USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume II > Part 78
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From Cussetta, Chambers county, via Mount Jefferson and Auburn, to Tuskegee.
From Benton to Selma.
From Suggsville, via Gainestown, to Mount Pleasant.
From Montreal, via Wedowee, to Carroll- ton.
From Talladega, via Abney's old ferry, on the Coosa river, to Ashville.
From Jacksonville, via Alexandria, to Ash- ville.
From Jacksonville, via White Plains, Lack- ey's store, on Cane creek, N. Pond's in Talla- poosa, to Carrollton, Georgia.
From Salem via Larkin's fork, Trenton, Larkinsville, Santa, Langston, Wyatt, Coffee's, to Van Buren, and from Bellefonte to Scraper.
From Nanafalia, in Marengo county, via Hosea's store, Rawl's store, Dumas settlement, Upper and Lower Peach tree and Packer's settlement, to Monroeville, Monroe county.
From Rome, Georgia, Gaylesville, Alabama, Lynchburg, Warrenton, White Sulphur springs and Sommerville, to Decatur.
From Pineville, via Tuscahooma and Mount ยท Sterling to Quitnam, Mississippi.
From Florence to Buzzard roost.
From Marion, Mississippi, via Alamucha, to Gaston ( Alabama).
From Blountsville to Ashville.
From Demopolis, by Longdon's store, Dan- iel's prairie and Clinton, to Pickensville.
From Fayette courthouse, by Millport, to Columbus, Mississippi.
From Walker courthouse by Chilton's mills, R. J. Murphee's and R. Cameron's, to Blount's springs.
From Russellville, by Heshbon, to Ita- wamba courthouse.
From Winchester, by Crow creek, Coon creek and Bolivar, to Loving's, in Wills val- ley.
From Hickory level, by Adrian's ferry, on the Coosa river, Abacooche Gold mines, and Canal Gold mines, to Franklin, Georgia.
From Fayette, Georgia, by Hopkinsville, through the Chatooga valley, by Chatooga old courthouse and Jeffersonville, to Jacksonville.
From Somerville, by head of Cotoco creek and Brooksville to Bennettsville.
From Clayton, by Fagan's store and Crockettsville, to Salem, Russell county.
From Rockford, by Socapatoy, to the Geor- gia store, in Tallapoosa county.
From Columbus, Georgia, by Fort Mitchell, the Natural bridge, Sand fort, Uchee post- office and Fort Bainbridge, to Feagan's store.
From Irwinton to Stockton.
From Wetumpka, by Nixburg, Socapatoy, and Hatchet creek, to Talladega.
From Columbus, Georgia, by Glennville, to Irvington, in Alabama.
From Springfield by Benevola, Bonners' Mills, Carrollton and Yorkville to Columbus in Mississippi.
From Bellefonte by Langston and DeKalb courthouse to Paris in DeKalb county.
Discontinue as follows: From Bellefonte, by Larkinsville, Trenton, Loweville, Hazle green and Madison cross-roads, to Athens.
From Winchester, Tennessee, to Bellefonte.
From Bellefonte to Rawlingsville .- Act of Congress, July 7, 1838, U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 5, p. 280.
In Alabama .- From Ashville, by Hollo- way's Bridge, in St. Clair county, to Jefferson, Alabama.
From Lebanon, De Kalb, Alabama, to in- tersect the line from Rome, Georgia, to Elyton, Alabama, at Holloway's Bridge.
From Louisville, by Trenton, Larkinsville, and Berryville, to Bellefonte.
From Thorn Hill, in Walker county, by way of William Johnson's, Pikeville, and Mill- ville, to Cotton Gin Port, Monroe county, Mis- sissippi.
From Pikeville, Alabama, to Fulton, Mis- sissippi.
From Russellville, Alabama, to Jacinto, Mississippi.
From Mobile, by way of Jackson, on the Tombeckbee river, Grove Hill, Mott's post- office, in Clarke county, Woodwardsville, Shiloh, Linden and Demopolis in Marengo county, thence by way of Erie in Greene county, to Carthage, in Tuscaloosa county.
