USA > Alabama > Butler County > The history of Butler County, Alabama, from 1815 to 1885 > Part 6
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moved to the crossroads at the Davis place, and is still known as Ridgeville. This same storehouse and post-office was afterward removed across Wolf Creek to Monterey, where it still remains. The post-office was called Monterey.
The Ridge was once the gayest place in Ala- bama. The people enjoyed themselves at foot and horse-racings, fightings, log-rollings, cotton- pickings, and sometimes dances and weddings. The people showed a decided disposition to fight. There was scarcely a public gathering of any kind, unless several fights occurred. The people were so accustomed to pugilistic encounters then, that the first question asked a person on his return from a gathering, was : "Who fought to-day ?" No deadly weapons, such as knives and pistols being used at that time, a person was rarely ever killed in one of these personal encounters. Fighting, boxing and wrestling were indulged in very freely by everybody, and afforded very innocent pas- time for the young men and boys of those early times. As the revenue laws were not so strict then as they are now, whisky was very cheap, and a large amount of it was annually consumed by the people of all classes. Many tales are told by the old settlers of the drunken fights that occurred on the Ridge, but they are not of enough importance to be mentioned, although they make up a large part of the history of Ridge- ville.
The Ridge was a kind of continued village for
HON. WALTER H. CRENSHAW.
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about eight miles, there being no two houses over half a mile apart on the whole Ridge.
Henry C. Jones taught the first school on the Ridge, about 1820. The people generally, had a very good country-school all the time, but were constantly changing their teachers, which always has its bad effects. A subscription was taken in 1830, and a substantial brick academy was built, which still stands in memory of the thoughtful fathers, the majority of whom have long since been cut down by the sickle of death.
A church was erected near the Waters old place, in 1835, and another near the Davis place, in 1850. Neither of these churches are now in use by the white people.
Many large families were reared upon the Ridge, the most important of which bear the following familiar names: Crenshaw, Caldwell, Hays, Lewis, Little, Patton, Waters, Watts and Womack.
CHAPTER XVI.
HON. WALTER H. CRENSHAW.
THIS noble citizen of Butler County was born at Abbeville Court House, South Carolina, July 7, 1817. He was the eldest son of Judge Ander- son Crenshaw, who emigrated to this State in the
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year 1819, and located at Cahaba, then the Capi- tal of the State of Alabama. Judge Crenshaw soon moved to Butler County-about 1821-and settled the old Crenshaw place, on the Ridge below Manningham. The subject of this sketch was graduated at the State University at an early age, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1834, he being then about 18 years of age.
After his school days were over, he began to read law under his father, but was not admitted to the bar until 1838. He was elected to repre- sent Butler County in the State Legislature in 1838, being hardly 21 years old. He received the degree of A. M. from the University of Ala- bama in 1837; he was appointed major of the Alabama State Militia, by the Governor, in 1837, and was promoted to the rank of colonel of the State Troops in 1848. He represented his county in the legislative halls of Alabama as follows: 1838, 1840, 1841, 1847, 1861 and 1863, and was Speaker of that noble body in 1861 and 1863. He was a member of the State Senate in 1851, 1853 and 1865, being elected President of the Senate in 1865. He was noted for the grace and dignity with which he presided, and gave general satisfaction while occupying this high position.
He was appointed Judge of the Criminal Court of Butler County, and gave general satisfaction to the members of the bar and to the people, his de- cisions rarely ever being reversed by the Supreme Court.
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Judge Crenshaw died from a stroke of paraly- sis, December 7, 1878. He was noted for his sound judgment and firmness of character, getting on the right side at first, and always sticking to it.
He accumulated considerable wealth in his younger days, but suffered considerable loss by the late war, and died in very ordinary circum- stances. He left a widow and six children. Cap- tain Edward Crenshaw, his eldest son, is an attorney-at-law in Greenville, where the remain- der of the family still lives.
CHAPTER XVII.
Manningham.
