Butler County, Alabama - Chapter 36, 1885

Tom Seale, who was an uncle of the Primitive Baptist preacher by the same name, settled on the old Federal Road, near where this place is now, about 1826. James Moore lived on the same place, afterward sold it to George Vickery in 1837. Thomas Seale, the minister, located near here in 1835. He hardly ever remained at one place long enough to tell whether he would like it or not. James D. Parks and Stephen Sims settled near where the store now stands, about the year 1830. This section of the country not being very fertile, was not as much desired for homesteads by the pioneers as other parts of the county, and those that did locate here, soon became dissatisfied, and removed to another portion of the county to pitch their tents. This is a kind of a flat, sticky, calcareous soil, that is not very productive, even when properly fertilized and cultivated. The water contains a very perceptible amount of lime, but is very good for drinking purposes.

The land here has always been cheap, selling now from ;^2.oo to ;^5.oo per acre, and being higher now than at any time before this. Although the soil is not easily tilled, and when tilled is not very productive, yet this place is tolerably well settled up, and everybody seems to be getting along about as well as could be expected. While there is plenty of timber for having pine-planks sawed at the mills, it is a fact that the majority of the houses in Shackelville are now constructed of losfs. and, of course, are not near as comfortable as they should be. There are two churches here. The Shackelville Missionary Baptist, established in 1872, by Rev. Thomas Scale, and changed from the Primitive to the Missionary after his departure from this place. The Butler Branch Church is of the Latter-Day Saints' faith, and was erected in 1883, but has only a few followers as yet.

L Forst & Bro. started a small mercantile business here in the fall of 1879, but did not continue it long, as it was not a paying business under existing circumstances. The schools are not what they ought to be ; however, there is generally a school here about six months a year, and is patronized about as well as could be expected, the larger proportion of the people being in ordinary circumstances. There being no very wealthy men living in the neighborhood, the town does not show itself off to much advantage. A steam saw-mill at this place, would pay a very good dividend, if properly managed, as there is any amount of fine timber here, and the land very cheap. There is no post-office here. Rev. Thomas Scale named