History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 33

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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Horner, H. H., Bacteriology; Zoology.


Horton, Edgar C., Anthropology; Meteor- ology; Spanish literature.


Hutto, Jasper C., Journalism.


Jacobs, Mrs. Solon, Enfranchisement of women.


Kendrick, Julian, Civil Engineering; Hydrau- lics.


Lovell, Mrs. W. S., Bookplates.


McCormack, G. B., Coal Mining.


Murdoch, Mrs. W. L., Child Welfare; Women in Industry.


Murphy, Judge Samuel D., Child Welfare; Juvenile Courts; Social reform.


Newfield, Rabbi M., History of the Jews. Parke, Dr. Thomas D., Sociology. Phillips, Dr. J. H., Education; Psychology.


Ramsay, Erskine, Coal Mining.


Riley, Dr. B. F., Negro question.


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HISTORY OF ALABAMA


Rothpletz, P. F., Bookbinding.


Rowley, Miss Daisy W., Music.


Schwend, Charles, Firearms.


Smith, Mrs. R. F., Psychology.


Smith, Dr. Richard M., Biblical history and criticism.


Sparrow, John, Advertising.


Ullman, Samuel, Hebrew literature.


Woodson, Miss Louise, Russian literature.


Citronelle-Cotting, Edgar L., Americana; Rev- olutionary Period New England local histories and genealogies.


Florence-Dyas, Robert, Andrew Jackson; Ten- nessee Valley.


Gadsden-Brandon, Frank W., History and biography; Anglo-Saxon history.


Guntersville-Street, Oliver D., American In- dians; Archaeology; Legal Literature.


Long Island-Graves, E. W., Botany (special ferns.)


Mobile-Allen, Right Rev. Edward P., Cath- olic Church history.


Bromberg, Frederick G., Law Reform; Hu- mane legislation.


Brown, Leo, 604 Government St., history and literaturc.


Hamilton, J. Gaillard, Spring Hill, History; Literature.


Hamilton, P. J., 1010 Government St., Ala- bama Bibliography; History Economics; History of institutions.


Loding, H. P., Herpetology; Natural History. Lowenstein, Victor, Church St., Literature. Moses, Dr. Alfred, 559 Government St., His- tory (special Hebrew) and Literature. Wright, Prof. Julius T., Pedagogy; Protes- tant Episcopal Church; Social service. Montevallo-Palmer, Dr. Thomas W., Home economics; Industrial education.


Montgomery-Andrews, Dr. Glen, Child Wel- fare; Medical Science.


Battle, Dr. H. B., Anthropology; Chemistry; Cotton oil industry.


Beauchamp, George, Masons; Masonic His- tory; Proceedings of Masonic Grand bodies.


Brannon, Peter A., Anthropology; Firearms; Museums; Natural History; Numisma- tics; Philately.


Brewer, Owen D., Philately.


Burke, Dr. R. P., Mineralogy.


Burnham, R. B., Amateur photography; Nat- ural History.


Chilton, W. Pierce, Art printing and binding; Office efficiency; Systems.


Edwards, Thomas H., Archaeology; Highway Engineering.


Frank, Julius, Angling.


Hill, Miss Amelie, Red Cross.


Hill, Mrs. Walton, European War.


Holt, Frank S., Cleaning and Dyeing.


Jones, Conrad R., Numismatics; Philately. Kellar, W. S., State Highway Engineer, En- gineering ; Highways.


Lincoln, Bart W., Astronomy; Comparative religions; Essays; Belles Lettres.


McNeel, Allen, Amateur photography.


Mullen, Miss Mary, European War; prints; War posters.


Owen, Mrs. Thomas M., Motion pictures, Theatres.


Owen, Thomas M., Jr., Ambassador James Bryce; Henry Van Dyke.


Paterson, J. H., Botany; Entomology; Flori- culture.


Pepperman, Miss Leonora, Motion Pictures. Perry, Dr. H. G., Public health administra- tion; Vital Statistics.


Sheehan, Will T., Journalism, Pioneer history of the South.


