USA > Alabama > Butler County > The history of Butler County, Alabama, from 1815 to 1885 > Part 12
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BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
CHAPTER XLVI.
JUDGE JOHN K. HENRY.
THIS able member of Butler County's bar was born in Hancock County, Georgia, March 23, 1814, and came with his parents to this State in 1819. His father located in Wilcox County, where he spent his time in farming. His son re- mained on the farm until grown, and assisted his father in the management of the plantation. He received but little mental training while on the farm ; nevertheless, he chose the legal profession, and began its study as soon as it was convenient for him to do so. He was in his twenty-ninth year when he began to prosecute his legal studies in Greenville, but it was not long before he gained sufficient knowledge of the subject to stand a creditable examination for admission to the bar. Being a close student and an industrious business manager, he was not long in building up a paying practice.
In 1851, Mr. Henry was nominated by his party for the State Senate, but was defeated by Hon. Walter H. Crenshaw. He was, however, elected to the Circuit Court Bench in 1860, and discharged the duties involving upon him, while in this office, with great satisfaction to the people. He was again elected to the same position in 1866, with-
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out opposition. Contrary to the wishes of the people of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, he was re- moved from office by Congress in 1868.
In 1874, he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court, and held that honorable position for several years. He was elected by the Counties of Butler and Conecuh in 1884, to represent them in the the State Senate.
He is now a partner of the firm of Henry & Steiner, of Greenville.
CHAPTER XLVII.
Steiner's Store.
THIS place is known by three names-Scatter- ville, Three Runs and Steiner's Store. Three Runs is its proper name, as a creek by that name passes through the neighborhood.
John McPherson moved here from Conecuh County in 1832. He found three families living here at that time. There were two families of Browns and the family of William Peavy, he being the first to settle here. As the soil is not very productive here, the land was not in much de- mand until after the war between the States. Joseph Steiner may be said to be the pioneer set- tler of this place. He built a log cabin here in the
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BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
winter of 1848, which he used for a dwelling-house, and opened a store here in 1849. These houses were soon torn down and frame houses erected in their stead. He engaged in a very paying business here until 1860, when it was suspended. Riley & Ziegler bought the Steiner lot the same year and sold it in 1865 to Jerry Gafford. A post-office was established here in 1849 called Three Runs, with Joseph Steiner postmaster, and was sus- pended in 1860, never being opened since.
The land here is not entirely a lime, nor can it be called a sandy soil, yet it produces about as well as the average soil in the county when prop- erly cultivated and fertilized. The water here contains some lime in solution. Land is worth from $3 to $5 per acre, and not much demand for it at that price. There is some iron ore found here, which is of the limonite variety, and is a very good ore. A large quantity of it is found on Mrs. Nancy Hancock's place, on the east side of Three Runs Creek.
There are two churches in the Three Runs neighborhood, which have services at regular ap- pointed times. The schools are not as good as some of the patrons would have them, but are on an average with other schools of the same grade in the county. There is not much wealth here, Joshua Perdue having the reputation of being the richest man in this neighborhood.
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THE HISTORY OF
CHAPTER XLVIII.
Dunham Station.
THIS place is situated on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, about eighteen miles from Greenville. The Dunham Lumber Company is situated here, and is the only thing of importance here. This mill was put up in 1882 by B. B. Mckenzie, one of the chief engineers on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. He is now President of the Lumber Company and owns the larger portion of the stock. The mill is run by a ninety-horse-power engine, and turns out over 20,000 feet of lumber per day. They have one of the patented drying machines, and also a plan- ing machine, which prepare the lumber for im- mediate use. They have a broad-gauge railway, about four miles in length, which supplies the mill with logs from the almost inexhaustible forest of yellow pine near at hand. There being no convicts employed here gives work to many hundred men, who come from all parts of the county to profit by the wages offered.
This company has the contract to furnish the Louisville and Nashville Railroad with cross-ties and bridge timber. This is a very large bill to fill, and they fill it, having time to saw other lum- ber for flooring and ceiling purposes. A person
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BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
can not form a correct idea of the amount of lum- ber handled by this company until he visits it and sees the immense side-track, three miles long, used in loading the different cars for shipment. This company does not saw all the lumber that passes through their hands. They have several other smaller mills in their employ, and by this means are able to furnish lumber in any quantities on short notice.
