Conecuh County AlArchives History .....History of Conecuh County, Alabama 1881 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 23, 2004, 12:29 pm History of Conecuh County, Alabama Embracing a Detailed Record of Events from the Earliest Period to the Present; Biographical Sketches of Those Who Have Been Most Conspicuous in the Annals of the County; A Complete List of the Officials of Conecuh, Besides Much Valuable Information Relative to the Internal Resources of the County By Rev. B. F. Riley Pastor of the Opelika Baptist Church Columbus, Ga.; Thos. Gilbert, Steam Printer and Book-Binder 1881 TO MY MOTHER, WHOSE ARDENT DESIRE TO TRAIN HER CHILDREN FOR USEFULNESS FOUND EXPRESSION IN THE MOST UNTIRING DEVOTION TO THEIR INTEREST, AND TO WHOSE MATERNAL PIETY AND SACRIFICE THEY ARE MORE INDEBTED THAN TO ANY THING ELSE, THIS HUMBLE VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED -BY THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. ABOUT two years ago, it was suggested that the people of Conecuh take immediate steps toward the preparation of a history of their county. A society was formed bearing the title of "The Conecuh Historical Society;" some interest was manifested, and after several meetings the author was requested to undertake the preparation of the present work. The disadvantages under which he was placed, however, were very great. He lived in a portion of the State remote from Conecuh, and had the pastoral care of a church, which entailed onerous duties upon him. To secure an accurate record, it became necessary for him to visit the county quite often, and to be in constant correspondence with parties in different portions of Conecuh. But after two years of labor, amid the weighty duties of the pastorate, the work is finished and sent forth upon its mission. The author has striven to present facts in their clearest and simplest form, so that the work would be acceptable to all classes of readers. If, in some portions, the history be thought too minute in detail, I have to say that this is inseparable from the fact that it is a local history. The work is not as complete in its scope as I would desire to have it. It will be observed that marked details exist with respect to some portions of the county, while they are meagre with regard to others. This is entirely due to the fact that a greater amount of data was furnished me from some quarters than from others. Special attention has been given to the biographical portion of the work. The author regrets the absence of several biographies, which would have appeared, could the biographical matter have been obtained. The author begs leave to acknowledge his indebtedness to "Brewer's Outline History of Alabama," "Pickett's History of Alabama," and " Garrett's Reminiscences of Public Men." For aid rendered in the collection of material he expresses his obligations to the following gentlemen: John Greene, Sr., J. R. Hawthorne, Y. M. Rabb, Andrew Jay, Willis Darby, H. Page, Dr. Feagan, J. M. Davison, Dr. Shaw and others. For financial aid, thanks are due Messrs. Ransom Simpson, Dabney Palmer, John B. Robbins, Dr. Shaw, Pinkney Straughn, Dr. Robinson, N. Stallworth, P. D. Bowles, G. R. Farnham, J. D. Burnett, P. C. Walker, and S. F. Forbes. With the hope that it may not prove uninteresting to the resident of the county, the little book is sent forth upon its mission. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I.-PAGE 13. Introduction Conecuh in the Earliest Times Derivation of Its Name Original Appearance Abounding Game Ferocious Beasts Early Battle Scene, &c. CHAPTER II.-PAGE 19. Early Settlement of Conecuh by the Whites Conflict at Battle Branch First Settlement at Bellville Founding of Hampden Ridge Alexander Autrey Other Settlers Land Claims Emigration, &c. CHAPTER III.-PAGE 22. Early Privations and Struggles Unparalleled Difficulties Scarcity of Shoes Undaunted Heroism Meagreness of Blacksmith Facilities Joshua Betts A Barefooted Population Scarcity of Grist Mills Georgia Currency, &c. CHAPTER IV.-PAGE 26. Indian Hostilities Troublesome Red Men Their Depredations Early Forts Primitive Means of Defence Unceasing Vigilance Retirement of the Indians to the West. CHAPTER V.