Greensboro, Alabama - History (part 2 of 3)

As the last words of this bit of tragic history are penned, we pause for a few moments and look out upon the streets where, nearly half century ago, men were crazed, and, in their fearful passion, raged and surged like the mighty waves when the wind is at war with the ocean. But a far different scene from that presents itself to view. True, there stands the self-same building in which the awful tragedy begun ; and there, too, stands the self-same hotel before which the angry soldiers stood with halter around the neck of their intended victim, watching for the going down of the sun; the same blue sky bends above, and the same sun they watched has continued to make his rounds through all the many days that have gone to swell the mighty volume of the past since that far-off time.

But no discordant note is heard - no soldiers' tread, no clang of arms nor shrill note of bugle call. Only a scene of beauty and quiet activity greets the gaze. The trees are just awakening from their long winter's sleep and are putting on their garb of green ; the birds make merry in the boughs, heedless of the ebb and flow of the human tide beneath ; men go about their business, or stand here and there in groups and chat pleasantly together ; bevies of beautiful girls, with smiling faces and queenly step, pass up and down the streets where once tumult and

And then it is that we fully realize that a new generation has appeared upon the stage of action - a generation that is the successor to the noblest and truest of which the South can boast in all its glorious history - one whose deeds of valor and patriotism will live in song and story for ages yet unborn. And with the ushering in of the present generation, sectional strife and bitterness have passed away. It is a generation (while doubting the wisdom of the course pursued by the authorities at Washington in their treatment of the Southern people during those half dozen dark and gloomy years immediately succeeding the close of the war) who rejoice in a reunited country, and would seal its devotion to the Stars and Stripes by defending the honor of the Flag on the battlefield ; yet, it is a generation that looks with pride and approval upon the conduct of their forefathers in their noble defence of the Stars and Bars, and a generation that will ever treasure that conduct as the richest heritage to which it has fallen heir.

The Greensboro Hotel The Ku Klux Klan 61

During reconstruction times in Greensboro, and in fact, throughout the South, what was known as the Loyal League was organized by Northern adventurers who came, like a swarm of vultures, to prey upon what was left in this section from the wreck of the war. The object of this league was to enlist all negroes in an oathbound society pledging them to support the Radical candidates for office and the measures they advocated. Soon the affairs of government passed out of the hands of those who by right should have filled the offices, and under the administration of these unscrupulous men, who had been elevated to position by the votes of the ignorant and vicious negroes, who had been released from slavery only a short while, life in Greensboro and the South generally became almost unbearable. Some answer, it was realized, must be given the Loyal League, and it was found in the Ku Klux Klan. This order was composed of the native white men of the South - many of whom, in fact most of them, had served in the Confederate army. They were a determined body, and resolved to rid the country of the objectionable characters that had flocked in by the score with the hope of adding gain to their worldly wealth. They, too, had an oathbound society, and to this good day, (forty years after) the secrets of the Ku Klux Klan have not been told. They are known to a few survivors of the brotherhood, but they rarely discuss the matter with anyone. These men had the good of their country at heart, and only disciplined those characters who fermented strife between the races, and endangered the safety of the community. Their mission was not murder, as has been charged by those who came, possibly, under the ban of their displeasure, but was corrective in its nature. They would take a man out - it mattered not whether he was white or black - and give him a sound thrashing, and order him to mend his conduct.

There surrounded the Ku Klux that atmosphere of mystery that is ever appalling to humanity. They always arrayed themselves in a peculiar garb, consisting of a white robe, and covered their faces with a white mask. Their horses were blanketed in white, and as they silently rode through the street or down some lonely road at the dead of night, the evil-doers trembled with fear. It was seldom that an order was ever issued, or a word spoken. Those who had the real interest of their respective communities at heart hailed the presence of the Ku Klux with joy, while the ignorant and vicious, who cared not for the welfare of the town or country, stood in awe and dread.

The Ku Klux first made their appearance in Greensboro in March, 1868, and their presence was made known by hand bills that were posted up at various places on the streets. The following was the

Ku Klux Klan Order Bloody Month

The Great Past High Giant commands you. The dark and dismal hour will soon be here. Some live to-day, to-morrow die. Be Ye Ready! The whetted sword, the bullet red - and right ai'e ours. Be vigilant and firm. Dare not wear the holy garb of our mystic brotherhood save in quest of Blood. Mark well our friends. Let the guilty beware. Everywhere our brotherhood appears. Traitors, beware!

II. Burst your cerement asunder! Meet at the den! "The glow of the worm shows the motion to be near." Silence! Watchfulness! Patience! Faithfulness! The guilty SHALL BE punished!

The Ku Klux Klan 63

Sprinkle ye the tombs with Blood! Brothers of the shroud take heed, and enforce ye these orders. Blood! Blood! Blood! Revenge! Revenge! Revenge! Let the guilty beware, the day of retribution is at hand - BLOOD is our motto! Look wild Shrouds of Hale and enforce all these orders.

Notices of like character appeared in nearly all the towns of Alabama, and it was not long before the military authorities of the United States undertook to crush the Klan. Stringent orders were issued from the headquarters at Montgomery, declaring that "outrages against life, the peace and good order of the community" were being perpetrated by a "band disguised with masks and styling itself the Ku Klux Klan," and constituted a public evil. The sheriffs, mayors, marshals, magistrates, constables, chiefs of police, and police, the order declared, would be held responsible for the suppression of the organization, and the apprehension of its members wherever found. All placards and newspaper cards of the Ku Klux Klan were placed under the ban, and dire punishment was threatened all who failed to aid the military authorities in disbanding the Ku Klux. The order issuing from Montgomery on April 4, 1868, was signed by 0. L. Shepherd, Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General, and W. T. Hartz, Brevet Major, U. S. A.

One would naturally suppose that such an order, backed by all the power of the United States government, would have had the effect of causing the Ku Klux to immediately disband, but such was not the case. Conditions were such in this section during the reconstruction period that the men composing the organization had rather have died than to have sit idly down and passively endured them without a protest. The Klan continued to exist for several years after the issuance of the strenuous orders, in nearly all the Southern States.

Klux Klan as a whole, there is no doubt that the branch organization that existed in Greensboro accomplished much good in the matter of bringing about a more endurable condition of affairs in Greensboro and Hale county. It filled its mission, and quietly passed out of existence.

Confederate Monuments The Old Confederate Monument

After several years of agitation and earnest work, the citizens of Greensboro raised a sufficient amount to purchase a modest monument, and erected it in the Greensboro cemetery to the memory of the Confederate soldiers. The work was completed in March, 1872. and the treasurer, Mr. Charles E. Waller, reported the total cost of the monument, including erection, to be $204.50. On the 26th of the following April, the monument was duly dedicated. The following account of the proceedings was written for The Beacon by the late Col. Harvey, then editor of that paper :

"Pursuant to a custom which has been observed for five or six years, Friday, the 26th of April, was observed by the citizens of Greensboro as the day for decorating the graves of those Confederate soldiers whose remains were interred in our cemetery.

"Col. Allen C Jones, as Marshal of the occasion, marched the procession through Main street to the cemetery, where a stand had been erected for the speaker and where a large crowd had collected in advance of the procession.

"The ceremonies of the occasion wei'e opened with prayer, by the Rev R. H. Cobbs - after which. Col. Jones introduced John T. Walker, Esqr., as the orator.

"Through the praiseworthy efforts of a few of our citizens - prominent among whom are Dr. Jas. D. Osborn. Chas. E. Waller, Esqr., Mrs. Dr. Ward. Miss Julia Tutwiler and Miss Mary Jackson - a handsome marble monument has been erected in the Greensboro cemeterv, having inscribed upon it the names of those Confederate soldiers, from this place or vicinitv who lost their lives in battling for the "Lost Cause" - so dear to them and to those who now revere and honor their memories. The monument was decorated with beautiful wreaths of flowers and evergreens."

Thirty-two years after the erection of the monument in the cemetery - that is to say, in April, 1904 - the beautiful monument on the Court House square was completed. It represents much labor on the part of the Ladies' Memorial Association of Greensboro, who for many years worked to raise the necessary amount to pay for it. The cost was about $1,500.00.

Confederate Monuments 67

On May 12th, 1904, the monument was duly unveiled with appropriate ceremonies. Mrs. Mary G. Pickens, Chairman of the Committee and Treasurer of the Monument Fund, read the report from the Memorial Association, the concluding portion of which was as follows :

"We commend the monument to the loving care of the Memorial Association, Daughters of the Confederacy and Veterans. It is placed on a spot given for that purpose by the Hale county commissioners, and we give it into the sacred care and protection of our Mayor and Town Authorities and our entire community, and sincerely thank all who have helped us in any way.

In behalf, and in the name of the Mayor and Council of the town of Greensboro, we accept the beautiful monument you have here erected in memory of our Confederate soldiers, and pledge the city's honor to throw arovmd it that care and protection it may demand, for we realize that this shaft of granite and marble represents many years of labor on your part, and it silently speaks, in strains as sweet as angels use, of your love and devotion to the memory of those heroes whose valor and patriotism fill one of the brightest pages of the world's history. Nearly forty long and eventful years have passed away since the close of that bloody, fratricidal strife, but the memory of the gallant deeds and heroic conduct of the boys who wore the gray, is as fresh and green in the hearts of our fair and beautiful women as if the tragic event in our counti-y's history had happened only yestei-day. To you all honor and praise!

