History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume II, Part 113

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 113


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TRINITY. Post office and station on the Southern Railway in the northwest part of Morgan County. It is located very near the Lawrence County line and about 8 miles west of Decatur. Altitude: 633 feet. Popu- lation: 1900-191; 1910-198. It is incor- porated under the municipal code of 1907.


REFERENCE .- Manuscript data in the Alabama Department of Archives and History.


TRIPOLI, OR POLISHING POWDER. Tripoli proper, the infusorial or diatomaceous earth, or "fossil flour," of organic origin, is found abundantly in many localities in the lower part of the State, e. g., in the recent swamp deposits near Mobile; in the second- bottom deposits of the Alabama River at Montgomery; in the buhrstone and Clayton formations of the Tertiary. Thefirst two are of fresh-water origin, the last, of marine. Polish- ing powder of a very different origin occurs in many localities in northern Alabama. It re- sults from the thorough leaching of the cherty limestones and Knox dolomites of the Silu- rian, and of the Fort Payne division of the lower Carboniferous. It is a porous rock of finely divided siliceous matter, known as "rot- ten stone." It is prepared for use by crush- ing, grinding, and bolting. The largest de- posits are in Talladega, Calhoun, and Lauder- dale Counties.


REFERENCE .- Smith and McCalley, Index to mineral resources of Alabama (Geol. Survey of Ala., Bulletin 9, 1904), p. 63.


TROY. County seat of Pike County, near the center of the county, about 4 miles south- east of Conecuh River, and on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, and the Central of Geor- gia Railway, about 51 miles southeast of Montgomery. Altitude: 581 feet. Popula- tion: 1870-1,058; 1880-3,000; 1890- 3,449; 1900-4,097; 1910-4,961. It was incorporated by the legislature, February 4,


1843. It has a city hall, a jail, electric lights, waterworks, sanitary sewerage, fire depart- ment, and paved sidewalks in the business section. Its banks are the First National, the Farmers & Merchants National, W. B. Fol- mar, Banker (State), Troy Bank & Trust Co. (State). The Troy Messenger, daily except Sunday and weekly, established in 1866, and the Semi-Weekly Herald, established in 1904, are published there. Its industries are 3 cot- tonseed oil mills, 2 fertilizer plants, a saw- mill, a planing mill, and woodworking plant, a gristmill, a tannery, a shoe factory, cotton ginneries, 4 cotton warehouses, a cotton com- press, machine shops, and the public utilities mentioned above. It is the location of the Troy State Normal School. The Masonic Lodge was organized in 1841, and the hall erected in 1843.


The town is situated on a series of radiat- ing ridges, whose common center is the court- house square. It was first settled by the Mur- phree, Love, and Henderson families, in 1824. The first log house erected was for "Granny" Love, by Peter J. Coleman. She, with her two sons, Andy and Bill, kept the first tavern. In 1838 the seat of justice was moved from Monticello to Troy. John Coskrey and John Hanchey donated 30 acres of land, and the line which divided their lands, running east and west, was made the middle line for the courthouse square. Robert Smiley, the county surveyor, laid off the town. In 1839, the commissioners, Andrew Townsend, Ja- cinth Jackson, William Cox, Alexander Mc- Call, Daniel Lewis, Obadiah Pitts, James Arthur, and Edmund Hobdy moved the seat of justice to Troy and installed the county of- fices in a log courthouse, which in the early fifties was replaced by a frame structure, which in turn was replaced in 1888 by a sub- stantial brick building, since added to and improved.


On the southwest corner of the square stood "Granny" Love's tavern, built of mate- rials from the old courthouse at Monticello. On the northeast corner stood the pioneer home of "Granny" Wood.


Among the early settlers were the Mur- phree, Henderson, Mullins, Hill, Worthy, Gardner, Adams, Lawson, Fitzpatrick, Ogle- tree, Blain, Morris, Goldthwaite, Anderson, Joel Murphree, Soles, Johnson, Wiley, Love, Fannin, Copeland, Wood, Hobdy, Culver, Freeman, Urquhart, Barron, Rice, Baugh, Thompson, Darby, Parks, Wiley, Seegar, Hartsfield, Floyd, Brown, and Allred families.


The town was known as Zebulon, and as Centreville, before Luke R. Simmons named it Troy.


REFERENCES .- Acts, 1842-43, pp. 93-94; Brewer, Alabama (1872), p. 504; Garrett, Public men of Alabama (1872), p. 398; Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1915.


TROY BUSINESS COLLEGE. See Com- mercial Education.


TROY RAILROAD COMPANY. See Mo- bile and Girard Railroad Company.


