History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 128

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 128

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March 3 to November 21, 1831. Samuel B. Moore, of Jackson county, acting Gov- ernor. He was born in 1789, in Franklin county, Tenn .; died Nov. 7, 1846, in Carrol- ton, Ala .; and is there buried. (Grave un- marked.)

November 26, 1831. John Gayle, of Greene county, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born Sept. 11, 1792, in Sumter district, S. C .; died July, 1859, in Mobile, Ala .; and is there buried.

November 21, 1835. Clement Comer Clay, Sr., of Madison, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born Dec. 17, 1789 in Halifax county, Va .; died Sept. 7, 1866, at Huntsville, Ala .; and is there buried.

July to November, 1837. Hugh McVay, of Lauderdale county, acting Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born in 1788 in S. C .; died in 1851, in Lauderdale county, Ala .; and is buried near Florence.

November 21, 1837. Arthur Pendleton Bagby, of Monroe county, inaugurated Gov- ernor of the State of Alabama. He was born in 1794 in Louisa county, Va .; died Sept. 21, 1858, in Mobile; and is there buried.

November 22, 1841. Benjamin Fitzpat- rick, of Autauga county, inaugurated Gov- ernor of the State of Alabama. He was born June 30, 1802, in Greene county, Geor- gia; died November 25, 1869, in Wetumpka, Ala .; and is buried in Montgomery.

December 10, 1845. Joshua Lanier Martin, of Tuscaloosa county, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born Dec. 5, 1799, in Blount county, Tenn .; died Nov. 2, 1866, in Tuscaloosa, Ala .; and is there buried.

December 16, 1847. Reuben Chapman, of Madison, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born July 15, 1799, in Caroline county, Va .; died May 17, 1882, at Huntsville, Ala .; and is there buried.

December 17, 1849. Henry Watkins Col- lier, of Tuscaloosa county, inaugurated Gov- ernor of the State of Alabama. He was

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born Jan. 17, 1801, in Lunenburg county, Va .; died August 28, 1855, in Bailey's Springs, Ala .; and is buried at Tuscaloosa.

December 20, 1853. John Anthony Win- ston, of Sumter county, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born Sept. 4, 1812, in Madison county, Ala .; died Dec. 21, 1871, at Mobile, Ala .; and is there buried.

December 1, 1857. Andrew Barry Moore, of Perry county, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born March 7, 1806, in Spartanburg district, S. C .; died April 5, 1873, at Marion, Ala .; and is there buried.

December 2, 1861. John Gill Shorter, of Barbour county, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born April 23, 1818, at Monticello, Ga .; died May 29, 1872, at Eufaula; and is there buried.

December 1, 1863. Thomas Hill Watts, of Montgomery county, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born Jan. 3, 1819, in Butler county, Ala .; died Sept. 16, 1892, in Montgomery, Ala .; and is there buried.

June 21, 1865 to Dec. 1865. Lewis Eliph- alet Parsons, of Talladega county, provisional Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born April 28, 1817, in Broome county, N. Y .; died June 8, 1895, at Talladega, Ala .; and is there buried.

December 20, 1865. Robert Miller Patton, of Lauderdale county, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born July 10, 1809, in Monroe county, Va .; died Feb. 1885, at Sweetwater near Florence; and is buried in Florence, Ala.

July 14, 1868. William Hugh Smith, of Randolph county, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born April 9, 1826, in Fayette county, Ga .; died Jan. 1, 1899, in Birmingham, Ala :; and is there buried.

November 26, 1870. Robert Burns Lind- say, of Colbert county, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born July 4, 1824, in Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, Scotland; died Feb. 13, 1902, in Tuscumbia, Ala .; and is there buried.

November, 1872. David Peter Lewis, of Madison county, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born 1820, in Charlotte county, Va .; died July 3, 1884, at Huntsville, Ala .; and is there buried.

