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Copyright © 2008 - 2012 by Andrew J. Morris

A generation which ignores history has no past -- and no future.

Robert Heinlein

History of Autauga County Alabama

Select a City, Town, Village or Township:
- Independence -- Old Kingston -- Pine Flat -- Prattville -

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Local History Notes:

History of Autauga County Alabama

Prior to 1818 this was a part of the territory of the county of Montgomery. In the fall of that year the Legislature at St. Stephens, assembled, by statutory enactment, created the new county of Autauga. It was named for Autauga Creek, a stream rising among the northern hills of the county, and meandering in a southerly direction, empties into the Alabama river.

The exact significance of the word "Autauga" is not now known. By some it is claimed to have meant "dumpling," an article of food, indicating a land of plenty. By others it is thought to mean "Clear Water." The latter is probably more nearly correct.

The county is bounded on the east, west and north by Elmore, Dallas and Chilton Counties, respectively, and on the south by the Alabama River. Skirting the entire southern line of the county, the Alabama River affords ample transportation for its products to Montgomery, Selma and Mobile. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad crosses the northeast corner of the county, and the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia traverses nearly the whole of its western boundary. There are also several other railways contemplated and surveyed, whose routes will penetrate the interior section of the county, and give outlet to the inexhaustible minerals of Bibb, Tuscaloosa, and Walker Counties, and to the magnificent lumber of Autauga and Chilton.

The soils of Autauga County are of every variety. They are the isinglass lands and rich alluvial river bottoms, occasional patches of prairie, sandy surfaces with clay subsoil, rich hummock, and elevated red or brown table-lands. The surface of the county is generally broken and undulating, and yet in that portion bordering on the river, and even in the northern section where the hills predominate, there are extensive level plateaus well adapted to the purpose of agriculture. Indeed some of the most attractive farms to be found in Central Alabama maybe seen in this county. In the upper or northern section the soil is comparatively thin, and yet in many of the valleys and creek bottoms there is considerable productiveness, and the people often make good crops of the cereals, besides cotton, and are happy and content. It is in northern Autauga that the tall yellow pine, which is of so much commercial value, towers to perfection; and acres of this valued growth remains to-day in virgin ignorance of the sound of the woodman's axe or saw. In the lower or southern section there are endless kinds of trees, the black, red and white post oaks, hickory, including shell bark, chestnut, walnut, persimmon, ash, sassafras, dogwood, poplar, gum, cedar, and cypress, with pines interspersed. The procuring of cypress and other valuable timbers for shipment is becoming an industry. The woods and forests at seasonable periods abound in fruits and flowers. There the wild grape and muscadine flourish in the greatest profusion, and when spring comes and touches nature with her verdure the most fragrant and lovely flowers, from the expansive magnolia to the modest violet, regale the senses and laden the air with the sweetest perfume.

The soils of Autauga, under judicious cultivation respond in abundant crops of cotton, corn, peas, potatoes, rye, oats, barley, wheat, chufas, rice, millet, milo-maize, sorghum, and sugar-cane. Perhaps in no section does the scuppernong grape grow in greater profusion in proportion to its cultivation. Pecans are also successfully produced. The gardens and orchards, under proper management, return all vegetables and fruits known to the climate, embracing, in the line of the latter, apples, pears, peaches, grapes, quinces, prunes, dates, plums, pomegranates and figs.

Perhaps no land is more favored with bright, running streams than Autauga. From north to south her territory is traversed with a number of bold and beautiful creeks, whose waters in many instances skirt rich productive bottom lands. Among these may be mentioned Big and Little Mulberry, Ivy, Swift, White Water, Bear, Autauga, Beaver. Pine, Big and Little Mortar. Upon the courses of these streams may be found many eligible locations for the founding of manufactories and industrial institutions.

