History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 121

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

USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I > Part 121

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Formal sketches of all the orders listed below are to be found in their appropriate alphabetical places.

For lists of fraternal benefit societies for- merly operating in the State, as well as those in active existence at the present time, see Insurance, Fraternal.

For details of Ancient Order of Hibernians, B'Nai Brith, and Knights of Columbus, which have fraternal features, see those titles.

Brief references to fraternal orders organ- ized among the negro population of the State, will be found under the title Negro Fraternal Orders.

List of Orders .- The list which follows contains the names of all strictly fraternal orders, with their auxilliary bodies, actively organized in the State:

Beavers, Independent Order of. B'Nai B'rith, Independent Order of. Eagles, Fraternal Order of. Elks, Benevolent Protective Order of. Hibernians, Ancient Order of. Junior Order, United American Mechanics. Knights of Columbus. Knights of Pythias.

Khorassan, The Dramatic Order Knights of. Pythian Sisters.

Masons, A. F. & A. M., of Alabama.

Eastern Star, Order of.

Knights Templar.

Royal Arch.

Royal and Select Masters.

Scottish Rite Masons. Shriners. ( Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.)

Moose, Loyal Order of.

Odd Fellows, Independent Order of. Grand Encampment.

Sisters of Rebekah.

Odd Fellows Home.

Owls.

Red Men, I. O. R. M., in Alabama. Pocahontas, Degree of.

REFERENCES .- Lists of publications and au- thorities for the foregoing will be found under special titles, which see.

FRATERNAL PRESS. See Newspapers and periodicals.

FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES. American college fraternities, or Greek-letter societies, had their beginning with the found- ing of Phi Beta Kappa, at William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Va., in 1776. Since this, however, was not an organization in the sense in which the modern undergraduate college fraternity is understood and operated, fraternities of the latter type date from the formation of Kappa Alpha at Union College in 1825.

In Alabama, fraternities and sororities have chapters at the University of Alabama, Uni- versity; Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Au- burn; Southern University, Greensboro; Howard College, Birmingham (formerly at Marion) ; Judson College, Marion; Birming- ham Medical College, Birmingham; and Bir- mingham Dental College, Birmingham. Soror- ities were permitted at Woman's College of Alabama from 1911 until 1914, when they were driven from the institution by action of the trustees. The first fraternity to enter the State was Delta Kappa Epsilon, which established a chapter at the University of Alabama in 1847. The next in order were Alpha Delta Phi, 1850, and Alabama Alpha of Phi Beta Kappa, 1851. Sigma Alpha Epsilon, the second southern fraternity, was founded at the University of Alabama in 1856, by Noble Leslie De Votie; and a beau- tiful memorial hall, valued at $8,500, has been erected at the university by this fra- ternity, in which are kept its records, files and memorials.

Fraternities have been, from time to time, bitterly assailed both by State and school authorities. In 1915 a bill was introduced in the legislature to abolish and prohibit them in Alabama institutions, but the measure was never reported from the committee. Many of the chapters at the State University, South- ern University and Howard College have been forced from time to time to exist subrosa. A number of fraternities have maintained

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HISTORY OF ALABAMA

chapters in Alabama institutions, in which they are not now represented. Among them are: Alpha Delta Phi, University of Ala- bama; Alpha Delta Pi, University, and Wom- an's College of Alabama; Beta Sigma Omicron Sorority, Woman's College of Alabama; Beta Theta Pi, Howard College; Delta Sigma Phi, Alabama Polytechnic Institute; Eta Upsilon Gamma, Judson College; Kappa Delta, Uni- versity of Alabama; Phi Delta Theta, South- ern University; Phi Gamma Delta, Howard College; Phi Mu Gamma, Judson College, and Woman's College; Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Howard College; Sigma Chi, Howard College and Southern University. '

With the exception of Woman's College in which they are not now admitted, Alabama institutions maintain a liberal and sympa- thetic attitude toward fraternities and sororities. They are now recognized as per- manent institutions, and every effort is made by cooperation to mould them into whole- some and salutary agencies in the enrich- ment of student life. They are encouraged to erect chapter houses, and the authorities of the University of Alabama extend assist- ance where necessary. On or near the campus of the university, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Sigma Nu have permanent homes. At the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta and Pi Kappa Alpha have their own chapter houses. Sigma Alpha Epsilon, at Southern University, owns a small hall for meetings only. At Howard College, the chap- ters occupy halls or buildings rented from the college. At Judson College, Zeta Tau Alpha owns a bungalow. Where chapters do not own houses they occupy rented build- ings. In order to maintain high standards of membership, and to avoid an unseemly struggle for mere numbers, agreements now very generally obtain regulating invitations, rushing, etc.