From Milford, in Butler county, by Mer- ril's store, to Montezuma, in Covington county.
From Hope post office, Picken's county, Alabama, by the way of Fairfield, to Macon, in Noxubee county, Mississippi.
From Gainesville, Alabama, Wahalak, Kem- per county, Mississippi, to Macon, Mississippi.
From Irwinton, by way of Jenkins's Mid- way post office, and William Dick's to Cuba- hachee, in Macon county.
From Gainesville; in the state of Alabama, by the way of DeKalb, to Jackson in the State of Mississippi.
From Black's Bluff, in Sumter county, to Tuscahoma, in Washington county.
From Columbia, Henry county, by way of Woodville, Neel's Landing, Florida, Cedar Bluff, to Marianna, Florida.
From Centreport, in Dallas county, to Greenville, in Butler county.
From Barboursville, in Wilcox, by way of Beaver creek and Dixon's Mills, to Nanafalia, in Marengo county.
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HISTORY OF ALABAMA
From Bellefonte, by way of Larkinsville county of Henry, Daleville, in the county and Trenton, to Louisville, Alabama.
And that the routes from Larkin's fork, by way of Larkinsville, Trenton, and Sangs- ton, to Marshall, and from Larkinsville to Woodville, be discontinued.
From Montgomery to Troy in Pike county, and from thence to Dixon precinct and Scroggin's mill to the courthouse of Dale county.
From Suggsville in Clarke county to Mount Pleasant, in Monroe county.
From Cahaba, Dallas county, by Hanell's Cross roads to Marion in Perry county.
From Marion by Union Tavern to Prairie- ville.
From Tuskegee via Valverda, . Union Springs, Aberfoil to Troy, in Pike county,- Act of Congress, August 31, 1842, U. S. Stat- utes at Large, vol. 5, p. 571.
From Rome, in Georgia, to Commerce, in the State of Mississippi, and also to Memphis, in the State of Tennessee, namely, from Rome, through Warrenton, Decatur and Tuscumbia, in Alabama and Jacinto, in Mississippi, to Ripley, in said State, as a common point, and from said point through Holly Springs and Hernando, to Commerce, and from Ripley through La Grange, in Tennessee, to Mem- phis, in said State .- Act of Congress, April 14, 1842, U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 5, p. 473.
Alabama .- From Jacksonville, by the way of Rabbittown, Carmichael's Pounds, Kemp's Creek, Defries's, and Boiling Spring, and back to Jacksonville.
From Tuscaloosa, in Tuscaloosa county, through Jasper, to Somerville, Alabama.
From Elkton, Tennessee, through Athens, to Decatur, Alabama.
From Summerville, Georgia, to Chattooga- ville, to be extended to Gaylesville, Alabama, and Jefferson.
From Tuscaloosa to Columbus, Mississippi, on the upper Columbus road.
From McDonald, county seat of Randolph county, Alabama, to Franklin, county seat of Heard county, Georgia.
From Tuskegee, Macon county, to Troy, Pike county.
From Mount Pleasant, Monroe county, to Suggsville, Clarke county.
From Barboursville, in Wilcox county, by way of Bear Creek, Shiloh, and Dixon's Mills, to Nanafalia.
From Centreport, Dallas county, to Green- ville, Butler county.
From Nanafalia, Marengo county, Alabama, through Tompkinsville, to Marion, in the county of Lauderdale, Mississippi.
From Bolivar, Alabama, to Winchester, Tennessee.
From Greensboro, by Withers' Landing and Buzzard's Roost, to Livingston, in Sumter . county.
From Tuskegee, in the county of Macon, via the Warrins Stand, Steam Mills, and Enon, in the said county, to Eufaula in the county of Barbour.
From Eufaula, in the county of Barbour, via Abbeville, Colombia and Woodville in the
of Dale, to Geneva in the county of Coffee.
From Woodville in the county of Henry, to Bainbridge in the county of Decatur, Geor- gia, via Mariana in Florida.
From Wetumpka, in the county of Coosa, to Talladega Springs, in Talladega county, by the old Jackson trace.
From Clinton via Warsaw, Cooksville, Macon, and Mashulaville, to Louisville, Mis- sissippi.
