Reclaim Alabama: October 2019

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Autobiography of James Robert Maxwell https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nnc1.cu01501160&view=1up&seq=9

From page 16 of THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JAMES ROBERT MAXWELL: "These rock shoals under this bridge were the first in going upstream. About a mile above, where Lock No.10 now stands, were other rock ledges through or over which the river in low water had to find its way by several channels. These were utilized in a fishery business by a Mr. Suggs ,with several large fish traps where the water rushed through at a very rapid rate. The traps were simply a quite inclined plane ,the width of the rushing stream, with sides perhaps one to two feet high. The bottom of the plane was composed of two-inch pine slats placed one inch apart .Fish going downstream were washed up onto these slats through which the water passed, leaving the fish of all kinds flapping about just at the point where water passed through.

These fisheries furnished a good living to the owners. They often had more fish than they could sell in certain stages of the water and seasons of the year. There being no railroads to furnish quick transportation, and no icing facilities, there was, at times, a terrible waste of good food in the shape of decaying fish."

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Luckily, I recently discovered two letters written by Tuscaloosa school teacher Barbara Little during the Civil War. One of them was written on July 22, 1861, one day after the Battle of Bull Run. Before that first major battle of the Civil War, on July 11, 1861, Dominique D. Fiquet, Tuscaloosa native and Harvard Law School graduate, was one of the first Confederates ever captured by the Union Army in Northern Virginia, when he was apprehended near Fairfax Station, Virginia. Learning this has confirmed the events in Tuscaloosa in July of 1861 which were described in Mrs. Little's letter. https://books.google.com/books?id=FIOACwAAQBAJ&pg=PT43&lpg=PT43&dq=%22D.D.+Fiquet%22&source=bl&ots=j19kpYGu4s&sig=ACfU3U2Kit2UZ6zbHAkSZvPupAITh6uuLA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiXgKOI05nlAhXCc98KHcQwCLMQ6AEwBHoECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22D.D.%20Fiquet%22&f=false

Saturday, October 12, 2019

The Fifth Infantry was organized at Montgomery, May 5, 1861, and at once moved to Pensacola. A few days after, it proceeded to Virginia, and took post near Manassas Junction in the brigade of Gen. Ewell. It was in the skirmish at Farr's X Roads, and was on the field but not engaged at the first Manassas. It remained in the vicinity of Manassas during the fall and winter, and Gen. Rodes became the brigade commander in October - the Sixth and Twelfth of Alabama, and the Twelfth of Mississippi, being the other regiments of the brigade. Moving with the army to Yorktown in March 1862, it there re-enlisted and re-organized. It was under fire at Yorktown, and was on the field at Williamsburg. At Seven Pines the regiment received its baptism of blood, losing 27 killed and 128 wounded. The regiment was hotly engaged at Cold Harbor and Malvern Hill, losing 15 killed and 58 wounded. It was not at the second Manassas battle, but moved into Maryland, and shared in the stubborn conflicts at Boonsboro and Sharpsburg, losing 11 killed and 39 wounded out of the remnant present for duty. It was in line of battle on the crest, and saw Burnside's bloody repulse at Fredericksburg; and at Chancellorsville it was in the invincible line under Rodes that swept everything before it; reaping its brightest renown, and losing heavily. It moved into Maryland and Pennsylvania on the Gettysburg campaign, and its loss was very severe in that battle. Having wintered at Orange C.H., the Fifth, now reduced to a mere skeleton, participated in the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, and without severe loss. It took part in the subsequent operations as the lines began to be drawn around Petersburg, losing slightly at the second Cold Harbor. It went with Early into the Valley and across the Potomac, taking part in numerous engagements with the foe, and losing severely at Winchester. It soon after took its place in the memorable trenches of Petersburg, and wintered there. Only 25 or 30 men were around its colors when they were surrendered at Appomattox, under Capt. Riley. Of 1719 names on its rolls, nearly 300 perished in battle, 240 others died in the service, and 507 were discharged or transferred.

