USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume II > Part 128
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Plums and prunes, 18,954 trees; bushels.
4,772
Cherries, 364 trees; 174 bushels.
Quinces, 148 trees; 30 bushels.
Grapes, 1,559 vines; 12,408 pounds.
Tropical fruits: total, 78 trees. Figs, 78 trees; 3,956 pounds. Oranges, -.
Small fruits: total, 395 quarts. Strawberries, 383 quarts. Nuts: total, 477 trees; 20,520 pounds. Pecan, 3 trees.
Labor, Fertilizer and Feed.
Labor-Farms reporting, 462 Cash expended, $14,106. Rent and board furnished, $2.834. Fertilizer-Farms reporting, 1,712. Amount expended, $39,402. Feed-Farms reporting, 677 Amount expended, $21,801. Receipt from sale of feedable crops, $18,833.
Domestic Animals Not on Farms. Inclosures reporting domestic animals, 157. Value of domestic animals, $18,047. Cattle: total, 201; value, $5,005. Number of dairy cows, 99. Horses: total, 75; value, $8,850.
Mules, and asses and burros: total, 25; value, $3,185.
Swine: total, 220; value, $1,003.
Sheep and goats: total, 2; value, $4.
Post Offices and Towns .- Revised to July 1, 1919, from U. S. Official Postal Guide. Figures indicate the number of rural routes from that office.
Addison -- 2 Haleyville-6
Arley-2
Houston
Delmar-1
Lynn-1
Double Springs-(cl
Natural Bridge
Falls City -- 1
Oplee
Population .- Statistics from decennial pub- lications of the U. S. Bureau of the Census.
White.
Negro.
Total.
1860
3,454
122
3.576
1870
4,134
21
4,155
1880
4,236
17
4,253
1890
6,516
36
6,552
1900
9,547
7
9,554
1910
12,801
54
12,855
1920
14,378
Delegates to Constitutional Conventions .-
1861-Charles C. Sheets.
1865-Charles C. Sheets.
1867-John F. Wilhite.
1875-Andrew J. Ingle.
1901-C. L. Haley; Newman H. Freeman.
Senators .- 1853-4-William A. Hewlett.
1857-8-O. H. Bynum.
1861-2-J. Albert Hill.
1865-6-F. W. Sykes.
1868-J. J. Hinds.
1871-2-J. J. Hinds.
1872-3-W. H. Edwards.
1873-W. H. Edwards.
1874-5-W. H. Edwards.
1875-6-W. H. Edwards.
1876-7-Brett Randolph.
1878-9-Brett Randolph.
1880-1-J. C. Orr.
1882-3-John C. Orr.
1884-5-C. F. Hamil.
1886-7-C. F. Hamil.
1888-9-William E. Skeggs.
1890-1-W. E. Skeggs.
1892-3-J. M. C. Whorton.
1894-5-J. M. C. Whorton.
1896-7-W. G. Brown.
1898-9-Will G. Brown.
1899-(Spec.)-Will G. Brown.
1900-01-R. L. Hipp.
1903-Robert Lee Hipp.
1907 -- John F. Wilson.
1907-(Spec.)-John F. Wilson.
1909-(Spec.)-John F. Wilson.
1911-J. B. Sloan.
1915-C. J. Higgins.
1919-A. A. Griffith.
Representatives .- 1853-4-James Vest. 1855-6-Absalom Little. 1857-8-Absalom Little. 1859-60-James M. Bibb.
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1861-(1st called)-James M. Bihh. 1861-(2d called)-Christopher C. Sheets.
1861-2-Christopher C. Sheets.
1862 (called)-Christopher C. Sheets.
1862-3-Christopher C. Sheets.
1863 (called)-Zachary White.
1863-4-Zachary White.
1864 (called)-Zachary White.
1864-5-Zachary White.
1865-6-J. W. Wilhite.
1866-7-J. W. Wilhite. 1868-John Taylor.
1869-70-John Taylor.
1870-1-John Taylor.
1871-2-John Taylor.
1872-3-Jonathan Barton.
1873-Jonathan Barton.
1874-5-Willis Farriss.
1875-6-Willis Farriss.
