These Haleys are responsible for the naming of Haleyville Alabama,there
is a huge picture of the Haley Home inside the Dixie Diner in
Haleyville.
Green Haley was mentioned also in the Tories of the Hills,he was a
Church of Christ minister at the White House community church.
At the Haleyville Library there is a reprint of the 1889 edition
Haleyville news and it tells the story how the town was named in
exchange for a suit of cloths,also has pictures of the Haleys and their
familys.
Hope this helps someone.
Betsy
The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section C, Page 3
OLDEST CHURCH OF MARION
Hepsiba is said to be the oldest church in the county. The Rev. Bob
DUNCAN
preached a sermon there on its 105 anniversary in 1908. The church
was torn
down several years ago and the members moved to other churches.
This church belonged to the Liberty Association of the Oiginal(sic)
Order
of Baptist. The two other churches in this county belonging to this
association were: Lovejoy and Mount Joy. Other churches of this association
in Mississippi were: Marietta, New Ramah, and Ebinezar. Those in Franklin
County were Zions Rest and Bates Hill.
The following are some of those who preached and served as pastors at
Hepsiba: Henry CLARK, Bud STILL, James SUMNER, Wesley STIDHAM, John
CARTER,
Eli FREDERICK, Oscar HESTER, George STIDHAM, John GREEN, and R. C.
DUNCAN.
SHOTTSVILLE METHODIST CHURCH
The first Shottsville church was made fro hewn logs. The roof was of
cypress boards and wooden pegs were used for nails. It was located
about
two miles north of the present location and was called New Bethel.
It was
about twenty-four feet by twenty-four feet with a door on each side.
Church
services and school were held in the same building. The building was
erected sometime around 1840. In 1836 the REEDS and STONES moved here
from
South Carolina. John STONE may have been the first member. Early residents
were the EMERSONS, ROBINSONS, and SHOTTS. they came from Lawrence County
and settled along Bull Mountain. The preacher was a circuit rider who
preached at different churches every day. John ARNOLD was a local preacher
who marked everyone off the church roll who had folks who went north
after
the Civil War. John COWDEN was the preacher around 1892 and stayed
in
Hamilton. Samuel REED was an early Class Leader.
The Shottsville Cemetery was started in 1840 with the grave of John
Stone's
little daughter. His wife was buried there (sic) the church was moved
to
its present location beside the cemetery. It was a frame house. The
people
came to church in covered wagons drawn by steers. Some came from a
long way
for the Saturday night service and would spend the night in their wagons
to
be there for the Sunday service. Later many traveled by horseback.
The
ladies had side saddles and riding skirts. There were places at the
church
to tie the horses and blocks from which to mount.
In 1908, a singled, two-story house was built. It also served as a school
and an Odd Fellows Lodge. It was destroyed by fire and in 1936 the
church
was built by Rev. HANCOCK that served until the present building was
erected.
The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section C, Page 6
THE TOWN OF HACKLEBURG WAS SETTLED BACK IN EARLY 1800
Hackleburg is an agricultural village settled in the early 1800's. the
town
was named by the sheep-drovers of Tennessee because of the think growth
of
thorny plants called hack burrs which were destructive to the fleece
and
fatal to the sheep as the sheep were driven through Hackleburg to the
market at Tuscumbia. Hackleburg is situated at a point that was once
the
intersection of the Russellville Pipe and the Allen's Factory and Iuka
stage coach road. Northwest of Hackleburg are traces of the old Jackson
Military Road which branched from the Natchez Trace at columbia Tennessee,
and crossed the Tennessee River at Muscle Shoals. Along the Jackson
Military Road was strung one of the first telegraph lines in the South
in
1848. U.S. 43 Highway then crossed rugged, rocky country scarcely covered
with vegetation and mass. Southward were forested hills and broad lowland
fields.
Some of the first settlers were the FREDERICKS, COCHRANS, BOYDS, ROWES,
and
OSBORNS. The first post office near Hackleburg was called Chalk Bluff.
It
was about four miles south of town and was moved to what is known as
old
Hackleburg in 1885. W. W. FREDERICK was the first postmaster. W. W.
OSBORN
started the first store in 1884 at old Hackleburg. He also had a cotton
gin, saw mill, and grist mill.
the first church was the Congregational Methodist housed in a little
log
building about one mile south of town. some of the early members were
John
COLEMAN, B. P. CANTRELL, and W. W. FREDERICK. Later, from this church
was
organized the Methodist Church South. the building for the church was
erected at town in 1889 and because of some large cedar trees the church
was called Cedar Tree Methodist Church.
