackelford who pointed out that the Mexicans were not far behind the detachment and a few more hours' march would give the group the protection of a wooded area on the horizon. Yet, the halt was called and exhausted men quickly sprawled on the ground. There, hundreds of Mexicans appeared from three sides and pinned the Americans down in an open field which offered only the protection of a shallow ditch. From shortly after the noon hour until darkness fell, the band of 275 fought off the onslaught of 500 Mexican cavalry and more than 1,000 infantrymen. During the night, plans were formulated for the next day's battle. It was thought that more American forces would come to their aid since the group was due to rendezvous with LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 39 other troops. However, when day broke, it was the Mexicans who had new reinforcements. The Texans and Red Rovers decided to seek surrender terms and under a flag of truce, officers of the two opposing armies met. The Mexicans agreed to surrender terms guaranteeing that all prisoners "would be treated with the kindness extended to prisoners by the most cultured nations of the world." The terms also called for a prisoner exchange. There was talk among the American forces that "we will be headed home in eight days." The men were marched to a place called Goliad. Still there was talk among the troops about the prisoner exchange and "we'll be home in Lawrence County in time for crop gathering." But on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, Mexican soldiers rushed into the compounds where the men were sleeping. They were waked up and told to go outside and line up so they could be counted. A squad of heavily armed men was formed behind the Red Rovers. Some of the prisoners heard the unmistakable click of muskets that were being readied for firing. Pvt. Joseph Fenner, realizing what was happening, shouted to his friends, "Boys, they're gonna kill us . . ." Then a volley of rifle balls tore into the flesh of every man. Some fell dead. Others died slowly, writhing in agony, soon to die in the hot sands of a foreign land. Two of the executed men were nephews of the captain and one was his son. Captain Shackelford was removed from the area the night before the execution, and because he was a doctor and his services were needed, his life was spared. He later escaped and eventually made his way to New Orleans where he wired his family that he was still alive. News of the massacre preceded his return home, but wives, mothers and sweethearts, were incredulous and couldn't help but hope against hope that some of their men would come back home. But Captain Jack returned to Courtland alone and those who months before, had watched and waved the last time knew for their loved ones, there would be no homecoming. MOUNT HOPE Not even the memory of the oldest inhabitants seems sufficient to throw any light on the origin of the name "Mount Hope." Nor does there appear to be any written record which would explain the source of the name. It has been suggested that the name had its beginning with the Indians, and also that it might have been named for the storied town of Mount Hope in the Catskills. It is believed the first white settlers came from Courtland, cutting their way through dense canebrakes and thickets at the rate of about two miles a day. They finally arrived at a creek which was greatly swollen 40 LIFE AND LEGEND OF with recent rains. Some of the more daring of the pioneers ventured to cross the stream at once, and so there were built two campfires that night, one on each side of the water. Significantly, the stream was given the name, "Troublesome" which is still known by that name. Mount Hope is unincorporated and is situated in the extreme western part of Lawrence County in the edge of the William B. Bankhead National Forest. Not infrequently, wild deer come down from the woods onto the farms and cross the campus of the school. The area is a sportsman's paradise, for there are also countless squirrels, raccoons, foxes, turkeys and other small game. Not far from the village ran a stagecoach line, a branch of the Natchez Trace, and a few miles to the southwest in what is now +----------------------------------------------+ "Aunt Jenny Brooks" Johnson +----------------------------------------------+ LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 41 the national forest, lived the family of "Aunt Jenny" Brooks or Johnson, a name around which is woven many of the most entrancing legends of North Alabama. Several descendants of this famous woman attended the schools at Mount Hope. "Aunt Jenny" was born in Jefferson County but lived most of her life in a log house, south of Mount Hope in the mountainous area and about twelve miles from Haleyville, on the old Byler road. She died in 1924 at the age of 117. A half Cherokee Indian, she would do anything for one she liked and according to her grand- daughter, Mrs. Ben Abbott, of Route 2, Mount Hope, "if she liked you she'd die for you, if she hated you, she'd kill you", and that's what she did to two Yankees after they had killed her husband, Strauter Brooks and one son, Gaines; robbed and burned her home. Mrs. Brooks had two other sons, Willis Brooks, who was killed in a fight with Negroes and Henry Brooks, who was killed at a moon- shine still he operated. Henry was surrounded by revenue officers, who knowing he kept guns at his still, killed his horse and went in shooting. Alee Heflin was sheriff in Winston County at the time, and "Aunt Jenny" never had anything more to do with the law officials or Heflin's men. She had married Willis Johnson, who preceded her in death. She died of old age and was buried at Poplar Springs Cemetery, not far from her home. Thus closed a chapter in the colorful life of a crack rifle-woman, a devoted mother and wife, and courageous defender of what she believed in, whether lawful or lawless. HILLSBORO Hillsboro, settled about 1870, was called Gilmerville, but after it had absorbed the old settlement of Hillsboro in 1873, it adopted the name of the new place. Pinchney D. Woods was the first postmaster appointed July 15, 1837. The name, "Hillsborough" was changed to "Hillsboro" September 10, 1891. The first church was a union one, built in 1871 by Baptists and Presbyterians. Early settlers were the Woods, Elliott, Irwin, Wil- liams, Jennings, Gilmer, Parvin, Brown, Pitt, Porter, Vaughan, Odom, and Woodall families. According to the Bureau of Census, the population of the town shows: 1880-218; 1900-256; 1910-202; 1920-248; 1930-240; 1940-292; 1950-257. The altitude is 593 feet and the town is located in the northeast part of Lawrence County. Hillsboro was first located a mile east of the present site. With the coming of the railroad, the first built in Alabama, William Gilmer, from Virginia, obtained a contract to furnish wood fuel for the trains. He set up a saw mill at the present site and soon people began to move from Gilmerville (old Hillsborough) to the new settle- 42 LIFE AND LEGEND OF ment. There was great disagreement between the residents of the old town and new settlement. One night, with a team of oxen, the folks of the new town went up to the old town and hauled the railroad station to the present site where it remained permanently. The old settlement is still called "Old Town." Before the day of good roads, and because of its location on the railroad, the town was important as a shipping center. Long wagon trains came from Moulton to haul the freight to that part of the county. The mail to and from the Moulton post office was sent to Hillsboro and carried to Moulton by Star Route, a long trip over muddy roads. The Robertson brothers built the first brick building in Hillsboro with convict labor. Some of the early merchants were Bailey and Ross, Ike James, Ed Odom, and John Grant. THE SLAVE ERA, 1820-1860 Negro slavery was introduced into all the colonies of America very early and existed at the close of the Revolutionary War. The question of slavery was fully and freely discussed by those who made the constitution of the United States. The people of the North gradually sold off their slaves because in their climate of long winters negro labor could not be used profitably. For a long time after this, however, New England vessels continued to bring negroes from Africa to be sold into slavery in the Southern States. The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 and the demand for cotton by southern growers, increased the production of cotton. Slave labor could grow the crop and plantations expanded. Cotton planters cultivated all the available land in the south. A cotton picking slave became worth five times as much as he was in 1792. One slave could do the work formerly performed by 50. A typical plantation usually contained 800 to 900 acres and the owner lived in a large house which the slaves called the Great House. In the delta region, and southern Alabama, plantations ranged to two or three thousand acres. Houses for the slaves were built close together and all who were able to walk, helped pick the cotton. Hours were from sun up to sun down. Before the introduction of the cotton gin, all farm practices were merely traditional; no county or town agricultural societies existed to stimulate effort by competition. There were no journals devoted to the spread of agricultural knowledge. The rotation of crops was scarcely thought of; the thought of labor-saving machinery was sternly resisted and ridiculed by the farmers, but things changed when the cotton gin came on the scene. The ill-feeling of the North against the South was aroused by the LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 43 South Carolina "Ordinance of Nullification." The tariff laws pro- tected Northern manufacturers and raised the price of goods to Southern farmers. The people of South Carolina thought these laws unjust and passed an "Ordinance of Nullification." The North and South were further aroused by the passage in Congress of a number of resolutions relating to slavery. Finally on January 11, 1861, Alabama delegates voted to secede from the Union and delegates from other states met in February and formed the Confederate States. Jefferson Davis was elected Presi- dent and Alexander H. Stephens, Vice President. On February 18, 1861, Jefferson Davis took the oath of office as President of the Confederate States of America on the portico of the capitol in Mont- gomery, "the cradle of the Confederacy." For three months this historic city was the capital of the Confederate States. From it went the order to fire on Fort Sumter, and in it were originated the plans for launching the new republic on the stormy sea of battle. THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES, 1861-1865 "Courage is the price that Life exacts for granting Peace" -AMELIA EARHART Wars have many causes. Slavery was only one of the causes of the War Between the States. Among the important events that led to this war may be mentioned the secession movements in the North in 1813 and 1814, the Missouri Compromise, nullification in South Carolina, slavery resolutions in Congress, the annexation of Texas, the attacks on slavery by the Abolitionists and "Free Soilers," the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, the enforcement of "Personal Liberty Laws," the Dred Scott decision, and the John Brown raid. Alabama was the fourth state to withdraw from the Union. The "Ordinance of Secession," prepared by William L. Yan- cey, was passed in Montgomery on January 11, 1861. As Alabama was remote from states that opposed slavery, there was no immediate prospect of invasion by the Federals, and her brave sons marched to the battlegrounds of other states. No impor- tant military operations occurred within the borders of the state during the first year of the war, but in February, 1862, immediately after the capture of Fort Henry, Commander Phelps, with three gunboats from the fleet of Commodore Foote, proceeded up the Ten- nessee River and took possession of Florence at the foot of Muscle Shoals. This was the first appearance of the National flag in northern Alabama since the beginning of the war. A fight occurred between the Confederates under General Philip Dale Roddy, and General Sweeney, of the Union army, during the latter part of 1862 near Tuscumbia. 44 LIFE AND LEGEND OF On April 9, General 0. M. Mitchell who had advanced from Nash- ville with a division of General Buell's army, took Huntsville by sur- prise and gained possession of 100 miles of the Memphis and Charleston railroad between Stephenson and Decatur. He advanced westward to Tuscumbia, and thence as far south as Russellville. A battle occurred at the Town Creek railroad crossing between 8,000 troops of the Union army under General G. W. Dodge, and about half that number under General Nathan Forrest, of the Confederates. General Philip Dale Roddy was resisting the advance of General Dodge at Town Creek when Forrest came to the rescue. The thunder of Dibrell's cannon on the Federal position at Florence called off Dodge, whose retreat left behind it all the desolation that fire could work in the beautiful valley. General Forrest dashed away to the pursuit and capture of Colonel Abel D. Streight. Colonel Streight had been told to go across north Alabama with his sixteen hundred men and to take or burn supplies, cut roads and railroads and tear up factories. His orders included a route from Eastport, in north-western Mississippi, to Rome, Georgia. Colonel Streight went from Eastport to Tuscumbia, Alabama, then south to Russellville, Mount Hope and Moulton. In the meantime, General Forrest and about twelve hundred men were hunting Streight and his men, and he had ridden from Tennessee to Decatur, Courtland and Moulton. On the night of April 29, the exhausted army under Colonel Streight made camp a few miles south of Moulton, but General Forrest and his men were close behind them. General Forrest sent his brother, Captain Bill Forrest, out to find the camp. The northern soldiers, who were standing guard were captured, and the next morning, General Forrest rode into the enemy camp but the main group of soldiers had already fled from the scene. A quick battle followed, however, with the remaining ones. Raids and detached engagements kept north Alabama in great anxiety. Marshall County especially suffered. The Federals shelled Guntersville several times without giving warning, and finally burned it. Captain H. F. Smith, of Jackson County, with a daring force of sixty-five Confederates on the night of March 8, 1864, captured sixty-six Federals, large quantities of store goods and provisions in Claysville. In May, following, Colonel Patterson, of Morgan County, assisted by a battalion of artillery, attacked the Federal stockade in Madison County, capturing eighty prisoners and an immense quantity of provisions. In July, 1864, General Rousseau passed down the Coosa river with nearly two thousand Federals, tore up the railroads, and burned the depots at Auburn and Opelika, but the citizens and youths who formed the state reserves, drove him away into Georgia. In Septem- ber, General Forrest captured Athens with many horses and fourteen LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 45 hundred Federals under Colonel Campbell. Forrest also defeated the detachment sent for Campbell's relief. Two days later he captured eight hundred and twenty men and a large number of horses and loaded wagons at Sulphur Trestle. At the same time a Federal force was moving northward against Mobile, General James H. Wilson started south from Lauderdale County. He had thirteen thousand, five hundred Federals in three divisions, under Generals McCook, Long, and Upton. General Roddy and General Forrest were sent to harass and check them but several engagements failed to stop the overwhelming Federal forces. The rolling-mills and collieries with much other property about Montevallo were destroyed. Colonel Croxton turned aside to Tuscaloosa, entered it, burned the University, and destroyed the foundries and factories and all other public property. He then turned west and was routed by General Wirt Adams at Pleasant Ridge in Green County. General Adams, being misinformed, pro- ceeded to Columbus, Mississippi, where he hoped to encounter Croxton again. Croxton, however, marched northeast to the capture of Talladega, and then on toward Jacksonville, skirmishing here and there with such straggling forces as the Confederates could muster. General Wilson reached Selma and threw his veterans against the city. Forrest was in command of the defenses, but he had less than seven thousand men, and many of these were inexperienced recruits. The Federals overran the forces of Forrest and captured the city. Brave hearts bravely resisted, but to no avail. Twenty-five hundred Confederates were made prisoners. The Federal soldiers were permitted by General Wilson to go into private houses and take whatsoever plunder they pleased. The Confederate arsenal and foundries were destroyed. From Selma, General Wilson marched on to Montgomery, and entered without opposition. Among the wrecks of his visit is to be numbered the burning of the files of the Montgomery Advertiser. He thus tried to blot out the glorious records of the people of Alabama during the most gigantic struggle of the nineteenth century. In the final fight, General LaGrange, with three thousand men, attacked the small garrison of one hundred and four youths and sick men in Fort Tyier, near West Point, on the edge of Chambers County. General Tyier, in command of the fort, was slain; Captain Gonzalez, his successor, was mortally wounded; Captain Parham, the next in command, displayed equal courage, but the Federals scaled the walls and tore down the Confederate flag from its last stronghold east of the Mississippi. Thus Alabama cradled the birth and watched the dying struggles of the Confederacy. Alexander White, Congressman, and member of the Convention of 1865, was the son of the Honorable John White, who for several 46 LIFE AND LEGEND OF years from 1825, was a Judge of the Circuit Court in North Alabama. After the war, he advocated with zeal, the reconstruction policy of President Johnson, but at the Convention of 1865, uttered the follow- ing noble sentiments: "Mr. President: The Bonnie Blue Flag no longer reflects the light of the morning sunbeam, or kisses with its silken folds the genial breezes of our Southern clime. The hands that waved it along the crest of a hundred battlefields, and the hearts, for the love they bore it, that so often defied danger and death, no longer rally around it. Another banner waves in triumph over its closed and prostrate folds; but proud memories and glorious recollections cluster around. Sir, I will refrain. The South needs no eulogy. The faithful record of her achievements will encircle her brow with glory bright and enduring as the diadem that crowns the night of her cloudless skies. The scenes of Marathon and Platae have been re-enacted in the New World without the beneficient results which flow from those battlefields of freedom, and our country lies prostrate at the feet of the conqueror. But dearer to me is she in this hour of her humiliation than she was in the day and hour of her pride and her power. Each blood-stained battlefield, each track of her devastation, each new made grave of her son's fallen in her defense, each multilated form of the Confederate soldier-her widow's tear, her orphan's cry, are but so many chords that bind me to her in her desolation, and draw my effections closer around my stricken country. When I raise my voice or lift my hand against her, may the thunders rive me where I stand! Though I be false in all else, I will be true to her. Though all others may prove faithless, I will be faithful still. And when, in obedience to the great summons, 'Dust to dust' my heart shall return to that earth from whence it sprang, it shall sink into her bosom with the proud con- sciousness that it never knew one beat not in unison with the honor, the interests, the glory of my country." After assembling on September 10, 1865, the convention re- ordained the civil and criminal laws, except those relating to slaves, as they existed previous to the adoption of the secession ordinance of 1861, declared that ordinance and the state ward debt null and void, passed an ordinance against slavery, and provided for an election of state officers and members of Congress to be held in November. Each side had fought bravely and well for what it considered right and ordinances could not immediately change people's ways of thinking. Some bitterness and resentment were bound to linger, and LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 47 some people of the North and South "fought the war" long after it had ended. The soldiers in Gray returned to their fields that had once been green with crops, now scarred with battles. Many fine old homes had been destroyed. The trade and agriculture had been interrupted, and in many cases, completely destroyed. So many young men had been killed in the war that the South lacked sufficient man power to make a speedy recovery. The whites and negroes were kindly disposed to one another. The natural impulse of the negroes was to consult their former masters and accept their advice. After they had been made citizens, adventurers from the North misled them with false promises. Idle- ness and crime followed, and insurrections occasionally occurred. The Confederate States lived only four years, yet occupies upon the pages of human history, more space than any other nation that lived for so short a time. The glory and grandeur of the character of the Confederate soldier will live forever. No army of equal numbers ever fought so many battles in so brief a period or suffered such tremendous losses. One man in every three who wore the Con- federate uniform died in battle or from wounds received in conflict. The total number of soldiers enlisted in the Federal army was 2,778,304, while the total number enlisted in the Confederate army 48 LIFE AND LEGEND OF was 600,000. Foreigners in the Federal army were: Germans, 176,800; Irish, 144,200; British-American, 53,500; English, 45,500; other foreigners, 74,900-a total of 494,900, nearly the equal of the whole Southern army. REFERENCES Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War, by Lieutenant Col. G. F. E. Henderson. Alabama History, Joel Campbell DuBose, 1915 The American Cyclopaedia, 1881 GENERAL PHILIP DALE RODDY Philip Dale Roddy was born in the town of Moulton, grew to manhood without an education, but became a conspicuous figure in the War Between the States. His ability to win friends and his leadership enabled him to become sheriff of Lawrence County when he was only 26 years of age. When the conflict of 1861 began, Roddy raised a company of cavalry for the Confederate service and became its captain. He rapidly developed into an excellent scout in Tennessee, was daring, shrewd and tactical and in the battle of Shiloh, his company was made the escort of General Bragg. His soldierly qualities and genuine military leadership and gallantry were so displayed at the battle of Shiloh, that he received special mention for his bravery. He returned to North Alabama and raised a regiment of horses, and in the latter part of the second year of the war, Colonel Roddy swelled his command into a brigade of horses. He met an invasion from Corinth under General Sweeney at Little Bear Creek and forced him back to Corinth. He encountered another raid at Barton's and a second time saved that quarter of the state from invasion. Then master of the Tennessee Valley, Roddy dashed into the federal camp at Athens, took the enemy completely by surprise, later fell on Corinth and secured 600 horses and mules and when pursued by Colonel Cornyn to Iuka, Roddy turned and forced him back. When Colonel Streight entered on his daring raid through North Alabama, Roddy, with an inferior force, checked Dodge and contested every inch of advance through Colbert County, thus enabling Forrest to overtake and bag Streight. A stone, engraved "General Roddy lived here 1860-1865" was placed near the old Dr. Masterson residence, in Moulton which was razed in May, 1959. REFERENCES Men Who Have Made Alabama, B. F. Riley LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 49 THE COMING OF THE RAILROAD In the early days, products of cotton, wheat and corn more than supplied the demand of the planters or their plantations of negroes. The surplus was floated on barges down the Tennessee, en route to New Orleans. But the shoals of the Tennessee, commencing some 30 miles above Tuscumbia, then a small town built around a big spring, prevented a continuous water service. These products of the upper river were floated down to the shoals, then hauled overland to Tuscumbia and reloaded on boats and barges for the trip down to the Gulf. Similarly, in the reverse direction, the supplies needed from distant points were brought up the three rivers to Tuscumbia, hauled overland to open water on the Tennessee and sent on its waters to Chattanooga and beyond. Older people have told how they had seen bales of cotton and of merchandise, hogsheads of sugar and of tobacco, barrels of molasses, and rum, wines and other liquors, spread over acres of ground, or piled high on the banks of the river, waiting to be handled one way or the other, by boat or transfer wagon. The "iron horse" came as the first great transportation achieve- ment of the machine age. The early woodburning locomotives with their big smokestacks puffed and tooted across the countryside, pulling one or two cars but made it possible to carry heavy loads more rapidly for long distances. About the time the first steam-operated railroad in the United States was begun, David Hubbard, whose plantation was in the fertile Tennessee river valley in Lawrence County, heard of a rail- road line which had been built in Pennsylvania as an experiment. He became so interested that he undertook the slow and tedious journey from Alabama to Pennsylvania in order to see what manner of contrivance it was and how it worked. Mr. Hubbard returned, thoroughly convinced that the steam train was a practical invention, and it was through his influence that the legislature chartered the first railway and capital was raised for its construction. This first step at railroading arranged for movement of goods between the River Landing where Sheffield now stands, and Tuscumbia, a distance of two miles, the town being four hundred feet above river level. The charter was granted to the Tuscumbia Railroad, two miles long, completed and opened in 1832. Later in 1832, a charter was obtained for the Tuseumbia, Court- land and Decatur Railroad, 42 miles, constructed and operated in 1834. The locomotive, the "W. W. Garth", was a wood burner, without spark arrested, and which belched forth flames to the con- sternation of men (and particularly women) along the roadway. The engine, they say, had no cab, or protection for the engineer and 50 LIFE AND LEGEND OF wood passers, who were occasionally set on fire by the flames emitted from the stack. The roadway consisted of strips of flat iron spiked on longitudinal stringers of timbers, themselves resting on massive crossties three and four feet apart. Notwithstanding these crudities, the relief afforded by this 42 miles was so great that other communities followed their example and the