History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 3

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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Reorganization .- During the decade follow- ing the close of the War, national influences so dominated the State military situation that little or nothing in the way of improvement or reorganization was attempted until 1877, after the close of the Reconstruction period. In that year a law "for the more efficient organization of the volunteer militia of Ala- bama" was passed, which reorganized the East Alabama Male College, Central Institute military arm of the State government in many respects, but made no change in the status or duties of the adjutant and inspector general. In 1881 a law was enacted for "the organiza- tion and discipline of the volunteer forces of Alabama," which repealed the act of 1877, and separated the duties of adjutant general from those of inspector general, establishing two distinct offices, each with the rank of colonel of Cavalry and both a part of the governor's staff. The office continued separate and with specific duties for each until 1915, when the duties of inspector general were consolidated into the general duties of the adjutant general and his assistants.

There were no assistants authorized by law for the adjutant general of the militia until the adoption of the code of 1886. The code committee of the legislature added a clause authorizing the appointment of an assistant adjutant general with the rank of lieutenant colonel. A clerk in the office was authorized at the same time. The adjutant general was first allowed a salary of $100 a year, which was changed in 1831 to a per diem as above noted. In 1899 a salary of $125 a month was allowed. It was increased to $2,000 a year in 1911.

Adjutants General .- John Collins, 1865;

HISTORY OF ALABAMA

Hugh' P. Watson, 1865-1866; George E. Brewer, 1866- (no records discovered) ; Wil- liam W. Allen, 1870-1872; Marshall G. Can- dee, 1872-1874; Thomas N. Macartney, 1874- 1878; John F. White, 1878-1881; Henry C. Tompkins, 1881-1883; James N. Gilmer, 1883-1886; John D. Roquemore, 1886-1887; Alexander B. Garland, 1887-1888; Charles P. Jones, 1888-1894; Harvey E. Jones, 1894- 1896; Robert F. Ligon, jr, 1896-1899; Wil- liam W. Brandon, 1899-1907; Bibb Graves, 1907-1911; Joseph B. Sculley, 1911-1915; Graph J. Hubbard, 1915-

PUBLICATIONS .- Reports, 1871-1910, published at irregular intervals. They contain statistics of militia and details of riots, or disturbances in which the military was called to interfere. "The report for 1892-94 has a full account of the military records then to be found in that office. These records are now for the most part in the custody of the State department. archives and history, where a full set of the reports is also preserved.

See Inspector General; Quartermaster Gen- eral; State Military Forces.

REFERENCES .- Toulmin, Digest, 1823, pp. 591- 622; Aikin, Digest, 2d ed., 1836, p. 314, and Digest Supplement, 1841, pp. 123-174; Code, 1907, secs. 930-931; Acts, 1859-60, p. 41; General Acts, 1915, pp. 745-766; Ordinances and Consti- tution of Alabama (1861), pp. 13-15; Adjutant General, Reports, 1871-1910; Owen, "Bibliog- raphy of Alabama," in American Historical Association, Report, 1907, p. 782.

ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH. A re- ligious body, formed in Boston, Mass., June 5, 1855, by the followers of Jonathan Cummings, one of the associates of William Miller in the earlier years of the Advent movement. The followers of Mr. Cummings differed with the main body in holding to the doctrine that man is by nature wholly mortal and is unconscious in death, and that immortality is not inherent in mankind, but is the gift of God to be be- stowed in the resurrection on those only who have been true followers of Christ. On November 6, 1861, a general association was formed in Worcester, Mass.

It is congregational in church government; the congregations are under the care of pas- tors; and the local management is in charge of elders and deacons, elected annually. The churches are formed into local conferences; and a general conference is held biennially, made up of delegates from the local confer- ences.

In 1906 there were in Alabama 10 organiza- tions, with 413 members; 9 church edifices; no parsonages reported; and 2 Sunday schools, with 14 officers and teachers, and 65 pupils. The North Alabama Conference ( boundaries not indicated) reported 13 organizations, with 476 members; 11 church edifices; value of church property of 10 organizations, $3,575; no parsonages reported; and 2 Sunday schools, with 14 officers and teachers, and 65 pupils.

REFERENCE .- U. S. Bureau of the Census, Re- ligious Bodies, 1906 (1910), pp. 16-21.

AEQUITE. A Lower Creek town, noted on an old French map of about 1738.

REFERENCES .- Manuscript data in the Ala- bama Department of Archives and History.

