History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 42

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

USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I > Part 42

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

REFERENCES .- Narratives of De Soto (Trall- makers' series, 1904), vol. 1, pp. 87, 88, vol. 2, p. 116.

CASTLEBERRY. Post office and incor- porated town in the southern edge of Conecuh County; sec. 24, T. 4, R. 10; on the Louis- ville & Nashville Railroad, equidistant from Montgomery and Mobile, and 12 miles south of Evergreen. Altitude: 174 feet. Popula- tion: 1900-167; 1910-225; 1910-Castle- berry Precinct-1,683. It is incorporated. It has a branch of the Peoples Bank of Ever- green (State). Its industries are a cotton ginnery, cotton warehouse, gristmill, sawmill, and strawberry culture. It has the Conecuh County High School, and public schools. The Baptist and the Methodist Episcopal, South, denominations have churches there.

This point was first settled in 1817 by the Baggett family. The town itself had its be- ginning about 1830, and for some years was known as Wilson's Field. In 1830, the Castle- berry family came from Florida and settled there. The old stage route from Pensacola to Montgomery passed through the settlement, using the Castleberry residence as a relay house. Thus the place came to be called "Castleberry's." When the Mobile & Mont- gomery Railroad (now Louisville & Nash- ville Railroad) was built, the town was re- named Castleberry. The first residence on the present site of the town was built by Judge John Henderson. It is now known as the Downing home. Judge Henderson was the first merchant; J. B. Baird, the first post- master; Dr. R. M. Murphy, the first physi- cian; Prof. McNeal, the first teacher; R. B. L. Selman, Methodist, the first preacher. The first schoolhouse-church-townhall was a log cabin.

The town is situated at the crossing of the highways from Brewton to Evergreen and from Repton to Brooklyn, and near Panther Creek on the north, Murder Creek on the east, and Burnt Corn Creek on the west. Among the pioneer settlers were the Holland, Beard, Mathew and Garrett families. Castleberry is best known for Its modern county high school, said to be the finest In the State, and as the

shipping point for large quantities of straw- berries produced in the surrounding country.

REFERENCES .- Riley, Conecuh County (1881), passim; Berney, Handbook (1892), p. 283; Polk's Alabama gazetteer, 1888-9, p. 254; Ala- bama Official and Statistical Register, 1915.

CATAHAGER. A creek in Sumter County, flowing into the Tombigbee River. The name doubtless came from some standing pond or lake, closely tributary. The word is traced to the Choctaw okhvta hikia, meaning "stand- ing pond or lake," that is, okhvta, "pond, or lake," hikia, "to stand."

REFERENCE .- Manuscript data in Alabama De- partment of Archives and History.

CATHOLIC ORPHANAGES. See Child Welfare.

CATTLE. See Live Stock and Products.

CAUCUS. See Legislature.

CAUJAUDA. See Kantchati.

CAUWAOULAU. A Lower Creek village in Russell County, about three or four miles west of Uchee P. O., and near the old Federal Road. It is shown on a map by Hinton, Simp- kin and Marshall, London, October 15, 1831. No other references are known. Warrior Stand and Creek Stand, present day villages in Macon County, about six miles southwest of this point, are said to be located on or near former Indian village sites, but they have not been identified.

REFERENCE .- Manuscript data in Alabama De- partment of Archives and History.

CAXA. A small aboriginal village, re- ferred to in the De Soto Narratives, as "on a direct line from Talisi to Tascalusa." It is identified with a town site on the Moore plan- tation, lying on the Cahaba River, and two miles southeast of Harrell in Dallas County. One of the chronicles calls it "a wretched vil- lage on the river banks." The "direct line has reference to the trail or road from Talasi direct to Mauvilla (q. v.), the town of the chief Tuscalusa.

REFERENCES .- Narratives of De Soto (Trail- makers' series, 1904), vol. 2, p. 116.

CEDAR CREEK INDIAN VILLAGE. An old Creek Indian town in Talladega County, on the north side of Cedar Creek, and a few miles from its influx with the Coosa River. Fort Williams was later built on the same side of the creek, and between the town and the river.

REFERENCE .- Bureau of American Ethnology, Eighteenth Annual Report (1899), pt. 2, map 1.

CEMENT. See Clays, Kaolins and Shales; also Portland Cement.

