Conecuh County AlArchives History .....History of Conecuh County 1881
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 25, 2004, 12:31 pm

CHAPTER XXIV.

"Peep o' Day "--Darkness Clearing Away--Advancement of Order-Returning Signs 
of Prosperity-The People Becoming Themselves Again-A Glance at Current Events 
up to the Present.

   The period about which I now write, was anticipated in the closing remarks 
of the last chapter. Several years elapsed before the people of Conecuh could 
withdraw sufficiently far from the reign of disorder to address themselves to 
the re-establishment of their institutions, and the resuscitation of their 
shattered fortunes. But a steady growing resolution was possessing the people, 
and gradually the signs of returning prosperity began to show themselves in 
every quarter. Of course this growing change was largely due to the revolution 
in politics. The combined powers of ignorance and selfishness were gradually 
giving way before the strong assertion of intelligence and public-
spiritedness. Instead of being represented by men who were hostile to the 
public interest, the people were eventually able to send representatives of 
their choice. The wholesome legislation so sadly needed by the masses in their 
depressed condition, was eventually secured, and impartial officers elected to 
execute it.

   The colored people, having realized the extent of the boon of liberation, 
and the relation which bound them to the whites, resumed, with commendable 
spirit, their former habits of industry in the field, the shop, the home, and 
thus contributed, in no small degree, to the prosperity which all, in common, 
now enjoy. Few have been the events that have disturbed the increasing growth 
of harmony in Conecuh, within the last few years.

   In the summer of 1877 a painful event occurred in the quiet town of 
Evergreen, and one, the circumstances of which rendered it more painful, 
because of the parties connected therewith. Sheriff B. M. Burns, of Monroe 
county, while on official business in Conecuh, was engaged in a game of 
billiards with William Ashley, son of the late Senator Ashley, when a 
disagreement arose between them, and Mr. Ashley was shot and killed by Sheriff 
Burns. Intense excitement was created in both counties by the sad and 
unexpected tragedy, because of the prominence both of the slayer and the 
slain. After two years, Mr. Burns was tried at Evergreen and sentenced to hard 
labor for the county for a limited term of months.

   To recount the events which have transpired from year to year, would be to 
tell the deeds of a deter-mined people to make their section fairer, better 
and more inviting, than during any period of the past. Of the material 
elements with which they have to deal, I have occasion to write more at length 
in a subsequent chapter.

   The following list contains the officers of the county from 1870 up to the 
present time :
    
JUDGES OF PROBATE.

1874-F. M. Walker. 
1880-F. M. Walker.   Resigned and was succeeded, by gubernatorial appointment, 
by his son, P. C. Walker.

1880-Perry C. Walker.

SHERIFFS.
1869-James Fortner.   Retained in office, under the Reconstruction Acts, until 
1871.

1874-John Angle.
1877-Robert J. McCreary. 
1880-John Angle.

CIRCUIT CLERKS.
1874-George Christian. 
1880-William Beard.

SENATORS.
1870-William Miller, Jr. 
1874-William Miller, Jr.   Successful contestant of the seat with Gen. E. W. 
Martin, before the tribunal of a Republican Legislature.
1874-E. W. Martin,   Seat given him upon the decision of the Democratic 
Legislature, that he was the year before fraudulently ejected.
1877-J. H. Dunklin.  Died before the expiration of his term.
1878-David Buell.  Elected to fill unexpired term.
1880-G. R. Farnham.

REPRESENTATIVES.
1872-N. Stallworth. 
1874-N. Stallworth. 
1876-A. J. Robinson. 
1878-Eli Clarke. 
1880-A. J. Robinson.


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



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