SALT SPRING IS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FOUR TOWNSHIPS OF RANDOLPH COUNTY,

AND IS ONE OF THE MOST WEALTHY, POPULOUS, AND INFLUENTIAL OF THE ELEVEN

TOWNSHIPS INTO WHICH THE COUNTY IS NOW DIVIDED. IT ALSO HAS THE DIS-

TINCTION OF BEING THE CAPITAL TOWNSHIP, HUNTSVILLE, THE COUNTY SEAT, BEING

WITHIN ITS LIMITS. GEOGRAPHICALLY, SALT SPRING IS ALMOST CENTRAL TO THE

COUNTY BOUNDARIES, AND CONTAINS 31,040 ACRES.

TOPOGRAPHICALLY, THE LANDS OF THIS TOWNSHIP ARE GENTLY UNDULATING,

ASSURING FINE DRAINAGE, AND ARE OF EVERY DESIRABLE ADAPTATION, WHETHER

FOR PASTURAGE AND THE VARIOUS GRASSES, OR THE MORE ACTIVE CULTIVATION OF

WHEAT, CORN, RYE, OATS, POTATOES AND THE SEVERAL ROOT CROPS.

IT CAN HARDLY BE SAID WITH PROPRIETY THAT THE TOWNSHIP CONTAINS ANY

PRAIRIE LANDS PROPER. IN THE MATTER OF TIMBER AND WOODLANDS IT WAS

RICHLY PROVIDED, ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF ITS ACREAGE BEING CLOTHED WITH FORESTS

OF WHITE, RED, BLACK, BURR, SWAMP AND PIN OAK, HICKORY, WALNUT, MAPLE,

ELM AND SYCAMORE.

AS WILL READILY BE CONJECTURED, THE TOWNSHIP NAME, SALT SPRING, HAS

A LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE. IT IS SO CALLED FROM THE EXISTENCE WITHIN ITS LIMITS,

AND SOME THREE MILES SOUTHWEST OF HUNTSVILLE, ON THE LINE OF THE WABASH

RAILWAY, OF A SALT SPRING, OR WELL, OF CONSIDERABLE VOLUME, AT WHICH, IN

THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, THE PIONEER SETTLERS, BY PRIMITIVE PRO-

CESSES, MANUFACTULED THEIR SUPPILES OF SALT, THE FIRST SYSTEMATLZED SALT

WORKS AT THIS PLACE WERE ESTABLISHED AND OPERATED BY DR. WILLIAM FORT,

AT A VERY EARLY DAY, WHO NOT ONLY SUPPLIED THE DEMAND OF THE REGION IM

MEDIATELY ROUND ABOUT, BUT WHO ALSO SENT LARGE SUPPLIES OF SALT TO VARIOUS

POINTS ON THE MISSISSIPPI AND ELSEWHERE EQUALLY REMOTE.

IT IS AMONGST THE TRADITIONS OF THE PEOPLE, THAT, AT AN EARLY DAY, THIS

SPRING, OR WELL SERVED NOT ALONE THE PURPOSES MENTIONED BUT WAS THEN,

AS IT IS NOW REPUTED TO BE. A FOUNTAIN OF HEALING, IN THE USE OF WHOSE

WATERS HEALTH AND REGENERATION CAME TO MANY HAPLESS VICTIMS TO ACUTE

AND CHRONIC RHEUMATISM, AND OTHER KINDRED PHYSICAL AILMENTS.

THIS TOWNSHIP IS ALSO WELL SUPPLIED WITH WATER, HAVING THE EAST FORK

OF THE CHARITON RIVER, WITH ITS SEVERAL SMALL TRIBUTARIES, CUTTING IT ALMOST

CENTRALLY FROM THE NORTHEAST TO THE SOUTHWEST, AND WITH SWEET SPRINGS

CREEK FLOWING ALONG ITS ENTIRE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY. OF FLOWING SPRINGS

THERE ARE BUT FEW, WELLS AND CISTERNS BEING RELIED UPON FOR DRINKING AND

GENERAL DOMESTIC PURPOSES.

SALT SPRING TOWNSHIP IS RICH IN COAL BEYOND ITS SISTER TOWNSHIPS OF

THE COUNTY; AND FROM THIS SOURCE IS NOW, AND FOR SEVERAL YEARS PAST, HAS

BEEN REALIZING MUCH PROFIT. OF WELL DEVELOPED COAL WORKINGS, THERE ARE

SEVERAL PROSPEROUS MINES IN THE TOWNSHIP WHICH PRODUCE LARGE QUANTITIES

OF COAL AND GIVE EMPLOYMENT TO HUNDREDS OF MEN.

THE OLDEST COAL BANKS WERE OPENED BY J. C. CHAPMAN AND DAVID

REECE, G. W. TAYLOR, I COOK, WILLIAM MITCHELL, J. A. STEWART, AND

ANDERSON & CO. HAD DRIFT MINES AT AN EARLY DAY.

JOHN SUTLIFF OPERATED A WOOLEN MILL HERE IN THE EARLV DAYS AND THELE

WERE THREE TOBACCO FACTORIES IN HUNTSVILLE, TWO OF THESE WERE OWNED

BY W. T. RUTHERFORD AND E. E. SAMUEL, JR., AND THE OTHER BY MISS BERNICE

MORRISON, OF ST. LOUIS, HUNTSVILLE WAS THE SECOND LARGEST LEAF TOBACCO

MARKET IN THE STATE, AND GENERALLY SHIPPED FROM TWO AND A HALF TO THREE

MILLIONS OF POUNDS PER ANNUM.

