The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-26
First Bank.

TiFSh Dd0Ns
 The first banking institution opened in Birmingham was known as "The Ma tional Bank of Birmingham" was lo cated in a small two story brick building erected by MT. Charles Linn on the inner portion of the lot upon which now stands the Nabors Morrow &s Sinnige building. The bank commenced business early in the spring of 1873, with the following off, cers: MT. Charles Linn, president; MT. Robert Jones late of New Orleans, cash fer; Mir William Berney late of Mont gomery, bookkeeper.
 A bill to submit the removal of the county seat from Elyton to Birmingham to vote of the people, was passed by the legislature in November, 1S7s and an election was held immediately after its passage to decide the issue. It was claimed by the citizens of Elyton that the measure was voted on by voters from Chattanooga to Meridian. The first ses- sion of the circuit court was held in Bir mingham at the spring term in 1874. Sub- lett hall was rented by the county authorities and used as a court room un- til the completion of the new court house. The county offices were moved to Bir- mingham late in the fall of 1s73 and were located on Twentieth street in the build ing now occupied by the Comparative Barbers The first court house was built by the writer and delivered to the county authorities May 1, 1s75 It was located on the ground upon which now stands the present beautiful building
 The first military company organized in Birmingham was the Birmingham Ri- fles, with Dr. J. B. Luckie as captain; D. N. Ledyard. first lieutenant; William Berney, second lieutenant; Thomas Jeff fers third lieutenant, and Frank P. O'Brien orderly sergeant. The company was armed with Belgian rifles with sword bayonets. The guns were purchased in Pittsburg and paid for by the officers above named.
 The first coke manufactured in Jeffer- son county was made during the summer of 1874 by the Experimental Coke and Iron company, organized and operated at Oxmoor by Colonel John T. Milner, B. F. Roden, w. J. Milner, Colonel James R. Powell Major Thomas s. Tate, Dr. J. B. Luckie, J. L. Lockwood, H. F. De- Bardeaben, w. II. Morris, Andrew Mar ra, L. W. Johns Thomas Jeffers, Frank P. O'Brien and Goodrich; the latter was superintendent. "Shantle' patent oven, a rotary bottom oven. patented by a Belgian of that name, was used. 1t was demonstrated to the satisfaction of the men who had risked their all on the strength of the claims made that the best and cheapest iron in the world could be made in this county" that the great problem was at last solved and their in- vestments were certain to yield good re- turns in a few years
 The first coke manufactured in the city was made in battery of ovens built for Messrs. Hillman and DeBardelaben at the Alice furnace by the writer in July 18S0 The first pig iron was made by MT. Tennie IIillman in the Alice furnace in November, 1880.
 The first opera house and gas works were built by the writer during the sum- mer of 1882, and the first gas turned on during the month of October of that year.
 The writer began the erection of the Birmingham rolling mill for the Louis vile Steel and Iron company, on the first