See Alpha Delta Phi; Alpha Delta Pi; Alpha Tau Omega; Alpha Psi; Beta Alpha Beta; Beta Sigma Omicron; Beta Theta Pi; Chi Zeta Chi; Delta Delta Delta; Delta Kappa Epsilon; Delta Omicron Alpha; Delta Sigma Phi; Eta Upsilon Gamma; Gamma Delta Beta; Kappa Alpha; Kappa Delta; Kappa Phi; Kappa Psi; Kappa Sigma; Lambda Chi Alpha; Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Beta Pi; Phi Gamma Delta; Phi Delta Theta; Phi Kappa Phi; Phi Kappa Sigma; Phi Chi; Phi Mu Gamma; Pi Kappa Alpha; Psi Delta; Sigma Alpha Epsilon; Sigma Chi; Sigma Nu; Sigma Phi Epsilon; Sigma Tau Delta; Sigma Upsi- lon; Zeta Beta Tau; Zeta Omega; Zeta Tau Alpha.

REFERENCES .- Wm. Raimond Baird, Manual of American college fraternities (8th ed., New York, 1915), the leading authority on all phases of college fraternity effort; Banta, Greek Ex- change, Menasha, Wis., 1912-1916, vols. i-iv, a treasure house of important data, with an up- to-date directory in each issue; Francis B. Latady, "Antifraternity legislation in Ala- bama," in Banta, Greek Exchange, Sept. 1915, vol. 3, pp. 489-494; "Fraternities at Southern

University," in The Southron, 1916, vol. 2, pp. 92; and various college annuals and other local publications.

FREEDMEN'S BUREAU. A bureau in the United States War Department, created by act of Congress, March 3, 1865, for the "supervision and management of all aban- doned lands, and the control of all subjects relating to refugees and freedmen from rebel states, or from any district of country within the territory embraced in the operations of the army, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the head of the bureau and approved by the President." Its official title was the Bureau of Freedmen, Refugees and Abandoned Lands, and it was created to last one year. Congress extended the life of the bureau to July 16, 1868, by act of July 16, 1866, which was passed over the veto of President Johnson. In 1868, it was given another year's lease of life, and was discon- tinued January 1, 1869, except with respect to educational work, which it was empowered to continue until 1872. The bureau was in charge of a commissioner, with several assist- ant commissioners, the former and most of the latter being Federal Army officers. Gen. O. O. Howard was at the head of the bureau during its entire existence.

It was several months after the passage of the act establishing the bureau before its organization in Alabama was perfected. Dur- ing the interim, various Army officers acted as its agents and had the care of its negro wards. Under the operation of the freed- men's law there were nearly half a million negroes within the jurisdiction of the bureau in the State, of whom about one hundred thousand were children and forty thousand aged and infirm. During the first months of its existence, the negroes in north Alabama were under the jurisdiction of the assistant commissioner for Tennessee. A local bureau under the supervision of the Louisiana bureau was established at Mobile about April or May, 1865, which for a time was superin- tended by T. W. Osborn, who assumed the title of assistant commissioner for Alabama until he was transferred to Florida. In July, 1865, Gen. Wager Swayne was placed at the head of the bureau for the entire State. Previous to his arrival, there had been few regularly appointed agents in the State. In some cases, missionaries and representatives of aid societies of the North, then sojourning in Alabama, were placed in charge of the camps of freedmen near the towns. Agents were appointed at Mobile, Demopolis, Selma, and Montgomery, all of whom were officers in negro regiments. Upon assuming charge in the State, Gen. Swayne appointed Charles A. Miller as his assistant adjutant general. He stated that he was kindly received by most of the people and was "agreeably dis- appointed," in the attitude of the people toward him.

The bureau in Alabama was subdivided into five departments; abandoned and confiscated lands; records, labor, schools and supplies; finance; medical; and bounties. The terri-