From Alexandria, Benton county, by Cane creek, Iron Works, Ten Islands, to Ashville, St. Clair county.
From Elyton, in Jefferson, by Ashville, St. Clair county, to Rome, Georgia.
From Tuscaloosa, via Fayetteville, Hughs' Mill, to Russelville .- Act of Congress, March 3, 1845, U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 5, p. 784.
That there were other routes in the State is shown from certain Acts, even as early as 1815, discontinuing routes. Those discon- tinued between 1815 and 1820 follow:
In Alabama .- From Tellicoe Block House, in Tennessee, by Amoy river, Vanstown, and Tuckeytown, to Fort Stoddard, in Mississippi territory, and from Tuckabatchy by Tensaw and Fort Stoddart, to Pascagoola river, in Mississippi territory .- Act of Congress, March 1, 1815, U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 3, p. 221.
From Fort Stoddert to Ford's, on Pearl river .- Act of Congress, April 20, 1818, U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 3, p. 453.
From Rhea Courthouse, Tennessee, to Fort Jackson, in Alabama.
From Cahaba to St. Stephens .- Act of Con- gress, May 13, 1820, U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 3, pp. 577, 578.
A study of these routes will show that large numbers of these early offices have been long since discontinued. One of the longest routes, early established, that one using the . Old Federal Road, and detouring by Fort Jackson, shows only one of the then offices remaining. Fort Mitchell, Fort Bainbridge, Fort Jackson, Burnt Corn Springs, Fort Clai- borne, all having been discontinued. The office at Fort Mitchell, at that date, was at Crabtree's home, on Uchee Creek, four miles west of its present location, on the Central of Georgia Railroad and near the early military post. Another long route of the early estab- lishments, shows only two remaining offices. Cahaba, once the State Capital, Old Town, the falls of the Cahaba River, and the other points on that route leading from Cahaba to Washington in Tennessee, have long since ceased to exist, except in the case of Shelby and St. Clair County Court Houses.
Another reference is interesting in the case of the route from Fort Mitchell via Roanoke Postoffice, Irwinton, to Fort Gaines. The note is made that the mail should be carried on the west side of the Chattahoochee River. This was through the thickest of the Creek country. The act is of July 2, 1836 date. Roanoke was burned and its inhabitants mur- dered in August of that year.
1143
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
POSTAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION, THE ALABAMA. The Alabama branch of the Na- tional Association of affiliated employees of U. S. Postoffices in this State.
Sewell Bullard is president, with W. C. Werren as secretary.
REFERENCES .- Mss. data in Alabama Depart- ment Archives and History.
POSSUM VALLEY. See Jones Valley.
POTATOES. The edible tuber commonly known as the Irish, or white potato, came originally from South America. Its popular name is a misnomer, the plant having no more relation to Ireland than many other plants never found there. The "sweet" po- tato is not botanically a potato at all, being a pleasant vegetable which belongs to the morning glory family, technically known as Ipomoea batatas. Both the white and the sweet potato are natives of America. The original home of the sweet potato was prob- ably the West Indies and Central America. The Irish or white potato can doubtless trace its prehistoric and aboriginal habitat to the western slope of the Southern continent from the neighborhood of Quito in Equador, or perhaps from Bogota in Colombia, to the central region of Chili. Botanically the Irish potato is a solanum. The edible potato is believed to have been cultivated by the in- habitants of the west coast, who occupied the land before the coming of the Incas. It was there when the Spanish conquerors ar- rived, and was the one great source of food supply. The food potato of commerce made its way from its prehistoric home in the Andes to North America. It is not improb- able that Pizarro carried specimens to Spain as interesting curiosities of discovery. Sir Francis Drake carried specimens back to Europe with him, having first stopped in Virginia, where they were planted in 1585. Their presence in Ireland is very probably to be attributed to Sir Walter Raleigh. After being planted on the South Atlantic coast, during the years they came to be generally used, and were found to be prolific in growth, as well as very acceptable for food. The uses of the potato are varied. They are of great value as human food; they are also fed to cattle; they are suitable for bread; they have been employed in the making of industrial or denatured alcohol; they are used in the manufacture of varnish, explos- ives and other chemical articles; they are valuable as a source of light and heat, and in power engines; and they are of the great- est value as a source for the making of starch. One authority has said, "Starch is one of the essentials of civilization. Its
uses are protean, the demand for it is un- ceasing, and for both art and industry the supply must be constant. With a varied field for its activity, no one should doubt that few blessings for humanity can surpass that which came to the world with the po- tato."