While we need no columns of brass or of stone to cause us to remember our heioic dead, nor to remind us of our duty to those who were their companions in arms on many hard fought battle fields, yet it is mete and proper that our love for them, and the cause for which they fought, should be expressed in tangible form, so that those who come among us from afar may know we revere their memory and gallant deeds, and that their glory shall never be forgotten "while fame her record keeps, or honor points to the hallowed spot where valor proudly sleeps."

Ex-Governor Wm, C. Gates then delivered a patriotic oration, at the close of which the stature of the Confederate soldier adorning the top of the monument was unveiled, and the ceremonies ended.

The New Confederate Monument

There has been but one raih'oad in Greensboro - known at present as the Akron branch of the Southern Railway. It was projected by the late General N. B. Forrest, the famous Confederate cavalry leader, who was quite a familiar figure on the streets of Greensboro during the latter part of the sixties and the early seventies. The road was formerly known as the Selma, Marion & Memphis Railroad, and also as the Selma & Mobile Railroad.

In 1869, the town of Greensboro issued $15,000 worth of bonds to aid in the construction of the road to this place. A direct tax was put on the citizens to pay interest on the bonds and to provide a sinking fund to pay off the indebtedness. The obligation has been met. There are at present only a few thousand dollars worth of the old bonds outstanding against the town.

In this connection it will be of interest to note that the County of Hale also voted a bond issue of $60,000 in 1869 to aid in the building of the road. All of said bonds - principal and interest - have been paid in full by the citizens of Hale - who were taxed directly for the purpose for about thirty-five years.

The railroad was completed to Greensboro on November 4th, 1870 - work having been suspended on it for some months when it reached Newbern, nine miles below Greensboro, to which place the citizens went by hack to catch the train going to Selma, until the trains begun to make the trip from this point - and the laying of the last rail was celebrated by a grand barbecue and public speaking by prominent Greensboro people. General Forrest, the President of the road, was present, and was very highly commended for his indomitable energy in successfully completing the work under so many adverse circumstances.

It was hoped that the line would be at once extended to the then objective point, (Eutaw) but for twelve years Greensboro was practically the terminus of the road. It was not until 1882 that the road was completed ta

Gen. Nathaniel Bedford Forrest

Akron and the first train was run to that point. There it connects with the Alabama Great Southern Railroad, and at Selma it connects with the Southern Railway to Rome, Ga., and Meridian, Miss.

Railroad 71

As stated above, General Forrest was quite a familiar figure on the streets of Greensboro during the construction of the railroad. He was a man who carried with him into his business life all those extraordinary physical, moral and intellectual qualities that distinguished him as a soldier. He was of commanding presence - being about six feet, two inches in height, and before his health was impaired by wounds received on the battlefields and by hard marches, his weight was one hundred and eighty to ninety pounds. In physical strength he was a match for a prize ring champion. His hair was jet black, his skin dark, eyes blue and mild enough till the devil within was aroused, and then they flashed green. He was the idol of the soldiers during the war, but as a business man he made many enemies by his overbearing and dictatorial manner. Some eminent men have adjudged that Forrest was really the greatest genius developed by the war between the States, so far as generalship was concerned. After completing his railroad work in this section, he moved to Memphis, Tenn., where he died some years ago.

The following incident in reference to the signing of the bonds issued by Hale County to aid in the construction of the railroad by General Forrest, is worthy of note : After the $60,000 worth of bonds were printed, the probate judge of the county refused to sign them as required by law. General Forrest employed an attorney and demanded to be heard in the probate court in regard to the matter. A session of the court was called, the probate judge took his seat on the bench, and the General's lawyer arose and made a very learned and exhaustive argument on the subject of the judge's duty to sign the bonds. In the course of the argument the attorney used many high-sounding legal phrases - such as "nunc pro tunc," "nolens volens," "amicus curiae," etc. The judge^ who, by the way, was not a lawyer, seemed to get very angry as the lawyer indulged in these Latin phrases. At

The announcement aroused the anger of the lawyer, and he jumped up and started for the judge, who quickly reached under his desk and pulled a six shooter and held it on the astonished limb of the law.

As quick as a flash, Gen. Forrest, who was sitting near the judge, grabbed the pistol from his hand, caught him by the collar, dragged him from the bench and very quietly said :

"Wall, Jedge, I don't care a damn whether you sign them bonds nunc pro tunc, nolens volens or amicus curi ; you are going to sign 'em. Come along in here with me!" And the general led the judge into an ante-room, where they remained about half an hour.

General Forrest was probably the most daring and successful cavalry leader on either side in the civil war. He had the confidence of his men in a large degree, and they willingly followed him in his desperate encounters with the Federals. There were a number of cavalrymen from Greensboro and Hale county in his command - Dr. S. C. Carson, Dr. L. D. Webb and Judge W. C. Christian of the number.

Dr. Carson relates that while Forrest's cavalry was in camp at Ebenezer church, near Plantersville, Alabama, seventeen Federal soldiers made a sudden charge upon the Confederate lines, taking them wholly by surprise. The Doctor says he saw General Forrest rush forward to the encounter with a pistol in each hand and shoot down three of the enemy. The seventeen Federals, the Doctor says, were as brave men as ever v^ent upon a battlefield. They asked no quarter and gave none. It was a foolhardy undertaking and everyone of them paid the penalty with his life.

Col. L. J. Lawson and J. D. Hamilton enlisted in 1863 as members of Company B, 7th Alabama, Forrest's Cavalry, and were with the company until the end of the war in 1865.

It is the concensus of opinion of the old soldiers of the Confederacy now residing in this section, that if it had not been for the aggressive and fearless manner in which Forrest and his cavalry kept the Federals at bay, that Greensboro, Marion, Eutaw and other towns m this part of Alabama would have been destroyed by the enemy. The Federals did not get to Greensboro during the four years of the war.

In February, 1854, the Planters' Insurance Company was incorporated in Greensboro, Books for subscription to the capital stock were opened March 17th, 1854, and stock to the amount of $130,000 was subscribed. Henry Watson, Esq., was the President. The company did a general insurance business and also a banking business, and was the first banking establishment ever in the town. It proved a great convenience to the citizens who had formerly done their banking business with the commission merchants and banks of Mobile and Selma. At the breaking out of the war between the States, in 1861, all except $50,000 of the capital stock was returned to the stockholders, this amount being retained to keep alive the charter, and business was abandoned until better times should arrive. The war lasted so long, and its termination was so uncertain, that the company sold its real estate and personal effects and closed out the entire concern, paying to the stockholders the capital and surplus in full. This was done in February, 1865. The company was never revived, and for ten years Greensboro was without banking facilities. The Planters' Insurance Company owned and did business in the store house on Main street owned of more recent years by the late W. G. Miller.

Henry Watson

Who was a prominent citizen of Greensboro from 1838 to 1861. He was a law partner of Hon. John Erwin and was also the President of the fii'sc banking institution in the town. Died in 1891 in Northampton, Mass.

As indicative of the scope of the business engaged in by the Planters' Insurance Company, the following advertisement is copied from a publication of 1856: bama, with a perpetual Charter, and a capital of $130,000, all paid in and securely invested, will do a general Insurance Business. Public buildings, stores, stocks of merchandise, dwelling houses, gin houses and cotton warehouses, insured against loss by fire at reasonable rates. River and Marine risks taken, and insurance made upon the Lives of White Persons and of Slaves, and upon live stock. The well known standing and safety of this Company, and its convenient location, it is believed, will secure to it a preference where Insurance is desired. Money received on deposit with or without interest. Terms of deposit made known at the office of the Company. Loans made upon Bills of Exchange at 8 per centum per annum.

Sereno Watson, the Secretary, after the liquidation of the Planters' Insurance Company in Greensboro, went to Massachusetts, and subsequently became a very distinguished botanist. At the time of his death, which occurred at Cambridge, Mass., March 9, 1892, he was Curator of the Herbarium of Harvard College.

On January 1st, 1875, D. F. McCrary gave notice to the public that he had opened an Exchange and Banking office in Greensboro, and that he would buy and sell exchange on all points and would also receive money on deposit and pay out same on checks free of charge. He advertised that he had "one of the famous Speigle-eisen Safes with combination lock."

Mr. McCrary continued in the banking business until 1881 when he was succeeded by Dr. A. Lawson, who conducted the business until 1905 when "The Peoples Bank of Greensboro, Alabama," was incorporated under the laws of the State, with a capital stock of $50,000, of which institution Dr. Lawson was made President by the stockholders.

Shelby W. Chadwick also did a banking business for some time, and was succeeded by M. Jones & Son, who, in 1900, were succeeded by Lee M. Otts. After conducting the bank as a private banking institution for a few years, Mr. Otts converted it into "The First National Bank of Greensboro, Alabama," with a capital stock of $50,000 and conducted it as such until 1904.

In 1894 "The Bank of Greensboro, Ala.," was organized with Col. C. Derrick as President, who was succeeded in 1896 by J. A. Blunt. It was conducted under this name until 1904, when "The Bank of Greensboro" bought out the First National Bank from Mr. Otts, and assumed its name, and increased the capital stock from $50,000 to $100,000. Mr. Blunt was continued as President of the First National Bank, and Mr. Charles Stollenwerck was made cashier, both these gentlemen holding their respective positions to the present time.

In more than half a century in the history of banking in Greensboro, there has never been a bank failure, which record speaks for itself and the gentlemen who have conducted the institutions.

In April, 1871, A. H. Ravesies & Co., established a cotton warehouse at the Greensboro depot, and conducted it as such until they were bought out by A. C. Evans, who for a number of years carried on the business of storing cotton. Mr. Evans in turn was bought out by Messrs. J. A. Blunt and T. R. Ward, who constructed a large brick warehouse, most of the materials used therein being taken from the wreckage of the "Nelson House," the largest, most commodious and most beautiful residence ever constructed in Greensboro. It was built by Gideon Nelson sometime in the latter part of the fifties, at a cost of nearly a hundred thousand dollars.

