Marshall County AlArchives History .....Marshall County 1888
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 3, 2011, 5:46 pm

MARSHALL COUNTY.

    Population: WVhite, 14,000; colored, 700. Area, 500 square miles.
Woodland, all.

    Acres—In cotton, approximately, 16,500; in corn, 27,100; in oats, 3,400; in
wheat, 5,800; in rye, 150; in tobacco, 48; in sugar cane, 50; sweet potatoes, 243.

    Approximate number of bales of cotton in round numbers, 5.500.

    County Seat—Guntersville; population, 500.

    Newspaper published at County Seat—Democrat.

    Postoffices in the County—Albertville, Arab, Bartlett, Bean Rock, Blue Rock,
Cedar Ridge, Cottonville, Fowler, Friendship, Grassy, Guntersville, Henryville,
Hillian's Store, Hyatt, Kennamer Cove, Lot, Lumpkin, Marshall, Martling,
Meltonsville Mill, Minorville, North, Oleander, Fendergrass, Peters, Preston,
Ragsdale, Red Apple, Red Hill, Reedbrake, Sidney, Southern, Swearengin, Warrenton.

    One of the first white men to settle in this county was John Gnnter, a
Scotchman, who located among the Cherokee Indians and married a beautiful Indian
girl. The Cherokee's originally owned the section of the State whereof Marshall
county now forms a part. They had a village near the present site of Red Hill, a
point about twelve miles southeast from Guntersville.

    John Gunter had three sons. Of these, Edward served with Gen. Andrew Jackson
at the battle of Horseshoe, and was with that warrior throughout the whole war.
Sam, another son, died on Town Creek about 1835. The third son, John, became,
with Edward, a leader among his people and they both went with the Cherokees
about the year 1837, where they both died.

    Another early settler was Hugh Henry, who came to Marshall county in 1828
from Upper East Tennessee. He sold goods at Gunter's landing on the south side
of the Tennessee river. He was successful in merchandising and accumulated some
wealth which the vicissitudes of fortune in some measure depleted before his death.

    Hugh Henry was the father of the present heads of the house of Henry,
Messrs. Albert G. and Patrick Henry, whose fame as reliable and safe merchants,
is second to none in the eastern wholesale markets.

    Among the early pioneers who were prominent men were William Black, Arthur
C. Beard, James M. Macfarlane, and others.

    About the year 1835 the country had become sufficiently settled to cause the
organization of Marshall county, which event was properly celebrated in 1836.

    Among the prominent citizens now living who were here about this time are:
Samuel K. Rayburn, Washington  T. May,  Judge Lewis Wyeth and Albert G. Henry.
These gentlemen are still (March, 1888) in excellent health, although in each
case past "three-score years and ten."

    At the time of organization and for some years afterward there was
considerable rivalry in the location of the county seat, that matter having
been, on three several occasions, left to the will of the people. The first
election made Claysville, two miles opposite Guntersville. across the river, the
place selected. Here court was held during the years 1836-7-8.

    In the latter year the seat of government was changed to Marshall, a place
immediately in the center of the present town of Wyeth City, and about one mile
from the present court house in Guntersville. Here, for the years 1839—40—41 the
seat of justice remained. Still another election changed the county seat to
Warrenton, a beantiful village five miles away to the West. Here it was suffered
to remain six years.

    In the year 1848 the town of Guntersville was growing and increasing her
trade to such a point that it became an incorporated town.

    Through the far-sightedness of Judge Louis Wyeth, this place captured the
county seat during the year 1849, the change being made principally because
Judge Wyeth offered to donate a handsome brick court-house to the county on
condition of the seat of government being permanently located at Guntersville.
This was done, the courthouse was built, and Guntersville has since been
enjoying uninterruptedly the honor of being the seat of government for Marshall
county.

    The otlicials [sic] who constituted the first county court which met at
Claysville were as follows: county judge. Washington T. May; county clerk,
Richard S. Randles: sheriff, Purcival M. Bush; circuit clerk, J. M. Macfarlane.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Northern Alabama: Historical and Biographical
Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land
1888

PART III.
HISTORICAL RESUME OF THE VARIOUS COUNTIES IN THE STATE.
CEREAL BELT.


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