CENSUS. An official enumeration of the population of the State, counties, municipali- ties, school districts, or other designated local areas. The official State census was orig-

213

HISTORY OF ALABAMA

inally instituted solely for the purpose of se- curing a basis for apportionment of represen- tation in the legislature. Enumerations were made with regularity until 1855. The first census classified the population with respect to families, sex, persons over twenty-one years of age and those under twenty-one, free persons of color, and the total number of slaves. With the development of the State the need for more detailed data became man- ifest, and the scope of the enumerations was somewhat expanded, later censuses including, in addition to the foregoing, data as to the number of colleges, academies and common schools in each county, and the number of pupils in each; the number of white children of school age; and the number of insane per- sons, epileptics and idiots, mutes, blind per- sons, crippled and maimed persons in every county. It does not appear, however, that possessions or property, occupations, or other data of an economic character were ever shown in the State census reports.

The United States Government began enu- merations of the population of the State in 1820, and has since continued to make them decennially. The Federal censuses have con- stantly been expanded in scope, while the State censuses were finally abandoned. An act was passed, February 17, 1881, making it the duty of judges of probate to have bound in a suitable manner, at the expense of the county, the reports of the census enumerators of the respective counties, and to keep them in their offices for reference.

Constitutional Provisions .- The first con- stitution, 1819, provided that "The general assembly shall, at their first meeting, and in the years one thousand eight hundred and twenty, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six, and every six years thereafter cause an enumeration to be made of all the inhabitants of the State, and the whole num- ber of the representatives shall, at the first session held after making every such enumer- ation, be fixed by the General Assembly, and apportioned among the several counties, cities, or towns, entitled to separate representation, according to their respective numbers of white inhabitants; and the said apportion- ment, when made, shall not be subject to alteration, until after the next census shall be taken." The constitution of 1861 pro- vided "That the General Assembly shall cause an enumeration to be made in the years eighteen hundred and fifty (sic), and eigh- teen hundred and fifty-five, and every ten years thereafter. . " In the constitution of 1865 enumerations in 1866, 1875, and every ten years thereafter, were provided for. The constitution of 1868 required enumera- tions in 1875 and every ten years thereafter. The constitution of 1875 based representation in the legislature on the decennial census of the United States Government taken in 1880 and each subsequent decennial census, but provided that, "should the decennial census of the United States, from any cause, not be taken, or if, when taken, the same as to this State is not full and satisfactory, the General

Assembly shall have power, at its first session after the time shall have elapsed for the tak- ing of said census, to provide for the enumer- ation of all the inhabitants of this State, and once in each ten years thereafter, upon which it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to make the apportionment of Representa- tives and Senators as provided for in this article." The provisions of the constitution of 1901 are similar to those of 1875.

State Censuses .- Gov. William Wyatt Bibb, in his message of January 20, 1818, to the General Assembly of Alabama Territory, sug- gested the propriety of ascertaining before its next meeting, the number of white inhabi- tants of the Territory. An act was therefore passed, February 9, 1818, "Authorizing the taking the Census of the Alabama Territory." The enumeration was made and the returns submitted to the legislature by the governor, November 9, 1818. In accordance with the requirements of the constitution, the first ses- sion of the State legislature, among its first acts, enacted a law, "to provide for the Ap- pointment of County Officers, and for other purposes," December 17, 1819, which imposed upon the county tax assessor the duty of making enumerations of the inhabitants of every county in the year 1820, "in the man- ner, and under the regulations and responsi- bilities which are prescribed by an act author- izing the taking of the census of the Alabama Territory, passed the ninth of February, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen." There was some delay in carrying out the mandate of this act, and on December 22, 1820, an- other act "to provide for assessing and col- lecting of taxes and for taking the census of this State," was passed. The machinery for taking this census consisted of one justice of the peace, In every captain's muster district, who should personally call upon heads of families for "estimates . . . of the inhabi- tants belonging to his or her family," and classify the population with respect to race, sex, age above 21 years or below, showing the total number of slaves. A form to be used for the classified returns was provided for in the act. A penalty of $20 for refusing to make a return, or knowingly making false returns, was provided; and the refusal of any justice of the peace designated to serve as census taker, was penalized in the sum of $100. To defray the expenses of the enumer- ation and assessment of taxes, $5,000 was appropriated. The returns from 24 counties, showing an aggregate population of 129,227, were submitted by Gov. Thomas Bibb to the legislature, November 9, 1820; and on De- cember 8 he transmitted the returns from Baldwin and Blount Counties, with the com- ment that no returns had been made by Marion County, and none would likely be received for that year.