THE FIRST SETTLERS OF SALT SPRING TOWNSHIP WERE GENERALLY FROM KEN-

‘TUCKY, AS WILL BE SEEN FROM THE LIST OF NAMES GIVEN BELOW: FROM KEN-

TUCKY CAME HENRY LASSITER, HENRY WINBURN, VALENTINE MAYS, NEAL MUR-

PHY, CLARK SKINNER, BENJAMIN SKINNER, JOSEPH M. HAMMETT, WILLIAM FRAY,

BLANDERMIN SMITH, ROBERT SCONCE, WILLIAM BAKER, CHARLES BAKER, JOSEPH

M. BAKER, CHRISTLY BAKER, JEREMIAH SUMMERS, ARCHIBALD RUTHERFORD,

WILLIAM RUTHERFORD AND SHELTON RUTHERFORD. JOHN READ CAME FROM

NORTH CAROLINA. TOLMAN GORHAM CAME FROM TENNESSEE, AS DID ALSO

THOMAS GORHAM, SR., THOMAS J. GORHAM AND DR. WILLIAM FORT, JAMES

COCHRANE, JOHN WELDEN, JEREMIAH SUMMERS, WILLIAM ELLIOTT, ROBERT

ELLIOTT, JOSEPH HOLMAN, WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM AND ABRAHAM GOODDING WERE

OTHER EARLY SETTLERS.

DR. WILLIAM FORT, ABOVE NAMED, TOGETHER WITH TOLMAN GORHAM,

OPENED AND OPERATED THE SALT WORKS, WHICH WERE THEN LOCATED AT WHAT

IS NOW KNOWN AS THE MEDICAL SPRINGS, IN RANDOLPH COUNTY. THEY BEGAN

MAKING SALT IN 1823, AND CONTINUED TO SUPPLY A WIDE SCOPE OF COUNTRY.

EXTENDING MANY MILES IN ALMOST EVERY DIRECTION FOR MANY YEARS.

THE DOCTOR WAS THE FIRST PHYSICIAN TO LOCATE IN THE COUNTY, AND BEING

ONE OF THE OLDEST CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY, WE HERE INSERT THE FOLLOWING

WHICH WAS PUBLISHED AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH:

ANOTHER OF THE STRONG AND NOTABLE MEN OF THE PIONEER LIFE OF MIS-

SOURI HAS BEEN CALLED TO HIS REWARD IN THE PERSON OF DR. WILLIAM FORT,

OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, WHO DIED AT THE RESIDENCE OF HIS SON, HENRY T. FORT,

NEAR HUNTSVILLE, WITHOUT A STRUGGLE, AND FROM EXHAUSTION AND OLD AGE,

ON AUGUST 23, 1881, AGED 88 YEARS.

THE DECEASED WAS BORN IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, OCTOBER 19, 1793,

AND WAS A SOLDIER IN THE WAR OF 1812, UNDER GEN. JACKSON AFTER THE

CLOSE OF THE WAR AND ON MARCH 14, 1815, HE MARRIED MISS PATSY GORHAM,

WHO WITH FOUR OF THEIR SIX CHILDREN SURVIVE HIM.

IN 1817 HE PROFESSED RELIGION AND UNITED WITH THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

IN 1820, A YEAR BEFORE THE STATE WAS ADMITTED INTO THE UNION, HE

EMIGRATED WITH HIS YOUNG FAMILY TO MISSOURI AND SETTLED IN RANDOLPH

COUNTY AND ON THE FARM ON WHICH HE WAS BURIED.

HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE FIRST COUNTY COURT OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, AND

DURING HIS LIFE WAS ELEVATED BV HIS FELLOW-CITIZENS TO SEATS IN BOTH BRANCHES

OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ALWAYS DISCHARGING HIS OFFICIAL TRUSTS, AS HE DID

HIS PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS, WITH FIDELITY, PROMPTNESS AND

GREAT ACCEPTANCE TO THE PEOPLE, AIDING IN ALL THE RELATIONS OF LIFE IN LAYING

THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF WHICH HE WAS ALWAYS SO

JUSTLY PROUD.

HE WAS A DEMOCRAT OF THE SCHOOL OF JEFFERSON AND JACKSON AND DUR-

ING THE LATTER YEARS OF SENATOR BENTON’S CAREER, A LEADER IN THE STATE OF

THE ANTI-BENTON FORCES AND CONTRIBUTED NOT A LITTLE BY HIS INFLUENCE IN THE

FINAL OVERTHROW OF BENTON’S POWER IN MISSOURI.

DR. FORT WAS A MAN OF THE MOST EXEMPLARY PRIVATE LIFE; TOOK THE

RIGHT SIDE OF ALL THE MORAL QOESTIONS OF THE DAY, AND BEING FEARLESS AS

WELL AS DISCREET IN THE PROCLAMATION OF HIS OPINION, LEFT THE WORLD THE

BETTER THAT HE HAD LIVED IN IT. DECIDED IN HIS CONVICTIONS OF PUBLIC POLICY,

HE WAS CONSERVATIVE WITHOUT BEING TAME AND TOLERANT OF OPINIONS DIFFER-

ING FROM HIS OWN IN SHORT, HE WAS A STRONG CHARACTER AND HAS LEFT HIS

IMPRESS ON HIS GENERATION.

BY PROFESSION HE WAS A PHYSICIAN AND FOR MANY YEARS HIS PRACTICE

WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AND EXTENSIVE

WILLIAM FRAY ERECTED THE FIRST WATER MILL IN SALT SPRING TOWNSHIP,

ON THE EAST FORK OF THE CHARITON RIVER.