Cotton Warehouses

and the ceilings were frescoed by painters from abroad. It was a gorgeous place. There were fountains in the front yard, and rarest shrubbery and trees adorned the place. The war wrecked the fortunes of the Southern planters, and after Mr. Nelson's death the house passed into the hands of various parties, and was finally torn down and the materials, as before stated, were used in the construction of the warehouse at the depot. In what was the front yard to this splendid mansion, there are now located some half dozen or more neat cottages. The warehouse constructed of the Nelson home materials was destroyed by fire in October, 1906, together with a large amount of cotton, which was paid for by the Southern Railway, as it was proven that a train on that road caused the fire. The present commodious warehouse is the successor to the one destroyed by fire. It was built by Mr. J. A. Blunt in 1907, he having bought out the interest of Mr. Ward in the business.

The Greensboro Female Academy The Old Greensboro Female Academy

In December, 1839, a meeting was held in the Greensboro Lyceum by the subscribers to the building fund of the Greensboro Female Academy. For a long while prior to this time a female school had been conducted in the same lot on which the Academy building now stands. Judge Pasteur was principal and was assisted by Miss Mary Lawson. Edwin Fay was the principal in 1839, and possibly further back, but no records on the subject are available.

At this meeting of the subscribers to the building fund the following board of trustees was elected : John Erwin, chairman, J, M. Witherspoon, John May, James Mc-

Greensboro Female Academy 79

Donald, Matthew Hobson, Wiley J. Croom, and Robert Waller. John Fife was made secretary of the board. At the first meeting of this board of trustees, Edwin Fay was elected as president of the Academy, and Miss Ruth White as music teacher, and Dr. Bradford assistant music teacher.

In 1840, a contract was let to Jesse Gibson and Claudius Jones for $6,345 to make necessary "additions to the present academy building." The work was finished in 1841, and in that year Edwin Fay resigned as president of the Academy and Rev. Daniel P. Bestor was elected to succeed him.

On December 29th, 1841, the act of the legislature incorporating "The Greensboro Female Academy," was approved. The incorporators mentioned in the Act were : Robert C. Randolph, James M. Witherspoon, Daniel P. Bestor, John May, James McDonald, Matthew Hobson, and Robert B. Waller.

The school was among the best and most prosperous in this section for a number of years, and was attended by young ladies from many portions of Alabama. The prescribed course of study the year of incorporation was : Spelling, reading, writing, grammar, geography, mathematics, philosophy, chemistry, history, logic, French, Latin, drawing, painting, ornamental work and music.

A complete list of the presidents of the Greensboro Female Academy is as follows : Judge Pasteur, Edwin Fay, Rev. Daniel P. Bestor, C. J. D, Pryor, Rev. James C. Mitchell, Rev. C. E. Brame, A. H. Hutchinson, N. T. Lupton and J. C. Wills, Miss Julia Tutwiler, P. B. Capbell, Miss Mary Avery (filled out unexpired term of P. B. Capbell in 1874) Rev. Thomas Ward White, Rev. W. C. Clark, D. P. Christenberry, J. B. Cassidy, Rev. W. G. Keady.

In 1876, Miss Bettie Lou Clark (afterwards Mrs. Pyrnell) the author of "Diddy, Dumps and Tot," a most popular book with children, was a teacher in this Academy.

From 1865 to 1871, the school was not opened on account of the stringency of the times immediately following the close of the civil war, and really it was never again as successful as it was prior to the war. It was again closed from 1877 to 1883, when Mr. Clark took charge of the institution. Some time during the intervening six years the trustees of the AcacTemy opened subscriptions for money with which to repair and make additions to the building, and about $4,000 was raised for this purpose. The large frame structure on the north side of the brick portion of the Academy was added. The last president was Dr. W. G. Keady, who gave the school up in 1900, since which time the property has been rented to the board of trustees of the Greensboro Graded School, where a large and successful public school has since been conducted.

The title to the property of the Greensboro Female Academy is vested in the board of trustees of that institution, who, it would appear from the mtnutes of the board, hold it in trust for the "stockholders" - said stockholders being composed of all those who contributed as much as $25.00 towards the building fund. These stockholders held elections annually for the election of seven trustees, to whom was turned over the management of the property and the selection of a president.

The Greensboro Female Academy numbers many most excellent women among its graduates, who are scattered far and wide, and it was a source of regret to all when the doors of the time-honored institution were closed.

In 1858, Miles Hassell Yerby, a graduate of the State University at Tuscaloosa, came to Greensboro and taught the first public school near the town of which any record can be found. The school house was situated outside of the corporate limits, northeast of Greensboro, across

Public School 81

Caldwell creek. The school was attended by many boys, who in after life, attained to prominence in the affairs of church and state. The location of the school was changed after the war, and the building on Centreville street then known as the Gibson place, was used for a long while as a school house. From the old record before us for 1869, (the only one that could be found) the following pupils were enrolled in the Greensboro Public School for that year: Reuben C. Johnson, Frank Johnson, Andrew W. Owens, Nelson Owens, Morris Steinhart, Charlie Steinhart, Jeff D. Steinhart, Joe Stockton, Willie Stockton, Joe Stokes, Dan Taylor, Milford Harris, Filmore Norfleet, Will Miller, Jeff Evans, Willie McGee, John Musy, John Yerby, Willie Yerby, Tom Taylor, Syd Taylor, Alex Davis, Willie DuBose, Willie Kenan, Ed Williamson, Steve Williamson, Albert Williamson, Ed Bell, John Bell, Mary Herran, Bettie Sharon, Rosa Sharon, Julia Wilburn, Fannie Owens, Sallie Owens, Bettie Andrews, Lida Miller, Alice Sledge, Jessie Yerby, Bettie McDonald, Ida Steinback, Sallie Blanton, Alice Blanton.

The teachers of the public school have been, in all its history, as follows : M. H. Yerby, Mrs. Mary Happel and Mrs. M. A. Hutchinson, Miss Sallie Pasteur, Mrs. J. M. Pickett and Miss Maggie Pickett, W. W. Lee, J. A. Baxley,

The present school is known as "The GreensDoro Graded School," and is taught in the old Female Academy building on Demopolis street. There is an attendance of about 130 pupils, and besides the principal, there are four assistant teachers.

The old school house on Centreville street presents much the same appearance now it presented some forty years ago, and the picture will no doubt be recognized by many of the former pupils, scattered far and wide over the face of the earth, into whose hands a copy of this volume should chance to fall. But they will miss the wide-spreading elm trees in the yard - only one of the many now remaining, and it is gnarled, and the branches have been broken and torn by the winds that have angrily passed through them these many years. They will also miss the stately poplars on the hillside just north of the building, and the forest trees and the "big swamp" in the rear of the play ground. And the flowers have blossomed and faded above the grave of the highly educated and painstaking schoolmaster of the old days for nearly ten years. He rests from life's labors in the quiet city of the dead in Greensboro among loved ones, friends and former pupils.

The same babbling brook is at the foot of the little hill to the north of the house, but the shade trees and the violets are gone, and the spot is no longer an inviting place for the school boy to stroll side by side with his first sweetheart and gather the wild flowers for her - as the boys used to do in the years that are dead.

The Southern University

The greater portion of the following brief history of the Southern University was compiled by Prof. D, P. Christenberry, Professor of English in the University.

The agitation which led to the founding of the Southern University began at the twenty-third session of the Alabama Conference, Talladega, Ala., December, 1854. At this Conference much enthusiasm was aroused.

In 1855 the Conference met at Eutaw. After much debate it was decided to found a college at Greensboro, and Col. John Erwin, of Greensboro, was appointed to secure a charter of the legislature.

At the first meeting of the Board, March, 1856, at Greensboro, were the following trustees : Bishops Jas. 0. Andrew and Robert Payne, Rev. Doctors T. 0. Summers, Archelaus H. Mitchell, Jeff'erson Hamilton, Philip P. Nedy and Edward Wadsworth, Revs. Christopher C. Callaviay, Joseph J. Hutchinson, Joshua T. Heard, Thos. J. Koger, Lucius Q. C. DeYampert, Col. John Erwin, John W. Walton, Thomas M. Johnston, RoTDert A. Baker, Gideon E. Nelson, Doctors Thos. W. Webb and Gaston Drake. In the charter appear in addition to the above names the following: Judge Augustus A. Coleman, Duke W. Goodman and Rev. Henry W. Hilliard.

Col. Erwin was called to the chair and presented the charter dated January 26, 1856. The charter was secured over the veto of Governor Winston.

been raised, $100,000 of which was secured by the endorsement of L. Q. C. DeYampert, John Walton, Gideon Nelson and others. The whole of this amount was secured from Greene and Sumter counties. A site was bought costing $6,400. During the next year, the agent raised $40,508, having visited only eight counties.

At the second annual meeting, June 11, 1857, with much pomp and splendor of military parade, bands and music, the cornerstone was laid. Col. Wiley, Masonic Grand Master of Alabama presided. Bishop Pierce and Col. Milliard made the addresses.

The first session opened October 3, 1859, with the following faculty : Dr. William W. Wightman, President and Professor Biblical Literature ; N. Thomas Lupton, A. M., Professor of Chemistry; Oscar F. Casey, A. M., Professor of Ancient Languages ; Edward Wadsworth, A. M., Professor of Moral Philosophy; John C. Wills, A. M., Professor of Mathematics.