November 24, 1874. George Smith Hous- ton, of Limestone county, inaugurated Gov- ernor of the State of Alabama. He was born Jan. 17, 1818, in Williamson county, Tenn .; died Dec. 31, 1879, in Athens, Ala .; and is there buried.

November 28, 1878. Rufus W. Cobb, of Shelby county, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born Feb. 25, 1829, in Ashville, Ala .; died in 1910, at Woodlawn, Ala.

Dec. 1, 1882. Edward Asbury O'Neal, of Lauderdale county, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born

-in Madison county, Ala .; died Nov. 7, 1890, in Florence, Ala .; and is there buried. Dec. 1. 1886. Thomas Seay, inaugurated

Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born Nov. 20, 1846, in Greene county, Ala .; died March 22, 1896, in Greensboro, Ala .; and is there buried.

December 1, 1890. Thomas Goode Jones, of Montgomery county, inaugurated Governor of the State of Alabama. He was born Nov. 26, 1844, in Macon, Ga.

December 1, 1894. William Calvin Oates, of Henry county, inaugurated Governor of Alabama. He was born Nov. 30, 1833, in Pike county, Ala.

December 1, 1896. Joseph Forney John- ston, of Jefferson county, inaugurated Gov- ernor of Alabama. He was born March 23, 1843, in Lincoln county, N. C.

December 26, 1900. William James Sam- ford, of Lee county, inaugurated Governor of Alabama. He was born Sept. 16, 1844, in Greenville, Meriwether county, Ga .; died June 11, 1901, in Tuscaloosa, Ala .; and is buried in Opelika.

Dec. 1-26, 1900. William Dorsey Jelks, of Barbour county, acting Governor Dec. 1- 26, 1900, Governor June 11, 1901, regularly elected Governor, Nov. 4, 1902. He was born Nov. 7, 1855, at Warrior Stand, then in Russell, now Macon county, Ala .; living 1921, at Eufaula, Ala.

1904, several months. Russell McWhorter Cunningham, of Jefferson county, acting Gov- ernor of Alabama. He was born Aug. 25, 1855, at Mt. Hope, Lawrence county, Ala .; living 1915 at Ensley, Ala.

Jan. 14, 1907. Braxton Bragg Comer, of Jefferson county, inaugurated Governor of Alabama. He was born Nov. 7, 1848, at Spring Hill, Barbour county, Ala .; living 1921 in Birmingham, Ala.

January 17, 1911. Emmett O'Neal, Laud- erdale county, inaugurated Governor of Ala- bama; he was born September 29, 1853, at Florence; living 1921 in Birmingham, Ala.

January 18, 1915. Charles Henderson, Pike county, inaugurated Governor of Ala- bama, he was born April 26, 1860, in Pike county; living 1921 in Troy, Ala.

January 20, 1919. Thomas E. Kilby, Cal- houn county, inaugurated Governor of Ala- bama. He was born July 9, 1865, at Leban- on, Tenn .; living 1921 at Anniston, Ala.

REFERENCES .- For further facts about each of these subjects see volumes 3 and 4 of this his- tory.

GOVERNORS OF THE TERRITORY. 1798-1801-Winthrop Sargent.

1801-John Steele, Acting Governor.

1801-03-William C. Claiborne.

1804-Cate West, Acting Governor (and Governor ad-interim).

1805-09-Robert Williams.

1809-17-David Holmes.

REFERENCES .- Pickett, History of Alabama, (Owen edition) (1900) ; The New International Encyclopedia, Vol. 16 (1916); Mss. data in Alabama Department of Archives and History.

GOVERNOR'S MANSION. See Executive Mansion.

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GRADUATE NURSES, ALABAMA ASSO- CIATION OF. See Nurses, Alabama Associa- tion of Graduate.