The Baptist Church was organized July 5, 1908. Some of the charter members
were: J. M. CONDEN and family, J. L. VANDIVER and family, and W. J.
BRYAN
and family. The Church of Christ was organized about 1912 and the Church
of
god about 1920.
The first school was held in the little log house of the Congregational
Methodist Church. When the Methodist Church was built at Cedar Tree,
the
school was moved there. School was held there until the school was
erected
on the Boyd place near the present site of the high school and elementary
school in 1913. This building burned in 1921 and classes were taught
in the
churches until the building was erected across from J. S. WALKER residence
in 1923, starting the first Hackleburg High School and Elementary School
moved to the present site.
The Illinois Central Railroad was under construction through Hackleburg
in
1906 and the first trains 4an in 1908. During the construction of the
railroad, an epidemic of small pox swept through the construction camps
killing many of the men who were [then] buried in the fields aside
the
track. The Hackleburg depot was built in 1910 and the first depot agents
were: Jess DOTY, Frank OSBORN and W. E. DOTY.
The Doodle Bug, a one-coach train, became a popular transportation vehicle
for the young and old. People rode the Doodle Bug to attend Fa So La
singings on Sundays, to go to the doctor and dentist, shopping and
to
school.
W. B. MIXON built the first store at the present site of Hackleburg
in
1906. The post office was also moved to its present location and W.
W.
FREDERICK was still the postmaster.
In the 1940's the Hackleburg Clinic was constructed. the earliest doctors
were: Dr. BROOKS, Dr. J. B. GOGGANS, Dr. W. B. MIXON, and Dr. J. L.
WILSON.
Others were Dr. WISER, Dr. SHERMAN, Dr. MATTHEWS, Dr. Earnest WEST,
Dr.
PYLE, and Dr. Robert HOLCOMB.
Hackleburg's water was supplied from the Big Cedar Tree Spring and Young
had the first water wheel works on the former MIXON farm.
In the late 1930's and early 40's, a convict camp was located a mile
west
of Hackleburg. These men helped to build the U. S. 43 Highway.
On April 12, 1943, a tornado severely damaged the town of Hackleburg
killing four persons, Mr. and Mrs. Bud POWELL and Mr. and Mrs. Walter
MANN.
Sonny JAMES of Hackleburg has become a famous and very popular country
singer and musician.
Among other settlers for Hackleburg were the GOWDERS, GREENS, HUDSONS,
SPRAGINS, YEILDINGS, FINCHERS, HOLCOMBS, WIGINTONS, CANTRELLS, FORDS,
ISOMS, MIXONS, WILSONS, PARAINS, LUNSFORDS, MILLERS, EVANS RAYS, ROBINSONS,
BAKERS, GUNNINS, HOLLANDS, TAYLORS, BARNWELLS, BURELSONS, SPRATLINS,
STELLS, KENNEDYS, JACKSONS, GOGGINS, INGLES, COLES, FOWLERS, MANNS,
BREWERS, QUINNS, WALKERS, QUILLINS, CLARKS, CLAYS, WOODS, and CLEMENTS.
The Kaolin plant was established about 1940 by the THOMAS brothers and
today the plant is still known as the THOMAS Kaolin plant. there are
13
employees.
The shirt factory was established in 1957 with bout 40 employees. Mid-South
changed its name to Blue Bell in 1967 and there is some 450 employees
today.
The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section C, Page 3
WINFIELD CHAMBER ORGANIZED IN 1949
The Winfield Camber of Commerce had its beginning in The Winfield Journal
Office, with former Editor Oscar RODEN and George THORNTON of The Pastime
Theatre discussing the importance and advantages of Winfield's having
a
Chamber of Commerce, and continued over many cups of coffee in the
cafes of
winfield(sic) and on the streets as initial plans were made for the
organization meeting held in January 1949.
George THORNTON was made temporary chairman of the organization and
Oscar
RODEN, executive secretary, and the organizing committee was composed
of
Ivan HILL, M. L. LUCADS, M. C. HOLLIS, Jr., L. C. JOINER, Dr. R. L.
HILL,
and T. A. CARNES.
Dr. R. L. HILL introduced the speakers at the organization meeting when
twenty-eight business men and individuals became charter members of
the
Chamber.