POTATOES, IRISH. Tuberous roots pro- duced as a food supply. The production in
Alabama for 1920 was valued at $11,250,- 000. 3,215,000 bushels being raised. Bald- win, with 527,000, Mobile with 480,000 bushels, Escambia 128,000 bushels, and Jef- ferson 180,000 produced the largest crops. 6,400 acres were planted in Mobile, 6,200 acres in Baldwin, 3,000 acres in Jefferson, and 1,900 in DeKalb, were the largest cul- tivated areas in the State. The Mobile and Baldwin acreage is largely in truck farms in that section of the State, but the large pro- duction in Jefferson County, and in DeKalb County, illustrates the productiveness of the mineralhelt regions of the State.
REFERENCES .- Alabama Markets Journal, Vol. 5. No. 4, January, 1921.
POTATOES (Sweet). Perennial plants, cultivated for the sweet root esteemed as an article of food. Two and a half per cent cane sugar and three and four tenths per cent invert sugar, make up the average amount of sugars, while the chief nutrient is carbohy- drates, the principal one being starch.
The sweet potato, in 1920, formed the prin- cipal crop, by yield, in this State. One hun- dred and seventy-nine thousand and eight hundred acres, were planted which produced seventeen million, three hundred and eighty- five thousand bushels, at a value of $16,939,- 000. During the past four years, Alabama has produced more potatoes than any other State in the United States. During the past year the average yield of potatoes is 97 bushels to the acre. The yield is greatest in the southeastern section of the State, but the mineral belt ranks third in production. Mont- gomery, Mobile, and Escambia counties have the most acreage respectively. Baldwin 1,050,000, Jefferson 540,000, were the two counties producing the most bushels.
According to statistics, the first killing frost in the State, for Huntsville, is about October 25, therefore they should be har- vested before that date. In the case of Mobile, before November 20.
Potatoes when in curing lose about 25% by weight. When stored the usual tem- perature after the end of the curing period, should be between 50 and 60 Fahrenheit at Auburn.
REFERENCES .- Alabama Markets Journal, Vol. No. 4, January, 1921. New International En- cyclopedia, Vol. 21, p. 731. Alabama Experi- ment Station, Bulletins.
POTCHUSHATCHI. An Upper Creek town in Clay County, on the head waters of a creek of the same name, which in its lower course was originally known as Pakan tala- hassi, but which is now Hatchet Creek. It is probably on the east fork of Hatchet Creek, known on some old maps as Little Hatchet and on the township line between townships 21 and 22 north. Ahout 10 miles to the north was the town of Wako kayi, and about the same distance southeast was Hillabi.
The settlements of the town extended a mile up and down the creek. A mile and a half above is a large cane brake, three quar ters of a mile through, and 3 or 4 miles in
1144
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
length. Three miles west of the town there is a small mountain. The meaning of the name is Hatchet stream, that is, Potchusa, "hatchet," or "axe," hatchi, "water course," or stream.
The town furnished its quota of warriors for the expedition against the Tensaw coun- try. They were originally friendly, but were compelled by the Cowetas and Tukabatchis to join the war party or to fly the nation. They had representatives in the Burnt Corn Expedition.
REFERENCES .- Gatschet, in Alabama History Commission, Report (1901), p. 407; Handbook of American Indians (1910), p. 203; Hawkins, Sketch of the Creek Country (1848), pp. 50 and 84.
POTTERY, OR STONEWARE CLAYS. See Clays, Kaolins and Shales.
PRATT COAL & IRON CO. See Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co.
PRATT COAL CO. See Pratt Consolidated Coal Co.