GRAFENBERG MEDICAL INSTITUTE. An early institution, organized for the pur- pose of affording a school in Alabama for medical instruction. It was chartered Feb- ruary 7, 1852, as "The Grafenberg Medical Institute of the State of Alabama," with Dr. James T. Shackelford, Dr. William M. A. Mitchell, Dr. J. T. Bankson and Dr. P. M. Shepard as trustees. Dr. Shepard is referred to as "the proprietor and professor." The institution was given power "to grant di- plomas, confer degrees and licenses upon all persons, who, on examination by said pro- fessors and trustees, shall be found proficient in all the branches of medical sciences as taught in the present day, entitling said graduates to all the honors, privileges, and immunities usually conferred hy the most approved colleges in the United States." It was authorized to hold real and personal estate not exceeding $25,000 in value, either by gift, bequest or purchase. It was re- quired to report to the legislature bien- nially "the proceedings and progress of said medical school." The charter was to con- tinue to be in force for 10 years. It was amended February 3, 1858, continuing it in force for 20 years from the expiration of the original term of incorporation. On Febru- ary 14, 1854, the legislature authorized the institution "prior to each annual examina- tion, to appoint as many medical men as they may deem proper, who shall have simi- lar power with the trustees," in reference to the matter of examinations preparatory to graduation.

The founder and inspiration of the instI- tute was Dr. Philip Madison Shepard, a na- tive of Columbia County, Ga., and a gradu- ate of the Augusta Medical College. He came to Tallapoosa County in the forties. and located in Dadeville. In the belief that an opportunity should be afforded young medi- cal students in Alabama to secure profes- sional training, he conceived the plan of or- ganizing a school, planned on the Grafen- berg model, and which name he embodied in the title. He called to his aid the doc- tors named in the act of incorporation, all of whom at one time or another were as- sociated as professors in the school. They were all young and full of enthusiasm.

The school was located on the Dudleyville public road about one mile northeast of Dadeville. The home of the proprietor, Dr. Shepard, was located on one side of the road, while opposite was the two-story institute building. The latter had a large lecture room, equipped with table and chairs, and a limited anatomical apparatus, including a few skeletons, illustrations, etc. The library was limited. There were upstairs rooms, oc- cupied by the students as living quarters. About 150 or 200 yards away was a small building occupied as a dissecting room. Bodies for dissecting purposes were secured in various ways. A slave who had been hung

for killing his master was one of these sub- jects. Some were shipped from New Or- leans to Loachapoka, and carried in barrels to the institute. It was believed by many that the graves of negroes were robbed, and an amusing incident is recalled in this con- nection. Robert Gilliam had a favorite slave, Jake, who died. He announced his determination that the doctors should not have the body, and to prevent this he had the grave filled with large rock, so as to prevent desecration.

In 1860 while dissecting a specimen, Dr. Shepard hecame infected, from which he died. The school then closed, and was never reopened. In 1871 Dr. George W. Vines, now living at Dadeville, taught an eight- months' school for boys in the building. He relates that in preparing the building for that purpose he removed the skeletons, pictures and anatomical apparatus. A few years later the building with its entire contents was de- stroyed by fire.

Dr. Shepard was an unusually strong man. He had the genius of the organizer and ad- ministrator. Few men would have under- taken the task of founding a medical insti- tution, far in the interior, and without any of the clinical or other opportunities, now im- peratively demanded in medical instruction. Dr. Shepard was a man about six feet in height, weighed about 150 pounds, was with- out heard, was of distinguished appearance, and full of nervous, restless energy. In his lectures he often grew so excited as to shout as if deilvering a sermon or political ad- dress. Coming to the county in its forma- tive period, he took an active interest in all matters of public concern. He was promi- nent as a Mason. He was a Democrat and one of the local party leaders. He was promi- nent in the Dadeville Baptist Church. He was a man of character and talents deserv- ing a larger field of operation than was af- forded by a limited pioneer county; and had he not been cut off in his prime, he would have doubtless achieved further dis- tinction.