Friday, October 11, 2019

The two large buildings in the middle of the bottom margin of the image are the Episcopal church (labeled "F") and the old Baptist church. This is the same Episcopal church which still stands on the corner of Lurleen B. Wallace-North (Washington Street) and 6th Street (Cotton Street). Allen and Jemison demolished the old Baptist church to build their warehouse and lumber yard after the publication of this 1887 map. The new education building for the Episcopal church now stands on this corner of 7th Street (Union Street) and Lurleen-North (Washington Street). Diagonally across the street from the old Baptist church was the childhood home of James Robert Maxwell. I believe that antebellum house is pictured on this 1887 map. This property is now occupied by the county offices on the block behind the courthouse. The house to the north, directly across from the Maxwell's was M.D.J. Slade's house on the corner of Lurleen-North (Washington Street) and 7th Street (Union Street). That property is now occupied by a gymnasium. Slade was editor of the Tuscaloosa Independent Monitor and owned two large tortoises who made their burrows in Slade's backyard. Slade's newspaper office was located two blocks to the north where the old ABC store now stands on the corner of Lurleen-North (Washington Street) and University (Broad or Main Street). On the NE corner of the block south of James Robert Maxwell childhood home was the Catholic church (labeled "G") which is still standing on the corner of Lurleen-North (Washington Street) and 8th Street (Pike Street). The lot directly south of the old Baptist church (present-day courthouse block) was the Maxwell family vegetable garden. That property is now occupied by the rear of the courthouse. The house on the NE corner of this block about where our courthouse now stands was James Robert Maxwell's grandfather's house. I believe this antebellum house to be pictured on this 1887 map. Directly across 7th Street (Union Street) was the Odd Fellows Hall where Woodruff had his school. This building faced Greensboro (Market Street). I believe you can see this antebellum building on this 1887 map. On this map you can see a vacant lot behind the Odd Fellows Hall. This served as the playground for the Woodruff school students and where they played "town ball", a precursor to baseball with its own Tuscaloosa rules that made the game something like dodge ball with a hard baseball.

The NE corner of the block south of James Robert Maxwell's grandfather's house was occupied by the Methodist church and parsonage. The main chapel of First Methodist continues to occupy this property in the present day. On the SW corner of this block was the house of Mrs. Raoul, her son and two daughters. This is on the corner of Lurleen North (Washington Street) and 9th Street (Lauderdale Street). One of the Raoul girls married Captain Lumsden who taught at the University but resigned to form Tuscaloosa's local unit, Lumsden's Battery. On the SE corner of this block next to the Methodist church was the home of Dr. Reuben Searcy whose sons became noted Alabama physicians. I believe that on this antebellum house is pictured on the 1887 map. On the NW corner of the Methodist's church's block was occupied by the Captain Richardson of the steamboat OPHELIA's family. Directly across Greensboro Avenue (Market Street) from the Methodist church on the NW corner of the block was the Fiquet House ,where, according to the Barbara Little's August 1861 letter I transcribed, on the same day Tuscaloosa received the first news that fighting had commenced, Mr. Fiquet prepared a wagon filled with supplies to ship to Tuscaloosa boys who were involved in the first major battles of the Civil War. In the middle of the upper margin of the image you see the columned Rosenau house which was built by the Eddins family on the corner of Greensboro (Market) and 8th Street (Pike Street) (the Rosenau house was demolished for the construction of a motel). The church labeled "C" across the street from the Rosenau house is the Presbyterian which continues to occupy this property. I believe the house with the ornate garden behind the church was the new Presbyterian parsonage which replaced the antebellum Hopkins family frame house which had a porch that extended along the length of the NW corner of the Presbyterian church's block. The SE corner of this block was occupied by a one story frame house of the widow Douthet.

