History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 1

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 756

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HISTORY OF ALABAMA AND DICTIONARY OF ALABAMA BIOGRAPHY

BY THOMAS McADORY OWEN, LL.D. Lawyer, Founder and Director Alabama State Department of Archives and History, and author of numerous historical and bibliographical publications

IN FOUR VOLUMES

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WREST

VOLUME I

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1921

Copyrighted, 1921, BY MARIE BANKHEAD OWEN

( + vols) 42.00 $

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1175991

Dedicated TO MY FATHER William Marmaduke Omen, Physician and TO MY FATHER-IN-LAW John Dollis Bankhead, Statesman

Unfailing and sympathetic friends in all my efforts

Little, little, can I give thee, Alabama, mother mine; But that little-hand, brain, spirit, All I have and am are thine, Take, O take the gift and giver, Take and serve thyself with me, Alabama, Alabama, I will aye be true to thee!

From "Alabama," by Julia S. Tutwiler.

PREFACE

Within these pages is to be found, under specific topics and biographical sketches, the history of a people mainly British by descent, conservatively progressive by tradi- tion and habit, deeply rooted in love of country, and with a genius for politics and government. With as fine a record of achievement as characterizes any of our sister States, we have shown with them an equal indifference to preserving our annals for the enlightenment and inspiration of posterity. Dr. Owen hoped to repair this omis- sion for Alabama.

The work is especially rich in aboriginal, pioneer, local, political, and military history and in biographies of men who have been leaders in their several professions and walks of life in the State. Every important event and period of our history has been treated, from the advent of DeSoto and his Spanish adventurers in 1540, to the welcome home accorded the returned soldiers of the World War, in 1919. A few persons worthy to appear in a book of this character are not included here owing to their failure to furnish data which they were asked by the author to supply.

We are, as a people, proud of our history. As individuals and families we boast of our good blood. But we have been careless about putting our claims into such form as will substantiate them to the satisfaction of future historians and critics. This work is an effort to overcome that failure, and to implant in the minds and hearts of Alahamians a consciousness of merit and of greatness, not that we may be boastful, but that we may realize our responsibility to those men and women who bore the brunt of pioneering, to those who staked all their hard earned gains upon the hazard of battle for honor's sake, who overthrew invasion, and who with dauntless courage preserved a civilization and brought a commonwealth to the forefront of a nation in science, material development, and civic aspirations.

Col. Albert J. Pickett collected much interesting pioneer history and left it in published form, but his work stopped at the period marking the very beginning of our Statehood. Lives of some of our public men have been preserved in brief form by chroniclers such as Smith, Garrett, and Brewer. A few local histories have been written, and school histories by DuBose, Brown, and others, but not until Dr. Owen conceived this "History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography," had any ambitious attempt been made to write the whole story and present it in one set of books available to all. To the preparation of his history as here given, he devoted his mature life. He had for his field of research the great library of the Alabama State Department of Archives and History into which he had gathered all available and extant records, both in manuscript and printed form, including old newspaper files and rare prints, pamphlets, bulletins, official reports, and the like.

When Dr. Owen died, so prematurely, his friends who had looked forward to the publication of his "History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography," won- dered if the book would now be finished and given to the world.

He had often expressed confidence in my ability to help on the work, so how could I fail him, now that his matchless brain and energetic hands were powerless! How could I fail to complete the task he had so set his heart upon, fail to give to the people he so loved, and who so loved him, the heritage he had left them? It was out of this sense of pity for him in his failure to reach the goal he had set himself, with the added sense, too, of duty to the people of Alabama who looked to him to write their

PREFACE

history, that I dared, with my humble talents and the limited equipment of one who had caught the enthusiasm but was without the technique, to attempt the task.

