USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I > Part 67
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By 1891 the making of as liberal provi- sion as possible for Confederate soldiers and their widows had become a recognized and fixed policy of the State government. An act approved on February 13 of that year levied a tax of one-half mill on each dollar's worth of taxable property for that particular pur- pose. An act of February 10, 1899, doubled this tax rate, and the rate of one mill tax per
341
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
dollar of taxable property remains in effect. However, it has failed to produce an amount commensurate with the ever-increasing de- mands for relief, and, beginning with the year 1903, a supplementary appropriation from the general treasury has been made each year. This appropriation amounted to $50,000 for each of the years 1903 and 1904, and $150,000 each for 1905 and 1906. The act, approved September 23, 1903, made a continuing annual appropriation of $50,000, and an additional appropriation of $100,000 for the years 1905 and 1906, to be released at the discretion of the governor. Appropriations .-
On March 6, 1907, an act was approved which appropriated the sum of $350,000 each year for four years, in addition to the annual appropriation of $50,000 already made, for pensions. These two appropriations were made the basis of section 1995 of the code of 1907, which carried a continuing appropria- tion of $400,000 a year, in addition to the proceeds of the one mill tax, "for the relief of needy Confederate soldiers and sailors, who are resident citizens of the State of Ala- bama, and their widows." However, on April 20, 1911, this section of the code was so amended as to make a conditional annual ap- propriation of $500,000, as described in the opening paragraph above.
Besides the regular provision for pensions exhibited by the appended table, special relief has been granted by the legislature from time to time in particular cases. Disabled Con- federate soldiers are permitted by law to 'ped- dle' without paying a license tax, and provi- sion is made for indigent veterans in a pub- licly supported institution at Mountain Creek, known as the Confederate Soldiers' Home (q. v.).
Appropriations .- Herein below is given a . full and detailed statement of all expendi- tures for Confederate pensions, 1876-1916, viz:
1876
$ 5,000.00
1877
5,000.00
1879
11,800.00
1881
15,000.00
1883
15,000.00
1885
25,000.00
1887
30,000.00
1889
50,000.00
1892
132,533.66
1893
125,326.95
1894
123,155.51
1895
117,770.92
1896
116,532.42
1897
116,784.98
1898
130,624.78
1899
115,088.97
1900
251,439.21
1901
1902
258,828.19 273,099.85 335,937.70
1904
358,222.15
1905
462,732.65
1906
473,250.00
1907
778,495.10
1908
846,537.85
1909
873,547.28
1910
877,553.05
1911
913,530.79
1912
923,279.76
1913
942,821.40
1914
1,013,871.35
1915
986,186.16
1916
1,024,326.31
Grand total . $12,728,276.99
REFERENCES .- Code, 1907, secs. 1995-2037; Acts. 1866-67, pp. 695-698; 1875-76, pp. 263-266; General Acts, 1903, pp. 249-250; 1907, pp. 360- 361; 1911, p. 545; 1915, pp. 389, 886-896; Sen- ate Journal, 1865-66, pp. 203-204; State Auditor, Annual reports, 1869 et seq .; United Sons of Confederate Veterans, Minutes, 11th Annual Reunion, 1906, pp. 124-128.
CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS HOME. A State institution at Mountain Creek for the care of indigent Confederate veterans, and their wives when accompanied by their hus- bands, who have been bona fide residents of Alabama for two years before applying for admittance. Its business affairs are adminis- tered by a board of control consisting of one member from each congressional district and three from the State at large, preferably Con- federate veterans, who are appointed by the governor for terms of six years. The gover- nor is ex officio a member of the board. The three members from the State at large consti- tute an executive committee for the manage- ment of such details of business as may be delegated to it. The board of control is a corporation with power to own, purchase, sell, and convey property, both real and per- sonal, and it appoints, controls, and fixes the compensation of all officers and employees. The immediate management of the home is in the hands of a commandant and adjutant, a Confederate veteran when practicable, who is also secretary and treasurer of the board. He is required to furnish a surety bond.
The home was founded in 1902, largely through the public spirit of Capt. Jefferson M. Falkner, of Montgomery. For years the State had been granting pensions to needy Confederate soldiers and their widows, but Capt. Falkner believed that something more should be done, and he determined that a home should be erected, as an asylum and refuge for Confederate veterans who might need the comforts such an institution would afford. He called to his assistance a number of sympathetic friends in Montgomery, and Camp Jeff Falkner, No. 1382, United Con- federate Veterans, was organized and a charter secured. While the camp had like objects and purposes as other Confederate organizations, its first duty was the building of the home projected by Capt. Falkner, whose name was given to the camp. An earnest campaign was at once instituted for the rais- ing of funds, to which there was almost immediate and generous response. Work
was begun April 7, 1902. It was decided to place the home at Mountain Creek, a high and healthy location, between Birmingham and Montgomery, on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. For the site of the home, Capt.