. Most of Tuscaloosa's white students attended elementary and "Jr. High" in two buildings on the north side @ the present-day intersection of Greensboro Avenue (Market Street) and 7th Street (Union Street). The large 3-story building labeled "A" at the corner of Greensboro and 6th Street (Cotton Street) is the Rising Virtue #4 Masonic Lodge. The Tuscaloosa County Courthouse was on the 2nd floor of this building. The Alston Building now stands on this lot. On the opposite or SW corner of this block was the Little family house where Mrs. Barbara Little had her primary school (in the 20th century the Little family built what was known as "the Little Block" on this property. I believe this is the building where Mr. Bill's used to be located. James Robert Maxwell states that the Diamond Theater [not the Blacks-only Diamond Movie Theater that was on the corner of 7th and 23rd] was located on that corner at the time he was writing his autobiography in 1923. Maxwell states that the trees planted on the median were water oaks but I bet some of them were willow oaks. Maxwell also states that chinaberry trees were planted along the sidewalk on the south side of the Little House. You can see a group of trees on the SW corner of this block. The house located directly across 7th Street from the Little house was Dr. Leland's. I believe it is pictured here in 1887. Directly across Greensboro from the Little house was the Odd Fellows Hall located at the present-day site of the Allen-Jemison building. This was the location of Woodruff's school which was more advanced than Mrs. Little's. On the NE corner of his block was the building that housed the City Hall on the second floor. It is labeled "A". The ground floor was an open-air meat market. Next to the City Hall and Market building was the calaboose or jail where owners sent their slaves so they could be given their 39 lashes for minor offenses from the town constable. Maxwell states that no retail establishments were on Greensboro before the Civil War and that the building on the present-day Shirt Shop corner was a furniture factory.

Tuesday, October 08, 2019

Monday, October 07, 2019

This is information about your Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandpa, Enoch Grubbs. He served in the American Revolution so this qualifies you for Sons of the American Revolution.

His son, William A. Grubbs, Sr., your G-G-G-Great Grandpa, brought your G-G-Great Grandfather, William A. Grubbs, Jr. to Alabama in 1830. They settled on the upper Pea River in South Barbour County. That's the disputed land that the Indians went to war over in 1836. Your G-G-G-Great Grandfather and his brothers fought in this war.

His daughter, Mary "Hetty" Grubbs is your G-G-Great Grandma. Her husband, John D. Belcher, was Missing In Action while serving in the Confederate Army. Your Great Great Grandfather, John Belcher, never knew his Daddy.

Enoch Grubbs Sr. was born about 1755. It is believed that he came to South Carolina from Virginia but this has not yet been proved. While his parents have not been determined so far, we have identified one possible sibling; a brother named James Grubbs. It has been said that Enoch Grubbs was raised in an old community know as Feasterville that was associated with the Scotch-Irish settlers.

Enoch Grubbs first wife was Floried K. Burton, (1757-1812), whom he married about 1775. His second wife, Mary Henson, born 1780, was the mother of his last six children. They were wed about 1815. We know that he was in the Camden District of Fairfield County, South Carolina as early as 1774. He died in Fairfield County about 1832. It is not know where he is buried.

Enoch Grubbs Sr. joined the South Carolina militia during the Revolutionary War. He served under Captains Anderson, Thomas, and Liles and participated in the Battle of Four Holes in November 1781. Four Holes is a branch of the Edisto River in south Central South Carolina. The records indicated that Enoch Grubbs provided oats for the Calvary under Colonel Washington, (probably Will Washington), during the Revolution. There was also some indication that he may have participated in the battle at Cowpens.

Probable issue of Enoch Grubbs Sr. and Floried K. Burton:
Â· William A. Grubbs Sr., born in Fairfield County, South Carolina, 6 October 1776 Â– died Barbour County, Alabama 26 February 1849, married Elizabeth (possibly Garvery), ca 1896.
Â· Mary (Martha?) Grubbs, born 1777 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died by 1816, married John Jennings.
Â· Rhoda Grubbs, born 1779 in Fairfield Co., SC – died 13 February 1841, married John Hedgepath in 1800.
Â· Sarah Grubbs, born 1782 in Fairfield Co., SC – died 11 June 1811, married (first name unknown) Lott
Â· Enoch Grubbs Jr., born April 1783 in Fairfield Co., SC – died January 1845, married (1) Elizabeth (last name unknown), (2)Sarah Rhoda Parnell, 1799.
Â· John Grubbs, born ca 1785 in Fairfield Co., SC – died ?, married Babe Banks.

Probable issue of Enoch Grubbs Sr. and Mary Henson:
Â· Asford Grubbs, born 1816 in Fairfield Co., SC – died ?, married Sarah (last name unknown).
Â· Thomas Grubbs, born 1818 in Fairfield Co., SC – died 19 July 1864 in Pontotoc, MS, married Gallisiah (last name unknown).
Â· Minerva Grubbs, born 1820 in Fairfield Co., SC - died ?, married Pleasant Thomas.
Â· Mathena “Martha Jane” Grubbs, born 12 February 1822 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died 7 May 1879 in Patroon, Shelby Co., TX, married Charles Stuart Jones.
Â· Sirena Grubbs, born 1824 in Fairfield Co., SC – died ?
Â· Lucinda Grubbs, born ca 1826 in Fairfield Co., SC – died ?, married Leonard Sinclair Pratt.