planters of the rich and prosperous county of Fayette, residing at LaGrange, obtained a charter in 1835 for the LaGrange and Memphis Railroad, 49 miles to the bank of the Mississippi River. This road was commenced at Memphis, but reached only as far as Buntyn, six miles out, when the project perished in the financial wreckage of 1837-38. However, the success of other transportation enterprises had aroused the interest of West Tennessee and the people shared the general enthusiasm for internal improvement and ambitious plans were formed. John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, presided over a mass meeting at Memphis and declared that the Mississippi was a "great inland sea" which could be connected to the Atlantic ocean for the interchange of persons and property and the benefit of both. The immediate result was the charter of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, February 2, 1842, it being stipulated that it should commence in Memphis and acquire the LaGrange and Memphis Railroad. The LaGrange and Memphis Railroad was purchased by the Memphis and Charleston in 1844 and under specific instructions that junction should be made with the Tuscumbia and Decatur road and extension was pushed eastward on surveys of the direct line. The state of Mississippi declined at first, but finally yielded and in 1854 granted permission to cross the extreme northeastern corner of the state, 35 miles, and building went forward to connect with the Tuscumbia and Decatur road, the property of which it had acquired, and continuous rail communication between Memphis and Decatur was established. By this time public appreciation had greatly increased. A grant by the United States of alternate sections of land on each side of the road in Alabama, each six sections deep, on condition that the road transport the mails, troops etc., of the United States at certain reduced rates was offered but declined by the stockholders of the road, and it never became a land grant road. One of the customs prevalent in those days was that no gentleman ever allowed one of the female members of his family to travel by herself. One trustworthy member of the men went along and saw her safely delivered into the hands of those she was visiting. Occasionally, circumstances would render this accompaniment im- possible. Then inquiry would develop the day on which a certain conductor, in whom the father or brother had confidence, would make LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 51 his run. The lady was placed in the coach, the conductor brought in and formally introduced, and he pledged his attendance and her safe-guarding. It has been said that any one of these conductors would have willingly sacrificed his life rather than any harm should come to this lady. When shells from the Charleston water batteries arched into Fort Sumter in the spring of 1861, the Memphis and Charleston Railroad (now Southern's Memphis division) had been in full operation for only four years. Young indeed, to undergo a four-year ordeal by fire. Sam Tate, builder and war-time president of the M & C said that vital east-west artery of the Confederacy, the Memphis and Charleston, was "practically the picket line of both armies, and each seeming to vie with each other to see which could produce the greatest amount of destruction to the property." The railroads were almost entirely destroyed, except for the road bed and iron rails, and they were in very bad condition-bridges and trestles destroyed, cross-ties rotted, buildings burned, watertanks gone, tracks grown up in weeds and bushes at the close of the war. Like the rest of the South, the M & C somehow managed to rise from its own ashes. Little more than a year away from defeat and disaster, the railroad was back in operation, vigorous and full of plans for the future. Yet the same ending was written to the war- time stories of other Southern predecessor lines in the South-part of the story of a people whose spirit defeat could not break. The following is an excerpt from The Joe Wheeler News, April issue, 1955, following the death of Miss Annie Wheeler, daughter of General Joe Wheeler; "Way, way back, longer than most of us can remember, the Southern Raihvay didn't exist. There were two railroads, the Memphis and Charleston, and the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia, both of which are predecessors of the Southern Railway. It was immediately after the end of the War Between the States, and just about every official and trainman on these two roads was a former cavalryman under beloved General Joe Wheeler. Naturally, the railroad people had high respect for their former leader, and there wasn't any favor they'd refuse General Joe or his family at the Wheeler home place. Over the years the Southern Railway sort of grew up with Miss Annie, and the years added strength to the ties between them until it got to where as far as Miss Annie was concerned there was only one real railroad in the whole world, the Southern. "In Miss Annie's parlor there is a picture of the Guardian Angel, guiding a little child across a narrow log spanning a deep chasm. In telling about herself and the Southern, Miss Annie would point to the picture and say, 'There is a picture of the Southern Raihvay and me.' The President of the Southern on more than one occasion, 52 LIFE AND LEGEND OF left his private car down on the siding and walked up the long gravel driveway to pay his respects to Miss Annie. We used to think of all railroads as being merely organizations which coldly and effi- ciently went about their prosaic business of shuttling people and things around the country . . . We're glad to find out how wrong we were, and to know that the largest railway system in the South, the Southern Railway, is indeed, a Railroad with a Heart." REFERENCES TIES, Magazine of Southern Railway System, March, 1957 Captain C. A. DeSaussure, recorded address Jan. 31, 1898 The Joe Wheeler News, April, 1955 JOURNALISM "If it were left to me to decide whether we shall have government and no newspapers or newspapers and no government, I would not hestitate a moment to prefer the latter" -THOMAS JEFFERSON The Moulton Advertiser is the oldest weekly newspaper still in publication in the state of Alabama today. Alexander A. McCartney first began publication of the newspaper in 1828. McCartney was a Yankee, born in Pennsylvania and after his venture with journalism, moved to Decatur where he became prominently identified with the hotel business. Thomas M. Peters, then a young Moulton lawyer, purchased the Moulton Whig and changed the name to The Moulton News in 1836. Peters sold out to Wiley Gallaway, clerk of county court, who pre- sented the firm to his oldest son, Matthew C. Gallaway. Matthew was proud of the fact that after entering the office, he assisted in printing the presidential tickets announcing Van Buren and White as candidates. He was an ambitious man and within three months, competed in ability with employees of much longer length in the field. After the news had been printed, he folded each paper and delivered them to the 60 subscribers in town. He later owned and edited the Gazette at Florence, established the Sunny South in Aberdeen, Miss., and started the Avalanche in Memphis, Tenn. The Moulton Advertiser was established in 1841 by Levi Gallaway, who purchased the printing materials used for publication of the Courtland Herald, by Wiley Conner at Courtland. The Advertiser was printed on the old Ramage wooden press, the bed of which was stone and which printed only one page at a time. S. H. Till was publisher of The Courtland Enterprise in 1899 and M. Sherrod was managing editor. In 1865, just after the close of the Civil War, in connection with Major Dewitt C. White, of Moulton, Rev. Josephus Shackelford, a LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 53 Baptist preacher, commenced the publication of a Baptist weekly newspaper in Moulton called The Christian Herald. He had to get permission from Federal authorities at Decatur to publish the paper, and there were still no mail facilities for deliveries. The first number was issued on July 18, 1865 and Shackelford continued the publication of the newspaper in Moulton until 1867 when it was moved to Tuscumbia. The Christian Herald was finally removed to Nashville, Tenn., for publication. When Major White and C. C. Harris assumed editorship of The Advertiser in 1867, they announced they would occupy independent ground in the discussion of all political question. "Above all, we are the firm friends and advocates of an honorable and lasting peace, and desire to see the American people once more united in main- tenance of the old Constitution", they declared in stating their editorial aims. The two editors declared themselves in favor of the Union throughout their partnership which was suddenly dissolved September 7, 1867, when Harris said that due to circumstances beyond his control he was compelled to sever the strong chords binding him to The Advertiser. On that date, the paper was leased to the Republican Party for six months and they changed the name to The Union on October 7, 1867. Several wrecks later, a tabloid size paper appeared under the title The Union, published by T. M. Peters and J. S. Leach. It was published under an agreement with White until the Con- stitutional Convention had finished its wwk, it was announced. However, the same issue carried an article by White saying his paper was being "overwhelmed and destroyed for want of patronage" and charged that a radical paper was being allowed to take its place. White said he had been forced to suspend publication and lease it for six months to Peters and Leach that only 45 of his 350 sub- scribers had paid. He did express hope of resuming publication of The Advertiser when the "great Sirocco of sectional vindictiveness and proscription shall have passed." After six months, his hopes were realized and he resumed publication of the paper and again changed the name to The Moulton Advertiser. The paper was run by the White family for over 70 years. D. C. and Jourd White had as the slogan "Nil Desperandum" meaning nothing must be despaired of. January 10, 1923, Robert F. White leased the paper to Clarence C. Horton who moved the press to Courtland. There he merged it with his publication, The Lawrence County Times and operated it under the name Lawrence County Times and Moulton Advertiser, Courtland, Ala., until late 1925. It was then moved back to Moulton and operated as The Advertiser until January 5, 1933 when it became The Moulton Advertiser. Prior to White's ownership, Col. Matt Galloway, who later founded 54 LIFE AND LEGEND OF both the Memphis Appeal and the Avalanche, was editor-owner of The Advertiser for ten or twelve years. E. Q. Burch, of Moulton, has a copy of The Advertiser dated January 17, 1846, printed on one side only and with the slogan: "Family Newspaper: Neutral in Politics; Devoted to Agriculture, Advertisements, Literature, Morality, and General Intelligence." He obtained the copy from his sister's husband, Harvey Armor, which had been the property of Mr. Armor's father, John Miller Armor. At that time, The Advertiser was published each Saturday by Levi J. Gallaway and the only news story in that edition was a letter written by T. W. Walker to Mr. Gallaway from the Senate Chamber in Tuscaloosa. "The agony is over!" he wrote. "The proposed amendments to the Constitution have both just been ratified; the vote in the Senate was 22 to 11-just enough to carry the resolution of ratification. The course pursued by the majority in coupling these two propositions, seems to me to be unprecedented and unwarrant- able-the removal has been carried by the just and favorite measure of Biennial Sessions. The next scuffle will be as to the location of the capital . . ." Several advertisements also appeared such as the following one: "Taken up by John W. McCain, living one mile South of Byler's Turnpike, one Brown Horse, about eleven years old, both hind feet and the right foot white, blind in the right eye, about 141/;; hands high, appraised to $15. Hodge L. Stephenson, J. P." Also in the paper Thomas S. Davis and Gilbert N. Ware announced they would be candidates for tax collector at the next election. Also published was a list of letters remaining at the post office at Moulton on January 1, 1846 which "if not taken out by the 1st day of April next will be sent to General Post Office as dead letters" and was signed by C. M. McDonald, postmaster. J. D. L. Byars was publisher of The Advertiser from 1926 until 1934 when he sold the paper to Clark Hodgins. Arthur F. Slaton purchased The Moulton Advertiser in 1945 from Clark Hodgins and has been its publisher since that time. Mrs. Dorothy Marr Roberson was editor most of the time since August, 1947. Waylon Smithey followed her as editor. Those who have been associated with it rightly deserve the feeling of pride in the part they have played in serving the people of Lawrence County in this capacity. REFERENCES The Moulton Advertiser State Department of Archives and History History of Muscle Shoals Baptist Association, 1891, Josephus Shackelford Early Settlers of Alabama, Col. James E. Saunders, 1899 LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 55 POST OFFICES In 1789 the constitution of the United States conferred upon Congress the exclusive control of postal matters for all states; and Congress proceeded immediately upon the adoption of the constitu- tion, to organize the post office department, and to pass the necessary laws for the protection of the mails. As far as records can be found, the first post office in the county of Lawrence, was at Courtland, established in June, 1825 with William H. Whitaker as postmaster. Post offices were established at many different locations but in many cases were discontinued after a short while. The names of the post offices and postmasters on the following pages were taken from photostat copies in Washington and some of the signatures were hardly legible. The first mail line was from Moulton by Walker Court House to Tuscaloosa, March, 1829. (Statutes at Large, Vol. 4, page 225). So far as is known there is no existing record of the exact location of the Gum Pond Post Office except that on March 26, 1888 when William V. Curtis was postmaster, it was located in the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 36, Township 8, Range 8. These 40 acres of land are today in Lawrence County adjoining Winston County. An old home sits astride the Winston-Lawrence line and it is possible that the Post Office may have been in this building. (Annals of Northwest Alabama, Carl Elliott). AVOCA : Postmasters and dates appointed: Andrew J. Kirby, 25 Jan. 1856; John S. Childs, 3 May, 1858; Elliott W. Chiles, 20 Dec. 1860; Wm. H. Alsobrook, 17 April, 1866; James M. Holliman, 23 April, 1867; John Brooks, 29 Dec. 1869; Byron I. Masteron, 3 July, 1871; Wm. J. Kerby, 28 Dec. 1875; Fernande M. Kerby, 17 April, 1884; Jesse M. Kerby, 29 April, 1885; John Jennings, 30 Jan. 1890; Leroy M. Wallace, 16 Jan. 1891. Post Office discon- tinued and papers sent to Roscoe effective 31 March, 1902. BRICK: Jasper N. McCartey, 23 Dec. 1887; Post Office in Colbert County 11 Jan. 1905. BRICKVILLE: David Wallis, 29 Dec. 1830; Wm. A. Hart, 11 March, 1837; William Wallis, 1 Oct. 1840; M. H. Morrow, 29 July 1856; John L. Eggleston, 27 Nov. 1857; John A. Alexander, 16 June, 1869. Discontinued 9 August, 1869. CADDO: Tollie A. Sheet 18 Feb. 1901; Thomas B. Parker, 30 Dec. 1902. Discontinued and mail to Trinity effective 31 July, 1905. CAMP SPRING: William A. Milam, 4 June 1838; discontinued 25 July 1866; re-established 12 June 1871; Fannie Milam, 11 Nov. 1892; Fannie Tollison, 7 Feb. 1893; Joseph B. Elkins, 21 Dec. 1893; 56 LIFE AND LEGEND OF John T. Burch, 17 Oct. 1899. Discontinued and mail to Moulton effective August 31, 1905. COLE: James Elkins, 6 June 1889; Alvin Anderson 17 Dec. 1895; John R. Blankenship, 30 Oct. 1900; Rosa A. Elkins, 4 Sept. 1901; James R. Cole, 13 Oct. 1903; Mary Corbin, 13 Dec. 1904; George A. Payne, 22 Jan. 1906; Thomas J. Flanagin, 20 Oct. 1906; Beatrice McCoy, 8 June, 1908; Mail sent to Leola 15 July, 1913. CONCORD: Pleasant Ponder, 23 March 1855. Discontinued 25 July 1866. Re-established 3 October 1867; Pleasant F. Huskey 3 Oct. 1867; Wm. M. Wallace 28 April 1871; discontinued 9 Nov. 1873; re-established 22 June 1874; Pleasant Ponder 23 June 1874; Robert L. Ash, 11 Dec. 1878; Wm. D. Ash, 1 May 1879; Jas. E. Davis, 10 June 1880; Thomas H. Smith, 11 Aug. 1890; W. W. Nesmith, 2 Jan. 1891; Lyman S. Ash, 2 March 1891; Thomas J. Smith, 5 Oct. 1893. Discontinued and mail to Mount Hope effective 15 March 1907. COURTLAND: Wm. H. Whitaker, 13 June 1825; John Evans, 8 Aug. 1834; Jack Shackelford, 4 Aug. 1835; Thomas B. Jones, 30 April 1836; L. W. Y. Shackelford, 8 Feb. 1841; John C. Murphy, 21 August 1843; Alfred D. Simmons, 29 July 1850; reappointed 27 Oct. 1865; Hansford Speaks, 5 Feb. 1866; Alfred A. Arnott, 26 March 1866; Andrew J. Morris, 12 Sept. 1866; Nancy Simmons, 30 Dec. 1867; Alfred D. Simmons, Jr., 18 Nov. 1868; Edwin J. Simmons, 9 April 1883; Albert T. Vaughan, 24 July 1885; John H. Harris, 24 April 1889; W. V. Chardarogue, 1 July 1893 (declined) ; John H. Sherrod, 18 July 1893; John H. Harris, 19 April 1897; Harry B. Hall, 1 June 1914; Henry B. Hall, 20 Dec. 1916; John G. Sanderson, 20 Dec. 1921 (acting 8 June 1921); reappointed 22 Jan. 1930. CROW: William R. Crow, 16 Feb. 1892. Discontinued, mail to New Decatur 20 July, 1804. DARMER: William A. Darmer, 14 May 1901. Discontinued, mail to Hillsborough effective 15 June 1905. DRY CREEK: John N. Walker, 30 Dec. 1856; Hugh I. Austin, 20 Dec. 1858 John W. Jackson, 19 Feb. 1859; James M. Warren, 3 Nov. 1859 Wm. P. Irwin, 13 Nov. 1865; Henry Morgan, 8 March 1866 John W. Jones, 3 May 1866; Green Duke Campbell, 12 March 1867; Solomon P. Simpson, 5 Jan. 1869; John H. Preston, 2 March 1870; E. A. Patten, 29 August 1870; Wm. G. Thrasher, 15 Feb. 1871; Charles W. Lindsey, 12 Dec. 1873. Discontinued, to Hillsborough 7 Jan. 1875. EDGEFIELD: Delbert W. Vest, 23 June 1892; Isaac Johnson, Jr., 6 May 1893; discontinued, papers to Jesseton 28 Sept. 1893. LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 57 EDMOND: Edmond R. Little, 17 May 1880; Wm. Howell, 8 Jan. 1885; Elijah H. Masterson, 28 Jan. 1885; Alford Reaves, 21 Sept. 1885; discontinued, mail to Hatton 11 Nov. 1886; reestablished 23 March 1887, W. H. Henderson, 23 March 1887; no papers, not in oper- ation 31 August 1887; Aaron B. Masterson, 26 April 1890; Wm. H. Harrison, 6 May 1893. Discontinued, mail to Town Creek effective 15 June 1905. EGYPT: Theophilus Jones, 16 August 1893. Discontinued, papers to Mount Hope 17 Dec. 1894. FLOSSY: John W. Sanderson, 16 June 1900; James M. Sanderson, 2 Dec. 1904. Discontinued, mail to Town Creek effective 15 June 1905. Fox's CREEK: William Hayter, 25 Jan. 1831. (no other information available). GRENADA: Newell S. Spain, 26 Aug. 1890; Donor Samman, 10 Jan. 1894; John James Brock, 25 March 1903. Rescinded, changed into Franklin County 6 Feb. 1906; John S. W. T. Smith, 2 March 1907. Mail to Haleysville, 30 June 1911. GUM POND : Leroy Armstrong, 18 June 1877; Jacob W. Kuykendall, 18 Dec. 1877; M. H. Demasters, 12 Aug. 1878; Robt. S. Roulain, 25 Nov. 1879; William V. Curtis, 8 July 1881; Martha J. Curtis, 17 Jan. 1893; Martha J. Curtis, 30 Oct. 1894. Changed to Gum- pond in Winston County, 13 June 1894; Robert J. Compton, 13 June 1894. HATTON: Benjamin F. Hagood, 15 May 1882. Mail to Town Creek effective 15 March 1907. HILLSBOROUGH : Pinchney D. Woods, 15 July 1837: Robert Elliott, 8 May 1839; Thomas" J. Irwin, 7 Jan. 1875; C.'T. Williams, 25 March 1875; Frank A. Jennings, 10 April 1877; Wm. P. Irwin, 21 Dec. 1877; Wm. Gilmer, 13 Jan. 1880; Nancy C. Parvin, 7 Jan. 1881; Andrew J. Brown, 19 June 1889. Changed to "Hills- boro" 10 Sept. 1891. James T. Pitt, 10 Sept. 1891; Miss Fannie Wiggins, 24 March 1893; Fannie Odom, 16 July 1894; Mrs. Mary B. Pitt, 14 April 1897; Herbert A. Vaughan, 11 Oct. 1899; Cullie Porter, 24 March 1906, reappointed 20 Dee. 1921, reappointed 20 July 1922; David P. Woodall, 3 April 1924, reappointed 2 April 1928. HUMBOLT: William 0. Meisner, 6 July 1900, rescinded 10 Sept. 1900; J. K. Loosier, 1 March 1902, rescinded 24 August 1902. ISADORE : James N. Masterson, 11 April 1881; Discontinued 24 April 1882. JACOBS: George W. Jacobs, 2 July 1895; Vera Goodlett, 10 April 1901; Jacob K. Swoope, 23 December 1902; 0. P. Eggleston, 9 58 LIFE AND LEGEND OF July 1904; Daniel Gilchrist, 14 Jan. 1905; Marshall Carr, 4 May 1905; Henry A. Golden, 31 Oct. 1905. Discontinued, mail to Danville 7 June, 1905 effective 31 July 1905. JENNINGS : Eli P. Jennings, 10 August 1889; Gertrude Garmon, 6 May 1893; Herman Pfaff, 1 Dec. 1893. Discontinued, papers to Oakville effective 15 March 1905. JESSETON: Jesse M. Hill, 2 Feb. 1886; John R. Stephenson, 1 July 1897. Discontinued, mail to Danville effective 31 July 1905. KIMO: Andrew J. Shelton, 16 June 1890; Eva Shelton, 13 Nov. 1895; Hattie Shelton, 9 May 1913; Hattie S. Cowan, 24 May 1917; Evie S. Lockwood, 21 Feb. 1918; Mrs. Mae Holland, 10 April 1924. Discontinued effective 31 March 1925. KINLOCK: Charles Barker, 25 August 1843; George M. C. Weems, 26 March 1856; Reuben Rucker, 5 March 1858; Salathiel Perry. 12 Dec. 1859; William H. Elkins, 12 Jan. 1860. Discontinued 20 June 1860; reestablished 13 August 1860; Salathiel Perry 13 August 1860; discontinued 25 July 1861; reestablished 9 Sept. 1868; Anna P. Grunsley, 9 Sept. 1868; Franklin Ross, 22 June 1870; discontinued 6 March 1871; reestablished 22 Dec. 1871; Jesse M. Hall, 23 Dec. 1874; M. T. Pebble, 12 May 1884; (no date for discontinuance, but reestablished 9 Feb. 1885) ; James H. Hood, 9 Feb. 1885; James T. Masterson, 25 Feb. 1889. LANDERSVILLE : John Landers, 14 Dec. 1852; Samuel M. Strickler, 14 Oct. 1858; J. Nicholas Sandlin, 17 March 1860; James W. Sandlin, 26 June 1866. Discontinued 9 Oct. 1866, reestablished 15 Nov. 1866; Josiah S. Sandlin, 15 Nov. 1866; John W. Sandlin, 3 Feb. 1874; William H. Norris, 7 July 1886; John A. Stewart, 19 May 1893; Elizabeth J. Blackwell, 18 Feb. 1896; David R. Little, 28 Feb. 1899; Catharine W. Vandever, 20 March 1901; Edward T. Fretwell, 1 March 1903; Marshall Norton, 18 July 1903; Silas T. Black, 20 August 1906; Wm. R. Cleere, 2 Feb. 1907; Samuel E. Gardner, 5 Oct. 1907; Chesley L. Sanderson, 10 March 1910; Lona B. Craig, 8 Oct. 1912; James H. Martin, 25 May 1914: Hattie May Martin, 10 Jan. 1921; Taylor Black (acting) 24 April 1930; 2 Jan. 1931. W. A. Parr retired on Sept. 3, 1959 after serving 16 years, four months. Mail to Moulton. LILE: Thomas Lile, 6 June 1889. Discontinued, papers to Courtland 6 Nov. 1889; Amanda Lee, 27 June 1890. Discontinued, papers to Courtland 26 Feb. 1891. LITTLE: William M. Little, 18 Dec. 1883. Discontinued, mail to Town Creek, (date not known). LOOSIER: John C. Terry, 13 July 1894; rescinded 21 June 1895; William J. Thrasher, 10 July 1901; B. F. Terry, 25 Sept. 1901; F. M. Loosier, 11 Dec. 1901. Discontinued 20 Feb. 1902. LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 59 MARIETTA: Thomas M. McGehee, 23 March 1859. Discontinued 9 Oct. 1866. MASTERSON: Richard P. Masterson, 28 April 1905. Discontinued, mail to Moulton 14 March 1906. MEHAMA: Lula A. Counts, 5 Oct. 1908; Sol E. Counts, 25 May 1914. Discontinued 15 Oct. 1917, mail to Russellville. MOULTON: Crocket M. Donald, 7 May 1832; William Boyd, 12 June 1856; David M. Hudson, 17 March 1860; Edward C. McDonald, 30 Oct. 1860; John A. Pope, 13 Nov. 1865; Thomas M. Peters, 6 Feb. 1866; Reverly De Grafferied, 16 Nov. 1868; Elizabeth T. De Grafferied, 28 Dec. 1868; Sherman Pierson, 16 May 1870; A. J. Morris, 19 June 1871; Peter White, 9 Oct. 1871; Elizabeth T. De Grafferied, 2 Nov. 1871; Wm. S. McDonald, 26 Dec. 1871; James E. Griffin, 9 Nov. 1875; Wm. S. McDonald, 6 June 1879; James M. Sandlin, 29 July 1885; Henry J. Remington, 23 May 1889; Jourd White, 24 March 1893; Mollie Downing-, 17 April 1897; Walter R. Harris, 25 June 1914, reappointed 20 Dec. 1916; Lucy Downing, 8 March 1922, reappointed 11 March 1926 and 18 March 1930. MOUNT HOPE: Lester Holt, 26 Sept. 1832; William Streeter, 6 Jan. 1835; William W. Downs, 9 April 1841; James Streeter, 8 March 1857; Wm. L. Kirk, 20 Dec. 1865; Saml. H. Redford, 26 Feb. 1868; George M. C. Weems, 20 March 1873; William R. Roberts, 3 August 1874; Abraham V. Ponder, 28 Dec. 1874; George W. Jackson, 12 July 1875; Wm. R. Roberts, 11 Feb. 1878; John M. Cochran, 20 Aug. 1886; Daniel V. Donaldson, 15 June 1889; Lewis M. Whitman, 19 May 1892; Stephen B. Weems, 14 Nov. 1893; Lewis M. Whitman, 24 Dec. 1897; Joseph W. Smith, 1 June 1914. MOUNTAIN HOME: William H. Cooper, 8 Sept. 1855; Mrs. Josephine M. Pymum, 1 Feb. 1858; Carlos Smith, 1 Dec. 1860. Discontinued 9 Oct. 1866, reestablished 13 Nov. 1867; F. Pickens, 13 Nov. 1867; Louise Williams, 17 Dec. 1867; David Handley, 11 May 1872; James M. Pickens, 29 Dec. 1874; Discontinued 8 May 1876, re-established 7 Sept. 1876; James M. Pickens, 7 Sept. 1876; Mrs. Mary W. Pickens, 21 Feb. 1881; Wm. Davidson, Sr., 14 Nov. 1881; William Spraggins, 1 Feb. 1882; discontinued 1 May 1882; Levina R. Weaver, 28 Oct. 1889; Mary Hollingsworth, 24 Sept. 1892; Savina R. Weaver, 7 June, 1897; Mary Hollingsworth, 17 June 1898; Virginia Goodwin, 28 Jan. 1901. Discontinued, mail to Hillsboro 19 Feb. 1907. MCCLUNG: Joseph J. Sandlin, 18 June 1891; and 30 March 1898; John T. Roberson, 2 July 1902. Discontinued, papers to Camp Spring 15 March 1904. 60 LIFE AND LEGEND OF OAKVILLE: Richard Puckett, 3 May 1830; Fleming- Hodges, 18 March 1836; John W. Lindsey, 7 May 1838; William Simpson, 6 Nov. 1838; Wm. Green, 28 Oct. 1839; Thomas Q. Martin, 17 April 1844; James T. Erwin 17 May 1855; Samuel C. Clark, 19 Feb. 1858; William H. Brown, 4 May 1858; John Kitchens, 24 April 1860; David McBride, 7 July 1860; Franklin M. Crow, 18 Jan. 1861; discontinued 9 Oct. 1866; re-established 29 Oct. 1867; Thomas D. Simms, 29 Oct. 1867; discontinued 10 Aug. 1869; re-established 20 May 1870; Sarah J. Young-, 20 May 1870; John P. Hodges, 26 July 1882; Frank A. Cowan, 10 July 1890; Benj. 0. McNutt, 13 May 1897; Walter Callahan, 9 May 1898; John R. Lowrey, 11 Nov. 1902; mail discontinued, to Danville, 29 June 1907. OPAL: Joe Johnson, 1 June 1894; J. S. Stiles, 17 Dec. 1895; discon- tinued, mail to Pool 4 Jan. 1896. ORA: William J. Kerby, 7 May 1884; Cora A. Wimberley, 6 May 1895; John H. Masterson, 25 Oct. 1895; S. Whitworth, 9 March 1898; discontinued, papers to Gadsden 5 Feb. 1902; rescinded 12 Feb. 1902; Samuel W. Karrh, 28 March 1907; discontinued 15 July 1907. ORANGE: Gertrude S. Stall, 6 Oct. 1894; discontinued, papers to Hillsboro, 17 April 1897. PINEBLUFF: Isaac S. Mathues, 10 June 1893; Candis T. Rivers, 31 July 1893; Discontinued 13 Oct. 1893. PITT: Chas. W. Pitt, 10 March 1884; Joseph McCulloch, 4 Dec. 1884; James A. Walker, 27 Jan. 1897; Adolphus G. Bayne, 23 Sept, 1905; Robert F. Sewell, 19 June 1914; discontinued 30 Nov. 1916, mail to Trinity. POOL: Alonzo Pool, 5 Feb. 1886; Wm. Hawkins, 17 Sept. 1889; Discontinued, mail to Danville. PROGRESS : John A. Beaty, 21 July 1886; discontinued, mail to Moulton 15 June 1905. SEOLA: William M. Herchenhahn, 25 Aug. 1896; Andrew J. Key, 9 Dec. 1901; Emitt Armstrong, 10 Aug. 1907; George M. Sparks, 16 April 1912; discontinued, mail to Moulton 30 April 1914. SEWICKLEY: Frederick Pfaff, 26 Aug. 1876; James M. Byars, 3 April 1905; discontinued, mail to Moulton 15 May 1905, effective 15 June 1905. SHADY GROVE: John R. Wallace, 20 Feb. 1860; William Palch, 11 Feb. 1861; Discontinued 7 Jan. 1867. SPANGLER: Mrs. Margaret Spangler, 29 April 1886; mail to Town Creek 13 Jan. 1887. LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 61 STEP: Elonzo S. Little, 18 March 1887; Pleasant M. SeMay, 1 March 1894; Wm. K. Houston, 25 Nov. 1896; Marcus M. SeMay, 25 May 1900; Wm. M. Gray, 24 Jan. 1902; Reese W. Gibson, 13 Jan., 1904; discontinued, mail to Town Creek, 15 March 1907. SUMMERS: Mathew Summers, 18 March 1898; Elishia M. Summers, 25 April 1901; Wm. M. Wallace, 22 Jan. 1902; T. C. Masterson, 24 Feb. 1903; Henry Golden, 8 May 1903; rescinded 9 June 1903. TEMPLETON: Jackson M. Templeton, 15 Nov. 1893; discontinued, mail to Danville, 7 Feb. 1906. TOWN CREEK: Thomas R. Hazlewood, 17 Feb. 1859; reappointed 1 June 1866; discontinued 14 Feb. 1870; re-established 2 March 1870 Alexander C. Wade 2 March 1870; Alex P. Odom, 23 April 1873 Isaac S. Simpson, 15 Dec. 1880; John H. Houston, 24 July 1885 Christopher A. Reynolds, 28 May 1889; John L. Lyndon, 10 July 1893; Calvin N. Sanderson, 22 July 1897; Elihu Etheredge, 9 Aug. 1901; Gregg N. Preuit, 25 May 1914; E. E. Etheredge (acting) 17 March 1918; Lillian L. Srygley, 28 July 1918; Emerson E. Etheredge (acting) 31 Aug. 1923; appointed 3 Jan. 1924; re-appointed 10 Jan. 1928. WHEELER STATION: Frank Jones, 25 Mav 1870; Thomas H. Jones, 28 Oct. 1875; Wm. D. Wiggins. 