The history of Butler County, Alabama, from 1815 to 1885, Part 13

Author: Little, John Buckner, 1861- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Cincinnati, Elm st. printing co.
Number of Pages: 298


USA > Alabama > Butler County > The history of Butler County, Alabama, from 1815 to 1885 > Part 13


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Ransom Seale, Clerk of the Circuit Court, was born near Rocky Creek Beat, and spent the early days of his life in this locality. His good father paid special attention to the careful training of his son's mind, giving him every advantage that a man in ordinary circumstances could well give. This course consisted of the branches generally taught in our best high schools. Thus equipped, Ransom starts out as a school-teacher, and meets with great success in every respect. He was a natural teacher, possessing that great faculty of easily imparting his knowledge to others-the thing most essential for the success of any teacher. He


235


BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.


possessed another essential to success in teaching, as well as in any other vocation in life, that is a strong will and powerful executive ability-these form the basis of all true success, and no man can be truly great if he is lacking in this particular.


Mr. Seale spent several years in teaching in dif- ferent localities, and made many friends wherever he stopped. It was while he was teaching a flour- ishing school at Monterey that he received the nomination in 1874 for Clerk of the Circuit Court, and was elected to that office ; which position he still holds, having been again elected in 1880. He is honest, conscientious, and as sound as a silver dollar; is energetic, particular and prompt in the discharge of the duties devolving upon him as an officer of the people. He is competent to fill any office in the gift of the people.


He married Miss Mary, a daughter of Mrs. Catherine Hartsfield, of Monterey, this county, and has a pleasant home.


236


THE HISTORY OF


CHAPTER LIII. Voting Precincts in Butler County.


BEAT NO. I,


Beat


2,


Beat 3,


Beat 66


4,


Beat


5,


Beat


6,


Beat


7,


Beat


8,


Beat


9,


Beat


" IO,


Spring Hill. Dead Fall. Manningham. Monterey.


Beat


"II,


( Box I, Forest Home. ( Box 2, Butler Springs.


Beat


" 12,


Beat


"13.


Greenville. Garland. Georgiana.


Beat


** 14,


Beat


" 15,


Mt. Olive.


Beat


" 16,


Rocky Creek


Starlington. South Butler. Oaky Streak. Box I, Toluka. Box 2, Sardis. Steiner's Store. McBride's.


237


BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.


CHAPTER LIV.


Churches and Houses of Worship.


NAME AND DENOMINATION.


Greenville Primitive Baptist, Greenville Missionary Baptist, St. Thomas Church, Episcopalian, Greenville Methodist Episcopal, Greenville Presbyterian, Georgiana Missionary Baptist, Georgiana Methodist Episcopal, Garland Methodist Episcopal, Garland Missionary Baptist, Pleasant Hill Union, Monterey Methodist Episcopal, Monterey Missionary Baptist, Forest Home Missionary Baptist, Forest Home Methodist Episcopal, Forest Home. Butler Springs Missionary Baptist, Butler Springs. Shackelville Missionary Baptist, Shackelville. Dead Fall. Fort Dale. Moriah Primitive Baptist, Oak Grove Methodist Episcopal, Mount Zion Primitive Baptist, Damascus Missionary Baptist, Toluka. Spring Hill Methodist Episcopal, Spring Hill. St. Paul Methodist Episcopal. Antioch Missionary Baptist. Spring Creek Missionary Baptist. Sardis Missionary Baptist, Sardis.


LOCALITY. Greenville. Greenville. Greenville. Greenville. Greenville. Georgiana. Georgiana. Garland. Garland. near Garland. Monterey. Monterey. Forest Home.


238


THE HISTORY OF


NAME AND DENOMINATION. LOCALITY.


Mount Carmel Primitive Baptist. Mount Pisgah Primitive Baptist. Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal.


Bethel Methodist Episcopal.


Mount Zion Methodist Protestant. Good Hope Missionary Baptist. Shiloh Primitive Baptist.