In the interest of truth I must say frankly that I could not have completed the work with any measure of satisfaction to myself or to the public, without the sympa- thetic and tireless aid of the staff in the Department of Archives and History whose members had been trained by Dr. Owen. Grateful acknowledgment is due to Peter A. Brannon, Curator, and to Miss Mary R. Mullen, Librarian, both of whom have rendered invaluable assistance, not only in research, but also in the work of composition. Ac- knowledgment is also made to Miss Toccoa Cozart, for a number of years a collector for the Department, and to Mr. H. F. Thompson, Prof. Henry S. Halbert, ethnologist and antiquarian, now deceased, Rev. Peyton Saffold, Miss Gertrude Ryan, Miss Dolly Owen, now Mrs. Harvey G. Geer, and to Thomas M. Owen, Jr. I also wish to make acknowledgment to the three young women assistants who have aided me with their faithful and efficient services, Misses Voncile Baxter, Mary Loughran and Isabel Saportas.

And lastly, I desire especially to express my gratitude to Governor Thomas E. Kilby, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Alabama State Department of Archives and History.

MARIE BANKHEAD OWEN

Thomas Ac Adory Owen, IL.D.

An Appreciation

BY HIS WIFE

WITH EXTRACTS FROM TELEGRAMS AND LETTERS RECEIVED BY HER AFTER HIS DEATH.

It is but fitting that the first pages of this book should be devoted to an expres- sion of appreciation of its author. Dr. Owen, who had proposed writing the history of his State from his early youth and who through the years that followed devoted much of his time and talents to gathering material for historical purposes, was not privileged to live to see the fulfillment of his aspirations. With the manuscript of the "History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography" well towards completion, he died suddenly, from the effects of overwork, on the night of March 25, 1920.

A sketch of Dr. Owen setting forth his ancestral line, his scholastic preparation, his literary and other achievements, with a list of the organizations to which he belonged and whose aims his fine constructive powers assisted in furthering, with other details of a personal and public character, may be found in the biographical section of this work. It will, however, be of interest to the people of Alabama whose traditions were so dear to his heart and whose annals he gathered, preserved, and placed in this form for dissemination amongst the people, to have a few further facts concerning his life in relation to this particular work.

It seems that no man, not even Thomas Carlyle, whose first manuscript of the "History of The French Revolution" was destroyed by fire, had greater obstacles to overcome than did Thomas M. Owen in his task of writing this book. He was privi- leged to be born of parents who had a full appreciation of the value of education and who quickly realized the extraordinary talents of their first born. Although his years in school and college came within that period of poverty and privation which was the common experience of the people of his State following the War of Secession, every necessary sacrifice was made by his parents in order that he might have train- ing necessary to fit him for the life of a professional man. He was glad to contribute diligent work on his own part to the efforts being made by those who loved him to give him his chance. Soon after his death his uncle, Prof. I. W. McAdory, in writing to his aged mother in reference to that period of his life, said: "Dear Sister: Your letter with the clippings came today. I have read all I have seen published about Tom. I knew him as very few men living knew him, from his boyhood until his death. His life written out in full would be an inspiration to the young people of our country. You and I know how anxious he was to go to school, how he worked his way through the preparatory school and through college. The leading teachers of the State a few days ago paid high tribute to his memory. He was, no doubt, the best known man in Alabama. I am glad I had some part in helping to educate him."

Dr. Owen went through the University of Alabama, leaving a record for scholar- ship and for number of subjects covered in the shortest space of time unsurpassed by any other student. During his senior year he also covered the law course, graduating with distinction in both departments. This combined course included so many sub- jects that it was impossible for him to appear in the class room for all recitations and

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AN APPRECIATION

lectures, but when examination days came he made his usual high averages, and this in addition to the fact that he commanded one of the military companies, and took an active part in debating clubs and other college activities. Through his long career, his power to grasp and retain knowledge was amazing to his associates, but despite this gift he was peculiarly social minded, and made his contribution of service to all the forward going activities of his times. By the time Thomas Owen had completed his course at the University, his school-boy determination to write the history of his State had become a fixed purpose in his mind and heart. But the necessary materials for such an undertaking were not at hand. The books extant at that time which could have been of use to him, were not available as there was no public library in Bessemer or Birmingham. Being without funds with which to buy those books, he borrowed a small sum of money from a member of his family for the purpose. But before he could invest in his coveted helps, the money had to be paid to a bank at which he had gone security for a friend. In no way discouraged, for he never was discouraged, he opened a law office and bided his time for fees with which to finish paying for his college education and to buy books for his historical work.