1903
342
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
Falkner deeded to the camp forty acres of land. A number of cottages were erected, and several old soldiers were admitted.
This noble philanthropy was thus early established in public favor, and at the next session of the legislature, 1903, October 6, that body took over the control and adminis- tration of the Home provided a board control; and made an appropriation of $25,000 to com- plete the buildings. At that time it had 60 inmates. An initial appropriation of $125 per annum for each inmate was made, but a limit of $12,500 per annum was fixed as the gross amount that could be employed for support. The total number of those admitted could not at any one time exceed one hundred.
The principal building is a central memo- rial hall, in which the administrative offices, library, reading room, and assembly hall are located. The other buildings consist of 8 cottages occupied as dwellings by the veterans. Several of these were erected as memorials by sympathetic friends. A well-planned and commodious hospital building is provided, in charge of a trained nurse and assistants. The plant is equipped with modern conven- iences, including water works and acteylene gas outfit.
The annual expenditures for the mainte- nance of the Home, as shown by the State auditor's Reports, follow:
Oct. 1, 1903-Sept. 30, 1904 $24,937.50
Oct. 1, 1904-Sept. 30, 1905. 9,718.75
Oct. 1, 1905-Sept. 30, 1906. 8,872.25
Oct. 1, 1906-Sept. 30, 1907 11,604.00
Oct. 1, 1907-Sept. 30, 1908. 14,345.03
Oct. 1, 1908-Sept. 30, 1909 16,435.60
Oct. 1, 1909-Sept. 30, 1910. 16,061.14
Oct. 1, 1910-Sept. 30, 1911. 18,749.68
Oct. 1, 1911-Sept. 30, 1912. 12,119.54
Oct. 1, 1912-Sept. 30, 1913. 18,346.48
Oct. 1. 1913-Sept. 30, 1914. 19,322.58
Oct. 1, 1914-Sept. 30, 1915. 19,997.16
Commandants .- A. J. Brooks, 1904-1905; M. L. Fielder, 1905-1906; J. M. Simpson, 1906-1916; and J. D. Eiland, 1916 date.
REFERENCES .- Code, 1907, secs. 2038-2053; Acts, passim, for full texts of laws; United Sons of Confederate Veterans, Minutes of the Eleventh Annual Reunion, 1906, p. 128; State Auditor, Annual Reports; Board of Control, Rules and regulations (n. p., n. d., pp. 22) ; J. M. Falkner, chairman Committee on Ways and Means and Building Committee, Address to the legislature, pp. 3.
CONFEDERATE VETERANS. See United Confederate Veterans.
CONFEDERATED SOUTHERN MEMO- RIAL ASSOCIATION. A body uniting all Confederate Memorial Associations of South- ern women. The organization meeting was held in Louisville, Ky., May 30, 1900. Mrs. W. J. Behan, New Orleans, La., was president until her death some two years since. Vice- presidents are elected for each State. Miss Daisy M. L. Hodgson is secretary, having acted since organization, 1900.
Mrs. R. P. Dexter, Opelika, is the present Alabama vice-president. Mrs. J. E. Maxwell,
Seale, Ala., is the treasurer-general of the association.
Alabama Associations, Confederated, are at Boligee, Camden, Gainesville, Marion, Moun- tain Creek, Selma, Talladega, Union Springs, and five Associations at Montgomery.
The 9th convention held at Birmingham, the 11th convention held at Mobile, and the 17th convention at Birmingham have been the only meetings of the Association in this State.
REFERENCES .- Minutes of the Association pre- served in Alabama Department of Archives and History.
CONFEDERATION, FORT. A Spanish fortified post, rebuilt on the site of old Fort Tombecbé (q. v.) on the Tombigbee River. After the British abandoned Fort Tombecbe which had later been renamed Fort York, it had fallen into complete disuse, and was not occupied again until after the Treaty of Paris in 1763, probably about the year 1783.
At this time the Spanish repaired and re- habilitated the old outpost, calling it Fort Confederation. While the real seat of Span- ish influence in this section was old Fort St. Stephen, still located as it was on the main trading path to the Choctaw nation, Fort Confederation held a position of importance for a few years.