1876-7-W. B. Manasco.
1878-9-B. F. Curtis.
1880-1-P. H. Newman.
1882-3-A. J. Ingle.
1884-5-C. H. Newman.
1886-7-J. C. Long.
1888-9-John C. Long.
1890-1-W. W. Davis.
1892-3-D. B. Ford.
1894-5- D. B. Ford.
1896-7-A. S. Palmer.
1898-9-A. S. Palmer.
1899 (Spec.)-J. R. Daves.
1900-1-R. M. Rivers.
1903-Patrick Henry Newman.
1907-W. M. Barton.
1907 (Spec.)-W. M. Barton.
1909 (Spec.)-W. M. Barton.
1911-James E. Edmonds.
1915-Chester Tuhh.
1919-J. M. Burns.
REFERENCES .- Toulmin, Digest (1823) ; Acts of Alabama; Brewer, Alabama, p. 584; Berney, Handbook (1892), p. 337; Riley, Alabama as it is (1893), p. 51; Northern Alabama (1888), p. 170; Alabama, 1919 (Ala. Dept. of Ag. and Ind., Handbook), p. 407; Ala. Official and Statistical Register, 1903-15, 5 vols .; Ala. Anthropological Society, Handbook (1910) ; Geol. Survey of Ala., Agricultural features of the state (1883) ; The Valley regions of Alabama, parts 1 and 2 (1896, 1897), and Underground Water Resources of Alabama (1907).
WIREGRASS SECTION. The popular name given to the southeastern portion of the State, including the counties of Henry, Houston, Geneva, Coffee, and Covington. The lands of this section were for the most part origi- nally heavily timbered with virgin forests of long-leaf yellow pine. The timber has now been cut from the larger portion of them, and on these cut-over lands numerous small farms have been established, which are owned and cultivated by thrifty white settlers. Set- tlement of the lands of the Wiregrass has been stimulated by the fact that the timber companies, which owned immense tracts, have offered them at extremely low prices, enabling persons of small financial resources to acquire homes. Experience has demonstrated that these lands, though consisting of light and
sandy soils, are excellently adapted to gen- eral farming, particularly to the raising of grains, grasses, fruits, vegetables, and all forage crops. Although they are not so well suited to the culture of cotton as the heavier prairie lands, fair yields can be obtained by the use of proper fertilizers and methods of cultivation.
Two of the counties included in the Wire- grass section have been remarkable for their rapid development in population and im- proved agricultural conditions. Baldwin, by means of systematic and persistent advertis- ing campaigns, has received a large influx of energetic and efficient farmers from north- ern States. These people have erected sub- stantial buildings, and made all their improve- ments of a permanent character. One of the most conspicuous features observed by the traveler through the county is the substan- tial, thrifty appearance of the farm buildings, fences and other improvements. Covington County has made a no less remarkable ad- vance, but the outstanding feature of its development has been the rapid growth of Andalusia, its county seat. In addition to other advantages, the Wiregrass enjoys the mild climate of the Gulf Coast, which permits farm work to be carried on practically throughout the year.
See Agriculture; Geology; and articles under names of the counties mentioned supra.
REFERENCES .- Geol. Survey of Ala., Report of agricultural features of the State (Monograph 1, 1884), passim; Smith, Coastal Plain of Ala- bama (Geol. Survey of Ala., Special report 6. 1894) ; Alabama's new era (Dept. of Immigra- tion, Bulletin, vol. 2, 1912), pp. 95-96.
WITUMKA. A Lower Creek town in Rus- sell County, a branch of Kawita Talahasi. It was situated 12 miles northwest of the mother town, at the falls of Big Uchee Creek, and at the present Perry's Ford. It is about 6 miles on a direct line northeast of Seale. It was of sufficient importance to have a town house, near the ford. The place was one of much importance among the Lower Creeks, and with the decline of the mother town of old Kawita, that importance was in- creased. After the treaty of Cusseta March 24, 1832, the Indians who were not removed west regarded this place as their head town, and they met there for all of their confer- ences or councils. The town itself extended in a straggling way for about 3 miles up the creek, on its left or north bank. In later years the inhabitants cultivated the rich lands along the creek, and raised hoth cattle and hogs. Paddy Carr, a Creek half-breed, and long United States interpreter, had a plantation on the same side of the creek below the town. The name signifies "rumbling water," that is, Uiwa, "water," tumkis, "it rumbles, makes noise."
