Etowah County AlArchives History .....Gadsden ************************************************ 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 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 11, 2012, 12:05 pm IV. GADSDEN. BY PROF. J. W. DU BOSE. The county of Etowah is situated in the northeastern part of the State, just above the thirty-fourth parallel of north latitude, and is nearly divided by the eighty-sixth meridian of west longitude. It is located in that section of the State, which is so rich in mineral wealth. The county also contains very productive lands, and large forests of the most valuable timber. The name "Etowah" is an Indian word, and signifies large trees. The county was first organized under the name of Baine County, in March, 1867. It was composed of parts of Cherokee, St. Clair, Marshal], Blount, Calhoun and DeKalb Counties, and contained 520 square miles. The Constitutional Convention of the same year, 1867, abolished the county of Baine, and in December, of the following year, 1868, the Legislature reestablished the county with the name of Etowah. The territory, out of which Etowah County was formed, was originally known as the Mississippi Territory, and was formerly occupied by the Creek and Cherokee Indians. The first white settlers, of whom we have any knowledge, were John Radcliffe and James Leslie, who settled in this county about the year 1800, the former settling at what is now called Atalla, and the latter at Turkeytown. In 1812 Genera] Jackson, with his army, passed through this county in a southerly direction, cutting a road through it to Fort Strother, at Ten Islands, on the Coosa River. From that point he marched to the battle-fields of Tallassahatchee, Horseshoe and Talladega. On his return from these battle-fields he marched through the county again, halting at Turkeytown, a few miles northwest of Gadsden, where he concluded a treaty of peace with the Cherokee Indians. This treaty put an end to the hostility of the Indians, and in a few years the county began to fill up with white settlers. In 1816 there was quite a large number of white settlers here, most of whom lived in the western portion of the county. The eastern and northern portions of the county were not settled up until 1833-4, when a large influx of immigration flowed into the whole State. In 1836 the Creek Indians opened hostilities on the whites, but were soon overpowered, and they surrendered in June of the same year. The leaders were captured and sent West in chains. All of the hostile Creeks were sent by the United States Government that year to the Indian Territory. The friendly Creeks were removed the following year, which was 1837; the Cherokees were removed in 1838. They were all collected at Ross' Landing, on the Tennessee River, which is now Chattanooga, Tenn., and were removed to their present location in the Indian Territory. It may be of interest to the general reader, to state here that Stan Wattie, a Cherokee Chief, who was a Confederate General, in the Trans-Mississippi Department, was born in Etowah County, in the little village now known as Turkeytown. Montgomery and Selma were the only markets for this county up to 1836; after that Wetumka, the head of navigation on the lower Coosa, became the principal market until 1846. The first steamboat that plied the waters of the upper Coosa, was built in Cincinnati, Ohio, and brought down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, and through the Gulf of Mexico to Mobile. Ala. From Mobile it was carried up the Alabama and Coosa Rivers, to Wetumka. There it was taken to pieces, and hauled on wagons around the shoals to Greensport, where it was rebuilt by Capt. James Lafferty, and launched on the 4th of July, 1845, and named the "Coosa." Plying between Greensport, thirty miles below Gadsden, and Home, Ga., it diverted the trade from Montgomery, and Augusta, Ga., became the principal market for all this country. Gadsden, the present county seat, was located and laid out in 1846, by Gabriel Hughes, Joseph Hughes and John S. Moragne, and was platted by W. S. Brown, engineer of the Coosa & Tennessee Rivers Railroad, who was here locating that road running from Gadsden on the Coosa, to Guntersville on the Tennessee River. The first postoffice established at Gadsden was in 1836, and was called Double Springs, and the name of the first postmaster was Mr. William Walker, who was succeeded by Gabriel Hughes, who held the office until 1846, when the name was changed to Gadsden. The next postmaster was J. D. McMichael, who held the position until 1865. Gadsden, nearly 42 years old, has had three postmasters. Dr. W. T. Ewing succeeded Mr. McMichael In 1865, and held it for twenty years, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, Mr. Daniel Liddel. The town of Gadsden grew very slowly until after the formation of the county in 1867, when it was incorporated and received a fresh impetus. The present court-house was built in 1870, and the jail in 1874. The present population of the city is about 5,000 inhabitants. The Alabama Great Southern, which is now a division of the Queen & Crescent Route, was built through this county during the years of 1677 and 1870, and was known as the Alabama & Chattanooga Railroad. The iron on the Tennessee & Coosa Railroad was laid in 1871, between Gadsden and Atlanta, on the Alabama Great Southern Railroad. During the past year, the Tennessee & Coosa Railroad has been extended a few miles beyond Atlanta to the foot of Sand Mountains. Among some of the old inhabitants of Gadsden, who are now living, we mention Dr. Joseph Bevans. A. L. Woodliff and R. B. Kyle. Doctor Bevans has practiced medicine over thirty years in Gadsden, and is to-day a valuable citizen. At the close of the war in 1865, Captain Woodliff was elected Senator from Cherokee County, as it was then known, and introduced the bill creating the county of Baine, which was passed in 1867. Col. R. B. Kyle, for thirty years has been so intimately associated with Gadsden and Etawah County, and has been such an important factor in their development that any history of Gadsden without him would be incomplete. We refer you to his biography, which you will find in this volume. The city of Gadsden was named for General Gadsden, of South Carolina. Hon. I. P. Moragne and his brother, J. S. Moragne, were from South Carolina, and, being great admirers of General Gadsden, named the infant city for him. It is situated at the southern terminus of Lookout Mountain, on the west bank of the Coosa River. It is about ninety miles south of Chattanooga, Tenn., fifty-two miles west of Rome, Ga., and fifty-five miles northeast of Birmingham, Ala. It is beautifully located at the foot of Lookout Mountain, which rises like a wall on the north to shelter it from the cold winds. The beautiful Coosa, a bold, navigable stream, flows at its feet, and furnishes water transportation for a large part of its traffic. Until the great awakening in the mineral region, Gadsden was content to be the center of trade for about seven or eight counties that surrounded her. Gadsden for many years has controlled a large trade from the surrounding counties, and not knowing the great mineral wealth placed by nature at her very door, has directed her energies in the commercial line. When Birmingham attracted the attention of the whole country, and sprang into such wonderful activity, Gadsden found itself right in the heart of the great mineral region of North Alabama, and has begun the development of her great mineral wealth. We believe no city in the South has more assuring prospects or a brighter future than Gadsden. Certainly no city in the mineral region of North Alabama has any natural advantages over it. Coal, iron and limestone abound in the mountains around it, while manganese, marble, slates and building stones of the best quality are to be found at its very door. Gadsden is situated on a large plateau, 700 feet above the level of the sea, about fifty feet above the highest water, with sufficient inclination toward the river to give it the finest natural drainage possible. North and west of it are Lookout Mountains, which furnish the most delightful sites for residences, and all within easy reach of the present business part of the city. On the east side of the city flows the beautiful Coosa. There is not a more important stream in the State than this river. It passes right through the center of the great mineral region of the State, and empties its waters into the Gulf of Mexico through Mobile Bay. This river supplies the city of Gadsden with the finest water, while it affords the opportunity for the cheapest, as well as the finest sewerage system in the world. Northeast of the city about three miles, there is a rapid mountain stream, which overleaps a large rock bluff, descending one hundred feet below into a mountain gorge, forming one of the most picturesque scenes to be found on the American Continent. These falls are known as "Nochalula," or Black Creek Falls. They will be described hereafter. While Gadsden's future will, in a great measure, be directed to development of the mineral wealth all round her door, she is not dependent upon it for her prosperity. At a convenient distance up and down the Coosa River are vast forests of long-leaf yellow pine, which excels all other wood in the production of fine lumber. This is now a very lucrative industry in Gadsden. For fifteen years it has been the principal industry of the city, and Gadsden is now manufacturing lumber at the rate of twenty millions of feet annually. The lumber interest is at present represented by the Kyle Lumber Company, the Gadsden Lumber Company, and the "Red Jack Company." These establishments, as before said, have an annual capacity of twenty million feet. These mills have attached to each of them large dry kilns and planing mills. So superior is the lumber manufactured in Gadsden that nine-tenths of the products of these mills have been marketed north of the Ohio River, and some of it going even to Canada. The Elliott Car Works have started under as favorable auspices as any similar enterprise in the South. They have four immense buildings, 50 x 200 feet each, and when in operation can turn out twelve cars per day. The works now employ about four hundred hands, and will doubtless be enlarged. The advantages enjoyed by this company are superior. The Kyle Lumber Company has contracted to furnish all the lumber required, both of yellow pine and oak, necessary for the construction of ears, while the Round Mountain Charcoal Blast Furnace has contracted to furnish the iron for car-wheels. Capt. J. M. Elliott, who is president of the car works, has also the management of the furnace, which is just above Gadsden, on the Coosa River. This furnace turns out a cold-blast charcoal iron equal to any