Smyth, P. H., Meteorology, Anthropology. Speed, Mrs. Mary C., Art, Architecture.


Stakely, Rev. Dr. Charles A., American In- dians, Biblical antiquities; Surnames. Steiner, Gen. R. E., Law; General literature. Stuart, George, Angling; Hunting.


Teague, Robert S., Masons.


Thompson, Harry F., Ku Klux; Reconstruc- tion.


Thorington, Mrs. Robert G., Home econo- mics.


Tresslar, H. P., Photography.


Troy, Daniel, Genealogy; Legal Literature. Wallace, J. H., Jr., State Conservation Com- missioner, Conservation; Natural his- tory; Sport.


Weil, Mrs. Leon, Drama; Theatre.


Wheeler, Dr. George, D. D. S., Dental Science. Pell City-Rennie, T. H., Cotton manufactur- ing; General literature.


Prattville-Golsan, Lewis S., Birds and Mam- mals.


Prichard-Munroe, G. F., Natural history; Taxidermy.


Rockford-McEwen, John B., American In- dians, Archacology.


Satsuma-Jones, W. Russell, Herpetology.


Seale-Lewis, L. J., Natural History; Herpe- tology.


Selma-Bishop, J. L., Early Americana; Philat- ely.


John, Col. Sam Will, Confederate; Thomas Jefferson.


Talladega-Silsby, Prof. E. C., Congregational Church; Negro education.


Parsons, Joseph H., Napoleonana; Political and Court Memoirs.


Tuskegee Institute-Moton, Maj. Robert R., Negro; Agriculture; Industry; Social Reform.


Tuscaloosa-DeGraffenreid, Edward, Law; Le- gal Literature.


Partlow, Dr. William D., Psychology; Mental Hygiene.


Garner, Tom, University of Alabama.


Smith, Dr. E. A., State Geologist, Geology; Natural History; Museums.


University-Bidgood, Dr. Lee, Political Sci- ence; Economics.


Doster, J. J., Education and Psychology.


REFERENCES .- Private Book Collectors in the United States (1919), Alabama Section, pp. 3 and 4.


BORDEN SPRINGS. Postoffice and sta- tion on the Seaboard Air Line Railway, in the northern part of Cleburne County, about 12 miles southwest of Cedartown, Ga., and about 25 miles northeast of Heflin. Alti-


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tude: 827 feet. Population: 1910-180. The mineral springs there are now known as Borden-Wheeler Springs, and Dr. E. A. Smith speaks of it as a "much visited resort."


REFERENCES .- Smith, Underground water re- sources of Alabama (1907), p. 80; Northern Alabama illustrated (1888), p. 134.


BOTANY. See Forests and Forestry; Plant Life; Timber and Timber Products.


BOUNDARIES, THE STATE. Alabama is bounded on the north by Tennessee, east by Georgia, south by Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, and west by the State of Mississippi. The several sections of the Code of Alabama, 1907, containing a description of the State boundaries, with reference to the decisions of the courts thereon, are as follows:


83. (623) (12) (12) (16) (15) Boun- daries of State .- The boundaries of this State are established and declared to be as fol- lows, that is to say: Beginning at the point where the thirty-first degree of north latitude crosses the Perdido River; thence east to the western boundary line of the State of Georgia; thence along said line to the south- ern boundary line of the State of Tennessee, thence west along the southern boundary line of the State of Tennessee, crossing the Tennessee River, and on to the second inter- section of said river by said line; thence up said river to the mouth of Big Bear Creek; thence by a direct line, to the northwest corner of Washington County, in this State as originally formed; thence southerly along the line of the State of Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico; thence eastwardly, including all islands within six leagues of the shore, to the Perdido River; and thence up the said river to the beginning.


Boundaries of Mississippi Territory, Toul- min's Digest, p. 76; territory ceded by Georgia Toulmin's Digest, p. 77; territory called Ala- bama; Toulmin's Digest, p. 78. ( Aikin's Di- gest, p. 29, par. 4; p. 30, par. 6; Clay's Digest, p. 47, par. 4; p. 48, par. 6.)


