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