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SA
UTHE FRY
SES
-
IK. Little.
THE
HISTORY
OF
BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA,
FROM 1815 TO 1885.
WITH SKETCHES OF SOME OF HER MOST DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS, AND GLANCES AT HER RICH AND VARIED RESOURCES.
BY JOHN BUCKNER LITTLE, B. A.,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, AT TUSCALOOSA.
WITH TWELVE ILLUSTRATIONS.
A land without ruins is a land without memories-a land without memories is a land without history .- Father Ryan.
LIBRARY OF COOST NUG 5 CITY 6107 OF WASHIWO
CINCINNATI: Elm St. Printing Co., Nos. 176 & 178 Elm St. 1885.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1885, by JOHN BUCKNER LITTLE, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
Electrotyped by the Elm Street Printing Co., Cincinnati, O.
PREFACE.
-
THE people of Butler County have long expressed a desire to have a book published, containing the interesting history and a review of the natural resources of the County. The author was requested, by some of the prominent residents of the County, to undertake the preparation of such a book.
While in the County, during the summer of 1884, he began the collection of the data for a complete map of the County, and the materials for writing her history. These facts have been arranged by the author, at odd hours, during the last six months. The author has endeavored to present facts in a plain and simple way, without aiming at the graces of elaborate his- tory or the vivid coloring of exciting romance.
Many inaccuracies will no doubt occur, owing to the differ- ent statements given concerning some particulars, and the author was forced to exercise his own judgment in some instances. A few facts here and there, that should be mentioned, are omitted entirely for want of authentic information. If the materials had been collected ten or fifteen years ago, while many of the older settlers of the County were still living, the errors would occur less frequently. But as it is. the humble volume is put before the people of Butler County, with the earnest hope that it may meet with their approval and receive their hearty sup- port.
(iii)
iv
PREFACE.
The author begs leave to acknowledge his great indebtedness to Benjamin F. Meek, LL.D., and Eugene A. Smith, Ph.D., pro- fessors in the University, for kind encouragement and valuable suggestions, which have proved of much benefit in the prepara- tion of the work. Also to Professor John Summerfield Daniel, for kind assistance rendered. Valuable information has been received from many other gentlemen, among whom the follow- ing deserve special mention : C. J. Armstrong, Judge S. J. Bolling, Ransom Seale, Dr. Job Thigpen, Major D. G. Dunk- lin, W. F. Hartley, Joseph Dunklin, W. H. Flowers and Joseph Steiner, of Greenville; Warren A. Thompson and Wm. H. Traweek, of Monterey; E. M. Lazenby and Thomas Glenn, of Forest Home; O. C. Darby, John F. McPherson and Wal- ter Bennett, of Garland ; Daniel Peavy and R. S. Pilley, of South Butler ; Lovet B. Wilson and Oliver Crittenden, of Oaky Streak; Elias McKinzie and John Kimmons, of McBrides ; J. W. Hancock and John McPherson, of Three Runs; John F. Barganier and R. H. Bush, of Dead Fall; John J. Flow- ers, of Bolling; Captain E. C. Milner, Professor J. M. Thigpen and Major A. Glenn, of Georgiana. Also to Mrs. Ellen Seale, of Monterey, and Mrs. I. M. P. Henry, of Greenville.
The following publications have been frequently consulted, and have thrown much light upon points of interest and dis- pute :
Pickett's History of Alabama, Garrett's Public Men of Alabama,
Brewer's Outline History of Alabama, The Trade Issue of the Greenville Advocate.
J. B. LITTLE. MARCH 2, 1885.
CONTENTS.
-
PART I.
CHAPTER I. PAGE.
Geographical Position - Geological Formations - Different Varieties of Soil-Virgin Growth-Slopes-Drainage, Etc., 15
CHAPTER II. Earliest History-Formation of the County-Early Settle- ment, Etc., 19
CHAPTER III. The Ogly Massacre-Death of Captain Butler and Others- The Erection of Forts, Etc., 25
CHAPTER IV.
