Conecuh County AlArchives History .....History of Conecuh County 1881
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CHAPTER XIX.
Conecuh from 1855 to 1860-A Period of Stirring Activity-More Progress-Academy 
at Bellville-Know-Nothingism in Conecuh-A County Organ Established-Railroad 
Excitement-Telegraphic Line-Murder of Allen Page-Ominous Signs on the 
Political Horizon.

   The period into which we are now introduced far exceeded in importance and 
excitement any which had preceded it. Rapid and marked changes were being 
created in the politics of the country by the addition of new elements to the 
sectional controversies which were agitating the country in all directions. 
The respective parties in Conecuh, of course, echoed the sentiments of their 
leaders. It was during this period that the Whig Party ceased to have a 
national existence. The formation of an Anti-Foreign and No-Popery Party, 
called the "Know-Nothing Party," blotted from existence the party which had 
been con-trolled by the Whigs for a long time. The political contest was no 
longer between the Whigs and Democrats, as before, but it was now waged 
beneath the banners of the Democratic and Know-Nothing Parties. In 1855 Maj. 
Andrew Jay, who had been conspicuous for a number of years before the people 
of the county, as an ardent worker and wise counselor in political affairs, 
and who had previously been the Representative of the Whig Party in the 
Legislature, was chosen as the standard bearer of the new party, and sent 
again to the General Assembly. But these political contests, so far from 
retarding the intellectual or material development of the county, were, beyond 
question, one of the cardinal factors that contributed to the advancement of 
her people. Eagerness for information relative to the great questions that 
were now swaying the people of the Union, prompted the increase of political 
literature in the homes of Conecuh. This, acting in concert with the frequent 
discussion of these principles on the stump, in the social circle, and in the 
homes, awakened inquiry and stimulated the mental energy of the youth of the 
county. And the combination of these concurrent causes, too, led to increased 
facilities in the county for the transmission of intelligence, and finally, to 
the .encouragement of the establishment of the great thoroughfare which now 
penetrates the county from north to south.

   In 1854 the citizens of Bellville, and the surrounding communities, 
established an academy in the village, and the following year its doors were 
thrown open for the reception of pupils. Prof. C. D. Cole was secured as the 
Principal of the institution, and from the beginning its career has been one 
of marked prosperity.

   The year 1856 witnessed the inauguration of a new enterprise at Sparta-that 
of the publication of a county organ, under the editorial management of 
Messrs. Witter and McGinnis. This year, too, gave birth to the agitation of 
the railroad question. Considerable enthusiasm was awakened by the prospect of 
having the county favored with the presence of a railroad. Under the impulse 
of this excitement, public meetings were held in different parts of the 
county. By common consent a sumptuous barbecue was usually had in connection 
with these occasions. Earnest advocates of the enterprise would unfold the 
incalculable advantages that would arise from such a thoroughfare; roasted 
meats and delicate viands would be enjoyed, and then an opportunity would be 
afforded for subscribing to the establishment of the railroad. An active 
canvass of the question secured from the county the handsome subscription of 
$85,000. This liberal subscription secured the location and completion of the 
road through Conecuh. It may not be amiss, in this connection, to mention the 
liberal sub-scribers to whom the county is chiefly indebted for this important 
line of transportation. The list was headed by the names of Andrew Jay and J. 
V. Perryman, each of whom subscribed $5,000. Asa Johnson, Elijah McCreary, W. 
A. Ashley, James A. Stallworth, Caleb Johnson, Y. M. Rabb, M. L. Mosely, Y. S. 
Hirshfelder, and others, whose names could not be secured, followed with sums 
ranging from $1,500 to $2,500. Work was commenced soon after from the opposite 
directions of Montgomery and Pensacola.

   In the political contests in the county in 1857 and 1859, the Democrats 
again attained the supremacy, under the lead of John D. Cary. Elected in 1857 
to the General Assembly, he was re-elected to the same position during the 
following campaign.

   In 1858 a telegraphic line of communication was established from Greenville 
to Mobile. Passing through Conecuh, the enterprising company established an 
office at Evergreen.