Wetumca Council House was located at Moffitts Mill, on little Uchee Creek, northeast of Crawford, at the time of the meeting there in the fall of 1833. Inasmuch as this point is shown on later maps, it is suggested that
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HISTORY OF ALABAMA
the original settlement, below on Big Uchee, must have fallen into disuse as a meeting place, as it is known that most of this land at the latter place was entered by white set- tlers shortly after March of that year.
REFERENCES .- Handbook of American Indians (1910), vol. 2, p. 936; Gatschet, in Alabama History Commission, Report (1901), vol. 1, p. 414.
WOKSOYUDSHI. An Upper Creek town in Elmore County, noted in the census list of 1832 as "Waksoyochees, on lower Coosa River, below Wetumka." It probably occu- pied in 1832 the site of some older village opposite or below old Fort Toulouse.
REFERENCES .- Gatschet, in Alabama History Commission, Report (1901), vol. 1, p. 414; Handbook of American Indians (1910), vol. 2. p. 968. .
WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. A National organization with State and local branches, originating in the great temperance crusade of 1874. A National Convention was called to meet in Cleveland, Ohio, November 17, of that year, at which sixteen states were represented and the or- ganization formed. By 1916 every state and territory in the nation was organized. Con- ditions of membership are signing the total abstinence pledge and paying annually into the treasury of the local union a sum of not less than 50 cents. Part of the money is retained for local work, and a part is used for auxiliary offices, State, National and World's needs. The total paid membership in the United States in 1919 was about a half million. The badge of the society is a bow of white ribbon. Mrs. Annie Witten- myer was the first president of the National Society. Miss Frances E. Willard succeeded her in 1879 and held that position until her death in 1898, when Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens, of Maine, became the National President. She was succeeded by Miss Anna A. Gordon in 1914. The work is carried on by six de- partments, viz .: (1) Organization: organ- izers, lecturers and evangelists; young woman's branch; Royal Temperance Legion branch; work among foreign speaking peo- ple; work among the colored; work among the Indians. (2) Prevention: health through temperance. (3) Educational: scientific tem- perance instruction; physical education; Sun- day School; World's Missionary fund; pre- senting the cause to influential bodies; tem- perance and labor; parliamentary uses; co- operating with other societies; W. C. T. U. institutes; anti-narcotics; school saving banks; juvenile courts, industrial education and anti-child labor; medal contests. (4) Evangelistic: alms houses, unfermented wine at sacrament; the Bible in the Public Schools; proportionate and systematic giving; prison reform; work among railroad men; work among soldiers and sailors; work among lumbermen and miners; Sabbath observance; humane education; moral education and race betterment; mothers' meetings and white rib- bon recruits; rescue work; purity in litera-
ture and art. (5) Social: social meetings, red letter days; flower mission and relief work; fairs and open alr meetings. (6) Legal: legislation; Christian citizenship; franchise; peace and international arbitra- tion. There are also a bureau of publicity, a bureau of uniform legislation, and a speclai committee on anti-polygamy amendment to the Federal Constitution.
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Ala- bama .- Under the influence of Miss Frances Willard, National President, local branches of the organization sprang up in Alabama. In 1880 a number of citizens of Gadsden and Etowah County petitioned the legisla- ture for local option for the county, which aroused an interest in the subject of tem- perance. In May, 1882, a local union was organized with Mrs. L. C. Woodliff, presi- dent, and fourteen charter members. In December, 1883, the women of Tuscaloosa, under the leadership of Mrs. Ellen Peter Bryce, Mrs. Reuben Searcy, and Miss Julia Tutwiler, organized a local union under the name of "Woman's Home Union," of which Mrs. Reuben Searcy was elected president. In January, 1884, a State meeting was held in Tuscaloosa at which were present, besides representatives of the unions from Selma, Gadsden, and Tuscaloosa, Mrs. Sallie Chapin of Charleston, S. C., and Miss Henrietta Moore, of Ohio, National Officers. At that convention the State Union was organized, with Mrs. L. C. Woodliff, president, Mrs. Ellen Peter Bryce, of Tuscaloosa, vice-presi- dent, Mrs. Charles Sibert, of Gadsden, secre- tory, and Miss Mattie Coleman, of Mont- gomery, treasurer, Miss Julia Tutwiler, press superintendent, and Miss Susie P. Martin, superintendent of literature.
