Bama Dew: Alabama Moonshine History
William Anderson Smith aka Will Smith

Bell Tree Smith

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The Gadsden Times, Gadsden, AL 1920
The Gadsden Times, by Will I. Martin. While the writer was driving through Rock Run the other day he recalled the story of Bell Tree Smith, a fantastic character who flourished in Cherokee county back in the nineties and who met the fate of almost all bullies, who respected no law and the rights of no man.  

He got his nickname from the fact that he operated a blind tiger under a tree near his place of business. His illicit liquor sales were out in the open air to be seen by any officer or citizen who dared to take the risk of peeping or spying, for it was generally understood or believed that monkeying with what Bell Tree Smith considered his inalienable rights spelled sudden death or, at least a good pistol whipping and such like punishment as would call for silence on the part of any person who happened to be unduly nosey. The man’s real name was William (Bill) Smith.

Revolutionary War Soldiers in Alabama

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Revolutionary War Soldiers in Alabama

Source:  Revolutionary Soldiers in Alabama, Being a List of Names, Compiled from Authentic Sources, of Soldiers of the American Revolution, who Resided in the State of Alabama by Thomas McAdory Owen 1911 – Transcribed by Annoymous

 

ADAMS, BRYANT, a resident of Montgomery county; private, particular service not shown; enrolled on September 26, 1834, under act of Congress of June 7, 1832, payment to date from March 4, 1831; annual allowance, $30; transferred to North Carolina, letter August 29, 1836.-Pension Book, State Branch Bank, Mobile.  

AGNEW, GEORGE, a resident of Lauderdale county; private in cavalry, particular service not shown; enrolled on September 29, 1836, under act of Congress of June 7, 1832, payment to from March 4, 1831; annual allowance, $25.-Pension Book, State Branch Bank, Mobile.  

ALEXANDER, _____, aged 98, resided in Mobile county, June 1, 1840; no facts given.-Census of Pensioners, 1841. p. 149.  

ALEXANDER, ASA, aged 74, and a resident of Dale county, private Georgia Militia; enrolled on June 17, 1833, under act of Congress of June 7, 1832, payment to date from March 4, 1831; annual allowance, $80; sums received up to date of publication of list, $200.-Revolutionary Pension Roll, in vol.

Battlefields And Forts
CSS Jamestown (1861 - 1862) | Also known as Thomas Jefferson

Thomas L. Harrison | Battle Of Mobile Bay Hero

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Obituary Notice for Thomas L. Harrison
At Mobile, Thomas L. Harrison, the hero on the confederate side in the Battle of Mobile Bay, died Friday night, aged fifty-one years.  He graduated from Annapolis, and at the age of twenty years, he entered the confederate naval service. He was ordered to Mobile in 1862 and appointed executive office for the gunboat Morgan.  

In the battle in the spring of 1865, when Farragut forced an entrance into Mobile Bay, the little vessel was soon driven under the shelter of the guns of Fort Morgan, the ram

 

Tennessee and the gunboat Selma having been captured and the gunboat Gaines burned.  

The captain of the Morgan gave orders to abandon the ship and set her on fire.  Lieutenant Harrison, however, reminding the crew that this was the only free vessel in the bay and would be of incalculable value to the confederacy if saved, asked the men to volunteer to run the boat up to Mobile.  Every man stepped to the starboard. Thereupon Harrison requested the captain to step below.

Famous, Legendary & Notorious
Adele "Vera" Hall Ward

Adele Vera Ward

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Adele Vera Hall (1902-1964) is considered by many music fans to be the foremost singer of the blues and African American spirituals to come out of depression-era Alabama. Vera Hall, as she is popularly known, recorded a large body of work for ethnomusicologists (individuals who study music in a cultural context) working for the Library of Congress with the help of Alabama folklorist Ruby Pickens Tartt. Hall’s music is widely available and continues to influence contemporary artists, such as Moby, and attract new audiences.Ward was born around the turn of the century in Payneville, Alabama just outside of Livingston in Sumter County. https://youtu.be/r9SENzRLk_M

The Encyclopedia of Alabama TM © 2014. Alabama Humanities Foundation. All Rights Reserved. A service of Auburn University, The University of Alabama, and Alabama State Dept.

Famous, Legendary & Notorious
Toni Tennille Born in Montgomery Alabama

Toni Tennille

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Toni Tennille was born in Montgomery, Alabama. As singer and songwriter, Toni was the female member of the duo Captain & Tennille. Best known for the song “Love Will Keep Us Together”, she has recorded with Pink Floyd, Art Garfunkel and Elton John. https://youtu.be/fP1S6yOyzvM

Alabama Cities
Wilson Pickett was born in Prattville Alabama

Wilson Pickett

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Wison Pickett was born on March 18, 1941 in Prattville, Alabama. He sang American R&B, soul and rock and roll. He recorded over 50 songs including “In the Midnight Hour”, “Land of 1,000 Dances”, “Mustang Sally” and “Funky Broadway.” Wilson Pickett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. https://youtu.be/kfuHgzu1Cjg