He was married to Miss Fielder, and raised a large family of children. He had four sons who were educated in the insti- tute as physicians, namely, John Fielder, Philip Madison, Jr., Orlando Tyler, and J. Joseph Shepard. Two of these, James Fielder . and J. Joseph Shepard completed their medical course in the New Orleans Medical College. All practiced medicine in Tallapoosa County and lived and died there, leaving families, except Dr. Orlando T. Shepard, who is still living. It is interest- ing to note that his plantation includes a part of the old Creek Indian village, Niuya- cau, on the southeast side of the Tallapoosa River, opposite Horse Shoe Bend. Dr. Shepard is a physician and a farmer.

Dr. Jerome Cochran, the distinguished leader of the profession, and the first state health officer under the present system, serv- ing until his death, in a sketch of "The Medi- cal Profession," in the Memorial Record of

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Alabama, vol. 2, p. 134, pays this tribute to the institution:

"In 1852, the Grafenberg Medical Insti- tute was chartered for ten years, with all the usual privileges, and authorized to hold property to the amount of $25,000. In 1856 this charter was amended so as to run for twenty years from the original date. The leader in this enterprise was Dr. Shepard of Dadeville, in Tallapoosa County, near which place in the piney woods the college buildings were erected. Dr. Shepard was a man of unusual energy and acquirements; and with no more clinics than were afforded by a country practice, and, with a supply of anatomical material necessarily scanty, he managed to run a live medical college in the backwoods for some- eight years, up to 1860. The school was entirely regular, and its diplomas are fully recognized by the medical boards of the state. The first di- plomas were issued in 1856. During the war, Dr. Shepard died, and the college build- ings were burned down. No attempt has been made to rebuild the institution, and the charter has long since lapsed. More than twenty of the graduates of this school are still practicing medicine in Alabama."

The influence of the institute was whole- some, and its standards were high, although the opportunities afforded were limited. The classes from 1852 to 1860 contained about 10 to 25 young men, all ambitious and confident. They were usually those who were unable to go away for more extended courses. However, they were none the less successful, since they found useful place as physicians in Coosa, Randolph, Chambers, Macon and Tallapoosa . counties. Many of them moved West and to other sections of the state. Many took additional courses in the larger medical colleges.

The earliest certificate or diploma bears date April 24, 1854, and was issued to James L. Gilder, whose son, Dr. George S. Gilder, now resides at Carbon Hill in Walker Coun- ty. It is signed by Dr. Shepard as president and by Dr. John S. Bankson as secretary. It is as follows:

Grafenberg Medical Institute, Alabama. April 24th, A. D., 1854 To All to whom these presents shall come:

Greeting-This is to certify that James L. Gilder appeared before the Medical Faculty of said Institute and after being examined upon the subjects of Surgery, Obstetrics and the Practice of Medicine, together with their collateral branches and found proficient in the same is hereby granted this certificate and with it authority to practice his profes- sion according to Law anywhere in this State.

Given under our hands on this the day and date above written.

P. M. Shepard, M. D.,

Prest.

John S. Bankson, M. D., Secretary, Protem.

REFERENCES .- In Acts, 1851-52, p. 260; 1855- 56, p. 214; 1857-58, p. 86; Memorial Record of Alabama, 1893, vol. 2, p. 134.

GRAINS. See Cereals.