Pine Level Missionary Baptist. Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist. County Line Protestant Methodist. Pine Flat Methodist Episcopal. Providence Methodist Episcopal. Ebenezer Primitive Baptist. New Prospect Missionary Baptist. South Butler Methodist Episcopal, South Butler. Elizabeth Primitive Baptist, South Butler. South Butler. Oaky Streak. Oaky Streak. Oaky Streak. Sardis. Bethel Missionary Baptist, Oaky Streak Methodist Episcopal, Consolation Primitive Baptist, Friendship Missionary Baptist, Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal, New Prospect Methodist Episcopal, Mount Olive. Mount Olive Missionary Baptist, Mount Olive. Breastwork Primitive Baptist. Pleasant Point Christian, Dead Fall.


Friendship Missionary Baptist. Pine Grove Missionary Baptist. Bolling Methodist Episcopal, Bolling.


Liberty Chapel Methodist Episcopal. Salem Protestant Methodist.


239


BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.


NAME AND DENOMINATION. LOCALITY. Brushy Creek Missionary Baptist. Butler Branch Latter-Day Saints, Shackelville.


CHAPTER LV. Our Wealthy Men.


THE following is an alphabetical list of the wealthy citizens of Butler County; none of them own less than $15,000, while a few of them are valued at $95,000.


Judge Samuel J. Bolling, Greenville.


Burt Boutwell, Forest Home.


John Crittenden, Oaky Streak.


Fred. C. Crenshaw, Manningham.


A. Z. Davis, Davis'.


M. P. Davis, Davis'.


Major D. G. Dunklin, Greenville. John J. Flowers, Bolling.


William H. Flowers, Greenville.


William Harrison, Greenville.


William F. Hartley, Greenville.


Dr. C. J. Knight, Monterey. E. M. Lazenby, Forest Home. Jackson Luckie, Monterey. Dr. T. A. McCane, McCane's. Captain E. C. Milner, Georgiana.


240


THE HISTORY OF


Charles Neuman, Greenville. J. G. Peagler, Manningham. Joshua Perdue, Steiner's Store. J. T. Perry, Greenville. Joseph Pool, Davis'. J. C. Richardson, Esq., Greenville. Pinkney Rouse, Greenville. Jerry Simpson, Manningham. J. M. Sims, Georgiana. John Smith, Butler Springs. Joseph Steiner, Greenville. W. R. Thagard, Greenville. Joseph Touart, Georgiana. - Mac Wimberley, Greenville. A. F. Whittle, South Butler. W. W. Wilkinson, Greenville. A. G. Winkler, Greenville. W. J. Yeldell, Monterey.


241


BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.


CHAPTER LVI.


Members of the Legislature.


PREVIOUS to 1825, this county voted with Cone- cuh in the election of Representatives.


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.


1825-Nathan Cook.


1826-Andrew F. Perry.


1827-Nathan Cook.


1828-Nathan Cook.


1829-Nathan Cook.


1830-Nathan Cook.


1831-Nathan Cook.


1832-Nathan Cook.


1833-Edward Bowen.


1834-Edward Bowen and Herndon L. Hender- son.


1835-John W. Womack and Herndon L. Hen- derson.


1836-Henry T. Jones and H. L. Henderson.


1837-H. T. Jones and Herndon L. Henderson. 1838-Henry T. Jones and Walter H. Crenshaw. 1839-Jesse Womack and James W. Wade. 1840-Edward Bowen and Walter H. Crenshaw. .1841-Joseph Rhodes and Walter H. Crenshaw. 1842-Thomas Hill Watts and Herndon L. Hen- derson.


1843-William H. Traweek and W. D. K. Taylor.


242


THE HISTORY OF


1844-Thomas H. Watts and Joseph Rhodes. 1845 -- Thomas H. Watts and W. D. K. Taylor. 1847-B. W. Henderson and Walter H. Cren- shaw.


1849-Edward Bowen and John S. McMullan. 1851-Brockman W. Henderson and John S. Mc- Mullan.


1853-Thomas J. Burnett and James R. Yeldell. 1855-R. R. Wright and John S. McMullar .. 1857-Samuel Adams and A. B. Scarborough.