His first desire was to write a history of Jefferson County, and to do this he began interviewing old citizens and accumulating old newspapers, pamphlets, letters, and every other possible source of first-hand information. Through this writing from orig- Inal source material, he came to realize that a monumental history of the State should be written after the same method. Therefore he widened his sphere of inquiry and addressed himself to interviewing men and women in all walks of life.

Soon after his marriage, Dr. Owen removed to Washington City, where he resided for three years. There he came in touch with the scholars resident in the national capital, including such figures as Thomas Nelson Page, Ainsworth Rand Spofford, the great old scholar and head of the Library of Congress at that time, Dr. John Franklin Jameson, now head of the Carnegie Institution in Washington, Dr. Stephen Beauregard Weeks, the North Carolina historian, General John T. Morgan, and scores of other men ripe in scholarship, all of whom were sympathetic with his ambitions, and help- ful and inspiring. When he returned to Alabama he had already published his two books, "A Bibliography of Alabama" and "A Bibliography of Mississippi," and had helped to organize, in Washington, the Southern Historical Association.

For a while he resumed the practice of law, locating in Carrollton, Alabama. His new place of residence was at that time forty miles from a railroad, and his library, which had grown to large proportions, was carried in wagons that distance over the country roads. While living in Carrollton the death of Dr. Benjamin F. Meek, Pro- fessor of History at the University, occurred, and he applied for the position, but the Trustees selected another candidate. It was Dr. Owen's intention, if made Professor of History, to develop a great historical department and library at his Alma Mater, but being disappointed in his hopes there, he removed to Birmingham, where he opened a law office. But all the while his love for history and his desire to promote an interest in history in his State possessed him. He had by now evolved the idea of creating a Department of Archives and History that would be officially connected with the adminis- trative Department of the State. "Owen's Edition of Pickett's History of Alabama" had just been issued, in which he had brought the annals of the State up from the time where Colonel Pickett had left off his work, 1819, to 1890. The Alabama History Commission, of which he was Secretary and whose publications he edited, had just issued two interesting volumes of its proceedings, and these volumes, added to his own works already published, were a fine introduction for him as an historical scholar. With a genius for making friends and keeping them, he came to the Legislature of Alabama during its session of 1901 and laid before his friends in that body his plan for an Alabama State Department of Archives and History. These friends were thoroughly convinced of the practicability of such a Department of State, but refused to support the bill unless he would consent to take the directorship of the new depart- ment. His pledge given, the bill was introduced by Hon. Richard H. Clarke, of Mobile, and was passed by both houses with large majorities. This adventure into

AN APPRECIATION

new fields of political science-for Dr. Owen's plan was the first of its kind in the United States, though since copied by a number of States-was a tribute to the far-sightedness and patriotism of the legislators who supported it. Governor W. J. Samford was in the executive office and was, from the time when Dr. Owen called upon him in his sick chamber and laid his plans before him, a friend to the movement. He approved the bill on February 27, 1901, when it became a law.