HUNTSVILLE.

HUNTSVILLE IS WELL LOCATED UPON AN ELEVATED AND BEAUTIFUL PLATEAU. ON

THE NORTH SIDE OF THE WABASH RAILROAD ON SECTIONS 25 AND 36 JUST A LITTLE

WEST OF THE CENTER OF THE COUNTY.

ON THE 5TH OF JANUARY 1831, THE FIRST STEPS WERE TAKEN TOWARDS

LOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT AT HUNTSVILLE, BY THE APPOINTMENT OF ROBERT WIL-

SON, COMMISSIONER. THE TRACT OR TRACTS WHICH COMPRISED THE ORIGINAL

TOWN SITE WERE DONATED TO THE COUNTY BY WILLIAM GOGGIN, GIDEON WRIGHT,

DANIEL HUNT AND HENRY WINBURN, AND THE COUNTY SURVEYOR WAS IMMEDI-

ATELY ORDERED TO LAY OFF THE LAND AND MAKE A PLAT THEREOF EACH OF THESE

DONATIONS CONSISTED OF 12 1/2 ACRES, WHICH FORMED AN EXACT SQUARE, TILE

DOME OF THE COURT HOUSE BEING THE CENTRE.

DANIEL HUNT, ONE OF THE DONORS ABOVE NAMED, WAS THE FIRST SETTLER,

LOCATING, HOWEVER BUT A LITTLE WHILE IN ADVANCE OF THE OTHER THREE. THESE

MEN WERE FROM KENTUCKY. THE TOWN WAS CALLED HUNTSVILLE IN HONOR OF

DANIEL HUNT, THE FIRST SETTLER.

THE FIRST SALE OF LOTS TOOK PLACE IN THE FOLLOWING APRIL AND INCLUDED

ALL OF THEM WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE FROM NUMBER 94 TO 99 INCLUSIVE

RESERVED FOR COURT HOUSE, LOT 155 FOR JAIL LOT, AND ALSO NUMBER 32, WHICH

IT WAS THEN THOUGHT NECESSARY TO HOLD BACK FOR A MARKET HOUSE. THE

MARKET HOUSE LOT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY SOLD. THE HIGHEST PRICE THEN PAID

FOR LOTS WAS $115. SOME OF THE LOTS SOLD AS LOW AS $3.25, WHICH ARE VERY

VALUABLE PROPERTY NOW.

THE ORIGINAL TOWN SITE OF HUNTSVILLE WAS DOUBTLESS COVERED WITH

TIMBER, JUDGING FROM THE FOLLOWING ORDER WHICH WAS MADE BY THE COUNTY

COURT WHEN THE TOWN WAS LOCATED:

ORDERED: THAT ALL PERSONS CUTTING TIMBER IN THE STREETS OF HUNTS-

VILLE ARE REQUIRED TO LEAVE THE STUMPS NOT MORE THAN ONE FOOT IN HEIGHT,

AND TO CLEAR ALL TIMBER SO CUT, TOGETHER WITH THE BRUSH.

THE PIONEER BUSINESS MEN OF HUNTSVILLE WERE DAVIS AND CURRIN. TO

WHOM WERE ISSUED THE FIRST TAVERN LICENSE, GRANTED BY THE COUNTY COURT

IN 1829. THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS WAS AT THE HOUSE OF WILLIAM GOGGIN.

DANIEL G. DAVIS AND WADDY T. CURRIN THE NEXT MERCHANTS WERE GARTH

AND GIDDINGS, DABNEY C. GARTHA AND BRACK GIDDINGS. THESE GENTLEMEN

WERE FROM VIRGINIA. GARTH REPRESENTED THE COUNTY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THEN CAME FIELDING, CLINTON AND GRUNDY COCKERILL, WHO DID A GEN-

ERAL MERCHANDISE BUSINESS UNDER THE FIRM NAME OF COCKERILL & CO. JOSEPH

G. DAMERON COMMENCED THE MERCANTILE BUSINESS IN THE SPRING OF 1835

AND IN 1842 HE BROUGHT THE FIRST PIANO TO THE COUNTY, ITS STRANGE AND IN-

SPIRING NOTES BEING THE FIRST EVER HEARD AMONG THE CLASSIC HILLS OF HUNTS-

VILLE

CONWAY AND LAMB WERE AMONG THE EARLIEST MERCHANTS. JOHN F.

RILEY WAS THE FIRST GUNSMITH; 0. D. CARLISLE WAS THE FIRST SADDLER; JOHN

GRAY TAUGHT THE FIRST SCHOOL IN A LOG HOUSE LOCATED ON THE PUBLIC SQUARE;

JAMES C. FERGUSON WAS THE FIRST SHOEMAKER; DR. WALLER HEAD WAS THE

FIRST PHYSICIAN TO LOCATE IN THE TOWN. HE WAS A NATIVE OF ORANGE COUNTY,

VIRGINIA, AND LOCATED IN HUNTSVILLE IN OCTOBER, 1831, WHERE HE CONTINUED

TO RESIDE UNTIL HIS DEATH, WHICH OCCURRED IN AUGUST, 1845. DR. JOSEPH

RUTHERFORD CAME SOON AFTER HEAD AND FORMED A PARTNERSHIP IN THE PRAC-

TICE OF MEDICINE WITH THE LATTER.