It was here, on October 18, 1802, that the Americans made the Treaty by which they acquired their first cession of lands from the Choctaws and also established friendly relations with that nation.
As the years advanced and the settlements about Forts St. Stephen and Stoddert grew in numbers and importance, Fort Confedera- tion gradually fell into disuse. However, it was retained as a trading post for a num- ber of years. See Tombeche, Fort.
REFERENCES .- Pickett, Alabama (Owen's ed., 1900), p. 416; Hamilton, Mobile of the five flags (1913), pp. 168, 184; Brewer, Alabama (1872), p. 526; Ala. Hist. Society, Transactions, 1898-99, v. 3, p. 230; Hamilton, Colonial Mobile (1910), pp. 375, 511, 387.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. A
re- ligious organization, founded in America on the principles of the English church, dating from the "Savoy Declaration." The American churches approved the doctrinal parts in 1648. American and English Congregational theological developments have been along Cal- vinistic lines. The church organization is democratic in form.
About sixty years after the landing of the Pilgrims in New England, Pilgrims came to Charleston and established a Congregational church in South Carolina. The Circular Church founded between 1680 and 1690 still stands. Its first membership was composed of Presbyterians from Scotland and Ireland, Congregationalists from Old and New Eng- land and French Protestants, lately exiled from France. The second church in the South was the Midway Church in Liberty County, Ga.
343
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
The Alabama Conference .- The association of churches of the Congregational faith in this State is known as the Congregational Conference of Alabama. The officers are a Moderator, a Scribe, a Registrar, and a Treasurer, together with a board of trustees consisting of five members, and a committee on Sunday Schools, on education, on temper- ance, and on the state of religion. Each com- mittee consists of three members.
In 1917 there were sixty churches, mem- bers of the conference. At that same time, the minutes of the general conference held at Antioch Church at Andalusia showed forty- eight ministers. Only two churches then were unassociated. The 1920 Conference was the twenty-ninth regular convention of the church.
Eight associations, Bear Creek, Christiana, Clanton, Echo, Fairhope, Troy, Tallapoosa, and Tallassee, make up the conference.
REFERENCES .- Minutes of the General Confer- ence, in Alabama Department of Archives and History; Church tracts and other literature, in Alabama Department of Archives and History.
CONGREGATIONAL METHODIST CHURCH. A branch of the general religious body of Methodists, dating from 1852. It grew out of differences which developed in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in the State of Georgia, in which objections were developed to certain features of the episcopacy and itinerancy. In order to secure what they termed a more democratic form of church government, a number of ministers withdrew, and held a conference at Forsyth, Georgia, in May, 1852. The new body was formed at that time, the name chosen, and all of the doctrines of Methodism reaffirmed, with the exception of the adoption of the Congregational form of government. In 1887-88 practically one-third of its churches withdrew and united with the Congregation- alists. The doctrinal position is distinctly Methodistic. The local church retained large powers, including the right to call its own pastors. District conferences are held once or twice a year, annual conferences every year, and a general conference quadrennially.
In 1906, according to the U. S. census report, the denomination had in Alabama 59 churches; 3,355 members, distinguished as 1,837 males and 1,422 females; 54 church edifices, with a seating capacity of 19,300; value of church property, $31,600; and 35 Sunday schools, with 249 teachers and 1,917 pupils.
REFERENCE .- U. S. Bureau of the Census, Religious Bodies, 1906 (1910), pp. 474-477.
CONGREGATIONALISTS. A religious de- nomination, originally growing out of the separatist movement in England, and in America dating from the landing of the Pil- grims at Plymouth, Mass., 1620. Planted in New England, the denomination exercised a large influence in the development of that section of the country. In 1734 "The Great Awakening," which was begun with the
preaching of Jonathan Edwards found the Congregationalists active in leadership; and they had a prominent share in the political discussions preceding the American Revolu- tion. Later came the struggles over the plan of union with the Presbyterians, the rise of missionary enterprise, the Unitarian separa- tion, and the development of a denomina- tional consciousness which found expression in westward extension. Each Congregational church and society elects its own officers, owns its own house and property, judges of the qualifications of its own members, allows to each member an equal vote, and has no superior, lord or overseer. Congregational churches claim to be both apostolic and primi- tive, in assigning all ecclesiastical power to the church, and not to its officers.
This denomination has two well organized channels of missionary activity- the Congre- gational Home Missionary Society, and the American Missionary Association. The for- mer carries on work among the white races of the continental United States. The latter conducts work among negroes, and Indians outside of the United States. Details of the work of each in Alabama will be found in succeeding paragraphs.
