USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I > Part 13
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In a way almost all of the early buildings may be said to have their prototype in some older community. For the church the paral- lellogram with the belfry, or bell tower, and steeple, gallery for slaves, high-back pews, and the pulpit "high and lifted up," all con- form to types in use in the Atlantic States, or in Europe, whence the settlers had come.
The business house, or store, or mercantile establishment, or shop usually a small struc- ture, sometimes made of brick, but more often of wood, with doors at each end and windows on either side of the doors, with an occasional window on the side of the building proper. In many cases, the front elevation was pro- vided with a broad facade, upon which the name of the owner and words descriptive of the business conducted were painted. Iron
57
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
bars and gratings covered the windows, and heavy bolts and bars protected the doors.
The first court houses were temporary wooden structures. In many cases the loca- tion of the county seat was not permanent. After more or less definite location, and county affairs had taken a normal course, brick buildings were erected, but they were usually small and provided accommodations merely for a half dozen offices, together with the court room, which usually occupied the second floor. These buildings presented various types, but usually there was a small cupola or bell tower, with varying degrees of ornateness. The roof was usually of tin, if flat, but of shingles if of the conventional design.
In the towns of the State, as Mobile, Mont- gomery, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Selma, Eu- faula, Florence, Demopolis, with the still greater growth of wealth and culture, the introduction of new and happy forms of con- struction becomes apparent to the student, in the quarter of a century immediately preced- ing the war. Dr. Thomas C. McCorvey, pro- fessor of history in the University of Alabama, finds the classic model in use in Tuscaloosa, and also extending throughout the State from that city as a center, as the result of the influence of Thomas Jefferson, introduced through Dr. Henry Tutwiler, one of the earliest professors at the University. Even casual observers had noted that the original University buildings bore the suggestive in- fluence of the construction employed at the University of Virginia. Col. McCorvey says, among other things, that:
"It was to be expected that the wealthy planters and professional men who, in the third and fourth decades of the past century, were attracted to Tuscaloosa, then the politi- cal as well as the educational center of the State, should have been impressed with the classic elegance of the University buildings; and that there should have appeared in the homes which they built what Goldwin Smith, in another connection, somewhat sneeringly calls 'that domestic architecture which pre- sents the front of a Doric temple with family and culinary developments in the rear.' Here is unquestionably the main historical influ- ence which accounts for the several handsome homes with Greek temple porticoes to be found to-day in Tuscaloosa. While the for- tunes of war, in 1865, destroyed the original University buildings, and others not of the same orders of architecture have taken their places, the classic influence of Thomas Jef- ferson and of the University of Virginia is still manifest in the domestic architecture of Tuscaloosa."
It would be of interest to trace, if materials were available, the individual development of the various styles of architecture employed in different communities of the State, includ- ing the simple rural dwellings, the homes of the small farmer, and the manor house, or plantation home, of the great land owner, who lived in lordly splendor on his broad estate.
It would also be interesting to note the further development in recent periods, in
which the modern steel skyscrapers, spacious department stores, luxurious apartment houses, well appointed hotels, and great churches, college buildings, and other public structures have been erected. The later de- velopment is to be attributed to the skill and ability of the professional architect, who com- bines not only the imagination and taste of the artist, but the mechanical and technical ability of the engineer, and the practical mastery of the art and practice of his pro- fession.
REFERENCES .- Sturgis, A dictionary of archi- tecture and building (1902), 3 vols .; McCorvey, "Henry Tutwiler, and the influence of the Uni- versity of Virginia on education in Alabama," in Ala. Hist. Society, Transactions, 1904, vol. 5, pp. 83-106; Armes, Story of coal and iron in Alabama (1910); Dubose, Life of Yancey (1892); Marie (Bankhead) Owen, "Montgom- ery's classic and beautiful homes," in The Montgomery Advertiser, Dec. 11, 1910, pp. 17- 20; Hutchisson & Chester, Architects, A quar- terly review, Mobile, Ala., 1911-12, Vol. 1, Nos. 1-4 (no more issued), illustrated; and Cata- logue of the Seventh annual exhibition of the Birmingham Art Club, and the First annual exhibition of the Atelier of the Birmingham Society of Architects, 1914, illustrated. For laws providing for the erection of early court- houses see Toulmin, Digest, 1823; and for build- ing codes see books of ordinances of Birming- ham, Mobile, and Montgomery. In the present work the illustrations indicate many archi- tectural forms, as the State capitol, the Uni- versity, other public buildings, etc. .