Now having a small appropriation from the State for maintenance of the de- partment, Dr. Owen removed to Montgomery and began the administration of the new department in the cloakroom of the Senate, where for ten years he carried on his work, having for his devoted secretary his sister, Miss Dolly Owen, now Mrs. Harvey G. Geer, of Palm Beach, Fla. For fifteen years this sister aided him in his work, and this tribute to him would not be complete without here giving acknowledg- ment to her encouragement and loyalty to him personally, and to his dreams not only for a great department but for the completion of the History of Alabama, which was to be the crowning effort of his life's work. While all the collections that Dr. Owen made for the Department of Archives and History were gradually filling up the small quarters and overflowing into adjoining rooms in the Capitol, his private library in his home was also growing, having now expanded into thousands of volumes. His working hours were devoted to his office duties, but his evenings at home were given to writing, often keeping him at his desk until three o'clock in the morning. He had now finished his History of Jefferson County and histories of many other counties in the State, as well as many papers of a genealogical and historical character, and had them in manuscript form. He spent the evening of March 6, 1906, reorganizing certain of his reference books, going through some early Alabama correspondence which had been given to him personally, and getting his library in order to complete his History of Alabama, then well under way. When he finished his task, he remarked that he was now ready for doing the final work upon his history of the State. The next morning he left his Cloverdale home for his duties. Before noon of that day his house with its entire contents, including all of his twenty years' labor as an author was in ashes!

This loss was a blow that would have discouraged most men. It was one of the two great sorrows that came into his life from which he never recovered, the other being the loss of a young son a few years previous. But despite the destruction of all of his books of reference, of the irreparable loss of the source materials he had gathered from every quarter of the State, and of the manuscript which was the result of his years of labor, Dr. Owen began anew the collecting of such books as could be bought, and started again to write the History of Alabama. He had at one time intended to make of the work a consecutive narrative, but later he realized that the material afforded such a wealth of information that the purposes of history would be better served by an encyclopedia. In keeping with the other tragedies that had thwarted his efforts to complete his book, the last and overwhelming tragedy, Death, overtook him.

Though Dr. Owen was pre-eminently the scholar and student, he had no "scholastic pose," and he was as much at home in the company of the humblest man, woman or child as among the learned with whom he associated. He was never guilty of that aloofness from mankind that has characterized many students and scholars, but on the other hand was conspicuously active in the various associations and organizations of his city and State. While money making was never an object with him, he had a fine practical sense which was recognized by the business men of his city. On · several occasions he was offered salaries, far above that paid him by his official position, to take charge of large business enterprises, but this he never considered for a moment, saying that he had an objective in life which he considered of more importance than money making. Dr. Owen was a born organizer and executive, and this without any of that vanity or arrogance that so often accompany powers of leadership. In council, his characteristic was to speak last, listening to the opinions of his associates and carefully analyzing the facts brought forward. Then when he rose to speak his ideas were constructive, and usually his suggestions prevailed.

AN APPRECIATION

He was a man of deep faith and piety. He never retired after the day's work without kneeling in prayer. From the time when he was a university student and the blue temperance ribbon was pinned upon his grey cadet uniform by Mrs. Ellen Peter Bryce, until the night of his death, he was a "blue ribbon" man. His last public utterance was made a few hours before his death at a meeting of "The Thirteen," a club of professional and business men, of which he was a charter member, when he spoke most earnestly in behalf of the Federal Prohibition Amendment.

Dr. Owen was a good speaker, and was constantly called upon to make addresses or informal talks on patriotic and historical subjects. He was a deep student of the Confederate period, and of the lives of the civil and military leaders of that heroic time. He developed that period with greatest emphasis in the reference books of the Department of Archives and History and in his museum collection, where are to be found rosters of Alabama troops, old battle torn flags and records of every available sort.

He had a strong military strain in his blood and grieved because he was beyond the age and strength for participation in the World War. He believed that training and discipline were good schooling for every man, and attributed his own orderliness, respect for temporal authority, and unquestioning religious faith to the discipline that he received in home and school.

When Governor Kilby was advised of Dr. Owen's death he ordered the State flag on the Capitol and the United States flag that floats from its pole on the Capitol green to be lowered at half mast, and gave officially the following tribute: "Alabama has suffered an irreparable loss in the death of Dr. Owen. As Director and Founder of the Department of Archives and History he rendered service of immeasurable benefit to the State. His department, through its phenomenal efficiency, contributed materially to every branch of our government. His patriotic services in all causes for the up- building and advancement of his State endeared him to all our people. The death of Dr. Owen has deeply grieved me. (Signed) 'Thomas E. Kilby, Governor.'"