Fulmer HILL was elected the first president of the Winfield Chamber
of
Commerce; L. C. JOINER, vice president; Oscar RODEN, secretary; and
Bob
MOORE, Jr., treasurer. On the initial Board of Directors were: Ed HOLLIS,
L. C. JOINER, Ivan HILL, Fulmer HILL, Wally BARTHOLOMEW, J. M. HIGHTOWER,
Sr., Charles WHEELER, Bill ROBERTS, albert ERWIN, M. V. WHITE, Sr.,
M. L.
LUCAS, T. A. CARNES, R. M. WILBANKS, Dr. M. C. HOLLIS and Bob MOORE,
Jr.
Many of the leading businessmen have served in the Chamber of Commerce
official cabinet since that day in January 1949, and many worthwhile
plans
have led to great progress for Winfield and surrounding areas. The
Chamber
works in cooperation with the city council and the civic and social
clubs
to make Winfield more beautiful, a more desirable city, a more prosperous
city by encouraging industry, cooperating to establish Winfield's modern
hospital and other important projects.
The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section C, Page 4
BOSTON DATES BACK
Mr. and Mrs. Lee BEAUCHAMP were among the members of the earliest Primitive
Baptist Church at Popular Springs.
Singing Schools were also important events of the summer seasons in
these
earlier years. the LAMBERTS, Mr. Felix HOLT, and others were among
the
Singing School Teachers, and Mrs. Jim GIBBS remembers going to Professor
SHOWWALTER, Author of the Rudiment still used by Singing Schools in
this
section, when he taught a singing school in the Bethel Community when
she
was a young girl.
Farming constituted the occupation and means of finances for most of
the
pioneer citizens, and Mrs. John MOORE remembers that her family grew
all
their meat and other foods except flour, sugar, and coffee, when she
was a
child. They bought these items from the store of Bill and Johnnie BACCUS
at
Rock City.
The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section C, Page 4
THE JIM PEARCE FAMILY OPERATED THE FIRST WATER MILL LOCATED IN MARION COUNTY
Jim PEARCE was the son of John M. W. PEARCE who settled first in Georgia,
his ancestors coming from the French colonies of the Carolinas, then
came
on to settle at the area today known as Pearce's Mills in 1846. He
was a
farmer and also operated the first water mill in that section and the
first
in the county of Marion, and left behind him a valorous military record
as
a Veteran of the Mexican War and won the title of Captain through gallantry
in the Confederate army in the War between the States.
Captain Jim PEARCE was born in Georgia in 1843 and came to Pearce's
Mills
with his father at the age of three. As he grew older, he brought much
activity to the place which bore his father's name, including merchandising
and other industry such as grist, flour and saw mills and was an extensive
farmer. He served many years as Postmaster of Pearce's Mill and owned
thirty thousand acres of land in that area and Marion County at the
time of
his death in 1915. He was one of the earliest Masons of Marion County.
He
was married to Delia Elizabeth CLARK who was born in what is known
today as
Hamilton, in 1846, and they had three children, Clovis, who died at
the age
of ten, Augustus, who was a merchant of Carbon Hill until his death
at the
age of forty; and Marvin, who died later in Winfield, Alabama. The
PEARCES
are said to have owned the first slaves in this section back in the
plantation days and up to the time that slaves were freed.
Marvin PEARCE was born at Pearce's Mills in 1879, had his early schooling
in Marion County and attended both the University of Alabama and Alabama
Polytechnic Institute, starring in football in both schools, his team
winning the hotly contested S.I.A.A. in 1897 in football. After his
college, he was associated with his father in the many businesses until
his
father's death in 1915.
Marvin was married to Minnie LILLICH, daughter of Lewis and Fannie GIBSON
ROBINSON LILLICH of Carbon Hill, and they lived for a time at the PEARCE
farms in the hamlet of Texas, between Winfield and Carbon Hill, and
later
moved to Winfield. Mr. PEARCE was vice-president of the Marion County
Banking Company, continued farming interests, and established a umber
of
businesses in Winfield, including the ice company and the famed P.
P.
Chevrolet Company. He served on the Winfield City Council, and was
a member
of the State Highway Commission of Alabama for three years. He was
also
active in civic clubs of Winfield.
Mr. Marvin had the first car in the county of Marion, a Cadillac in
1910,
and citizens all over Marion County have unanimously agreed his was
the
first.
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin PEARCE had two sons, Jim and Clark who also won
great
fame in the athletic fields, having been stars in their college years
at
Alabama and A. P. I.
Mrs. Marvin PEARCE continued to live in Winfield, since her husband's
death
and continued his business interests with the help of her sons who
made
frequent visits from their homes in Birmingham and Mississippi. Mrs.