Note .- A strip twelve miles wide on the northern part of the State was ceded by South Carolina to the United States, and then granted to the Mississippi Territory.


84. (624) (13) (17) (16) Boundary Be- tween Alabama and Georgia. The boundary line between Alabama and Georgia com- mences on the west side of the Chattahoochee River, at the point where it enters the State of Florida; from thence up the river, along the western bank thereof, to the point on Miller's Bend, next above the place where the Uchee creek empties into such river; thence in a direct line to the Nickajack.


Clay's Digest, p. 48, par 9. In Howard v. Ingersoll, 17 Ala. 780, the boundary of the State, it was held commenced at low-water mark, on the west side of the Chattahoochee River, from the point where it enters the present State of Florida, to the "great bend" next above the place where the Uchee creek empties into the said river. In other words, low-water mark on the west side of the Chat- tahoochee River (was the line which sepa-


rated the jurisdiction of the State of Alabama from the State of Georgia. On writ of error to the Supreme Court of the United States, the decision was reversed, a majority of the court holding that the boundary line between the two states was not low-water mark on the west side of the Chattahoochee River), but a line running up the river on and along its western bank, and that the jurisdiction of Georgia extended to the line which is washed by the water wherever it covers the bed of the river within its banks. The per- manent fast land bank governs the line. From the lower edge of that bank the bed of the river commences, and the jurisdiction of Georgia extends to the lower edge of the bank on the west side of the river. Nelson and Grier, J. J., dissenting, held, that the true boundary line between the states of Georgia, and Alabama, was not a line drawn on the bank or the bluff of the river, at high- water mark, but the line marked by the permanent bed of the river, by the flow of the water at its usual and accustomed stage, and where the water will be found at all times in the season, except when diminished by drought or swollen by freshet .- Howard v. Ingersoll, 13 Howard 381.


The boundary line between the states of Georgia and Alabama depends upon the con- struction of the following words of the con- tract of cession between the United States and Georgia, describing the boundary of the latter, namely: "West of a line beginning on the western bank of the Chattahoochee River, where the same crosses the boundary between the United States and Spain, running up the said river, and along the western bank thereof."-State of Alabama v. State of Georgia, 23 Howard U. S. 505.


"It is the opinion of this court that the language implies that there is ownership of soil and jurisdiction in Georgia in the bed of the river Chattahoochee, and that the bed of the river is that portion of its soil which is alternately covered and left bare, as there may be an increase or diminution in the supply of water, and which is adequate to contain it at its average and mean stage during the entire year without reference to the extraordinary freshets of the winter spring or the extreme drought of summer or autumn."-Ib.


"The western line of the cession on the Chattahoochee River must be traced on the water-line of the acclivity of the western bank, and along that bank where that is defined; and in such places on the river where the western bank is not defined, it must be continued up the river on the line of its bed, as that is made by the average and mean stage of the water, as that is expressed in the conclusion of the above recited para- graph."-Ib.


By the contract of the cession, the naviga- tion of the river is free to both parties .- Ib.


85. (625) (14) (14) (18) (17) Boun- dary Between Alabama and Florida. The boundary line between Alabama and Florida is the line commonly known as the "mound line," or "Ellicatt's line," as distinguished


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from a blazed line, known as the "Upper" or "Coffee line," commencing at a point on the Chattahoochee River, near a place known as "Irwin's Mills;" and from thence to the Per- dido River, marked the whole distance by blazes on the trees and by mounds of earth, at distances of about one mile.


REFERENCES .- Codes and statutes cited supra; Gannett, Boundaries of the United States and of the several States and Territories (U. S. Geol. Survey, Bulletin 13, 1885) ; Ala. Hist. Society, Transactions, vol. 2, pp. 90-94; Miss. Hist. So- ciety, Transactions, vol. 3, pp. 167-184.


BOWYER, FORT. An American fortified post erected at Mobile Point, Baldwin Coun- ty, in 1813, by Gen. James Wilkinson. It was named for the gallant Col. John Bowyer. In September, 1814, Fort Bowyer heroically held its own through an attack by the Brit- ish. Major Lawrence was in command with a garrison of but 130 men and but 20 small cannon.