In 1821 Gov. Thomas Bibb called an extra session of the legislature to adjust the appor- tionment of representation of the counties on the basis of the recent census. In his mes- sage of June 4, 1821, he discussed the intent of the constitution and the duty thereunder of the legislature with regard to having enu-

214

HISTORY OF ALABAMA

merations made. The duty of providing for every enumeration prescribed by the consti- tution was mandatory, he said, and no dis- cretion was left to the legislature, "except as to the detail, and on the regular and faithful discharge of this duty depends the constitu- tional existence of the legislative depart- ment." The legislature at its previous ses- sion had been unable to agree upon the ap- portionment of representation of the various counties, and adjourned without settling the question. This it was which made necessary the calling of the extra session.

The actual enumeration of the inhabitants of the State was slow and difficult, on ac- count of the sparse settlement of the country and the lack of good roads. The census of 1820 had not been completed on November 1, 1821. As a result of the delay, the legislature adopted a resolution, December 17, 1821, ask- ing Congress to await later returns from cer- tain counties before fixing the congressional representation of the State. Congress as- sented, and Gov. Israel Pickens reported, November 18, 1882, that the State had been ascertained by the complete returns to be en- titled to three representatives in Congress. On November 27, 1822, he transmitted to the legislature the completed returns, and also the report of the census taken by order of the United States Government.

Another census under State law was taken in 1823, the machinery being provided by act of December 31, 1823. The data secured by this enumeration was similar to that obtained in 1820.

The census of 1827 was authorized by act of December 9, 1826, which provided similar machinery and compensation for enumerators as was provided in that of 1823.

The census of 1833 was taken under act of January 11, 1833. This enumeration was made by a census taker specially designated for the duty in every county by the judge of the county court and the commissioners of roads and revenue. He was required to call upon all heads of families and other persons, and to secure data classified as in previous censuses, and prepare three copies of his report, one for the office of the county clerk, and two for the secretary of state. A fine of $40 was prescribed for refusal to give infor- mation to the enumerators, or giving false information. The compensation of the cen- sus takers was graduated on the basis of the number of persons enumerated.

An enumeration was made in 1838, in ac- cordance with an act of December 23, 1837. In its provisions for classification of popula- tion, it was similar to the previous one. Ad- ditional compensation for the enumerators was allowed by act of January 30, 1839; and an act of February 2, 1839, reapportioned the representation of the counties on the basis of this census.

A census to be taken as of April 1, 1844, was authorized by act of January 13, 1844. The statistics provided for were the same as before, except that the census takers were required to estimate and report to the adju-

tant and inspector general "all the persons liable to do militia duty."

The census of 1850 authorized by act of February 11, 1850, provided for all the infor- mation obtained by previous enumerations, and in addition called for a report of the in- sane white persons, epileptics and idiots in each county. The census takers were further required to estimate and report to the secre- tary of state "the number of colleges, acad- emies, and common schools in each county respectively, and also the number of scholars in each college, academy and common school. as nearly as practicable."

An act of February 17, 1854, provided ma- chinery for the census of 1855. Its provi- sions were the same as those for the previous census except that the enumerators were re- quired to estimate and report "the number of white children between the ages of eight and sixteen years," in each of the counties.

The constitution of 1865 required the tak- ing of a census of the inhabitants of the State in 1866. The machinery for the enumeration was provided by act of February 21, 1866, which directed "That it shall be the duty of the census taker appointed as aforesaid, to make personal application to and enumerate all persons, not heads of families, and to make application to all heads of families within the county for which he shall have been ap- pointed, for a true estimate of all the mem- bers thereof, such estimate to contain an enumeration of the whole number of the members belonging to his or her family, how many were lost in the service during the late war, died of sickness or were killed in bat- tle, or were disabled by wounds, and the said census taker shall classify the whole popula- tion into two classes, white and black, the black to include all persons of color. He shall also specify the males and females of each class, and he shall also subdivide each of the classes, black and white, male and female, according to age, so that the enumer- ation shall show how many of each class are under ten years of age, how many between ten and twenty, between twenty and thirty, between thirty and forty, between forty and fifty, between fifty and sixty, between sixty and seventy, seventy and eighty, eighty and ninety, ninety and one hundred." In addi- tion to the data provided for in the act above quoted, the census was to show the number of insane, epileptics and idiots in each county, and the statistics of schools and school chil- dren as before.