NED. GOGGIN (COLORED) OPENED THE FIRST BAKERY AND AFTER ACCUMU-

LATING QUITE A FORTUNE, HE MOVED TO PUTNAM COUNTY, MISSOURI. JOSEPH

VILEY ERECTED THE FIRST CARDING MACHINE AND COTTON GIN IN 1834. JOSEPH

C. DAMERON OPENED THE FIRST TOBACCO FACTORY. DR, J. J. WATTS KEPT THE

FIRST DRUG STORE; WILLIAM SMITH THE FIRST LIVERY STABLE. GEN. ROBERT WIL

SON WAS THE FIRST LAWYER IN THE TOWN. HE WAS ALSO THE FIRST COUNTY AND

CIRCUIT COURT CLERK, AND AFTERWARDS BECAME A UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM

MISSOURI. CLAIR OXLEY, FROM KENTUCKY, WAS THE SECOND LAWYER; HE AFTER-

WARDS DIED IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, WILLIAM GOGGIN ERECTED THE FIRST

MILL IN THE TOWN AT A VERY EARLY DAY. IT WAS A HORSE MILL AND WAS OPER-

ATED FOR NEARLY 35 YEARS.

ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE FOUNDING OF THE NEW TOWN, A FEW OF

THE OLD SETTLERS, ANXIOUS TO AMUSE THEMSELVES, OPENED A RACE TRACK NEAR

THE NORTHWESTERN PORTION OF THE TOWN. HERE MET THE SPORTING MEN AND

LOVERS OF THE TURF FOR SEVERAL YEARS, DRAWN HITHER AT STATED PERIODS TO

WITNESS THE SPEED OF SOME STRANGE OR FAVORITE HORSE. AMONG THE HORSES

WHOSE POPULARITY HAS COME DOWN TO US WERE WHITE STOCKINGS” AND

‘ALECK” THE FORMER THE PROPERTY OF BART MCDAMERON AND THE LATTER THE

PROPERTY OF HANCOCK JACKSON, IN 1837 ALPHONSO WETMORE, THE COMPILER

OF THE GAZETTEER OF MISSOURI, SAID OF HUNTSVILLE AT THAT DATE

HUNTSVILLE, THE SEAT OF JUSTICE OF RANDOLPH, IS NEAR THE CENTER OF

THE COUNTY. THIS TOWN IS FLOURISHING AND CONTAINS A GOOD BRICK COURT-

HOUSE, SEVEN STORES, ETC, THERE IS NO CHURCH IN THE PLACE, BUT PUBLIC

WORSHIP BY ALL DENOMINATIONS IS HELD IN THE COURT HOUSE AND IN THE SCHOOL

HOUSES OF THE TOWN AND COUNTY. THIS IS A FASHION THROUGILOUT MISSOURI

AND IT SEEMS RATIONAL TO OCCUPY ONE HOUSE FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES IN A NEW

COUNTRY. WHILE THE PEOPLE ARE BUILDING UP THEIR FORTUNES AND ERECTING

PRIVATE HOUSES AT THE SAME TIME THERE SHOULD HE INDULGENCE GIVEN UNTIL

THEY SHALL HE BETTER ABLE TO BUILD TEMPLES SUITED IN MAGNIFICENCE TO THE

GREAT BEING TO WHOM THESE WILL HE DEDICATED.

THE FIRST BANKING ENTERPRISE IN HUNTSVILLE WAS INAUGURATED ABOUT

THE YEAR 1866 BY WILLIAM M. WISDOM AND COURTNEY HUGHES. IT WAS

A PRIVATE INSTITUTION AND CONTINUED UNTIL THE DEATH OF MR. HUGHES, WHICH

OCCURRED IN 1867. THE BANK THEN DID BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME OF C.

WISDOM & CO., UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 1874, WHEN IT WAS SUCCEEDED BY THE

HUNTSVILLE SAVINGS BANK. THE BANK WAS AGAIN CHANGED IN 1878, TO THE

PRIVATE BANK OF J. M. HAMMETT & CO., WITH THE FOLLOWING DIRECTORS AND

STOCK HOLDERS F. M. HAMMETT, PRESIDENT JAMES W HAMMETT, VICE-

PRESIDENT; C. H. HAMMETT, CASHIER; B. F. HAMMETT, J. D. HAMMETT, W. R.

SAMUEL, M. J. SEARS, JOHN R. CHRISTIAN.

HUNTSVILLE LODGE NO. 30 A. F AND A. M. WAS CHARTERED BY THE

GRAND LODGE OF MISSOURI, OCTOBER 8, 1840. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE ONLY

THREE NAMES OF THE CHARTER MEMBERS THAT APPEAR UPON THE RECORDS: ED-

WARD SLATER, FLEMING TERRILL, THOMAS P. COATES.

RANDOLPH LODGE NO. 23, L. 0. 0. F. U-AS CHARTERED APRIL 29, 1847,

AND ORGANIZED AND OFFICERS INSTALLED JUNE 10, 1847. BY GLAND MASTER ISAAC

M. VEITCH, OF ST. LOUIS, ASSISTED BY CLALK H. GREEN, D. D, G. M.

THE HUNTSVILLE BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION U-AS CHARTERED FEBRU-

ARY 17, 1882. THE FIRST OFFICERS WERE WILLIAM SANDISON, PRESIDENT; T. M.

ELMORE, VICE-PRESIDENT; C. H. HAMMETT, TREASURER; J. C. SHAEFER, SECRE-

TARY.

