Selma, Alabama

“ The Alabama River flows a winding course from Montgomery southwest to Mobile Bay, first going westward to Selma. It passes a region of the finest cotton lands, where originally the old southern plantation system reached its richest development, and where the modern plan of smaller farms has been making some headway since the Civil War. Selma is the entrepôt of what is known as the Alabama "Black Belt," built on a high bluff along the river, and has cotton factories and other industries, including large mills for crushing the cotton-seed and producing the oil. ”

“ To present the merited claims of a typical southern planter of the olden days is the purpose of this sketch. Than these princely planters of the old South in the golden age of cotton, no more honorable, cultured, dignified, or hospitable class ever existed. None is more worthy to represent the great planting class of the South, and especially of Alabama, than Joel Early Matthews, who died at Selma, May 11, 1874. ”

“ He taught in his own county, was principal of Tullabody Academy at Greensboro, was a member of the faculty of Selma University, and was also of the faculty of the Baptist Academy at Marion. His principal pastorates have been at Greensboro, Ala., and Selma, of the same State. As Brother Green is full of good health, pluck and mental energy, there is no reason why he should not have a long and useful life as a Christian leader. He has held various honorable positions in the general work, and is now secretary of the Board of Trustees of Selma University. ”

“ Nearly every man of Wilson’s command had a canteen filled with jewellery gathered on the long raid through the richest section of the state. The valuables of the rich Cane Brake and Black Belt country had been deposited in Selma for safe-keeping, and from Selma the soldiers took everything valuable and profitable. Pianos were made into feeding troughs for horses. The officers were supplied with silver plate stolen while on the raid. In Russell County a general officer stopped at a house for dinner, and had the table set with a splendid service of silver plate taken from Selma. ”

“ Near Selma lived William Rufus King (1786-1853) , a Democratic representative in Congress from North Carolina in 1811-1816, a member of the United States Senate from Alabama in 1819-1844 and 1846-1853, minister to France in 1844-1846, and vice-president of the United States from the 4th of March 1853 until his death on the 18th of April; and Selma was the home of John Tyler Morgan (1824-1907) , a brigadier-general in the Confederate army in 1863-1865 and a prominent Democratic member of the United States Senate in 1877-1907 ”

“ In Selma beat the returns show that 2,642 votes were cast, and a majority of over 2,300 returned for Governor Jones. The facts are, that not exceeding 1,400 votes were actually cast in Selma beat, and fully 600 of those cast were for the Kolb ticket. The census gave Selma beat a population of only 7,600, all told, and yet, they return 2,642 of this population as having voted. ”

“ When, in 1876, the legislature of Alabama organized the city court of Selma, a court of common law with civil, criminal and equity jurisdiction, the bar of Dallas County recommended Judge Haralson to Governor Houston for the judgeship of this court. For sixteen years he presided over the court with [Pg 343] signal ability. At the end of that time he was elected to the supreme bench of the state, where he served for twelve years. ”

“ J. W. Strong, a man, so it is said, who used to be mayor of Selma, Ala. The writer first met the subject of this sketch while he was student in the Talladega College, and since his graduation from the Selma University, his course and success as pastor, teacher, missionary and lecturer, has been watched with pleasing interest. He was ordained to the ministry May, 1882, by Revs. Joe Smith and Henry Scott. He is a genuine friend of religion and education and being young and strong he has a large opening for future usefulness and fame. ”

“ We must not fail to mention the hospitality of the people of Selma, particularly of the Presbyterian Church. They received us most cordially, attended many of the exercises, expressing much interest in what they heard, and greatly cheered us by their Christian courtesy. 145
ALABAMA SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONVENTION. Young Man with Backbone—Refreshing Gathering. PROF. GEO. N. ELLIS, TALLADEGA.
We have just returned from the Fifth Annual Conference of the Congregational Churches of Alabama and the first meeting of the State Sunday-school Association held at Selma. ”

“ Foster, some time after his marriage and mature manhood, moved to Selma and graduated from the normal course of Selma University. He is a stirring, industrious, self-reliant man, who purposes to make his own way in the world without striding the back of any other man. He has occupied different pastorates and has served as missionary of the Eufaula Association. He has a comfortable home—free of debt—and lends a helping hand to missionary and educational enterprises. ”

