History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 2

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

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From Ethel Jackson Williamson, Pine Apple, Ala., a former student at Woman's College. "May I add my tribute to the thousands already placed at the feet of your splendid husband. During my early college years in your city, it was my great pleasure and privilege to know him and to enjoy the rich storebonse his energy and genius had created. His advice was often inval- uable to me and his knowledge was a perfect mine of wisdom. You can never know, Mrs. Owen, and I fancy he never knew, how many, many lives he touched for but a little while, as mine, and left an imprint thereon jealously to be guarded and treasured."

From Dr. J. H. Phillips, Birmingham. He refers to mu father, Senator J. H. Bankhead, who preceded my hushand to the grave by only three weeks. "The loss of father and husband within so short a space of time is a heavy trial. But your exceptional consolation lies in the fact that in point of service, no two men in Alabama have ever contributed so much to the welfare of the State as Senator Bankhead and Dr. Owen, In their respective lines of work, and no two men In the history of Alabama have been more beloved."

From R. M. Archibald. State Supervisor Interchurch World Morement. "I loved and admired Dr. Owen. He was a great man. As you will see from my stationery, he was a member of our State Survey Council in the Rural Survey which I am conducting and I found bis counsel of much value on different occasions."

From Mrs. Janie McTyeire Baskerrille, formerly lady principal of Woman's College of Ala- bama, written from Sullins College, Bristol, Va. "I am sure you understand in what high esteem we held Dr. Owen, both as a friend and a scholar. Indeed, as I look back upon our stay in Mont- gomery, he seems to loom up above all the rest in the particular place of prominence and importance which he occupied In the community."

From R088 C. Speir, Birmingham. "My acquaintance with Dr. Owen during my legislative days strengthened my admiration and respect, and deepened it into an abiding regard and affection. He was always ready to serve. That is why we loved him."

From Rev. W. B. Crumpton, Baptist minister. "The city has lost a chief citizen, the State one of its most faithful servants, and the Nation a patriotic defender."

From Dr. Robert H. MeCaslin, Presbyterian minister and fellow Rotarian who pronounced Dr. Owen's funeral eulogy in the Court Street Methodist Church, written to acknowledge a pho- tograph. "I shall keep his likeness on my desk, and think reverently and often of that precious past as I look upon it, and thank God that He gave us that matchless and knightly man, Thomas M. Owen."

From a friend who failed to sign his letter, written from the Capital City Club, Atlanta, Ga. "His sense of civic responsibility was developed to an extent I have never seen in any one, and bìa unselfishness was remarkable. He had the desire to serve, and the wish to be recognized as one who did serve, but no sordid wish for his own gain."

From Dr. W. A. Blake, for twenty years member of the Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History. "Let me say to you what I have many times sald to others. The worth to Alabama of the work done by Thomas M. Owen during the past twenty years is of greater value than that of any other citizen during this period."

From Manly R. Joiner, Talladega, to Thomas M. Owen, Jr. "I feel that I have lost a wise counselor and friend, and our fraternity (Sigma Nu) one of its greatest members."

From Mrs. Charles Henderson, Troy, Ala., wife of the former governor of the State. "I know of no one who was more gifted with high intellectual ability, integrity, sweetness of character and above all, Christian in life than was your beloved husband. Simple in his ideals of life, a loyal

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AN APPRECIATION

churchman and statesman, thoughtful, modest and generous in giving of seif to public and patriotic calls. He has a piace in the memory of all Alabama that will be indelible. It is hard indeed to think that we shall never see him again and I know of no figure that will be so missed as he."

From W. J. Milner, Confederate veteran, and man of affairs, since deceased. "Dr. Owen's death is a great loss to the State, to the present and to future generations."

From Miss Mary E. Ahern, cditor "Public Libraries." "1 am very sorry that in this life I shall not meet Dr. Owen again, but I am inclined to think that the sweet, joyous spirit that was so happy in dealing with the things of the mind and soul on this earth, wlil have a greater oppor- tunity in the great beyond, and there will be much to show us of which we have not known, when we see him again."

From Senator A. H. Carmichael, college friend and fraternity brother. "He was the most enthusiastic, the strongest, the most useful public servant in Alabama."

From Dr. 'Hostings H. Hart, White Plains, N. Y. "I owed him a great debt of gratitude for his assistance and sympathy in my own Alabama work. He has left behind him an imperishable monument in the Department of Archives and History."