In October, 1884, Mrs. Woodliff, the pres- ident, attended the 11th National Conven- tion of the W. C. T. U., which was held at St. Louis, Mo., and in November of that year the second annual Convention of the Ala- bama Union was held at Selma to which Mrs. Woodliff brought great inspiration in her report of the proceedings of the National Convention which she had recently attended. The third annual State Convention was held at Birmingham in November, 1885, at which time Mrs. Bryce was president. Courage and love of humanity were so highly exemplified by this band of pious women that an account of the initial efforts made by the Tuscaloosa women prepared by Mrs. Ellen Peter Bryce, and preserved in manuscript form in the De- partment of Archives and History, typifies the efforts of women, at that period entirely un- accustomed to public activities.
"While sitting in my husband's office read- ing the paper at our home in the Alabama Insane Hospital-I think it must have been in 1880-in looking over the legislative news I noticed so many acts to prohibit the sale of spirituous liquors within three miles, or five miles of some country church or school house. I believe there were a column of these notices. I asked him what should be done to rid our county of this awful curse. The Doctor replied that if I would write an
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HISTORY OF ALABAMA
article for our town paper, calling a meet- ing of our citizens at the court house on some convenient evening, that he would help me. I immediately accepted his offer and he headed it, 'Strike While the Iron Is Hot.' I wrote the article and signed it, 'A Woman.' The night we selected turned out to be a cold, sleety night but we went and the court house was crowded with men from the city and county both. I think the time must have been ripe for such a meeting. There were men with their rain coats dripping wet standing in the aisle for want of room. I
know that Dr. Searcy, Mr. Woolsey Van Hoose, Dr. Bryce and Dr. Wyman had exerted themselves to get up a crowd. Miss Julia Tutwiler and I were the only two women present. At last one man rose and said, 'Who got up this meeting anyhow, and what was it for?' He said it in a gruff voice. Then someone asked someone else to take the chair and explain the object of the meet- ing. I don't remember who took the chair but the chairman said this meeting was in answer to an article in the weekly paper signed, 'A Woman.' I just trembled and Miss Tutwiler, who was sitting just behind me, patted me kindly on the shoulder and said in a low tone to me, 'It is all right, Mrs. Bryce, don't be nervous, it is all right.' There were several speeches made and dis- cussions followed as to how to get rid of the six liquor saloons in our city.
And that was the first prohibition meet- ing ever held in Tuscaloosa. I know the meeting was good for a prohibition candi- date for the legislature was elected soon after.
About that time we were invited by the citizens of Northport to hold a prohibition meeting over there in the Methodist church. Dr. Bryce, Dr. Searcy, Dr. Wyman, Miss Tut- wiler and I rode down to the river in a big hospital ambulance. We took our supper and ate it as we rode along. I remember the great big steamboat, the R. E. Lee, was at the wharf and the big waves it made shook our little canoe. It was awfully muddy and slippery going down that hill and Miss Tutwiler and I got our shoes bogged up. Our bridge had been burned by the Federals. Just as we got in the middle of the river the lantern went out and Dr. Searcy was hunting for his last match and the light from the barroom of the steamboat was blinding our eyes out there in our little canoe in the middle of the dark river. We felt then that the handsome steamboat with its gayly lighted barroom was a strong contrast to our little boat with the five prohibitionists struggling in the dark water. We compared one to the liquor traffic and the other to the prohibition party, feebly beating its way along. At any rate, like the prohibition cause, we got safely across. We found many of the citizens of Northport awaiting us at the landing, and one young man stepped up and said that a gentleman and lady who knew my husband and me had sent him down to invite us to supper. But it was then too late and the church was full of a waiting
audience, so we had to decline with thanks this kind invitation. A good many speeches were made and I remember especially Col. Powell of Northport gave a fine address.