The work of this denomination among the . Negroes of the south has been conspicuous, beginning with the establishment of Hamp- ton Institute. In Alabama the first educa- tional institution founded by it was at Tal- ladega, 1867. Its history in Alabama is in- separable from the history of schools for the negro race. In many sections of the state white schools have been established by the denomination.
The number of Congregational churches planted in the south had so far increased that October 25, 1871, at Chattanooga, the "Central South Congregational Conference," made up of ministers and delegates from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, was organ- ized. Later, churches from Mississippi united with the conference. On April 6, 1876, the Alabama churches withdrew, with the excep- tion of those at Athens, Florence and Sand Mountain, and the Congregational Associa- tion of Alabama was formed at Montgomery. At this date both white and colored churches were represented. The association has stead- ily grown, has regularly held an annual ses- sion, and has vigorously maintained its doc- trinal and other activities.
For many years Congregational churches were established, limited to white member- ship. These churches were grouped into local or district conferences. In 1892 a commit- tee from the "United Congregational Con- ference of North and South Alabama," ap- peared before the Association, with plans for the re-organization of the state body. No agreement was reached, however, and on September 20, 1892, the "General Congre- gational Convention of Alabama," was formed, with such churches of the state as were unassociated with either the Tennessee or Alabama associations. Efforts at union have failed, and the denomination is repre- sented in the state by the general congrega-
344
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
tional convention for white churches and by the congregational association for colored churches.
The U. S. census report of 1906 gives the following statistics for the general congre- gational convention: 93 organizations; total number of members, 3,806; 74 church edi- fices and 6 halls, the former with a seating capacity of 19,100; value of church prop- erty, $54,675; and 59 Sunday schools, with 273 teachers and 2,320 scholars.
Colored .- The Congregational association (colored ) statistics show 20 organizations, total membership of 1,500; 18 church edi- fices and one hall, with 17 edinces having a seating capacity of 4,890; church property valued at $65,920; and 24 Sunday schools, with 166 teachers and 1,412 members.
REFERENCES .- U. S. Bureau of the Census, Religious Bodies 1906 (1910), pp. 225-235; Dr. Jos. E. Roy, Manual of Congregational Churches (n. d.); E. C. Silsby, Congregationalism in Ala- bama (1900), and the Congregational Associa- tion of Alabama-A history (1916) ; Howland, The Mission and Polity of Congregational Churches (1902); Congregational Association of Alabama, Minutes, 1876-1917.
CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION. The State of Alabama has two senators and ten representatives in the Congress of the United States. After the completion of the Thirtenth Census, 1910, and the adoption of a new basis of representation, whereby the State was given one additional memher of the house of representatives, the legislature failed to make a new apportionment, and in consequence the State was represented in the Sixty-third and Sixty-fourth Congresses by a member from the State at large. During the last days of the session of 1915, hut only after a protracted struggle, an act was passed, September 25, redistricting the State into ten congressional districts, but not to take effect until March 4, 1917. The unexpired term of the representative at large was thus pro- tected, but it was expressly provided that an election should take place in each of the 10 newly established districts at the general election in November, 1916.
These ten several districts, with counties and population, are as follows:
First District.
Counties
Population
Choctaw
18.483
Clarke
30,987
Marengo
39,923
Mobile
80,854
Monroe
27,155
Washington
14,454
District total 211.856
Second District.
Baldwin
18,178
Butler
29,030
Colbert
24.802
Lauderdale
30,936
Lawrence
21,984
Covington
32,124
Crenshaw
23,313
Escambia
18,889
Montgomery
82,178
Pike
30,815
Wilcox
33,810
District total 289,770
Third District.
Barbour
32,728
Bullock
30,196
Coffee
26,119
Dale
21,608
Geneva
26,230
Henry
20,943
Houston
32,414
Lee
32,867
Russell
25,937
District total
249,042
Fourth District.
Calhoun
39,115
Chilton
23,187
Cleburne
13,385
Dallas
53.401
Shelby
26,949
Talladega
37,921
District total 193,958
Fifth District.
Autauga
20,038
Chambers
36,056
Clay
21,006
Coosa
16,634
Elmore
28,245
Lowndes
31,894
Macon
26.049
Randolph
24,659
Tallapoosa
31,034
District total
235,615
Sixth District.
Bibb
22,791
Greene
22,717
Hale
27,883
Perry
31,222
Sumter
28,699
Tuscaloosa
47,559
District total
180,871
Seventh District.