   During the following year a brutal tragedy was enacted in Fork Sepulga. Mr. 
Allen Page, a prominent and highly respected citizen, had started a number of 
wagons, loaded with cotton, from his gin house, on Tuesday morning, toward 
Claiborne. In company with Mr. John Wright, Sr., he followed the wagons the 
next day, in a buggy, and reached Claiborne at night. Having cautiously 
concealed a gun beneath the cotton in one of the wagons, Irvin Ward 
accompanied the party until within a short distance of Claiborne, when he 
separated himself from them, and turned into a road leading to a landing above 
Claiborne, announcing his purpose to visit some relations living in Clarke 
county. Before sundering himself from the wagons, however, he informed 
himself, with the utmost minuteness, with respect to the intention of Messrs. 
Page and Wright to sell their cotton on Thursday, and to return home on 
Friday. Having passed beyond the view of the wagons, Ward retraced his steps, 
hurried back toward his home, and engaged with his brother, Stephen, in the 
formation of a plot to murder and rob Messrs. Page and Wright upon their 
return. Accordingly, they placed a small log across the road, on the east side 
of Little Brewer creek, and within six miles of the home of Mr. Page, in order 
to check them when they should reach the spot. One of the brothers screened 
himself behind a pine log, which ran parallel with the road, and in order the 
more effectually to conceal himself, had stuck here and there, about him, 
quite a number of gall bushes. The other was secreted about twenty yards to 
the rear. Both were armed with double-barrel guns. Ere long, the rumbling of 
the wheels of the buggy was heard, and the murderers lay silently awaiting the 
favorable moment to fire. The horse reached the log; a short colloquy ensued 
as to the strange appearance of the log across the road; some doubt was 
expressed with regard to the inability of the buggy to roll over it, when Mr. 
Wright proposed to alight and remove it. Just as he had thrown it aside, a 
load of buckshot was discharged into the bosom of Allen Page, who was seated 
in the buggy. He instantly threw up his hands and exclaimed, "I am killed," 
and was in the act of falling from the buggy, when Mr. Wright bounded forward 
and caught him. Just at this moment another barrel was discharged at Wright, 
the contents of which did but little execution, as but few shot penetrated his 
skin. His clothes, however, were sadly perforated by the bullets. It was 
afterwards ascertained that the most of the load of the second barrel took 
effect in a root of the log behind which Ward was concealed. Snatching up the 
lifeless body of Mr. Page, Mr. Wright applied the whip to the excited horse, 
and dashed up the road at full speed. He left the corpse at the home of Mrs. 
Bidgood, two miles from the scene of the horrible transaction. In a few hours 
the community was thoroughly aroused, and excited crowds gathered about the 
scene of the murder. A pack of negro dogs, belonging to Mr. Jones, was brought 
into requisition, but were unable to indicate the direction taken by the 
fugitive murderers. The most intense excitement, mingled with honest 
indignation, prevailed on all hands. The general reputation of Irvin Ward, 
coupled with his suspicious conduct on the day preceding the tragedy, led to 
his arrest. His younger brother, Stephen, was not suspected as being an 
accomplice, at the time. Irvin Ward was subjected to .a rigid examination 
before Justice K. R. Page. Upon his statement that he had been on a visit to 
relatives in Clarke county, a runner was sent thither, and it was ascertained 
that he had not at all visited Clarke. A committee of gentlemen was formed, 
whose duty it was to ascertain the whereabouts of every man in the community, 
for several days previous to the murder. The statements of the two brothers, 
Ward, were found to be false in many essential particulars, and they were 
seized and held in close custody, until further developments could be made. 
Finally, after the accumulation of considerable circumstantial evidence 
against them, they openly confessed themselves to have been the perpetrators 
of the bloody deed. This confession was made at the home of the deceased, and 
in the presence of about one hundred auditors. Public notice was now given 
that they would be hanged the following day at 1 P. M. at the spot where the 
deed was perpetrated, and just one week subsequent to the bloody transaction. 
Messengers were dispatched in all directions giving due notice of the proposed 
execution. Strong guards were placed around the house, and on every approach 
thereto. A brother of the murderers hastened to Sparta that night, and 
endeavored to secure the interposition of the sheriff on behalf of the 
murderers. But he would not interfere. An excited and determined populace had 
resolved upon the speedy execution of the murderers, and had determined to 
shoot down any parties who should undertake their rescue. A rude gallows was 
erected over the spot where the deed was perpetrated, the murderers were 
marched out in front of about forty citizens and to the place of execution, 
six miles distant. When they had come near the homes of the Wards, they were 
met by their relatives-the old parents, brothers and sisters, and the wife of 
Stephen Ward, bearing in her arms an infant of six weeks. The place of 
execution was reached, and a statement was made by the murderers. They said 
that no malice had prompted the bloody deed, for Mr. Page was among their best 
friends. He had relieved their wants, and those of their families, when their 
father could not. They had murdered him for the purpose of robbing him of the 
proceeds of the cotton. After this, the ropes were adjusted by P. D. Page, 
Esq., and William Wright, and they swung just at 1 o'clock, on Friday, the 
18th of November, 1859. When they had ceased to breathe, their bodies were 
taken in charge by the father and brothers. The sons of Mr. Page, deceased, 
sent a number of negro men to dig their graves and to assist in a decent 
interment. At the approaching session of the Circuit Court, bills of 
indictment were found against about forty of those who were most active in the 
prosecution and execution of the Wards, and bonds were fixed at $1,000. Judge 
J. K. Henry, at the next term of the Circuit Court, caused a nol. pros. of all 
the cases, and thus the public mind became quiet upon a subject which had 
engrossed it for so long a period.

