"Down Chipco Way" - Coosa Co., AL
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NOV 1999


"Down Chipco Way

    Some of the best farms of the early days were located on Chipco
Creek.  Top soil along this creek was some 9" deep.  No fertilizer was
needed.  One of the very first early settlers was Ike Willingham, who
married Samuels, daughter of Major Ben Samuels of Lincoln County,
Georgia.  Ike Willingham moved to what is now Hanover and built an
imposing home on old Turnpike road.  His farm lay mainly on the
headwaters of Chipco Creek.  He opened up this farm on the late 1840's. 
Ike Willingham owned slaves and used this labor on the farm.
    The next farm in line down the creek was that of John Garnett, who
lived on the Turnpike road.  Then came that of Rainer Dobson, who reared
a large family.  The Dobson family have held this farm to the present
time.  P. J. McAdory, next in line owned much land and was one of the
leading citizens of Coosa County for a long time.  A little farther down
the creek was the farm of John A. Logan who was a successful businessman
and operated a plantation farm many years.  Still farther down the
Creek, George Gothard owned and operated a successful farm.  Next to his
place was that of Jack Miller.  Then came the farm of one of the most
successful farmers of his day - W. S. Darden.  He, too, reared a large
family.  Next farm holder was J. T. Miller, whose farm was one of the
largest of the County and one of the best.  Next land owner in line or
in the flow of Chipco Creeek was John A Smith, Sr.  Later John A. Smith,
II operated this farm.
    Just south of the west part of the J. T. Miller farm was Lindsey
Smith, whose farm was mainly on Jack's Creek but Chipco Creek flowed
nearby.  The last of the farms on Chipco was that of James Smith, who
held his farm until recent years.  I was typical that the early settlers
looked for bottom land first.  Of course, throughout the length of
Chipco Creek much of the cultivated land was hill land and it was the
first to wash away in row crop farming.  Much of the bottom land is
still fairly fertile and still makes for cattle raising." (1)

(1)The Story of Flint Hill of Times Past and Present  by John D.
Samuels, Jan. 1969, page 44. This is a pamphlet that was printed and
distributed at Flint Hill Methodist Church, Coosa Co., AL