Butler County, Alabama - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 13 of those read), 1885

Elijah Manning brought his negroes to this place in the fall of 181 8, and pitched the first tent on this soil. He brought his family from Georgia 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 established 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 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 particular 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 considerable 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 18 1 8. Mrs. Ogly, the wife of the man killed, afterwards married John Dickerson. John Dickerson 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 gathered to their fathers, and the present inhabitants of Manningham know nothing of its past history.

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 $^ per acre, although some ask a much higher price for theirs.

The people of Manningham have long been behind in some respects, and they will remain so, unless they awake from the sleep into which they have thoughtlessly fallen, while other neighborhoods have kept abreast with this unquestionable 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 improvements. 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.