History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume II, Part 100

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: 724

USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume II > Part 100

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Objects .- "Its objects are, through closer organization, to bring about a better accom- plishment of the objects of the general Confederation."- Constitution, 1901.

First Officers, 1901 .- Warwick H. Payne, Division Commander; T. Sidney Frazier, Divi- sion adjutant; B. B. Cohen, Division in- spector; Francis M. Purifoy, Division Judge advocate; Leon McCord, Division quarter- master; Rev. Eugene Crawford, Division chaplain; Dr. R. Paul Jones, Division sur- geon; Clayton Tullis, Division commissary; and E. O. McCord and G. G. Allen, aides.

PUBLICATIONS .- "Proceedings," etc., annually (8vo.); General Orders and Circulars.

SONS OF THE REVOLUTION, THE SO- CIETY IN ALABAMA, Montgomery.

Organization .- Instituted April 16, 1894, in the city of Montgomery.

Objects .- The objects are common to all .of the State societies and are set forth in the constitution of the general society. The or- ganization is for social, literary, and patriotic purposes. It aims to acquaint the descend- ants of the heroes of the Revolution with the wonderful work of their ancestors; and to inculcate a love of duty and country similar to that which has become the admira- tion of all mankind. It is formed to aid in historic research; in the erection of monu- ments to our national heroes; in the preser- vation of records and genealogies; in the commemorative celebration of great historical events of a national importance, and in the promotion of social intercourse and a feeling of fellowship among its members.

Founders and first officers .- James Ed- ward Webb, president, Birmingham; James Franklin Johnston, vice-president, Birming- ham; Dr. Frank Prince, vice-president, Bes- semer; Thomas McAdory Owen, secretary, then of Birmingham; James Lewis Sandefur, treasurer, Birmingham; Jesse Kilgore Brock- man, assistant secretary, registrar, and his- torian, Birmingham; Dr. Edward Pulaski Lacey, surgeon, Bessemer; Dr. William Mar- maduke Owen, chaplain, Bessemer. Board of Managers .- James E. Webb, chairman; Thomas M. Owen, secretary; Robert Daniel Johnston, Thomas Jefferson Hickman, Edward Ennis Graham Roberts, Dr. William M. Owen, Jesse K. Brockman, John McQueen, James F. Johnston, Dr. Frank Price, James L. Sande- fur, Dr. E. P. Lacey.

Present officers, 1920 .- C. L. Ruth, presi- dent, Montgomery; William M. Marks, Secre- tary, Montgomery.

SOOKTALOOSA. A high bluff on the west side of the Tombighee River in Sumter County, and 2 miles below the mouth of Su- kinatcha. This point was the great war crossing, used by the Creeks and Choctaws in their wars with each other. Here a part of the Koassati (q. v.) lived from about 1764 to 1767. Bernard Romans camped at this bluff on January 10, 1772, of which he gives the following brief account: "At half an hour past three we passed the mouth of Sookhanatcha from the west, and three miles

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below it came to camp, at four o'clock p. m., at the foot of the hill where formerly the Coosadas were settled; this place is called Sooktaloosa (i. e. Black Bluff), from its be- ing a kind of coal: it is a great thoroughfare for warring savages." The Choctaw is the word for Sakti lusa, "Black Bluff," that is, Sakti, "bluff," lusa, "black." Both the French and the English used the Choctaw word, although on English maps it is put down as Black Bluff and on the French, as Ecor noir.

REFERENCES .- Romans, Florida (1775), p. 326; La Tourette, Map of Alabama (1838).

SORGHUM CANE. See Syrup Manufac- turing.