-PAGE 28. Signs of Advancement Influx of Population Industrious Signs Prevailing The First Store House in Conecuh The Court House of Hampden Ridge Churches The First Sermon First School Conecuh Organized into a County Public Roads Anecdote of Hayes and Austill. CHAPTER VI.-PAGE 33. A Chapter of Biography Rev. Alexander Travis Alexander Autrey Samuel W. Oliver Dr. John Watkins Chesley Crosby Fielding Straughn. CHAPTER VII. -PAGE 43. Centres of Population Bellville Hampden Ridge Sparta Brooklyn Fort Crawford. CHAPTER VIII.-PAGE 55. Centres of Population Continued Old Town Fork Sepulga Burnt Corn Evergreen. CHAPTER IX.-PAGE 66. An Early Home and Its Surroundings Now and Then Mode of Transportation Adopted by the Early Fathers The Home of the First Year The Improvement of the Second House Furniture The Happiness of Former Times. CHAPTER X.-PAGE 70. Customs and Habits of the Early Pioneer Families Rude State of Society Early Amusements Styles of the Former Times Horseback Riding Scenes at Public Gatherings. CHAPTER XI.-PAGE 73. Continued Development Rapid Advancement Tides of Population Gathered Fruits of Toil Improved Homes Social Changes Reverses, &c. CHAPTER XII.-PAGE 76. Transportation and the Inauguration of Postal Routes Navigation of the Conecuh River Brooklyn Again The First Post Office Different Mail Lines. CHAPTER XIII.-PAGE 79. A Chapter of Biography Rev. James King Rev. Keidar Hawthorne Joel Lee Wilson Ashley Nicholas Stallworth, Sr John Sampey William Rabb, Sr Adam McCreary. CHAPTER XIV.-PAGE 92. Conecuh from 1825 to 1835 Current History Resumed Lull of Apprehension Fruits of Peace Tragedy Rude Customs Still Prevailing Birth of Political Agitation. CHAPTER XV.--PAGE 103. Conecuh from 1835 to 1845 Interesting Epoch Birth of Political Issues Excitement Begins Hot Contests The Great Indian War Democrats and Whigs Hard and Soft Money Issue Educational Improvements, &c. CHAPTER XVI. -PAGE 112. A Chapter of Biography Hon. J. S. Hunter Richard Warren John Greene, Sr J. R. Hawthorne J. V. Perryman Samuel Burnett H. F. Stearns John Bell. CHAPTER XVII.-PAGE 123. Conecuh from 1845 to 1855 Status of the County at this Period Acrimonious Politics Sad Tragedy Steam Navigation Undertaken Upon the Conecuh River A Disaster and a Protracted Law Suit Caterpillars in Conecuh Mexican War Sickness in the County. CHAPTER XVIII.-PAGE 130. A Chapter of Biography John Crosby Rev. Hanson Lee James M. Bolling Thomas W. Simpson Nicholas Stallworth, Jr A. D. Cary W. B. Travis. CHAPTER XIX.-PAGE 145. Conecuh from 1855 to 1860 Stirring Activity Progress Academy at Bellville Know-Nothingism County Paper Railroads and Telegraph Murder of Allen Page. CHAPTER XX.-PAGE 155. A Chapter of Biography E. W. Martin Rev. George Lee Hezekiah Donald Churchill Jones J. W. Ethridge Sherman G. Forbes Solomon S. Forbes M. B. Travis J. D. Cary. CHAPTER XXI. -PAGE 167. War Record of Conecuh Intense Excitement Conecuh Patriotism Conecuh Guards Flag Presentation at Sparta Depot Address by Miss Mathews Other Companies Scenes in the Camps at Home Invasion of the County Disasters. CHAPTER XXII. --PAGE 177. A Chapter of Biography James A. Stallworth William A. Ashley Rev. W. C. Morrow J. M. Henderson Dr. Milton Amos Dr. William Cunningham. CHAPTER XXIII.-PAGE 189. Dark Sway of Reconstructionism Social Chaos Demoralization Local Troubles Sovereignty of the Bayonet The Negro as a Politician How the New Order of Things Affected Southern Society Heroism Displayed, &c. CHAPTER XXIV.--PAGE 194. "Peep o' Day " Darkness Clearing Away Advancement of Order Returning Signs of Prosperity The People Becoming Themselves Again Glance at Current Events up to the Present. CHAPTER XXV.-PAGE 198. Present Representative Men of Conecuh Rev. Andrew Jay Dr. J. L. Shaw Y. M. Rabb A. J. Robinson N. Stallworth P. D. Bowles G. R. Farnham. CHAPTER XXVI.---PAGE 214. Population Principal Town Climate Soil Stock Raising Productions Industrial Resources Forests Streams Numerous Advantages, Social, Educational, and Agricultural Colored Population, &c Closing Remarks. APPENDIX. I. -Constitution of Conecuh Historical Society Page 223 II.-Roll of Conecuh Guards Page 225 Additional Comments: Front Matter This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 9.5 Kb