From Miss Alice Wymon, University. "His great courage, his unswerving Joyaity to our State, his superior ability hidden under his plain, unassuming demeanor, his gentieness of char- acter and sweetness of disposition were sources of inspiration to all of us. Our State has iost one of her greatest sons."

From F. W. Gist, U. S. Department of Agriculture. "I attribute his high character to two things first, his individual conception of integrity, which was inherent; second, the fact that his character was formed at a period of his State's development when by virtue of her necessities the unselfish side of her citizenship had become predominant. I am positive that no man ever lived in our day who had reached a higher point in the development of unselfish devotion to his people, his community, his State, and his church."

From A. F. Owens, colored, dean of Selma University. "Dr. Owen helped me much in my efforts of 1911 to induce the Legislature to make the Boys Reformatory at Mt. Meigs a State institution. Ever since that good day Dr. Owen has been my kind and sympathetic friend. I have aiways feit that I had in him a safe counselor. In his death I sustain a personal loss."

From Ed. C. Betts, lawyer, Huntsville. "As a public servant he was gifted with initiative and a breadth of vision not possessed by many men. He had imagination, foresight, indefatigable energy, and a determination to work good to the commonwealth he served."

From Rev. Henry M. Edmonds, Presbyterian minister, Birmingham. "Dr. Owen was one of the finest, most lovable men I ever knew and though I grieve at what we call his loss, yet I refuse to say that I have lost him. His honesty, his courage, his enthusiasm, his unselfishness cannot be lost."

Concluding paragraph in a column-long Editorial in "The Montgomery Advertiser," entitled, "The Builder," and written by its editor, Capt. W. T. Sheehan, following Dr. Owen's death. After reviewing the dead historian's successful efforts to realize his dreams, and deploring his premature passing, he said: "He died Thursday night, died as the old chroniclers said of their warriors, 'with his harness on his back.' But he had seen his vision realized. A good man and true, a dis- tinguished scholar, a civic leader who inspired, a man devoted to the highest ideais of moral con- duct and religious faith, the State of Alabama is poorer in true manhood because of his death. The city of Montgomery is poorer in the death of an adopted son, who loved her well and served her faithfully."

From A. B. Moore, professor of History, the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Ames, Iowa, but a native of Alabama. "I cannot imagine that my State, my profession, and I have lost so much. I have lost a coilaborator and patron in my efforts at historicai research. I have received from him, while doing research work in the Department of Achives and History, not oniy the thoughtful and delicate courtesies, of which he was a master, but also kind fatherly advice concerning the problems in my field of endeavor. Dr. Owen's distinguished service is so well known throughout the nation that it needs no advertisement. but the unique methods and results of his work, and the intense human side of him so beautifuliy manifested in his social relations, in his home, and in his civic activities in Montgomery, are best known to Alabamlans. The Alabama State Department of Archives and History, which he nurtured into existence and made famous, represents the most unique accomplishment in the field of history in recent times and one of the most distinguished accomplishments of ali times. It represents a passionate, heroic, and conscientious service ; and it reveals the toils, methods, and organization of a real genius. As a repository of the sources of Alabama history it unquestionably is one of the State's greatest assets : it not only contains the sources upon which all students of Alabama and Southern history must draw, but the magnitude and splendor of it will infuse into the investigator the spirit of its huilder, which is the spirit that is producing and will produce the annals of scientific and authentic history. How great will his hospitality, his enthusiasm, his 'spontaneous courtesies, and his pro- digious knowiedge be missed by his fellow Alabamians and by the many persons from all parts of the nation who have called upon him and worked in his department."

From Hon. H. S. Doster, of Prattville, editor and State Senator. "Alabama and the South have lost one of their most remarkable and useful citizens. He had no equal in the State. If the loving thoughts of his bereaved people could be transmitted into florai wreaths he would sleep tonight beneath a mountain of flowers."

The following poem was written by Gustave Frederick Mertins, lawyer and author of Mont- gomery, after calling at our home and seeing him in his last sleep upon his bier:

THOMAS MCADORY OWEN

He called : "Good Morning !" and a cheery note Rang in his voice as on his way he went. I cried : "Good Morning !" and I found a cheer His smile, his hand-wave and his tone had lent.

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AN APPRECIATION

Friendship and service, sympathy and hope, A courtly kindness, an engaging smile- With these he builded, came it rain or shine, To make the lives of others seem worth while.

I used to like to think : "There goes a friend Who knows no troubles," and I wished it so ; But I have seen him breast them with a smile, His voice all cheer, his sparkling eyes aglow.

