Clay County Alabama History of Lineville ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ Contributed by Linda S. Ayers Jan 2003 Updated March 2005 The Town of Lineville The Town of Lineville got its name for the fact it was the line between the Randolph and Talladega Counties, if Clay County had never been established, today the Baptist Church in Lineville would be in Talladega County and the Methodist Church in Lineville would be in Randolph County. History of Clay County by Mrs. Gilford Ingram ‘’In the early 1800’s white settlers began to come into this territory, as the Alabama Territory was organized in 1817. Settlers from Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee moved through this territory and began to settle. The first white settlers in Lineville came in the early 1800’s. The first landowners to secure land grants from the territory in our community were brothers William Y and Thomas Lundie. The Lundies secured their grants on September 9, 1835. They were granted land on the east side of our present town. Robert C. Wilson and Mark E. Moore were granted land on the west side of town on May 9, 1836. A few years later the Lundie Brothers laid out lots on the east side of our traffic light in the center of town. The community was called ‘’County Line.’’ A well was dug were the traffic light is now located and was to serve both man and beast. Lundie gave proceeds from the sale of the lots for the establishment of an academy in 1856. This academy was located were the Lineville Grammar Scholl now stands. The first business establishment was known as Lundie’s Store and was located were the residents of Mr. and Mrs. O.B. Pruett now stands. The first Post Office was created on April 4, 1856, known as County Line and located where the late W.W. Twilley home stood, which is near the present *City Bank. The Post Office, on February 3, 1870, changed it name to Lineville, with the town of Lineville incorporated on Dec 14, 1898’’ *This is now Southtrust Bank 'The Lineville Highlight was established in December 1904, it was 6 columns long, and was published on Fridays, the subscription price was $1.00 per year Half of Lineville sits on Township 20, Range 9 and Section 7, the land for this area was patented in 1837. John W. Bishop patented over 79 acres on Aug 5, 1837, Thomas F. and William T. Lundie patented over 158 acres on Aug 5, 1837 and Elisha Powell patented over 80 acres on Aug 1, 1839. In 1860 Andrew J. Bishop patented over 119 acres, Dr. Marsh Steadham patented over 120 acres, and William Cole patented over 80 acres, in the same Township, Range and Section Both Robert C. Wilson and Mark E. Moore patented land in Talladega, Coosa and Elmore Counties The Lineville Methodist Church is almost in the center of the town of Lineville sits on Township 20, Range 9, and Section 6. Again the Lundie Brothers who patented over 159 acres on Aug 5, 1837, and Thomas Lundie patented on over 79 acres on Dec 1, 1851. William McPherson who patented over 240 acres in that section on Aug 17, 1838 patented this land. Benjamin Clements and Madison Gray also patented land this Township, Range and Section. Captain John Orr also patented 100’s of acres of in the Lineville area. Captain Orr’s wife’s family the Eidsons was one of the first white settlers in Talladega County [Now Clay] Redmond and Richard Young also patented land in the area in 1837, Richard Young, ran a ferry across the Tallapoosa River, he died around 1845, his wife sold the ferry to his nephew John Blake, now all that is left is ‘’Blake’s Ferry Road’’ which begins in Lineville and dead-ends in on the backwater of Harris Dam. Businesses in Lineville in 1860 [Randolph County Side of Lineville] Green Wood Cutter/Millstones Robert Reaves Miller Marshall Steadham Doctor William L. Kerley Merchant William Barr Clerk Augustus Moss Merchant Levin Callaway Miller Daniel Mitchell Millwright Casper Amos Surveyor John Johnson Bricklayer Benjamin East Miller Teachers: John Weaver Berry Weaver James M. Bell George Robertson Celia Robertson Businesses in Lineville in 1870: Joseph Turner Cooper Jesse Burney Miller S.P. Carroll Wagon maker H.M. McCoy Blacksmith William Cole Miller William J. Pearce Lawyer J.H. Lee Trader James Price Miller Jordan Cockrell Wagon maker Thomas Cockrell Wagon maker Thomas Stud Cooper Benjamin Shepherd Miller William Minters Photographer M.A. Windham Miner J.W. King Doctor John Kerley Shoemaker William Reed Blacksmith Marshall Steadham Doctor H.A. Manning Merchant Robert Minters Merchant W.D. Haynes Merchant J.W. Garrison Doctor James L. William Merchant John M. Powell Miller T.J. Powell Blacksmith Aaron Parker Miller William Teague Wheelwright A.L. Sprayberry Blacksmith William Steadham Brick mason Teachers: James A. Bailey John Short Mary Moon William H. Moon Thomas Taylor Y.J.A. Bartlett Carrie Steed C.A. Steed