AGRICULTURAL (THE) AND MECHANI- CAL COLLEGE FOR NEGROES. A State institution for the education of negroes. Its chief aim "is (1) to train industrial workers, and (2) to prepare teachers who are qualified to give practical instruction in some form of handwork."-Catalogue, 1915. It was estab- lished by the State board of education, Decem- ber 9, 1873, as "a normal school for the edu- cation of colored teachers," largely through the efforts of Wm. H. Councill, a former slave, but it was not until May, 1875, that it was actually opened for students. It had an humble beginning, with a poorly equipped building, two teachers and 61 pupils. The original act carried an appropriation of $1,000; and this the legislature, February 17, 1885, increased to $4,000. By the same act the name was changed to "The Huntsville State Colored Normal and Industrial School". It was changed to its present designation by act of December 9, 1896.

In 1882, through the self-denial of the principal and other teachers, by the aid of the Peabody and the Slater Funds, and by private contributions, a lot in Huntsville was purchased and suitable school buildings erected. This was deeded to the State. About the same time industrial training was introduced. The legislature, February 13, 1891, designated the school as one of the beneficiaries of the fund granted by act of Congress of August 30, 1890, "to the more complete endowment and support of the Col- leges for the benefit of agriculture and me- chanic arts." The growth demanded "more and better opportunities to develop the in- dustries of the school," and In order to meet these conditions the legislature, February 18, 1891, authorized the sale of Its property. This was done and the proceeds reinvested In a new location, 4 miles north of Hunts- ville on the Elora branch of the N. C. & St. L. R. R. It was called Normal. Here the school has prospered. It has about 200 acres of land, and 16 principal buildings. Among these is a separate library building, erected at a cost of $12,000, through a gift from Andrew Carnegie. The school of industries provides courses in agriculture, mechanic arts, household economics, nurse training and busi- ness. A course of instrumental and vocal music is offered. The academic courses in- clude kindergarten, primary, grammar, high school, normal school and teachers' college. The act of December 9, 1896, conferred the "power and authority to grant diplomas and certificates of proficiency." A Sunday School, Young Men's Christian Association, Young Women's Christian Association, and four lit- erary societies are organized among the students. On September 30, 1916, its report to the State education department showed building and site, valued at $172,300; equip- ment, $31,800; 30 teachers; and 407 pupils. The total expenditure from the State treas-

HISTORY OF ALABAMA

ury for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1916, was $26,100, of which $22,100 was from the Morrill fund, and $4,000 by direct State appropriation.

Principals .- Wm. Hooper Councill, 1875- 1909; and Walter S. Buchanan, 1909.

REFERENCES .- "Acts of the Board of Educa- tion," in Acts, 1873, pp. 179-180; Acts of the Board, 1874, pp. 51-52; Acts, 1884-85, p. 162; 1890-91, pp. 433-434, 771; 1896-97, pp. 154-155; Catalogues, 1876-1915; Normal Index. 1910-15, vols. 1-7; Bulletins, folders, circular letters, and announcements of various dates; and many speeches and addresses of Wm. H. Councill (q. v.).

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. See Poly- technic Institute, Alabama; and names of the several agricultural schools.

AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS. Agricultural education or instruction in agriculture and kindred subjects, in organized form through- out the United States, dates from the act of Congress of July 2, 1862, known as the Mor- rill Act. The legislature of Alabama, Febru- ary 26, 1872, established the Agricultural and Mechanical College (now the Alabama Poly- technic Institute), located at Auburn; and, February 13, 1891, reorganized the Agricul- tural and Mechanical College for Negroes, at Huntsville, and to these two institutions the Morrill fund is given in the proportion of 56.6 per cent. to the former, and 43.4 per cent. to the latter.

The character of the work done at Auburn, and a desire to create local centers of agri- cultural, industrial and vocational training, led to the establishment of a system of con- gressional district agricultural schools. Ala- bama was a pioneer in this particular type of educational organization, and its efforts ante- date similar efforts elsewhere by more than a decade and a half. The act establishing the two first schools of the kind (soon thereafter located at Abbeville, Henry County, and at Athens, Limestone County), bears date Feb- ruary 28, 1889. The institutions provided by the act in question were specifically designated as branch agricultural experiment stations, to be closely articulated with the office of the commissioner of agriculture and industries, and with the agricultural experiment station at Auburn. Later, similar schools were estab- lished in other districts.

These schools are supported from the tag- tax fund. This brought out opposition from time to time, but the schools have succeeded in demonstrating their value, and are now be- lieved to be firmly entrenched as a part of the general educational system of the State. Of these schools Gov. Comer, in his inaugural address, 1907, said: "The tag-tax fund was established years ago. While many may ques- tion the wisdom of the tax, no one can ques- tion the wisdom of the application of the tax. With it you have built up nine great agricul- tural schools in the nine congressional dis- tricts, and the polytechnic institute, and they stand a living monument to the wisdom of the fund."

See Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes; Polytechnic Institute, Alabama; Schools; and names of the several district agricultural schools, entered under the names of the district, as First District Agricultural School, etc.

REFERENCES .- Code, 1907, secs. 59 et seq .; Clark, History of Education in Alabama (1889); Dr. Clarence J. Owens, Secondary Agricultural Education in Alabama (1909); Weeks, History of Public School Education in Alabama (1915).

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, THE ALA- BAMA STATE. (New) A voluntary agri- cultural organization having for its objects, "the collection and diffusion of information pertaining to the productive industries of the State, the promotion of progressive, profitable agriculture, and organization for the advance- ment of these objects." It was the third association of the kind in Alabama. (See Farmers' Organizations.) The society was organized at a convention held in the United States Court room at Montgomery, August 28 and 29, 1884, upon the call of E. C. Betts, commissioner of agriculture, who presided as temporary president, with W. W. String- fellow secretary pro tem. There were 121 delegates present, and a permanent organiza- tion was effected at the afternoon session of the first day by the election of Prof. J. S. Newman, of Auburn, as president, and Thomas J. Key, of Montgomery, as secretary. Committees were appointed by the president pro tem on Constitution; State Department of Agriculture; Agricultural Experiment Station; Agricultural and Mechanical Col- lege; Stock Breeding and Grass Culture; Labor; Truck Farming; Improved Imple- ments and Machinery; Fruit Culture; In- tensive Farming; and Diversified Farming. Addresses were made by Dr. J. B. Gaston, of Montgomery, Col. Sam'l Will. John, of Selma, and Col. L. F. Livingston, president of the Georgia State Agricultural Society. A con- stitution was not adopted at this convention, and adjournment was taken until the first Wednesday of the following February.

The first semiannual meeting, was held in the city hall of Montgomery, February 4, 1885. For several years the society held regular annual meetings, in the summer, and usually semiannual meetings in the winter, in which addresses were made and papers read on practically all topics connected with agricultural pursuits. One subject to which particular attention was devoted was techni- cal education for the vocation of farming, and in that connection the administration, the curriculum, and the faculty of the Agri- cultural and Mechanical College at Auburn often came in for full discussion. At the semiannual session, February 2 and 3, 1887, most of the discussion dealt with the subject of immigration and centered about the ad- visability of a State department, or bureau of immigration. One or more state fairs were held under the auspices of the society, but particulars are not available.

HISTORY OF ALABAMA

Presidents .- J. S. Newman, 1884-1887; 1. F. Culver, 1887-1888.

Secretary .- Thomas J. Key, 1884-1888.

Meetings .- Annual meetings were held on the dates and at the places named:

1st, Organization convention, Montgom- ery, Aug. 28-29, 1884, pp. 20.

2d, Auburn, Aug. 5-7, 1885, pp. 168.

3d, Talladega, Aug. 18-19, 1886, pp. 74. 4th, Troy, Aug. 3-5, 1887, pp. 32.

5 th, Huntsville, Aug. 8-10, 1888, pp. 96. Semiannual meetings also were held:

1st, Montgomery, Feb. 4, 1885, pp. 32.

2d, Montgomery, Feb. 2-3, 1887, pp. 62. 3d, Selma, Feb. 1-2, 1888, pp. 115.

PUBLICATIONS .- Proceedings, annual sessions, 1884-1888, 5 vols; semiannual sessions, 1885, 1887, 1888, 3 vols.