ARCHIVES AND HISTORY, DEPART- MENT OF. A state executive department, established by Act of the legislature, approved February 27, and organized March 2, 1901. The department is under the control of a board of trustees, one from each congres- sional district. The board is self perpetuat- ing, new members having to be confirmed by the Senate, and selects the Director of the Department, who is the administrative officer.
The Act of creation prescribed the objects and purposes as "the care and custody of official archives, and the collection of mate- rials bearing upon the history of the state, and of the territory included therein, from the earliest times, the completion and publi- cation of the state's official records and other historical materials, the diffusion of knowl- edge in reference to the history and resources of the state, and the encouragement of his- torical work and research." The objects of the department were enlarged hy later legis- lation to include library extension, legislative reference work, workmen's compensation, and a number of other special duties. It fills a hitherto undeveloped field of important state activities.
Archives .- The Department is the State hall of records. The archives are the State manuscript public records. The records of Alabama proper date from 1818, and all that survive, not in current use in the several offices, departments, bureaus, commissions
58
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
and boards of the State, are in the custody of the Department, systematically classed and indexed.
Reference Library .- A reference library of historical books and pamphlets has been brought together, unrivaled in richness for the Southern field. It contains practically everything printed about Alabama, or by Ala- bamians, or in the State. It contains also substantially full collections of State official documents, and denominational, educational and institutional publications for the State.
Gallery .- The gallery and the museum have the same object, namely, the preserva- tion of illustrative historical materials. In the gallery and corridors of the Capitol are exhibited more than a hundred portraits, many photographs (single and in groups), prints, views, etc. These are on display in the gallery and museum room.
Museum .- The museum is projected to embrace a complete array of materials illus- trative of life in the limits of the State, not only during its existence as such, but long prior. Hundreds of rare and priceless items have been gathered, including the largest col- lection of aboriginal stone objects in the Southern states. A large collection of birds, animals and natural history specimens are mounted and placed in suitable display cases. More than forty Confederate flags and ban- ners, together with a representative group of Confederate items are in the collection. Relics of the Spanish American and World War, as well as items from the Phillipines, Honolulu, and other Colonial possessions, where Alabamians have served are included.
Miscellaneous Collections .- Its collections of a miscellaneous character embrace news- paper files, unofficial manuscripts, maps, charts, coins, stamps, old currency, surplus State documents, autographs, etc. These are already numerous in every department. They are of much practical utility, and are con- stantly drawn upon.
Library Extension .- In 1907 the Legisla- ture added library extension to its other du- ties. This new duty has been broadly met. The establishment of public and school libraries has been encouraged and assisted, and a Summer course in library instruction has been offered. The Department also main- tains a system of Traveling Libraries.
These libraries are intended to meet an immediate local need, both In rural communi- ties and in the rural schools. They consist of small well-selected collections of books, usually twenty-five to thirty-five volumes. There is no charge for their use, except ship- ping and transportation charges in full. The books may be retained four months and no louger.
Research, Extension and Reference Service. -For the use of the members of the Legis- lature, State officers and others, a reference collection of current data and material on subjects deemed of public interest and im- portance to the people of the State, has been brought together and arranged for ready consultation.