==================================

William A. Grubbs Sr. was born four months and two days, (6 October 1776), after our forefathers declared independence from England. Born in Chesterfield District, South Carolina, he was the first child of Enoch Grubbs Sr. and his first wife, Floried K. Burton. He married Elizabeth (possibly Garvery), about 1796. She was born about 1778 in South Carolina. In 1800, William Grubbs was living in the Camden District of Fairfield County, South Carolina.

All seventeen children of William Grubbs Sr. were born in South Carolina before moving to what was then known as Pike County, Alabama about 1830. The neighbors of William Grubbs in South Carolina included the Loveless, Deshazo and DeLoach families. It is believed that some of these families traveled in pioneer caravans from the Carolinas along with the Grubbs.

In 1830 William Grubbs Sr. patented land west of Clio near Pea River. This land was in Pike County at the time as Barbour had yet to be created. Between 1836 and 1848, four of William Grubbs children had entered into land near his original patent.

William Grubbs Sr. died 26 February 1849. His wife Elizabeth, at the age of seventy-two, was enumerated in the home of son Worthy J. Grubbs in the 1850 census. After raising seventeen children, she died at the age of ninety-eight, 21 May 1886. William and Elizabeth Grubbs are buried in the abandoned Bennett Cemetery located off County Rd. 5, 2.8 miles north of SR 10 in Southwestern Barbour County.

Probable issue of William A. Grubbs and Elizabeth (possibly Garvery):
Â· Rhoda Ann Grubbs, born 18 March 1797 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died ? Married (1) Robert Thompson Sr. (2) Hardy Graves
Â· Hannah Grubbs , born 24 August 1798 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died ?
Â· Thomas Grubbs, born 17 August 1802 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died ?
Â· Adam Grubbs, born 26 April 1802 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died 4 April 1888. Married (1)Demarris (last name unknown), (2)Nancy J. Motes
Â· Mary Grubbs, born 1803 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died ? Married (1) ? McDowell (2)John Sloan Jr. (3)Benjamin Parmer (4)Matthew Laseter
Â· William A. Grubbs Jr., born 7 July 1804 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died 10 November 1882. Married Nancy Parmer about 1829.
Â· Enoch Grubbs, born 26 July 1806 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died 30 January 1845. Married Mary Â“PollyÂ” Sasser
Â· Jincy Grubbs, born 26 August 1808 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died ? Married David Watson.
Â· Elizabeth Grubbs, born 14 March 1810 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died ? married Brice Holley
Â· Sarah Jane Grubbs, born 25 January 1812 in Fairfield co., SC Â– died ?
Â· Parthena Grubbs, born 30 May 1814 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died ?
Â· Winfred Grubbs, born 22 August 1815 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died by 1846 - married Mary Ann Cadenhead, 14 July 1835.
Â· Friendly Grubbs, born 16 Oct 1817 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died 24 November 1890 Â– married Elizabeth Caroline Mabry
Â· Worthy Jordan Grubbs, born January 1819 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died 20 October 1895 Â– married Lucitta Martin, 23, April 1844.
Â· Minerva Grubbs, born 18 February 1827 in Fairfield Co., SC Â– died ?
Â· (unknown female) Grubbs, married James F. Watson

Friendly Grubbs and Winfred Grubbs both served as privates in ColemanÂ’s Company, 42nd Alabama Militia during the Creek War.

Obituary of Friendly Grubbs from the Clayton Courier, Saturday 7 December 1878:
Died in Clayton, (Ala) on Sunday last, Mr. Friendly Grubbs, born October 16th, 1817. He served in the Indian Wars and was engaged in the battle at HobbyÂ’s Bridge in 1836. He went to Texas from this country in 1841 and enlisted in MierÂ’s expedition, he was captured and taken to the Castle of Perote, he escaped and was recaptured and tested to determine if he would be shot by drawing a white or black bean. He was lucky, his life was saved by drawing a white bean. he returned to Barbour Co. in 1846, married in 1847 to a sister of Gen. Seth Mabry and Col. J.W. Mabry, who survive him.
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William A. Grubbs Jr. was born 7 July 1804 in Fairfield County, South Carolina, the son of William Grubbs Sr. and Elizabeth Garvery. William Jr. married Nancy Parmer, daughter of Benjamin Parmer and his first wife, (name unknown). Nancy was born about 1806 in Georgia. She and William Grubbs were wed about 1829.

