Alabama

Early European Explorers

Throughout the late 17th century and first 2/3 of the 18th century, Great Britain and France competed for control of North America.  Some have called this period, the Second Hundred Years War.  Although the European troops were not always fighting each other, their Indian allies were.  Spain had challenged Great Britain’s colonization efforts in the 1600s, but by 1705 its mission system in what is now Georgia had been wiped out by Native American and English raiders. English fishermen established camps and villages on the coast of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia the 1490s.  It is quite possible that they had … Read more

Chestnut Grove School History

In 1861, the people of Chestnut Grove Community near Ider, Alabama built a log house which was used for Separate Baptist Church and for holding school. In the years between 1861 and about 1920 four different school buildings existed. The fourth still stands on Highway 117 south of Ider.  In 1909, the teacher was Gladstone Yeuell. The following are pictured: Row one (l to r): Ed Wade, Herman Gifford, Rosevelt Craze, Charlie Ellis, Lee Chapman, Jess Crabtree, Conley Smith, Teddy Taylor, Flavous Beaty, Cicero Clark, William Craze, Rosa Lea. Row two (l to r): Chester Gifford, Robert Lea, Hardy Maxwell, … Read more

Highland Home College

Highland Home College

The Highland Home College was established, originally as Highland Home Institute, in 1881 by three individuals, Justus “Mack” Barnes, Col. M. L. Kirkpatrick and Samuel Jordan. J. M. Barnes established a school at Strata, the Strata Academy, on September 8, 1856, as a one-teacher school. The school was so successful that it did not remain a one-teacher school for long. It is not known how the school fared during the War between the states but was no doubt interrupted during this period. In 1872, Samuel Jordan, a brother-in-law of Barnes, became a co-proprietor and teacher. In 1879 another brother-in-law of … Read more

1928 Qualified Voters List For Crenshaw County Alabama

Beat One Surles – Coleman – Panola Anderson, C Anderson, L M Anderson, S C Anderson, T J Beach, Mrs Mary Lou (Croxton) Beck, A C Beck, W T Bennett, D L Bennett, F Cliff Bennett, G L Bennett, L A & Mrs Eunice V (Mitchell) Bennett Black, G E Blackwell, F E Blackwell, W E Boen, J C Bowen, Fred Bowen, Lloyd E Bowen, Mrs Mary Boyd, Cecil Brown, J W Bullard, P W Cauthen, G M Cauthen, M C Chambers, R O Churchwell, J P Cottingham, R W Croxton, A M Croxton, J E Croxton, John L Croxton, … Read more

Alabama Directories

This page provides a listing of the available online directories for the whole state of Alabama. By directories we mean any type of list of people residing in a community or related to a craft. Autauga County, Alabama Directories 1867 Voter Registration Books Baine County, Alabama Directories Baine County is now Etowah County. 1867 Voter Registration Books Baldwin County, Alabama Directories Baldwin County, Alabama Voters List: 1813 1816 List of Taxable Property Baldwin County, MS Territory 1817 Baldwin County Voters List 1867 Voter Registration Books 1916 Voter’s Registration Barbour County, Alabama Directories 1867 Voter Registration Books Bibb County, Alabama Directories … Read more

A partial list of early Postmasters in Crenshaw County

On June 15 1855 a post office was established and was known as Camp Creek in Butler County and Nathaniel R Daniel was appointed postmaster.  The name changed to Honoraville on April 27 1858.  The Post office was discontinued on July 25, 1866 but was re-established again on August 15, 1867. It was discontinued again on April 12, 1868 and again re-established on July 6, 1868 in Crenshaw County. On April 25, 1871 the name was changed to Nicholsville and was discontinued once more on Sept. 12, 1872.    On May 26, 1873 it was re-established as Honoraville with Alex T.  … Read more

A Short History of Saint Wilfrid’s Parish

The following is reprinted verbatim from a pamphlet issued by Saint Wilfrid’s: The Episcopal Church in Marion was established in 1838, the same year in which Judson College was founded. First entry in the parish register tells that the new church was organized at Eastertide by the Rev. John R. Goodman, then residing at Greensboro, under the name of St. Michael’s Parish. St. Michael’s was admitted to the Seventh Annual Convention on May 5, 1838, and was assessed $10.00 for contingent expenses. First rector of the parish was the Rev. Andrew Matthews, who served Cahaba as well as Marion. Since … Read more