In December, 1883, the women of Tus- caloosa organized into a union and in Jan- uary, 1884, we had a state meeting at Tus- caloosa and our union joined the State and National Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Mrs. Sallie Chapin of Charleston or- ganized the union in the Presbyterian lec- ture room. Mrs. Reuben Searcy was made president and Mrs. John Martin, Miss Julia Tutwiler, myself and about eighty more joined beside the children in the Band of Hope. Later on we had Miss Frances E. Willard and other distinguished women to speak at the court house to crowded houses.
It took years to get rid of the saloons. At one time in our history, when we got rid of the saloons, we had the dispensary. It was a step better than the saloon, but we wanted prohibition which we finally got. At the next election there was a fierce fight be- tween prohibition and the open saloon. But we women wrote an earnest plea to the men of our city not to allow whiskey to be brought back. This earnest cry of the women to the husbands, fathers and brothers in Tuscaloosa was published in our city paper, we telephoned every woman in Tuscaloosa whom we could possibly reach and read the petition to them and got their permission to sign their names. Not a woman refused to let her name go on the petition! The women met at that time at each other's homes and prayed earnestly for deliverance from the liquor traffic. The consequence was that our city voted for "no whiskey." Our prayers were heard by Heaven and our petition heeded by the men of our city, and from that day Tuscaloosa has been dry-both city and county.
Although there are a few blind tigers oc- casionally caught, mostly the negroes, we are happy to know that our beautiful University town is free from those pitfalls to ruin our young men. Many a mother's heart rejoices over this.
In the early days we had Frances Willard and other distinguished women to speak and later on Gov. Glenn, Dr. Denny, Richmond Hobson and others. Judge H. B. Foster, Mr. Luther Maxwell and others have always stood squarely up to the cause."
(Prepared by Mrs. Ellen Peter Bryce, and copy made from the original, in the hands of Mrs. Annie K. Weisel, President of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Birm- ingham, Ala., 1917.)
Annual Conventions, 1882-1916 .- The list which follows gives the number of session, place of meeting, inclusive dates, and bibliog- raphy of the Minutes, viz .:
1. Tuscaloosa, Jan. 22-24, 1884, pp. 14.
2. Selma, Nov. 13-14, 1884, pp. 28.
3. Montgomery, Nov. 17-18, 1886, pp. 80.
4. Mobile, Dec. 1-2, 1887, pp. 86.
5. Tuscaloosa, Apr. 16-17, 1890, pp. 64.
6. Selma, Dec. 1-3, 1893, pp. 74.
7. New Decatur, Jan. 7-9, 1903, pp. 68.
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HISTORY OF ALABAMA
8. Anniston, Nov. 9-11, 1904, pp. 50.
9. Birmingham, Dec. 5-7, 1905, pp. 49.
10. Montgomery, Oct. 16-18, 1907, pp. 52.
11. Mobile, Nov. 17-19, 1908, pp. 51.
12. Birmingham, Nov. 17-18, 1909, pp. 63.
13. Guntersville, Oct. 18-20, 1910, pp. 60. 14. New Decatur, Oct. 17-20, 1911, pp. 62.
15. Opelika, Oct. 2-4, 1912, pp. 72.
16. Mobile, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 1913, pp. 84.
17. Gadsden, Nov. 3-5, 1914, pp. 63.
18. Birmingham, Oct. 26-28, 1915, pp. 60.
19. Huntsville, Oct. 10-12, 1916, pp. 39.
Presidents .- Mrs. L. C. Woodliff, 1884; Mrs. Ellen P. Bryce, 1885-1887; Mrs. M. L. Stratford, 1888-1889; Mrs. J. Morgan Smith, 1890; Mrs. Mattie L. Spencer, 1891-1904; Mrs. Mary T. Jeffries, 1905-1907; Mrs. C. M. Mullan, 1906; Mrs. J. B. Chatfield, 1908- 1911; Mrs. Annie K. Weisel, 1912-1916.