William Grubbs Jr. served in Turner and Beauchamp’s Company, 42nd Alabama Militia during the Creek War.

William Grubbs Jr. was a successful planter in Barbour County, owning a vast amount of land. The 1860 Barbour County census indicated that he had real estate valued at $11,500 and personal property valued at $29,000. His closest neighbors where he lived near Sandy Point in that census were his son-in-law and daughter, Abner Belcher and Nancy Emeline Grubbs. His closest neighbor in 1870 was Nelson Watson.

William Grubbs Jr. died 10 November 1882 near Sandy Point and his wife Nancy died 7 July 1879. An extensive search has been undertaken to locate their burial site but to date has been unsuccessful. It is highly probable that they are buried in unmarked graves at Mt. Aerial Church Cemetery near Cotton Hill.

The obituary for William Grubbs Jr, from the Eufaula Weekly Bulletin, Wednesday 15 November 1882 read:
Grubbs
Mr. William Grubbs aged 80, died near Sandy Point in Barbour County, on the 10th inst. He raised a large family.

The obituary for Nancy Parmer Grubbs from the Times and News on Tuesday 29 July 1879 read:
Grubbs,
Mrs. Wm. Grubbs age 73 years, living near Cotton Hill (Barbour County) died on the 7th inst.

Known issue of William A. Grubbs Jr. and Nancy Parmer:
Â· Mary Ann Grubbs, born ca 1830 – died 18 July 1892 or 1897 – married George W. Richards, 11 November 1847
Â· Elizabeth Jane Grubbs, born 20 August 1831 – died 28 February 1905 – married Moses Eason Bush, 15 August 1849. They are buried at New Hope Cemetery.
Â· Nancy Emeline Grubbs, born ca 1833 in Barbour County, AL – died by 1870 – married Abner Belcher, 3 July 1851.
Â· Sarah Amanda Grubbs, born 18 March 1836 in Barbour Co., AL – died 21 Jul 1908 – married John J. Price, 20 January 1853.
Â· Worthy J. Green Grubbs, born ca 1837 in Barbour Co., AL Â– died 13 July 1862 Â– married Sarah Jane Loveless, 27 April 1854
Â· Hetty Grubbs, born ca 1840 in Barbour Co., AL – died by 1883 – married (1)John D. Belcher, 8 January 1857 (2)Jordan Lovelace, ca 1867
Â· Martha Savannah Grubbs, born ca 1842 in Barbour Co., AL – died by 1883 – married (1)James R.J. Floyd, January 1856 (2)John Vinson, October 1865 (3)Olin M. Searcy, 20 march 1868
Â· Lydia Grubbs, born ca 1845 in Barbour Co., AL – died by 1883.
Â· Winford Seth Grubbs, born 28 march 1848 in Barbour Co., AL – died 23 August 1878
Â· John W.M. Grubbs, born ca 1849 in Barbour Co., AL Â died ?

Worthy J. Green Grubbs, son of William Grubbs Jr. enlisted for Confederate service with Co. G of the 29th AL Inf. Reg, 10 August 1861 at Clayton. He died of disease or injury at Camp Jackson, 13 July 1862. His wife remarried to W.L. Eastridge. In 1868 William Grubbs jr. filed a petition in the courts alleging that Sarah Jane and W.L. Eastridge were "wasting said property and likely to become insolvent and that the petitioner (W. Grubbs Jr.) will probably sustain loss." He asked that the courts revoke the letters of administration to S.J. Eastridge in order to protect the interest of his two minor grandchildren, Mary A. Grubbs and

Sunday, October 06, 2019

"I've got something he'll never have." ~ Joseph Heller, author of CATCH-22 (my Daddy was in the same 12th Air Force unit with Heller during WWII)
https://forge.medium.com/the-life-changing-magic-of-having-enough-38d78a5f6963