At the first commencement, the date of which was fixed for the first Wednesday in July, 1860, Benjamin Huey, of Talladega, and John V. Glass of Pickens county, graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

The faculty in 1861 reported much excitement among the boys on account of the war between the States, and expressed diflficulty in preventing their going. The young men had been drilled for service, to which slight objection is expressed by the Trustees.

The professors' salaries, which had been fixed at $1500, were reduced one-half, and they were permitted to secure additional work outside if possible.

During the entire session of '61 and '62 only $1150 was paid to the entire faculty, and they were praised for standing by the University under the circumstances. The institution did not close its doors during the war, but the enrollment ran down to fourteen. Still instruction was given in all classes, at times chiefly by one man.

Southern University

At the opening of the session in 1865 not a single class could be formed, but Professor Casey, during the year, gave instruction in classics to twenty young men. There were forty-three in the Preparatory Department under Professor Casey. Though the struggle through the war was hard, it seems the doors were never closed.

Who was for a long while one of the most disting-uished Presidents of the Southern University. He died at Union Springs, Ala.^ December 4, 1898, aged 74 years.

ported that $171,810.66 in notes was placed in his hands. Of this amount $4,683 was collected in cash, $16,000 was renewed, $40,000 was classed as possibly good and $75,000 as worthless. The magnificent endowment had been swept away, leaving the school a lot of worthless

The North Mississippi Conference adopted the Southern University as its college in 1870, and appointed six trustees to sit on the Board. This adoption must have been short lived, for no further mention is made in the minutes of the Board of Trustees.

The seventies were the dark days in the history of the school. Even the people of Greensboro thought the school would close after the session of 1871-72. Some of the buildings were placed under mortgage, and afterwards foreclosed. There was even some remote danger of the loss of the main building itself. But Chancellor Luther Smith came from Emory College, Oxford, Ga., at a great personal sacrifice because he thought the service of the church called him, and infused new life into the institution. The debts were wiped out, and the institution was placed in a fair way to prosperity when death removed the chancellor.

The second advent of Dr. Andrews as president, in 1883, marks the beginning of a remarkable period in the history of the Southern University. In that year the property became joint possession, in fee simple, of the Alabama and North Alabama conferences. An era of prosperity ensued. The largest attendance in the history of the institution was reached in 1889-90, 238 names having been placed upon the matriculation book of that session.

The North Alabama Conference, at its session at Florence, on December 23, 1897, deeded back its interests in the school to the original patron, the Alabama Conference.

Southern University 89

In 1904 the plan of government was changed. All restrictions were removed, and the school placed upon the honor system. The results have been highly gratifying.

The earliest records of this church were lost, and have never been in the possession of the present generation, nor that of the one this generation succeeds. This fact is borne out by the following statement taken from the minutes of the Quarterly Conference held on the 25th of April, 1835:

"A. B. Sawyer, John DuBois and S. G. Field were appointed a committee to search for and arrange the records of the church, and have them recorded." Evidently these gentlemen failed to find the records, for there is no further mention of the matter in any of the succeeding minutes kept by the church officials. However, it is known that as early as the year 1822 there was a Methodist church in Greensboro. It stood where the negro Methodists now have their brick church in the rear of the Dr. Ward homestead. One among the first Methodist ministers to preach in Greensboro was the Rev. Mr. Hawkins.

Some time between the years 1822 and 1833, Greensboro was made a station. The records from which this history is compiled begin with the latter year, and at that time Rev. Mr. Hearn was presiding elder of the Greensboro district, and Rev. Robert L. Kenon was preacher in charge at this place. The stewards were: Robert Dickens and Franklin Shaw. The Revs. Hearn and Kenon were succeeded in 1835 by Rev. E. V. LeVert,

At a meeting of the Quarterly Conference held March 11th, 1837, a committee, composed of Robert Dickens, Thomas Johnston and Andrew Walker, was appointed to take under consideration the necessity and expediency of building a parsonage for the station. At the next meeting of the Quarterly Conference, held June 10th, 1837, this committee reported, and recommended that a parsonage be purchased as soon as possible, and asked the Conference to allow them to open a subscription for the purpose - subscriptions to be made payable the following January. The report was received, and the committee was urged to press the matter, but pending the purchase of a suitable building. Dr. William Jones offered the church the use of a house that stood just west of the present Madison Jones lot, which offer was accepted, and for some years the Methodist ministers resided there. The house was torn down ten or a dozen years ago. Finally the Methodists decided to own their parsonage, and purchased the (then) Randolph lot, - the same now owned and occupied by Thomas Johnson - and this was used as a parsonage until the year 1866, when it was sold, and with the proceeds the lot upon which the present parsonage stands was purchased, and again for nine years the Methodists were without a home for the preacher, for it was not until 1875 that the present parsonage was erected. But really no home for the minister was needed, for the church was supplied, with one or two exceptions, for nearly twenty years, with a professor from the Southern University, by the annual conferences. But in 1886 this method was changed, and a preacher was sent who was to devote his entire time to the charge.

At the meeting of the Quarterly Conference in June, 1837, Thomas M. Johnston and Joel Reynolds were appointed stewards, in place of Greene B. Williams, de- ceased, and Stephen G. Field, removed. At this same meeting (June 10, 1837) the stewards were appointed a building committee to "build a new Methodist church in the town of Greensboro, Alabama," "and it is recommended," said the conference, "that the house be built at once."

It was decided to remove from the place where the church had been located for some years, and the old lot and edifice standing thereon were disposed of to the negroes, and in 1837 the lot at the intersection of Main and Tuscaloosa streets (where the church now stands) was purchased from Matthew Hobson for the sum of $1,000.00.

On March 16, 1839, the Quarterly Conference appointed a committee to superintend the building of the new church, said committee consisting of Dr. William Jones, Dr. Thomas Cottrell, Thomas M. Johnston, John M. Bates and Andrew Walker. The contractor was Robert Dickens.

The work on the new building was pushed quite rapidly for those days when the brick had to be made and burned at home, and the timber had to be gotten out by hand - for in a little more than a year after the appointment of a committee to superintend the building the church was dedicated - April 3, 1840. Rev. E. V. LeVert preached the sermon, his text being: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

At the time of the dedication, the church had a membership of one hundred and sixteen whites; the Sunday School had two superintendents, nine teachers and sixty pupils.

Church matters seem not to have prospered with the Methodists in a financial way during the next few succeeding years, if the following from the minutes of the Quarterly Conference, held February 2, 1846, is to be taken as an indication :

"In view of the indebtedness of this Station, be it Resolved, That it be returned to the Circuit; Provided, That first the matter be brought before the whole So-, ciety on next Sabbath, and that if they will come forward and pay all arrearages and promise to sustain the Station, it shall remain as such."

On the following Sunday the matter was brought before the congregation, and the alternative of either returning to the Circuit or paying up arrearages was submitted to them, and they chose to liquidate the indebtedness and remain as a Station.

The building that was torn away in June, 1907, to make room for the present handsome and commodious structure, was practically the same as the one erected 1839-40.

For several years the question of building a new church was discussed by the membership, and finally the matter was definitely decided by its being ascertained that the roof of the old building was in a dangerous condition, and was liable to fall in. Nothing was left for the Methodists to do but to either repair the old strucrure at great cost, or to build a new one, and at a meeting of the Quarterly Conference held on January 29, 1907, it was decided to build a new church, and the following building committee was appointed: Dr. S. M. Hosmer, chairman, F. D. Gulley, R. F. Monette, Wm. E. W. Yerby, Thomas Johnson, Thomas E. Knight, L. J. Lawson, W. C. Christian and E. A. Powers.

The contract was let to John A. Straiton, contractor, for $17,984.91, and work on the present building was begun on June 21, 1907, and finished in June, 1908. The above price does not include the interior furnishings. These cost in the neighborhood of $10,000 - including windows, organ and heating. While the church was building, services were held for more than a year in the Greensboro Opera House, which was kindly tendered the congregation free of rent, by the owner, Mr. J. A. Blunt.

The following is as complete a list of the presiding elders and preachers in charge who have served this district and station as it was possible to obtain :

The Greensboro Baptist Church

The Baptist denomination was among the earliest, and at one time the most important, of the Christian denominations in Greensboro and vicinity. The Rev. Joseph Ryan in 1819 organized the first Baptist church in this part of the State. It was known as Salem Baptist church, and was situated in the eastern part of Greensboro near where the Marion and Newbern roads fork. The members who were present at the organization were : James Hutchins, Offa Caloway, Samuel Caloway, Thomas and James Gresham, David Eddins and Messrs. Thomas and Seaton. In addition to those mentioned, other members were : Louis and David Stevens, C. C. Latimore, Thomas Ward, James Brantley and wife. In 1820 a large frame church was built. It had neither laths nor plaster, with wooden shutters, without glass, and was seated with wooden benches. This church stood on the south side of the Main road and immediately east of the present Newbern road. Near the head of the swampy hollow in the rear of the Williamson old place (at present owned by

The Rev. Joseph Ryan was pastor of Salem Baptist church for about twenty years. He came to Greensboro from South Carolina, and was ordained as a minister at Tuscaloosa, Ala., in 1819. After resigning his pastorate here he moved to Sumter county, residing near Gaston, where he died in 1845. Rev. Daniel P. Bestor succeeded Mr. Ryan as pastor, a position he filled with marked ability for some years. He also had charge of the Greensboro Female Academy from 1841 to 1846, and also represented Greene county in the Legislature several terms. He died in Mobile on the 9th of April, 1869, aged at)out 65 years.