Historic Shady Grove Methodist Episcopal Church

In February 1999, the historic Shady Grove Methodist Episcopal Church building was added to the Alabama Register of Historic Landmarks.  The historic wooden church was constructed around 1892 in the Ruby community, just west of Logan, Alabama in Cullman County. The building stands today much as it did when it was completed.  There are no electric lights, indoor plumbing or running water.  Air conditioning is provided by opening tall windows. The church and adjoining cemetery were built on seven acres of land donated by Richard and Jane McCain in December 28, 1882.  Mr. McCain’s grandmother Sarah McCain was the first … Read more

Bowman’s Chapel United Methodist Church History and Membership

Bowman’s (Boman’s) Chapel United Methodist Church and Cemetery is located at 7508 County Road 310 in the Trimble community. The church was founded around the turn of the century and re-organized in 1934. The site of the current building and cemetery was sold to the M. E. Church of Boman Chapel by Elza Titus Rooker Speegle and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Kilgo Speegle for $5.00 on November 2, 1918. The current building was built around that time. The fellowship hall was added by parishioners in 1991 at a cost of $13,000. The geographic location is Township 11, Section 16, Range … Read more

Biography of Joseph Raymond Hampson

JOSEPH RAYMOND HAMPSON – The work in which Joseph Raymond Hampson is engaged is eminently vital and important to the welfare of the people and the progress of the civic body. Mr. Hampson has had wide experience in this general field and has executed many large and important contracts, both for private individuals and for the United States Government. His outstanding success in these various achievements has given his name unusual recognition for a man still looking forward to many years of useful and progressive activity. He is a son of Louis and Viola (Lasher) Hampson, former residents of New … Read more

Achese Moves to Florida

In 1690 Scottish traders built a fort and trading post on the plaza of the ancient Ocmulgee acropolis. This development influenced towns located on the Chattahoochee River that were members of the People of One Fire, to move to the Ocmulgee River. The English and Scottish traders called the Ocmulgee River, Ochesee Creek. They mispronounced Achese as Ochesee. From this geographical name, the Creek Indians get their modern identity. The “Creek” village that located closest to the fort was called Oka-mole-ke, which in a Georgia dialect of the Muskogee language means “swirling water.” English speakers mispronounced it as Ok-mul-gee and … Read more

Alabama Slave Owners

Many wills contained information about slaves.  Reading these wills may provide the reader with a clue on their ancestors. Statewide Alabama Slave Owners Slaves in the Records of the Monroe Session, North Alabama Presbytery – 1823-1827 Autauga County Alabama Slave Owners Slaves deeded from George Anderson to son William Anderson – Jun 1831 Slaves sold by William Anderson to various – Feb 1836 Will [Aug 1840] and Appraisement of Estate of Nicholas Zeigler – Mar 1841 Barbour County Alabama Slave Owners Slave owned by J. R. Upshaw in the records of Liberty Baptist Church – Sep 1846 Chambers County Alabama Slave Owners Slaves in … Read more

Alabama African American Records

Alabama African American Genealogy online research is much more difficult due to the scant nature of record keeping for African Americans prior to the Civil War. This is the reason for creating a separate section for African Americans much like we have for Native Americans whose research can also be hampered by the available records. The links below provide an accurate reflection of what is available to be searched for black genealogy. Searching for African American families involves two distinct research approaches. These approaches correspond to the distinct change in the legal status of African Americans in the United States … Read more

Alabama African American Cemeteries

Cemeteries provide us with a unique link to our past. While many cemeteries contain a few African American graves, some are comprised of only African Americans. The following list shows  African American Cemeteries in Alabama.  You should also check AccessGenealogy Cemeteries for additional listings. Alabama African American Cemeteries Bullock County County Line AME Zion Church Cemetery (hosted at African American Cemeteries Online) Butler County Hosted at USGenWeb Archives Bennett Cemetery May Cemetery Pressley Cemetery Springhill Cemetery Stamps Cemetery St. Luke Cemetery (hosted at African American Cemeteries Online) Choctaw County Bethlehem Cemetery (hosted at Choctaw County Alabama ALGenWeb) Colbert County St. … Read more

Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements of Alabama

These pages will provide an alphabetical listing for all the villages, towns, and settlements in what was the state of Alabama at the time the Handbook of American Indian of North America was written. Abihka to Aucheucaula Cahawba Old Towns to Crow Town Emussa to Eufaula Faluktabunnee to Fusihatchi Galley to Ghuaclahatche Hatchichapa to Huhliwahli Ikanachaka to Istudshilaika