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HISTORY OF ALABAMA


TROY NORMAL SCHOOL. Co-educational State normal school, located at Troy.


Believing that the educational interest of the State would be greatly advanced by es- tablishing and maintaining a Normal School somewhere in South Alabama, the General Assembly of 1886-7 established a Normal School at Troy, in Pike County.


This school was established for the pur- pose of educating white male and female teachers for the public schools of Alabama and aims: (1) "To give thorough and sys- tematic instruction in the branches usually taught in the common schools; (2) To add such other branches of general culture as will increase the knowledge of students and inspire them with a love for learning and a zeal in teaching; (3) To direct their observa- tion and afford them such opportunities as will help to acquire a mastery of the theory of teaching and give skill in its practice; (4) To form as far as possible correct habits, physical, mental and moral."


By the act of creation which was approved February 26, 1887, three thousand dollars was appropriated "out of the general educa- tional revenue apportioned to the whites, for the support and maintenance of the school." It was further provided that none of this appropriation should be expended "for any other purpose than the payment of the sal- aries of the faculty." A board of directors consisting of the following was named in the act of February 26, 1887: O. C. Wiley, John B. Knox, John D. Gardner, Frank Baltzell, James Folmer, I. W. Foster, Joseph A. Adams, B. R. Bricken, P. Jeff Ham. Upon their or- ganization Hon. John B. Knox was elected president and Hon. Charles Henderson, Sec- retary and Treasurer.


In establishing a school at Troy the State required the town to furnish "grounds and buildings adequate to the school's needs." To fulfill its part of the contract the city council of Troy purchased the lands of the estate of the late William M. Murphree. This plot consisted of four acres in the central part of the city, and after its purchase was deeded to the city. Upon it stood a frame building containing five rooms, which was occupied by the city school.


Soon a handsome two story brick structure, about 80 by 100 feet, with nine rooms and the necessary halls, was constructed in the center of the grounds, and was appropriately furnished. The total amount expended by the city of Troy for grounds, buildings and appliances was $25,000.


Though there was an appropriation of $3,000, it was soon found to be inadequate and the college was run for two years in as- sociation with the city schools. In June, 1889, the State Normal Board, aided by Dr. J. L. M. Curry, agent, secured from the Pea- body fund an appropriation, after which the Board assumed the full financial management of the school, although the city schools con- tinued for a number of years under the con- trol of the president of the college.


The entire separation of the city school


from the State Normal school took place in June, 1890.


The first faculty consisted of Edwin R. Eldridge, LL. D., President, pedagogy, psy- chology and ethics; Edward M. Shackleford, A. M .; James M. Dewberry, L. I .; Charles R. McCall, A. M .; A. A. Persons, M. Sc., Secretary; Mrs. O. Worthy; Miss Ettie Mar- tin; Miss Irena McCall; Mrs. D. N. Baldwin; P. B. Steifer. In addition to this group of teachers, there was later created a "sub-fac- ulty" consisting of seniors who were assistant teachers.


The first class graduated in 1888, and consisted of Miss Kittie Corley, of Tennessee; Miss Celeste Darby, of Troy; Miss Ernesa Locke, of Troy, and James M. Murphree, of Troy. Aided by the Peabody Agent, Dr. J. L. M. Curry, summer normal schools or institutes with courses lasting three weeks were organized in 1889. Such an Institute was held at the Troy Normal from August 26 to September 13. Its objects were to af- ford facilities for the study of normal meth- ods to teachers who were in the work and who could not attend the normal school until their schools were dismissed. The only ex- penses attached to the school were an enroll- ment fee and the price of board and lodging. Every year since then the summer Insti- tute has been held at Troy Normal School, and there has been much good work done for the advancement of teaching in Alabama.


One of the objects of the school's estab- lishment was to give free tuition to indigent young people, who in consideration of their tuition were pledged to teach for two years in the public schools of Alabama. If they did not desire to teach they could pay a nominal tuition, which was done in many cases.


By act of the General Assembly, approved February 21, 1893, it was provided, "That in connection with the college a public school, or other school, may be maintained as an internal part of the State Normal College, as a model training school to illustrate and practice the best methods of teaching."


In 1895 the annual appropriation for the payment of salaries was increased from $3,000 to $5,000, by an act approved February 18th, and again to $7,500 in 1900; in 1903, $10,- 000; in 1907, $15,000; and finally it was raised to $20,000 in 1911. Desiring that the. more remote counties should be represented at the school a system of scholarships is main- tained, by which "Each senator and each representative, except from a county in which a State Educational Institution for whites is located, is authorized to nominate one or more teachers of his county, or district, with the attestation of the superintendent of the county of the nominee to the State Super- intendent of Education, who may issue a scholarship with free tuition and incidental fee for two years, valid so long as the holder shall attend the College.