Special Activities .- Its special activities are numerous and daily multiplying. They in- clude (1) the diffusion of knowledge in ref- erence to the history and resources of the State, (2) encouragement of historical work and research, (3) location and marking of historic spots or places, (4) archaeological exploration, (5) cooperation with literary and learned societies, and (6) the Director has been appointed by law either as a member or as secretary of a number of important history and monument commissions. By Act of the legislature, approved August 23, 1919, the Director was made ex-officio Workmen's Compensation Commissioner, being required to furnish prepared blanks to all employers or employees, or their agents, and to prepare a report which he must present to the legis- lature at its next regular session in 1923.
Several important series of historical publications are in process of compilation.
The Department has come to be universally regarded as a bureau of information on all historical, and statistical subjects for the State. Prompt and full response, as far as possible, is made to all inquiries.
The Department is in every sense one of service and help. It aspires to be an uplifting, refining and stimulating force in State life, and in a high degree it is meeting these ideals.
Upon the death of Dr. Thomas M. Owen, founder and Director from 1901 to 1920, the Trustees of the Department elected his wife Mrs. Marie B. Owen, to succeed him as Director.
The maintenance of the Department is provided for by law, the Director receiving a salary of $3,000 and the chief clerk $2,000, and the sum of $13,000 provided for salaries of employees, and miscellaneous expenses.
REFERENCES .- Acts of Alabama 1900-01-1920 (special session) ; Alabama Official and Statis- tical Register, 1903-1919, 6 vols .; Code of Ala- bama, 1907; Manuscript records in office of Department.
AREAS, STATE AND COUNTY. The ex- tent of the land and water surface, and other surface detalls, within the boundaries or limits of the State and of its 67 counties, usually stated in terms of square miles and square acres. The figures hereinafter given embody the results of the latest computations and estimates of the Government. In some details they slightly vary figures previously accepted, but it is believed that they are alto- gether reliable and accurate.
In recent years the State has been surveyed and platted in large part by the U. S. Geologi- cal Survey, in connection with its investiga- tion of mineral statistics and in the compila- tion of topographic area maps; the Depart- ment of Agriculture, In its soils and soil sur- veys; the Engineer Office in the work of river and harbor improvement; and the Coast and Geodetic Survey, in charting its coast, bays and inlets. The reports and other pub- lications of these departments and bureaus contain details of these operations. Brief sketches will be found herein under the titles
59
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
Mineral Statistics, River and Harbor Im- provement, Soils and Soil Surveys, and Topo- graphic Surveys (q. v.).
The subject matter of the statistics here
given consists of the more permanent features of area, as land, water, farm land-improved and unimproved, swamp and overflowed land, mineral and oil land.
State Areas, 1916 .-
Square miles 51,998
Acres
Total area.
33,278,720
Total land area .
51,279
32,818,560
Total water area.
719
460,160
Total farm land
32,394
20,732,312
Improved farm land.
15,146
9,693,581
Unimproved farm land.
17,248
11,038,731
Wooded farm land. .
14,757
9,444,764
Swamp and overflowed land (1908)
2,312
1,479,200
Permanent swamp land.
1,406
900,000
Wet grazing land.
93
59,200
Periodically overflowed land.
813
520,000
Mineral and oil land (1909)
1,072
686,350
County Areas .-
Total area
Total
Total farm land
Improved farm
Unimp. farm
Wooded
Counties
(sq. mi.)