1859-Samuel Adams and M. C. Lane.


1861-WALTER H. CRENSHAW* and Thomas J. Burnett.


1863-WALTER H. CRENSHAW* and S. F. Gafford. 1865-Thomas C. Crenshaw and S. F. Gafford. 1867-No election.


1870-Jonathan L. Powell.


1872-Nathaniel V. Clopton.


1874-John F. Tate.


1876-John Gilchrist and Dr. Conrad Wall.


1878-Dr. Thomas A. McCane and Richard S. Hughes. 1880-Bartow Wimberly and Nathan Wright. 1882-Daniel G. Dunklin.


1884-Thomas J. Judge.


*Small capitals show that the member presided over the body at that session.


243


BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.


MEMBERS OF THE SENATE.


1822-John D. Bibb. 1825-William Jones. 1828-John Watkins. 1830-William Hemphill. 1833-William Hemphill.


1836-Samuel W. Oliver.


1837-Herndon L. Henderson. 1839-Joseph W. Townsend. 1840-Jesse Womack. 1842-Asa Arrington. 1845-Archibald Gilchrist. 1847-Thomas J. Judge. 1851-Walter H. Crenshaw. 1855-Franklin C. Webb. 1857-Thomas J. Burnett. 1861-Edmund Harrison. 1865-WALTER H. CRENSHAW. * 1870-William Miller, Jr. 1874-Ezra W. Martin. 1876-James H. Dunklin. ¡ 1877-David Buel. 1880-George R. Farnham. 1884-John K. Henry.


*The small capitals indicate that the member presided during that session.


tMr. Dunklin died in 1877, and his unexpired term was filled by Mr. Buel.


.


244


THE HISTORY OF


CHAPTER LVII. Officers of the County.


SHERIFFS.


I AM indebted to the following gentlemen for in- formation concerning the officers prior to 1852 : Hon. S. J. Bolling, Alex. Mckellar, Esq., Messrs. Anderson Seale and Ambrose Smith.


1820-A. T. Perry.


1824-Wm. Payne.


1828-John Taylor.


1832-Samuel J. Wright.


1836-David Rogers.


1840-John T. Henderson.


1844-Thos. B. Windham, who soon resigned, and Phil. B. Waters was appointed to the vacancy.


1848-Phil. B. Waters.


1852-George W. Thagard.


1855-Phil. B. Waters.


1858-Walter D. Perryman.


1861-Jerry P. Routon.


1864-Andrew M. Black.


In 1865 a new election was ordered by the Provisional Government, and in November, 1865, John T. Long was elected. He resigned before the expiration of his term of office, and Hiram Pierce was appointed by the Governor. He also resigned, and Ira W. Stott was appointed, who


245


BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.


finally resigned, and his place was filled by the ap- pointment of Jas. H. Perdue in 1869.


1871-Jas. H. Perdue. 1874-Wm. M. Flowers.


1877-John F. Barganier. 1880-John W. Grant. 1884-Ira Y. Traweek.


CIRCUIT CLERKS.


1820-Robert Reid. 1828-Samuel L. Caldwell. 1836-William T. Streety. 1844-Ezekiel Pickens.


1864-Jerry P. Routon, resigned 1868.


1868-James D. Porter, appointed.


1869-Edward Crenshaw, appointed.


1874-Ransom Seale, elected, which office he holds until 1886.


1885-Rev. William H. Morris, County Superin- tendent of Education.


CLERKS OF COUNTY COURT.


1820-Edward H. Herbert. 1826-Reuben Reid. 1832-Benjamin Newton.


1837-Samuel J. Bolling, who served in this office until 1850, when it was abolished and the work given to the Circuit Clerk.


TREASURERS.


- Hilary Herbert. William Gafford.