After the Battle of New Orleans, a second attack was made and Lawrence realizing the utter folly of resistance against such odds, was forced to surrender. The Fort, how- ever, remained in British hands but a few days.


REFERENCES .-- Pickett, Alabama (Owen's ed., 1900), pp. 602, 612; Brewer, Alabama (1872), p. 119; Hamilton, Colonial Mobile (1910), 430- 437; Hamilton, Mobile of the five flags (1913), p. 203.


BOY SCOUTS. A National organization, chartered hy Congress, neither military nor anti-military, non-sectarlan, whose motto is, "Be Prepared" and whose oath is, "On my honor I will do my best (1) To do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law; (2) To help other people at all times; (3) To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight." The scout law is 1. A scout is trustworthy; 2. A scout is loyal; 3. A scout is helpful; 4. A scout is friendly; 5. A scout is courteous; 6. A scout is kind; 7. A scout is obedient; 8. A scout is cheerful; 9. A scout is thrifty; 10. A scout is brave; 11. A scout is clean; 12. A scout is reverent.


Alabama Scouting .- The scout movement in Alabama during the past year (1920), has gone forward with pronounced activity. The statistics shown accompany this article, should not be considered more than as a basis, inasmuch as the activity, and interest manifested during the past twelve months have been so pronounced that no compara- tive data can be estimated. New councils have been organized, new executives em- ployed, and many new troops organized. In the city of Montgomery alone, seven new troops were organized, an executive em- ployed, the council was reorganized and now includes seventeen scoutmasters and assist- ants, and sixty adult leaders. There are now (1921) 206 registered scouts in the city. These are practically all new scouts, as most of the original two troops have


reached the age of eighteen, during the past year and did not re-register.


Statistics as of December 31, 1919:


Number of troops in State, 149.


Number under Council, 59.


Number not under Council, 90. Number of Scoutmasters, 144. Number of Assistants, 136.


Number of Scout Committeemen, 448.


Total number registered Scouts, 3,119.


Local Councils, 3.


Commissioners, 2.


Executives, 3.


Other Scout officials, 7.


Total Adult Scout Leaders, 873.


Total interested in Scout work, 3,992.


The church preference of Scoutmasters at this date, was: Methodist 65, Baptist 27, Presbyterian 25, Christian and Episcopal, 6 each, Congregational 3, Catholic 2; 79 of these leaders were college men; 57 were in mercantile pursuits, 32 were Clergymen, 19 Teachers, and the others in miscellaneous occupations; 62 had previous boy scout training.


The institutions with which the several troops in the State, are connected, are as follows: Methodist church 21, Baptist 8, Pub- lic schools 24, Episcopal Church 4, Roman Catholic 2, Presbyterian 9, Y. M. C. A. 3; Public institutions 5, while 58 of the others were not definitely connected with organized institutions. The meeting places of these troops were: in churches 43, in schools 24, in public buildings, 16; in semi-public buildings 4, in homes of members 7, in Scout head- quarters 9, in Police Headquarters 3, in Clubs 4, with no record of the others, except two troops, one of which met at a hospital, and the other at a library.


In Birmingham, there were five hundred and fifty tenderfoot scouts, three hundred and forty-one, second class scouts, and forty first class scouts, with three hundred and thir- teen leaders and officials. In Mobile, there were ninety-five tenderfoot scouts, forty second class scouts, fifteen first class scouts, and eignteen sea scouts, with seventy-six lead- ers and officials. Therefore, one-third of the scouts in the State at this date, were in these two cities. The figures are not avail- able for Montgomery.


REFERENCES .- 10th Annual Report Boy Scouts of America in Scouting, April 8, 1920; Mss. data in hands of Montgomery Executive.


BOYS' CLUB OF BIRMINGHAM. See Child Welfare.