ELIJAH MANNING brought his negroes to this place in the fall of 1818, and pitched the first tent on this soil. He brought his family from Geor- gia the next year, and was followed in 1820 by his cousin, Benjamin Manning. Both of these put up mills on Wolf Creek. Benjamin soon started a small store and had a post-office estab- lished for the convenience of the people. The Postmaster-General named the office Manningham, in honor of the first postmaster, which name it still retains. Grey Thigpen, Sr., settled about a quarter of a mile west of where the stores now
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stand. Judge Anderson Crenshaw settled the Crenshaw place about 1821, and opened a store soon after Elijah Manning started his. Several stores were put up at Manningham after this, there never being more than four at any particu- lar time. Grey Thigpen soon moved on Cedar Creek, about two miles northeast of the stores, where he brought up a large family of boys, whose names were: Job, now Dr. Thigpen, of Greenville; William J., Grey, Gideon, John, George, and one other, whose name I do not remember. The old man lived to a ripe old age, and died in 1877, having accumulated a considera- ble amount of this world's goods. Many of his descendants still live in this county, and are men of honor and integrity. Grey Thigpen is said to have built the first frame house in this county, the planks being sawed with a whipsaw.
The first massacre committed by the Indians took place about four miles east of Manningham, in 1818. Mrs. Ogly, the wife of the man killed, afterwards married John Dickerson. John Dick- erson and his wife reared a large family in the Manningham neighborhood, some of whom are still living in this locality. John Dickerson died in 1866, and his wife in 1854. William Ashcraft and James Brown came to this county in 1830, and have been identified with Manningham ever since. Most of these old settlers have been gath- ered to their fathers, and the present inhabitants of Manningham know nothing of its past history.
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Manningham was never noted for high culture and refinement, the majority of its people being always in ordinary circumstances and of practical disposition. There was never as much wealth here as there was on the Ridge. The schools were always of a common order, and hence the education of the children was limited. A large amount of whisky has been sold here, causing many men to become habitual drunkards. It was a place of much merriment at one time, but is now quite different. Jerry Simpson is the most prominent citizen of this place now, and owns the largest store here. There are now three small stores, one blacksmith-shop, shoe-shop, etc., and all in successful operation. Dr. J. D. Simmons has been practicing medicine here for many years. Dr. Harvey E. Scott has only been here for a short time, but has already won the confidence of the people, and enjoys a lucrative practice. The post-office is kept by Miss Mary Shell, who makes a very accommodating and efficient officer, and gives general satisfaction. The water is freestone, and very healthy. This being in the pine region, the land is not very valuable, and can be bought for $5 per acre, although some ask a much higher price for theirs.
The people of Manningham have long been be- hind in some respects, and they will remain so, unless they awake from the sleep into which they have thoughtlessly fallen, while other neighbor- hoods have kept abreast with this unquestionable
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age of progress. The schools should be made better, the churches need repairing, and the homes and farms would be more in harmony with those of neighboring towns if they had some improve- ments. It is to be hoped that the good people of Manningham will arouse themselves and place their village where it once was-in the front rank of progress and on the high road to prosperity.
CHAPTER XVIII.
WARREN A. THOMPSON.
THIS old citizen of Butler was born in Clark County, Georgia, May 10, 1802. His father died in 1807, leaving a large family without any means of support, and his children were distributed among the neighbors. Thomas Hill took Warren, and adopted him. When Thomas Hill came to Ala- bama Territory in 1816, he brought the adopted child with him. Warren spent the earlier days of his life driving cattle for this good old man, and worked faithfully for him until his death in 1821, and remained with his widow until she died in 1822. He was then about grown, and was thrown upon his own responsibilities, having no relatives in this distant land. He was quite small for his age, weighing only 98 pounds, but was very strong
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and tough. He bore the reputation of being the only man in the county that could throw down Betsy Donaldson, who was quite a noted charac- ter for strength at that time. He was employed by Dave Elder as overseer, and remained with him five or six years. He married December 19, 1829. His wife, Mrs. Mary Danvis, was the sec- ond daughter of Thomas Hays, who was so op- posed to the marriage, that Warren had to steal his bride from the paternal roof at night. This marriage proved quite fruitful, and nine children were raised, all of them having since married and have families. The names of Warren's children are: Albert, Mary, James, Arvilla, Franklin, David, Calvin, John and Pinkney. Three of these, Albert, Mary and Franklin, died in 1883 ; all of the others are still living. Warren's wife, known as Aunt Polly, also died in 1883. Having no money to start with, this old veteran had some difficulty in providing for his large family, and had to under- go many hardships, of which the men of to-day know nothing. For several years he tried farming on the rich land in the fork of Wolf and Cedar Creeks, but sickness in his family caused him to move out to a more healthful locality, and in 1835 he settled the place where he now lives, and his family enjoyed perfect health. He carried on a tannery here in connection with his farm, and made a very good living for his family.