About a month ago I read Mary Inge Hoskins "Letter to the Editor" from the July 8, 1934 B'ham News and I knew right off the bat I was going to coming back to it and that I'd be learning more about Mary Inge Hoskins. Mary had been librarian @ Florence State Teachers College and she had no use for the recently published book, STARS FELL ON ALABAMA . Mary was 76 at the time she wrote this letter concerning former University of Alabama professor Carl Carmer's book and she felt that "through the printed page" Carmer did "impugn the standards of a proud people."She mentions Tuscaloosa three times in her letter and one of the sources Carmer used to find his Alabama folk material was a Mobilian named Francis Inge. Obviously, from the way Mary ends her letter to the B'ham News, she knew all the sordid details of how Mr. Carmer had to run for his life getting out of T-town after an irate father found out that the 30 year-old Professor Carmer had been intimate with his daughter, a BAMA coed.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8967281/mary-williams-hoskins

Friday, October 04, 2019

Henry W. Hilliard and William L. Yancey https://books.google.com/books?id=g_sdAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=Beamon+%22William+L.+Yancey%22&source=bl&ots=u2eC0krOlw&sig=ACfU3U1psV0DKg4L2k50OP5dyuc8YfbjxQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi7uMaj_ILlAhUMmuAKHbfxDwUQ6AEwC3oECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=Beamon%20%22William%20L.%20Yancey%22&f=false

Wednesday, October 02, 2019

This second image from the 1887 aerial city map is a pan to the right or one block to the west of the my first image. The two large buildings in the middle of the bottom margin of the image are the Episcopal church (labeled "F") and the old Baptist church. This is the same Episcopal church which still stands on the corner of Lurleen B. Wallace-North (Washington Street) and 6th Street (Cotton Street). Allen and Jemison demolished the old Baptist church to build their warehouse and lumber yard after the publication of this 1887 map. The new education building for the Episcopal church now stands on this corner of 7th Street (Union Street) and Lurleen-North (Washington Street). Diagonally across the street from the old Baptist church was the childhood home of James Robert Maxwell. I believe antebellum house is pictured on this 1887 map. This property is now occupied by the county offices on the block behind the courthouse. The house to the north, directly across from the Maxwell's was M.D.J. Slade's house on the corner of Lurleen-North (Washington Street) and 7th Street (Union Street). That property is now occupied by a gymnasium. Slade was editor of the Tuscaloosa Independent Monitor and owned two large tortoises who made their burrows in Slade's backyard. Slade's newspaper office was located two blocks to the north where the old ABC store now stands on the corner of Lurleen-North (Washington Street) and University (Broad or Main Street). On the NE corner of the block south of James Robert Maxwell childhood home was the Catholic church (labeled "G") which is still standing on the corner of Lurleen-North (Washington Street) and 8th Street (Pike Street). The lot directly south of the old Baptist church (present-day courthouse block) was the Maxwell family vegetable garden. That property is now occupied by the rear of the courthouse. The house on the NE corner of this block about where our courthouse now stands was James Robert Maxwell's grandfather's house. I believe this antebellum house to be pictured on this 1887 map. Directly across 7th Street (Union Street) was the Odd Fellows Hall where Woodruff had his school. This building faced Greensboro (Market Street). I believe you can see this antebellum building on this 1887 map. On this map you can see a vacant lot behind the Odd Fellows Hall. This served as the playground for the Woodruff school students and where they played "town ball", a precursor to baseball with its own Tuscaloosa rules that made the game something like dodge ball with a hard baseball. The NE corner of the block south of James Robert Maxwell's grandfather's house was occupied by the Methodist church and parsonage. The main chapel of First Methodist continues to occupy this property in the present day. On the SW corner of this block was the house of Mrs. Raoul, her son and two daughters. This is on the corner of Lurleen North (Washington Street) and 9th Street (Lauderdale Street). One of the Raoul girls married Captain Lumsden who taught at the University but resigned to form Tuscaloosa's local unit, Lumsden's Battery. On the SE corner of this block next to the Methodist church was the home of Dr. Reuben Searcy whose sons became noted Alabama physicians. I believe that on this antebellum house is pictured on the 1887 map. On the NW corner of the Methodist's church's block was occupied by the Captain Richardson of the steamboat OPHELIA's family. Directly across Greensboro Avenue (Market Street) from the Methodist church on the NW corner of the block was the Fiquet House ,where, according to the Barbara Little's August 1861 letter I transcribed, on the same day Tuscaloosa received the first news that fighting had commenced, Mr. Fiquet prepared a wagon filled with supplies to ship to Tuscaloosa boys who were involved in the first major battles of the Civil War. In the middle of the upper margin of the image you see the columned Rosenau house which was built by the Eddins family on the corner of Greensboro (Market) and 8th Street (Pike Street) (the Rosenau house was demolished for the construction of a motel). The church labeled "C" across the street from the Rosenau house is the Presbyterian which continues to occupy this property. I believe the house with the ornate garden behind the church was the new Presbyterian parsonage which replaced the antebellum Hopkins family frame house which had a porch that extended along the length of the NW corner of the Presbyterian church's block. The SE corner of this block was occupied by a one story frame house of the widow Douthet.