This was one of the pioneer counties of the State in manufacturing. Located at Autaugaville are two cotton factories; at Prattville, one cotton factory, one sash, door and blind factory, and one cotton-gin factory. The Prattville Cotton-Gin Manufactory is the largest of the kind in the world. It employs upwards of one hundred men, turns out over one thousand gins annually, and the "Pratt Gin" is known throughout the civilized world. Near Prattville, also, is a cotton factory, and scattered throughout the county is the usual number of grist-mills, shoe and blacksmith shops, public ginneries, etc. In the eastern part of the county is an earthenware establishment. manufacturing jugs, churns, urns and other articles of clay.

Ochre, fire-clays, paints and pigments abound in the county, while many of her magnificent springs are pregnant with healing and health-giving minerals.

Land is worth from one dollar to fifteen dollars per acre, and fine farming land can be had for three dollars per acre. Government land in the county, about 12,000 acres.

Rate of taxation, forty cents on the $100; county debt, none.

The people are law-abiding, hospitable, industrious and patriotic. The public-school system is but indifferently developed, though popular enough with the masses, and growing in importance. General health of the county, good.
SOURCE: Northern Alabama: Historical and Biographical, Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land, 1888

Biographies:

Samuel Smith Harris Biography

Samuel Smith Harris, second bishop of Michigan and 122d in succession in the American episcopate, was born in Antauga county, Ala., Sept. 14, 1841. He was graduated at the University of Alabama in 1859, studied law and by special act of the legislature was admitted to practice in 1860. In 1861 he joined the 3d Alabama regiment and served till the close of the war as adjutant on the staff of General Bragg, with the rank of major. Upon the close of the war he resumed the practice of law in Montgomery, Ala., and then in New York city, 1866-69. He was ordained a deacon in the Protestant Episcopal church, Feb. 10, 1869, and priest, June 30 of the same year. He was rector of St. John's church, Montgomery, Ala., Trinity church, Columbus, Ga., Trinity church, New Orleans, La., and St. James church, Chicago, Ill., 1875-79. He was a delegate from Georgia to the general convention of 1874 and from Illinois in 1877. He was elected bishop of Quincy in 1878, but declined. With the Rev. John Fulton he founded the Living Church in 1878, and was its managing editor during the first six months of its existence. He was elected bishop of Michigan to succeed the Rt. Rev. Samuel Allen McCaskry, deposed, Sept. 3, 1878, and was consecrated, Sept. 17, 1879. He received the degree of D.D. from William and Mary college in 1874, and that of LL.D. from the University of Alabama in 1879. He published Bohlen Lectures (1882). He died in London, England, Aug. 21, 1888.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Local Historical and Genealogical Records:

Persons in the Chestnut Creek census area, Autauga County AL 1860 Census

Local History and Genealogy Links:

• Autauga County History
• Autauga County, Alabama Genealogical Information
• Autauga County, Alabama Rootsweb Index
• ePodunk - Autauga County
• Tracking Your Roots: Autauga County, Alabama
• USGenWeb Autauga County AL
• USGenWeb Archives Autauga County AL
• Autauga County, Alabama Cemetery Listings
• ePodunk - Autauga Cemeteries
• GNIS Autauga County Cemetery Locations
• I Dream of Genealogy - Autauga County Alabama Cemeteries
• The Political Graveyard Autauga County AL
• Tracking Your Roots: Autauga County, Alabama Cemeteries Page
• USGenWeb Archives - Autauga County Cemetery Records
• Autauga County, Alabama 1830 Census
• Autauga County, Alabama 1840 Census
• Autauga County, Alabama: 1850 Census Index
• Census Online Autauga County AL
• Family History Library Catalog Autauga County AL
• AL Autauga County Mailing List
• 1895 U.S. Atlas Autauga County
• Contemporary Autauga County Map
• Historical Maps of Autauga County
• Autauga Genealogical Society
• Autauga County Heritage Association
• vitalrec.com - Vital Records Information - Autauga County Alabama

Alabama Facts:
Tree: southern (longleaf) pine
Bird: yellowhammer
Flower: camellia
Nickname: Cotton State, Yellowhammer State, Heart of Dixie
Motto: We Dare Defend Our Rights
Area (sq. mi.): 51,609
Capitol: Montgomery
Admitted: 14 Dec 1819

Autauga County Facts: