Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-06
HISTORY
CulIman, Dee.3.

OuAAhaeAAaf 0Se-@sos To the State Herald:
 John Gottereid Cullman was born at Frankwieler Rhine, Bavaria, July 2. 1923, He taught school at Rhine for awhile, but having something in his bosom broader than school teaching he came to America in 1865, settled in New York state, but remained there a short while only. Thence he went to Philadelphia for short time and then to Cincinnati, where he remained three or four years. Next for about three or four years he travelled over the United States, and vis- tied the different German colonies in America with a view of establishing a colony in Alabama, and in 1871 arrived at Florence, where he met the Hon. R. M. Patton (ex-governor), who, taking an interest in MT. Cullman and his enter prise, furnished horses and men to ex plore the country which led to the es- tablishment of the German colony. Col onel Cullman remained in Florence about one year, when he went to TuScumbfa and there remained about twelve months. Having met, in December, 1872, MT. Albert Fink of the Louisville and Nashville railroad and with him trav- eled over the Louisville and Nashville railroad and having succeeded, through Mir. Fink, in closing a contract with the railroad company for about 3490OO acres of land, an arrangement was made by WHICH 1OlOnel SHOulu pay all expenses of advertising and those incl dent to the bringing to America desired immigra tion for this particular territory.
 In 1873 Colonel Cullman located where now stands the city of Cullman, at the start a small colony of fourteen German families, and proceeded to lay out the town, which thenceforth had an exist ence. Colonel Cullman has done more since he came to Alabama towards build- ing up and advancing the interests of Ala bama and the south than any other twenty men in the state. He has brought into the state and, located very large number of desirable people, and all under his personal supervision. His son Otto came to America in 1878, and was of con- siderable service to his father in the management of the Cullman Land com pany, but unfortunately Otto died in 1884 at the age of 26 An elder son, Theo- dore, was also of good service to his fa- ther, and he, too, died at the age of 26 years. In 1878 Colonel Cullman entered into additional contracts with the Louis- vile and Nashville Railroad company whereby he came into possession of 500,- 900 acres of land lying along the rail- road between Decatur and Montgomery, and to the sale and settlement of these lands he gave his special attention. In 1886 Colonel Cullman made a trip to Flu rope in the interest of immigration and returned in the fall of the same year to
 
 est tide. Seeing his opportunity, in Feb ruary 1888, he organized the North Ala bama Land and Immigration com pany with a, capital of $2,OOO,- 900, and the company at one time owned 160, 900 acres of land and 1000 town lots in Cullman. In 1876 he founded Cor don City. He also located immigrants in all the settlements along the railroad and at other places in the state. He was in vited by Governor Houston to formulate plan of immigration. This he did, and the plan, though adopted by the state senate, was defeated in the house. Colo mel Cullman carries with him to the grave a large scar on his forehead that was made by the hand of an assassin. In 1874 some rough characters, thinking that the building up Noff the town in their midst might operate in time to interfere with their vile practices, decided to put a stop to it's growth by removing it's founder The villain attacked Colonel ,Cullman with huge knife. plugging it twice in his forehead, destroying a large portion of the skull and exposing the e Drain. The. villain made his escape. but \ itNis gratifying. to know that he ended his life at the end of a rope in Macon,- Ga., for horse stealing.
 The colonel was member of the Evan gelican Protestant church and a mem- Der of the Masonic order. The colonel was even before coming to America a ! democrat, and while he has been solic- tied on many occasions to become can didate he would never allow his name to be used in connection with any office, but was a man of large influence and one of the hardest workers during a cam caign He was an active, energetic, wide-awake and progressive citizen, in full sympathy with Alabama and its people. He was a supporter of all legit- innate enterprises schools, churches and charitable institutions, and has done more than any other man of foreign birth in the state to build up it's material in- terest. He was always open-handed to the poor, had a comforting word for the bereaved and was a liberal giver to the distressed.
 We well remember the twenty-third anniversary of our town last June in honor of Colonel Cullman, when the town was lavishly decorated and when every business and society in the city was rep resented in the long procession. We re- member the review from the beautiful residence of our founder, the exercises in the park and eulogies by the mayor, MT. Lane and others. It was timely, for he saw what he had done for our beloved town and county in twenty-three years of persistent energy. Thousands of peo- pie were here on that day and he was pleased.
 Today every business house in town is closed. the city is draped in mourning, and thousands of people do him their last honor. The parade to the cemetery was over one mile long and all had a sad face. The city of Cullman mourns, the county mournS and the state mourns the loss of Colonel Cullman.
 He started out with a slow team,
 The road was rough:
 By the sturdy trend of time
 The surface became smooth.
 He speeded firm steed