SOUTH ALABAMA EDUCATIONAL AS- SOCIATION. An organization perfected at Brewton, March 8, 1901, pursuant to a call from the Escambia County Educational Asso- ciation, with the purpose of achieving "a closer union and co-operation among the teachers, school officials and all friends of education in South Alahama." Membership was offered to teachers and friends of educa- tion "who reside in the counties of Sumter, Greene, Hale, Perry, Dallas, Autauga, Elmore and Lee and all counties south of these." The first officers were Rev. S. M. Hosmer, of Greensboro, president; Prof. Hoyt M. Dobbs, of Stockton, first vice-president; Prof. J. R. Smith, Evergreen, treasurer; Supt. W. S. Neal, Brewton, secretary. The executive com- mittee consisted of Prof. A. F. Harman, Brew- ton, and Prof. E. M. Shackleford, Troy and Supt. W. W. Hinton, Billingsley. The annual meetings were held thereafter in Montgom. ery, 1902; Greenville, 1903; Andalusia. 1904; Troy, 1905. The fifth meeting, which was to be held in Mobile in 1906, was abandoned on account of an outhreak of yel- low fever at that place. Later the organiza- tion disbanded, and the funds in the treasury, amounting to about $42.00, were turned over to the Downing Industrial School for girls at Brewton.

REFERENCES .- Pamphlets, circulars, annual reports, and letters from W. S. Neal and E. M. Shackelford in the Alabama State Department of Archives and History.

SOUTH AND NORTH ALABAMA RAIL- ROAD COMPANY. See LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE RAILROAD COMPANY.

SOUTHERN BELL TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY. A public utility corporation, chartered in the State of New York in December, 1879; capital stock- authorized $30,000,000; outstanding, $21,- 400,000; shares $100; funded deht, $17,307,- 000. This company is a subsidiary of the American Telephone & Telegraph Co. which owns practically its entire capital stock. The Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co. owns a large interest in the Cumberland Tele- phone & Telegraph Co., operating the ex- changes in the State of Alabama formerly

operated by the latter company. Most of the telephone business of the State, long distance and local, is handled by the Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co. Offices: Atlanta, Georgia.

See Telephone Service.

REFERENCE .- Poor's manual of public utilities, 1916, p. 935.

SOUTHERN COTTON OIL COMPANY. An industrial corporation, organized March 5, 1887, in New Jersey; capital stock-author- ized, $11,000,000, outstanding, $10,000,000; shares, $50; no funded debt; property in Ala- bama-factories at Andalusia, Cullman, Montgomery, New Decatur, Sheffield, and Union Springs; refines and manufactures cot- tonseed oil, lard compounds, soap, and other by-products; capital stock owned by the Vir- ginia-Carolina Chemical Co. (q. v.); offices: New York.

REFERENCE .- Poor's manual of industrials, 1916, p. 2973.

SOUTHERN INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE. Private school for the education of white boys and girls, located at Camp Hill. This institution was founded on September 21, 1898, hy Lyman Ward, who has since con- tinued to teach and act as president, and was chartered by act of February 8, 1901. The school is not endowed and is undenom- inational. Primary and secondary academic, and useful industrial courses are offered. The buildings consist of Ross Hall, Alabama Hall, and the Trades building. The total value of the school property, including build- ings and the four hundred acres of land which it owns, is $60,300.

There is a well selected library connected with the Institute, containing about 4,000 books and periodicals.

REFERENCES .- Prospectus, Southern Indus- trial Institute, 1906; President's Report, 1905; Plea for Public Schools, Invitations, cir- culations, etc .; The Industrial Student, monthly, vol. 1, 1900-1915; and "Education," and address delivered at The Industrial Institute by Rev. Quincy Ewing, of Birmingham.

SOUTHERN IRON & STEEL CO. See Gulf States Steel Co.

SOUTHERN MILLS CORPORATION, Ox- ford. See Cotton Manufacturing.

SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY. In- corporated under the laws of the State of Vir- ginia by the legislature June 18, 1894; mile- age operated June 30, 1915-main track and branches, 7,456.18, side tracks, 2,430.03, to- tal, 9,886.21; mileage operated in Alabama- main track and branches, 1,048.93, side tracks, 407.94, total, 1,456.87; capital stock authorized-$350,000,000, actually issued, common, $120,000,000, preferred, $60,000,- 000; shares, $100; voting power one vote a share; and funded debt, $227,167,500.