area (acres)
(acres)
(acres )
(acres)
(acres)
Autauga
584
373,760
245,668
114,851
130,817
121,669
Baldwin
1,595
1,020,800
152,938
32,863
120,075
92,115
Barbour
912
583,680
423,587
243,978
179,609
124,893
Bibb
634
405,760
181,213
64,065
117,148
106,869
Blount
649
415,360
297,897
120,188
177,709
165,282
Bullock
610
390,400
297,384
220,247
77,137
48,327
Butler
763
488,320
338,358
153,356
185,002
162,230
Calhoun
630
403,200
258,143
119,086
139,057
120,539
Chambers
588
376,320
333,997
187,851
146,146
98,071
Cherokee
577
369,280
283,319
129,071
154,248
134,614
Chilton
729
466,560
263,893
103,188
160,705
144.021
Choctaw
932
596,480
331,488
112,178
219,310
206,006
Clarke
1,216
778,240
486,656
155,423
331,233
270,722
Clay
614
392,960
255,330
109,290
146,040
121,989
Cleburne
568
363,520
200,888
69,429
131,459
120,734
Coffee
678
433,920
357,920
185,426
172,494
162,690
Colbert
618
395,520
233,360
121,591
111,769
102,817
Conecuh
849
543,360
269,779
104,645
165,134
153,127
Coosa
655
419,200
272,964
108,388
164,576
132,431
Covington
1,042
666,880
315,240
119,812
195,428
191,808
Crenshaw
618
395,520
309,836
149,297
160,539
113,319
Cullman
763
488,320
343,008
142,888
200,120
195,081
Dale
563
360,320
362,745
256,586
106,159
83,673
DeKalb
786
503,040
363,521
151,633
211,888
203,977
Elmore
622
398,080
296,754
149,716
147,038
127,109
Escambia
957
612,480
127,034
43,102
83,932
62,804
Etowah
542
346,880
249,368
112,123
137,245
127,446
Fayette
643
411,520
296,019
92,816
203,203
187,701
Franklin
647
414,080
256,827
90,826
166,001
151,646
Geneva
578
369,920
275,606
131,908
143,698
121,500
Greene
635
406,400
279,575
158,155
121,420
92,834
Hale
646
413,440
328,705
185,160
143,545
100,268
Houston
579
370,560
324,608
184,319
140,289
135,363
Jackson
1,140
729,600
443,289
169,890
273,399
260,043
Jefferson
1,135
726,400
235,820
95,856
139,964
128,314
Lamar
601
384,640
313,065
94,926
218,139
179,299
Lauderdale
694
444,160
345,502
163,793
181,709
163,180
Lawrence
700
448,000
311,481
162,022
149,459
140,566
Lee
632
404,480
318,199
191,535
126,664
96,711
Limestone
596
381,440
298,393
163,292
135,101
127,272
Lowndes
739
472,960
307,889
204,396
103,493
56,609
Macon
614
392,960
251,265
171,118
80,147
71,589
Madison
811
519,040
408,781
245,056
163,725
141,899
Marengo
966
618,240
453,389
238,944
214,445
163,067
Henry
560
358,400
306,069
164,890
141,179
121,622
Dallas
957
612,480
314,874
159,282
155,592
126,214
farm
land
land
land
60
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
Total
Improved
Unimp. farm
farm
Counties
(sq. mi.)
Total area (acres)
farm land
farm land
land
land
(acres)
( acres)
(acres)
(acres)
Marion
743
475,520
318,328
93,701
224,627
207,152
Marshall
602
385,280
330,132
152,846
177,286
149,414
Mobile
1,226
784,640
144,460
22,031
122,429
98,341
Monroe
1,012
647,680
439,289
164,765
274,524
247,241
Montgomery
801
512,640
383,686
285,861
97,825
63,113
Morgan
587
375,680
294,200
140,370
153,830
143,774
Perry
737
471,680
356,740
188,273
168,467
122,686
Pickens
875
560,000
370,291
151,344
218,947
178,588
Pike
671
429,440
364,844
220,823
144,021
116,246
Randolph
590
377,600
302,254
147,090
155,164
123,095
Russell
655
419,200
266,784
163,440
103,344
69,511
St. Clair
645
412,800
277,615
89,972
137,643
130,809
Shelby
808
515,840
279,119
99,699
179,420
153,221
Sumter
908
581,120
371,291
211,670
159,621
120,844
Talladega
755
483,200
283,084
164,935
118,149
105,451
Tallapoosa
763
488,320
400,193
187,712
212,481
144,998
Tuscaloosa
1,346
861,400
450,211
163,119
287,092
257,968
Walker
777
497,280
250,003
76,147
173,856
151,626
Washington
1,087
695,680
344,620
42,964
301,656
294,636
Wilcox
896
573,440
378,130
215,131
162,999
124,833
Winston
630
403,200
255,394
63,233
192,161
181,158
See Appalachian Valley Region; Black
Belt; Canebrake; Chunnennuggee Ridge; Coosa Valley; Forestry; Hill Country; Min- eral District; Piedmont Region; Tennessee Valley; Timber Belt; Valley Regions.