CHAPTER XLIX.
Mobile and Montgomery Railroad Leased by the Louisville and Nashville Railway Company.
THIS railroad runs diagonally across the county, and is 34 miles in length. It was completed through the county in the fall of 1860. This road is of considerable service to the county, as it is the only source of transportation. It pays a handsome revenue annually to the county treas- ury, which the following statistics will show :-
34 mls. main track, valued per mile at . $ 12,000 2.71-100 mls. side-track, valued per mile at . 3,000 Rolling stock valued at . 458,289 Depot buildings, . 5,100
Land owned in the county is 8,800 acres ; rate of tax is 61/2 mills on the dollar.
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TAX RECEIVED FROM THE RAILROAD.
Main track,
$2,704.845
Side track,
52.845
Rolling stock,
274.2285
Land,
28.6000
Depot buildings, .
33.1500
Total, .
· $3,093.6685
There are eleven men employed by the com- pany at the different offices in the county, and five section bosses, who employ six hands each, making a total of 46 men given employment on the road, besides many that are kept employed preparing cross-ties. The road is kept in good con- dition, and has always had polite and accommo- dating men in its employ. They run two passenger trains each way daily, and one accom- modation, with freight trains to suit the demands of transportation. As there is no river in this county, commerce would be very much retarded by the suspension of this road.
Other lines have been contemplated through the county, but it will be some time before the people will enjoy the advantages of another rail- road in this county. This road is the main chan- nel through which Butler County exchanges her produce.
!
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BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
CHAPTER L.
The Medical Profession in the County.
ALTHOUGH the health of this county is as good as that of any other county in the State, we do not want for medical skill. There are twenty- seven doctors in the county, all of whom are graduates of recognized medical colleges of the country, and are thoroughly acquainted with the different branches of their profession, and have always kept abreast with the steady advance of the science of sciences. As a general rule the doctors do not receive the amount of praise that they so justly deserve. In the times of antiquity the people looked upon them as the wise men of the land, and showed them marked civilities; to- day the opinion of the public gives them a low place in the scale of excellence, while the politi. cians are given a place even above the clergy.
The medical profession has been gradually broadening its field of usefulness by constantly adding to its college curriculum more extended courses in the various departments of science, and making the instruction more practical by the use of large hospitals, where every type of disease can be privately studied by the students of medicine. Specialists have devoted their whole time to the study and practice of some one of the different branches of medicine, and have succeeded in cur-
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THE HISTORY OF
ing cases that had hitherto been regarded as entirely hopeless.
As there are no large cities in this county, we have no specialists, each physician devoting his time to the general practice. None of them have grown particularly rich from the fees collected from patients, although all have made comforta- ble livings.
Dr. Hilary Herbert was the first resident phy- sician of this county, and was followed by Dr. Thomas Bragg. Dr. Barge came to the Flat about 1821, and married a daughter of Thomas Hill. The first doctors of the county were very practical in their treatment of the different cases that came before them. Dr. Bragg lived to a ripe old age, and died in 1881. Being a useful citizen and a faithful Christian, he was loved and respected by his many acquaintances.
Previous to 1873, any person could practice medicine, provided a certificate was obtained from the Medical Board of the State certifying that he had a sufficient knowledge of the subject to prac- tice, although he may never have graduated at a medical college. In 1873 the Legislature of the State passed a law requiring each county to have a Board of Examiners, before which each person wishing to practice medicine in that county must appear. The applicant must be a graduate of a rec- ognized medical college, and is required to show his diploma. Before obtaining a certificate from this Board he is also required to stand an approved ex-
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BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
amination on all the branches of the medical profes- sion. The Board of Examiners is elected by the Medical Society of the county, which is an organ- ization composed of all the physicians of the county, and which has meetings at regularly ap- pointed times. Officers of the Society are annually elected, and subjects of most interest to the pro- fession are discussed freely by the members. This organization is a good one, and should be perpetuated.
We might state in this connection that we are well provided with drug stores and a corps of ex- perienced druggists, who understand their busi- ness, and who fill all prescriptions with care and skill.