REFERENCES .- Publications noted above; Ala. State Agricultural Society, Constitution and by- laws.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, THE ALA- BAMA STATE. (Old) A voluntary asso- ciation of persons engaged or interested in agricultural pursuits, organized at Montgom- ery, January 10, 1855, for the purpose of improving the condition of agriculture, horti- culture, mechanic and domestic arts, and manufactures. It was among the first of such organizations in the South. Judge B. S. Bibb presided, and Dr. N. B. Cloud was the secretary. The chairman appointed as a committee to draft a constitution, E. A. Holt, Col. Charles. T. Pollard, Dr. N. B. Powell, J. M. Cheney, Col. Isaac Croom, and Dr. Cloud. After the adoption of the constitution, Col. Croom, of Greene County, was elected presi- dent, Dr. Cloud secretary, and Col. Pollard treasurer. An executive committee consisting of Mr. Holt, Robert F. Ligon, Dr. Carnot Bel- linger, J. M. Cheney, R. H. Powell, E. F. Montague, Col. Lewis Owen, M. A. Baldwin, and P. T. Graves was elected. The following, most of them prominent in their communl- ties, participated in the organization meet- ing: Col. Croom, Col. Pollard, Dr. Bellinger, Judge Bibb, Mr. Holt, William Frazier, Mr. Montague, B. F. Tarver, Mr. Graves, James H. Smith, Dr. Powell, F. L. Ashley, P. S. Gerald, William O. Baldwin, Mr. Cheney, William M. Marks, W. R. Cunningham, Flem- ing Freman, Col. Owen, Charles Crommelln, Dr. Cloud. Shortly after perfecting the organ- izatlon, application was made to the State legislature for a charter, which was granted February 14, 1856, incorporating Isaac Croom, president; Noah B. Cloud, secretary; Charles T. Pollard, treasurer; Willlam H. Rives, chairman; E. F. Montague; John M. Cheney; William O. Baldwin; B. F. Ashley; E. L. Elsworth; J. DuBose Bibb; Daniel Pratt; and Richard H. Powell as the Alabama State Agricultural Society, which was author- ized to own real and personal property to the value of $50,000. For the purpose of carry- ing out the objects for which the society was established, an appropriation of $5,000, pay- able in two annual installments of $2,500 each, was made.

In the following April, the executive com-

mittee of the society decided to hold a state agricultural fair in Montgomery during the following October. Early in the summer, an elaborate list of premiums for field crops, livestock, horticultural products, manufac- tured articles, domestic manufactures, needle, shell and fancy work, poultry, etc., was pub- lished. The exhibition occurred October 23- 26. At the same time, the first regular meet- Ing of the society was held. Its membership at this time was only 21.

In the early summer of 1856, a member- ship campaign was instituted, special efforts being made to obtain life members. In the fall, another state fair was held at Mont- gomery, which was as successful as the first, continuing four days, November 11-14. On the 13th, the second annual meeting of the society was held in Central Hall. The officers were reelected, but with a view to the en- largement of the society's usefulness, provi- sion was made for the election of a vice- president in each county of the State. Its activities appear to have been restricted mainly to the promotion of agricultural fairs, which it continued to hold until the outbreak of the War in 1861, all of them at Mont- gomery. The attitude of this pioneer agri- cultural society toward the farmer's calling and the plane upon which its work was con- ducted are indicated by the character and attainments. not only of its members. but also of the men who were invited to make addresses at its annual meetings. Among these were Dr. Landon C. Garland and Prof. Richard T. Brumby of the State University, Hon. Alexander Bowie of Talladega, and Hon. Henry W. Hilliard of Montgomery. These were men of high attainments in the scientific and literary fields, and their ad- dresses usually dealt with the science of agriculture in its philosophical and historical aspects as well as in its economic and pro- fessional phases. During the War, the society was inactive, and was not thereafter revived. Col. Isaac Croom and Dr. N. B. Cloud served as president and secretary, re- spectively, during the society's entire exist- ence.

Annual Meetings .- Regular meetings were held at Montgomery every year, 1855-1860.

REFERENCES .- Acts, 1855-56, pp. 342-343; U. S. Commissioner of Patents, Report, 1858; Ameri- can Cotton Planter, Jan. 1855-Dec. 1859.

AGRICULTURE. Alabama ranks twenty- seventh in land area among the United States. Its soils are varied, ranging from dark mucky loams in the lower part of the Coastal Plain to sandy loams in other sections. With respect to the character of the soils, the State is divided into two parts, approximately co- extensive with the mineral district and the agricultural district, respectively. The soils of the latter-the Coastal Plain-are pe- culiarly adapted to the culture of cotton, and from the first, cotton has been the principal agricultural product, although considerable quantities of corn and other grains have been grown, both in the "Black Belt" and in the lighter soils of the plateau region.

HISTORY OF ALABAMA

Early Statistics .- While there are no com- parable statistics with reference to the ratio of cotton acreage to the total cultivated acreage of the State previous to 1861, a view of the relative importance of each of several crops may be obtained from statistical de- tails given below.

In 1840 the farms of the State produced 1,406,353 bushels of oats, 20,947,004 bushels of corn, 1,708,356 bushels of Irish and sweet potatoes, 828,052 bushels of wheat, 51,008 bushels of rye, 7,692 bushels of barley, 12,718 tons of hay, and 117,138,823 pounds of cot- ton. Besides these, there were raised 149,019 pounds of rice, 273,302 pounds of tobacco, and 220,353 pounds of wool. In addition to the diversification of agricultural products shown by the foregoing figures, large num- bers of livestock were raised on the farms- 143,147 head of horses and mules, 668,018 head of cattle, and 163,243 sheep.