12 June 1889; Charles S. Vaughan, 13 April 1891. Changed to "Wheeler" 21 May 1895; Charfes S. Vaug-han, 21 May 1895; Robert R. Movers, 27 April 1897: Albert T. Vaughan, 5 March 1898; Harry J. Preuit, 28 March 1902; Albert J. Vaughan, 24 Nov. 1902 (declined) ; James E. Coffev, 1 May 1906; Charles F. Dalzell, 18 Jan. 1907; Arthur C. Helms, 22 Nov 1907 (declined) ; Lucy S. Wheeler, 25 March 1908; William B. Johnson 25 April 1925; Rollie A. Atchley, 3 Feb. 1928; R. Bass Rosson, 23 July 1930; re-appointed 3 Nov. 1930. WREN: William D. Massey, 16 April 1896; Charlie C. Glenn, 13 May 1896; Discontinued, mail to Moulton effective 30 Nov. 1906. READIN', RITIN', AND 'RITHMETIC " 'Tis edzication forms the common mind; Jzist as the twig is bent the tree's inclined" -ALEXANDER POPE The first schools in Lawrence County were taught in private homes or church buildings. Junior high schools were unheard of except in a few centers where they were entirely new? ideas of school organization. Children walked or rode horses to and from school and at recess, played tag and hopscotch in the school yard, minus swings and slides. The McGuffey tradition of moral teaching was strong- "Waste Not, Want Not"-was a story learned by heart. It was a 62 LIFE AND LEGEND OF pleasant, simple world, untroubled by the Soviets surpassing every- one in producing scientists and the anxiety of teenagers over merit scholarship examinations and college boards. LANDERSVILLE At Landersville, the Methodist church building was used as a school after first having been taught in private homes. Matthew Gray and Crockett Goodlett were among the first teachers. In 1902, the first building was erected on a lot donated by Sam Gardner, Landersville merchant. The school building was a large one-room square frame building with a peaked roof. Students sat at double desks and studied from a long, wide blackboard running the entire length of the building. Lunches of home cooked food (biscuits, ham and blackberry jam) were eaten at noon from an assortment of boxes, pails and buckets. Hickory switches standing in the corner gave silent evidence to the penalty for disobedience. James H. Martin taught the first school in the new building, a two and one-half months summer school and in 1916, a second teacher was added. In 1923, Landersville citizens voted upon themselves a tax for the purpose of building and equipping a frame building for a three- teacher school. In 1930, it decreased to a two-teacher school and remained so until 1941 when through consolidation, it grew to a four-teacher school. In 1949, the building and equipment was destroyed by fire and the Methodist church building was used as a school until a new block structure was built and occupied in 1950. The following is, in part, a letter from Harvey L. Brown, of Boise City, Oklahoma, born in Lawrence County in 1869, son of Arametha Malisa Jane McWhorter Brown and David F. Brown. His mother was a daughter of William Aaron McWhorter, of Moulton. "My first visit to Landersville was in 1887, I believe. My father had moved to Trinity in Morgan County where lived a very fine family of General Stevens, a blacksmith by trade, who formerly lived at Landersville. One morning as I was on my way to school my father had sent plow points by me to have Mr. Stevens sharpen them. While I was yet in the shop, Mr. Stevens was screwing a punch in a vice when the punch shot out and the vice striking Mr. Stevens in the eye, his ball falling to the ground. I being the only one in to run up town for Dr. Minor. I can never forget how he suffered. "I attended school with the Stevens children, Jim, Walter, Arthur and a daughter whose name I have forgotten, however, I remember she dedicated her life as a missionary to the Orient. "About the year, 1890, Mr. Stevens moved from Trinity where he had operated the blacksmith shop for several years, and moved back to Landersville. My father sent me to haul a load from Trinity to LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 63 Landersville. There were two other wagons. The roads were bad, the sun was getting low, and we were between Moulton and Landers- ville when we came to a stretch of very bad road. I was driving the head wagon when the mules stopped, apparently exhausted, and refused to go further. Mr. Stevens was riding on my wagon and he suggested that the other -wagons go on and he would bring a yoke of oxen and pull me in. The other wagons pulled by and were some distance ahead. My mules became restless, one brayed and began to paw. I had a pig in a box on which my feet were resting. At this moment, the pig knocked the lid off the box. I was kicking the pig back into the box and the pig let out a few squeals when the mules became suddenly frightened, ran away, jerked the lines from my hands, and with lines dragging, we soon overtook the wagons in front. Suffice to say, we arrived at the Stevens home without any further adieu. Old Uncle Jimmy Stevens and a maid daughter came out to welcome the Stevens family. We were soon warmed and ushered into the dining room where we were dined on smoked ham, red gravey, warm biscuits and all the good things that go to make up an old fashioned supper. "As the years went by, General Stevens with his family; Jim Doss and his family; Dr. Powder and family together with several families from Trinity, migrated to Chickasaw Indian Territory, locating at Lone Grove, ten miles west of Ardmore, Okla. "I recall an experience when I was 15 years old, viz; my father traded horses with old Uncle Joe Sivley and was gonna give two yearlings to boot. He was to deliver two average yearlings to Sivley's home. So father sent me and a Negro hired hand to deliver the calves in a wagon. We stopped to feed the mules and eat our lunches when one of the yearlings got out of the wagon. Well, there we were, we just had to get yearlings reloaded, so we took the wagon lines and tied one in the wagon and ran the other one down, finally getting it to the wagon. We took out the back end-gates and by the super strength of the Negro, managed to lift it in. We went to Uncle Joe's, and put up for the night. Aunt Liz had prepared supper on the side table as was the custom, but behold, the Negro had disappeared. He had made it back home before day the next morning, and told my mother, 'he sho didn't like the way them- mountain folks looked at him'." Mr. Brown left Lawrence County and homesteaded in. Oklahoma in 1906. He was first married to Jannie Walker, daughter of Enoch Walker, from Loudon, Tenn. She was a graduate of the Woman's College at Batton, Texas and Music Academy, Waco, Texas. He later married a native of Germantown, Tenn., whose name was not learned. He is a retired farmer, stock raiser and school teacher, and has been active in the Methodist church and Masonic Lodge. 64 LIFE AND LEGEND OF MOULTON While the Public School System in Alabama was slow in the development of schools, Moulton has ever been in the foreground. In 1830 the old Peters home was converted into a private school for girls and shortly afterwards, two splendid schools were opened, the Male Academy for boys and the Moulton Female Institute, which was later adopted by the Muscle Shoals Baptist Association and chartered under the state laws in 1850. Academy Hill was located where the hospital now stands. The Baptist Female Institute had astronomy meetings at night, complete with barometers and a set of Smithsonian meteorological instruments. Judge T. M. Peters, later Chief Justice of Alabama Supreme Court, was a professor. The school was located just back of the present Moulton Baptist church. The following were courses of study offered at the Female Institute's Preparatory Department: Orthography, Webster's; Reading, Sander's Series of Readers; Geography, Cornell's; Arith- metic, Ray's Mental & Perkins Elementary; Elementary Grammar, Bullion's and Kirkham's Penmanship, Pursued throughout the course. Collegiate Department, Freshman Class: Written Arithmetic, Perk- in's; History of United States, Quackenbos; English Grammar, Kirkham's; Philosophy (Natural) Parker's 1st Lessons; Composition, Quackenbos' 1st Lessons; Latin Lessons, Andrew's. Sophomore Class: Arithmetic continued, Perkin's practical; Natural Philosophy, Olmstead's; Algebra, Ray's 1st Part; Latin Reader and Virgel, Andrew's; Greek Lessons, Bullion's; Universal History, Willard's; Physiology, Anatomy and Hygienne, Cutter; Botany, Mrs. Lincoln; Meterology, Brockelsby. Junior Class: Algebra, continued, Ray's 2nd part and Day's; Chemistry, Youman's; Latin, Livy and Horace; Greek, Zenophon's Anabasis Greek Testament; Astronomy, Matte- son's ; Rhetoric, Mills' Blair; Logic, Hedge's Geometry, Loomis'. Senior Class: Geometry, continued, Latin, Cicero Deofficiis; Greek, Homer; Evidences of Christianity, Alexander's; Mental Philosophy. Upham's; Moral Science, Wayland's; Trigonometry, Loomis'; Geo- logy, Hitchcock's Political Economy, Wayland's. Other information recorded on a report card stated that "partic- ular attention is given to Spelling, Reading, Writing and Composition, throughout the whole course. Location, Moulton is a pleasant and healthy village, situated about 12 miles from the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. It presents peculiar advantages as an edu- cational point. It is free from many of the vices which are common to larger places, spiritous liquors are forbidden to be sold by law within three miles of the place. This makes our village one of the most moral, orderly and peaceful places in this section of the country. The citizens are intelligent and refined and social in their manner. LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 65 The Institute building is large and commodious, possessing ample room to accommodate 150 students." The General Assembly of Alabama by an act approved August, 1907, made the establishment of a high school in each county of the +----------------------------------------------+ Lawrence County High School, 1909-1925 +----------------------------------------------+ First Football Team, Moulton, 1915 +----------------------------------------------+ 66 LIFE AND LEGEND OF state possible. The people of Lawrence County with their char- acteristic progressiveness, took the advantage of this opportunity by establishing in 1909 at Moulton, the county high school. The erection +----------------------------------------------+ Graduating Class of 1912 - Lawrence County High School +----------------------------------------------+ of the magnificient building was accomplished by no small sacrifice of the people. The first building burned in 1921 and a new building was erected. The Moulton Public School was situated just across the street from the high school for the convenience of those from homes where children might attend both schools. In May, 1960, plans were announced for the construction of an ultra-modern larger high school building to accommodate the increased number of students. TOWN CREEK The first school in Jonesboro, now known as Town Creek was established after 1840, one mile east of where the town is' now located. It was never more than a one-room school. The Masonic Lodge gave the first floor of the hall over to the community for a school in 1870 and the school grew to five teachers and nearly 200 students but was not a graded school. The terms LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 67 +----------------------------------------------+ Graduating Class of 1921 - Lawrence County High School +----------------------------------------------+ Graduating Class of 1921-Lawrence County High School. Standing, left to right, back row: Lena Young, Russell Sandlin, Ernest Shelton, Clebe Wallace, Lester Judy, Pat Holdridge and Etta Lee. Two men seated in center, left to right: Wert T. Bayne and Tom Corum. Seated, left to right: Mamie Gertrude Burch, Mildred Alexander, Addie Moles, Ophelia Sherrill and Ruby Kelley. Not shown, A. B. Murphy, Principal. were short, irregular, and grade levels were ignored. In 1917, the people of Town Creek met at a mass meeting and decided to build a brick school building. The building committee solicited funds which amounted to more than half of the $40,000 needed for the initial cost of the building. The citizens then voted a five-mill tax on themselves to complete the payment for construction. The build- ing was completed and the first classes held in it in September, 1919. Teachers were paid for seven months by the county and the school patrons paid the salaries for an additional two months. The name, "Hazlewood" comes from an old family name of Hazlewood, in honor of the man who gave two acres of land out of a four-acre block being purchased from him as the site for the new school erected by the local community in 1919. In 1923 the school was changed from an eleven grade to a twelve grade high school and was state accredited in 1925. A gradual growth in enrollment continued during the next few years and the consolidation of small rural elementary schools began in 1936. The 68 LIFE AND LEGEND OF Slate Hill school was consolidated with the Hazlewood High School in 1936, Donald was added in 1939, Shackelford in 1941, and Black- ground in 1942. A vocational agriculture and home economics building was added in 1936 and in 1939 a new high school building was constructed with W. P. A. funds. Public transportation of school children was begun in the area in 1936. The present plant consists of the original building completed in 1919, the home economics and agriculture building, the high school building, the band house and the gymnasium. The band house was covered in asbestos shingles in 1950 with money for the project from the 16th section fund. This consists of revenue collected from every 16th section of land in each township, the fund to be used for public education. The gymnasium was constructed in 1956 after the school district voted tax on property to cover the expense of construction, $87,000. In 1945 the football field was lighted and in 1948 bleachers for the stadium were added. A band was organized in 1954. The Band Mothers raised money for uniforms and school owned instru- ments. The instruments cost approximately $2,500, uniforms about $4,300 and accessories another $1,000. The science laboratory was re-worked in 1958 which cost approximately $3,500, raised by the community and donated to the science laboratory. Truly a uniform spirit of cooperation, which makes the Town Creek community a desirable place to live and acquire education. CHALYBEATE SPRINGS In 1912 when the Chalybeate Springs community was sparsely settled, a few7 interested citizens mapped out a school district, secured the support of citizens living around, and went before the County Board of Education securing the right to establish a school. The petition was granted and the first school was taught in 1912-1913 in the Chalybeate Springs Church with Anderson McBride as teacher. There were about 20 students. Robert Clark, Paul Bobo and Frank Bowman were the first trustees. Four or five school years were taught in the church building and in 1917 a school building was erected across the highway from the present school building. The first building was a two-room school. Miss Eva Lou Faulkner was the principal and taught 65 or 70 pupils from the first grade through the eighth. As more people moved in, more pupils entered school and a third teacher was added in about 1923. There were other one and two-room schools nearby at Harmony, Midway, and Master- son. These buildings were in bad repair and talk of consolidation commenced. Roads were being improved and the automobile was making more frequent appearances. In 1926 a school bus was put into use in Lawrence County. Shortly after, in 1929, a bus owned LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 69 and operated by Floyd Turner was added to transport students from Midway to Chalybeate. Four teachers were now employed to teach through the ninth grade. A building program was started to erect a "state plan" school building. This plan would have all the windows on one side of the room, the rooms would be of regulation size, with circulating heat. All patrons were enlisted to help raise funds for the building. The state and county would match all monies raised locally. Some citizens pledged an acre of cotton, some gave cash, some gave lumber, while others pledged work. Barney Cahela deeded five acres of land to the state for a school site, and in 1930, a new building was started on the present site. In 1931, the first school opened in the new building with Clyde Horton as principal. This school had four teachers with 130 pupils in attendance. More buses were added and soon were bringing students from Masterson and Harmony. In 1935, two classrooms were added, in 1939 an auditorium was built, in 1941 a lunchroom was added and a modern six room teacherage was built. In 1948, four more classrooms were added which gave each teacher-unit a regular classroom. In 1925, a fair salary was $35 per month. Anyone who had completed the seventh grade could take the examination held each April, July and December at the courthouse of each county on such subjects as History, Geography, Spelling, English and Mathematics. A certificate went with a passing grade, termed "life", "first", "second" and "third" grade certificate which could be renewed by the same method as of today. By 1918 salaries were increased to as much as $50 per month for the beginner, and most of the teachers had attended as much as three months of college after high school. By 1930 a teacher was required to attend college two years before teaching but in the 1940's, emergency certificates in order for all schools to have teachers, were issued. Chalybeate Springs became a nine-month school year, with eleven teachers, an enrollment of about 400 students, a modern lunchroom, well equipped library, and many other modern facilities. MOUNTAIN HOME SCHOOL Mountain Home, eight miles north of Moulton, was a notable place at an early date. On October 2, 1837 when Martin Van Buren was president, a certain tract containing 40 Vs acres, located the Southwest l/i. of the Southwest 1/4 of Section 22, Township 5, Range 7, Lawrence County, Alabama, was staked out by and deeded to Alexander G. Austin by the United States Government. 70 LIFE AND LEGEND OF On this 40 Vs acres of land stood Mountain Home's first school. Beautiful, ever-flowing Mountain Home Spring's are within a stone's throw of this land. The late Miss Annie Wheeler, who was born at Mountain Home less than a quarter of a mile from the school site, said that about the year 1840, her uncle, Colonel Richard Jones, who lived at that time near the Tennessee River north of the present Wheeler Station, moved upon the mountain between Moulton and Courtland. Colonel Jones had moved there because of his wife's health, the mountain's pure healthful atmosphere and surrounding- variety of springs of freestone and mineral water being inducive to good health. After Colonel Jones moved to the mountain he saw that very little was being- done toward the education of the mountain children, so he built the first school at Mountain Home in 1841. Eleven years later, on February 9, 1852, the Mountain Home School was chartered under the name of Mountain Home Female Institute. The president and trustees were Richard Jones, Philip Pointer, William Ellet, D. G. Lig-on, James Donnel, Thomas Lyie, Samuel Elliott, Robert King, James E. Saunders, Richard M. Kirby, A. W. Bently, J. B. Coons and William M. Watldns. The large, well-adapted and commodious Boarding House is still standing and is the residence of the Riley Hill family. The dining room was in the basement and the kitchen was in a separate building behind the main dormitory. Discipline in the dining room was such that the person in charge did not speak for the young ladies to obey but merely scraped a foot on the stone floor to give directions to +----------------------------------------------+ Former Boarding House of Mountain Home Academy +----------------------------------------------+ LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 71 table manners, rising-, and marching out. "One scrape" meant one thing, "two scrapes" meant something else, and so on. By an Act approved February 6, 1869, four years after the War Between the States, the Legislature of Alabama authorized a normal class at Mountain Home with no appropriations listed. There was a school at Mountain Home all during the decade 1870 to 1880 offering work on the Elementary and Secondary levels with possibly some college courses. James M. Pickens, a minister in the Church of Christ and a teacher, was principal and owner of the school plant. Andrew Pickens, Miss Gertrude Pickens and Miss Lou Williams also taught at that time. James Pickens planned to print a newspaper at Mountain Home and had the printing press installed but on February 3, 1881 was fatally shot before he was able to print the first paper. T. B. Larimore, founder of Mars Hill School in Lauderdale County, Alabama, taught with Mr. Pickens, getting the idea of Mars Hill from Mountain Home Academy. After Mr. Pickens' death, there was no school for a while. Posey Spraggin was a teacher for a short time. On July 9, 1889, Mrs. Mary W. Pickens, widow of James M. Pickens, sold to Isaac Hollingsworth and his wife, Mary Hollings- worth, 325 acres of land with all the buildings, tenements, and appurtenances for the price of $1,150. The Mountain Home School plant was included in the sale. Mr. and Mrs, Hollingsworth were members of the Society of Friends, sometimes called Quakers. Other teachers from the north, also members of the Society of Friends, came to Mountain Home and Articles of Association were drawn and changed the name to Mountain Home Institute Association. The school was operated by the Society of Friends until about 1898 when residents of the community bought the property and continued to operate the school as an elementary one. The Association was dissolved on January 29, 1927 when the last two Trustees, Mrs. Docia Weaver Hadley and J. W. Tingle president, sold the remaining shares to M. B. Graham, the late father of Ralph E. Graham. The school continued at Mountain Home and M. B. Graham later sold the property to Mr. and Mrs. B. Earl Graham, of Moulton. Mr. and Mrs. Graham now own the property where the Academy building was, but the former boarding house, still standing, belongs to the Wheeler Estate. In 1940, after the old school building was condemned, a beautiful two-room building was constructed on a plot of ground near the old school site, donated by the late Miss Annie Wheeler. The new school was named Richard Jones Memorial in loving memory of the man who did the first things toward education of the children of the mountain. The Richard Jones Memorial School at Mountain 72 LIFE AND LEGEND OF Home was consolidated with larger schools in 1952, closing the final chapter of the historic Mountain Home School. Excerpts from "Mountain Home School" Written by Ralph E. Graham, 1959 WHEELER The first school at Wheeler was started around 1869 with only . muddy roads in the winter for the children to pass over and no school buses until years later. School was held in the church building and Miss Annie Wheeler employed a man to teach during the week and to preach on Sundays. Eventually General Joe Wheeler bought the church property. As the number of students increased, additional rooms were built and two teachers were em- ployed. Miss Wheeler's generosity toward the school attributed to the success of it. For a number of years, she served as an active trustee. In 1936 there was a wave of building school houses and Miss Wheeler contributed five acres of land and a thousand dollars. Other supporters of the school gave money, time and labor. At that time three schools around Wheeler were consolidated: the Bates school, the school at Lock A, and the church school at Wheeler. Prior to this time, the school children were often trans- ported in a covered wagon. The present building, a modern rock, with three classrooms, is located about one mile north of Wheeler Station and is named for General Joe Wheeler. Miss Wheeler, whose love and devotion for children, often quoted the following verse: "Year after year, they come to me These children with questioning looks, Year after year, they leave me As they leave their worn out books, And I sometimes winder if I've taught them Some of the worthwhile things, Just some of the things they will need in life, Be they poets, or peasants or kings." COURTLAND It has been said that the Masonic Lodge operated the Courtland school for many years and then made a gift of the grounds and buildings to the town. In 1936 the property passed into the hands of the state and the Courtland school received state aid for building purposes. Courtland school operated as a "town school" for many years. The town paid a large part of the school's expenses and thus was able to have a longer term than the average others in the county. LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 73 The enrollment was small, most children who resided within the community. Surrounding lands were very productive and were tended by Negro laborers or share croppers. There was never any type of accredited school and students were carried through ninth or tenth grades. Children of more able circumstances were sent to preparatory schools or finishing schools. OTHER SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES SPEAKE-The first school at Speake was located in front of the Tom Hogan residence, and made of logs with one room and a large fireplace. The second school, also built of logs, was larger with three rooms. It was destroyed by a cyclone before the third building, located on the Will Kelso property, was erected. It was a frame building with six teachers and was destroyed by fire. A modern nine-room rock building replaced the third one and consolidated Oakville, Hendon and Speake. COFFEY-Coffey school, located