The following is a list of the physicians in But- ler County as far as the author remembers :-
At Greenville: Doctors Job Thigpen, C. B. Herbert, C. B. Lampley, T. J. Broughton, F. C. Webb, J. C. Kendrick, Joseph Harrison, S. J. Steiner, Arthur Stewart, J. B. Kendrick and Lewis Perdue.
Monterey: Doctors J. G. Donald, C. J. Knight and J. J. Garrett.
Forest Home: Dr. C. Wall.
Butler Springs: Dr. B. Sims.
Georgiana: Doctors J. E. Allman and T. M. McLenden.
Oaky Streak: Dr. W. F. Kendrick.
Toluka: Doctors T. A. McCane and James McCane.
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Steiner's Store: Dr. - Webb.
Manningham : Doctors H. C. Scott and J. D. Simmons.
Dead Fall: Dr. J. D. Owen.
CHAPTER LI.
The Bar of Butler County.
THE bar of Butler County has always ranked among the first in the State for learning and ability. £ Many of its members have distinguished themselves for their judgment in the administra- tion of the Government to the general satisfac- tion of the people. The State has frequently shown its confidence in their wisdom and counsel, by electing them to the highest positions of public trust.
Judge Anderson Crenshaw was the first lawyer that settled in this county. He was born in New- berry District, South Carolina, in 1786, and came to this State in 1820. He read law in his native State under Judge Nott, and was licensed to prac- tice in 1809. In 1812, he was a member of the Legislature of his native State. Soon after com- ing to the State of Alabama, he was elected to the bench of the Supreme Court, and held that posi- tion for twelve years in succession. He resided in
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BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
Butler County from 1821 until his death in 1847. Judge Crenshaw was Chancellor of his District for eight years.
The names of Crenshaw, Womack, Watts, Henry, Porter and Judge will always be cherished by the bar of this county for the reputation they gave it in the earliest days of its existence.
Governor Watts was born in the county in 1819, and began practice in Greenville in 1841. He represented the county several times in the Legis- lature, and then removed to Montgomery, and was afterward elected to the office of Governor of the State.
Judge John K. Henry came from Wilcox County, but studied law and began to practice in Butler County. He has spent a long, busy and useful life in the county, at the bar and on the bench. He was elected Judge of the Circuit Court of this District in 1860, and filled that position with great satisfaction, until he was ejected by Congress in 1868. He is now serving with ability the people of Butler and Conecuh Counties in the State Senate. Judge Walter H. Crenshaw was a son of Chancellor Crenshaw, and was a chip of the old block. He represented this county many years in the State Legislature, and was both Speaker of the House and President of the Senate. His last public duty was in the office of Judge of the Criminal Court of Butler County.
Thomas J. Judge was a member of the Butler County Bar, and represented his county in the
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THE HISTORY OF
Legislature. He was generally recognized as stand- ing at the head of the legal profession in the State, and was the candidate of the. Whig party for Con- gress against Judge David Clopton, the Demo- cratic nominee. This election is conceded to have been the most hotly contested election ever known in Alabama, and resulted in the defeat of the Whig candidate by a small majority. Thomas Judge was three times elected to the Supreme Court Bench, which position he held with the uni- versal confidence of the people at the time of his death.
His opinions delivered from the Supreme Bench, are regarded by the legal profession as clear, logical and convincing.
Judge Benjamin F. Porter was a native of South Carolina. He was a member of the Butler County bar about eight years before his death. He was a man of fine culture, rare literary attainments and profound judgment, and was the peer of any man in the legal profession in Alabama at the time of his death. He represented as many as three different counties in the Legislature at differ- ent times ; and was appointed Circuit Judge when quite a young man. He was Supreme Court re- porter for a number of years. He died in Green- ville, in 1868.
Since the war the members of the bar have been none the less able. Judge M. C. Lane will ever be remembered by all those who knew him, for his social qualities and conversational powers. He
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BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
was a good lawyer, but never entered politics.
Colonel Hilary A. Herbert was raised in this county, and was a member of her bar for over fifteen years. He is the most distinguished mem- ber of the bar since the war, having been in Con- gress for eight years in succession, and having been elected for another term. He began the practice of law at Greenville just before the war, but is generally considered among the younger members of the bar. He was a student of the University of Alabama, and was for several years one of its honored Trustees.