Tuesday, October 01, 2019

Autobiography of James Robert Maxwell https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nnc1.cu01501160&view=1up&seq=9

I'm attempting to better understand the layout of antebellum Tuscaloosa by comparing the 1887 aerial view city map with James Robert Maxwell's reminiscences of Tuscaloosa from before the Civil War. Most of Tuscaloosa's white students attended elementary and "Jr. High" in two buildings on the north side @ the present-day intersection of Greensboro Avenue (Market Street) and 7th Street (Union Street). The large 3-story building labeled "A" at the corner of Greensboro and 6th Street (Cotton Street) is the Rising Virtue #4 Masonic Lodge. The Tuscaloosa County Courthouse was on the 2nd floor of this building. The Alston Building now stands on this lot. On the opposite or SW corner of this block was the Little family house where Mrs. Barbara Little had her primary school (in the 20th century the Little family built what was known as "the Little Block" on this property. I believe this is the building where Mr. Bill's used to be located. James Robert Maxwell states that the Diamond Theater [not the Blacks-only Diamond Movie Theater that was on the corner of 7th and 23rd] was located on that corner at the time he was writing his autobiography in 1923. Maxwell states that the trees planted on the median were water oaks but I bet some of them were willow oaks. Maxwell also states that chinaberry trees were planted along the sidewalk on the south side of the Little House. You can see a group of trees on the SW corner of this block. The house located directly across 7th Street from the Little house was Dr. Leland's. I believe it is pictured here in 1887. Directly across Greensboro from the Little house was the Odd Fellows Hall located at the present-day site of the Allen-Jemison building. This was the location of Woodruff's school which was more advanced than Mrs. Little's. On the NE corner of his block was the building that housed the City Hall on the second floor. It is labeled "A". The ground floor was an open-air meat market. Next to the City Hall and Market building was the calaboose or jail where owners sent their slaves so they could be given their 39 lashes for minor offenses from the town constable. Maxwell states that no retail establishments were on Greensboro before the Civil War and that the building on the present-day Shirt Shop corner was a furniture factory.

Got a little mixed up about the location of one of Tuscaloosa's antebellum jails. It was next to the City Hall and Meat Market(Bama Theater) on Market Street (Greensboro Ave.). The fire engine house was between the City Hall and the Episcopal Church on Cotton Street(6th Street). Here's James Robert Maxwell's description:"City Hall now is was, at that day, the market house with butchers' stalls below, and rooms above for city offices. On the same northeast quarter square stood the city “calaboose,” a little brick cabin, isolated, perhaps twenty feet square, standing back from the sidewalk of Greensboro Avenue some twenty feet. It was in charge of the city marshal, at that date a Dr. Skinner; one of his duties was to apply the “cowhide” to the backs of negro servants who were sent to him for chastisement for small offenses not sub- ject to punishment by law—petty thefts, fighting amongst fellow servants, disobedience, etc. A note from the owner to the marshal and he would string the hands tied together up to a little pulley till the weight of body would almost be taken off the floor, and thirty-nine lashes, at the outside, on the bare back would be applied. I believe the law prescribed forty, but, to be on safe side, they would leave off one. There was a little window in the back wall of “cala- boose,” and the boys would get something to stand on, when they saw Dr. Skinner take in a patient, so they might witness the prescribed treatment. Next to the “calaboose,” in the southeast corner of that quarter square, was the office of Dr. William Leland. "

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