The conditions obtaining after the close of the War were such as to cause great delay in making the enumerations, and, therefore, the time for making the final report was extended, by act of December 7, 1866, from November, 1866, to January 1, 1867.

In accordance with the constitution of 1865, a census to be taken in 1875 was au- thorized by act of March 1, 1875. This cen- sus was made by townships instead of by counties as previously, and the law provided that "The said census taker shall classify the whole population into two classes, white and colored; the colored to include all persons of

215

HISTORY OF ALABAMA

color. He shall also specify the males and females of each class; and he shall also sub- divide each of the classes, colored and white, male and female, according to age, so that the enumeration shall show how many of each class are under ten years of age, how many between ten and twenty, between twenty and thirty, between thirty and forty, between forty and fifty, between fifty and sixty, be- tween sixty and seventy, between seventy and eighty, between eighty and ninety, between ninety and one hundred, and all persons over one hundred years of age."

The law further provided that in addition to the enumeration of insane persons, epilep- tics and idiots, as before, mutes, blind per- sons, cripples and maimed persons, with their postoffice addresses, should be reported. The statistics of schools and school children were provided for as formerly. In his message of March 20, 1875, Gov. George S. Houston sug- gested the advisability of suspending the op- eration of the act providing for the census of 1875 on account of the approaching consti- tutional convention, which might adopt a dif- ferent plan for enumerations of the popula- tion. His suggestion was adopted, and by joint resolution, March 22, 1875, the opera- tion of the act was suspended, "until at such time as in the opinion of the governor of the State the same should go into effect, when it shall be his duty, by proclamation published in one or more newspapers in the city of Montgomery and elsewhere, as he may deem best, to cause the same to be done."

All the censuses provided for by the consti- tutions of 1819, 1861, and 1865, were made except the one for the year 1861. Gov. A. B. Moore. in a message to the legislature of 1859-60, called attention to the necessity of taking a census in 1861, and suggested that it should, among other things, ascertain the number of men in the State of military age. No act was passed, however, and the question of the secession of the State from the Union soon overshadowed all other issues, includ- ing the enumeration of the population.

School Census .- The legislature of 1907, at the regular session, passed an act, August 14, "To provide for the taking of the census of school children in the State of Alabama, and to provide a penalty for the making of a false enumeration thereof." The first census un- . der this act was made in July, 1908, and sub- sequent enumerations have been made in each even-numbered year. The children between the ages of 7 and 21 years in every school district are required to be enumerated.

United States Census .- Censuses of the in- habitants in the territory now comprising the State of Alabama have been made by the United States Government since 1800. The first census of the population after the organi- zation of the State was made in 1820. Enu- merations have been made every ten years since that time. Although provision has been made in the different constitutions for State censuses, the officers and the private citizens of Alabama have nevertheless at all times co- operated with the representatives of the Gov- ernment in taking the Federal censuses. They

have been in sympathy with this plan and with the methods used in obtaining the de- sired data. There has never been any objec- tion on the part of Alabamians to the sched- ule of questions propounded, except in pos- sibly a few isolated instances, and the returns from this State apparently have been as full and as nearly complete as those from any other State. Since 1875, theoretically, and since 1855, actually, the United States cen- suses have supplanted those provided for by State law.

See Legislature; Population; Schools.