The Rapid Settlement of the County After the Indians are Driven Away, Etc., 34
CHAPTER V.
Establishment of Commerce-Mail Routes-The Seat of Justice Located at Greenville-General Growth and Prosperity of the County, 40
CHAPTER VI.
Great Need for Conveniences, such as Grist Mills, Gins, Blacksmith Shops, Etc., 44
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vi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII. PAGE. Biographical Sketch of Ex-Governor T. H. Watts, . 47
CHAPTER VIII.
The War Between the States-The County During this Time, 53
CHAPTER IX.
Condition of the County After the War, .
58
CHAPTER X.
A General Description of the Present Resources of the County and Its Prospects for Future Development, . 60
PART II.
CHAPTER XI.
Pine Flat,
71
CHAPTER XII.
Fort Dale, .
74
CHAPTER XIII.
Greenville,
.
78
CHAPTER XIV.
Greenville, 1885,
.
95
CHAPTER XV.
Ridgeville,
.
100
CHAPTER XVI.
Sketch of Hon. W. H. Crenshaw, . 103
CONTENTS.
vii
CHAPTER XVII.
PAGE.
Manningham, .
105
CHAPTER XVIII.
Sketch of Warren A. Thompson, .
108
CHAPTER XIX.
Dead Fall,
III
CHAPTER XX.
Sketch of Judge Benj. F. Porter, · 114
CHAPTER XXI.
Monterey,
CHAPTER XXII.
Sketch of Colonel T. L. Bayne, .
132
CHAPTER XXIII.
Butler Springs,
. I36
CHAPTER XXIV.
Sketch of Judge Anderson Crenshaw,
141
CHAPTER XXV.
Ancient Mounds in Butler County, .
143
CHAPTER XXVI.
Oaky Streak,
.
145
CHAPTER XXVII.
Garland, .
154
CHAPTER XXVIII.
South Butler,
156
CHAPTER XXIX.
Sketch of Colonel Sam. Adams,
158
120
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXX.
PAGE. Sketch of W. W. Wilkinson, .
.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Forest Home,
.
.
165
CHAPTER XXXII.
Georgiana,
172
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Starlington,
175
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Sketch of Colonel H. A. Herbert,
177
CHAPTER XXXV.
Shackelville,
.
186
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Bolling, .
. 188
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Sketch of Mrs. I. M. P. Henry, . 191
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Sardis,
195
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Toluka,
.
197
CHAPTER XL.
McBride's,
198
CHAPTER XLI.
Press of Butler County,
200
CHAPTER XLII.
Bear's Store.
210
160
CONTENTS.
ix
CHAPTER XLIII.
PAGE.
Rocky Creek, .
.
212
CHAPTER XLIV.
Roper Wells,
.
.
213
CHAPTER XLV.
Sketch of J. K. Henry, Judge, · 215
CHAPTER XLVI.
Steiner's Store, .
.
216
CHAPTER XLVII.
Dunham Station,
.
218
CHAPTER XLVIII.
Mobile and Montgomery Railroad, . .
219
CHAPTER XLIX.
The Medical Profession in Butler County,
221
CHAPTER L.
The Bar of Butler County,
CHAPTER LI.
County Officers, 1885, .
232
CHAPTER LII.
Voting Precincts.
236
CHAPTER LIII.
Churches and Places of Worship,
237
CHAPTER LIV.
Our Wealthy Men, .
,
.
239
CHAPTER LV.
Members of the State Legislature,
241
224
X
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER LVI.
PAGE.
Officers of the County, . 244
CHAPTER LVII.
List of Post-Offices, Etc., . 247
CHAPTER LVIII.
War Record of the County, · 248
CHAPTER LIX.
Conclusion,
· 252
ILLUSTRATIONS.
- -
OPPOSITE PAGE.