THE HUNTSVILLE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED AT THE HOUSE

OF ZEPHANIAH WALDEN, NEAR HUNTSVILLE, IN AUGUST, 1837, WITH SEVEN CON-

STITUENT MEMBERS: THEOPHILUS EDDINE, ZEPHANIAB WALDEN AND WIFE, MARY

THOMAS MARTHA DAMERON, BENJAMIN TERRILL AND JAMES TERRILL, THE FIRST

CHURCH HOUSE IN THE TOWN WAS ERECTED ABOUT 1840.

THE FIRST ADDITIONS TO THE CHURCH WERE J. C. SHAEFER AND WIFE, IN

SEPTEMBEL. 1837. ON LETTERS OF COMMENDATION FROM THE BAPTIST CHURCH

AT CHARLOTTESVILLE. VA.

THE FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL IN THE TOWN OR COUNTY WAS ORGANIZED BY

J. C. SHAEFER IN AUGUST, 1839, AND HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED ON WITH

OUT INTERMISSION TO THE PRESENT TIME. THE PRESENT SUPERINTENDENT IS W.

R. SAMUEL.

SEMPLES OPERA HOUSE WAS FINISHED IN FEBUARY 1884. AND WAS THE

PROPERTY OF CHARLES SEMPLE

HUNTSVILLE WAS INCORPORATED MARCH 12, 1859. MARCH 10, 1871. THE

CORPORATION LIMITS WERE EXTENDED

L. S. BARRAD WAS THE FIRST MAYOR AND HELD HIS OFFICE IN 1859.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE PARTIALLY ORGANIZED IN HUNTSVILLE SOME LITTLE

TIME AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE WAR BUT THE ORGANIZATION WAS NOT COMPLETED

UNTIL 1877, WHEN A NEW SCHOOL BUILDING WAS ERECTED THE BUILDING AND

GROUNDS COST ABOUT $3,500. IT WAS A TWO-STORY FRAME STRUCTURE ALID CON-

TAINS EIGHT ROOMS. IN 1877. PROF M. C. MEMELLEN TOOK CHARGE OF THE

SCHOOL AS PRINCIPAL.

HUNTSVILLE HAS IN RECENT YEARS ERECTED A SPLENDID MODERN SCHOOL

BUILDING WHICH IS AN IMPOSING BRICK STRUCTURE WITH ALL MODERN SCHOOL

APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS AS FOLLOWS PRESIDENT, W. C SMITH;

SECRETARY, W. J. DAY; TREASURER, W. L. DAMERON; SUPERINTENDENT OF

SCHOOLS, J. A. BURNSIDE; MEMBERS, DR. D. A. BARNHART, CALLIE HALLIBURTON,

L B. JACKSON.

THE HUNTSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE: PRINCIPAL, MISS COURTNEY

JACKSON; TEACHERS, MISS SALLIE PATTISON, MISS FRANCES ROBINSON, MISS

OLLIE WOODWARD, MISS MOSELLE DENSMORE.

THE GRADE SCHOOLS TEACHERS ARE: 1ST GRADE, MISS NORA KIERNAN

2ND GRADE, MISS GERALDINE HAMMETT; 3RD GRADE, MISS KARLEEN SINGLETON;

4TH GRADE, MRS. LESTAL HAMS; 5TH GRADE, MISS VELVA DUNIVENT; 6TH

GRADE, MISS ESTHER DAVIES; 7TH GRADE, MISS ANNA PATTISON: 8TH GRADE,

MISS SARAH RUTHERFORD

IN 1853 THE CITIZENS OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, IMPRESSED WITH THE NEED

OF AN INSTITUTION OF LEARNING, AND WISHING TO SECURE TO THEMSELVES ITS

BENEFITS, DETERMINED TO ERECT SUITABLE BUILDINGS AT A COST OF NOT LESS THAN

$10,000. ACTING ON THE ADVICE OF HON- WILLIAM A. HALL, TO PUT THE INSTITU-

TION UNDER THE CARE AND PATRONAGE OF MOUNT PLEASANT BAPTIST ASSOCIATION,

A LETTER STATING THE ABOVE PROPOSAL, SIGNED BY WILLIAM A. HALL, H. AUSTIN

AND P. P. RUBY. IN BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, WAS AD-

DRESSED TO AND ACCEPTED BY THE ASSOCIATION, AILD THE INSTITUTION TOOK THE

NAME OF THE ASSOCIATION. UNDER THIS ARRANGEMENT THE MONEY WAS

SECURED AND THE BUILDING ERECTED. FEBRUARY 28, 1855, THE CHARTER WAS

OBTAINED. IN T857, THE BUILDING HAVING BEEN COMPLETED AT A COST OF

$12,500, AND A SCHOOL OF 170 PUPILS UNDER REV. WILLIAM THOMPSON, LL. D.,

PRESIDENT, AND REV, J. H. CARTEL, A. H., PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS, AND