BRAGG'S GYMNASIUM. A former private school for boys and girls, located at Central, then in Coosa, now in Elmore County, 26 miles from Montgomery and 12 from We- tumpka. It was originally founded as Cen- tral Southern Mechanical and Literary Insti- tute, and was chartered January 30, 1852. J. Bankston, W. C. Barnes, A. H. Hendricks, R. Edwards, J. A. Pylant, I. W. Suttle, L. Marberry, S. J. Thomas, W. T. Hatchett and J. W. Jeter were named as trustees. The


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HISTORY OF ALABAMA


trustees were given authority to "receive sub- scriptions for capital stock to create a fund for the support of schools and for the pur- chase of land and material necessary for me- chanical and manufacturing purposes to such extent as they decide to establish in the county of Coosa," stock subscriptions to be in shares of $50. They were given authority to make rules for their government and the government of the institution, and power to create offices, employ teachers and "super- intendents of mechanical department " It3


property was exempted from taxation.


It


was made unlawful to sell intoxicating liquor within 1 mile of the buildings erected either for school or labor. This incorporation was the outgrowth of steps taken at the seventh session of the Central Baptist Association, October 4, 1851, at which time it was decided to found a literary institution, the main pur- pose being to better prepare ministers for their work. At the meeting of the association in 1852 it was reported that the charter had been secured, and that plans had been made for a literary institution, combined with in- struction in the mechanic arts. The school was located on the old plank road, a little below Union Church. A brick building, three stories in height, 80 feet long and 40 feet wide, was erected. The first general agent of the institute, appointed by the association, was J. A. Pylant. The school opened in 1853. It appears to have been very well attended, with a good teaching force, but it was never very prosperous and every year witnessed an increase in indebtedness, with which the trustees struggled, and which was regularly reported to the association. Failing to clear the indebtedness, and unwilling to continue the struggle longer, the trustees sold the property on the first Monday in February, 1860, to Capt. Thomas C. Bragg for $4,025, his being the highest bid. One of the presi- dents during this period was Rev. A. T. Holmes, who served during 1856 and 1857. Another agent of the institution was W. B. W. Weston.


On acquiring the property, Capt. Bragg an- nounced in his first catalogue that the school would open October 1, 1860. He stated that it was no longer a college, but a high school, preparing its pupils for college or for busi- ness life, and that it was best characterized by a name in use in continental Europe, known as Gymnasium. "Its classical and me- chanical courses of study will be as extensive as those of an ordinary college, and its scien- tific course as full as requisite for those who do not intend to enter the university." The war coming on, the principal and twenty-five of his older boys left in one day. Others fol- lowed, until the school was reduced to the very young boys and young women. Capt. Bragg commanded Company D, 17th Alabama Infantry Regiment. The school was closed during the session of 1861-62. Capt. Bragg's health failing, he was discharged, re- turned home and opened up his school in the fall of 1862. It was continued until the end of the session in 1867, when its doors were permanently closed on account of the ill


health of Mrs. Bragg. The locality is still known as Central Institute. The influence of the institution and the methods of its prin- cipal were far reaching.


REFERENCES .- Acts. 1851-52, pp. 370-371; cata- logs 1860-67; and Brewer, History of Central Association (1895), pp. 19-40.


BRANTLEY. Incorporated town and sta- tion on the Central of Georgia Railroad, in the southern part of Crenshaw County. It is located on Conecuh River, about 25 miles southwest of Troy, and about 10 miles south of Luvern. Population: 1910-803. The town was incorporated by the legislature in Feb- ruary, 1895, with corporate limits extending "1/2 mile in every direction from the public well, as a center." It was named for Hon. T. K. Brantley of Troy, one of its promoters. Brantley carries on a considerable trade with the surrounding rich agricultural region. Its newspaper is the Brantley Booster, a Dem- ocratic weekly, established in 1914.


BRENAU, ALABAMA. A former high- grade private school for girls and young women, located at Eufaula; opened for stu- dents, September 27, 1905; and now closed. (See Union Female College. )


REFERENCES .- Catalogues, 1905-1910.