GRANGE OF THE PATRONS OF HUS- BANDRY OF ALABAMA. A voluntary edu- cational association of farmers, the third state-wide organization of that character in Alabama (see Farmers' Organizations) founded in Washington, D. C., December, 1867, by O. H. Kelly, a clerk in the United States Department of Agriculture, formerly a farmer in the State of Minnesota, whose ob- jects were: "to develop a better and higher manhood and womanhood among ourselves. To enhance the comforts and attractions of our homes, and strengthen our attachment to our pursuits. To foster mutual understand- ing and co-operation. To maintain inviolate our laws, and to emulate each other in labor, to hasten the good time coming. To reduce our expenses, both individual and corporate. To buy less and produce more, in order to make our farms self-sustaining. To diversify our crops, and crop no more than we can cultivate. To condense the weight of our exports, selling less in the bushel, and more on the hoof and in fleece; less in lint, and more in warp and woof. To systemize (sic) our work, and calculate intelligently on prob- abilities. To discountenance the credit sys- tem, the mortgage system, the fashion system, and every other system tending to prodigality and bankruptcy. We propose meeting to- gether, talking together, working together, buying together, selling together, and, in general, acting together for our mutual pro- tection, and advancement, as occasion may require."-Declaration of Purposes of the Patrons of Husbandry, adopted by the Nation- al Grange, February 18, 1874.

It had certain secret features, apparently unimportant, however. Although the order claimed to be nonpartisan, it soon became active politically and was credited with exert- ing considerable influence in the elections of 1874 and 1875. Much legislation especially favorable to farmers was obtained from Con- gress as a result of granger activity, and these laws soon came to be known as granger legis- lation.

The Patrons of Husbandry entered Ala- bama in 1872 by the organization of several local lodges, or granges. The first subordi- nate grange in the State was organized at Yorkville, July 15, with nine charter mem- bers. Delegates from the local granges met at Montgomery, November 27, 1873, and organized a state grange, Col. D. Wyatt Aikin, a member of the executive committee of the national grange, and Gen. E. M. Law, deputy for the State, officiating in the organization. There were 129 qualified delegates present, representing an equal number of local granges. The constitution of the national grange and some additional by-laws were adopted and officers elected, including an ex- ecutive committee composed of Sutton S. Scott, Uchee, Russell County; Dr. F. A. Bates, Marion, Perry County; and Rev. W. B. Jones, New Market, Madison County. W. H. Cham- bers, of Oswichee, Russell County, was elect- ed master, and Gen. E. M. Law, Tuskegee,

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Macon County, secretary. By December 1,

1874, there were 650 subordinate granges in the State. During the year ending November 30, 1875, 32 subordinate granges were organ- ized, 9 consolidations effected, 12 charters surrendered, and 53 charters forfeited, mak- ing the total number of local granges repre- sented in the state body, 604, with a total membership of 17,440. During the next nine months the membership declined to 11,200, and a gradual decrease in membership accom- panied by a decline in interest and activity continued for a number of years. A few granges in central Alabama remained stead- fast, and in the late eighties, under the leader- ship of Hiram Hawkins (q. v.), a revival took place, the membership for a time increas- ing at the rate of about a thousand a year. Records are not available for the major por- tion of its existence, and hence its operations and outside activities can be discussed only in a general way. The nineteenth annual session of the state grange was held at Pint- lala in 1891 and shortly thereafter the organ- ization became dormant, and was at length absorbed by the Farmers Alliance (q. v.).

During its active existence, the grange in Alabama aided in procuring the passage of various laws beneficial to agriculture and agricultural interests, as the laws against the burning of woodlands, the purchase of farm produce after nightfall, trespassing on "posted" land, and the law making the steal- ing of livestock a felony. Hiram Hawkins, its master for many years, claimed for the grange a large influence in securing the re- establishment of white supremacy in the State in 1874. Soon after its establishment, the state grange adopted a system of desig- nating firms in important commercial cen- ters, to act as its agents under bond. A life insurance company, called the Grangers' Life and Health Insurance Company of the United States, was launched in Mobile by private en- terprise in 1875 and contracted to give the state grange 25 per cent of the first premi- ums secured through the medium or the influence of the order. More or less effectual action was taken from time to time to encour- age immigration to the State, and the order went on record as favoring the establishment of a national department of agriculture. In certain localities of the State, efforts were made to establish grange schools, with what success does not appear.

Masters .- W. H. Chambers, 1873- ; H.

Hawkins, -1891.