MISS BETTIE RAGLAND PRINCIPAL OF FEMALE DEPARTMENT, HAVING BEEN TAUGHT

WITH GRATIFYING RESULTS ONE YEAR, THE INSTITUTION WAS FORMERLY TENDERED

BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO THE ASSOCIATION AND ACCEPTED; THE ASSOCIATION

AT THE SAME TIME PROMISING TO ENDOW THE COLLEGE REMOTELY UITH $25,000

AND WITHIN TO YEARS, WITH $10000, APPOINTED REV. NOAH FLOOD TO PRO-

CEED AT ONCE TO SECURE THE LAST NAMED AMOUNT AND PLEDGED HIMSELF TO

MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AND EFFICIENT TEACHERS UNTIL THE $10,000 ENDOWMENT WAS

SECURED. REV, W. R. ROTHWELL SUCCEEDED DR. THOMPSON IN THE PRESIDENCY

AND THE COLLEGE RAN TILL 1861, FILLING THE MOST SANGUINE EXPECTATIONS OF ITS

FRIENDS. PRESIDENT ROTHWELL GATHERED QUITE AN EXTENSIVE LIBRARY, PROVIDED

APPARATUS FOR CHEMICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL AND ASTRONOMICAL PURPOSES, SECURED

A CONSIDERABLE CABINET OF MINERALS AND FOSSILS AND ESTABLISHED THE CHAR-

ACTER AND REPUTATION OF THE COLLEGE. THE WAR OF 1861 CRIPPLED THE RE-

SOURCES OF THE SCHOOL, BY CUTTING OFF STUDENTS, AND A DEFICIT OF $580 IN

TEACHERS’ SALARIES WAS IMPOSED, WHICH FAILING TO HE MET BY THE ASSOCIA-

TION, THE. TRUSTEES OF THE COLLEGE LET IT TO PRESIDENT ROTHWELL WHO, AT HIS

OWN RISK, AND MAINLY BY HIS OWN EFFORT, CARRIED THE COLLEGE THROUGH THE

CLOUDS OF WAR INTO THE SUNSHINE OF 1868. THE SCHOOL WHICH HAD HITHERTO

BEEN SELF-SUSTAINING, OR CARRIED BY THE MAGNANIMITY OF PRESIDENT ROTH-

WELL TO 1866, NOW BEING CUT DOWN BY THE IMPOVERISHED AND UNSETTLED STATE

OF THE COUNTRY, MADE A MOVE FOR AN ENDOWMENT A NECESSITY, AND THE CALL

BECAME IMPERATIVE, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT MOUNT GILEAD CHURCH IN

1866. WITH EMPHASIS CALLED UPON THE ASSOCIATION TO REDEEM HER PAST

PLEDGES FOR ENDOWMENT.

Y. R. PITTS AND WADE M. JACKSON WERE APPOINTED SOLICITORS TO RAISE

$10,000 IN TWELVE MONTHS. THE NEXT YEAR (1868) THE ASSOCIATION AT

KEYTESVILLE, THROUGH Y. R. PITTS REPORTED AS ENDOWMENT:

IN NOTES $ 5,640.50

IN CASH 200.00

JERRY KINGSBERRY BEQUEST2,500.00

BALANCE UNPROVIDED FOR1,660.00

$10,000.50

THE BALANCE, $1,660. WAS RAISED BY SUBSCRIPTION AT THAT SITTING OF

THE ASSOCIATION.

IN 1870. MOUNT PLEASANT ASSOCIATION, WISHING FURTHER TO ENDOW THE

COLLEGE AND LEARNING THAT MACON ASSOCIATION WAS CONTEMPLATING BUILDING

A SIMILAR INSTITUTION OF LEARNING AT MACON CITY, IN THE ADJOINING COUNTY,

AND WITHIN 30 MILES OF HUNTSVILLE, PROPOSED TO MACON ASSOCIATION TO

CONSOLIDATE UPON MOUNT PLEASANT COLLEGE. OFFERING THEM FIRST, ONE-HALF

OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SECOND, REQUIRING THEM TO RAISE $5,000 TO BE

BLENDED WITH THE ENDOWMENT FUND, W. R. ROTHWELL, BENJAMIN TERRILL,

JOSHUA W. TERRILL, W. R. SAMUEL AND W. T. BECKELHEIMER WERE APPOINTED

A COMMITTEE WITH DISCRETIONARY POWER TO CONFER WITH MACON ASSOCIATION.

