HISTORY OF CONECUH COUNTY
HISTORY Conecuh County, ALABAMA
BEING 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
PREFACE
About two years ago, it was suggested that the people of Conecuh take immediate steps toward the preparation of a history of their county. A society was formed bearing the title of ”The Conecuh Historical Society;” some interest was manifested, and after several meetings the author was requested to undertake the preparation of the present work. The disadvantages under which he was placed, however, were very great. He lived in a portion of the State remote from Conecuh, — and had the pastoral care of a church, which entailed onerous duties upon him. To secure an accorate record, it became necessary for him to visit the county quite often, and to be in constant correspondence with parties in different portions of Conecuh. But after two years of labor, amid the weighty duties of the pastorate, the work is finished and sent forth upon its mission. The author has striven to present facts in their clearest and simplest form, so that the work would be acceptable to all classes of readers. If, in some portions, the history be thought too minute in detail, I have to say that this is inseparable from the fact that it is a local history. The work is not as complete in its scope as I would desire to have it. It will be observed that marked details exist with respect to some portions of the county, while they are meagre with regard to others. This is entirely due to the fact that a greater amount of data was famished me from some quarters than from others. Special attention has been given to the biographical portion of the work. The author regrets the absence of several biographies, which would have appeared, could the biographical matter have been obtained. The author begs leave to acknowledge his indebtedness to “Brewer’s Outline History of Alabama,” “Pickett’s History of Alabama,” and ” Garrett’s Eeminiscences of Public Men.” For aid rendered in the collection of material he expresses his obligations to the following gentlemen : John Greene, Sr. , J. B. Hawthorne, Y. M. Babb, Andrew Jay, Willis Darby, H. Page, Dr. Feagan, J. M. Davison, Dr. Shaw and others. For financial aid, thanks are due Messrs. Bansom Simpson, Dabney Palmer, John B. Bobbins, Dr. Shaw, Pinkney Straughn, Dr. Bobinson, N. Stallworth, P. D. Bowles, G. B. Famham, J. D. Burnett, P. 0. Walker, and S. F. Forbes. With the hope that it may not prove uninteresting to the resident of the county, the little book is sent forth upon its mission.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
Introduction — Conecuh in the Earliest Times — Derivation of Its Name — Original Appearance — Abounding Game — Ferocious Beasts — Early Battle Scene, &o.
CHAPTER 2