Secretaries .- E. M. Law, 1873- ; Miss Florence Gilmer, -1891.

Annual Meetings .- Annual sessions were held on the dates and at the places named: 1st, Montgomery, Nov. 27, 1873, pp. 9.

2d, Montgomery, Dec. 1-4, 1874, pp. 39.

3d, Montgomery, Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 1875, pp. 60.

4th, Montgomery, Dec. 12-15, 1876, pp. 56. 5th to 15th, records not available.

16th, Eufaula, Aug. 17-19, 1888, pp. 50. 17th, Clayton, July 16-18, 1889, pp. 74.

18th, Dothan, July 29-30, 1890, pp. 61.

19th, Pintlala, July 21-23, 1891, pp. 59.

PUBLICATIONS .- Proceedings, annual sessions, 1873-1876, 1888-1891, 8 vols.

REFERENCES .- Publications noted above; O. H. Kelley, History of the Patrons of Husbandry, 1866 to 1873 (1875), passim; Bailey, Cyclopedia of American agriculture (1909), vol. iv, p. 294; Mortimer Whitehead, Origin and progress of the Grange, Ill. (Brooklyn, N. Y. n. d.); Na- tional Grange Patrons of Husbandry, Report of Legislative Committee (Washington, D. C., Mar. 15, 1899, pp. 4); State Grange of Alabama, Memorial in regard to protection of insectiv- erous birds (H. Doc., Dec. 15, 1874, Montgom- ery, 1874, pp. 5); S. J. Buck, "The Granger movement 1870-1880," in Harvard historical studies, xix (Harvard Univ. Press, 1913), pp. 56-63, 108, 117, 253, 265, 291, 297; Hawkins, "Achievements of the Grange in the South," in Labor and Capital (1891), pp. 477-493; and editor, "Grange Department," in Montgomery Advertiser, circa, July-Dec., 1888; Alabama Farm Journal, Montgomery, vol. 3, No. 2, May, 1880, pp. 46-47; Southern Plantation, Montgom- ery, Nov. 2, 1876-Apr. 26, 1877.

GRANITES. See Building Stones.

GRAPES. See Fruits.

GRAPHITE. Two varieties of this sub- stance are found in the State. The first is a sort of graphitic clay, free from grit, and dif- ficult to separate from other matters with which it is mixed. This variety usually oc- curs in the feebly crystalline Talladega schists, or slates. It is sometimes used as a lubricant. The second is in the form of thin flakes, or lamellae, and is comparatively easy to separate from the enclosing rock. The belt of graphitic rocks extends from Chilton County northeastward, through Coosa and Clay Counties into Georgia. The flake gra- phite occurs in a mica schist in well defined beds which contain on an average from 212 to 31/2 per cent of graphite. The number of beds differs markedly in different parts of the field. Locally there are probably more than fifteen beds. The general width of the area bearing the graphite beds is from 2 to 3 miles. From these statements the vast amount of the graphite ore may be inferred. As a rule however the more productive por- tion has considerably less width of outcrop. At the present time (1916) there is great activity in graphite mining and refining, espe- cially in Clay and Chilton Counties. In Talla- poosa County a modification of the second variety of graphite is found. Here a belt of garnetiferous schist crosses the river a mile below Tallassee in an outcrop about 100 yards in width. In this schist the graphite is found in lenses or flakes which sometimes attain a diameter of two inches. With the disintegra- tion of the rock the graphite lenses weather out and become scattered loose over the sur- face.

Recently the graphite industry of the State has received a strong impetus. Clay County has come into special prominence in the min- ing of the mineral, having six graphite mines in actual operation, whose year's earnings

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exceeded $350,000, at the close of 1916. There were also 13 other plants in course of construction. The first company for mining and marketing graphite was the Ashland Graphite Co., organized by I. J. Griesmer. The town of Ashland is situated near the cen- ter of the graphite district, and promises to become the center of the industry, financially and otherwise.

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History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 128

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