IN 1872, MACON ASSOCIATION HAVING CANVASSED HER ABILITY TO BUILD, AND THE

PROPOSAL OF MOUNT PLEASANT ASSOCIATION, AGREED BY RESOLUTION TO CO-

OPERATE WITH MOUNT PLEASANT ASSOCIATION IN BUILDING UP MOUNT PLEASANT

COLLEGE, WHEN THE COMMITTEE FROM MOUNT PLEASANT ASSOCIATION GUARANTEED

THEM ONE-HALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES EXCEPT ONE, LEAVING A MAJORITY OF

THE BOARD IN MOUNT PLEASANT ASSOCIATION. IN 1869, REV, JAMES W. TERRILL

SUCCEEDED PRESIDENT ROTBWELL. THE WAR BEING OVER, CONFIDENCE RESTORED,

AND THE TIMES BEING PROSPEROUS AND INVITING, THE COLLEGE WITH OTHER ENTER-

PRISES, TOOK NEW LIFE ADDED TO THIS, PRESIDENT TERRILL BROUGHT TO THE

INSTITUTION A COMBINATION OF MERIT, ENTERPRISE AND ENERGY, RARELY FOUND

IN ONE MAN, AND IN PRODUCING A NEW, POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL METHOD OF

TEACHING CARRIED THE COLLEGE TO ITS HIGHEST POINT OF SUCCESS. THE QUES-

TION OF REPAIRS, ADDITIONS AND BETTERMENTS (FOR THE BUILDING HAD BEEN USED

FOR MILITARY QUARTERS DURING THE WAR NOW AROSE, AND THE TERMS, PATRON-

AGE AND SUCCESS OF THE SCHOOL, AND THE EARNEST PROTESTATIONS OF BOTH

MOUNT PLEASANT AND MACON ASSOCIATIONS, SEEMED TO DEMAND AND ENCOUR-

AGE IMMEDIATE ACTION IN THIS DIRECTION. THE TRUSTEES CONCLUDED TO MAKE

AMPLE IMPROVEMENT AND ADDITIONS, AND TO THE MAIN BUILDING ADDED TWO

WINGS, RUNNING OUT AND BACK OF THE MAIN BUILDING, GIVING IN ROOMS, HALLS,

STAIRWAYS AND CLOSETS, A BUILDING WHOSE SIZE, ARRANGEMENT, DECORATION

AND STABILITY WHICH WOULD RANK WITH ANY IN THE STATE. ADDED TO THIS THE

PATRONAGE AND LIBERALITY OF THE CITIZENS OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, AND ESPECIALLY

THE CITIZENS OF HUNTSVILLE TO THE INSTITUTION, WHICH HAD EVER BEEN MARKED,

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WERE INDUCED TO BUILD A COMMODIOUS AND TASTEFUL

BOARDING HOUSE, THREE STORIES, BESIDES THE BASEMENT. THE CITIZENS OF

HUNTSVILLE FOR THIS PURPOSE FURNISHED S3,000 CASH, BY WHICH WITH A LOAN ON

FIRST MORTGAGE, ASSISTED BY A LOAN OF $3,500 ENDOWMENT FUND, SECURED BY

SECOND MORTGAGE ON THE BUILDING, IT WAS COMPLETED.

THESE BUILDINGS AND ADDITIONS WERE COMPLETED IN 1871 AND A CON-

SIDERABLE DEBT INCURRED. IN 1873, THE FINANCIAL TROUBLE WHICH HAD BEEN

THREATENING OVERWHELMED THE COUNTRY, AND A WAVE MORE DAMAGING AND

BLIGHTING THAN WAR PASSED OVER THE COLLEGE. FOR TWO YEARS LONGER, UNDER

PRESIDENT TERRILL IT STOOD BRAVELY ON ITS FEET CARRYING THE HEAVY PRESSURE.

BUT THE BOARDING-HOUSE WAS SOLD UNDER FIRST MORTGAGE, AND FAILING TO

BRING THE DEBT, THE SECOND MORTGAGE, $3,500 ENDOWMENT FUND, WAS LOST

AND THE JERRY KINGSBURY BEQUEST, $2,500, BEING SWEPT AWAY, WHEN THE

BANK FAILED, AND THE PARTIES FAILING TO COME TO TIME ON THEIR NOTES, FROM

FINANCIAL EMBARRASSMENTS, THE $10,000 ENDOWMENT WAS NEVER REALIZED.

IN 1876, REV, M. J. BREAKER CAME TO THE HEAD OF THE INSTITUTION,

AND LIKE HIS WORTHY PREDECESSOR. ROTHWELL STOOD BV IT IN A DARK HOUR

OF PERIL, AND BY EFFORT AND SACRIFICE BORE HER ON IN HER NOBLE MISSION

FOR THREE YEARS LONGER, TILL MARCH 21, 1879, WHEN A JUDGMENT HAVING

BEEN OBTAINED AGAINST THE COLLEGE FOR DEBT, AND BOOKING FOR THE EXECU-

TION TO HE LEVIED IN JUNE FOLLOWING, PRESIDENT BREAKER RESIGNED AND

THE SCHOOL CLOSED — THE SECOND TIME IN ITS EXISTENCE OF 23 YEARS; ONCE

BEFORE AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE WAR IN 1869, UNDER PRESIDENT ROTHWEIL

BOTH TIMES AT THE SPRING TERM.

MOUNT PLEASANT COLLEGE, DURING HER 23 YEARS OF EXISTENCE BAD BEEN

PRESIDED OVER BY REV. WILLIAM THOMPSON, LL. D., ONE YEAR; REV, W. R.

ROTHWELL, D.D., TWELVE YEARS: REV. J. W. TERRILL SEVEN YEARS, AND REV.

M. J. BREAKER, THREE YEARS; IT INSTRUCTED HOSTS OF YOUTHS, TURNED OUT

109 GRADUATES, BLESSED THE CAUSE OF EDUCATION, ELEVATED THE COMMUNITY

AND DEMONSTRATED THE CO-EDUCATION OF THE SEXES, AS THE FITTEST AND

BEST.

REV, A. S. WORRELL D.D., SUCCEEDED MR. BREAKER, AND WAS PRESI-

DENT OF THE COLLEGE IN 1880-81. REV, JAMES B. WEBER SUCCEEDED DR.

WORRELL AND HAD CHARGE OF THE COLLEGE AS ITS PRESIDENT WHEN THE BUILD-

ING WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE (JULY 13. 1882J - AT THE TIME THE COLLEGE

BUILDING WAS DESTROYED THERE WAS A DEBT ON IT OF $3,000, WHICH WAS

PAID BY THE FRIENDS OF THE INSTITUTION. THE FERGUSON BEQUEST U-AS

KNOWN AS THE (WILEY) FERGUSON BEQUEST ALL OTHER DEBTS BAD BEEN

SECURED BY A MORTGAGE ON THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS AND IN ORDER TO

PAY THIS. THE COLLEGE AND GROUNDS WERE SOLD IN 188:3 AND WERE PUR-

CHASED BY THE COURTHOUSE BUILDING COMMITTEE.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FACULTY AT THE TIME THE COLLEGE WAS

BURNED DOUN IN 1882 WAS - H T. FORT PRESIDENT T. B. KIMBROUGH

SECRETARY; W. R. SAMUEL. TREASURER J. D. BROWN STEPHEN CONNOR.