on the old Byler road four miles southwest of Moulton, is one of the oldest schools in the county. In pre-war days there was a tourist stop here for stage coach passengers. BLACK GROUND-Located on the mountain south of Town Creek, Black Ground school was formerly a two-teacher one but was reduced to a one-room after consolidations at Hatton and Town Creek. MIDWAY-The school at Midway was formed by the consolidation of New Center, Caddo and Conway. It is located about seven miles northeast of Moulton. Other schools include Harmony, Mt. Springs, Nesmith, Pine Hill, Wolfe Spring, Salem, Bera, Iron Bridge, Loosier, Antioch, Pin Hook, Plainview, C. C. Smith, Wren, and Hatton. Records in the office of the State Department of Education are incomplete but the following superintendents and their years of office are given: John H. Preston was superintendent from 1870 to 1871; D. C. White from 1872-1873, 1874-1875, 1875-1876, 1877-1878, 1878-1879, 1879-1880, 1880-1881, 1881-1882; C. G. Lynch, 1882-1883; J. R. Wallace, 1883-1884; 1884-1885; J. S. Gibson, 1885-1886, 1886- 1887; M. M. Summers, 1887-1888, 1888-1889.; (1889-1890 not known); M. M. Summers, 1890-1891, 1891-1892; (1892-1893 not known) ; M. M. Summers, 1893-1894; (1894-1896 not known) ; 0. H. Bynum, 1896-1897, 1897-1898; C. B. Roberson, 1898-1899; H. G. Almon, 1899-1900. The following names of superintendents are from the files of the Lawrence County Board of Education: Wm. S. Dill was serving in October, 1913, and until July 1917; C. C. Kerby until September 12, 1919. He resigned and was succeeded by Earl M. Hodson, who was appointed by the Board of Education on September 12, 1919 74 LIFE AND LEGEND OF and until his death which occurred in 1934. The Board appointed Nathaniel Almon to succeed Mr. Hodson, who finished out the un- expired term and was elected for a four-year term in the election of 1936, again in 1940, and again in 1944. He was defeated in the election of 1948. After Mr. Almon's defeat in the election of 1948, he resigned before his term of office was over, effective September 1, 1948 and Leon E. Moody, superintendent elect, was appointed by the board to finish the unexpired term of Nathaniel Almon. He served until June 30, 1953. Clyde G. Horton served from July 1, 1953 to June 30, 1957, Woodrow Burks July 1, 1957-1961. EARLY CHURCHES "Life is real! Life is earnest! and the grave is not its goal; Dust thou, art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul" -LONGFELLOW Churches were organized almost simultaneously with the founding of towns because the early day pioneer needed his church to keep his faith in God strong amid the perplexities of establishing this new county. The religious life of the people of this area was more marked between 1838 and 1860 preceding the War Between the States, and protracted (as they are still sometimes called) meetings were carried on for at least a week, under brush arbors, in school build- ings, or church buildings. During these revivals, held generally after the crops were laid by during the midsummer months, large numbers of both white and black attended. The religious fervor for which the early settlers laid the foundations, continues in most parts of the county. The Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians and members of the church of Christ entered the county early and established them- selves, though in a small way, securely, wherever they appeared. Some of the revival meetings used to be one of the high-lights of the year. Fiery evangelists came preaching hell fire and dam- nation if the sinner did not go to the mourner's bench and repent. Emotions were stirred and many glimpsed religion and salvation in unheard of ways. All sorts of tales were told. One earnest person stopped a non-churchgoer on the street and asked him if he had made his peace with God. The non-churchgoer replied, "Madam, I didn't know that the Lord and I had had a falling out." LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 75 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST In 1826, the first sermon by a minister of the Church of Christ in Alabama, was preached by B. F. Hall at Moulton, as far as records can be found. Alexander Campbell had been preaching' in North Alabama during and perhaps before 1830 for at the eleventh session of the Muscle Shoals Association of Baptists, held at Hepsibah church in 1830, the Association placed upon record, resolutions protesting the teachings of Mr. Campbell. In 1830, Tolbert Tanning held a religious debate at Moulton at the conclusion of which he preached a series of sermons and organized probably the first congregation of the Church of Christ in Alabama. During this meeting, a skeptic, who was a lawyer of great ability and reputation by the name of Ligon, was converted and afterward became an able defender of the faith. It is believed the first house for worship was located about where the M. H. Sandlin home is now7 located. Two or three years later, Ephraim Smith and John M. Barnes preached in the state and Prior Reeves, who united with the Restoration Movement from the Freewill Baptists when nine out of sixteen churches in the Baptist Association stood on the appeals of T. Cantrel. Moses Park followed about the same time. About 1840 preaching was more regular and churches were organized at Piney Grove in Morgan County. The leaven was now at work and spread rapidly in different areas of the state. From 1840 the Church of Christ spread rapidly through the South but the War Between the States retarded progress during the years, 1861-1865. During 1846 Alexander Campbell held a meeting in Tuscumbia where a congregation was organized. Dr. W. H. Wharton, who married Priscilla Dickson, one of the first white settlers in Tus- cumbia, and Dr. Ed Chisholm were others instrumental in church expansion. Thomas and Alexander Campbell came from Ireland, labored as teachers and preachers, inseparable in a common purpose of uniting the multiplicity of religious sects with a profound reverence for the word of God. From necessity, Alexander Campbell entered the field of controversy and his oral debates and writings freely circulated. The disciples originally, as now7, professed to aim at the restora- tion of Christianity in everything simply taught in its apostolic deliverance and embediment. Hence, their only creed: "Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God." They hold that no other confession of faith was required by the apostles, nor any rule of faith and practice other than the Holy Scriptures, authoritative be- cause given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They reject all human creeds as authoritative, believing them to be divisive and destructive 76 LIFE AND LEGEND OF of the unity of the church of God in Christ. The simple congre- gational organization they hold is to be the highest jurisdiction within the church ordained of God for men. They baptize-immerse-the penitent believer only for (in order to) remission of past sins, receiving only such baptized persons into fellowship, who, if they continue loyal to Christ until death, are assured of eternal life. They consider the Lord's day worship not wholly and scripturally fulfilled without the observance of the Lord's Supper, as was the custom of the church written of in the Scriptures. In organization, they are congregational for the functions of government, yet they confer together for purposes of cooperation in good works. But no conference or council has legislative or judicial power over congregations. As individuals or as churches, they acknowledge no distinctive religious names other than those that are found in the scriptures. Hence, they repudiate the name, "Campbellite," as also did Mr. Campbell himself. They respond to any scriptural names, as Dis- ciples, Disciples of Christ, Christians. The whole body of believers, or Christians, in all the world they speak of as the body of Christ, the Church of Christ, or the Church of God. They firmly hold and teach the tri-personality of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and they ignore all speculative systems of theology. From the first, the members of the church in Lawrence County, have been aggressive as is always the case of those who have strong convictions. They have also been noted for Bible intelligence and educational enterprise. Succeeding these pioneers is a long list of ministers, including Dr. N. Wallace, F. D. Srygley, J. H. Halbrook, Thomas Weatherford, Homer T. Wilson, Dr. James Watson, R. H. Gibson, W. H. Windes, C. F. Fussell, F. B. Srygley, Philip S. Fall, John Taylor, Jacob Creath, Alexander Graham, Pinckney B. Law-son, W. H. Goodloe, Col. T. W. Caskey, Wm. Kirkpatrick, Jesse Wood, William Stringer, L. D. Randolph, Jerry Randolph, James A. Butler. Other pioneer preachers included J. M. Pickens, C. S. Reeves, A. C. Borden, J. M. Baird, Dr. A. C. Henry, Dr. David Adams, who united with the church under the preaching of P. B. Lawson at Basketbottom Baptist church, four miles east of Pine Apple in 1859 when the whole church was converted to the plea for complete restoration of the New7 Testament doctrine. Later came J. M. Barnes, T. B. Larimore, Samuel Jordon, J. M. Curtis, J. S. Kendrick, J. A. Branch, Kilby Ferguson, J. Harson, J. M. Joiner, W. J. Haynes, T. C. King, W. A. Tipton, E. V. Spicer, D. R. Piper, J. E. Spiegel, H. J. Brazelton, D. P. Taylor, E. R. LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 77 Clarkson, Belt White, J. M. Watson, and J. W. Brayboy, and J. E. Bowie (colored). REFERENCES 0. P. Spiegel, New Orleans, La., Oct. 31, 1903 (born near Falkville, Ala., May 11, 1866; was student at Mars Hill and College of the Bible, 1884-1891, Kentucky University, 1892). Alabama, Marie Bankhead Owen, 1921 THE BAPTIST CHURCH The first Missionary Baptist church in Alabama was founded on Flint River, a few miles from the city of Huntsville, on October 2, 1808. In May, 1818, the Baptist church at Town Creek, known now as Old Town Creek church, situated on the Moulton-Russellville high- way, was organized. Its first pastor was Abner Smith, who was a member of the Russell Valley Church. In 1827, the church had a membership of 36 and in 1842, A. L. Stovall, who had served as a delegate to the Muscle Shoals Association, became an ordained minister and served as pastor until 1852. Stovall moved to Missis- sippi and was succeeded by G. D. Russell. Other pastors were J. C. Roberts, who served until 1856 and other times later, W. H. Barks- dale; Thomas Nicholson from 1860 to 1862; Joseph Shackelford in 1863 and 1864; J. Gunn for several years, J. S. Gibson, R. T. Wear, S. R. C. Adams and some of the early deacons were J. H. Caruth, W. S. Johnson, L. A. Stephens and L. M. Wear. At one time, the church had the largest membership in the association with more than 300. The Bethel church, located on the Colbert-Lawrence county line, was organized on June 26, 1819. The presbytery consisted of John Davis, Solomon Smith and Theophilous Skinner. Skinner was the first pastor and served until 1821. He was followed by Abner Smith; Josiah Barker from 1823 until 1828; George Russell from 1839. John L. Townes served from 1841 until 1846 and was succeeded by Mike Finnery who was pastor until 1859; John Sherrell from 1859 to 1865; Isaac Bradford in 1866; George Little in 1867; John Sherrell in 1868; R. J. Jennings until 1870. John R. Nesmith served four years from 1871, later succeeded by W. C. Summers in 1890. Enon, originally called Birdwell's Spring Church, located ten miles east of Moulton was organized in July, 1819 on nine members, whose names were Stephen Penn, Mary Perm, John Birdwell, Mary Birdwell, Ezekiel Thomas, Jenny Thomas, George Keys, Elizabeth Keys and Sarah Simpson. Pastors have been Stephen Perm, who served from July, 1819 until 1833, assisted by Joseph Lane, James Edens and Bennet Wood. In 1833 Sylvanus Gibson was called to the pastorate and served until his death on July 25, 1851 when he 78 LIFE AND LEGEND OF was succeeded by George D. Russell. Russell was followed by W. W. Wilhite, from 1854 to 1862, J. Gunn from 1863 to 1866; Wilhite again until 1870; John L. Lattimore until 1875; James S. Gibson and R. T. Wear jointly in 1876 and in 1877 and Wear in 1878. J. R. Nesmith was pastor in 1879 and 1880; Mat Lyon from 1881 to 1882; S. R. C. Adams in 1883 until 1887 and W. T. Cobbs in 1887. Salem church, three miles northwest of Moulton was believed to have been organized at the second session of the Muscle Shoals Association in 1821. Pastors have been T. S. Carson in 1853; J. C. Roberts in 1855-56; Joseph Shackelford in 1857; J. T. Craig, J. R. Nesmith, J. S. Gibson, R. T. Wear, J. L. Lattimore, J. M. Roberts, J. C. Roberts and L. M. Wear. On May 5, 1827 the Baptist church at Courtland was organized with the following members: Abner Blocker, Thomas Ashford. William Ashford, David Palmore, Joseph A. Doyle, Sinai Downing, Elizabeth Sims, Elizabeth S. Dandridge, Penelope McGregor, Jane Ashford, Judith Ashford, Fanny Goode, Charity Bird, Lucinda Mc- Lemore, Primus, a colored man, and Anna, a colored woman. Daniel P. Bestor was the first pastor, followed by Joseph Lane, 1834-1835; J. L. Townes, 1836-1844; A. L. Stovall, 1845-1850; D. Bridenthall, 1851-1854; W. H. Barksdale, 1855-1857; Joseph Shackelford, 1858- 1865: G. A. Coulson, 1867-1877; W. W. Kone, 1870; R. J. Jennings in 1872. Friendship church was organized in 1830 and the Liberty church was organized at Red Bank the same year, but later moved to Jones- boro and became Town Creek Station church. Pastors of Liberty church have been Josiah Barker, Wm. Leigh, John L. Townes, Henry W. Hodges, Ambrose Gilbert, Samuel Wood, W. H. Barksdale, and Joseph Shackelford. In September, 1872, it united with Pilgrims' Rest Church south of Jonesboro. Harmony, near Moulton was organized in 1841 and the Moulton Church was organized in 1849. In 1853 there were 106 members and R. B. Burleson was the pastor, and served until 1855. The Baptist Female Institute, was chartered under the state laws in 1850, and was taught by Burleson. In 1856, Joseph Shackelford, who had been elected principal of the school, took charge of the church and served as pastor until 1859. Other pastors were T. W. Tobey in 3867; J. G. Nash; J. S. Gibson and C. W. Elkins, co-pastors in 1878; C. W. Elkins, Mat Lyon; R. T. Wear in 1890; and T. R. Bragg. Cave Springs began in 1851 and Pleasant Grove (Wren) was organized in 1856. Okolona church (Hatton) joined the association in 1850 and T. S. Carson was pastor for several years. The New Hope church was constituted about the year 1854 and Mount Hope church was organized August 27, 1887. Gum Springs church, near Hatton, was organized August 5, 1881 with the following members; LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 79 M. A. Gray, Ann E. Gray, E. J. Gray, John Finney, M. F. Finney, W. F. Robertson, T. C. Robertson, J. D. Hag-ood, W. H. Mustin, R. M. Roden, Adaline Roden, S. C. Young, M. C. Young and C. P. Young. REFERENCES History of Muscle Shoals Baptist Association, 1891, Josephus Shackelford THE METHODIST CHURCH The first laborers of the Methodist church in the state of Alabama was in 1803 and only two appointments were made from 1808 until 1818. LaGrange College in Franklin County was supported by Methodists of the area, having been founded in 1829 and approved on January 19, 1830. There is also mention of a meeting house in Courtland in 1828 and since Moulton and Courtland were incorpo- rated as towns within two days of each other in December, 1819, it would be likely that a Methodist church was established in Moulton at an earlier date than records establish. The first church of any record in Moulton was a frame building on the lot later owned by Mrs. W. M. Hollimon. The old building was sold to June Irwin, a Negro, and a nevf church building erected from the original lumber. A new church building was erected in 1909, with a number of beautiful memorial windows in honor of the Werts, the Dinsmores, Kumpe, Almons, Goodletts, and one with the name of Rev. W. E. Mabry, who for many years, was presiding elder of the district. In 1818, Franklin, Lawrence, and Cotaco counties belonged to the Tennessee Conference in the Alabama Territory. The presiding elder, Thomas L. Douglass, was from Nashville. In 1819 Alabama became a state and Abraham Still was minister of part of the district. In 1820, the district was still served by Thomas L. Douglass. When the Alabama Legislature changed the name of Cotaco County to Morgan in 1821, the Franklin District included Lawrence and Mor- gan counties. Thomas Nixon was presiding elder and in 1822, John C. Burress was minister. The Lawrence Circuit was organized in 1823, occupying Morgan and part of Lawrence counties, and at the time, included Courtland, Moulton, Ococopaso (now Tuscumbia), Russellville, and Somerville. The first preacher was Nicholass T. Snead from the Mississippi Conference. In 1822, Barnabus Pipken served the circuit, Poton S. Graves and John R. Lambuth in 1823. The first quarterly meeting for the Franklin Circuit which in- cluded Moulton was held in Tuscumbia on Saturday, March 13, 1824, with Alexander Sales the presiding elder. They worshipped in log school houses, at homes and at camp grounds. Mountain Home Springs, a short distance north of Moulton, was a favorite place for quarterly and camp meetings. 80 LIFE AND LEGEND OF One of the first churches organized in the Lawrence Circuit was at Oakville. Gilbert D. Taylor, a slave owner, was a missionary to the Negroes in Franklin and Lawrence counties, and in 1924 mem- bership had grown to 3,000. Negroes preferred to have the white man's preacher than one of their own race. In 1859, Sterling M. Cherry was pastor and the number of mem- bers was 198 white and 30 Negroes. There were three local ministers. In 1867, The Moulton Advertiser carried notices of meetings to be in progress at Chalybeate Springs, Bethel and Prospect, and a quarterly meeting at Moulton. There were five churches on charge in 1896 to 1897-Moulton, Hebron, Mount Hope, Landersville, and Chalybeate. REFERENCES History of The Moulton Methodist Church, by Mrs. A. J. Crosthwaite The Moulton Advertiser THE PRESBYTERIANS Presbyterianism was brought into Alabama from the Carolinas in 1817 and the first church of the denomination was organized in Huntsville in 1818. In 1821, John Allen, pastor of the Huntsville church, came to Courtland where he organized the second oldest church in the North Alabama Presbytery. It was first called the Church of Nazareth and was changed to Courtland Presbyterian Church in 1833. The first building was a frame one which stood where the present one is. The frame house of worship burned and for a while members worshipped with the Baptists. However, when "King Cotton" was bringing unprecedented wealth to the settlers of the Tennessee Valley, the Presbyterians decided to build an edifice for worship which would parallel the handsome residences of this period, and the erection of the present sanctuary of worship was begun. Bricks for the foundation were made on the plantation of Daniel Gilchrist by slave labor. The remains of the old kilns and broken brick may still be seen on the property. Work was suspended during the Civil War but resumed soon thereafter and completed by 1868 at an approximate cost of $12,000. The first musical instrument in the church was a Melodeon, owned and played by J. C. Baker. Later a small foot-peddled organ was added and then a pipe organ which was pumped by hand until it was replaced by an electric pipe organ. A Presbyterian church was organized in 1818 for Rock Springs at Mount Hope under a brush arbor and in 1839 a log building was erected three miles west of the community. A frame building went up in 1859 and was used until 1907 when it was replaced in 1948 by a brick building. LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 81 The Presbyterial connection prior to 1825 cannot be ascertained. On April 8, 1825, the Synod of Tennessee through representatives, set up the Presbytery of North Alabama at Nazareth Church, Court- land. At this meeting, extracts from the minutes show there were eight ministers and seven ruling elders present. They were Andrew K. Davis, John Allen, Hugh Barr, Joseph Wood, Allen A. Campbell, William Porter, Robert M. Cunningham and James Sloss, ministers. The elders were John Clopper, Courtland; William Smith, Arthur Beattie, Tuscumbia; George Shields, Muscle Shoals; Thomas Mor- row, New Providens; and Patrick White. The Courtland Presby- terian Church was in Presbytery of North Alabama from 1825 until in October, 1843, the Presbytery met in Tuscumbia Church and organized the Tuscumbia Presbytery which lasted until 1868. It was reorganized in 1873 to 1876. In 1867 the following towns were listed as in the bounds of that Presbytery: Florence, Huntsville, Somer- ville, Tuscumbia, LaGrange, Courtland, Moulton, Decatur, Gunters- ville, and Savanna, Tenn. The Presbytery held a meeting July 17, 1861 in the Courtland church to take into consideration the action of the General Assembly in regard to the state of the country and to consider the propriety of sending delegates to the Convention to be held in Atlanta which convention was meeting to establish a Southern Presbyterian Church. The architecture of the Courtland church building is most im- pressive and the ancient spire towering above the residences can be seen for many miles. The foundation of the church building extends many feet beneath the ground and when it was constructed the walls were grouted. The walls are the only original portions of the old land- mark, after a fire of unknown origin swept through in August, 1957 and virtually destroyed the beautiful building. The famed giant cedars surrounding the building and the huge Magnolia tree never fail to attract attention to the many visitors who pass through the town of Courtland and stop to see the old church building. Following the fire, the building was completely remodeled and finished in 1959. REFERENCES History of the Courtland Presbyterian Church by Mrs. D. L. Martin, Jr. Early Settlers of Alabama, by Colonel James Edmonds Saunders MASONIC LODGES Moulton Lodge, No. 6, Free and Accepted Masons, was one of the original Lodges that helped to organize the Grand Lodge of Alabama in 1821. There were at that time, only twelve Lodges in the state and three of the twelve did not send delegates to the convention which was held June 11, 1821 in the Hall of Halo Lodge No. 21 at Cahaba, at that time, the state's capital. 82 LIFE AND LEGEND OF Moulton Lodge No. 34 at Moulton was organized by dispensation issued by the Grand Master of Tennessee, May 2, 1820, to George A. Glover and others. The Charter was granted October 4, 1820 and George A. Glover was installed Worshipful Master. At the time of the organization of the Grand Lodge of Alabama, nine of the twelve Lodges participated, surrendered their old charters and accepted charters under the new Grand Lodge as follows: No. 1. Madison, at Huntsville. It still exists at Helion No. 1. No. 2. Alabama, at Huntsville, consolidated with No. 1 and is now Helion No. 1. No. 3. Alabama, at Perdue Hill. Consolidated with Monroeville No. 153 in 1917, moved to Monroeville and is still in existence. No. 4. Rising Virtue, at Tuscaloosa, still active. No. 5. Halo at Cahaba, became defunct in 1872. No. 6. Moulton at Moulton. Still active. No. 7. Russellville at Russellville. Surrendered in 1824. No. 8. Farrar, at Elgton (now Birmingham). Still active. No. 9. St. Stephens, at St. Stephens. Forfeited in 1834. Minutes in the Moulton Lodge have been kept since 1897 and officers serving as of June 26, 1897 were: N. G. Delashaw, Worship- ful Master; H. G. Almon, secretary; D. C. White, Senior Warden; A. L. Windham, Junior Warden; E. C. McDonald, treasurer; J. N. Bragg, Senior Deacon; J. A. Walker, Junior Deacon and S. J. Stewart, Tiler. The officers in March, 1959 were Wasson Glenn, Worshipful Master; Bonnie Spillers, Senior Warden; L. B. Vass, Junior Warden; Milton Hall, treasurer; James K. Howell, secretary; Lloyd Glenn, Senior Deacon; Elliott Cross, Junior Deacon, and Early Hopkins, Tiler. Hillsboro Lodge No. 408 was chartered in 1871, but the charter was forfeited in 1901. Mount Hope Lodge No. 168 was organized in December, 1852 and the charter was surrendered in 1928. Courtland Lodge No. 37, Courtland, is still in good standing. Town Creek Lodge No. 361, established in Jonesboro in 1871. The name of Jonesboro was changed to Town Creek in 1876. The Grand Master of Alabama, R. R. Berryman, is a member of that Lodge. WHO ARE THE DEAD? "Who are the dead? Read o'er the stones that mark the lowly sod. Who sleepeth here? Some are bzit known in the memory of God!" -LAURA L. REES In Matthew 27:7, we read that an old burial place for strangers at Jerusalem was called potter's field, hence the name has been used as the burial place for paupers, unknown persons, and criminals. LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 83 There are no cemeteries in Lawrence County referred to as potter's fields, but many have graves with limestone slabs and no inscrip- tions. There are also magnificent monuments, marking and pre- serving the hallowed grave in family cemeteries as well as public cemeteries. But regardless of the kind of monument erected as a tribute to those who have passed from this world, or whether or not the grave is marked or recognized, Lawrence County's dead repose in serene retreat. The character of a community may be detected from the attrac- tiveness of its cemetery, and Moulton's "City of the Dead" on the Hillsboro road, truly mirrors lofty ideals of the city. Among the oldest cemeteries of the county are Town Creek, west of Landersville, located near the Town Creek Baptist church which was established in 1818. Others include Prospect, a site about four miles south-east of Landersville, across the road from the old Pros- pect school house, torn down several years ago. Heflin cemetery, west of Moulton on the Russellville Highway, is one of the older burying grounds, first used by the Heflin family. Many old pine and cedar trees enhance the beauty of the cemetery. Others include Rock Springs, near the Rock Springs Presbyterien church, at Mount Hope; Shumake cemetery, McDonald, Black Ground, Red Hill, Moun- tain Springs, and Liberty. There are many other cemeteries in Lawrence County, privately and publicly owned. The following inscriptions are only a fragment but represent some of the oldest found in a few of the cemeteries. MONUMENT INSCRIPTIONS AT PROSPECT CEMETERY William McMickin, born June 23, 1873, died July 27, 1895. M. A. Burch (no date). Charlie E. Pearson, born Jan. 20, 1872, died Oct. 14, 1899. L. D. Free, born Sept. 27, 1857, died Oct. 5, 1925. Missouri, wife of L. D. Free, born Oct. 5, 1859, died Aug. 30, 1901. Jane, wife of R. Armor, born Mar. 24, 1794, died April 17, 1863. Robert Armor, born Jan. 14, 1776, died Sept. 14, 1878. Annie P., daughter of A. J. and C. P. Montgomery, born Nov. 13, 1873, died Oct. 11, 1876. Cvnthia Parks, wife of A. J. Montgomery, born Mar. 15, 1849, died " April 12, 1891. Infants of A. J. & M. P. Montgomery, died July 10, 1893- Sept. 21, 1886. J. Craig Montgomery-Elizabeth Montgomery, (no dates). Sacred to the memory of John Alexander Armier was born Sept. 1, 1816, and died Feb. 10, 1855, aged 39 years, 6 months & 9 days. James M. Armor, born Sept. 7, 1829, died April 17, 1863. Nathaniel S. Norwood, born Feb. 12, 1833, died March 19, 1898. 