"In addition to the above, each member of the Board of Trustees of the College is entitled to appoint one student who shall be


1327


HISTORY OF ALABAMA


exempt from charges for tuition and inci- dentals."


The plan of organization embraces three departments: the college proper, the model school and the adjunct division. There are four classes in the college proper-Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior. At the end of the senior year a Bachelor's Degree is given according to the course taken. There is also a strong post-graduate course in con- nection with the collegiate department.


The Model School Department is a dis- tinctive feature of Normal work, because section 13, of the act establishing the state normal school, provides that "there may be established a public school or other school," in connection with it.


The adjunct department, including vocal and instrumental music, elocution, physical culture and art, "are in charge of specialists in their several lines." Special instruction in these departments is subject to the ordinary rate of charges for such work.


In 1911 an act was passed and approved on April 18th, creating "a board of Trus- tees for the government and control of the several state normal schools for whites, and for the making and enforcing of a course of study for the said state normal schools and for the rural schools of the State." The new board of trustees was to consist of eight members. The Governor and Superintendent of Education are ex-officio members and chairman and secretary, respectively, of the Board, while six were to he appointed.


Under the provisions of this act the old board of directors was abolished and a new board created, consisting of Gov. Emmet O'Neal, chairman; Henry J. Willingham, sec- retary; Dr. Erwin Craighead, Robert B. Evins, W. W. Lavender, Charles S. McDow- ell, Jr., John D. McNeel, and John B. Weakley.


The first president of the school was Joseph Macon Dill, 1887-88, who was succeeded by Edwin R. Eldridge, who served until 1898, when Edward M. Shackleford who has served since that time became president.


Every department is fitted out with ap- paratus to suit its peculiar work. The Board of Trustees, appreciating the fact "that work done experimentally is sure to make its im- pression," has fitted up the chemical, biolog- ical, and physiological departments so as to give the students every advantage of prac- tical work and application.


The school is equipped with a Carnegie library which contains about 5,000 books and several thousand magazines.


There are two literary societies, "The Cal- houn," founded in 1888 and reorganized in 1900-01, and "The Gladstone," organized on March 1st, 1900, with eighteen members. The purpose of these societies is "to furnish profitable and pleasant entertainment" for their members, "to encourage and promote literary research, to train its members in practical parliamentary procedure, and to quicken their perceptive, argumentative, and oratorical powers."


Vol. 11-39


The Y. M. C. A. was organized in 1895, and the Y. W. C. A. in 1909.


The athletic association was formed in 1909. Since that time the school has had athletic teams in many contests.


The Alumni Association of the State Nor- mal School at Troy was organized in 1890, and in 1891 was reorganized. Its purpose is "Mu- tual improvement, the keeping green in mem- ory the friendships and pleasant incidents of school life, and the promotion of Alma Mater." A badge composed of two pieces of ribbon, blue and white, was used, and in 1892 permanently adopted. In 1892 the first alumni program was rendered. An annual program has occurred regularly since that time.


Dr. Eldridge, president of the school, gave the association its first banquet in 1894.


Indigent students are aided by loan funds, which have been subscribed by various classes and as memorials to graduates of the school.


At various times three different periodicals have been issued from the institution. The first was called the "Normal Ray," the sec- ond the "Normal Exponent," and the last the "Palladium." The first two were edited by the school authorities, but the last was a student venture, and on account of financial troubles was temporarily discontinued but has since reappeared.


The following are the publications of the Troy Normal School to be found in the De- partment of Archives and History, Montgom- ery, Ala .:


State Normal Exponent; quarterly.


Dec., 1893, to July, 1898, v. 1, no. 1 to v.


4, no. 4.


Dept. has: Vol. 1, Dec., 1893-July, 1894, No. 1, 4.


Vol. 2, Oct., 1894-Mar., 1895, No. 1-2.


Vol. 3, Mar., 1898, No. 7.


Vol. 4, July, 1898, No. 4.


State Normal business college Journal; quarterly.


Dept. has: Vol. 1, Dec., 1899-Nov., 1900, No. 1-3.


Vol. 2, June, 1901, No. 1.


The Palladium; monthly.


Dept. has: Vol. 1, Mar., 1904-Mar., 1905, No. 1-8.


The Palladium, 1912 annual.


Presidents of The School .-


1887-8-Joseph Macon Dill.


1888-99-Edwin R. Eldridge.


1899-1919-Edward M. Shackleford.


Presidents of the Board of Trustees of Troy Normal School .-


1888-90-John D. Gardner.