PRATT CONSOLIDATED COAL COM- PANY. An industrial corporation, incorpo- rated in December, 1904, in Delaware, as a consolidation of the Pratt Coal Co., Ivy Coal & Iron Co., Townley Mining Co., Nunley Ridge Coal Co., McCormack & Ramsay Coal Lands, Crooked Creek Coal Lands, Lockhart Coal .Lands, Gamble Mines Co., and Globe Coal Co .; capital stock-authorized $6,- 000,000, outstanding $3,573,000; shares, $100; funded debt, $3,598,000; property consists of 140,000 acres of coal lands in Alabama and Tennessee, of which 40,000 are in Walker County, Ala .; engages in min- ing coal, manufacturing coke, and merchan- dising; offices: Birmingham.
The Pratt Coal Co., the oldest of these con- solidated companies, was organized in June, 1896, by T. T. Hillman, George B. McCor- mack, Erskine Ramsay and associates. The company began operations with 14,548 acres of land, which had been bought up quietly by H. E. McCormack. The first mine opened by this company was called "Old Nebo," and was a drift on the Pratt seam, about 17 miles west of Birmingham. By the end of 1903, the company was operating 18 mines, and had a capital stock of $1,000,000. The other companies which went into the Pratt Consoli- dated Co. in 1904 had been developed or purchased by the promoters of the old Pratt Coal Co. In July, 1902, the Pratt Coal Co., of Delaware, was organized for the purpose of taking over and combining the properties of the Pratt Coal Co., and the Globe Coal Co., of Alabama. The Ivy Coal Co. was organ- ized in February, 1904, by G. B. McCormack and Erskine Ramsay, and was merged into the consolidated company in December of the same year. The Nunley Ridge Coal Co. was a Tennessee concern, organized in July, 1903. The Townley Mining Co. and the Gamble mines and property were both organized in
1904 and forthwith merged into the Pratt Consolidated Coal Co.
REFERENCES .- Poor's manual of industrials, 1916, passim; Armes, Story of coal and iron in Alabama (1910), pp. 489-497.
PRAETORIANS, THE. Fraternal and benefit order, founded in Dallas, Texas ( which is the headquarters), April 1, 1898, by C. B. Gardner, who is now president of the institu- tion. The order was named for "The Prae- torians," who existed in the time of Nero, in Rome. License was granted the order to enter Alabama, 1910, and the first council was organized at Alamuchee, September, 1911. There are now 50 councils in the State with a membership of 2,000 carrying over $1,500,000 insurance in force. Each State with 200 or more members is entitled to a State senate. The first State senate held in Alabama was in April, 1917, Montgomery. J. P. Hanks is State manager with headquarters in Montgom- ery. "The Monitor," contains the installation and burial ceremonies as well as other matter. The monthly organ is the "Praetorian Guard," and goes to members free. One of the original signers of the application for charter of the order was T. W. Gregory, later Attorney-General of the United States.
REFERENCES .- Letter and mss. summary, from C. B. Gardner, president, Dallas, Texas, in De- partment of Archives and History.
PRESBYTERIAN, ASSOCIATE RE-
FORMED CHURCH. Organized in 1803 at Brick Church, Fairfield County, S. C., but it did not withdraw from the General Synod until 1822. In forming this independent body it became known as the Associate Reformed synod of the South, so called to distinguish it from the associate Reformed synods in the North. The name in 1913 was changed to Associate Reformed Church. This independ- ent body was formed because all of the meet- ings of the General Synod were held in New York and it was very seldom that a southern man could attend.
"In doctrine the synod is thoroughly Cal- vinistic, having the same symbols of faith as the other Reformed Presbyterian churches. In polity it is presbyterian, in close accord with other similar bodies. Its distinctive feature, it claims, is the exclusive use of the Psalms in praise."
Erskine college, Erskine theological semi- nary, and Due West female college, all lo- cated at Due West, S. C., are its educational institutions.
Statistics, 1916 .-
Total number of organizations, 8.
Number of organizations reporting, 8. Total number members reported, 345. Number of organizations reporting, 7.
Total number members reported. (Male), 105. Total number members reported. (Fe- male), 135.
Church edifices, 7.
