Chambers County AlArchives News.....History of Abanda by Frank W. Barnett January 24, 1926
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Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 February 21, 2023, 7:05 pm

The Birmingham News January 24, 1926
Abanda, On High Creek 
It does not take a student of etymology to figure out how Abanda got its name, 
and it would be a waste of time for anyone to study "Words and Places." the 
scholarly work of Isaac Taylor whose labors brought together so much of interest 
in etymology, ethnography and geography, as anyone who has ever seen the 
advertisement "Uneeda Biscuits" will get the key to how it was, christened. Here 
it is, A. B. and A. is simply written out in full Abanda. See? 
The writer arrived at Abanda after everyone had retired except two men who had 
come to meet some ladies on the train. If it had not been for this, he would 
have been at a loss as to how to find a place to I spend the night. He was 
directed up the road until he had passed all the stores and knock on the door of 
the first dwelling on the right-hand side. He reached the place, and all was 
dark, and not smoking, was without a match. Happily, at this time the four from 
the depot have in sight, and one of the men, when asked for a match, kindly lent 
his flashlight. After continued knocking a voice asked: "What do you want" "To 
find a place to sleep". "All right," was the reply 'Just go in the room on the 
left." This was done and a lamp was set at the door. A few minutes later another 
query, "Have you got enough cover" The answers was "Yes". Then the last 
question, "Do you want to get up soon?" "No, thanks." All this is set down for 
the benefit of any traveler who may happen to get off the A. B. and A. at Abanda 
on the night train. Don't be uneasy, for Mrs. Liles is a motherly woman who will 
take care of you. 
The writer had passed through Abanda on his way to Milltown and to Louina but 
had never spent any time in the village with the exception he went up to Mr. A. 
L. Greer's house several years ago to get the first annual catalogue of the 
Milltown male and female seminaries. Mr. Greer, who is 80 years old, gave me 
touch data for the Milltown and Louina story, as well as for this one on Abanda. 
By the way, in driving from Abanda to Wadley, it is noted that the old Heflin 
home out of which the tribe of Heflin went is being remodeled by Sen. Heflin. 
Here is a tip, if you wish to go from Abanda to Wadley, if there has been much 
rain, I better take the train. The road has worked recently, and we just did get 
through in a Ford. When the weather is good it ought to be all right. 
The land on which Abanda stands was owned by Joe Green and William Gilbert. Joe 
Green owned it on the west side and William Gilbert on the east side. Before the 
A.B. and A came David Liles had a store at the old Liles mill on High creek, but 
when the railroad arrived P. B. Tatum & Co. opened the first store. L. E. Tatum 
told the writer that he hauled the first load of lumber which was thrown off in 
the town. Reuben Smith erected the first dwelling in the town. The first 
resident physician was Dr. J. T. Clark. The first drug store was that of Dr. L. 
Tatum. The first hotel was opened by J.P. Harris who also ran livery stable. 
David Liles had the first mill and gin. Will Seymour as the first blacksmith.  
Merchants At Abanda 
During the first few years those doing a mercantile business were David Liles, 
P. B. Tatum & Co., Weaver & Hammock, Denny & Pearson, Smith & Bowling and the 
Planters Grocery Company, those in it being P. B. Tatum, J. T. Woodall and J. R. 
Melton. The merchants now are Tatum & Roden, J. T. Woodall, Thomas E. Ellis, J. 
J.P. Harris & F. A. Weaver. P. B. Tatum runs the gin. Liles and Treadwell a 
sawmill, while Cox & Bros. and S. Askew ship lumber from Abanda. Gray's 
blacksmith serves the community. 
Its mighty hard to separate Abanda form Milltown five miles south from Louina 
and three miles north, and from New Hope, three miles southeast as there is 
bound to be a duplicate of names when it comes to the early settlers. Here are 
some closest to Abanda: John Little, Buck Jackson, David Treadwell, Buck 
Williamson and the Floyd Holloway, Stevens, Elders, Burdens, Blackmon, Chewning 
Sand Smith, Hardy and Finney families. Mr. Greer, who is fourscore years old, 
recalled at Milltown the McCoys. Doziers, Griggs. Robinsons, Woods, Dunsons, 
Moons, Burdetts, Carlisles, Graggs, Leveritts, Merriwethers, Maglays, Stallings, 
Taylors and Woods. At Louina the Heflins, Phillips, Swanns, Taylors and Greens. 
At New Hope the Elders, Richards, Stevensons, Turners and Dunns.