-


246


THE HISTORY OF


1844-Ezekiel H. Pickens. 1846-James L. Dunklin. 1851-James L. Dunklin. 1854-Joseph Dunklin. 1856-Joseph Dunklin. 1858-Joseph Dunklin. 1860-Joseph Dunklin. 1861-Joseph Dunklin. 1861-Samuel B. Lewis. 1863-Samuel B. Lewis. 1865-Alexander McKeller. 1870-Alexander McKeller. 1874-James L. Dunklin. 1880-James L. Dunklin. 1885-James L. Dunklin.


JUDGES OF THE PROBATE AND COUNTY COURTS. William Lee. James Lane. Daniel Gafford. Herndon L. Henderson. J. F. Johnson. 1850-Samuel J. Bolling. 1854-Samuel J. Bolling. 1858-Samuel J. Bolling. 1862-Samuel J. Bolling. 1866-Samuel J. Bolling. 1868-Samuel S. Gardner. 1869-H. W. Watson. 1874-Jonathan L. Powell. 1880-Jonathan L. Powell.


247


BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.


CHAPTER LVIII.


LIST of post-offices and public places in Butler County, with the names of the postmasters. NAME.


Bear's Store,


No office.


Bolling, . J. J. Flowers. Jas. Reynolds.


Butler Springs, .


Dead Fall,


Dunham, .


Forest Home,


B. B. Mckenzie. Geo. Lazenby.


Fort Bibb,


Fort Dale,


Garland,


Georgiana,


O. C. Darby. J. R. Stott.


Greenville, J. H. Perdue. Miss E. Shell.


Manningham,


McBride's,


Monterey, T. A. Knight. Oliver Crittenden.


Oaky Streak,


Reynolds, Butler Springs P. O., Jas. Reynolds. Sardis, Pigeon Creek P. O., . R. D. Shell.


Scarey, Riley Searcy.


Shackelville, .


South Butler, Shell P. O.,


W. F. Shell.


Spring Hill,


Starlington,


Steiner's Store,


Toluka,


POSTMASTER.


248


THE HISTORY OF


CHAPTER LIX.


War Record of the County.


With the Number of the Regiments and Companies, and the Names of the Various Captains of the Companies at Different Times.


IT is very desirable to have a complete record of the names of the companies that went from the county, with all the officers and the time they went into service; but all the efforts of the author to obtain such information has been unsuccessful.


The following tabular statement has been taken from Brewer's History of Alabama.


EIGHTH ALABAMA INFANTRY.


One company from this county. Captains : Hilary A. Herbert; promoted to Major; wounded at Seven Pines; promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Severely wounded at the Wilderness ; subsequently promoted to Colonel of the Regiment.


Lewis A. Livingston, wounded at Gettysburg, and died in the hands of the enemy.


Ira W. Scott.


NINTH ALABAMA INFANTRY.


One company from this county. Captains : E. Y. Hill, killed at Gaines' Mill; Thomas Mills, re- signed ; Mathew Patton.


249


BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.


THIRTEENTH ALABAMA INFANTRY.


One company from this county. Captains : John Glasgow, resigned; C. N. Cook, killed at Cold Harbor ; L. P. Broughton was Adjutant of this Regiment, but was killed at the battle of the Wil- derness.


SEVENTEENTH ALABAMA INFANTRY.


Three companies from this county. Captains : first company, Thomas J. Burnett ; promoted to Major; wounded at Atlanta; subsequently pro- moted to Lieutenant Colonel. T. A. McCane carried the company through.


Second company: W. D. Perryman, resigned. John Bolling, captured at Nashville.


Third company : J. Dean, resigned. James S. Moreland, captured at Resaca.


EIGHTEENTH ALABAMA INFANTRY.


One company from this county. Captains: H. Clay Armstrong, resigned ; Augustus C. Green, wounded at Jonesboro.


THIRTY-THIRD ALABAMA INFANTRY.


Three companies from this county. Samuel Adams, of this county, was elected the first Colonel of this Regiment, wounded at Perryville, and killed at Kennesaw.


Willis J. Milner, of this county, was Adjutant of the Regiment during its last service.


Captains : First company, James H. Dunklin, promoted to Major; wounded at Chickamauga ;


250


THE HISTORY OF


promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. William E. Dodson, killed at Kennesaw. Charles S. Lithicum.