84 LIFE AND LEGEND OF Martha G., wife of N. S. Norwood, born Dec. 31, 1838, died Jan. 23, 1862. William H., son of B. C. and M. J. Montgomery, born Sept. 23, 1855, died Oct. 14, 1858. Permelia A. Montgomery, born April 18, 1827, married Sept. 1850, died Sept. 27, 1852. William F. Montgomery, born July 15, 1852, died July 29, 1852. Infant son of W. H. and P. A. Montgomery, born July 10, 1851, died July 25, 1851. Surrina Adiine Chitwood, born Dec. 11, 1845, died Aug. 11, 1846. Cliza Jane Chitwood, born Nov. 9, 1820, died Dec. 26, 1845. Julia Ann Craig, 1856-1914. Annie Clara, daughter of J. C. & M. J. Masterson, born Aug. 23, 1887. died March 4, 1889. Infant daughter of V. P. & Julia A. Montgomery, born Aug. 5, 1895, died Aug. 31, 1895. N. J. Roberts-P. A. Roberts-M. A. Roberts-W. W. Roberts (no dates). Francis F. wife of Harvy Craig, born July 19, 1835, died Dec. 6, 1884. Benjamin W. Craig, died 1892. Burch Craig (no date). Margaret T. Rutherford, July 30, 1830, Aug. 31, 1904. James H. Rutherford, Aug. 18, 1829-Mar. 15, 1904. Curn Christenbery, Jan. 20, 1897-Oct. 16, 1918. Lucy Ann Christenberry, April 28, 1855-July 23, 1939. Dorthie V. Flannigan, Mar. 15, 1878-Oct. 10, 1931. Mary E., wife of C. W. Ellis, Dec. 8, 1840-June 1, 1874. James W., son of J. M. & F. A. Roberts born Aug. 25, 1873, died Oct. 4, 1877. Timothy, son of J. M. & F. A. Roberts, born Nov. 7, 1870, died Nov. 15, 1870. Luther G., son of J. M. & F. A. Roberts, born Mar. 1, 1869, died April 5, 1869. (The graves of these three children are marked with identical stones, each one engraved, "Gone but not Forgotten"). Louise J. G., wife of W. B. Greenhaw, was born April 30, 1843, and departed this life July 1, 1875. Keren H. Jones, died April 11, 1826. (The monument also has the inscription "Erected by her only son"). R. D. Hardin, born Sept. 13, 1823, died June 27, 1873. James C., son of R. S. & M. S. Boley, born Aug. 25, 1872, died Oct. 8, 1874. MONUMENT INSCRIPTIONS AT OLD TOWN CREEK CEMETERY Joseph Jamison, born Dec. 25, 1786, died April 20, 1871. LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 85 Sacred to the memory of Nancy Jamison who died Oct. 1831, aged 37 years. In memory of James M. T. Jamison, born Dec. 21, 1827, died Sept. 22, 1835. Martha, dau. of F. M. & N. C. Carruth, born Nov. 14, 1863, died Jan. 21, 1873. Wm. E., son of F. M. & N. C. Carruth, born June 12, 1867, died Nov. 14, 1871. Andrew Warren, born April 13, 1867, died Jan. 20, 1899. Addacornora, daughter of W. H. & R. Bowling, born July 17, 1851, died Aug. 29, 1852. Viola and Valena, daughters of W. H. and R. Bowling, born Sept. 5, 1858, died Oct., 1865. One monument is engraved on four sides as follows: Jane Brown Stovall, wife of Edmund F. Rucker, 2 of Archbald Stovall born Dec. 23, 1802, died Aug. 27, 1852. James M. Stovall, born Dec. 18, 1832, died Aug. 20, 1834. Twin children died Jan. 22, 1841. Reuben F., son of E. F. & J. B. Rucker, born Sept. 21, 1822, died June 19, 1841. Edmund F. Rucker, born April 17, 1792, died May 16, 1826. A tall monument engraved "Sacred to the memory of Alex Bowling, born 13, April, 1781, died 27 Jan. 1843", was constructed with a jug atop it. It has been told the jug was placed there at his request. Lex Bowling, born Oct. 10, 1819, died Oct. 1850. Other Bowling markers are not legible. Sacred to the memory of James Moore who departed this life March the 20, 1888, age 70. Sarah Crow, born Sep. 8, 1789, married Joseph K. Blalock May 20, 1820, and to John C. Jones, Jan. 1830, died Oct. 3, 1863. Thomas J., son of T. J. and M. J. Blalock, born June 7, 1866, died Oct. 11, 1867. Rufus V. McVay, born Dec. 14, 1846, died Sept. 1, 1861. Margaretta K. McVay, born Dec. 30, 1844, died April 12, 1856. George T. Wilkerson, born May 10, 1835, died Nov. 16, 1852. Mildred Wilkerson, born Jan. 19, 1806, died Aug. 25, 1855. Thomas J. Blalock, born July 30, 1822, married Mary J. Turner March 12, 1851, died March 19, 1887. Mourning Harris, born Oct. 1791, died July 26, 1839. Isabella, daughter of T. J. & M. J. Blalock, born July 9, 1856, died Aug. 16, 1861. Joseph Jamison, born 1786, died April 20, 1871. W. H. Hailey, M. D., born March 26, 1818, died Feb. 29, 1847. Thomas H. Smith, born April 1, 1854, died March 7, 1879. 86 LIFE AND LEGEND OF Nancy Ellen, wife of Gentry Smith, born Sept. 5, 1824, married Sept. 5, 1842, died Jan. 28, 1906. H. G. Smith, born Feb. 22, 1857, married M. A. Cagle, July 8, 1877, died Feb. 15, 1879. Margaret C. Smith, born Oct. 15, 1866, died Sept. 9, 1873. Easter E. Smith, July 14, 1871-Nov. 8, 1874. Gentry Smith, Jan. 11, 1820-Nov. 26, 1900. Nancy Lavina, daughter of John & Martha Cagle, Aug. 19, 1880- Sept. 10, 1880. Creasie Smith, born Jan. 20, 1831, died Apri. 25, 1900. William Nicholson, born Dee. 18, 1825, died Nov. 1, 1861. Susan, wife of E. Landers, born Mar. 13, 1810, died Oct. 5, 1878. Mary C. Harris, Nov. 27, 1836, Mar. 14, 1917. Susan Grisella Harris, Feb. 20, 1869, Nov. 18, 1881. Cornelia C., daughter of T. J. and M. J. Blalock, born May 16, 1864, died Aug. 16, 1867. Andrew J., son of T. J. and M. J. Blalock, born Dec. 14, 1867, died Nov. 8,1868. Robert H., son of T. J. and M. J. Blalock, born Dec. 9, 1859, died May 8, 1860. Joseph J., son of T. J. and M. J. Blalock, born Feb. 24, 1852, died Aug.18,1852. PINE TORCH CHURCH CEMETERY Pine Torch Church, still standing in Bankhead National Forest, as a tribute to pioneers is a log building resting on sandstone pillars. +----------------------------------------------+ Pine Torch Church in Bankhead National Forest +----------------------------------------------+ LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 87 Inside may be seen the hand hewn board benches. The cemetery, just west of the church building, is well kept and among the monu- mental inscriptions are found the following: Luzar Yates, was borned Apri the 30, 1874, died Feb. the 8, 1903. Lovevine Nicholson, born Nov. 7, 1810, died May 24, 1871. Henry Holson, born June 16, 1815, died Aug. 22, 1900. R. J. Nicholson, b. 4 M. 15 D. 1848, d. 1-27-1913. In memory of Mary, wife of Wm. Nickelson, born May 1, 1825, died Aug.11,1899. W. G., wife of J. A. Holmes, Jan. 20, 1864, March 27, 1914. L. E., wife of Thos. Bolan, Oct. 9, 1838, Mar. 31, 1914. Sarah Millwood, born April 18, 1816, died Jan. 13, 1896. Wiley N. Person, born Aug. 27, 1833, died Sept. 27, 1898. Henry L., son of H. S. & M. E. Medars, born Jan. 28, 1886, died Aug. 28. 1887. Flower Hill is the old estate of the late Col. Laws, located on the Moulton and Brown's Ferry Road, about four miles north of Hills- boro Cemetery. There may be found monuments dating back to the 17th century. LANDERSVILLE CEMETERY A. H. Blackwell, born Feb. 4, 1836, died Oct. 9, 1903. Elizabeth J., daughter of Benjamin & Mary Mansell, wife of A. H. Blackwell, born March 18, 1838, married Dec. 6, 1856, died Nov. 29. 1899. Dr. George W. Bowling, born March 6, 1855, died Aug. 10, 1888. Bertha Nell, daughter of W. H. & E. M. Norris, born Oct. 26, 1886, died June 1, 1888. J. W. Srygley, born Aug. 22, 1822, died Mar. 20, 1904. John H. Fennell, born Sept. 6, 1846, died May 23, 1906. James Watkins Fennell, M. D., Jan. 3, 1871, Feb. 17, 1933. N. E., wife of G. W. Latham, Mar. 22, 1884, Aug. 10, 1910. L. H. (Buddy) Latham, Dec. 15, 1885, died Aug. 13, 1957. J. L. Montgomery, June 27, 1862, June 24, 1929. Arrie Y. Jackson, Sept. 20, 1884, : Judge William R. Jackson, Mar. 8, 1881, Mar. 19, 1951. Young-Leota W., April 2, 1856, Oct. 16. 1944: Joseph W. Dec. 6, 1851, Oct. 25,1948. ROBERTS CEMETERY M. H. Demasters, born March 14, 1826, died January 2, 1898. Nancy Roberts, wife of Howard Roberts, born May 1, 1804, was mar- ried July 22, 1830, died May 1, 1884. Wife, Molinda Rodgers Reneau, born Oct. 12, 1767, died Nov. 3, 1847. 88 LIFE AND LEGEND OF Husband, John Reneau, born December 2, 1764, died January 23, 1848. Eliz Belhkenea, born Feb. 1, 1788, died Sept. 13, 1846. William Reneau, born Nov. 17, 1788, died Feb. 10, 1852. Ruth Reneau Almon, born Feb. 23, 1823, died Dec. 21, 1891. Nathaniel C. Almon, born Oct. 3, 1821, died Oct. 12, 1896. Children of W. M. and Eliz Reneau, born 1804, died 1864. Almon children, born 1841, died 1858. OUT-LAW HANGINGS A posse was looking for a woman. Her husband had told the family they were going to Kimo, but she never returned. The search went on and finally one of the Negroes screamed, "Here's that po dead woman." The body had been found in a swimming hole, not far from Moulton. She had been stabbed to death. The Negro husband was jailed but that night a mob gathered, stormed the jail, took the prisoner out and hung him. The out-law hanging occurred in 1887. Another out-law hanging took place when white residents from near Danville stormed the jail and took a Negro man out after he had allegedly raped a white woman. The tragic death of a teenage boy from near Five Points occurred as a prank some several years ago. Young "Bud" Sap was hung on a tree by neighborhood boys, because Sap had the reputation of being strong and able to whip the others. He had been fighting and a group of boys banded together and left the youth hanging in the woods, it has been told. BANKHEAD NATIONAL FOREST "The big tree is Nature's masterpiece. .As far as man is concerned, it is the same yesterday, today, and forever-emblem of permanence." -JOHN MUIR William B. Bankhead National Forest, named in honor of the late Senator William B. Bankhead, of Alabama, encompasses an area of 178,895 acres, of which 89,433 lie in Lawrence County; 87,878 in Winston County, and 1,584 acres in Franklin County. The rainbow colors of the evening sky are no more lovely than the colors that Nature gives the trees-the soft greens of young birches in spring; the flaming red and yellow and orange of the maples in autumn; the dark green of the evergreens in winter. Trees are the biggest plants in the world and their trunks reach upward out of the ground and branch into a crown of leaves high in the blue sky. On the Black Warrior District of the William B. Bankhead National Forest in Lawrence County, there is a Tulip Tree, com- LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 89 monly called the yellow poplar, which may be the largest tree of its species in the United States. It measures 80 inches in diameter and reaches 150 feet upward. A better way to get a size comparison- +----------------------------------------------+ Tulip Tree 150 Feet Tall +----------------------------------------------+ 90 LIFE AND LEGEND OF if the tree were cut down, one would have a flat, round table top, six and one-half feet from one edge to the other. It is estimated to be 300 to 400 years old, and is located on Bee Branch about one mile south of North West Road in Lawrence County. It is in a scenic canyon that is a part of Bee Branch Scenic Area, a tract of 1,140 acres of virgin timber to be preserved for future generations. The canyon is a deep box with vertical sandstone walls 60 to 125 feet high. There, also are found other giant tulip trees, hemlocks and pines that have remained untouched by man or fire. Adding to nature's splendor in the forest are numerous streams, a paradise for fishermen and vacationers. The headwaters of the Sipsey Fork are formed in Lawrence, Winston, Walker, and Cullman counties. The more important of the headwater streams are West Fork, Brush Fork, East Fork, or Rock Creek, Crooked Creek, and Ryon Creek. The headwater streams spread in fan-like formation, entering the main stream from northwest to northeast directions. Other creeks in Lawrence County in the forest include Borden Creek, Flannigan Creek, Mattox Creek, West Flint Creek, Copsey Creek, Hubbard Creek, and enhance nature's garden. The first Forest Ranger, Jack McDowell, makes his home deep in the forest in Lawrence County in an area called McDowell's Cove. He was ranger from 1918 to 1933. Four Forest Service lookout towers are located on the forest: Central, Black Pond, Moreland, and Basham, and one State tower, Delmar, located a short distance south of Haleyville. Following is a list of trees on William B. Bankhead National Forest, with the common name followed by the scientific name: Chestnut, Castanea dentata; Wild Black Cherry, Prunus serotina; Tupelo Gum, Nyssa aquatica; Hop Hornbeam, Ostrya virginiana; Sour Wood, Oxydendrum arboreum; Red Cedar, Juniperus virgini- ana ; Black Jack Oak, Quercus marilandica; Sweet Birch, Betula lenta; Blue Beech, Carpinus caroliniana; Black Gum, Nyssa sylvatica; Per- simmon, Diospyros virginiana; Black Willow, Salix nigra; Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis; Virginia Pine, Pinus virginiana; Shortleaf Pine, Pinus echinata; Loblolly Pine, Pinus taeda; Longleaf Pine, Pinus palustris; Sycamore, Platanus occidentals; Dogwood, Cornus florida; Red Gum, Liquidambar styraciflua; Black Oak, Quercus velutina; Chestnut Oak, Quercus montana; Beech, Fagus grandifolia; Honey Locust, Gleditsia triacanthos; Cottonwood, Populus deltoides; Bass- wood, Tilia Glabra; Butternut, Juglans cinerea; Red Elm, Ulmus serotina; Hackberry, Celtis pumila (Georgiana) ; Northern Red Oak, Quercus borealis (Maxima) ; Scarlet Oak, Quercus coccinea-; Post Oak, Quercus stellata; White Oak, Quercus alia; Chinquapin Oak; Quercus muehlenbergii; Southern Red Oak, Quercus falcata; Sugar Maple, Acer Saccharinum; Red Maple, Acer rubrum; Box Elder, LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 91 Acer negundo; Holly, Ilex opaca; American Elm, Ulmus americana; Black Walnut, Juglans nigra; Pawpaw, Asimina triloba; Redbud, Cercis canadensis; Sweet Bay, Magnolia virginiana; Shagbark Hick- ory, Hicoria ovata; Winged Elm, Ulmus alata; Green Ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica; White Ash, Fraxinus americana; Water Ash, Fraxi- nus caroliniana; Pignut Hickory, Hicoria globra; Bitternut Hickory, Hicoria cordiformis; Umbrella Magnolia, Magnolia tripetala; Big Leaf Magnolia, Magnolia macrophylla; Cucumber, Magnolia acumin- ata; Yellow Poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera; Red Mulberry, Morus rubra. PHYSICIANS "Into whatsoever house I shall enter I will go for the benefit of the sick"-HIPPOCRATES Sickness was one of the real dreads of the pioneers. Summer complaint took its toll of babies in their second summer. Many mothers died following childbirth. Frequently an entire family would be stricken with a contagious disease, measles, scarlet fever, small pox, typhoid fever, or diphtheria. Tuberculosis was called "lung fever" or "consumption" but those words were only whispered. Doctors had little rest especially during epidemics. They filled their saddle bags with medicines, there were few drug stores, and rode horses, later the horse and buggies came, but the roads were in such condition at times buggies would clog down. Babies were delivered in the home and necessary drugs were furnished by the physician. Many doctors didn't keep charge books but they were paid in many ways-in love and friendships. Farmers sometimes paid off with watermelons, tomatoes, fresh vegetables, molasses, potatoes and anything that grew in that fertile valley. There were also "traveling physicians." In the January 5, 1882 issue of The Moulton Advertiser, an advertisement placed by Dr. T. J. Wright, traveling physician, stated: "The doctor makes a specialty of all chronic affliction and he uses nothing but vegetable matter. He is the author and finisher of all the medicines he uses." But back in the days of the saddle-bag country doctor, many in- teresting incidents occurred and many stories have been told of the hardships of practicing medicine, making calls on horseback. Many times they would go to sleep on their return home, depending on their trusted horse for a safe journey-often during the winter months, they would return with frozen feet. Those were the days before flashlights, and even a lantern wouldn't stay lit. The first car, with carbide lights, came to Moulton in 1910 but it was some time before the four-wheeled vehicles replaced the country doctor's horse. It was quite a chore to get the early cars to run and when they did get started, the roads were too bad to get very far. 92 LIFE AND LEGEND OF Some of the early physicians in Lawrence County were Dr. J. P. Hodges, Dr. George A. Glover, Dr. Edward Gantt, Dr. J. S. Ringo, Dr. Elijah Koons, Dr. Tandy W. Walker, Dr. J. T. Masterson (Moul- ton in 1870's), Dr. Byron 0. Masterson, Dr. E. C. Ashford, Dr. Benjamin O'Neal Masterson, all of Moulton, Dr. Jim Young, Dr. Thrasher, Dr. E. T. Simms, Dr. Theofalus Burkett, Dr. John Todd, Dr. Neal Jackson, Dr. Lawrence Fennell, Dr. James Watt Fennell, Dr. George W. Bowling, Dr. Bob Robertson, Dr. D. F. Dinsmore, Drs. Fish, Houston, Greer, Whitman, Dr. Tom Irwin, Dr. John Irwin, Dr. Price Irwin, Dr. J. D. Dyer, Moulton, Drs. Minor, Duncan, Sewell and Lile, of Trinity, Dr. E. C. James, Courtland, and others. THE COUNTRY DOCTOR In Memory of Dr. James Watt Fennell Dr. James Watt Fennell was a descendant of the Fennells of Guntersville, wealthy land owners and early settlers. He located at Landersville in 1901 after graduating from the Birmingham Medical College. There he met and courted a lovely girl, Miss Lula Burch, daughter of Thomas J. and Lucy 0. Norwood Burch, and married her March 12, 1905. The couple built and furnished a home at Landers- ville which he named, "The Livingston" in which he delivered four children unto his wife, James, Robert, Bertha Lee and Lucy Mae. In 1917 he bought the home of Dr. C. R. Whitman, of Mount Hope so his children could attend higher grades of school offered there. Dr. Neal Jackson resided in Mount Hope and the two formed a partnership for their practice of medicine. Dr. Jackson died in 1918 when the flu epidemic wiped out so many lives. Dr. Lawrence Fen- nell then joined his brother, but later m.oved to suburban Birming- ham and Dr. James Fennell was the only physician in that area for a long while. A man of deep intelligence, kind and devoted to his family, Dr. Fennell became highly respected and revered during his 33 years of practice. Only a week before he died on February 17, 1933, he made a call because the sick one wanted him. His feet were so swollen he had to wear house slippers. In 1927 he performed a major operation on a baby before it was an hour old. The infant had a transparent lump on its abdomen which held a great portion of its intestines, pancreas and other organs. When the baby cried, its innards fell out on the bed and Dr. Fennell called in Dr. Will Clark, of Russellville. The infant was put to sleep on the kitchen table and an operation for correction performed. The operation appeared successful but the next day the stitches broke when the baby cried and the same thing happened. Dr. Fennell, who was there at the time, reopened the incision and LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 93 replaced the organs and the child grew up a perfectly normal woman. An incident that amused Dr. Fennell until his death concerned "Uncle Joe" Willingham, Negro, who was seated near a window one night when a would-be assassin fired a double barreled shotgun through the window at him. Fortunately, the one charge of buck- shot missed, but unfortunately, the other charge which was birdshot, hit the man in the head. "Uncle Joe" went running to Dr. Fennell, "Oh, doc . . . I'm dying, I'm dying," he said, but after surveying the damage, Dr. Fennell said, "Uncle Joe, you're not dying, your pulse is good" to which Uncle Joe replied, "Yeah, but Doe, I ain't shot in the pulse, I'se shot in the haid." On one occasion, a man had accidentally shot himself in the hand with a shotgun and not thinking it serious, stopped the bleeding with a poultice of cow dung. Several days later when he was delirious, Dr. Fennell was called to meet him at Robertson's Store, about three +----------------------------------------------+ Dr. James W. Fennell and Wife +----------------------------------------------+ 94 LIFE AND LEGEND OF miles from Mount Hope. Gangrene had developed and the patient was critical. The doctor put him on an army cot, chloroformed him and amputated his hand by kerosene lantern light. No complications developed and the man recovered. Dr. Fennell accumulated a library of thousands of books. He bought a wide variety, including histories, geographies, novels, religious, science, biographies and autobiographies. When their dining room bookcase became too small, cabinets and corners were all full, he built two large bookcases and moved many of them to his office. People came from miles away to borrow books and would usually leave a note saying, "Doc, I took three books, or five," as his office was never locked. School teachers very often visited with him to discuss the Great Crusade, life in India, Kaiser Bill, Shakespeare, the Hidden Mysteries of the Alps, or the American- ization of Edward Bok. His memory was remarkable and he was a great story teller. With children around, his own and neighbors' sitting on his knees, or standing beside his favorite rocker, many of the adventures he related ran into three, four, or five evenings. He enjoyed talking to the most illiterate or the college professor, and he was proud that he knew Marconi, the inventer of the wireless. Before the days of sulphur drugs, there was a great deal of malaria in the summers and on many occasions, Dr. Fennell gave twenty-five or thirty cents to the parents of a sick child to buy ice and lemons so the child could have some "good, cold lemonade" to quench its feverish thirst. In 1914 the horse and buggy, gave way to something new when the family acquired a new Model T Ford, cut down to two racer type seats and turtle shell (trunk). The entire family went with him on many calls in this car, the children in the trunk and some- times neighboring children. He would often make the diagnosis before entering the sick room, "measles" he would whisper, or "flu", he smelled. During the winter months, he kept two saddle horses, the extra one for one of his sons to go along with him, or a friend. Upon his return home, possibly after miles of darkness or daylight, in rain, snow or sleet, he always washed and dried the horses' legs and placed them in his stable with corn and hay before he himself, went inside. He loved the outdoors, to fish, hunt, or v/alk in the woods and besides the streams and "just enjoy God's creation." He fed the birds and fish and was constantly aware of Nature in her glory. Dr. Fennell lived the oath of Hippocrates and only two hours after his untimely death, on February 17, 1933, a Negro man knocked on the back door. Handing his widow7 a ten dollar bill, he said; "Miss Lula, I just heard about the Doc. I have been owing him for a long time and I knows it takes extra money at a time like this." The LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 95 Negro had borrowed the money from Mr. Tom Howell, a merchant. Many have said he was the most wonderful character they had ever known. And he was called "the poor man's doctor" because he went when he knew he would never receive a dime. His funeral was attended by the largest number ever in Mount Hope. Many Negroes went and had to stand outside since the country church was overflowing. But before the casket was closed, every person present who desired to do so, walked by the casket to see for their last time, the old doc. For years after his death, people would go to his home to ask if anyone of the family knew what drug the Doc used to cure "Aunt Jane" or "Uncle Jim." DR. PRICE IRWIN (The following is reprinted from the March 31, 1960 issue of The Moulton Advertiser) Each year the Alabama Medical Association honors physicians who have practiced medicine for 50 years-and this Spring, Dr. Price Irwin of Moulton, who received his diploma in 1910, has been invited as one of the honored few at the Association's meeting in Mobile. The honor is one which the widely known and widely revered Moulton doctor takes lightly. In the first place, he considers Mobile too far away to make the trip. Hunting or fishing are about the only things important enough to go that distance for, he says. And, even though he has doctored the same families for all these years, he can't leave long enough to go pick up his award. Besides, he thinks it would be mostly a case of just sitting on the stage so all the young doctors can see how a man looks after practicing medicine 50 years. Actually, tho, Dr. Price-as he is better known in the county- finished his medical studies as a junior 51 years ago in 1909, and that class was honored last year. In 1909, he was a junior at Birmingham Medical College, rooming with Dr. Russell Whitman of Mt. Hope, who was a senior. Dr. Price was in the habit of finishing his lessons early each night, and then helping the seniors by quizzing them on their studies. When the time came for the seniors to take their exams, he was pretty well- versed on their studies and asked his professor for permission to take the senior exams. Dr. Russell Cunningham and Dr. James McLester were in favor of the idea, but advised the young medical student that he would have to get permission of all the professors. The others thought it would be a good experience for him, and might help him with the next year's work. 96 LIFE AND LEGEND OF So, the junior medical student took the exams along with the seniors. The exams usually took students from 8 a.m. until dark to finish, but Dr. Price completed his papers by 3 p.m. During the physiology exam, Dr. Price sat directly in front of the professor, Dr. E. P. Hogan, who had written his own textbook. Later, Dr. Hogan told the young student: "Price, if you hadn't been sitting where I could watch you, I would bust you on general principles! You even dotted the i's and crossed the t's. I can't find anything wrong with your paper." As a matter of fact, Dr. Price had passed all his exams with high honors. Nevertheless, the faculty decided that even tho he had passed all the exams, he should come back to school his senior year. The seniors called a mass meeting on his behalf, however, and pleaded his case, with Dr. Cunningham and Dr. McLester joining in to recommend that Dr. Price be allowed to start practicing since he had passed all the required subjects. It was finally agreed that Dr. Price could not be kept from legally practicing if he could pass the State Medical board and if he would matriculate the next year. Dr. Price then went to Montgomery, where he passed the board with no difficulty. He returned to Moulton to begin his practice, and soon was so busy that he mailed in his matriculation fee. At the end of the year, he was too busy to attend graduation, so they mailed him his diploma. (Maybe they'll mail his 50-year certificate this Spring!) Dr. Cunningham invited Dr. Price to become his partner, but the lure of the hometown, was too great. He chose to join his brother, Dr. John Irwin, who had graduated from Chattanooga Medical College in 1904, and a first cousin, Dr. Tom Irwin, who graduated in 1909 from Vanderbilt Medical College, in practicing in Moulton. During his 51 years of practice, Dr. Price delivered approximately 8,000 babies-and that's a conservative estimate, since he averaged delivering 30 a month for many years. In 1937, his son, Dr. Willard, joined him in practice and now Dr. Price has two grandsons-Richard Irwin (Rip) Proctor and Price Weston Irwin-whom he expects will one day make doctors also. DR. LYMAN BEECHER McCRARY Lyman Beecher McCrary, physician and Confederate soldier, was born September 5, 1830 near Courtland, of Scotch-Irish