Randolph County AlArchives News.....Newspaper Abstracts for MARCH 1898 March 1898 ************************************************ 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: Candace Gravelle tealtree@comcast.net February 1, 2005, 12:51 am The Randolph Toiler NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE RANDOLPH TOILER", Wedowee, Randolph County, Alabama for MARCH 1898 NEWSPAPER issue of Friday, March 4, 1898 LOCAL News The following are the principal convictions by the circuit court last week: Henry Wright, colored, murder in second degree, 16 years John Shaw, white, plead guilty to assault, was fined $500. and 286 days hard labor William Palmer, white, convicted of assault and fined $500. John Dobbs, colored, plead guilty to carrying concealed weapons, fined $50. Austin Sterling, colored, convicted of larceny, sentenced to 3 years Edward Jordan, colored, seduction, convicted and gave bond for $10. a year Wyatt Turner, white, assault with weapon, fined $50. Ed Hall, convicted with assault with a weapon, fined $50. William Clifton, white, assault with weapon, $20. Bill Newell, colored, disturbing religious worship, fined $25. Sol. Bowlin, colored, grand larceny, 13 months in penitentiary George Jones, colored, grand larceny, 13 months in penitentiary George Johnson, colored, grand larceny, 13 months in penitentiary ____ HAYWOOD News Bro. Z. Hardigree will preach here the third Sunday in this month. He is an aged man and capable of telling us something good. Come and hear him. __ NEWSPAPER issue of Friday, March 11, 1898 RANDOLPH COUNTY Editorial Correspondence of the Montgomery Advertiser Roanoke, Ala. March 1st The change in appearance of Roanoke twenty years ago as compared with the present day is very great to the visitor who has not been here during the intervening time. The business then was transacted in two or three stores and the population all told would scarcely number more than 300 souls. Now there is a population in the neighborhood of 2,000 people and business houses whose trade is equal to that done in the largest cities in Alabama. Roanoke is beyond question the emporium of Randolph County. Settlements of white people were not made in this part of the state as early as in the southern and western portions. The Indians were here in great numbers by reason of treaty and otherwise when they had vacated other portions of the state. An act of the legislature approved December 18, 1832 established the county of Randolph. It was named for the distinguished but eccentric Virginian, John Randolph. The land embraced in the act was included in the last cession by the Creek Indians. As a general thing the Creeks clung to the streams and swamps and alluvial lands lying on them, and thus many of the creeks bear Indian names. Sometimes a stream was named from a town near it and at others the town gave its name to the stream. The Tallapoosa River which runs the full length of the county means "cat town" and the river undoubtedly recieved its name from a town somewhere on its banks the locality of which is not now known. Wedowee, the seat of justice, is said to mean "falling water" and derives its name from the creek nearby which in much of its course tumbles over high falls which would make its name quite appropriate. Roanoke takes its name from the old Carolina or Virginia town of the same name but that name is an Algonquin Indian word meaning a shell, such as wampam was made of. Twelve miles west of Roanoke is Louina which gets its name from an old Indian woman who lived near the site of the present village. She was the widow of one of the subchiefs and very wealthy. It is said by old residents that when old Louina set out for the west she had one pony loaded with silver dollars and it is tradition among old residents that the Indians declared that there was a valuable silver mine just above the village, but if so its locality is yet hidden. Other Indian names of streams are: Hoote Archee, now called Corn House Creek; Kitchomadogga from Ketchopitake, litterally "maize pounding block", meaning the mortar in which they pounded corn. Weoka, "sounding water" and Wehakda, "white water" are two other creeks with appropriate Indian names. High Pine Creek was called Chulehalwe, meaning the same. Wesobulga means "many sassafrass trees or bushes". Thus did the aborigines leave for all time a record of their language in the streams and towns where they made their homes. There are no stirring incidents in early or later days connected with Randolph County. Its ways have always been those of pleasantness, barring occasional personal troubles and the severing of relations between a large part of the population in 1861. In this correspondence there has been an intentional ignoring of current political matters but some past events in this county are somewhat anomalous and worthy of note for historical purposes. The majority of voters of the county up to the secession period were Democrats, but many were intense Union men. The class supported Douglas for President and when the trouble between the North and South arose many of them adhered to the Union side. Ex Governor W.H. Smith, W.T. Wood and Robert S. Heflin were men of influence. They had large followings and they bitterly opposed secession. Numbers of them left the county and entered the Union lines where they remained until the conflict ended. At least one full company of men joined the Federal Army from the county, while there were hundreds of Union sympathizers who remained at home. When matters began to readjust themselves after the war closed there was a large Republican vote cast by white men in Randolph County. This was somewhat surprizing for as a rule the white people of the state were opposed to the Republican Party from tradition, from principle and especially because of the kind of legislation enacted by Congress for the purpose of controlling the southern states. The white republican vote is still large in the county, very nearly one half. It is cast by men who are good citizens and who enjoy the confidence of their friends and neighbors. The bitterness of the past has disappeared and while there is not contention at the polls there