Rev. Thomas Chilton

Rev. Thomas Chilton succeeded Mr. Bestor as pastor, and remained as such until about 1850, when he moved to Newbern, Ala., where he resided for two years and then went to Texas, where he died some years afterwards.

During the years 1851-52-53, Rev. C. F. Sturgis was pastor. He in turn was succeeded by Revs. Russell Holman, W. S. Barton, W. C. Buck, J. C. Wright, and T. W. Toby until 1865 when the church ceased to exist.

In 1842, Peter Mclntyre, for the consideration of $2,- 700, sold to the Baptists the lot on which the court house now stands, and they proceeded at once to build what was then considered the finest church edifice in west Alabama. John Crossland was the contractor. This building was, in 1867, sold to the town of Greensboro, and by the town donated to Hale county as a court house, and served as such until 1907, when the old building was torn away to make room for the present court house. The town paid the Baptists $8,000 for the property.

In 1820, the Cahaba Baptist Association convened in Salem church, and in 1823, while the church was on the lot at the forks of the Marion and Newbern roads, the Alabama Baptist State Convention was organized. There were present twenty delegates, representing twenty-eight churches with a membership of about 7 000.

Salem church, in its day and time, numbered among its membership many prominent people. Besides those already mentioned may be added Dr. W. T. Hendon, Green Huckabee, Hayward Lawrence, Harris Tinker, Wiley Croom, C. C. Huckabee, Jesse Croom, George Deal, Mrs. Kissie Croom, George Pollard and Messrs. Coates and Harmon.

In 1834 the Baptist Convention met with Salem church and established the Baptist Manual Labor School. Some objected to the name "Manual Labor," and it was later called "The Alabama Institute of Literature and Industry." This school was located in the neighborhood of the old Breen place about a mile northeast of the present court house. The school was largely attended for several years. The pupils were required to do a certain amount of labor in the field or elsewhere each day, for which they were allowed a small sum per hour. A. J. Holcombe was Secretary of the Board of Trustees. The institution proved a failure, and the buildings were sold at auction. These buildings were a row of one-story frame houses of two rooms each, with shutters at the windows. There were a half dozen or more of them.

When Salem Baptist church was dissolved in 1865 the Baptists were left unorganized in Greensboro, until February 18, 1894, when the present church was established. On that date nine Baptists met in the court house and organized "The Greensboro Baptist Church." Rev. W. B. Crumpton, D. D., Secretary of the State Board of Missions, and Rev. S. 0. Y. Ray, State Evangelist, assisted in the organization. The constituent members were: T. J. Kinnaird, Wm. Martin, Mrs. Rachael Martin, Thomas Mitchell, R. D. Redding, Misses Mattie Redding and Nannie Redding, and P. H. Wilkerson and wife. The church was duly incorporated on the 10th day of September, 1894.

On July 8th, 1894, Rev. A. R. Hardy, the first pastor of "The Greensboro Baptist Church," begun his work, services being held in the court house until the present church edifice was erected. On August 8th, 1896, the property on which the church and the pastorium now stand was purchased from D. W. Taylor, Syd Taylor and Lily Taylor, the deed being made to the Alabama State Convention. The lot and the residence standing thereon (the present pastorium) cost $1600.

The first Sunday School was organized in 1895 with P. H. Wilkerson as superintendent. The first baptisms - seven in number - took place Nov. 22, 1896, in a pool, made for the purpose, in the rear of Col. L. J. Lawson's pasture on Tuscaloosa street.

Rev. A. R. Hardy, labored earnestly and most efficiently for the upbuilding of the church until his death on December 1, 1896 at Greensboro. The membership was largely increased under his ministry, and it was through his untiring efforts that the present church was erected.

In April 1897, Rev. Mr. Barnes was called as pastor, but remained only a short while. During the years 1898 and 1899 Rev. R. G. Patrick, D. D., President of the Judson Institute, supplied the church.

On the 7th day of July, 1899, the contract was let to John A. Straiton to build a one story frame church on the Northeast corner of Centreville and Main Streets. The cost was about $2600. The building was commenced in October, 1899, and completed in March, 1900. It was dedicated on January 14, 1900, - Dr. W. B. Crumpton preaching the dedicatory sermon.

In March, 1900, Rev. W. W. Lee became pastor, and continued as such until his resignation in September, 1902. Rev. John G. Apsey kept up the preaching services after Mr. Lee's resignation until the arrival of Rev. T. M. Thomas as pastor in June, 1903. In July, 1904, Rev. T. M. Thomas tendered his resignation and went as a missionary to China.

From the time of Mr. Thomas's resignation until the coming of Rev. J. G. Dobbins as pastor in June, 1905, Maj. John G. Harris filled the pulpit once a month.

From a membership of nine in 1894 it has steadily grown, until there are in the neighborhood of one hundred enrolled as members of "Hardy Memorial Baptist Church" at Greensboro.

St. Paul'S Episcopal Church

As far as can be ascertained, the first service by a clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church was held in Greensboro on the 14th day of March, 1830. On that date a congregation was duly organized, the original compact being signed by the following persons : R. E. Meade, R. W. Withers, Wm. T. Boiling, T. B. Randolph, J. B. Stickney, Jno. F. Abbott, Ryland Randolph, T. S. Washington, John Morrast, John Malone and D. W. Witherspoon. The following composed the first Vestry: Dr. Richard E. Meade, Dr. R. Inge, Dr. R. C. Randolph, Frank Inge, Esq'r, Dr. R. W. Withers, Wm. Murphy, Esq'r, J. B. Stickney, Esq'r, Col. Samuel Pickens and J. Bell, Esq'r. At a meeting held August 22d, 1831, by this Vestry it was resolved to enter into negotiations for the erection of a church edifice, but this plan failed to materialize, and the attempt to organize a parish at this time was abandoned.

On December 24th, 1833, at a meeting held by a number of citizens, certain persons were appointed as vestrymen, and St. Paul's, Greensboro, was selected as the name of the parish, but not until about 1840 was this parish duly incorporated.

In 1834, the Rev. C. S. Ives was connected with this parish, but how long his connection lasted is not known. The Rev. J. B. Goodman took charge of the work in 1837 and continued to serve as rector until 1842, when he was succeeded by Rev. Julian E. Sawyer. The next rector was Rev. S. Patterson who, in 1845, was succeeded by by Rev. J. S. Marbury, who continued the work until

1851, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Paul's. The Rev. J. M. Bannister was the next rector, who remained in the parish from 1851 to 1860, when he was succeeded by Rev. Richard Hooker Cobbs, D. D., who took charge on September 1st, 1861, and served continuously for forty-six years, - resigning the rectorship in September, 1907. He was again re-elected as Rector in March 1908, and so urgent was the request on the part of Vestry and congregation, that he accepted.

The present church building was erected in 1840, but has been considerably improved since that time - a chancel being added in 1855, and the building was enlarged and much improved in 1872. The Sunday School room, immediately north of the church, was erected in 1906.

The first baptism recorded in this parish was on January 14, 1838, and confirmation was administered for the first time on Good Friday, April 13, 1838, by Rt. Rev. Dr. Kepper, Missionary Bishop of Missouri.

In 1840 Bishop Polk visited this parish, and in May, 1844, Rev. Dr. Cobbs, father of the rector who served the parish forty-six years, was elected the first Bishop of Alabama, by a convention sitting in this church.

The first sermon ever preached in Greensboro by a Presbyterian minister was some time prior to 1822, when Mr. Hunter delivered a discourse. In 1822, Rev. James Hillhouse came from South Carolina and delivered his first sermon in a small house used as a tavern. The next year (1823) he organized a church of twenty members, and the same year a house of worship was erected where Mrs. Mary G. Pickens now resides. On the first roll are the names of Norris, Knox, Hall, Hunter, Hillhouse, Darragh, Bell and Barron. Except during the period from 1830-1832 Mr. Hillhouse served as pastor until his death in 1835. Such was the growth of the church under his administration that the congregation was able to offer in 1836 a salary of $2,000 per year.

The church has numbered among its membership some of Greensboro's most honored and prominent men. On the roll will be found such names as Witherspoon, Kerr, Locke, Lowry, May, Strudwick, Webb, Carson, Castleman, Boardman and others. The number of persons brought into the church since its organization has been something over six hundred.

This church has furnished seven or eight ministers, and there have been associated with it, as pastors, seven ministers: Witherspoon, Chapman, Mitchell, Otts, Clark, Ready and Anderson; and as stated supplies, nine: Kill-

The Masonic Lodge now in existence in Greensboro - known as Lafayette No. 26 - dates back to the year 1826, though it would appear from the minutes of the Lodge that it was the successor to one which had formerly been organized in the town. From an old, faded and dim minute entry the following is taken :

"3y virtue of the foregoing Dispensation from the Right Worshipful John B. Hogan, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Alabama, a special communication of the Lafayette Lodge No. 26, was begun and held at the store house of Samuel Reed & Co., in the town of Greensborough on the 19th of August A. L. 5826, A. D. 1826."

There were present at this first communication the following : Josiah Downing, Worshipful Master ; Franklin Shaw, Senior Warden; Ebernezer Whiting, Junior Warden; Nathan Baker, Treasurer; Thomas B, Childress, Secretary; James B. Scott, Senior Deacon; Benjamin H, Mann, Junior Deacon ; Lathan Cooper, Tyler ; also visiting brethren J. B. Stickney, James C. Harrell and William T. Scott.

A committee was appointed "to collect the jewels and furniture of the former lodge held at this place, value them, and report at the next communication."