descent, son of Matthew and Mary C. McCrary, who had emigrated from South Carolina in 1906. His grandfather, Thomas McCrary, Jr., and great- grandfather, had fought in the Revolutionary War. Dr. McCrary attended school at Irving College in Warren County, Tennessee, graduating in about 1852. He studied medicine at the University of Virginia at Charlottsville and also at the University LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 97 of Nashville, graduating- at the latter in 1855. He was married to Miss Martha Permelia Martin February 28, 1856, and to this union eight children were born, the first four dying in infancy. Those reaching manhood were Lee Holland, Mayne Bernard, Lynwood Martin and Mercer William. The physician practiced medicine in Alabama and in Tennessee from 1856 to 1861, enlisted in the Confederate army as a surgeon and was assigned to Games Battery December 31, 1861 at the Battle of Stone's River. He served throughout the war and died August 2, 1916. DR. WOODIE R. TAYLOR Dr. Woodie R. Taylor, born near Russellville, moved to the Hatton community with his parents as a young boy in 1892. The son of a farmer, he decided at the age of 15 that he wanted to study medicine and become a doctor. At that time, the Hatton community had no doctor and residents had to go either to Mount Hope or Town Creek for medical care. Dr. Taylor attended county schools in that area and the University of Nashville, graduating there in 1910. The University of Nashville was consolidated with the University of Tennessee the year Dr. Taylor graduated. After a brief internship at the University hospital in Nashville, he returned to Hatton and began the practice of medi- cine at the age of 25. Almost immediately the young doctor was busy day and night. "It wasn't due to any particular talent or ability of mine, but to the fact that I was the only doctor available in that section," he said. In June of the next year, 1911, Dr. Taylor married his childhood sweetheart, Ella Harrison. As the only general practioner in the area, Dr. Taylor performed a wide number of services including removing tonsils, setting bones, fitting patients with glasses, delivering babies, plus treating of various diseases and ailments. He didn't keep a record of the number of babies he delivered, but estimated the number around 3,000 or 4,000. Since the nearest drug store was ten miles away, he main- tained his own drug supply and filled prescriptions himself. Besides the usual charity cases, he made a practice of not charging widows or orphans for his medical services. In 1920, he did postgraduate work in eye, ear, nose, and throat diseases at the University of Chicago and at Tulane University. In 1930, he did further study at Vanderbilt University and again in 1940 at Tulane. He received citations from three presidents for his uncompen- sated services as county medical examiner for the county draft board during World Wars I and II. As county medical examiner, he was responsible for examining all draftees during World War I and was 98 LIFE AND LEGEND OF assisted in the work by Dr. J. H. Irwin, Moulton, and Dr. J. W. Fennell, Landersville. In 1946, Dr. Taylor became county health officer, a position he held for ten years. During this decade of service, he spent most of his time examining school children, inspecting lunchrooms and public eating places. Today, Dr. Taylor has a limited practice, treating elderly patients-"The ones who used to feed me and clothe me during my early days," he explains. He spends some time at the farms he owns around Hatton and goes fishing when the weather is good. He held the honorary post of a member of the college of counsellors in the state medical association for 35 years, and now has a life membership in the college. He has attended all meetings of the state medical association through the years. Dr. and Mrs. Taylor have one daughter, Mary Jean, who is the wife of Dr. Hayes Williams, Birmingham surgeon. They have three grandchildren: James Richard Williams, medical student; Hayes Taylor Williams, in pre-med, and Mary Jean Williams, student. The above information was taken from the April 21, 1960 issue of The Moulton Advertiser. Dr. Taylor was honored by the Alabama Medical Association for 50 years' service, at a meeting in Mobile. JONATHAN OGLESBY NORWOOD Jonathan 0. Norwood, born March 24, 1799 in South Carolina, emigrated to Lawrence County in 1824, being one of the early pioneers of the county. Two years after he arrived in 1826, he married Priscilla Atkinson and to this union ten children were born. They were Susan, Ann, Mary, Martha, George, Bill, John, Joseph, Nathaniel and Marion. Jonathon's son, Nathaniel Norwood, married Martha C. Gallaway on August 7, 1856. Other marriage records show: James H. Nor- wood married Sarah M. Tucker July 8, 1851; William F. Norwood married Elizabeth McDuffie August 28, 1851; George Norwood married Harriet Nolen July 21, 1852; John S. Norwood married Mary Washer September 11, 1852; William Norwood married Pene- lope Stepp February 9, 1853; Jno. W. Norwood married Sarah Ann Johnson October 15, 1853; George W. Norwood married Elizabeth Ann Weems November 4, 1853; William G. Rutherford married Nancy A. Norwood September 25, 1850; James G. Edwards married Mary Ann Norwood July 6, 1837; William H. Elkins married Matilda Norwood December 26, 1833; William Blizzard married Sarah Nor- wood April 7, 1833; Thomas Norwood married Henetta Thompson August 8, 1834. Following his wife's death, Jonathan Norwood married Mrs. Sarah Landers Elkinson August 24, 1876, to whom one daughter was born, LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 99 Tennie B. Norwood. She married James Bert Young who were parents of three children, Ora, Arrie, and Phinus. Jonathan Norwood located about three miles south of Landers- ville in Lawrence County and built his home. Two of the original yellow poplar logs, measuring 261/; feet long are still used as plates. The house has since been remodeled, the log walls being covered with brick siding. It is now owned by the heirs of Ben Owens, who had purchased the property from Percy McCary. His surrounding farm land, fertile and level, was located about one and one-half miles north of Bankhead National Forest near Buzzard Roost. Their water came from an everlasting large spring located about 40 yards from the house. In the big room, a fireplace 18 feet wide and 24 feet long was used as the central heating system and also the place for cooking meals. Later a second room was added with a "dog-trot" between. The following is from The Moulton Advertiser, November 24, 1887: Brother Jonathan 0. Norwood, an octogenarian, was born March 24, 1799, in South Carolina and died at his residence the 25th day of October, 1887 from cancer of the face. Brother Norwood might be called one of the pioneer settlers of Lawrence County, having come here in 1824, where he lived until called home by his Master. In 1826 he married Priscilla Atkinson and to whom were born ten children when the partner of his joys and sorrows died. In 1876 he married Mrs. Elkins, to whom was born one child. His second wife and seven children are now living. Brother Norwood became a Christian in the year 1870 and so lived and died. His life was exemplary and Christian like; and his virtues should be emulated by both young and old who knew him. It is not claimed that he was perfect; he like others had his faults. He bore his long and painful illness with Christian resignation, and though physically blind for many years, death, the rift in the clouds has restored his vision and disclosed to him the glories of the bright hereafter. His friends and children should not mourn his loss; but strive to meet him beyond the "dark." J. Me. C. NATHANIEL S. NORWOOD Nathaniel S. Norwood, who was a son of Jonathan 0. and Priscilla Atkinson Norwood, was married to Martha C. Gallaway on August 7, 1856. Their children were Lucy Onie, born August 7, 1857, married Thomas J. Burch; Dr. Robert Walter Norwood, born October 16, 1859, married Dale Sandlin. He died at the age of 99 100 LIFE AND LEGEND OF in Nashville, Tenn.; and John A. Norwood, born January 9, 1862 and married Delia Allen. Nathaniel's wife, Martha, died and he then married Mattie Beatty. A daughter, Eva Norwood was born of this union. She married Belve Spang-ler, a Town Creek merchant. Lucy Onie married Thomas J. Burch on January 9, 1878. He was a son of Reubin Burch, and the Burch residents of Lawrence county are descendants. REUBIN BURCH Shortly after the close of the Civil War, many people were victims of the "Texas fever." Winter had crossed the new year's mark and was coasting toward spring. Restless men were beginning excited preparations for the trip to Texas and great wealth. Horses and wagons were treking westward. Among these travelers was Reubin Burch, who had married Matelda Carey. He was of Irish-English stock, had first come to Virginia and later settled in North Carolina. After his marriage, Reubin and Matelda Burch (originally spelled "Birch") moved to Perry County, Alabama, where they farmed at Brown's Station, near Uniontown. Here four sons and three daughters were born and raised to man and womanhood. About 1880, the family left in a covered wagon and started out for Texas. Since it was necessary to go by way of Memphis to cross the Mississippi River, they traveled the Byler road from Tuscaloosa. Late one afternoon, Reubin Burch drove up to a farm house near Hickory Grove, a short distance from Mount Hope, and asked for permission to spend the night. The permit was readily granted by the farmer, a Mr. Marthall. Plans were made to start out by day- break the next morning, but the unexpected happened-a downpour of rain had raised the creeks, making it impossible to proceed. Then the weather turned cold-ice, sleet, snow, and lasted for days. Their host offered an empty house and land to farm the next year. Reubin accepted the offer but conditions stipulated they would go on to Texas the next year after the harvest. The crops were gathered and preparations were being made to resume the journey, but the oldest son, Mack, came in and announced he would not proceed with the family. Rather, he would marry a girl of the community by the name of Savannah Houghston. Reubin decided to make one more crop, and then to Texas, but again as he was preparing to leave, another son, Thomas, announced that he had planned to stay in Alabama. He had met, courted and was to marry Lucy Onie Norwood, daughter of Nathaniel S. and Martha C. Gallaway Norwood. Reubin gave up his plans for adventure in LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 101 Texas and purchased a farm near Landersville where he lived until his death in about 1890. His children besides Mack and Thomas were Milton, Sarah, Julia, Joanna, and William, known as "Bud." The descendants of Mack were Addie (Byars), John, a doctor who married Grace Aldridge; Reubin, who was killed in a railroad accident in Arkansas, and Silas, who married Pearl Free. Julia married Ben Craig. Her children were Cora (Appleton) and Linnie (Appleton), Sara (Smith) and JoAnna (Lackey), who moved to Texas in about 1895. Milton was never married. William (Bud) married Dona Srygley. Their chil- dren were Clark, Ed, Leia and Drexel. A second marriage was to Chessie Montgomery and a daughter, Annie Lou was born of this union. To Thomas J. and Lucy Norwood Burch the following five sons and six daughters were born: Emmett 0., November 28, 1878, married Alma Johnson; Travis E. Burch, December 28, 1879, mar- ried Lorraine Jordan, he died January 27, 1960; M. Lula Burch, April 18, 1881, married Dr. James Watt Fennell, Dr. R. Nathaniel +----------------------------------------------+ Thomas J. Burch +----------------------------------------------+ +----------------------------------------------+ Lucy O. (Norwood) Burch +----------------------------------------------+ Burch, January 18, 1883, married Lizzie Patton, he died January 7, 1956; John T. Burch, March 28, 1884; married Cleazelle Jordan; Lona J. Burch, June 18, 1886, married Marlin Craig; Lillian M. Burch, April 14, 1888, married Will Free; L. Mae Burch, b. December 29, 1889, m. Harvey Armor; Walter G. Burch, b. August 18, 1893, 102 LIFE AND LEGEND OF +----------------------------------------------+ Burch Family Reunion, 1921 +----------------------------------------------+ LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 103 m. Sally Smith; Minnie Dale Burch, b. January 30, 1896, m. John Harvey Free; Mamie G. Burch, b. September 9, 1902, m. Archie Aston, he died, later m. Lyie Jones. The Burch clan, all Alabamians rather than Texans, because of a big rain one night. THOMAS FREE The Free family, of Moulton are descendants of a Thomas B. Free, of Tennessee, who married Mrs. Isa Callahan Woodruff on June 21, 1863 in Lawrence County. She was the widow of Joe Woodruff, spelled Woodrough originally. Looking "for greener pastures," Thomas Free left Lawrence County and went to Winston County before his only child, Walter F. Free, was born on February 18, 1865 unto his wife, who was also caring for children by her first husband. On February 22, 1884, Walter F. Free married Mary (Molly) Jane Parker. She was born May 10, 1868, daughter of Tom B. Parker, a Methodist minister, and Frances Jane Gray, of Lawrence County. Other children of Tom B. and Frances Gray Parker were Petway, who married and went to Texas; George Parker, who married Alice Braswell, Oliver Parker, who married Carrie Life, Sailor Parker, who married Billy Aldridge, and Alice Parker, who married John Sivley. "Worse" was a nickname given Walter Free because he was always mischievious. He was quick tempered but full of humor and loved to tease. He affectionately called his wife, "Troddy." She loved to be in the outdoors and preferred to do outside work rather than housework, but she was an immaculate housekeeper and wonder- ful cook. It has been said that his son, Harvey inherited some of his father's mischieviousness because he took sheer delight in aggre- vating his sisters by hiding their home-made hair curlers, and pulled their bonnets off in the cotton patch, but the family, a jolly, good natured teasing group, always enjoyed being together. For several years, the Walter Free family resided five miles east of Moulton but shortly after 1907 the place was sold to Tom Coffee. The children of Walter F. and Mary Jane Parker Free were Charlie Edward, born September 17, 1885, died June 10, 1887; Mary Irene Free, b. April 21, 1888, m. Dan Hightower, he died and she later married John Burden; John Harvey Free, b. October 12, 1891, m. Minnie Dale Burch; Frank and Frances, twins, b. June 22, 1893. Frank died September 24, 1898, Frances married Wade McLemore. She died. Neatie and Nettie, twins, born May 21, 1897. Neatie married Lewis Aston and Nettie married Bluitt Free; Preuit Gibson Free, b. June 30, 1900, m. Ida Wiley; William Dewey Free, b. January 104 LIFE AND LEGEND OF 16, 1903, m. Nalda McCarver, she died Aug. 10, 1960; Myrtle M. Free, b. September 9, 1905, m. Dall McGeehon; Audrey Lois Free, b. September 11, 1907, m. Eva Hampton; Freeman Coy Free, b. November 16, 1910, m. Gertrude Wear; Marjorie Free, b. August 4, 1913, died August 6, 1913. A J. R. Free, from Landersville, was a member of the first company organized in Lawrence County during the War Between the States (Company C, Ninth Alabama Infantry Regt.). This regiment served in Virginia and Free was wounded in the "Seven Days Fight." Marriage license records show a Thomas R. Free married Susan Rucker, August 11, 1840 and Allen Free married Jane Srygly, February 13, 1838. JOSEPH SANDLIN Joseph Sandlin, born in 1799 in South Carolina, was married to Peniah Norwood, also a native of South Carolina, in 1817. The couple spent their early years of married life in Morgan County, Alabama, where they owned a small tract of land. The first of their ten children died young, and the second son, Jonathan Sandlin, was born in 1819, married Eunice Missini West in 1842. He died in 1909 and she died in 1908. Both were buried in Old Town Creek cemetery. Eunice was the daughter of Jeptha and Elizabeth Ferguson West, natives of North Carolina, he being the grandson of James West, a Revolutionary soldier. They were buried in Ferguson cemetery. The third son, John Wesley Sandlin, was born in 1823 and married Martha Jane Davis in 1846. They died in 1886 and 1893 respectively and are also buried at Old Town Creek cemetery. The fourth child, a daughter, died in infancy. The fifth son, Josiah S. Sandlin, born in 1825, and died in 1881, was married to Alpha E. Srygley in 1849 who died in 1909. Joseph Nicholas Sandlin, known as "Nick," was the sixth child born in 1829 and married Mary Jane Nicholson in 1863 at the home of Robert Nicholson. "Nick" fought in the Civil War under Capt. Phillip Threlkeld in Co. A, 4th Alabama Cavalry and died in 1874. His widow died in 1900. Charles Nathaniel Sandlin, known as "Tom" was born in 1830 and married Angie Landers. He was a soldier in the Civil War and belonged to the same company as his brother, "Nick." The eighth child was James B. Sandlin, born in 1833, who married Lucinda B. Sutton in 1853. About this time, Joseph and Peniah Sandlin sold their home in Morgan County and settled in Lawrence County. The ninth child, Martha Elizabeth Sandlin, born in 1836, was married to Jonathan W. Armstrong in 1855. He volunteered as a LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 105 soldier in the Civil War and made the third brother serving under Capt. Threlkeld's company. He died in 1899 and his wife died in 1914. The youngest child born to Joseph and Peniah Sandlin was Mary Ann, in 1838 who married Houston W. Roberts in 1865. They moved to Texas and died there. He was the son of Matthew and Susan (Wells) Roberts, who are buried at Old Town Creek cemetery. Joseph Sandlin, who served as Justice of the Peace for 19 years, and was a member of the Town Creek Baptist church, died in 1862 at the home of his oldest son, Jonathan. His wife died in 1882 and both are buried in Old Town Creek cemetery. According: tc' minutes of the church, he had served as a clerk and resigned in 1854 which resulted in the selection of Thomas Johnson as clerk. REFERENCES The above is from an article by Elizabeth Griffin Irwin and appeared in part in the August 6, 1959 issue of The Moulton Advertiser THE PREUIT FAMILY Two brothers, William and Henry Preuit, who came from Scot- land and settled in Virginia, have descendants in Lawrence Cu;mty who lived in the old Preuit house, built in 1815 and torn down the first part of February, 1959 for a new residence. The original house was a log structure and consisted of two rooms, separated by a "dog-trot" and was built by Robert Price, who came to Moulton from Virginia and obtained the original land grant from the government. In 1825, the house was acquired by William Preuit, who had moved from Madison County. Mr. Preuit remodeled the house with wood siding, ceilings and four room addition which included two upstairs rooms and two behind the original log structure. The house was unharmed by soldiers during the Civil War, and evidence that Yankee troops did pass nearby can be seen by the fact that three Union soldiers were buried on the farm by slaves who found the bodies shortly after the troops passed through on a retreat through the area. The bodies were buried where they were found. One story handed down in the family related that all the meat in the smokehouse was hauled to the family graveyard about one and a half miles behind the house. A small brick house had been built around the grave of the body of William Preuit and this became the hiding place for the family meat until military troops left the area. John W. Preuit died in 1923 and Clebe and John H. Preuit were the next occupants of the old home, living there until 1927. Ward Preuit, son of John H., was the last member of the family to be born in the old house. In all, 33 Preuits lived there. The chimney brick, made by slave labor, is believed to have been made in 1815 at the 106 LIFE AND LEGEND OF same time brick was made for the old Bass place on Penitentiary Gap. The mantle in the house was whittled with a pocket knife by Finis and Walter Bass' grandfather. +----------------------------------------------+ The Old Preuit Home +----------------------------------------------+ The history of the Preuit family as far as records can be found, dates back to 1687, Book 7, Page 569 Henrico County, Virginia, Vol. IV, when Henry and John Fields Preuit were granted 440 acres. Henry married Mary Ross April 13, 1702, and to this union three sons were born, John, Daniel and William. John, who died in 1820 at the age of 103 lived in Warren County, Alabama. John was born in 1717 and at the age of 14 was married to Jane ----. Records give an account of a daughter, Sarah, who was baptized March 25, 1738 from the Register of St. Peters Parish, and a son, William, born 1739 who married Mary Martin of Green County, Tenn., about 1759 and moved to North Carolina, to what was then Fincastle County, Virginia. The children of William and Mary Martin Preuit were Martin, born in 1759; (He fought in the Revolutionary War and married Mary Woods) William, born in 1761, killed by Indians in Kentucky; Abraham and Issac, twins, born in 1763. Abraham was married to LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 107 Ann Davidson, and following his death by Indians, she married his twin brother in 1794; Jacob, born in 1761 (or 1765), married Nancy Richey March 12, 1786; Mary, born 1767 married a Grayson; Jane, born in 1769 married a Stephen; Fuller, married a Jones and Viney married a Sinclair. Jacob and Agnes (Nancy) Richey Preuit were the parents of William Madison, who married Sallie Cavitt; James, who married Mariah Carter; John, who married Martha Hart; Peggy, married a Helloms; Elizabeth married a Lee; Levina, married a Hallmark; Rebecca married an Underwood; Tabitha married Levi Warren and Nancy married John Preuit, a cousin. John was born in Virginia on March 10, 1803 and his marriage to Martha Hart was solemnized on June 11, 1811. Their children were Martha, born Jan. 23, 1829, married Dan Hodges. She died June 18, 1896; Mary, born Aug. 15, 1831, died May 20, 1896, was married to Dr. Amos Ponder Galloway; Margaret, born September 24, 1832, died September 30, 1911, was married to Benjamin F. Walker; James Preuit born May 12, 1834, died May 20, 1834; Elizabeth, born April 11, 1835, died June 9, 1916, married James Irwin. Frances, born Jan. 17, 1836, died Jan. 22, 1896, married Dr. Thomas Durrett Simms; Catherine, born Jan. 6, 1838, married Robinson H. Gallaway; John M. born Nov. 2, 1840, died June 6, 1868 married Edith Richardson; Lucy M. born March 30, 1842, died June 6, 1868, married Patrick Henry Talley Aug. 26, 1862; Nancy born April 2, 1838. Col. John Preuit, father of the above children, then married a widow, Mrs. Walker. William Preuit, (brother of Col. John Preuit) married Sally Cavitt and their children were William; Ruthy, married John Moore; Richard, married Martha Hodges, a widow; James, married Frances Cooper; Nancy Ann, first married John Hodges then D. M. Hodges; Polly Ann, married John R. Wren; Betsey Ann, married Thomas Jefferson McDaniel, and Jacob, married Nancy Johnson. William's second marriage was to Martha Patsy Looney, born 1797 and died June 1, 1869 in Virginia. Her people moved to Tenn., and then to Alabama. She was of Irish descent, her ancestors having come from Ireland. She was a descendant of the poet, Sir Thomas Moore. Children born to William and Martha Preuit were Robert, born Nov. 22, 1831, died Oct. 26, 1852, married daughter of Charlie Gipson; John W. born Aug. 8, 1834, died Aug. 19, 1923, married Martha Elizabeth McDaniel, born Aug. 13, 1837, died Sept. 20, 1907; T. Blewett, born 1837, died Sept. 1863, married Anna Rose about 1859; Sally, born June 3, 1840, died Aug. 24, 1866; married William McDaniel; William Madison Preuit, came to Lawrence County from Madison County and bought the Preuit farm in 1825 from the Price family. 