Old Teachers, Preachers and Doctors
Mr. Greer recalled as pioneer preacher, John Cliett, a Primitive Baptist; Dan 
McCoy, a Missionary Baptist; "Babe" McGraw. a Methodist. and M. J. W. Elder, a 
Christian. The physicians he remembered in the old days being Wilson Heflin, 
George Taylor, Hobson Davis and J. D. Liles (who lived where Abanda now is for 
quite a while before it was a town). The teachers in his mind being Lewis Towers 
and Professors Standford, Ellis, Danford and Diamond. It seems, however that the 
ones best recalled by those younger than Mr. Greer are Mrs. Puss Strother, who 
is yet beloved in the community. She is the mother of the Hon. James William 
Strother, of Dadeville. Miss Mollie Bailey, who is teaching after having served 
in the school room for more than two score years. She is now at Shiloh. Then 
comes Miss Martha Liles, Professors Hussey and Marshall who live in the lives of 
many of their pupils. 
Grammar School At Abanda 
The school at Abanda is at present taught by Miss Mildred Sorrell, principal, 
and Miss Sarah Treadwell. assistant principal. The enrollment is around 100. 
Here are some of the principals preceding Miss Sorrell, Walter M. Miller, taught 
at the old schoolhouse, one mile out, but when it was moved to its present 
location, Miss Birdie Taylor took up the work, and then came the following: Tom 
Bugg, William Melton, George Green, Dunson. J. D. Merritt, T. E. Ellis, Miss 
Emily Williams and Marvin Williams. Mrs. J. P. Harris is president of the parent 
teacher association. 
Baptist Church at Abanda 
About 10 years ago Rev. James A. Dunn now living at Wadley, preached in the 
schoolhouse, and out of his preaching and labors the Abanda Baptist Church was 
born. 
Abanda Methodist Church 
Rev. B. T. Waites like Rev. J. A. Dunn began preaching in the schoolhouse, and 
by hard and consecrated endeavor was enabled to get the nucleus for the present 
congregation. Some of the old families Joining as charter members being the 
Tatums, Stevens. Meltons and Harrises. The stewards are P. B. Tatum, P. P. 
Harris. Mrs. T. E. Ellis and L. E. Tatum. Rev. R. T. West is pastor, T. E. 
Ellis, Sunday school superintendent, and Mrs. T. E. Ellis, president of the 
Epworth league. The following pastors have served the Abanda Methodist Church: 
O. L. Milliken, John Harris, S. A. Swindall, O.R. Burns, D. H. Hawkins and S. A. 
Owen. The membership is about fifty. 
Methodist Campground 
The famous old Methodist Campground, associated with Louina. is really nearer 
the present site of Abanda than it was to Louina. As far back as the memory of 
the oldest citizens go each year the camp meeting was the greatest event in the 
lives of the surrounding territory. A tabernacle was built at or near Concord 
Church, a Primitive Baptist Church. It was on the road from Wadley to Roanoke 
and the writer recalls having passed it. It brought up thoughts of pioneer days 
when the countryside rang with old time hymns, shouts of the saved. and 
thundering tones from the pulpit. The carap meeting is a thing of the past, the 
tabernacle decayed.
Abanda Lodge. K. P. No. 220 
This was at one time a flourishing organization but at present, while kept up it 
is not functioning as it could. J. T. Woodall. chancellor commander; R. W. 
Rogers, vice chancellor commander; Charles Tatum. prelate; T. L. Gray, Master of 
Finance and keeper of records and real; Tom Melton. inner guard; J. W. Sands. 
outer guard; T. D. Sessions, master of arms; L. E. Tatum. master of exchequer. 
H. S. Phillips, consul commander; Gus Pinckard, adviser lieutenant; Walker 
Ponder banker; J. L. Rotton, clerk; Cecil Woodall. escort; Frank Tatum watchman, 
William Traylor sentry, while the auditors are T. E. Ellis. James Owens and J. 
N. McCullough. There is also a Modern W. O. W. Abanda camp. No. 1675. T. E. 
Ellis, clerk; W. L. Hodges, banker, and J. T. Camp, consul commander. 
Depot Agents And Postmasters 
The head should read depot agent and postmaster, as both the present incumbents 
have served from the founding of Abanda. The writer was mighty sorry to have 
missed seeing Jim Denny, one of his old-time Baptist friends. Ile has been 
carrying the mail for nearly a score of years and is one of the best on the 
rolls of Uncle Sam. J. L. Roden. the postmaster ought not to have any dull 
moments when Jim is around. The writer recalls spending a night with Jim in his 
home at Milltown at a Baptist association and how he laughingly said: "I spend 
my vacations having some kind of an operation." It seems he was operated on for 
appendicitis and during the year some new trouble would develop and off to the 
hospital he would go. The writer knows many of the rural letter carriers and as 
a whole they are a fine set of men, and Jim is one of the best, a man of 
character and culture, and altogether a lovable personality.


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