It is to be regretted that this pioneer settler was deprived of the advantages of a common-school
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education. By some means, he learned to read, write and make his figures, and thus equipped, he went forth into the world, and made a comforta- ble living. In the times of the militia musters, he was elected captain of a company in the county, and held that position with credit for many years. He joined the Primitive Baptists in 1840, and has been a very consistent member ever since, but was never an enthusiastic member. As he came to this county in 1816, he is well acquainted with everything as it was then, and relates with pleasure the things of most interest to those in search of historical events. He went with Captain John H. Watts and Thomas Hill on their many explorations through the county, and was with them when they named many of the creeks in the county. He was in Fort Bibb in 1818. He was personally ac- quainted with William P. Gardner, Daniel Shaw, Thomas Hinson, CAPTAINS WILLIAM BUTLER and James Saffold, and saw them the morning when they started on their way to Fort Dale. Uncle Warren is now over 82 years old, and has lived to see a new country undergo the many changes necessary to bring it from the savage life to the highest stages of civilization and enlightenment. He has seen a country in all its virgin richness, yield- ing plants of every description in abundance, and has seen this prolific soil almost exhausted and worn out by long use. He has seen families grow, become prosperous and die ; seen towns build up and crumble under the wheels of time, and yet he
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is spared a few years longer, and is still stout and full of life and humor.
May the Lord, in his infinite mercy, spare him a while longer, and comfort him in his old age !
CHAPTER XIX.
Dead Fall.
THIS neighborhood is one among the oldest in the county. James F. Barganier came from Wash- ington County, Georgia, to Alabama in 1821, and has lived in this neighborhood ever since that time. He reared a large family, consisting of seven sons and two daughters. His eldest son, Captain John F. Barganier, was captain of a com- pany, and did good work in favor of the South, during the war of 1861-65. His fellow-citizens showed their appreciation of him in 1876, by elect- ing him to the position of sheriff of his native county.
A store and dramshop was started here in 1822. It was named Dead Fall by Aaron Butler and William Poterfield, who were then the important leaders in the neighborhood. This singular name was bestowed from the reputation it bore for bloody fights, there being several every day. Two per- sons were killed here the first year after the dram-
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shop was opened, and this fact gave the place such a bad reputation, that a considerable decrease in the trade was caused in consequence. There is no sign of a store at the place where it was first located. The original site is in front of where James F. Barganier's house now stands. The store was afterward moved down to the place now owned by William F. Hartley, and was finally sus- pended.
The Federal Road along here, is the dividing line between the prairie-lime land and the com- mon sandy land; all the water falling east of the road, flows into the Conecuh, and that on the west into the Alabama River. The larger portion of the land that is at all fit for cultivation, has been cleared and tilled for a number of years.
A post-office was once established at this place, but has long since been abolished. Dead Fall is an old voting precinct, the exact place of voting having been moved several times. The polls are now opened at the Indian Creek Baptist Church, which is about nine miles from Greenville. A con- siderable amount of iron ore occurs in this part of the county, from the fact that the drift here is underlaid with the lime rocks of the cretaceous formation, and the iron has been probably reduced by the lime. The best quality of this ore occurs on Richard H. Bush's place, about one mile east of the L. & N. R. R. It crops out from the sides of nearly every hill in this locality, and is about two feet in thickness in some places, and as much
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as four feet in others. The ore is classed Needle ore or Limonite, and is of a very good variety. A proximate analysis, made by Cadet Thomas D. Stallings, shows that it contains about fifty per cent. of metallic iron, which, of course, is a very workable ore where the materials are convenient. It has yet to be determined whether it would be profitable to have the ore shipped to some furnace for working it. A plan may yet be suggested for working this ore successfully, and if it is worked, the whole county may expect to benefit by the en- terprise.