BREWTON. County seat of Escambia County, in the central part of the county, between Burnt Corn Creek and Murder Creek, on the main line of the Louisville & Nash- ville Railroad, between Montgomery and Mobile, about 75 miles northeast of Mobile, and 105 miles southwest of Montgomery. Al- titude: 85 feet. Population: 1880-550; 1890-1,115; 1900-1,382; 1910-2,185;


1916-5,000. It was incorporated by act of February 13, 1885, with corporate limits de- scribed as "bounded on the East by Murder Creek, on the West by Burnt Corn Creek, and shall extend 1 mile North, from the Court House in said town, in all directions between the said two creeks." It has municipally owned electric light plant, erected in 1897; waterworks, capacity 600 gallons per minute; fire department, with motor fire-truck; san- itary sewerage; 5 miles paved sidewalks, and public parks. The bank of Brewton (State), and the Citizens Bank (State) are located there. The Brewton Standard, established in 1887, and the Pine Belt News, established in 1894, both Democratic weekly newspapers, are published in the town. Its principal in- dustries are an oil mill, an ice plant, veneer mills, 3 feed mills, 2 gristmills, iron works, machine shops and foundry, 2 fertilizer fac- tories, a ginnery, cotton warehouses, sash, door and blinds factory, 2 sawmills, 2 plan- ing mills, 1 moulding mill, a box factory, and the city light and water plant. There are 4 acres of park and playgrounds in the heart of the city. The Baptist, Methodist Episco- pal, South, Presbyterian, and Universalist churches have organizations and buildings in the town, and there are 10 negro churches of several denominations. The Brewton Col- legiate Institute, owned by the city, and in-


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HISTORY OF ALABAMA


cluding the grades of the usual public school, is free to all the children of the town. The Downing Industrial School for Girls is located within 112 miles of Brewton, and is fostered hy the citizens. It was established and began operation in 1906. Located on 120 acres of good land the buildings, which cost $70,000, occupy a beautiful elevation. Among the early settlers of Brewton were the Downing, Tippin, Rabb, McGowan, Sowell, Hill, and Mathis families.


REFERENCES .- Berney, Handbook (1892), p. 292; Brewer, Alabama (1872), p. 246; Northern Alabama (1888), p. 235; Polk's Alabama gazetteer. 1888-9, p. 233; Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1915.


BREWTON COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE. A former private school for boys and girls, lo- cated at Brewton; established 1887; burned in April, 1894; rebuilt; and now a part of the public schools of Brewton.


REFERENCES .- Catalogues, 1899-1908.


BRICK. See Clays, Kaolins and Shales.


BRIDGEPORT. Post office and incorpo- rated town, at the crossing of the Southern Railway and the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway, and on the Tennessee River, in the northeast corner of Jackson County, 38 miles northeast from Scottshoro. Population: 1910-2,125. Altitude: 662 feet. The J. C. Jacobs Banking Co. (State) is located there, and the Bridgeport News, a Democratic -weekly newspaper, established in 1891, is published in the town. For years Bridgeport was at the head of navigation in the Tennessee River, but since the improve- ments at Muscle Shoals were made by the United States Government, steamboats go farther up the river. During the "boom" of 1889-1894 a syndicate of eastern capitalists built a $100,000 hotel, which was later taken down and re-erected on the university grounds at Sewanee, Tenn. The Bridgeport Pipe Works, and the Gunter Stove Works are the principal industrial enterprises of the town.


REFERENCE .- Northern Alabama (1888), p. 92.


BRIERFIELD. Postoffice anđ mining town, on the Southern Railway in the east- ern part of Bibb County. It is located on the Little Cahaba River, near the Chilton County line; is in the richest part of the coal and iron ore desposits of Bibh County. It is also near valuable outcrops of marble and limestone. Altitude is 384 feet. Popu- lation in 1880 was 800; in 1910, 1000.


This point was settled by a group of Gen- eral Jackson's soldiers under the leadership of J. Mahan, returning from the victory of New Orleans, to their homes in Tennessee. The Mahans, Fanchers, Massingales, Linzeys, Ragans and Smiths returned from Tennessee with their families and made their homes in the vicinity. Major Mahan's grave is in the old cemetery, on Joseph R. Smith's farm, today, and it bears date 1820. The group of pioneer settlers lived first in tents, and




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