This company was formed for the purpose of taking over and reorganizing the Rich- mond & Danville Railroad Co. and its sub-

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sidiary railroads, among which were several companies incorporated under the laws of this State. The history of the older Alabama con- stituent companies has been discussed under separate headings. (See Alabama Great Southern Railroad Co., East Tennessee, Vir- ginia & Georgia Railway Co., Memphis & Charleston Railroad Co.) There remains to be traced the history of the other railroads which were finally included in the Southern Railway system in Alabama.

The Southern Railway Co., after incorpo- ration, June 18, 1894, first acquired the prop- erty of the Richmond & Danville Railroad Co. Beginning on June 30, the property was operated by the new company under the style of the Southern Railway Co. and, for con- venience and facility in management, was di- vided into two general operating divisions, the eastern and the western. On August 18, the company hought at foreclosure sale the lines operated by the Georgia Pacific Rail- way Co., which gave it a line entirely across the State of Alabama, passing through Bir- mingham and the heart of the mineral dis- trict, with its termini at Atlanta, Ga., and Greenville, Miss.

Georgia-Pacific Railway .- The nucleus in Alabama for the lines operated by the Georgia Pacific Railway Co. was the railroad char- tered by the legislature February 8, 1860, which authorized the Georgia Western Rail- road Co., a Georgia corporation, to construct a continuation of its road from the Georgia line through Calhoun County to Oxford or to Jacksonville. The charter allowed the com- pany two years in which to start the work in Alabama by letting a contract for grading 20 miles, and required that 5 miles of the road within the State should be completed within two years after the commencement of work. The work was not started within the time stipulated and the charter, therefore, ex- pired; but, on December 31, 1868, in response to the stimulus of "State-aid" legislation, the enterprise was revived and an act obtained from the legislature, renewing and extending the charter rights formerly granted so as to cover the construction of a road from the Georgia line to Gadsden. Authority also was given to purchase the Tennessee & Coosa Railroad Co. This act was amended on February 26, 1872, to provide for the exten- sion of the road across the State in the direc- tion of Columbus, Miss.

This company never built its road either in Alabama or Georgia, and in 1881 sold its franchises, rights-of-way, etc., to a company organized in Georgia, December 31, 1881, known as the Georgia Pacific Railway Co., of which Gen. John B. Gordon was president. The railroad projected by this company was to extend from Atlanta, Ga., to Texarkana, Ark., a distance of 600 miles. Arrangements were made with the Richmond & Danville Extension Co. to build the road. In 1887 the last gap of 40 miles, between Coalburg and Cane Creek, Ala., was built, completing the through line from Atlanta to Columbus. In that year also surveys were made for an ex- tension from Columbus to Greenville, Miss.,

which was completed on July 1, 1889. In 1888 the company leased its entire property to the Richmond & Danville Railroad Co. for 20 years from January 1, 1889, the rental to be the net earnings of the road. As has been stated, the road was sold to the South- ern Railway Co. on August 18, 1894.

Purchase of the Alabama Great Southern. -The annual report of the Southern Railway Co., for 1894-5, referred to its purchase of the Alabama Great Southern Railroad Co., as follows: "By purchase, at the foreclosure sale of the collateral under the East Tennes- see, Virginia and Georgia Railway Co.'s Ex- tension Collateral Trust Mortgage, and other- wise, your company has acquired 34,500 A shares (par 10 pounds), and 90,500 B shares (par 10 pounds), of the Alabama Great Southern Railway Co., Limited, out of a total of 67,607 A shares, and 156,600 B shares, and since the close of the fiscal year has issued to pay for the same $2,100,000 of its 1st consol- idated mtge, 5 p. c. bonds, and 43,000 shares of its preferred stock."