Land in Dead Fall neighborhood is worth from $4.00 to $7.00 per acre The schools are gener- ally poor, and should be improved by the good people of this locality.
There are two or three churches in the neigh- borhood. Some of the people are Baptists, and others belong to the Christian churches, there being but few Methodists.
A large portion of the trade from this place goes to Fort Deposit, which is only a few miles distant, in Lowndes County. Every one seems to be well pleased with this enterprising market.
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CHAPTER XX.
JUDGE BENJAMIN F. PORTER.
ALTHOUGH this distinguished jurist spent only the last ten years of his life in this county, we feel that his prominence as a patriot, the high order of his talents, together with his sterling worth of character, entitle his name to a place in Butler's history.
He was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in the year 1808. Though he was debarred from the privilege of a collegiate education by the un- timely death of his father, we find him trying his fortune in the world at a remarkably early age. His earliest experience displays the restless ten- dency of his disposition. When fourteen years of age, he found employment in a counting-house ; but, holding this position only about a year, he next entered the office of Dr. Thomas Legare, a distinguished practitioner of Charleston, where he earnestly improved the opportunities offered him in the study of medicine and the natural sciences. Still the yearning spirit of this ambitious youth was not satisfied. The burning words of elo- quence, ably spoken by distinguished lawyers, touched in him a sympathetic chord, so that, in a few months, he is found engaged in the office of William Crafts, a leader at the bar, and a man of letters, where the young student applies himself,
JUDGE BENJ. F. PORTER.
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with his wonted diligence, to the subject of law. He was admitted to the Court of Appeals in the year 1826.
The following year he moved to Chesterville. Not meeting with the desired success in this place, he removed to Claiborne, Alabama, in December, 1829. During the first year of his stay in this county, Mr. Porter practiced medi- cine, but having gained some reputation by his eloquence and natural abilities as a lawyer in the voluntary defense of a criminal case, he was en- couraged to resume his profession, and in 1832 was elected to the Legislature from Monroe, which county he represented for three successive sessions, being also Judge of the County Court in 1832.
In 1834 he was appointed by Judges Saffold, Lipscomb and Thornton, the three Justices, to fill the place of Mr. Stewart as reporter of the Su- preme Court. He held this position five years, in the meantime representing Tuscaloosa County in the House for three sessions. During his term as reporter, he gained great distinction by the able manner in which he discharged the duties of that office. While in Tuscaloosa, Mr. Porter was elected a trustee of the University, and was also appointed its attorney. At his suggestion, the Chair of Law was established in that institution, and he was elected the first professor in this de- partment. It has been intimated that Mr. Por- ter's incentive in adding this branch of instruction
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to the University, was the hope of thereby afford- ing himself an opportunity, under very favorable circumstances, of preparing some valuable treatise on law-perhaps designed to be used as a text or reference-book-and had his plans met a favorable issue, we have no doubt but that his originality, his profound learning, the boldness of his conceptions, and the vivacity of his style, to- gether with the general talents of no common order, would have produced a book to take high rank among the best of the day. Unfortunately, the professorship was to be supported by fees from students attending the department, and, not seeing a prospect for sufficient immediate remun- eration to justify his attention, he resigned the position before entering upon its duties.
The session of 1839-40 was the last that Judge Porter served in the House from Tuscaloosa County ; at that session he was elected Judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, and he then repaired to Mobile to assume the obligations of this office. The good people of this city were appreciative of his rare qualities and of his indefatigable efforts for the public good, and received him with marked civilities. Imbued with his wonted zeal, Judge Porter discharged the duties of this office with great energy for one term, clearing the docket of several thousand cases, and then re- signed on account of a dispute which had arisen as to his eligibility to the position. His term of service in this office was very satisfactory.