REFERENCES .- Constitution, 1819, Art. III, secs. 9 and 10; 1861, Art. III, secs. 9 and 10; 1865, Art. IV, sec. 6; 1868, Art. VIII, sec. 1; 1875, Art. 1X, secs. 2-5; 1901, Art. IX, secs. 198-201; Toul- min, Digest, 1823, pp. 677; Code, 1907, secs. 1717, 7755; Acts, 1818, pp. 24-29; 1820, pp. 54-57; 1821, p. 115; 1823, pp. 56-57; 1826-27, p. 11; 1833, pp. 30-32; 1837-38, pp. 44-46; 1838-39, pp. 39, 151-153; 1843-44, pp. 62-65; 1849-50, pp. 40-43; 1853-54, pp. 19-21; 1865-66, pp. 108-111; 1866-67, p. 148; 1874-75, pp. 272-275, 667; 1880-81, p. 144; General Acts, 1907, pp. 754-755; Gov. W. W. Blbb, "Message," Jan. 20, 1818, In Journal of Legisla- tive Council, Alabama Territory, 1818, pp. 5-12; and Ibid, Nov. 9, 1818, in Journal House of Rep- resentatives. Alabama Territory, 1818, p. 32; Gov. Thos. Bibb, "Message," in House Journal, 1820, pp. 8-13; Ibid, Senate Journal, 1820, p. 84; Ibid, June 4, 1821, in Senate Journal, 1821, pp. 4-9; Gov. Israel Pickens, "Messages," Nov. 13, 1821, Ibid, pp. 27-34; Nov. 18, 1822, Ibid, 1822, pp. 8-16; Nov. 27, 1822, Ibid, p. 29; Gov. John Murphy, "Message," Dec. 22, 1828, Ibid, 1828, p. 81; Gov. A. B. Moore, "Message," Ibid, 1859-60, pp. 11-28; Gov. Geo. S. Houston, "Message." Ibid, 1874-75, p. 650.

CENTENARY INSTITUTE. A former de- nominational college for the education of boys and girls located at Summerfield, Dallas County, and controlled by the Alabama Con- ference Methodist Episcopal Church South. It was established in 1839, the centenary year of Methodism. The Methodists of Alabama in that year determined upon the establish- ment of a high grade educational institution for both sexes, as an expression of "gratitude to God for his beneficent providence, abun- dant grace, and expanded kingdom." Ener- getic plans were inaugurated and much en- thusiasm was manifested. On October 25, 1839, special services were held in the several churches and places of worship throughout the State. The institution was chartered hy the legislature January 2, 1841, with Eugene V. LeVert, Ebenezer Hearn, William Murrah, Asbury H. Shanks, Seymore B. Sawyer, Alfred Battle. Daniel H. Norwood, Daniel Pratt, Aaron Ready, Elisha F. King, Franklin C. Shaw, Benjamin J. Harrison, Noel Pitts, and Shadrach Mims. It was made unlawful "to retail or vend ardent or intoxicating liquors within two miles of said institution." The trustees were authorized to hold real and personal property to the value of $60.000, in excess of the value of its library and appa- ratus.

The institute was located in the Valley

216

HISTORY OF ALABAMA

Creek community, Dallas County. On Janu- ary 15, 1829, the Valley Creek Academy had been incorporated by the legislature. It was in operation at the time of the selection for the site of the new institution. The people of Valley Creek had given $9,000 in consider- ation of the location there. In 1843 the new buildings were ready for occupancy. The buildings for boys and girls were separate, with a valley intervening. On the opening of the institute, Valley Creek Academy sold its lands and buildings, and closed its doors. In 1845 the name of the locality was changed from Valley Creek to Summerfield, in honor of John Summerfield, the great preacher. Owing to the loss of records, statistics of the institute are not available, and in conse- quence the records of those who were in charge either as officers or teachers, and other facts cannot be given with accuracy or com- pieteness. However, in all departments 165 pupils were in attendance during the session of 1845-46. The relation of the institute to the Conference required reports to be made. The conference minutes contain brief refer- ences only. The school died in 1886 because of lack of support. In later years the build- ings and grounds, still the property of the church, were used as the Methodist Orphan- age. Still later, after the Orphanage was moved to Selma, the buildings were sold to the Selma-Summerfield College.

Of the place of the institute in the history of the State, Dr. John Massey, who taught in the male department for many years, says:

"During the later forties and the fifties, and even into the early sixties, this school be- came the most noted institution in all central Alabama. Much of the time from 1845 to 1865 there were as many as five hundred students in attendance. The work done was not of the highest grade according to the mod- ern standards, but it was of a kind that made good men and good women. From the evi- dences they left behind them, as large a por- tion of them served their generation efficiently while they lived and then went to the king- dom of God above as of any generation that has ever lived in Alabama."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 42

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