is peace and good will between the political opponents. Wedowee since 1836 has been the county site. It is about fifteen miles north of Roanoke. In 1839 the name was changed to McDonald but a year or so afterwards it resumed and has ever since retained its Indian nomenclature. The first courts in the county were held at what is now called Blake's Ferry, then Triplett's or Young's ten miles west of Wedowee. There has been but little growth at Wedowee. It boasts a fine school and a court house that will bear comparison with any in the State. Its cost was $21,000. It is 74 x 96 feet, has eight well proportioned and arranged rooms for offices on the lower floor with wide hall and two fire proof vaults. There are five rooms, besides the large court room upstairs and a spacious gallery capable of holding a large crowd. The tower is 120 feet high and contains a fine tower clock. The roof is of slate and the entire building is regarded as fire proof. The county has lost more than one court house by fire and the authorities have acted wisely in seeking to avoid such a disaster in the future. There has always been more or less gold mining interest in this county. The distance from railroads and the cost of handling machinery has kept down what would have proven to be a profitable industry. The Pinetucky Gold Mine twelve miles north of Wedowee has recently put in modern machinery and much work is being done. It is operated by the Fair Milling and Mining Company. The W.L. Ayres gold mine is a curiosity. It is situated on the old Arbachoochee Copper land just on the line between Randolph and Cleburne counties. The vein is about the shape and size of a large hogs head, one lying on top of the other. There is a hollow space in each roll about three inches in diameter. About a mile and a half west of Wedowee, D. and A.D. Smith have just opened up a rich mine. The assay made at Denver, Colorado shows $27. per ton. On this same land about seven miles southwest is the Bradford mine which has been recently purchased by capitalists. Prof. Aughey is at present prospecting on this land and as the representative of capitalists has purchased several pieces of property. There is a fine Kaolin property between the Little and Big Tallapoosa Rivers belonging to Birmingham parties on which they have expended about $80,000. This Kaolin has been made into fire proof brick tested in Boston furnaces and stood the test. The Wood Copper mines are close on to the line of Randolph and Cleburne counties and are now being worked. The population of Randolph County in 1870 was 12,006. In 1890 it was 17,219 of which 13,984 were white and 3,235 were colored. Nearly all the colored people are in 3 beats, only scattering ones being found in other portions of the county. Although Randolph County was formed in 1832 it was not until 1835 that there was a vestige of habitation, where is now the thriving town of Roanoke. In the latter year James Furlong built a small store house for the trade of the people who were scattered for miles around the place. The site of the present town was owned by James and Hugh Hathorn who possessed many negroes. They erected a blacksmith shop where work was done by negro smiths as the neighborhood needed. Hugh died and was buried here. His brother James sold his lands and moved to Mississippi. Wallis Wood located here in 1834 and James and W.D. Mickle in 1835. Many of their descendants are now honored citizens of the community. The father of Dr. Wilson Heflin settled about seven miles west of here in 1836. He was the progenitor of the Heflin family, members of which have been conspicuous in the legal, political and medical history of Alabama. Isham T. Weathers, father of Capt. B.F. Weathers of this place, settled first at Louina, where he conducted a store and traded with the Indians in 1834. The Indians were not hostile and soon afterwards joined their kindred in the western reservations. Mr. Weathers had a remarkable life in many particulars. He died here March 10, 1897 and his wife on Oct. 10, 1897. They reared twelve children all of whom survived them. In October 1896, there was a family reunion at which all of their children were present. In addition, grandchildren and great grandchildren to the number of 88 were present while forty three were absent. From the day of the marriage of these two worthy people, until they were laid way to rest, only two of their children died, and they were infant grandchildren. This is a remarkable record of unbroken family relations. (to be concluded next week.) ___ A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY The first day of the present month was the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival in Wedowee of Col. C.C. Enloe. He came from North Carolina with his parents, five brothers and a married sister, the wife of the Rev. Mr. Gibbs who is the father of our worthy townsman Mr. A.H. Gibbs. Of the entire party, Messr. Enloe and Gibbs are now the only survivors and there is not now in Wedowee a living person who was here at that time, except Col. Enloe. Mr. Gibbs lives in Edwardsville, full of years and honors. Either of these gentleman are capable of placing on record interesting reminiscences of the past and valuable historical facts connected with the early settlement of this section of the state and the Toiler suggests to them that it would be a pleasing pasttime for the leisure hours of the evening. __ NEWSPAPER issue of Friday, March 18, 1896 RANDOLPH COUNTY (Continued from last issue) ROANOKE Hon. W.A. Handley who represented this district in Congress in 1870 and has since represented this district in the State Senate, was in business here when Roanoke was quite a small place. He and other citizens clubbed together and erected a handsome two story building and established a fine educational institution. It was presided over by competent teachers and assistants. This school brought Roanoke of old more prominently before the public and was the cause of quite of number of people moving here for the education of their children. It was not however, until 1887 when the Georgia Central Railroad extended a branch of its line to this point that the town began to