History of Conecuh County, AL – Index

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History Of Conecuh County, Alabama.

Embracing A Detailed Record Of Events From The Earliest Period To The Present; Biographical Sketches Of Those Who Have Been Most Conspicuous In The Annals Of The County; A Complete List Of The Officials Of Conecuh, Besides Much Valuable Information Relative To The Internal Resources Of The County.

BY Rev. B. F. RILEY, Pastor of the Opelika Baptist Church.
Columbus, Ga.: Thos. Gilbert, Steam Printer And Book-Binder, 1881.

Transcribed by Veneta McKinney

Table of Contents.

Preface

CHAPTER I.-
Introduction - Conecuh in the Earliest Times - Derivation of Its Name - Original Appearance - Abounding Game - Ferocious Beasts - Early Battle Scene, & etc.

CHAPTER II.
Early Settlement of Conecuh by the Whites - Conflict at Battle Branch - First Settlement at Bellville - Founding of Hampden Ridge- Alexander Autrey - Other Settlers - Land Claims - Emigration, & etc.

CHAPTER III.
Early Privations and Struggles - Unparalleled Difficulties - Scarcity of Shoes - Undaunted Heroism - Meagreness of Blacksmith Facilities - Joshua Betts - A Barefooted Population - Scarcity of Grist Mills - Georgia Currency, & etc.

CHAPTER IV
Indian Hostilities - Troublesome Red Men - Their Depredations - Early Forts - Primitive Means of Defence Unceasing Vigilance - Retirement of the Indians to the West.

CHAPTER V
Signs of Advancement - Influx of Population - Industrious Signs Prevailing - The First Store-House in Conecuh - The Court House at Hampden Ridge - Churches- The First Senron - First School - Conecuh Organized into a County - Public Roads - Anecdote of Hayes and Austill.

CHAPTER VI
A Chapter of Biography - Rev. Alexander Travis Alexander Autrey - Samuel W. Oliver - Dr. John Watkins - Chesley Crosby - Fielding Straughn.

CHAPTER VII
Centres of Population - Bellville - Hampden Eldge - Sparta - Brooklyn - Fort Crawford.

CHAPTER VIII
Centres of Population Continued - Old Town - Fork Sepulga - Burnt Com - Evergreen.

CHAPTER IX
An Early Home and Its Surroundings- Now and Then - Mode of Transportation Adopted by the Early Fathers - The Home of the First Year - The Improvement of the Second- House Furniture - The Happiness of Former Times.

CHAPTER X
Customs and Habits of the Early Pioneer Families - Rude State of Society - Early Amusements - Styles of the Former Times - Horseback Riding - Scenes at Public Gatherings.

CHAPTER XI
Continued Development - Rapid Advancement - Tides of Population - Gathered Fruits of Toil - Improved Homes - Social Changes - Reverses, &c.

CHAPTER XII
Transportation and the Inauguration of Postal Routes - Navigation of the Conecuh River - Brooklyn Again - The First Post-Office - Different Mail Lines.

CHAPTER XIII
A Chapter of Biography - Rev. James King - Rev. Keidar Hawthorne - Joel Lee - Wilson Ashley - Nicholas Stallworth, Sr - John Sampey - William Rabb, Sr - Adam McOreary.

CHAPTER XIV
Conecuh from 1825 to 1835 - Current History Resumed - Lull of Apprehension - Fruits of Peace - Tragedy - Rude Customs Still Prevailing-Birth of Political Agitation.

CHAPTER XV
Conecuh from 1835 to 1845- Interesting Epoch- Birth of Political Issues- Excitement Begins - Hot Contests- The Great Indian War - ^Democrats and Whigs - Hard and Soft Money Issue - Educational Improvements, &o.

CHAPTER XVI
A Chapter of Biography - Hon. J. S. Hunter - Richard Warren - John Greene, Sr - J. R. Hawthorne- J. V. Perryman - Samuel Burnett- H. F. Steams- John Bell.

CHAPTER XVII
Conecuh from 1845 to 1855 - Status of the County at this Period - Acrimonious Politics - Sad Tragedy - Steam Navigation Undertaken Upon the Conecuh River - A Disaster and a Protracted Law Suit - Caterpillars in Conecuh - Mexican War - Sickness in the County.

CHAPTER XVIII
A Chapter of Biography - John Crosby - Rev. Hanson Lee - James M. Boiling - Thomas W. Simpson - Nicholas Stallworth, Jr- A. D. Cary- W. B. Travis.

CHAPTER XIX
Conecuh from 1865 to 1860- Stirring Activity- Progress- Academy at Bellville - Know-Nothingism- County Paper - Railroads and Telegraph - Murder of Allen

CHAPTER XX
A Chapter of Biography- E. W. Martin - Rev. George Lee - Hezekiah Donald - Churchill Jones - J. W. Ethridge - Sherman G. Forbes- Solomon S. Forbes- M. B. Travis- J. D. Cary.

CHAPTER XXI
War Record of Conecuh - Intense Excitement- Conecuh Patriotism - Conecuh Guards - Flag Presentation at Sparta Depot - Address by Miss Mathews - Other Companies - Scenes in the Camps at Home - Invasion of the County- Disasters.

CHAPTER XXII
A Chapter of Biography - James A. Stallworth - William A. Ashley- Rev. W. C. Morrow - J. M. Henderson - Dr. Milton Amos - Dr. William Cunningham.

CHAPTER XXIII
Dark Sway of Reconstructionism - Social Chaos - Demoralization - Local Troubles - Sovereignty of the Bayonet - The Negro as a Politician - How the New Order of Things Affected Southern Society - Heroism Displayed, &c.

CHAPTER XXIV
"Peep o' Day " - Darkness Clearing Away - Advancement of Order - Returning Signs of Prosperity - The People Becoming Themselves Again - Glance at Current Events up to the Present.

CHAPTER XXV
Present Representative Men of Conecuh - Rev. Andrew Jay - Dr. J. L. Shaw- Y. M..Rabb- A. J. Robinson- N. Stallworth- P. D. Bowles- G. R. Farnham.

CHAPTER XXVI
Population - Principal Town - Climate - Soil - Stock Raising - Productions - Industrial Resources- Forests - Streams - Numerous Advantages, Social, Educational, Agricultural - Colored Population, &c - Closing Remarks.

APPENDIX.

I. -Constitution of Conecuh Historical Society

II.- Roll of Conecuh Guards