Cherokee
20,226
Cullman
28,321
DeKalb
28.261
Etowah
39,109
Blount
21,456
Marshall
28,553
St. Clair
20,715
District total 186,641
Eighth District.
Conecth
21,433
Limestone
26.880
Madison
47,041
.
345
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
Morgan
33,781
Jackson
32,918
District total 218,342
Ninth District.
Jefferson
226.476
District total
226,476
Tenth District.
Pickens
25,055
Fayette
16,248
Franklin
19,369
Lamar
17.487
Marion
17,495
Winston
12,855
Walker
37,013
·District total
145,522
Under act of October. 9, 1903 it was pro- vided that an election should be held on the first Monday in November 1904, and every two years thereafter for members of the several congressional districts. Special elec- tions are to be held to fill vacancies in the office of representative, in order that the state may not be deprived of its full representation at any time congress will be in session prior to the next general election for that office. Such election is to be held on a day directed by the Governor, after public notice by official proclamation.
Elections for representatives in congress are held to be "public, official history, of which the court takes judicial notice." The question was settled in the case of Lewis v. Brewton, 74 Ala., p. 317, involving a con- tested election between Gen. Joseph Wheeler and Col. William Lowe for representative in Congress from the eighth district in Novem- ber. 1880.
Basis,of Apportionment .- A table of popu- lation by censuses. ratio, and number of rep- resentations apportioned to Alabama is given below, 1820 to 1910. Until the census of 1820, the enabling act of 1819, provided for one representation from the State.
Census
Population
Ratio No.
1820
127,901
40,000
3
1830
309,527
47.700
5
1840
590,756
70,680
7
1850
771,623
93,423
7
1860
964,201
127,381
6
1870
996,992
131,425
8
1880
1,262,501 '
151,911
1890
1,513.401
173.901
9
1900
1,828,697
194,182 9
1910
2,138,093
211,877 10
Representation .- Under the act for the admission of Alabama into the Federal Union, March 2, 1819, it was stipulated that the State should be entitled to one member of the House of Representatives until the next (1820) general census. John Crowell, the territorial delegate, was chosen to succeed himself. September, 1819, and took his seat as the first representative from Alabama, on
the day of the adoption of the resolution for the admission of the State, December 14, 1819. He served through the Sixteenth Con- gress, and was succeeded by Gabriel Moore, who represented the State in the Seventeenth Congress, 1821-1823.
The census of 1820 found the State with a greatly enlarged population, and the legisla- ture, December 21, 1822, divided the State into three districts, the northern, the middle, and the southern, with the sheriffs of the counties of Madison, Tuscaloosa, and Monroe as returning officers for the districts respec- tively. Out of an abundance of caution, how- ever, the legislature provided for a division of the State into two districts, in the event it should appear that the State was not entitled to three representatives, according to the new basis of representation. The act in ques- tion provided also that no person should be eligible as a representative in Congress who was not at the time of his election a resident citizen of the district. Three representatives each were chosen to the Eighteenth, Nine- teenth, Twentieth, Twenty-first and Twenty- second Congresses, 1823 to 1833. While elections were to be held at the same times and places, and to be regulated and conducted by the same laws governing elections of mem- bers of the legislature, it was nevertheless provided that the managers of elections should keep separate boxes for those voting for repreesntatives. The governor was ordered, in case of vacancies by death, resignation, or otherwise, to hold special elections to fill such vacancies.
In 1833. the State had still further grown, and the legislature of 1833, January 10, created five congressional districts, numbered from first to fifth, inclusive. The first dis- trict included the counties of the northeastern section of the State; the second, the north- western section; the third, the western sec- tion; the fourth, the middle and southeastern section; and the fifth, the southern section. From the Twenty-third to the Twenty-seventh Congresses inclusive, 1833 to 1843, the State had five representatives in Congress.
After the census of 1840, the legislature, February 13, 1843, enlarged the number of districts from five to seven. From the Twenty-eighth to the Thirty-second Congress inclusive, 1843 to 1853, the State was repre- sented by seven members.
In the Twenty-eighth Congress, on the appointment of Dixon H. Lewis, as United States Senator to succeed William R. King, his place was filled by William L. Yancey, chosen at a special election. Mr. Yancey was returned to the Twenty-ninth Congress from the third district as his own successor. He resigned in 1846, and was succeeded by James L. F. Cottrell. Felix G. McConnell, Representative from the seventh district, died September 10, 1846, and was succeeded by Franklin W. Bowdon, both being from Tal- ladega. These vacancies were all filled by special elections.
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