Hon. John L. Powell was born and educated in this county, and began the practice of law here. He represented the county in 1870, was elected Judge of the Probate Court of the county in 1874, and has held that office ever since. He is well versed in law, and was the partner of Colonel Herbert for several years. He is probably the most influential man in the county.
The firm of Judge & Bolling was formed in 1868, composed of Thomas J. Judge and Captain John Bolling, and his father, Hon. S. J. Bolling. The firm of Powell & Gamble was formed about this time, and consisted of Hon. J. L. Powell and Captain John Gamble, and was dissolved on the election of the former to the office of Probate Judge. After this, Gamble practiced several years with Padgett. He is now in the firm of Gamble & Richardson.
J. C. Richardson, the junior member of this
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THE HISTORY OF
firm, is not a native of this county, but is rapidly growing in the favor of the people by the close attention given to all business entrusted to him. Being wealthy, he does not rely upon his practice for a support. He was Hon. John L. Powell's opponent in 1880 for Probate Judge, causing con- siderable excitement and a close race. Judge Powell was re-elected by a majority of 76 votes.
The firm of Herbert, Buel & Lane is the oldest one now in the county. It originally consisted of Colonel Hilary Herbert, Hon. David Buel and L. M. Lane. Colonel Herbert has not been an active member of the firm since 1876, but his name is still retained by the firm. Hon. David Buel is a Northern man. He married a sister of
He has been identified Colonel Hilary Herbert. with the interests of the county ever since 1865, and represented Butler and Conecuh in the Senate in 1877. He died in 1884, having suffered several years from bad health. The firm of Whitehead & Dukes was formed in 1870, which was dissolved in 1874, when the latter moved to Texas. Colo- nel J. M. Whitehead, the senior member of the firm, was editor of the Greenville Advocate for several years, but gave up the paper as soon as his practice justified him. He moved to Mont- gomery in 1882, and is editing the National Inde. pendent in connection with his work as a lawyer.
We will now briefly notice the younger mem- bers of the present bar. Captain Edward Cren- shaw is a son of Hon. Walter H., and was
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BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
educated at the Universities of Alabama and Vir- ginia. He began the practice shortly after the war, and has held several appointments, such as County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, Solicitor for the county, etc.
Jesse F. Stallings is a native of this county, and was graduated at the University of Alabama in 1877, and studied law at Greenville in 1878. He is rapidly winning the confidence of the people by the despatch with which he discharges all his business.
H. B. Pilley was born in this county, and is a promising member of the bar. Not having a collegiate education, he read law with considera- ble disadvantage, but with earnest application he was admitted to practice in 1879.
C. W. King came to Greenville in 1878 from the chilly climes of the State of New Jersey. While working for his uncle in Greenville, he de- voted his spare time to the study of law, and was examined in 1880. He has been elected to the office of County Coroner. He is accused by some of the old citizens of the county of trying to lead the Democratic party in the politics of the county.
John W. Crenshaw was born at Manningham in this county, and graduated in the academic de- partment of the State University in 1881, and in the law department in 1882. He had scarcely entered upon the practice in Greenville when he was offered a partnership with Tweed & Han- cock in Phœnix, Arizona, which he accepted,
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THE HISTORY OF
and is enjoying a lucrative practice in the Far West.
Harris D. Lamply is a native of this county, and was graduated at the State University with distinction in the class of 1881, and received his law diploma in 1883. Being a young man of a brilliant mind, it is to be expected that he will make a good lawyer.
Captain Robert Eugene Steiner was also born in this county, and graduated from the University at Tuscaloosa. He received his final degree from the University in 1881, and stood high in his class. He entered the law department of Harvard University at Cambridge, Mass., the same year, and pursued the regular course in that institution
This law until he was graduated in June, 1884. school has a more extended reputation than any other law school in the United States. Shortly after his return from Cambridge, he formed a partnership with Judge John K. Henry, of Green- ville. Mr. Steiner's prospects for success are thought to be as good as those of any young lawyer in the State.
The firm of Judge & Wilkinson is about the last firm formed in the county. David G. Judge, the senior member of the firm, is a son of the late Judge Thomas J. Judge, and is a young man of promise. Charles L. Wilkinson, the other mem- ber of this firm, is a son of W. W. Wilkinson, a large merchant of Greenville. Mr. Wilkinson is
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BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
a graduate in law from the University of Ala- bama, of the class of 1883.