108 LIFE AND LEGEND OF TURNER SAUNDERS, METHODIST MINISTER Turner Saunders was born January 3, 1782 in Brunswich County, Virginia, son of Thomas and Ann (Harper) Saunders. He was well educated, taught in several schools and became an accurate surveyor. On July 24, 1799, before he reached the age of 18, he was married to Frances Dunn, of the same county, and in 1808, he removed from Virginia and settled upon a tract of land six miles from Franklin, Tennessee. The county was then covered with cane, but the society was refined and intelligent. A number of prominent and distinguished people lived there. This little colony soon had plantations cleared up and were making large crops when they were confronted with the problem of no market for their products. The colony then broke up and Saunders and his wife moved to the town of Franklin where he went in to merchantile business. He practically monopolized the trade in furs and peltries of the Cherokee and Chickasaw Indians who lived along the Tennessee river. Also a preacher of the Meth- odist church, he afterward removed to Courtland in 1821 and became a planter on a large scale. Their children were James Edmonds Saunders, born May 7, 1806; Sophie Dunn Saunders, Louisa Turner Saunders, Narcissa Hubbard Saunders, Martha Maria Saunders, Eliza Jane Saunders, William H. Saunders. Two children, the oldest son, Thomas and a younger son, Franklin, and their mother, Frances Dunn Saunders, died of malaria in less than a month apart. Turner Saunders married his second wife, a widow, Mrs. Henrietta M. (Weeden) Millwater in 1826. She had been born and reared in the city of Baltimore and had two young daughters when she married Saunders. They were Sarah and Mary Eliza Millwater. Other children born after her marriage to Saunders were four sons, Turner, Thomas, Franklin and Hubbard. On July 14, 1824, James Edmonds Saunders, married Mary Frances Watkins, oldest daughter of his neighbor, Major Robert H. Watkins. Major Watkins had purchased much land from the govern- ment through its office at Huntsville, and patents on parchment of many original tracts were signed by Presidents Monroe and Jackson. In 1825, the young husband-student, was installed in the law office of Foster and Fogg in Nashville v/here he worked ardently at his chosen profession. The first year of practice began in Moulton and his earliest clients were by chance, widows, rich and poor and among the former was Mrs. Naomi Leetch, honored aunt of the president James K. Polk, who visited her in 1827 and formed a friendship with Saunders. In 1828, he formed a law partnership in Courtland with Judge John J. Ormond, who later became a member of the Alabama Supreme Court. LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 109 The old historic road, cut by General Andrew Jackson as a high- way through Lawrence County by his troops, runs parallel with the former Memphis and Charleston Railroad (now Southern). Here, three miles west of Courtland is Rocky Hill, the family home, to which James Edmonds Saunders came in 1832. REFERENCES Alabama, by W. Brewer, 1872 Early Settlers of Alabama, 1899, by Col. James E. Saunders ROCKY HILL, COURTLAND The Saunders home, Rocky Hill, has been described by Mrs. Elizabeth G. Irwin in her "Famous Homes in Alabama" pamphlet as follows: Rocky Hill Castle is largely Greek in character. Its almost identical one-story porticoes both in the front and rear have an Exquisite cornice of the triglyph motif adorning the four fluted columns. Wings added to either side also have small porticoes with two columns each. A profusion of cornice brackets buttresses the over-hanging eaves of the roof, and a cupola with arched windows +----------------------------------------------+ Castled Shell of Saunders Home, Courtland +----------------------------------------------+ 110 LIFE AND LEGEND OF is placed atop the roof. The house is built of brick, plastered with stucco. The Gothic tower has a supporting wall adjoining the house. Its old world architecture has a cold warlike atmosphere and is indeed a strange auxiliary for the Greek type mansion. The tower has six floors and was used as a lookout post by the master as he surveyed his vast domain of fields being worked by slaves. The exterior of Rocky Hill could never compete with the loveliness of the interior. The spiral staircases, the massive arched entrance leading to the parlor, the arched sliding doors, the chandelier medallion, the plaster cornice, the carved pilasters-it is all one harmonious work of art. Even the white carrara mantle has the same rope motif that is found in the plaster work and the wood carving. During the war, many notables were entertained at the mansion. On one occasion the Military Court of the Army of Tennessee held a meeting there. General Beauregard and his staff dined there once and Ellen Virginia Saunders was the author of "The Little Rebel" which swept the nation and was made into a movie. With the war went the family fortune. Rocky Hill has since gone from the Saunders family. The house is empty and beginning to decay, however time and the many destructive visitors have not been able to completely destroy this once truly great work of art. GENERAL JOE WHEELER General Joseph Wheeler, for whom the community of Wheeler was named, gained fame as commander of the cavalry, ranking next to Jeb Stuart. He was born in Augusta, Georgia in 1836 and died on January 25, 1906. He married Mrs. Danella Sherrod on February 7, 1866. His daughter. Miss Annie Early Wheeler, born July 31, 1868, was a great lady of Lawrence County: "To her Country-A Patriot, and to her Fellowman-A Friend." She died April 10, 1955. Another daughter of General Wheeler, Mrs. Julia Wheeler Harris, a familiar figure in Washington during her father's tenure in the House of Representatives, and widow of U. S. Senator William J. Harris, (D., Ga.) died in January, 1959 in Richmond, Virginia. General Wheeler entered the U. S. cavalry from West Point in 1859. He resigned to enter the Confederate service and commanded a brigade at the battle of Shiloh, but soon afterward returned to the cavalry in which he won reputation second only to Stuart's. After the action of Perryville, he was promoted to Brigadier General and in 1863, Major General. Throughout the campaigns of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Atlanta, he commanded the cavalry of the Con- LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 111 federate army in the west, and when Hood embarked upon the Tennessee expedition he left Wheeler's cavalry to harass Sherman's army during- the march to the sea. In 1898, Wheeler commanded the cavalry in the actions of Guasimas and San Juan. As soon as the war was over, the United States began gradually to remove the soldiers back from the fever lands of Cuba to the States and some 30,000 of the infantry and cavalry, including the noted Sixty-Ninth New York were sent to Huntsville for the late fall of 1898. The camp was first known as Camp Wheeler, but when he became commander, the name was +----------------------------------------------+ "Fightin' Joe" General Joe Wheeler +----------------------------------------------+ 112 LIFE AND LEGEND OF changed to Camp Forse in honor of Captain Albert G. Forge, who was under General Wheeler's command at San Juan Hill and was killed in action in that battle. MISS ANNIE WHEELER A Negro worker on the Wheeler plantation once said, "Miss Annie aint nevah gonna grow old." She was born July 31, 1868 and died April 10, 1955, but she was young in heart throughout her lifetime. Her road to greatness started on the bridle paths and broad acres of the residence when as a girl she often rode her favorite mare, "Memory" to see if she could do something for a sick tenant or a child. The following was written by Floyd F. Anderson in April, 1955, following her death on April 10: "Shakespeare said 'Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.' "Miss Annie was born great, coming from a long line of dis- tinguished aristocratic ancestors. She could trace her lineage back +----------------------------------------------+ Miss Annie Wheeler, Daughter of General Joe Wheeler +----------------------------------------------+ LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 113 through famous soldiers and statesmen and governors and great leaders all the way back to one of the seven leaders of the First Crusade. In her veins coursed the blood of Irish kings, and English nobles. You might also say that Miss Annie had greatness thrust upon her by being the daughter of General Joe Wheeler, during the years when a man of his calibre was so sorely needed. She could have been content to coast along in his reflected glory and been thought of by many as great, but her path led past a dock in Santiago Cuba in 1898, where Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross, addressed a group of girls, telling them the place was full of yellow7 fever, and go back to New York. Sixteen young ladies took Clara Barton's advice and went back but Miss Annie and two others stayed. The soldiers in that war called her 'The Angel of Santiago.' "Came the Philippine Insurrection, and the soldiers of that war named her their beloved 'Annie Laurie.' During World War I, gray haired by this time, the soldiers needed help, she served and was called 'Miss Sunshine'." Perhaps one of Miss Wheeler's greatest gifts was the knack of saying just the right kind word at the exact time it would be of the most help. Sometimes it was a bit of poetry, sometimes it was a comforting remark, or a letter sent at just the right time. Some- times, with children, she could sense just when they needed a "boost" or an increase in confidence, and she would be ready with a little story or verse or illustration that would help. A class of children from one of the rural elementary schools had just finished a tour of the homestead and Miss Annie took them for a walk in the garden. She pointed out this flower and that, and she wove little morals into her remarks. "Children, do you see that tree over there, all crooked? Well, that tree started off crooked and so it grew up that way. Now wouldn't it be a lot better to get started straight, like that fine tree over there. See how it stands, so straight and tall!" After the garden tour Miss Annie stood on the back steps and looked down at them. They were just average kids from an average country school. Some of them were children of tenant farmers who had a very hard row to hoe, and many of these children had patched overalls and dresses. Some were barefooted, some with shoes, they may as well have been barefooted. All of them looked as if they had definitely not been born with silver spoons in their mouths, and that they themselves, might have a very hard struggle later on. Miss Annie sensed this, so she gave them a talk on the subject of sailboats. "Now boys and girls, I have a little message for you to remember. It isn't what you start with, or luck, or fortune that decides what you grow up to be. Have you ever seen a little lake filled with sailboats? You see some going one way and some another, with a few7 going in exactly opposite directions. Yet 114 LIFE AND LEGEND OF the wind is going in only one direction. The sails hold the secret. So just remember that it doesn't make any difference which way the winds of life blow. It's the way you set your sails that count." Harvey L. Brown, of Oklahoma, said that when Highway 20 which passes the Wheeler plantation was being widened, the high- way employees were about to cut down the large stately oaks but Miss Annie went out and protested loudly. She was informed by the employees they were working for the Highway Department. Miss Annie then went into her house and came out with a shotgun, stating she would shoot the man that molested those trees. The work was held up and in the meantime, Miss Wheeler took a plane to Washington where she protested, stating the beauty of the trees should not be marred. The action then called for a two-lane highway, leaving the trees in the center for a fourth of a mile. Although she was born of wealth, she shared it and donated much money to schools and charity. Her estate contained 16,851 acres at the time of her death on April 10, 1955. THE WILL SHELTON FAMILY The residence of Will Shelton, one of Lawrence County's old homes, was used as a hospital during the War Between the States when the area was the scene of a two or three day battle. The Yan- kees had captured Decatur and met the Confederates in this area. Constructed by slave labor, it had two large log rooms with two rooms and a hall upstairs. It was built in about 1850. The property was bought by Mr. Shelton from Jeff McDaniel, husband of Callie Hodges, who had, in 1878, inherited the place from her father, Daniel M. Hodges, a wealthy land owner. It has been said of Daniel Hodges he made three fortunes during his lifetime-one with slaves; cne with property, and one in Heaven. He had built cabins, all in a row and had a tanyard and shoe maker for his slaves. The Shelton property was also formerly the home of William Leetch, Naomi S. Peters and Thomas M. Peters, and John and Lucy Cox. A cannon ball, fired nearby during the battle, went through the thick log walls and several cannon balls have been plowed up in nearby fields. The Yankees had camped at a fort where Grady Moody's home now stands and the Confederates camped at Moulton. A story was told of a member of the Confederate company by the name of Mose West, who was raised in the area where the battle occurred. Mose was homesick to see his mother, Mrs. Polly West and one night, slipped away from his ranks and over to his home. The Confederates came after Mose but he escaped the house through a stick and dirt chimney, on into nearby woods, around to Decatur LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 115 and stayed there under protection of the Yankees until he could return to his mother's home. Will Shelton was born September 18, 1870, son of Andrew Jackson Shelton and Lucinda Milam Shelton. Lucinda Milam, born in 1838, was the daughter of Almond Gwyn Milam, born July 16, 1810 and Martha Vaughn, born Jan. 31, 1808. She was first married to John Windham, who was killed during the War Between the States, and she later married Andrew Jackson Shelton, from the Five Points community. Children by her second marriage were Evie, first married to a Mr. Lockwood, and after his death, married John Will Sherrill; Willie married Maggie McBride, who died in 1954; Tennie married James H. Aldridge, and Hattie. Will and Maggie Shelton were the parents of nine children, Lucy, Nadine, Ernest, Jack, Lee, Jane, Karns and Sara, twins; and Gwyn. THE REASON YOUNG FAMILY Settled in his new home at the present Youngtown, Reason Young, 22, a pioneer from South Carolina soon married Miss Julia Milam, also from South Carolina, who had preceded her husband to Lawrence County. The couple married October 31, 1833 and four children were born of this union, Jane, Bob, Joe and Laura. Reason Young was a farmer, blacksmith and made coffins from the local yellow? poplar. He also had an inn for stage coaches. Joe Young, the second child born December 6, 1851, was ten years of age when the War Between the States commenced and that year, the youth began his first plowing as his older brother went off to war and he shouldered a man's burden by helping with the work on the growing farm. He remembered a few skirmishes be- tween Confederates and Union soldiers in the Moulton vicinity and recalled a Yankee raiding party in the Youngtown section. He said when word reached them the Yankees were coming, he drove the stock from the Young farm into nearby hills and hid it. Thus the stock was overlooked but some of the neighbors were not so fortunate and lost cattle. Mr. Young recalled the raiding party was headed by Major Streight and that the soldiers went to his father's home and obtained a quantity of food. On January 16, 1877, Joe Young married Miss Leota Wasson, daughter of Calvin and Nancy Reno Wasson, and the couple settled at Landersville where they first bought 138 acres, formerly owned by Gabe Ryland. They later purchased the Semons place containing 520 acres for $8,000 in the spring just before World War I and it was paid for in one year. The Youngs have long operated gins in connection with their mercantile business. The first one, at Youngtown, was operated by horse power literally with horses furnishing the power to turn the 116 LIFE AND LEGEND OF wheels. Later the gin was operated by steam. Back in the old days, the farmers in this section not only grew cotton but their own wheat and most all other foods. Joe Young lived to be 96 years of age. He died in 1947 at his home at Landersville. Their two sons, Arthur and Byron, have continued to operate the business firms in Landersville and approxi- mately 2,880 acres of land. Their daughter, Mrs. Arrie Jackson, widow of former Probate Judge Will Jackson, resides in Moulton. JUDGE THOMAS M. PETERS Judge Thomas Minott Peters, who became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was born December 10, 1810 in Clarksville, Ten- nessee, and was married to Miss Naomi Sophia Leetch, of Moulton, on June 26, 1838. She was born September 20, 1820. They were the parents of six children, Sarah Naomi, born July 27, 1839, died July 11, 1863; William, born March 23, 1842; Martha Leigh, born December 18, 1844; Anna Maria, born March 18, 1846; Mary Minott, born March 11, 1850; and Lucy Alice, born April 23, 1853. ROBERTS INN ON PENITENTIARY MOUNTAIN The date, 1734, inscribed on a chimney of the old Roberts Inn on Penitentiary Mountain, is believed by heirs of the Matthew and John Roberts property, to be correct as to when the old penitentiary building and stagecoach stop, was built. Matthew and John Roberts were among the early settlers of Lawrence County. Martha Susan Roberts, a daughter of Matthew Roberts, was married to James Armor on July 31, 1854, but other Roberts had lived there long before their marriage. Mrs. Alice Armor Hall, a great-grandchild of Matthew Roberts, said her family had lived in a large one-room log house, only a few feet at the rear of the old building still standing that was operated as Roberts Inn and earlier for prisoners being transported to Tuscaloosa. The house, located on a mountain, elevation 1,074 feet, has native limestone pillars, set on stone bases. The original board roof has been replaced by a tin roof. At the time it was used as a prison the downstairs had two large rooms with a hallway between and the upstairs with two cells, one for males and one for females, above the hall. Double doors opened into each of the cells and two stairways led to the two rooms on the first floor. There were no other openings or no lights in either of the cells. The floors of the downstairs were made of puncheon and the split trees were smoothed with a maddox, round sides flattened at each end, and the floor fit closely, with "hardly no cracks." Later LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALABAMA 117 a long front porch and a back porch were added. The north room downstairs was used as a kitchen with a huge fire place large enough to hold three "wash-size" pots. There were two good springs nearby, one across the road, still known as Penitentiary springs, which was used by prisoners who worked, and the other springs was at the rear of the building. It is the head of Town Creek. The property is now owned by the J. M. Armor heirs. FACTS ABOUT THIS AND THAT The Gilchrist family, one of the earliest settlers of the Courtland community, has in its possession a land grant of the early 1820's, signed by President Monroe and given by the United States in exchange for surveying the lands of his part of the Tennessee Vally. Masonic history of Alabama shows that a lodge was established at Courtland before Alabama became a state, receiving its charter from the Grand Lodge of the state of Tennessee. An old saloon building at Hatton, constructed with logs, still stands as a monument to the "good old days of the 90's." It is believed that B. 0. Masterson was the only doctor in the area around Hatton in 1850. It is said of him that he served a certain family for forty years without pay except for a twenty-five cent sack which he got one day to put some fruit in to carry home. Oakville was a promising town at one time, located south of Five Points. The town offered a general store, saloon, and large spring but the spring finally overran the town. Legend says the water flowed off into a sink hole but the sink hole became clogged and kept the water banked until a large pond filled the location of the town. Joe Wheeler Park with 2,200 acres near Town Creek, is located on Wheeler and Wilson lakes, made by the Tennessee Valley Authority dams of the same names. The park was named after General Joe Wheeler -w~ho made his home in the county after the War Between the States. L. Norton operated the first gin and steam boiler sawmill at Landersville. T. P. Landers, for whom the town was named, died in January, 1881. About 1850 Johnnie Sanderson came to the community now known as Hatton, first called Sanderson Town. The Tweedy home at Courtland is believed to be the oldest in the county, dating to 1818 or 1819. JESSIE OWENS, WORLD FAMOUS NEGRO TRACK STAR A world famous Negro track star, Jessie Owens, was born on a Danville route in Lawrence County, in 1915. A son of a sharecropper, 118 LIFE AND LEGEND OF young Owens was destined to become one of the world's fastest track stars. He set world records in the 220-yard dash, 220-yard low hurdles, and broad jump on May 25, 1935. The Ohio State Uni- versity star tied the world record in the 100-yard dash on the same afternoon. A year later, Owens won three gold medals in the Olympic Games in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and broad jump. At the age of nine, young Owens moved to Cleveland, Ohio, went out for track in junior high school and made the 100-yard dash in 9:07. PATTIO MALONE, FAMED CONTRALTO Pattio Malone was born a slave on the plantation of Colonel James Malone in 1858. Her master, a plantation owner in the Tennessee Valley, educated her and Miss Malone became a world famous contralto. She died in 1896. MARRIAGE LICENSES 1828-1884 The following list of early marriages was taken from records in the Lawrence County Courthouse with kind assistance by Miss Joyce Shelton, Miss Frances McClendon, and Miss Joyce Stewart, of Moulton. It is likely that in Lawrence County, as in other counties in early times, ministers or others who may have performed wedding cere- monies, sometimes failed to return the marriage certificates until months after the ceremony. In some cases, through error, the date of the marriage was recorded as the same date of the belated report. There are also many incomplete marriage records where only the recording of the license issued was completed. The word, license, is used in parenthesis in the following list, to identify that type of incomplete recording. A few marriages are recorded twice, and some of such entries show a variation in the date and in some of the names. How many of the records are missing will never be known, for in those days no memorandum was kept of the blanks that were called for nor of those that had been returned. The frequency of bad penmanship and phonetic spelling makes it impossible to prepare a list in which every name and date can be given accurately. Erroneous spelling has not been corrected. This Appendix is not included in the Index at the end of this volume. NOTE PAGES 119 thru 222 WERE NOT SCANNED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT. The following index is contained on pages 223 thru 235 in the book and is double column format. Because of the way my scanner handles multiple columns of data, it was easier for me to make the index in one single column, so I also left off the page numbers for the index pages. Tommy A Abbott, Mrs. Ben, 40, 41 Academy Hill, 64 Adams, Dr. David, 76 Adams, General Wirt, 46 Adams, S. R. C., 77-78 Alabama, State of, 11-16, 18, 21, 27, 31, 43, 49, 52, 80, 97, 107, 117 Alabama, Marie Bankhead Owen, 20, 29, 77 Alabama, W. Brewer, 109 Alabama Highway Department, 37 Alabama History, Joel Campbell Du- Bose, 29, 48 Alabama Legislature, 71, 79 Alabama Lodge, Huntsville, 82 Alabama Lodge, Perdue Hill, 82 Alabama Medical Association, 95, 98 Alabama River, 18, 28 Alabama State Department of Archives and History, 54 Alabama State Department of Education, 73 Alabama Supreme Court, 108 Alamo, 37 Aldridge Barber Shop, 35 Aldridge, Grace, 101 Aldridge, Guy, 65 Aldridge, James H., 115 Alexander Culture, 13 Alexander, John A., 55 Alexander, L. P., 35 Alexander, Mildred, 67 Alexander, T. R., 33 Allen, Delia, 100 Allen, John, 80-81 Allsboro, 25 Almon, Congressman Ed, 35 Almon, H. G., 73, 82 Almon, Nathaniel, 65, 74 Almon, R. L., 66 Alsobrook, Wm. H., 55 America, 12 American Red Cross, 113 Annals of Northwest Alabama, Carl Elliott, 55 An Archaeological Survey of Wheeler Basin, Webb, 17 Anderson, Alvin, 56 Anderson, Edmund P., 33 Anderson, Floyd F., 112 Antioch, 73 Appleton, Cora, Linnie, 101 Archaic, 12-13 Archaeology of the Eastern United States, Griffin, 17 Arkansas, State of, 101 Armor, Harvey, 64, 101 Armor, James, 116 Armor, J. M., 117 Armor, John Miller, 54 Armstrong, Emitt, 60 Armstrong, Jonathan W., 104 Armstrong, Leroy, 57 Arnott, Alfred, 56 Ash, Robert L., Wm. D., 56 Ashford, Dr. E. C., 92 Ashford, Jane, Judith, Thomas, William, 78 Aston, Archie, 103 Aston, Lewis, 103 Atchley, Rollie A., 61 Athens, Alabama, 44, 48 Atkinson, Priscilla, 98 Atlanta, Georgia, 81 Auburn, Alabama, 44 Austin, Alexander G., 69 Austin, Hugh I., 56 Avoca, Post Office, 55 B Bailey and Ross, 42 Bainbridge, 26, 29, 37 Baker, Boiling C., 31 Baker, J. C., 80 Baird, J. M., 76 Baldwin County, Alabama, 18 Baltimore, Maryland, 108 Bank of Moulton, 33 Bankhead National Forest, 30, 40, 86, 88-90, 99 Bankhead National Forest Trees, 88- 91 Bankhead, Senator John H., 27 Bankhead, Senator William B., 88 Baptist Church, 33, 64, 74, 77-79 Baptist Female Institute, 31, 64, 78 Barker, Charles, 58 Barker, Josiah, 77-78 Barksdale, W. H., 77-78 Barnes, John M., 75-76 Barr, Hugh, 81 Barton, Clara, 113 Basham Forest Tower, 90 Basketbottom Baptist Church, 76 Bass, Finis, Walter, 106 Bates School, 72 Battle of Atlanta, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Shiloh, 110 Bayne, Adolphus G., 60 Bayne, Wert T., 67 Bear Creek, 25 Beard's Bluff, 18 Beattie, Arthur, 81 Beatty, Mattie, 100 Beaty, John A., 60 Beauregard, General, 110 Bee Branch Area, 89-90 Beetcham, John, 27 Bently, A. W., 70 Bera, 73 Berryman, R. K., 82 Bestor, Daniel P., 78 Bethel Church, 77, 80 Big Nance Creek, 11, 16, 36 Big-Shoal Creek, 26 Bird, Charity, 78 Birdwell, John, Mary, 77 Birdwell's Spring Church, 77 Birmingham (Alabama) Medical College, 92, 95 Black Fox, 20 Black Ground Cemetery, 83 Black Ground School, 73 Black Pond Forest Tower, 90 Black, Silas T., 58, 65 Black, Taylor, 58 Black Warrior, 88 Blackwell, Elizabeth J., 58 Blankenship, John R., 56 Blocker, Abner, 78 Bobo, Paul, 68 Bonnie Blue Flag, 46 Borden, A. C., 76 Borden Creek, 90 Bowie, J. E., 77 Bowling, Dr. George W., 92 Bowman, Frank, 68 Boyd, William, 59 Bracken, D. H., 35 Bradford, Isaac, 77 Bragg, General, 48 Bragg, Hattie Lee, 66 Bragg, J. N., 82 Bragg, T. R, 78 Branch, J. A., 76 Brayboy, J. W., 77 Brazelton, H. J., 76 Brewer, W., 109 Brick, Brickville, 55 Bridenthall, D., 78 Brock, John James, 57 Brooks, "Aunt Jenny," 40-41 Brooks, Gaines, Henry, Strauter, Willis, 41 Brooks John, 55 Brown, Andrew J., 57 Brown, Arametha Malisa, 62 Brown, David F., Harvey L., 62, 114 Brown, J. C., 33 Brown's Ferry Road, 87 Brownlow, Isaac, 29 Brunswich County, Virginia, 108 Brush Fork, 90 Buell, General, 44 Butler, James A., 76 Burch, E. Q., 54 Burch, Clark, Ed, Leia, Drexel, 101 Burch, Emmett, Travis, Dr. R. N., John T., Lona J., Lillian M., L. Mae, Walter G., Minnie D., Mamie G., 102-103 Burch, John T., 56 Burch, Dr. John, Julia, Joanna, 101 Burch, Lula, 92-93, 101 Burch, Thomas J., Lucy 0., 92, 100 Burch, Mack, Milton, Sarah, Silas, William, Annie Lou, 100-101 Burch, Reubin (Family), 100-102 Burden, John, 103 Bureau of the Census, 11 Burford, Jonathan, 33 Burkett, Dr. Theofalus, 92 Burks, Woodrow, 74 Burleson, Edward, James, Joe, 21 Burieson, R. B., 78 Burnett, Boiling B., 31 Burress, John C., 79 Burruss, John C., 31 Byars, Addie, 101 Byars, Mrs. Albert, 47 Byars, A. S., 34 Byars, James M., 60 Byars, J. D. L., 35, 54, 66 Byars, J. N., 34 Byars, Robert M., 33-34 Byler, John, 24, 26 Byler Road, 24, 27, 41, 54, 73, 100 Bynum, O. H., 73 C Caddo, 55, 73 Cahaba, Alabama, 28 Cahela, Barney, 69 Calhoun, John C., 50 Callahan, Walter, 60 Campbell, Alexander, 75 Campbell, Allen A., 81 Campbell, Colonel, 45 Campbell, Green Duke, 56 Campbell, Thomas, 75 Camp Spring, 55 Camp Wheeler, 111 Caney Creek, 20 Cantrel, T., 75 Carr, Marshall, 58 Carson, T. S., 78 Caruth, J. H., 77 Caskey, Colonel T. W., 76 Cave Springs, 78 Cavitt, Sally, 107 C. C. Smith School, 73 Central Forest Tower, 90 Chalybeate Springs, 68-69, 80 Chambers County, Alabama, 45 Chardarogue, W. V., 56 Chattanooga (Tennessee) Medical College, 96 Cherokee, 17-21, 23, 108 Cherry, Sterling M., 80 Chesholm, John D., 19 Chickasaw, 19-20, 25, 108 Childs, John S., 55 Chiles, Elliott W., 55 Chinese, 12 Chisholm, Dr. Ed, 75 Choctaw, 23, 25, 28 Christian Herald, The, 53 Church of Christ, 33, 71, 75-77 Church of Nazareth, 80 Citizens Bank, 35 Civil War, 52, 80, 100, 105 Clark, Robert, 68 Clark, Samuel C., 60 Clarkson, E. R., 76-77 Clark, Dr. Will, 92 Clay, Matthew, 28 Claysville, 44 Cleere, William R., 58 Clopper, John, 81 Cobbs, W. T., 78 Cochran, John M., 59 Coffee, John, 36 Coffey, James E., 61 Coffey School, 73 Coffey, W. R., 36 Colbert County, Alabama, 11, 26, 37, 48, 55, 77 Cole (Post Office), James R., 56 Columbus, 12 Compton, Robert J., 57 Concord, Alabama, 56 Confederate, 43, 47, 96-97, 110, 114- 115 Conway, 73 Conner, Wiley, 52 Coons, J. B., 70 Cooper, Frances, 107 Cooper, William H., 59 Coosa River, 44 Copena,14 Copsey Creek, 90 Corbin, Mary, 56 Cornyn, Colonel, 48 Corum, Tom, 67 Cotaco County (Morgan), Alabama, 11, 79 Cotton Gin Port, 26 Coulson, G. A., 78 Counts, Lula A., Sol E., 59 Courtland, Alabama, 11, 24, 26-27, 29-30, 35-37, 39, 44, 52-53, 55-56, 70, 72, 78-81, 92, 96, 108-109, 117 Courtland Enterprise, The, 52 Courtland Herald, 52 Courtland Lodge, 72, 82 Courtland Presbyterian Church, 80-81 Cowan, Hattie S., 58 Cowan, Frank A., 60 Cox, John, Lucy, 114 Craig, Ben, Julia, 101 Craig, J. T., 78 Craig, Lona B., 58 Craig, Marlin, 101 Craig, Samuel, 26 Creath, Jacob, 76 Creek Indian War, 30 Creeks, 18-19, 23, 28 Crooked Creek, 90 Cropper, L. P., 35 Cross, Elliott, 82 Crosthwaite, A. J., 35 Crow, 56 Crowell, J. M., 35 Crowell, Prof., 65 Crow, Franklin M., 60 Crow, William R., 56 Croxton, Colonel, 45 Cuba, 111, 113 CCullman