1890- - John B. Knox.


1890-1911-O. C. Wiley.


1911-15-Emmet O'Neal.


1915 -- Charles Henderson.


Secretaries of The Board of Trustees .-


1888-1900-Charles Henderson.


1900-02-Walter C. Black.


1902-11-L. H. Bowles.


1911-15-Henry J. Willingham.


1915 -- William F. Feagin.


1328


HISTORY OF ALABAMA


BIBLIOGRAPHY .- Brochure of the State Normal College, Troy, Alabama, 1901-1902.


Folder, pp. 15.


State Normal Institute called to meet at Troy, Pike Co., Ala., for three weeks, Aug. 26 to Sept. 13, 1889.


Outline of courses.


8 vo. pp. 25.


Aug. 11 to Sept. 5, 1890.


8vo. pp. 25.


Aug. 17 to Sept. 13, 1891.


8vo. pp. 25.


State Normal School, Troy, Alabama. Motto -"Educate the Mind to Think, the Heart to Feel, and the Body to Act." Catalog for three terms, from its founding by the Legislature of Alabama, September, 1887, to January, 1889, and Presentation and Discussion of the Facts, Principle, Purposes, and History of Normal Schools (etc., I line), Troy, Alabama. John Post, Printer, 1889.


8 vo. pp. 48.


Year of 1889-90.


8 vo. pp. 76.


Advance sheets for catalogue of 1889-90.


8 vo. pp. 22.


Year of 1898-1899.


8 vo. pp. 49.


Year of 1899-1900.


8 vo. pp. 50.


1900-1901. 8 vo. pp. 66.


1901-1902. 8 vo. pp. 55.


1902-1903. vo. pp. 55.


1903-1904. 8 vo. pp. 51.


1904-1905. 8 vo. pp. 55.


1905-1906. 8 vO. pp. 58.


1906-1907. 8 vo. pp. 59.


1907-1908. 8 vo. pp. 68.


1908-1909. 8 vo. pp. 71.


1909-1910. 8 vo. pp. 59.


1910-1911. 8 vo. pp. 64.


1911-1912. vo. pp. 92.


1912-1913. 8 vo. pp. 58.


1913-1914. 8 vo. pp. 63.


1914-1915. vo. pp. 64.


Bulletins.


Vol. 1. No. 2-April, 1914.


Vol. 2. No. 1-Oct., 1914.


Vol. 2. No. 2-Jan., 1915.


Vol. 3. No. 1-Oct., 1915.


Cathechism of English Grammar, by C. L. McCartha, 1907.


Extracts from State Normal Exponent, 1898. Folder of information as to appointment of students by a member of the Legislature, 1898.


Memorial of board and faculty to legislature, 1892.


The Old Oaken Bucket, n. p. n. d.


To the College Patrons, n. p. n. d.


Clark: History of Education in Alabama, pp. 258.


Acts of Alabama 1886-87, pp. 959-962.


Acts of Alabama 1888-89, pp. 306-8; 721.


TROY STATE NORMAL SCHOOL LI- BRARY. See Libraries.


TRUCK GARDENING. Trucking, or truck gardening, or the farm gardening of vege- tables commercially, or for the market, has


in the last twenty-five years been developed as an industry in Alabama. This industry has developed because of the growth of towns and urban centers. During the entire history of Mobile, small farms or truck gar- dens were successfully operated, and the pro- duction supplied the local market, but al- ways in a small way, and the business never assumed anything like organized proportions. Nothing was grown by this class of producers other than for the Mobile market. The towns of Anniston, Bessemer, Birmingham, and other towns in the mineral region of the State have so increased in population as to demand systematic development of the truck- ing industry, and in connection therewith has been developed a general commercial business of trucking for the northern mar- kets.


Trucking or marketing associations have been formed for the purpose of facilitating packing, shipment, deliveries, and collections.


The commercial vegetable crops consist of cabbage, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, aspara- gus, radishes, lettuce, snapbeans, squash, and cucumbers.


In Baldwin and Mobile Counties cabbage, radishes, snapbeans, and cucumbers are grown extensively.


Lettuce for shipment is grown in Mobile County only.


In Butler County radishes are raised, and several carlots shipped to the northern markets.


In other counties in South Alabama, cu- cumbers are being extensively planted and used for shipment to the pickling plants in the north.


In Lauderdale County, on the Tennessee River, just under the bridge from Sheffield to Florence, twenty-eight acres, in two farms, are planted in asparagus, all of which is successfully raised for the market.


REFERENCES .- Watts, Vegetable Gardening (1913); Bailey, Cyclopedia of American Horti- culture (1901).