   During the same year (1859), successful operations were commenced upon the 
Montgomery and Pensacola Railroad. From both directions the work began, but 
the road was not completed until about April, 1861. This is, to-day, one of 
the most important thorough-fares in all the South. It now constitutes a part 
of the great line operated under the auspices of the Louisville and Nashville 
Railroad Company. Entering Conecuh on its northern boundary, it penetrates it 
southward twenty-four and a half miles.

   The year 1860 marks an emphatic era in the political history of the 
country. Some of the questions which had their birth in the political 
struggles of former periods, now assumed serious proportions. Grave issues 
were involved in the coming struggle between the different political 
organizations of the Union. The acrimony of feeling between the Northern and 
Southern States, was aggravated by every recurring event. The long agitation 
had shattered in pieces the old political parties of the country. Split 
asunder in their Convention at Charleston, the Democrats proposed two 
candidates to the people-Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, and John C. 
Breckinridge, of Kentucky. Disintegration had also invaded the old Whig Party. 
The Union wing of the Whig Party named John Bell, of Tennessee, for President. 
The Republican Party was increased by accessions from both the Whig and 
Democratic Parties, and announced the name of Abraham Lincoln as their chosen 
candidate. The county of Conecuh shared in the intense excitement that 
prevailed throughout the whole country. It was convulsed by the canvass. 
Little else was done this year, than discuss politics. Vast crowds would daily 
assemble at the places of popular resort, to canvass the questions at issue. 
Stump speaking was a daily occurrence. Men were swayed more by passion than by 
calm judgment. The storms of war were gathering thick and fast. The period of 
conflict had been reached.

   The following is a list of county officers who served during the period 
embraced in the foregoing chapter:

JUDGES OF PROBATE.
1856-A. D. Cary.

SHERIFFS.
1857-A. B. Kennedy. 
1860-Isaac D. Johnson.

CIRCUIT CLERKS.
1856Mark B. Travis.

SENATORS.
1857-Daniel H. Horn.

REPRESENTATIVES.
1857-John D. Cary. 
1859-John D. Cary.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
History of Conecuh County, Alabama
By

Rev. B. F. Riley
Pastor of the Opelika Baptist Church

Columbus, Ga.;
Thos. Gilbert, Steam Printer and Book-Binder
1881

Chapter XIX

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