WOMAN'S COLLEGE OF ALABAMA. Methodist denominational college of A. grade located at Montgomery. This college was founded through the joint efforts of the Ala- bama and the North Alabama conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in Alabama, and is controlled and supported by them.
Genesis .- The movement to consolidate the educational activities of the two confer- ences of the denomination in the state had its origin in the North Alabama conference which met at Tuscumbia, November 25-30, 1903, when a resolution was passed inviting the Alabama conference, which is composed of the churches in the central and southern part of the state, to "participate in the work at Owenton," where a college for young men had been established by the North Alabama conference. Dr. A. J. Lamar, chairman of the board of education of the Alabama confer- ence, presented the matter at the annual meeting of that conference, at Pensacola, Fla., December 9-14, 1903, and the body pro- posed the creation of a commission of five members from each conference to consider "the whole question of Methodist education. male and female, in the State, with the end in view of uniting the two conferences in the ownership and hearty support of one male and one female college, to be located at such place or places as may, in the wisdom of the two conferences, be deemed best."
The North Alabama conference at its ses- sion at Athens, November 22-27, 1905, ap- pointed J. D. Ellis, J. S. Robertson, E. M. Glenn, R. S. Munger and Arthur W. Smith to represent its interests in the proposed joint commission. Upon the death of Rev. J. D. Ellis, March 1, 1906, the Rev. F. P. Culver was appointed in his place by Bishop Galloway.
When the Alabama conference convened at Dothan, December 6-11, 1905, the following were named as Commissioners: Rev. A. J. Lamar, Rev. J. S. Frazer, Rev. O. C. McGehee, W. F. Vandiver, and Judge G. L. Brewer.
The Joint Commission made its report to the North Alabama conference at Gadsden, November 28-December 3, 1906, and to the Alabama conference in session at Eufaula,
December 5-10, 1906. It was unanimously adopted by the North Alabama conference, and was adopted by a vote of 121 to 26 in the Alabama conference. The report is as follows: "We recommend that the two con- ferences unite in establishing a Woman's College, to be the joint property and to re- ceive the hearty and united support of our people. To this effect, we recommend that each of the two conferences appoint a com- mission of six, three clerical and three lay members, to constitute a joint commission, on Woman's College, and that said commission be given plenary power to carry into effect this recommendation by securing a location for the college, raising money for erecting and equipping a suitable plant, and doing any and all other things which may be neces- sary towards putting said Woman's College in operation at the earliest practical date."
In accordance with the above resolution the Alabama conference appointed James M. Mason, Andrew J. Lamar and John M. Dan- nelly, clerical, and W. F. Vandiver, W. H. Samford, and W. H. Thomas, lay, and the North Alabama Conference appointed Frank P. Culver, John S. Robertson, Edgar M. Glenn, clerical, and Arthur W. Smith, James D. Moore, and Fred M. Jackson, lay.
The joint commission met first on January 22, 1907, at the First Methodist church, Bir- mingham, on the call of Revs. F. P. Culver and A. J. Lamar. Permanent organization was perfected by the election of Rev. James M. Mason as chairman, E. M. Glenn as sec- retary, and A. W. Smith as treasurer.
The commission determined that the col- lege should have a curriculum "equal to the best in our country," and "that the main building on the new college campus should cost not less than one hundred thousand dollars."
The commission further went on record and made a proposition to Montgomery which was as follows: "If the citizens of Mont- gomery will donate a site, acceptable to this commission, of at least fifty acres of land, and $50,000 in cash, that we obligate to locate and build the college for the two Ala- bama conferences for the education of women at Montgomery." J. M. Mason, W. F. Van- diver and F. M. Jackson were appointed a committee to confer with the citizens of Mont- gomery.
At the second meeting, which was held at Montgomery, April 16, 1907, Dr. Mason reported that the citizens of Montgomery were engaged and that it was thought that conditions would be met. The date of May 1, 1907, was set as the final date for a reply from Montgomery; the date, however, was changed by request to April 25, 1907. When the commission met on the latter date all members were present. Capt. A. G. Forbes, president of the Montgomery Commercial Club, was present and reported that $52,000 had been subscribed, and that the Exchange National Bank would undertake to collect the subscriptions.
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