City Hall,
80
Court House, 65
Colonel W. H. Crenshaw, 103
Greenville Collegiate Institute, 142
Hon. Hilary A. Herbert, M. C., 178
Judge Benj. F. Porter,
II5
Methodist Episcopal Church at Greenville,
93
Residence of J. C. Richardson, Esq., . 28
Ransom Seale, Esq., 233
Residence of W. R. Thagard, 206
Governor Thos. H. Watts, 47
W. Wilkinson,
160
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PART I.
THIS PART OF THE WORK CONTAINS A GENERAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.
History of Butler County, Alabama,
CHAPTER I.
Geographical Position-Geological Formations-Dif- ferent Varieties of Soils-Virgin Growth- Slopes-Drainage, Etc.
THIS county is situated a little south of the cen- ter of the State, and borders Lowndes on the north, Crenshaw on the east, Covington on the south, Conecuh on the southwest, Monroe on the west and Wilcox on the northwest. It originally contained thirty townships, but has been dimin- ished by the formation of Covington and Crenshaw Counties. There are twenty-one and one-half townships now in the county, making about 765 square miles of territory, the most of which is woodland.
The larger portion of the county is underlaid with rocks of the tertiary formation. These rocks are covered with deep strata of drift, vary- ing from twenty-five to one hundred feet in depth, at different localities in the county. In the south-
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16
THE HISTORY OF
ern part of the county the cretaceous rocks are exposed, and, from the amount of phosphoric acid contained in them, the soil here is by far the most productive in the county. A part of these rocks are also overlaid with drift, giving rise to a sandy soil on the hills and a calcareous variety in the swamps.
This productive region of prairie-about forty- five square miles in the northwestern corner of the county-owes its fertility to the amount of phos- phoric acid contained in the lime rocks, which are constantly exposed to the disintegrating effects of the weather, and are continually being broken down and dissolved, enriching the soil and making it yield an abundant harvest of different kinds of agricul- tural products.
These lands, drained by Cedar and Wolf Creeks, need no fertilizer of any kind, and when properly ditched, have been known to produce well for forty and fifty years in succession. The Drift in the county is generally of a light silicious nature, containing clay of different colors, varying from dark brown to deep red. The color is commonly due to the amount of organic matter present and the form of the iron oxide. There are some red clay hills in the county that contain as high as ten per cent of iron in combination.
In some parts of the county the tertiary rocks are exposed, and give rise to a yellowish brown loam that is very sticky when wet and easy to crumble when dry. This variety of soil is difficult
.
17
BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
of cultivation, and has a low value in the market for farming land. The outcrop is four or five miles in width, and extends several miles across the county from below Butler Springs east, in township ten, to the neighborhood of Greenville, where the strata are overlaid with red clay. Many tertiary shells, in a good state of preservation, may be found in different localities along this outcrop. All the mineral springs in the county flow from the tertiary deposit.
The whole of the slope drained by Persimmon and Pigeon Creeks and their tributaries, is oak and hickory uplands, with long-leaf pine, except in a few places where the tertiary or cretaceous rocks are exposed. In these places there is generally short-leaf pine, if any pine at all. The basin drained by Cedar Creek was covered with a virgin growth of oak, hickory, cedar, walnut, sweet gum, ash, dogwood, poplar, elm, etc., the most of which has long since been removed and consumed, leav- ing this section almost destitute of timber.
There are no mountains in Butler County, and but few hills of extraordinary height-the highest of these not being over two hundred feet. The Cedar Creek basin is by far the deepest in the county, and is bordered by the loftiest peaks and cliffs in this whole section of country.
The creeks have gradually worn their beds southward, leaving a gentle slope on the north side and a steep, rugged hill on the south side of the swamp. All the small streams and creeks that
18
THE HISTORY OF
run into the larger ones generally empty on the north side, and rarely ever from the south. This fact is very perceptible from an examination of the map at the end of the book.
