Perry-Calhoun County AlArchives News.....HISTORY OF MARION, 1818-'35 March 9, 1909
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Shirley Mellon Dewberry dewberry@cableone.net October 29, 2010, 7:30 pm

Unknown Newspaper, Marion, Alabama March 9, 1909
Source: Newspaper (Name Unknown)
Marion, Alabama

Date: March 9, 1909

HISTORY OF MARION, 1818-‘35

	The improvements we have mentioned constituted mainly the entire town 
of Marion for several years.  Indeed, until the year 1828 it had the 
appearance of a private gentleman’s country residence.  The entire population 
in 1826 was 144 souls, including men, women, children and negroes.  The cause 
of this slow progress, in the way of improvement and population, was the 
uncertainty connected with the permanent location of the county site.  
Previous to the year 1828, the law authorized the change of both county sites 
and boundaries, by a mere majority of votes in the legislature.  After that 
year, the county boundaries were permanently established, neither they nor the 
county seats of justice could be altered, unless by a vote of two-thirds of 
the legislature.  The actual recognition of Marion as a town may be regarded 
as really commencing in 1828.  Stores and shops began to multiply, and the 
little village assumed all the bustle and importance of a thriving town.

				JOHN LOCKHART

	Mr. John Lockhart was born in Londonery, Ireland, in 1800, and moved 
to Athens, Ga., when twelve years of age.  In 1826 he built a log cabin east 
of Gaius Johnson’s store and commenced merchandising.  Finding trade dull, he 
left his goods with his brother, James and went to Pensacola, and from that 
point traded along the coast and to the -----------.  Returning to Marion in 
1829, he increased his business and employed Pig Lockett as clerk.

	Mr. Lockhart married Miss Emily R. Brame, daughter of Judge G.M. 
Brame.  Their children were: Louisa (Mrs. Ball), Eugenia (Mrs. Bernhard), 
Laura (Mrs. Pierson), George and Edward.  In 1833 Mr. L., was admitted to the 
bar as a lawyer, and gave his attention more particularly to the settlement of 
estates, which at that time was the most lucrative branch of practice.  His 
perceptions were so clear in such matters, that the most difficult settlements 
were the easiest arranged.

	He was a stockholder in the first railroad and steam mill.  His 
personal influence induced Mrs. Smith to sell the present site of the Judson, 
and the deed to that property is of his writing.

	Perry County in 1860 was insolvent, and its warrants heavily 
discounted, almost valueless.  Mr. Lockhart was elected treasurer, and in two 
weeks after his election, commenced paying county claims at their face value, 
and very soon the county was free from debt.  During his term of office the 
present court house and jail were erected.

	As one of the founders of the Judson Institute, he possesses a title 
to the undying remembrance and gratitude of this and succeeding generations.  
No regal crown, no patent of nobility can confer a distinction like this.  As 
time rolls on, it will but kindle to a brighter frame, the glory that gathers 
around an achievement like this.  He and his co adjustors in that work will 
find in it a monument to their memory, more enduring than brass, in the lives 
and virtues of the girls who have been lifted to the level of a glorious 
womanhood through the instrumentality of that grand old institution.

	He possessed a quick and ready sympathy, the outcropping of innate 
nobility.  He delighted in the companionship of children – a trail of 
character never found associated with any meanness, or sordidness of spirit.  
Children were poetry to his soul, as well as pictures for his eye; and to 
them, in turn, his very name embodied memories of kindness bestowed, and of 
little gifts, the fruit of his handi-work.

	He displayed that hunger for books and reading that ever denotes an 
active mind.  Not only was his intellect bright, even in his advanced age, but 
all who knew him were amazed at the brace spirit that to the last refused to 
yield to physical feebleness, or to succumb to misfortune.

	When young, he enjoyed a joke, and perpetrated as many as any citizen 
of Marion.  In 1836 the Presbyterian church was near the graveyard.  This 
church had one small window behind the pulpit.  One night after service, 
Deacon Boyd reported to Joe Scuddy, that a drunken tailor was asleep on one of 
the benches.  Mr. L. and Scuddy decided to wake him up, and arming themselves 
with long switches, they entered the church and fastened the door.  Several 
vigorous raps across the tailor’s back aroused him, and, frightened, he rushed 
around the church yelling, Murder! Murder! Murder! Pursued by Lockhart and 
Scuddy, who, when near enough, put in some sharp cuts with their switches.  
Several circuits were made around the church, when the tailor dashed through 
the little window, breaking every pane of glass in it, and scampered down 
towards town as fast as he could travel.  Dr. Atkins never learned who 
demolished his church window.  John Lockhart died Oct. 20th, 1883, and at the 
date of his death had been a citizen of Marion about sixty years.