REFERENCES .- U. S. Dept. of Commerce, Sta- tistical abstract, 1914, p. 9; U. S. Bureau of the Census, 13th census, Vol. 6, pp. 32-38; 1bid, Abstract, 1910, with "Supplement for Alabama," passim; "Swamp lands of the United States" (S. Doc. 443, 60th Cong., 1st sess., 1908, ser. No. 5265).
ARITON. An incorporated town in the northeastern corner of Dale County, on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad between Ozark and Troy. Population: 1910-431. It has the Ariton Banking Co. (State), and is situ- ated in a good agricultural section whose chief products are cotton, corn, and orchard fruits.
REFERENCES .- Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1915; U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Soil survey of Dale County (1911).
ARKADELPHIA. Postoffice and interior village in the S. part of Cullman County, on the E. slopes of Sand Mountain, 10 miles W. of Blount Springs, and 25 miles S. W. of Cullman. Population: 1818, 130; 1912, 220. It is one of the oldest settlements of that section of the State, and was originally in Blount County.
REFERENCES .- R. E. Ryan's letter, Aug. 1916; Polk's Ala. Gaz. (1888), p. 92.
ASBESTOS. See Corundum, Asbestos and Soapstone.
ASBURY MISSION. An Indian school au- thorized hy the South Carolina Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, held at Augusta, Ga., Saturday, February 23, 1822.
The mission or school was built, as near as can be determined on the section line between the southeast quarter and southwest quarter of section 22, township 16 north, range 30 east. It was near to and a few hundred yards west of the Central of Georgia, 114 miles north northeast, of Fort Mitchell, and Iess than 1/2 mile southwest of the present Tick- faw. This point is less than 1/2 mile from the site of Kawita (Coweta), and was there- fore apparently just outside the limits of this town. Kawita, it will be remembered, was the capital of the Creek Nation and the es- tablishment of the school in the proximity of the town, indicates the desire to exert that much more influence. The agent for Indian Affairs had his headquarters at Fort Mitchell, then a U. S. Post, and garrisoned with troops. Reverend William Capers, afterwards Bishop, was the first Methodist missionary to the Indians, and in 1822, when the appoint- ments were made by the conference, he as superintendent, with Isaac Smith, and An- drew Hammill were assigned to this work. It appears from West's History of Methodism in Alabama, that the Rev. Mr. Smith was given charge of Asbury Mission, while the Rev. Mr. Hammill was given charge of Mc- Kendree Mission, which was to have been established at Tukabatchi, in the Upper Creek Nation, but which never materialized. Mr. Smith was sixty-three years old, when appointed, Mr. Hammill, was twenty-four, and Superintendent Capers, was thirty-one.
A small farm of twenty-five acres with a stock of cattle not exceeding thirty-five head, was maintained with the school, and man- aged by a man hired for that purpose. In 1825, the preachers obtained permission of Little Prince, the head-chief, at that time, to teach the native children to work. The school opened in 1822 with an enrollment of twelve Indian children, adding twelve more during the first week.
Wooded
Total area
61
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
The well known controversy between the missionaries, Colonel Crowell, the Indian Agent, and the Georgia Commissioners, had a detrimental effect on the work of the school, but in the end, the missionaries suc- ceeded eventually in getting the good will of Little Prince, Colonel Crowell, and others who had first been opposed to its establish- ment, and it appears that its influence was far reaching, extending to the new town of Columbus, Ga. On Sunday, September 21, 1823, Mr. Martin, the man hired to manage the farm in connection with the school, was baptized by Mr. Capers, and he seems to be first convert to be taken into the church by the work of the school. In December, 1825, eleven United States soldiers, from the gar- rison at Fort Mitchell, and eleven Indian children, were members of the Society.