Geographically, the whole county is divided by a high ridge into two slopes, or watersheds. By referring to the map of the county, the reader will find that it is divided into two unequal water- sheds, the northwestern and the southeastern, the latter being much larger than the former. In 1812 General Andrew Jackson cut out a road on this di- viding ridge. This road, now known as the Old Federal Road, was cut from Montgomery to Mo- bile, by way of Fort Deposit, Fort Dale, the Buckalew Place, Shackelville and Claiborne. All the water falling in this county, on the southeast- ern side of this road, is emptied into the Conecuh River, and that falling on the northwestern side into the Alabama River. The creeks that drain the northwestern slope are Cedar, Wolf, Breast- work, Pine Barren and Reddock's, with their tributaries. The other slope is drained by Persim- mon and Pigeon, and their different tributaries.
19
BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
CHAPTER II.
Earliest History .- Formation of the County from Conecuh and Monroe-Named in Honor of Cap- tain William Butler-First Settlements by the Whites-Description of the County at That Time.
THIS county was formed from Conecuh and Monroe, by an act passed December 13, 1819, by the Legislature while in session at Huntsville. This was the first session of the Legislature of Alabama as a State. The House was composed of forty-five members, with James Dellet, of Mon- roe, as Speaker; the Senate of twenty-one mem- bers, and Thomas Bibb was President. William W. Bibb was inaugurated first Governor of the State on the 9th of November, 1819, before Con- gress had yet admitted Alabama into the Union as a State. The name of Fairfield was first pro- posed for this county, but was changed, on the passage of the bill, to Butler, in honor of CAPTAIN WILLIAM BUTLER. This brave captain was a native of Virginia, and was of a restless and am- bitious nature. He lived in the State of Georgia for a few years, and was, while there, a member of her Legislature, and was also connected with the militia of the State. He soon came to the Terri- tory of Alabama to satisfy his adventurous charac- ter, but did not remain here long before he was killed in a horrible manner by the Indians, near
20
THE HISTORY OF
Butler Springs, on the morning of the 20th of March, 1818. While on his way from Fort Bibb, in the Flat, to Fort Dale, in company with four other men, Captain Butler was wounded and thrown from his horse, -but attempted to make his escape. Seeing that this was impossible, he resolved to die fighting the enemy. By his pluck and skill, he succeeded in killing one of Savannah Jack's bravest warriors, and severely wounding several others who attacked him, but the unfortu- nate soldier was finally overcome by the numerical strength of the bloodthirsty savages, who not only took his life, but who left his mangled body in the open forest, after having beaten him almost to a jelly with ramrods, scalped him, and cut off his ears and privates, and stuffed them into his mouth. He was found in this condition the next day.
Captain Butler was exploring the new country previous to the Ogly massacre, and had taken refuge in Fort Bibb, until the Indians should be driven away. He volunteered his service to go along with any person to carry some important message to Fort Dale, which was situated in another part of the county, about fifteen miles distant. Unfortunately, his daring courage caused him to lose his noble life be- fore he had scarcely time to make it useful to his fellow-men. His remains, along with those of Daniel Shaw and William P. Gardner, were buried the next day by a detachment of men sent by Colonel Samuel Dale for that purpose; and the
21
BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
dense forest, where these young heroes were killed, was their burial-ground ; and the mild wailing of the wind, as it quietly whistled through the branches of the towering pines, was their only mourner for many years.
In the year 1858, or thereabout, after a rest of over forty winters undisturbed, the decayed remains of these adventurous patriots were removed to the city of Greenville and buried in the old cemetery. A large concourse of citi- zens were in attendance when the remains were quietly deposited in their final resting place, and not a single gun was fired in memory of their heroic lives.