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HISTORY OF ALABAMA

tory of the State was divided into six dis- tricts, each controlled by a superintendent. The first district included 7 counties, with headquarters at Mobile; the second, 10 coun- ties, with headquarters at Selma; the third, 9 counties, with headquarters at Montgom- ery; the fourth, 6 counties, with head- quarters at Troy; the fifth, 8 counties, with headquarters at Demopolis; the sixth, 12 counties in north Alabama, at first under the jurisdiction of the bureau in Tennessee and later transferred to the Alabama jurisdiction. Each superintendent supervised the issue of rations in the county where his headquarters was located, and was aided in the work by an assistant superintendent in each of the other counties under his control. These officers were empowered to make arrests for infrac- tions of the law, and also had full control of the making and carrying out of contracts between employers and the freedmen. In January, 1868, Bvt. Brig. Gen. Julius Hayden succeeded Gen. Swayne as assistant commis- sioner, and he was in turn succeeded by Bvt. Brig. Gen. O. L. Shepherd, March 31, 1868. On August 18, 1868, Bvt. Lieut. Col. Edwin Beecher succeeded Gen. Shepherd, and con- tinued in charge until the bureau was dis- continued. During the latter part of its exist- ence, the subdivisions of the bureau were in charge of officers of the Regular Army, gradu- ates of West Point. These officers were strict with the negroes, would not tolerate idleness, and endeavored to make them realize that they must work to live. Their rules were too strict and they too often sided with the whites in disputes to meet with the approba- tion of the northern Radicals. Therefore, increasing pressure was brought to bear on Gen. Swayne to replace these officers and such southern civilians as were agents of the bureau with civilians from the North.

The financial support of the Freedmen's Bureau was derived for the most part from the confiscated property of the secessionists, and by the sale of property formerly belong- ing to the Confederacy, the State and the counties. In many of the small towns there were storehouses, hospital buildings, foun- dries, iron works, cotton, or other supplies formerly belonging to the Confederacy or to the State, and all of these were seized by the United States Government, sold, and the pro- ceeds used for the maintenance of the bureau. The Confederate iron works at Brierfield were sold for $45,000, three blockade runners on the Tombigbee River for $50,000, and certain hospital buildings for $8,000.

Soon after its organization in the State the bureau began to insist that contracts be made between the freedmen and prospective employers. All such contracts were to be submitted to the superintendent of the dis- trict to be approved and registered. A list of unemployed freedmen was kept at the bureau office, and persons in need of laborers were expected to apply there for them. A regular schedule of wages for labor of speci- fied classes was prepared and conformity to it insisted upon in all cases. The bureau even regulated the time and manner for paying

wages, stipulating that payments were to be made quarterly, beginning July 1. In addi- tion to the stipulations as to wages, the con- tracts provided for just treatment, whole- some food, comfortable clothing, suitable quarters, fuel, and medical attendance, and no contract was binding unless signed by both parties and registered at the bureau office. There were rules, on the whole just and equitahle if they had been enforced, provid- ing for deductions from wages on account of sickness, and for indemnifying employers for losses occasioned by their employees leaving without cause or permission, feigning sick- ness or failing to work faithfully.

One of the chief causes of the disorganiz- ing influence of the bureau in the State was the character of its subordinate officials. Had those persons in immediate charge of the freedmen and in contact with the whites of the various communities been of equal charac- ter and competence with the higher officials, the hureau's work on the whole might have resulted in benefit hoth to the whites and the negroes.

REFERENCES .- Fleming: Civil War ond Re- construction in Alabama (1905), pp. 421-470; and Documentary history of Reconstruction (1906), vol. 1, pp. 315-349; and editor, Freed- men's Bureau documents ( West Virginia Univer- sity documents relating to Reconstruction, No. 6, 1904). Eyre Damer, When the Ku Klux rode (1912), pp. 47-50.

FREEDMEN'S HOME COLONIES. Camps or colonies for the care and support of refu- gee negroes, first established in different parts of the State during the progress of the War. These camps were the forerunners of the Freedmen's Bureau (q. v.). The best known of these camps was the one at Huntsville, established in December, 1863, with Capt. Potter in charge. This camp was originally intended only for the temporary care of colored refugees who would later be trans- ferred to the permanent colony at Nashville, Tenn. Possibly because of this fact, no rec- ords were kept by the officials in charge of the Huntsville camp. During the first seven months of its existence, the colony received more than 500 refugees, of whom 85 were sent to the camp at Nashville, and 205 dis- charged as able to provide for themselves. Records of the number of persons cared for and the expenditures of the colony during the remainder of its existence are not obtain- able. Capt. Potter was relieved of the com- mand of the camp, February 8, 1864, by Rev. George Stokes, chaplain of the Eight- eenth Wisconsin Infantry. Rations were issued by the United States Government for these refugees, and this source was the main dependence for their sustenance. However, it was attempted to make the colonies self- supporting. The camp was situated on the estate of Hon. Reuben Chapman, formerly governor, 2 miles from the town of Hunts- ville. All the inmates who were physically able to work were employed in cultivating the lands, building quarters, etc., and corn, cot- ton, sorghum and vegetables for their own use

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HISTORY OF ALABAMA

were raised. Schools were established for children, most of them taught by representa- tives of northern missionary societies. Upon the establishment of the Freedmen's Bureau, the care of negro refugees was assumed by its agents.