TRUSTEES OF INSTITUTIONS. The ap- pointment of trustees of state institutions, other institutions, or official agencies for the conduct of public business has usually been vested in the governor. However, the state senate has at times, been given this author- ity, and some times the joint vote of both houses of the legislature has been authorized in making selections.


In the case of religious institutions, edu- cational institutions controlled by religious bodies or others, or private eleemosynary in- stitutions, the trustees are usually chosen by the general body, that is, the body in which the ultimate power resides.


However, in comparatively recent times, because of the criticism against the abuse of the power on the part of the executive, the practice has grown up whereby boards have been given self-perpetuating features. The constitution of 1901, providing that when the term of any member of the board of trustees of the University of Alabama should expire, "the remaining members of the board,


-- -------


GOVERNORS' MANSION ON PERRY STREET, MONTGOMERY


1331


HISTORY OF ALABAMA


shall, by secret ballot, elect his successor; provided, that any trustee so elected shall hold office from the date of his election until his confirmation or rejection by the senate, and if confirmed, until the expiration of the term for which he was elected, and until his successor is elected." It is made the duty of the superintendent of education to certify to the senate, the names of those who have been elected since the last meeting. The section of the constitution contains the fol- lowing:


"The senate shall confirm or reject them as it shall determine for the best interest of the university. If it reject the names of any members, it shall thereupon elect trus- tees in the stead of those rejected. In case of a vacancy on said board, by death, or resignation of a member, or from any cause other than the expiration of his term of of- fice, the board shall elect his successor, who shall hold office until the next session of the legislature." The governor is ex-officio president of the board.


Sec. 3589 provides for the amendment of the charters of educational institutions. On September 10, 1915, an amendment was adopted to that section, discriminating be- tween the procedure in the case of trustees, according to method of selection. The pro- vision is that "if the trustees are not self- perpetuating, but are appointed or elected by any persons or organization other than the trustees themselves, a resolution embrac- ing the desired amendments to the charter shall be submitted to the person or organ- ization having the power to elect or appoint the trustees, and such resolutions shall be approved by the person or organization hav- ing the power to appoint or elect the trus- tees."-Acts of Ala., 1915, p. 382.


The Alabama boys' industrial school pro- vided for a self-perpetuating board of trus- tees.


The act of February 27, 1901, creating the department of archives and history, provided for a self-perpetuating board of trustees.


TUBERCULOSIS COMMISSION, THE ALA- BAMA. A commission of nine members, es- tablished by the legislature September 22, 1915, "for the purpose of disseminating as widely as possible, knowledge of tuberculosis and the methods of preventing and caring for the same; promoting and encouraging the establishment and maintenance of hospitals for the treatment of tuberculosis in such areas as may seem advisable and controling the administration thereof; cooperating as fully as possible with all anti-tuberculosis organizations, and assisting in the activities of said organizations." The members of the commission were first appointed by the gov- ernor, for terms ranging from one to four years, but at the expiration of these appoint- ments, elections are to be made by written ballot of the remaining members for four- year terms, subject to the approval of the Senate at its next session. Four of the mem- bers must always be physicians, and the State


Health Officer is, ex officio, a member. The members serve without salaries or other emoluments, except that the secretary, who is the executive officer of the commission, may be paid a reasonable compensation from the funds at its disposal, and all members are entitled to their actual expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties. The com- mission meets at least once a year and has power to adopt by-laws for its own govern- ment .. The secretary makes a detailed report of its transactions to the governor. The com- mission is empowered to acquire by gift, pur- chase or otherwise, any real or personal es- tate suitable for furthering the purposes of its creation, and may hold the same in trust or in fee, and control or dispose of it at dis- cretion.


Provision is made for the establishment of county tuberculosis hospitals, upon petition of a majority of the qualified voters, and authorizes courts of county commissioners or boards of revenue to appropriate funds for the purchase of sites, construction of build- ings and maintenance expenses, with the ap- proval of the state commission. These coun- ty hospitals are intended for the care of pa- tients who have passed the incipient stage, and are to be supervised by a hospital board of three members, one elected by the county commissioners, one by the county board of health, and one by the municipal government of the largest town in the county. The secre- . tary of the local board is its executive officer, and is also the superintendent of the hos- pital. He must be a physician of adequate training, who has made a special study of tuberculosis and the approved methods of identifying and treating it. His salary and conditions of service are arranged by the hos- pital board. Fees are charged patients for treatment, but those unable to pay the reg- ular rates may be treated at reduced fees, and indigent persons without charge. The cost of maintaining the hospitals, above the income from fees, is paid by the counties from which the patients come.




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