In order to ascertain something in regard to the "former lodge" referred to in the above, a letter was written to the Grand Secretary at Montgomery, the reply to which is here inserted :

I am in receipt of your favor of the 16th instant and take pleasure in giving you the information we have concerning the first Lodge instituted in your city.

The name of said Lodge was Washington No. 17. The petition on which dispensation was issued said Lodge January 8, 1822 was signed by Hiram Shortridge, Ina Nelson, Ebernezer Whiting, Samuel G. Briggs, Samuel Dickenson, Lawrence Carr, Joseph Middlebrooks, Joseph B. Stickney. Recommended by Rising Virtue Lodge No. 4.

A Charter was issued December 10, 1823 to Thomas Sheriden, Henry Halbert and John P. Martin, signed by Horatio G. Perry, Dep. G. M., David Moore, Dep. G. W., A .Hutcheson, S. G. W., Thomas Owen, J. G. W., W. I. Adair, Grand Secretary, p. t.

The Lodge surrendered its Charter, Jewels, etc., June 10, 1825. The books, jewels, etc., were delivered to L Downing, W. M., of Lafayette Lodge No. 26 in August 1826, with a petition to the Grand Lodge that its members be permitted to join Lafayette i-odge, signed by the W. Master Henry Halbert.

Prior to the dissolution of Washington Lodge No. 17 held at the Orient of Greensborough the meetings were so thinly attended and the members so dispersed that it was not in my power to make a return to the last annual communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, and therefore solicit their indulgence for any omission of duty I may have reluctantly committed.

Agreeably to an order of the right Wovshipful first deputy Grand Master dated in August last, I delivered the funds and furniture of the late Washington Lodge No. 17 to Brother L Downing, Worshipful Master of Lafayette Lodge in this place, as also the books and papers. The funds of the late Washington Lodge were barely sufTicicnt to defray the expenses and it was with some difficulty that I have been enabled to collect the necessary dues to the Grand Lodge forwarded heretvith: I therefore hope and trust that the restrictions, if any, may be removed so far as that: Every

At a communication of Lafayette Lodge No. 26, held on February 20th, 1827, it was ordered "that a petition for a Charter for this Lodge be forwarded to the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Alabama before the next regular communication."

The Charter was promptly granted, and bears date of March 21st, 1827. It designates Franklin A. Shaw as Worshipful Master; Josiah Downing as Senior Warden, and Ebenezer Whiting as Junior Warden. The Charter is signed by Nimrod E. Benson, Grand Master, John B. Hogan, Deputy Grand Master, and John G. Acker as Grand Secretary. The sheep-skin upon which the charter is written is now yellow with age, and has been in the lodge room for more than three-quarters of a century ; yet, it is in a fairly good state of preservation, and is likely to witness the coming and going of several more generations of Masons.

No reference is made in the ancient minutes of the Lodge in regard to where the communications were held from August, 1826, until January, 1833, at which time the agitation of the question of building a lodge room was begun. From some of the old inhabitants we have heard that the Masons met in the early days in a building situated somewhere near the present shops of George DeLaney - this location was probably where Washington No. 17 met.

It would seem that the Lodge went to work in earnest on the lodge room proposition, for at a special communication held on February 15th, 1833, the following appears on the minutes :

The committee appointed to select a lot on which to erect a lodge room reported "that the lot of Col. McAlpine cannot be obtained on the terms anticipated by the Lodge,

"that Mr. Sanders' lot and Mr. Peck's lot be put in nomination, and the one which shall receive the greatest number of votes be taken as the site for a Lodge, whereupon it appeared that Mr. Peck's lot received the greatest number of votes."

The next week - February 22d, 1833 - the Lodge met and "the brethren were formed in procession and marched to the Methodist church, where an eloquent and feeling address was delivered to them by Brother R. L. Kennon; from thence they proceeded to laying the corner stone of the new lodge, which being performed with appropriate ceremonies, they returned to the lodge room."

The Masons participating in the dedicatory services were : J. S. W. Hellen, John Fife, V. T. Shell, John Cocke, Henry Webb, R. Shackleford, C. Jones, C. H. Cox, S. W. Webb, J. P. Hill, J. B. Scott, W. T. Scott, N. Pinkham, G. Goodrum, C. F. Stephens, John Craig, W. Earby, W. S. Harrison, Messrs. Noel, Halbert, Whiting, Stewart, Ocheltree and Garrett all of Lafayette Lodge; and visiting brethren R. L. Kennon, Thomas S. Abernathy, William Craig, James A. Beal, T. F. Moody, John Nelson, Joseph B. Stickney, J. Middlebrooks, J. Downing, James Chambers, J. E. Frierson, F. J. W. Nelson, T. Goodrum, W. D. Baldwin, J. D. Cash, Willis Nail, John P. Lipscomb, John McGinnis, 0. Eddins, A. McMillan.

"Resolved that the site agreed on for the location of a lodge room be rescinded, and that a committee of three be appointed to circulate subscriptions for the purpose of raising sufficient funds to build a Lodge Room on the top of Mr. Dickens' house; when brothers Cocke, Hellen and Webb were appointed."

This committee did not progress as rapidly with their work as did the first one appointed to select a site, for it was not until February 17th, 1835, that Mr. Dickens made the Lodge the following proposition :

"Having had a conversation with some of the members of your body on the subject of building a lodge room on my lot lying east of the Warrior House, I take this method of making you the following proposition :

I will erect a building of the same size of the one you now occupy on the street leading from Main street to Mr. Peck's family residence (Peck's residence was the W. W. Powers homestead) on the same terms that the one you now occupy was built, without the restriction that was laid on it. The lower room of the building is to be constructed so as to make a good Town Hall, and to be appropriated to that purpose, provided the citizens of our town will pay for it, if not, to be owned by myself. I am also willing to make a good title to the upper story on its being paid for, or to the whole building if the Lodge, or citizens, will pay the cost of the same, without any charge for the ground on which it stands; the room now occupied as a lodge room to be retained by the Lodge until the new one is finished, without any charge for rent, and then to be given up to me. I am, Gentlemen

Robert Dickens. N. B. It will be understood that I will make good all the expense the Lodge has been at in furnishing a part of the materials for building the present Lodge room."

This proposition was accepted and Dickens built the lodge room now occupied by the Masons of Greensboro. The amount paid Dickens was $629,54, this being ordered paid at the communication held on September 15th, 1835. In the month of April, 1837, a bill from C. Jones was presented "for work in building the Masonic Hall." The amount of this bill was $460.64. This was nearly two years after the payment to Dickens. The minutes disclose nothing further on the subject.

The career of Lafayette Lodge has been a long and honorable one. Many distinguished men have been numbered among the membership. Scattered throughout the length and breadth of the land are those who have been within the precincts of its Hall and have taken part in the Masonic work.

Dr. Thomas R. Ward

It will be noted that Dr. Thomas R. Ward served as Worshipful Master twenty-two years, - the longest in point of service of any of the Worshipful Masters.

Wm. E. W. Yerby has served the Lodge as Secretary for fifteen consecutive years, i. e., from 1893 to 1908 - the longest period ever served by any Secretary during the eighty-three years of its existence.

Royal Arch Chapter

Charles Whelan, H. P.; J. B. McVinoy, King; John Fife, Scribe ; Henry Webb, C. of H. ; R. Haygood, P. S. ; W. D.' Baldwin, R. A. C. ; R. B. Walthall, Charles Briggs, A. B. Winn, M. of Veils.

A charter was granted by the Grand Chapter dated December 6, 1838, and was forfeited in December, 1876. The following are the names of the High Priests :

John M. P. Otts, Jr., H. P.; William Smaw, King; John G. Apsey, Sr., Scribe; Lee M, Otts, John G. Apsey, Jr., A. C. Jones, George Findlay, R. U. Dubois, H. T. Waller. After the organization of the Chapter other members were: J. D. Hamilton, Wm, E. W. Yerby, T. G. Jones, John A. Straiton, Richard Muckle, Henry A. Andrews. George Delaney, N. L. Castleman, Chas. E. Waller, E. P. McCollum.

Knights Of Pythias

Eureka Lodge No. 29, Knights of Pythias of Greensboro, was chartered by the Grand Lodge of the State of Alabama on the first day of April, 1880.

The following are the charter members : Mayer Frank, S. Markstein, Abe Frank, Henry Beck, S. M. Marx, J. L. Levy, A. H. Williams, J. Friedlander, P. N. Booker, R. Inge, L. J. Lawson, J. B. Coleman, A. B. Loveman, J. M. Shivers, A. I. Klein and M. W. Redus.

The Charter is duly signed by George F. Taylor, Grand Chancellor of the State of Alabama. The charter members at once went industriously to work to build up Eureka Lodge No. 29, and the membership has at times been as high as one hundred.

Eureka No. 29 has never owned its lodge room, but has rented quarters from various parties. The first lodge room was the upstairs over the hardware store of George Findlay, - now occupied as The Watchman office. The meetings were held there for a number of years, and then the Lodge rented other quarters from M. Steinhart, upstairs in the building immediately in the rear of the Steinhart store. After remaining there for a term of years. J. A. Blunt built a room in the third story of the Opera

The Odd Fellows

On February 24, 1845, George W. Freiderick and five others, applied for and obtained a Charter to establish a lodge of Odd Fellows in Greensboro, and on the 1st of March, 1845, Grand Chaplain Williamson came to Greensboro and instituted Lodge No. 8, I. 0. O. F. It prospered for a time, and then the Charter was forfeited. There has been no lodge of Odd Fellows in the town for many years.