See Freedmen's Bureau; Freedmen's Hos- pltal; Reconstruction.

REFERENCES .- Commission for investigation of colored refugees in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama, Report, Dec. 28, 1864 (S. Ex. Doc. 28, 38th Cong., 2d sess.); Fleming, Civil War and Reconstruction in Alabama (1905), pp. 422, 439, 444.

FREEDMEN'S HOSPITAL. A State insti- tution for the care and support of indigent, old and crippled negroes, established by act of December 21, 1868, and of which Dr. Joseph Johnson, superintendent of the Ala- bama Deaf and Dumb Asylum, was in imme- diate charge, under the general supervision of a board of trustees consisting of himself, G. T. McAfee and George P. Plowman. The board of trustees was authorized to employ a medical superintendent and the necessary nurses and other attendants for such pur- poses; and for feeding, clothing, purchasing medicines, fuels, etc., $6,000 was appropriated for the year 1869. The act contemplated the use of the buildings and conveniences of the insane hospital near Talladega, but provided that if it were not found convenient so to accommodate the freedmen, the superintend- ent might procure grounds and houses else- where for the purpose. The preamble of the act recited that there were about 60 de- pendent negroes then being cared for by the Freedmen's Bureau, and that the bureau, by act of Congress, would expire on January 1, 1869. The last section of the act specifically stated that no patients other than those men- tioned in the preamble should be admitted to the hospital.

One of the incidental functions of the Freedmen's Bureau was the relief of needy and decrepit negroes. In the course of this activity, many of the sick and infirm freed- men had been congregated in the vicinity of Talladega before the establishment of the State freedmen's hospital, which in Alabama was the successor of the bureau. The hos- pital existed several years, and was supported entirely by funds from the State treasury.

The legislature, February 18, 1870, passed another act continuing in force the act above referred to, and making an appropriation of $5,200 for the maintenance of the freedmen's hospital during the year 1870. An appro- priation of $3,740 was made to the hospital by act of 1871, with the proviso that no part of it should be drawn from the treasury until actually needed, and a further proviso that no new patients should be received in the hospital. The last section of the act limited the continuance of the institution to Decem- ber 31, 1872. A further appropriation of $3,000 was made by act of December 19, 1871, with provisos the same as those con- tained in the act next above mentioned.

Notwithstanding the proviso contained in

the above-mentioned acts, that the institution should be discontinued December 31, 1871, it continued in effect until December 31, 1874, and $3,000 was appropriated for its maintenance on March 5, 1873. By act of December 16, 1873, the life of the institution was continued until December 31, 1874, and $2,750 more appropriated for its expenses. On December 18, 1875, William H. Thornton was by the legislature appointed commis- sioner to take charge of all the property be- longing to the freedmen's hospital, sell the same either at public or private sale, and use the proceeds to provide the inmates then in the institution with necessary clothing, and to pay the expenses of transporting them to the respective counties from which they came.

In a report of November 5, 1869, Supt. Johnson stated that in accordance with the act establishing the State freedmen's hospital, he had rented from J. W. Riley certain build- ings and grounds for the sum of $30 per month, to be used as a hospital. The grounds contained several acres of tillable land, with several comfortable new cabins, and were sit- uated about 2 miles southeast of Talladega. A stream of good water ran through the grounds, and the rental included an abundant supply of suitable fuel. Of the whole num- ber of negroes in the hospital at the date of the report, there was, he said, none able to earn a living. Several of them were idiotic or imbecile, and there was no means of find- ing out whence they came. For these and other reasons he recommended the continu- ance of the hospital at the State's cost. There were 39 inmates on January 1, 1871. The superintendent reported, November 1 of that year, that the hospital was in splendid condi- tion, and recommended its continuance, at least for the time being. Information con- cerning the total number of inmates cared for in the institution during its existence is not at hand. Apparently the average number residing therein at any one time was about 40. Its annual expenditures and its total cost to the State are shown in the following statement:

1869

$4,019.98

1870

5,767.03

1871

4,098.01

1872

3,383.63

1873

3,400.87

1874

2,802.04

1875

719.75

1876

165.55

Total

$24,356.86

See Freedmen's Bureau; Freedmen's Sav- ings Bank; Reconstruction; Union League.

REFERENCES .- Acts, 1868, pp. 422-423; 1869-70, pp. 146-147; 1870-71, pp. 221-222; 1871-72, pp. 90-91; 1872-73, pp. 71-72; 1873-74, pp. 64-65; 1874-75, pp. 155-156; Board of trustees, Reports, Nov. 5, 1869, Nov. 1, 1870, 1871, Nov. 1, 1873, 1874.