Later Acquisitions .- During the year 1898 this company jointly with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co. (q. v.) purchased the holdings of the Birmingham Southern Rail- way Co. from the Tennessee Coal & Iron Co. This had been an industrial road but was made a common carrier by its joint pur- chasers.

In May, 1899, a controlling interest was acquired in the Northern Alabama Railway Co. This company was originally chartered under the general incorporation laws of Ala- bama as the Birmingham & Tennessee River Rail Road Co. An act of the legislature, February 17, 1885, changed the name of the company to the Sheffield & Birmingham Rail- road Co. The main line of the road as pro- jected at that time extended from Sheffield to Jasper, 86.9 miles, with branches to quarries and mines, aggregating 5.1 miles. In August, 1887, the company was consolidated with the Alabama & Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railway Co. The road was completed to Jasper on May 16, 1888. In the same year default was made in interest payments and a receiver was appointed in January, 1889. The road was sold under foreclosure in the following April, and purchased hy Alfred Parrish, of Phila- delphia, who transferred it to a company or- ganized under the name of the Birmingham, Sheffield & Tennessee River Railway Co., of which he was president. In 1890, the River- ton branch, 11 miles in length, was built, and the road extended to South Parrish, making the total length of its main line 95 miles. In June, 1893, the property was put in the hands of a receiver and sold for its debts on September 16, 1895. It was purchased by eastern capitalists who reorganized as the Northern Alabama Railway Co. on Decem- ber 1. Although the road was sold to the Southern Railway Co. in May, 1899, it is oper- ated independently and under separate

management.

On April 1, 1901, the control of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad Co. (q. v.) was obtained by the purchase of more than 90 per cent of its

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capital stock and more than 70 per cent of its general-mortgage bonds.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901, the Ensley Southern Railway, from Ensley to coal mines near Birmingham, about 25 miles, was built and put in operation. During 1902 the company added to its Ala- bama mileage by constructing extensions of the Ensley Southern from Ensley to a point near the Warrior River, 19.22 miles, and from Parrish to a point near Little Warrior River, 9.24 miles, and an extension from Cole- anor to coal mines, 1.02 miles.

In 1904 the Spring Garden spur from Spring Garden to the mines of the Alabama & Georgia Iron Co., 4.41 miles, and the Little- ton extension, from Littleton to coal mines of the Sloss-Sheffield Steel & Iron Co., 3.5 miles, were added to its Alabama lines.

On May 8, 1905, the Southern Railway Co. purchased the cotton compress, real estate and other property of the Anniston Compress & Warehouse Co. During the same year a cut- off was built between the Woodlawn-Bessemer branch and Mobile Junction, near Birming- ham, a distance of 3.29 miles. During 1912, the Bessie Mines connection to Porter, Ala., 2.23 miles, was built.

REFERENCES .- Acts, 1859-60, p. 294; 1868, p. 560; 1884-85, p. 677; Annual report of company to Ala. Public Service Commission, 1915; Rail- road Commission of Ala., Annual reports, 1889 et seq .; Poor's manual of railroads, 1882 et seq .; Clark, "Railroads and navigation," in Memorial record of Alabama (1893), vol. 1, pp. 323-328; Fairfax Harrison, The South and the Southern Railway, address before Virginia Bankers' Ass'n, June 23, 1916, pp. 16.

SOUTHERN SYRUP COMPANY. See Syrup Manufacturing.

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. A college for young men, established and maintained by the Methodists of Alabama, located at Greens- boro, but consolidated with the Birmingham College, as the Birmingham-Southern College (q. v.).

In 1824 the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, recognizing that "the Christian college is the bulwark of the Christian church," recommended that each Conference establish a seminary of learning under its regulation and patronage. Not until 1854 did the Alabama Conference undertake to carry out this recommendation of the su- perior body. In that year, in response to memorials from various sections of the State, a committee was appointed to select a site for the proposed college, and to procure funds for its establishment and maintenance; and at the Conference meeting at Eutaw, Alabama, in 1855, it was decided, after an acrimonious debate lasting for three days, to locate the institution in Greensboro. The citizens of Greensboro and territory adjacent, irrespective of church or creed, in their de- sire to have the college located in their midst, had promised several hundred thousand dol- lars toward its establishment.