Second company : J. D. McKee, killed at Perry- ville. B. F. Hammett, wounded at Chickamauga. Third company: Thomas G. Pour, resigned. John F. Barganier, resigned. William S. Sims, killed at Chickamauga. John Gamble, wounded at New Hope and Columbus.


FIFTY-SIXTH ALABAMA, MOUNTED.


One company from this county. Captain : F. D. N. Riley.


FIFTY-NINTH ALABAMA INFANTRY.


Two companies from this county. Captains : First company, J. R. Glasgow, resigned. Louis Har- rell, resigned. H. H. Rutledge, killed at Drewry's. Zach. Daniel, killed at Hatcher's Run. Second company: R. F. Manly, wounded at Drewry's, wounded and captured at Hatcher's Run.


SIXTIETH ALABAMA INFANTRY.


One company from this county. Captains : W. D. Tarbutton, wounded and retired. G. A. Tarbut- ton, wounded at White Oaks Road.


SIXTY-FIRST ALABAMA INFANTRY.


One company from this county. Captains : John F. Barganier, detached. Porter, captured at Spottsylvania, and died in prison.


251


BUTLER COUNTY, ALABAMA.


SECOND ALABAMA CAVALRY.


One company from this county. Captains : R. W. Carter, promoted to Major. Joseph Allen, served until close of the war.


JEFF DAVIS' ARTILLERY.


This company was organized in May, 1861, and was composed of men from Butler, Dallas, Lowndes, Marengo and Perry Counties. Robert Yeldell, of this county, was First Lieutenant, but soon resigned his commission.


252


THE HISTORY OF


CHAPTER LX.


CONCLUSION.


TOGETHER, kind reader, we have passed over the most important pages of Butler County's his- tory. We have seen her forests in all the beauty of their nativity. We have seen hopeful emi- grants leave their native land in search of happy homes, and pitch their tents on Butler's sunlit hills and in her shaded valleys. We saw the little colony increase in numbers, and the settlers un- dergo all the hardships of the frontier life. We saw her fertile soil stained with the precious blood of her heroic citizens. We have followed the prog- ress of the people until we find them to-day among the first men and women of Alabama. We have read sketches of her towns and villages, and the lives of some of her most distinguished residents. But we must now part, and leave the future his- tory of the Banner County to some other son of Butler, whose tastes for historical details are more highly cultivated than those of the present writer. And while the happy people of Butler County are enjoying a more general prosperity than ever be- fore in the annals of her history, the curtain is drawn.


GENERAL INDEX.


-


PAGE.


Adams, Colonel Samuel, Sketch of,


158


Ancient Mounds in Butler County, 143


Bar of Butler County, 224


Bayne, Colonel Thomas L., Sketch of, 132


Bear's Store, Description of, 210


Black or Prairie Lands, 61


Blood-Stained Pages of Butler's History,


25


Bodies of Butler, Gardner and Shaw Removed to Greenville in 1858, 21


Bolling, Description of, .


188


Butler, Captain Wm., Notice of,


19


Last Resting Place, 21


Butler, The Horrible Massacre of, 20


Butler Spring, Description of,


136


Churches and Places of Worship, 237


Commerce Established in the County, 40


Conveniences of the People Needed, 44


Confederates, Defeat of, 56


Condition of the County After the War of 1865, .


County Offices in 1866,


58


1874, 59


1885, . 232


" from 1822 to 1885, 244


County Named in Honor of William Butler,


19


Conclusion, 252


Court House, Where Erected, etc., 82


Crenshaw, Judge Anderson, Sketch of, · 141


Hon. Walter H., 103


John W., Notice of, .


.


229


Cultivated Lands, etc., . 61


58


254


GENERAL INDEX.


PAGE.


Customs of the People in 1820, . 23


1825, 37


Dead Fall, Description of, .


III


Defeat of the Confederate Army,


56


Democratic Rule in 1874, 59


Deposit of Iron Ore, II2


Doctors of the County,


221


Donaldson, Betsy, Notice of, .