on the continent, and the Elliott Car Company has made fair terms with this furnace for the iron to be used in the construction of its cars. All the wood and iron necessary for the construction of cars are manufactured and produced right here, and with no expense for freight. Gadsden has two iron furnaces, which perhaps it would be better to describe separately. The first, known as the Gadsden Iron Company's, is a large charcoal furnace, with a capacity of sixty tons per day. The iron made by this furnace is of the finest quality, and is made of the red fossiliferous ores, which are mined within one mile of the furnace. This ore is worked direct from the mines without roasting, and contains sufficient limestone to render it self-fluxing. The charcoal for this furnace is obtained from extensive forests up and down the Coosa, and the wood is brought to the ovens in barges. These forests will supply charcoal enough for several furnaces for an indefinite time. The second furnace owned by the Gadsden Furnace Company is one of the largest coke furnaces in the South, and will have a capacity of 120 tons per day. The furnace will go into blast about April 1, 1888. This furnace company owns thirteen miles of the finest soft red ores in Alabama. The furnace plant is located on the Coosa River, and immediately on the line of the Rome & Decatur Railroad, one mile northeast of the city of Gadsden. GADSDEN LAND AND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. This company was organized a year ago, and owns some of the finest property in and around the city of Gadsden. It has 700 acres of land, much of which is beautifully situated for the extension of the city. It also owns a large tract of land on the Highlands, immediately north of the city, and near to Nochalula Falls, which furnishes some of the most picturesque scenery to be found anywhere. These Highlands are very valuable for residences, as they command a magnificent view, stretching southward for a number of miles, and taking in the whole city of Gadsden. Just north of the city, on the Rome & Decatur Railroad, is located a $12,000 plant, in the shape of a paint-mill. This mill is newly built, with the finest and most approved machinery for making metallic paint. The capacity of the mill is twelve tons per day. One of the oldest as well as one of the best paying institutions of Gadsden is the iron foundry. In it all iron and brass castings are made, and everything made of iron, from an engine to the smallest castings. Besides the industries already named, we mention a machine shop, two sash, door and blind factories, and a large cotton warehouse. In addition to these, we have one National Bank, good schools, churches of all denominations, and a fine system of water works. Gadsden has lodges in fine working order of the following secret organizations: The Masons, including Blue Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter, and Commandery. Also an Odd Fellows lodge, a lodge of Knights of Pythias, one of the Knights of Honor. Also a Knights of Labor lodge. There is a Masonic lodge for colored persons, in addition to the above mentioned lodges. The streets of Gadsden are beautifully lighted with electricity, and nearly all the business houses are using the incandescent lights. The churches are lighted also with them. One of the finest opera houses of the State is to be found in the city. Its recent furniture is all of the most approved style. It has a seating capacity of 800. A year ago a stock company was organized with a cash capital of $15,000, for the purpose of building an ice factory. About the 1st of July everything was completed, and the city of Gadsden was using ice made in her own limits. The factory is complete in every particular, and works most admirably. Its capacity is twelve tons per day. Gadsden has three hotels, the Exchange, the Johnson House and the Printup. The Printnp, which is just now nearing completion, is a gem of beauty and architectural skill. It is made of stone and brick, four stories besides a basement, and is conceded to be one of the finest hotels in the South. There is a flourishing Young Men's Christian Association in the city. It has a hall open day and night to receive visitors and strangers. Without mentioning any of the projected railroads which will be built to Gadsden in the near future, we name the following railroads which are now running trains in and through Gadsden. The Tennessee & Coosa Railroad, which is intended to connect the two rivers from which it gets its name. It is completed from Gadsden to a point beyond Atalla, a distance of about ten miles. The Anniston & Cincinnati Railroad is nearing completion, and will soon run through trains between the points which give the name. The Rome & Decatur Railroad is running its trains through the city, but in a short time will have the road completed from Rome, Ga., to Decatur, on the Tennessee River. At the Foot of Locust street is the bridge of the Anniston & Cincinnati Railroad. This bridge is a magnificent iron structure, so arranged as to allow wagons and passengers to cross on it. It is a free bridge, and furnishes a thoroughfare to and from Gadsden for the eastern portions of the county. The society of Gadsden is refined and cultivated. The healthfulness of the place, and the beauty of its surroundings, have conspired to draw to it the best class of population, and in a few years no doubt its