I went to see him where he smiling lay, Seeing the Dawning while we saw the End. My sorrow left me and I smiled with him In old exchange: "Good-bye, good friend !"

History of Alabama

ABBEVILLE. Post office and county seat of Henry County, in the central part of the county, 28 miles south of Eufaula, 14 miles west of the Chattahoochee River, and the terminus of the Abbeville Southern Railway, a branch of the Atlantic Coast Line. It is situated on the high red hills of the pine region of the county, at the junction of two historic stagecoach roads-the Eufaula and Columbia road and the road to Ft. Gaines, Ga.

The name of the town is taken from Abbey Creek (Indian name, Yatta Abba), which is not far distant. It is one of the oldest settle- ments in southeastern Alabama. It became the county seat in 1833, but was a fairly popu- lous community long before that date. Part of the town is located on land formerly be- longing to Henry A. Young, who donated several streets through his property on the north side of the public square. Population: 1888-600; 1890-465; 1900-889; 1910- 1,141. Altitude: 499 feet. The town has an electric lighting plant; and artesian water supply. There are Methodist and Baptist churches. The Third District Agricultural School, with its equipment of substantial, modern brick buildings, is located near the town, on 40 acres of good, arable land. The Bank of Henry (State), and the First Na-

tional Bank are located there. The Abbeville News, a Democratic weekly newspaper, estab- lished in 1900, is published at Abbeville, and there are also several sawmills, gristmills, cotton ginneries, and cottonseed mills.

Among the early settlers or residents were Alexander C. Gordon, merchant and planter, who served his State and county in the militia, in the Creek Indian disturbances of 1836, and as a captain in the Sixth Alabama Infantry Regiment; James Ward, State sen- ator and representative; George W. Williams, lawyer and legislator; James N. Lightfoot; and Gov. William C. Oates.

REFERENCES .- Brewer, Alabama (1872), p. 279; Northern Alabama (1888), p. 236; Polle's Alabama gazetteer, 1888-9, p. 65; Alabama Offi- cial and Statistical Register, 1915.

ABBEVILLE SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY. See Atlantic Coast Line Rail- road Company.

ABESHAI. A creek mentioned by Bernard Romans. A careful reading of his narrative identifies this stream with the modern Kinta- bish, a tributary of the Tombigbee River In Sumter County. In Choctaw, in place of

"oka," water, "bok," creek, and "bokushi," branch, a general term "oka abvchaya," meaning watercourse, can be used. The word "oka" can be dropped, and "abvchaya" alone used. The word "Abvchaya" is undoubtedly "Abeshai" of Romans.

REFERENCES. - Bernard Romans, , Florida (1776), p. 327; Prof. Henry S. Halbert, "Manu- scripts," in Ala. State Dept. of Archives and History.

ABIHKA. One of the oldest of the Upper Creek towns. While there is some uncer- tainty, it is believed that the site of the town was in Talladega County, near the Coosa River, and just South of Tallassehatchee Creek on the S. 1/2 of the S. 12 of sec. 17, T. 20, R. 5 E. of the Huntsville meridian. At this point a village site, not otherwise identified, but corresponding with the indications of map locations of Abihka, extends along the creek same distance down the river. Lewis thus describes this site: "The remains-village debris-are of about the same general char- for over one-half mile, and for nearly the acter and quantity as those found on the site of Old Coosa." The first record of the town is found on Delisle's map of 1704, where they are "les Abeikas," and are noted on the east side of the Coosa River, apparently just above the influx of the Pakantalahassi .- Winsor. Belen's map of 1733, also places the "Abeccas" on the east side of the Coosa, but at some distance from it .- Shea. Coxe says that "the Becaes or Abecars have thir- teen towns, and the Ewemalos, between the Becaes and the Chattas, can raise five hun- dred fighting men." The people of the town were closely related to the Kusas and other towns of the Upper Creeks, and indeed, Bartram identifies them as the Coussas. The people of the town are called Apixkanagi. Gatschet says: "The Creek term abi'hka sig- nifies 'pile at the base, heap at the root' (abi, stem, pole), and was imparted to this tribe, 'because in the contest for supremacy its warriors heaped up a pile of scalps, covering the base of the war-pole only. Betore this achievement the tribe was called sak'hutga door, shutter, or Simat'hutga italua, shutter, door of towns or tribes.'" Situated on the northern limits of the Creek country this town was a buffer or defense against hostile inroads, which fact gave the appellation just noted. As indicating its antiquity, it is re- corded that the oldest chiefs were in the habit of naming the Creek Nation after the town. A French census of 1760 divided the Upper Creeks into Alybamous, Talapouches and

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HISTORY OF ALABAMA

Abikas. To this town some of the most ancient Creek customs are traced, as, the laws punishing adultery, and for the regulation of marriages.