75


Drainage of the County, 18


218


Earliest History of the County, .


19


Fertility of the Soil in 1820, . 36


First Bloodshed in the County, .


27


" Companies of the Late War,


55


" Court Held in the County,


41, 75


" Court House Erected,


42


" House in the County Erected,


71


Marriage in the County, 80


" Settlements by the Whites, . 22


40


" Attack by the Indians,


27


Formation of the County,


19


Forest Home, a Description of, .


165


Forts Erected in the County, .


29


Fort Dale, a Description of,


74


Geographical Position of the County,


15


Geological Formation, 15


Garland, Description of,


154


Georgiana, Description of, . 172


Gins, Tanneries, etc., 44


Gray Lands in the County, .


63


Grist and Saw Mills Needed, . 44


. 78


Greenville, 1885, a Description of,


95


Henry, Mrs. I. M. P., Sketch of,


Judge John K., 191


215


Herbert, Colonel Hilary A., Sketch of,


. 177


How Land Was First Entered, 35


Greenville, First Settlement of, etc.,


Store in the County,


Dunham Station, Description of,


255


GENERAL INDEX.


PAGE.


Indians Become Dissatisfied;


24


Show Signs of Hostility, 26


Attack the People,


. 27


Compel the People to go in Forts, 30


Do Other Damage, 30 .


Further Trouble the Settlers, 32


Leave the County, 34


Iron Ore Deposit in the County, II2


Judges of the County, . 244


Judge, Colonel Thomas J., Sketch of, 149


Lampley, Horris D., Notice of, . 229 61


Lands Cultivated and Uncultivated,


Land Office, 35


Lawyers of the County, . 224


Legislature, Members of,


Lumber Mills, 241 67


Mail Routes Established, 41, 84


Manningham, Description of,


105


Monterey, 120


Men of Capital Locate in the County,


40


Medical Profession in the County,


221


Mayors of Greenville, List of,


94


Mineral Waters,


97


McCall, Charles R., Notice of,


205


Mobile and Montgomery Railway, .


219


Mounds of Prehistoric Times, 143


Names of the Settlers of 1818-19, . 35


Heroes That Fell in 1861-65, 57


Oaky Streak, Description of, . 145


Officers of the County, 1885, 232


From 1822 to 1885, 244


Ogly Massacre in 1818, 27 .


Pine Flat, Description of, 71


Population from 1820 to 1880, 68


Porter, Judge Benjamin F., Sketch of, 114 Post-Offices, Postmasters, etc., 247


Press of Butler County, . 200


McBride's, Description of, . 198


256


GENERAL INDEX.


PAGE.


Produce of the County,


. 65


Properties of the Soil, etc.,


. 60, 65


Public Schools, .


67


Railroad Built Through the County,


46, 85


Religion in the Savage Land,


. 38


Religious Influence of To-day,


68


Red Clay Lands, 62


Ridgeville, Description of, 100


Rocky Creek, Description of,


212


Roper Wells, 213


195


Saw Mills,


67


Seat of Justice Located at Greenville, 42


Self-Denials of the People During the Late War, 55


Schools, Public and Private,


67


Shackelville, Description of,


186


Starlington,


175


Steiner's Store,


216


South Butler,


156


Stage Lines and Routes,


84


Slopes and Drainage,


18


Stanley, Colonel James B., Sketch of,


206


Steiner, Captain Robert E., Notice of,


230


State of Affairs in 1865,


57


Timber on Gray Lands,


63


Black


62


Red .


63


Thompson, Warren A., Sketch of,


108


Toluka, Description of, .


197


Truck Farming,


65


Virgin Growth of the County,


17


Voting Precincts,


236


Walker, Lucien J., Notice of,


205


War Between the States,


53


War Record of the County, 248


67


Wealthy Men of the County, .


6.70


239


Wilkinson, W. W., Sketch of,


160


Wright, Hon. Nathan, Notice of,


171


41931


Water and Water-Power, .


.


Sardis, Description of,


1


1.


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