PEARCE
had been active in many clubs also and continued active in the Booklovers
Club, however she modestly said that "We were not among the early pioneers
of Winfield as we came here much later, but the PEARCES are pioneers
of
Marion County."
The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section C, Page 4
WINFIELD'S DOCTORS - FROM DR. WHITLEY IN PAST TO PRESENT DAY
The first doctor to practice here was the Dr. WHITLEY who had wanted
the
depot located near his home. As stated he lived two miles east of here
and
two mile then was "equal to ten" now in the time it took to travel
it. So
doctors began moving into town. A Dr. IVEY was here for a very sort
time. A
Dr. WHEELER and Dr. J. R. EARNEST had an office together at one time.
Dr.
EARNEST came here from Mississippi. He rode a mule in making calls
that had
one white foot. He did this for a number of years. He son, Lynwood,
studied
medicine and then practiced here for years. He and his father served
this
section until their deaths. People called the son "Dr. Lynwood" to
distinguish him from his father. He was the husband of Mrs. Matie EARNEST
the teacher.
Dr. J. F. EARNEST's son-in-law, Dr. Vanderva HILL practiced medicine
here
for a few years before moving to Oklahoma. Dr. John RANDOLPH came here
from
Fayette and practiced several years. Dr. W. J. McCRAY came to us from
Guin.
There was a Dr. MORTON here for a short time. Then we've had Dr. R.
L.
HILL, Mr. MC. (sic) HOLLIS, Dr. R. H. BARNES, Dr. Edwin COUCH, deceased,
and Dr. R. J. SMITH. In 1952, Dr. HILL, Dr. HOLLIS, and Dr. COUCH wee
our
doctors. In 1949 a small modern hospital was built. The people of the
town
built it. Those who could, put large sums of money into the building
of the
facility. Some individuals furnished rooms;clubs and church
organization(sic) furnished rooms; a lot of men donated work and when
finished we were proud of it. Now there is a newer and more modern
hospital
in Winfield, Rankin Fite Memorial. The formal opening was July 1964.
The Clinic building was built in 1953 and opened in January of 1954.
Since
that time Winfield has another clinic behind the hospital facility.
Dr.
James GABA, Dr. Edwin COUCH, Dr. Wm. GABA, Dr. Henry M. LABICHE and
Dr.
Aubry L. SEWELL were the staff around 1964 or 65. Dr. Aubry L. SEWELL
is
the only one of these that remains with today's medical staff in Winfield.
Dr. James SHAMBLIN, Dr. John OVERTON, Dr. R. K. SEGHAL, and Dr. Ajay
PARGHI
make up the rest of the medical staff at present.
The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section C, Page 4
NEWSPAPER MAN AT BANQUET
The newspapers of Marion County, forerunners of the present one, were
built
up to a high level by the WILSON editors.
Three of the WILSON men once were editors of local papers. Jim WILSON
was a
prominent editor in the 19th century following in the footsteps of
his
father who was editor of the paper in the late 1800's. the Jim WILSON's
son
Steve WILSON followed the steps of his father and grandfather.
Steve WILSON was an honored guest at the Hamilton alumni banquet held
in
Hamilton last Saturday and Saturday (sic) night.
WILSON left Hamilton and went to work at a Fayette newspaper where he
worked for 18 months. Later he left Fayette and went to work with The
Birmingham News where he carried out various assignments for some 40
years.
Mr. WILSON's wife, formerly of Dadeville, Ala., accompanied him to the
Saturday night banquet. There were many of Mr. WILSON's old friends
at the
banquet including Judge J. E. SHOTTS, Clyde McKENZIE, Stone CRANE and
Mrs.
May DUNN HODGES.
The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section C, Page 4
FIKES' MAKE UP DENTAL TEAM FOR WINFIELD CITY
Winfield has had several dentists throughout the years. The first one
was
Dr. CHISHOLM. After that Dr. WOODBERRY, Dr. HARKINS, Dr. Marcus HILL,
Dr.
Murray CURL, Dr. BUSBEE, Dr. J. L. CLINE, Dr. Frank SHIREY and Dr.
MANN.
Dr. MANN practiced in the dental profession for sixteen years before
his
sudden death in April of this year. At present Winfield has two dentists,
R. E. FIKES D.D.S. and Jerry A. FIKES, D.M.D. Dr. Jerry FIKES is the
son of
Dr. R. E. FIKES and the two practice in the building located beside
HOLLIS
Pharmacy in Winfield. The son has often been referred to as "Dr. Jerry"
to
distinguish him from his father.