Joseph Dunklin took an active part in having the bodies removed, and he deserves to be highly commended for the noble and patriotic motives which prompted him to be so conspicuous in such a good work. The pall-bearers on the occasion were Joseph Dunklin, Judge Samuel J. Bolling, Ezekiel Pickens and Joseph M. Parmer-four of the oldest residents of Greenville. Hilary A. Herbert, who is now one among Alabama's most distinguished statesmen, delivered a beautiful and patriotic address, which was filled with praise of the sacred names of our first fallen braves. After the delivery of the address, resolutions were offered and unanimously adopted by those present, to raise money for the purpose of erecting a suitable monument over the graves of these dead heroes. Unfortunately, the war between the States soon
22
THE HISTORY OF
followed, and the requisite amount of money was never raised for purchasing the marble shaft for marking the spot of Captain Butler's last resting place, and showing to the world that his name still lived, although he himself was dead.
Previous to the war, however, Hon. Benjamin F. Porter removed to Greenville with his interest- ing family. His kind and cultured wife sought the graves of the buried heroes, and immediately took steps to have a tomb erected to mark the sacred spot. Existing circumstances prevented her from receiving any encouragement from the people, and she was forced to give up all hopes of their assist- ance in the matter. In 1861, greatly to the honor and memory of her illustrious name, Mrs. Porter purchased a small slab of marble at her own ex- pense, and had it placed over the grave of the noble William Butler.
It is to be earnestly hoped that the good people of our county will, in the near future, take active steps for having a lofty shaft raised in some con- spicuous place in Greenville, in memory of the man whose name Butler County now so proudly bears.
The exact date of the first settlement made by the white people in the limits of this county, is not entirely authentic. It is believed by some to be as early as 1814, and by others to be about 1816. The author has compromised and put it at 1815. James K. Benson is supposed to have settled in the Flat as early as 1815, and built the
23
BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
first house ever erected in this county. It was built near where the Pine Flat Methodist Church now stands, and was made of logs. About the same time, or shortly after, William Ogly and John Dickerson came with their families, and made a settlement on the Federal Road, about three miles below where Fort Dale was afterwards erected. In the fall of 1816, a party, composed of the following persons, came from the State of Georgia, and pitched their tents in the dense forest of Pine Flat: Thomas Hill, and his two sons, Reuben and Josiah; Warren A. Thompson ; Cap- tain John H. Watts; Benjamin Hill, and his son Isaac. They brought with them horses, cattle, wagons, tools, and enough provisions to last them one year. These settlers worked very energetic- ally to prepare for their families, which were brought during the winter of the next year. In the fall and winter of 1817, a good many emigrants stopped in this county, near Fort Dale, and on the head of Cedar Creek, the names of all of whom the author is unable to give. Among them were the families of Thomas Gary, Colonel A. T. Perry, James D. K. Garrett, and Andrew Jones. John Murphy and Alph. Carter had already located be- low where Butler Springs are situated.
Butler County presented quite a different ap- pearance at this early period of her history from what it does to-day. The whole country was a deep forest of oak, hickory, pine, chestnut, chin- quapin, poplar, sweet and sour gum, etc., with
24
THE HISTORY OF
not a stick amiss. All the heads of small streams were covered with a thick undergrowth of switch- cane, and the swamps were perfect wildernesses of cane-brakes. Where the land was at all fertile, the canes covered the sides and tops of the hills as well as the bottoms. Thousands of wild ani- mals infested the forests, and rendered the nights hideous with their unfriendly and discontented growls, as they roamed the wilderness in search of food. Hundreds of bears of various sizes rambled up and down the hills, large herds of deer gal- loped through the thickets, and flocks of hungry wolves made the hearts of the new settlers beat with fear, as they howled yearning for prey.
In these early days, the emigrants lived almost entirely upon the game of the new country. This consisted of deer, turkey, squirrel, opossum, rabbit, raccoon, and all kinds of game-birds. A large portion of the time was at first taken up in hunting and trapping, the farm receiving but very little attention for several years. The settlers at first lived in small, rudely constructed cabins, which afforded good protection from the hungry wild beasts, but only little comfort to the inhab- itants. A good many scattered, unfortunate In- dians, were still to be seen wandering from place to place, lamenting the destruction of their favor- ite hunting grounds. The constant echoes of the woodman's axe, as it proceeded to level the forest, told them that civilization was soon to be intro- duced into the savage land.