REFERENCES .- Gatschet, Migration Legend (1884), vol. 1, p. 125, and also "Towns and Vil- lages of the Creek Confederacy," in Alabama History Commission, Report (Miscellaneous Col- lections of the Alabama Historical Society, 1901), vol. 1, p. 390; Lewis, in American Antiquarian, vol. 17, p. 173; Winsor, Narrative and Critical History of America, vol. 2, pp. 294, 295; Shea, Charlevoix New France, vol. 6, p. 11; Coxe, Carolana (1741), p. 25; Bartram, Travels (French ed. 1799); Hamilton, Colonial Mobile (2d ed., 1910); and Handbook of American In- dians (1907), vol. 1, p. 1, where will be found a full review of references to the various aborig- inal narratives and chronicles.

ABIKUDSHI. An Upper Creek town, situ- ated on a plain, about a mile wide, mainly on the right bank of Natche ( now Tallahatchi) Creek, 5 miles east of Coosa River in Tal- ladega County. Portions of the town lay also on the left bank of the creek. The name sig- nifies "Little Abihka." The town was settled from Abihka, and by some Natchez Indians. The first reference to it is on De Crenay's map of 1733, where the name is Ahicouchys. A French census of 1760 gives Abekouches 130 warriors, and locates them 25 French leagues from Fort Toulouse. At a council held at Savannah, Ga., July 3, 1761, to regulate Indian trade, this town with its 50 hunters, was assigned to the Indian trader, J. McGil- livray. Bartram states of them in 1775 that the inhabitants spoke a dialect of Chicasaw, but Gatschet observes that this "can be true of a part of the inhabitants only." Of the town in 1799, Hawkins says: "They have no fences, and but few hogs, horses and cattle; they are attentive to white people, who live among them, and particularly so to white women."

See Abihka.

REFERENCES .- Gatschet, in Alabama History Commission, Report (1901), vol. 1, p. 391; Hawkins, Sketch of the Creek Country (1848), p. 42; Hamilton, Colonial Mobile (1910), p. 190; Mississippi Provincial Archives (1911), vol. 1, p. 95; Georgia, Colonial Records, vol. 13, p. 523; Pickett, Alabama (Owen's ed., 1900), p. 85; and Handbook of American Indians (1907), vol. 1, p. 2, for detailed references.

ABINGDON MILLS, Huntsville. See Cot- ton Manufacturing.

ABORIGINAL ROADS. See Roads and Highways.

ACADEMIES. A popular type of school or- ganization and instruction, holding a very im- portant place in ante bellum days, and during the twenty-five years immediately following the close of the War. They were also known as private academies or seminaries. Organ- ization for instruction in the early years of statehood took four forms, the State univer- sity for higher education, denominational col-

leges of high grade, academies, and common schools, sometimes called sixteenth section schools. The university and the common schools were the only two receiving State sup- port. The various denominations early recog- nized their duty in the matter of educational effort, and Howard College, Judson College, at Summerfield, Southern University, and other institutions were organized by them, many of which are still active and vigorous, after many years of honorable existence.

Perhaps the most general form of school in- stitution, however, was the academy. Among the first acts of the legislature are many charters granted to such institutions and dur- ing the history of the State, more than 100 of such acts are to be found. The State, while giving no support in a financial way, through these charters recognized the practi- cal service of such schools, and, in a way, the regulations prescribing their powers and du- ties gave general tone and direction to the type. One of these schools. was the Green Academy, founded at Huntsville, the site of which is still pointed out. One was St. Stephen's Academy.

In 1847 Dr. Henry Tutwiler, who had been one of the first teachers in the University of Alabama, opened Greene Springs School, near the village of Havana, in Greene (now Hale) County. The school had a wonderful record, and it was known far and wide as the "Rugby of the South."

REFERENCES .- Clark, History of Education in Alabama (1889); Owens, Secondary Agricul- tural Education in Alabama (1909); Weeks, History of Public School Education in Alabama (1915); Pickett, Alabama (Owen ed., 1900) ; Brewer, Alabama (1872) ; Blandin, History of Higher Education of Women in the South (1909).