Dr. J. W. Blow and J. R. Keen resided at Georgiana and practiced law for a number of years, but both of them have since left the county.
The lawyers and firms now in practice in Butler County are as follows: H. B. Pilley, Edward Crenshaw, Harris Lamply, W. C. King, Jesse F. Stallings, L. M. Lane, Judge & Wilkinson, Henry & Steiner and Gamble & Richardson. It is very gratifying to the members of the Butler Bar to say that no lawyer from any other bar of the State ever has a case in any of the different courts of this county.
CHAPTER LII.
County Officers, 1885.
JONATHAN L. POWELL, Judge of Probate and County Courts.
Ira Y. Traweek, Sheriff.
Ransom Seale, Clerk of Circuit Court.
James L. Dunklin, Treasurer.
C. J. Armstrong, Tax Assessor. George W. Lee, Tax Collector.
H. B. Pilley, Register in Chancery.
Dr. J. B. Kendrick, Coroner.
Rev. W. H. Morris, Superintendent of Educa- tion.
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BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
Jonathan L. Powell, ex-officio President; Robert Powers, W. P. Graham, W. R. Thagard, P. D. Rigsby.
It was the intention of the author to have por- traits engraved of the first three officers of the county, but he has been unable to procure the photographs from any except Mr. Seale, a very neat engraving of whom the reader will find on the following page. We will now proceed to notice these three officers briefly.
Judge Jonathan L. Powell was born and raised near Monterey, in the western part of the county. His father was one of the early settlers, and was a practical farmer and good neighbor. His son, Jonathan, however, did not inherit his father's tastes for agricultural pursuits, and, at an early age, he abandoned the farm in search of an educa- tion to fit him for a public life. He soon began the study of law in Greenville, and was in due time admitted to the bar to practice his profession in all the courts of the State. His earnest efforts were constantly rewarded with marked success, and it was not long before he ranked high among his legal brethren. He was for a while in partner- ship with Colonel Hilary Herbert, but spent the last years of his practice with Captain John Gamble.
His easy manners and friendly disposition won for him many warm friends, who soon pressed him into the service of his county in an official capacity. In 1870, he was elected to represent
STOSU ENG CON !...
RANSOM SEALE, CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT.
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BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.
the people of his native county in the House at Montgomery, making a useful member in that time of great confusion. Desperate efforts were made by the people of the county to throw off the yoke of Radicalism in 1874, and elect the county officers from the Democratic ranks. Mr. Powell, being one of the strongest men in the county, was placed at the head of the Democratic ticket for Probate Judge, his many friends doing everything in their power to secure his election, and restore harmony to the people. Beyond the earnest ex- pectations of his friends, he was elected by a large majority to the highest office at the hands of the people of his county, and has performed the duties of this office ever since, having been re-elected in 1880.
Judge Powell is kind-hearted, social, hospita- ble, and free and open in all his manners, and makes a good, careful, agreeable officer. Possess- ing all the essential qualities for success, both in public and private life, he has a wonderful influ- ence upon the voters of the county, always receiv- ing their cordial support in times of need.
He married a daughter of Hon. Samuel J. Bolling, and enjoys all the pleasures of a cheerful home made happy by an interesting family.
Captain Ira Y. Traweek, the present Sheriff, was born near Monterey, and has spent all of his life at this pleasant little country village. His father, Hon. William H. Traweek, came to the county about 1820, being one among the county's first
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THE HISTORY OF
settlers. Like a great many of the first settlers, he spent the most of his time in farming and rais- ing stock, but, at the same time, not forgetting the interests of the people. He was elected to the Legislative Halls at Montgomery in 1852, but retired from public life after serving one session. His son, Ira, adopted farming as his occupation, and has made it quite a success. His friends urged him into politics in 1884, and he was elected to the office of Sheriff of the county by a very hand- some majority. Being straightforward and prompt, he discharges the duties of his office as efficiently as the people could wish. He is tall, stout, well proportioned, and has a commanding appearance; is polite, obliging, cheerful and agreeable in his manners, making friends wherever he goes. He married a daughter of Mr. Thomas Smith, one of Monterey's cleverest citizens.
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