“ Though his early life was spent on the farm, his youthful days were blessed with some educational facilities, which his discerning, appreciative mind turned to good advantage. After completing primary grades in his home schools, he, against the wish of his mother and protest of brothers, entered the State Normal School at Marion, Ala., with only $15 to begin the course of study prescribed. The next year he entered Selma University, studying during the school session and teaching in summer till 1888, when his mother, his only support since the death of his father, fell asleep. ”

“ ELLIOTT, LUTHER D., Cook, Mobile, Alabama. ELLENBURG, ROSS W., Pvt., Montevallo, Alabama. EMMONS, JESSE, Pvt., Flomaton, Alabama. EMMAL, THOMAS M., Pvt., 2612 Ave. H, Ensley, Alabama. FARR, JAMES H., Musician 3d class, 2101 1st Ave., Columbus, Georgia. FERGUSON, ARVEL, Pvt., Anniston, Ala. FOSTER, WARE, Musician 3d class, 612 Randolph St., Montgomery, Ala. FOX, JEROME A., Pvt., Birmingham, Alabama. FOXWORTH, CHARLES E., Pvt., 1115 Selma Ave., Selma, Alabama. FULCHER, FRANK F., Pvt., Enterprise, Alabama. GARDNER, JOHN H., Pvt., Talladega, Alabama. GLASS, HARVEY, Pvt., Maplesville, Alabama. ”

“ P. S. He is now in Birmingham, pastor of the Spring Street Church and principal of an independent school on the south side of the city. He will long be a power in the denomination, if watchfulness and temperance attend him.
Gulley, Daniel T., of Selma, son of John L. and Amy Gulley, was born near Snow Hill in Wilcox county, Ala. He was the property of James Gulley, whom he served as “waiting boy” till the close of the war. Doubtless this position was favorable in the direction of refinement and culture. A taste and relish for the study of books would naturally come of such environments. ”

“ Everywhere we have put our work not only into mind but we have put it into dirt, brick and stone. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of church property scattered throughout the State, as it is, affords a good foundation for future operation.
Miss Joanna P. Moore, Nashville, Tenn., thirty years Missionary to the Colored People of the South.
(b) School Property.—Our school at Selma is now worth about $30,000. It was bought in 1878 for $3,000, and has been in constant operation ever since, though at one time a debt of about $8,000 threatened its life. ”

“ HELM, WILLIE, Pvt., 1919 Small St., Selma, Alabama. HICKS, LEON, Pvt. 1st class, Andalusia, Alabama. HILL, ROBERT W., Pvt. 1st class, Napoleon, Alabama. HOLLAND, GEORGE, Pvt., New Brockton, Alabama. HOLLOWAY, WILLIE, Pvt., Enterprise, Alabama. HOOMES, LOUIS J., Pvt., Brooklyn, Alabama. HORNSBY, JASPER L., Pvt. 1st class, Sylacauga, Alabama. HUGES, ELLIS, Pvt., Rabelle Mfg. Co., Selma, Alabama. HUGHES, EUART C., Pvt., Route 2, Enterprise, Alabama. HUTCHINSON, ROSCOE R., Pvt., Enterprise, Alabama. HYSMITH, LOUIS J., Pvt., Elba, Alabama. JACKSON, ERNEST, Pvt., Selma, Alabama. ”

“ Before your last request to have Thomas make a campaign into the heart of Alabama, I had ordered Schofield to Annapolis, Maryland, with his corps. The advance (six thousand) will reach the seaboard by the 23d, the remainder following as rapidly as railroad transportation can be procured from Cincinnati. The corps numbers over twenty-one thousand men.
Thomas is still left with a sufficient force, surplus to go to Selma under an energetic leader. ”

“ Many other good and pious persons have been added to their number, so that no church in the State can now boast of a people more thrifty, aspiring and refined.
AUBURN ASSOCIATION.
Organized in 1870 by Revs. T. Glenn, D. Phillips, I. M. Pollard and others. This body operates chiefly in Lee, Macon and Tallapoosa counties. In the beginning of Selma University they contributed largely toward its establishment, and have since given it liberal support. Lately, however, they are struggling, under the leadership of Mr. and Mrs. Wells, to plant a school in Opelika. They number about 8,000 members. ”