FESSOR OF NATURAL SCIENCE; MRS A. E WEBER, PRINCIPAL PREPARATORY

AND PRIMARY DEPARTMENTS; MRS M. E. LASLEY. PRINCIPAL OF THE MUSIC

J. F. FINKS P. T. GENTRY, J. D. HUMPHREY. G W. KEEBAUGH, R. J.

MANSFIELD, W A. MARTIN, W. D. WILBITE, ALFRED COULTER, W. F ELLIOTT

J, T FORT W. J. HORSLEY W. B MCCRARY, S. Y. PITTS T. T ELLIOTT, J.

C. SHAEFER. THESE TRUSTEES HELD THE COLLEGE FOR THE MOUNT PLEASANT

BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. FACULTY: — REV. J. B. WEBER. A M. PRESIDENT

PROFESSOR OF GREEK, MORAL PHILOSOPHY AND ENGLISH; MISS NANNIE L. RAY

B. A, ASSISTANT OF MATHEMATICS AND LATIN; J. B WEBER, ACTING PRO-

AND PRIMARY DEPARTMENTS; MFC, M. E. LASLEY, PRINCIPAL OF THE MUSIC

DEPARTMENT.

THE FIRST FAIR WAS HELD AT HUNTSVILLE IN THE FALL OF 1854. D. C GARTH

WAS PRESIDENT; WALLACE MCCAMPBELL VICE-PRESIDENT; WILLIAM D. MALONE,

SECRETARY; ROBERT Y GILMAN TREASURER. THE DIRECTORS WERE DR. W.

T. DAMERON, JAMES M. HAMMETT, COL. THOMAS P. RUBY, HON. JAMES F.

WRIGHT, F M. MCLEAN, N. B CHRISTIAN THE LAST FAIR WAS HELD IN 1876.

THE OFFICERS WERE: H T. RUTHERFORD, PRESIDENT; J. M SUMMERS, FIRST VICE-

PRESIDENT; F. M HAMMETT, SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT THE DIRECTORS WERE

LOUIS HEETHER, W. T RUTHERFORD, JAMES F ROBINSON, CAPT. THOMAS B.

REED, JAMES M. BAKER, NEAL HOLMAN, G. H. BURCKHARTT, S. T. MOREHEAD.

THE PRESENT CITY OFFICIALS OF HUNTSVILLE ARE: MAYOR, DR. ROBERT R.

KIERNON; CLERK, AD S. HEETHER; TREASURER, JAMES C LAY; COLLECTOR, JOSEPH

S. TAYLOR; ATTORNEY, JOHN N. HAMILTON: POLICE JUDGE, WALLIE H. SANDISON;

MARSHAL, STEPHEN W. JONES; HEALTH COMMISSIONER, DR. JOHN R. MABEE;

ENGINEER, DALLAS E. INGERSOLL; STREET COMMISSIONER, KIERNAN MINOR; CHIEF

OF FIRE DEPARTMENT, KIERNAN MINOR.

ALDERMEN: G. P, DAMERON, N. D. MINOR, WILLIAM T. HALEY, H. L.

RUTHERFORD, JR.; S. M. CORBIN, D. L. GRIFFITHS, WILLIAM E. MITCHELL, VAN

G. SUTLIFF.

HUNTSVILLE HAS A PUBLIC LIBRARY SECOND TO NONE IN A TOWN OF ITS SIZE.

THE BUILDING IS ATTRACTIVE AND IS A SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURE. THE LIBRARY IS

WELL SUPPLIED WITH BOOKS AND IS WELL MANAGED.

THE PRESENT LIBRARY BOARD IS AS FOLLOWS: PRESIDENT, J. L. HAMMETT;

SECRETARY I B. JACKSON; TREASURER, W. L. DAMERON W. C. SMITH, W. J.

DAY. ROY SUTLIFF, J. G. DULANEY, DR. D. A. BARNHART WA. BROOKING, DR.

R.E. KIERNAN.

TBE CONTRACT FOR BUILDING THE FIRST COURT BOUSE WAS LET ON THE 13TH

OF JUNE. 1831 AND THE BUILDING WAS COMPLETED SOME TIME IN THE FALL OF

THE NEXT YEAR. IT WAS A BRICK STRUCTURE, TWO STORIES HIGH, BUILT IN A

SQUARE FORM, ONE ROOM BELOW USED AS THE COURT ROOM AND THREE ABOVE

USED AS JURY ROOMS, ONE OF THOSE SMALL ROOMS WAS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS

USED AS A MASONIC BALL AND IT WAS THERE THAT THE FIRST MASONIC MEETING IN

HUNTSVILLE WAS HELD. THIS BUILDING COST $2,400 AND IT WAS CONDEMNED

AND TORN DOWN IN THE WINTER OF 58 OR THE SPRING OF 59.

THE SECOND COURT HOUSE WAS COMPLETED IN 1860 BY HENRY AUSTIN,

WHO WAS THE CONTRACTOR. THE BUILDING WAS A TWO-STORY BRICK AND COST

$15,000. IT WAS BURNED AUGUST 12, 1882. STEPS WERE IMMEDIATELY TAKEN

TO BUILD ANOTHER AND A THIRD COURT HOUSE WAS COMMENCED DURING THE FALL

OF 1883 AND FINISHED IN APRIL, 1884. J. M. HAMMETT, W. T. RUTHERFORD,

E. P. KERBY, JOHN N. TAYLOR, G. W. TAYLOR AND R. E. LEWIS WERE THE CON-

TRACTORS AND JAMES MCGRATH OF ST. LOUIS WAS THE ARCHITECT. THE BUILD-

ING IS A TWO-STORY BRICK, CONTAINS ELEVEN ROOMS AND COST ABOUT $35,000.

S