Colonel John Erwin, of Greensboro, be-

came the first President of the Board of Trustees. At the first meeting of the Board, March 17, 1856, Rev. C. C. Callaway, Agent, reported that nearly $170,000 had been raised in three months from Greene ( includ- ing most of what is now Hale) and Sumter Counties alone. On June 11, 1856, the cor- ner stone of the main building was laid by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Alabama Masons, Colonel James McCaleb Wiley, in the presence of Bishops Paine, Andrew and Pierce, and a vast assemblage of people.

In October, 1859, the institution was ready for the reception of students. Dr. Landon C. Garland, Professor in the Univer- sity of Alabama, who had been chosen as the first President, declined, and Dr. William M. Wightman was selected. The first faculty was composed of the following men: William M. Wightman, Biblical Literature; J. C. Wills, Mathematics; Thomas M. Lupton, Chemistry; Edward Wadsworth, Moral Philosophy; O. F. Casey, Ancient Languages; J. A. Reubelt, Hebrew and Modern Languages. Dr. Allen S. Andrews, President of the Board of Edu- cation, reported to the Conference in 1859: "The Collegiate Department was inaugurated on the first Wednesday in October, in the presence of a large and delighted auditory. The officers elected by the Trustees were in attendance. Fifty students have matricu- lated. All assets amount to $200,000 .- Re- solved, That the Alabama Conference fully endorse the proposition of the Trustees of the Southern University to increase its assets to $500,000, for the purpose of making it a university indeed."

Under such bright prospects was the South- ern University established. Its future seemed assured, and its promoters and friends had every reason to believe that it would soon take its place among the leading uni- versities of the South and of the United States. But hardly had the work begun when calamity came. The destruction that swept over the South in the dark days of the sixties all but destroyed the institution. Professors and students entered the Confed- erate armies; the endowment was swallowed up in the ruin of the country; and when the War of Secession was over, there was left to Southern University only the main building and the ground on which it stood.

During the trying times of the Reconstruc- tion the trustees struggled heroically, main- taining the life of the institution against difficulties well-nigh insurmountable. In 1866 President Wightman was elected a bishop of the church. After his retirement, Professors Lupton and Wadsworth acted in turn as chairman. In 1870 Dr. Allen S. Andrews became the second President. De- partments of Theology, Law and Medicine were put in operation. Dr. Luther M. Smith, of Georgia, came to the Presidency, in 1875, on the condition that all debt be paid.

After the State was divided into two con- ferences, the North Alabama Conference, in 1883, joined with the Alabama Conference in the support of the Southern University.

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Dr. Andrews again became President. Large amounts were added to the endowment; the buildings and lands that had been sacrificed during the stress of the war and reconstruc- tion were rebought; other buildings were erected; and the number of students in at- tendance reached the highest mark in the history of the University, 235.

Plant .- The plant of the Southern Univer- sity consists of twenty-six acres of land, level, and in one body. Upon this land is located the University or main building; Hamilton Hall, used as a dormitory, accommodating 68 students; the President's home; two resi- dences for professors; the gymnasium, which is said to be the most complete college gymna- sium in Alabama; the athletic field, which consists of a ball diamond and grand stand. four well finished tennis courts, and basket ball ground.

Hamilton Hall is a dormitory and boarding building well situated on a very fine lot im- mediately in front of the Main Building across the street from the campus.