“ The Tennessee was different. This was the most powerful ironclad built, from the keel up, by the Confederacy, and both the energy shown in overcoming difficulties and the workmanship put upon her were most creditable to her builders. The work was begun at Selma, on the Alabama River, one hundred and fifty miles from Mobile, in the spring of 1863, when the timber was yet standing in the forests, and much of what was to be her plating was still ore in the mines. ”

“ I had the best opportunity to learn him while I was pastor at Selma. Here he was superintendent of my Sunday School and aided me in my ward prayer-meetings. He completed two courses at the Selma University, graduating with the title of A. B., and with the highest confidence of all the faculty. In looking upon his open countenance one instinctively feels the impress of an honest, earnest man—a man free from hypocrisy and guile.
Bradford, Rev. William C., pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church, Union Springs, son of Henry and Elizabeth Bradford, was born in Montgomery, Ala., in 1862. ”

“ They were employed as teamsters, cooks, nurses, and attendants in the hospitals, laborers on the fortifications at Mobile, Montgomery, and Selma, around the ordnance factories at Selma, in the salt works of Clarke County, and at the nitre works of central and southern Alabama. Half as many whites could be released for war as there were negroes employed in military industries. The negroes employed by the authorities were usually chosen because trustworthy, and they were as devoted Confederates as the whites, all in all, perhaps, more so. ”

“ In 1879 he was induced, doubtless by denominational influences, to enter Selma University.
Both as teacher and as preacher he has been a very busy man. At different times he has been principal of the city schools of Opelika and Union Springs, and now he presides over the Evergreen High School. His most prominent pastorates have been the First Church, Union Springs, and the Bethel Church, Evergreen. For the latter church Mr. Hawthorne is now completing a good church edifice. In 1873 he was baptized at Pine Apple by Rev. W. Allen. In 1883 he was ordained to the ministry in Opelika by Revs. ”

“ Many changes were made upon the Board of Trustees. A committee was appointed to plan a change in our school charter. The session was stormy and far from pleasant. Dr. Pettiford made a good financial report. Rev. S. L. Ross was Sunday school missionary. Dr. Dinkins made a good beginning as president of Selma University. Rev. Lewis Brown was elected treasurer.
TWENTY-SEVENTH SESSION.
Held in Mt. Zion Church, Anniston, Ala., November, 1894. Rev. J. P. Barton was again elected president, and Rev. R. T. Pollard continued as secretary. Times peculiar and money scarce. ”

“ General Steele with the second army of invasion reported from Montgomery, May 1, 1865, that J. J. Seibels, L. E. Parsons, and J. C. Bradley [878] had approached him and had told him that two-thirds of the people of the state would take up arms to “put down the rebels.” [879] A meeting was held at Selma, in Dallas County, on May 10, and called upon the governor to convene the legislature and take the state back into the Union. Judge Byrd, [880] one of the speakers, said that the war had decided two things—slavery and the right of secession—and both against the South. ”

“ Beginning with 1886 he was for several consecutive years financial agent for Selma University. Resigning this work he was for sometime pastor of the church at Uniontown, where he was attended by his usual prosperity, both in gathering the people and in raising finances. This position he resigned in order to assume once more the office of financier for the University. At the present writing he is treasurer of the University.
Mr. Wilhite’s success is largely owing to the following: Self-reliance, industry, tact, perseverance, adaptability of himself and methods to the condition of the people. ”

“ Great credit is due to the teachers of vocal and instrumental music. The institution, already in such good condition, should have, at the earliest day, increased accommodations for boarding-scholars, enabling them to receive a larger number of mature pupils from all parts of Mississippi. From Tougaloo I went to
SELMA, ALA.,
for a day only. This is one of the prettiest towns in Alabama. The county has a dense negro population, so that the school must always have abundant patronage. It was pleasant to find here Mr. Silsby, whose father was an efficient worker in the same field many years. Mr. ”

“ It flows W. as far as Selma, then S.W. until, about 45 m. from Mobile, it unites with the Tombigbee to form the Mobile and Tensas rivers, which discharge into Mobile Bay. The course of the Alabama is tortuous; its width varies from 200 to 300 yds., its depth from 3 to 7 ft.; its length by the United States Survey is 312 m., by steamboat measurement, 420 m. The river crosses the richest agricultural and timber districts of the state, and railways connect it with the mineral regions of north central Alabama. ”