-
25
BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
CHAPTER III.
Further Settlement of the County by the Whites- The Conduct of the Indians on Seeing Their Land Completely Taken Possession of-The Ogly Massacre-The Death of Captain Butler -The Erection of Forts Bibb and Dale-The People Forced to Remain in the Forts the Larger Part of the Year 1818.
WE will now take the reader over the blood- stained pages of Butler's history, caused by the settlement of the garden spot of the territory by the whites, against the will of the overpowered red men, who had been driven from their native land with fire and sword.
In the winter of 1817, a large number of emi- grants passed down the Federal Road, some stop- ping in the section of country now known as Lowndes, Butler, Monroe and Conecuh Counties, while others crossed the Alabama River, below Claiborne, and settled in Clarke County. The few unhappy Indians who were left scattered through this section, became enraged at seeing the land of their forefathers completely taken pos- session of by the whites, and, accordingly, began to make preparations to drive them back from a place where they were unasked and unwelcomed. They forthwith made preparations for bloodshed,
26
THE HISTORY OF
and organized themselves into two bands of war- riors, under the command of Uchee Tom and Sa- vannah Jack.
About the 6th of March, 1818, Uchee Tom and his warriors showed signs of hostility by stopping William Ogly, who was in his ox-cart on his way to Claiborne for provisions for his family. He was, however, permitted to pass on without injury, after having been frightened almost out of his senses. Reaching Sepulga Creek, he succeeded in purchasing corn from a settler, and, feeling great anxiety about his fam .. ily, he returned home without going to Claiborne. During his absence the Indians had visited his cabin, and showed signs of violence to his family. The news of the conduct of the hostile savages spread immediately to all the settlers, who began to make preparation for the protection of the whites. The men of the settlement were called to a company muster on the 13th of March, and different plans were discussed for the defense of the settlers against the attacks of the savages. The red men, seeing the movements of their op- ponents at the company muster, took it as a bad omen, and at once decided to take the lives of some of the settlers.
While returning from the company muster, William Ogly met with Elias Stroud, who had been on a visit to relatives in Georgia, and was then on his way to his home near Claiborne. He had his wife and only child with him. Being an
27
BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
old acquaintance of Ogly, he was persuaded by him to spend the night under his roof and partake of the hospitalities of the savage land. Ogly had a wife and six children, and lived near the Federal Road, about three miles below where Fort Dale was afterward built. Shortly after supper, after the children were all put to bed, while these native Georgians sat around the scanty fire, talk- ing in their accustomed style of the misfortunes of different persons, and the many dangers and trials of the pioneer life, their attention was suddenly attracted by the tramp of warriors. Springing to his feet, Ogly seized his gun, and ran to the door, calling to his dogs; but he was shot down before he had time to fire his piece at the enemy. Sev- eral guns having been discharged, and Ogly having been suddenly killed, the other inmates of the cabin became greatly excited with fear. Unfor- tunately, there happened to be but one way of es- cape, and that seemed almost certain death. But Stroud and his wife, regardless of the great danger of the whistling bullets and approaching savages, leaped out of the front door and attempted to save their lives. Mrs. Ogly, taking in the situation,
did likewise. They were pursued by the blood- thirsty savages, bent on taking their lives, but by some means Stroud managed to escape. Mrs. Ogly was partially protected by a fierce dog that fought for her life like a tiger, and enabled her to escape to a ravine near by, where she hid herself in the high switch-cane. From this place
28
THE HISTORY OF
she heard the pitiful screams of Mrs. Stroud at- tempting to make her escape, but who was finally tomahawked and left on the cold ground as dead. The house was soon entered, and the shrieks and cries of the helpless children, as they were torn from their couches and butchered by the heartless demons, rendered the night hideous. No pen can describe the terrible feelings of Mrs. Ogly as she lay in concealment and heard the woeful cries of her dear children as their precious lives were be- ing taken one by one.
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