Saintclair County AlArchives History .....St. Clair County 1888
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 12, 2011, 9:30 pm

XVIII.
ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

    Population: White, 13,500; colored, 2,500. Area, 630 square miles. Woodland,
all. Coosa and Cahaba Valley lands, 430. Coal measures, etc., 2,000 square miles.

    Acres—In cotton (approximately), 14,750; in corn, 25,450; in oats, 4,603; in
wheat, 9,840; in tobacco, 50; in sweet potatoes, 230.

    Approximate number of bales of cotton, 6,500.

    County Seat—Ashville; population 250; on the Alabama & Great Southern
Railroad, forty miles northeast of Birmingham, Ala.

    Newspaper published in the county—Southern Egis (Democratic).

    Postoffices in the County—Alluxla, Ashville, Beaver Valley, Branchville,
Broken Arrow, Caldwell, Cook's Springs, Cornelia, Cropwell, Easonville, Eden,
Fairview, Greensport, Kelley's Creek, Lochthree, Moody, Odenville, Poe,
Riverside, Round Pond, Seddon, Slate, Springville, Steel's Depot, Trout Creek,
Whitney, Wolf Creek.

    St. Clair County was founded in 1818. Quite a number of aborigines roamed
over its soil, or still occupied its territory then, and among the old records
are found deeds of land from the Indians to the white settlers. While the
county's resources are just coming into notice, its historical character,
coincident with that of the State of whose territory it forms a part, has been
known ever since its creation. It is the only county in the State, mentioned by
name in Chambers' Universal Knowledge — it is, the only one that has furnished
more than one Governor for its own and other States.

    Its soil is memorable as a part of the Jackson campaign in the War of 1812
against the Muscogees, which aboriginal commune were the natives of this county
at that time. There are still trace of the encampments and defenses of the
military, as well as many evidences of Indian settlements in various parts of
the county. Besides the Indian town Litafutchee, once situated not far from
where the county seat is now located, is a relic of the ancient empire of the
Red Man's dominion here, preserved on the pages of our State History.

    The northwestern boundary of the county is Blount Mountain, a spur of the
great Sand Ridge. In the same corner is Chandler's Mountain. The table lands of
those elevations are noted for fruit culture, and no better conditions exist for
sheep raising. Besides the level plateaus are submissive to agricultural life,
and in this particular, owing to the fertility of the soil, are very productive,
and can be made very profitable. For health and enjoyment no more desirable
locations can be found in the South. The mineral character of those mountains is
well known—coal, lime and iron are found in places, with excellent rock, while
timber is abundant.

    But the principal coal beds of the county lie south in the neighborhood of
Broken Arrow, and along the East & West Railroad. Here, owing to the peculiar
formation of hills and small valleys, between the ridges the soil is even more
diversified than in the northern part of the county—the country around is
broken, undulating, and the ridges narrower and less steep than further north.
The surface features are just such as one would naturally expect in a section of
mineral characteristics varied by agricultural pursuits.

    While the recent industrial progress has not concentrated at one point or
centre in the county, so to speak, the effect of general material development
all over its territory has been very marked in the improved condition of
society, and is visible in the numerous thriving and enterprising communities
springing up in all directions. New, Broken Arrow, Fairview, Ragland, River
Side, Sedden, Pell City etc., are familiar names in the newspapers. The lumber
business along the railroads, rivers and large creeks has increased to
immense-proportions, within a few months.

    Six years ago only one railroad passed through the county near its western
boundary. Now, besides the Alabama Great Southern—a link of the great trunk line
of the Cincinnati Southern—the Georgia Pacific traverses our territory south,
and the East & West pierces the very heart of the coal and iron region, giving
life and vigor to hundreds of before latent industrial operations. Other
railroads are projected into the county and still others are in view. St. Clair
lies directly on the line of the great railroad belt through the mineral and
timber regions of the south to the Gulf, and on the East & West line from the
Atlantic coast to the populous Mississippi regions of teeming wealth and
progress. It is probable that both Anniston and Birmingham will be compelled to
draw from the natural resources <>f this comity. Unfortunately for the latter
city, neither of the great lines of railroad mentioned pass through the sections
of our territory that would give it the greatest advantages by opening roads to
the great wealth stored away in our hills and forests. Hut it will be seen that
the advantages to travel and shipping afforded by transportation lines in this
county are almost equal, if not entirely so. to the best in the State, and they
are sure in a short time to be unsurpassed in the South.

    Quite recently several mining and improvement companies have been
incorporated to operate in in this county. These have invested largely in
mineral lands, and sooner or later a greater industrial era will begin here.
Active operations, in this respect, are secured by the amount of capital already
scattered among the land owners of the county.

    The agricultural prospects of the county are in a flattering condition, and
the farmers have not been so generally in a better financial condition, since
the war. The products of the soil are cotton, Irish and sweet potatoes, with all
the cereals of a temperate climate. Potatoes of both kinds grow abundantly. The
sorghum crop seldom fails, and the syrup manufactured from this cane is much
superior usually to the grades of syrups shipped to our local markets. This
county will produce a finer texture of cotton and more to the acre on an
average, with eare and attention to cultivation, than can be produced elsewhere
in the State. Corn can be raised in greater abundance than in the corn growing
States with proper cultivation—the soil seems, adapted naturally to this cereal
growth, if planted early, but the crop is too generally left to take care of
itself when it needs most attention.

    Lands are remarkably cheap, but this will not be long the ease, Grasses and
clover grow luxuriantly, though little or no cultivation is given to such crops,
the soil naturally producing grasses enough for home purposes without culture.
The dew, black and huckle-berries grow abundantly, while the raspberries and
strawberries can be cultivated to great advantage.

    The local educational advantages can hardly be excelled anywhere, as the
people are paying great attention at this time to literary and business culture.
Every community has its local school, and new school buildings are going up
where they are needed. The same progress is making in religious and moral
culture. In this respect St. Clair's history of late has been remarkable, from
the new places where public works have been going on. The county is almost free
from criminals or law-violators. Even the new-comers, if wild and reckless when
they come here, soon adapt themselves to the quiet, peaceful habits of the old
element of our society.

    The valuation of taxable property in St. Clair county for the year 1887 is
$2,493.239, as shown by the abstract of assessment filed with the auditor.


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.
MINERAL BELT.


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