FREEDMEN'S SAVINGS BANK. A finan- cial institution in close connection with the Freedmen's Bureau, incorporated by act of

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HISTORY OF ALABAMA

Congress, March 3, 1865, the same day the act creating the bureau was approved. The purposes and objects of the institution, as stated in the act of incorporation, were "to receive on deposit such sums of money as may, from time to time, be offered therefor by or on behalf of persons heretofore held in slavery in the United States, or their descendants, and investing the same in the stocks, bonds, Treasury notes, or other securi- ties of the United States." Among the incor- porators of the bank were several prominent eastern financiers and business men, whose well-known standing gave the institution con- siderable prestige from the beginning. Gen. O. O. Howard, a commissioner of the Freed- men's Bureau, was one of the directors, and although the bank was supposed to be an entirely separate institution whose affairs were to be kept distinct from those of the bureau, in practice its operation was directed by the bureau officials. During a part of its existence, Frederick Douglas was president of the bank.

The central office of the bank was in Wash- ington, and there were branches in nearly every Southern State. On January 1, 1866, J. W. Alvord, inspector of schools and finances, reported that the bank had gone into successful operation in nearly every Southern State, and "promises to do much to instruct and elevate the financial notions of the freed- men." There were three branch banks in Alabama; the first established at Huntsville, December 11, 1865, with LaFayette Robin- son as cashier; the second, at Mobile, Jan- uary 1, 1866, with C. A. Woodward as cashier; the third, at Montgomery, January 14, 1870, with Edwin Beecher as cashier. During the month of January, 1866, the branch at Huntsville received deposits to the amount of $390.22; and the branch at Mobile, $4,809.00. Detailed figures showing the business transacted by the different branches in the State are not available. The amounts due the depositors in each on March 1, 1870, were: Huntsville, $18,858.50; Mobile, $64,950.83; March 1, 1871, Hunts- ville, $29,521.22; Mobile, $82,269.37; Mont- gomery, $12,955.11; March 1. 1872, Huntsville, $45,946.89; Mobile, $106,741.39; Montgomery, $27,414.00. The hank failed in 1874. The amounts on deposit in the Ala- bama branches at the time of failure were: Huntsville, $39,963; Mobile, $95,144; Mont- gomery, $29,743. These amounts represent the losses of the depositors in the different branches, for although some small dividends were paid after several years, few of the original depositors received any of them.

The charter of the institution and the by- laws providing for its government should have insured successful management of its affairs and great benefit to the freedmen, who would have been encouraged in habits of thrift, and also enabled to become proprietors of farms by means of their savings. The managers of the bank disregarded these regu- lations in practically all of their dealings, especially in the investment of the bank's funds. Under the law, all the surplus should

have been invested in United States securi- ties. Actually, the surplus, and probably more, was loaned indiscriminately-fre- quently to the managers themselves-without much regard to security. It was the opinion of the minority of the committee which in- vestigated the affairs of the bank in 1875 that the abuse of their trust by the trustees and directors of the institution was repre- hensible in the highest degree. Many of the local agents were dishonest, and frequently the men higher up were brought under grave suspicion. The bank was said to have re- ceived on deposit during its entire history about fifty-six million dollars. About fifty- three million dollars was paid back to the depositors with interest, thus leaving about three million dollars due approximately seventy thousand depositors when the bank failed.

See Freedmen's Bureau; Reconstruction.

REFERENCES .- Commissioner Freedmen's Bu- reau, Report, Mar. 19, 1866 (H. Ex. Doc. 70, 39th Cong., 1st sess.) ; Committee on education and labor, Report on charges against Gen. Howard, July 13, 1870 (H. Rept. 121, 41st Cong., 2d sess.); Commissioners of Freedmen's Sav- ings & Trust Co., Report, Dec. 14, 1874 (H. Mis. Doc. 16, 43d Cong., 2d sess.); Committee on Freedmen's Bank, Report, Jan. 5, 1876 (H. Rept. 502, 44th Cong., 1st sess.); Select committee to investigate Freedmen's Savings & Trust Co., Report, Apr. 2, 1880 (S. Rept. 440, 46th Cong., 2d sess.); Comptroller of the Currency, Re- port, Feb. 21, 1873 (S. Mis. Doc. 88, 42d Cong., 3d sess.) ; Fleming, Civil War and Reconstruc- tion in Alabama (1905), pp. 451-455; and Docu- mentary history of Reconstruction (1907), vol. 1, pp. 317, 318, 382-393; and editor, "The Freed- men's Savings Bank" in West Virginia Uni- versity documents relating to Reconstruction (1904).

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History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 121

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