				THE LANGDONS

	In 1826, Charles, Giles and Levi Langdon, from Connecticut, 
established a store in Marion, in a house afterwards occupied by Eli Loveland 
as a cabinet shop.  For many years this store was the largest in Marion, and 
was mainly indebted for its success to the energy and upright management of 
Mr. Levi Langdon, who, as long as he continued a citizen of our town, 
manifested more interest in its improvement than any twenty of its most public 
spirited citizens.  We will speak of these things hereafter.

				THOMAS MEANS

	Thomas Means, the first circuit clerk of the county, was a native of 
Boston, Mass.  In 1817 he landed from a pole-boat on the Cahaba river, at 
Burroughs Ferry, a cargo of codfish, which he had brought from Boston.  
Trading his fish to the settlers, and wishing to turn an honest penny, he 
manufactured trunks and covered them with deer skins.  While clerk he started 
to visit his native town, and died on the visit in the state of Georgia.

				THE PRIZE RING, RED FOX

	Red Fox, although not a “residenter” of Marion, was so intimately 
connected with, and such an active participator in, all the diversions of 
the “boys,” that he may be regarded as much a citizen of Marion as Severe 
Beat. 

	The Greeks placed in the grand square of Corinth a statue to 
Epistrates, who invented the trip in wrestling.  Red Fox deserved a temple for 
so utilizing this trip for twenty years that he was regarded as the champion 
wrestler and fighter of Perry county.

	Fox was low of statue, compactly made, with rounded limbs.  His dreamy 
black eyes did not index the latent courage, agility and physical endurance 
concentrated in his compact organism.  It was not material by what means he 
was elevated in the air, he invariably came down feet foremost.  Quiet, 
inoffensive, when not under stimulants – at all times ready to fight.

	In 1829, a gigantic specimen of manhood named Weaver, from Hamburg, 
sauntered into Price’s bar, and after “getting fou and unco happy,” boasted, 
that “he could whip any man on the hill.” Fox instantly accepted the 
challenge, and promised to satisfy him for 50 cents.  Weaver, stretching 
himself to his utmost limits, displaying his immense size to the gazing 
rustics, replied that “he wanted to fight somebody who could give him a square 
fight.”

	The preliminaries being arranged, the crowd fortified themselves with 
an extra drink, and, led by Jesse Price, who carried a “fresh bottle in case 
of accident,” moved down the street and out to the woods, where Mr. John Wyatt 
afterwards resided.  The market bell was rung, store closed, when the entire 
male population of Marion assembled around the prize ring.  

	The inequality of the combatants was apparent to the casual observer.  
It aroused in Madison West the recollection of the only Biblical narrative 
with which he was familiar.  Madison peddled “ginger cakes” about the street 
during the day, and “helped the boys” after night.  Hurrying home and into his 
mother’s room, he excitedly said, “Mother, fight on hand, hold my 
cakes!”  “Son, who are about to fight?”  “David and Goliath!” Joining the 
procession, he sang that little song: “David and Goliath went out for to 
fight – 
Goliath thought for to smite him. &e.

				THE FIRST BOUND

	The ring formed, the pugilist stripped and came to the “scratch.” 
Weaver planted a half dozen blows in the air, while Fox danced around 
him, “cutting the pigeon wing,” until his antagonist had expended his strength 
then jumping five feet, Fox seized Weaver under the arms, and employing his 
unique trip, Weaver measured his full length on the ground, with Fox 
uppermost, pounding him vigorously.  Weaver gasped “enough,” and Fox claimed 
the prize money.  Weaver, not satisfied with the result, declared he never 
said “enough,” and the bystanders, intensely interested in the amusement, 
demanded a second round.

				SECOND BOUND

	Weaver, now more cautious, husbanded his resources, and chasing Fox 
around the ring hoped to fell him by a terrific blow.   Fox, wary, “nimble as 
a cat,” sprang upon him, and in a second rolled him on the ground, sitting 
astride of his neck.  Fox inflicting such heroic punishment, that Weaver 
yelled “enough.” Fox decided there should be no uncertain sound this 
time. “Yell louder, so everybody can hear you.”   “Whoo-pee!” cried 
Weaver.  “Yell louder than that; I don’t want to ship you again.”  Weaver, 
perfectly subdued, gathered his remaining strength, and gave a war whoop that 
might have been heard to the limits of Marion.  Fox secured the 50 cents, 
which soon found its way into the till of Jesse Price.

	Powerful, residentor and linkister, were words in constant use by the 
early settlers.

	Messrs. Wood and Jack Cocke had just arrived in Marion from Georgia, 
and witnessed this prize fight.


Additional Comments:
This newspaper article was found in Lila Lane Roberts Mellon's family records.

Lila Lane Roberts Mellon
Born: November 20, 1887 Oxford, Calhoun County, Alabama
Died: March 18, 1982 Oxford, Calhoun County, Alabama
Buried: Oxford Memorial Gardens, Oxford, Alabama
Father: Richard Gaines Roberts Jr.
Mother: Eliza Wyatt Hornbuckle (d/o William Hornbuckle - Trustee & Steward 
Judson College, Marion, Alabama)
Spouse: William Foster Mellon

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