But lest posterity may think that the brief appreciation of Dr. Owen's work and character which I have set forth here is the statement of a biased witness, I take the liberty of quoting extracts from a few of the hundreds of telegrams and letters which came to me after his death:

EXTRACTS FROM TELEGRAMS

From Thomas C. McCorvey, Dean of the Department of History at the University of Alabama, under whom Dr. Gwen received his instructions in that branch of learning while a student. "The loas to the State is irreparable. There is none other who can bend the bow of Ulysses."

From Er-Governor William D. Jelks. "Am profoundly shocked and grieved at the loss of your husband, the incomparable man. My heartfelt sympathy."

From L. W. Josselyn, Director Birmingham Public Library. "Staff of Birmingham publle library has been working with Dr. Owen for many years in the development of library service. We had grown to both love and respect him as our great leader. The loss to the State and the country is irreparable."

From Ex-Governor Charles Henderson, to Thomas M. Owen, Jr. "It was with profound sor- row that I learned of your father's death. He did his work well and has left his impress upon the affairs of Alabama."

From Dr. T. W. Palmer, president Alabama Girls' Technical Institute. "Dr. Owen was truly one of the greatest men of our country."

From Dr. George Petrie, Prof. of History at Alaboma Polytechnic Institute. "In Dr. Owen's death an irreparable loss is sustained by the State and all history workers. No one can fill hia place."

From Robert C. Alston, of Tuscaloosa, sent from Atlanta, Ga. "The death of your distin- quished husband pains me deeply. No man of his generation has better served his State, which deeply mourns him."

From Dr. Eugene A. Smith, State geologist, University. "I am grieved beyond expression to hear of the death of your distinguished husband, my friend of many years. Your loss In his death will be also a loss to the whole State of Alabama because there is no one living who can even partially fill his place."

AN APPRECIATION

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS

From U. S. Senator Oscar W. Underwood, for whose campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency of the United States Dr. Owen woas secretary in 1912. "We had been friends since boyhood and fonght our battles together. His high character and sterling ability wili sur- vive him as a shining light. His death leaves a vacant place in the lives of all his friends."

From Dr. George H. Denny, President of the University of Alabama. "I want you to know that we always thought of Dr. Owen as standing in the forefront of our alumni, not merely in the distinguished service he rendered his state and his time, but also in the distinguished affection and loyalty he so freely gave to his alma mater. I know of no man who has lived and wrought in this generation who has meant more to the higher life of the commonwealth than did Dr. Owen. I was particularly touched by the tribute paid by Hon. John H. Wallace. He spoke the truth when be advanced the Idea that no one could correctly estimate the value of the 'refining' influence of Dr. Owen's life. That was a splendid tribute and it represents the truth."

From Robert C. Alston, Tuscaloosa. "I have had such admiration for Dr. Owen's work ! I sup- pose it will be very unpopular to say that he was tenching a people to know and appreciate their traditions ; yet, that was just what he was doing. I believe he did his work better than any other man in the whole country. No one else seems to have so completely perceived what the people needed, and no one could have gone about it more tactfully."

From T. W. Palmer, president Alabama Technical Institute and College for Women. "His departure is the greatest loss imaginable to our State. He stood in a class to himself in his chosen field of labor. The Department of Archives and History ranks foremost in the United States and probably in the world."

From Dr. George Lang, head of the Department of Philosophy, University of Alabama. "Not many men are held in such universal esteem for such sufficient reasons, as Dr. Owen was esteemed. It was my fortunate privilege to know him in several relations, and it was always with Increased satisfaction and admiration."

From Ralph Barrow, State Superintendent of the Alabama Children's Aid Society. "To many of the younger men of the State he was more than an official and more than a personal friend. He was to us a kind of god-father, and as you know, many of us were called, 'my boy.' His memory to us will always be warm and immortal."

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History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 1

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869- Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 756

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 756