grow. That was eleven years ago, yet the change has been phenomenal. The trade now handled by the wide awake merchants of this place runs up to several millions of dollars. It all comes by wagons from Chambers, Tallapoosa, Clay Cleburne and Randolph counties in Alabama and Troup, Heard and Carroll counties in Georgia. The streets today present an animated scene yet is was called a dull day. Wagons came in numbers on every road leading to town; it was surprizing to, even at this late date, to note how many were loaded with cotton. Wuite a number came in for fertilizer as farming operations have been pushed at a rapid rate since Christmas and the land is being thoroughly prepared for planting corn and cotton. The black belt farmers do not farm like those in south Alabama or in this part of the state. There are few negro farmers. The great bulk of tillers of the soil are white people. They cultivate as a rule more than 150 acres of land but they never slight or neglect their work. Ride out from here in any direction and you will see industrious men and boys ploughing in the fields. The land is all thoroughly broken up and prepared for fertilizing and seeding. Roanoke was organized as a town ten years ago. There is a Baptist and Methodist Church here. Roanoke has a neighbor five miles to the east whose relations are so close as to make it almost a part and parcel of itself. It is the neat and picturesque factory town of Rock Mills, so called because the bed of Wehadkee Creek and the Falls are of solid rock. The cotton factory which stands on rock was erected many years ago and until it burned down in 1882, was called Rock Mills. There was no insurance on the building but Mr. F.P. Randle went to work and largely through his efforts it was in operation again in 1883. It is now known as the Wehadkee Creek Cotton Mill. It has 75 looms and 4,000 spindles but at present is doing no weaving. Mr. Randle says orders are now on file for six months ahead and could be more if he saw proper to work day and night. On Monday, goods and yearns alone being made were shipped to Milwaukie, Chicago, Cincinnati and New York. The mill gives constant employement to 85 white people who earn fairly good wages. Two thousand bales of cotton are consumed annually. There is both water and steam power and the latter comes in handily now when there is a scarcity of water throughout the country. About 400 people live in Rock Mills. There is a Methodist and Baptist church, several stores and a fine school house and Masonic Lodge. ________ LOCAL News A young drummer named J.L. Price, who was representing a Memphis drug house, got on a spree in Roanoke last Saturday and Sunday and was found dead in bed Monday morning. __ Mrs. Clifton succeeded in securing a pardon for her son Isaac and they returned from Montgomery on Monday. We understand Judge enson and perhaps all the jurymen who tried the case signed the petition for his pardon. ___ LOFTY News Napoleon J. Rookus was here Sunday displaying his musical talent. He is always welcome in our midst. __ Mr. John Breed returned from Carrollton, GA a few days ago with a load of flour and a large dinner bell. __ Mr. Gabe Daniel and family of Kaylor were visiting relatives here a few days ago. __ CHRISTIANA News Mrs. Gregg has been sick for nearly two months and is still quite sick. __ WEHADKEE News We are pained to note that Mr. Shaderick Lewis has been confined to his room several days with la grippe. __ HIGH SHOALS News Miss Adel Ussery is visiting her aunt, Mrs. Luna Lee at Wehadkee. __ NEWSPAPER issue of Friday, March 25, 1898 LOCAL News Mrs. Salina Stallings, living about two miles south of town is not expected to live. She has a cancer on her breast. Mrs. Stallings is an aunt of Mrs. J.W. Young of this place. __ The post office address of Mr. W.A. Dean is Josephine, Collin County, Texas where he has located for this year, after which he will decide whether or not to move his family to the Lone Star State and make it his permanent home. __ Mr. David Kirby of Haywood and Miss Estelle Weathers of High Shoals were married on Sunday last. __ IN MEMORIAN OF REV. A.P. KEY Rockdale, Ala. March 22, 1898 It is with a feeling of sorrow and deep regret that I say a few kind words and pay this last sad tribute to the memory and worth of our late lamented friend, neighbor, minister and fellow citizen, Rev. A.P. Key. When we saw his coffin lowered in his grave at Union Church cemetery we realized how weak a hold we have on the slender thread of life. Here was a man still in the prime of life with an athletic frame, strong constitution and vigorous mind who but a few days ago was seized with this dreadful disease, typhoid fever, from which he partially recovered but relapsed and could never be restored to consciousness. He was sick nearly three months. Brother Key was every inch a man. He was built on a broad and splendid plan. He neither scorned or cringed and was neither tryrant nor slave. He was pronounced and outspoken in his views and expressed his honest thoughts, without fear or favor. He had nothing to conceal. His imposing form, his bright face and merry laugh will be sadly missed fromt he presence of his friends. Clouds of sunshine pass over his grave; birds on the tree tops will sing their merry songs in the morning twilight; sparking bubbling waters will pass down the ceaseless stream; loving hands will plant flowers on his grave and dew them with their tears. The funeral services were conducted by our most esteemed brothers, J.H. Hester of Lamar and G.T. Harris of Wedowee, which were very appropriate, touching, causing many tear brimmed eyes. He leaves a helpless and harmless family, a wife and seven small children to the mercies of a charitable world. He joined the Missionary Baptist Church while very young and began the ministry soon afterward. He married Miss Anna Talley, at the age of twenty years. Nine children were born to them, two died in infancy. He was 36 years old at the time of his death. He was one of the most loved and will be one of the most missed. ___ File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/nw145newspape.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 19.1 Kb