Halls, etc., 1.
Number of church edifices reporting, 7.
1145
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
Value reported, $11,200.
Total number of organizations reporting, 8.
Amount of debt reported, $49.
Number of organizations reporting, 2. Value of parsonages reported, $3,500. Number of organizations reporting, 8. Amount of expenditures reported, $5,746. Number of organizations reporting, 7. Number of Sunday schools reported, 7. Number of officers and teachers, 42. Number of scholars, 364. REFERENCES .- New International encyclo- pedia; U. S. Census Bureau, Religious bodies, 1916, pts. 1 and 2.
PRESBYTERIAN, ASSOCIATE RE- FORMED SYNOD OF THE SOUTH. See
Presbyterian, Associate Reformed Church.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CUMBER- LAND. Organized February 14, 1810, in Dickson County, Tenn., by Revs. Finis Ewing, Samuel King, and Samuel McAdow under the name of the Cumberland Presbytery. It was the outcome of a great spiritual revival in the "Cumberland Country" in Kentucky and Tennessee. The leader of this revival was Rev. James McGready, a Presbyterian minis- ter, and a member of the Synod of Kentucky. As the revival spread the demand for minis- ters increased and at the Synod of Kentucky, in 1802, the southwestern portion of the Pres- bytery of Transylvania, including the Cum- berland Country, was constituted the Presby- tery of Cumberland. It was thought advis- able under the emergency to introduce into the ministry men who had not had the usual academic or theological training. These men were permitted to adopt the Westminis- ter Confession of Faith with the exception of "the idea of fatality." The controversy be- tween the revivalist and anti-revivalists in- creased till the independent presbytery was formed in 1810. It was reunited with the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America in 1903.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is essentially Calvinistic of the more moderate type in doctrine. The Westminister Con- fession continued to be the creed until 1814 when a revision was made. This revision was designed to be a popular statement of doc- trine emphasizing human responsibility. In 1883 it was again revised along the same lines. Its government is exercised by the various courts-session, presbytery, synod, and general assembly.
Statistics, 1916 .-
Total number of organizations, 78.
Number of organizations reporting, 78.
Total number members reported, 3,578. Number of organizations reporting, 63. Total number members reported. (Male), 1,211.
Total number members reported. (Fe- male), 1,660.
Church edifices, 64.
Halls, etc., 5.
Number of church edifices reported, 64. Value reported, $68,000.
Total number of organizations, 78.
Number of organizations reporting, 3. Amount of debt reported, $1,875. Number of organizations reporting, 4. Value of parsonages reported, $4,000. Number of organizations reporting, 61. Amount of expenditures reported, $13,750. Number of organizations reporting, 57. Number of Sunday schools reported, 57.
Number of officers and teachers, 355. Number of scholars, 3,161.
REFERENCES .- New International encyclo- pedia; U. S. Census bureau, Religious bodies, 1916, pts. 1 and 2.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN UNITED STATES. The principal branch of the great religious body of Presbyterians in Alabama. The denomination traces its history through conflicting struggles to the original founding of the church of that name. In America the earliest Presbyterian churches were estab- lished in Virginia, New England, Maryland, and Delaware. These churches were chiefly of English origin. Presbyterians were first found in New York in 1643, though no church was founded there until 1717. "In the spring of 1706, seven ministers, representing about twenty-two congregations, not includ- ing the Presbyterians of New England, Vir- ginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia, met at Philadelphia and organized a Presbytery, the first ecclesiastical gathering of an inter-col- onial and federal character in the country." By 1716 the churches had grown so that four presbyteries had been organized. Between 1736 and 1758 the Presbyterians were torn by dissension, the chief cause of trouble be- ing the positions taken regarding revivals and the qualifications of men who were can- didates for the ministry. Those opposed to revivals and who favored only graduates of English or New England colleges were known as the "Old Side" while those who were in favor of revivals, and placing less stress on the education of ministers, noting more the regeneration of the man and his call to the ministry, were known as the "New Side." It was during this period of dissension that Princeton University was founded in 1746. In 1758 the two "Sides" reunited "upon the basis of the Westminister standards pure and simple."
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