Joseph Marshall, the celebrated half- breed, and from reputation, an ungodly man, one time owner of and possibly the first set- tler in the present Girard, was baptized into the church here. Thomas Carr, brother of Paddy Carr, a half-breed Irish-Indian, was another convert. Henry Perryman, a half- breed and Samuel McIntosh, a kinsman of William McIntosh the chief, were among other converts.
The Mission was discontinued by a reso- lution passed February 2, 1830, during the session of the Conference (South Carolina Conference) held at Columbia. Rev. Capers . who inaugurated the work at Asbury, died January 29, 1855, at Columbia, and is there buried.
Mrs. M. E. Bellamy, a neice of Colonel John Crowell, the Indian Agent during the life of the Mission, now owns the property on which the school was located.
ASHCRAFT COTTON MILLS, Florence. See Cotton Manufacturing.
ASHFORD. Post office and station in the center of Houston County, on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, 10 miles southeast of Dothan. Population: 1900-286; 1910-479.
ASHLAND. County seat of Clay County, situated practically in the center of the county, on the Pyriton branch of the Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic R. R., 25 miles south- east of Talladega, 18 miles southeast of Iron- aton, and about 30 miles north of Alexander City. Altitude: 1080 feet. Population: 1880 -300; 1890-635; 1900-422; 1910- 1,062; 1916-1,800.
It is an incorporated town. Banks: First National, Farmers' State Bank. Newspapers: The Ashland Progress, W., Dem., established 1909. Industries: 8 graphite factories with a daily output valued at $1,500, gristmills, oil mill, fertilizer plant, cotton ginneries, cotton warehouse. There are several graphite mines in the vicinity.
Schools: Clay County High School; city public schools. Churches: Baptist; Methodist Episcopal, South.
The early settlers of the community were not owners of slaves, and the farms have
always been worked by white labor. Diversi- fication of crops has long been practiced, as well as frult culture and stockraising.
REFERENCES .- Berney, Handbook (1892), p. 279; Brewer, Alabama (1872), p. 183; Northern Alabama (1888), p. 127; Polk's Alabama gazet- teer, 1887-8, p. 93; Alabama Official and Statis- tical Register, 1915.
ASHLAND COLLEGE. A former private school for boys and girls, located at Ashland; succeeded a school conducted by the Ashland Educational Company; incorporated, Feb- ruary 18, 1891; and opened for students in the same year.
REFERENCES .- Catalogues, 1892, 1898.
ASHVILLE. County seat of St. Clair County, on Big Canon Creek, in the north- central part of the county, 312 miles south- east of Whitney, the nearest railroad station, about 20 miles southwest of Gadsden, and 120 mlles north of Montgomery. Altitude: 680 feet. Population: 1870-922; 1888- 200; 1900-362; 1910-278; 1916-650. It was made the county seat in 1822, and was incorporated by act of December 12, 1822, with its corporate limits including "30 acres, agreeably to the plan of the town."
The town has MethodIst Episcopal, South, Cumberland Presbyterian, and Baptist churches; the Ashville Savings Bank (State) ; the Southern Aegis, a Democratic weekly, established in 1873; and also a cotton gin- nery, cotton warehouse, gristmill, sawmIII, wagon-repair shop, and woodworking factory.
The locality was first settled in 1818, by John Ashe, who established a plantation, where he lived until his death in 1873. He was a senator in the first legislature of the State. The town was named in his honor. In 1821, John Ashe, John Massey, John Cun- ningham, Joel Chandler, and George Short- well were appointed a commission to erect the courthouse and jail. Log buildings were put up and used for several years. Later brick structures were erected which were used until 1844, when the present courthouse was built. The complete records of the county as far back as 1821, are stored in the building. They include many valuable In- dian records, early deeds, wills, etc.
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