Jeffries A. Blunt Modern Greensboro

Any history of modern Greensboro with J. A. Blunt omitted, would resemble the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out, for no more progressive and enterprising man ever resided in the town, - nor one who took more pride in the advancement of everything that tended to the upbuilding of the place. His name is identified with many of the most substantial improvements that have been made of recent years.

Jeffries A, Blunt is the son of the late E. A. Blunt and his wife Mary Francis Hall Blunt, and was born in Marion, Alabama, on the 5th day of December, 1861. At the age of thirteen years - 1874 - he came to Greensboro and clerked in the general merchandise store of A. S. Jeffries for three years, at the expiration of which time he entered the employ of James W. McCrary, as a clerk in his store. He held this position for ten years, when he and M. M. Avery entered the mercantile business, buying out A. S. Jeffries, the style of the firm being Avery & Blunt. In 1894, upon the organization of the Bank of Greensboro, Mr. Blunt was elected as Cashier, which position he held until 1896, when he was elected as President of the institution, which position he has filled since that time to the present with marked ability and success.

Mr. Blunt served for a dozen or more years on the Town Council, and it was largely through his efforts that the cemented sidewalks were put down in the business portion of Greensboro, and also that the Main Street was cherted from the depot to the cemetery.

The reader will find, in perusing this volume, that Mr. Blunt's name is connected with a number of Greensboro's enterprises, and many of the principal buildings.

In 1897, Mr. Blunt erected a two story brick structure filling the space on the south side of Main street between the Steinhart building and the Dorman stores. In the upper story he fitted up a pretty Public Hall, and the building was given the name of the ''Opera House Block." This structure was burned to the ground on the night of Nov. 24, 1902, as were also the Dorman stores. It was the most disastrous fire in the history of Greensboro, the losses footing up about $70,000. In 1903, Mr. Blunt replaced the burned stores with the present handsome building - the most imposing ever erected in the town. The same year, Mr. C. A. Ramsey rebuilt the Dorman block, the present handsome stores being the result. In this block has been conducted since 1847, the Stollenwerck drug store, which was established in that year by Alphonse Stollenwerck, who died in Greensboro on August 11, 1900. Since his death, the business has been conducted by his sons. Mr. Stollenwerck was an honored and much respected citizen of Greensboro for more than half century.

First Houses Built After The War

It would be superfluous to state that for nearly twenty years after the close of the war between the North and South that enterprise and progress were unknown quantities in the smaller towns of this section. The people were disheartened, and had to adjust themselves to new conditions - conditions that were hard, and seemingly unbearable, for they were so different from those to which they had been accustomed.

It was not until the year 1884 that there was a semblance of building of new stores or residences in Greensboro. The sound of the hammer and the saw had been unknown for nearly a quarter of a century. But in 1884, S. H. Lawrence built the little wooden store house on the south side of Main street now occupied by Wynne as a beef market. He soon afterward erected a cottage on the lot on which is now situated the handsome home of Thomas R. Ward, Jr. A few years prior to this, Col. L. J. Lawson built his present residence on Tuscaloosa street.

The building spirit was soon caught by others, for in the early part of 1886 the residence of Mrs. W. D. Lee on Demopolis street was erected, and that of Prof. F. M. Peterson on Main street, - now owned by Thos. H. Jones.

Up to this time no building had been done in Greensboro worthy of note - indeed, so strange a thing was the erection of a house, that the writer recalls that as he was passing one of the structures mentioned above while it was in course of building, that a little girl asked him what the men who were at work on the residence were doing, and when informed that they were building a house she said: "Well, I declare! I thought that when God made the world He made at the same time the houses the people live in."

Other improvements begun to be made, and Greensboro was progressing well until the "Birmingham boom" broke in full force upon the citizens, not only of Greensboro, but of Hale county as well. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were carried there and invested - the buyers of real estate hoping to become immensely wealthy. Some of them did well - many others did not, but lost heavily when the inevitable crash came, and prices of real estate shot downward, the winds of adversity seeming to blow untempered upon the "shorn lambs."

The large amount of money taken from Greensboro to Birmingham during 1886 and 1887 almost put a stop to the progress of the town in the matter of new buildings for several years.

However, in 1887, Capt. S. T. Taylor moved to Greensboro from Mississippi, and purchased what was then known as the Scarff corner, at the intersection of Tuscaloosa and Main streets, and upon it he built the first brick store (possibly the one which W. W. Overstreet now owns and occupies being excepted) that had been built for forty years or more. J. S. Buchanan was the contractor at the price of $10,000. This only applies to the two story building on the corner - for the two stores immediately east of and adjoining this one were built by James W. McCrary in 1890.

In 1891, T. R. Ward & Son removed the small wooden building on Main street which Dr. T. R. Ward had occupied as an office for many years, and erected the present brick structure. The same year, G. W. Dugger added a story to the Greensboro Hotel.

Morris Steinhart in 1894 tore away the wooden building in which J. W. McCrary did business for many years, and erected two brick stores and a brick warehouse on the site.

In 1895, the colored Baptists begun the building of a large brick church on "Baptist Hill." The work, while at present well under way, has by no means been completed. The same year, W. E. Torbert built his present brick livery stable. Dr. A. Lawson also remodeled his bank building.

In December, 1896, the building on Main street known as the old Christian Hotel, was destroyed by fire. It had been standing since about 1829, and was at one time regarded as among the finest two story bricks in the town. It was for a long while kept as a hotel by Mrs. Christian, a saintly woman, whose memory is yet kept alive by the older inhabitants. She was the mother of Judge W. C. Christian and of Mrs. L. W. Turpin, now of Greensboro. In 1898 Mrs. W. C. Tunstall, who owned the property, had the present one-story brick stores erected on the site of the old hotel building.

In the old days there formerly stood a brick building where the Johnson-Winn Millinery establishment now stands known as the "Mansion House," which was kept as a hotel for a few years by the late Col. John G. Har- vey. While it was under his charge, sometime about 1843, the building fell, wrecking nearly everything on the interior and killing a jeweler named Munn.

In 1898, Benners and Jack removed the small wooden structures on Main street formerly occupied as law offices, and erected the two-story brick structure just east of Dr. Lawson's property. The same year Ed. deGraffenreid built the two-story structure at present occupied by Gulley & Christian,

In 1899, Tutwiler & Jones removed the wooden buildings on the corner east of the Benners & Jack building and erected the two-story brick that stands there at present.

In 1900, S. P. Stickney, who had purchased the L. Lawson property on Main street, removed the wooden structures standing thereon and erected the brick store occupied by F. F. Whittle, and also the one immediately east of it. This was the last wooden structure on the north side of the business portion of the town.

The passing of the old Lawson store recalled the memory of one of the noblest, sweetest-spirited Christian gentlemen that ever resided in the town - Lewis Lawson, the father of Dr. A. Lawson and Col. L. J. Lawson. He came to Greensboro from England, and for many years conducted a successful mercantile business here. In all good works he was foremost, and was true to every responsibility of life. Mr. Lawson died in Greensboro in December, 1881, honored and respected by those among whom he had resided for so many years. It was through his kindness of heart that Greensboro was indebted for another most excellent citizen - Richard Andrews, also from England. Mr. Lawson met Andrews, a wandering waif, in Mobile, and brought him to Greensboro and gave him employment in his store, where he remained until he was, in 1868, given the position as clerk of the Probate Court of Hale county, which position he filled with great credit until his death in January, 1907.

Modern Greensboro 123

In the earlier days of his life, Mr. Andrews followed the sea - being a sailor on a lumber ship that plied the ocean. »The wind never blew angrily that it did not recall to his mind his life as a sailor lad. There was one incident that was impressed indelibly upon his memory. While a severe storm was raging and the waves were running mountain-high, just as a sailor who was high up on one of the masts unloosing sails, uttered a frightful oath, a great gust of wind, more severe than any that had blown, swept him from the mast out into the angry waters. His body was never recovered. The thought of this poor fellow being ushered into eternity with that awful oath upon his lips always made this good man shudder.

In 1902, John A. Straiton established his manufacturing plant in Greensboro, where is turned out numerous articles for building and furnishing houses.

In 1906-7, J. A. Blunt greatly improved the Greensboro hotel, and also, a few years previous to this time, erected the building now occupied as the Postoffice, and also the offices immediately to the south of this building, practically opening up a new business section of the town.

The brick structures in Greensboro not mentioned as having been erected since the war have been standing so long that no present inhabitant remembers when they were built,

Greensboro is situated in the heart of a fine agricultural country, and while it may never become a very large city, it will always maintain a degree of prosperity proportionate to the success of those who cultivate the farms.

Water Works

It is a far cry from "the old osken bucket that hung in the well" to a modern system of water works, but that is the distance Greensboro has traveled. In the early days, the citizens were entirely dependent upon the water drawn from wells by means of rope and bucket for their supply. The business portion of the town was furnished from a couple of wells - one of which was located in the exact center of the Main street where it is intersected by Tuscaloosa street, and the other was in the center of Main street where it is intersected by Market and PostofRce streets.

As the town increased in population, these wells were found to be badly situated and were filled in, and three others dug in their stead, - one on the edge of the sidewalk on the south side of Main street nearly opposite the Powers store; one on the edge of the sidewalk on the north side of Main street at the southeast corner of the Greensboro Hotel, and the other on the south side of Main street on the edge of the sidewalk northwest of the Court House. These wells were supplied with pumps, instead of buckets, in 1874, and the citizens considered that quite an advance in the line of progress had been made. This method of obtaining water was continued until 1893, when a complete system of water works was inaugurated by Charles E. Waller, Esq., and the wells were filled up, and are now parts of the sidewalk.