In 1849-50 there were 41,964 farms and plantations in the State, containing 4,435,614 acres of improved and 7,702,067 acres of un- improved land, a total of 12,137,681 acres. The average number of acres to the farm was 289, and the average value of the farms, $1,533, slightly more than $5 per acre. The total estimated cash value of the farms of the State was $64,323,224. The production of oats had increased to 2,965,696 bushels; of corn, 28,754,048; potatoes, both varieties, 5,721,205; bay, 32,685 tons; cotton, 564,429 bales of 400 pounds each, or 225,771,600 pounds. The production of barley decreased to 3,958 bushels, and of wheat to 294,044 bushels. Of the 41,964 farms and planta- tions in the State, 16,100 raised five bales or more of cotton. The production of wool in- creased to 657,118 pounds, and of rice to 2,312,252 pounds, but the production of tobacco decreased to 164,990 pounds. There were raised 187,896 head of horses and mules, 433,263 head of cattle, 371,880 sheep, and 1,904,540 head of swine, whose aggregate value was $21,690,112.

Agricultural Organization .- The spirit actu- ating the more progressive agriculturists of Alabama during the fifties, and the character of the farming methods used and advocated by them, are indicated by the following ex- tract from the report of the United States Commissioner of Patents for 1858, with reference to the Alabama State Agricultural Society:

"The most important benefit resulting from our Society is the spirit of land improvement, by 'horizontalizing' and fertilizing, which is prevalent among our planters. Stock is also better, horses, mules, milch cows, and superior breeds of swine. We are giving much atten- tion to diversifying our crops, combining to a proper extent farming, grazing and stock purposes, with planting. An evident and large increase has been exhibited in all our agricultural products for the last few years. There is no estimating the quantity we could produce, had we sufficient information to enable us to counteract the ravages of various Insects that prey upon our crops, unmolested, by day and night. In the manufacture of

'domestics', and in the 'Ladies Department' generally, such has been the advance that we are amply compensated for all our trouble and expense."

The total farm-land acreage had increased in 1860 to 19,104,545, of which 6,385,724 acres were improved and 12,718,821 unim- proved. The cash value of these lands was $175,824,622. On these farms, implements and machinery to the value of $7,433,178 were in use. The production of oats was 682,179 bushels; corn, 33,226,282 bushels; wheat, 1,218,444 bushels; potatoes, both varieties, 5,931,563 bushels; hay, 62,211 tons; barley, 15,135 bushels; cotton, 989,955 bales, or 395,982,000 pounds; rice, 493,465 pounds; tobacco, 232,914 pounds; and wool 775,117 pounds. The livestock (q. v.) pro- duced during that year was valued at $43,411,711.

The majority of the people of Alabama before 1860 lived on farms and plantations. While a considerable portion of the manu- factured articles consumed in the State, par- ticularly among the smaller farmers and wage earners were produced by artisans in the different communities, yet the people had depended on the North for all the finer and many of the commoner manufactured articles. During the War period, it became necessary to restrict farming to the produc- tion of food crops, and as a result, cotton production decreased from year to year. At the close of the War, agricultural conditions were demoralized. The negro laborers upon whom the ante bellum planters had depended, left the farms in large numbers and devoted themselves to politics. Many of the farm buildings had been burned, the implements destroyed, the livestock driven off by the armies, and little was left with which to undertake the cultivation of crops. Capital was scarce and interest rates high. Most of the capital in the State was in the form of Confederate securities, and at the close of the War was a total loss. The agricultural interests of Alabama did not recover from the effects of these conditions for many years; in fact, in some respects, the prosperous con- ditions obtaining before the War were not restored until well along in the eighties.

Post Bellum Development .- The first avail- able figures regarding agriculture in Alabama after the War are contained in the United States census reports for 1870, which show a total of 14,961,178 acres of farm lands, of which 5,062,204 were improved and 9,898,- 974 unimproved. The value of these farms was $67,739,036, and the value of their equipment of implements and machinery, $3,286,924. For the first time data with reference to wages of farm laborers are shown in these reports. On Alabama farms $11,- 851,870, including the value of board, was paid during the year 1870. The estimated value of all farm products for that year was $67,522,335. The livestock produced during the year was worth $26,690,095. Grains and other similar crops were raised as follows: wheat, 1,055,068 bushels; rye, 18,977; corn, 16,977,948; oats, 770,866; barley, 5,174;

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History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 3

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