society will rival in culture some of the older cities of the New England States. Fine private schools, a graded public institute, with excellent churches of all denominations, leave nothing to be desired to those seeking a beautiful home with nice surroundings. The First National Bank of Gadsden was established April 1, 1887. Its cash capital is $50,000. It has an extensive line of deposits, aggregating over $100,000. The president, Mr. A. L. Glenn, is known in financial circles; while its popular cashier, Mr. W. G. Brockway, was in a manner born to the business, having from his earliest boyhood been trained to banking. The vice-president is Major R. O. Randall, a man of large experience and fine success in business matters. The directors are among the best men of Gadsden and men who own large interests in the city. The Bank has done a fine business, and its future is very bright. The probability is that the capital will be increased to $100,000 this fall (1888). Gadsden up to a year ago had two weekly papers, the Times and the News. On February 1, 1887, these two weeklies consolidated for the purpose of running a daily at a very early period. The consolidated paper is known as the Gadsden Times and News, and is regarded as one of the best weeklies published in the State. Meeks and Johnson, the editors and proprietors, are lifelong newspaper men, and have succeeded always in furnishing a good paper to the people. The Times and News will merge into a daily as soon as the railroads now in process of construction to Gadsden are completed. At present it is a weekly devoted to agriculture, politics, general literature and the news of the day. Its politics are Democratic. The Times before its consolidation with the News was one of the oldest papers in the State, having been established in 1867. They were consolidated in 1887. The News was established in 1880. Three miles northwest of Gadsden are situated the beautiful and picturesque Nochalula Falls. Black Creek flows along the summit of the southern spur of Lookout Mountain, for some distance, until it abruptly widens over a vast ledge of rock, falling one hundred feet into a whirlpool below. Like nearly all fine scenes in nature, it is impossible to give such a description as would convey to the mind of the reader an accurate idea of the beauty to be seen here. While not so grand as Niagara Falls, they exceed them in beauty and picturesque appearance. It is all nature's work, as art has done nothing to change or modify their appearance, but they possess all the wild beauty that they had in days of yore, when the Indian legend tells us, that the beautiful Star, Alivilda, of the Cherokee tribe, leaped over them to avoid going with the Creek chief to his distant wigwam. Five miles west of the City of Gadsden is the thriving little City of Atalla. It is situated right in the middle of the mineral wealth of the county. Its present railroad facilities are superior to those of Gadsden. It is immediately on the line of the great Queen & Crescent Route, which is one of the finest and longest railroad lines in the South. Besides the Queen & Crescent Route, Atalla has all the other railroads of the county centering and crossing there. The Anniston & Cincinnati Railroad, the Rome & Decatur, and the Tennessee & Coosa Railroads, all center in Atalla. This little city, like many other towns in the mineral belt, for a number of years has relied on agriculture for its support. Atalla has awakened from its slumber, and its enterprising citizens are now bending their energies toward the development of her great mineral wealth. Her population is increasing very rapidly, and it numbers now over 1,200. The city is improving quite rapidly, and in a short while several furnaces, which are now in process of erection, will be converting the fine iron ores around her doors into merchantable pig-iron. The society of this little city is very good, having excellent churches and fine schools. The location of the city is indeed fine and attractive, being surrounded on two sides by high hills, with two beautiful valleys coming together right above it. Atalla has a bright future before her. and her enterprising citizens are exerting themselves for her growth and prosperity. Atalla is largely engaged in the mercantile business, besides mining large quantities of iron ore, which is shipped to farmers in Tennessee and Georgia. The city has two newspapers, the New Age, published and edited by A. G. Lee, and the Atalla Herald, published and edited by T. J. Watkins. Both of these papers are Democratic in politics, and are working for the development and prosperity of Atalla and Etowah County. In addition to the cities of Gadsden and Atalla the county of Etowah has several other prosperous villages, among which we mention Walnut Grove, as remarkable for its good society, excellent churches and fine schools. [See Etowah County, this volume.] Additional Comments: Extracted from: Northern Alabama: Historical and Biographical Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land 1888 PART IV. MONOGRAPHS OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIES AND TOWNS IN NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ALABAMA, TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVE PEOPLE. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/etowah/history/other/gadsden424gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 21.9 Kb