ADAMSVILLE. A town in Jefferson County, on the "Frisco" Railroad, about 10 miles northwest of Birmingham, and in the mineral district. Population: 1910-649. It was in- corporated by the legislature on February 5, 1901. By act of August 31, 1915, the charter was annulled and the corporation dissolved.

REFERENCES .- Local Acts, 1900-01, pp. 735-753, 1245-1247; Ibid, 1915, p. 198; Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1915.

ADELAIDE MILLS, Anniston. See Cotton Factories.

ADJUTANT GENERAL. A State executive officer, and, under the governor as com- mander-in-chief, the head of the military department. He is appointed by the gov- ernor, with the advice and consent of the senate, and must have served at least two years in the Alabama National Guard, or in the Spanish-American War, or in the United States Army. He has the rank of brigadier general, is chief of the governor's staff, and ex officio chief of all staff departments. All current military records and accounts are kept in his office, and he is required to super- vise "the receipt, preservation, repair, distri- bution, issue and collection" of all military

HISTORY OF ALABAMA

property, and the organization, armament, discipline, training, recruiting, inspecting, instructing, pay, and subsistence of all branches of the service. He keeps a roster of all the officers and men of the Alabama National Guard; distributes the State mili- tary laws and rules, and blank books, forms, and stationery to the troops; prepares such reports as may he required for the State or for the United States Government; makes a report to the governor 10 days before each session of the legislature; and performs such other duties as may be required of him by the commander-in-chief.

His salary is $2,000 a year. He has a chief clerk and assistant with the rank of major, at a salary of $1,800, who, in the absence of his superior, performs the duties of the office; two other assistants, at salaries of $1,080 and $900, who are members of the National Guard, and who perform the duties of prop- erty clerk and military store keeper; and a stenographer at $900 a year. The adjutant general furnishes a surety bond of $5,000; the chief clerk, $3,000; the other assistants, $2,000 each.

Early History .- The first constitution of the State, 1819, required that the legislature should provide by law for organizing the militia, but should not make any elections or appointments of officers therein except ad- jutants general and quartermasters general. Accordingly, the laws organizing the State's military establishment specified that the adjutant general should be elected by joint vote of both houses, and hold his office for the term of four years, but authorized the governor to fill vacancies during a recess. The adjutant general was also inspector gen- eral and had the rank of colonel. His rank was raised in 1831 to that of brigadier general, and his compensation put upon the basis of $4 for every day he was engaged in the actual discharge of his official duties, and 7 cents for every mile travelled while so engaged, but not to exceed $200 in any one year.

Under the military code, prepared by Generals George W. Crabb and J. T. Brad- ford, and adopted in 1837, the office of ad- jutant general was continued with slightly amplified powers and a few additional duties, the same as before. The code of 1852 first imposed the duty of reporting to the governor 10 days before each regular session of the legislature the number and condition of the arms and accoutrements of the State. An act of February 24, 1860, "to provide for an efficient Military organization of the State of Alabama," constituted the governor, the adjutant and inspector general, and the quartermaster general a "Military Commis- sion," with power to make rules and regula- tions for the purpose of carrying out the objects of the act; also to adopt a State flag and prescribe a uniform for the volunteer corps.

Confederate Period .- When Alabama with- drew from the Union, the military establish- ment was reorganized to meet the new conditions. The secession convention held in

January, 1861, passed an ordinance on the 9th, "to provide for the military defense of the State," which made the adjutant and in- spector general appointive by the governor. His rank, pay, and allowances were the same as those of a brigadier general. An assistant adjutant general, with the rank, pay and al- lowance of a colonel of Dragoons, was author- ized.

The ordinance assigned no specific duties, but the convention adopted the United States Army regulations of January 1, 1857, "so far as they consist with the provisions of this ordinance, and of other ordinances which have been or may be adopted" by the con- vention. On January 23 another ordinance was adopted annulling the old organization of the State militia in order to clear the ground for a new establishment which should be wholly separate from, and subordinate to, the regular and volunteer service provided by the ordinance of the 9th. The result of the two ordinances was the creation of two ad- jutants and inspectors general-one appointed by the governor for service with the volun- teer forces in the event of war with the United States; the other elected by the legislature, and a continuation of that office in the old militia, whose services were limited to the defense of the State alone. The former almost immediately became a part of the military organization of the Confederacy.

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History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 2

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