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Judge Porter was a member of the General As- sembly in 1842, in 1845, and again in 1847. Dur- ing his long term of service as member of the House from different counties, ranging from 1832 to 1847, Judge Porter introduced a number of very important bills. He always had at heart the good of his country, and especially of his foster State, and he never allowed an opportunity of im- proving her condition to pass by. Indeed, he was one of those pioneers whose earnest labors, directed with intelligence, served to awaken our State from the sleep of ages, to redeem her from the hands of savages, and to "carve an empire out of a wilderness."
Among the important measures whose pater- nity is credited to Judge Porter, is the one to sub- stitute the penitentiary as a punishment, instead of the old way of whipping and branding, for crimes deserving less severe punishment than death. The penitentiary was first rejected by a popular vote, but was adopted in 1839, and build- ings were ordered to be erected at Wetumpka, and were ready for use in 1841. He was author of a bill looking to the improvement of the public school system, and he published, in pamphlet form, an ingenious and logical line of argument to support this measure. We should state, while speaking of Judge Porter's legislative career, that he was an earnest and eloquent opponent of the death penalty, and used his efforts to have it stricken from the laws of Alabama. Some of his
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published speeches upon this subject are marked by much ability, learning and research, whatever may be said of the soundness of the views advo- cated.
In 1848 Judge Porter removed to Georgia, and settled at Cave Springs, which offered superior advantages in health and educational facilities. The romantic scenery and general surroundings of this place accorded well with his refined taste and æsthetic tendency, but he was soon induced by his friend and associate, Richard Yeadon, of Charleston, editor of the Courier, to make that city his future home. In 1850 he once more became a citizen of his native State, and began his work in Charleston as editor of the Charleston News. Although he was a man of decided liter- ary propensities, his connection with the News was, for some reason, severed in less than a year. He continued to practice law while in Charles- ton, and, in several important cases, sustained his well-earned reputation as an advocate at the bar.
Mr. Porter had many warm friends among the abler men of Charleston, and they had hoped to retain his citizenship; but he found it to his interest to remove to DeKalb County, Ala- bama. He spent about two years in this county, where he practiced law, edited the Will's Valley Post, and filled the responsible position of Super- intendent of Education of the county and Presi- dent of Will's Valley Railroad Company. He
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was so zealous in his labors for the people's good, that he was but a short while out of the public service before he was nominated for State Senator, but was defeated in the election.
In 1860 he removed to Greenville, Butler County. After the Republican party, under the Reconstruction Act of Congress, took charge of the government of Alabama, Judge Porter be- came a member of that party, and was appointed Judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit; and it was while discharging the duties of this office that he died at Greenville, in June, 1868. This change in politics was, perhaps, unfortunate for Judge Porter, as it was a source of regret to his friends, and afforded a new pretext for those who were envious of his abilities, jealous of his reputation, and unwilling to satisfy his ambition, to do what was in their power to entail upon him the disfavor of the people. In 1833 he was a Nullifier, and gained the reputation of a State Rights man by the introduction into the House of a bill pledging this State to support South Carolina in case of a crisis growing out of her resistance of the oppres- sions of Congress. His political views often un-
derwent radical changes. In 1840 he supported General Harrison for President, and Clay in 1844, and Taylor in 1848. In 1852 he was in favor of Pierce against General Scott for the Presidency. He was a true Southerner in the war between the States, and defended the Lost Cause with all the enthusiasm of his nature. It has already been
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stated that he changed from his old party to that of the Republican shortly after the war.
We have previously called attention to the lit- erary tastes and talents of Judge Porter. These led him to dive deep into the various departments of learning, and his extensive and well-selected library of rare books on different subjects of sci- ence and art was his pride and delight. Various periodicals frequently published his articles; and if he was vain in this particular, let us believe that he had something of which to be vain; and if he had faults, let us hide them behind the shadow of our own; for that he was chaste, enthusiastic, gen- erous and noble, none can deny.
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