County, Alabama, 9 Cultural and Natural Areas of Native North America, Kroeber, 17 Cummings, C. J., 33 Cunningham, Hance M., 31 Cunningham, Robert M., 81 Curtis, J. M., 76 Curtis, Martha J., William V., 57 Cypress Creek, 19 D Dalzell, Charles F., 61 Dandridge, Elizabeth S., 78 Danville, Alabama, 88, 117 Darmer, William A., 66 Davidson, William, Sr., 59 Davis, Andrew K., 81 Davis, James E., 56 Davis, President Jefferson, 43, 47 Davis, John, 77 Davis, Martha Jane, 104 Davis, Thomas S., 54 Dearborn, Henry, 19 Deary, James, 33 Decatur, Alabama, 27, 35 44, 52-53, 65, 81, 114 DeGrafferied, Elizabeth T., 59 DeGrafferied, Reverly, 59 Delashaw, N. G., 82 Delmar, 24 Delmar Forest Tower, 90 Demasters, M. H., 57 DeSaussure, Capt. C. A., 52 Dickson, Priscilla, 75 Dill, Wm. S., 73 Dillahunty, Major Lewis, 37 Dinsmore, Dr., D. F., 92 Dodge, General G. W., 44, 48 Donald, Crocket M., 59 Donaldson, Daniel V., 59 Donelson, John, 29 Donnel, James, 70 Douglass, Thomas L., 79 Downing, Jim, 33 Downing, Lucy, 59 Downing, Mollie, 59 Downing, Sinai, 78 Downs, William W., 59 Doyle, Joseph A., 78 Dry Creek (Post Office), 56 DuBose, Joel Campbell, 29, 48 Duck River, 19, 36 Duncan, Dr., 92 Dunn, Frances, 108 Dyer, Dr. J. D., 92 E Early Settlers of Alabama, Saunders, 21, 30, 54, 81, 109 Early Woodland, 13 East Fork, 90 Eastport, 26 East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad, 51 Edens, James, 77 Edgefield (Post Office), 56 Edmond (Post Office), 57 Eggleston, John L., 55 Eggleston, 0. P., 57 Egypt (Post Office), 57 Elkins, C. W., 78 Elkins, James, Rosa A., 56 Elkins, Joseph B., 55 Elkins, William H., 58 Elk River, 19, 29, 36 Ellet, William, 70 Elliott, Congressman Carl, 55 Elliott, James, 33 Elliott, Robert, 57 Elliott, Samuel, 70 Ellis, Judge Richard, 30 Enon, 77 Erwin, James T., 60 Etheredge, E. E., 61 Etheredge, Elihu, 61 Eubank, Wm., 31 Evans, John, 56 Eyster, W. S., 33 F Fall, Philip S., 76 Famous Homes in Alabama, Elizabeth G. Irwin, 109 Farrar Lodge, Elgton (Birmington), 82 Faulkner, Eva Lou, 68 Fayette County, Tennessee, 50 Federal Credit System, 35 Fennell, James, Robert, Bertha Lee, Lucy Mae, 92 Fennell, Dr. James Watt, 92-93, 98, 101 Fennell, Dr. Lawrence, 92 Ferguson Cemetery, 104 Ferguson, Kilby, 76 Fenner, Joseph, 39 Fincastle County, Virginia, 106 Finnery, Mike, 77 Finney, John, M. F., 79 Fish, Dr., 92 Five Points, 88, 115, 117 Flanagin, Thomas J., 56 Flannigan Creek, 90 Flint Creek, 11 Flint River, 77 FFlorence, Alabama, 44, 62, 8 Florida Gulf Coast, 16 Flossy (Post Office), 67 Flower Hill, 87 Foote, George, 33 Forrest, Capt. Bill, 44 Forrest, General Nathan, 44-45, 48 Forse, Capt. Albert G., 112 Fort Henry, 43 Fort Mims, 18-19 Fort Sumter, 43, 61 Fort Tyler, 46 Foster and Fogg (Nashville), 108 Fourth Alabama Cavalry, 104 Fox Creek, 21, 67 Franklin County, Alabama, 11, 26-27, 79-80, 88 Franklin District, 79 Franklin, Tennessee, 108 Free, Allen, J. K., 104 Free, Bluitt, 103 Free, Charlie Edward, Mary Irene, John Harvey, Frank, Frances, Neatie, Nettie, Preuit G., William D., Myrtle M., Audrey Lois, Free- man Coy, Marjorie, 103-104 Free, Pearl, Will, 101 Free, Thomas (Family), Walter F., 103 Freewill Baptists, 7 Fretwell, Edward T., 68 Friendship Baptist Church, 78 Funkhouser, Prof. W. D., 17 Fussell, C. F., 76 G Gaines, General George S., 26 Gaines Trace, 26 Gallagher, James, 31 Gallagher, John, 31, 33 Gallaway, William M., 31 Gallaway, Levi, 62, 64 Gallaway, Martha C., 98, 100 Gallaway, Matthew C., 62 Gallaway, Robinson H., 107 Gallaway, Wiley, 31, 62 Galloway, Dr. Amos Ponder, 107 Galloway, Colonel Matt, 53 Gantt, Dr. Edward, 92 Gardner, Samuel E., 68, 62 Garmon, Gertrude, 58 Garrett, William, 29 "Garth, W. W.", 49 Gayle and Brown, 33 Gaugett, Major John, 30 Georgia, State of, 16, 18-19, 21, 44, 110 Gewin, Christopher C., 31, 33 Gibson, Charles, 31 Gibson, J. S., 73, 77-78 Gibson, Reese W., 61 Gibson, K. H., 76 Gibson, Sylvanus, 77 Gilbert, Ambrose, 78 Gilchrist, Daniel, 58, 80 Gilchrist, James B., 36 Gilmer, William, 41, 67 Gipson, Charlie, 107 Glenn, Charlie C., 61 Glenn, Lloyd, Wasson, 82 Glover, Dr. George A., 82, 92 Golden, Henry, 68, 61 Gonzalez, Captain, 46 Goode, Fanny, 78 Goodlett, Crockett, 62 Goodlett, D. C., David J., 33 Goodlett, Frank, Robert Y., 33 Goodlett, Vera, 67 Goodloe, W. H., 76 Goodwin, Virginia, 69 Graham, Alexander, 76 Graham, B. Earl, M. B., Ralph, 71-72 Graham, William C., 31 Grand Lodge of Alabama, 81-82 Grant, John, 42 Graves, Poton S., 79 Gray, Frances Jane, 103 Gray, Matthew, 62 Gray, M. A., Ann E., E. J., 79 Gray, Wm. M., 61 Great Britain, 11 Green County, Tennessee, 106 Greene County, Alabama, 46 Green, William, 60 Greer, Dr., 92 Gregg, John, 31 Grenada (Post Office), 67 Griffin, James B., 17 Griffin, James E., 69 Grunsley, Anna P., 58 Guin, 24 Gum Pond, 66, 67 Gunn, J., 77-78 Gunter, Ronald V., 87 Guntersville, Alabama, 44, 81, 92 Guntersville and Deposit Road, 18 H Hackleburg, Alabama, 24 Hadley, Mrs. Docia Weaver, 71 Hagood, Benjamin F., 57 Hagood, J. D., 79 Haleyville, Alabama, 24, 41, 90 Hall, Mrs. Alice Armor, 116 Hall, B. F., 75 Hall, Harry B., Henry B., 56 Hall of Halo Lodge, Cahaba, 81-82 Hall, Jesse M., 58 Hall, Milton, 82 Hamilton, Alabama, 24 Hampton, Eva, 104 Handley, David, 59 Hansell and Clark, 31 Hare, Joseph, 25 Harmony, 73, 78 Harps, 25 Harris, C. C., 53 Harris, Christopher C., 33 Harris, John H., 56 Harris, Mrs. Julia Wheeler, Senator William J., 110 Harris, Hood, 16 Harris, Walter R., 59 Harrison, Ella, 97 Harrison, Wm. H., 57 Harson, J., 76 Hart, Martha, 107 Hart, Wm. A., 55 Harvey, James, 27 Hatton, Alabama, 57, 73, 97, 117 Hawkins, Wm., 60 Haynes, W. J., 76 Hayter, William, 57 Hazlewood, 67 Hazlewood, Thomas R., 61 Hebron, 80 Heflin, Alee, 41 Heflin Cemetery, 83 Heflin, Jim, 33 Helion Lodge (Huntsville), 82 Helms, Arthur C., 61 Henderson, Col. G. F. B., 48 Henderson, Samuel, 31 Henderson, W. H., 57 Hendon School, 73 Henrico County, Virginia, 106 Henry, Dr. A. C., 76 Hepsibah, 75 Herchenhahn, William M., 60 Hicks, Charles, 20 Hickory Grove, 100 Higgins, H. H., 31 Hightower, Albert, 34 Hightower, Dan, 103 Highway Department, 114 Hill, Jesse M., 58 Hillsboro, 41-42, 57 Hillsboro Cemetery, 87 Hillsboro Lodge, 82 History of the Courtland Presbyterian Church, Mrs. D. L. Martin, Jr., 81 History of the Moulton Methodist Church, Mrs. A. J. Crosthwaite, 80 History of Muscle Shoals Baptist Association, Shackelford, 54, 79 Hogan, Dr. E. P., 96 Hogan, Tom, 73 Hodges Asa M., 33 Hodges Dan, Martha, 107 Hodges Callie, Daniel M., 114 Hodges Henry W., 78 Hodges John P., Fleming, 60 Hodges Dr. J. P., 92 Hodgins, Clark, 54 Hodson, Earl M., 35, 73-74 Holdridge, Pat, 67 Holland, Mrs. Mae, 58 Holliman, James M., 55 Hollimon, Mrs. W. M., 79 Hollingsworth, Isaac, 71 Hollingsworth, Mary, 59, 71 Hood, James H., 58 Holt, Lester, 59 Hopewell, 14-15 Hopkins, Arthur F., 28, 31 Hopkins, Early, 82 Horn, Rev. Andrew 0., 31 Horton, Clarence C., 53 Horton, Clyde, 69, 74 Houghston, Savannah, 100 Houston Dr., 92 Houston, John H., Wm. K., 61 Howell, James K., 82 Howell, Tom, 95 Howell Wm., 57 Hubbard Creek, 90 Hubbard, David, 49 Hubbard and Talmadge, 33 Hudson, David M., 59 Hughes, Judge Beverly, 29 Humbolt (Post Office), 57 Hunter, Ambrose, David, 33 Huntsville, Alabama, 28, 44, 77, 80- 81, 108, 111 Huskey, Pleasant F., 56 I Indians, 12-14, 16-20, 36 Indians Before Columbus, Martin, Quimby and Collier, 17 Intermediate, 13 Iroquoyian, 17 Iron Bridge, 73 Irving College (Warren County, Tennessee), 96 Irwin, Billy, 33 Irwin, Elizabeth Griffin, 105, 109 Irwin, Howard, J. M., W. D., 33 Irwin, James, 107 Irwin, Dr. John, Dr. Price, Dr. Tom, 92, 95-96, 98 Irwin, Price Weston, Dr. Willard, 96 Irwin, June, 79 Irwin, Thomas J., 67 Irwin, Wm. P., 56 Isadore (Post Office), 57 J Jackson, General Andrew, 19, 29, 109 Jackson County, Alabama, 44 Jackson, George W., 59 Jackson, John M., 33 Jackson, John W., 56 Jackson, Dr. Neal, 92 Jackson, Judge Will, 116 Jacksonville, Alabama, 45 Jacobs (Post Office), 57 Jacobs, George W., 57 James, Dr. E. C., 92 James, Ike, 42 Jasper, Alabama, 89 Jefferson County, Alabama, 41 Jennings (Post Office), 58 Jennings, Eli P., 58 Jennings, Frank A., 57 Jennings, John, 55 Jennings, K. J., 77-78 Jesseton (Post Office), 58 Joe Wheeler News, 51 Joe Wheeler Park, 117 Johnson, Alma, 101 Johnson, President Andrew, 46 Johnson, Isaac, Jr., 56 Johnson, Joe, 60 Johnson, John H., Lucinda, 37 Johnson, Nancy, 37, 107 Johnson, Thomas, 105 Johnson, William B., 61 Johnson, Willis, 41 Johnson, W. S., 77 Joiner, J. M., 76 Jones, Frank, 61 Jones, John W., 56 Jones, Lyie, 103 Jones, Judge Obadiah, 29 Jones, Colonel Richard, 70 Jones, Theophilus, 57 Jones, Thomas B., 56 Jones, Thomas H., 61 Jonesboro, 78, 82 Jordan, Cleazelle, Lorraine, 101 Jordan, Samuel, 76 Judy, Lester, 67 K Karrh, Samuel W., 60 Kelley, Ruby, 67 Kelso, Will, 73 Kendrick, J. S., 76 Kentucky, State of, 21, 23, 25, 33, 106 Kerby, C. C., 73 Kerby, Fernande M., 55 Kerby, Jesse M., 55 Kerby, Wm. J., 55, 60 Key, Andrew J., 60 Keys, George, Elizabeth, 77 Kimo, 58, 88 King, Robert, 70 King, T. C., 76 Kinlock, 58 Kirby, Andrew J., 55 Kirby, Richard M., 70 Kirk, Wm. L., 59 Kirkpatrick, Wm., 76 Kitchens, John, 60 Kone, W. W., 78 Koons, Dr. Elijah, 92 Kroeber, A. L., 17 Kumpe, J. C., 33, 35 Kuykendall, Jacob W., 57 L Lackey, Jo Anna, 101 La Grange, 81 La Grange College, 79 La Grange, General, 45 La Grange and Memphis Railroad, 50 Lamb's Ferry, 17, 29 Lambuth, John R., 79 Lane, Joseph, 77-78 Lane, J. W., 36 Landers, Angie, 104 Landers, John, 58 Landers, T. P., 117 Landersville, Alabama, 58, 62-63, 80, 83, 92, 98-99, 101, 104, 115, 117 Landersville Cemetery, 87 Larimore, T. B., 71, 76 Lattimore, John L., 78 Lauderdale County, Alabama, 12, 26, 45, 71 Lauderdale Culture, 13 Lawrence Circuit, 79-80 Lawrence County, Alabama, 11-12, 15-17, 21, 26-31, 40, 48-49, 77, 79, 83, 88-90, 92, 98-99, 103, 109-110, 114-115, 117-118 Lawrence County Board of Education, 68, 73 Lawrence County Court House, 32, 118 Lawrence County High School, 65-67 Lawrence County Times, 53 Lawrence, Captain James, 11 Lawrenceburg, 27 Laws, Colonel, 87 Laws, Treaties and Other Documents, 21 Lawson, Pinckney B., 76 Leach, J. S., 63 Lee, Amanda, 58 Lee, Etta, 67 Leetch, Naomi S., 108, 116 Leetch, William, 114 Leftwich, Nina, 24, 37 Leigh, Wm., 78 Lewis, David, P., 31 Liberty Baptist Church, 78 Liberty Cemetery, 83 Ligon, D. G., 70 Lile, Dr., 92 Lile (Post Office), Thomas, 58 Lindsey, John W., 60 Little (Post Office, Dick R., William M., 58 Little Bear Creek, 48 Little, Edmond R., 57 Little, Elonzo S., 61 Little, George, 77 Little Mountain, 11 Lock A School, 72 Lockwood, Evie S., 58 Looney, Martha Patsy, 107 Loosier (Post Office), 58, 73 Loosier, F. M., 58 Loosier, J. K., 57 Louisiana, State of, 26 Lowery, Bryant, 15 Lowrey, John R., 60 Lyle, Thomas, 70 Lynch, C. G., 73 Lyndon, John L., 61 Lyon, Mat, 78 M Mabry, Rev. W. E., 79 Madison County, Alabama, 44, 105, 107 Madison, President James, 27 Male Academy, 64 Malone, Col. James, Pattio, 118 Marathon, 35-36, 46 Marshall County, Alabama, 44 Mars Hill School, 71 Marietta (Post Office), 59 Marriage Licenses, 118-222 Martin, Mrs. D. L. Jr., 81 Martin, Hattie May, 58 Martin, James H., 58, 62 Martin, Lee H., Lynwood, Mayme B., Mercer, 97 Martin, Martha Permelia, 97 Martin, Mary, 106 Martin, Peter, 30 Martin, Thomas Q., 60 Martin, Quimby and Collier, 17 Martin's Gap, 27 Martis, James, 65 Masonic Lodge, 33, 63, 66, 72, 81, 117 Mason, Samuel, 26 Massey, William D., 61 Massey, W. M., 89 Masterson (Post Office), 59 Masterson, Aaron, 57 Masterson, Dr. Benjamin O'Neal, 92 Masterson, Bryon I., 55 Masterson, Dr. Byron 0., 92, 117 Masterson, Elijah H., James N., 57 Masterson, James T., 68 Masterson, John H., 60 Masterson, Dr. J. T., 34, 48, 92 Masterson, Richard P., 59 Masterson, T. C., 61 Mathues, Isaac S., 60 Mattox Creek, 90 Mehama (Post Office), 59 Meigs, Return J., 23 Meisner, William 0., 57 Melton, Moses, 19-20 Melton's Bluff, 26, 29-30, 33, 35 Melton's Village, 18 Memphis, Tennessee, 100 Memphis and Charleston Railroad, 44, 50, 51, 64, 109 Men Who Have Made Alabama, Riley, 48 Methodist Church, 33, 62-63, 74, 79- 80, 108 Mexican War, 37-39 Mexico, Valley of, 15 Middle Woodland, 13-14 Midway School, 73 Milam, Almond Gwyn, Martha Vaughn, 115 Milam, Fannie, 55 Milam, Julia, 115 Milam, William A., 55 Milligan, Coach, 65 Millwater, Henrietta M. (Weeden), Mary Eliza, Sarah, 108 Minis, James M., 33 Minor, Dr., 92 Minor, Henry, 30 Mississippi Culture, 15 Mississippi, The Heart of the South, Rowland, 29 Mississippi, State of, 18-19, 24-25, 27, 36, 44-45, 60, 52, 77 Mississippi River, 25, 45, 60 Missouri, State of, 21 Mitchell and Pryor, 33 Mitchell, General 0. M., 44 Mobile, Alabama, 45, 95, 98 Moles, Addie, 67 Moneetown, 21 Monroe, President James, 28, 37, 117 Montevallo, Alabama, 45 Montgomery, Alabama, 29, 43, 45, 96 Montgomery Advertiser, 45 Montgomery, Chessie, 101 Moody, Grady, 114 Moody, Leon E., 74 Moore and Norwood, 33 Moore, John, 107 Moore, Sir Thomas, 107 Moreland Forest Tower, 90 Morgan County, Alabama, 11, 44, 62, 75, 104 Morgan, General John H., 21 Morgan, Henry, 66 Morris, Andrew J., 56, 59 Morrow, M. H., 55 Morrow, Thomas, 81 Moulton, Alabama, 11, 24, 27, 30-31, 33, 35-36, 42, 44, 48, 53-54, 59, 63- 65, 70, 73, 75, 77-81, 88, 91-92, 95- 96, 105, 108, 114-116 Moulton Advertiser, The, 33, 35, 37, 52-54, 80, 91, 98-99, 105-106 Moulton Baptist Church, 78 Moulton (Baptist) Female Institute, 31, 64-65, 78 Moulton Hotel, 33-34 Moulton, Lieut. Michael C., 30 Moulton Lodge, 81-82 Moulton News, The, 52 Moulton Public School, 66 Moulton Road, 24 Moulton-Russellville Highway, 77, 83 Moulton Valley, 11 Moulton Whig, 52 Mound Builders, 12-17 Moundville, Alabama, 16 Mountain Home, 59, 71, 79 Mountain Home Academy, 71 Mountain Home Institute Association, 71 Mountain Home School, 69-72 Mountain Leader's Trace, 25 Mountain Springs Cemetery, 83 Mount Hope, Alabama, 39-41, 44, 56, 59, 80, 83, 92, 94-95, 100 Mount Hope Baptist Church, 78 Mount Hope Lodge, 82 Moyers, Robert R., 61 Mt. Springs, 73 Murphy, A. B., 67 Murphy, John C., 56 Murrell, John A., 26 Muscle Shoals, Alabama, 12, 19-20, 23, 43, 81 Muscle Shoals Baptist Association, 64, 75, 77-78 Mustin, W. H., 79 Me McBride, Anderson, 68 McBride, David, 60 McBride, John, 33 McBride, Maggie, 115 McCain, John W., 54 McCartey, Jasper N., 55 McCartney, Alexander A., 52 McCarver, Nalda, 104 McCary, Percy, 99 McClendon, Frances, 118 McClung (Post Office), 59 McCoy, Beatrice, 56 McCrary, Dr. Lyman B., 96 McCulloch, Joseph, 60 McDaniel, Jeff, 114 McDaniel, Jefferson, 107 McDaniel, Martha E., William, 107 McDonald Cemetery, 83 McDonald, C. M., 54 McDonald, Crockett, 31 McDonald, Edward C., 59, 82 McDonald, James H., 31 McDonald, Wm. S., 59 McDowell, Jack, Cove, 90 McDuffie, Elizabeth, 98 McGeehon, Dall, 104 McGehee, Thomas M., 59 McGhee, Henry A., 31, 33 McGhee, John M., 33 McGregor, Penelope, 78 McLemore, Lucinda, 78 McLester, Dr. James, 95-96 McNutt, Benj. 0., 60 McWhorter, William Aaron, 62 M'Kenney, Johnson, 27 N Nash, J. G., 78 Nashville, Tennessee, 25, 27, 44, 100 Natchez District, 25 Natchez Trace, 23, 25, 40 Natural Bridge, 24 Nazareth Church, 81 Nesmith, 73 Nesmith, John R., 77-78 New Center School, 73 New Hope Baptist Church, 78 New Jersey, State of, 11 New Orleans, Louisiana, 25, 27, 39, 49 New Providens, 81 Nicholson, Mary Jane, Robert, 104 Nicholson, Thomas, 77 Ninth Alabama Infantry Regt., 104 Nixon, Thomas, 79 Norris, William H., 58 North Carolina, State of, 18, 100, 106 North West Road, 90 Norton, L., 117 Norton, Marshall, 58 Norwood, Eva, 100 Norwood, John A., 100 Norwood, Jonathan 0. (Family), 98- 99 Norwood, Nathaniel, 98-100 Norwood, Peniah, 104 Norwood, Dr. Robert Walter, 99 0 Oakville, 60, 73, 80, 117 Oconee River, 18 Ococopaso (Tuscumbia, Ala.), 79 Odom, Alex P., 61 Odom, Ed, 42 Odom, Fannie, 57 Ohio River, 11, 25 Ohio State University, 118 Ohio, State of, 14-15, 118 Oklahoma, State of, 15, 62, 114 Okolona Church,. 78 Old Town Creek Cemetery, 83, 104- 105 Old Town Creek Church, 77 Opal, Ora, Orange, (Post Offices), 60 Opelika, Alabama, 44 Ormond, Judge John J., 108 Owen, Marie Bankhead, 20, 29, 77 Owens, Ben, 99 Owens, Jessie, 117-118 P Palch, William, 60 Palmore, David, 78 Parham, Captain, 45 Parker, Mary Jane, 103 Parker, Thomas B., 55, 103 Park, Moses, 75 Parr, W. A., 58 Parvin, Nancy C., 57 Patten, E. A., 56 Patterson, Bernard M., 33 Patterson, Colonel, 44 Patton, Lizzie, 101 Payne, George A., 56 Pebble, M. T., 58 Penitentiary Gap, Mountain, 106, 116 Penitentiary Springs, 117 Penn, Stephen, Mary, 77 Pennsylvania, State of, 49, 52 Perry County, Alabama, 100 Perry, Salathiel, 58 Peters, Anna Maria, Lucy Alice, Martha Leigh, Mary Minott, Sarah Naomi, William, 116 Peters, Judge T. M., 33, 52-53, 59, 64, 114, 116 Peters, Naomi S., 114 Pfaff, Frederick, 60 Pfaff, Herman, 58 Pickens, Andrew, 71 Pickens, Aubrey, 65 Pickens, F., 59 Pickens, Gertrude, 71 Pickens, James M., 59, 71, 76 Pickens, Mrs. Mary W., 59, 71 Pickett, Richard 0., 31 Pierson, Sherman, 59 Pikesville, 27 Pilgrims' Rest Church, 78 Pine Apple, Alabama, 76 Pinebluff, 60 Pine Hill, 73 Pine Torch Church Cemetery, 86 Piney Grove, 75 Pin Hook, 73 Piper, D. R., 76 Pipken, Barnabus, 79 Pitt, 60 Pitt, Charles W., 60 Pitt, James T., 57 Pitt, Mary B., 57 Plainview, 73 Platae, 46 Pleasant Ridge, 45 Poindexter, George, 28 Pointer, Philip, 70 Polk, President James K., 108 Ponder, Abraham V., 59 Ponder, Pleasant, 56 Pool, Alonzo, 60 Pope, John A., 59 Poplar Springs Cemetery, 41 Porter, Cullie, 57 Porter, William, 81 Post Offices, 55-61 Presbyterian Church, 74, 80 Preston, John H., 56, 73 Preuit, Abraham, 106 Preuit, Fuller, Jacob, Jane, Mary, Viney, 107 Preuit, Clebe, John W., Ward, 106 Preuit, Gregg N., Harry J., 61 Preuit, Henry, William, 105 Preuit, Colonel John, 107 Price, Robert, 105 Prince, C. C., 33 Proctor, Richard Irwin, 96 Progress, 60 Prospect, 80, 83 Prueit, C. P., 35 Public School System, 64 Puckett, Richard, 60 Pymum, Mrs. Josephine, 59 Q Quakers, 71 R Randolph, Jerry, L. D., 76 Reaves, Alford, 67 Red Bank, 78 Red Hill Cemetery, 83 Red Rovers, 37-39 Bedford, Saml. H., 59 Reeves, C. S., 76 Reeves, Prior, 75 Remington, Henry J., 59 Reminiscenses of Public Men in Ala- bama, Garrett, 29 Reneau, William, 31 Republican Party, 53 Restoration Movement, 75 Revolutionary War, 106 Reynolds, Christopher A., 61 Richard Jones Memorial School, 71 Richey, Nancy, 107 Richmond, Virginia, 110 Riley, B. F., 48 Ringo, Dr. J. S., 92 Rising Virtue Lodge, 82 River Landing, 49 Rivers, Candis T., 60 Roberts Cemetery, 87 Roberts Inn, 116 Roberts, J. C., 77-78 Roberts, J. M., 78 Roberts, John, Martha Susan, 116 Roberts, Houston W., Matthew, Susan (Wells), 105 Roberts, Matthew, 31, 116 Roberts, William R., 59 Roberson, C. B., 73 Roberson, John T., 59 Roberson, Mrs. Dorothy, 54 Robertson, Dr. Bob, 92 Robertson, T. C., W. F., 79 Robertson's Store, 93 Rock Creek, 90 Rock Springs, 80, 83 Rocky Hill, 109-110 Roddy, General Philip Dale, 31, 35, 43-45, 48 Roden, Adaline, R. M., 79 Ross, Franklin, 58 Ross, Mary, 106 Rosson, R. Bass, 61 Roulain, Robt. S., 57 Rousseau, General, 44 Rowland, Dunbar, 29 Rucker, Reuben, 58 Rucker, Susan, 104 Russell, G. D., 77-78 Russell Valley Church, 77 Russellville, Alabama, 24, 26-27, 33, 44, 79, 92, 97 Russellville Lodge, 82 Ryland, Gabe, 115 Ryon Creek, 90 S Sale, John B., 31 Salem, 73, 78 Sales, Alexander, 79 Samman, Donor, 57 Sanderson, Chesley L., 58 Sanderson, James M., John W., 57 Sanderson, John G., 56 Sanderson, Johnnie, 117 Sanderson Town, 117 Sandlin, Dale, 99 Sandlin, James Monroe, 33, 59 Sandlin, John W., Josiah S., James W., J. Nicholas, 58 Sandlin, Joseph J., 69 Sandlin, Jonathan, John Wesley, Josiah S., Joseph N., Charles N., James B., Martha Elizabeth, Mary Ann, 104-105 Sandlin, Mrs. Hudson, 66 Sandlin, M. H., 75 Sandlin, Russell, 67 Sandlin, Woodfin, Adiai, 65 San Juan, 111 Santa Anna, 38 Sap, "Bud", 88 Saunders, Ellen Virginia, 110 Saunders, Col. James E., 21, 30, 37, 54, 70, 81, 108-109 Saunders, Thomas, Ann (Harper), Sophie Dunn, Louisa T., Narcissa Hubbard, Martha Maria, Eliza Jane, William H., Thomas, Frank- lin, Frances Dunn, Turner, Frank- lin, Hubbard, 108 Savanna, Tennessee, 81 Selma, Alabama, 45 SeMay, Marcus M., Pleasant M., 61 Seola (Post Office), 60 Sewell, Dr., 92 Sewell, Robert P., 60 Sewickley (Post Office), 60 Shackelford, Dr. Jack, 37-39, 56 Shackelford, Rev. Josephus, 52-54, 77-78 Shackelford, L. W. Y., 56 Shady Grove (Post Office), 60 Sheet, Tollie A., 55 Sheffield, Alabama, 49 Shell Mound, 12-17 Shelton, Andrew, Eva, Hattie, 58, 115 Shelton, Evie, Lucinda Milam, Willie, Tennie, 115 Shelton, Ernest, 67, 115 Shelton, Joyce, 118 Shelton, Lucy, Nadine, Jack, Lee, Jane, Karns, Sara, Gwyn, 115 Shelton, Will, 114-115 Sherill, Everett, 65 Sherman, General, 111 Sherrell, John, 77 Sherrill, John Will, 115 Sherrill, Ophelia, 67 Sherrod, Mrs. Danella, 110 Sherrod, John H., 56 Sherrod, M., 52 Shields, George, 81 Shiloh, 48 Shumake Cemetery, 83 Simmons, Alfred, Nancy, Edwin J., 56 Simms, Dr. E. T., 92 Simms, Thomas D., 60 Simms, Dr. Thomas Durrett, 107 Simpson, Isaac S., 61 Simpson, Sarah, 77 Simpson, Solomon P., 56 SSimpson, William, 6 Sipsey Fork, 90 Sims, Elizabeth, 78 Skinner, Theophilous, 77 Slaton, Arthur F., 54 Sloss, James, 81 Smith, Abner, 77 Smith, Carlos, 59 Smith, Daniel, 23 Smith, Ephraim, 75 Smith, Capt. H. F., 44 Smith, John S. W. T., 57 Smith, Joseph W., 59 Smith, Sally, 103 Smith, Sara, 101 Smith, Solomon, 77 Smith, Thomas H., 56 Smith, William, 81 Smithey, Waylon, 54 Snead, Nicholass T., 79 Society of Friends, 71 Somerville, Alabama, 79, 81 South Carolina, 18, 43, 50, 96, 98-99, 104, 115 Southern Death Cult, 15 Southern Railway, 36, 51-52 Spain, Newell S., 57 Spangler (Post Office), 60 Spangler, Belve, 100 Spangler, Mrs. Margaret, 60 Spanish, 15 Sparks, George M., 60 Speake School, 73 Speaks, Hansford, 56 Spicer, E. V., 76 Spiegel, J. E., 76 Spieg-el, 0. P., 77 Spillers, Bonnie, 82 Spraggin, Posey, 71 Spraggins, William, 59 Spring Creek, 19 Srygley, Alpha E., Jane, 104 Srygley, Dona, 101 Srygley, F. B., 76 Srygley, Lillian L., 61 Stall, Gertrude S., 60 State Highway Dept., 27 Step (Post Office), 61 Stephens, L. A., 77 Stephenson, 44 Stephenson, Byron, 65 Stephenson, Hodge L., 54 Stephenson, John R., 58 Stevens, Jim, Walter, Arthur, 62 Stewart, John A., 58 Stewart, Joyce, 118 Stewart, S. J., 82 Stiles, J. S., 60 Still, Abraham, 79 Stockton, Emit, 66 Stone's River, 23, 97 Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War, Henderson, 48 Stovall, A. L., 77-78 Street, Oliver Day, 18, 21 Streeter, James, William, 59 Streight, General Abel D., 44, 115 Strickler, Samuel M., 58 Stringer, William, 76 St. Stephens, Alabama, 26, 28 St. Stephens Lodge, 82 Stuart, Jeb, 110 Sulphur Trestle, 45 Summers (Post Office), Elishia M., Mathew, 61 Summers, M. M., 73 Summers, W. C., 77 Sutton, Jacob, 27 Sutton, Lucinda B., 104 Sutton's Gap, 27 Sweeney, General, 43, 48 Swoope, Jacob K., 57 Synod of Tennessee, 81 T Talladega, Alabama, 45 Talley, Patrick Henry, 107 Tanning, Tolbert, 75 Tate, Sam, 51 Taylor, Gilbert D., 80 Taylor, John, D. P., 76 Taylor, Peter, 31 Taylor, Dr. Woodie K., 97-98 Tellico, 23 Temple Mound Period, 15 Templeton (Post Office), Jackson M., 61 Tennessee, State of, 11, 18-19, 21, 23, 25-26, 44, 48, 50, 52-53, 97, 103, 107-108, 117 Tennessee River, 11-12, 16-20, 23, 25- 27, 29, 35-36, 43, 49, 70 Tennessee Valley, 11, 24, 48, 80, 117- 118 Tennessee Valley Authority, 117 Tennessee Valley Bank, 35 Territorial Legislature, 11 Terry, Albert, 65 Terry, B. F., 58 Terry, John C., 58 Texas, State of, 37-38, 100-101, 105 Thalheimer, M. E., 29 The Indians of Marshall County, Ala., Street, 21 The New Eclectic History of the United States, Thalheimer, 29 The Union, 53 Thomas, Ezekiel, Jenny, 77 Thrasher, Wm. G., 56 Thrasher, William J., 58 Thrasher, Dr., 92 Threlkeld, Capt. Phillip, 104-105 Tick Island, 16-17 Till, S. H., 52 Tingle, J. W., 71 Tipton, W. A., 76 Tobey, T. W, 78 Todd, Dr. John, 92 Tollison, Fannie, 55 Tombigbee, 23, 26 Toulmin, Harry, 11 Town Creek, 11, 117 Town Creek, Alabama, 35, 44, 61, 66- 68, 73, 77, 97, 100 Town Creek Baptist Church, 105 Town Creek Cemetery, 83 Town Creek Lodge, 82 Town Creek Station Church, 78 Townes, John L., 77-78 Trees (Bankhead National Forest), 90-91 Trinity, Alabama, 55, 92 Troublesome Stream, 40 Turner, Floyd, 69 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 24, 27-28, 33, 45, 64-55, 82, 100, 116 Tuscumbia, Alabama, 27, 38, 43-44, 49, 53, 75, 81 Tuscumbia Railroad, 49-50 Tweedy Home, Courtland, 117 Two Hundred Years At Muscle Shoals, Nina Leftwick, 24, 37 U United States, 13, 18-20, 49-50, 55, 111, 117 University of Chicago, (Illinois), 97 University of Kentucky, 17 University of Nashville, (Tennessee), 97 University of Virginia, 96 V Valiant, Denton H., 31 Van Buren, President Martin, 69 Vanderbilt (Tennessee) Medical College, 96-97 Vandever, Catharine W., 58 Vass, L. B., 82 Vaughan, Albert T., 56, 61 Vaughan, Charles S., 61 Vaughan, Herbert A., 57 Vest, Delbert W., 56 Virginia, State of, 18, 37, 41, 100, 104-105, 107 W Wade, Alexander C., 61 Walker, Benjamin F., 107 Walker County, Alabama, 90 Walker County Court House, 33, 55 Walker, Enoch, 63 Walker, James A., 60, 82 Walker, Jannie, 63 Walker, John N., 56 Walker, Dr. Tandy W., 92 Walker, T. W., 54 Wallace, Clebe, 67 Wallace, James B., 31 Wallace, J. R., 73 Wallace, John R., 60 Wallace, Dr. N., 76 Wallace, Wm. M., 56, 61 Wallace, Leroy M., 55 Wallis, David, William, 55 War Between the States, 31, 43-48, 51, 71, 74-75, 104, 114-115, 117 Ware, Gilbert N., 54 Warren County, Alabama, 106 Warren, Hugh M., 31 Warren, James M., 56 Warrior Plateau, 11 Warrior River, 11 Warrington, Kentucky, 47 Washington, D. C., 110, 114 Wasson, Calvin, Nancy Reno, Leota, 115 Watkins, Mary Frances, Major Robert H., 108 Watkins, William M., 70 Watson, Dr. James, J. M., 76-77 Wear, Gertrude, 104 Wear, L. M., 77-78 Wear, R. T., 77-78 Weatherford, Thomas, 76 Weaver, Levina R., Sevina R., 59 Webb, William S., 17 Weems, George M. C., 58-59 Weems, Stephen B., 59 West, Eunice Missini, 104 West Flint Creek, 90 West Fork, 90 West, Jeptha, Elizabeth Ferguson, James, 104 West, Mose, 114 West, Mrs. Polly, 114 Wharton, Dr. W. H., 75 Wheeler, Annie, 51-52, 70-72, 110, 113-114 Wheeler Basin, 15 Wheeler Estate, 71 Wheeler, General Joe, 51, 72, 110-111, 113, 117 Wheeler Lake, 15 Wheeler, Lucy S., 61 Wheeler School, 72 Wheeler Station, 61, 70, 110 Whitaker, William H., 36, 56 White, Congressman Alexander, 45 White, Belt, 77 White, D. C., 35, 52-53, 73, 82 White, Jourd, 35, 53, 59 White, Judge John, 45 White, Patrick, 81 White, Peter, 59 White, Robert F., 53, 65 Whitworth, S., 60 Whitman, Dr. C. R., 92, 95 Whitman, Lewis M., 59 Wiggins, Fannie, 57 Wiggins, Wm. D., 61 Wiley, Ida, 103 Wiley, John, 15 Wilhite, W. W., 78 Williams, C. T., 57 Williams, Dr. Hayeg, Mary Jean, James R., Hayes Taylor, Mary Jean, 98 Williams, Lou, 71 Williams, Louise, 59 Willingham, Joe, 93 Wilson, General James H., 45 Wilson, Homer T., 76 Wimberley, Cora A., 60 Windes, W. H., 76 Windham, A. L., 33, 82 Windham, John, 115 Windham, W., 33 Winston County, Alabama, 11, 41, 88, 90, 103 Wolfe Spring, 73 Wood, Bennet, 77 Wood, Jesse, 76 Wood, Joseph, 81 Wood, Samuel, 78 Woodall, David P., 57 Woodruff, Mrs. Isa C., 103 Woods, Mary, 106 Woods, Pinchney D., 41, 57 World War I, 97, 113, 115 World War II, 97 Wren, 61, 73 Wren, John R., 107 Wright, Daniel, 28, 31 Wright, Dr. T. J., 91 Wyatt, Governor William, 28 Y Yancey, William L., 43 Young, Mrs. Arrie Jackson, Arthur, Byron,116 Young, Bob, Jane, Joe, Laura, 115 Young, James Bert, 99 Young, Lena, 67 Young, Reason (Family), 115 Young, Sarah J., 60 Youngtown, 115