History Of Greexsboro. A La Hon. Charles E. Waller

The first steps toward obtaining water works was made by the town authorities in 1890, when, with the object in view of obtaining an overflowing well of artesian water, they contracted to have one bored. The work was begun that year, and continued for about eighteen months on a lot which is now covered by the southwest corner of the Court House.

Just here it is worthy of note that one day, just as the workman had wearily picked through about twenty feet of rock at a depth of 520 feet, his auger suddenly dropped a distance of 15 feet, and the water in the piping that had for a month or more stood at a depth of 48 feet from the surface, receded to a depth of 110 feet. From these facts it was decided by those who know much of geology, that it was an underground river fifteen feet deep that had been struck. The iron casing was, after a time, forced through the gap, and the work of boring continued until a depth of 890 feet was reached, when the workman broke off his drill, and after many vain efforts to remove it, the well was abandoned, after an expenditure by the town of about $5,000.00.

Somewhat discouraged, but not entirely disheartened, by the first failure, the town authorities decided to try again, and put the workman to boring in the bottom immediately south of Main street where the Water and Light Plant is now located. They were successful here, for in a few weeks, at a depth of 432 feet, a bold stream was struck that overflowed gently. Another well was bored near this one, and at the same depth the same stream was struck. The cost of the two was only $550.00.

Not wishing to undertake the ''Municipal Ownership" problem, the Mayor and Council contracted with Charles E. Waller, Esq., to take the wells, and he at once proceeded to establish a system of water works. Mr. Waller paid the town $1200.00 for the last two mentioned wells and a couple of small lots adjacent. He was granted a franchise for a period of thirty years from 1893, - the franchise to be renewed and extended another thirty years at the expiration of the first period should he or his successors and assigns choose to renew the contract, and the terms of the contract having been faithfully complied with by the party of the second part.

Electric Lights

Greensboro, from its foundation up to the year 1883, never knew what it was to have even a street lamp. Looking at the matter now, it appears inconceivable that the citizens should have allowed the streets to remain in total darkness after nightfall for about 65 years, - but such is the fact, for it was not until 1883 that W. W, Powers appeared before the Mayor and Council and presented a petition signed by eighty citizens and tax-payers praying that body to erect twenty street lamps at convenient places on certain streets of the town. The petition was granted, and the lamps were, in a few months, placed in position. In 1885, the number of lights was increased to thirty. Mr. Powers was among the most sterling, progressive and successful business men of his day.

In December, 1899, the Mayor and Council granted James E. Webb of Birmingham, the privilege of erecting and operating an Electric Light Plant in Greensboro, and in 1900 the kerosene lamps that had been on duty for seventeen years were put out of commission, and their places supplied with arc lights, - twenty-three in number,

Mr. Webb purchased the Water Works of Charles E. Waller in 1900, and combined the Electric and Water Works Plants, - the combination being styled "The Greensboro Water and Light Company."

Mr. Webb continued to own and operate the plant until 1904, when it was purchased by J. A. Blunt and associates, by whom it is now owned and operated.

Artesian Wells

While a number of unsuccessful attempts have been made to get overflowing wells in Greensboro proper, yet a few miles south, and also west, of the town there are many of these wells - some of them furnishing great quantities of water. There is one located twelve miles southwest of Greensboro on what is known as the "Goodrum Place," that possibly furnishes a greater amount of water than any other in the United States. It is ten inches in diameter, and the water gushes out of the earth from a depth of six hundred feet in such volume that a sufficient quantity is furnished to run a grist mill, cotton ginnery, cotton press and saw mill. It was bored in 1852 by Col. Samuel Pickens, and for over half a century it has continued to flow with imperceptible diminution in the quantity of water. To give an idea of the amount of water that is furnished by the well, it is only necessary to state that the trough around it is four feet across, and when the water falls back it fills the trough from side to side.

The grist mill, ginnery and saw mill run by the water from this well are situated on a hillside about a hundred yards away, and the water is carried to it by means of a canal cut in the solid limerock. Just under the mill house is a well three feet in diameter and forty feet deep. In this, at a depth of twenty-five feet, is a turbine wheel, and the water from the canal is turned on when it is desired to put the machinery in motion. A tunnel from the bottom of this 40-foot well has been cut a distance of a hundred yards - ranging upward - and the waste water is turned into a branch. The accompanying picture gives some idea of the magnitude of this remarkable artesian well.

Fire Companies

The first Fire Company organized in Greensboro was on the 28th of February, 1868, on which date a number of citizens of the town met in the old Franklin Hall and discussed the necessity of such an organization. R. H. Jackson was chairman of the meeting, and Dr. Jas. D. Osborne was secretary. After a thorough discussion of the matter, and the passage of a resolution to form "The Greensboro Fire Company," the following officers were elected :

On December 16th, 1869, an Act was approved incorporating the Greensboro Fire Company No. 1, the corporate name being the "Greensboro Fire Company No. 1, of the town of Greensboro, Alabama," Those named in the body of the Act as incorporators are : L. J. Lawson, R. H. Jackson, George Breitenbach, E. T. Hutchinson, T. J. Seay and A. H. Benners. The following is a roll of "Greensboro Fire Company No. 1:"

Fire Companies 131

In 1893, the Fire Company of which the present is the successor, was organized, and the old Market House was set apart by the Mayor and Council as a fire house. It was overhauled and made a very suitable place for the storing of the fire apparatus. It is yet in use by the Company. The members of the present Greensboro Fire Company are as follows :

Court House And Jail Col. Stephen F. Hale

In honor of whose memory Hale Covmty was named. He was a prominent lawyer of Greene County, Ala., residing at Eutaw, and represented Greene in the Leg:islature a number of terms. He was a soldier in the Mexican War, 1845, and made a brilliant record. He held the rank of Lieut -Colonel in the Confederate war, belonging to the Army of Virginia. Col. Hale was killed in 1862 in one of the battles around Richmond.

On January 30th, 1867, the Legislature passed an Act creating Hale county. It was named for Col. Stephen F. Hale, a prominent and highly respected citizen of Greene county, from which latter county Hale was carved. The first election for county officers was held in March of the same year, and resulted in the election of Alfred H. Hutch-

At this election the question of locating the court house was submitted to a vote of the people. There were three candidates for the county seat, namely : Greensboro, Bucksnort, and Five Mile Church. The vote was as follows : For Greensboro, 570 votes ; for Bucksnort, 280 votes, and for Five Mile Church, 124 votes. Greensboro received 166 majority over all, and was declared the county seat of Hale county.

Pending the decision of the voters on the question of locating the court house, the citizens of Greensboro pledged that in the event the citizens of Hale would put it in Greensboro they would furnish the county a court house and jail free of charge. This promise they kept, but it was the cause of considerable friction for several years in the town when the question of raising the money to pay for the buildings was brought home to the tax payers.

On the 13th day of December, 1867, the Intendant and Council of Greensboro purchased from the Alabama Baptist State Convention their church building, then known as "Salem Baptist Church," for the sum of $8,000. The church stood where the present court house stands. The deed to the town to this property is signed by J. L. M. Curry and Charles Manley for the Baptists, and is witnessed by James D. Spiller and U. P. Walker.

On the 5th day of April, 1868, the "Intendant and Council of the Town of Greensboro," conveyed the property to Hale county, on the following conditions : "The use and right of property to the premises conveyed shall be and remain in the County of Hale so long as Greensboro shall remain the county seat ; but if at any time or in any event the said Greensboro shall cease to be the county seat of said county, and the purposes for which this deed is given should fail, then all right, title and interest in and to the said land and buildings conveyed shall revert to, and be vested in and belong to the said town of Greensboro, which shall then have the right to enter upon and take possession thereof."

The deed is signed by Amasa M. Dorman as Mayor, who by the way, was one of the most progressive and useful citizens of the town. He was Mayor of Greensboro for a dozen or more years and it was his pride to

The Old Court House

Which was torn down in 1907 to make room for the present Court House The middle portion of the old structure was formerly Salem Baptist Church.

beautify the streets of the town. To him Greensboro is indebted for the magnificent oaks along the Main street. He died March 20th, 1885, and is buried in the Greensboro cemetery.

Owing to dissensions of citizens in regard to the manner in which the Mayor and Council managed the court house and jail question, the Governor in December, 1868, removed the Mayor and Councilmen and appointed others in their stead. A special tax was levied upon the property in the town to pay for the court house and jail, and there was much dissatisfaction on the subject for some years.

It was not until September, 1871, that the present jail was completed and turned over to the county by the town. During the interim, the county used the calaboose of the town for a prison. It is still standing, a curious looking little two-room building situated almost in the heart of the city in the rear of the present fire house.

In November, 1905, the question of issuing $30,000 worth of bonds by Hale county, to bear 5 per cent interest, for the purpose of constructing a new court house was submitted to the people, and the bond issue was carried. In November, 1906, the contract was let, and in January, 1907, work on the present court house was begun, and the building was completed in May, 1908. John A. Straiton was the contractor, his bid being $44,767.19, It was found, before the contract was let, that the $30,- 000 was not sufficient to build the structure, so the commissioners at their August, 1907, term instructed the probate judge to issue twenty county warrants for the sum of one thousand dollars each and to sell them and get the money with which to complete the building. This was done the October following. These warrants are being paid yearly at the rate of $1,000 a year, and bear 6 per cent interest.

Graves And Graveyards

On the eastern edge of the woods in the rear of the Otts residence are quite a number of graves, the dead of Troy being interred there. No tombstones are to be seen, but the graves are bricked up, and all that is known is, that beneath the sod repose the remains of some of the ancient settlers of this section - their names and their history being entirely obliterated.