Fir-t Board of Trustees .- The Conference appointed as charter members the following trustees: Rev. Robt. Paine, Rev. Jas. O. Andrew, Rev. Edward Wadsworth, Rev. Jef- ferson Hamilton, Rev. Thos. O. Summers, Rev. Archelus H. Mitchell, Rev. Thos. J. Koger, Rev. Christopher C. Callaway, Rev. Joseph H. Hutchinson, Rev. Joshua L. Heard, Rev. Philip P. Neely, Rev. Lucius Q. C. DeYampert, Rev. Henry W. Hilliard, Rev. Thos. J. Ramsey, Col. Jno. Erwin, Mr. Gideon E. Nelson, Mr. Robt. A. Baker, Mr. Thomas M. Johnston, Dr. Gaston Drake, Dr. Wm. T. Webb, Augustus A. Coleman, Esq., Mr. Duke W. Goodman, and Mr. Jno. W. Walton.

Publications .- "The Southern University Monthly" was established April, 1885, organ- ized and edited by Percy G. Wood, Jr., L. C. Branscomb, C. A. Rush, W. F. Andrews and D. P. Christenberry, all students. 1n 1902 the title was changed to "The Review and Bulletin," and is the organ of the two literary societies, serving as an incentive to literary effort. In 1891 "The Alumni Annual" was issued by Dr. J. A. Moore, as editor, but was of short duration.

Library .- The institution has from the first maintained a good collection of standard works. Until 1899 there were three separate libraries, those of the two literary societies and that of the college, after which time all were united.

Atlıletics .- The college has always exhib- ited an interest in athletics and has a good record in inter-collegiate contests. The gym- nasium is 67x74 feet, and well fitted out for its purposes.

Literary Societies .- The Clariosophic Lit- erary Society was formed October 29, 1869, J. V. Glass, first president, C. D. Christian, vice-president; F. B. Terrell, recording sec- retary; F. L. Glover, treasurer; L. A. Felden, corresponding secretary; S. W. Chadwick, censor; W. R. Randle, librarian. The Belles Lettres Society was organized October 28, 1859, C. B. Clarke, first president. Asso- ciated with him in perfecting the organiza-

tion were May, G. W. Creagh, H. Urquhart, and C. C. Ellis.

Fraternities .- Named in order of forma- tion: (1) Alabama Iota Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon; (2) Chi Chi Chapter of Sigma Chi, chartered in 1879, and continued at the Southern University until 1882; Phi chapter Kappa Alpha; Iota Phi, established there in 1884, disbanded in 1888; Beta Beta chapter Alpha Tau Omega; Alabama Gamma chapter Phi Delta Theta, chartered 1887, continued until 1896.

Loan Funds .- Martin Fund. A few years ago Mrs. Amanda V. Martin created a loan fund, known as the "Amanda Martin Fund," which under God, has been a great blessing to the college and to the young men given by its aid to the Methodist ministry.

This fund was established to assist young men preparing for the ministry who are other- wise unable to meet the expenses for the col- lege course.

The beneficiaries give their note, which, for one year succeeding date of loan, are non-interest bearing.

Ann B. Betts Fund. A similar loan fund is now available through the munificence of Mrs. Ann B. Betts. The interest accruing from this fund will be applied to the as- sistance of young ministers in the prosecu- tion of their studies.

Banks Memorial Fund. This fund is es- tablished in memory of Newton P. Banks, for the purpose of assisting young men who are preparing for the ministry.

This fund will be increased from year to year, and carefully administered according to the conditions named by those who estab- lished it.

The Holloway Fund. Mr. W. E. Holloway has begun an endowment fund which he pro- poses to increase from time to time, the same to be used according to conditions named by him in assisting young men pre- paring for the ministry.

The Dumas Fund. This fund, established by Mrs. Lelia Dumas, will be applied to the endowment of the institution, administered as directed by her. It is her purpose to in- crease same from time to time.

The Wiggins Fund. This fund established by C. L. Wiggins, Pine Barren, Fla., will be applied to the permanent endowment of the institution and administered as he directs. This fund, which is already a considerable sum, will be increased by him from time to time.

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History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume II, Part 100

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: 724

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: 724