The Case of a Masonic Emblem - Coosa Co., AL ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. ALGenWeb File Manager - Lygia Dawkins Cutts ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Sun, 01 Nov 1998 03:26:12 -0600 Contributed By "Ronald D. Bridges" The Case of a Masonic Emblem - Coosa Co., AL During the latter part of the Civil War, Union soldiers were making a raid in Coosa County, such raids took place at about the time General Sherman was moving out of Atlanta destroying any sort of property that might weaken the South. Sherman, of course, was headed toward Savannah, Georgia. A few miles from Socopotoy and near Hatchett Creek a platoon of Union soldiers came upon a cotton mill operated by Colonel Bradford. Steps were taken by the officer in command of the Union troops to set fire to the cotton mill. Dry wood and pine knots had been gathered and all was ready to burn the factory. However, Colonel Bradford noticed that the officer in command was wearing a Masonic ring. Colonel Bradford, who himself was a Mason, make such fact know to the officer in charge and asked that he spare the mill. And so it was done, the cotton mill was not harmed. It is of interest to know that Colonel Bradford came South from upstate New York some seven or eight years before the war, and built the mill, using mainly slaves for the building and also to operate the mill. This mill was said to be the first cotton mill ever built in Alabama. Colonel Bradford, although a native of New York State, had taken up arms in defense of the Confederacy. He raised a company for the Confederacy and led such a company until he was wounded and discharged. He had just returned from active service in the Confederate Army when the near burning of the mill took place. The mill was never run, after the Civil War. The old crumpled walls of the mill can still be seen. The spot is pointed out as the site of Bradford Factory. Colonel Bradford after the war, moved to Montgomery where he operated a small candy store." (1) (1) The Story of Flint Hill of Times Past and Present, a pamphlet written by John D. Samuels about 1968, page 33.